I am optimistic about this election, partly because, to Robert’s point, the grassroots network that has developed is amazing. After the election, it seems to me that all of us need to reflect and revise on our efforts and not let up—the MAGA movement will take some years to crush. Specifically, how do we retain and continue to motivate all of these new volunteers?
The story. My husband and I are attending his Vietnam buddy reunion. The majority of attendees hate Democrats with a passion, hate Kamala, etc. (Thought I would also say they are increasingly unexcited about Trump.) Although we have mostly avoided talking politics, I have had an opportunity to inject what we’re seeing in Texas with MAGA leadership. Last night, one of those guys pulled my husband aside, told him he knew my husband kept up with the news, and wanted his take. My husband proceeded to tell our friend that we had been Republicans before Trump, still disagreed with some Democratic positions, but had thought in 2015 and still thought that Trump would destroy the US and was in fact a danger to the world, from the economy to security issues, on every front.
I never thought I’d see this, but I suspect this guy will not vote for Trump.
For this election, party is irrelevant. It's Trump or Democracy. That is why many real Republicans are voting for Kamala Harris. The real Republicans NEED to come out of the closet endorse Kamala Harris and vote for her.
There is NOTHING about the 2024 election that is "politics as usual". A Trump administration and Project 2025 would mean an end to American democracy. THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE. A vote for Harris and all Democrats on the ticket is a vote to save this country and our freedoms. Period.
I lost so much sleep between Nov 8, 2016 and Nov 10, 2020 (That was the day most news named Biden the winner), that I’m sure it took years off my life. I can’t understand why anyone would want that chaos again!
Imagine wearing these kinds of t-shirts in a red state 👇 🤣
Yep. Mail in ballot. Done and gone. Be sure to keep tracking it though.
Our county sent out an instruction booklet that made me proud. It was in Spanish and English and included sections for early voting, requesting mail in ballots (and all deadlines), election day, on the ballot, election security, and a letter from the Director of elections about how voting opportunities have been expanded and about treating everyone with civility.
Thank you, Heather.. your answer is my answer every time. It has helped me convert doubters to post card writers. Eye on the ball til November and beyond!
Heather, It was such a nightmare those Trump years. Waking at 4am to check if more horrors had unfolded, the unending calls to stone faced right wing politicians like Andy Biggs, the covid deaths, family separations. Only good thing out of it was learning to turn to the mystics on how to deal with the anger—like Thomas Merton and the Dali Lama who taught compassionate witnessing.
Not true. It is true that Trump was the commander in chief for 4 years and that he deluded many of them.
I am a Vietnam combat veteran 1966-1967. I'm pretty sure I am the lone survivor from my units. Agent orange. Suicide. I belong to a DNC veterans discussion group...have testimonials from thousands who will testify that they voted twice for Trump but are not "suckers or losers." https://votevets.org/
Fred Wellman is in our group. https://fpwellman.substack.com/ He is on Midastouch, Vote Vets, and now is an expert on MSNBC. His group is starting a bus tour of blue wall and other swing states that hold thousands of potential flipped voters. We hope it spreads like the flu.
Facebook says it has 4 million veterans and active duty members, along with 12.5 million family members of veterans and active duty members, and 242 million friends of veterans and active duty members. If yo say the magic words "not suckers or losers" on social media, you can see the reaction....and help flip a few more.
I think what Victoria means (though she's on here and can clarify) is, in response to Cathy M's post saying that within Her husband's Vietnam survivors' group most of them were Rs and supported 45, Why? I had that same thought myself upon reading her story. I applaud the story and the hope it provides, but am as I so often am, confused as to why the original situation of redness and 45ness even exists. How it can still persist.
Daniel, that is so awesome! I hope these traveling vets can help us reclaim our shared American flag. We Harris supporters (Republicans, Democrats, Independents) need to fly it proudly (maybe with a smaller blue Harris pennant below it). I am upset that the MAGA people seem to have taken over our flag.
Try as I might, I cannot understand how supposedly 80% of "Republicans" (whoever they are) like Trump - for any reason, economy, immigration, Israel, whatever. The man they like is a moron, a misogynist, anti-semitic, homo-phobic, vengeful, racist, greedy, dishonest, morally corrupt, a segregationist at heart, fascist, uncaring, uncompassionate, and heartless. He is these things openly, and mostly proud of them. He vows to destroy our Constitution, blame the Jews, deport everyone of color who cannot document being born to American-born-Americans, vows to prosecute and imprison his "enemies" - he is Captain Queeg on steroids - with the power of cowardly allies behind him, and with a stand-in (Vance) that will take over wherever Trump leaves off. If elected. We, as humans worthy of the title, can denounce those things. And the list is not complete. I'll bet my fellow Substack devotees have a bunch that I missed.
I am forced to think something is seriously wrong with Republicans who do not denounce this deplorable man and his running-mate. Can someone explain to me what is in the heads of these Republicans (and independents) who prefer Trump over Harris, who favors sanity over chaos, democracy over fascism, freedom over political control. I'm sorry. I just cannot hide my disdain for that kind of thinking.
Yes, 45 is all that and more, but like a broken record: It's the media.
I was reminded of that when I looked at a youtube this morning that somehow triggered a GOP ad which said "Democrats are LYING about abortion" and went on to repeat the "even after birth" fiction. If your viewing habits are such that you see enough of those types of things, you no longer hear something laughable, you hear that palliative care (which is what that particular assertion is referring to) for babies born with defects that leave the baby with no chance of survival or very short term survival prospects while in pain, is abortion after birth which denies the baby even the possibility of a miracle. Too many otherwise at least decent people are too exposed to propaganda to even recognize that they are, and have had their views of themselves so interwoven with lies that it is emotionally devastating to entertain for a moment any other narrative. They really don't think they're close-minded; they think we are. After this election, we really need to address how to infiltrate the daily news exposure of these people and gradually reset their views of reality, of others, and even of themselves. That's part of the task that will take more time. Probably years more.
Yehawes, what an eloquent analytical summary of "what's wrong with these people." We can't blame them; we have to understand them and help them. Sister Corea in the 1970s said, "To understand is to stand under and look up," or something of the sort. It's about coming at them from a different angle, and addressing them innovatively and compassionately. Like our wonderful 10-year-old who is suddenly afflicted with hormones and needs careful handling. I have a recent recurring dream: after Harris is elected, we create a National Group Therapy Corps, and bring communities together in sessions to offer normalizing talk about civic issues (including facts, reality checks, and alternate constructive ways of looking at things). More and more, I consider die-hard MAGA people like adolescent, 80-pound anorectics who look at themselves constantly in the mirror and fail to see an emaciated 20-year old but instead see a fat person. How do we reclaim anorectics? That's how we need to reclaim Trump voters.
Christina, I had to come back to this comment because your proposal of anorexia nervosa as a model is interesting. In the meantime, I have cleared some basement shelves of old APA issues and while giving the article titles on the front of each a quick scan to check for anything of particular interest on a variety of topics, I noticed there were a few on anorexia as disease and as symptom. Although there are multiple factors and thus multiple therapeutic approaches, with many if not most including medication, there is something about the connection you've made that resonates: Someone currently in that area of research might find applications from the more recent literature on the ways in which social pressure, trauma, and other factors aside from the physical contribute to altering self perception. I think there are probably contributions from research on treatments for anorexia nervosa as well for PTSD that could be applied in very socially embraceable ways to help increase everyone's ability to examine facts and ideas from a variety of viewpoints. I too wish there could be a National Group Therapy Corps, but it would have to have the goal of increasing our (shades of Bhutan) Gross National Happiness level for all so there would be no implication of "reeducation". This would certainly need to go hand in hand with something akin to reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine in news.
I guess that religious beliefs get in the way of many, thus the Christian Nationalist movement and the influence of conservative Catholicism. While never said in so many words, they believe in white male supremacy and a revision of progressivism. They would prefer to live in the 1950s when women and people of color "knew their place." They also believe in wealth and low taxes.
shows how important it is to be talking with our friends and neighbors! most trump voters are not deplorable; they are good neighbors and decent people who only watch fox news. i'd like to see us reinstate something like the fairness doctrine to try to protect us against the behemoth of misinformation. it's hard to have conversations if we can't agree on a basic set of facts
Agree! I talked to one of my neighbors who is in the fox echo chamber. She wants to buy a house in the next year or two. I said, "Wow, good news! The economy is doing so good, the Fed cut the interest rate by 50 points! You're going to get such a good mortgage rate, low interest, because in the last 3 years the economy is doing so good! Inflation is down to 2.5%, unemployment at new lows around 4%, the stock market is booming more every day, we're the strongest economy in the world! Your mortgage is going to be at a great rate!"
Robert did his usual stellar job speaking at the Mainers for Democracy's fundraiser for the Movement Voter Project. MVP is a great organization that is strategically routing our donor dollars to effective local grassroots organizations. (Robert included the MVP link.)
Fun fact about Every State Blue: It is basically a one-woman operation founded and directed by the amazing Michele Hornish. She is testimony to the power of one person's taking initiative when looking at how she has raised money and organized more and more Democratic candidates to run and challenge Republican seats in Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. No more uncontested Republicans!
Besides being smart, articulate, engaging, and accomplished, Michele is also a good writer! Check her out on Substack:
There's at least one other impressive woman involved in ESB, at least in Missouri. Jess Piper, who is also on Substack, pretty much drives the activity here and it will be very interesting to see the impact in November.
This newsletter has been a 'force multiplier' in terms of highlighting the many grassroots volunteers working to save democracy! It is very encouraging.
Please occasionally address some of your comments encouraging our fellow Americans to vote and otherwise be active in the political process to those of us who live abroad. I think that Democrats Abroad is doing a good job; however, some assistance in their GOTV effort would certainly be helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
Mark Robinson has a concept of being human, and a concept of being White but his concepts in both these areas are clearly off. Donald Trump has a concept of presidential policy or what he would do to end the war, but his concepts are clearly unrealized. What Donald does understand is grifting, thus the expensive watches he is now trying to sell to continue to monetize his brand. If he is placed back into power the title of the book describing this election will be How Julius Sulzberger's Hissy Fit Destroyed a Nation Through the NYT!
Thank you for calling him Donald. I suggest Donnie. It's kind of sad, but the more we can belittle him, the more we will reduce him in the minds of his worshipers. It also concerns me to read about Kamala vs Trump. I would prefer to read about Kamala vs Donnie. It's so much more to the point.
Call me naive, or lacking in understanding of world affairs. Russia has hurled countless bombs at Ukrainian hospitals, residential areas, schools, power stations, etc., all well within the territory of Ukraine. A lot of these weapons doubtless are supplied by Russia's allies. Why should the US prohibit Ukraine from using weapons supplied by us to hit targets inside Russia? Are we afraid Russia would claim that as an act of War by the US against Russia?
Under Russia's stated deterrent policy, an attack on its territory justifies use of tactical nuclear weapons (at least). While many do not believe Russia would use "battlefield" nuclear weapons, what is the percentage risk of that happening that we are willing to tolerate? 5%? Or 1? Or 0.1%?
Yet Ukraine has hit inside of Russia's border, and crickets. I suspect his own safety is his priority concern followed by his place in history (meaning he'd really like to be the one who "reclaimed" all of any land that ever was part of Russia), so what they really can't do is make him, personally, feel threatened - like Wagner did.
One suspects they could allow Ukraine to use US "defensive" weaponry to, for example, take down missiles before they cross the border then if necessary bemoan any unfortunate fall out within Russian lands, and gradually loosen definitions and restrictions on Ukrainian action as well as being willing to be seen to cluck uselessly meanwhile. We certainly have been willing for ages to engage in fairly toothless recriminations elsewhere in the world when we wish to be seen to disapprove but not become more involved. The key would be not to make Putin feel backed into a corner where he has to do what he appears at the moment reluctant to do - give him outs via posturing rights.
I'm pretty sure Putin has graduated from sociopath. I'm pretty sure he's a psychopath in full blossom. There's a clinical checklist of 40 factors. Most of us score a 4. Trump scores 33 (full-blown psychopath indeed). What do you guess Putin would score?
The goal of this HGA is to educate Americans about Steve Bannon’s “precinct strategy” and to encourage Americans to check their voter registration, register and vote!
If we all called our state voter registration person to check our status, it would send a message that many are paying close attention and help orient their thinking to being lawful. I have called mine in AZ twice so far. They answer the phone, and are pleasant and helpful. Just one more small thing we can all do (in addition to discovering any surprises, like the--was it 474,000??--North Carolina voters that were arbitrarily "removed" from voting rolls in the last 20 months. Wonder if any of them were Republicans? Don't find out too late on election day that YOU were "accidentally" removed!).
My brother and sister-in-law live in Florida on the Suwannee River. They are in a high impact area for hurricane Helene. I was texting both of them last night but I seem to have lost contact. I am praying that all is well for them and the thousands of others who are affected by this monster storm. Thank-you again, Robert, for all that you do to keep us informed. Knowledge is, indeed, power.
I left Missouri a few years ago, partly because I couldn't tolerate the politics and had other options. I follow the news through the outstanding online news site, The Missouri Independent, subscribe to Jess Piper's substack, and a I am a member of Blue Missouri. It has a long way to go, but it's so wonderful to see the little seeds of a revival of the state's fortunes because of people like Michele Hornish, Jess Piper, and the courageous rural Democrats. I think Missouri and Ohio may be the two greatest lessons for Americans of what happens when a state is overtaken by Republicans--the decline in public services, especially education; the horrifying loss of voter power (legislatures that simply ignore the will of the people, refusing to implement successful ballot initiatives); the intolerable civil rights backsliding...if we let MAGA win, that will be the model for so many other states. Keep working, everybody!
I recommend the Rachel Maddow documentary From Russia with Lev about Lev Parnas a Ukrainian American who was part of trumps inner circle with Giuliani and was sent to Ukraine to find dirt on Biden which they did not. But it led to trumps phone call to Zelensky to “first do me a favor.” Lev himself is remorseful of his actions and he documented everything so there is first person proof of trumps and Giulianis action. It aired on MSNBC about a week ago and should be easy to find.
Actually, it's not easy to find. I know I'm not the only one who missed it since I see people asking how to see it. I have checked Youtube, her various social media accounts etc and can't find it.
As I see it the wars in Ukraine and in the ME are both timed to the US election; to prove the vulnerability of US democracy and the weakness and indecisiveness of the US at this time. AND the wars of Russia and Iran include subversive actions all over the West, Trump as a primary agent, and nuclear sabre rattling. So far it seems to be successfully counting on western fear, ignorance of ourselves, and self indulgence. Israeli overreaction, with genocide on its mind, can always be counted on.
I know I wrote recently about the photos Robert so generously shares with us, but I was motivated to comment once again on the photo he shared today from which he had removed the satellite trails! WOW. I am in awe! I literally marveled out loud to myself as I looked at it. With so much stress and noise bombarding us on a daily basis ( domestic, Israel, Ukraine, Russia etc etc) it is really a delightful feeling to look forward each day to your beautiful photos! Thank you again for helping me to gain a bit of perspective.
One comment and one story.
I am optimistic about this election, partly because, to Robert’s point, the grassroots network that has developed is amazing. After the election, it seems to me that all of us need to reflect and revise on our efforts and not let up—the MAGA movement will take some years to crush. Specifically, how do we retain and continue to motivate all of these new volunteers?
The story. My husband and I are attending his Vietnam buddy reunion. The majority of attendees hate Democrats with a passion, hate Kamala, etc. (Thought I would also say they are increasingly unexcited about Trump.) Although we have mostly avoided talking politics, I have had an opportunity to inject what we’re seeing in Texas with MAGA leadership. Last night, one of those guys pulled my husband aside, told him he knew my husband kept up with the news, and wanted his take. My husband proceeded to tell our friend that we had been Republicans before Trump, still disagreed with some Democratic positions, but had thought in 2015 and still thought that Trump would destroy the US and was in fact a danger to the world, from the economy to security issues, on every front.
I never thought I’d see this, but I suspect this guy will not vote for Trump.
For this election, party is irrelevant. It's Trump or Democracy. That is why many real Republicans are voting for Kamala Harris. The real Republicans NEED to come out of the closet endorse Kamala Harris and vote for her.
There is NOTHING about the 2024 election that is "politics as usual". A Trump administration and Project 2025 would mean an end to American democracy. THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE. A vote for Harris and all Democrats on the ticket is a vote to save this country and our freedoms. Period.
I lost so much sleep between Nov 8, 2016 and Nov 10, 2020 (That was the day most news named Biden the winner), that I’m sure it took years off my life. I can’t understand why anyone would want that chaos again!
Imagine wearing these kinds of t-shirts in a red state 👇 🤣
teespring.com/stores/libtees-2
Kamala is the ONLY choice. She will preserve our Democracy.
Can't wait to vote for our FIRST woman president!
It feels REAL GOOD. I did it last Friday here in VA.
Yep. Mail in ballot. Done and gone. Be sure to keep tracking it though.
Our county sent out an instruction booklet that made me proud. It was in Spanish and English and included sections for early voting, requesting mail in ballots (and all deadlines), election day, on the ballot, election security, and a letter from the Director of elections about how voting opportunities have been expanded and about treating everyone with civility.
Thank you, Heather.. your answer is my answer every time. It has helped me convert doubters to post card writers. Eye on the ball til November and beyond!
Heather, It was such a nightmare those Trump years. Waking at 4am to check if more horrors had unfolded, the unending calls to stone faced right wing politicians like Andy Biggs, the covid deaths, family separations. Only good thing out of it was learning to turn to the mystics on how to deal with the anger—like Thomas Merton and the Dali Lama who taught compassionate witnessing.
You say all the right stuff but you’re basically just pushing your T-shirts…
Important: Specifically, how do we retain and continue to motivate all of these new volunteers?
Why do Vietnam vets and other veterans hate Democrats? I am flummoxed.
Not true. It is true that Trump was the commander in chief for 4 years and that he deluded many of them.
I am a Vietnam combat veteran 1966-1967. I'm pretty sure I am the lone survivor from my units. Agent orange. Suicide. I belong to a DNC veterans discussion group...have testimonials from thousands who will testify that they voted twice for Trump but are not "suckers or losers." https://votevets.org/
Fred Wellman is in our group. https://fpwellman.substack.com/ He is on Midastouch, Vote Vets, and now is an expert on MSNBC. His group is starting a bus tour of blue wall and other swing states that hold thousands of potential flipped voters. We hope it spreads like the flu.
Facebook says it has 4 million veterans and active duty members, along with 12.5 million family members of veterans and active duty members, and 242 million friends of veterans and active duty members. If yo say the magic words "not suckers or losers" on social media, you can see the reaction....and help flip a few more.
I think what Victoria means (though she's on here and can clarify) is, in response to Cathy M's post saying that within Her husband's Vietnam survivors' group most of them were Rs and supported 45, Why? I had that same thought myself upon reading her story. I applaud the story and the hope it provides, but am as I so often am, confused as to why the original situation of redness and 45ness even exists. How it can still persist.
Daniel, that is so awesome! I hope these traveling vets can help us reclaim our shared American flag. We Harris supporters (Republicans, Democrats, Independents) need to fly it proudly (maybe with a smaller blue Harris pennant below it). I am upset that the MAGA people seem to have taken over our flag.
Right! Thank you for saying this.
I just wrote a rambling post to Cathy Murphree and Heather B., I deleted it before sending as it was a bit too, too.
Try as I might, I cannot understand how supposedly 80% of "Republicans" (whoever they are) like Trump - for any reason, economy, immigration, Israel, whatever. The man they like is a moron, a misogynist, anti-semitic, homo-phobic, vengeful, racist, greedy, dishonest, morally corrupt, a segregationist at heart, fascist, uncaring, uncompassionate, and heartless. He is these things openly, and mostly proud of them. He vows to destroy our Constitution, blame the Jews, deport everyone of color who cannot document being born to American-born-Americans, vows to prosecute and imprison his "enemies" - he is Captain Queeg on steroids - with the power of cowardly allies behind him, and with a stand-in (Vance) that will take over wherever Trump leaves off. If elected. We, as humans worthy of the title, can denounce those things. And the list is not complete. I'll bet my fellow Substack devotees have a bunch that I missed.
I am forced to think something is seriously wrong with Republicans who do not denounce this deplorable man and his running-mate. Can someone explain to me what is in the heads of these Republicans (and independents) who prefer Trump over Harris, who favors sanity over chaos, democracy over fascism, freedom over political control. I'm sorry. I just cannot hide my disdain for that kind of thinking.
Yes, 45 is all that and more, but like a broken record: It's the media.
I was reminded of that when I looked at a youtube this morning that somehow triggered a GOP ad which said "Democrats are LYING about abortion" and went on to repeat the "even after birth" fiction. If your viewing habits are such that you see enough of those types of things, you no longer hear something laughable, you hear that palliative care (which is what that particular assertion is referring to) for babies born with defects that leave the baby with no chance of survival or very short term survival prospects while in pain, is abortion after birth which denies the baby even the possibility of a miracle. Too many otherwise at least decent people are too exposed to propaganda to even recognize that they are, and have had their views of themselves so interwoven with lies that it is emotionally devastating to entertain for a moment any other narrative. They really don't think they're close-minded; they think we are. After this election, we really need to address how to infiltrate the daily news exposure of these people and gradually reset their views of reality, of others, and even of themselves. That's part of the task that will take more time. Probably years more.
Yehawes, what an eloquent analytical summary of "what's wrong with these people." We can't blame them; we have to understand them and help them. Sister Corea in the 1970s said, "To understand is to stand under and look up," or something of the sort. It's about coming at them from a different angle, and addressing them innovatively and compassionately. Like our wonderful 10-year-old who is suddenly afflicted with hormones and needs careful handling. I have a recent recurring dream: after Harris is elected, we create a National Group Therapy Corps, and bring communities together in sessions to offer normalizing talk about civic issues (including facts, reality checks, and alternate constructive ways of looking at things). More and more, I consider die-hard MAGA people like adolescent, 80-pound anorectics who look at themselves constantly in the mirror and fail to see an emaciated 20-year old but instead see a fat person. How do we reclaim anorectics? That's how we need to reclaim Trump voters.
Christina, I had to come back to this comment because your proposal of anorexia nervosa as a model is interesting. In the meantime, I have cleared some basement shelves of old APA issues and while giving the article titles on the front of each a quick scan to check for anything of particular interest on a variety of topics, I noticed there were a few on anorexia as disease and as symptom. Although there are multiple factors and thus multiple therapeutic approaches, with many if not most including medication, there is something about the connection you've made that resonates: Someone currently in that area of research might find applications from the more recent literature on the ways in which social pressure, trauma, and other factors aside from the physical contribute to altering self perception. I think there are probably contributions from research on treatments for anorexia nervosa as well for PTSD that could be applied in very socially embraceable ways to help increase everyone's ability to examine facts and ideas from a variety of viewpoints. I too wish there could be a National Group Therapy Corps, but it would have to have the goal of increasing our (shades of Bhutan) Gross National Happiness level for all so there would be no implication of "reeducation". This would certainly need to go hand in hand with something akin to reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine in news.
I guess that religious beliefs get in the way of many, thus the Christian Nationalist movement and the influence of conservative Catholicism. While never said in so many words, they believe in white male supremacy and a revision of progressivism. They would prefer to live in the 1950s when women and people of color "knew their place." They also believe in wealth and low taxes.
shows how important it is to be talking with our friends and neighbors! most trump voters are not deplorable; they are good neighbors and decent people who only watch fox news. i'd like to see us reinstate something like the fairness doctrine to try to protect us against the behemoth of misinformation. it's hard to have conversations if we can't agree on a basic set of facts
Agree! I talked to one of my neighbors who is in the fox echo chamber. She wants to buy a house in the next year or two. I said, "Wow, good news! The economy is doing so good, the Fed cut the interest rate by 50 points! You're going to get such a good mortgage rate, low interest, because in the last 3 years the economy is doing so good! Inflation is down to 2.5%, unemployment at new lows around 4%, the stock market is booming more every day, we're the strongest economy in the world! Your mortgage is going to be at a great rate!"
Robert did his usual stellar job speaking at the Mainers for Democracy's fundraiser for the Movement Voter Project. MVP is a great organization that is strategically routing our donor dollars to effective local grassroots organizations. (Robert included the MVP link.)
Fun fact about Every State Blue: It is basically a one-woman operation founded and directed by the amazing Michele Hornish. She is testimony to the power of one person's taking initiative when looking at how she has raised money and organized more and more Democratic candidates to run and challenge Republican seats in Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. No more uncontested Republicans!
Besides being smart, articulate, engaging, and accomplished, Michele is also a good writer! Check her out on Substack:
https://michelehornish.substack.com/
There's at least one other impressive woman involved in ESB, at least in Missouri. Jess Piper, who is also on Substack, pretty much drives the activity here and it will be very interesting to see the impact in November.
Partner with FT 6.
https://www.mobilize.us/ft6/
Thank you for this link - she is great. I just listened to one of her offerings.
Did you know Speaker Mike Johnson is uncontested in his re-election race? (Maybe I'm wrong...)
Thank you, Robert! And oh, by the way, Jane Goodall reminds us to vote for nature when we vote:
https://www.votefornature.com/
This newsletter has been a 'force multiplier' in terms of highlighting the many grassroots volunteers working to save democracy! It is very encouraging.
Such a great observation, Marsha! Robert inspires many of us by his example and enthusiasm.
Please occasionally address some of your comments encouraging our fellow Americans to vote and otherwise be active in the political process to those of us who live abroad. I think that Democrats Abroad is doing a good job; however, some assistance in their GOTV effort would certainly be helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
I have promoted Democrats Abroad previously, but will do so again.
Here’s a linktree with more info about DemsAbroad. https://linktr.ee/DemsAbroad?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaQdeYHvXjSVuSjhCjEHAAwDiZoT9RfBPb-H819ypK9FeOHbhdH04RMXYc_aem_Q00nmPFEG8TrIHN0mafCaQ
He does.
Mark Robinson has a concept of being human, and a concept of being White but his concepts in both these areas are clearly off. Donald Trump has a concept of presidential policy or what he would do to end the war, but his concepts are clearly unrealized. What Donald does understand is grifting, thus the expensive watches he is now trying to sell to continue to monetize his brand. If he is placed back into power the title of the book describing this election will be How Julius Sulzberger's Hissy Fit Destroyed a Nation Through the NYT!
Thank you for calling him Donald. I suggest Donnie. It's kind of sad, but the more we can belittle him, the more we will reduce him in the minds of his worshipers. It also concerns me to read about Kamala vs Trump. I would prefer to read about Kamala vs Donnie. It's so much more to the point.
Call me naive, or lacking in understanding of world affairs. Russia has hurled countless bombs at Ukrainian hospitals, residential areas, schools, power stations, etc., all well within the territory of Ukraine. A lot of these weapons doubtless are supplied by Russia's allies. Why should the US prohibit Ukraine from using weapons supplied by us to hit targets inside Russia? Are we afraid Russia would claim that as an act of War by the US against Russia?
Under Russia's stated deterrent policy, an attack on its territory justifies use of tactical nuclear weapons (at least). While many do not believe Russia would use "battlefield" nuclear weapons, what is the percentage risk of that happening that we are willing to tolerate? 5%? Or 1? Or 0.1%?
Russia has nuclear weapons, and IIRC, Putin’s obliquely threatened to use them. He’s no fool, but he is a sociopath of the highest order.
Yet Ukraine has hit inside of Russia's border, and crickets. I suspect his own safety is his priority concern followed by his place in history (meaning he'd really like to be the one who "reclaimed" all of any land that ever was part of Russia), so what they really can't do is make him, personally, feel threatened - like Wagner did.
One suspects they could allow Ukraine to use US "defensive" weaponry to, for example, take down missiles before they cross the border then if necessary bemoan any unfortunate fall out within Russian lands, and gradually loosen definitions and restrictions on Ukrainian action as well as being willing to be seen to cluck uselessly meanwhile. We certainly have been willing for ages to engage in fairly toothless recriminations elsewhere in the world when we wish to be seen to disapprove but not become more involved. The key would be not to make Putin feel backed into a corner where he has to do what he appears at the moment reluctant to do - give him outs via posturing rights.
I'm pretty sure Putin has graduated from sociopath. I'm pretty sure he's a psychopath in full blossom. There's a clinical checklist of 40 factors. Most of us score a 4. Trump scores 33 (full-blown psychopath indeed). What do you guess Putin would score?
A doctor writes accessibly about this here:
https://drvincentgreenwood-89455.medium.com/the-science-behind-donald-trumps-dangerous-personality-disorder-49b3f8e416dehttps://drvincentgreenwood-89455.medium.com/the-science-behind-donald-trumps-dangerous-personality-disorder-49b3f8e416de
The photo is gorgeous, and your newsletter is as usual on point! Off to sleep soon, more letters to get out the vote via votefwd.org. 💙💙💙
Melbourne, Australia based, TheJuiceMedia's latest Honest Government Ad (HGA) TRUMP2024 (Stop the Steal). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHuMjIhS6t0
The goal of this HGA is to educate Americans about Steve Bannon’s “precinct strategy” and to encourage Americans to check their voter registration, register and vote!
If we all called our state voter registration person to check our status, it would send a message that many are paying close attention and help orient their thinking to being lawful. I have called mine in AZ twice so far. They answer the phone, and are pleasant and helpful. Just one more small thing we can all do (in addition to discovering any surprises, like the--was it 474,000??--North Carolina voters that were arbitrarily "removed" from voting rolls in the last 20 months. Wonder if any of them were Republicans? Don't find out too late on election day that YOU were "accidentally" removed!).
My brother and sister-in-law live in Florida on the Suwannee River. They are in a high impact area for hurricane Helene. I was texting both of them last night but I seem to have lost contact. I am praying that all is well for them and the thousands of others who are affected by this monster storm. Thank-you again, Robert, for all that you do to keep us informed. Knowledge is, indeed, power.
I left Missouri a few years ago, partly because I couldn't tolerate the politics and had other options. I follow the news through the outstanding online news site, The Missouri Independent, subscribe to Jess Piper's substack, and a I am a member of Blue Missouri. It has a long way to go, but it's so wonderful to see the little seeds of a revival of the state's fortunes because of people like Michele Hornish, Jess Piper, and the courageous rural Democrats. I think Missouri and Ohio may be the two greatest lessons for Americans of what happens when a state is overtaken by Republicans--the decline in public services, especially education; the horrifying loss of voter power (legislatures that simply ignore the will of the people, refusing to implement successful ballot initiatives); the intolerable civil rights backsliding...if we let MAGA win, that will be the model for so many other states. Keep working, everybody!
I recommend the Rachel Maddow documentary From Russia with Lev about Lev Parnas a Ukrainian American who was part of trumps inner circle with Giuliani and was sent to Ukraine to find dirt on Biden which they did not. But it led to trumps phone call to Zelensky to “first do me a favor.” Lev himself is remorseful of his actions and he documented everything so there is first person proof of trumps and Giulianis action. It aired on MSNBC about a week ago and should be easy to find.
Actually, it's not easy to find. I know I'm not the only one who missed it since I see people asking how to see it. I have checked Youtube, her various social media accounts etc and can't find it.
I am so thankful for the grassroots people working hard to help get out the vote!!
As I see it the wars in Ukraine and in the ME are both timed to the US election; to prove the vulnerability of US democracy and the weakness and indecisiveness of the US at this time. AND the wars of Russia and Iran include subversive actions all over the West, Trump as a primary agent, and nuclear sabre rattling. So far it seems to be successfully counting on western fear, ignorance of ourselves, and self indulgence. Israeli overreaction, with genocide on its mind, can always be counted on.
I know I wrote recently about the photos Robert so generously shares with us, but I was motivated to comment once again on the photo he shared today from which he had removed the satellite trails! WOW. I am in awe! I literally marveled out loud to myself as I looked at it. With so much stress and noise bombarding us on a daily basis ( domestic, Israel, Ukraine, Russia etc etc) it is really a delightful feeling to look forward each day to your beautiful photos! Thank you again for helping me to gain a bit of perspective.
Robert, Missouri democrats thank you!
You have my admiration and support!