During the news conference today, I finally realized why President Biden is refusing to even consider stepping aside at this time. He's Too Busy, doing a very hard job.
His explained at length how the policies he's trying to implement in Ukraine and Israel require intense attention. The consequences of what he's doing right now will resonate for decades.
The President's experience, knowledge and leadership is plainly irreplaceable at this moment. For anyone who cares to listen, here's what President Biden is saying, in that famous stage whisper of his:
Gerontophobia is an irrational or excessive fear of old age, the elderly, or the process of aging. It can also refer to disdain or aversion towards older people. The word comes from the Greek words gerōn, meaning "old man", and phobos, meaning "fear".
The Republican Party has been pitting generations against each other as long as I can remember. The folklore has been that old folks have stealing young folks' future ala jack and the beanstalk. "They sold our life's savings for a couple of beans." This is only one aspect of generational warfare. Consider that attacks on youth culture. When I was a kid, to the conservative preachers on the radio, rock n roll was the Devil's music. Stations would not play "race" music, unless it was covered by someone "acceptable" like Pat Boone. How can we forget his version of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti."
The Republican Study Group and now the Heritage Project 2025 have plans to "save" retirement benefits. Cato and Heritage, the Manhattan Institute, Hoover Institution and many others are funded by people who pay proportionally less than most of us wage earners in FICA taxes and they propose cuts, if not "sunset" elimination of many benefits programs. As president, Trump tried and failed to cut benefits drastically. Some Republicans wanted to replace the entire system. See Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Trump, House Republican Cuts to SSI Would Harm Children With Disabilities, Sept. 18, 2017, Kathleen Romig and Guillermo Herrera. https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/trump-house-republican-cuts-to-ssi-would-harm-children-with-disabilities
“The Trump proposal would cut SSI by more than $8 billion over the next decade, shrinking benefits for roughly a quarter of a million children with disabilities by between 38 and 66 percent. It would also increase SSI’s administrative costs and improper payments”.
Meanwhile, after Biden's poor debate performance, there is a media frenzy over whether he is "farblonget." a technical term associated with senility. I am not a scientist, but I used to hear disability cases and my wife and I took a case on evolutionary biology. Besides the many psychometric and biofeedback tests that may be administered, an evaluation of the respective telomeres of the candidates might be helpful, A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome. Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres become slightly shorter.
I admit I am a "yellow dog" Democrat, but in fairness, if an evaluation is necessary, a complete evaluation should be done. I'd add lie detectors and an MMPI. An evaluation of the telomeres should not be dispositive, but could be factors.
I personally do not think that Trump is fit to stand trial, let alone to be a candidate for any office. However, fair is fair. If the issue is whether Biden is farblonget, both candidates should be evaluated.
The Republican Party is filled with New Apostolic Reformationers, and they are waiting for Armageddon. They have no plans to live long, and so they willingly died of covid, and don't care about climate change because that has nothing to do with their goals. It is best explained by Andra Watkins in her Sustack, Why Project 2025 Will Ruin YOUR Life. https://project2025istheocracy.substack.com/p/project-2025-new-start-here
Read about them from her.
Please consider filing a complaint with the IRS against the Heritage Foundation for violating their tax free charter. Here is how you do it with 2 suggestions for what to fill in.
Seen on Mastodon. At this link you can download a PDF form to file a complaint to the IRS, requesting that they revoke the Heritage Foundation‘s non-profit status. Fill out the form and mail it to: eoclass@irs.gov
This is what is suggested on the sample form to fill in:
Based on the statements of Kevin Roberst, the Heritage Foundation’s president, on June 11 and July 2, the foundation’s mission is no longer solely “research and education,” but now includes preparing for a possibly bloody revolution.
Specifically, in an interview on “The War Room” on July 2, Roberts stated that the Heritage Foundation has developed a prominent series of policy plans (Project 2025) to overhaul the federal government under a Republican president, and that the country was “in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be”
Sure sounds like Roberts and the other authors of Project 2025 are planning to start a bloody war as part of the Heritage Foundation’s mission.
The Heritage Foundation clearly and overtly supports presidential candidate Donald Trump. This show the organization is an 'action organization' and therefore violates the code allowing for tax exemption under 501(c)(3). This is fraudulent. Action must be taken.
You'll need more information about The Heritage Foundation to be able to fill out IRS complaint form 13909. This information is from Jessica Craven, Chop Wood Carry Water:
The Heritage Foundation's street address is 214 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., city is Washington, state is D.C. Zipcode is 20002
Their tax ID/EIN was tricky to submit - you cannot have a hyphen so it's 237327730
You can name both John P. Bakiel (VP of Finance) and Kevin Roberts (President).
Jessica suggested saying something like:
The Heritage Foundation clearly and overtly supports presidential candidate Donald Trump. This show the organization is an 'action organization' and therefore violates the code allowing for tax exemption under 501(c)(3). This is fraudulent. Action must be taken.
I just completed my complaint and found that it is easy to submit electronically.
She says, “No need to email. You'll get a download of your submission for your records.” I was not able to do this and had to email it. If you can figure it out, can you please share it.
“Did the organization engage in direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part I” They answered NO
I am totally supportive of this...and the fact is that it really is time--if we can ever get to a Congress actually interested in making good policy--to examine the entire regime around tax-exemption. By all rights, the tax-exempt status of many evangelical churches should have long since been removed since they function heavily as political messaging operations at this point. In all fairness, there are similar cases that can be probably made about certain tax-exempt progressive orgs as well.
Bruce, since the right wing of SCOTUS has made it their mission to protect the church, which makes more sense if we see what Andra Watkins explains about both Christian Nationalist's beliefs and New Apostolic Reformation beliefs to see why Alito who appears to be NAR, and Clarence Thomas who appears to be Christian Nationalist's concerns are and their agendas, is to support AOC and her group in trying to impeach SCOTUS members first. I sent her money to that effect. It is the money that I am not sending to Dick Durbin who is not taking it on, although he should.
I think it would be good to drag this out and try to get some press coverage of which there is virtually none, as there is with every issue that could possibly save our democracy, because we idiots let the oligarchs take over our press instead of insisting on legislating against it.
Very good suggestions Linda. I am glad one of the great folks on one of our mutual Substack reads suggested her one night. Remember also that Israel plays a large part in that Armeggedon myth. Those in Congress are doing all they can to bring about the big Middle East war that will deliver them. The Spewker of the House is serous one of them.
It's kinda funny/odd to mention Tom Robbins, but the Israel armaggedon myth was a big part of one of his books, and it was what introduced me to that craziness.
The best thing Biden said in his news conference is not getting much coverage. He asked the reporters in the room if they remembered how he gave a speech in Philadelphia and said democracy is in danger. The reporters acted as if he was catastrophizing. What do they think now? Finally, the real threat of MAGA is being revealed. Let’s keep an engaged Biden and get focused. Even the NYT is paying attention.
Good post. However, it is unfortunately too rational for this political moment. People are “reasoning” backwards from their previous, established conclusions.
Incumbency, relationships, and we-JRB's-grassroots-support are force-multipliers for President Joe's campaign. It's virtually impossible to develop any of them within the pertinent time frame.
While I am not comfortable with the press not letting this go, or the people who are made uncertain by it (because they are not being realistic, and not being realistic, and not being realistic, and not being realistic). Another person who has spoken to this is American History Prof. Kevin Kruse on Aaron Ruper's Substack Public Notice. https://www.publicnotice.co/p/kevin-kruse-interview-biden-drop-out-convention
I'm also concerned about insidious Democratic Party insider attacks (leaks, "just asking asking questions," etc.) from 1) ambitious, mostly back-bencher electeds, 2) upwardly-mobile professional organizers/staffers, and 3) old rich donors subconsciously and reflexively reacting in fear and horror to the trigger of observing the inevitable decline and death we all face (so, a form of arrested development), all of whom sniff opportunity in President Joe's human traits.
Surmountable.
We just gotta keep on pressin'! [pun not intended]
I think Rick Wilson said some reporters were talking to interns. I guess ambitious ones who want to be useful to members of the press. All these anonymous reports are pretty low for the MSM and more like what we would expect from David Pecker and the Inquirer,
Jerry, I think you got that right. Biden is doing the hard work of being President and doing a good job. If you are doing that you don't have time to preen in front of the cameras.
I would note no one I’m aware of is expressing concern regarding Biden’s ability to govern. The concern, to the extent it exists, resides with Biden’s ability to campaign, expressly, without teleprompter, effectively representing both his achievements and the path moving forward while also prosecuting the case against Donald Trump.
In the coming days, while our elected officials rightly, in my view, take stock as to how we put our best foot forward to save our democracy, I believe Robert correctly underscores that our own efforts to energize and unify the party by getting out the vote and supporting democrats up and down the ballot must continue unabated.
So, if Biden isn’t the best campaigner (whatever that means), we have dozens of fantastic surrogates. Deploy them where they will be most effective: AOC, Jasmine Crockett, and Maxwell Frost on college campuses, Kamala to women’s and minority groups, popular Democratic Governors in their home states, etc. He’s clearly the most qualified to govern.
Ruth, While I expect the campaign will entail deploying surrogates, I leave it to our elected officials to resolve their concerns over Biden’s meandering debate performance that not only failed to put to rest the doubts about Biden’s capacity to defeat Trump but also reinforced those doubts.
See, what has been really bugging me all along (read: pissing me off) is that while I agree that Biden's deliver was not good (for the most part), he actually answered (most) questions put to him, unlike tffg. AND, the substance of his answers was excellent. Again, unlike tffg.
Jocelyn B I totally agree with you. I think he had so much to say and not enough time to say it in. That he was too rushed. He's been fine ever since when time was not limited.
Right! I have also read many complaints that the debate was "not a debate," and of course the almost total lack of any attempt to call tffg on his lies, nor to keep him on topic. The ONLY time the "moderators" did was to insist that tffg answer regarding whether he would accept the results of the election. GRR.
Agreed, Jocelyn. I watched Biden’s Thursday night news conference, including the Q&A. He acquitted himself very well.
Then I kept the TV on for CNN’s talking heads. They dwelled on how Biden looked, whether he stumbled verbally (rarely), etc. But they ALMOST NEVER brought up Biden’s excellent command of issues and his lucid discussion of them.
Such lack of depth! – but that seems to show how far media have fallen, and how their pseudo-expertise may be infecting public opinion.
JennSH, I would note, following Biden’s energizing, unifying Friday night Michigan rally, that Chris Hayes and Joy Reid lauded how an impassioned Biden underscored both his strong record and vision for the first hundred days of a second term, while also, most effectively, prosecuting the case against Donald Trump.
My point is, while we have good reason to point to examples of poor reporting and neglected context, we ought to step back from painting with too broad a brush.
Rampant ageism. It seems like some kind of cruelty. Let’s put grandpa on the ice flow because he’s not the man he used to be. As we witnessed last night, his body may slow down. A lifetime lived, with the knowledge that comes with it, is priceless. We are lucky to have Joe.
Susan, Admittedly, I’m bothered when thoughtful people voicing legitimate concerns regarding Biden’s prospects for defeating Trump in November are unquestionably labeled ageist. In my view, once we fail to acknowledge that intelligent and sincere people can have fundamental disagreements about complex matters, we lose the ability for a healthy exchange relative to the outcome or meaning of given events.
Well it’s nice to have an open honest debate about whether Biden can win. But how in the world does anybody know? Polls don’t vote - we do. All this honest disagreement is getting us nowhere except where the Republicans want us to be - Dems in disarray. So I say to those of you out there considering if we need a new candidate, try supporting the one you have, and do the work to elect Joe AND HIS INCREDIBLE TEAM. Think about what you can do instead of whining. Worry less do more.
Mary, I find it disquieting when one presumes that those who disagree with her or him have fallen for some falsehood rather than acknowledging that intelligent and sincere people can have fundamental disagreements about complex matters.
Michael, I am stunned anyone would presume so many in our party are so completely subject to propaganda as to be incapable of asking questions and being skeptical in the formation of one’s judgments.
Yes I recommend we all write ( perhaps again ) to our elected representatives in Congress and even locally to let them know we still support Joe Biden and we expect them to as well. And write to The NY Times and MSNBC and WaPo telling them what you think of their reporting and hysteria and repeating of lies and innuendo from unnamed sources.
Barbara your right but many voters are not questioning his knowledge and experience they are questioning in their mind his ability to think and comprehend.
He did. Either he didn’t catch it, or he decided not to interrupt himself.
In my forties I have called my son and daughter by each other’s names at times of exasperation and fatigue. I suspect most parents of two or more children have switched their names.
I have more frequently than I liked used the wrong word. I'm 76 and it's been happening for years so I'm not worried about a cognitive decline. I think it has something to do with multi tasking, but I'm not running for President in the most important election of our time. It's not okay to make the kind of gaffes he's been making.
Stephen, I believe your accurate perception pertains to a sizable swath of both voters and government officials, likely due to Biden typically reading from prepared text in lieu of thinking and speaking extemporaneously over extended periods.
Still, if it ends up that Joe Biden is the nominee out of the Convention, we are going to have to come together to get him elected and save our democracy.
At the end of the press conference he did a Q&A for an hour, without notes, etc., and according to my husband (I was coming home from work), he did an excellent job. For an hour. With no notes.
Was that televised? A post-press conference session? I know he talked with individual people after a big speech on several other occasions. I watched the press conference.
Yes, it was televised in its entirety on CNN. Biden took questions from domestic and foreign reporters, and gave outstandingly well-informed answers.
And then several of the CNN political geniuses trashed it, based not on its excellent substance, but on Biden’s delivery! Apparently, they will settle for nothing less than a reincarnation of a JFK press conference.
Well, my husband watched it, so it must have been. This might be a good starting place, on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4tx3qb0HcM I don't have much time to poke around right now, so there's probably lots more available.
I think a better use of our time and emotions is to work on getting the Democratic message out whether it be by talking to our friends and neighbors or writing postcards or writing to newspapers and our Congress people. I have stopped listening to the mainstream media and decided to use my energy to do what I can to get people out to vote for the entire Democratic ticket. I feel that worrying about the future is a waste of my time and it also ruins my day.
How, exactly, can Biden be replaced at this late date? Early voting starts in several states in just over two months (45-46 days before Nov. 5). Ballots need to be printed before then. How can anyone win over enough people to defeat Trump in that short amount of time? How can anyone (other than Kamala Harris) get the campaign field offices in every state set up as the Biden/Harris team has done? How could anyone else raise the funds needed to campaign? I support Biden/Harris. Yes Biden is old, but we all knew that. He is still the best person for the job at this point in time. If, heaven forbid, he is unable to complete his next four years in office, he would have a well qualified VP in Kamala Harris to continue the job.
By the way, thanks for the beautiful night sky photo!
It *would be* different if Kamala goes on the top of the Democratic ticket: a new Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate would have to be named and possibly ratified in some way.
Exactly right on all counts, Bobbie. for those who are calling for President Biden to step aside, I'm not hearing anything about what that would look like. Replacing him is not a plan. Contingency planning is a plan, and that's what I believe Democratic leadership should be doing instead of condoning or joining in the feeding frenzy. The worst thing we can do is self-destruct on the eve of the Republican Convention.
That does make a lot of sense but let me ask you a question that I hope is hypothetical. If Biden stays on ticket and does something really awful, what's our strategy? How do we still win? This concerns me a lot.
That's really the purpose of contingency planning, but it's a very good question. The closer it gets to Election Day, the more difficult it will be to recover (e.g., Comey's reopening of the email matter a week or so before the election because of what was found on Anthony Weiner's laptop). I would hope that the campaign is thinking about what ifs, so they're not caught flatfooted. But that doesn't seem to be a strength of the party leadership.
My biggest concern is the damage that's being done by well-meaning Democrats who are trying to force President Biden to retire. They've made their point, and should let the Republican Convention occur without tossing more chum to the sharks in the battery-infested waters. Let the Republicans stew in their own chaos.
It's interesting and relevant that voting will take a couple of months. Perhaps that's a good thing. If many people have already voted by the time something bad happens, maybe there will be less of an effect. Or I could be wrong. But there's also the opportunity for the opposition to mess up so let's hope they do.
Well if they don't, we will. I am now using a Project 2025 message in my Field Team 6 voter postcards. It's easy to create new ones as needed and they're very responsive.
It's hard to predict but maybe he completely flubs another debate. Or maybe he does something to exacerbate the situation in Ukraine or Gaza. Or maybe he is just so visibly in the grip of dementia that people realize he's too ill to continue. That sort of thing.
Well, I suppose anything like that could happen. But as others have said, we just have to soldier on; there's nothing else useful that we can do. (In terms of Gaza, I suspect he'll be damned by loads of people no matter what he does, sadly.)
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. As TC in LA has stated"to counter a successful incumbent means a total loss across the board". FDR probably should not have run for his unprecedented 4th term because of health concerns but surrounded himself with super talented Cabinet members and staff and proceeded onward because the times demanded it...like today.
The only way away from fear is through it. If you have a pit in your stomach about 11/5. Good. You are heading the right direction.
There is overconfidence brewing in the conman and MAGA. That will come to haunt them as it did for Hillary supporters before James Comey reopened his investigation 9 days before the election to find more nothing.
Be more afraid if you can. Wear a Biden/Harris T-shirt grocery shopping 🛒 👕
You fear will ease with the unexpected compliments that come your way. My 53 Grocery Runs in Biden Gear in FL have taught me there is so much unspoken love for Joe.
Exactly, Lynell! And then we'll support the next Democrat presidential ticket, whether it's 2024 or 2028, because today's GOP is not worthy of leading our nation.
Having observed no equally qualified candidates (not one - and we'll need two - one of whom's presumably KDH), I intend to vigorously advocate for staying the course.
Have fear, if that's present with you as it is with me.
The opponents have turned this into a Eurovision Song contest. The most ridiculous and farfetched demands are made on performance. They will always find fault. He doesn't look in the camera, she is not soft spoken, another has a dialect that one allegedly cannot follow. It is never about substance because that is too much work for the NYT and allied media to sort out. No the easiest way is a song contest model. And for all those wavering Dems: I assure you that model will find fault with anyone that you want to bring forward. Are you ready for that? Biden is. You know why, because he has seen it all. Thanks, Robert.
Thanks, Robert, for the reminder that regardless of what happens between now and November 5, our task remains the same - get out the vote, and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.
It's taking longer than I'd hoped, but I think the question of whether President Biden will remain the nominee will be settled soon after the Republican convention next week. So I'm gonna try to ignore the noise and keep an eye on the circus in Milwaukee.
I have been intuitively asking myself what Robert suggested - considering what I would do differently as a grassroots activist if Biden is not the nominee. And the answer is absolutely nothing!
I will continue to spread the word about the dangers of a second Trump term and a GOP victory here in NC, to register voters both in person and via Field Team 6, to write GOTV postcards and Vote Forward letters, and to donate strategically to candidates and organizations that are making a difference!
I'm also encouraged by the reports coming from the grassroots organizations!
*Field Team 6 (www.fieldteam6.org) is completing all the names for some of their text banks and postcard campaigns and introducing new ones every day. I found a postcard campaign yesterday for NC that uses Project 2025 in its messaging.
* Postcards to Swing States (https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/) has completed the distribution of postcards for several of their swing states campaigns (even though it is only mid-July and postcards won't be mailed for 3 more months). And I've heard they've been sending out emails about delays in getting postcards out because they have been slammed with new requests! FYI - they introduced Postcards to Swing Districts just this past week - these are all districts for which there is no swing state campaign.
* Blue Wave Postcard Movement's website (https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/) shows that over 7M postcards have already been sent this year. They have completed voter registration campaigns in AZ (3), MT (2), NV (2), OH (2), PA (2), and WI (2) and are currently working on one in MI. And we haven't even gotten to the GOTV phase yet!
* Vote Forward (www.votefwd.org) volunteers have adopted close to one-fourth of their 10M letters. They have added more addresses to existing campaigns and have introduced new campaigns in more swing districts beyong NY and CA.
Yet somehow, if the MSM reports on grassroots activism at all - and most of the time they don't, we are supposedly depressed and exhausted. I guess we just don't fit their narrative!!
It is grouped under [Special Messaging General 2024-11-05] and the NC campaign is labeled "Project 2025 - NC Statewide - Voter Registation". Since I pulled the addresses yesterday afternoon, it looks like they have added "Project 25" campaigns for all the swing states plus targetted districts in CA, NY, and FL.
There is also another NC campaign labeled as "Trump as Convicted Felon"
Annette, I emailed Field Team 6 and they told me it's okay to use the Project 2025 wording on any of their campaigns. It's this:
"Americans expect freedom and safety. But if elected, convicted felon Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans will enact a terrifying plan called Project 2025 that will take away our freedoms, ban abortion, contraception and IVF, and destroy our planet. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrats, who are the only party standing between us and this unAmerican future."
Paula , Thank you for posting. I regularly request addresses from FT6 and was unaware of its Project 2025 text. I plan to use it with 1 addition—including a website address (probably Democracy Docket) for a compelling and factual summary.
We're writing post cards to addresses we get from PostCardsToVoters.org. Any thoughts about them? Currently the cards are encouraging FL voters to vote for Stephanie Vanos, who is running for school board. We can switch over, if people feel it's more important to, say, write cards about P25.
It all depends on what is important to YOU. School board races are important and Postcards to Voters (PTV) has a good track record for giving the edge to Democrats in close racess up and down the ballot. I have written postcards through them for Tom Suozzi (NY), Judge Janet P. in WI, Donna Deegan (FL), Tom Keen (FL), and Marilyn Lands (AL).
I'm in NC, which has some very scary candidates running on the GOP side. So I am currently writing mostly to NC voters (and prospective voters) plus to traditionally disenfranchised voters with Reclaim Our Vote (BIPOC voters in the South) and NEAZ Native Democrats (Indigenous voters in AZ).
I’ve written for PTV month in and month out since it was founded in 2017 for voter registration and candidate races up and down the ballot. Love doing that. But perhaps right now we need to write for programs targeting to the swing states where getting more folks to register and vote Dem will do the most good between now and the general election.
It is quite mind boggling how the current discussion about the Biden candidacy has succeeded to divert the attention from the elephant in the room – the very real danger that the plot against America will succeed with placing an autocrat (or worse) in the White House with serious implications not only on the national but also the international level.
HCR today pointed to a chilling example of what to expect when having Putin's buddy back in the Oval Office. US intelligence services had warned European counterparts about Russian plans to assassinate CEOs of European arms companies. Putin must have been fuming. So reportedly "Trump advisers have told allied countries...reduced intel sharing would be part of a broader plan to scale back U.S. support and cooperation with the 32-nation alliance". More on this here
Just like with bragging about Project 2025 and Schedule F it is hard to explain why on earth they would divulge so openly their sinister plans. Is it giddiness, cockiness or the confidence, that they have the elections in the bag, no matter what?
Another reason to keep the eye on the ball and prove them wrong.
A HUGE thanks, Mr. Hubbell, for today's piece. I really needed that. Writing postcards and letters, knocking on doors, talking to friends, family and neighbors, just didn't feel like enough. So yesterday afternoon, with the help of my husband and one dear friend, I spent an hour of the evening rush hour at one of our busiest intersections in town, holding up signs regarding Project 2025 and the threat to our democracy. I know Robert Reich does not see this as true political activism, but to me there is an important messaging component in that action. (I was surprised and dismayed when I learned how many friends had never heard of Project 2025 as of a week ago). It was hot, it was humid. I was encouraged by how many drivers were reading our signs. We received some positive responses and we also received a few choice words from angry white males. I won't lie. There were plenty of cars that drove right past with the drivers looking straight ahead like we weren't even there. I came home, feeling rather depleted by it all. Our plan is to show up each week, same time, same place, same message, from now until November, and to be honest , I was wondering it it was such a great plan after all. But your piece has convinced me that this is part of the work that needs to be done, along with my postcard writing, letter writing, knocking on doors...it is all of a piece. It is not about who is at the top of our ticket, it is about the threat to our country that is Donald J. Trump and the extremists that surround him. And time is short. So, I will continue to show up at that intersection each week. Maybe others will join us, maybe not. But I cannot just stay at home and stay silent. Thank you for giving me the encouragement I need to do the work.
Thanks for your untiring commitment. Not living in the US I can't be out in the streets. But I can assure you that I have no friends or other contacts who are unfortunate enough to be on my contact list who have not heard about Project 2025 and Schedule F. I pester everyone again and again with emails and if they open their laptops and think 'oh my, here he goes again' – so be it.
Diane, would that that the mainstream media had your commitment to informing the public. You noted " "I was surprised and dismayed when I learned how many friends had never heard of Project 2025 as of a week ago." The worst thing in and for the world is for Trump to win the election. But even more worst (super-superlative) is for Trump to win election by those people who are turned of by "old" Joe Biden, who moan next year when friends and neighbors are fired from the Civil Service jobs and people in their hometowns are rounded up and placed in camps, and all they can say is, "Gee, I voted for Trump, but I didn't think he would do that." The Republicans are telling us what they want to do -- full-blown tyrrany. If we don't listen to them, God help us. You do a service to all voters and citizens. Stay safe and courageous.
I think this is a great idea, Diane. Just make sure your text is large enough for drivers to read quickly. I see signs sometimes that are just too small to grasp from a distance. And thank you!!!
Robert Hubbell: "One way to answer that question is to assume the counterfactual, i.e., that Joe Biden is not the nominee, and ask, “What would we do differently in that scenario?” Answer: Nothing. We would continue to do everything we are doing now."
Exactly. I am voting blue no matter who, up and down the ballot. I support Biden Harris, and Biden has been a good president.
We have one job----continue to out perform the polling, as has been happening every election, and bring as many Dems as possible into office. [Polls don't vote. People do.]----and continue our collective grassroots work to educate voters and get out the vote. Keep our heads down, keep up the good work.
I will say, I am currently deleting a number of my usual Substack reading list, because I'm not going to subject myself to the hand wringing and angst some of them are selling. It saps my energy and my focus is better spent on continuing my work at the grassroots to support democracy, register voters, get out the vote, get signatures when necessary (we have done a LOT of that here in Ohio in the last few years).
There’s another way that Kahneman and Tversky may be helpful in thinking about the last two weeks. What has been called a debate was in reality a quiz show. The format forced Biden to use fast thinking, with only two minutes to put together an answer. Two things about this were problematic, one of them general, one more specific to Biden.
In general, we don’t want presidents to engage in fast thinking. That’s not the job. Deliberation, not an itchy trigger finger, is what is needed.
As to Biden’s performance, it was what his advisers and handlers should have expected. He would be constrained by the format to do exactly what he is not good at: persuasively giving rapid, stereotyped answers to quiz questions and doing so fluently.
Other features of the format just made it worse. Untethered from reality, Trump could say anything that came to mind and say it fluently, if nonsensically. Trump is as much a bullshitter as he is a liar, so he had no real need to think about the questions. Also, his microphone was off, but his mouth wasn’t, and Biden had to hear him and talk over him This quiz show should have had its contestants in separate soundproof booths.
One might wish that Biden had said to his handlers, “Hey, man, that’s not me. I’m not good at that.” Alas, he didn’t.
Yes. The first twenty minutes were dispiriting. I suspect that it took Biden a little while to figure out how to screen out Trump’s sabotage in order to manage a smoother presentation. It would have been better, under the circumstances, for the audience to hear what Trump was doing.
It is my understanding Trump.was still shouting as Biden was trying to answer. Distracting even if Mike was cut off. Maybe 8' is too close for them to stand.
My guess is that he was not prepared at all for ways to respond to Trump as a shouting nonstop liar and sociopath. He needed an intercollegiate debate coach, not political advisors. My debate coach would have helped him a lot. God bless her soul.
I think Trump was seeing the 'debate' more as a possibility for a public execution. How come Biden's reaction to that situation is not referred to Trump's behaviour?
Yesterday, my representative in Washington came out in favor of Joe Biden stepping out of the race. I immediately sent her the following e-mail (sent prior to the press conference):
Hillary, first of all I want to thank you for the work you do in representing my concerns in Washington. I have just been informed that you favor Joe Biden stepping down from his campaign for reelection. I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am to see you take this position. You are advocating negating all of the votes cast for him in primary elections- millions of votes! You are telling me and countless other volunteers that our work has no value. Even worse, you are displaying a level of ageism I would not have thought you were capable of. I believe Joe Biden has done an amazing job saving Americans from financial catastrophe following the pandemic, in propping up the dwindling middle class and restoring our reputation on the world stage. I trust his judgment and he says he is not stepping down. The very least you can do is to have his back the way he has ours. Ask yourself, if there had been no CNN debate, would you be calling on Biden to step down today?? If the answer is yes, I would love to know your reasons. But if the answer is no, or even if you hesitated to think about your answer, then you need to admit that one 90 minute debate does not speak for the man he is, for what he has accomplished, and for what he is capable of accomplishing in the future.
Thank you, Robert, for continuing to maintain perspective and help others also stay the course. As you said, regardless of what happens as far as WHO our nominee is, we must keep reaching out and taking those actions that will lead us towards a Dem victory and saving democracy. It seems insane to me that there are those out there who believe tffg/CFDT to be a better choice than President Biden to run our country, but it seems that as more publicity is generated regarding Project 2025, it will slowly but surely turn the tide.
Grateful for all your support and links to resources so that we each can take action to keep our democracy going.
Last night before the press conference Democratic strategist Cornell Belcher said his sources are saying that there is an active effort to bypass Kamala if Biden steps aside. Joy Reid confirmed she’s heard that too. He said, and I agree, that would be political suicide. What’s wrong with these people? If Biden steps aside, and I don’t think he should, Harris is our best alternative.
1. Regarding an explanation of Joe Biden's terrible debate, take a look at TCinLA's "A Hypothesis on what happened to Biden in Atlanta. He suggests jet lag (flying through 11 time zones) and compares it to JFK's terrible summit with Khrushchev.
2. Regarding one question that Biden was asked -- why he is unwilling to take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment that Trump shouts the he Aced. Joe Biden might explain that this 10 minute cognitive test is intended to assess the possibility of dementia, that he would take the test if his neurologist thought it would be helpful in assessing that possibility. He might wonder why Donald Trump's neurologist recommended that Trump take the test.
I thought that was an on point answer. Whatever he does now, it's not enough proof of health, proof of competency, proof of whatever. Some reporter will decide it wasn't the right test, or wasn't administered by someone trained to interpret the nuances, or because of his age a full panel of testing should be done every 30 days for the information to be valid, or if it's not Parkinson's or another form of dementia, then what is it, because they don't accept it's travel fatigue or a respiratory infection, or just insisting that something is being hidden from the American people for no other reason that they work for Fox. So I think he is right to say he won't take extra exams unless the DOCTORS who actually KNOW him see something that suggest he needs an assessment.
You raise another good point: Trump has not been willing to release his Taxes. Biden & Harris should do so, if they haven’t done so, already. Then, when Trump demurs, they and their allies should hit hard with “What are you trying to hide?”
Last time around, Democrats lamely let Trump get off the hook with the claim that he was being audited. Being audited was no excuse at all ! The public should have seen what Trump *claimed* on his tax forms.
Thank you, Colleen. All of us need to understand the authoritarian tactic of getting people not to trust anyone but the dear leader. Firehose of lies, Putin. Flood the zone with shit, Bannon.
Maybe - just maybe - all Democrats should be focused on talking about Projecxt 2025 instead of Joe hanging it up.. What a lay up the GOP and Heritgage have given them..
During the news conference today, I finally realized why President Biden is refusing to even consider stepping aside at this time. He's Too Busy, doing a very hard job.
His explained at length how the policies he's trying to implement in Ukraine and Israel require intense attention. The consequences of what he's doing right now will resonate for decades.
The President's experience, knowledge and leadership is plainly irreplaceable at this moment. For anyone who cares to listen, here's what President Biden is saying, in that famous stage whisper of his:
"This isn't a good time. Ask me again next year."
.
Gerontophobia is an irrational or excessive fear of old age, the elderly, or the process of aging. It can also refer to disdain or aversion towards older people. The word comes from the Greek words gerōn, meaning "old man", and phobos, meaning "fear".
The Republican Party has been pitting generations against each other as long as I can remember. The folklore has been that old folks have stealing young folks' future ala jack and the beanstalk. "They sold our life's savings for a couple of beans." This is only one aspect of generational warfare. Consider that attacks on youth culture. When I was a kid, to the conservative preachers on the radio, rock n roll was the Devil's music. Stations would not play "race" music, unless it was covered by someone "acceptable" like Pat Boone. How can we forget his version of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti."
The Republican Study Group and now the Heritage Project 2025 have plans to "save" retirement benefits. Cato and Heritage, the Manhattan Institute, Hoover Institution and many others are funded by people who pay proportionally less than most of us wage earners in FICA taxes and they propose cuts, if not "sunset" elimination of many benefits programs. As president, Trump tried and failed to cut benefits drastically. Some Republicans wanted to replace the entire system. See Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Trump, House Republican Cuts to SSI Would Harm Children With Disabilities, Sept. 18, 2017, Kathleen Romig and Guillermo Herrera. https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/trump-house-republican-cuts-to-ssi-would-harm-children-with-disabilities
“The Trump proposal would cut SSI by more than $8 billion over the next decade, shrinking benefits for roughly a quarter of a million children with disabilities by between 38 and 66 percent. It would also increase SSI’s administrative costs and improper payments”.
Meanwhile, after Biden's poor debate performance, there is a media frenzy over whether he is "farblonget." a technical term associated with senility. I am not a scientist, but I used to hear disability cases and my wife and I took a case on evolutionary biology. Besides the many psychometric and biofeedback tests that may be administered, an evaluation of the respective telomeres of the candidates might be helpful, A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome. Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled. Each time a cell divides, the telomeres become slightly shorter.
I admit I am a "yellow dog" Democrat, but in fairness, if an evaluation is necessary, a complete evaluation should be done. I'd add lie detectors and an MMPI. An evaluation of the telomeres should not be dispositive, but could be factors.
I personally do not think that Trump is fit to stand trial, let alone to be a candidate for any office. However, fair is fair. If the issue is whether Biden is farblonget, both candidates should be evaluated.
The Republican Party is filled with New Apostolic Reformationers, and they are waiting for Armageddon. They have no plans to live long, and so they willingly died of covid, and don't care about climate change because that has nothing to do with their goals. It is best explained by Andra Watkins in her Sustack, Why Project 2025 Will Ruin YOUR Life. https://project2025istheocracy.substack.com/p/project-2025-new-start-here
Read about them from her.
Please consider filing a complaint with the IRS against the Heritage Foundation for violating their tax free charter. Here is how you do it with 2 suggestions for what to fill in.
IRS complaint
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/irs-complaint-process-tax-exempt-organizations
Seen on Mastodon. At this link you can download a PDF form to file a complaint to the IRS, requesting that they revoke the Heritage Foundation‘s non-profit status. Fill out the form and mail it to: eoclass@irs.gov
This is what is suggested on the sample form to fill in:
Based on the statements of Kevin Roberst, the Heritage Foundation’s president, on June 11 and July 2, the foundation’s mission is no longer solely “research and education,” but now includes preparing for a possibly bloody revolution.
Specifically, in an interview on “The War Room” on July 2, Roberts stated that the Heritage Foundation has developed a prominent series of policy plans (Project 2025) to overhaul the federal government under a Republican president, and that the country was “in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be”
Sure sounds like Roberts and the other authors of Project 2025 are planning to start a bloody war as part of the Heritage Foundation’s mission.
The Heritage Foundation clearly and overtly supports presidential candidate Donald Trump. This show the organization is an 'action organization' and therefore violates the code allowing for tax exemption under 501(c)(3). This is fraudulent. Action must be taken.
See NYTimes reporting of this incident on July 3rd: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/heritage-foundation-2025-policy-america.html
You'll need more information about The Heritage Foundation to be able to fill out IRS complaint form 13909. This information is from Jessica Craven, Chop Wood Carry Water:
The Heritage Foundation's street address is 214 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., city is Washington, state is D.C. Zipcode is 20002
Their tax ID/EIN was tricky to submit - you cannot have a hyphen so it's 237327730
You can name both John P. Bakiel (VP of Finance) and Kevin Roberts (President).
Jessica suggested saying something like:
The Heritage Foundation clearly and overtly supports presidential candidate Donald Trump. This show the organization is an 'action organization' and therefore violates the code allowing for tax exemption under 501(c)(3). This is fraudulent. Action must be taken.
I just completed my complaint and found that it is easy to submit electronically.
She says, “No need to email. You'll get a download of your submission for your records.” I was not able to do this and had to email it. If you can figure it out, can you please share it.
I did the same thing and emailed it in. Also, I added more documentation to my complaint form as well as a copy of the fraudulent statement made on their IRS Form 990. See https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237327730/202311789349301501/full for their 2022 990 filing, and go to part iv, page 3, question 3
“Did the organization engage in direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part I” They answered NO
That is great. Thank you Triple D!
I am totally supportive of this...and the fact is that it really is time--if we can ever get to a Congress actually interested in making good policy--to examine the entire regime around tax-exemption. By all rights, the tax-exempt status of many evangelical churches should have long since been removed since they function heavily as political messaging operations at this point. In all fairness, there are similar cases that can be probably made about certain tax-exempt progressive orgs as well.
Bruce, since the right wing of SCOTUS has made it their mission to protect the church, which makes more sense if we see what Andra Watkins explains about both Christian Nationalist's beliefs and New Apostolic Reformation beliefs to see why Alito who appears to be NAR, and Clarence Thomas who appears to be Christian Nationalist's concerns are and their agendas, is to support AOC and her group in trying to impeach SCOTUS members first. I sent her money to that effect. It is the money that I am not sending to Dick Durbin who is not taking it on, although he should.
https://project2025istheocracy.substack.com/p/what-is-a-christian-nationalist
https://project2025istheocracy.substack.com/p/what-is-the-new-apostolic-reformation
I think it would be good to drag this out and try to get some press coverage of which there is virtually none, as there is with every issue that could possibly save our democracy, because we idiots let the oligarchs take over our press instead of insisting on legislating against it.
Very good suggestions Linda. I am glad one of the great folks on one of our mutual Substack reads suggested her one night. Remember also that Israel plays a large part in that Armeggedon myth. Those in Congress are doing all they can to bring about the big Middle East war that will deliver them. The Spewker of the House is serous one of them.
It's kinda funny/odd to mention Tom Robbins, but the Israel armaggedon myth was a big part of one of his books, and it was what introduced me to that craziness.
I used a printed form, envelope and stamp. My source for EIN included the hyphen.
The best thing Biden said in his news conference is not getting much coverage. He asked the reporters in the room if they remembered how he gave a speech in Philadelphia and said democracy is in danger. The reporters acted as if he was catastrophizing. What do they think now? Finally, the real threat of MAGA is being revealed. Let’s keep an engaged Biden and get focused. Even the NYT is paying attention.
Even the NYT is paying attention? They’re trying to have Biden removed as a Presidential candidate!
At 76, I STILL dance to the "Devil's Music." Long live the Devil!
I wish I COULD forget Pat Boone's version!
Daniel Solomon –
Good post. However, it is unfortunately too rational for this political moment. People are “reasoning” backwards from their previous, established conclusions.
Remember there is a succession plan - VP Kamala Harris!
Not only that, but how could anyone else even begin to have the knowledge and the established relationships he has.
Incumbency, relationships, and we-JRB's-grassroots-support are force-multipliers for President Joe's campaign. It's virtually impossible to develop any of them within the pertinent time frame.
Let's Go Brandon! 😉
That has been clear to me. Here is a link to What Did Joe Biden Do Today Substack.
https://open.substack.com/pub/whatdidbidendotoday/p/what-did-joe-biden-do-today-599?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
While I am not comfortable with the press not letting this go, or the people who are made uncertain by it (because they are not being realistic, and not being realistic, and not being realistic, and not being realistic). Another person who has spoken to this is American History Prof. Kevin Kruse on Aaron Ruper's Substack Public Notice. https://www.publicnotice.co/p/kevin-kruse-interview-biden-drop-out-convention
I'm also concerned about insidious Democratic Party insider attacks (leaks, "just asking asking questions," etc.) from 1) ambitious, mostly back-bencher electeds, 2) upwardly-mobile professional organizers/staffers, and 3) old rich donors subconsciously and reflexively reacting in fear and horror to the trigger of observing the inevitable decline and death we all face (so, a form of arrested development), all of whom sniff opportunity in President Joe's human traits.
Surmountable.
We just gotta keep on pressin'! [pun not intended]
I think Rick Wilson said some reporters were talking to interns. I guess ambitious ones who want to be useful to members of the press. All these anonymous reports are pretty low for the MSM and more like what we would expect from David Pecker and the Inquirer,
Jerry, I think you got that right. Biden is doing the hard work of being President and doing a good job. If you are doing that you don't have time to preen in front of the cameras.
I would note no one I’m aware of is expressing concern regarding Biden’s ability to govern. The concern, to the extent it exists, resides with Biden’s ability to campaign, expressly, without teleprompter, effectively representing both his achievements and the path moving forward while also prosecuting the case against Donald Trump.
In the coming days, while our elected officials rightly, in my view, take stock as to how we put our best foot forward to save our democracy, I believe Robert correctly underscores that our own efforts to energize and unify the party by getting out the vote and supporting democrats up and down the ballot must continue unabated.
So, if Biden isn’t the best campaigner (whatever that means), we have dozens of fantastic surrogates. Deploy them where they will be most effective: AOC, Jasmine Crockett, and Maxwell Frost on college campuses, Kamala to women’s and minority groups, popular Democratic Governors in their home states, etc. He’s clearly the most qualified to govern.
Ruth, While I expect the campaign will entail deploying surrogates, I leave it to our elected officials to resolve their concerns over Biden’s meandering debate performance that not only failed to put to rest the doubts about Biden’s capacity to defeat Trump but also reinforced those doubts.
See, what has been really bugging me all along (read: pissing me off) is that while I agree that Biden's deliver was not good (for the most part), he actually answered (most) questions put to him, unlike tffg. AND, the substance of his answers was excellent. Again, unlike tffg.
Jocelyn B I totally agree with you. I think he had so much to say and not enough time to say it in. That he was too rushed. He's been fine ever since when time was not limited.
Right! I have also read many complaints that the debate was "not a debate," and of course the almost total lack of any attempt to call tffg on his lies, nor to keep him on topic. The ONLY time the "moderators" did was to insist that tffg answer regarding whether he would accept the results of the election. GRR.
Agreed, Jocelyn. I watched Biden’s Thursday night news conference, including the Q&A. He acquitted himself very well.
Then I kept the TV on for CNN’s talking heads. They dwelled on how Biden looked, whether he stumbled verbally (rarely), etc. But they ALMOST NEVER brought up Biden’s excellent command of issues and his lucid discussion of them.
Such lack of depth! – but that seems to show how far media have fallen, and how their pseudo-expertise may be infecting public opinion.
GRRRR
I don't think anything Biden does will satisfy the media. Ginning up controversy gets them revenue.
JennSH, I would note, following Biden’s energizing, unifying Friday night Michigan rally, that Chris Hayes and Joy Reid lauded how an impassioned Biden underscored both his strong record and vision for the first hundred days of a second term, while also, most effectively, prosecuting the case against Donald Trump.
My point is, while we have good reason to point to examples of poor reporting and neglected context, we ought to step back from painting with too broad a brush.
Rampant ageism. It seems like some kind of cruelty. Let’s put grandpa on the ice flow because he’s not the man he used to be. As we witnessed last night, his body may slow down. A lifetime lived, with the knowledge that comes with it, is priceless. We are lucky to have Joe.
Susan, Admittedly, I’m bothered when thoughtful people voicing legitimate concerns regarding Biden’s prospects for defeating Trump in November are unquestionably labeled ageist. In my view, once we fail to acknowledge that intelligent and sincere people can have fundamental disagreements about complex matters, we lose the ability for a healthy exchange relative to the outcome or meaning of given events.
Well it’s nice to have an open honest debate about whether Biden can win. But how in the world does anybody know? Polls don’t vote - we do. All this honest disagreement is getting us nowhere except where the Republicans want us to be - Dems in disarray. So I say to those of you out there considering if we need a new candidate, try supporting the one you have, and do the work to elect Joe AND HIS INCREDIBLE TEAM. Think about what you can do instead of whining. Worry less do more.
This is in response to what Trump and his team have been saying for months. Some in the Democratic Party are falling for it. Others os us are not.
Mary, I find it disquieting when one presumes that those who disagree with her or him have fallen for some falsehood rather than acknowledging that intelligent and sincere people can have fundamental disagreements about complex matters.
Swallowing and repeating a *falsehood* deserves criticism.
Disagreements based on genuine facts and logical thinking should be discussed but not condemned.
Michael, I am stunned anyone would presume so many in our party are so completely subject to propaganda as to be incapable of asking questions and being skeptical in the formation of one’s judgments.
Yes I recommend we all write ( perhaps again ) to our elected representatives in Congress and even locally to let them know we still support Joe Biden and we expect them to as well. And write to The NY Times and MSNBC and WaPo telling them what you think of their reporting and hysteria and repeating of lies and innuendo from unnamed sources.
Agree, BJ, especially as to your last paragraph!
Thanks Lynell. I very much welcome your positive replies.
Barbara your right but many voters are not questioning his knowledge and experience they are questioning in their mind his ability to think and comprehend.
Think and comprehend??? Did you see the press conference last night?
Yes but it’s not me I was referring to its others.
It's being reported that he referred to Kamala Harris as VP Trump.
They love that slip. Cheap shot from a no longer trustworthy press.
He did. Either he didn’t catch it, or he decided not to interrupt himself.
In my forties I have called my son and daughter by each other’s names at times of exasperation and fatigue. I suspect most parents of two or more children have switched their names.
Heck, my Mom has always called me by her youngest sister's name, also more recently by her older sister's name, etc.
I have more frequently than I liked used the wrong word. I'm 76 and it's been happening for years so I'm not worried about a cognitive decline. I think it has something to do with multi tasking, but I'm not running for President in the most important election of our time. It's not okay to make the kind of gaffes he's been making.
Stephen, I believe your accurate perception pertains to a sizable swath of both voters and government officials, likely due to Biden typically reading from prepared text in lieu of thinking and speaking extemporaneously over extended periods.
Still, if it ends up that Joe Biden is the nominee out of the Convention, we are going to have to come together to get him elected and save our democracy.
At the end of the press conference he did a Q&A for an hour, without notes, etc., and according to my husband (I was coming home from work), he did an excellent job. For an hour. With no notes.
Was that televised? A post-press conference session? I know he talked with individual people after a big speech on several other occasions. I watched the press conference.
Yes, it was televised in its entirety on CNN. Biden took questions from domestic and foreign reporters, and gave outstandingly well-informed answers.
And then several of the CNN political geniuses trashed it, based not on its excellent substance, but on Biden’s delivery! Apparently, they will settle for nothing less than a reincarnation of a JFK press conference.
I’m still not clear. After the press conference was over, was there additional Q&A with President Biden with yet another group of journalists?
Well, my husband watched it, so it must have been. This might be a good starting place, on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4tx3qb0HcM I don't have much time to poke around right now, so there's probably lots more available.
The unanswered question is can we win in November.
Stephen, Admittedly, despite vowing to do all I can to get Biden reelected, I won’t relish 4 months of white-knuckled anticipation.
which we will have to endure no matter who our candidate is.
I think a better use of our time and emotions is to work on getting the Democratic message out whether it be by talking to our friends and neighbors or writing postcards or writing to newspapers and our Congress people. I have stopped listening to the mainstream media and decided to use my energy to do what I can to get people out to vote for the entire Democratic ticket. I feel that worrying about the future is a waste of my time and it also ruins my day.
How, exactly, can Biden be replaced at this late date? Early voting starts in several states in just over two months (45-46 days before Nov. 5). Ballots need to be printed before then. How can anyone win over enough people to defeat Trump in that short amount of time? How can anyone (other than Kamala Harris) get the campaign field offices in every state set up as the Biden/Harris team has done? How could anyone else raise the funds needed to campaign? I support Biden/Harris. Yes Biden is old, but we all knew that. He is still the best person for the job at this point in time. If, heaven forbid, he is unable to complete his next four years in office, he would have a well qualified VP in Kamala Harris to continue the job.
By the way, thanks for the beautiful night sky photo!
I agree Bobbie- and it makes absolutely no sense to gamble with putting Kamala on top of the ticket, since she is already ON the ticket.
A very good point.
It *would be* different if Kamala goes on the top of the Democratic ticket: a new Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate would have to be named and possibly ratified in some way.
Exactly right on all counts, Bobbie. for those who are calling for President Biden to step aside, I'm not hearing anything about what that would look like. Replacing him is not a plan. Contingency planning is a plan, and that's what I believe Democratic leadership should be doing instead of condoning or joining in the feeding frenzy. The worst thing we can do is self-destruct on the eve of the Republican Convention.
That does make a lot of sense but let me ask you a question that I hope is hypothetical. If Biden stays on ticket and does something really awful, what's our strategy? How do we still win? This concerns me a lot.
That's really the purpose of contingency planning, but it's a very good question. The closer it gets to Election Day, the more difficult it will be to recover (e.g., Comey's reopening of the email matter a week or so before the election because of what was found on Anthony Weiner's laptop). I would hope that the campaign is thinking about what ifs, so they're not caught flatfooted. But that doesn't seem to be a strength of the party leadership.
My biggest concern is the damage that's being done by well-meaning Democrats who are trying to force President Biden to retire. They've made their point, and should let the Republican Convention occur without tossing more chum to the sharks in the battery-infested waters. Let the Republicans stew in their own chaos.
It's interesting and relevant that voting will take a couple of months. Perhaps that's a good thing. If many people have already voted by the time something bad happens, maybe there will be less of an effect. Or I could be wrong. But there's also the opportunity for the opposition to mess up so let's hope they do.
I'm counting on it! But the Dems need to be ready to pounce!
Well if they don't, we will. I am now using a Project 2025 message in my Field Team 6 voter postcards. It's easy to create new ones as needed and they're very responsive.
I don't understand what you mean about "does something really awful" - please explain. Thanks.
It's hard to predict but maybe he completely flubs another debate. Or maybe he does something to exacerbate the situation in Ukraine or Gaza. Or maybe he is just so visibly in the grip of dementia that people realize he's too ill to continue. That sort of thing.
Well, I suppose anything like that could happen. But as others have said, we just have to soldier on; there's nothing else useful that we can do. (In terms of Gaza, I suspect he'll be damned by loads of people no matter what he does, sadly.)
Yes, I've come to the same conclusion.
I completely agree, Bob! It makes no sense to switch now.
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. As TC in LA has stated"to counter a successful incumbent means a total loss across the board". FDR probably should not have run for his unprecedented 4th term because of health concerns but surrounded himself with super talented Cabinet members and staff and proceeded onward because the times demanded it...like today.
This, 1,000 times Bobbie.
Exactly what you said, Bobbie.
The only way away from fear is through it. If you have a pit in your stomach about 11/5. Good. You are heading the right direction.
There is overconfidence brewing in the conman and MAGA. That will come to haunt them as it did for Hillary supporters before James Comey reopened his investigation 9 days before the election to find more nothing.
Be more afraid if you can. Wear a Biden/Harris T-shirt grocery shopping 🛒 👕
BeantownStrong.org
You fear will ease with the unexpected compliments that come your way. My 53 Grocery Runs in Biden Gear in FL have taught me there is so much unspoken love for Joe.
Still on the Joe fence?
DemsMakeLifeBetter.org
DEMS MAKE LIFE BETTER will always be true.
Proud Dems, Stand up & Stand out.
We will Defeat Trump/Dobbs.
I’d say have no fear. But the fear is a good thing. It’s fire.
Anxious? Gestalt therapy: register more Democrats.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Also, Daniel, write more postcards!
Ooh, I like that Trump/Dobbs term. Good one!
Thanks Paula. Dobbs is a millstone around his neck. Let’s not let up.
I applaud your perspective, Robert. I plan to stay with the Biden/Harris ticket until there isn't one.
Thanks for the sky photo-op!
Exactly, Lynell! And then we'll support the next Democrat presidential ticket, whether it's 2024 or 2028, because today's GOP is not worthy of leading our nation.
Having observed no equally qualified candidates (not one - and we'll need two - one of whom's presumably KDH), I intend to vigorously advocate for staying the course.
Have fear, if that's present with you as it is with me.
Still.
Stay the course.
The opponents have turned this into a Eurovision Song contest. The most ridiculous and farfetched demands are made on performance. They will always find fault. He doesn't look in the camera, she is not soft spoken, another has a dialect that one allegedly cannot follow. It is never about substance because that is too much work for the NYT and allied media to sort out. No the easiest way is a song contest model. And for all those wavering Dems: I assure you that model will find fault with anyone that you want to bring forward. Are you ready for that? Biden is. You know why, because he has seen it all. Thanks, Robert.
Thanks, Robert, for the reminder that regardless of what happens between now and November 5, our task remains the same - get out the vote, and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.
It's taking longer than I'd hoped, but I think the question of whether President Biden will remain the nominee will be settled soon after the Republican convention next week. So I'm gonna try to ignore the noise and keep an eye on the circus in Milwaukee.
I have been intuitively asking myself what Robert suggested - considering what I would do differently as a grassroots activist if Biden is not the nominee. And the answer is absolutely nothing!
I will continue to spread the word about the dangers of a second Trump term and a GOP victory here in NC, to register voters both in person and via Field Team 6, to write GOTV postcards and Vote Forward letters, and to donate strategically to candidates and organizations that are making a difference!
I'm also encouraged by the reports coming from the grassroots organizations!
*Field Team 6 (www.fieldteam6.org) is completing all the names for some of their text banks and postcard campaigns and introducing new ones every day. I found a postcard campaign yesterday for NC that uses Project 2025 in its messaging.
* Postcards to Swing States (https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/) has completed the distribution of postcards for several of their swing states campaigns (even though it is only mid-July and postcards won't be mailed for 3 more months). And I've heard they've been sending out emails about delays in getting postcards out because they have been slammed with new requests! FYI - they introduced Postcards to Swing Districts just this past week - these are all districts for which there is no swing state campaign.
* Blue Wave Postcard Movement's website (https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/) shows that over 7M postcards have already been sent this year. They have completed voter registration campaigns in AZ (3), MT (2), NV (2), OH (2), PA (2), and WI (2) and are currently working on one in MI. And we haven't even gotten to the GOTV phase yet!
* Vote Forward (www.votefwd.org) volunteers have adopted close to one-fourth of their 10M letters. They have added more addresses to existing campaigns and have introduced new campaigns in more swing districts beyong NY and CA.
Yet somehow, if the MSM reports on grassroots activism at all - and most of the time they don't, we are supposedly depressed and exhausted. I guess we just don't fit their narrative!!
Can you give us the link for the 2025 postcards?
You have to select campaigns for FT6 from a drop-down window so there isn't actually a separate link. The general postcard link is
https://fieldteam6.herokuapp.com/select_campaign
It is grouped under [Special Messaging General 2024-11-05] and the NC campaign is labeled "Project 2025 - NC Statewide - Voter Registation". Since I pulled the addresses yesterday afternoon, it looks like they have added "Project 25" campaigns for all the swing states plus targetted districts in CA, NY, and FL.
There is also another NC campaign labeled as "Trump as Convicted Felon"
Thanks!
Annette, I emailed Field Team 6 and they told me it's okay to use the Project 2025 wording on any of their campaigns. It's this:
"Americans expect freedom and safety. But if elected, convicted felon Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans will enact a terrifying plan called Project 2025 that will take away our freedoms, ban abortion, contraception and IVF, and destroy our planet. Fight back! Register at Voterizer.org and elect Democrats, who are the only party standing between us and this unAmerican future."
Paula , Thank you for posting. I regularly request addresses from FT6 and was unaware of its Project 2025 text. I plan to use it with 1 addition—including a website address (probably Democracy Docket) for a compelling and factual summary.
Cheryl it great to have this detailed breakdown. Good job!
The media narrative about disheartened Dems sure doesn’t fit my circle! We’re doing MORE!
We're writing post cards to addresses we get from PostCardsToVoters.org. Any thoughts about them? Currently the cards are encouraging FL voters to vote for Stephanie Vanos, who is running for school board. We can switch over, if people feel it's more important to, say, write cards about P25.
It all depends on what is important to YOU. School board races are important and Postcards to Voters (PTV) has a good track record for giving the edge to Democrats in close racess up and down the ballot. I have written postcards through them for Tom Suozzi (NY), Judge Janet P. in WI, Donna Deegan (FL), Tom Keen (FL), and Marilyn Lands (AL).
I'm in NC, which has some very scary candidates running on the GOP side. So I am currently writing mostly to NC voters (and prospective voters) plus to traditionally disenfranchised voters with Reclaim Our Vote (BIPOC voters in the South) and NEAZ Native Democrats (Indigenous voters in AZ).
Thank you! I appreciate your feedback!
I’ve written for PTV month in and month out since it was founded in 2017 for voter registration and candidate races up and down the ballot. Love doing that. But perhaps right now we need to write for programs targeting to the swing states where getting more folks to register and vote Dem will do the most good between now and the general election.
Excellent, Cheryl!
I am, too, Bob!
It is quite mind boggling how the current discussion about the Biden candidacy has succeeded to divert the attention from the elephant in the room – the very real danger that the plot against America will succeed with placing an autocrat (or worse) in the White House with serious implications not only on the national but also the international level.
HCR today pointed to a chilling example of what to expect when having Putin's buddy back in the Oval Office. US intelligence services had warned European counterparts about Russian plans to assassinate CEOs of European arms companies. Putin must have been fuming. So reportedly "Trump advisers have told allied countries...reduced intel sharing would be part of a broader plan to scale back U.S. support and cooperation with the 32-nation alliance". More on this here
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/10/trump-considering-cutting-intel-sharing-europe-00167503?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Just like with bragging about Project 2025 and Schedule F it is hard to explain why on earth they would divulge so openly their sinister plans. Is it giddiness, cockiness or the confidence, that they have the elections in the bag, no matter what?
Another reason to keep the eye on the ball and prove them wrong.
A HUGE thanks, Mr. Hubbell, for today's piece. I really needed that. Writing postcards and letters, knocking on doors, talking to friends, family and neighbors, just didn't feel like enough. So yesterday afternoon, with the help of my husband and one dear friend, I spent an hour of the evening rush hour at one of our busiest intersections in town, holding up signs regarding Project 2025 and the threat to our democracy. I know Robert Reich does not see this as true political activism, but to me there is an important messaging component in that action. (I was surprised and dismayed when I learned how many friends had never heard of Project 2025 as of a week ago). It was hot, it was humid. I was encouraged by how many drivers were reading our signs. We received some positive responses and we also received a few choice words from angry white males. I won't lie. There were plenty of cars that drove right past with the drivers looking straight ahead like we weren't even there. I came home, feeling rather depleted by it all. Our plan is to show up each week, same time, same place, same message, from now until November, and to be honest , I was wondering it it was such a great plan after all. But your piece has convinced me that this is part of the work that needs to be done, along with my postcard writing, letter writing, knocking on doors...it is all of a piece. It is not about who is at the top of our ticket, it is about the threat to our country that is Donald J. Trump and the extremists that surround him. And time is short. So, I will continue to show up at that intersection each week. Maybe others will join us, maybe not. But I cannot just stay at home and stay silent. Thank you for giving me the encouragement I need to do the work.
Diane Perea
Beacon, New York
Keep up the great work!! You are making a difference!
You are an American hero. It's not the politicians nor the rich donors who have time and again saved our Democracy it is Americans like you.
My sincere thanks. Take Care. Be safe.
Thanks for your untiring commitment. Not living in the US I can't be out in the streets. But I can assure you that I have no friends or other contacts who are unfortunate enough to be on my contact list who have not heard about Project 2025 and Schedule F. I pester everyone again and again with emails and if they open their laptops and think 'oh my, here he goes again' – so be it.
Diane, would that that the mainstream media had your commitment to informing the public. You noted " "I was surprised and dismayed when I learned how many friends had never heard of Project 2025 as of a week ago." The worst thing in and for the world is for Trump to win the election. But even more worst (super-superlative) is for Trump to win election by those people who are turned of by "old" Joe Biden, who moan next year when friends and neighbors are fired from the Civil Service jobs and people in their hometowns are rounded up and placed in camps, and all they can say is, "Gee, I voted for Trump, but I didn't think he would do that." The Republicans are telling us what they want to do -- full-blown tyrrany. If we don't listen to them, God help us. You do a service to all voters and citizens. Stay safe and courageous.
I think this is a great idea, Diane. Just make sure your text is large enough for drivers to read quickly. I see signs sometimes that are just too small to grasp from a distance. And thank you!!!
Robert Hubbell: "One way to answer that question is to assume the counterfactual, i.e., that Joe Biden is not the nominee, and ask, “What would we do differently in that scenario?” Answer: Nothing. We would continue to do everything we are doing now."
Exactly. I am voting blue no matter who, up and down the ballot. I support Biden Harris, and Biden has been a good president.
We have one job----continue to out perform the polling, as has been happening every election, and bring as many Dems as possible into office. [Polls don't vote. People do.]----and continue our collective grassroots work to educate voters and get out the vote. Keep our heads down, keep up the good work.
I will say, I am currently deleting a number of my usual Substack reading list, because I'm not going to subject myself to the hand wringing and angst some of them are selling. It saps my energy and my focus is better spent on continuing my work at the grassroots to support democracy, register voters, get out the vote, get signatures when necessary (we have done a LOT of that here in Ohio in the last few years).
There’s another way that Kahneman and Tversky may be helpful in thinking about the last two weeks. What has been called a debate was in reality a quiz show. The format forced Biden to use fast thinking, with only two minutes to put together an answer. Two things about this were problematic, one of them general, one more specific to Biden.
In general, we don’t want presidents to engage in fast thinking. That’s not the job. Deliberation, not an itchy trigger finger, is what is needed.
As to Biden’s performance, it was what his advisers and handlers should have expected. He would be constrained by the format to do exactly what he is not good at: persuasively giving rapid, stereotyped answers to quiz questions and doing so fluently.
Other features of the format just made it worse. Untethered from reality, Trump could say anything that came to mind and say it fluently, if nonsensically. Trump is as much a bullshitter as he is a liar, so he had no real need to think about the questions. Also, his microphone was off, but his mouth wasn’t, and Biden had to hear him and talk over him This quiz show should have had its contestants in separate soundproof booths.
One might wish that Biden had said to his handlers, “Hey, man, that’s not me. I’m not good at that.” Alas, he didn’t.
Also, if you read the transcript Biden isn't "bad"
Yes. The first twenty minutes were dispiriting. I suspect that it took Biden a little while to figure out how to screen out Trump’s sabotage in order to manage a smoother presentation. It would have been better, under the circumstances, for the audience to hear what Trump was doing.
It is my understanding Trump.was still shouting as Biden was trying to answer. Distracting even if Mike was cut off. Maybe 8' is too close for them to stand.
The CNN moderators should have reproved Trump during the debate. Their silence was incompetence and malpractice!
Viewers had no idea that Trump was making all that background noise. Too bad that Biden didn’t repeat his classic: “Will you shut up, man ?!”
My guess is that he was not prepared at all for ways to respond to Trump as a shouting nonstop liar and sociopath. He needed an intercollegiate debate coach, not political advisors. My debate coach would have helped him a lot. God bless her soul.
I think Trump was seeing the 'debate' more as a possibility for a public execution. How come Biden's reaction to that situation is not referred to Trump's behaviour?
Yesterday, my representative in Washington came out in favor of Joe Biden stepping out of the race. I immediately sent her the following e-mail (sent prior to the press conference):
Hillary, first of all I want to thank you for the work you do in representing my concerns in Washington. I have just been informed that you favor Joe Biden stepping down from his campaign for reelection. I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am to see you take this position. You are advocating negating all of the votes cast for him in primary elections- millions of votes! You are telling me and countless other volunteers that our work has no value. Even worse, you are displaying a level of ageism I would not have thought you were capable of. I believe Joe Biden has done an amazing job saving Americans from financial catastrophe following the pandemic, in propping up the dwindling middle class and restoring our reputation on the world stage. I trust his judgment and he says he is not stepping down. The very least you can do is to have his back the way he has ours. Ask yourself, if there had been no CNN debate, would you be calling on Biden to step down today?? If the answer is yes, I would love to know your reasons. But if the answer is no, or even if you hesitated to think about your answer, then you need to admit that one 90 minute debate does not speak for the man he is, for what he has accomplished, and for what he is capable of accomplishing in the future.
Please re-think your position.
Thank you.
Thank you, Robert, for continuing to maintain perspective and help others also stay the course. As you said, regardless of what happens as far as WHO our nominee is, we must keep reaching out and taking those actions that will lead us towards a Dem victory and saving democracy. It seems insane to me that there are those out there who believe tffg/CFDT to be a better choice than President Biden to run our country, but it seems that as more publicity is generated regarding Project 2025, it will slowly but surely turn the tide.
Grateful for all your support and links to resources so that we each can take action to keep our democracy going.
Last night before the press conference Democratic strategist Cornell Belcher said his sources are saying that there is an active effort to bypass Kamala if Biden steps aside. Joy Reid confirmed she’s heard that too. He said, and I agree, that would be political suicide. What’s wrong with these people? If Biden steps aside, and I don’t think he should, Harris is our best alternative.
I've said this from the beginning: if they pass over Harris for a white candidate, they will lose the black vote.
They also will lose a lot of women if they pass over Kamala. Political suicide and stupidity.
Agreed. What an awful idea. Biden would never go along with that and I’m wondering if that’s why he’s hell bent on staying in.
It's too late for someone else. That really would be unwise.
Did he mention if he is still running?
1. Regarding an explanation of Joe Biden's terrible debate, take a look at TCinLA's "A Hypothesis on what happened to Biden in Atlanta. He suggests jet lag (flying through 11 time zones) and compares it to JFK's terrible summit with Khrushchev.
2. Regarding one question that Biden was asked -- why he is unwilling to take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment that Trump shouts the he Aced. Joe Biden might explain that this 10 minute cognitive test is intended to assess the possibility of dementia, that he would take the test if his neurologist thought it would be helpful in assessing that possibility. He might wonder why Donald Trump's neurologist recommended that Trump take the test.
I was glad to hear him say, “Well, whatever I do, you will ask for more… How many doctors? Three? Not seven?” Paraphrased.
Fatarse wouldn’t release his taxes. Who thinks he would agree to anything honest?
Our no longer being able to trust formerly trusted media sources is part of Bannon and Co.’s evil plan, no?
I thought that was an on point answer. Whatever he does now, it's not enough proof of health, proof of competency, proof of whatever. Some reporter will decide it wasn't the right test, or wasn't administered by someone trained to interpret the nuances, or because of his age a full panel of testing should be done every 30 days for the information to be valid, or if it's not Parkinson's or another form of dementia, then what is it, because they don't accept it's travel fatigue or a respiratory infection, or just insisting that something is being hidden from the American people for no other reason that they work for Fox. So I think he is right to say he won't take extra exams unless the DOCTORS who actually KNOW him see something that suggest he needs an assessment.
You raise another good point: Trump has not been willing to release his Taxes. Biden & Harris should do so, if they haven’t done so, already. Then, when Trump demurs, they and their allies should hit hard with “What are you trying to hide?”
Last time around, Democrats lamely let Trump get off the hook with the claim that he was being audited. Being audited was no excuse at all ! The public should have seen what Trump *claimed* on his tax forms.
Democratic ‘professionals’ are often so lame !
Both Biden and Harris have released their tax info.
It’s beyond sickening the way the likes of Fatarse, Thomas, and Alito never pay for their crimes. It’s beyond me how they’ll ever be held accountable.
Thank you, Colleen. All of us need to understand the authoritarian tactic of getting people not to trust anyone but the dear leader. Firehose of lies, Putin. Flood the zone with shit, Bannon.
Thanks for “underlining” my point.
Maybe - just maybe - all Democrats should be focused on talking about Projecxt 2025 instead of Joe hanging it up.. What a lay up the GOP and Heritgage have given them..
Wisdom speaks.