72 Comments
Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

After reading today's newsletter, I saw this on a post in LinkedIn. So beautiful:

“According to an old Native American legend, one day there was a big fire in the forest. All the animals fled in terror in all directions, because it was a very violent fire. Suddenly, the jaguar saw a hummingbird pass over his head, but in the opposite direction. The hummingbird flew towards the fire!

Whatever happened, he wouldn't stop. Moments later, the jaguar saw him pass again, this time in the same direction as the jaguar was walking. He could observe this coming and going, until he decided to ask the bird about it, because it seemed very bizarre behavior.

"What are you doing, hummingbird?" he asked.

"I am going to the lake," he answered, "I drink water with my beak and throw it on the fire to extinguish it." The jaguar laughed. 'Are you crazy? Do you really think that you can put out that big fire on your own with your very small beak?'

'No,' said the hummingbird, 'I know I can't. But the forest is my home. It feeds me, it shelters me and my family. I am very grateful for that. And I help the forest grow by pollinating its flowers. I am part of her and the forest is part of me. I know I can't put out the fire, but I must do my part.'

At that moment, the forest spirits, who listened to the hummingbird, were moved by the birdie and its devotion to the forest. And miraculously they sent a torrential downpour, which put an end to the great fire.

The Native American grandmothers would occasionally tell this story to their grandchildren, then conclude with, "Do you want to attract miracles into your life? Do your part."

“You have no responsibility to save the world or find the solutions to all problems—but to attend to your particular personal corner of the universe. As each person does that, the world saves itself.’"

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

You write, "The sweet spot is to be a “changeable optimist”—a person who is optimistic because they believe they can change the future by their actions."

That is exactly why I follow Jess Craven in "Chop Wood, Carry Water" and write postcards and use Resistbot and donate to campaigns in other states and read your Substack and others' as well as try to recruit others to the cause of saving democracy.

Thank you for the consistent encouragement and optimism in these essays. 💜

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Bravo, Robert. Helpful analysis of complex national issues. Some important legal issues are about to be upon us, including ones about which there is no precedent. Your special talent for clarity of complicated concepts makes your newsletter mandatory reading. That talent no doubt led to your success as a litigator. A newsletter written by a talented litigator will benefit all of your readers. Thank you for that!

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

While I love your concluding thoughts baseball imagery, and couldn’t agree more, I’m clinging to the image of Babe Ruth’s “called shot” in the 1932 World Series - pointing to the center field bleachers before blasting a 5th inning home run out of the park at Wrigley Field. After holding our collective breath for years while prosecutors investigated and built their cases, it’s time for them to step up to the plate, smile, and point to center field. History awaits.

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Mar 22, 2023·edited Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Emperor Xi's visit to Russia is important for another reason not mentioned here. As John Kirby put it, Putin is the "junior partner here." The agreement to a set of proposals that would expand their natural gas trade as well as other economic ties cements Russia as a Chinese resource colony.

This is important because Xi has enhanced China's international standing by mediating the redevelopment of ties between the two leading Muslim powers - the Sunni Saudis and the Shia Iranians, giving a connection to ending a 1,000 year war within the religion. China has also got the BRICs and the Indians through the Belt and Road Initiative. This dominant connection with Russia strengthens the Chinese desire to move away from the alliance systems and global security architecture that the United States ushered into place in the aftermath of World War II with a Global Security Initiative based in the former colonialized world, against the Western former colonizers. Xi is close to becoming creditably the "President of Eurasia," if not the Emperor. No one alive for seven centuries has dealt with a unified Chinese Empire led by a strong emperor.

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Hey, Robert. To add to the story about Xi visiting Russia, this story from AP reports Japan's Prime Minister Kishida visiting Ukraine at the same time.

https://apnews.com/article/kishida-kyiv-xi-russia-putin-summit-575d4249f213f1ac0002344501c0239c

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

As much as I can't WAIT to see Trump held accountable, ie punished, he has become a sideshow, a soap opera with big characters and ongoing suspense, albeit compelling and vital to our country's rule of law, but of diminishing consequence. Still, when he is convicted, I hope he is sentenced the way a poor Black man in California would be sentenced for a three strikes violation. He has at least three strikes, doesn't he? People I know have been sentenced to 50 years-to-life, 122 years-to-life, 75 years and three life sentences. (See my film Life & LIfe, available on Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon, etc. Please excuse the self-promotion.) Trump deserves nothing less.

But the even bigger dramas going on right now, besides the flailing of the GOP and the real consequences of our radical judges' rulings especially for women, are, as Mr Hubbell points out, Climate Change and most immediately, China and Russia, or more accurately, China. I would add looming AI. There are big changes afoot in our world. There is much to do.

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I haven't been able to figure the exact times, but it appears that the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, was in Ukraine at the time the Japanese baseball team defeated the USA in the World Baseball Classic. He was marking developments in the creation of a world order that includes Asia as well as Europe and which counters and minimizes the import of the China/Russia summit. Kishida had just completed a visit to India and further reconciliation between Japan and South Korea (where they also play baseball). I mention baseball because cultural developments take time. International political successes take leadership. Credit Joe Biden for presiding over the promise of a world where democracies work together and thrive.

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Your baseball and trial experience stories are excellent analogies for where we are with regard to the multiple crises we are in the midst of. Somes you win, and somes you lose but you don’t quit trying. My hope is that we hit a critical mass on the winning side of solving our existential problems. Surely there are more of us that want that than those that want to wield power and amass wealth at the expense of the rest of us and the planet. It may be naive and yes, there are tipping points that we have blown through…but as long as we are still on this planet, we have agency. I listened to an excellent interview of Jane Goodall recently. She was a young woman whom no one believed would last a week in the jungle. She said if she had let their negative doubts get to her she would never have discovered the world of the chimpanzee and all that has taught us, nor would she be where she is today as a leader in the ecological/environmental movement. For my part, I am working on a plan to sell my house and build a very (maybe very very) small house with solar panels and heat pump. I recently looked into a studio/dwelling that is green and can be set up in short order and the waiting list is 150,000 people long. This may be the wave of the future. Even if any action beyond recycling is beyond your scope, i believe one can contribute to this movement by envisioning our planet, people, and creatures as flourishing and living peacefully. It’s a form of positive prayer. Call it woo woo, I believe in it. If nothing else, it helps me to be more positive and peaceful and that feeds on itself and ripples out.

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Excellent analysis of the overall situations regarding Trump as well as a great summation of why America 🇺🇸 must keep doing the right thing for the best interests of all Americans 🇺🇸 just keep on keeping on with being involved in this country and its political processes. That's how this whole mess of the GOP tail shaking the dog 🐕 has evolved, from too many years of laissez-faire attitudes that the problems of government are beyond our control through the gerrymandering manipulations of the GOP to ensure their worldview over the best interests of all Americans. Now we have to find a way to short circuit the gridlock they employ to maintain their stranglehold and undue influence that the 10% of MAGA are dragging down the 90% of common sense citizens with. America 🇺🇸 deserves better than to have a 5 member majority in the House 🏠 doing nothing more for America 🇺🇸 than wild goose chases and witch hunts in an effort to obscure the reality that seditious activities did occur with J6 and Mar a Largo, and to some extent, are still occurring with their shenanigans. Think of all the wasted time and effort that could be better addressed for making all of America 🇺🇸 a better place for all Americans. After all, isn't that the whole point of government of the people, for the people, and by the people that shall not perish from this Earth 🤔 so help us God?

I believe the GOP party founder, ol Honest Abe, said something similar to that effect at a place called Gettysburg? The insurrectionists should take heed of his wise remarks for a strong and prevalent Union.

They still ring just as true today.

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Hi I believe if we translate all pro-democracy legitimate news sources and intelligent commentary into Spanish we will be able to reach more Latin voters. Because we want the same things, safety security and integrity...

I wish there were Spanish editions of the Times, the Post and the Guardian and the Atlantic etc....

Joyce Vance Heather Cox Richardson, and Robert Hubbell...also make the you tubes spanish as well....We need to be part of the solution and foster the intelligence and discernment...

anyway I am just pushing forward this message and hopefully those that publish contecnt will respond and get it done..!

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A few comments. Mike Trout struck out because he is human but more importantly he faced one of the best pitchers in the game today. We need to give credit to the pitcher not be critical of the hitter. Which brings me to the concern I have that as the evidence leaks out of Trump’s alleged crimes and the unprofessional behavior of his attorneys Republicans go on the attack against the prosecutors and the criminal system without a shred of information about the charges and before an indictment was handed down. Why is it OK for Trump to try and rally his base against legitimate charges.? Where is the volume of outrage, and outright condemnation of these activities by Republicans and Democrats at the same volume level and media coverage ? We need Trump and his followers to strike out like Trout because decent law abiding Americans pitched the rule of law and and democracy over threats to our country. Like the MLB world tournament the game is on the line.

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I'm off to give blood, there is, as always, a serious need and probably a blood drive somewhere near each of us today or in the coming week.

Great newsletter and, hopefully, a step toward seeing the light we all trust is at the end of the tunnel.

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Wow! One of your best daily commentaries with lots of great information/resources. I read your comments every morning as I eat my breakfast. What a great way to start a new day with your always positive and spot on thoughts. It also gives me hope that we can someday get out of this mess or doom as a result of Trump and the current state of the Republican Party. Thank you Robert!

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I was so happy to read Hannah Ritchie's article on the right kind of climate optimism. It is excellent and important. Thank you very much for including it, Robert.

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Mar 22, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I just saw a wonderful film at the DC Environmental Film Festival:

Eating Our Way to Extinction.

Please recommend your readers see it!

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