Another way to offset the RNC election subversion via trained-to-be-disruptive pollworkers is for people of integrity among us to sign up as election workers. In 2020, it was one of the best things I ever did, and I'm up for it again starting this weekend.
I applaud your efforts, Ellie. I will also point out that in some states...my Florida for example...poll workers are in more danger than poll watchers for one simple reason. Our esteemed (not) governor and the Florida legislature have made it a crime to "make a mistake" when you are a poll worker. If you make a decision that a poll watcher or other person doesn't like, you can be brought up on charges. In my role as a poll worker for many, many elections, I have made decisions that were unpopular but valid, and supported by my Republican poll supervisor. Now.....I no longer have that ability or support and that's why I have resigned my long held role as a poll worker. I may look into being a poll watcher instead.
I've been thinking about the 2nd Amendment. When that amendment was originally written and ratified, there was no such thing as a semi-automatic, let alone a fully automatic weapon or one that is specifically designed to kill people as rapidly as possible. If there were no 2nd amendment and such an amendment was just being written today, you can bet your last nickel the it would be loaded with numerous limitations and stipulations, including (with legalese provided by lawyers):
1. All semi- and fully automatic weapons are outlawed (as in Canada and New Zealand and . . )
2. Whenever a gun changes ownership, there must be a background check of the new owner. No exceptions.
3. Guns will be treated like cars. If you want to drive a car on public streets, you must pass written and oral tests and a driving test. All cars must be registered. The same will apply to guns.
Many thanks for your comment, Annette. I have begun reading the article you linked and will continue to read it all the way through. The NRA would be extremely embarrassed to read it, but would very likely try to hide behind the 2nd Amendment.
In your column yesterday, you pointed out, once again, the venal, cruel hypocrisy of the Republicans regarding their non-support of mental health, while blaming mental disease for the executions. As I psychiatrist I am confronted with this every day. The insurance companies (with Republican support) obstruct at every opportunity to provide mental health care. Submitting claims is a nightmare, with arbitrary rejections, requiring hours on the phone listening to terrible music and then after a 20 minute wait, being told that this is the wrong number. Prescribing medications I commonly use has become a nightmare. Meds that patients have received for years are refused, either suggesting using an alternative or requiring a 'prior authorization.' Patients think the authorization comes from me. Not so. I have to fill out forms and 'request' that the drug be allowed. This is no way to provide care for people with any issue around their mental health (or medical illness for that matter) Finally, it's ludicrous to think that 'spotting these people in a mental health clinic' is realistic. People who shoot to kill will not show up for help.
Thanks, Derek. And thanks for helping people navigate this challenging world. It is disconcerting to hear the problems you face in providing healthcare.
To clarify a statement I made last week that some readers misinterpreted, we do have a mental health crisis in America that is unconnected to guns and we should invest in solutions. Trying to do that through a "gun safety bill" is political optics. I will welcome anything that will make us safer, but let's not pretend that making it more difficult for people with mental health conditions to get guns constitutes "fixing our mental health issues." it is a fig leaf to avoid gun control.
Robert, this is not an original thought of mine, but someone made an interesting point on a substack a few days ago (I subscribe to six, so I can't be sure where I read it.) The point went something like this - people who have a NEED to buy a military grade assault weapon might indeed have some sort of "mental health issue." It's worth thinking about. I don't know why on earth a person would NEED such a weapon unless he (or she) is so consumed with fear, hatred, anger or what have you that would make such a person think that buying that gun and all the ammo to go with it is necessary for he (or she) to be safe. Not having any expertise in the field of mental health, I can only guess at what would drive such a person. This is not to excuse McConnell's lame smoke screen but just to suggest that the REAL problem (too many guns) may have some sort of link with the mental health of too many people who are driven to buy them.
You and many others have been opining that "the core issue [is]—too many guns designed to kill people quickly and efficiently." Of course this is an important issue, and its importance is underlined by the "natural experiment" in Australia. But is this really the "core" issue? Isn't the core issue the American fascination with / need for guns?
Like other American boys, when I was young, my hero wielded a gun--though I must say, the fact that my hero--Roy Rogers--always shot to disarm the bad guys by shooting their guns out of their hands, seemed both wonderful and absurd to me. When I was older--during the years of air-raid drills in the school hallways and basements--I drew pictures of missile trajectories and collected cards of Russian and American fighter jets.
But how did I acquire this fascination with shooting and violent imagery? It wasn't because I knew anything about the 2nd Amendment. But throughout my childhood, American films promoted the glories of WWII and of the Wild West where men could be men. And throughout my whole life the Pentagon budget has grown, year by year--except for a short period during the Obama years--to absurd proportions, while American presidents have promoted wars all over the globe.
It seems to me that, even if State governments were to restrict the legal sale of destructive weapons, the American idea that the courageous reaction to fear, sorrow and pain is to attack one's (supposed) enemies with deadly force, as long as "standing one's ground" is the American thing to do, as long as the example which our government and our film and internet gaming industry constantly "bombard" us with images of violence... we should not be surprised that some American men--and it is men, not women(!)--will turn to violence rather than learning to bear the pains of being human.
Hi, Stephen. You raise a serious issue that should be discussed as part of the solution. But in Australia, the gun buyback affected only 20% of the guns in circulation. Australians still own tens of millions of guns in a culture that seems (to me) to romanticize rugged individualism in the Outback as much as America does for the Old West. And yet, since 1996, there have been only two mass shootings in Australia, and I believe that both involved murder-suicides of immediate family members (not that that that fact makes it any less heinous). So, yes, I agree with you that we need to examine the role of violence in media (especially first-person shooter video games), but Australia suggests that removing assault weapons goes a long way towards solving the problem.
Here is a section from the conclusion of that article:
Clearly guns have different meanings in the U.S. and Australia. For the Americans interviewed, guns
signify the American Creed: freedom, independence, and the American way. Guns are an integral part of
American mythic history and popular culture, and thus American gun enthusiasts are preserving a particular
vision of the American past, one in which good guys used their guns to defeat the British and forge a nation,
protecting their families and communities against hostile forces and a harsh wilderness. American shooters
believe that throughout America‟s history, guns have been owned by American heroes and patriots, and thus
gun ownership is integral to maintaining an identity as “good Americans.” Being a gun enthusiast signifies
upholding the American Creed. Even when these shooters are describing guns used for sport shooting, they link guns to protection and defense. Defensive gun ownership is an inherent part of pro-gun ideology for
these American shooters.
In contrast, the Australians interviewed view guns as inseparable from shooting sports. Shooting is a
sport that promotes the values that all healthy sport in Australian society promotes: relaxation, focus, skill and
professionalism, community togetherness, and raising the profile of Australia for the good of all Australians.
But perhaps most importantly, Australian shooters believe that attending to gun laws, respecting the concept of
gun laws, is a crucial part of being a good shooter; this is the essence of civic duty that Australian shooters
conflate with being a good Australian. A good shooter is one who gets involved in safety, in teaching, in
making sure that people treat the sport with the respect it deserves.
So: I fear your idea that the "natural experiment" in Australia implies that a similar buy-back program in America would reap similar results is wishful thinking... and that it, like the media's fascination with the "mistakes" made in Uvalde--is another distraction from issues embedded much more deeply within the American (male) psyche. In fact--if I may make bold--there are times when the tone you assume in your insightful blog, for instance the language you've been using in support of the American armament of Ukraine, or phrases like "where if the outrage," carries within it a tacit assumption that, in the face of violence and aggression, the appropriate reaction is anger.
There is much more to be said on the subject, for now, I'll just add: I'm grateful to you for having lent us--your readers--a space in which to examine these questions.
American men are born and raised for loving metal penis extenders. I was a girl who watched Roy Rogers, and I remember that TV was inundated with shows about gunmen (the women sat about waiting prettily to be protected and rescued). This culture is steeped in toxic male violence.
Though guns and abortion are hot button issues, a CNN poll shows that the uppermost concern for voters is inflation. My dark suspicion is that as soon as the congress turns back over to Republicans, the Saudis will ease oil prices. After all, Trump treated them with incredible "respect" despite the fact that they murdered dismembered a journalist, and Jared Kushner just got a gigantic payback from the Saudis to invest in his more than dubious investment firm. they roll back prices, inflation decreases, and the GOP takeover of the USA will be complete. Please tell me there's no way this would happen.
Seems likely, to me. Almost sounds like you have been reading telegram messages between Jared and MBS!
But the current round of inflation is not tied to gas prices. The oil producers are taking advantage of inflation to price gouge. So gas prices contribute to inflation, but is not the cause. America is still struggling with a tight labor market, pent-up pandemic demand, record high savings (that are quickly dwindling), and residual supply-chain issues.
Retired teacher here, with a question: When Ted Cruz insists there should only be a single, fortified door per school, is that literal? What if there’s a fire? My district had weekly fire drills for the first month of school and then once a month for the remainder of the school year. Our goal was to empty the school in under 3 minutes. If the entire school population had to use the same door?? One time in my teaching career we had a gas leak scare and the school was immediately evacuated. Again, with everyone using one door? I’d also like more information from the Arm the Teachers supporters. Exactly where is this gun supposed to be stored in a classroom? It would have to locked away unloaded (a loaded gun in a classroom is utter insanity). So—if a teacher hears gunshots or is informed there’s an armed intruder in the school, they must get their keys, unlock the gun, locate the bullets and load the gun, and prepare to possibly shoot a human while their students watch? Gosh, what could go wrong? What if the teacher is still shot and a student grabs the gun and accidentally shoots a classmate? I could go and on with the horrible possibilities that could happen. I just don’t understand why Arm the Teachers and Mass Shootings Will Stop proponents are pretending that’s a viable solution. It’s beyond comprehension.
I appreciate your almost daily efforts, Mr. Hubbell, thank you.
Hi, Ilene. Thanks for your service as a teacher, and thanks for pointing out the flaw in Cruz's plan. Ted Cruz should not be trusted to drive a car, much less sit in the Senate.
There have been a wide variety of solutions suggested to gun violence in the U.S. We are all aware of many of these and I will not recount them all here. Among the least helpful and likely to make a substantive difference are those offered by many Republicans. On the other side we have thoughtful Democrats, such as Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal who are authorities on the subject and contributing well thought through suggestions to be considered. In order to achieve passage of measures to reduce gun violence at the federal level it will be necessary and important to include ideas and suggestions from both sides of the political aisle. Having made this obvious observation we should also be clear that the suggestions offered by Senator Ted Cancun Cruz are at the very top of the dumb, bad idea list. His suggestions are not only unhelpful but demonstrably moronic. Neither his suggestions or Ted Cruz should be taken as a serious authority on any subject whatsoever.
As a retired teacher and school administrator, I predict a mass exodus of educators if such stupid ideas ever came to pass - both the single door stupid idea and the arming teachers idea. I know I'd resign in a heartbeat.
I have a question for Robert and other subscribers. What extraordinary election countermeasures does the DNC and the DSCC have in place, or in the works? Better, what measures or tactics are the DNC or DSCC going to employ to affect the outcome of upcoming elections and when are they going to start? I'm not talking about 'get out the vote' or other routine actions that have been taken every election since before we were born. When are Democrats going to start to be as aggressively proactive as Republicans have been for the last 40+ years? When Republicans are in power they spend the entire time prosecuting Democrats and particularly the most powerful ones. Republicans use government to attack Democrats and protect Republicans. Barr is one obvious example.
The reason I appreciate the Today's Edition is because it connects the dots and reminds me about the Republican's endless unethical and often criminal activities. I get overwhelmed and I simply can't recall everything that has happened with any specificity. For decades now the Republicans have methodically worked to thwart majority rule and permanently install a plutocratic/kleptocratic state. Their actions are unambiguously duplicitous and subversive and basically un-American. To a greater and lesser degree, every Republican is in violation of their oath of office. Why require an oath of office if it isn't enforced??
My enduring frustration is the complete failure of Democrats to combat and defeat a political party that has clearly and demonstratively gone off the rails and is utterly corrupt. The minority Republican Party is willing and determined to overthrow our government! Hello? I'm mostly focused on the Democratic politicians, but I see too many Democratic faithful (present company excluded) defending and enabling the weak and feckless Democratic leadership. I wish I had a dollar for every excuse I've read or heard!
So, I get the fact that we need to come together to preserve our democratic values. But, I strongly suggest the reason we don't come together is because too many in the Democratic Party and particularly the Democratic leadership are not progressives and are constantly engaged in triangulation. There is a reason the moderates in the party are called corporate centrists. Nancy Pelosi weakly touts key progressive common sense programs while behind the scenes she is smoothing the ruffled feathers of wealthy donors and promising them that she will protect their interests. Democratic leadership is notorious for squashing progressive voices. Schumer, unlike McConnell cannot unite his caucus because he and most members are joined at the hip with their wealthy donors and/or are protecting their personal financial interests. At some point, talk is cheap Chuck! Republicans have been quick to dethrone RINOs; Democrats "put up" with DINOs even as they undermine and weaken the entire party.
We shouldn't be where we are today - struggling to preserve democracy. If we don't resolve our differences, this party will never unite in a common cause - a common destiny. The Democratic Party is either solidly progressive upholding long-held liberal Democratic values or it is a hodge-podge of competing views that ultimately divide and undermine the party.
"Preserving democracy" is not a kitchen table issue, particularly in a society that is focused on self-gratification and self-preservation. It's a dog-eat-dog world and the idea of what's best for the country does not resonate with most people. Republicans pick issues that resonate even if they are minority issues and they do whatever is necessary to bring home the bacon.
Six months out from another election and I see nothing different or proactive occurring in the Democratic Party that will expose, prosecute and convict the criminal Republican cabal. Forget about the courts, especially this Supreme Court abomination. Biden and the Democrats can't even agree to expand the court. Forget about Garland and the Justice Department indicting Trump and many Republicans in Congress. Garland won't even take the step to enforce Congressional subpoenas. I could go on and on and in fact, I could make a list of thousands of failings of the Democratic Party to proactively combat the relentless attack of a minority far-right, ultra-extreme political party who without question has blood on their hands, and who is responsible for the needless deaths of 100's of thousands of Americans.
Frankly, for the last 40+ years I've gotten zero return on my votes and contributions.
Hi, Chris. I believe that Democrats are ahead of the RNC in the voter protection game, and have been for years. We saw the results of a disciplined and organized "army of Democratic lawyers" in 2020. Organizations like The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, the ACLU, League of Women Voters, DNC, etc. recruit, train, and deploy tens of thousands of poll watchers and attorneys every election cycle. What is different this year is that the RNC is deliberately trying to put election deniers in place as poll workers. Whether the system can withstand that onslaught is the question--but as I said in the newsletter, the complete answer to that question is winning elections by large margins.
Where were the Democrats in 2000 when Florida cheated Gore out of an election outcome and ultimately the presidency when they allowed the Supreme Court to decide an election?
Where were the Democrats in 2016 when Republicans eeked out victories in three states (less than 80K votes) giving them an electoral college victory?
Why is it Republicans don't feel the need to win by large margins? It seems to me, all they care about is getting it close enough to "massage the votes." Most examples of voter fraud is in the R column!
I believe, if Republicans and Democrats competed on a level playing field, Democrats would have won far more elections and if you go back far enough in time, today Republicans would be a small minority party that never could gain the majority with grievance-based extremist issues like abortion and gun control. The competition today is more about money than votes.
Democrats deserted their base back in the 70's and 80's when they ditched the middle class, blue collar, pro-union portion of the population in favor of big money, corporate interests. Throw in NAFTA and less consumer-friendly legislation that protect the wealthy; a failure to expand Social Security and establish universal health care and you impact negatively a huge percentage of the population. It also opened the door to Republicans to court the ranks of grievance-based one issue voters.
Countries with far less do far more for their people without baseless accusations of SOCIALISM. In 40 years, Republicans have pushed the idea that the Democratic Party are crazy tax and spend socialists and gotten little or no effective rebuttal. The result, Democrats have moved farther to the right instead of hold their ground and fight for the left.
I'm not looking for agreement from anyone. I've thought about these issues for the last 30 years in particular and I have been a victim of the policies that come out of Washington. I know I'm not alone in these thoughts. A significant number of Democratic voters are not sympathetic or appreciative of the Party. For too many of us, it is a vote for the lesser of two evils. The fact that I won't vote ever for a Republican does not bode well for Democratic efforts or party unity. Forget about purity and save democracy - that will not win elections in my opinion. If you want to change my opinion then show me some return on my investment (votes and contributions.) That is the essence of democracy - majority consensus on popular and basic issues. I'll keep voting for Democrats but it's not my vote that is in doubt.
You have stated some of my thoughts. Yesterday while watching MSNBC and the story that Politico wrote about this subversion that the Republicans are planning I said the same thing. Where is the Justice Department? Where are the Democrats? They should be pulling all the levers of the alarm...it's a 7 alarm fire! To sit by and just wait until it happens is unconscionable. That is what is leading to some of the frustration on the blue team.
People like me want a return on their investment. Forty years of zero returns definitely results in immeasurable frustration. I say immeasurable because polls are not going to capture this dynamic. You can't quantify the source of frustration. For example, I think this frustration is reflected in Biden's poor polling number, but those numbers don't indicate that. Again, people want a return on their investment.
Republicans have a far easier job of delivering returns because all they have to do is oppose everything the "libs" attempt.
I don't know about you, but I fully expected the Democrats to go full blitz on every damn Republican who refused to uphold their oath of office and tried to subvert justice being served. Let us never forget, the Republican Party (not just Trump) is responsible for the death of 100's of thousands of Americans who needlessly lost their lives to Covid.
We got one lousy committee investigating a coup attempt. In no particular order, how about investigating the seating of Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett on the Supreme Court. Why isn't Barr and the former Justice Department being investigated? How about Homeland Security and the FBI? Potentially there are untold violations of national security that should be thoroughly investigated. What did Trump convey to Putin? Why haven't Trump's cabinet members been called to testify - what did they know and when about all kinds of sordid and corrupt goings on with Trump. The list is endless and again all the Democrats could muster is a toothless (thanks to the Justice Department) investigation into what everyone knows was an attempted coup.
Yea, I think Democrats are clueless about how frustrated people are about their incompetency on all matters. Of course, it doesn't help that Republicans are always poking and jabbing the Democrats. There's a lot of mistrust in government in general and politicians in particular.
This is a really good list: "how about investigating the seating of Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett on the Supreme Court. Why isn't Barr and the former Justice Department being investigated? How about Homeland Security and the FBI? Potentially there are untold violations of national security that should be thoroughly investigated.
Trying to "like" your comment, but the heart doesn't work. I agree with your list. The Dems have let this cancer grow so large that, even if we got a world class surgeon, she might not be able to cut it out.
Click once and refresh the page and most times you'll see the heart click register. Don't keep clicking the heart because it just toggles on and off. Cheers!
The only "strategy" I can determine is fund raising, by the droves. I get so many texts on a daily basis, it is staggering. Many come in the form of a "survey" which is just another way to ask for money. Some come in the form of "the GOP has just spent a gazillion dollars against (insert name here)" or "this is the last day and we haven't heard from you" or "can you give just $3 and help us pass (name the bill that will never get through the Senate)." You get my drift. I see nothing original from within the party leadership. Nevertheless, I will vote blue all the way and I will send dribbles of $ to individuals who DO appear to have some progressive ideas and some passion for serving us. Most of that is at the state level though. Not at the top.
I have to laugh because I have the exact same experience. My favorites are the ones appealing to we need your voice from South Carolina or you the only one from South Carolina we haven't heard from.
Does anyone know who is the chairman of the DNC? Has anyone heard from him? Maybe his emails ended up in the spam folder. LOL
Seriously, Jamie Harrison was a great candidate up until the last month of his election against Lyndsey Graham when he folded like a cheap suit. Unbelievable collapse, and so many of us poured money into his campaign. He had Graham on the ropes to the point that Graham had to go on FOX News every day to beg for money.
The moral of the story, the guy doesn't know how to close out the sale and apparently now he doesn't even remember how to make a sale.
Jun 2, 2022·edited Jun 2, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Needing something to hold the people of the country together under a strong national government, James Madison, in 1789, drafted a deliberately weak and ambiguous 2nd Amendment that delivered a vague gesture of the idea of the importance of state militia. Until recently, I’ve imagined we’ve been prisoners of this virtually meaningless text that, regrettably, plays directly into the crisis of gun violence in this country. However, as of late, I’ve come to believe that we’re being held hostage by white rural and ex-urban voters, whose votes Republicans fear they’d lose were they to support any meaningful gun control restrictions.
Adding insult to injury, imagine my delight when I learned earlier today that the RNC is placing mostly 2020 election deniers into positions of authority within election administrative systems and training them, in largely swing state Democratic precincts, on how to contest voters as well as voting processes.
On this last point, Ellie Kona, who posted earlier, smartly suggested that people of integrity could help offset RNC subversive tactics by signing up as election workers. One just must be sure he or she is putting his or her commendable intentions to work in a swing state.
Thank you once again Barbara Jo for a succinct analysis. See, Heidi Pryzbola's Special Report, "It's Going To Be an Army" tape revelations at www.politico.com.
Jun 2, 2022·edited Jun 2, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
How common are mass shootings in the U.S.? -
A mass shooting is defined as any incident of gun violence in which 4 or more persons are wounded or killed not including the gunman who may have been injured or killed during the incident.
On May 24th, just over one week ago, 21 people, including 19 school children and two teachers were killed, and another 17 were wounded. This is the second deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history.
But do you know how many mass shootings there have been in the U.S. since the Uvalde school shooting on May 24th? There have been 18 mass shootings in the U.S. just since the Uvalde tragedy - 18! In those 18 mass shootings, 13 people have been killed and 84 wounded. And that is just in the last week!
So far in 2022, there have been 230 mass shootings according to this definition. In the full year of 2021 in the U.S., there were 818 mass shootings resulting in the deaths of 920 individuals and 3,141 injured. And these numbers are only through the first week following the Uvalde shooting and do not yet include yesterday’s Tulsa shooting.
It should not be clear that we in the U.S. have a serious gun violence problem. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children. more than motor vehicle accidents, more than cancer, the leading cause of children's deaths - gun violence!
We cannot accept that there is nothing we can do or try in an attempt to reduce gun violence. There are solutions we could at least try.
At the request of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the legislature allocated $10 million to form a 400 member Florida State Guard. The state is asking for 400 volunteers and seeking a director with experience in military-style operations. It appears the governor is seeking his own vigilante militia that can sew chaos wherever the Republicans think necessary. I find this very frightening and think of the Nazi Brownshirts who terrorized Germany.
You're right, Democrats will be thwarted in everything if they don't end the filibuster. Every Republican knows this first-hand. The only time I've seen McConnell freak out is when he thought Democrats might really succeed in ending the filibuster. He and the wealthy influencers got to Manchin and Sinema and down went Biden's agenda and his presidency (a twofer.) The Democrats once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and another chance was lost to prove they are the party to best help Americans.
As a side note, this is why I stopped giving money to the DNC and DSCC. I don't want a dime going to Manchin-type politicians who sold out for personal financial gain. I give to progressive candidates. Best political campaign in my lifetime was Bernie Sander's. He proved that you can win on a $27 average contribution. True, he wasn't a slick Willie but I believe his heart was in the right place. I like Joe Biden but for many reasons he was not my first choice. I worked for and supported Elizabeth Warren - that lady is a fighter and she would have taken it to the wealthy plutocrats. Like Bernie, they feared her and bought off the Democratic Party's machine to undermine her campaign and support the more malleable Biden.
Beto seems to be focusing his campaign on guns—or perhaps gun insanity is a better term—and Stacey Abrams is going after Brian Kemp on guns and abortion rights. They might just strike sparks. If they do, in Texas and Georgia, it might just change the whole political equation.
The Womens political committee just had a zoom with speaker pelosi and she offered three most important things: 1.own the ground game canvassing 2.clarity of message. 3. Money …to insure a Democratic victory! Marcia herman. LA
Thank you as always Robert for your useful and thorough comments and perspectives!
Extra good letter, Robert.
Another way to offset the RNC election subversion via trained-to-be-disruptive pollworkers is for people of integrity among us to sign up as election workers. In 2020, it was one of the best things I ever did, and I'm up for it again starting this weekend.
I applaud your efforts, Ellie. I will also point out that in some states...my Florida for example...poll workers are in more danger than poll watchers for one simple reason. Our esteemed (not) governor and the Florida legislature have made it a crime to "make a mistake" when you are a poll worker. If you make a decision that a poll watcher or other person doesn't like, you can be brought up on charges. In my role as a poll worker for many, many elections, I have made decisions that were unpopular but valid, and supported by my Republican poll supervisor. Now.....I no longer have that ability or support and that's why I have resigned my long held role as a poll worker. I may look into being a poll watcher instead.
Adding to the reasons Death Santis has to go. More poll watchers sounds good.
I've been thinking about the 2nd Amendment. When that amendment was originally written and ratified, there was no such thing as a semi-automatic, let alone a fully automatic weapon or one that is specifically designed to kill people as rapidly as possible. If there were no 2nd amendment and such an amendment was just being written today, you can bet your last nickel the it would be loaded with numerous limitations and stipulations, including (with legalese provided by lawyers):
1. All semi- and fully automatic weapons are outlawed (as in Canada and New Zealand and . . )
2. Whenever a gun changes ownership, there must be a background check of the new owner. No exceptions.
3. Guns will be treated like cars. If you want to drive a car on public streets, you must pass written and oral tests and a driving test. All cars must be registered. The same will apply to guns.
4. No magazine may hold more than 10 rounds.
Here is what they do in Italy:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/italy-has-a-gun-culture-but-no-mass-shootings-here-s-why/ar-AAXXkLU?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=909f27dd44c84d76822afaa81127e9ad
Many thanks for your comment, Annette. I have begun reading the article you linked and will continue to read it all the way through. The NRA would be extremely embarrassed to read it, but would very likely try to hide behind the 2nd Amendment.
In your column yesterday, you pointed out, once again, the venal, cruel hypocrisy of the Republicans regarding their non-support of mental health, while blaming mental disease for the executions. As I psychiatrist I am confronted with this every day. The insurance companies (with Republican support) obstruct at every opportunity to provide mental health care. Submitting claims is a nightmare, with arbitrary rejections, requiring hours on the phone listening to terrible music and then after a 20 minute wait, being told that this is the wrong number. Prescribing medications I commonly use has become a nightmare. Meds that patients have received for years are refused, either suggesting using an alternative or requiring a 'prior authorization.' Patients think the authorization comes from me. Not so. I have to fill out forms and 'request' that the drug be allowed. This is no way to provide care for people with any issue around their mental health (or medical illness for that matter) Finally, it's ludicrous to think that 'spotting these people in a mental health clinic' is realistic. People who shoot to kill will not show up for help.
Thanks, Derek. And thanks for helping people navigate this challenging world. It is disconcerting to hear the problems you face in providing healthcare.
To clarify a statement I made last week that some readers misinterpreted, we do have a mental health crisis in America that is unconnected to guns and we should invest in solutions. Trying to do that through a "gun safety bill" is political optics. I will welcome anything that will make us safer, but let's not pretend that making it more difficult for people with mental health conditions to get guns constitutes "fixing our mental health issues." it is a fig leaf to avoid gun control.
Robert, this is not an original thought of mine, but someone made an interesting point on a substack a few days ago (I subscribe to six, so I can't be sure where I read it.) The point went something like this - people who have a NEED to buy a military grade assault weapon might indeed have some sort of "mental health issue." It's worth thinking about. I don't know why on earth a person would NEED such a weapon unless he (or she) is so consumed with fear, hatred, anger or what have you that would make such a person think that buying that gun and all the ammo to go with it is necessary for he (or she) to be safe. Not having any expertise in the field of mental health, I can only guess at what would drive such a person. This is not to excuse McConnell's lame smoke screen but just to suggest that the REAL problem (too many guns) may have some sort of link with the mental health of too many people who are driven to buy them.
How do insurance companies get away with practicing medicine without a license? This is what this sounds like to me.
Well, Dr. Derek, I must say what you describe is, er, depressing.
You and many others have been opining that "the core issue [is]—too many guns designed to kill people quickly and efficiently." Of course this is an important issue, and its importance is underlined by the "natural experiment" in Australia. But is this really the "core" issue? Isn't the core issue the American fascination with / need for guns?
Like other American boys, when I was young, my hero wielded a gun--though I must say, the fact that my hero--Roy Rogers--always shot to disarm the bad guys by shooting their guns out of their hands, seemed both wonderful and absurd to me. When I was older--during the years of air-raid drills in the school hallways and basements--I drew pictures of missile trajectories and collected cards of Russian and American fighter jets.
But how did I acquire this fascination with shooting and violent imagery? It wasn't because I knew anything about the 2nd Amendment. But throughout my childhood, American films promoted the glories of WWII and of the Wild West where men could be men. And throughout my whole life the Pentagon budget has grown, year by year--except for a short period during the Obama years--to absurd proportions, while American presidents have promoted wars all over the globe.
It seems to me that, even if State governments were to restrict the legal sale of destructive weapons, the American idea that the courageous reaction to fear, sorrow and pain is to attack one's (supposed) enemies with deadly force, as long as "standing one's ground" is the American thing to do, as long as the example which our government and our film and internet gaming industry constantly "bombard" us with images of violence... we should not be surprised that some American men--and it is men, not women(!)--will turn to violence rather than learning to bear the pains of being human.
Hi, Stephen. You raise a serious issue that should be discussed as part of the solution. But in Australia, the gun buyback affected only 20% of the guns in circulation. Australians still own tens of millions of guns in a culture that seems (to me) to romanticize rugged individualism in the Outback as much as America does for the Old West. And yet, since 1996, there have been only two mass shootings in Australia, and I believe that both involved murder-suicides of immediate family members (not that that that fact makes it any less heinous). So, yes, I agree with you that we need to examine the role of violence in media (especially first-person shooter video games), but Australia suggests that removing assault weapons goes a long way towards solving the problem.
Dear Robert:
I did a little internet search and found an article which speaks about the great differences between the Australian and the American gun cultures.
I recommend it to you:
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.519.5048&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Here is a section from the conclusion of that article:
Clearly guns have different meanings in the U.S. and Australia. For the Americans interviewed, guns
signify the American Creed: freedom, independence, and the American way. Guns are an integral part of
American mythic history and popular culture, and thus American gun enthusiasts are preserving a particular
vision of the American past, one in which good guys used their guns to defeat the British and forge a nation,
protecting their families and communities against hostile forces and a harsh wilderness. American shooters
believe that throughout America‟s history, guns have been owned by American heroes and patriots, and thus
gun ownership is integral to maintaining an identity as “good Americans.” Being a gun enthusiast signifies
upholding the American Creed. Even when these shooters are describing guns used for sport shooting, they link guns to protection and defense. Defensive gun ownership is an inherent part of pro-gun ideology for
these American shooters.
In contrast, the Australians interviewed view guns as inseparable from shooting sports. Shooting is a
sport that promotes the values that all healthy sport in Australian society promotes: relaxation, focus, skill and
professionalism, community togetherness, and raising the profile of Australia for the good of all Australians.
But perhaps most importantly, Australian shooters believe that attending to gun laws, respecting the concept of
gun laws, is a crucial part of being a good shooter; this is the essence of civic duty that Australian shooters
conflate with being a good Australian. A good shooter is one who gets involved in safety, in teaching, in
making sure that people treat the sport with the respect it deserves.
So: I fear your idea that the "natural experiment" in Australia implies that a similar buy-back program in America would reap similar results is wishful thinking... and that it, like the media's fascination with the "mistakes" made in Uvalde--is another distraction from issues embedded much more deeply within the American (male) psyche. In fact--if I may make bold--there are times when the tone you assume in your insightful blog, for instance the language you've been using in support of the American armament of Ukraine, or phrases like "where if the outrage," carries within it a tacit assumption that, in the face of violence and aggression, the appropriate reaction is anger.
There is much more to be said on the subject, for now, I'll just add: I'm grateful to you for having lent us--your readers--a space in which to examine these questions.
Respectfully
Steve Wangh
American men are born and raised for loving metal penis extenders. I was a girl who watched Roy Rogers, and I remember that TV was inundated with shows about gunmen (the women sat about waiting prettily to be protected and rescued). This culture is steeped in toxic male violence.
Well said!
Though guns and abortion are hot button issues, a CNN poll shows that the uppermost concern for voters is inflation. My dark suspicion is that as soon as the congress turns back over to Republicans, the Saudis will ease oil prices. After all, Trump treated them with incredible "respect" despite the fact that they murdered dismembered a journalist, and Jared Kushner just got a gigantic payback from the Saudis to invest in his more than dubious investment firm. they roll back prices, inflation decreases, and the GOP takeover of the USA will be complete. Please tell me there's no way this would happen.
Seems likely, to me. Almost sounds like you have been reading telegram messages between Jared and MBS!
But the current round of inflation is not tied to gas prices. The oil producers are taking advantage of inflation to price gouge. So gas prices contribute to inflation, but is not the cause. America is still struggling with a tight labor market, pent-up pandemic demand, record high savings (that are quickly dwindling), and residual supply-chain issues.
Retired teacher here, with a question: When Ted Cruz insists there should only be a single, fortified door per school, is that literal? What if there’s a fire? My district had weekly fire drills for the first month of school and then once a month for the remainder of the school year. Our goal was to empty the school in under 3 minutes. If the entire school population had to use the same door?? One time in my teaching career we had a gas leak scare and the school was immediately evacuated. Again, with everyone using one door? I’d also like more information from the Arm the Teachers supporters. Exactly where is this gun supposed to be stored in a classroom? It would have to locked away unloaded (a loaded gun in a classroom is utter insanity). So—if a teacher hears gunshots or is informed there’s an armed intruder in the school, they must get their keys, unlock the gun, locate the bullets and load the gun, and prepare to possibly shoot a human while their students watch? Gosh, what could go wrong? What if the teacher is still shot and a student grabs the gun and accidentally shoots a classmate? I could go and on with the horrible possibilities that could happen. I just don’t understand why Arm the Teachers and Mass Shootings Will Stop proponents are pretending that’s a viable solution. It’s beyond comprehension.
I appreciate your almost daily efforts, Mr. Hubbell, thank you.
Hi, Ilene. Thanks for your service as a teacher, and thanks for pointing out the flaw in Cruz's plan. Ted Cruz should not be trusted to drive a car, much less sit in the Senate.
So true!!
There have been a wide variety of solutions suggested to gun violence in the U.S. We are all aware of many of these and I will not recount them all here. Among the least helpful and likely to make a substantive difference are those offered by many Republicans. On the other side we have thoughtful Democrats, such as Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal who are authorities on the subject and contributing well thought through suggestions to be considered. In order to achieve passage of measures to reduce gun violence at the federal level it will be necessary and important to include ideas and suggestions from both sides of the political aisle. Having made this obvious observation we should also be clear that the suggestions offered by Senator Ted Cancun Cruz are at the very top of the dumb, bad idea list. His suggestions are not only unhelpful but demonstrably moronic. Neither his suggestions or Ted Cruz should be taken as a serious authority on any subject whatsoever.
As they say, "The devil is in the details".....but details are something that Republicans just ignore.
As a retired teacher and school administrator, I predict a mass exodus of educators if such stupid ideas ever came to pass - both the single door stupid idea and the arming teachers idea. I know I'd resign in a heartbeat.
I have a question for Robert and other subscribers. What extraordinary election countermeasures does the DNC and the DSCC have in place, or in the works? Better, what measures or tactics are the DNC or DSCC going to employ to affect the outcome of upcoming elections and when are they going to start? I'm not talking about 'get out the vote' or other routine actions that have been taken every election since before we were born. When are Democrats going to start to be as aggressively proactive as Republicans have been for the last 40+ years? When Republicans are in power they spend the entire time prosecuting Democrats and particularly the most powerful ones. Republicans use government to attack Democrats and protect Republicans. Barr is one obvious example.
The reason I appreciate the Today's Edition is because it connects the dots and reminds me about the Republican's endless unethical and often criminal activities. I get overwhelmed and I simply can't recall everything that has happened with any specificity. For decades now the Republicans have methodically worked to thwart majority rule and permanently install a plutocratic/kleptocratic state. Their actions are unambiguously duplicitous and subversive and basically un-American. To a greater and lesser degree, every Republican is in violation of their oath of office. Why require an oath of office if it isn't enforced??
My enduring frustration is the complete failure of Democrats to combat and defeat a political party that has clearly and demonstratively gone off the rails and is utterly corrupt. The minority Republican Party is willing and determined to overthrow our government! Hello? I'm mostly focused on the Democratic politicians, but I see too many Democratic faithful (present company excluded) defending and enabling the weak and feckless Democratic leadership. I wish I had a dollar for every excuse I've read or heard!
So, I get the fact that we need to come together to preserve our democratic values. But, I strongly suggest the reason we don't come together is because too many in the Democratic Party and particularly the Democratic leadership are not progressives and are constantly engaged in triangulation. There is a reason the moderates in the party are called corporate centrists. Nancy Pelosi weakly touts key progressive common sense programs while behind the scenes she is smoothing the ruffled feathers of wealthy donors and promising them that she will protect their interests. Democratic leadership is notorious for squashing progressive voices. Schumer, unlike McConnell cannot unite his caucus because he and most members are joined at the hip with their wealthy donors and/or are protecting their personal financial interests. At some point, talk is cheap Chuck! Republicans have been quick to dethrone RINOs; Democrats "put up" with DINOs even as they undermine and weaken the entire party.
We shouldn't be where we are today - struggling to preserve democracy. If we don't resolve our differences, this party will never unite in a common cause - a common destiny. The Democratic Party is either solidly progressive upholding long-held liberal Democratic values or it is a hodge-podge of competing views that ultimately divide and undermine the party.
"Preserving democracy" is not a kitchen table issue, particularly in a society that is focused on self-gratification and self-preservation. It's a dog-eat-dog world and the idea of what's best for the country does not resonate with most people. Republicans pick issues that resonate even if they are minority issues and they do whatever is necessary to bring home the bacon.
Six months out from another election and I see nothing different or proactive occurring in the Democratic Party that will expose, prosecute and convict the criminal Republican cabal. Forget about the courts, especially this Supreme Court abomination. Biden and the Democrats can't even agree to expand the court. Forget about Garland and the Justice Department indicting Trump and many Republicans in Congress. Garland won't even take the step to enforce Congressional subpoenas. I could go on and on and in fact, I could make a list of thousands of failings of the Democratic Party to proactively combat the relentless attack of a minority far-right, ultra-extreme political party who without question has blood on their hands, and who is responsible for the needless deaths of 100's of thousands of Americans.
Frankly, for the last 40+ years I've gotten zero return on my votes and contributions.
Hi, Chris. I believe that Democrats are ahead of the RNC in the voter protection game, and have been for years. We saw the results of a disciplined and organized "army of Democratic lawyers" in 2020. Organizations like The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, the ACLU, League of Women Voters, DNC, etc. recruit, train, and deploy tens of thousands of poll watchers and attorneys every election cycle. What is different this year is that the RNC is deliberately trying to put election deniers in place as poll workers. Whether the system can withstand that onslaught is the question--but as I said in the newsletter, the complete answer to that question is winning elections by large margins.
Thank you Robert!
Questions:
Where were the Democrats in 2000 when Florida cheated Gore out of an election outcome and ultimately the presidency when they allowed the Supreme Court to decide an election?
Where were the Democrats in 2016 when Republicans eeked out victories in three states (less than 80K votes) giving them an electoral college victory?
Why is it Republicans don't feel the need to win by large margins? It seems to me, all they care about is getting it close enough to "massage the votes." Most examples of voter fraud is in the R column!
I believe, if Republicans and Democrats competed on a level playing field, Democrats would have won far more elections and if you go back far enough in time, today Republicans would be a small minority party that never could gain the majority with grievance-based extremist issues like abortion and gun control. The competition today is more about money than votes.
Democrats deserted their base back in the 70's and 80's when they ditched the middle class, blue collar, pro-union portion of the population in favor of big money, corporate interests. Throw in NAFTA and less consumer-friendly legislation that protect the wealthy; a failure to expand Social Security and establish universal health care and you impact negatively a huge percentage of the population. It also opened the door to Republicans to court the ranks of grievance-based one issue voters.
Countries with far less do far more for their people without baseless accusations of SOCIALISM. In 40 years, Republicans have pushed the idea that the Democratic Party are crazy tax and spend socialists and gotten little or no effective rebuttal. The result, Democrats have moved farther to the right instead of hold their ground and fight for the left.
I'm not looking for agreement from anyone. I've thought about these issues for the last 30 years in particular and I have been a victim of the policies that come out of Washington. I know I'm not alone in these thoughts. A significant number of Democratic voters are not sympathetic or appreciative of the Party. For too many of us, it is a vote for the lesser of two evils. The fact that I won't vote ever for a Republican does not bode well for Democratic efforts or party unity. Forget about purity and save democracy - that will not win elections in my opinion. If you want to change my opinion then show me some return on my investment (votes and contributions.) That is the essence of democracy - majority consensus on popular and basic issues. I'll keep voting for Democrats but it's not my vote that is in doubt.
You have stated some of my thoughts. Yesterday while watching MSNBC and the story that Politico wrote about this subversion that the Republicans are planning I said the same thing. Where is the Justice Department? Where are the Democrats? They should be pulling all the levers of the alarm...it's a 7 alarm fire! To sit by and just wait until it happens is unconscionable. That is what is leading to some of the frustration on the blue team.
People like me want a return on their investment. Forty years of zero returns definitely results in immeasurable frustration. I say immeasurable because polls are not going to capture this dynamic. You can't quantify the source of frustration. For example, I think this frustration is reflected in Biden's poor polling number, but those numbers don't indicate that. Again, people want a return on their investment.
Republicans have a far easier job of delivering returns because all they have to do is oppose everything the "libs" attempt.
I don't know about you, but I fully expected the Democrats to go full blitz on every damn Republican who refused to uphold their oath of office and tried to subvert justice being served. Let us never forget, the Republican Party (not just Trump) is responsible for the death of 100's of thousands of Americans who needlessly lost their lives to Covid.
We got one lousy committee investigating a coup attempt. In no particular order, how about investigating the seating of Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett on the Supreme Court. Why isn't Barr and the former Justice Department being investigated? How about Homeland Security and the FBI? Potentially there are untold violations of national security that should be thoroughly investigated. What did Trump convey to Putin? Why haven't Trump's cabinet members been called to testify - what did they know and when about all kinds of sordid and corrupt goings on with Trump. The list is endless and again all the Democrats could muster is a toothless (thanks to the Justice Department) investigation into what everyone knows was an attempted coup.
Yea, I think Democrats are clueless about how frustrated people are about their incompetency on all matters. Of course, it doesn't help that Republicans are always poking and jabbing the Democrats. There's a lot of mistrust in government in general and politicians in particular.
This is a really good list: "how about investigating the seating of Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett on the Supreme Court. Why isn't Barr and the former Justice Department being investigated? How about Homeland Security and the FBI? Potentially there are untold violations of national security that should be thoroughly investigated.
Trying to "like" your comment, but the heart doesn't work. I agree with your list. The Dems have let this cancer grow so large that, even if we got a world class surgeon, she might not be able to cut it out.
Click once and refresh the page and most times you'll see the heart click register. Don't keep clicking the heart because it just toggles on and off. Cheers!
I just read this article and thought it was revealing. I thought of you. Here's the link: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-white-house-adrift-rcna30121?SIMPLISAFE-2022_06_02=&sponsored=0&position=1&id=d7367436-e4fd-4fbb-9af3-32a1cfccee33
The only "strategy" I can determine is fund raising, by the droves. I get so many texts on a daily basis, it is staggering. Many come in the form of a "survey" which is just another way to ask for money. Some come in the form of "the GOP has just spent a gazillion dollars against (insert name here)" or "this is the last day and we haven't heard from you" or "can you give just $3 and help us pass (name the bill that will never get through the Senate)." You get my drift. I see nothing original from within the party leadership. Nevertheless, I will vote blue all the way and I will send dribbles of $ to individuals who DO appear to have some progressive ideas and some passion for serving us. Most of that is at the state level though. Not at the top.
I have to laugh because I have the exact same experience. My favorites are the ones appealing to we need your voice from South Carolina or you the only one from South Carolina we haven't heard from.
Does anyone know who is the chairman of the DNC? Has anyone heard from him? Maybe his emails ended up in the spam folder. LOL
Seriously, Jamie Harrison was a great candidate up until the last month of his election against Lyndsey Graham when he folded like a cheap suit. Unbelievable collapse, and so many of us poured money into his campaign. He had Graham on the ropes to the point that Graham had to go on FOX News every day to beg for money.
The moral of the story, the guy doesn't know how to close out the sale and apparently now he doesn't even remember how to make a sale.
Needing something to hold the people of the country together under a strong national government, James Madison, in 1789, drafted a deliberately weak and ambiguous 2nd Amendment that delivered a vague gesture of the idea of the importance of state militia. Until recently, I’ve imagined we’ve been prisoners of this virtually meaningless text that, regrettably, plays directly into the crisis of gun violence in this country. However, as of late, I’ve come to believe that we’re being held hostage by white rural and ex-urban voters, whose votes Republicans fear they’d lose were they to support any meaningful gun control restrictions.
Adding insult to injury, imagine my delight when I learned earlier today that the RNC is placing mostly 2020 election deniers into positions of authority within election administrative systems and training them, in largely swing state Democratic precincts, on how to contest voters as well as voting processes.
On this last point, Ellie Kona, who posted earlier, smartly suggested that people of integrity could help offset RNC subversive tactics by signing up as election workers. One just must be sure he or she is putting his or her commendable intentions to work in a swing state.
Thank you once again Barbara Jo for a succinct analysis. See, Heidi Pryzbola's Special Report, "It's Going To Be an Army" tape revelations at www.politico.com.
Bryan, Thank you for the heads up. I hope Democratic leadership also is paying attention.
How common are mass shootings in the U.S.? -
A mass shooting is defined as any incident of gun violence in which 4 or more persons are wounded or killed not including the gunman who may have been injured or killed during the incident.
On May 24th, just over one week ago, 21 people, including 19 school children and two teachers were killed, and another 17 were wounded. This is the second deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history.
But do you know how many mass shootings there have been in the U.S. since the Uvalde school shooting on May 24th? There have been 18 mass shootings in the U.S. just since the Uvalde tragedy - 18! In those 18 mass shootings, 13 people have been killed and 84 wounded. And that is just in the last week!
So far in 2022, there have been 230 mass shootings according to this definition. In the full year of 2021 in the U.S., there were 818 mass shootings resulting in the deaths of 920 individuals and 3,141 injured. And these numbers are only through the first week following the Uvalde shooting and do not yet include yesterday’s Tulsa shooting.
It should not be clear that we in the U.S. have a serious gun violence problem. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children. more than motor vehicle accidents, more than cancer, the leading cause of children's deaths - gun violence!
We cannot accept that there is nothing we can do or try in an attempt to reduce gun violence. There are solutions we could at least try.
https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting
At the request of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the legislature allocated $10 million to form a 400 member Florida State Guard. The state is asking for 400 volunteers and seeking a director with experience in military-style operations. It appears the governor is seeking his own vigilante militia that can sew chaos wherever the Republicans think necessary. I find this very frightening and think of the Nazi Brownshirts who terrorized Germany.
MA has the lowest gun deaths and the strictest gun laws.
https://www.vox.com/2018/11/13/17658028/massachusetts-gun-control-laws-licenses
How can we also get Congress to rescind the law(s) that gives the death merchants aka gun industry liability protection against these mass shootings ?
End the filibuster, then a majority vote in both chambers of Congress.
You're right, Democrats will be thwarted in everything if they don't end the filibuster. Every Republican knows this first-hand. The only time I've seen McConnell freak out is when he thought Democrats might really succeed in ending the filibuster. He and the wealthy influencers got to Manchin and Sinema and down went Biden's agenda and his presidency (a twofer.) The Democrats once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and another chance was lost to prove they are the party to best help Americans.
As a side note, this is why I stopped giving money to the DNC and DSCC. I don't want a dime going to Manchin-type politicians who sold out for personal financial gain. I give to progressive candidates. Best political campaign in my lifetime was Bernie Sander's. He proved that you can win on a $27 average contribution. True, he wasn't a slick Willie but I believe his heart was in the right place. I like Joe Biden but for many reasons he was not my first choice. I worked for and supported Elizabeth Warren - that lady is a fighter and she would have taken it to the wealthy plutocrats. Like Bernie, they feared her and bought off the Democratic Party's machine to undermine her campaign and support the more malleable Biden.
We should all sign up to be poll workers as well.
Check out this site and select your state: https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
Beto seems to be focusing his campaign on guns—or perhaps gun insanity is a better term—and Stacey Abrams is going after Brian Kemp on guns and abortion rights. They might just strike sparks. If they do, in Texas and Georgia, it might just change the whole political equation.
The Womens political committee just had a zoom with speaker pelosi and she offered three most important things: 1.own the ground game canvassing 2.clarity of message. 3. Money …to insure a Democratic victory! Marcia herman. LA
Thank you as always Robert for your useful and thorough comments and perspectives!
All in plain sight, and the MSM yawns. Our "free press" is aiding and abetting the coup. Shame on them all (a hefty percentage)