America has amnesia. They have forgotten how horrific the first year of TFG was. And they have already forgotten the enormous accomplishments of President Biden. They have forgotten that starting moments after Joe was sworn in, he set about reversing the destruction caused by TFG.
Imagine becoming the CEO of a restaurant company that the former boss had run like a mobster. The food second rate, the kitchens filthy, the staff rude and undisciplined, sales tanking because the menu was so bad, competitors suing for libel and creditors knocking on the door threatening foreclosure. How little understanding we have of the unimaginable mess this administration inherited at home and across the world. I would love our President if he simply repaired the damage. But he has done so much more and I am again proud to be an American.
Biden signed an infrastructure bill that is epic in scale. Biden ended a stupid 20 year war. Biden rejoined NATO, rejoined the Climate Accord. Those accomplishments alone makes him in an historical sense one our greatest presidents - dwarfing at least the 3 most recent occupants of the WH.
And his polling is low? Good grief, I guess Americans were expecting a man with a magic wand and the ability to hypnotize the GQP who are only committed to "ruling or ruining" (credit Rep Swalwell).
Love Robert's closing inspiration on the antidote to demotivating commentary: "...we can’t motivate people to try if we are telling them all the ways we can lose. It is always the case that there are a thousand paths to defeat and one path to victory. Let’s not lament that fixed feature of the universe but get on with the hard work of defending democracy."
Let's REALLY try, so we don't have to go down swinging! So democracy & Democrats can prevail!! Let's spread our enthusiasm and energy, inspired and encouraged as we are by Robert!
To begin with, the Commerce Department just announced that the economy grew by 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2021, or 6.9% for the year, the fastest rate since 1984. Let’s trumpet that!
As for the enthusiasm gap, let’s show that Republicans may be more enthusiastic, but we are more determined. (I am dubious about those poll numbers.).
Todays edition was very badly needed because I agree that many of us are sometimes overwhelmed by the negative media coverage of the Biden Administration and frankly some less than stellar performances and actions. The Biden Administration I think represents closely the personality and character of Joe Biden and the version I think more voters want to see is the feisty “ I have had it “ Joe and a more pragmatic and simpler role of government helping average everyday Americans. It’s time for ALL of us to pivot.
If the "disputes" mentioned in the Eastman memo are the multiple specious suits filed by various Trumpista lawyers regarding election fraud doesn't the existence of alternate lists of electors provide prima facie evidence of conspiracy?
Your closing point is outstanding and essential. A positive approach to change and the effort to achieve it are a partial antidote to Covid exhaustion too.
Jan 27, 2022·edited Jan 27, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Robert just saw a note from the editor on the top of the Time article you referred to.
“Editor’s Note: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that Republicans could use Senate rules to block a Biden Supreme Court nomination. It was based on the author’s incorrect analysis of a May 13, 2021, Congressional Research Service report. The Senate will require a majority of votes to approve Justice Stephen Breyer’s replacement, not 60 votes.“
So do we have a clear path forward to get a Biden nomination through in a timely manner without being bullied?
Will the youth of America wake up to the risk of the loss of democracy in America financed by conservative right-winged libertarian DARK money (De Vos, Koch, Donor's Trust, the backers of the Landmark Legal Foundation, and their ilk) starting after Brown v Board of Education: the rightwing has been investing in State Legislative elections and State Judgeships and then accelerating into Federal Elections with impunity after the Supreme Court's Roberts decision in Citizens United,
Do we not fight for free speech, personal privacy rights and civil rights for all?
I hope that the youth and college students understand what is happening in America, will register to vote, volunteer at their registrars of voters to help with elections, help to lead the fight for universal vote by mail rights and same day registration as well as safe voting and counting of the vote.
Certainly their elected representatives aren't representing the rights of its citizens but protecting big business and the rights of the wealthy.
Even Chief Justice Roberts has noted that it is up to CONGRESS to act under Article 1.4 to set the times, places and manner of voting or else the Supreme Court will not disturb the actions of partisan state legislatures even if the action is to unfairly gerrymander in order to ensure that these same legislatures elect themselves (see Rucho v Common Cause). Kagan's blistering minority opinion is of course the right decision but CONGRESS has the power to protect the rights of voters.
We need to join MLK III and other leaders and speak out against the failure to act by too many elected officials.
DANGER INVITES A RESCUE: it won't be the Supreme Court BUT perhaps it will be those 18-30 year olds . We can only hope.
Let's hope that the young people's addiction to computers has not blinded them to being part of the greater community and the need for action.
Remember when you said outrage was exhausting? Maybe we are overstating the enthusiasm gap. My GOP friends are exhausted, hardly watching Fox anymore. They are not energized.
Robert, I really appreciate you and your family, and so look forward to this being my first read of the day. For the first time as a regular reader though, I didn't have my optimistic view after reading. I was jumping for joy yesterday reflecting on the fact that the first African-American woman will be nominated for the SCOTUS! In addition to Biden keeping his promise, this is an historic moment and there is a list of amazing potential nominees. This fired me up and hopefully much of the base! Reading about the potential shenanigan's of the GOP is a downer from this moment of celebration. Yes, it will not change the make up of the court, but at a time of open racism, this moment is one of joy for me. Let the white Senate publicly prevent this nomination from going through. I can see the ads now. I do appreciate the links to articles about Justice Breyer and I agree that his legacy should be celebrated.
If this is the case why would that not be true for Supreme Court nominees, and if so, do we need one Republican on the committee to vote for Biden's nominee. I'm not sure, but would love clarification. Thank you
There was an interesting discussion on the Lawfare Podcast this morning "Defunding the Insurrectionists". Nandini Jammi and Claire Atkin of "Check My Ads Institute" spoke of serving as watchdogs for the on-line ad industry which is an opaque and confusing system that finds advertisers discovering their ads popping up alongside content they'd rather not be associated with and having no idea as to how that happened. This watchdog organization has started a campaign to let companies know when their ads are showing up next to content published by far-fight figures like Steve Bannon. We are talking about money in the billions.
Your daily urging to “do the work” coupled with specific suggestions on how and where to best apply our efforts is, for me and I know many others, essential daily reading.
For those who may have been inspired by the poet, Amanda Gorman, and her moving poem at Biden’s inauguration, I suggest reading her recent Guest Essay published in The NY Times:
When I was in high school, I remember a guidance counselor once trying to explain to me the bad direction this country was heading. It was the dawn of the 1970s and youth were rebelling against the war and the complacency of the previous generation to accept societal missteps. She then went on to suggest conspiracy theories and a newer group trying to combat the communist threats from within because in her mind, it was all about communist subversion. She explained that the John Birch Society had put out some really great literature that I should read. Oh my, I soon learned that the woman was a ding bat of the highest sort. Today, like-minded dingbats are running some state governments. But I don’t stop expressing myself in the face of ignorance because to do so would be to surrender who I am. I write, I give modestly to grassroots efforts along with offering advice that likely is not headed because there exists in the human mind a sense with those in leadership roles that they know best but often fall short of their objectives. Go figure.
I have no knowledge of Glenn Youngkin’s business expertise, but but business experience does not necessarily translate into leadership or the ability to govern. Trump’s only skill is self-promotion. Even before becoming President, he had something to say about nearly everything in the news. Who should care about the opinions of a loud mouth, buffoonish reality TV personality? As far as business success, how could he be characterized as a good businessman, when he had 6 business bankruptcies on his record? We saw how he could govern, or not! Youngkin is not off to a good start. His time as governor does not bode well for Virginia.
America has amnesia. They have forgotten how horrific the first year of TFG was. And they have already forgotten the enormous accomplishments of President Biden. They have forgotten that starting moments after Joe was sworn in, he set about reversing the destruction caused by TFG.
Imagine becoming the CEO of a restaurant company that the former boss had run like a mobster. The food second rate, the kitchens filthy, the staff rude and undisciplined, sales tanking because the menu was so bad, competitors suing for libel and creditors knocking on the door threatening foreclosure. How little understanding we have of the unimaginable mess this administration inherited at home and across the world. I would love our President if he simply repaired the damage. But he has done so much more and I am again proud to be an American.
Biden signed an infrastructure bill that is epic in scale. Biden ended a stupid 20 year war. Biden rejoined NATO, rejoined the Climate Accord. Those accomplishments alone makes him in an historical sense one our greatest presidents - dwarfing at least the 3 most recent occupants of the WH.
And his polling is low? Good grief, I guess Americans were expecting a man with a magic wand and the ability to hypnotize the GQP who are only committed to "ruling or ruining" (credit Rep Swalwell).
https://www.federalregister.gov/presidential-documents/executive-orders/joe-biden/2021
https://capaction.medium.com/what-has-joe-done-for-me-lately-biden-administration-accomplishments-98c71f9ce2d8
https://ncpolicywatch.com/2021/11/09/president-bidens-remarkable-record-of-accomplishment-under-nearly-impossible-circumstances/
https://www.newsweek.com/achievements-joe-biden-2021-no-one-talking-about-jobs-pay-economy-climate-1662595
Love Robert's closing inspiration on the antidote to demotivating commentary: "...we can’t motivate people to try if we are telling them all the ways we can lose. It is always the case that there are a thousand paths to defeat and one path to victory. Let’s not lament that fixed feature of the universe but get on with the hard work of defending democracy."
Let's REALLY try, so we don't have to go down swinging! So democracy & Democrats can prevail!! Let's spread our enthusiasm and energy, inspired and encouraged as we are by Robert!
To begin with, the Commerce Department just announced that the economy grew by 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2021, or 6.9% for the year, the fastest rate since 1984. Let’s trumpet that!
As for the enthusiasm gap, let’s show that Republicans may be more enthusiastic, but we are more determined. (I am dubious about those poll numbers.).
Todays edition was very badly needed because I agree that many of us are sometimes overwhelmed by the negative media coverage of the Biden Administration and frankly some less than stellar performances and actions. The Biden Administration I think represents closely the personality and character of Joe Biden and the version I think more voters want to see is the feisty “ I have had it “ Joe and a more pragmatic and simpler role of government helping average everyday Americans. It’s time for ALL of us to pivot.
If the "disputes" mentioned in the Eastman memo are the multiple specious suits filed by various Trumpista lawyers regarding election fraud doesn't the existence of alternate lists of electors provide prima facie evidence of conspiracy?
Your closing point is outstanding and essential. A positive approach to change and the effort to achieve it are a partial antidote to Covid exhaustion too.
Robert just saw a note from the editor on the top of the Time article you referred to.
“Editor’s Note: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that Republicans could use Senate rules to block a Biden Supreme Court nomination. It was based on the author’s incorrect analysis of a May 13, 2021, Congressional Research Service report. The Senate will require a majority of votes to approve Justice Stephen Breyer’s replacement, not 60 votes.“
So do we have a clear path forward to get a Biden nomination through in a timely manner without being bullied?
Will the youth of America wake up to the risk of the loss of democracy in America financed by conservative right-winged libertarian DARK money (De Vos, Koch, Donor's Trust, the backers of the Landmark Legal Foundation, and their ilk) starting after Brown v Board of Education: the rightwing has been investing in State Legislative elections and State Judgeships and then accelerating into Federal Elections with impunity after the Supreme Court's Roberts decision in Citizens United,
Do we not fight for free speech, personal privacy rights and civil rights for all?
I hope that the youth and college students understand what is happening in America, will register to vote, volunteer at their registrars of voters to help with elections, help to lead the fight for universal vote by mail rights and same day registration as well as safe voting and counting of the vote.
Certainly their elected representatives aren't representing the rights of its citizens but protecting big business and the rights of the wealthy.
Even Chief Justice Roberts has noted that it is up to CONGRESS to act under Article 1.4 to set the times, places and manner of voting or else the Supreme Court will not disturb the actions of partisan state legislatures even if the action is to unfairly gerrymander in order to ensure that these same legislatures elect themselves (see Rucho v Common Cause). Kagan's blistering minority opinion is of course the right decision but CONGRESS has the power to protect the rights of voters.
We need to join MLK III and other leaders and speak out against the failure to act by too many elected officials.
DANGER INVITES A RESCUE: it won't be the Supreme Court BUT perhaps it will be those 18-30 year olds . We can only hope.
Let's hope that the young people's addiction to computers has not blinded them to being part of the greater community and the need for action.
What do you think, Mr. Hubbell.
Remember when you said outrage was exhausting? Maybe we are overstating the enthusiasm gap. My GOP friends are exhausted, hardly watching Fox anymore. They are not energized.
Here is the link to Nina Tottenberg's great article on Justice Breyer: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075781724/justice-stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retires
Robert, I really appreciate you and your family, and so look forward to this being my first read of the day. For the first time as a regular reader though, I didn't have my optimistic view after reading. I was jumping for joy yesterday reflecting on the fact that the first African-American woman will be nominated for the SCOTUS! In addition to Biden keeping his promise, this is an historic moment and there is a list of amazing potential nominees. This fired me up and hopefully much of the base! Reading about the potential shenanigan's of the GOP is a downer from this moment of celebration. Yes, it will not change the make up of the court, but at a time of open racism, this moment is one of joy for me. Let the white Senate publicly prevent this nomination from going through. I can see the ads now. I do appreciate the links to articles about Justice Breyer and I agree that his legacy should be celebrated.
Thanks as always Robert. I tried to do some digging and found that the Judiciary Committee can advance judges with an 11-11 vote,
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/judiciary-committee-advances-nominations-of-two-circuit-court-judges-ten-district-court-judges-and-four-us-attorneys.
If this is the case why would that not be true for Supreme Court nominees, and if so, do we need one Republican on the committee to vote for Biden's nominee. I'm not sure, but would love clarification. Thank you
There was an interesting discussion on the Lawfare Podcast this morning "Defunding the Insurrectionists". Nandini Jammi and Claire Atkin of "Check My Ads Institute" spoke of serving as watchdogs for the on-line ad industry which is an opaque and confusing system that finds advertisers discovering their ads popping up alongside content they'd rather not be associated with and having no idea as to how that happened. This watchdog organization has started a campaign to let companies know when their ads are showing up next to content published by far-fight figures like Steve Bannon. We are talking about money in the billions.
Your daily urging to “do the work” coupled with specific suggestions on how and where to best apply our efforts is, for me and I know many others, essential daily reading.
For those who may have been inspired by the poet, Amanda Gorman, and her moving poem at Biden’s inauguration, I suggest reading her recent Guest Essay published in The NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/opinion/amanda-gorman-poem-inauguration.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqYhkSVUZAybSRdkhrxqAwvHKybowjzrxKzKQQDAH1-MYBs2B_U7Qard5bscy2DLdRMNENPVnYs1O-dJlHh4nTRi08NzDkY4ZIi4xpMXqBG8_0cuQDPUzqGCwKzTkJe06zefjsVeIbzXtWfOLgnIncAh1sNAyIwHRrH8Jw6zEF-Rz3cAvnqtyQ8AnGkpTIXWCrPLqCB5hOd2ZbR666wE-We9RWzq7jsfLovtbM10UUQSaOSs5tWUs69pcO8cVP7L9J3MieMn_h7YQCA94PVT29QJFl2_n1p0gLSAkszw&referringSource=articleShare
(apologies for the long link but it should allow non-subscribers access)
She also suggests why our continued Sisyphean efforts are so important.
When I was in high school, I remember a guidance counselor once trying to explain to me the bad direction this country was heading. It was the dawn of the 1970s and youth were rebelling against the war and the complacency of the previous generation to accept societal missteps. She then went on to suggest conspiracy theories and a newer group trying to combat the communist threats from within because in her mind, it was all about communist subversion. She explained that the John Birch Society had put out some really great literature that I should read. Oh my, I soon learned that the woman was a ding bat of the highest sort. Today, like-minded dingbats are running some state governments. But I don’t stop expressing myself in the face of ignorance because to do so would be to surrender who I am. I write, I give modestly to grassroots efforts along with offering advice that likely is not headed because there exists in the human mind a sense with those in leadership roles that they know best but often fall short of their objectives. Go figure.
I have no knowledge of Glenn Youngkin’s business expertise, but but business experience does not necessarily translate into leadership or the ability to govern. Trump’s only skill is self-promotion. Even before becoming President, he had something to say about nearly everything in the news. Who should care about the opinions of a loud mouth, buffoonish reality TV personality? As far as business success, how could he be characterized as a good businessman, when he had 6 business bankruptcies on his record? We saw how he could govern, or not! Youngkin is not off to a good start. His time as governor does not bode well for Virginia.