Reasons to be hopeful!

October 28, 2024

Let’s all say it together: The race is within the margin of error—and the margin of effort! It feels like we are caught in a time warp in which the election season will drag on forever. But we can see the end in sight—and we have reasons to be hopeful. Kamala Harris has stayed on message (for which she has been criticized by the media), while Trump uses each rally to insult or demean a new bloc of voters in the US. On Sunday, those two arcs intersected—to Kamala Harris’s advantage.

VP Harris has been working hard to earn the vote of every American. On Sunday, two Puerto Rican superstars—Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin—endorsed Kamala Harris. (Jennifer Lopez endorsed Kamala Harris last month.) It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of endorsements from the tri of Puerto Rican superstars. Bad Bunny is arguably the world’s most popular musician—rivaling Taylor Swift.

Bad Bunny announced his support for Kamala Harris as the V.P. was visiting a famous Puerto Rican restaurant in Pennsylvania. Bad Bunny’s endorsement came after a comedian at the Trump rally at Madison Square Garden called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” See HuffPost, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez Boost Kamala Harris After Trump Rally Speaker Bashes Puerto Rico as a ‘Floating Island of Garbage'.

Per HuffPo,

In response, Bad Bunny, one of the world’s biggest music superstar with more than 45 million Instagram followers, boosted Harris’ campaign video targeting voters in Puerto Rico and noting what a contentious relationship that Trump had with the island during his tenure in the White House. Lopez posted Harris campaign material targeted at Puerto Rico as well as the same video pitch that Bad Bunny boosted.

According to Charlotte Clymer, there are “almost 6 million Puerto Ricans living in mainland United States. About 1 million live in Florida, 500,000 in Pennsylvania, 100,000 in Michigan, 100,000 in North Carolina, 100,000 in Georgia, 45,000 in Arizona, 40,000 in Nevada.” See also Pew Research Center, Puerto Ricans in the U.S.

To say that the Trump rally attack on Puerto Ricans touched a nerve is an understatement. Former Trump supporter and Fox personality Geraldo Rivera posted the following:

“A floating island of garbage…?” Referring to Puerto Rico???

“Poisoning the blood of our nation…?”

We have “murder in our genes….?”

F*ck these racists. Latino men of good will, have pride in yourselves and your ancestors. A vote for Trump is a vote against self-respect.

There are reports on Sunday night that members of the Puerto Rican community are organizing online to support Harris and oppose Trump. In a closely contested election, the addition of hundreds of thousands of new voters for Kamala Harris is significant.

However, the Trump rally did not end there. The same comedian made sexually crude remarks about Mexican Americans, which I will not repeat. Another speaker referred to Kamala Harris’s “pimp”—implying that the Vice President is a prostitute.

Tucker Carlson gave a Hitleresque speech in which he referred to Kamala Harris as “the first Samoan-Malaysian low IQ former prosecutor” to be elected as president. Kamala Harris is neither Samoan nor Malaysian. (In fairness to Carlson, his remarks may have been garbled when they were translated from the original German.)

Stephen Miller echoed the Nazi rhetoric of the 1930s, saying “America is for Americans”—an idiotic phrase that ignores the fact that America is literally a nation of immigrants and First Nations people (not considered to be Americans by Republicans).

There were more xenophobic, misogynistic, racist statements but you get the point. And that was before Trump took the stage. Trump did not apologize for any of those statements but repeated his “enemy within” remarks directed at fellow Americans.

Many Republicans are shrugging off the offensive comments that preceded Trump, saying that “liberals can’t take a joke.” But the fact that Republicans running for re-election in areas with significant Puerto Rican populations are apologizing on Sunday evening—violating the cardinal rule of Trumpism—“Never apologize,” shows that Republicans know they have offended multiple constituencies of Americans. See NBC Miami, Florida leaders denounce disturbing jokes made about Puerto Rico, Latinos at Trump rally.

Headlines across the nation are condemning the offensive statements at the rally. Even the clueless headline writers at the NYTimes got it right for a change:

• NYTimes: Racist Remarks and Insults Mark Trump’s Madison Square Garden Rally.

• USA Today: Trump-supporting comedian opens rally by calling Puerto Rico a 'floating pile of garbage'

• CNN: Trump loyalists spew racist, vulgar attacks at Harris and Democrats at New York City rally

• AP: Trump's Madison Square Garden event turns into a rally with crude and racist insults

• South Florida Sun Sentinel: Trump’s Madison Square Garden event features crude and racist insults

• WSJ: Several Speakers Take Dark Tone at Trump’s MSG Rally

• The Guardian: Trump fills Madison Square Garden with anger, vitriol and racist threats

• NYTimes (second article): Trump at MSG: A Closing Carnival of Grievances and Racism.

This story will have legs. There were dozens of offensive remarks that I have not covered here. They will feed the news cycle for 48-hours at least—two of the remaining nine days before Election Day.

The problem for the Trump campaign is that apologizing for one joke, e.g., about Puerto Rico, begs the question about offensive jokes about Mexicans, Blacks, and Jews—all of which drew laughter from the Trump crowd in Madison Square Garden.

So, at the precise moment that Kamala Harris is courting votes from Puerto Rican and Hispanic voters in swing states, Trump has offended 30 million Americans. Moving a small percentage of those voters into the Kamala Harris’s column could make the difference in swing states.

There is reason to be hopeful! We can’t count on Republicans to defeat themselves, but we should take confidence in the fact that Kamala Harris has run a steady, positive campaign that capitalizes on those mistakes.

Ignore the polls. At this point, they are noise—even those polls that are favorable to Kamala Harris. Your effort is the only thing that is real. Keep it up!!

---

Efforts to alert Americans to the danger of Trump's fascism are beginning to gain traction

Efforts to raise the alarm about Trump's explicit threats of a fascist government are beginning to gain traction. On Sunday, the NYTimes published a powerful editorial entitled “Donald Trump says he will Order Mass Deportations, Prosecute His Enemies, Use Soldiers Against Citizens, Play Politics with Disasters, and Abandon Allies. Believe Him. (This article is behind a paywall. I have run out of gift articles. I would appreciate it if someone could post a gift link in the Comments, which I will pin to the top.)

The editorial is a full-throated condemnation of Donald Trump. The article says, in part,

The record shows that Mr. Trump often pursues his stated goals, regardless of how plainly they lack legal or moral grounding. The record further shows that many of his most reckless efforts in his first administration were stymied only because of others in his administration who blocked, delayed or watered down his aims to ensure that he could not put himself above the law or the country. Mr. Trump has learned from that experience to surround himself with supplicants who would instead obey his wishes and bring his words and ideas to life even if they contradict facts, the public interest or the Constitution.

The Times Editorial Board is correct in its description of the threat posed by Trump. The question is whether it is too little, too late.

After reporting on Trump for two years as if he were a normal candidate for the presidency, the Times and other major media created a permission structure for otherwise rational, upstanding Americans to say they were voting for Trump because issues like “the economy” or “immigration,” while skipping over the attempted coup, insurrection, sexual abuse, attempted bribery of Ukraine, obstruction of justice in the Mueller investigation, and the withholding and disclosure of national defense documents.

It is never too late to start doing the right thing. But the Times deserves no special praise or credit for choosing nine days before the election to run this op-ed. It should have been running something similar every day for the last two years.

I acknowledge that this is not the first such article run by the Times; but articles of this type have been few and far between—and were overwhelmed articles about Joe Biden’s age and inflation—neither of which pose the existential danger to democracy presented by a second Trump term.

Let’s hope that it is not “too little, too late” and that the Times keeps up its attack on the real danger of a fascist second Trump term.

Many readers shared Saturday’s post by Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American, October 26, 2024. HCR reviews a 1943 pamphlet from the US War Department with the headline, “FACISM.” The pamphlet is a sobering description of fascism that maps neatly onto the MAGA movement of today. I highly recommend the article to your attention.

The closing paragraph of HCR’s newsletter is this:

“Fascism thrives on indifference and ignorance,” [the pamphlet] warned. Freedom requires “being alert and on guard against the infringement not only of our own freedom but the freedom of every American. If we permit discrimination, prejudice, or hate to rob anyone of his democratic rights, our own freedom and all democracy is threatened.”

The Trump rally in Madison Square Garden was the very model of “discrimination, prejudice, and hate” that the War Department warned against in 1943.

Also relevant on Sunday was JD Vance’s efforts to defend Trump's threat to use the military against American citizens. Incredibly, Vance argued that Trump did not threaten to use force against Americans but instead threatened to use the military against “lunatic members of the radical left”—who are Americans. See YouTube, JD Vance tries to defend Trump’s ‘enemy’ rhetoric.

Finally, Jonathan V. Last writing in The Bulwark gives the best explanation yet of why Jeff Bezos’s decision to not make an endorsement in the presidential race fits into the fascist playbook of forcing leaders of industry to “obey in advance.” See The Bulwark, Bezos, Trump, and the Failure of Democracy, by Jonathan V. Last

Jonathan Last writes,

When Bezos decreed that the newspaper he owned could not endorse Trump’s opponent, it was a transparent act of submission borne of an intuitive understanding of the differences between the candidates.

Bezos understood that if he antagonized Kamala Harris and Harris became president, he would face no consequences. A Harris administration would not target his businesses because the Harris administration would—like all presidential administrations not headed by Trump—adhere to the rule of law.

Bezos likewise understood that the inverse was not true. If he continued to antagonize Trump and Trump became president, his businesses very much would be targeted.

So bending the knee to Trump was the smart play. All upside, no downside.

Bezos’s action was doubly cynical. He refused to do the right thing because he knows that Kamala Harris will abide by the rule of law. Having hedged that bet, he changed the Post’s policy at the last minute in a way that advantaged Trump—and Bezos if Trump wins.

At a time when our democracy faces the threat of fascism, those who seek to defend the rule of law do not have the luxury of hedging their bets in the way Bezos did. We need the rule of law to continue to enjoy the fruits of democracy. Bezos doesn’t, so he abandoned us. That is why Bezos is a coward. He is granting Trump obedience in advance—which is how fascists come to power.  

Three final notes about the fascist threat posed by Trump. They don’t quite fit into the narrative of this article but they are important and I need to bring the newsletter to a close.

First, the New York Times reported that Trump intends to “outsource” security clearances to a private firm in order to cut out the FBI from the process. During Trump's first term, the FBI refused to grant clearance to Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Trump ultimately over-ruled the FBI and granted Kushner a security clearance. See NYTimes, Advisers Propose That Trump Give Security Clearances Without F.B.I. Vetting.

By privatizing a federal function—security clearances—Trump is eradicating the dividing line between himself and the state. The private firms will be beholden to him—rather than to the Constitution.

Speaking of privatizing government functions, Elon Musk boasted at the Madison Square Garden rally that he believes he can cut “one-third” of the federal budget. See Business Insider, Elon Musk says at a New York Trump rally that he could save the country $2 trillion through a department of efficiency.

Musk has no idea how the Constitution or the federal budgeting process works. Nor does he have the emotion intelligence or lateral thinking skills to understand the havoc on personal and national security that cutting the federal budget by one-third would cause. Even suggesting such cuts would likely undermine the stability of markets, interest rates, and investments in the US. But when fascists erase the distinction between themselves and the state, their hair-brained ideas become the policy of the state.

Finally, Trump said at the rally on Sunday that he would appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a position in charge of federal health care policy. Trump said,

I'm gonna let him go wild on health. I'm gonna let him go wild on the foods. I'm gonna let him go wild on the medicines.

The last time Trump promised something would be wild, we had an insurrection. Putting RFK Jr. in charge of healthcare and medicine in the US would cause human suffering and death on a grand scale—assuming Kennedy could get anything done. But Kennedy, like Trump, has no idea of what it takes to create policy, write legislation, and fund programs. So, is Trump simply planning to override federal law for the appropriations process?

The above facts should arm us with the knowledge we need to persuade the few remaining voters who are undecided about voting. Use the information to generate turnout. That is the key to victory. Anyone who is on the fence about voting shoud be concerned about the hate, authoritarianism, and recklessness highlighted in Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday—and at all of his other appearances.

Opportunities for Reader Engagement

I received two requests via Jessica Craven for last-minute volunteer opportunities:

PA Dems for Harris / Walz is looking for volunteer housing

We’re looking for Harris-Walz supporters in Pennsylvania with extra space in their homes to host campaign workers from now through GOTV weekend and Election Day. By enabling seasoned campaign workers to come to PA to bolster our organizing in the final stretch, Harris-Walz supporters can multiply their impact and help even more people mobilize in our neighborhoods. 

Could you put out this request for PA supporter housing in your newsletter? We have a form that those interested in hosting can fill out PA 2024 Victory: Supporter Housing Form.

We are especially looking for supporter housing in the regions of northeast and South Philly; northeast and south Allegheny Country; Luzerne; York, Erie, Beaver, and Butler Counties, where our supporter housing stock is lower than expected. 

Offering supporter housing is a great option for people who may not have capacity to door-knock, but have extra beds in their homes and can give a volunteer a place to stay so they can work on GOTV in Pennsylvania.

Need for Spanish speakers to staff phone banks

Currently, I am responsible for recruitment for the Harris Language phone banks for Pennsylvania (500,000 Hispanic voters).  

We need to fill 10 phonebanks up for the last few days.  Would it be possible for you to share this information for us?  Here is a link for bilingual Spanish/English speakers to register. Statewide Bilingual Phonebank! (Spanish) · Swing Blue Alliance

As you know better than anyone, this last stretch is vital, and we are really in need of hundreds of Spanish speakers. Thanks for all you do to help preserve our precious democracy. You have truly accomplished miracles.

With appreciation,

Rachel Gertzog

Please don't sit this one out. 

A plea from a Vote From Abroad volunteer. 

First-time registering to vote? An OVERSEAS US VOTER? Still open for registration:

·      Hawaii Oct. 28

·      KY, TN Oct. 29

·      UT Oct. 31

·      IA, ME, NC, WY Nov. 4

·      AZ, CO, KS, MI, MT, VT, WA Nov. 5

·      MA, ND Not required

If you aren't on this list (but are already registered to vote), request your Absentee Ballot NOW at www.votefromabroad.org. 

---

Concluding Thoughts.

I cleaned my garage this morning. As I did—and against my better judgment—I listened to a popular progressive podcast that discussed the state of the polls with ten days remaining in the election.

Two men (the host and a male pollster) discussed polling results and electoral challenges faced by Kamala Harris for thirty minutes. (This was NOT Simon Rosenberg’s excellent podcast.)

I waited for the part of the discussion about the first post-Dobbs presidential election and the tens of millions of women who would be motivated like never before to stand up for their full status of citizens with control over their own bodies.

And I waited. And waited. And waited.

Twenty-five minutes into the podcast, one of the men finally said the word “women,” but only to wonder if Liz Cheney could “motivate Republican women” to vote for Kamala Harris.

Most of the discussion focused on the alienation of young male voters, young Hispanic male voters, young Black male voters, and older blue-collar male voters. I get it. Those cohorts represent a challenge for Kamala Harris.

But to then ignore women entirely in their discussion of the likely outcome of the election repeats the mistake that the male dominated polling, social media, and commentariat makes every day: To underestimate the motivation and passion of women who have been demoted from their status as full citizens in our democracy.

The polls don’t feel right to me because reproductive rights are usually listed as fourth or fifth on lists of concerns “facing the nation.” But if you are pregnant, have been pregnant, and could be pregnant in the future, or have a wife, daughter, friend or relative who could be, then reproductive rights are not fourth or fifth on your list of concerns. I believe the polls are missing a generation-defining moment in this election.

Still stewing about the podcast, I then ran across this article in Vox, Harris-Trump election polls reveal massive gap between men and women.

The Vox article is enlightening, and I recommend it to your attention. One point that bears emphasis is that to the extent that women have become more liberal and Democratic-leaning over time, they have also become more politically active. Any member of the grassroots movement can tell you that 90%+ of the grassroots movement are women. If those volunteers write postcards, phonebank, text, and canvass, you can be sure they will show up to vote. The same can’t be said for the men sitting at home waiting for their partners to return from the latest meeting, Zoom, canvass, or phonebank.

I am not dissing men. I am saying that it is silly and irresponsible to talk about the state of the race by focusing only on the Harris campaign’s challenge with men without talking about the overwhelming advantage that it has with women. Doing so disrespects women and minimizes the issue that affects them differently than men—reproductive liberty.

So, the next time a male pundit tells you that feelings about inflation or immigration will decide the election, consider whether the pundit has any women in his life and, if so, whether he seems to know enough about them to understand their feelings about reproductive rights. That should tell you all you need to know about whether you should take their opinions seriously. I have unsubscribed from the podcast that wasted my time as I cleaned my garage. I can invest that time elsewhere.

Talk to you tomorrow!

---

Daily Dose of Perspective

The beautiful little gem in this image is M1—The Crab Nebula. In the Messier numbering system, the Crab Nebula is the first object, Messier 1 (or M1). Charles Messier created his famous list to alert other astronomers that “this object is not a comet”—since comet hunting was a wildly popular pursuit at the time. In creating a list of “non-comets” that could be ignored, Messier created a critically important catalog of deep-sky objects of astronomical importance that remain popular imaging targets for astronomers across the globe.

The Crab Nebula corresponds with a supernova observed by Chinese astronomers in 1054 C.E. Although the explosion occurred over a thousand years ago, the nebula is still expanding at 930 miles per second or 0.5% of the speed of light. M1 is located about 6,500 light-years from Earth and is about 5 light-years in diameter.