Here's mine. I still have my cheap NYT subscription, but don't read stuff with misrepresentative headlines. So I'm protesting by giving away my gifts, even if somebody else beat me to it (silly, I know, but that's my rationalization).
Well, as Robert says, it may be too little too late, but it is outstanding. It's an ideal piece to send to a wavering voter. And stands in 100% opposition to the Washington Post.
Two stories from my weekend block walks. (Another later today…hoping to flip a state rep seat here in North Texas.)
While block walking Saturday, I encountered a 70ish woman who I suspected was a Trump supporter. I honestly identified my candidate and her positions. She replied she was actually on her way to vote, had ignored politics and voting for years, but “we” women would be the key! When “they” started women what they could and could not do with their bodies, she had to get involved.
I block walked in another Dallas suburb upper middle class white neighborhood Sunday. Trump signs and flags everywhere, but…I met a mid-60’s guy. Voted R all his life, incl. for Trump. But 4 years convinced him Trump is crazy and immoral, and he doesn’t see what’s so hard to see about that. So not only will he not vote for Trump, he won’t for for any R because they support Trump. He will vote D up and down the ticket, at least until Rs clean up and clean out their party.
And I met a genuine undecided voter! She answered the door I knocked on. I asked if she had a plan to vote. She said: "I always keep my head out of elections until a week before them. Then I start to research. I'm researching now." Hard to believe, but she was for real. She was a youngish woman. I asked her if she cared about abortion access, and she gave a vehement yes. I said, "Well, vote yes for Proposition 139 in Arizona, because it will keep abortion access safe in the state constitution. And Kamala Harris will do that nationally. Also vote for Jonathan Nez, because Eli Crane doesn't even live here and doesn't care about us. And for Ruben Gallego." I hope that, as she does her "research," she will at least remember a few of the names I mentioned and issues I alerted her to.
That is so encouraging. It’s hard not to get discouraged when you canvass and most people don’t even open their doors. Yesterday I canvassed in a bright red NC county (coincidentally the county that I live in although I volunteered in Wake County). As we were walking there was a young Black man with his family leaving their home. He wasn’t on our list, but I took a chance. Asked if he had voted yet. He said no but he had just recently registered. I then started a conversation…asked if he knew where to vote and if Kamala could count on him. By the end of the conversation he assured me he would vote early for Kamala. That one encounter made it all worthwhile. When I got home my husband said if all the canvassers that day got one more voter it would be a real Harris victory.
I have an address in Rowlett, TX for you. I have no clue how far that is from you or your fellow canvassers. Woman I was friends with in elementary school a lifetime ago. Lifelong R who secretly voted for Biden (shh. Don’t tell her husband! Gah!) I have tried since Feb to help her see that this is not her mother’s R party and have failed. She’s disgusted with “both sides.” Dog help us.
Sounds like you are more effective at this than I am. If you want me to send the address, let me know and we can exchange info privately.
I feel guilty just having known her and called her friend 60 years ago.
Given the sensitive nature, and since I’ve been block walking with a party generated list, maybe best if you gave her my email and she could reach out if she wants to. Cathymurphree@gmail.com. I am actually in a bluer area 30 minutes away…hard to get volunteers other way:-)
Re the importance of this election to women, especially young women, please get hold of the endorsement of Harris by the Washington Post hunorist Alexandra Petri. It's beautiful.
I may have missed a discussion about Michelle Obama's incredibly powerful speech the other day in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but the last 11 minutes or so are all about men needing to support women (start at 29:00)
Bob, thank you. I listened from 29:00, and this is the most powerful thing I've ever heard about how women--all women in the US, and the men that love them--are being affected by this election and about what we must do to fight against the harm that's on the horizon. There's still time. Thanks for posting this amazing speech, and pointing out for those of us that are short of time where to start.
I have never in my long life seen or heard anything like Michelle's profoundly moving call to the whole country to support women. She was even more magnificent than ever! I have replayed it for a friend and was in tears.
Yes, Alexandra Petri's Harris endorsement column is great. I was able to read it since my WaPo cancellation does not yet appear to have become effective.
I have November left, then I am forever done with the shreds of a great newspaper. I thought Dana Milbank's rationalization for staying was a shameful cop-out. William Lewis, no words to describe (that I can write) how I feel about him.
For men, Michelle Obama said it very well at the Harris rally in Kalamazoo, MI on 10/26/24:
“It is reasonable to be frustrated, but to anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election or voting for Donald Trump...let me warn you, your rage does not exist in a vacuum. Your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage...”
In my opinion we are going to elect Kamala Harris President, take back the House, and keep the Senate (perhaps adding a few seats). When Vance and all those members of Congress who were at the rally show up when Congress resumes after the election, they should all be expelled immediately. They lied when they took an oath to uphold the constitution. Also, there are still 8 days to vote them out of office for those who live in their districts in the House. Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Rick Scott could be done. The publicity about the MSG rally is already widespread. By the end of the day I feel fundraising for the Harris-Walz campaign and certain Democratic Senate and House candidates could be huge. I am now going to make a list of what additional campaign donations I can make.
Larry Hogan is the worst of bad men, because he is a plausible villain. He's hiding his Trumpism under a fake presentation. He's trying to get us to ignore the fact that his election would practically guarantee Trump control of the Senate. Give me an honest villain like Vance any day.
Trump is a known threat, but JD Vance, who very likely will be put in power as a proxy president is an unknown threat. We know he will be awful, but we do not know him as well, because he has not been around, and we don't know what Peter Thiel's sickening beliefs will have JD Vance implementing if he even will be led, instead as Christian Nationalist, continue to impose a horrid CN theocractic state upon us, just as Trump would do. I also see their being a battle between the Billionaire Tech Bros, the Heritage Foundation people, and the America First people, who are all using their sexist, racist pretended Godly, but really the Anti-Christ, to vie for control of the USA, its people, and ultimately the world, with China seen as the biggest threat. Time to send your sons to Canada or Mexico.
I can’t imagine any of this will be good for the economy or particularly the stock market, so why on earth do billionaires want this?! Don’t they own stocks, to include large majorities in their own companies’ stocks (ie elon musk)? Won’t they stand to lose huge amounts of their wealth? Won’t the value of the dollar crash around the world?
I thought surely the horrific riot that occurred at the Capitol would finally be Trump’s downfall. Boy, was I wrong! That insurrection was the national version of shooting someone on Fifth Avenue and not losing voters.
He's a threat with absolute certainty of it! If they gain the White House, Vance will be president. He will finish the term, as Trump is not well physically or mentally. Trump will expire, or will resign, or will get relieved via the 25th Amendment - - a process that will be led by Vance as VP. One can only imagine who he would name as his VP! Then they will go to work on getting the 22nd Amendment nullified by SCOMAGA. Vance could be there for decades. Yeah, a threat for reals!
“I stand corrected. I thought this year’s October surprise was the reality that Trump’s mental state had slipped so badly he could not campaign in any coherent way.
“It turns out that the 2024 October surprise was the Trump campaign’s fascist rally at Madison Square Garden, a rally so extreme that Republicans running for office have been denouncing it all over social media tonight.
“There was never any question that this rally was going to be anything but an attempt to inflame Trump’s base. The plan for a rally at Madison Square Garden itself deliberately evoked its predecessor: a Nazi rally at the old Madison Square Garden on February 20, 1939. About 18,000 people showed up for that “true Americanism” event, held on a stage that featured a huge portrait of George Washington in his Continental Army uniform flanked by swastikas.
“Like that earlier event, Trump’s rally was supposed to demonstrate power and inspire his base to violence.
“Apparently in anticipation of the rally, Trump on Friday night replaced his signature blue suit and red tie with the black and gold of the neofascist Proud Boys. That extremist group was central to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and has been rebuilding to support Trump again in 2024.
“On Saturday the Trump campaign released a list of 29 people set to be on the stage at the rally. Notably, the list was all MAGA Republicans, including vice presidential nominee Ohio senator J.D. Vance, House speaker Mike Johnson (LA), Representative Elise Stefanik (NY), Representative Byron Donalds (FL), Trump backer Elon Musk, Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right-wing host Tucker Carlson, Trump sons Don Jr. and Eric, and Eric’s wife, Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump.
“Libbey Dean of NewsNation noted that none of the seven Republicans running in New York’s competitive House races were on the list. When asked why not, according to Dean, Trump senior advisor Jason Miller said: “The demand, the request for people to speak, is quite extensive.” Asked if the campaign had turned down anyone who asked to speak, Miller said no.
“Meanwhile, the decision of the owners of the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post not to endorse Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have sparked a backlash. As Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, “in a strange way the papers did perform a public service: showing American voters what life under a dictator would feel like.”
“Early on October 26, the Washington Post itself went after Trump backer billionaire Elon Musk with a major story highlighting the information that Musk, an immigrant from South Africa, had worked illegally when he started his career in the U.S. Musk “did not have the legal right to work” in the U.S. when he started his first successful company. As part of the Trump campaign, Musk has emphasized his opposition to undocumented immigrants.
“The New York Times has tended to downplay Trump’s outrageous statements, but on Saturday it ran a round-up of Trump’s threats in the center of the front page, above the fold. It noted that Trump has vowed to expand presidential power, prosecute his political opponents, and crack down on immigration with mass deportations and detention camps. It went on to list his determination to undermine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), use the U.S. military against Mexican drug cartels “in potential violation of international law,” and use federal troops against U.S. citizens. It added that he plans to “upend trade” with sweeping new tariffs that will raise consumer prices, and to rein in regulatory agencies.
“‘To help achieve these and other goals,” the paper concluded, “his advisers are vetting lawyers seen as more likely to embrace aggressive legal theories about the scope of his power.”
“On Sunday the front page of the New York Times opinion section read, in giant capital letters: “DONALD TRUMP/ SAYS HE WILL PROSECUTE HIS ENEMIES/ ORDER MASS DEPORTATIONS/ USE SOLDIERS AGAINST CITIZENS/ ABANDON ALLIES/ PLAY POLITICS WITH DISASTERS/ BELIEVE HIM.” And then, inside the section, the paper provided the receipts: Trump’s own words outlining his fascist plans. “BELIEVE HIM,” the paper said.
“On CNN’s State of the Union this morning, host Jake Tapper refused to permit Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, to gaslight viewers. Vance angrily denied that Trump has repeatedly called for using the U.S. military against Americans, but Tapper came with receipts that proved the very things Vance denied.
“Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden began in the early afternoon. The hateful performances of the early participants set the tone for the rally. Early on, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who goes by Kill Tony, delivered a steamingly racist set. He said, for example: “There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” He went on: “And these Latinos, they love making babies too. Just know that. They do. They do. There’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside. Just like they did to our country.” Hinchcliffe also talked about Black people carving watermelons instead of pumpkins.
“The speakers who followed Hinchcliffe called Vice President Kamala Harris “the Antichrist” and “the devil.” They called former secretary of state Hillary Clinton “a sick son of a b*tch,” and they railed against “f*cking illegals.” They insulted Latinos generally, Black Americans, Palestinians and Jews. Trump advisor Stephen Miller’s claim that “America is for Americans and Americans only” directly echoed the statement of Adolf Hitler that "Germany is for Germans and Germans only.”
“Trump took the stage about two hours late, prompting people to stream toward the exits before he finished speaking. He hit his usual highlights, notably undermining Vance’s argument from earlier in the day by saying that, indeed, he believes fellow Americans are “the enemy within.”
“But Trump perhaps gave away the game with his inflammatory language and with an aside, seemingly aimed at House speaker Johnson. “I think with our little secret we are gonna do really well with the House, right? Our little secret is having a big impact, he and I have a secret, we will tell you what it is when the race is over,” Trump said.
“It seems possible—probable, even—that Trump was alluding to putting in play the plan his people tried in 2020. That plan was to create enough chaos over the certification of electoral votes in the states to throw the election into the House of Representatives. There, each state delegation gets a single vote, so if the Republicans have control of more states than the Democrats, Trump could pull out a victory even if he had dramatically lost the popular vote.
“Since he has made virtually no effort to win votes in 2024, this seems his likely plan.
“But to do that, he needs at least a plausibly close election, or at least to convince his supporters that the election has been stolen from him. Tonight’s rally badly hurt that plan.
“As Hinchcliffe was talking about Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris was at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia talking about her plan to spread her opportunity economy to Puerto Rico. She has called for strengthening Puerto Rico’s energy grid and making it easier to get permits to build there.
“After the “floating island of garbage” comment, Puerto Rican superstar musician Bad Bunny, who has more than 45 million followers on Instagram, posted Harris’s plan for Puerto Rico, and his spokesperson said he is endorsing Harris.
“Puerto Rican singer and actor Ricky Martin shared a clip from Hinchcliffe’s set with his 16 million followers. His caption read: “This is what they think of us.” Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, who has 250 million Instagram followers, posted Harris’s plan. Later, singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande posted that she had voted for Harris. Grande has 376 million followers on Instagram. Singer Luis Fonsi, who has 16 million followers, also called out the “constant hate.”
“The headlines were brutal. “MAGA speakers unleash ugly rhetoric at Trump's MSG rally,” read Axios. Politico wrote: “Trump’s New York homecoming sparks backlash over racist and vulgar remarks.” “Racist Remarks and Insults Mark Trump’s Madison Square Garden Rally,” the New York Times announced. “Speakers at Trump rally make racist comments, hurl insults,” read CNN.
“But the biggest sign of the damage the rally did was the frantic backpedaling from Republicans in tight elections, who distanced themselves as fast as they could from the insults against Puerto Ricans, especially. The Trump campaign itself tried to distance itself from the “floating island of garbage” quotation, only to be met with comments pointing out that Hinchcliffe’s set had been vetted and uploaded to the teleprompters.
“As the clips spread like wildfire, political writer Charlotte Clymer pointed out that almost 6 million Puerto Ricans live in the states—about a million in Florida, half a million in Pennsylvania, 100,000 in Georgia, 100,000 in Michigan, 100,000 in North Carolina, 45,000 in Arizona, and 40,000 in Nevada—and that over half of them voted in 2020.
“In 1939, as about 18,000 American Nazis rallied inside Madison Square Garden, newspapers reported that a crowd of about 100,000 anti-Nazis gathered outside to protest. It took 1,700 police officers, the largest number of officers ever before detailed for a single event, to hold them back from storming the venue.”
Yes. I read it this morning. I think we need to realize that Trump is not the only horror in this picture, JD Vance is too. People need to start thinking of what it would be like to have him for President as well. He is a Christian Nationalist extremist, so we would have 3 branches of government dominated by CN if our House stays the same and our Senate loses even a seat. A horrid thing in the making. Let us hope these latest endorsements make a difference in our favor.
“There’s a lot going on. Like, I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.
Where I live, Florida, over a million Puerto Ricans. Many Pentecostal MAGATs desde ayer!
Hoy dia, Boricuas para Kamala.
"Sen. Rick Scott was compelled to respond to a joke told by an undercard speaker at Donald Trump’s rally in New York City Sunday, stressing his affinity for Puerto Ricans after a comedian disparaged the “island of garbage.”
“This joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny and it’s not true. Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I’ve been to the island many times. It’s a beautiful place. Everyone should visit! I will always do whatever I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island,” Scott posted to social media.
I was going to suggest that everyone go vacation in Puerto Rico as a response to his saying that. Thanks for the link.
I would like to share a link to a discussion between Prof. Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Journalist Kara Swisher, which sort of ends up implying that JD Vance will take over from Trump as president backed by Peter Thiel.
I am skeptical of these claims that Trump will agree to step aside willingly. Have you met Trump? Also, there is the small issue of the 25th Amendment, which requires a 2/3 vote in both chambers of Congress to force a president aside. Trump knows that. And he will nominate cabinet members who will never vote to invoke the 25th amendment.
And here's the real question: Suppose it is true that Peter Theil and JD Vance will take over the presidency. What would we do differently?
I would never expect Trump to step aside willingly. I just think a lot of plotting is going on and we should be prepared for that, and not let anything shock us into stupor. We should also be prepared that there might be infighting. I don't know what we would do differently, but I am starting to read up more on the beliefs of Thiel, which disgusted me so much before that I have not spent much time thinking about him. I am still slogging through Project 2025 with my book club.
Are you saying that if a vote were called all Democrats would vote against removing Trump? We don't even know who will get elected. What will Republicans do? Will they stay with Trump or jump ship? Will there be a new faction in the Republican party? Let us hope Harris wins and we don't have to find out, but since her win is not 100% guaranteed, I like to discuss the possibilities. I also want to think about what I would advise my representatives to do, but it really all depends on who else gets elected too.
The Heritage Foundation, America First Policy Institute, Peter Thiel and his Bad Boy, billionaire Tech Bros and other oligarchs pose a much bigger problem than this election and we should be proactive and not reactive in dealing with the threat they pose. That is understand it, them and what they intend to do, and figure out what we want to do and be as single minded in going after that and thwarting them.
I love the question: 'What would we do differently?' And maybe more, I love the answer: We would be committed to the holy task before us, then, as we are now.
Thank you, Robert, for your part in teaching us what we have come to know.
I've been advocating that Dems, especially PRs who had to leave the island to get SSI benefits, DC residents, move to WY. the Dakotas, get control of the Senate and add PR and DC as states with electoral votes.
Linda, the horrors are legion. Trump; Vance; ignorant immigrant billionaires like Musk, and Thiel; hate-filled nationalists like Project 2025 author Vought; the evil Tucker Carlson; the Heritage Foundation's Leonard Leo; all the men who are behind the plan to overthrow the American government, take it over, and replace it with the regime of an American Hitler. It's not any longer about the old governmental structure and who heads it. It's about a huge effort funded by multiple billionaires to replace the governmental structure. It's a bigger and more present threat than any of us thought. Fight like hell. And once we win, we have to do what The Bulwark highlights: light a fire under our flaccid politicians who have done nothing for too long and have let America come to this pass.
Agreed. We have to do that now too, and we have to support the Gen Zers who want to enter politics to do some good too. Let us not let them have a world where they forget the possibilities because they don't know about them.
The Orlando Sentinel is no longer endorsing for the presidential race which I’m sure is a corporate decision as they’re now owned by Alden Global Capitol.The OS editors found a workaround with yesterday’s OpEd:How Would Jesus Vote ?
“To question Trump is to question God. That’s the message. It’s so wrong, but so powerful.”
Jessica Craven wrote yesterday that a record 145,000 people voted on the first day of early voting in Michigan with the previous record being 11,000. I was canvassing in Michigan and our organizer told us that 56% of the early voters were women. I was in a area of with a population of approx, 30,000 and there were at least 70 volunteers! More reasons to be hopeful.
Well, one silver lining to this Nazi madness is that Florida Senator Rick Scott could lose his race if the 1 million Puerto Rican voters in FL vote for his Democratic opponent. Meanwhile, I need to check out Bad Bunny!
I heard a great interview yesterday with Denny Carter, the founder of the Bad Faith Times, who has an interesting comparison to draw between an NFL quarterback and this year’s presidential election. He says "we need to stop over emphasizing computer- driven analytics and actually watch the game." At 41:33
Denny Carter has a series of articles related to bad faith polling and our tendency to "doomerism" but the interview above seems to summarize most of them. "One candidate is behaving like the favorite and the other is thrashing around like you when you get a calf cramp in the middle of the night". In Pennsylvania, Elon "is running the GOTV operation for trump - that's desperation".
"Polling outfits are basically scared to undercount the trump vote" and "they are not counting the biggest development of the last 4-5 years, which is the Dobbs decision- that changes everything".
I have been splitting my time between acting as a poll observer at early voting in my county (Mecklenburg Co., NC) and being a poll greeter and the women are showing up as are new voters - the poll workers give a "shout out" to first time voters.
My middle sister has a razor wit. While her suggestion may offend, I find it incisive—“Ask the next man who disses reproductive rights when he had his last period.”
Hi Bob, warmest thanks for this great morning dispatch. It does indeed boost my moral that I'll admit was slipping a bit in the previous few days, given that's what Fascists do, they put fear in people.
I actually went out and bought the NYT ( I've been boycotting it all summer , but I just had a feeling yesterday) and was blown away by their finally having the guts to print that full page condemning Trump.
"Too little too late?" I don't think so. If we can stoke the media to finally show some respect and love for our people and our country which has respected the media's feedom going back to Thomas Paine and Anne Hoof Green ( both early immigrants, by the way, wink), I think we may have a wake-up-America movement and momentum that equals that which the country first showed in praise for Kamala Harris entering the race. It's all good in rescuing our Democracy and Women's rights. And may I add , most intelligent men are much happier when their women have rights!
If we have always wondered (and I have) how the German people could have put Hitler into power, we now know. But, America? The United States of America? Openly loving and admiring a fascist? Watching our free press be willing to be silenced. The paper whose slogan is that democracy dies in darkness? God help us, please.
In his MSG rally, Trump literally said that the press were the enemy. He's already said he wants to end CBS, and others. They're fooling themselves if they think he won't.
Robert - That's a novel shot of the Crab Nebula. I'm used to seeing the more blown-up varieties. Setting it off against the starry background adds an interesting effect.
Early last week I started to wonder if Trump had in some fashion peaked too early. The craven surrender by the LA Times and Post then seemed to finally hit some backbone of whatever integrity was left in the media and some other major influencers. Then came the WSJ story on Musk, the Blue Origin news, and now this Nuremberg shout-out at MSG, followed by Bad Bunny and the other Kamala endorsements. If a majority of voters still embrace Trump after this, we can at least take some comfort in knowing we did not.
Here's a free link to the NYT editorial Robert mentions in today's letter:https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/25/opinion/what-trump-says.html?ogrp=dpl&unlocked_article_code=1.VU4.U4AO.ejWldYS39U0t&smid=url-share
Thanks! Pinned to top.
Here's mine. I still have my cheap NYT subscription, but don't read stuff with misrepresentative headlines. So I'm protesting by giving away my gifts, even if somebody else beat me to it (silly, I know, but that's my rationalization).
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/25/opinion/what-trump-says.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Vk4.Mjm1.7MI9jxFFdkCk&smid=url-share
Why, Bob, you silly thing, you...I'll take your link with thanks!
Thanks, Lynell!
LOL!
Thanks. Beat me to it.
Thanks, Ronald!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/us/trump-msg-rally.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Well, as Robert says, it may be too little too late, but it is outstanding. It's an ideal piece to send to a wavering voter. And stands in 100% opposition to the Washington Post.
Thanks!
Hi Robert, I repost yesterday's comment;
Just got this. Share!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/25/opinion/what-trump-says.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VU4.Owo7.l9v3hI5NVDet&smid=url-share
Two stories from my weekend block walks. (Another later today…hoping to flip a state rep seat here in North Texas.)
While block walking Saturday, I encountered a 70ish woman who I suspected was a Trump supporter. I honestly identified my candidate and her positions. She replied she was actually on her way to vote, had ignored politics and voting for years, but “we” women would be the key! When “they” started women what they could and could not do with their bodies, she had to get involved.
I block walked in another Dallas suburb upper middle class white neighborhood Sunday. Trump signs and flags everywhere, but…I met a mid-60’s guy. Voted R all his life, incl. for Trump. But 4 years convinced him Trump is crazy and immoral, and he doesn’t see what’s so hard to see about that. So not only will he not vote for Trump, he won’t for for any R because they support Trump. He will vote D up and down the ticket, at least until Rs clean up and clean out their party.
And I met a genuine undecided voter! She answered the door I knocked on. I asked if she had a plan to vote. She said: "I always keep my head out of elections until a week before them. Then I start to research. I'm researching now." Hard to believe, but she was for real. She was a youngish woman. I asked her if she cared about abortion access, and she gave a vehement yes. I said, "Well, vote yes for Proposition 139 in Arizona, because it will keep abortion access safe in the state constitution. And Kamala Harris will do that nationally. Also vote for Jonathan Nez, because Eli Crane doesn't even live here and doesn't care about us. And for Ruben Gallego." I hope that, as she does her "research," she will at least remember a few of the names I mentioned and issues I alerted her to.
Good work, Christina, and everyone doing the canvassing, calling. I did a big bunch of postcarding. Go, fight, win1
That is so encouraging. It’s hard not to get discouraged when you canvass and most people don’t even open their doors. Yesterday I canvassed in a bright red NC county (coincidentally the county that I live in although I volunteered in Wake County). As we were walking there was a young Black man with his family leaving their home. He wasn’t on our list, but I took a chance. Asked if he had voted yet. He said no but he had just recently registered. I then started a conversation…asked if he knew where to vote and if Kamala could count on him. By the end of the conversation he assured me he would vote early for Kamala. That one encounter made it all worthwhile. When I got home my husband said if all the canvassers that day got one more voter it would be a real Harris victory.
I have an address in Rowlett, TX for you. I have no clue how far that is from you or your fellow canvassers. Woman I was friends with in elementary school a lifetime ago. Lifelong R who secretly voted for Biden (shh. Don’t tell her husband! Gah!) I have tried since Feb to help her see that this is not her mother’s R party and have failed. She’s disgusted with “both sides.” Dog help us.
Sounds like you are more effective at this than I am. If you want me to send the address, let me know and we can exchange info privately.
I feel guilty just having known her and called her friend 60 years ago.
Given the sensitive nature, and since I’ve been block walking with a party generated list, maybe best if you gave her my email and she could reach out if she wants to. Cathymurphree@gmail.com. I am actually in a bluer area 30 minutes away…hard to get volunteers other way:-)
Amazing, Cathy!
Re the importance of this election to women, especially young women, please get hold of the endorsement of Harris by the Washington Post hunorist Alexandra Petri. It's beautiful.
I may have missed a discussion about Michelle Obama's incredibly powerful speech the other day in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but the last 11 minutes or so are all about men needing to support women (start at 29:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtQqGOOLh8o
p.s. Her prefatory remarks about women's reproductive health starts at 22:00, and they're just as compelling.
I will share tonight!
The emotion in her voice was palpable. As enlightened as I like to think I am, I almost felt ashamed to have a Y chromosome!
Bob, thank you. I listened from 29:00, and this is the most powerful thing I've ever heard about how women--all women in the US, and the men that love them--are being affected by this election and about what we must do to fight against the harm that's on the horizon. There's still time. Thanks for posting this amazing speech, and pointing out for those of us that are short of time where to start.
I have never in my long life seen or heard anything like Michelle's profoundly moving call to the whole country to support women. She was even more magnificent than ever! I have replayed it for a friend and was in tears.
I just sobbed... it was that wonderful and moving. Thank you Bob Morgan.
Yes, Alexandra Petri's Harris endorsement column is great. I was able to read it since my WaPo cancellation does not yet appear to have become effective.
I have November left, then I am forever done with the shreds of a great newspaper. I thought Dana Milbank's rationalization for staying was a shameful cop-out. William Lewis, no words to describe (that I can write) how I feel about him.
Another reason not to cancel
https://wapo.st/4f1tCax
Thank you so much for sharing, Emily.
For men, Michelle Obama said it very well at the Harris rally in Kalamazoo, MI on 10/26/24:
“It is reasonable to be frustrated, but to anyone out there thinking about sitting out this election or voting for Donald Trump...let me warn you, your rage does not exist in a vacuum. Your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage...”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/michelle-obama-joins-kamala-harris-222845107.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
Amazing and true comment from Michelle Obama!
In my opinion we are going to elect Kamala Harris President, take back the House, and keep the Senate (perhaps adding a few seats). When Vance and all those members of Congress who were at the rally show up when Congress resumes after the election, they should all be expelled immediately. They lied when they took an oath to uphold the constitution. Also, there are still 8 days to vote them out of office for those who live in their districts in the House. Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Rick Scott could be done. The publicity about the MSG rally is already widespread. By the end of the day I feel fundraising for the Harris-Walz campaign and certain Democratic Senate and House candidates could be huge. I am now going to make a list of what additional campaign donations I can make.
On the donations, Linda. Felt both tapped out and too late but making more tonight.
Larry Hogan is the worst of bad men, because he is a plausible villain. He's hiding his Trumpism under a fake presentation. He's trying to get us to ignore the fact that his election would practically guarantee Trump control of the Senate. Give me an honest villain like Vance any day.
See what the military brass has to say about the threat Trump poses to American democracy with this infographic. Click on any person for details.
Marine Corps General John Kelly and top Trump officials warn against voting for Trump
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/10/27/john-kelly-warns-trump-is-a-threat-to-democracy/
Trump is a known threat, but JD Vance, who very likely will be put in power as a proxy president is an unknown threat. We know he will be awful, but we do not know him as well, because he has not been around, and we don't know what Peter Thiel's sickening beliefs will have JD Vance implementing if he even will be led, instead as Christian Nationalist, continue to impose a horrid CN theocractic state upon us, just as Trump would do. I also see their being a battle between the Billionaire Tech Bros, the Heritage Foundation people, and the America First people, who are all using their sexist, racist pretended Godly, but really the Anti-Christ, to vie for control of the USA, its people, and ultimately the world, with China seen as the biggest threat. Time to send your sons to Canada or Mexico.
I can’t imagine any of this will be good for the economy or particularly the stock market, so why on earth do billionaires want this?! Don’t they own stocks, to include large majorities in their own companies’ stocks (ie elon musk)? Won’t they stand to lose huge amounts of their wealth? Won’t the value of the dollar crash around the world?
Americans have short memories unfortunately, just the mention of January 6th should completely disqualify Trump in everyone’s mind.
I thought surely the horrific riot that occurred at the Capitol would finally be Trump’s downfall. Boy, was I wrong! That insurrection was the national version of shooting someone on Fifth Avenue and not losing voters.
Yes to all that you said and the country will become more dangerous than it is
He is not an unknown threat to many of us
He's a threat with absolute certainty of it! If they gain the White House, Vance will be president. He will finish the term, as Trump is not well physically or mentally. Trump will expire, or will resign, or will get relieved via the 25th Amendment - - a process that will be led by Vance as VP. One can only imagine who he would name as his VP! Then they will go to work on getting the 22nd Amendment nullified by SCOMAGA. Vance could be there for decades. Yeah, a threat for reals!
An excellent complement to this Hubbell post:
Heather Cox Richardson
October 27, 2024 (Sunday)
“I stand corrected. I thought this year’s October surprise was the reality that Trump’s mental state had slipped so badly he could not campaign in any coherent way.
“It turns out that the 2024 October surprise was the Trump campaign’s fascist rally at Madison Square Garden, a rally so extreme that Republicans running for office have been denouncing it all over social media tonight.
“There was never any question that this rally was going to be anything but an attempt to inflame Trump’s base. The plan for a rally at Madison Square Garden itself deliberately evoked its predecessor: a Nazi rally at the old Madison Square Garden on February 20, 1939. About 18,000 people showed up for that “true Americanism” event, held on a stage that featured a huge portrait of George Washington in his Continental Army uniform flanked by swastikas.
“Like that earlier event, Trump’s rally was supposed to demonstrate power and inspire his base to violence.
“Apparently in anticipation of the rally, Trump on Friday night replaced his signature blue suit and red tie with the black and gold of the neofascist Proud Boys. That extremist group was central to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and has been rebuilding to support Trump again in 2024.
“On Saturday the Trump campaign released a list of 29 people set to be on the stage at the rally. Notably, the list was all MAGA Republicans, including vice presidential nominee Ohio senator J.D. Vance, House speaker Mike Johnson (LA), Representative Elise Stefanik (NY), Representative Byron Donalds (FL), Trump backer Elon Musk, Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right-wing host Tucker Carlson, Trump sons Don Jr. and Eric, and Eric’s wife, Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump.
“Libbey Dean of NewsNation noted that none of the seven Republicans running in New York’s competitive House races were on the list. When asked why not, according to Dean, Trump senior advisor Jason Miller said: “The demand, the request for people to speak, is quite extensive.” Asked if the campaign had turned down anyone who asked to speak, Miller said no.
“Meanwhile, the decision of the owners of the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post not to endorse Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris seems to have sparked a backlash. As Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, “in a strange way the papers did perform a public service: showing American voters what life under a dictator would feel like.”
“Early on October 26, the Washington Post itself went after Trump backer billionaire Elon Musk with a major story highlighting the information that Musk, an immigrant from South Africa, had worked illegally when he started his career in the U.S. Musk “did not have the legal right to work” in the U.S. when he started his first successful company. As part of the Trump campaign, Musk has emphasized his opposition to undocumented immigrants.
“The New York Times has tended to downplay Trump’s outrageous statements, but on Saturday it ran a round-up of Trump’s threats in the center of the front page, above the fold. It noted that Trump has vowed to expand presidential power, prosecute his political opponents, and crack down on immigration with mass deportations and detention camps. It went on to list his determination to undermine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), use the U.S. military against Mexican drug cartels “in potential violation of international law,” and use federal troops against U.S. citizens. It added that he plans to “upend trade” with sweeping new tariffs that will raise consumer prices, and to rein in regulatory agencies.
“‘To help achieve these and other goals,” the paper concluded, “his advisers are vetting lawyers seen as more likely to embrace aggressive legal theories about the scope of his power.”
“On Sunday the front page of the New York Times opinion section read, in giant capital letters: “DONALD TRUMP/ SAYS HE WILL PROSECUTE HIS ENEMIES/ ORDER MASS DEPORTATIONS/ USE SOLDIERS AGAINST CITIZENS/ ABANDON ALLIES/ PLAY POLITICS WITH DISASTERS/ BELIEVE HIM.” And then, inside the section, the paper provided the receipts: Trump’s own words outlining his fascist plans. “BELIEVE HIM,” the paper said.
“On CNN’s State of the Union this morning, host Jake Tapper refused to permit Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator J.D. Vance, to gaslight viewers. Vance angrily denied that Trump has repeatedly called for using the U.S. military against Americans, but Tapper came with receipts that proved the very things Vance denied.
“Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden began in the early afternoon. The hateful performances of the early participants set the tone for the rally. Early on, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who goes by Kill Tony, delivered a steamingly racist set. He said, for example: “There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” He went on: “And these Latinos, they love making babies too. Just know that. They do. They do. There’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside. Just like they did to our country.” Hinchcliffe also talked about Black people carving watermelons instead of pumpkins.
“The speakers who followed Hinchcliffe called Vice President Kamala Harris “the Antichrist” and “the devil.” They called former secretary of state Hillary Clinton “a sick son of a b*tch,” and they railed against “f*cking illegals.” They insulted Latinos generally, Black Americans, Palestinians and Jews. Trump advisor Stephen Miller’s claim that “America is for Americans and Americans only” directly echoed the statement of Adolf Hitler that "Germany is for Germans and Germans only.”
“Trump took the stage about two hours late, prompting people to stream toward the exits before he finished speaking. He hit his usual highlights, notably undermining Vance’s argument from earlier in the day by saying that, indeed, he believes fellow Americans are “the enemy within.”
“But Trump perhaps gave away the game with his inflammatory language and with an aside, seemingly aimed at House speaker Johnson. “I think with our little secret we are gonna do really well with the House, right? Our little secret is having a big impact, he and I have a secret, we will tell you what it is when the race is over,” Trump said.
“It seems possible—probable, even—that Trump was alluding to putting in play the plan his people tried in 2020. That plan was to create enough chaos over the certification of electoral votes in the states to throw the election into the House of Representatives. There, each state delegation gets a single vote, so if the Republicans have control of more states than the Democrats, Trump could pull out a victory even if he had dramatically lost the popular vote.
“Since he has made virtually no effort to win votes in 2024, this seems his likely plan.
“But to do that, he needs at least a plausibly close election, or at least to convince his supporters that the election has been stolen from him. Tonight’s rally badly hurt that plan.
“As Hinchcliffe was talking about Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris was at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia talking about her plan to spread her opportunity economy to Puerto Rico. She has called for strengthening Puerto Rico’s energy grid and making it easier to get permits to build there.
“After the “floating island of garbage” comment, Puerto Rican superstar musician Bad Bunny, who has more than 45 million followers on Instagram, posted Harris’s plan for Puerto Rico, and his spokesperson said he is endorsing Harris.
“Puerto Rican singer and actor Ricky Martin shared a clip from Hinchcliffe’s set with his 16 million followers. His caption read: “This is what they think of us.” Singer and actress Jennifer Lopez, who has 250 million Instagram followers, posted Harris’s plan. Later, singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande posted that she had voted for Harris. Grande has 376 million followers on Instagram. Singer Luis Fonsi, who has 16 million followers, also called out the “constant hate.”
“The headlines were brutal. “MAGA speakers unleash ugly rhetoric at Trump's MSG rally,” read Axios. Politico wrote: “Trump’s New York homecoming sparks backlash over racist and vulgar remarks.” “Racist Remarks and Insults Mark Trump’s Madison Square Garden Rally,” the New York Times announced. “Speakers at Trump rally make racist comments, hurl insults,” read CNN.
“But the biggest sign of the damage the rally did was the frantic backpedaling from Republicans in tight elections, who distanced themselves as fast as they could from the insults against Puerto Ricans, especially. The Trump campaign itself tried to distance itself from the “floating island of garbage” quotation, only to be met with comments pointing out that Hinchcliffe’s set had been vetted and uploaded to the teleprompters.
“As the clips spread like wildfire, political writer Charlotte Clymer pointed out that almost 6 million Puerto Ricans live in the states—about a million in Florida, half a million in Pennsylvania, 100,000 in Georgia, 100,000 in Michigan, 100,000 in North Carolina, 45,000 in Arizona, and 40,000 in Nevada—and that over half of them voted in 2020.
“In 1939, as about 18,000 American Nazis rallied inside Madison Square Garden, newspapers reported that a crowd of about 100,000 anti-Nazis gathered outside to protest. It took 1,700 police officers, the largest number of officers ever before detailed for a single event, to hold them back from storming the venue.”
Yes. I read it this morning. I think we need to realize that Trump is not the only horror in this picture, JD Vance is too. People need to start thinking of what it would be like to have him for President as well. He is a Christian Nationalist extremist, so we would have 3 branches of government dominated by CN if our House stays the same and our Senate loses even a seat. A horrid thing in the making. Let us hope these latest endorsements make a difference in our favor.
“There’s a lot going on. Like, I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.
Where I live, Florida, over a million Puerto Ricans. Many Pentecostal MAGATs desde ayer!
Hoy dia, Boricuas para Kamala.
"Sen. Rick Scott was compelled to respond to a joke told by an undercard speaker at Donald Trump’s rally in New York City Sunday, stressing his affinity for Puerto Ricans after a comedian disparaged the “island of garbage.”
“This joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny and it’s not true. Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I’ve been to the island many times. It’s a beautiful place. Everyone should visit! I will always do whatever I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island,” Scott posted to social media.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/703832-rick-scott-does-damage-control-after-trump-rally-comics-puerto-rico-rip/
I was going to suggest that everyone go vacation in Puerto Rico as a response to his saying that. Thanks for the link.
I would like to share a link to a discussion between Prof. Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Journalist Kara Swisher, which sort of ends up implying that JD Vance will take over from Trump as president backed by Peter Thiel.
https://youtu.be/yBSAveg-fzg?si=cbkcvJuof89JKQZD
I am skeptical of these claims that Trump will agree to step aside willingly. Have you met Trump? Also, there is the small issue of the 25th Amendment, which requires a 2/3 vote in both chambers of Congress to force a president aside. Trump knows that. And he will nominate cabinet members who will never vote to invoke the 25th amendment.
And here's the real question: Suppose it is true that Peter Theil and JD Vance will take over the presidency. What would we do differently?
I would never expect Trump to step aside willingly. I just think a lot of plotting is going on and we should be prepared for that, and not let anything shock us into stupor. We should also be prepared that there might be infighting. I don't know what we would do differently, but I am starting to read up more on the beliefs of Thiel, which disgusted me so much before that I have not spent much time thinking about him. I am still slogging through Project 2025 with my book club.
Are you saying that if a vote were called all Democrats would vote against removing Trump? We don't even know who will get elected. What will Republicans do? Will they stay with Trump or jump ship? Will there be a new faction in the Republican party? Let us hope Harris wins and we don't have to find out, but since her win is not 100% guaranteed, I like to discuss the possibilities. I also want to think about what I would advise my representatives to do, but it really all depends on who else gets elected too.
The Heritage Foundation, America First Policy Institute, Peter Thiel and his Bad Boy, billionaire Tech Bros and other oligarchs pose a much bigger problem than this election and we should be proactive and not reactive in dealing with the threat they pose. That is understand it, them and what they intend to do, and figure out what we want to do and be as single minded in going after that and thwarting them.
I love the question: 'What would we do differently?' And maybe more, I love the answer: We would be committed to the holy task before us, then, as we are now.
Thank you, Robert, for your part in teaching us what we have come to know.
I've been advocating that Dems, especially PRs who had to leave the island to get SSI benefits, DC residents, move to WY. the Dakotas, get control of the Senate and add PR and DC as states with electoral votes.
That sounds like a great idea.
He’s full of sh*t
Linda, the horrors are legion. Trump; Vance; ignorant immigrant billionaires like Musk, and Thiel; hate-filled nationalists like Project 2025 author Vought; the evil Tucker Carlson; the Heritage Foundation's Leonard Leo; all the men who are behind the plan to overthrow the American government, take it over, and replace it with the regime of an American Hitler. It's not any longer about the old governmental structure and who heads it. It's about a huge effort funded by multiple billionaires to replace the governmental structure. It's a bigger and more present threat than any of us thought. Fight like hell. And once we win, we have to do what The Bulwark highlights: light a fire under our flaccid politicians who have done nothing for too long and have let America come to this pass.
Agreed. We have to do that now too, and we have to support the Gen Zers who want to enter politics to do some good too. Let us not let them have a world where they forget the possibilities because they don't know about them.
The Orlando Sentinel is no longer endorsing for the presidential race which I’m sure is a corporate decision as they’re now owned by Alden Global Capitol.The OS editors found a workaround with yesterday’s OpEd:How Would Jesus Vote ?
“To question Trump is to question God. That’s the message. It’s so wrong, but so powerful.”
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/10/27/editorial-how-would-jesus-vote/?share=
The Herald has endorsed Debbie.....
How would Jesus vote? BLUE all the way!!
Jessica Craven wrote yesterday that a record 145,000 people voted on the first day of early voting in Michigan with the previous record being 11,000. I was canvassing in Michigan and our organizer told us that 56% of the early voters were women. I was in a area of with a population of approx, 30,000 and there were at least 70 volunteers! More reasons to be hopeful.
Well, one silver lining to this Nazi madness is that Florida Senator Rick Scott could lose his race if the 1 million Puerto Rican voters in FL vote for his Democratic opponent. Meanwhile, I need to check out Bad Bunny!
My sister really thinks Florida is in play and that Rick Scott is going down. I certainly hope so.
Trump poisoned the Georgia run-off for Republicans in January 2021 and hopefully will do the same for Florida!
There's still time to text bank for Debbie Mucarsel-Powell running for Senate. https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/645766
I lived in FL for 41 years and saw Rick Scott in action firsthand.
I heard a great interview yesterday with Denny Carter, the founder of the Bad Faith Times, who has an interesting comparison to draw between an NFL quarterback and this year’s presidential election. He says "we need to stop over emphasizing computer- driven analytics and actually watch the game." At 41:33
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/does-trump-not-know-that-hitlers-generals-tried-to-kill-him/id1508202790?i=1000674391598
Denny Carter has a series of articles related to bad faith polling and our tendency to "doomerism" but the interview above seems to summarize most of them. "One candidate is behaving like the favorite and the other is thrashing around like you when you get a calf cramp in the middle of the night". In Pennsylvania, Elon "is running the GOTV operation for trump - that's desperation".
https://bad-faith-times.ghost.io/
"Polling outfits are basically scared to undercount the trump vote" and "they are not counting the biggest development of the last 4-5 years, which is the Dobbs decision- that changes everything".
I have been splitting my time between acting as a poll observer at early voting in my county (Mecklenburg Co., NC) and being a poll greeter and the women are showing up as are new voters - the poll workers give a "shout out" to first time voters.
Thanks for working the polls Cheryl! Exciting to hear about the first time voters!
My middle sister has a razor wit. While her suggestion may offend, I find it incisive—“Ask the next man who disses reproductive rights when he had his last period.”
I like your sister, Susan!
Hi Bob, warmest thanks for this great morning dispatch. It does indeed boost my moral that I'll admit was slipping a bit in the previous few days, given that's what Fascists do, they put fear in people.
I actually went out and bought the NYT ( I've been boycotting it all summer , but I just had a feeling yesterday) and was blown away by their finally having the guts to print that full page condemning Trump.
"Too little too late?" I don't think so. If we can stoke the media to finally show some respect and love for our people and our country which has respected the media's feedom going back to Thomas Paine and Anne Hoof Green ( both early immigrants, by the way, wink), I think we may have a wake-up-America movement and momentum that equals that which the country first showed in praise for Kamala Harris entering the race. It's all good in rescuing our Democracy and Women's rights. And may I add , most intelligent men are much happier when their women have rights!
If we have always wondered (and I have) how the German people could have put Hitler into power, we now know. But, America? The United States of America? Openly loving and admiring a fascist? Watching our free press be willing to be silenced. The paper whose slogan is that democracy dies in darkness? God help us, please.
In his MSG rally, Trump literally said that the press were the enemy. He's already said he wants to end CBS, and others. They're fooling themselves if they think he won't.
Robert - That's a novel shot of the Crab Nebula. I'm used to seeing the more blown-up varieties. Setting it off against the starry background adds an interesting effect.
Early last week I started to wonder if Trump had in some fashion peaked too early. The craven surrender by the LA Times and Post then seemed to finally hit some backbone of whatever integrity was left in the media and some other major influencers. Then came the WSJ story on Musk, the Blue Origin news, and now this Nuremberg shout-out at MSG, followed by Bad Bunny and the other Kamala endorsements. If a majority of voters still embrace Trump after this, we can at least take some comfort in knowing we did not.