“What do you think?” I think we must ask the thousands on bridges and street corners across the country protesting every day and every week. I think we must ask the thousands writing postcards, making phone calls to representatives in Congress. I know what their answer is.
🥳 Great news this morning! As a Californian, I am thrilled and relieved!
Democrat Xavier Becerra will advance to November election in California governor’s race, CNN projects
WIth 68% of votes in, Republican Steve Hilton is in 2nd place and Democrat Tom Steyer is in 3rd. The top two, regardless of party, advance to the November election.
Are we courageous enough to eliminate the filibuster, pass legislation to end gerrymandering, and reform the Supreme Court? Ask the BILLIONAIRES who control the leaders of the Democratic Party in the House and Senate. The Billionaires also fund the salaries of the staff and advisors.
Thanks for interrupting your eat/nap/etc cycle to send this newsletter. It's important to remember how much depends on us to end this terrible bid for autocracy by the worst President in our country's history. Enjoy Scotland! Happy Birthday to Jill!
Everything to do with voting rights is on the table right now. We all need to work hard to protect our right to vote. If we don’t, or can’t, due to suppression and dirty tricks, I believe that we lose it all. This is our best chance to save democracy. Excellent challenge put forward by Robert Hubbell.
Well, I hope you and all of us out on the streets have the ability to make the Sen. Dems save democracy and eliminate the filibuster. Given my life experience(77 yrs.) I'll be surprised if they do. I think that is part of why the party is given such low esteem. We can try to push them. As FDR said we are vital to making them do the right thing.
A rant for a Saturday morning: The fillibuster has no place in a democracy. The current administration in Washington has demonstrated what can happen with the filibuster in place. What could be worse?
& BTW, "Senates" are the chains to bind the common man into a well fed slavery. If you need a Senate to manage your nation, you are probably in the last stages of national survival.
Robert and Jill...enjoy your visit to Scotland. We loved our visit(s) there - the people, the history, the many bookstores. Edinburgh has a marvelous downtown center - easy walking and many interesting shops. Enjoy it all!!!
Dems have been far too reluctant to rock the boat for far too long to achieve our agenda. Hopefully our collective experience in suffering through Trump’s toxic fantasyland will change this. If not, we the people must exert our power to get Democrat leaders to act boldly or be replaced.
Robert: we don’t know what you’re talking about in the first 20 paragraphs? Senators don’t vote by “small states” vs big states? Obviously each Senator votes individually so please explain what you are talking about? Thanks
The point is that small-population states like Wyoming (~588,000) have the same number of votes in the Senate as large-population states like California (~39,500,000). If CA had the same representation in the Senate as WY, we would have 134 Senators. The whole state of WY has fewer people than the city of San Francisco. One person one vote is the essence of democracy. The Senate is a complete contradiction of that principle, leading to the dominance in our national legislature of rural and small town people, generally white and less educated than the more urban states, hence more conservative. The filibuster just makes this imbalance all the worse.
This imbalance also affects the election of a president, since the electoral college, which actually chooses the POTUS, consists of the same number of representatives as we have members of the House and Senate, so it too leans conservative and is undemocratic. Presidential elections should be decided by the popular vote, but that would require a constitutional amendment. The amendment process also is slanted conservative, as it requires 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress and 2/3 of states to ratify. Conservative dominance all the way down.
Robert's point is that the filibuster essentially gives 41 GOP senators control over the other 59 senators because it prevents bills being passed. Ending the filibuster would allow a simple majority, 51/49 for example, to pass a bill. In other words, a handful of senators from the smallest populated states can dictate to the entire nation what's going to happen or not happen.
1.How are we supposed to believe yesterday's job reports put out by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics when it's commissioner, William Wiatrowski, was appointed by Trump after Trump fired commissioner Erika McEntarfer because of weak job reports. Nothing that directly or indirectly comes out of the Trump WH is believable. Wiatrowski may be well qualified for the job, but we all know his main qualification was Trump loyality.
2.Jason Johnson was on Ari Melber yesterday and gave Todd Blanche a great nickname….. Carte Blanche!!
3. I'm really ambivalent.......I so much want to enjoy a nice long summer but I can't wait until November.
And as far as Tea at Balmoral goes, Robert. Don't be surprised to see a special guest at your table. I have it on good authority (housing tycoon in National Intelligence) that the U.S. intercepted the following phone call exchange between Queen Camilla and King Charles:
Camilla: Charles, did you hear the news from Scotland?
Charles: What, has Donald Trump threatened to annex the Hebrides?
Camilla: No, dear, this is good news. Robert and Jill Hubbell are coming for tea at Balmoral on one of the visitor days.
Charles: What? Gor blimey! Think we might join them? I'd be chuffed to have a discussion with Robert about politics, hope, and a clear moral vision. Let's shorten our little follow up meetings with the Governor General of Canada and helicopter up to Balmoral?
Camilla: I'm a step ahead of you, your Majesty. We are set to go. But we mustn't overstay our welcome. This is a special day for them. It's Mrs. Hubbell's birthday, sometime early this month.
I asked the American Embassy if they knew the exact date, but they said they are sadly out of the loop, though they think the acting Director of National Intelligence might be able to tell us the average price of homes in the Hubbell's neighborhood. I was abashed and asked, "Why would we want to know that?" The fellow at the Embassy just said he was not sure, but that's the kind of information the Director is most interested in, so it must be important.
Charles: Oh, my dear.
Camilla: I will never understand what is going on in the States. Anyway be sure to limber up before the longish helicopter ride.
Charles: Certainly, you know my motto, "No kinks!"
Wow! We better be ready to do what is required to get back our democracy. I am not sure about how brave the dems will be about the filibuster but if Robert is right that it is the only way to make majority rule and do away with gerrymandering, it must be done. I hate that the smallest and very red states run the show. No! That is not true democracy, eh? Love the Protest pics today, especially the ones from Worcester, MD. with 5 "NO's"! BTW, Blanche is plotting to save Batsby from being prosecuted after he leaves office accusing the Dems of weaponizing the
DOJ and retribution, What?! The pot calling the kettle black.
Thank you, Robert! We will persist!
Enjoy Edinburgh! We were there for a few days last year and loved it!
“What do you think?” I think we must ask the thousands on bridges and street corners across the country protesting every day and every week. I think we must ask the thousands writing postcards, making phone calls to representatives in Congress. I know what their answer is.
Salud!
🗽
They may be courageous enough, I’m just not sure that they are angry enough.
🥳 Great news this morning! As a Californian, I am thrilled and relieved!
Democrat Xavier Becerra will advance to November election in California governor’s race, CNN projects
WIth 68% of votes in, Republican Steve Hilton is in 2nd place and Democrat Tom Steyer is in 3rd. The top two, regardless of party, advance to the November election.
Are we courageous enough to eliminate the filibuster, pass legislation to end gerrymandering, and reform the Supreme Court? Ask the BILLIONAIRES who control the leaders of the Democratic Party in the House and Senate. The Billionaires also fund the salaries of the staff and advisors.
WE MUST be courageous and do that!
Thanks for interrupting your eat/nap/etc cycle to send this newsletter. It's important to remember how much depends on us to end this terrible bid for autocracy by the worst President in our country's history. Enjoy Scotland! Happy Birthday to Jill!
Everything to do with voting rights is on the table right now. We all need to work hard to protect our right to vote. If we don’t, or can’t, due to suppression and dirty tricks, I believe that we lose it all. This is our best chance to save democracy. Excellent challenge put forward by Robert Hubbell.
Well, I hope you and all of us out on the streets have the ability to make the Sen. Dems save democracy and eliminate the filibuster. Given my life experience(77 yrs.) I'll be surprised if they do. I think that is part of why the party is given such low esteem. We can try to push them. As FDR said we are vital to making them do the right thing.
A rant for a Saturday morning: The fillibuster has no place in a democracy. The current administration in Washington has demonstrated what can happen with the filibuster in place. What could be worse?
& BTW, "Senates" are the chains to bind the common man into a well fed slavery. If you need a Senate to manage your nation, you are probably in the last stages of national survival.
Robert and Jill...enjoy your visit to Scotland. We loved our visit(s) there - the people, the history, the many bookstores. Edinburgh has a marvelous downtown center - easy walking and many interesting shops. Enjoy it all!!!
Dems have been far too reluctant to rock the boat for far too long to achieve our agenda. Hopefully our collective experience in suffering through Trump’s toxic fantasyland will change this. If not, we the people must exert our power to get Democrat leaders to act boldly or be replaced.
Amen!
Excellent analysis, Robert! Completely spot-on. All the dots connect.
Robert: we don’t know what you’re talking about in the first 20 paragraphs? Senators don’t vote by “small states” vs big states? Obviously each Senator votes individually so please explain what you are talking about? Thanks
The point is that small-population states like Wyoming (~588,000) have the same number of votes in the Senate as large-population states like California (~39,500,000). If CA had the same representation in the Senate as WY, we would have 134 Senators. The whole state of WY has fewer people than the city of San Francisco. One person one vote is the essence of democracy. The Senate is a complete contradiction of that principle, leading to the dominance in our national legislature of rural and small town people, generally white and less educated than the more urban states, hence more conservative. The filibuster just makes this imbalance all the worse.
This imbalance also affects the election of a president, since the electoral college, which actually chooses the POTUS, consists of the same number of representatives as we have members of the House and Senate, so it too leans conservative and is undemocratic. Presidential elections should be decided by the popular vote, but that would require a constitutional amendment. The amendment process also is slanted conservative, as it requires 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress and 2/3 of states to ratify. Conservative dominance all the way down.
Robert's point is that the filibuster essentially gives 41 GOP senators control over the other 59 senators because it prevents bills being passed. Ending the filibuster would allow a simple majority, 51/49 for example, to pass a bill. In other words, a handful of senators from the smallest populated states can dictate to the entire nation what's going to happen or not happen.
1.How are we supposed to believe yesterday's job reports put out by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics when it's commissioner, William Wiatrowski, was appointed by Trump after Trump fired commissioner Erika McEntarfer because of weak job reports. Nothing that directly or indirectly comes out of the Trump WH is believable. Wiatrowski may be well qualified for the job, but we all know his main qualification was Trump loyality.
2.Jason Johnson was on Ari Melber yesterday and gave Todd Blanche a great nickname….. Carte Blanche!!
3. I'm really ambivalent.......I so much want to enjoy a nice long summer but I can't wait until November.
"Carte Blanche" - excellent!
And as far as Tea at Balmoral goes, Robert. Don't be surprised to see a special guest at your table. I have it on good authority (housing tycoon in National Intelligence) that the U.S. intercepted the following phone call exchange between Queen Camilla and King Charles:
Camilla: Charles, did you hear the news from Scotland?
Charles: What, has Donald Trump threatened to annex the Hebrides?
Camilla: No, dear, this is good news. Robert and Jill Hubbell are coming for tea at Balmoral on one of the visitor days.
Charles: What? Gor blimey! Think we might join them? I'd be chuffed to have a discussion with Robert about politics, hope, and a clear moral vision. Let's shorten our little follow up meetings with the Governor General of Canada and helicopter up to Balmoral?
Camilla: I'm a step ahead of you, your Majesty. We are set to go. But we mustn't overstay our welcome. This is a special day for them. It's Mrs. Hubbell's birthday, sometime early this month.
I asked the American Embassy if they knew the exact date, but they said they are sadly out of the loop, though they think the acting Director of National Intelligence might be able to tell us the average price of homes in the Hubbell's neighborhood. I was abashed and asked, "Why would we want to know that?" The fellow at the Embassy just said he was not sure, but that's the kind of information the Director is most interested in, so it must be important.
Charles: Oh, my dear.
Camilla: I will never understand what is going on in the States. Anyway be sure to limber up before the longish helicopter ride.
Charles: Certainly, you know my motto, "No kinks!"
Camilla: Oh, Charlie.
Happy Vacation! Happy Trip! Happy Birthday, Jill.
Wow! We better be ready to do what is required to get back our democracy. I am not sure about how brave the dems will be about the filibuster but if Robert is right that it is the only way to make majority rule and do away with gerrymandering, it must be done. I hate that the smallest and very red states run the show. No! That is not true democracy, eh? Love the Protest pics today, especially the ones from Worcester, MD. with 5 "NO's"! BTW, Blanche is plotting to save Batsby from being prosecuted after he leaves office accusing the Dems of weaponizing the
DOJ and retribution, What?! The pot calling the kettle black.