Like Robert, I urge you not to give up hope. Drop—or at least put aside—despair. There are still votes on the table to be had.
TOMORROW, SUNDAY October 23, FOCUS for DEMOCRACY will hold their FINAL midterm meeting recommending where to make LAST-MINUTE donations that will prove EFFECTIVE on November 8th. Please attend and find HOW out WHY.
FOCUS will be showcasing solid, result-driven organizations that can STILL win thousands of votes in key races for House, Senate, Governor, state Secretaries of State, and state legislators. We can’t afford to lose them!
I’ve been touting FOCUS for DEMOCRACY to my friends, relatives, and fellow activists for several years. At last, PAT G. dropped into Focus’s October 23 meeting. Minutes afterwards, she wrote me:
“Watched the Zoom, was VERY moved! Am petrified about losing these important swing state races, this is the scariest time I can remember, so much is at stake.”
We all know these races couldn’t be tighter: many could boil down to just a few thousand votes. I urge you all to attend this final pre-election presentation.
PAT G. went on to donate, calling both Working America and Center for Voter Information “impressive!”
More than 500 attended that October 23 meeting, where $910,000 (THAT’S NOT A TYPO) was raised. ($350,000 in matching grants helped create almost $1 million!) That money bought us 14,000 Democratic votes.
And if that number sounds small to you, know that it takes $7 MILLION DOLLARS donated directly to House, Senate, or Gubernatorial candidates to produce 14,000 net Democratic votes. REALLY. Come hear why tomorrow.
In further good news, this week PAT G. invited 67 (and that’s not a typo either) of her nearest and dearest friends, colleagues, neighbors, book clubbers…As I am inviting you all here.
You said it right. “That money bought us _______ votes.” Yes, that how we vote these days. Thanks to republican bull Schitt, money buys votes. Big money gives big money for majority votes. Chump said it best, paraphrase of course. Being president gave me new rich friends, so many new rich friends…. May my retirement “largesse” make a dent…
Oops--signed up for the meeting but put in Robert Hubbell for who invited me. Guessing he won't mind and they won't check, lol. Thank you for pointing this Zoom meeting out to us!
The case for optimism is strong. I am the CEO of Civic Influencers. We are the largest organization that organizes young people to vote. You can help us get them out to vote on community college, campuses, trade schools, and other universities. These are “tipping point” campuses in at least 25 close elections for the midterms. In 2020 it took 6 votes to flip one district. Another 109. In another 333. We say we are mobilizing the margins https://civicinfluencers.org/mobilizing-the-margins/ with tipping point campuses. https://civicinfluencers.org/tipping-point-campuses/ .
We’ve been turning out students on campuses since 2008. I am seeing the same level of engagement by young people who showed up to help Barack Obama win in 2008 and 2012 before the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013 and unleashed the mutating virus of voter suppression, targeting young people, and led to the decline in youth voting (like Florida banning polling sites from college campuses!). Our strategy has been to remove barriers from campuses and encourage young people to vote on their issues. We won in 2018 and we won in 2020 and we won in the Georgia runoff’s because of young people voting in record numbers.
If we focus on equipping young people, democracy will win.
One reason young people are excited this election is that this is the first time that they can celebrate distinct wins that are personal to them and rewarded their vote in 2020 for example, laws that now address their concerns on student debt relief, climate change, gun violence and Marijuana. The can prove to each other that their votes matter and mattered.
We need to get away from our obsession with media buys on cable and television and only listening to many false narratives that besmirch young people or are only focused on what boomers are thinking. Too much of our investment and resources in this election is going into television ads that no young person is looking at. That even you and I am not watching.
In these remaining 2 1/2 weeks before the election, donate to help young people turn out at community colleges, trade schools, and universities. Just getting out a dorm room or the glee club, the marching band, and gospel will flip an election. Just getting out a sorority, the football team, and the debate team will flip an election.
It’s that simple and we can be optimistic if we are laser focused on turning out our tipping point campuses in swing districts. Be optimistic and be wise and investing in our young peoples movement. It’s the best return on investment at this time. It’s about $2000 for each organizer on each campus on these tipping point campuses in swing districts at these tight margin races. This is how we win, save our democracy and lift our enthusiasm.
My wife (78) and I (77) are just settling in after completing 6 days of canvassing in Maricopa County, Arizona. We drove for 2 days from our home in Northern California to support the outstanding cadidates Democrats have fielded at every level to protect democracy and expand human rights and social justice that are under dangerous threat from the neo-fascists that the Republican Party is running. We're heartened by the responses we're hearing as we knock on doors - everyone is planning to vote, many say they're voting straight Democratic ballots for the first time, a few have said they're Republicans who are disturbed by what's going on in the Party and are voting Democratic. We've had some slammed doors, but only a few, of the over 400 doors we've knocked on so far. And this weekend we'll add 150 more. We're encouraged. And we're super grateful for the wise and articulate writing you've provided in response to the doomsayers. Thank you Robert.
This brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for all you're doing. I am truly in awe and working hard to GOTV through phone/textbanking so far though planning on canvassing in the last week. Thank you for sharing this!
You and your wife are truly amazing. Thank you for this work! I was hoping to do canvassing too, but I am recovering from ankle surgery, so I am writing and calling instead.
Wowza...good for you. We live in Maricopa County and are transplants also from Northern CA...we came from a pretty red area but nothing like the crazies down here! Thank you for your commitment
Thank you Richard - that is awesome that you and your wife spent a week canvassing in Maricopa County. And your summary here fills my heart with hope. My group, CBFD Indivisible San Diego, has been phone banking for Kelly since he first threw his hat (or should I say Astronaut’s helmet) in the ring. We have also been focusing our efforts on Congressman Mike Levin’s campaign in CA-49. Due to redistricting, his district became more Republican than it previously was as a portion of San Diego County was replaced by Orange County. I’m heading out for Day 3 (this week) to canvass for Congressman Levin. We ask each supporter to tell at least three friends to vote for Mike Levin, and Dems down ballot, in this critical election. As you well know, it is hard, but necessary & rewarding work. Again, thank you! I want to celebrate all of our collective efforts come November 9th! I know we can do it if we keep doing the work.
Mr. and Mrs. Bunce, you are INSPIRATION incarnate! Your example has supercharged my own efforts. Thank you for taking responsibility to its highest expression.
Oct 22, 2022·edited Oct 22, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
EVERY WORD OF THIS. I have had it up to here this week with the negativity on social media. I have never seen so much defeatism. I mean what team ever won a game by quitting in the final 10 minutes? NOT ONE. What army ever won by surrendering before they went into battle? NOT ONE. We are going to be in this battle for awhile - it took decades for Republicans to get themselves into this position. It will not take decades for us to undo if we don't give up. I mean literally every day the Republicans alienate more people, but if our team gives up, then we are guaranteed to lose. I spent 3.5 hours textbanking today with Black Voters Matter in NC, I had 200+ requests for polling information. Why? Because Black voters show up. They have been in this fight for democracy for hundreds of years. So pull it together people and get to work. Here's a link to sign up to GOTV: https://www.mobilize.us/events/get-out-the-vote/
Thank you for your work in NC!! We can do this. The “Big Dems” seem to forget how purple we are. I’ve been heartened this time around by the numbers of groups (so read many many folks) from around the country who have not forgotten us and how vitally the whole country needs Cheri Beasley in the US Senate. And NC needs Lucy and Sam on the State Supreme Court and the many many great candidates running for our state General Assembly! Thank you.
I want to add my thanks for your work to get out the vote in NC, as I am an NC voter. The first day of early voting was Thursday, October 20. I stood in line to cast my vote at the local library. The whole process took about 50 minutes including filling out my ballot. People stood in line quietly waiting their turns, often looking at their phone. I had prepared myself a sample ballot before going to vote, so I was ready. I checked my registration several weeks ago to be sure nothing was amiss. Currently, NC is pretty evenly divided, but the Republicans have given themselves more more Congressional reps than the demographics would warrant.
Hi from Oregon. Here we receive our ballots in the mail. So, the whole process of voting is about 5 minutes. We even have it so the envelope now has a business reply - so no searching around for a stamp. Something to work for all across the US - Universal vote by mail.
Thank you for this and for your activism. Yesterday, I was a poll greeter for our NC county Dems. I was so inspired by the energy among the voters who stopped by our tent. While there were no lines outside, the flow of voters was steady for the two hours I was there. Katie Kenlan, a young Dem running for County Commission, spent most of my shift introducing herself to voters. She's an inspiration. I left the polling site feeling hopeful and inspired by the voters and volunteers. I've also been phone banking and writing. Every time I do something, however small, I feel more hopeful. Thank you all, and especially Robert Hubbell, for keeping our spirits up.
Signed up for Ann Arbor event on Nov. 5! Thank you for your positivity and activism -- totally agree with everything you so eloquently said. I have been distressed watching traditional media take the Republican bait so willingly (as a former member of the Fourth Estate). They are blindly discounting -- and foolishly dismissing -- our silent majority who have been biding our time waiting to vote! Time will tell.
Oct 22, 2022·edited Oct 22, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
As several of the guys I interviewed for "I Shall Run wild," my history of the Pacific War between Pearl Harbor and Midway - a period most think of as unrelieved darkness with victory after victory claimed by the enemy - said when I asked how they maintained themselves through that without succumbing to despair: "the alternative was unthinkable!" That's how we have to be.
TC, your reminders of our history are a treasure. Most Americans have simplistic views of our history. Because we teach a whitewashed version of our past. We need to teach and remember how we turned a blind eye to the horrors in Europe - until WE were attacked. We need to teach and remember that winning WWII was not a given. It was a vicious and brutal struggle.
But we did win it because the attitude ultimately was the one that Robert Hubbell proposes and practices.
(BTW, what did you think of "The Man in the High Castle"?)
I do a lot of reading each morning. TC, you are always on my list. I save Robert Hubbell for last because of his realistic assessments, can do attitude and hopeful long view.
This isn't the last contest on November 8th. It's just one of a never ending war - with lies and hate versus truth and love as the forever combatants.
I wish to hell we lived in Rational World, where your views of how to do things were the way to go, since they're the right way. Unfortunately, we live right now in Loonie-Toonie World, where everything we know about the way things should be are upside down and backwards.
As Churchill said “success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” He knew something about that. Wish Dems did…. Winston never whined, neither does Joe. DNC, why do you?
"Choosing to be optimistic, determined, and undaunted is not foolish; it is necessary; it is our duty; it is our privilege as the beneficiaries of a gift entrusted to us by those who refused to give up when they faced challenges far greater than our own."
Now that I want to remember! And I want to share, widely! Thank you, Robert, yet again.
Thank you for your common sense guidance. You are a beacon of light. The only poll that matters is the one on Election Day. So many of the polls are flawed…small sample sizes, partisan leanings, polling all adults instead of likely voters, some are using land lines and internet surveys. And many are using out of date demographics that are not showing the large increase in numbers of registered women and younger voters that have happened since Dobbs. Dem candidates have the money, are higher quality, and many are running in districts with a positive 2020 Biden margin. It is going to be close, we won’t know the outcome election night. But whatever happens we cannot surrender to evil
While we are feeling anxious, and rightly so, we can not be paralyzed. what we can do is quite simply, get out the vote by ones and twos. Example: my great niece just turned 18. She lives in Lauren Underwood‘s district in Illinois. It’s a tight race and Lauren is a good congresswoman. I asked my niece what her plan was to vote and if she was sure she was registered. She told me that she was and she had a plan. I then said go check out congresswoman Underwood and let me know what you think. I think I was able to get one more vote for Lauren. If we each can get one more vote for a vulnerable seat, we can do this!
Democracy Cheerleader!!! Feel sooo lucky to have discovered your wise, steady leadership via your brilliant newsletter that I've shared with soooo many! THANK YOU Robert Hubbell!!!!
Robert, I am of like spirit to you in your comments. I have been studying and practicing Buddhist psychology for some years now. A key teaching is “Not-knowing.” To refrain from premature labeling or judgment. To focus on the actions and process and the outcome will be what it is. So a pessimistic prediction that dampers my actions is not helpful or the way that I want to live my life.
I love this. I was feeling very discouraged today by all the negativity in the press and on social media and the state of affairs etc. But then it came to me, I have no idea what could happen. All I see is what I’m afraid of, but there is always more to the picture. Even COVID and Trump had some silver linings.
Thank you. I sang the same song when asked what I would do when the Republicans took the Senate and the house.
What we don't know is (a) will the 18-35 year olds see the danger and vote (b) will the women of this country get out and vote (c) will people prove that false ads and millions of dark money won't defeat our democracy. January 6th and the cowardice of the Republicans not to place blame where it belonged resonated with quite a few people. Let's hope that they vote.
There is a real possibility that young people, as well as everyone who thinks women are people, will show up to vote in large numbers. That’s why there has been such a flood of negativity and voter suppression. I’m writing ever more GOTV postcards and reading less so-called news. We must each do our part.
I placed hope in young women too. But then my 40 year old daughter mentioned she HADN'T been paying attention to the election. I almost cried. She knew I had been volunteering to register voters every week??!!!
My nineteen year old daughter had not even registered to vote, despite pestering and seeing my write a zillion postcards, until I put a custom postcard about it on her pillow. I am planning another postcard for her, along the lines of 'your right to decide when to have children is at risk - make a plan to vote.' Hope is an action.
Meanwhile, activists have registered well over a million new voters in Texas alone, and we saw what happened in Kansas.
Thanks for not succumbing to the psychological warfare, it’s nonstop mind games for the next few weeks; knowing this helps me keep my perspective and sanity.
This weeks NYT’s pll was an attack on our hope, but it is faulty, The Nation’ analysis shows how bad it is.Also, check out Michael Moore’s sub-stack, he has a better track record of predicting election outcomes.
"Choosing to be optimistic, determined, and undaunted is not foolish; it is necessary; it is our duty; it is our privilege as the beneficiaries of a gift entrusted to us by those who refused to give up when they faced challenges far greater than our own."
Wow! I just heard that Biden’s student loan forgiveness program has been halted temporarily by a federal court while an appeal is heard in a case involving 6 states. Biden said earlier today that 22 million people have already applied, and the program could benefit 40 million. Twenty two million is almost 10% of the adult population of the country. Does anyone have a sense of how this may be settled? It can’t help Republicans in the midterms. Every one of those 22 (or 40) million have family members who will not approve.
the stay is merely for the purpose of allowing the court of appeals to determine whether the states are likely to prevail in their lawsuit. They are not, and the stay should be lifted.
Americans are fond of calling the US the world's oldest democracy, a title which really actually belongs to Switzerland. Not diminishing the US accomplishments but the claim isn't really accurate. (From a former many-years-long resident of Switzerland)
And I agree with all your points about the mid-terms!
Thanks for raising this point, which raises many issues to discuss. The phrase is subject to debate because it depends on what we mean when we say "oldest democracy." I researched this point before using the phrase, and believe I said it correctly. The Swiss Federal Constitution was enacted September 12, 1848. While the tradition of democracy of the confederation of cantons goes back 700 years (at least), I believe the confederation was conquered by France and converted into a republic of some sort, and then was reconstituted in 1848. So, perhaps a clearer phrase would be "the world's oldest continuous democracy."
And also women in Switzerland only won the right to vote in 1971!!!! Great film "The Divine Order" about this - mind-boggling watching women in bell-bottoms fighting for the right to vote.
Thank you Robert! “Carry on and keep moving forward”, I say to the naysayers! In our home, you help to keep us all grounded. When the media whips us all into a frenzy, you remind us to use logic, critical thinking and optimism to find our equilibriums. Safe journey home.
Hey all you democracy lovers—
Like Robert, I urge you not to give up hope. Drop—or at least put aside—despair. There are still votes on the table to be had.
TOMORROW, SUNDAY October 23, FOCUS for DEMOCRACY will hold their FINAL midterm meeting recommending where to make LAST-MINUTE donations that will prove EFFECTIVE on November 8th. Please attend and find HOW out WHY.
October 23, 5PM Pacific, 8PM Eastern
REGISTER — https://tinyurl.com/F4DOct23 — and a Zoom link will be emailed to you.
FOCUS will be showcasing solid, result-driven organizations that can STILL win thousands of votes in key races for House, Senate, Governor, state Secretaries of State, and state legislators. We can’t afford to lose them!
I’ve been touting FOCUS for DEMOCRACY to my friends, relatives, and fellow activists for several years. At last, PAT G. dropped into Focus’s October 23 meeting. Minutes afterwards, she wrote me:
“Watched the Zoom, was VERY moved! Am petrified about losing these important swing state races, this is the scariest time I can remember, so much is at stake.”
We all know these races couldn’t be tighter: many could boil down to just a few thousand votes. I urge you all to attend this final pre-election presentation.
PAT G. went on to donate, calling both Working America and Center for Voter Information “impressive!”
More than 500 attended that October 23 meeting, where $910,000 (THAT’S NOT A TYPO) was raised. ($350,000 in matching grants helped create almost $1 million!) That money bought us 14,000 Democratic votes.
And if that number sounds small to you, know that it takes $7 MILLION DOLLARS donated directly to House, Senate, or Gubernatorial candidates to produce 14,000 net Democratic votes. REALLY. Come hear why tomorrow.
In further good news, this week PAT G. invited 67 (and that’s not a typo either) of her nearest and dearest friends, colleagues, neighbors, book clubbers…As I am inviting you all here.
Sunday, October 23, 5PM Pacific, 8PM Eastern
REGISTER — https://tinyurl.com/F4DOct23 — and a Zoom link will be emailed to you.
HELP WAKE UP TO A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY on NOVEMBER 9th!
LOUISE
You said it right. “That money bought us _______ votes.” Yes, that how we vote these days. Thanks to republican bull Schitt, money buys votes. Big money gives big money for majority votes. Chump said it best, paraphrase of course. Being president gave me new rich friends, so many new rich friends…. May my retirement “largesse” make a dent…
Oops--signed up for the meeting but put in Robert Hubbell for who invited me. Guessing he won't mind and they won't check, lol. Thank you for pointing this Zoom meeting out to us!
The case for optimism is strong. I am the CEO of Civic Influencers. We are the largest organization that organizes young people to vote. You can help us get them out to vote on community college, campuses, trade schools, and other universities. These are “tipping point” campuses in at least 25 close elections for the midterms. In 2020 it took 6 votes to flip one district. Another 109. In another 333. We say we are mobilizing the margins https://civicinfluencers.org/mobilizing-the-margins/ with tipping point campuses. https://civicinfluencers.org/tipping-point-campuses/ .
We’ve been turning out students on campuses since 2008. I am seeing the same level of engagement by young people who showed up to help Barack Obama win in 2008 and 2012 before the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013 and unleashed the mutating virus of voter suppression, targeting young people, and led to the decline in youth voting (like Florida banning polling sites from college campuses!). Our strategy has been to remove barriers from campuses and encourage young people to vote on their issues. We won in 2018 and we won in 2020 and we won in the Georgia runoff’s because of young people voting in record numbers.
If we focus on equipping young people, democracy will win.
One reason young people are excited this election is that this is the first time that they can celebrate distinct wins that are personal to them and rewarded their vote in 2020 for example, laws that now address their concerns on student debt relief, climate change, gun violence and Marijuana. The can prove to each other that their votes matter and mattered.
We need to get away from our obsession with media buys on cable and television and only listening to many false narratives that besmirch young people or are only focused on what boomers are thinking. Too much of our investment and resources in this election is going into television ads that no young person is looking at. That even you and I am not watching.
In these remaining 2 1/2 weeks before the election, donate to help young people turn out at community colleges, trade schools, and universities. Just getting out a dorm room or the glee club, the marching band, and gospel will flip an election. Just getting out a sorority, the football team, and the debate team will flip an election.
It’s that simple and we can be optimistic if we are laser focused on turning out our tipping point campuses in swing districts. Be optimistic and be wise and investing in our young peoples movement. It’s the best return on investment at this time. It’s about $2000 for each organizer on each campus on these tipping point campuses in swing districts at these tight margin races. This is how we win, save our democracy and lift our enthusiasm.
Maxim Thorne, CEO
https://civicinfluencers.org/donate/
My wife (78) and I (77) are just settling in after completing 6 days of canvassing in Maricopa County, Arizona. We drove for 2 days from our home in Northern California to support the outstanding cadidates Democrats have fielded at every level to protect democracy and expand human rights and social justice that are under dangerous threat from the neo-fascists that the Republican Party is running. We're heartened by the responses we're hearing as we knock on doors - everyone is planning to vote, many say they're voting straight Democratic ballots for the first time, a few have said they're Republicans who are disturbed by what's going on in the Party and are voting Democratic. We've had some slammed doors, but only a few, of the over 400 doors we've knocked on so far. And this weekend we'll add 150 more. We're encouraged. And we're super grateful for the wise and articulate writing you've provided in response to the doomsayers. Thank you Robert.
This brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for all you're doing. I am truly in awe and working hard to GOTV through phone/textbanking so far though planning on canvassing in the last week. Thank you for sharing this!
You and your wife are truly amazing. Thank you for this work! I was hoping to do canvassing too, but I am recovering from ankle surgery, so I am writing and calling instead.
Thank you for doing this work.
Wowza...good for you. We live in Maricopa County and are transplants also from Northern CA...we came from a pretty red area but nothing like the crazies down here! Thank you for your commitment
Thank you Richard - that is awesome that you and your wife spent a week canvassing in Maricopa County. And your summary here fills my heart with hope. My group, CBFD Indivisible San Diego, has been phone banking for Kelly since he first threw his hat (or should I say Astronaut’s helmet) in the ring. We have also been focusing our efforts on Congressman Mike Levin’s campaign in CA-49. Due to redistricting, his district became more Republican than it previously was as a portion of San Diego County was replaced by Orange County. I’m heading out for Day 3 (this week) to canvass for Congressman Levin. We ask each supporter to tell at least three friends to vote for Mike Levin, and Dems down ballot, in this critical election. As you well know, it is hard, but necessary & rewarding work. Again, thank you! I want to celebrate all of our collective efforts come November 9th! I know we can do it if we keep doing the work.
Thank you also for your work! We can do this!
Thank you
Mr. and Mrs. Bunce, you are INSPIRATION incarnate! Your example has supercharged my own efforts. Thank you for taking responsibility to its highest expression.
We need you to clone yourselves and spread around the country. good job thanks.
Bravo/Brava, and thank you.
Wow! You and your wife are amazing and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your story!
Thank you for what you do. And, thanks to Robert and his wife as well.
As a writer of letters and postcards, I am extremely thankful for yours and Your wife’s efforts...and posting so we can share news of your efforts
Now that is a joyous post. Wish I could join you.
Thank you for your hard work! I know how hard canvassing is.
Thank you to you and your wife for doing this; AZ needs all the help it can get.
Thank you, thank you!!
EVERY WORD OF THIS. I have had it up to here this week with the negativity on social media. I have never seen so much defeatism. I mean what team ever won a game by quitting in the final 10 minutes? NOT ONE. What army ever won by surrendering before they went into battle? NOT ONE. We are going to be in this battle for awhile - it took decades for Republicans to get themselves into this position. It will not take decades for us to undo if we don't give up. I mean literally every day the Republicans alienate more people, but if our team gives up, then we are guaranteed to lose. I spent 3.5 hours textbanking today with Black Voters Matter in NC, I had 200+ requests for polling information. Why? Because Black voters show up. They have been in this fight for democracy for hundreds of years. So pull it together people and get to work. Here's a link to sign up to GOTV: https://www.mobilize.us/events/get-out-the-vote/
Thank you for your work in NC!! We can do this. The “Big Dems” seem to forget how purple we are. I’ve been heartened this time around by the numbers of groups (so read many many folks) from around the country who have not forgotten us and how vitally the whole country needs Cheri Beasley in the US Senate. And NC needs Lucy and Sam on the State Supreme Court and the many many great candidates running for our state General Assembly! Thank you.
NC is a great state and so close to turning blue. We can do this!!
I want to add my thanks for your work to get out the vote in NC, as I am an NC voter. The first day of early voting was Thursday, October 20. I stood in line to cast my vote at the local library. The whole process took about 50 minutes including filling out my ballot. People stood in line quietly waiting their turns, often looking at their phone. I had prepared myself a sample ballot before going to vote, so I was ready. I checked my registration several weeks ago to be sure nothing was amiss. Currently, NC is pretty evenly divided, but the Republicans have given themselves more more Congressional reps than the demographics would warrant.
Hi from Oregon. Here we receive our ballots in the mail. So, the whole process of voting is about 5 minutes. We even have it so the envelope now has a business reply - so no searching around for a stamp. Something to work for all across the US - Universal vote by mail.
Oh gee! Imagine how simple that would be!
Don't just imagine it - work for it where you live. It will make a huge difference.
Thanks. I will be a greeter on a number of days here in Durham. So glad you had a positive experience. I agree with all you said. 💙
From NC and donated to Cheri, May sanity prevail.
Thank you so very much!! 💙
Thank you for this and for your activism. Yesterday, I was a poll greeter for our NC county Dems. I was so inspired by the energy among the voters who stopped by our tent. While there were no lines outside, the flow of voters was steady for the two hours I was there. Katie Kenlan, a young Dem running for County Commission, spent most of my shift introducing herself to voters. She's an inspiration. I left the polling site feeling hopeful and inspired by the voters and volunteers. I've also been phone banking and writing. Every time I do something, however small, I feel more hopeful. Thank you all, and especially Robert Hubbell, for keeping our spirits up.
Signed up for Ann Arbor event on Nov. 5! Thank you for your positivity and activism -- totally agree with everything you so eloquently said. I have been distressed watching traditional media take the Republican bait so willingly (as a former member of the Fourth Estate). They are blindly discounting -- and foolishly dismissing -- our silent majority who have been biding our time waiting to vote! Time will tell.
Your post is as impressive as Robert's and both are essential in getting us fired up for the next two weeks. Thanks.
Thanks for the link!
SO. VERY. TRUE. Thank you HH!
As several of the guys I interviewed for "I Shall Run wild," my history of the Pacific War between Pearl Harbor and Midway - a period most think of as unrelieved darkness with victory after victory claimed by the enemy - said when I asked how they maintained themselves through that without succumbing to despair: "the alternative was unthinkable!" That's how we have to be.
You are one of the most interesting people I know (via the comment section). We need to have coffee now that my daughter's wedding is behind us.
Lol I agree about TCinLA, from comments in LFAA. 💜
TC, your reminders of our history are a treasure. Most Americans have simplistic views of our history. Because we teach a whitewashed version of our past. We need to teach and remember how we turned a blind eye to the horrors in Europe - until WE were attacked. We need to teach and remember that winning WWII was not a given. It was a vicious and brutal struggle.
But we did win it because the attitude ultimately was the one that Robert Hubbell proposes and practices.
(BTW, what did you think of "The Man in the High Castle"?)
I do a lot of reading each morning. TC, you are always on my list. I save Robert Hubbell for last because of his realistic assessments, can do attitude and hopeful long view.
This isn't the last contest on November 8th. It's just one of a never ending war - with lies and hate versus truth and love as the forever combatants.
Thanks much Bill.
I wish to hell we lived in Rational World, where your views of how to do things were the way to go, since they're the right way. Unfortunately, we live right now in Loonie-Toonie World, where everything we know about the way things should be are upside down and backwards.
Hopefully, we will get back home soon.
I love these reminders. Thank you.
The alternative IS unthinkable
As Churchill said “success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” He knew something about that. Wish Dems did…. Winston never whined, neither does Joe. DNC, why do you?
"Choosing to be optimistic, determined, and undaunted is not foolish; it is necessary; it is our duty; it is our privilege as the beneficiaries of a gift entrusted to us by those who refused to give up when they faced challenges far greater than our own."
Now that I want to remember! And I want to share, widely! Thank you, Robert, yet again.
Thank you for your common sense guidance. You are a beacon of light. The only poll that matters is the one on Election Day. So many of the polls are flawed…small sample sizes, partisan leanings, polling all adults instead of likely voters, some are using land lines and internet surveys. And many are using out of date demographics that are not showing the large increase in numbers of registered women and younger voters that have happened since Dobbs. Dem candidates have the money, are higher quality, and many are running in districts with a positive 2020 Biden margin. It is going to be close, we won’t know the outcome election night. But whatever happens we cannot surrender to evil
Amen, Dale!!!
Yes!
While we are feeling anxious, and rightly so, we can not be paralyzed. what we can do is quite simply, get out the vote by ones and twos. Example: my great niece just turned 18. She lives in Lauren Underwood‘s district in Illinois. It’s a tight race and Lauren is a good congresswoman. I asked my niece what her plan was to vote and if she was sure she was registered. She told me that she was and she had a plan. I then said go check out congresswoman Underwood and let me know what you think. I think I was able to get one more vote for Lauren. If we each can get one more vote for a vulnerable seat, we can do this!
That’s so great and Rep. Underwood is incredible and a rising star.
Democracy Cheerleader!!! Feel sooo lucky to have discovered your wise, steady leadership via your brilliant newsletter that I've shared with soooo many! THANK YOU Robert Hubbell!!!!
Robert, I am of like spirit to you in your comments. I have been studying and practicing Buddhist psychology for some years now. A key teaching is “Not-knowing.” To refrain from premature labeling or judgment. To focus on the actions and process and the outcome will be what it is. So a pessimistic prediction that dampers my actions is not helpful or the way that I want to live my life.
I love this. I was feeling very discouraged today by all the negativity in the press and on social media and the state of affairs etc. But then it came to me, I have no idea what could happen. All I see is what I’m afraid of, but there is always more to the picture. Even COVID and Trump had some silver linings.
Really, I never had an inkling of a silver lining.
Thank you. I sang the same song when asked what I would do when the Republicans took the Senate and the house.
What we don't know is (a) will the 18-35 year olds see the danger and vote (b) will the women of this country get out and vote (c) will people prove that false ads and millions of dark money won't defeat our democracy. January 6th and the cowardice of the Republicans not to place blame where it belonged resonated with quite a few people. Let's hope that they vote.
There is a real possibility that young people, as well as everyone who thinks women are people, will show up to vote in large numbers. That’s why there has been such a flood of negativity and voter suppression. I’m writing ever more GOTV postcards and reading less so-called news. We must each do our part.
I placed hope in young women too. But then my 40 year old daughter mentioned she HADN'T been paying attention to the election. I almost cried. She knew I had been volunteering to register voters every week??!!!
My nineteen year old daughter had not even registered to vote, despite pestering and seeing my write a zillion postcards, until I put a custom postcard about it on her pillow. I am planning another postcard for her, along the lines of 'your right to decide when to have children is at risk - make a plan to vote.' Hope is an action.
Meanwhile, activists have registered well over a million new voters in Texas alone, and we saw what happened in Kansas.
My daughter as well, makes me weep. She was raised to care about such…
Thanks for not succumbing to the psychological warfare, it’s nonstop mind games for the next few weeks; knowing this helps me keep my perspective and sanity.
This weeks NYT’s pll was an attack on our hope, but it is faulty, The Nation’ analysis shows how bad it is.Also, check out Michael Moore’s sub-stack, he has a better track record of predicting election outcomes.
thenation.com/article/politics.
"Choosing to be optimistic, determined, and undaunted is not foolish; it is necessary; it is our duty; it is our privilege as the beneficiaries of a gift entrusted to us by those who refused to give up when they faced challenges far greater than our own."
YESSSS!!! PREACH!!!
Wow! I just heard that Biden’s student loan forgiveness program has been halted temporarily by a federal court while an appeal is heard in a case involving 6 states. Biden said earlier today that 22 million people have already applied, and the program could benefit 40 million. Twenty two million is almost 10% of the adult population of the country. Does anyone have a sense of how this may be settled? It can’t help Republicans in the midterms. Every one of those 22 (or 40) million have family members who will not approve.
the stay is merely for the purpose of allowing the court of appeals to determine whether the states are likely to prevail in their lawsuit. They are not, and the stay should be lifted.
Great! Thanks! Hopefully this will motivate 22 million Americans and their family members to vote in two weeks.
Americans are fond of calling the US the world's oldest democracy, a title which really actually belongs to Switzerland. Not diminishing the US accomplishments but the claim isn't really accurate. (From a former many-years-long resident of Switzerland)
And I agree with all your points about the mid-terms!
Thanks for all your work
Thanks for raising this point, which raises many issues to discuss. The phrase is subject to debate because it depends on what we mean when we say "oldest democracy." I researched this point before using the phrase, and believe I said it correctly. The Swiss Federal Constitution was enacted September 12, 1848. While the tradition of democracy of the confederation of cantons goes back 700 years (at least), I believe the confederation was conquered by France and converted into a republic of some sort, and then was reconstituted in 1848. So, perhaps a clearer phrase would be "the world's oldest continuous democracy."
And also women in Switzerland only won the right to vote in 1971!!!! Great film "The Divine Order" about this - mind-boggling watching women in bell-bottoms fighting for the right to vote.
PS I tell the stories of the lengthy fight for woman suffrage and other rights in my programs. Details at www.tellingherstories.com
Thank you Robert! “Carry on and keep moving forward”, I say to the naysayers! In our home, you help to keep us all grounded. When the media whips us all into a frenzy, you remind us to use logic, critical thinking and optimism to find our equilibriums. Safe journey home.