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Here's a reader comment on a 6/11/22 NYT article:

"This next election, not 2024, but 2022 will speak volumes, not so much about the candidates but about the electorate. It takes a well- informed, moderately intelligent electorate to sustain a democracy. Will people vote this Fall based on the price at the pump? The cost of Food. The threat of inflation followed by the threat of a recession. Or will they vote on the real possibility that democracy as we knew it in the United States of America, could vanish in an instant? That is what is on the ballot in 2022. Democracy. Inflation will eventually go away and come back another day. Recessions come and go. But when you lose your democracy, don't count on it returning any time soon."

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

If Trump is not prosecuted, throw out the rule of law! He tried to destroy the country because he cannot bear to lose. Public office should not be a get out of jail free card. Not even the president should be above the law.

Biden has had so many difficult problems to address. Many were intentionally caused by the previous administration. People are quickly forgetting that Trump’s action brought about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people due to Covid. Then there’s the razor thin margin in Congress. Do not leave out the unabashed hatefulness and disrespect of the MAGA crowd. What a tough job Biden has!

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

“The only thing worse for the nation than prosecuting Trump is not prosecuting Trump.”

Absolutely. Otherwise, we become a nation that offers up “leaders” like Greitens and Hawley.

It use to just be embarrassing being from Missouri. Now, it’s downright dangerous and frightening.

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founding
Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Eric Greiten is running. Adam Kinzinger is not. Voters: Wake Up!

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I like the clarification on the actual results in CA vs. the media narrative. I live in the Bay Area. There are a lot of things to unpack in the DA recall in SF. But what is not being reported is that in Contra Costa County, which has many many conservative pockets even though it is two counties over from SF, the liberal DA handedly won her re election and in Alameda county where I live (home of Oakland), a very progressive candidate was the top vote getter in the DA race.

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Todays Edition was action packed with a lot of great comments. I have read many articles discussing indicting and convicting Trump. What is important to me is the indictment and conviction of those who knowingly participated in the planning and implementation of the coup including those state representatives who enabled and implemented the fake electors. The message I want to send is your blind faith in Donald Trump resulted in your taking actions that were illegal and you must pay the price for these actions. We need to send a message that the attempt to overthrow the government will not be tolerated by anyone. Finally in NC a group called Carolina Forward got access to Republican internal polling data and found that many Democratic candidates for the House and the Senate are either slightly ahead of their Republican competitor or about neck and neck and that for now the red wave and Biden’s low approval ratings have not had the impact the media has been predicting. The fact that this was Republican polling data makes me feel more optimistic. People are not happy on multiple levels and reasons but the J6th hearings and recent state government legislation laws have provided some good reasons not to want to continue the Republican version of government. People have choices and alternatives and the Democrats need to make the case. There is a “ quiet “ disgust and alarm about the direction and make up of the Republican Party which seems to get more radical every week. People are noticing.

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Excellent letter, Robert. But for the life of me I don’t know why prosecuting Trump would be so difficult. Indeed, in a civil case the evidence would warrant summary judgment. His “true belief that he was right” is no more relevant than the honest belief of Nazis that Germany would be better off without Jews. Or that the killers of Aubrey that he really had stolen. I am no criminal lawyer but as I recall, the mens rea requirement goes to whether you intended to do what you did — not to whether it was legal. Of course, I could be wrong about that and hope that another reader will correct me.

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

It has been said, more than once, by reactionary people in my adopted town, that "it's time to bring out the guns". They cite everything from Kid Rock's "We, The People" video to "the threat posed by Adam Schiff" (an ongoing plaint that has nothing, specifically, to do with today's hearing), as proof that they mean business. They cannot be taken lightly, nor can their position be allowed to cow the rest of us into inaction.

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Outstanding newsletter. The best I have read. You demolished Jack Goldsmith's BS essay. He knows better. These hearings have been a game changer for me and I hope DOJ leadership. DOJ can no longer fail to investigate, Indict and prosecute for all the reasons you laid out.

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

I completely agree we are now more motivated and independent voters are more persuadable. Lets just go forth and engage our neighbors.

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Robert, we really appreciate your humor in the midst of also discussing serious political issues. As a writer and lawyer I can’t stop myself from editorial suggestions…. Maybe it would have been better to use a golf trophy in your example…….🤣

Not that long ago I spoke to American Studies students at Yale, Amherst, Vassar etc. about my memoir and book of photographs (on the 60s) and was amazed about how little these bright students knew about the Watergate scandal details, and am glad there’s at least some superficial references to Watergate facts in the media these days. Heather Cox Richardson’s recent discussion of Watergate was more exact, and well, historical. But, as you referenced tape recorded evidence, maybe you could mention the parallels between the Nixon tapes and you know who’s recorded Georgia conversations…

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Jun 21, 2022·edited Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

"major media outlets proclaimed that California voters had rebuked progressives because they are allegedly “soft on crime.” The "soft on crime" stuff should be turned on Trumpists who excuse the violence of 1/6 and violent rhetoric (and worse) among their own people. I too have zero patience with the argument that putting Trump in jail would divide the country further. The country is already divided; one can choose the side of murderous division, which many Trumpists seem to want, or not. Letting the Trumpists off the hook would be morally unforgivable; Judge Luttig's statement indicated as much. In fact, if Trump faces no accountability, he and others will be literally getting away with murder. We need Justice, not Just Us.

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Dear Robert, Your’s are well reasoned points evaluating important issues. I agree with you. Thanks for taking the time to present your thoughts. People are disgusted with their options right now, and they express that frustration by complaining about Biden. Folks always bitch about the current President as a means to express themselves, but when it is time to vote, attitudes become more rational - we hope - and I agree that the Repugs are going to be surprised by the outcome in 2024.

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founding
Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

One of your best columns!

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

Last evening PBS Newshour showed the Greiten's desperate and disgusting TV ad, but only after showing audio of Adam Kinzinger discussing the recently received threats of "execution" sent for him, his wife and 5 month old son. Per Amy Walter, Greiten was forced to resign as Governor in 2018 after being accused of assault by a girlfriend and soon to be ex-wife. Unfortunately, this kind of outrageous ad will raise him plenty of money from the MAGAt and gun-nutter crowd, and where can you find a GOPer that will take a stand against that? See here at 30:25. https://www.pbs.org/video/june-20-2022-pbs-newshour-full-episode-1655697602/

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Jun 21, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell

he Professor Goldsmith says, "Indicting a past and possible future political adversary of the current president would be a cataclysmic event from which the nation would not soon recover". The reverse is true. Failure to indict a past president of the United States for crimes we all know to be true is a cataclysmic event from which the nation may not recover. The United States of American has not recovered from the pardon of Richard Nixon.

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