"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."
Yes! Exactly! The message this year must be, Vote For Democrats To Save Democracy. Nothing less. Inflation, climate change, economic inequality, all must step aside until after November 8th.
I totally agree that the #1, #2 and #3 reasons to vote Democratic in November is to save democracy. We are at a cataclysmic point in our great experiment to make democracy work and the existential threat is very real it will disappear if we do not defeat all the GOP enablers so well articulated repeatedly by Robert. But those of us reading this newsletter have the luxury of understanding history that most of the voting population do not have. The majority of people in this country are driven by how they perceive their economic reality- and unfortunately inflation and what they pay for gas at the pump is their barometer. God could have been President and simple supply and demand realities coming out of the pandemic would have had the same results.I believe the greatest threat we face in November is complacency and a failure to communicate effectively. Going back to the Dukakis loss the GOP has out-marketed the Democrats every voting cycle. Roger Ailes may be dead but we still have Murdoch's minions and Koch funding beating us at every turn. If we don't get smarter soon we will be faced with a generation-long continued failure to win. If we can't win with the facts that exist and explain them to the American public effectively we deserve to lose. To paraphrase Shakespeare and Edward R. Murrow, the failure would not be in the stars but in ourselves.
How to defeat them? GO BIGGER. People do understand democracy. They fight and die for it. Make people see that democracy is on the ballot this year and inflation and other issues take a back seat. During WWII people lived with rationing and price controls, and the draft (and blackouts along the coasts), because democracy was threatened. Let's not make the mistake of selling them short today. Democracy is more important than the pocketbook. And people will vote for democracy.
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!
At least it's out in the open in MO, Dave. Here in VA we've got a sneaky pete R governor who is trying to run the state like a business. And we all know how well that turns out!
Depends a little on how well he ran his business; Mitch Daniels did OK in IN and even better at Purdue when he got tired of politics. His successors have done steadily less well with each new stage.
In fairness, Greitens was forced to resign and was reprimanded by the Missouri legislature. Beating women and children is a bridge too far--even in the Republican Party.
Robert, I think one cannot "pin" misogyny in its many forms on Republicans, but the many actors in fealty to the GOP, including the anti-abortionists, the gun rights folks, the white supremacists, church leaders who sexually abuse children,–on and on— are overwhelmingly on the right politically. There is a positive correlation. Yes they "beat" women and children sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively, and at times by homicide.
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.
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.
I agree, a “quiet disgust” is brewing. I keep thinking that Dem messaging experts (linguists or advertisers) can surely come up with 3 great slogans/themes that tie together the arrogance of:
- Jan. 6
- the ongoing Big Lie
- gun mayhem minimizing
- overturning Roe
- voter suppression
- GOP anti-LGBTQ positions
Then see which of the 3 slogans gets great traction in the real world.
But that messaging must be based on what works among Independents likely to vote, not what excites active Dems. I believe/suspect that GOTV efforts among Dems and progressives are best driven by other approaches than powerful slogans - like postcards, etc. Is it possible that this distinction re: “who is your target” is what keeps tripping up Democratic messaging in election after election??
Independents tend to be much more skeptical if not cynical. To reach them requires playing to that fact. For ex., “Where's the Beef?” took a popular commercial and perfectly tapped into the much larger skepticism re: BS politicians.
Right now the GOP seems to have the messaging market on “stealing elections” and scaring people about “thugs”.
But they’re the real thugs and thieves! Is their a jujitsu way to cleverly and powerfully make that point?
If others know differently, I’d love to hear about that, & the evidence. I’m no messaging expert!
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.
The difficulty begins with those individuals who don’t believe the election was won fairly by Biden and that Trump had the right to try and , stop the steal” and did nothing wrong.
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.
As long as it remains talk, they belong to the cowardly tradition of wannabe street thugs who talk tough as soon as their opponent disappears from view. My guess is that many of them are struggling to maintain order in their lives, employment, and families. Talking about violence gives them a feeling of power and control that is missing from their lives.
And cynical republican power grabbers know that, and know how to exploit that. So those "wannabe thugs" are not our "customers." I think the Democrats in charge need to hire a sales expert who can teach them to 1) define their ideal customer 2) identify the customers most pressing needs 3) ask them if they want to fill those needs; show them what not filling them might mean 4) show them how our "product" meets those needs. 5) ask for the business. And then hire a marketing expert to shape unified messages that can be distributed in all media. I'm getting my new hip on Monday. So maybe as soon as I'm recovered, I'll walk over to the DNC offices and suggest that!
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.
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…
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.
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.
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/
Too true. He actually resigned when the woman he was having an affair with accused him credibly of tying her up and taking nude pictures of her in an effort to blackmail her into silence.
His son also returned home after a weekend with his father with a bruised eye and chipped tooth. Greitens said they were "rough housing." Most parents would have gone to the ER and dentist. The fact that Greitens tried to dismiss it speaks volumes.
One wonders if Mr. Greitens might have a touch of PTSD from his time in the service. His wife's abuse complaint has also gotten very quiet recently. If he is suffering from such a condition, he needs help and support much more than he needs a public office.
As is Mr. Kunce in his campaign literature. I don't want to see another Clair McCaskill/Todd Akin adventure, but Greitens certainly offers a lot for the oppo research types and is making their jobs easy.
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.
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."
Yes! Exactly! The message this year must be, Vote For Democrats To Save Democracy. Nothing less. Inflation, climate change, economic inequality, all must step aside until after November 8th.
I totally agree that the #1, #2 and #3 reasons to vote Democratic in November is to save democracy. We are at a cataclysmic point in our great experiment to make democracy work and the existential threat is very real it will disappear if we do not defeat all the GOP enablers so well articulated repeatedly by Robert. But those of us reading this newsletter have the luxury of understanding history that most of the voting population do not have. The majority of people in this country are driven by how they perceive their economic reality- and unfortunately inflation and what they pay for gas at the pump is their barometer. God could have been President and simple supply and demand realities coming out of the pandemic would have had the same results.I believe the greatest threat we face in November is complacency and a failure to communicate effectively. Going back to the Dukakis loss the GOP has out-marketed the Democrats every voting cycle. Roger Ailes may be dead but we still have Murdoch's minions and Koch funding beating us at every turn. If we don't get smarter soon we will be faced with a generation-long continued failure to win. If we can't win with the facts that exist and explain them to the American public effectively we deserve to lose. To paraphrase Shakespeare and Edward R. Murrow, the failure would not be in the stars but in ourselves.
How to defeat them? GO BIGGER. People do understand democracy. They fight and die for it. Make people see that democracy is on the ballot this year and inflation and other issues take a back seat. During WWII people lived with rationing and price controls, and the draft (and blackouts along the coasts), because democracy was threatened. Let's not make the mistake of selling them short today. Democracy is more important than the pocketbook. And people will vote for democracy.
There you go, Jon!
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!
“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.
I was never embarrassed to be from MO, but now that I'm back I'm starting to be embarrassed at being here.
At least it's out in the open in MO, Dave. Here in VA we've got a sneaky pete R governor who is trying to run the state like a business. And we all know how well that turns out!
Depends a little on how well he ran his business; Mitch Daniels did OK in IN and even better at Purdue when he got tired of politics. His successors have done steadily less well with each new stage.
Welcome back! We need you!
Other than the politics, it's nice to be back and I'd vote twice if I could but our elections are too clean.
It’s a beautiful state.
It is that.
Eric Greiten is running. Adam Kinzinger is not. Voters: Wake Up!
In fairness, Greitens was forced to resign and was reprimanded by the Missouri legislature. Beating women and children is a bridge too far--even in the Republican Party.
A bridge too far? Perfectly appropriate for too many: chattel, patriarchy. L&B&L
Robert, I think one cannot "pin" misogyny in its many forms on Republicans, but the many actors in fealty to the GOP, including the anti-abortionists, the gun rights folks, the white supremacists, church leaders who sexually abuse children,–on and on— are overwhelmingly on the right politically. There is a positive correlation. Yes they "beat" women and children sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively, and at times by homicide.
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.
Thanks for the additional information. Too bad the press didn't bother to report any of the information that did not conform to their narrative.
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.
I agree, a “quiet disgust” is brewing. I keep thinking that Dem messaging experts (linguists or advertisers) can surely come up with 3 great slogans/themes that tie together the arrogance of:
- Jan. 6
- the ongoing Big Lie
- gun mayhem minimizing
- overturning Roe
- voter suppression
- GOP anti-LGBTQ positions
Then see which of the 3 slogans gets great traction in the real world.
But that messaging must be based on what works among Independents likely to vote, not what excites active Dems. I believe/suspect that GOTV efforts among Dems and progressives are best driven by other approaches than powerful slogans - like postcards, etc. Is it possible that this distinction re: “who is your target” is what keeps tripping up Democratic messaging in election after election??
Independents tend to be much more skeptical if not cynical. To reach them requires playing to that fact. For ex., “Where's the Beef?” took a popular commercial and perfectly tapped into the much larger skepticism re: BS politicians.
Right now the GOP seems to have the messaging market on “stealing elections” and scaring people about “thugs”.
But they’re the real thugs and thieves! Is their a jujitsu way to cleverly and powerfully make that point?
If others know differently, I’d love to hear about that, & the evidence. I’m no messaging expert!
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.
Agree with you 100%!
The difficulty begins with those individuals who don’t believe the election was won fairly by Biden and that Trump had the right to try and , stop the steal” and did nothing wrong.
But that is just a problem with jury selection. Finding an unbiased jury is an inherent challenge in all jury trials. I don’t worry about that.
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.
As long as it remains talk, they belong to the cowardly tradition of wannabe street thugs who talk tough as soon as their opponent disappears from view. My guess is that many of them are struggling to maintain order in their lives, employment, and families. Talking about violence gives them a feeling of power and control that is missing from their lives.
And cynical republican power grabbers know that, and know how to exploit that. So those "wannabe thugs" are not our "customers." I think the Democrats in charge need to hire a sales expert who can teach them to 1) define their ideal customer 2) identify the customers most pressing needs 3) ask them if they want to fill those needs; show them what not filling them might mean 4) show them how our "product" meets those needs. 5) ask for the business. And then hire a marketing expert to shape unified messages that can be distributed in all media. I'm getting my new hip on Monday. So maybe as soon as I'm recovered, I'll walk over to the DNC offices and suggest that!
Bingo!
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.
I completely agree we are now more motivated and independent voters are more persuadable. Lets just go forth and engage our neighbors.
Exactly!!
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…
Good points, both!
"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.
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.
One of your best columns!
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/
Too true. He actually resigned when the woman he was having an affair with accused him credibly of tying her up and taking nude pictures of her in an effort to blackmail her into silence.
His son also returned home after a weekend with his father with a bruised eye and chipped tooth. Greitens said they were "rough housing." Most parents would have gone to the ER and dentist. The fact that Greitens tried to dismiss it speaks volumes.
One wonders if Mr. Greitens might have a touch of PTSD from his time in the service. His wife's abuse complaint has also gotten very quiet recently. If he is suffering from such a condition, he needs help and support much more than he needs a public office.
WOW! That's a LOT worse than what PBS Newshour mentioned! What a sick dude!
I'm not sure why it's getting cleaned up a bit, almost as though it was old news and no longer important.
It looks like he is making it become important again!
As is Mr. Kunce in his campaign literature. I don't want to see another Clair McCaskill/Todd Akin adventure, but Greitens certainly offers a lot for the oppo research types and is making their jobs easy.
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.