Thank you for this column. It is so good to be reminded that most people get up, brush their teeth, walk the dog, get the kids breakfast and head out the door, not to some militia hotspot. Most people are too busy getting on about their lives and I am fully fed up with newsfeeds that make it appear daily that the wheels are coming off. I am also really grateful to you for publishing the Biden Administrations' many, real, and legal achievements. It really, really helps and I love being able to just remind people of all the good things this Administration has done. Cheers!
Here's a great take on the MAL search that I am now posting to answer every "Down with the DOJ" tweet that I can find. A friend posted it and when I read the first paragraph I was shocked to read that the search set "a dangerous precedent." It took another paragraph to get the satire, and I think it's brilliant.
I LOVED your Concluding Thoughts today - They gave me such a sense of hope, and made me particularly proud to share your newsletter on Twitter and FB today.
And just to add to the good vibes, look what I stumbled upon on Twitter: Jessica Tarlov, Fox news contributor, whom I never heard of but who apparently is their liberal commentator, saying "When you look at how many Republicans are dashing without information to defend Trump.. you can see that this is a piece of the puzzle of why Republicans cannot be given control again of the government… " Say what?? https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1557781029460516866
Indeed, action is the antidote to fear and anxiety. It can become the antithesis.
Apt quote today:
WORD FOR THE DAY
The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.
For sure, but the Democrats also need to spend as much time or more going on offense and spread the bad news and set the record straight about the fact that the Republican Party is a clear and present danger to the U.S. If people don't vote for Democrats, the country will fall into the hands of neo-fascists!! What kind of party defends an attempted coup? What kind of party defends and praises authoritarians? What kind of party wants to overthrow a democratically elected president based on a Big Lie that has been proven false dozens of times? What kind of party wants to stop every investigation of their wrongdoings and treasonous activities? Democrats must go on attack with passion that will force people to take notice. These days nobody pays attention to those taking the high road!
Can Trump be disqualified from running for president?
I don' think that is the question Democrats should be thinking about. The question they should be openly asking is, who in their right mind would vote for someone who spent their entire presidency lying to the American people, subverting the rule of law, hijacking the DOJ to serve as their personal law firm, disobeying their oath of office, avoiding full disclosure of their tax returns and business dealings, compromising national security and grifting the Office of the President of the United States. There is no rational defense for all these wrongdoings and Democrats should not let the media control the narrative. Democrats need to call out everyone who is on the side of Trump and the Republicans and make them defend their attacks on the United States of America. Let the American People decide if they want a criminal for president. I'm betting they won't. So, I hope Trump declares because it will be the end of the Republican Party. At least it should be if Democrats would go on the attack to defend democracy.
The “Mole of Mar-a-Lago”--Trump’s worst nightmare.
I had a wise person tell me long, long ago that no matter what my true feelings are about someone, don't ever burn your bridges. I have thought of that so often with Trump because I can't remember anyone who has so arrogantly and cruelly violated this precept. Trump is also the most petty and vindictive politician I've ever seen which is saying something in a party full of petty and vindictive politicians. There have been many people who have at least thought of turning on Trump, but they fear the vengeance of Trump and his cronies. If Democrats can just crack the dam, it will break, and all those bridges Trump burned will come back to strand him in an isolation cell - Guantanamo would be my choice - the prison of choice for enemies of the United States.
Fake Electors investigation is accelerating.
This is the biggest and most important story. It is the key to bringing down Trump and the entire Republican Party. At the core of voter apathy is people believing their vote doesn't count. If people find out that a political party can decide whose votes count and whose don't, there will be hell to pay against that party! Democrats should be stoking the fire right now and riling up voters against the Republicans who have the audacity to steal elections from the majority. There is risible anger against minority rule and unpopular extremist policies, rulings and laws. Again, Democrats need to stoke this into action.
Trump invokes Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in NY civil action.
Trump just skewered himself and his attorney's defense. He basically said I'm guilty but I'm not going to tell you how guilty I am. You'll have to figure that out on your own without my help. Trump is trying to run out the clock until Republicans regain Congress or there is a successful coup. Trump is unhinged and desperate, so his thinking is flawed. Republicans are on the Trump train to the final destination. Democrats must make sure that train is derailed, goes off the bridge, or crashes.
My concluding thought, which is not just my thinking, Republicans will stop at nothing to achieve their goal of establishing an authoritarian regime. We are in fact in a civil war; it has been violent at times; and, Republicans have much blood on their hands. I think Robert was the one that correctly stated that the military is the last defense to protect democracy and uphold the Constitution. Republicans have green lighted Trump multiple times to do whatever he wants including installing his generals in charge of the military. If that happens, the civil war will end and we will be living effectively in a police state where undesirables will be oppressed, suppressed and if necessary, neutralized. This is what Republicans want and they tell us this each day in so many words. We should believe them. This is not a time to be naive.
RH has often spoken of how we need to get more Democrats to vote.
Here's a recent study of the problem that may suggest some ways to address it....
Although the article does not specifically suggest ways we can get more of those folks to register and vote, it at least pinpoints geographic areas where efforts might be most cost-effective.
400 million voting records show persistent gaps in voter turnout by race, age, and political affiliation
Sorry to disabuse you but signing Sweden into the NATO fold ain’t going to be that easy! Turkey has demanded that Sweden extradites all Kurds - most of them Swedish citizens - to Turkey on the assumption they are all PKK ‘terrorists’. Or they, Turkey, won’t play ball. We all know what would happen to those Kurdish swedes were they to be repatriated!!
Sorry, you do such a fantastic job analysing US politics for those of us outside. It seems a bit mean to put in a European perspective! The fact is the world is in a fairly dire place it seems to me! We here in the UK, France , Germany and, certainly , Italy are all f*******! No, that’s just Italy- but that’s not unusual for them! Sorry USA but we do need you to step up to the plate AGAIN but not to fly around the world trying to defend democracy - that worked well in Vietnam and Afghanistan didn’t it?! We need you to support ‘morality’, state without religion, anti racism, anti wokism(! Some hope!). Keep going Robert, you’re definitely on the right path. Sorry for rant!!
And, of course, that’s not going to happen! Erdogan is a canny one - now president for life, political friend of Putin but helping to expedite the flow of ships from Odessa. NATO needs Turkey on its side, it would like Sweden but it’s not necessary. Finland with its long border with Russia is another matter! No Kurds there! They’ll get through.
Thank you, Robert, for your hopeful and prescient Concluding Thoughts. You talked me off the ledge, so to speak, after reading of the week’s disturbing turn of events. Of course, President Biden’s calm, steady leadership have helped, too.
To use a tennis analogy, if you don't return the serve, you lose the point. You keep failing to return serve after serve, you'll lose every game and the match. When Republicans serve it up and they are fat and slow, Democrats need to return a winning volley. Democrats need to go on offense.
This is a message that will resonate - We Democrats have done a lot but we could have done much more for the American people but for the continuous obstruction of the party of NO. Democrats fight for the majority of Americans whose views, needs and wants are our priority Any failures we are accused of are caused directly by Republicans who only serve the wealthy.
Stick with the Democrats and we will work for the prosperity of everyday Americans. Stick with the Republicans and you'll see more tax cuts and deregulation for the rich and more income and wealth inequality for all of you.
Any one of you can write a better ad for Democrats but to be effective they have to defend accomplishments and condemn Republican obstruction. Republicans keep serving up fat ones; Democrats need a decisive kill shot in return.
There is, among the myriads of articles in Yahoo News, a fever dream account of "Great White Nation", encompassing five states in the Northwest U.S., plus Utah. The details are, of course, sketchy, as with any fever dream. I will be in Idaho, at the invitation of a couple of friends, in mid-October. Somehow, I don't anticipate having to pass checkpoints manned by camouflaged militia members.
Robert, that was a “low blow” when you called Trumpist men “impotent”——-but I enjoyed it immensely! Keep up the entertaining wordplay!
Thank you for this column. It is so good to be reminded that most people get up, brush their teeth, walk the dog, get the kids breakfast and head out the door, not to some militia hotspot. Most people are too busy getting on about their lives and I am fully fed up with newsfeeds that make it appear daily that the wheels are coming off. I am also really grateful to you for publishing the Biden Administrations' many, real, and legal achievements. It really, really helps and I love being able to just remind people of all the good things this Administration has done. Cheers!
Here's a great take on the MAL search that I am now posting to answer every "Down with the DOJ" tweet that I can find. A friend posted it and when I read the first paragraph I was shocked to read that the search set "a dangerous precedent." It took another paragraph to get the satire, and I think it's brilliant.
https://twitter.com/duty2warn/status/1557455893863616512?s=20&t=TE0W8LX1i7hf_KagVRUW0w
I LOVED your Concluding Thoughts today - They gave me such a sense of hope, and made me particularly proud to share your newsletter on Twitter and FB today.
And just to add to the good vibes, look what I stumbled upon on Twitter: Jessica Tarlov, Fox news contributor, whom I never heard of but who apparently is their liberal commentator, saying "When you look at how many Republicans are dashing without information to defend Trump.. you can see that this is a piece of the puzzle of why Republicans cannot be given control again of the government… " Say what?? https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1557781029460516866
Yes ! And read today that Doocy on Fox and Faux Friends this morn called BS on GOP faux Trump Raid outrage.
Wow!!! Now that I have to see!!!
Wow!
You left me smiling.
You’re quite right. There isn’t going to be a civil war; no state will secede. I believe the overwhelming majority of Americans agree.
Relevant to so much in today’s discussion:
Action is the antithesis of anxiety.
— Jon Stewart
Indeed, action is the antidote to fear and anxiety. It can become the antithesis.
Apt quote today:
WORD FOR THE DAY
The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.
BARACK OBAMA
A NETWORK FOR GRATEFUL LIVING
Much to unpack here. Top to bottom response.
"Spreading good news!"
For sure, but the Democrats also need to spend as much time or more going on offense and spread the bad news and set the record straight about the fact that the Republican Party is a clear and present danger to the U.S. If people don't vote for Democrats, the country will fall into the hands of neo-fascists!! What kind of party defends an attempted coup? What kind of party defends and praises authoritarians? What kind of party wants to overthrow a democratically elected president based on a Big Lie that has been proven false dozens of times? What kind of party wants to stop every investigation of their wrongdoings and treasonous activities? Democrats must go on attack with passion that will force people to take notice. These days nobody pays attention to those taking the high road!
Can Trump be disqualified from running for president?
I don' think that is the question Democrats should be thinking about. The question they should be openly asking is, who in their right mind would vote for someone who spent their entire presidency lying to the American people, subverting the rule of law, hijacking the DOJ to serve as their personal law firm, disobeying their oath of office, avoiding full disclosure of their tax returns and business dealings, compromising national security and grifting the Office of the President of the United States. There is no rational defense for all these wrongdoings and Democrats should not let the media control the narrative. Democrats need to call out everyone who is on the side of Trump and the Republicans and make them defend their attacks on the United States of America. Let the American People decide if they want a criminal for president. I'm betting they won't. So, I hope Trump declares because it will be the end of the Republican Party. At least it should be if Democrats would go on the attack to defend democracy.
The “Mole of Mar-a-Lago”--Trump’s worst nightmare.
I had a wise person tell me long, long ago that no matter what my true feelings are about someone, don't ever burn your bridges. I have thought of that so often with Trump because I can't remember anyone who has so arrogantly and cruelly violated this precept. Trump is also the most petty and vindictive politician I've ever seen which is saying something in a party full of petty and vindictive politicians. There have been many people who have at least thought of turning on Trump, but they fear the vengeance of Trump and his cronies. If Democrats can just crack the dam, it will break, and all those bridges Trump burned will come back to strand him in an isolation cell - Guantanamo would be my choice - the prison of choice for enemies of the United States.
Fake Electors investigation is accelerating.
This is the biggest and most important story. It is the key to bringing down Trump and the entire Republican Party. At the core of voter apathy is people believing their vote doesn't count. If people find out that a political party can decide whose votes count and whose don't, there will be hell to pay against that party! Democrats should be stoking the fire right now and riling up voters against the Republicans who have the audacity to steal elections from the majority. There is risible anger against minority rule and unpopular extremist policies, rulings and laws. Again, Democrats need to stoke this into action.
Trump invokes Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in NY civil action.
Trump just skewered himself and his attorney's defense. He basically said I'm guilty but I'm not going to tell you how guilty I am. You'll have to figure that out on your own without my help. Trump is trying to run out the clock until Republicans regain Congress or there is a successful coup. Trump is unhinged and desperate, so his thinking is flawed. Republicans are on the Trump train to the final destination. Democrats must make sure that train is derailed, goes off the bridge, or crashes.
My concluding thought, which is not just my thinking, Republicans will stop at nothing to achieve their goal of establishing an authoritarian regime. We are in fact in a civil war; it has been violent at times; and, Republicans have much blood on their hands. I think Robert was the one that correctly stated that the military is the last defense to protect democracy and uphold the Constitution. Republicans have green lighted Trump multiple times to do whatever he wants including installing his generals in charge of the military. If that happens, the civil war will end and we will be living effectively in a police state where undesirables will be oppressed, suppressed and if necessary, neutralized. This is what Republicans want and they tell us this each day in so many words. We should believe them. This is not a time to be naive.
That was truly uplifting today. Thanks!
RH has often spoken of how we need to get more Democrats to vote.
Here's a recent study of the problem that may suggest some ways to address it....
Although the article does not specifically suggest ways we can get more of those folks to register and vote, it at least pinpoints geographic areas where efforts might be most cost-effective.
400 million voting records show persistent gaps in voter turnout by race, age, and political affiliation
summary: https://phys.org/news/2022-08-million-voting-persistent-gaps-voter.html
article: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0268134
thanks for the links. will review!
Sorry to disabuse you but signing Sweden into the NATO fold ain’t going to be that easy! Turkey has demanded that Sweden extradites all Kurds - most of them Swedish citizens - to Turkey on the assumption they are all PKK ‘terrorists’. Or they, Turkey, won’t play ball. We all know what would happen to those Kurdish swedes were they to be repatriated!!
So the issue is Turkey, not Sweden . . .
NATO has to amend its charter to be able to expel a member.
Sorry, you do such a fantastic job analysing US politics for those of us outside. It seems a bit mean to put in a European perspective! The fact is the world is in a fairly dire place it seems to me! We here in the UK, France , Germany and, certainly , Italy are all f*******! No, that’s just Italy- but that’s not unusual for them! Sorry USA but we do need you to step up to the plate AGAIN but not to fly around the world trying to defend democracy - that worked well in Vietnam and Afghanistan didn’t it?! We need you to support ‘morality’, state without religion, anti racism, anti wokism(! Some hope!). Keep going Robert, you’re definitely on the right path. Sorry for rant!!
And, of course, that’s not going to happen! Erdogan is a canny one - now president for life, political friend of Putin but helping to expedite the flow of ships from Odessa. NATO needs Turkey on its side, it would like Sweden but it’s not necessary. Finland with its long border with Russia is another matter! No Kurds there! They’ll get through.
Thank you, Robert, for your hopeful and prescient Concluding Thoughts. You talked me off the ledge, so to speak, after reading of the week’s disturbing turn of events. Of course, President Biden’s calm, steady leadership have helped, too.
Peace out ✌️
To use a tennis analogy, if you don't return the serve, you lose the point. You keep failing to return serve after serve, you'll lose every game and the match. When Republicans serve it up and they are fat and slow, Democrats need to return a winning volley. Democrats need to go on offense.
This is a message that will resonate - We Democrats have done a lot but we could have done much more for the American people but for the continuous obstruction of the party of NO. Democrats fight for the majority of Americans whose views, needs and wants are our priority Any failures we are accused of are caused directly by Republicans who only serve the wealthy.
Stick with the Democrats and we will work for the prosperity of everyday Americans. Stick with the Republicans and you'll see more tax cuts and deregulation for the rich and more income and wealth inequality for all of you.
Any one of you can write a better ad for Democrats but to be effective they have to defend accomplishments and condemn Republican obstruction. Republicans keep serving up fat ones; Democrats need a decisive kill shot in return.
Exactly what I have been: a Biden ambassador. Speaking of his wisdom and “civil war”, did you see this story about his conference with historians?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/10/biden-us-historians-democracy-threat/
You have set a superlative example for all of us. I am so proud to be on this team of readers.
I am too!!!
There is, among the myriads of articles in Yahoo News, a fever dream account of "Great White Nation", encompassing five states in the Northwest U.S., plus Utah. The details are, of course, sketchy, as with any fever dream. I will be in Idaho, at the invitation of a couple of friends, in mid-October. Somehow, I don't anticipate having to pass checkpoints manned by camouflaged militia members.
This will be the first time we are called on to survive a chasm while social media is fanning the flames. That being unchecked concerns me.