Feb 17, 2023·edited Feb 17, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
My conversion to paying attention to politics happened in April, 2016, when I realized someone as sick as DT could become the nominee of the GOP for President of the United States. For two weeks I studied Narcissistic Personality Disorder for which DT is the poster child. Getting rid of any shame in his actions by projecting his shame on others, the gaslighting that came with his need for his narcissistic supply of adoration because of the weakness of his self esteem, playing the victim to gain the support of those forgotten by the politicians owned by the big patrons and suffering from the horrendous and unfair income disparity that comes from putting Party and Patrons over Country and Constituents. The day after the election I was extremely upset, couldn't stay for refreshments with friends after our weekly chamber music session because I was so distraught and in tears by DT's election. Even so, I didn't fully realize how bad the sycophantic politicians supporting DT would make the next four years and beyond. In the 2020 election I shocked a friend who was born in Germany in the 1940s that I would vote for Hitler before I'd vote for DT. I felt like one of the few people in the movie The Invasion of the Body Snatchers who could clearly see the aliens who had taken over human bodies in the MAGA Republicans. I'm flummoxed that Ron DeSantis could be the American Hitler who despite never winning the popular vote still becomes the leader of a very sick blind country once the leading example however imperfect of democracy and human rights. Now I'm appalled by the normalization the media puts on these followers empty of morals or values like integrity and empathy for others. These followers that are being duped and bought by the lies dark money buys. The Rule of Law so essential to a functioning democracy is being torn apart by a rogue Supreme Court and the greedy 1% phantoms who have bought them as illuminated by the books like "The Scheme" by Senator Whitehouse and "The Laboratories of Autocracy" by David Pepper and "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder warning one to vote as if this is the last election you'll be allowed to vote. Still in all this I believe there is a majority of Americans who believe in human rights and the rule of law and the promise of a more Perfect Union that are coming together especially from the idealism of undaunted youth in a movement to assert the People's Agenda of protecting the rights of other and the defense of the democracy. We, the People, All of us this time creating a world valuing each and all our differences and doing the right thing by each other.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cathy. I'm cheering every single word you wrote from snowy Michigan!! Brilliant overview of how we ALL got here and what's at stake every day to save our bold experiment in democracy.
For the rest of the 45 admin, I kept hoping one morning I would wake up on November 9, 2016, to find that Clinton had been elected, and the Trump administration was just a horrible nightmare.
Nicely stated Cathy. I, like you, experienced great anxiety after learning that DJT was elected, albeit by the Electoral College Count. A fact, the last two Republicans presidents did not win by popular vote (at least GW didn’t on his first election. And did anyone notice that both Gore & Hillary graciously accepted the results rather than summoning supporters to D.C. and encouraging them to attack the capitol?)
Actually, I wish they had complained. Both won the popular vote, but both were manipulated by serious shenanigans, including a Supreme court decision on behalf of Bush before the recount of faulty ballots. Both gave way to presidents with dubious ethics who played fast and loose with Democracy. Possibly, certain dynamics would have been halted in their infancy if they had objected.
It would have been a lot easier for Gore to object, and I wish he had, as that SCOTUS decision was ludicrous. The Court essentially ruled that their decision was a one time thing if I remember correctly, and not a precedent. What bullshit!
It would have been messy, though in some ways quite reasonable, for Clinton to object, what with Comey running his mouth on those emails 10 days before the election, the Russians having meddled.
I saw Gov. DeWine on The News Hour last night saying that the situation was basically resolved, that if he lived in the area that had been evacuated, he'd feel safe to go home, and rejecting any need for the help from FEMA that Biden has offered. This is malpractice! The next segment was a scientist saying the area need much more thorough and sophisticated testing to determine its safety.
Gov. DeWine spoke this morning in a lot of detail. Ohio is one of the states becoming autocratic. I recommend reading David Pepper's book "The Laboratories of Autocracy". He's the former head of the Democratic Party in Ohio and so you learn a lot about how autocracy is taking over Ohio and other particularly red states.
More of the same tonight (Friday). As lovely as Geoff and Amna are, I do not see the New News Hour as backing away from its Republican slant. Money speaks. Also, the heart-warming stories of individuals who prevail over odds seems to be an increasing focus. Nice, but not news.
Maybe DeWine should add some support to his words that “if he lived in the area that had been evacuated, he’d feel safe to go home….”
He could rent an abandoned home in the affected neighborhood and move in for a week. Maybe that would result in him calling on FEMA to aid his citizens.
Resolved? Really? In 10 or 20 years, many will be dead [if not sooner] from that horrible release of burning chemicals. Thousands of dead fish in waterways in reports. Wonder what other species uses that water, like humans maybe?!
From a petition [ChopWood CarryWater 2/17] which is -unhappily- being supported by Pres. Biden;
"Norfolk Southern is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Pennsylvania law and restrict where corporations can be sued, upending centuries of precedent. Why would the President and the DOJ come out in favor of such a thing? To protect interstate commerce and our “trade interests?” Since when are such interests more important than the American people’s?"
I believe Pres. Biden has let us down in this horrible affair. It's never too late to go to a podium and say; I need to clarify, I cannot support the current state of railroads doing business as usual which is causing harm... etc, etc. CONGRESS can provide oversight if the Repubs have the balls to support their constituents. Sheesh!
If the earth were to open tomorrow and swallow the New York Times with all who work there in the building, we would be better off. Today's NYT is not the paper that published The Pentagon Papers and dared Nixon to come after them.
The paper today is collection of over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable clucks.
Last month I was asked to review a new book of military aviation history, dealing with a topic I know well: how Edgar Schmued (who I met) designed the P-51 Mustang, the fighter that won the air war in Europe. The author was previously unknown to me, but he made a big point in his bio of being both a Harvard man and a New York Times writer. In all the years I have read "airplane books," I have never read a more amateurishly-written - not only amateurish but the use of language was less than what one would expect from a person who spoke another language and had flunked English language instruction; it was poorly-researched, repeating long-debunked mythology and wartime propaganda as fact. The photo collection wasn't up to the low standards of books written 60 years ago when nothing was really known. Not only was it written by a Harvard Man who worked for the NYT, it was published by a Major American Publishing House, where the "editor" assigned the project obviously didn't know such basics as the fact the pointed end goes in front. The only -1 star review I have ever given the work of a fellow author, and I disliked his crimes against fact and history so much I am still of a mind to go put the review on his self-referential website. (For you airplane fans, the title is "Wings of War" by David Fairbank White). What really pisses me off is, the book is being treated seriously because he's a member of the New York White Boy's Club, aka the Noo Yawk Intelleckshooall Establishmunt - the author, whoever it was at the publisher who bought the collection of toilet paper substitute, and the blurbers, all scratching each other's backs. (Yes, I fucking hate the Noo Yawk Intelleckshooall Establishmunt, for all their many crimes against civilization - this being the least example of those)
Then you would miss Henry Louis Gates' brilliant op ed in today's NYT. As a general rule we are in agreement that mass media is dark and that there aren't actual journalists employed at any newspaper nor TV entity.
But. The moments that publications like the New York Times and Washington Post actually break through their for-profit fog and produce something clear and important makes them worth keeping around. Unless we want a State controlled media let's not throw what we have away.
You can sometimes get cut rate subscriptions to the NYT and the WaPo if you refuse to take the expensive ones. I think I'm getting the nYT right now for $8/month
I agree with Moore Leslie Joyce's use of the Salieri quote in ref to Gates' article. I got lost in the weeds, uh, words. I also agree with your general point--good writing is wonderful. And I especially like it in bookfuls. But really good essays work well, too. Just about everything in the current Atlantic (Jan-Feb '23) was really good. A real treat. Stephen King's On Writing is wonderful (it's not a horror book, it's about writing, and it's great for anyone who wants to write a novel but doesn't know how to do it).
I agree completely. But I'm not sure I'd call Salieri (with an A as first vowel) a Mozart critic. It's not totally clear how they related to each other--see below--but that Salieri quote in ref to Gates' article is perfect!
I read the Smithsonian article. And yes I’m not sure Salieri was critical of Mozart. Your quick retrieval of relevant information is impressive. Thanks again.
I'm a car nut. I don't have enough spare cash to drive one of the less expensive Porsches, or I would. I drive a Civic, with a stick shift, and I like the car a lot, including the sound of the engine. I tell people, "It may not be Mozart, but it IS Salieri to the Boxster's Mozart!" (A Boxster is a small, absolutely wonderful to drive Porsche.)
Sadly, right with you with my own numerous examples of the deeply flawed journalism of the present day NYT. I recently cancelled my subscription...an action I now share with many.
I have expressed my anger at the NYTimes in this substack’s comment section before, and I agree with a lot of what you are saying.
However - the big however - it is
where you can find all the news smashed together in one place. The challenge is to understand how it is being presented and to discern how the reader is being led to a conclusion.
Of course, that is a huge challenge, especially for a population that has barely a 7th grade reading level.
Somewhere along the line in the Country there developed "purity tests." And if the statement, thought, institution, publication etc etc etc ad nauseum doesn't pass a persons' own particular purity test then it should be tossed, banned, forbidden, denied, etc ad nauseum.
Each person is going to glean what they want or can from publications such as the NYT.
I wouldn't say a good job. They have way too many MAGA writers on staff. Olsen, Thiessen, Will lie, spread disinformation and get paid by WaPo to do it. I use facts, data and current material on Biden's accomplishments in the comments' section to their articles.
WaPo does have some nuggets of actual investigative reporting though.
As opinion writers I do not believe they are on the staff, which means they are not getting a salary from the WaPo (I'm not certain of that, though). And I'm not sure I'd call Olsen a MAGA. (I haven't read Thiessen more than once.) And any MAGA opinion writers, if there truly are any, are more than balanced by Jennifer Rubin. She's damn good, and her columns come out as much as 4x a day.
WaPo has a lot of really good reporting and there certainly are no MAGAs on their reporting staff. Their climate work is terrific.
As an aside, I find recent literary criticism to be just awful. That’s definitely a group of people that are patting each other on the backs. I don’t know if it’s to boost morale and the sales of a dwindling readership, or if the reviewers just aren’t that well-versed in what is good writing. There have been so many times when I’ve started a book that received a “glowing review” and I could barely make it through the first 10 pages. Some books seem like they were written by committee (and in the credits at the end, no surprise, the author gives special thanks to their writers group).
Fortunately, there are many many jewels to be found amidst the rubbish.
TCinLA, it seems we all have our passions focused on some aspect of our lives these days. Yet, you seem to be overwrought in your post. Amazingly I find the Times Book Reviews frequently wander into reviews that seem to allow the reviewers to play word games to say nothing while trying to be erudite. They really turn me off because they almost never say anything of consequence as they parade their egos for all to read. Ugh!
My field of work has a never-ending battle going on with the fact that the majority of "military history" is recycled 80-year old wartime propaganda that has fossilized into fact-like coprolites. The "Half-assed Brigade" as the authors I am friends and colleagues with call people like this moron engage in complete crap (as is this). Unfortunately there is a sector of our readership (and you can guess "which side of the aisle" they are on) are undemanding in their desire for entertainment (surprise surprise) and actively dislike having their prejudices challenged (I was accused of writing "woke history" three years ago for writing about the complete failure of the US air interdiction campaign in the Korean War, a documented fact even the Chair Farce now admits). So yes, when crap like this comes along, with the Un-Creative Typist listed as the "author" using the Old White Boys Ivy League Network to promote work that is garbage (to give it its highest possible rating), I do get angry and upset. Unlike this asshole, I put in WORK and EFFORT to figure out what happened. As my friend Dr. Richard Hallion, former Historian of the Air Force, said to me "Tom, this stuff will be pulped in two years - which won't happen to you."
Tell me, whatever it is you do - or did - for a living, did you just sit back and think "no big deal" when you ran across a complete incompetent whose work devalued yours?
Please continue to point out the truth about DeSantis. I live in FL. He talks about keeping FL free, but really it’s only white men who can be “free” - certainly not immigrants, Black people, women (especially of child-bearing age), LGBTQ people. He has fired local school board members he didn’t like, an elected prosecutor. He has taken over New College - a niche school that was way too evoke for him. U of FL hired Ben Sasse as its new president in a secret process. He was the only finalist. DeSantis has filled the board with his cronies. I fear for our higher Ed system which includes schools that rank high in lists of public universities and colleges. I’ve spent more than 1/2 my life in FL and I’m worried
I note this week and last that Pete Buttigeg has been blamed for many if not all of the transportation problems everywhere—airports, planes, trains, safety. I am assuming that these reports are politically motivated, at least in part.
And because he's in a stable marriage, with a couple of kids, and would make an outstanding candidate for the Senate or, after some more seasoning, the Presidency. The hate is driven as much by fear as it is his choice of life partner.
My sister has a friend who babysits for the Buttigiegs. And my sister bumped into them in Provincetown several years ago, so we have a great photo of her with them.
They are because Buttigeg has little or no control over the deregulation of both the airline industries and the railroad industries both of whom after deregulation have made obscene profits at the expense of their customers; the services they provide and safety.
He's gay Stephen. There has been a steady stream of vitriol towards Secretary Buttigieg since he was appointed. I've seen videos of him responding directly to the FNC folks challenging them on their homophobia.
He is a Republican target because he is gay and more intelligent and competent than most of them. He will have a bright future. The criticism should be focused in Ohio on the Governor and their two sate Senators
That fricken train had Civil War era brakes. Literally. The O admin tried to clean this stuff up, and were prevented from doing so by the usual suspects. Anyone who has the time should watch this video with Jon Stewart and several other journalists--who had been on the scene. They were marvelous.
I couldn't find direct contributions to Governor DeWine or Attorney General Yost, but Norfolk Southern spread the cash across the board for the 2022 and 2024 primaries and federal campaign committees. Both Rep and Dem federal campaign committees got $15,000 in 2021. Largest contribution was to Glenn Youngkin....$25,000 smackeroos.
It is clear that the breaking system was inadequate, as it is on many freight trains, but calling them Civil War era is like saying that a strand of Christmas lights that are in series, not parallel, is Victorian era. This newly popularized expression just becomes another catchphrase lost in the babble.
Then came 2017: After rail industry donors delivered more than $6 million to GOP campaigns, the Trump administration — backed by rail lobbyists and Senate Republicans — rescinded part of that rule aimed at making better braking systems widespread on the nation’s rails.
Specifically, regulators killed provisions requiring rail cars carrying hazardous flammable materials to be equipped with electronic braking systems to stop trains more quickly than conventional air brakes. Norfolk Southern had previously touted the new technology — known as Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes — for its “potential to reduce train stopping distances by as much as 60 percent over conventional air brake systems.”
Secretary Buttigieg does deserve some blame for this, as is well documented by David Sirota and the Lever newsletter. The tRump administrations blatant sell out to the railroad tycoons enabled this mess, the subtle sell out to those same railroad interests is the reason Buttigieg has been dragging his feet on strengthening regulations that would increase the safety of the American public. We must hold ALL elected officials to account for their actions and inactions. Incidents and failures like those of Mr. Buttigieg are part of the reason that a Republican party that should have self destructed long ago can pretend to still be relevant despite no actual platform and being staffed with incompetent nitwits. We cannot expect the R's to beat themselves and we must not allow the Democrats to beat themselves. Demand better!
With all due respect the elimination of rail safety regulations around braking and controls is a Congressional issue and was gutted by the Trump Administration and Buttigieg had no involvement in the root cause of the problems. Let’s hope he can figure out a way to fix it.
..."Buttigieg has been dragging his feet on strengthening regulations that would increase the safety of the American public"...Daniel Rathe comment
Secretary Buttigieg does not have unilateral authority to establish rules and regulations. Congress does that.
I invite you to examine the history of the FRA and the struggle to impose safety regulations on railroads. This mess didn't begin with the Biden Administration.
Ohio's Toxic Train Disaster Follows ‘Perfect Storm’ Of Cuts, Deregulation
Buttiegieg was schooled by the McKinsey organization, which specializes in corporate schemes. Have been shocked that people are shocked by his corporate allegiance.
Sorry McKinsey is the worlds leading strategy consulting firm and it’s employees are taught strategic thinking and fact based analysis and corporate governance all skills required to effective manage a large organization which the Department of Transportation is. Instead of believing the media check out the facts about the safety risks associated with transporting hazardous and inflammable materials via rail with with antiquated brake systems and little or no safety requirements or oversight
Robert I hope during your trip that you can see Russia from your visit to Alaska. The big story for me was the exerts from the Dominion defamation suit against Fox where there were specific emails between several evening hosts documenting the fact they knew that both Giuliani and Powell were lying about the voting machine malfunction and the fact the election was stolen. Steve Bannon sent a note defining what the strategy was to discredit Biden even before he took office. All of these individuals lied and their excuse was they were losing ratings. I hope Dominion wins the suit but more importantly how do we hold these individuals accountable and discredit their integrity and out right misinformation assault on their viewers! Part of the settlement should be barring them from ever hosting a TV program ever again.
This paragraph, and the one that follows, distill the situation exactly:
“The commercial imperative to maximize profit at the expense of safety has been a centuries-long struggle, one in which the federal government inevitably assumes the role of the protagonist advocating for safety. It is cheap and easy to vilify the government’s concern for safety as “anti-business” or “bureaucratic over-reach”. Those attacks strike a populist chord that resonates with ill-conceived notions of absolute liberty—a notion antithetical to civilized society that is a pre-condition to the enjoyment of true liberty.”
I understand the fear and anger that the residents of New Palestine are feeling and they absolutely deserve speedy answers and help.. while they are clearly being gaslighted by authorities. The EPA seems to be genuinely suspect but I am unclear about why the rest of the Federal Government may be being blamed. Hadn’t Dewine initially rejected federal help? And will these residents be aware of how the pro-business GOP have eliminated safety regulations on everything they can get their hands on? Do they understand how the railroad industry lobbies them to do this with their money? So often, people just want to blame the federal government in a knee-jerk reaction, for any and all of their problems. One commenter on a WaPo story yesterday said all these citizens will now be voting for the GOP next time, after this catastrophe. Why? Can they really not scratch below the thin surface to see which party consistently proposes regulation, safety measures, workers rights and protections? I just get so frustrated with the total lack of intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Please, folks, wake up and see who is really working in your behalf.
It can be difficult for people to wake up to the facts when their educational systems have been dumbed down, their major broadcast and radio news is Fox, and they have only national newspapers to provide info, and no longer have smaller local or regional news to dig into stories like this one. Republicans have worked for decades to bring the voters to this level of uninformed. And it won’t be easy to reverse this process.
Pete B could've reversed the Trump era reversal on brake failure rules that were implemented during Obama, but he didn't have the time, and still hasn't visited Ohio to explain. Terrible!
Thank you, Robert. One would never know you are reporting from out of town by the excellent quality of this newsletter! I for one wouldn't mind seeing a few photos from your trip. Alaska is one of my favorite places that I will never get to see.
Yes Robert, you deserve this opportunity with your lovely wife, and must not worry about your readers missing news from you. You’ve created something huge but burn out is an obvious problem. Allow yourself to be refreshed - enjoy Alaska!!
Thanks Robert. How clearly you express many layers of the complexity of our time that are interrelated. The Norfolk Southern accident is the 3 mile Island of our decade and points to the need for both Federal oversight and accountability of those CEO’s and executives who destroy the livelihood and lives of both their employees and the communities they destroy. There is so much destruction that they cause.
Apologists for Ron DeSantis especially those who should know better are doing the same routine as they did for Trump in 2016. DeSantis is a man of action? Question number 1, good action or bad action? Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Putin were and are men of action… the wrong actions. The real man of action is Joe Biden, action that gives versus taking away. On top of this where the hell is the DOJ regarding this Martha’s Vineyard escapade. Is nobody accountable. Yes we can prosecute the little guys but people in power, at this point I would say the DOJ has lost its window to do what is right out of fear or I hesitate to say cowardice. Please convince me otherwise. I am angry that this goes on and on and on.
Democrats have to keep their eye on the ball and not get sidetracked if we are to survive as a country. We must take back words like liberty as not pertaining to an individual but a community where as citizens true liberty cannot be gained at the expense of others.
Exactly, Christopher!! DeSantis is a wolf in wolf's clothing. He is an autocrat in plain sight. His audacity is misreported as "action" and "bold". Two positive words that masks his evil deeds.
You make a great point regarding media coverage of Ron DeSantis. I live in Florida and his attacks on anything that is perceived as woke are unrelenting. As a subscriber and reader to the NY Times I propose that all of us write to the NY Times and let them know that their coverage of him needs to be more pointed and revealing of his racist, anti-education, anti-LBGTQ, anti-voting, etc policies. Otherwise, we will stop our subscriptions. $s talk. Write here https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/homepage/contact-newsroom.html
I have written the NYT several times over the last year re: its growing amount of slanted coverage against Democrats and, specifically, pro-DeSantis. I used the link you so kindly provided. I was always professional and courteous, and I supplied links to articles exemplifying my points. I was NEVER contacted, including even just a basic acknowledgement of my concerns. I finally cancelled my decades-long subscription in December. It made me very sad.
Did you let them know why you finally cancelled? I alluded to cancelling but will certainly do so (sadly as well) if we do not see action. And I will let them know why I cancelled, if I choose to do so. I always try to have my $s aligned with my values.
Media should be providing balanced and truth-based reporting. Opinion pieces are just that. I honor that as part of our free speech rights. However, the editors of a respected media organization have an obligation to the pubic and their membership.
The thought of Ron DeSantis being "normalized" in the national media is beyond disturbing. It is downright frightening and infuriating. I am a Floridian, and as I've previously written in these comments, I've lived through 8 years of Jeb Bush, who at the time was "the worst Governor in Florida history." Then came Charlie Crist. Hardly the worst Governor, but a milquetoast who was relatively inconsequential. He was followed by Rick Scott, who quickly established himself as "the worst Governor in Florida history." in 2018 Ron DeSantis became the next in line to become "the worst Governor in Florida history." Four Republican Governors, three of which elevated the title of "the worst Governor in Florida history" to new heights (or depths).
If nothing else, all one has to do is look at the headlines from Florida's major newspapers to get a clear picture of the outrageous damage DeSantis is doing with a generous helping hand from his lapdog legislature.
The front page of the Tampa Bay Times has two scary articles that are part of the DeSatan playbook for authoritarianism.
"Sports measure moves forward - The bill would give the governor control over Florida school athletics board."
Why would DeSatan want this? Because he wants to control the "risk" of transgender kids competing.
The other article that must not be overlooked is this:
"Fla. lawmakers consider lower tax cap -
The proposed change would reduce the limit
on increases of taxable values on homesteads."
From the first paragraph: "A proposal to change the state’s Save Our Homes property tax cap cleared its first legislative committee on Wednesday, despite concerns that it might force counties to cut services or shift the tax burden."
"Cut services"...hmmm, who would be most likely affected by those service cuts??? "Shift the tax burden"....hmmm, to whom would that burden be shifted and who would benefit the most?
The man is a dictator wannabe of dangerous proportions and must not be "normalized" in any way, shape or form!
“Demonizing government for attempting to protect its citizens is destructive and deadly—but forms an essential part of the GOP playbook….The people of Ohio and America deserve federal support and concern before disaster strikes, not merely after the fact. And we must help defend those efforts against attacks from demagogues and profiteers who seek to prioritize power and greed over public safety.”
Well said. The demonizing of government protection of citizens is a major problem in current politics. The vast majority of protections we have, and still benefit from, have been provided by our government, to the benefit of all. Our nation needs broad recommitment to and appreciation of the roles our government performs, day in and day out.
But Jim, isnt it SOP to blame the person in office for the sins of the Oligarchs over the last 100+ years? Doesnt that come with job. Like, clearly, the Financial Crisis was Obamas fault because....well...he was there.
The fact that we didnt allow the railway unions to act and educate the public to the dangers created by the Robber Barons should now be obvious. I am a huge fan of President Biden. But he should have stood shoulder to shoulder with the unions instead of shutting down the strike. America needs to suffer a bit in order to learn. The Ohio "lesson" is the wrong way to teach, me thinks.
I wanted to second other comments applauding you on the excellence of your Substack, especially during vacation travels. I do have one question, comment about Ohio Gov Mike DeWine. If I lived in Ohio, I would be livid that he would have the callousness to refuse federal assistance for any reason. He’s denying me help I need and paid for with my federal taxes! He has absolutely no right to do that!
Feb 17, 2023·edited Feb 17, 2023Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Just a couple things to add regarding the Ohio train derailment of Norfolk Southern rail cars. Republican Ohio governor Mike DeWine had repeatedly refused federal assistance from President Biden for almost 2 weeks. who, he said, called to offer “anything you need.” DeWine said he had not called back to take him up on the offer. “We will not hesitate to do that if we’re seeing a problem or anything, but I’m not seeing it,” he said. It seems that the GOP wants to blame the Federal Government for this but also not take responsibility and or invite the Federal Government to come help fix the problem. It wasn't until Feb 16th, yesterday that the head of the EPA and the Fed Government were invited to show up and help solve the problem. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/us/politics/east-palestine-ohio-train-chemicals-fema.html?smid=url-share
I do hope that President Biden and Sec Pete B can try and turn this into a win where they can help the people of Ohio, however they should also consider putting back in place the safety rules & regulations that could've prevented this from happening. It should be a top priority and the media should also be adding pressure on these rail companies and our legislators to get this done.
Back in 2017, the railroad industry spent more than $6M on GOP political campaigns to get rid of the Obama administration era rule on braking systems for cars carrying harzardous materials. The Biden admin needs to work to get that rule put back in place ASAP. It was a shame that this wasn't done during the railroad strike negotiations but when Trump and the GOP tried so hard to destroy the system it is sometimes hard to remember what needs to get fixed.
I also think the media needs to do a better job of calling out Republicans in Ohio like JD Vance who blamed the Infrastructure bill and not the corporate greed of Norfolk Southern. JD Vance also said that his office and team would work with FEMA even though Republican Governor DeWine hasn't let FEMA into the state yet. It's appalling and Ohio voters need to expect more. Not that I expect the county where East Palestine (>70% voted for Trump) to really understand what is going on, but they deserve better and there should be multiple class action lawsuits against that company.
My conversion to paying attention to politics happened in April, 2016, when I realized someone as sick as DT could become the nominee of the GOP for President of the United States. For two weeks I studied Narcissistic Personality Disorder for which DT is the poster child. Getting rid of any shame in his actions by projecting his shame on others, the gaslighting that came with his need for his narcissistic supply of adoration because of the weakness of his self esteem, playing the victim to gain the support of those forgotten by the politicians owned by the big patrons and suffering from the horrendous and unfair income disparity that comes from putting Party and Patrons over Country and Constituents. The day after the election I was extremely upset, couldn't stay for refreshments with friends after our weekly chamber music session because I was so distraught and in tears by DT's election. Even so, I didn't fully realize how bad the sycophantic politicians supporting DT would make the next four years and beyond. In the 2020 election I shocked a friend who was born in Germany in the 1940s that I would vote for Hitler before I'd vote for DT. I felt like one of the few people in the movie The Invasion of the Body Snatchers who could clearly see the aliens who had taken over human bodies in the MAGA Republicans. I'm flummoxed that Ron DeSantis could be the American Hitler who despite never winning the popular vote still becomes the leader of a very sick blind country once the leading example however imperfect of democracy and human rights. Now I'm appalled by the normalization the media puts on these followers empty of morals or values like integrity and empathy for others. These followers that are being duped and bought by the lies dark money buys. The Rule of Law so essential to a functioning democracy is being torn apart by a rogue Supreme Court and the greedy 1% phantoms who have bought them as illuminated by the books like "The Scheme" by Senator Whitehouse and "The Laboratories of Autocracy" by David Pepper and "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder warning one to vote as if this is the last election you'll be allowed to vote. Still in all this I believe there is a majority of Americans who believe in human rights and the rule of law and the promise of a more Perfect Union that are coming together especially from the idealism of undaunted youth in a movement to assert the People's Agenda of protecting the rights of other and the defense of the democracy. We, the People, All of us this time creating a world valuing each and all our differences and doing the right thing by each other.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cathy. I'm cheering every single word you wrote from snowy Michigan!! Brilliant overview of how we ALL got here and what's at stake every day to save our bold experiment in democracy.
For the rest of the 45 admin, I kept hoping one morning I would wake up on November 9, 2016, to find that Clinton had been elected, and the Trump administration was just a horrible nightmare.
Nicely stated Cathy. I, like you, experienced great anxiety after learning that DJT was elected, albeit by the Electoral College Count. A fact, the last two Republicans presidents did not win by popular vote (at least GW didn’t on his first election. And did anyone notice that both Gore & Hillary graciously accepted the results rather than summoning supporters to D.C. and encouraging them to attack the capitol?)
Actually, I wish they had complained. Both won the popular vote, but both were manipulated by serious shenanigans, including a Supreme court decision on behalf of Bush before the recount of faulty ballots. Both gave way to presidents with dubious ethics who played fast and loose with Democracy. Possibly, certain dynamics would have been halted in their infancy if they had objected.
It would have been a lot easier for Gore to object, and I wish he had, as that SCOTUS decision was ludicrous. The Court essentially ruled that their decision was a one time thing if I remember correctly, and not a precedent. What bullshit!
It would have been messy, though in some ways quite reasonable, for Clinton to object, what with Comey running his mouth on those emails 10 days before the election, the Russians having meddled.
Exactly!
I think an awful lot of us suffered great anxiety after Trump was elected.
Conversely, I remember tearing up watching Biden get inaugurated on television.
So appreciate your comments and your passion. I’m right here with you.
Bravo 🙌
I saw Gov. DeWine on The News Hour last night saying that the situation was basically resolved, that if he lived in the area that had been evacuated, he'd feel safe to go home, and rejecting any need for the help from FEMA that Biden has offered. This is malpractice! The next segment was a scientist saying the area need much more thorough and sophisticated testing to determine its safety.
Gov. DeWine spoke this morning in a lot of detail. Ohio is one of the states becoming autocratic. I recommend reading David Pepper's book "The Laboratories of Autocracy". He's the former head of the Democratic Party in Ohio and so you learn a lot about how autocracy is taking over Ohio and other particularly red states.
Be careful for whom you vote. Sorry Ohio.
Ohioans are reaping what they sowed.
More of the same tonight (Friday). As lovely as Geoff and Amna are, I do not see the New News Hour as backing away from its Republican slant. Money speaks. Also, the heart-warming stories of individuals who prevail over odds seems to be an increasing focus. Nice, but not news.
Yes! I watched DeWine on PBS News Hour as well. Another case of a Republican governor telling the world that Biden’s offer of help was not welcomed.
One of the most mealymouthed politicians I have ever seen!
Maybe DeWine should add some support to his words that “if he lived in the area that had been evacuated, he’d feel safe to go home….”
He could rent an abandoned home in the affected neighborhood and move in for a week. Maybe that would result in him calling on FEMA to aid his citizens.
Right on!
What a relief is politicians would live like us for a week.
Resolved? Really? In 10 or 20 years, many will be dead [if not sooner] from that horrible release of burning chemicals. Thousands of dead fish in waterways in reports. Wonder what other species uses that water, like humans maybe?!
From a petition [ChopWood CarryWater 2/17] which is -unhappily- being supported by Pres. Biden;
"Norfolk Southern is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Pennsylvania law and restrict where corporations can be sued, upending centuries of precedent. Why would the President and the DOJ come out in favor of such a thing? To protect interstate commerce and our “trade interests?” Since when are such interests more important than the American people’s?"
I believe Pres. Biden has let us down in this horrible affair. It's never too late to go to a podium and say; I need to clarify, I cannot support the current state of railroads doing business as usual which is causing harm... etc, etc. CONGRESS can provide oversight if the Repubs have the balls to support their constituents. Sheesh!
If the earth were to open tomorrow and swallow the New York Times with all who work there in the building, we would be better off. Today's NYT is not the paper that published The Pentagon Papers and dared Nixon to come after them.
The paper today is collection of over-educated, under-intelligent, otherwise-unemployable clucks.
Last month I was asked to review a new book of military aviation history, dealing with a topic I know well: how Edgar Schmued (who I met) designed the P-51 Mustang, the fighter that won the air war in Europe. The author was previously unknown to me, but he made a big point in his bio of being both a Harvard man and a New York Times writer. In all the years I have read "airplane books," I have never read a more amateurishly-written - not only amateurish but the use of language was less than what one would expect from a person who spoke another language and had flunked English language instruction; it was poorly-researched, repeating long-debunked mythology and wartime propaganda as fact. The photo collection wasn't up to the low standards of books written 60 years ago when nothing was really known. Not only was it written by a Harvard Man who worked for the NYT, it was published by a Major American Publishing House, where the "editor" assigned the project obviously didn't know such basics as the fact the pointed end goes in front. The only -1 star review I have ever given the work of a fellow author, and I disliked his crimes against fact and history so much I am still of a mind to go put the review on his self-referential website. (For you airplane fans, the title is "Wings of War" by David Fairbank White). What really pisses me off is, the book is being treated seriously because he's a member of the New York White Boy's Club, aka the Noo Yawk Intelleckshooall Establishmunt - the author, whoever it was at the publisher who bought the collection of toilet paper substitute, and the blurbers, all scratching each other's backs. (Yes, I fucking hate the Noo Yawk Intelleckshooall Establishmunt, for all their many crimes against civilization - this being the least example of those)
Then you would miss Henry Louis Gates' brilliant op ed in today's NYT. As a general rule we are in agreement that mass media is dark and that there aren't actual journalists employed at any newspaper nor TV entity.
But. The moments that publications like the New York Times and Washington Post actually break through their for-profit fog and produce something clear and important makes them worth keeping around. Unless we want a State controlled media let's not throw what we have away.
Good point, but I need to cut expenses and they are next on the list.
You can sometimes get cut rate subscriptions to the NYT and the WaPo if you refuse to take the expensive ones. I think I'm getting the nYT right now for $8/month
Beat you, David! Mine is $4.00. It's worth it just for the games.
Oh, gawd, HOpe, I just had a real good laugh, and I've got a big smile on my face! I feel so much better. Go Hope!!!
Very much understand you on that one Jeri.
Here's Gates' article
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/17/opinion/desantis-florida-african-american-studies-black-history.html
Thanks for the link. Read editorial twice. Good but not suited for those we need to reach. As Mozart critic, Solieri would say, “Too many notes. “
Sometimes I read a good piece of writing just for myself. It's a lovely break to savor really good writing like Henry Louis Gates' piece.
I should say that if you liked Gates' piece so much, that certainly counts.
I agree with Moore Leslie Joyce's use of the Salieri quote in ref to Gates' article. I got lost in the weeds, uh, words. I also agree with your general point--good writing is wonderful. And I especially like it in bookfuls. But really good essays work well, too. Just about everything in the current Atlantic (Jan-Feb '23) was really good. A real treat. Stephen King's On Writing is wonderful (it's not a horror book, it's about writing, and it's great for anyone who wants to write a novel but doesn't know how to do it).
David Frum, Heather C. Richardson, John Meacham, Barack Obama, the Atlantic writers are all good etc.
I agree completely. But I'm not sure I'd call Salieri (with an A as first vowel) a Mozart critic. It's not totally clear how they related to each other--see below--but that Salieri quote in ref to Gates' article is perfect!
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/A-German-Composer-uncovered-collaboration-between-mozart-and-salieri-180958154/#:~:text=Salieri%2C%20an%20Italian%2C%20was%20the,burst%20onto%20the%20music%20scene.
I read the Smithsonian article. And yes I’m not sure Salieri was critical of Mozart. Your quick retrieval of relevant information is impressive. Thanks again.
I just like being helpful.
I'm a car nut. I don't have enough spare cash to drive one of the less expensive Porsches, or I would. I drive a Civic, with a stick shift, and I like the car a lot, including the sound of the engine. I tell people, "It may not be Mozart, but it IS Salieri to the Boxster's Mozart!" (A Boxster is a small, absolutely wonderful to drive Porsche.)
I already posted the link. Thanks anyway.
Thanks so much for your post. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.
You are welcome.
Thanks, Barbara.
Oh…hate is such a strong emotion and in this case I thoroughly approve
Sadly, right with you with my own numerous examples of the deeply flawed journalism of the present day NYT. I recently cancelled my subscription...an action I now share with many.
Cancelling mine, upped the price, and downed the content
I have expressed my anger at the NYTimes in this substack’s comment section before, and I agree with a lot of what you are saying.
However - the big however - it is
where you can find all the news smashed together in one place. The challenge is to understand how it is being presented and to discern how the reader is being led to a conclusion.
Of course, that is a huge challenge, especially for a population that has barely a 7th grade reading level.
Somewhere along the line in the Country there developed "purity tests." And if the statement, thought, institution, publication etc etc etc ad nauseum doesn't pass a persons' own particular purity test then it should be tossed, banned, forbidden, denied, etc ad nauseum.
Each person is going to glean what they want or can from publications such as the NYT.
The Washington Post does a good job. I suspect at least a handful of other daily newspapers do good job.
I wouldn't say a good job. They have way too many MAGA writers on staff. Olsen, Thiessen, Will lie, spread disinformation and get paid by WaPo to do it. I use facts, data and current material on Biden's accomplishments in the comments' section to their articles.
WaPo does have some nuggets of actual investigative reporting though.
If you read the WaPo and you don't read Jennifer Rubin, you should. You should follow her so you don't miss anything. (see my comment below)
As opinion writers I do not believe they are on the staff, which means they are not getting a salary from the WaPo (I'm not certain of that, though). And I'm not sure I'd call Olsen a MAGA. (I haven't read Thiessen more than once.) And any MAGA opinion writers, if there truly are any, are more than balanced by Jennifer Rubin. She's damn good, and her columns come out as much as 4x a day.
WaPo has a lot of really good reporting and there certainly are no MAGAs on their reporting staff. Their climate work is terrific.
As an aside, I find recent literary criticism to be just awful. That’s definitely a group of people that are patting each other on the backs. I don’t know if it’s to boost morale and the sales of a dwindling readership, or if the reviewers just aren’t that well-versed in what is good writing. There have been so many times when I’ve started a book that received a “glowing review” and I could barely make it through the first 10 pages. Some books seem like they were written by committee (and in the credits at the end, no surprise, the author gives special thanks to their writers group).
Fortunately, there are many many jewels to be found amidst the rubbish.
Wow!!! OK!!!!👍🏽👏🏼
TCinLA, it seems we all have our passions focused on some aspect of our lives these days. Yet, you seem to be overwrought in your post. Amazingly I find the Times Book Reviews frequently wander into reviews that seem to allow the reviewers to play word games to say nothing while trying to be erudite. They really turn me off because they almost never say anything of consequence as they parade their egos for all to read. Ugh!
My field of work has a never-ending battle going on with the fact that the majority of "military history" is recycled 80-year old wartime propaganda that has fossilized into fact-like coprolites. The "Half-assed Brigade" as the authors I am friends and colleagues with call people like this moron engage in complete crap (as is this). Unfortunately there is a sector of our readership (and you can guess "which side of the aisle" they are on) are undemanding in their desire for entertainment (surprise surprise) and actively dislike having their prejudices challenged (I was accused of writing "woke history" three years ago for writing about the complete failure of the US air interdiction campaign in the Korean War, a documented fact even the Chair Farce now admits). So yes, when crap like this comes along, with the Un-Creative Typist listed as the "author" using the Old White Boys Ivy League Network to promote work that is garbage (to give it its highest possible rating), I do get angry and upset. Unlike this asshole, I put in WORK and EFFORT to figure out what happened. As my friend Dr. Richard Hallion, former Historian of the Air Force, said to me "Tom, this stuff will be pulped in two years - which won't happen to you."
Tell me, whatever it is you do - or did - for a living, did you just sit back and think "no big deal" when you ran across a complete incompetent whose work devalued yours?
Please continue to point out the truth about DeSantis. I live in FL. He talks about keeping FL free, but really it’s only white men who can be “free” - certainly not immigrants, Black people, women (especially of child-bearing age), LGBTQ people. He has fired local school board members he didn’t like, an elected prosecutor. He has taken over New College - a niche school that was way too evoke for him. U of FL hired Ben Sasse as its new president in a secret process. He was the only finalist. DeSantis has filled the board with his cronies. I fear for our higher Ed system which includes schools that rank high in lists of public universities and colleges. I’ve spent more than 1/2 my life in FL and I’m worried
DeSantis calling Florida "free" is like Kim Jong Un calling North Korea a "democratic people's republic."
I note this week and last that Pete Buttigeg has been blamed for many if not all of the transportation problems everywhere—airports, planes, trains, safety. I am assuming that these reports are politically motivated, at least in part.
The hate against Secretary Buttigieg is because he is gay.
And because he's in a stable marriage, with a couple of kids, and would make an outstanding candidate for the Senate or, after some more seasoning, the Presidency. The hate is driven as much by fear as it is his choice of life partner.
My sister has a friend who babysits for the Buttigiegs. And my sister bumped into them in Provincetown several years ago, so we have a great photo of her with them.
nobody on our side hates him, we hate him not doing his job in a passionate and progressive manner. See David Sirota's reporting for details.
They are because Buttigeg has little or no control over the deregulation of both the airline industries and the railroad industries both of whom after deregulation have made obscene profits at the expense of their customers; the services they provide and safety.
He's gay Stephen. There has been a steady stream of vitriol towards Secretary Buttigieg since he was appointed. I've seen videos of him responding directly to the FNC folks challenging them on their homophobia.
He is a Republican target because he is gay and more intelligent and competent than most of them. He will have a bright future. The criticism should be focused in Ohio on the Governor and their two sate Senators
That's what I've been saying.
That fricken train had Civil War era brakes. Literally. The O admin tried to clean this stuff up, and were prevented from doing so by the usual suspects. Anyone who has the time should watch this video with Jon Stewart and several other journalists--who had been on the scene. They were marvelous.
https://www.google.com/search?q=john+stewart%27s+podcast+about+the+east+palestine+ohio+rail+accident&oq=john+&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j69i59j0i67j46i67j69i61j69i60j69i61.2376j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:7e36a9ff,vid:O8Jrk6fvmQ8
Thanks. I just watched this.
I couldn't find direct contributions to Governor DeWine or Attorney General Yost, but Norfolk Southern spread the cash across the board for the 2022 and 2024 primaries and federal campaign committees. Both Rep and Dem federal campaign committees got $15,000 in 2021. Largest contribution was to Glenn Youngkin....$25,000 smackeroos.
https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/norfolk-southern/summary?id=D000019639
http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en/about-ns/government-relations/political-activity-and-political-contributions.html (scroll to bottom and click "2021 report")
It is clear that the breaking system was inadequate, as it is on many freight trains, but calling them Civil War era is like saying that a strand of Christmas lights that are in series, not parallel, is Victorian era. This newly popularized expression just becomes another catchphrase lost in the babble.
Here are the real details and the source:
Then came 2017: After rail industry donors delivered more than $6 million to GOP campaigns, the Trump administration — backed by rail lobbyists and Senate Republicans — rescinded part of that rule aimed at making better braking systems widespread on the nation’s rails.
Specifically, regulators killed provisions requiring rail cars carrying hazardous flammable materials to be equipped with electronic braking systems to stop trains more quickly than conventional air brakes. Norfolk Southern had previously touted the new technology — known as Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes — for its “potential to reduce train stopping distances by as much as 60 percent over conventional air brake systems.”
https://www.levernews.com/rail-companies-blocked-safety-rules-before-ohio-derailment/
"We're talking about upgrading a brake system that is from the Civil War era," Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Feinberg told the AP. --
https://www.wweek.com/news/2016/06/23/federal-report-blames-oil-train-derailment-caused-partly-by-brake-system-from-the-civil-war-era/
Secretary Buttigieg does deserve some blame for this, as is well documented by David Sirota and the Lever newsletter. The tRump administrations blatant sell out to the railroad tycoons enabled this mess, the subtle sell out to those same railroad interests is the reason Buttigieg has been dragging his feet on strengthening regulations that would increase the safety of the American public. We must hold ALL elected officials to account for their actions and inactions. Incidents and failures like those of Mr. Buttigieg are part of the reason that a Republican party that should have self destructed long ago can pretend to still be relevant despite no actual platform and being staffed with incompetent nitwits. We cannot expect the R's to beat themselves and we must not allow the Democrats to beat themselves. Demand better!
With all due respect the elimination of rail safety regulations around braking and controls is a Congressional issue and was gutted by the Trump Administration and Buttigieg had no involvement in the root cause of the problems. Let’s hope he can figure out a way to fix it.
..."Buttigieg has been dragging his feet on strengthening regulations that would increase the safety of the American public"...Daniel Rathe comment
Secretary Buttigieg does not have unilateral authority to establish rules and regulations. Congress does that.
I invite you to examine the history of the FRA and the struggle to impose safety regulations on railroads. This mess didn't begin with the Biden Administration.
Ohio's Toxic Train Disaster Follows ‘Perfect Storm’ Of Cuts, Deregulation
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ohio-train-disaster-deregulation-norfolk-southern_n_63ed16abe4b0255caaefab8a#:~:text=TRAIN%20ACCIDENTS-,Ohio%27s%20Toxic%20Train%20Disaster%20Follows%20%E2%80%98Perfect%20Storm%E2%80%99%20Of%20Cuts%2C%20Deregulation,-A%20toxic%2C%20fiery
It would help if you had a fuqqing clue how government actually works. I hate it when the political illiterates claim they're on my side.
Buttiegieg was schooled by the McKinsey organization, which specializes in corporate schemes. Have been shocked that people are shocked by his corporate allegiance.
Sorry McKinsey is the worlds leading strategy consulting firm and it’s employees are taught strategic thinking and fact based analysis and corporate governance all skills required to effective manage a large organization which the Department of Transportation is. Instead of believing the media check out the facts about the safety risks associated with transporting hazardous and inflammable materials via rail with with antiquated brake systems and little or no safety requirements or oversight
"We need help and answers from the federal government.” Their pleas are appropriate and heartfelt."
From the DailyKos February 15, 2023
"Biden offered Ohio ‘anything you need’ after train derailment. Why isn’t DeWine asking for anything?"
DeWine said he didn't want to take anything from the a democratic administration in DC. Lost all respect for him, turning this into politics.
That wasn't my question. It's the headline of the article.
Robert I hope during your trip that you can see Russia from your visit to Alaska. The big story for me was the exerts from the Dominion defamation suit against Fox where there were specific emails between several evening hosts documenting the fact they knew that both Giuliani and Powell were lying about the voting machine malfunction and the fact the election was stolen. Steve Bannon sent a note defining what the strategy was to discredit Biden even before he took office. All of these individuals lied and their excuse was they were losing ratings. I hope Dominion wins the suit but more importantly how do we hold these individuals accountable and discredit their integrity and out right misinformation assault on their viewers! Part of the settlement should be barring them from ever hosting a TV program ever again.
Besides winning their law suit, I hope Faux is also sentenced to run a chyron 24x7 for 6 months saying Fox Lied About Trump Winning the Election.
This paragraph, and the one that follows, distill the situation exactly:
“The commercial imperative to maximize profit at the expense of safety has been a centuries-long struggle, one in which the federal government inevitably assumes the role of the protagonist advocating for safety. It is cheap and easy to vilify the government’s concern for safety as “anti-business” or “bureaucratic over-reach”. Those attacks strike a populist chord that resonates with ill-conceived notions of absolute liberty—a notion antithetical to civilized society that is a pre-condition to the enjoyment of true liberty.”
I understand the fear and anger that the residents of New Palestine are feeling and they absolutely deserve speedy answers and help.. while they are clearly being gaslighted by authorities. The EPA seems to be genuinely suspect but I am unclear about why the rest of the Federal Government may be being blamed. Hadn’t Dewine initially rejected federal help? And will these residents be aware of how the pro-business GOP have eliminated safety regulations on everything they can get their hands on? Do they understand how the railroad industry lobbies them to do this with their money? So often, people just want to blame the federal government in a knee-jerk reaction, for any and all of their problems. One commenter on a WaPo story yesterday said all these citizens will now be voting for the GOP next time, after this catastrophe. Why? Can they really not scratch below the thin surface to see which party consistently proposes regulation, safety measures, workers rights and protections? I just get so frustrated with the total lack of intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. Please, folks, wake up and see who is really working in your behalf.
It can be difficult for people to wake up to the facts when their educational systems have been dumbed down, their major broadcast and radio news is Fox, and they have only national newspapers to provide info, and no longer have smaller local or regional news to dig into stories like this one. Republicans have worked for decades to bring the voters to this level of uninformed. And it won’t be easy to reverse this process.
Pete B could've reversed the Trump era reversal on brake failure rules that were implemented during Obama, but he didn't have the time, and still hasn't visited Ohio to explain. Terrible!
Thank you, Robert. One would never know you are reporting from out of town by the excellent quality of this newsletter! I for one wouldn't mind seeing a few photos from your trip. Alaska is one of my favorite places that I will never get to see.
Yes Robert, you deserve this opportunity with your lovely wife, and must not worry about your readers missing news from you. You’ve created something huge but burn out is an obvious problem. Allow yourself to be refreshed - enjoy Alaska!!
Thanks Robert. How clearly you express many layers of the complexity of our time that are interrelated. The Norfolk Southern accident is the 3 mile Island of our decade and points to the need for both Federal oversight and accountability of those CEO’s and executives who destroy the livelihood and lives of both their employees and the communities they destroy. There is so much destruction that they cause.
Apologists for Ron DeSantis especially those who should know better are doing the same routine as they did for Trump in 2016. DeSantis is a man of action? Question number 1, good action or bad action? Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Putin were and are men of action… the wrong actions. The real man of action is Joe Biden, action that gives versus taking away. On top of this where the hell is the DOJ regarding this Martha’s Vineyard escapade. Is nobody accountable. Yes we can prosecute the little guys but people in power, at this point I would say the DOJ has lost its window to do what is right out of fear or I hesitate to say cowardice. Please convince me otherwise. I am angry that this goes on and on and on.
Democrats have to keep their eye on the ball and not get sidetracked if we are to survive as a country. We must take back words like liberty as not pertaining to an individual but a community where as citizens true liberty cannot be gained at the expense of others.
Exactly, Christopher!! DeSantis is a wolf in wolf's clothing. He is an autocrat in plain sight. His audacity is misreported as "action" and "bold". Two positive words that masks his evil deeds.
You make a great point regarding media coverage of Ron DeSantis. I live in Florida and his attacks on anything that is perceived as woke are unrelenting. As a subscriber and reader to the NY Times I propose that all of us write to the NY Times and let them know that their coverage of him needs to be more pointed and revealing of his racist, anti-education, anti-LBGTQ, anti-voting, etc policies. Otherwise, we will stop our subscriptions. $s talk. Write here https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/homepage/contact-newsroom.html
I have written the NYT several times over the last year re: its growing amount of slanted coverage against Democrats and, specifically, pro-DeSantis. I used the link you so kindly provided. I was always professional and courteous, and I supplied links to articles exemplifying my points. I was NEVER contacted, including even just a basic acknowledgement of my concerns. I finally cancelled my decades-long subscription in December. It made me very sad.
Did you let them know why you finally cancelled? I alluded to cancelling but will certainly do so (sadly as well) if we do not see action. And I will let them know why I cancelled, if I choose to do so. I always try to have my $s aligned with my values.
Media should be providing balanced and truth-based reporting. Opinion pieces are just that. I honor that as part of our free speech rights. However, the editors of a respected media organization have an obligation to the pubic and their membership.
Done! Feeling your pain in the Sunshine Stare. At least DeSantis can’t dictate the weather !
Robert, one quibble. There is nothing “ budding” about DeSantis !
I’m in on writing to The NY Times. But must not throw away the baby with the bath water.
The thought of Ron DeSantis being "normalized" in the national media is beyond disturbing. It is downright frightening and infuriating. I am a Floridian, and as I've previously written in these comments, I've lived through 8 years of Jeb Bush, who at the time was "the worst Governor in Florida history." Then came Charlie Crist. Hardly the worst Governor, but a milquetoast who was relatively inconsequential. He was followed by Rick Scott, who quickly established himself as "the worst Governor in Florida history." in 2018 Ron DeSantis became the next in line to become "the worst Governor in Florida history." Four Republican Governors, three of which elevated the title of "the worst Governor in Florida history" to new heights (or depths).
If nothing else, all one has to do is look at the headlines from Florida's major newspapers to get a clear picture of the outrageous damage DeSantis is doing with a generous helping hand from his lapdog legislature.
Today's Tampa Bay Times provides two examples: https://cdn.freedomforum.org/dfp/pdf17/FL_TIMES.pdf?20230217
The front page of the Tampa Bay Times has two scary articles that are part of the DeSatan playbook for authoritarianism.
"Sports measure moves forward - The bill would give the governor control over Florida school athletics board."
Why would DeSatan want this? Because he wants to control the "risk" of transgender kids competing.
The other article that must not be overlooked is this:
"Fla. lawmakers consider lower tax cap -
The proposed change would reduce the limit
on increases of taxable values on homesteads."
From the first paragraph: "A proposal to change the state’s Save Our Homes property tax cap cleared its first legislative committee on Wednesday, despite concerns that it might force counties to cut services or shift the tax burden."
"Cut services"...hmmm, who would be most likely affected by those service cuts??? "Shift the tax burden"....hmmm, to whom would that burden be shifted and who would benefit the most?
The man is a dictator wannabe of dangerous proportions and must not be "normalized" in any way, shape or form!
“Demonizing government for attempting to protect its citizens is destructive and deadly—but forms an essential part of the GOP playbook….The people of Ohio and America deserve federal support and concern before disaster strikes, not merely after the fact. And we must help defend those efforts against attacks from demagogues and profiteers who seek to prioritize power and greed over public safety.”
Well said. The demonizing of government protection of citizens is a major problem in current politics. The vast majority of protections we have, and still benefit from, have been provided by our government, to the benefit of all. Our nation needs broad recommitment to and appreciation of the roles our government performs, day in and day out.
But Jim, isnt it SOP to blame the person in office for the sins of the Oligarchs over the last 100+ years? Doesnt that come with job. Like, clearly, the Financial Crisis was Obamas fault because....well...he was there.
The fact that we didnt allow the railway unions to act and educate the public to the dangers created by the Robber Barons should now be obvious. I am a huge fan of President Biden. But he should have stood shoulder to shoulder with the unions instead of shutting down the strike. America needs to suffer a bit in order to learn. The Ohio "lesson" is the wrong way to teach, me thinks.
I wanted to second other comments applauding you on the excellence of your Substack, especially during vacation travels. I do have one question, comment about Ohio Gov Mike DeWine. If I lived in Ohio, I would be livid that he would have the callousness to refuse federal assistance for any reason. He’s denying me help I need and paid for with my federal taxes! He has absolutely no right to do that!
Just a couple things to add regarding the Ohio train derailment of Norfolk Southern rail cars. Republican Ohio governor Mike DeWine had repeatedly refused federal assistance from President Biden for almost 2 weeks. who, he said, called to offer “anything you need.” DeWine said he had not called back to take him up on the offer. “We will not hesitate to do that if we’re seeing a problem or anything, but I’m not seeing it,” he said. It seems that the GOP wants to blame the Federal Government for this but also not take responsibility and or invite the Federal Government to come help fix the problem. It wasn't until Feb 16th, yesterday that the head of the EPA and the Fed Government were invited to show up and help solve the problem. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/us/politics/east-palestine-ohio-train-chemicals-fema.html?smid=url-share
I do hope that President Biden and Sec Pete B can try and turn this into a win where they can help the people of Ohio, however they should also consider putting back in place the safety rules & regulations that could've prevented this from happening. It should be a top priority and the media should also be adding pressure on these rail companies and our legislators to get this done.
Back in 2017, the railroad industry spent more than $6M on GOP political campaigns to get rid of the Obama administration era rule on braking systems for cars carrying harzardous materials. The Biden admin needs to work to get that rule put back in place ASAP. It was a shame that this wasn't done during the railroad strike negotiations but when Trump and the GOP tried so hard to destroy the system it is sometimes hard to remember what needs to get fixed.
I also think the media needs to do a better job of calling out Republicans in Ohio like JD Vance who blamed the Infrastructure bill and not the corporate greed of Norfolk Southern. JD Vance also said that his office and team would work with FEMA even though Republican Governor DeWine hasn't let FEMA into the state yet. It's appalling and Ohio voters need to expect more. Not that I expect the county where East Palestine (>70% voted for Trump) to really understand what is going on, but they deserve better and there should be multiple class action lawsuits against that company.