This essay was difficult to read. To see the press behave so badly, deliberately, just for clicks is reprehensible. I personally think Joe Biden is incredibly competent and savvy. He’s smart, decent, we’ll-informed, and empathetic. I rest easy with him as our President.
Margaret, While I imagine much of this community shares your view (as I do regarding the noxious media), I feel an urgent responsibility to present an alternate perspective, pertaining to Biden, from former Republican strategist and co-Founder of the Lincoln Project Steve Schmidt. To be clear, Schmidt emphatically states that “losing an election to a man who is the greatest threat to American democracy since the Confederacy…is not an option.”
Moving on, I would note, in his March 4th Substack newsletter “The Warning,” Schmidt discusses what the President should be speaking about when he delivers the State of the Union. In addition to a fulsome and coherent vision of the nature of this moment, the challenges at hand, and what America must do, Schmidt writes, “The President must face directly the greatest liability for his ambitions: his age. Overwhelming percentages of the country, including Democrats, are worried about the 81-year-old president’s capacity to do the job. The opinion isn’t an affront. It is real, and it is very much mainstream.
“The President cannot hide from the issue. He must alleviate it by addressing it, and diminishing it. The current White House strategy is a debacle that has raised the stakes in each appearance to an existential test of survival. This needs to be reset.”
If we consider the possibility that the outcome of this election could land, in large part, on how effectively President Biden speaks, from the heart, possibly without a script, about this issue, then I would urge we all take a breath and not become defensive or unwilling to consider that intelligent and sincere people can have fundamental disagreements about complex matters. Further, I would hope we could appreciate the benefits of trying to understand and accommodate one another’s positions rather than ignoring or dismissing them.
Barbara Jo, please remember that Steve Schmidt is being paid to represent a third party candidate, Dean Phillips. Also, Steve Schmidt once upon a time gave us Sarah Palin as a candidate.
Carla, Schmidt would be the first to admit that selecting Palin was a major f**k-up. As for the other matter, in Schmidt’s own words, “Many people continue to believe that I’m involved in Dean Phillips presidential campaign. I am not, and never served in an official capacity. I only helped him to launch his effort.” For more, see “The Threat is Trump. Period.” Steve Schmidt, Dec. 13, 2023.
If he helped him launch his effort, doesn't that mean that eventually votes for any third party candidate will be siphoned off of potential votes for Joe Biden? Low information citizens will vote for third party candidates which will further undermine our chances to shore up the democracy. That is a huge concern for me.
Carla, Schmidt only helped Phillips launch a Democratic Party primary challenge. While I share your concern regarding third-party candidates in the General, that situation doesn’t apply here.
Biden’s SOTU speech has been hyped by the press similar to a Super Bowl and regardless how good it is will be considered boring by many journalists. I have read many journalists comments about what Biden should say but for me Biden must first be himself and who he is and not some consultant creation and he must specifically call and compare his vision and plan going forward to the other guy. The speech needs to be short and sweet and play to Biden’s strengths of empathy, humor and experience.
I actually believe that we can trust Biden and his experience and instincts to say the right things in the right way ... Yes, I'd like him to channel a little of that Gavin Newsom or Hakeem Jeffries or Jamie Raskin energy, but I still have faith that he'll do fine and per usual, better than we expect or maybe at this point, even deserve.
The so-called political pundits hyping the importance of this speech appear ignorant of the fact that every public address and every decision made daily by POTUS are critical to our country and the world
Seems like Joe has done an excellent job fighting for democracy!
Stephen, I would note that Schmidt, in his March 4th Newsletter, offers guidance for delivering a type of speech that defies the expectation of only being remembered “as a non-event within hours of its delivery.”
His final three sentences read, “The nation and President Biden stand at a great moment of testing and choosing. A great, short, pointed, memorable, and urgent state of the union is long overdue in America. President Biden should think about delivering one.”
I would add, amid this most terrifying moment in our nation’s history, I imagine I’m not alone in hoping for more than “short and sweet,” and empathic and humorous. I would add that if my sources are good, a meeting between Biden and Sanders indicates we can expect a lot more.
John, Whatever one thinks of Schmidt’s views, he is as determined as the rest of us to pulverizing MAGA. Hence, I consider hearing him out worth my time.
I appreciate this thoughtful and respectful discourse. Whatever role Steve Schmidt played in Dean Phillip's campaign, it was as wrong-headed and destructive as his choice of Sarah Palin. He admits he was wrong about that - but that still reflects on his judgement as Palin was so obviously a ridiculous candidate. I think that a case could be made that bringing Sarah Palin on the scene should be a career-ending disqualification.
Similarly, Dean Phillips blew up his promising career to go out and denigrate Joe Biden. His campaign was "Biden is old." That was his message. It is rich that the person who encouraged him to run is still talking about the age issue as if he is some wise oracle and identifying something that nobody else has seen.
Can/should Biden directly address his age issue? Probably, but you can agree that it would be most tricky (and the Politico article referred despairingly to Biden joking about it...which I actually think is not a bad idea). Has Dean Phillips and those who constantly talk about Biden's age helped Trump? I say that they have.
Ourosboros, the symbol of a serpent eating its own tail - as Tim Miller of the Bulwark's interview with Phillips so clearly demonstrated, Phillips was talking about Biden's age and then saying that Biden's age is a concern: he was helping to create the situation that he was supposedly warning against. And his self-centered concession speech yesterday brought it up again.
Steve Schmidt may say he fears MAGA., but Steve Schmidt is helping MAGA.
Do you honestly expect so little of Biden that you even have to ask for more than "short and sweet" etc.? You haven't been paying attention, if that's the case, as he's proved time and time again that he can handle the haters ... to put it very simply. You don't want to like or approve of him for your own reasons and by continuing to push that outward, you could do some damage to the overall cause of keeping some form of democracy intact here. I assume you won't do that, but your rhetoric and its apparent underlying assumptions are troubling.
Meredith, I was replying to Stephen Berg. “Short and sweet etc” were his descriptors, not mine. I was quite clear that not only do I expect a lot more but also, if my sources are good, the Address could border on exceptional.
“The President must face directly the greatest liability for his ambitions: his age.” –
Biden’s electoral ambitions, maybe: Thoughtless ageism is rampant in America.
Biden’s ambitions for governing, definitely not: He’s assembled perhaps the most talented, competent Administrations in decades and has shepherded consequential legislation through a Congress that was full of egotistical recalcitrants on both sides of the aisle. Much younger Presidents should envy his successes against odds.
Wouldn’t it be nice, Michael, if Americans could take a clue from much older cultures that honor and revere their elders for having wisdom, expertise, and experience? I have a Native American friend who thinks that this ruckus over President Biden‘s age is absolutely hysterical, because in his Navajo culture people well into their 80s and 90s are the primary decision-makers.
Except for *revering* elders, rather than simply respecting them, I heartily agree with you.
At the risk of repeating myself incessantly, I cite the example of Konrad Adenauer, an old man who, as Chancellor of West Germany, led his citizenry out of Naziism and the devastation of World War II. The Germans called him *der Alte* (the old one) – respectfully and affectionately.
I used the word “revere” because that is the word that my friend used; but it has a somewhat different meaning in their culture, which includes respecting their opinions and judgments. I also like your reference to the Chancellor of West Germany.
This. You could say that I believe in age+experience+wisdom because I'm OLD myself, but that really isn't the case as I'm extremely humble about myself. However, as you note, our ageism is a cultural acquisition from the American ideology of individualism and taking what we want-winner takes all capitalism as it's been applied liberally through our history. On the other hand, I've witnessed what I can inadequately label Biden's wiliness -- of which I totally approve and respect -- and his successes that are often built from long-standing relationships in which he's been a participant. You don't get that or the ability to analyze, reflect, and create solutions to difficult problems from the win v. loss mentality and the worship of individualism at the expense of community. I don't agree with everything Biden does or thinks, but I respect him and have a certain amount of faith that he's going to pull this off: not only the SOTU speech but the election upcoming... Thank you for your reminder that other cultures have different ways of looking at this issue.
Little bush suckered into war with Saddam whose DNA was begat several thousands of years by generations and cultures who learned how to survive through cunning, intelligence and guile!
Little bush best known for the missing data on his activity in the Air National guard!
Michael, While I imagine Schmidt would concur with your distinction, I expect Schmidt’s sole concern rests with Biden’s electoral prospects given the alternative poses the greatest threat to democracy since the Confederacy,
Jon, I just posted the reply to John Turgeon, who is part of this thread, that I would have posted here. Nonetheless, I would add I am perplexed by your statement given that Schmidt’s principal focus is that Biden is in an extraordinarily tight race against a man who is the greatest threat to democracy since the Confederacy.
Barbara Jo, I apologize for my bluntness, but I would not trust Steve Schmidt as far as I could throw him across a room. He is an egomaniac, and he is doing little or nothing to help President Biden win this election. He harps on the age issue constantly. On the other hand, the Lincoln Project members who held together are producing dynamic and powerful advertisement material that is playing all over the country. They are promoting President Biden‘s skills, intelligence, and decency, while highlighting the pure depravity of Trump. Let’s pay more attention to what the Lincoln Project is doing and forget about Steve Schmidt. Also, Rick Wilson and Reed Galen meet at least twice a month with Simon Rosenberg to work on strategy. I have listened to their videos and podcasts, and they are working as a team. Steve Schmidt is a lone wolf who likes to brag about himself and complain about President Biden. He’s one of the people who thought that Dean Phillips as a primary challenger would be a good idea. If there was high enthusiasm for Phillips and low enthusiasm for President Biden, I don’t think we would have seen the primary results of the past few weeks. I have totally lost respect for Schmidt (and I’m one of many), and it doesn’t look like he will ever earn it back.
Also, here is a beautiful essay to make us feel really good about the president we are supporting. We need more of this and less of Steve Schmidt:
Janet, I very much appreciate both your reply and the link. As for Steve Schmidt, because of him, I now am taking great effort to drive home what it would mean to lose our democracy and how our way of life would change. As you know, Trump already has stated he would enact the Insurrection Act on Day 1 of his presidency. He’s already spoken about rounding up his political enemies.
Reading Schmidt’s Substack, I’ve become increasingly effective in urging people, whatever their reasons for remaining uncommitted, to imagine what America would look like were the President to start moving the army around to put down our voices, our right to protest policy with which we disagree, perhaps jailing us. Of course, this is not without precedent. Trump had wanted to criminalize protests around Black Lives Matter for the murder of George Floyd.
I would note I’ve barely touched upon what I’ve come to understand, due to Schmidt, about rights and freedoms that would be ripped away; nor have I touched upon my increasing understanding of what it would mean were we unable to depend on an independent judiciary (we’re already starting to see what that would look like), or on the rule of law, or on an independent justice department, or an independent Federal Communications Commission—all things Trump has said he would do.
Ultimately, we have about 8 months to urge uncommitted voters to listen to the things Trump says and the people he admires. Schmidt, more so than anyone, has impressed upon me that no one should doubt that whatever freedoms we have in this country, whatever we like about this country, dramatically would change.
I don’t entirely disagree with Steve Schmidt, and I appreciate that he is trying to strike fear into the hearts of people who are complacent. It is an important role for him to play. But one of the reasons why I unsubscribed and many others did was because of his rants about Biden‘s age and his encouragement to run Dean Phillips as a primary contender. Luckily for us, that fell flat and did little or no damage to President Biden. I feel exactly as you and everyone else here does about the danger to democracy. It scares the life out of me. But since Steve does have something of a bully pulpit, I think he could be doing more than ranting about the age issue. He could, in fact, be “campaigning” for President Biden through his podcasts and on Substack, as the Lincoln Project is doing, since he has a voice and has established himself as a political consultant. Instead of emphasizing his age all the time, it would help if he counteracted some of this adverse media coverage by shouting President Biden‘s accomplishments from the rooftops, because he has an audience, and some of them are former Republicans.
Good points. Age matters but so does heart. The fascists hate heart and respect violence. President Biden’s superpower is that he likes people and it shows. Regular people need that now amidst all the chaos, and mirrors. These are complex times and opting for a fading reality tv star who suffers from the delusion that “he alone can fix it won’t help.
Age does *not* matter (except in some small minds), except possibly as a political pseudo-issue. What matters for the Presidency is competence, intelligence, wisdom, and the talent for picking first-rate assistants.
Susan, I imagine, as a political operative, what matters to Schmidt is that Biden is in a mighty tight race with a man who is the greatest threat to American democracy since the Confederacy. Because losing is not an option, Schmidt is keenly aware of both the decisive leadership and the clear communication this moment demands from Joe Biden.
Since the two candidates are for all intents and purposes the same age, now that the contest really is down to Biden vs. Trump, why is anyone talking about age anymore as a deciding factor? It can't be. Even if Trump were mentally and emotionally sound, he is not meaningfully younger than Biden. The matter is moot now.
How is Biden to address the age issue other than to do his usual solid job? Presidents should be judged by their actions not their entertainment value. If he plays the GQP like he did in his first SOTU, we'll be fine.
Sam, I read Schmidt as advising Biden and his speechwriters to devise some framing, as much as possible, to remove the issue. Additionally, while I expect the Administration will deploy several surrogates, Biden, too, will need to be a highly visible presence on the campaign trail.
Respectfully suggest those praising Steve Schmidt would do well to further check him out. In his Substack, (total waste of $100.) he blamed Democrats for losing a vote on the supreme court due to their refusal to support Bush’s nominee, Harriet Miers. Schmidt wrote he will always admire Alito? who he ushered through the nominee process and claimed the nominee was psychologically harmed by the brutal treatment he received during confirmation process.
Regarding Sarah Palin being chosen to run as VP for McCain, Schmidt wrote he told Sen. McCain that the choice of running mate must be made by McCain himself, that he Schmidt, did not interview Palin. But if he had, Palin would never have been chosen as running mate. See how that’s done? Just sprinkle yourself with imaginary holy water and you’re absolved.
It sure as hell was - and yet, Robert's words are exactly what I needed to hear/see. The fact is, I am an insecure, proactive worrier by nature, so presidential election cycles are always an emotional roller coaster for me - and the stakes of this one are especially trying for me. I would give anything to be in the same political moment as 2008 cycle, to have the validation of positive headlines touting Biden's many accomplishments. Yet here we are with infotainment being spewed by even the most respected publications. However, even as the press elevates the double standard between a competent, dedicated leader and an aspiring dictator conman desperate to avoid paying for his crimes, I am as proud a Biden supporter as ever. It will be hard, but as someone whom is learning on a personal level not to require validation, I feel the same way about this election. With or without the aide of the press the validation of the polls, all of us who care can help propel Biden and as many other pro democracy candidates to power as possible. We cannot let the press manipulate the narrative. None of the many grassroots communities (this one, Hopium, crooked media, Lincoln project, indivisible, swing left, vote forward etc.) out there existed in 2016 and are stronger in 2024 than ever. So it's incumbent on as many of us as possible to donate, write, call or canvass (or all the above) to not let the press get away with manipulating the public. I've been saying this all week & will continue to say this: Don't let them have the last word! This bears repeating: there are MORE of us than there are of them! Now act like it !
I concur. President Biden does a great job of addressing his age by continuing to work toward doing the right things for the people and the USA. He carries on with grace, humor and utter competence. While I might disagree with the President from time to time, I admire his unwavering duty to accomplishing the goals he has promised. It is all a work in progress, indeed, much progress has been accomplished! Quit quibbling about non essentials such as a gait or which ladder might be used. This depletes the energy we need for laser focus on defeating Trump!!!!
Just to make you feel better, Robert, members of Democrats Abroad living in my small but now rather famous medieval town in southern France are organizing to support Joe Biden. Only about 10% of the estimated 9 million Americans living abroad vote. Not being registered to vote apparently is the biggest impediment, though it is relatively easy. They just don't know how to do it. We aim to change that statistic because more than two-thirds will register as Democrats. The number of Americans moving to France has tripled in the last couple of years and we want to register as many as possible in our area. What has been so gratifying is the reaction of the French in wanting to help us defeat Trump. He is roundly loathed here. We will be relying on shopkeepers and cafe and restaurant owners to allow us to place "VoteFromAbroad.org" cards (with a QR code emblazoned on an American flag) in their establishments. VoteFromAbroad.org is a website that allows voter registration in all states in about five minutes. Tell any American friend who lives abroad about it! We will also be manning tables in several spots around town during our famous outdoor market day which draws hundreds and hundreds of people each week. We will be working with colleges and universities here in France to register American students so that they can vote while they attend classes here. As an aside, in 2020 American Democrats living abroad from Georgia supplied 11,799 votes for Biden and those from Arizona supplied 10,457. Those votes in both States supplied Biden's margin of victory. So, our work is very important. We are enthusiastic and we are determined! The French are too!
Thank you, Paula Matos, for your post and the link to VoteFromAbroad.org. I hadn’t known of it prior to your comment. I immediately sent it to my cousin who lives in Hamburg, Germany. She informed me that she has already voted early by mail in the New York State primary, but will be sharing the registration link to her circle of American friends (most of whom are very well informed and vote, but some not so much). More importantly, my cousin said she has sent the link to her 4 adult children (who have US citizenship) and has encouraged them to register, and when able to, to mail in their vote. Every vote counts!
You have inspired me to share this registration in a wider fashion. I’ll be sending it on to others I know who are expats. The ripple effect is unknowable, and may make a difference!
Yes, yes, yes! If every reader shared the website https://www.votefromabroad.org/ with an expat friend who could, in turn, share it with their expat friends, we multiply the effect by hundreds! It is so easy to register this way. Spread the word! And thanks.
Trump is pretty much universally loathed and loathsome. Except, perhaps, for the handful of fascists that Trump consistently praises (Putin, Orban, Milei, Erdogan and Kim Jong Un).
So true, and so frustrating that Trump's cult can't see how Trump is really viewed by the rest of the world. They are in the bubble and can't see past their delusions.
I remember a story from my 5th grade teacher many, many years ago. A mother was watching her son March in a parade & was so proud of him! She said to her neighbor "Look! Everyone is out of step but my Johnny!"
I think of this every time I read about Trump supporters.
Good for you. I didn't know about voting and expatriots and didn't have numbers of folks involved in this issue. So proud that you and your friends are getting involved; it's inspiring. And, I'll try not to be TOO envious that you're living abroad. I am now Too Old and Too Poor to do so but, after 50+ years living in Texas? I'd emigrate in a heartbeat. :)
Thank you, Paula, for your efforts and for lifting our spirits! Community building is critical, and I love the involvement of your neighbors. This type of old fashioned activity (old fashioned as "from the beginning of time" when people worked with each other) is the perfect antidote to the use of bots and artificial intelligence. Thanks for the reminder!
Yet again, Robert, you have hit this despicable nail on the head.Here is where to write to Jack Shafer: Shafer.Politico@gmail.com. This is what I just wrote.
Mr. Shafer,
I commend to you the comments of Robert Hubbell. I am totally enraged by the irresponsibility of the press in covering the current presidential race. WHY excoriate Joe Biden, a principled, capable and experienced leader for his age whilst ignoring the ignorance, malfeasance, unsuitability and shear self-serving evil of his opponent? (Having said that, I too have reservations about his age but since Trump is almost as old and significantly MORE impaired, that is NOT THE STORY. )
The story is that we are on the brink of an election that will determine whether the US continues to be a democracy. THAT is the story.)
As a journalist in the US, you can report without being afraid you will fall of a balcony, be shot or poisoned. None of this will be assured if the US sinks into fascism. Something you and other leading journalist are doing little to nothing to avert.
Shame, shame, shame. Politico has become (perhaps it always was) essentially a non-serious publication. One notch down from disinformation. Closer to misinformation.
I have just cancelled my subscription to the Times. Politico is next to go.
Thanks for the link to Shafer. I just sent him my rebuke as well.
If Joe Biden simply has a heartbeat on Election Day, he has my vote! He is a decent, honorable and competent man and leader of the free world whom I trust and have appreciated as our President. I have been able to sleep at night knowing our country was in good hands!
Brilliant letter, Jennifer...I especially like the instructive part about what the story IS. Unfortunately, so much of the emphasis in college is "communications" rather than "journalism". My question about why the ABA isn't reprimanding all of those with law degrees who performed corrupt acts, the AMA isn't reprimanding doctors who have decided they are God, also applies to journalism. Why isnt the Medill School of journalism speaking out? Is their no self-policing going on?
I live in red cd4 of eastern Colorado. At a coffee w friends yesterday, I actually had to call out a lie about Biden. But I did! And when I did others joined me. Did I win? Not likely....you can't change Maga sympathetisizers- but not gonna allow lies by my silence.
I am doing the same thing in very red upstate New York. It feels good to look them in the eyes and tell them who I am voting for ! If they hold it against me they are not worthy of my friendship
Wow Robert, you lit a fire under me, ignited by anger over Shafer's article. Interestingly, Shafer didn't have the nerve to post that article on his Xitter profile.
Thanks so much for the stats related to Trump's underperformance on Super Tuesday. It's been evident that he did not do nearly as well as the press would like us to believe, and I appreciate having that data available.
On a positive note, I think it's important we remember Joe as the wonderful and successful individual he is. (I feel I can call him Joe- his campaign sends me texts saying "Hey Lynn, this is Joe"). On Tuesday, Simon Rosenberg posted :
"In this moment of media fixation over President Biden (see,e.g.,@ezraklein) the postcard community is turning our Sharpies to a very special campaign: Markers For Democracy has launched a campaign #postcardstobiden encouraging people to send the President a postcard expressing the fact that he has been an excellent President, you appreciate what he has done for the country and you want him to serve a second term. Please encourage others to do the same. Feel free to use your own language and send a postcard letting the President know you have his back. Postcards should be addressed to President Biden at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500".
Can you imagine what it will be like for our President if he is inundated with postcards expressing gratitude for all he has accomplished? Please spread the word and help others to join in. It will only take a few minutes for each of us to empower our President and let him know we are behind him!
And send one to Kamala Harris...I think I'll send one to Mayorkas and Blinken as well...share some support, flood the zone, put a smile on their and their admin's face.
Welcome to the international media reality, Robert. The Politico hit piece doesn't come as a big surprise to me. Politico in 2021 was bought by the German Axel Springer media group. The flagship of this conservative (to put it mildly) group is the tabloid BILD with the largest yellow press circulation in Europe. Its right-wing editor-in-chief Reichelt had to be fired only after repeated sex scandals a few years ago as he enjoyed the support of Springer CEO Matthias Döpfner.
In September 2022, the Washington Post reported that Döpfner had sent an email to several close executives shortly before the 2020 US presidential election, in which he praised several of President Donald Trump's policies and asked the recipients to pray that Trump will win again.
Shortly after having been bought the Politico Berlin correspondent published some polemical articles on German government policies which clearly showed Döpfner's handwriting, so it seems it didn't take long for him to become Döpfner's lapdog.
Politico used to be a respectable publication. Now you have to take their reporting with a grain, better a ton of salt.
What an absolute debacle for what used to be a decent and respected publication. I won’t even read this article that Robert linked in here. I learned enough just through his essay.
Your critique of the press is well-founded, indeed! However there is a dynamic not mentioned that I believe cannot be over emphasized... the influence of social media on the practice of journalism and its corporate outlets. Controversy, anger, negativity attract and sustain our attention more quickly and effectively than does analytic, nuanced discussion of complex issues. Effective problem solving is not as entertaining as are crises as the business model of social media has come to pervade offline news and tv/radio/ and print journalism. You and Heather Cox Richardson and for the most part PBS remain beacons of professional practice!
We are thankful every day for Robert Hubbell! (And Jill!)
I would add Simon Rosenberg & his Hopium Chronicles to your list of beacons of professional practice. Every day Simon reminds us, " Joe Biden is a good President. The country is better off. The Democratic Party is strong and winning elections all across the country."
In addition, every day Jessica Craven & her Chop Wood, Carry Water newsletter gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, effect positive change and elect more Democrats.
I am in the same groups- all of these people have gone to great lengths to give us all a place to refresh, re-set, and re-activate, with clear, moral, sage direction. I am 4ever GRATEFUL to all. Robert Hubbell and his Managing Editor are gems.
Spot on. I couldn’t agree with you more. I cancelled my NYT and WAPO subscriptions and switched those dollars to paid subscriptions on SubStack. Robert, HCR, Simon, Jessica, Joyce and others are my daily reads - experts in their own areas. And they don’t sell soap or have to answer to boardroom executives. I live in (blue) Minnesota, but follow the advice of these writers and jump on Act Blue to donate to races around the country that matter. I get depressed when I look at polls and pundits, but when I look at election results I see a grassroots movement that is burying the prognosticators. I am hopeful that democracy will shine and see us through this dark period in American history. However, if Trump wins, I will be manufacturing high quality Pitch Forks and Guillotines for the coming revolution.
Thanks for posting this and I remember a story some time ago about Politico’s new owner. That being said Jack Shafer has always been something of a jerk. Robert pointing to his latest BS on Biden takes me back to 2016 and his hit jobs on Hillary Clinton.
I do not find it difficult to support President Biden. He has spent his life dedicated to doing what he felt was best for this country. He is a caring, compassionate, decent man. No one and no one’s policies are perfect. Biden has tried to learn from mistakes and change with the times. He is sincere. That would be enough in itself for me to vote for him. We have, on top of that, the fight to save democracy in our country. No, it isn’t hard to support Biden. It is the fight to save democracy that is tiring and difficult, but a fight we will not give up on.
💙“I do not find it difficult to support President Biden. He has spent his life dedicated to doing what he felt was best for this country.”
I’ve been wearing my Biden/Harris t-shirt on grocery store runs for over a month now and young people are talking to me…from “ I like your t-shirt ” to conversations about the future of SS/Medicare and the cost of a college education. It’s not hard, it’s invigorating.
Maureen, there are so many other ways to support !✍️📲💲📣
I do live in a red Fl county and haven’t yet received a negative response. On the other hand, wouldn’t put a bumper sticker 🚙 on my car. Too easy a target for cowards..
I am donating and need to start writing postcards. Thankfully I have been forward groups from RH and getting others to also donate and write postcards. I need to start writing ASAP
Stiff gait? FDR had NO gait but led us through a depression and world war. Journalists have lost their sense of history, and I am not sure how they can get it back again.
I should have made that point. It was in my head at one point, but I lost it over the four-hour course of writing the newsletter. I must be getting old(er).
I'm holding you in my heart. Thank you for your clarity and outrage. I too am horrified by what is going on. I think this sentence should be used over and over again, "As we approach the State of the Union, the press has abandoned truth and morality for a make-believe world of false equivalency lubricated by equal parts cynicism and condescension." We WILL win.
I have to say, this was dispiriting to read. It’s been an incredibly tough couple of weeks but some weight was lifting by getting through the primaries quite successfully. I felt determined to follow Simon Rosenberg’s mantra - do more, worry less - which equates with being less distracted.
Reading again about the latest journalistic outrage and the just unbelievable moral surrender of Republicans doesn’t help me stay focused on the work we need to do to win or feel energized. There is SO much work. At least there are some potential ways to affect press coverage, though many of us have tried for a long time - writing frequent letters to the editor and individual journalists. I personally will do less of that because it doesn’t seem effective. So we’re left with doing what is effective, the work we know will help us win: support campaigns and organizations with money and action. We need your help keeping us on that track.
Can't please all of the people all of the time, Alexandra. When i write consistently positive news about Joe Biden, I get people telling me I am a cheerleader for Biden (or worse, complicit in genocide). So, I am sorry today's newsletter wasn't helpful for you.
Robert, of course you can’t please all the people all the time and I don’t expect you to. I was responding honestly to the first sentence in your opening wrap-up: “I hope my opening reflection did not demotivate or dispirit anyone.”
I posted another comment but didn’t put it in the right place, so now it’s way down the list and you might not see:
“I want to add that it’s not as if I disagree with anything you said in this post. And I bet almost all of us have down days and you certainly have not only a right but an understandable need to express that. In my first post, I was just honestly letting you know how I felt reading it. Almost all the time you do help us keep our spirits up and hope alive. I’m very grateful for that. thank you for all you do.”
The hard, time-consuming work I’ve done for well over a year of letters to the editor and commentators almost weekly (sometimes posting on your substack about it, encouraging other folks to notice, write NYTimes and others) has not had an effect that I can discern. Not that one person like me can, but I’ve hoped others would catch on. And now they are – SO many thanks to you and others with a big platform. That’s excellent – and maybe it will result in NYTimes (the worst) and other media rethinking and better political coverage. They’ve tremendous damage so far, so I hope this will happen -- and at this late time can still make a difference.
What I was expressing in my first comment was finally coming to a decision to turn away from my continual outrage and expenditure of energy fighting the Times and others, toward doing the work that’s sure of helping in Nov. A positive – for me – step. Reading your piece reopened that outrage and distracted me. Not at all your fault – you are alerting others as well to what the media is doing. But for me, it was hard. Today -- happy to add -- I'm back to the work and leaving shortly for my postcard group. I thank you so much for taking the time to write a reply. You had a very late night and must have felt exhausted yourself after writing. Hope you can rest up – and onward. We are in this together.
Robert, yours is one of the best newsletters out there on Substack. I recommend you to others all the time, but I’m not sure how many actually sign up. It’s important to hear the bad news as well as the good news. This information today confirmed for me that the press will remain complicit in threatening our democracy, and it’s important to be aware of that at all times.
Vote Forward has released their initial campaigns for 2024 in 8 states: AZ, GA, MI, NV, NH, NC, PA, and WI with 1 social campaign and 1 political campaign in each state
"I hope my opening reflection did not demotivate or dispirit anyone." Righteous anger does not demotivate or dispirit. Go get 'em. More to the point: Help us go get 'em. We have our weapons. We organize to support candidates, volunteer, give money. Push us and support us as we do that. Thanks. Len Lubinsky. Len's Political Notes. https://lenspoliticalnotes.com
Given the lack of news coverage over the capping of late fees on credit card payments, I decided to send a letter to the editor of our regional papers. It even fits the 250 word limit imposed by the larger papers. Feel free to send this out under your own name if you like it.
Have you ever had to pay a late fee on a credit card bill? Sometimes, through no fault of our own, our payment through the mail arrives a day late. More than 45 million people are charged late fees on credit cards each year, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These fees are in addition to the interest that get charged on the balance that is carried over into the next month. Credit card late fees have climbed sharply in recent years, and now average $32. These fees have been costing US consumers upwards of $25 billion a year!
The CFPB finalized a rule on March 5th to cut excessive credit card late fees by closing a loophole exploited by large card issuers. The new rule applies to the large companies that hold more than 95% of outstanding credit card debt, and will cap most credit card late fees just $8. This $8 fee will save US consumers about $10 billion a year while still allowing credit card companies to cover the costs of “bad debt”. This as part of a broader push by the Biden administration started in 2023 to eliminate “junk fees” that financial companies have been using to boost profits at the expense of US consumers.
The Biden administration continues to work for the benefit of ordinary citizens, rather than the large corporations that seek to take advantage of us.
Very well said and needed. I agree with you completely about the media. I’m so disappointed by the New York Times and what they choose to emphasize. Every time I am with friends, that inevitably comment on Biden’s age, I support him by promoting his accomplishments and his honorable character. I’m contributing to his campaign and other Democratic candidates, and writing as many postcards I can for Democratic women candidates. I’m trying to be hopeful…
Re: irresponsible mainstream press, today I had the idea to organize amongst ourselves and other likeminded groups, (of which I belong to between Substack, FB and other) an action for EVERYONE at one particular time to cancel our subscription to the NYT (those that have one) with a unified message to the Editor, or whoever of why we are cancelling our paid subscription. If they lost a huge number of subscribers in one day wouldn’t that have some impact? Maybe one person would have to keep a subscription to see how it would be reported!!!! This was a fantasy of mine…..taking a poll here! I am very near canceling my subscription to NYT. I can’t stand it anymore. BTW the NYT is twice as old as Biden- time to wrap it up.
I cancelled this week. The headline “Biden edges toward nomination” was the final straw. Edges? Words matter. I can redistribute the subscription funds to journalists committed to reporting and comparing and contrasting rather than inciting. Letting go and moving toward feels good.
Ha, ha! Love your comment about the NYT. I just cancelled my subscription. Wonder if Robert could corrall us all into cancelling on the same day. Or maybe suggest to "Chop wood, carry water"?
That’s what I was thinking- a swath of cancellations all at once. I know Jessica Craven cancelled hers a couple of months back at the time of one of their outrageous, reprehensible “reporting” can’t remember which- there have been too many.
Thanks for the link. What's wrong with Bender's article us that he omits the list of Trump's underperformance compared to predictions. That could have been front and center to his analysis of weakness in getting to America's First Fascist Dictator.
This essay was difficult to read. To see the press behave so badly, deliberately, just for clicks is reprehensible. I personally think Joe Biden is incredibly competent and savvy. He’s smart, decent, we’ll-informed, and empathetic. I rest easy with him as our President.
Margaret, While I imagine much of this community shares your view (as I do regarding the noxious media), I feel an urgent responsibility to present an alternate perspective, pertaining to Biden, from former Republican strategist and co-Founder of the Lincoln Project Steve Schmidt. To be clear, Schmidt emphatically states that “losing an election to a man who is the greatest threat to American democracy since the Confederacy…is not an option.”
Moving on, I would note, in his March 4th Substack newsletter “The Warning,” Schmidt discusses what the President should be speaking about when he delivers the State of the Union. In addition to a fulsome and coherent vision of the nature of this moment, the challenges at hand, and what America must do, Schmidt writes, “The President must face directly the greatest liability for his ambitions: his age. Overwhelming percentages of the country, including Democrats, are worried about the 81-year-old president’s capacity to do the job. The opinion isn’t an affront. It is real, and it is very much mainstream.
“The President cannot hide from the issue. He must alleviate it by addressing it, and diminishing it. The current White House strategy is a debacle that has raised the stakes in each appearance to an existential test of survival. This needs to be reset.”
If we consider the possibility that the outcome of this election could land, in large part, on how effectively President Biden speaks, from the heart, possibly without a script, about this issue, then I would urge we all take a breath and not become defensive or unwilling to consider that intelligent and sincere people can have fundamental disagreements about complex matters. Further, I would hope we could appreciate the benefits of trying to understand and accommodate one another’s positions rather than ignoring or dismissing them.
Barbara Jo, please remember that Steve Schmidt is being paid to represent a third party candidate, Dean Phillips. Also, Steve Schmidt once upon a time gave us Sarah Palin as a candidate.
Dean Phillips dropped his bid yesterday and endorsed President Biden.
Connie, While you’re right, this fact has no bearing on Carla’s statement about Schmidt, a perspective I was intent on correcting.
Carla, Schmidt would be the first to admit that selecting Palin was a major f**k-up. As for the other matter, in Schmidt’s own words, “Many people continue to believe that I’m involved in Dean Phillips presidential campaign. I am not, and never served in an official capacity. I only helped him to launch his effort.” For more, see “The Threat is Trump. Period.” Steve Schmidt, Dec. 13, 2023.
If he helped him launch his effort, doesn't that mean that eventually votes for any third party candidate will be siphoned off of potential votes for Joe Biden? Low information citizens will vote for third party candidates which will further undermine our chances to shore up the democracy. That is a huge concern for me.
Carla, Schmidt only helped Phillips launch a Democratic Party primary challenge. While I share your concern regarding third-party candidates in the General, that situation doesn’t apply here.
I think Carla is right to be worried. We all are. And besides, THIS IS the general - now!
Steve Schmidt is no one to be quoting. The Lincoln Project has always been a complete scam.
Biden’s SOTU speech has been hyped by the press similar to a Super Bowl and regardless how good it is will be considered boring by many journalists. I have read many journalists comments about what Biden should say but for me Biden must first be himself and who he is and not some consultant creation and he must specifically call and compare his vision and plan going forward to the other guy. The speech needs to be short and sweet and play to Biden’s strengths of empathy, humor and experience.
I actually believe that we can trust Biden and his experience and instincts to say the right things in the right way ... Yes, I'd like him to channel a little of that Gavin Newsom or Hakeem Jeffries or Jamie Raskin energy, but I still have faith that he'll do fine and per usual, better than we expect or maybe at this point, even deserve.
The so-called political pundits hyping the importance of this speech appear ignorant of the fact that every public address and every decision made daily by POTUS are critical to our country and the world
Seems like Joe has done an excellent job fighting for democracy!
Biden, a vote for Democracy not dictatorship!
Stephen, I would note that Schmidt, in his March 4th Newsletter, offers guidance for delivering a type of speech that defies the expectation of only being remembered “as a non-event within hours of its delivery.”
His final three sentences read, “The nation and President Biden stand at a great moment of testing and choosing. A great, short, pointed, memorable, and urgent state of the union is long overdue in America. President Biden should think about delivering one.”
I would add, amid this most terrifying moment in our nation’s history, I imagine I’m not alone in hoping for more than “short and sweet,” and empathic and humorous. I would add that if my sources are good, a meeting between Biden and Sanders indicates we can expect a lot more.
I hope Biden calls out Steve Schmidt in the SOTU for the gas bag Schmidt is. Give us a break please.
John, Whatever one thinks of Schmidt’s views, he is as determined as the rest of us to pulverizing MAGA. Hence, I consider hearing him out worth my time.
I appreciate this thoughtful and respectful discourse. Whatever role Steve Schmidt played in Dean Phillip's campaign, it was as wrong-headed and destructive as his choice of Sarah Palin. He admits he was wrong about that - but that still reflects on his judgement as Palin was so obviously a ridiculous candidate. I think that a case could be made that bringing Sarah Palin on the scene should be a career-ending disqualification.
Similarly, Dean Phillips blew up his promising career to go out and denigrate Joe Biden. His campaign was "Biden is old." That was his message. It is rich that the person who encouraged him to run is still talking about the age issue as if he is some wise oracle and identifying something that nobody else has seen.
Can/should Biden directly address his age issue? Probably, but you can agree that it would be most tricky (and the Politico article referred despairingly to Biden joking about it...which I actually think is not a bad idea). Has Dean Phillips and those who constantly talk about Biden's age helped Trump? I say that they have.
Ourosboros, the symbol of a serpent eating its own tail - as Tim Miller of the Bulwark's interview with Phillips so clearly demonstrated, Phillips was talking about Biden's age and then saying that Biden's age is a concern: he was helping to create the situation that he was supposedly warning against. And his self-centered concession speech yesterday brought it up again.
Steve Schmidt may say he fears MAGA., but Steve Schmidt is helping MAGA.
Do you honestly expect so little of Biden that you even have to ask for more than "short and sweet" etc.? You haven't been paying attention, if that's the case, as he's proved time and time again that he can handle the haters ... to put it very simply. You don't want to like or approve of him for your own reasons and by continuing to push that outward, you could do some damage to the overall cause of keeping some form of democracy intact here. I assume you won't do that, but your rhetoric and its apparent underlying assumptions are troubling.
Meredith, I was replying to Stephen Berg. “Short and sweet etc” were his descriptors, not mine. I was quite clear that not only do I expect a lot more but also, if my sources are good, the Address could border on exceptional.
Frankly, I believe I’m owed an apology.
Agreed
“The President must face directly the greatest liability for his ambitions: his age.” –
Biden’s electoral ambitions, maybe: Thoughtless ageism is rampant in America.
Biden’s ambitions for governing, definitely not: He’s assembled perhaps the most talented, competent Administrations in decades and has shepherded consequential legislation through a Congress that was full of egotistical recalcitrants on both sides of the aisle. Much younger Presidents should envy his successes against odds.
Wouldn’t it be nice, Michael, if Americans could take a clue from much older cultures that honor and revere their elders for having wisdom, expertise, and experience? I have a Native American friend who thinks that this ruckus over President Biden‘s age is absolutely hysterical, because in his Navajo culture people well into their 80s and 90s are the primary decision-makers.
Except for *revering* elders, rather than simply respecting them, I heartily agree with you.
At the risk of repeating myself incessantly, I cite the example of Konrad Adenauer, an old man who, as Chancellor of West Germany, led his citizenry out of Naziism and the devastation of World War II. The Germans called him *der Alte* (the old one) – respectfully and affectionately.
I used the word “revere” because that is the word that my friend used; but it has a somewhat different meaning in their culture, which includes respecting their opinions and judgments. I also like your reference to the Chancellor of West Germany.
This. You could say that I believe in age+experience+wisdom because I'm OLD myself, but that really isn't the case as I'm extremely humble about myself. However, as you note, our ageism is a cultural acquisition from the American ideology of individualism and taking what we want-winner takes all capitalism as it's been applied liberally through our history. On the other hand, I've witnessed what I can inadequately label Biden's wiliness -- of which I totally approve and respect -- and his successes that are often built from long-standing relationships in which he's been a participant. You don't get that or the ability to analyze, reflect, and create solutions to difficult problems from the win v. loss mentality and the worship of individualism at the expense of community. I don't agree with everything Biden does or thinks, but I respect him and have a certain amount of faith that he's going to pull this off: not only the SOTU speech but the election upcoming... Thank you for your reminder that other cultures have different ways of looking at this issue.
Bingo!
Little bush suckered into war with Saddam whose DNA was begat several thousands of years by generations and cultures who learned how to survive through cunning, intelligence and guile!
Little bush best known for the missing data on his activity in the Air National guard!
Michael, While I imagine Schmidt would concur with your distinction, I expect Schmidt’s sole concern rests with Biden’s electoral prospects given the alternative poses the greatest threat to democracy since the Confederacy,
Steve Schmidt is a loser. Literally.
Jon, I just posted the reply to John Turgeon, who is part of this thread, that I would have posted here. Nonetheless, I would add I am perplexed by your statement given that Schmidt’s principal focus is that Biden is in an extraordinarily tight race against a man who is the greatest threat to democracy since the Confederacy.
Ditto. Steve Schmidt a loser and a hypocrite incapable of being embarrassed by his own actions.
Agreed!!
Barbara Jo, I apologize for my bluntness, but I would not trust Steve Schmidt as far as I could throw him across a room. He is an egomaniac, and he is doing little or nothing to help President Biden win this election. He harps on the age issue constantly. On the other hand, the Lincoln Project members who held together are producing dynamic and powerful advertisement material that is playing all over the country. They are promoting President Biden‘s skills, intelligence, and decency, while highlighting the pure depravity of Trump. Let’s pay more attention to what the Lincoln Project is doing and forget about Steve Schmidt. Also, Rick Wilson and Reed Galen meet at least twice a month with Simon Rosenberg to work on strategy. I have listened to their videos and podcasts, and they are working as a team. Steve Schmidt is a lone wolf who likes to brag about himself and complain about President Biden. He’s one of the people who thought that Dean Phillips as a primary challenger would be a good idea. If there was high enthusiasm for Phillips and low enthusiasm for President Biden, I don’t think we would have seen the primary results of the past few weeks. I have totally lost respect for Schmidt (and I’m one of many), and it doesn’t look like he will ever earn it back.
Also, here is a beautiful essay to make us feel really good about the president we are supporting. We need more of this and less of Steve Schmidt:
https://open.substack.com/pub/johnpavlovitz/p/joe-biden-is-not-the-lesser-of-two?r=2vk1c6&utm_medium=ios
Janet, I very much appreciate both your reply and the link. As for Steve Schmidt, because of him, I now am taking great effort to drive home what it would mean to lose our democracy and how our way of life would change. As you know, Trump already has stated he would enact the Insurrection Act on Day 1 of his presidency. He’s already spoken about rounding up his political enemies.
Reading Schmidt’s Substack, I’ve become increasingly effective in urging people, whatever their reasons for remaining uncommitted, to imagine what America would look like were the President to start moving the army around to put down our voices, our right to protest policy with which we disagree, perhaps jailing us. Of course, this is not without precedent. Trump had wanted to criminalize protests around Black Lives Matter for the murder of George Floyd.
I would note I’ve barely touched upon what I’ve come to understand, due to Schmidt, about rights and freedoms that would be ripped away; nor have I touched upon my increasing understanding of what it would mean were we unable to depend on an independent judiciary (we’re already starting to see what that would look like), or on the rule of law, or on an independent justice department, or an independent Federal Communications Commission—all things Trump has said he would do.
Ultimately, we have about 8 months to urge uncommitted voters to listen to the things Trump says and the people he admires. Schmidt, more so than anyone, has impressed upon me that no one should doubt that whatever freedoms we have in this country, whatever we like about this country, dramatically would change.
I don’t entirely disagree with Steve Schmidt, and I appreciate that he is trying to strike fear into the hearts of people who are complacent. It is an important role for him to play. But one of the reasons why I unsubscribed and many others did was because of his rants about Biden‘s age and his encouragement to run Dean Phillips as a primary contender. Luckily for us, that fell flat and did little or no damage to President Biden. I feel exactly as you and everyone else here does about the danger to democracy. It scares the life out of me. But since Steve does have something of a bully pulpit, I think he could be doing more than ranting about the age issue. He could, in fact, be “campaigning” for President Biden through his podcasts and on Substack, as the Lincoln Project is doing, since he has a voice and has established himself as a political consultant. Instead of emphasizing his age all the time, it would help if he counteracted some of this adverse media coverage by shouting President Biden‘s accomplishments from the rooftops, because he has an audience, and some of them are former Republicans.
Spot on, Janet. Thank you!!
Thank you! ✌️
Thank you Janet, I will be sharing this!
You’re welcome, Lynn.
Good points. Age matters but so does heart. The fascists hate heart and respect violence. President Biden’s superpower is that he likes people and it shows. Regular people need that now amidst all the chaos, and mirrors. These are complex times and opting for a fading reality tv star who suffers from the delusion that “he alone can fix it won’t help.
Age does *not* matter (except in some small minds), except possibly as a political pseudo-issue. What matters for the Presidency is competence, intelligence, wisdom, and the talent for picking first-rate assistants.
Susan, I imagine, as a political operative, what matters to Schmidt is that Biden is in a mighty tight race with a man who is the greatest threat to American democracy since the Confederacy. Because losing is not an option, Schmidt is keenly aware of both the decisive leadership and the clear communication this moment demands from Joe Biden.
Since the two candidates are for all intents and purposes the same age, now that the contest really is down to Biden vs. Trump, why is anyone talking about age anymore as a deciding factor? It can't be. Even if Trump were mentally and emotionally sound, he is not meaningfully younger than Biden. The matter is moot now.
How is Biden to address the age issue other than to do his usual solid job? Presidents should be judged by their actions not their entertainment value. If he plays the GQP like he did in his first SOTU, we'll be fine.
Sam, I read Schmidt as advising Biden and his speechwriters to devise some framing, as much as possible, to remove the issue. Additionally, while I expect the Administration will deploy several surrogates, Biden, too, will need to be a highly visible presence on the campaign trail.
If political talking heads had not beat the ageism drum, then it would not be an issue!
The point is his accomplishments and the team around him, starting with Kamala Harris who will continue fighting for democracy into his second term!
Respectfully suggest those praising Steve Schmidt would do well to further check him out. In his Substack, (total waste of $100.) he blamed Democrats for losing a vote on the supreme court due to their refusal to support Bush’s nominee, Harriet Miers. Schmidt wrote he will always admire Alito? who he ushered through the nominee process and claimed the nominee was psychologically harmed by the brutal treatment he received during confirmation process.
Regarding Sarah Palin being chosen to run as VP for McCain, Schmidt wrote he told Sen. McCain that the choice of running mate must be made by McCain himself, that he Schmidt, did not interview Palin. But if he had, Palin would never have been chosen as running mate. See how that’s done? Just sprinkle yourself with imaginary holy water and you’re absolved.
It sure as hell was - and yet, Robert's words are exactly what I needed to hear/see. The fact is, I am an insecure, proactive worrier by nature, so presidential election cycles are always an emotional roller coaster for me - and the stakes of this one are especially trying for me. I would give anything to be in the same political moment as 2008 cycle, to have the validation of positive headlines touting Biden's many accomplishments. Yet here we are with infotainment being spewed by even the most respected publications. However, even as the press elevates the double standard between a competent, dedicated leader and an aspiring dictator conman desperate to avoid paying for his crimes, I am as proud a Biden supporter as ever. It will be hard, but as someone whom is learning on a personal level not to require validation, I feel the same way about this election. With or without the aide of the press the validation of the polls, all of us who care can help propel Biden and as many other pro democracy candidates to power as possible. We cannot let the press manipulate the narrative. None of the many grassroots communities (this one, Hopium, crooked media, Lincoln project, indivisible, swing left, vote forward etc.) out there existed in 2016 and are stronger in 2024 than ever. So it's incumbent on as many of us as possible to donate, write, call or canvass (or all the above) to not let the press get away with manipulating the public. I've been saying this all week & will continue to say this: Don't let them have the last word! This bears repeating: there are MORE of us than there are of them! Now act like it !
It is! And I also rest easy with Joe Biden as President! But forward we go! More postcards, more letters, more phone banks - is the only answer!
Brava Kathleen, keep fighting for democracy! Never give up HOPE!
I concur. President Biden does a great job of addressing his age by continuing to work toward doing the right things for the people and the USA. He carries on with grace, humor and utter competence. While I might disagree with the President from time to time, I admire his unwavering duty to accomplishing the goals he has promised. It is all a work in progress, indeed, much progress has been accomplished! Quit quibbling about non essentials such as a gait or which ladder might be used. This depletes the energy we need for laser focus on defeating Trump!!!!
But his gait! His gait! (Greg Abbot doesn’t even have a gait, and nobody holds that against him.) Double standard for sure.
Just to make you feel better, Robert, members of Democrats Abroad living in my small but now rather famous medieval town in southern France are organizing to support Joe Biden. Only about 10% of the estimated 9 million Americans living abroad vote. Not being registered to vote apparently is the biggest impediment, though it is relatively easy. They just don't know how to do it. We aim to change that statistic because more than two-thirds will register as Democrats. The number of Americans moving to France has tripled in the last couple of years and we want to register as many as possible in our area. What has been so gratifying is the reaction of the French in wanting to help us defeat Trump. He is roundly loathed here. We will be relying on shopkeepers and cafe and restaurant owners to allow us to place "VoteFromAbroad.org" cards (with a QR code emblazoned on an American flag) in their establishments. VoteFromAbroad.org is a website that allows voter registration in all states in about five minutes. Tell any American friend who lives abroad about it! We will also be manning tables in several spots around town during our famous outdoor market day which draws hundreds and hundreds of people each week. We will be working with colleges and universities here in France to register American students so that they can vote while they attend classes here. As an aside, in 2020 American Democrats living abroad from Georgia supplied 11,799 votes for Biden and those from Arizona supplied 10,457. Those votes in both States supplied Biden's margin of victory. So, our work is very important. We are enthusiastic and we are determined! The French are too!
Thank you, Paula Matos, for your post and the link to VoteFromAbroad.org. I hadn’t known of it prior to your comment. I immediately sent it to my cousin who lives in Hamburg, Germany. She informed me that she has already voted early by mail in the New York State primary, but will be sharing the registration link to her circle of American friends (most of whom are very well informed and vote, but some not so much). More importantly, my cousin said she has sent the link to her 4 adult children (who have US citizenship) and has encouraged them to register, and when able to, to mail in their vote. Every vote counts!
That is EXACTLY what we need. Thanks so much, Amy!
You have inspired me to share this registration in a wider fashion. I’ll be sending it on to others I know who are expats. The ripple effect is unknowable, and may make a difference!
Yes, yes, yes! If every reader shared the website https://www.votefromabroad.org/ with an expat friend who could, in turn, share it with their expat friends, we multiply the effect by hundreds! It is so easy to register this way. Spread the word! And thanks.
Trump is pretty much universally loathed and loathsome. Except, perhaps, for the handful of fascists that Trump consistently praises (Putin, Orban, Milei, Erdogan and Kim Jong Un).
So true, and so frustrating that Trump's cult can't see how Trump is really viewed by the rest of the world. They are in the bubble and can't see past their delusions.
I remember a story from my 5th grade teacher many, many years ago. A mother was watching her son March in a parade & was so proud of him! She said to her neighbor "Look! Everyone is out of step but my Johnny!"
I think of this every time I read about Trump supporters.
😰
Good for you. I didn't know about voting and expatriots and didn't have numbers of folks involved in this issue. So proud that you and your friends are getting involved; it's inspiring. And, I'll try not to be TOO envious that you're living abroad. I am now Too Old and Too Poor to do so but, after 50+ years living in Texas? I'd emigrate in a heartbeat. :)
Thank you, Paula, for your efforts and for lifting our spirits! Community building is critical, and I love the involvement of your neighbors. This type of old fashioned activity (old fashioned as "from the beginning of time" when people worked with each other) is the perfect antidote to the use of bots and artificial intelligence. Thanks for the reminder!
Yet again, Robert, you have hit this despicable nail on the head.Here is where to write to Jack Shafer: Shafer.Politico@gmail.com. This is what I just wrote.
Mr. Shafer,
I commend to you the comments of Robert Hubbell. I am totally enraged by the irresponsibility of the press in covering the current presidential race. WHY excoriate Joe Biden, a principled, capable and experienced leader for his age whilst ignoring the ignorance, malfeasance, unsuitability and shear self-serving evil of his opponent? (Having said that, I too have reservations about his age but since Trump is almost as old and significantly MORE impaired, that is NOT THE STORY. )
The story is that we are on the brink of an election that will determine whether the US continues to be a democracy. THAT is the story.)
As a journalist in the US, you can report without being afraid you will fall of a balcony, be shot or poisoned. None of this will be assured if the US sinks into fascism. Something you and other leading journalist are doing little to nothing to avert.
Shame, shame, shame. Politico has become (perhaps it always was) essentially a non-serious publication. One notch down from disinformation. Closer to misinformation.
I have just cancelled my subscription to the Times. Politico is next to go.
In frustration,
Jennifer
Thanks for the link to Shafer. I just sent him my rebuke as well.
If Joe Biden simply has a heartbeat on Election Day, he has my vote! He is a decent, honorable and competent man and leader of the free world whom I trust and have appreciated as our President. I have been able to sleep at night knowing our country was in good hands!
Thanks for writing, Wray. I agree.
Yup, yup, yup!
Brilliant letter, Jennifer...I especially like the instructive part about what the story IS. Unfortunately, so much of the emphasis in college is "communications" rather than "journalism". My question about why the ABA isn't reprimanding all of those with law degrees who performed corrupt acts, the AMA isn't reprimanding doctors who have decided they are God, also applies to journalism. Why isnt the Medill School of journalism speaking out? Is their no self-policing going on?
Karen, I think that's another letter. Want to write it? The News Hour is still great but not so much the print media grads!
In thinking my brother, who has his undergrad from Medill
Oops, "there" 😬
Way to go, Jennifer!
Let's use this energy to take action. Writing the Mr. Shafer is a wonderful idea. Let's keep this up till we win big in November.
Thanks Jennifer, I wrote to him too. These lies about Joe must stop.
Beautiful, thank you.
I live in red cd4 of eastern Colorado. At a coffee w friends yesterday, I actually had to call out a lie about Biden. But I did! And when I did others joined me. Did I win? Not likely....you can't change Maga sympathetisizers- but not gonna allow lies by my silence.
I am doing the same thing in very red upstate New York. It feels good to look them in the eyes and tell them who I am voting for ! If they hold it against me they are not worthy of my friendship
That is what we all need to do!
Here are some great resources to persuade moderate women:
https://www.galvanizeaction.org/
Here are some great resources to promote Biden's successes and fight MAGA:
https://demcastusa.com/
BINGO!
Wow Robert, you lit a fire under me, ignited by anger over Shafer's article. Interestingly, Shafer didn't have the nerve to post that article on his Xitter profile.
Thanks so much for the stats related to Trump's underperformance on Super Tuesday. It's been evident that he did not do nearly as well as the press would like us to believe, and I appreciate having that data available.
On a positive note, I think it's important we remember Joe as the wonderful and successful individual he is. (I feel I can call him Joe- his campaign sends me texts saying "Hey Lynn, this is Joe"). On Tuesday, Simon Rosenberg posted :
"In this moment of media fixation over President Biden (see,e.g.,@ezraklein) the postcard community is turning our Sharpies to a very special campaign: Markers For Democracy has launched a campaign #postcardstobiden encouraging people to send the President a postcard expressing the fact that he has been an excellent President, you appreciate what he has done for the country and you want him to serve a second term. Please encourage others to do the same. Feel free to use your own language and send a postcard letting the President know you have his back. Postcards should be addressed to President Biden at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500".
Can you imagine what it will be like for our President if he is inundated with postcards expressing gratitude for all he has accomplished? Please spread the word and help others to join in. It will only take a few minutes for each of us to empower our President and let him know we are behind him!
The “X” in “Xitter” is pronounced “sh.”
My first thought as well!
Indeed. Chinese.
I have sent Biden a postcard.
Another grassroots idea is to get a Biden/Harris T-shirt and wear it each week to the grocery store
And send one to Kamala Harris...I think I'll send one to Mayorkas and Blinken as well...share some support, flood the zone, put a smile on their and their admin's face.
Thanks Karen! I will as well!
I am going to write to Kamala too. I don't think she is receiving the praise she too deserves.
She stands tall no matter what is thrown at her.
Welcome to the international media reality, Robert. The Politico hit piece doesn't come as a big surprise to me. Politico in 2021 was bought by the German Axel Springer media group. The flagship of this conservative (to put it mildly) group is the tabloid BILD with the largest yellow press circulation in Europe. Its right-wing editor-in-chief Reichelt had to be fired only after repeated sex scandals a few years ago as he enjoyed the support of Springer CEO Matthias Döpfner.
In September 2022, the Washington Post reported that Döpfner had sent an email to several close executives shortly before the 2020 US presidential election, in which he praised several of President Donald Trump's policies and asked the recipients to pray that Trump will win again.
Shortly after having been bought the Politico Berlin correspondent published some polemical articles on German government policies which clearly showed Döpfner's handwriting, so it seems it didn't take long for him to become Döpfner's lapdog.
Politico used to be a respectable publication. Now you have to take their reporting with a grain, better a ton of salt.
Thank you for this information.
I really appreciate this information. Thank you.
What an absolute debacle for what used to be a decent and respected publication. I won’t even read this article that Robert linked in here. I learned enough just through his essay.
Your critique of the press is well-founded, indeed! However there is a dynamic not mentioned that I believe cannot be over emphasized... the influence of social media on the practice of journalism and its corporate outlets. Controversy, anger, negativity attract and sustain our attention more quickly and effectively than does analytic, nuanced discussion of complex issues. Effective problem solving is not as entertaining as are crises as the business model of social media has come to pervade offline news and tv/radio/ and print journalism. You and Heather Cox Richardson and for the most part PBS remain beacons of professional practice!
We are thankful every day for Robert Hubbell! (And Jill!)
I would add Simon Rosenberg & his Hopium Chronicles to your list of beacons of professional practice. Every day Simon reminds us, " Joe Biden is a good President. The country is better off. The Democratic Party is strong and winning elections all across the country."
In addition, every day Jessica Craven & her Chop Wood, Carry Water newsletter gives you easy, effective political actions to take to stave off despair, effect positive change and elect more Democrats.
I am in the same groups- all of these people have gone to great lengths to give us all a place to refresh, re-set, and re-activate, with clear, moral, sage direction. I am 4ever GRATEFUL to all. Robert Hubbell and his Managing Editor are gems.
Spot on. I couldn’t agree with you more. I cancelled my NYT and WAPO subscriptions and switched those dollars to paid subscriptions on SubStack. Robert, HCR, Simon, Jessica, Joyce and others are my daily reads - experts in their own areas. And they don’t sell soap or have to answer to boardroom executives. I live in (blue) Minnesota, but follow the advice of these writers and jump on Act Blue to donate to races around the country that matter. I get depressed when I look at polls and pundits, but when I look at election results I see a grassroots movement that is burying the prognosticators. I am hopeful that democracy will shine and see us through this dark period in American history. However, if Trump wins, I will be manufacturing high quality Pitch Forks and Guillotines for the coming revolution.
Thanks for posting this and I remember a story some time ago about Politico’s new owner. That being said Jack Shafer has always been something of a jerk. Robert pointing to his latest BS on Biden takes me back to 2016 and his hit jobs on Hillary Clinton.
Admirable but you need to read what the other side is saying and more importantly whst they are reading.
MSNBC too! Ari Melber, Joyce Reid, Rachel Maddow
Many thanks, Robert, I think!
I guess you could say I'm just as stubborn about supporting President Biden as the press and right-wingers are about not supporting him. So, there.
I do not find it difficult to support President Biden. He has spent his life dedicated to doing what he felt was best for this country. He is a caring, compassionate, decent man. No one and no one’s policies are perfect. Biden has tried to learn from mistakes and change with the times. He is sincere. That would be enough in itself for me to vote for him. We have, on top of that, the fight to save democracy in our country. No, it isn’t hard to support Biden. It is the fight to save democracy that is tiring and difficult, but a fight we will not give up on.
💙“I do not find it difficult to support President Biden. He has spent his life dedicated to doing what he felt was best for this country.”
I’ve been wearing my Biden/Harris t-shirt on grocery store runs for over a month now and young people are talking to me…from “ I like your t-shirt ” to conversations about the future of SS/Medicare and the cost of a college education. It’s not hard, it’s invigorating.
Not giving up in Florida !😎
👕🛒🧢
I also live in Flawduh. I worry about getting shot if I wear the T-shirt. So glad others don't have my fear.
Maureen, there are so many other ways to support !✍️📲💲📣
I do live in a red Fl county and haven’t yet received a negative response. On the other hand, wouldn’t put a bumper sticker 🚙 on my car. Too easy a target for cowards..
I am donating and need to start writing postcards. Thankfully I have been forward groups from RH and getting others to also donate and write postcards. I need to start writing ASAP
agree-it's not hard to support Bden-its hard dealing with the crazies and the easily influenced but we have no choice but to keep going
Stiff gait? FDR had NO gait but led us through a depression and world war. Journalists have lost their sense of history, and I am not sure how they can get it back again.
I should have made that point. It was in my head at one point, but I lost it over the four-hour course of writing the newsletter. I must be getting old(er).
I'm holding you in my heart. Thank you for your clarity and outrage. I too am horrified by what is going on. I think this sentence should be used over and over again, "As we approach the State of the Union, the press has abandoned truth and morality for a make-believe world of false equivalency lubricated by equal parts cynicism and condescension." We WILL win.
I have to say, this was dispiriting to read. It’s been an incredibly tough couple of weeks but some weight was lifting by getting through the primaries quite successfully. I felt determined to follow Simon Rosenberg’s mantra - do more, worry less - which equates with being less distracted.
Reading again about the latest journalistic outrage and the just unbelievable moral surrender of Republicans doesn’t help me stay focused on the work we need to do to win or feel energized. There is SO much work. At least there are some potential ways to affect press coverage, though many of us have tried for a long time - writing frequent letters to the editor and individual journalists. I personally will do less of that because it doesn’t seem effective. So we’re left with doing what is effective, the work we know will help us win: support campaigns and organizations with money and action. We need your help keeping us on that track.
Can't please all of the people all of the time, Alexandra. When i write consistently positive news about Joe Biden, I get people telling me I am a cheerleader for Biden (or worse, complicit in genocide). So, I am sorry today's newsletter wasn't helpful for you.
Robert, of course you can’t please all the people all the time and I don’t expect you to. I was responding honestly to the first sentence in your opening wrap-up: “I hope my opening reflection did not demotivate or dispirit anyone.”
I posted another comment but didn’t put it in the right place, so now it’s way down the list and you might not see:
“I want to add that it’s not as if I disagree with anything you said in this post. And I bet almost all of us have down days and you certainly have not only a right but an understandable need to express that. In my first post, I was just honestly letting you know how I felt reading it. Almost all the time you do help us keep our spirits up and hope alive. I’m very grateful for that. thank you for all you do.”
The hard, time-consuming work I’ve done for well over a year of letters to the editor and commentators almost weekly (sometimes posting on your substack about it, encouraging other folks to notice, write NYTimes and others) has not had an effect that I can discern. Not that one person like me can, but I’ve hoped others would catch on. And now they are – SO many thanks to you and others with a big platform. That’s excellent – and maybe it will result in NYTimes (the worst) and other media rethinking and better political coverage. They’ve tremendous damage so far, so I hope this will happen -- and at this late time can still make a difference.
What I was expressing in my first comment was finally coming to a decision to turn away from my continual outrage and expenditure of energy fighting the Times and others, toward doing the work that’s sure of helping in Nov. A positive – for me – step. Reading your piece reopened that outrage and distracted me. Not at all your fault – you are alerting others as well to what the media is doing. But for me, it was hard. Today -- happy to add -- I'm back to the work and leaving shortly for my postcard group. I thank you so much for taking the time to write a reply. You had a very late night and must have felt exhausted yourself after writing. Hope you can rest up – and onward. We are in this together.
Robert, yours is one of the best newsletters out there on Substack. I recommend you to others all the time, but I’m not sure how many actually sign up. It’s important to hear the bad news as well as the good news. This information today confirmed for me that the press will remain complicit in threatening our democracy, and it’s important to be aware of that at all times.
Vote Forward has released their initial campaigns for 2024 in 8 states: AZ, GA, MI, NV, NH, NC, PA, and WI with 1 social campaign and 1 political campaign in each state
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"I hope my opening reflection did not demotivate or dispirit anyone." Righteous anger does not demotivate or dispirit. Go get 'em. More to the point: Help us go get 'em. We have our weapons. We organize to support candidates, volunteer, give money. Push us and support us as we do that. Thanks. Len Lubinsky. Len's Political Notes. https://lenspoliticalnotes.com
Given the lack of news coverage over the capping of late fees on credit card payments, I decided to send a letter to the editor of our regional papers. It even fits the 250 word limit imposed by the larger papers. Feel free to send this out under your own name if you like it.
Have you ever had to pay a late fee on a credit card bill? Sometimes, through no fault of our own, our payment through the mail arrives a day late. More than 45 million people are charged late fees on credit cards each year, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These fees are in addition to the interest that get charged on the balance that is carried over into the next month. Credit card late fees have climbed sharply in recent years, and now average $32. These fees have been costing US consumers upwards of $25 billion a year!
The CFPB finalized a rule on March 5th to cut excessive credit card late fees by closing a loophole exploited by large card issuers. The new rule applies to the large companies that hold more than 95% of outstanding credit card debt, and will cap most credit card late fees just $8. This $8 fee will save US consumers about $10 billion a year while still allowing credit card companies to cover the costs of “bad debt”. This as part of a broader push by the Biden administration started in 2023 to eliminate “junk fees” that financial companies have been using to boost profits at the expense of US consumers.
The Biden administration continues to work for the benefit of ordinary citizens, rather than the large corporations that seek to take advantage of us.
Very well said and needed. I agree with you completely about the media. I’m so disappointed by the New York Times and what they choose to emphasize. Every time I am with friends, that inevitably comment on Biden’s age, I support him by promoting his accomplishments and his honorable character. I’m contributing to his campaign and other Democratic candidates, and writing as many postcards I can for Democratic women candidates. I’m trying to be hopeful…
Re: irresponsible mainstream press, today I had the idea to organize amongst ourselves and other likeminded groups, (of which I belong to between Substack, FB and other) an action for EVERYONE at one particular time to cancel our subscription to the NYT (those that have one) with a unified message to the Editor, or whoever of why we are cancelling our paid subscription. If they lost a huge number of subscribers in one day wouldn’t that have some impact? Maybe one person would have to keep a subscription to see how it would be reported!!!! This was a fantasy of mine…..taking a poll here! I am very near canceling my subscription to NYT. I can’t stand it anymore. BTW the NYT is twice as old as Biden- time to wrap it up.
I cancelled this week. The headline “Biden edges toward nomination” was the final straw. Edges? Words matter. I can redistribute the subscription funds to journalists committed to reporting and comparing and contrasting rather than inciting. Letting go and moving toward feels good.
I’m planning to do so today. I want to call so they know why
Elisa Cohen, we cut loose the New York Times last week after that failed bit of journalism (the NYT/Siena College poll). Why pay for fishwrap?
We could cancel or suspend subscriptions until the FAKE NEWS Nate Cohn polling stops.
Ha, ha! Love your comment about the NYT. I just cancelled my subscription. Wonder if Robert could corrall us all into cancelling on the same day. Or maybe suggest to "Chop wood, carry water"?
That’s what I was thinking- a swath of cancellations all at once. I know Jessica Craven cancelled hers a couple of months back at the time of one of their outrageous, reprehensible “reporting” can’t remember which- there have been too many.
Above the fold today.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/us/politics/donald-trump-primary-wins.html?unlocked_article_code=1.a00.AOVY.V3xHXhlxN8Pl&smid=url-share
I've threatened them. Their editorial yesterday was excellent.
Thanks for the link. What's wrong with Bender's article us that he omits the list of Trump's underperformance compared to predictions. That could have been front and center to his analysis of weakness in getting to America's First Fascist Dictator.
Cancelling ours today, as well. Will subscribe to the Guardian instead.
I did that last week
I would do it but I really depend on my Times for games arts coverage recipes. But HATE how they treat Biden
I canceled my subscription several months ago and let them know why. I will gladly sign on to your letter!