Feb 7, 2022·edited Feb 7, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thank you, Robert, for another booster. I watched a video of Celeste Headlee being interviewed on her book about talking to people, "We Need to Talk." One tip she has that applies to amplifying the good news of the Biden administration is to just keep talking up these bullet points in frequent short bits, planting seeds, not knowing who will pass on the messages.
And yes to getting involved in our elections. Helping to run an election site in 2020 was one of the best things I ever did in my life--ranked up there with having my children!
Good for you!!! I am glad you had such a good experience. I have recently told our elections staff that I can no longer work as a poll worker (after 8 years) because I don't feel safe doing so in Florida. Her response was sort of like "good bye, don't let the door hit you in the a$$).
Hi, Annette. Sorry to hear about your experience. Your feelings are understandable and you deserve thanks for your service. It is time for others to step up and serve their turn!
Annette, I share your sentiment and wouldn’t feel safe in my county. We all do what we can do…
Ellie, Thanks for sharing Celeste Headlee’s video .Good info and 💙her sense of humor. Her older TedX talk ( ~11 minutes) popped up- great advice on ways to have a better convo !
In addition to the recommendations of the Lux/Lake memo, Democrats would do well to heed the advise of Dan Pfeiffer’s latest newsletter on holding Republicans accountable for their embrace of political violence as evidenced by the RNC resolution and their willingness to abide Trump’s efforts to make it possible to overturn the next Presidential election. As Dan notes, voters overwhelmingly reject the insurrection of January 6th. Republicans who don’t have spine to stand up to Trump and the sedition caucus in Congress are vulnerable if Democrats make the case.
Hi, David. I agree with you. I have worn out my welcome with readers about Merrick Garland. I promised to relent after he released a statement saying that he will hold everyone accountable for the violence of January 6th, "whether present or otherwise." But the problem is much bigger than what happened on January 6th. It is the fake electors, the intimidation of the Georgia Secretary of State, the attempt to extort Ukraine, the ten instances of obstruction of justice identified by Mueller, the campaign finance violation in 2016 for which Michael Cohen went to jail, witness intimidation in congressional hearings, violation of the emoluments clause, and more! If Merrick Garland pursued ONE of these crimes, it would be a step forward.
Robert, Great newsletter, as usual. I have two questions. 1. What about capturing the "Silent Majority" mantra? The voices we hear are Majorie Taylor Greene types, not the vast majority of independents, Democrats, and even some Republicans who are not insurrectionists. The phrase might resonate with the working class voters the Democrats want to attract again, though I'm not sure how many are old enough to remember its origins (which might be good). 2. Why isn't anyone calling Tucker Carlson a Communist? He's the most ardent supporter of Russia in America, including what Wikipedia calls the Communist Party's call for Russia to recognize Ukraine's Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. Carlson gets to tar others with that epithet but no one recognizes him in a pithy way for what he is. Seems bizarre to me.
Hi, Stan. Good point on number 1. We need to come up with better way to reach disaffected independents and former Republicans. As to 2, having read the comments below, I agree in spirit that Tucker Carlson seems to be a Putin sympathizer or "useful idiot." His support for Russia and Putin is offensive. Putin kills his political opponents and is the only nation with a border in Europe that is actively trying to expand its borders through aggression. That is a threat to US security interests. Why Rupert Murdoch and Tucker Carlson believe that cheerleading for Russia is appropriate is a mystery that someone should attempt to solve.
No one is calling Carlson a Communist because he isn't one and neither is the Russian dictator he so fervently supports. The kleptocratic authoritarian system that Putin heads has no more to do with Communism than does the genocidal regime hosting the Olympics. As Robert notes in his comments on job "creation", the term is used incorrectly and, if we're to make real progress we need to recognize that words have meaning and if we pervert the meanings we render communication impossible.
Dave, Let's not forget Kleptomania here by Corporations, Dark Money, The Libertarians and The Republicans on high octane (fossil fuels magnates et al.) and a capitalistic system skewed to the ultrarich have put us where we are. They, including Zukerberg, have enabled disinformation to take hold among the many, many millions of Americans without the social-net of past generations, thanks to Reaganomics onward.
Not forgetting at all Fern, just trying to limit the discussion. Any of the topics you raise are worth extended conversation on their own and that doesn't even begin to deal with the corruption of the language.
That's fair Dave, but But BUT the causes of our condition need to be addressed. It is the soil to be raked, turned over and fertilized for the welfare and economic security of the American people
When we are much further along on the brutalism of capitalism in the USA, perhaps, some of us here may come to understand what you find 'sufficiently confusing in his (Marx's) writing that purity is probably not something one would want to achieve.' Your sentence on the subject confused me, but clarification of that would be better at another time.
Words certainly do have meaning. Fair point. I did not mention Putin in my post but rather referred to the Communist Party’s position on Ukraine. It would like to break off two regions. Carlson would argue we have no dog in that fight. Putin is not a member of the party. But he would like to reconstitute the Soviet Union. He was a Communist when that entity existed. I don’t know that Carlson would object to anything Putin wants. Putin is the authoritarian kleptocrat you describe. Does that differentiate him from Stalin? How many leaders in Russia or elsewhere were ideologically pure Marxist-Leninists, if that is your definition of a Communist? But they appropriated and perverted the term. To be sure, oligarchs instead of the state own the means of production in Russia. But I suspect that for Putin and his friends, the attitude is l’etat, c’est moi. They don’t draw a fine distinction. From a technical standpoint, you are correct. From a practical standpoint, there’s room for debate. As for Carlson, he is more of a Communist in terms of supporting autocratic rulers than those he accuses of being socialists or worse. Just as terrorist vs freedom fighter matters from a political standpoint (we agree on the importance of words), what from a political effectiveness standpoint should we call Carlson?
Not sure I agree. According to one source I read (whose veracity I can't vouch for), the Russian empire was larger than the USSR and included, among other things, Alaska, Poland, Finland, and parts of Turkey, China, and Iran. I suspect that might be biting off more than even Putin wants to chew.
In respect of Carlson, I can think of a number of things to call him, none of which are appropriate to a civil conversation. From the standpoint of political effectiveness, it is unclear that how one refers to him is important at all because his influence extends only to his followers and the media who continue to provide him with free advertising just as they did the former president. From my standpoint, Carlson is one more on the list of people who need to be deplatformed if not defenestrated if we're to restore a semblance of rational debate to the political world.
As far as Communism and Communists are concerned, it's unclear to me that the term has any practical meaning anymore and I'm not sure that even Lenin was an ideologically pure Marxist. Marx is sufficiently confusing in his writing that purity is probably not something one would want to achieve. The only difference between Putin and Stalin is the level of atrocity that Putin has perpetrated thus far but he's got time. That Putin is not a member of the official Russian Communist party speaks better for the Party than it does for him.
We are in violent agreement on all counts. Deplatforming is the right solution for Carlson. The question is the right set of tactics to achieve that goal.
A reasonable argument could be made that Stalin made hash of any notion of a Communist system and all of his successors have only followed his lead albeit without the excessive purges that his paranoia generated. His assumption of the "Communist" mantle was more a con than anything else and, given the amount of suppression he used to stay in power, it's doubtful the successfully pulled the wool over many Russian eyes for very long. Xi seems to be moving in the same direction and, if the real estate bubble bursts there may become just as repressive and violent as his late idol Mao.
I hoped you watched the video I linked to. They were trolling him on DWTS by putting him in a electric lime green ruffled shirt (a la Seinfeld) and white tuxedo pants from the local tux shop. Everyone was in on the joke except Sean--kind of like his tenure as Press Secretary for Trump.
Feb 7, 2022·edited Feb 7, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
Thanks, again, for an encouraging newsletter, especially when we are facing constant headwinds. Yesterday I shared Heather Cox Richardson's excellent newsletter on the economy(https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-5-2022?r=6o957&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email) on my Facebook feed. I got no "likes" and only one comment from a long time college friend who said something about "I don't care who is in charge as long as my investments go up and not down." It is really difficult to spread good news when no one is even reading it, let alone taking it to heart.
Feb 7, 2022·edited Feb 7, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
A chockfull Edition with CAN DO opportunities for engaged citizens to support Biden's agenda for the people and get Democrats elected. Thank You.
Your opening, however, Robert, I thought unfair to the press. Here's the Wall Street Journal's headline: 'U.S. Jobs Surged by 467,000 in January as Economy Weathered Omicron' and I could provide many links to news outlets around the country shouting the unexpected gain. In addition Biden, Klain (chief of staff) and Walsh (labor secretary) appeared on screen numerous times spreading the good news.
As to redistricting, you know the Republicans are not alone in drawing very weird maps 'The newly drawn map in New York position Democrats to potentially flip three House seats in
November, the largest projected shift in any state. The challenge against the maps comes as both parties continue their attempts to leverage the redistricting process nationwide, with Republicans often doing so more effectively because of their majorities in large states like Texas. Republican maps are being challenged in several states.' (NYTimes)
Hi, Fern. There was plenty of press on Saturday. It has disappeared today, and will never be mentioned again. Instead, inflation will be the story.
Gerrymandering is bad, no matter who does it. It is an insult to the people who are entitled to have their vote counted. Sadly, the question is how badly districts can be gerrymandered before it violates the Constitution or state law. The Supreme Court has essentially said that it will not review claims of partisan gerrymandering or violations of one-person-one-vote rule. (Indeed, some the Supreme Court believe there is no such rule). So, gerrymandering can only be curtailed if it (a) violates state law or (b) is the product of racial animus in violation of the few remaining shreds of the 1964 Voting Rights Act.
Understandably jobs report faded after three days, but not as you wrote 'disappeared today'. In a very briefly search, the following reports came to the surface:
'The monthly jobs report reveals key indicators about the labor market and the overall state of the economy, but it doesn’t show the entire picture. WSJ explains how to read the report, what it shows and what it doesn’t. (Wall St. Journal)
Updated Feb. 7, 2022 10:09 am ET'
'The women’s employment crisis is far from over—and January’s jobs report proves it
Fern, I write to amplify your opening line: “A chock full Edition with CAN DO opportunities…” which I would supplement with praise for Robert’s highly perceptive, well documented analysis. And, though, like you, I was put off by his off-base indictment of the press, overall, his case for a steadfast focus on the retail politics of registration, turnout, and voter protection was as inspiring and well substantiated as any other I’ve seen. My one regret is that I wasn’t able to be on-line earlier while the conversation was still underway.
Great read for the start of the week! I would also put a plug in for signing up to be a poll observer and/or work on the hotline. I have done this for the past four years first in Nevada and in 2019 in Arizona. It is really a feeling to be part of the process and see the democratic process at work! I especially love seeing first time voters. I have emailed to do it again this year wherever I am needed. Thanks for the email address Robert.
Indeed! (I meant to say 2020). Having this experience (and in Maricopa County in 2020) you realize the absurdity of the big lie. You really cannot cheat in the way that they allege.
Robert thanks for todays newsletter and after reading the suggested article “ How D” s can win I am more energized. I think a lot of us have been inundated with negative the sky is falling media rhetoric that it has had an impact on our psyche and every person who wants to say Democracy must read this article.
The RNC's loony statement reminded me of what Joseph Welch said to Joseph McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy hearings: “Have you no sense of decency? At long last have you left no sense of decency?” Welch's comment brought McCarthy down. Thank you for making the case that “legitimate political discourse” will do the same for the GOP.
Just a quick note: I believe that the only way the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision could get to SCOTUS is with a credible argument that the state constitution violates the US Constitution. Not likely, even with today’s court. More generally, it’s time to keep our heads down. From time to time we should raise our eyes to the mountaintop, but mostly we should look where we’re going and just put one foot in front of the other as we make our way toward the goal. So keep on keepin’ on.
You are right, Jon. But, unbelievably, Neil Gorsuch (or Kavanaugh? One of them) wrote that the Supreme Court can review a state court's decision interpreting the state's constitution, That is crazy, and will hopefully never become the law.
I live in NC. This is not the first time Republican gerrymandered maps have been thrown out. Previous maps were “drawn with surgical precision” to disadvantage minority voters. In fact, the instigator of those awful maps said he couldn’t think of a way to give Republicans 10 districts and Democrats 2 districts because having Republicans be in charge of the government was better than having Democrats be in charge. That person was eventually indicted for financial crimes. The Republican legislators are looking to enrich themselves and their donors. They have no interest helping ordinary folks. Things are so up in the air, I’m not sure what district I’m in anymore and to whom I should give support.
I 1,000% agree with you, Robert. Fox and related cable and online casters (not newscasters) have their origins in the Yellow Journalism of late 20th century. It was just as pernicious since back then, you read a lie and waited for weeks to read a rebuttal. I think Democratic Party central needs to hire a slick ad group to purposely design messaging. And they need to get rid of the chairman. I remember the zoom conference you had with him and I was fully disenchanted with him. He was full of himself and felt he had to go on talking about his humble roots and so on. I heard nothing innovative coming from him. People in these top positions either go dull or were always dull-witted. In my hometown of Hartford, a city suffering almost insurmountable problems. I had proposed a series of self help projects that would cost the city nothing but would have a good chance of getting results. I pitched and pitch and pitched and no one gave more than a kindly word of encouragement. My theme was to think outside the box. Approach issues differently because time had run out. Nothing. Zilch. My interests now are solely business-related. I don’t have time for people who only care about keeping their secure bureaucratic positions. Back to Party stuff, someone needs to get rid of that guy and put in place folks with new ideas. And btw, I’m one who believes that we’ve lost our traditional support of white working class because of the elitist trends. No doubt about it. Some folks can’t understand it if it slapped them in the kisser.
When I read your Newsletter, Robert, I always learn, and today - even a new word! "Retcon" (verb) "to revise retrospectively, typically by introducing a piece of new information that imposes a different interpretation on a previously described event." We found this in your referencing Charles Sykes, who wrote in the Bulwark: "The Republican National Committee is fully embracing the Trumpian RETCONNING (gerund!) of January 6th as a peaceful protest. . . "
I do believe that we should all keep this word handy! Retroactive Continuity. Look for it!
Robert, thank you for another inspiring newsletter. I am a co-leader of a new Minnesota-dedicated Giving Circle that is affiliated with The States Project. We'd love to connect with the Southern Minnesota Democratic Strategy Group to compare notes and see if there are opportunities to cooperate. I've not been able to find contact info for them and was wondering if you might help connect us. If so, please LMK if there is an email address that I can send our info to either directly or for you to pass on to them. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Thank you as usual. It all remains layered doesn't it. Would you, I imagine you have a plan, talk about the ripping of documents Trump apparently did throughout his four years. (Who actually kept the pieces that are now taped together?!) AND talk about the 15 boxes of docs he took to Mara Lago. Why on earth can that not be prosecuted?
You have to love blatantly GOP NC Chief Justice Newby who essentially claims that in NC gerrymandered maps permit free but not fair elections!!! What a great way for future political ads against this GOP Chief Justice who won by only 401 votes in 2020 and his opponent Cheri Beasley is now running for Dem US Senate seat from NC! The NC Supreme Court voted 5-4 to return the extremely gerrymandered maps back to the NC GOP led legislature to come up with fair maps. So sad that Justices are now so obviously partisan. Our Democracy has no checks and balances. It will be a fast turnaround - maps have to be submitted by Feb 18 and approved by noon Feb 23 with objections sumibtted by 5pm Feb 23!!! Stay tuned!!!
Thank you, Robert, for another booster. I watched a video of Celeste Headlee being interviewed on her book about talking to people, "We Need to Talk." One tip she has that applies to amplifying the good news of the Biden administration is to just keep talking up these bullet points in frequent short bits, planting seeds, not knowing who will pass on the messages.
https://youtu.be/Ns70zwKmJsc
And yes to getting involved in our elections. Helping to run an election site in 2020 was one of the best things I ever did in my life--ranked up there with having my children!
Thanks, Ellie. I will watch the video link today. I agree with Celeste's advice: Keep it simple. Repeat.
Good for you!!! I am glad you had such a good experience. I have recently told our elections staff that I can no longer work as a poll worker (after 8 years) because I don't feel safe doing so in Florida. Her response was sort of like "good bye, don't let the door hit you in the a$$).
Hi, Annette. Sorry to hear about your experience. Your feelings are understandable and you deserve thanks for your service. It is time for others to step up and serve their turn!
Annette, I share your sentiment and wouldn’t feel safe in my county. We all do what we can do…
Ellie, Thanks for sharing Celeste Headlee’s video .Good info and 💙her sense of humor. Her older TedX talk ( ~11 minutes) popped up- great advice on ways to have a better convo !
https://www.ted.com/talks/celeste_headlee_10_ways_to_have_a_better_conversation
In addition to the recommendations of the Lux/Lake memo, Democrats would do well to heed the advise of Dan Pfeiffer’s latest newsletter on holding Republicans accountable for their embrace of political violence as evidenced by the RNC resolution and their willingness to abide Trump’s efforts to make it possible to overturn the next Presidential election. As Dan notes, voters overwhelmingly reject the insurrection of January 6th. Republicans who don’t have spine to stand up to Trump and the sedition caucus in Congress are vulnerable if Democrats make the case.
Hi, David. I agree with you. I have worn out my welcome with readers about Merrick Garland. I promised to relent after he released a statement saying that he will hold everyone accountable for the violence of January 6th, "whether present or otherwise." But the problem is much bigger than what happened on January 6th. It is the fake electors, the intimidation of the Georgia Secretary of State, the attempt to extort Ukraine, the ten instances of obstruction of justice identified by Mueller, the campaign finance violation in 2016 for which Michael Cohen went to jail, witness intimidation in congressional hearings, violation of the emoluments clause, and more! If Merrick Garland pursued ONE of these crimes, it would be a step forward.
Robert, Great newsletter, as usual. I have two questions. 1. What about capturing the "Silent Majority" mantra? The voices we hear are Majorie Taylor Greene types, not the vast majority of independents, Democrats, and even some Republicans who are not insurrectionists. The phrase might resonate with the working class voters the Democrats want to attract again, though I'm not sure how many are old enough to remember its origins (which might be good). 2. Why isn't anyone calling Tucker Carlson a Communist? He's the most ardent supporter of Russia in America, including what Wikipedia calls the Communist Party's call for Russia to recognize Ukraine's Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. Carlson gets to tar others with that epithet but no one recognizes him in a pithy way for what he is. Seems bizarre to me.
Hi, Stan. Good point on number 1. We need to come up with better way to reach disaffected independents and former Republicans. As to 2, having read the comments below, I agree in spirit that Tucker Carlson seems to be a Putin sympathizer or "useful idiot." His support for Russia and Putin is offensive. Putin kills his political opponents and is the only nation with a border in Europe that is actively trying to expand its borders through aggression. That is a threat to US security interests. Why Rupert Murdoch and Tucker Carlson believe that cheerleading for Russia is appropriate is a mystery that someone should attempt to solve.
No one is calling Carlson a Communist because he isn't one and neither is the Russian dictator he so fervently supports. The kleptocratic authoritarian system that Putin heads has no more to do with Communism than does the genocidal regime hosting the Olympics. As Robert notes in his comments on job "creation", the term is used incorrectly and, if we're to make real progress we need to recognize that words have meaning and if we pervert the meanings we render communication impossible.
Dave, Let's not forget Kleptomania here by Corporations, Dark Money, The Libertarians and The Republicans on high octane (fossil fuels magnates et al.) and a capitalistic system skewed to the ultrarich have put us where we are. They, including Zukerberg, have enabled disinformation to take hold among the many, many millions of Americans without the social-net of past generations, thanks to Reaganomics onward.
Not forgetting at all Fern, just trying to limit the discussion. Any of the topics you raise are worth extended conversation on their own and that doesn't even begin to deal with the corruption of the language.
That's fair Dave, but But BUT the causes of our condition need to be addressed. It is the soil to be raked, turned over and fertilized for the welfare and economic security of the American people
Absolutely it does, and that's part of the continuing conversation here.
When we are much further along on the brutalism of capitalism in the USA, perhaps, some of us here may come to understand what you find 'sufficiently confusing in his (Marx's) writing that purity is probably not something one would want to achieve.' Your sentence on the subject confused me, but clarification of that would be better at another time.
Words certainly do have meaning. Fair point. I did not mention Putin in my post but rather referred to the Communist Party’s position on Ukraine. It would like to break off two regions. Carlson would argue we have no dog in that fight. Putin is not a member of the party. But he would like to reconstitute the Soviet Union. He was a Communist when that entity existed. I don’t know that Carlson would object to anything Putin wants. Putin is the authoritarian kleptocrat you describe. Does that differentiate him from Stalin? How many leaders in Russia or elsewhere were ideologically pure Marxist-Leninists, if that is your definition of a Communist? But they appropriated and perverted the term. To be sure, oligarchs instead of the state own the means of production in Russia. But I suspect that for Putin and his friends, the attitude is l’etat, c’est moi. They don’t draw a fine distinction. From a technical standpoint, you are correct. From a practical standpoint, there’s room for debate. As for Carlson, he is more of a Communist in terms of supporting autocratic rulers than those he accuses of being socialists or worse. Just as terrorist vs freedom fighter matters from a political standpoint (we agree on the importance of words), what from a political effectiveness standpoint should we call Carlson?
Carlson is a propagandist.
I suggest that Putin does not want to reconstitute the USSR, but rather the Russian Empire.
Not sure I agree. According to one source I read (whose veracity I can't vouch for), the Russian empire was larger than the USSR and included, among other things, Alaska, Poland, Finland, and parts of Turkey, China, and Iran. I suspect that might be biting off more than even Putin wants to chew.
In respect of Carlson, I can think of a number of things to call him, none of which are appropriate to a civil conversation. From the standpoint of political effectiveness, it is unclear that how one refers to him is important at all because his influence extends only to his followers and the media who continue to provide him with free advertising just as they did the former president. From my standpoint, Carlson is one more on the list of people who need to be deplatformed if not defenestrated if we're to restore a semblance of rational debate to the political world.
As far as Communism and Communists are concerned, it's unclear to me that the term has any practical meaning anymore and I'm not sure that even Lenin was an ideologically pure Marxist. Marx is sufficiently confusing in his writing that purity is probably not something one would want to achieve. The only difference between Putin and Stalin is the level of atrocity that Putin has perpetrated thus far but he's got time. That Putin is not a member of the official Russian Communist party speaks better for the Party than it does for him.
We are in violent agreement on all counts. Deplatforming is the right solution for Carlson. The question is the right set of tactics to achieve that goal.
Then again, the post-Khrushchev (at least) Soviet system had nothing to do with Communusm—as you note, neither does the current Chinese iteration.
A reasonable argument could be made that Stalin made hash of any notion of a Communist system and all of his successors have only followed his lead albeit without the excessive purges that his paranoia generated. His assumption of the "Communist" mantle was more a con than anything else and, given the amount of suppression he used to stay in power, it's doubtful the successfully pulled the wool over many Russian eyes for very long. Xi seems to be moving in the same direction and, if the real estate bubble bursts there may become just as repressive and violent as his late idol Mao.
Indeed, even Lenin strayed far from the dream.
Lenin was one of those who turned the dream, such as it was, into a living nightmare.
Best Sean Spicer bio ever.
I hoped you watched the video I linked to. They were trolling him on DWTS by putting him in a electric lime green ruffled shirt (a la Seinfeld) and white tuxedo pants from the local tux shop. Everyone was in on the joke except Sean--kind of like his tenure as Press Secretary for Trump.
Just viewed. Words fail.
Thanks, again, for an encouraging newsletter, especially when we are facing constant headwinds. Yesterday I shared Heather Cox Richardson's excellent newsletter on the economy(https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-5-2022?r=6o957&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email) on my Facebook feed. I got no "likes" and only one comment from a long time college friend who said something about "I don't care who is in charge as long as my investments go up and not down." It is really difficult to spread good news when no one is even reading it, let alone taking it to heart.
A chockfull Edition with CAN DO opportunities for engaged citizens to support Biden's agenda for the people and get Democrats elected. Thank You.
Your opening, however, Robert, I thought unfair to the press. Here's the Wall Street Journal's headline: 'U.S. Jobs Surged by 467,000 in January as Economy Weathered Omicron' and I could provide many links to news outlets around the country shouting the unexpected gain. In addition Biden, Klain (chief of staff) and Walsh (labor secretary) appeared on screen numerous times spreading the good news.
As to redistricting, you know the Republicans are not alone in drawing very weird maps 'The newly drawn map in New York position Democrats to potentially flip three House seats in
November, the largest projected shift in any state. The challenge against the maps comes as both parties continue their attempts to leverage the redistricting process nationwide, with Republicans often doing so more effectively because of their majorities in large states like Texas. Republican maps are being challenged in several states.' (NYTimes)
Hi, Fern. There was plenty of press on Saturday. It has disappeared today, and will never be mentioned again. Instead, inflation will be the story.
Gerrymandering is bad, no matter who does it. It is an insult to the people who are entitled to have their vote counted. Sadly, the question is how badly districts can be gerrymandered before it violates the Constitution or state law. The Supreme Court has essentially said that it will not review claims of partisan gerrymandering or violations of one-person-one-vote rule. (Indeed, some the Supreme Court believe there is no such rule). So, gerrymandering can only be curtailed if it (a) violates state law or (b) is the product of racial animus in violation of the few remaining shreds of the 1964 Voting Rights Act.
Understandably jobs report faded after three days, but not as you wrote 'disappeared today'. In a very briefly search, the following reports came to the surface:
'The monthly jobs report reveals key indicators about the labor market and the overall state of the economy, but it doesn’t show the entire picture. WSJ explains how to read the report, what it shows and what it doesn’t. (Wall St. Journal)
Updated Feb. 7, 2022 10:09 am ET'
'The women’s employment crisis is far from over—and January’s jobs report proves it
February 7, 2022 9:11 AM EST (Forbes)'
Fern, I write to amplify your opening line: “A chock full Edition with CAN DO opportunities…” which I would supplement with praise for Robert’s highly perceptive, well documented analysis. And, though, like you, I was put off by his off-base indictment of the press, overall, his case for a steadfast focus on the retail politics of registration, turnout, and voter protection was as inspiring and well substantiated as any other I’ve seen. My one regret is that I wasn’t able to be on-line earlier while the conversation was still underway.
Great read for the start of the week! I would also put a plug in for signing up to be a poll observer and/or work on the hotline. I have done this for the past four years first in Nevada and in 2019 in Arizona. It is really a feeling to be part of the process and see the democratic process at work! I especially love seeing first time voters. I have emailed to do it again this year wherever I am needed. Thanks for the email address Robert.
Glad to hear you had a positive experience. Help spread the word!
Indeed! (I meant to say 2020). Having this experience (and in Maricopa County in 2020) you realize the absurdity of the big lie. You really cannot cheat in the way that they allege.
Robert thanks for todays newsletter and after reading the suggested article “ How D” s can win I am more energized. I think a lot of us have been inundated with negative the sky is falling media rhetoric that it has had an impact on our psyche and every person who wants to say Democracy must read this article.
The RNC's loony statement reminded me of what Joseph Welch said to Joseph McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy hearings: “Have you no sense of decency? At long last have you left no sense of decency?” Welch's comment brought McCarthy down. Thank you for making the case that “legitimate political discourse” will do the same for the GOP.
Just a quick note: I believe that the only way the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision could get to SCOTUS is with a credible argument that the state constitution violates the US Constitution. Not likely, even with today’s court. More generally, it’s time to keep our heads down. From time to time we should raise our eyes to the mountaintop, but mostly we should look where we’re going and just put one foot in front of the other as we make our way toward the goal. So keep on keepin’ on.
You are right, Jon. But, unbelievably, Neil Gorsuch (or Kavanaugh? One of them) wrote that the Supreme Court can review a state court's decision interpreting the state's constitution, That is crazy, and will hopefully never become the law.
As it says in the Talmud, "Oy, gevalt!"
I live in NC. This is not the first time Republican gerrymandered maps have been thrown out. Previous maps were “drawn with surgical precision” to disadvantage minority voters. In fact, the instigator of those awful maps said he couldn’t think of a way to give Republicans 10 districts and Democrats 2 districts because having Republicans be in charge of the government was better than having Democrats be in charge. That person was eventually indicted for financial crimes. The Republican legislators are looking to enrich themselves and their donors. They have no interest helping ordinary folks. Things are so up in the air, I’m not sure what district I’m in anymore and to whom I should give support.
I 1,000% agree with you, Robert. Fox and related cable and online casters (not newscasters) have their origins in the Yellow Journalism of late 20th century. It was just as pernicious since back then, you read a lie and waited for weeks to read a rebuttal. I think Democratic Party central needs to hire a slick ad group to purposely design messaging. And they need to get rid of the chairman. I remember the zoom conference you had with him and I was fully disenchanted with him. He was full of himself and felt he had to go on talking about his humble roots and so on. I heard nothing innovative coming from him. People in these top positions either go dull or were always dull-witted. In my hometown of Hartford, a city suffering almost insurmountable problems. I had proposed a series of self help projects that would cost the city nothing but would have a good chance of getting results. I pitched and pitch and pitched and no one gave more than a kindly word of encouragement. My theme was to think outside the box. Approach issues differently because time had run out. Nothing. Zilch. My interests now are solely business-related. I don’t have time for people who only care about keeping their secure bureaucratic positions. Back to Party stuff, someone needs to get rid of that guy and put in place folks with new ideas. And btw, I’m one who believes that we’ve lost our traditional support of white working class because of the elitist trends. No doubt about it. Some folks can’t understand it if it slapped them in the kisser.
What a great way to start the week! Bring it on!
When I read your Newsletter, Robert, I always learn, and today - even a new word! "Retcon" (verb) "to revise retrospectively, typically by introducing a piece of new information that imposes a different interpretation on a previously described event." We found this in your referencing Charles Sykes, who wrote in the Bulwark: "The Republican National Committee is fully embracing the Trumpian RETCONNING (gerund!) of January 6th as a peaceful protest. . . "
I do believe that we should all keep this word handy! Retroactive Continuity. Look for it!
Robert, thank you for another inspiring newsletter. I am a co-leader of a new Minnesota-dedicated Giving Circle that is affiliated with The States Project. We'd love to connect with the Southern Minnesota Democratic Strategy Group to compare notes and see if there are opportunities to cooperate. I've not been able to find contact info for them and was wondering if you might help connect us. If so, please LMK if there is an email address that I can send our info to either directly or for you to pass on to them. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Thank you as usual. It all remains layered doesn't it. Would you, I imagine you have a plan, talk about the ripping of documents Trump apparently did throughout his four years. (Who actually kept the pieces that are now taped together?!) AND talk about the 15 boxes of docs he took to Mara Lago. Why on earth can that not be prosecuted?
You have to love blatantly GOP NC Chief Justice Newby who essentially claims that in NC gerrymandered maps permit free but not fair elections!!! What a great way for future political ads against this GOP Chief Justice who won by only 401 votes in 2020 and his opponent Cheri Beasley is now running for Dem US Senate seat from NC! The NC Supreme Court voted 5-4 to return the extremely gerrymandered maps back to the NC GOP led legislature to come up with fair maps. So sad that Justices are now so obviously partisan. Our Democracy has no checks and balances. It will be a fast turnaround - maps have to be submitted by Feb 18 and approved by noon Feb 23 with objections sumibtted by 5pm Feb 23!!! Stay tuned!!!