Thank you, Robert, for this fine reminder of how important the Department of Education and education, period, is in our lives. The people who dismiss it are the best argument for having it.
Trump will probably find that trying to please a variety of groups that are his motley crew of electing voters, is going to be difficult. It will be interesting to see how he navigates it. His adoring MAGAs are like the ideal citizens of the book 1984 who will accept any revision of history that is suggested. I am still counting on people to resist through passive aggressive means if necessary in all of the branches of government.
Linda, Your remedy truly resonates with me. My one addition would be to amplify the critical contributions of grassroots organizing, which partially entail learning from our elected officials, apart from donations, what they need from us to help in their efforts to resist the harmful agenda set to be imposed on the country.
There have been a few suggestions that Democrats create a shadow cabinet to follow each cabinet member, watch what and how they are running the department and constantly report and inform the public of what is going on so every move is under a microscope.
The defect in transporting the Shadow Cabinet concept from Britain to the US is that we can have no shadow Prime Minister
A Shadow PM would logically be the next Democratic Presidential candidate, but that candidate will not have been determined. One might argue, alternatively, that the previous standard-bearer should fill that role; however, since that person sometimes aspires to be the next nominee, making her/him the Shadow PM would give him/her an unfair advantage in upcoming Presidential primaries.
In principle, I agree with your comment. My concern - which I perhaps should have articulated – is that, since American political parties (unlike European parties) do not have designated Leaders, designating Shadow Presidents would lead to divisive, destructive scrums. That could pose particular problems for Democrats.
I am hoping (desperately) that a name that doesn't designate it as counter to the nearly current pres will allow it to bring in a diverse group of people. Perhaps a cloud dream?
I have heard this as well and love the idea. As much as I admire Joe Biden, the communications/messaging piece of this has to be really rethought. I actually think Harris’s campaign did this much more effectively than the administration did these last four years. I’d love this “shadow cabinet” idea, made up of some of the next D communicators.
Barbara you are right. I am sure there will be many important pieces to this, as you have named. I was thinking of how it will be hard to get rid of everyone who works for the government. Remember the fiasco when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers and we never really replaced them, and we have to live with the dangers and damage that has wrought. The chaos he sowed. My Democrats Abroad group is committed to supporting democratic efforts in the US, as well as adding our unique from abroad perspectives.
Linda, Your perspective that frequently embodies a broader lens is of immeasurable value; hence why I regularly read your Substack posts when I’m online.
I know people who are federal employees, my sister is at SBA. I’m counting on Trumps incompetence and their stricken following of the bureaucracy rules that are pretty passive aggressive as they are. I know Regan fired all those air traffic controllers , but not sure trump could do similar now. Hoping anyway…
I sent a message to Congressman Gerry Connelly of 11th district Va to ask about an initiative he introduced to require Congress to have to approve changing any civil servant categorizations from merit to "at will" and to limit the number that can be changed at any one time. It was introduced almost a year ago (at least) and I haven't heard what happened with it, but if it's passed then there's that... One would think we'd have heard if it passed, but heck wouldn't you have thought we'd have heard when it was introduced, too? I know I wouldn't have if it weren't my old district...
@Barbara Jo Krieger - the vital importance of grassroots organizing is exactly where we need to focus.
The Democratic National Party tried to win the 2024 election by raising money, asking for donations, buying ads.
Elon Musk can out-spend all of us.
But he only has one vote.
245 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2024 Election.
Some 90 million did not.
Just as the Poor People's Campaign is attempting to engage those who feel helpless, ignored and unheard, yet in their numbers have the power to determine outcomes,
we must somehow reach people and help them vote for their own interests instead of against them.
The top 10% of the richest people in American own about 87% of the stocks.
The top 1% own nearly HALF of the stocks.
The inequalities will only lead to violent revolution.
Examples: Boston Tea Party, French Revolution ("let them eat cake"), and recent events including the murder of the UnitedHealthCare CEO and domestic terrorism acts either by guns or vehicles or bombs.
I could not watch the proceedings yesterday. The Mike Johnson smirk was entirely too much. As I read through this piece, I was aware of a visceral reaction to those events of and on the anniversary of January 6th. Even now I can feel it. It doesn't stop me from reading and engaging. But, it's so effing hard. I wrote a piece on Linda McMahon. She is despicable. I taught for 25 years, my husband taught for 50, yes 50! He retired then was asked to return to run a special program for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. It was his first love. I say that without any jealousy, but with admiration. It was a gift to see him in action. Linda McMahon's actions have been and continue to be despicable. Not only is she shamefully disqualified to serve in such a position, she, like Trump, promotes violence and has grown very rich doing so. She wouldn't recognize public service if it threw her to the mat.
This is another inadequate nominee to urge our members of Congress to oppose. I will call today. Thank you for the story about you and your husband’s teaching careers!
Given Merrick Garland's continued and inexplicable dithering to go after the head of the insurrection and mastermind of Jan 6 it has to be expected that he won't authorize the publication of the Jack Smith report.
The President ordering his AG to do this would be a clear act within his official duties. An act that would be sanctioned by law, thank you SCOTUS.
Let's hope President Biden is doing the right thing.
Robert correctly I believe observes that "If Trump is rebuffed by the NY state appellate courts, he will certainly seek relief in the US Supreme Court—which has shown unholy deference to the first president to attempt a coup." I just want to suggest two different things: 1) "Supine" might be a good adjective for the conservative majority of our SCOTUS; and 2) a huge amount of all these horrific developments in our democracy and even the rise of Trump himself to levels well beyond his merit can be laid at the feet of the truly despicable "Citizens United" ruling which, among other things, allowed Musk to buy our just settled national election.
We're in a big ravine, we'll need strong first responders to get us out.
"Whatever Trump does, he will be roundly condemned." - you mean like he was today, when he wasn't? Or like he was the last 4 years, which resulted in zero consequences? I'm sure he's lying awake at night trembling in fear of our toothless condemnation as he rakes in ever more of our tax dollars raiding the government coffers and profiting off the secrets and quid pro quos he sells to the highest bidders.
Every act of the incoming madministration [sic] should be looked upon as an assault on our rights and the core values of our great nation. I intend to ignore as much of the cacophony of chaos as I can, and focus on things I can do to defend our rights and values.
Your lovely tribute to the first Secretary of Education and the stark comparison to the current nominee for the job brought me to tears. Thank you for recounting Shirley’s vast accomplishments and contributions. She was truly remarkable. As a proud retired educator, I do fervently hope that dismantling the department will be no easy task. Our children and grandchildren deserve so much better than the plans of this incoming administration.
With a "supine" Supreme Court, a craven Republican party, and a compliant new Secretary of the Department of Education, won't it be pretty easy to abolish the Departmet of Education and return whatever policies and practices it controls to the States? As Gene points out, does Trump care whether he is "roundly condemned"? He promised to "drain the swamp" and was elected the first time? There will be a wind of "fiscal responsibility" behind every destruction of every part of the Federal government that Trump wants to destroy, thus leaving money for the only policy move he cares about: more money for the rich. We object to abandoning Ukraine? Sorry, can't afford to supporting Ukraine. We object to Kennedy destroying the National Institutes of Health? Sorry, that is another bloated Federal bureaucracy that forces people to be healthier than they want to be (or gives us false "research" and now the government wants to spend millions putting warning new warning labels on beer cans?) You get my point. As we have seen in the backward look at Jan. 6, 2021 that has depressed and bedazzled us for the last 24 hours, Republicans "roundly condemned" the attacks on the Capitol -- for a day or two.
Last summer, we said the Courts won't save us, the Republicans won't save us, the rich will not save us. All we had is the electoral process. That trust, which I shared, generated an election in which 90 million of our fellow citizens could not be stirred to vote and registered Democrats and independents turned away from a candidate with a great record because they didn't "know" her. Or because she was a woman or Black or "other." Since the election it seems the Democratic Party has closed up shop. The Republican Party since Reagan has rewritten the story of America and no matter what Trump does, there will be no blowback from his party or Republican office holders or it seems from the oft-talked-about-but-seldom-seen American people. Government is the enemy except when it enriches the insanely rich. Republicans will take no responsibility for any ill effects of any decision, and Trump will deny and lie and rewrite history, the present, and America's future. He will pardon whom he want sto. (Majority Leader Senator Thune gave him his blessing.)
I am not wallowing in John Bunyan's Slough of Despond, but I can see it from here. I will continue to write and phone objections to the Cabinet nominations, etc. and work while the light lasts and I know that the Hubbell community is still resisting and opposing, but the Right is not going to abandon Trump no matter what he does or doesn't do and -- we have enough evidence of that. The rich will bow down to the richest man in the world and Donald Trump has made us all complicit in his drama of revenge, cruelty, and paranoia. I will look for some bright spots, but what we all need is a path forward. Grassroots organizations are great are we coordinated and organized? We are all mostly playing defense not offense and the Republican triumph in a narrow election gets magnified by every consolidation of power and asinine nomination. Check out Trump's nomination of Kevin Marino Cabrera to be Ambassador to Panama. He is a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and was Florida Trump campaign Director for Florida in 2020.
Yes, thanks for saying what I’ve been thinking, since the election, the Democrats have been silent. I’m disgusted with the DNC, who keeps asking me for money. The GOP has succeeded in rewriting history and stealing the present day through bots and disinformation. Where is the fight?
Thank You, Robert Hubbell, for the story about your friend and our first Secretary of the Dept. of Education, Shirley Hufstedler! I love stories like these. I am currently reading a book by Sharon McMahon called: “The Small and the Mighty”. And it is filled with stories similar to Shirley’s, important citizens making a difference in their ways with outsized impact. And also, I might add, lost to or not included in most common History instruction. Only “Life Long Learning” has filled in these gaps for me with such important characters, and actions. I am richer for knowing this story. Again, Thank You.
Yes, this type of history is precious. I’m a big admirer of Joseph Albers (and let’s not forget his amazing wife Anni Albers) who was an icon in art education. Both are key figures in art history. So the very personal story about Shirley Hufstedler is magical and so important.
For Trump and his appointees, history is watching, history is recording, history will be telling - there is no escaping the writing of history. The same for McConnell, Johnson, SCOTUS, and the rest. History will provide them with a form of retribution. Trump fears truth and accurate history. They all should. But he / they can’t stop the accurate telling of history…
I am consistently impressed by Robert’s ability to present what is objectively very bad news in a context that makes it possible to remain hopeful. In my opinion, this is the only approach that makes sense. We can’t ignore what is taking place, but neither should we catastrophize or fall into despair.
I can't watch or hear any news at all now. And may stop reading even Robert and HCR. Turner classic movies, old Law & Orders ( which are scarily relevant) . Channeling the end of "Candide", which I taught HS AP Lit students for many years. Is life actually stranger than fiction? Guess I will cultivate my garden, tiny as it is. Such a sense of loss knowing a woman who would have been a great president today did her constitutional duty to "certify", accept, ratify, acknowledge this horror ...no words to describe him...as our next president. Broken-hearted.
I didn’t watch it but we can’t completely tune out. No TV or radio news for me right now. Also no Amazon Prime and I need to pull the plug on FB. (Not easy because I have an 2 informal FB work groups that I reference for info occasionally but there are direct sources I can go back to for answers to various work related questions. I will still read HCR, Timothy Snyder, Robert Reich and Robert Hubbell.
Any bets that Trump pardons everyone involved in the insurrection? I suppose he can have a beautiful "love feast" and blame sacrifice a few bad apples, but I bet he will blanket pardon the whole crowd.
But then you have people arguing that article 14 section 3 doesn’t apply to the president of the United States?? We need to get in there and clarify (how I have no clue - I’m just one plebiscite on the rat race wheel) all of these gray areas of the constitution. I’m so fed up with how this orange stain oligarch despot autocrat strongman authoritarian dictator can manipulate the justice system and the language of the constitution and pack the Supreme Court with his lackey lap dogs.
Thank you for sharing the story of Jack Smith and his attempt to dispatch his report as Special Counsel. The scenario of Cannon squelching this release simply bewilders.
Continuing the theme of “Learning never ends,” if you look up the origins of "educate," you come to the Latin word "educo." Educo communicates the idea of leading, as in leading out, guiding, or developing. It also conveys the idea of drawing up or bringing up.
This makes education more than simply the study of a subject. The act of learning is intended to guide, lead, or develop something beyond the straightforward factual content of a lesson.
The transfer of information in education is not simply moving content from one location to another, like moving your clothes from the washing machine into the dryer. Rather, there’s an intention for something to happen beyond what is spoken, shown, or enacted.
When you look deeply into education, you see the fundamental importance of intention. Rarely, if ever, do we learn anything just to learn it, but rather, we learn things inside of an “in-order-to.” The in-order-to is formed and then shaped by the intention for whatever is to be learned.
T and cohort’s efforts to interpret the story of what happened on J6 2020 are acts of education with a clear intention. What confronts us is not a civil war. What confronts us is a will to shape what is known and, by that shaping, steer the course of our mighty ship of state.
Yes, the possibility of learning or, more broadly, education or educo, is at all times available. Robert, here, is a model of that, and we readers are availing ourselves of his education or leading out. Our nation's health rests on inspiring others into this education rather than drinking from the tap of Fox News or other spews of tainted intents.
I suggest beginning the inquiry with three questions. 1) What are the benefits or payoffs enjoyed by continuing as before? 2) What are the costs of continuing as before? And 3) What are the costs in changing?
Our system has been too focused on grades so it becomes more of a competition and end game as opposed to fostering a love and respect for the process of life long learning. What follows, is that people place their value on knowing *an* answer as opposed to their ability to ask questions and learn.
We must accept the results of the 2024 election. But to me it is a bridge too far to celebrate the confirmation of Trump's victory as an example of the system working.
The system is not well. It is on life support. What we have just experienced are some sharp, bad faith operators taking advantage of the loopholes and weaknesses in the system, which is not built to repel sharp, bad faith operators and assumes they will be filtered out long before January 6th. Let's not forget that the Nazis assume power "peacefully" in 1933.
To me the message is that the system did not do its job and the bad guys won. Ok, we need to pick ourselves up and figure out how to move on in response to that. Celebrating the workings of democracy is, to me, not part of that plan,
Absolutely agree. Article 14 has been stomped upon by SCOTUS. I’m no lawyer, but it sure looks like the Constitution is on life support. Going through this ceremony that is about a convicted felon and an adjudicated rapist is too far for me.
Thank you, Robert, for this fine reminder of how important the Department of Education and education, period, is in our lives. The people who dismiss it are the best argument for having it.
Thank you for honoring Shirley Hufstedler by teaching us about her groundbreaking career.
Including reminding us of yet one more accomplishment of President Jimmy Carter - recognizing her immense talent and humanity.
Trump will probably find that trying to please a variety of groups that are his motley crew of electing voters, is going to be difficult. It will be interesting to see how he navigates it. His adoring MAGAs are like the ideal citizens of the book 1984 who will accept any revision of history that is suggested. I am still counting on people to resist through passive aggressive means if necessary in all of the branches of government.
Linda, Your remedy truly resonates with me. My one addition would be to amplify the critical contributions of grassroots organizing, which partially entail learning from our elected officials, apart from donations, what they need from us to help in their efforts to resist the harmful agenda set to be imposed on the country.
There have been a few suggestions that Democrats create a shadow cabinet to follow each cabinet member, watch what and how they are running the department and constantly report and inform the public of what is going on so every move is under a microscope.
Yes. Here is Prof. Timothy Snyder's version.
https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/shadow-cabinet?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
The defect in transporting the Shadow Cabinet concept from Britain to the US is that we can have no shadow Prime Minister
A Shadow PM would logically be the next Democratic Presidential candidate, but that candidate will not have been determined. One might argue, alternatively, that the previous standard-bearer should fill that role; however, since that person sometimes aspires to be the next nominee, making her/him the Shadow PM would give him/her an unfair advantage in upcoming Presidential primaries.
What are fair advantages Michael? I see anyone getting an advantage that they earn by shadowing Musk/Trump would be one well earned.
In principle, I agree with your comment. My concern - which I perhaps should have articulated – is that, since American political parties (unlike European parties) do not have designated Leaders, designating Shadow Presidents would lead to divisive, destructive scrums. That could pose particular problems for Democrats.
Readers of Timothy Snyder’s substack have suggested various names … I like “Accountability Coalition”!
More importantly who is going to organize this. It has to be more than an idea.
Hopefully the DNC (and its new Chair) will make it priority #1 along with Jeffries and Schumer
Can it wait that long?
Not sure it’s priority number one.
I like Constitutional Cabinet.
Maybe Constitutional Counter Cabinet 🤔?
I am hoping (desperately) that a name that doesn't designate it as counter to the nearly current pres will allow it to bring in a diverse group of people. Perhaps a cloud dream?
YES!
I have heard this as well and love the idea. As much as I admire Joe Biden, the communications/messaging piece of this has to be really rethought. I actually think Harris’s campaign did this much more effectively than the administration did these last four years. I’d love this “shadow cabinet” idea, made up of some of the next D communicators.
Barbara you are right. I am sure there will be many important pieces to this, as you have named. I was thinking of how it will be hard to get rid of everyone who works for the government. Remember the fiasco when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers and we never really replaced them, and we have to live with the dangers and damage that has wrought. The chaos he sowed. My Democrats Abroad group is committed to supporting democratic efforts in the US, as well as adding our unique from abroad perspectives.
Linda, Your perspective that frequently embodies a broader lens is of immeasurable value; hence why I regularly read your Substack posts when I’m online.
thank you, all Democrats Abroad - ALL individuals who value Freedom and Justice and Government of, by and for the people!
I know people who are federal employees, my sister is at SBA. I’m counting on Trumps incompetence and their stricken following of the bureaucracy rules that are pretty passive aggressive as they are. I know Regan fired all those air traffic controllers , but not sure trump could do similar now. Hoping anyway…
Here is to your sister and her colleagues. May they prevail!
I sent a message to Congressman Gerry Connelly of 11th district Va to ask about an initiative he introduced to require Congress to have to approve changing any civil servant categorizations from merit to "at will" and to limit the number that can be changed at any one time. It was introduced almost a year ago (at least) and I haven't heard what happened with it, but if it's passed then there's that... One would think we'd have heard if it passed, but heck wouldn't you have thought we'd have heard when it was introduced, too? I know I wouldn't have if it weren't my old district...
@Barbara Jo Krieger - the vital importance of grassroots organizing is exactly where we need to focus.
The Democratic National Party tried to win the 2024 election by raising money, asking for donations, buying ads.
Elon Musk can out-spend all of us.
But he only has one vote.
245 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2024 Election.
Some 90 million did not.
Just as the Poor People's Campaign is attempting to engage those who feel helpless, ignored and unheard, yet in their numbers have the power to determine outcomes,
we must somehow reach people and help them vote for their own interests instead of against them.
The top 10% of the richest people in American own about 87% of the stocks.
The top 1% own nearly HALF of the stocks.
The inequalities will only lead to violent revolution.
Examples: Boston Tea Party, French Revolution ("let them eat cake"), and recent events including the murder of the UnitedHealthCare CEO and domestic terrorism acts either by guns or vehicles or bombs.
"The Democratic National Party tried to win the 2024 election by raising money, asking for donations, buying ads.
Elon Musk can out-spend all of us."
Got it!
I think that misses the critical point. That point is *how effectively* the money is spent, not how *much* money us spent.
I could not watch the proceedings yesterday. The Mike Johnson smirk was entirely too much. As I read through this piece, I was aware of a visceral reaction to those events of and on the anniversary of January 6th. Even now I can feel it. It doesn't stop me from reading and engaging. But, it's so effing hard. I wrote a piece on Linda McMahon. She is despicable. I taught for 25 years, my husband taught for 50, yes 50! He retired then was asked to return to run a special program for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. It was his first love. I say that without any jealousy, but with admiration. It was a gift to see him in action. Linda McMahon's actions have been and continue to be despicable. Not only is she shamefully disqualified to serve in such a position, she, like Trump, promotes violence and has grown very rich doing so. She wouldn't recognize public service if it threw her to the mat.
This is another inadequate nominee to urge our members of Congress to oppose. I will call today. Thank you for the story about you and your husband’s teaching careers!
I wrote a piece about her on Substack.
Given Merrick Garland's continued and inexplicable dithering to go after the head of the insurrection and mastermind of Jan 6 it has to be expected that he won't authorize the publication of the Jack Smith report.
The President ordering his AG to do this would be a clear act within his official duties. An act that would be sanctioned by law, thank you SCOTUS.
Let's hope President Biden is doing the right thing.
I hope President Biden does that “right thing” soon. Time‘s a-wasting!
Robert correctly I believe observes that "If Trump is rebuffed by the NY state appellate courts, he will certainly seek relief in the US Supreme Court—which has shown unholy deference to the first president to attempt a coup." I just want to suggest two different things: 1) "Supine" might be a good adjective for the conservative majority of our SCOTUS; and 2) a huge amount of all these horrific developments in our democracy and even the rise of Trump himself to levels well beyond his merit can be laid at the feet of the truly despicable "Citizens United" ruling which, among other things, allowed Musk to buy our just settled national election.
We're in a big ravine, we'll need strong first responders to get us out.
points well made
"Whatever Trump does, he will be roundly condemned." - you mean like he was today, when he wasn't? Or like he was the last 4 years, which resulted in zero consequences? I'm sure he's lying awake at night trembling in fear of our toothless condemnation as he rakes in ever more of our tax dollars raiding the government coffers and profiting off the secrets and quid pro quos he sells to the highest bidders.
Every act of the incoming madministration [sic] should be looked upon as an assault on our rights and the core values of our great nation. I intend to ignore as much of the cacophony of chaos as I can, and focus on things I can do to defend our rights and values.
Madministration ✅ and malministration
Your lovely tribute to the first Secretary of Education and the stark comparison to the current nominee for the job brought me to tears. Thank you for recounting Shirley’s vast accomplishments and contributions. She was truly remarkable. As a proud retired educator, I do fervently hope that dismantling the department will be no easy task. Our children and grandchildren deserve so much better than the plans of this incoming administration.
With a "supine" Supreme Court, a craven Republican party, and a compliant new Secretary of the Department of Education, won't it be pretty easy to abolish the Departmet of Education and return whatever policies and practices it controls to the States? As Gene points out, does Trump care whether he is "roundly condemned"? He promised to "drain the swamp" and was elected the first time? There will be a wind of "fiscal responsibility" behind every destruction of every part of the Federal government that Trump wants to destroy, thus leaving money for the only policy move he cares about: more money for the rich. We object to abandoning Ukraine? Sorry, can't afford to supporting Ukraine. We object to Kennedy destroying the National Institutes of Health? Sorry, that is another bloated Federal bureaucracy that forces people to be healthier than they want to be (or gives us false "research" and now the government wants to spend millions putting warning new warning labels on beer cans?) You get my point. As we have seen in the backward look at Jan. 6, 2021 that has depressed and bedazzled us for the last 24 hours, Republicans "roundly condemned" the attacks on the Capitol -- for a day or two.
Last summer, we said the Courts won't save us, the Republicans won't save us, the rich will not save us. All we had is the electoral process. That trust, which I shared, generated an election in which 90 million of our fellow citizens could not be stirred to vote and registered Democrats and independents turned away from a candidate with a great record because they didn't "know" her. Or because she was a woman or Black or "other." Since the election it seems the Democratic Party has closed up shop. The Republican Party since Reagan has rewritten the story of America and no matter what Trump does, there will be no blowback from his party or Republican office holders or it seems from the oft-talked-about-but-seldom-seen American people. Government is the enemy except when it enriches the insanely rich. Republicans will take no responsibility for any ill effects of any decision, and Trump will deny and lie and rewrite history, the present, and America's future. He will pardon whom he want sto. (Majority Leader Senator Thune gave him his blessing.)
I am not wallowing in John Bunyan's Slough of Despond, but I can see it from here. I will continue to write and phone objections to the Cabinet nominations, etc. and work while the light lasts and I know that the Hubbell community is still resisting and opposing, but the Right is not going to abandon Trump no matter what he does or doesn't do and -- we have enough evidence of that. The rich will bow down to the richest man in the world and Donald Trump has made us all complicit in his drama of revenge, cruelty, and paranoia. I will look for some bright spots, but what we all need is a path forward. Grassroots organizations are great are we coordinated and organized? We are all mostly playing defense not offense and the Republican triumph in a narrow election gets magnified by every consolidation of power and asinine nomination. Check out Trump's nomination of Kevin Marino Cabrera to be Ambassador to Panama. He is a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and was Florida Trump campaign Director for Florida in 2020.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-names-kevin-marino-cabrera-us-ambassador-panama-rcna185426
Yes, thanks for saying what I’ve been thinking, since the election, the Democrats have been silent. I’m disgusted with the DNC, who keeps asking me for money. The GOP has succeeded in rewriting history and stealing the present day through bots and disinformation. Where is the fight?
Also, Robert, thanks for clarifying “certify” in this congressional context. I had not questioned its use.
Thank You, Robert Hubbell, for the story about your friend and our first Secretary of the Dept. of Education, Shirley Hufstedler! I love stories like these. I am currently reading a book by Sharon McMahon called: “The Small and the Mighty”. And it is filled with stories similar to Shirley’s, important citizens making a difference in their ways with outsized impact. And also, I might add, lost to or not included in most common History instruction. Only “Life Long Learning” has filled in these gaps for me with such important characters, and actions. I am richer for knowing this story. Again, Thank You.
Yes, this type of history is precious. I’m a big admirer of Joseph Albers (and let’s not forget his amazing wife Anni Albers) who was an icon in art education. Both are key figures in art history. So the very personal story about Shirley Hufstedler is magical and so important.
For Trump and his appointees, history is watching, history is recording, history will be telling - there is no escaping the writing of history. The same for McConnell, Johnson, SCOTUS, and the rest. History will provide them with a form of retribution. Trump fears truth and accurate history. They all should. But he / they can’t stop the accurate telling of history…
Sorry, Josef Albers… to be precise.
I am consistently impressed by Robert’s ability to present what is objectively very bad news in a context that makes it possible to remain hopeful. In my opinion, this is the only approach that makes sense. We can’t ignore what is taking place, but neither should we catastrophize or fall into despair.
Thank you for today's dose of perspective!
How many exceptional individuals helped open doors and break glass ceilings and set standards despite never receiving their laurels?
The contrasts between the trailblazers and the current nominees continue to astound me.
I will never understand how djt is not in prison for the rest of his natural life.
January 6 will remain a day of national mourning for me.
Rachel Maddow demonstrated her unique gift for telling a story on her show last night.
The list of criminal offenses for which individuals have been sentenced was stomach-churning,
to envision djt pardoning and releasing them with the stroke of a pen on January 20 is an outrage.
Continue to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.
I just couldn’t watch it. 😞
I can't watch or hear any news at all now. And may stop reading even Robert and HCR. Turner classic movies, old Law & Orders ( which are scarily relevant) . Channeling the end of "Candide", which I taught HS AP Lit students for many years. Is life actually stranger than fiction? Guess I will cultivate my garden, tiny as it is. Such a sense of loss knowing a woman who would have been a great president today did her constitutional duty to "certify", accept, ratify, acknowledge this horror ...no words to describe him...as our next president. Broken-hearted.
I didn’t watch it but we can’t completely tune out. No TV or radio news for me right now. Also no Amazon Prime and I need to pull the plug on FB. (Not easy because I have an 2 informal FB work groups that I reference for info occasionally but there are direct sources I can go back to for answers to various work related questions. I will still read HCR, Timothy Snyder, Robert Reich and Robert Hubbell.
Any bets that Trump pardons everyone involved in the insurrection? I suppose he can have a beautiful "love feast" and blame sacrifice a few bad apples, but I bet he will blanket pardon the whole crowd.
If he does pardon them, will he be guilty of "providing aid and comfort"?🤔
But then you have people arguing that article 14 section 3 doesn’t apply to the president of the United States?? We need to get in there and clarify (how I have no clue - I’m just one plebiscite on the rat race wheel) all of these gray areas of the constitution. I’m so fed up with how this orange stain oligarch despot autocrat strongman authoritarian dictator can manipulate the justice system and the language of the constitution and pack the Supreme Court with his lackey lap dogs.
Thank you for sharing the story of Jack Smith and his attempt to dispatch his report as Special Counsel. The scenario of Cannon squelching this release simply bewilders.
So Cannon has delayed the release by 3 days. Robert called that one.
This evil minion of Trump can go ...
And to top this ruling off, the NC Supreme Court postponed any certification of the Riggs race for 2 weeks...
I am not a happy camper...
Continuing the theme of “Learning never ends,” if you look up the origins of "educate," you come to the Latin word "educo." Educo communicates the idea of leading, as in leading out, guiding, or developing. It also conveys the idea of drawing up or bringing up.
This makes education more than simply the study of a subject. The act of learning is intended to guide, lead, or develop something beyond the straightforward factual content of a lesson.
The transfer of information in education is not simply moving content from one location to another, like moving your clothes from the washing machine into the dryer. Rather, there’s an intention for something to happen beyond what is spoken, shown, or enacted.
When you look deeply into education, you see the fundamental importance of intention. Rarely, if ever, do we learn anything just to learn it, but rather, we learn things inside of an “in-order-to.” The in-order-to is formed and then shaped by the intention for whatever is to be learned.
T and cohort’s efforts to interpret the story of what happened on J6 2020 are acts of education with a clear intention. What confronts us is not a civil war. What confronts us is a will to shape what is known and, by that shaping, steer the course of our mighty ship of state.
Yes, the possibility of learning or, more broadly, education or educo, is at all times available. Robert, here, is a model of that, and we readers are availing ourselves of his education or leading out. Our nation's health rests on inspiring others into this education rather than drinking from the tap of Fox News or other spews of tainted intents.
I suggest beginning the inquiry with three questions. 1) What are the benefits or payoffs enjoyed by continuing as before? 2) What are the costs of continuing as before? And 3) What are the costs in changing?
Our system has been too focused on grades so it becomes more of a competition and end game as opposed to fostering a love and respect for the process of life long learning. What follows, is that people place their value on knowing *an* answer as opposed to their ability to ask questions and learn.
We must accept the results of the 2024 election. But to me it is a bridge too far to celebrate the confirmation of Trump's victory as an example of the system working.
The system is not well. It is on life support. What we have just experienced are some sharp, bad faith operators taking advantage of the loopholes and weaknesses in the system, which is not built to repel sharp, bad faith operators and assumes they will be filtered out long before January 6th. Let's not forget that the Nazis assume power "peacefully" in 1933.
To me the message is that the system did not do its job and the bad guys won. Ok, we need to pick ourselves up and figure out how to move on in response to that. Celebrating the workings of democracy is, to me, not part of that plan,
Absolutely agree. Article 14 has been stomped upon by SCOTUS. I’m no lawyer, but it sure looks like the Constitution is on life support. Going through this ceremony that is about a convicted felon and an adjudicated rapist is too far for me.
How do we change the constitution to clarify article 14 section 3 to include the president vice president????
Agreed