Robert Hubbell is performing a key role in pointing out how "The Mainstream Media" seems determined to endlessly exaggerate the difficulties faced by Democratic candidates this year, while ignoring how every Republican who gains a contested nomination
has to pay obeisance to what 65% of voters KNOW to be a lie. We can't let this absurd imbalance deter us from making a massive effort over the next six months to defeat the Trump idolators and to preserve American democracy for the coming generations. That this stark contrast must be presented to all American voters is NOT hyperbole, it is reality.
Roger, I deeply appreciated your comment and agree that the “stark contrast,” which I view as white hegemony v pluralistic democracy, must repeatedly be amplified nationwide. At the same time the public repeatedly must hear, despite Republican resistance, about the Dems’ legislative accomplished as well as the many bills they tried to deliver that were blocked. My posting on this thread elaborates on the latter.
I agree with your comments but I believe we are witnessing the racism that has existed for years which is now out in the open and fortunately a large percentage of our country are to some degree racists. The Biden Administration has done an excellent job in foreign affairs and made our country safer but the average voter doesn’t care or understand the value of this. People need to ask Republican’s to share their proposals for inflation, high gas prices and a response to the Republican led Replacement Theory.
Stephen, Though I agree with your reply on all counts, as incredulous as it sounds, when McConnell was asked about his party’s platform, he answered that we would find out once the party took back power. To date, no one has followed up.
I assume Mr. Berg meant "unfortunately" in reference to the prevalence of racists in our society. But we progressives are, I believe, better advised to depict the fundamental conflict as one of "democracy" v. anti-Constitutionalists and not put the focus on race.
I did mean unfortunately and intellectually the conflict is between democracy as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and the Federalists originalists who have there own definitions depending upon the issue but the underlying foundation is the view of the world defined by rich old white guys.
How unfortunate is that? We need young men and women to take the seats of those “old white men.” There need to be term limits in the Senate and the House. We will just end up with more Mitch McConnell’s if we don’t.
Roger, Rhetorically, I believe polar messaging is most effective when one conveys what each side represents rather than the opposition merely being anti-whatever.
Republicans have no response as to what they would do. They are simply going to blame President Biden and extol their passing of anti-abortion laws and the upcoming demise of Roe v Wade facilitated by their Supreme Court Majority!
Thanks for pointing this out, Roger. I think the mainstream press took against Biden a while back and now subtly manipulate readers with the order in which achievements and mistakes are presented in both articles and editorials, in the simple use of words like "However," in the use of all the skills of good writers to create the reality. we believe. It's the main thing that drove me into the environs of Mr. Hubbell and Ms. Richardson.
I, too, am outraged, let alone deeply concerned, by the despicable scandals Robert cites that he rightfully claims have not been subject to sufficient critical scrutiny. I also trust that fellow subscribers will comment on the horrific consequences of not subjecting the words and deeds of these Republicans to such scrutiny.
I wish, instead, to present a different list, a list of hugely popular bills drafted by House Democrats over the past 16 months and opposed by nearly every House Republican. Here are some of them (Source: Mehdi Hasan):
1) A bill to give money to the FDA to help tackle the baby formula shortage
2) A bill to increase resources against domestic terrorism
3) A bill to crack down on price gouging by all companies
4) A bill to increase funding to areas of persistent poverty
5) A bill to provide billions in relief to restaurants and small businesses hit hard by the pandemic
6) A bill to cap the price of insulin
7) A bill to help veterans exposed to burn pits
8) A bill to increase American competition with China
9) A bill to extend child tax credits, establish universal Pre-K, and give Seniors free hearing aids
10) A bill to codify Roe v Wade into law and prevent premature births
11) A bill to strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965
12) A bill to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act
13) A bill to bring in new background checks for private gun sales
14) A bill to send $1,400 checks to ordinary Americans
15) A bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
—————
Considering the vast majority of House Republicans, “in their nihilism and denialism,” voted against each and every one of those hugely popular bills, Hasan notes that maybe House Democrats, and not Mehdi Hasan on Cable, should repeatedly be amplifying the legislation they were able to deliver despite nearly every House Republican voting against it. Similarly, Senate Democrats should express in full detail the legislation they would have advanced had it not been blocked, mostly by Republicans.
Thank you Barbara Jo for the list of "hugely popular bills", a focused list to positively impact fellow citizens lives - real action with real remedies.
My pleasure, Bryan. The work ahead is to prevail upon Democratic leadership to ensure that voters nationwide fully are aware of all the bills Democrats would have passed into law had their passage not been blocked. Meantime, as I have stated elsewhere, Senate Democrats should pass whichever Budget Reconciliation provisions (BBB) can gain support from 50 Senators and present the legislation to voters as a down payment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats. House Democrats already have passed the full package so we’re just waiting on the Senate.
Ms. Krieger has performed a real public service by compiling this stark list of Republican destructive behavior in service of simply preventing the Biden administration from being able to cite ANY accomplishments, no matter how popular the action may be in THEIR districts.
There is a perfect model for how Democratic candidates can make this issue a winning platform: Harry Truman's against-all-odds 1948 victory. His theme was the "Do Nothing" GOP-dominated 80th Congress. Ours can be the "Oppose Everything" Republican Senators and Representatives in this current Congress. Keep the message succinct and simple and direct and it will WORK.
I agree that Dems need some succinct and hard hitting messaging. The "oppose Everything" GOP however has an unfortunately positive ring for the GOP---Mitch sees it as virtuous that he has opposed the Dems at every turn. Just my opinion.
Roger, I greatly appreciated your comment, and only would add that the Democratic messaging I had in mind simply would state:“America, when they didn’t care about you, we did.”
Virginia, Because passage of Budget Reconciliation provisions only requires support from the 50 Democratic Senators, McConnell can’t block it. As for Manchin and Sinema, consider the following:
In West Virginia, Manchin’s West Virginian constituents have identified jobs, healthcare, childcare, and tax reform as their top priorities. Additionally, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
As for Arizona, there are repeated calls for expanding health care and also for holding Sinema accountable for her unseemly corporate ties, especially to Big Pharma.
Thank you for sharing this information with me. I hope their constituents speak up either now or in the midterms in the fall. We the People need to send the message to our Representatives and Senators that if they don’t vote for the things that we need, we won’t vote for them!
Virginia, As we speak, I’m encouraging whoever is interested to press Democratic leadership to use the polling data to pressure Manchin and Sinema to sign on to at least some of the budget reconciliation provisions (BBB) to present to voters as the downpayment, I noted earlier, of more to come if Dems retain the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
I posted this list on my personal Facebook page. You made its easy to share. I ended may post with this: Why would Republicans do this? It's an election and power ploy. It makes the Democrats look worthless and like "do-nothings." It only works if no one sees it happening. This Ohio girl raised as a Republican left "the party" when Reagan promoted "trickle down." Yeah, right; like rich people would share. How's that working for you? We pay taxes; they don't. They get to keep more of what they earn and we don't. Your allegiance should not be a to a party but to your own human needs and worries and care for yourself and others. Be sure you know what you are voting - or not voting - for. Or you may be very surprised at what you lose for ignoring what some people are trying to take from us all.
Deborah, For some time, I have been promoting the idea that, nationwide, the country needs an Explainer-in-Chief to educate people about what they’re losing every time Biden’s agenda is stalled. Hence, I, especially appreciated your final point.
Jeri, Manchin’s West Virginian constituents have named jobs, health care, childcare, and tax reform as top priorities. Furthermore, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
Though you didn’t ask, voters in Arizona largely are calling for expanding healthcare, while also holding Sinema accountable for her unseemly corporate ties, especially to Big Pharma.
Great repost. Here’s the audio version of Mehdi Hasan’s self-prescribed 60 second “rant” challenge (and shows what is so great about Twitter as a forum for channeling our outrage and amplifying progressive messages and actions!):
Florida desperately needs to replace Marco Rubio with Val Demings. He is ineffectual, better known for his inappropriate Biblical quotes on Twitter than any action to improve lives here in Florida. Val Demings was a shining star as the impeachment manager in the first trial of Trump. She’s intelligent, experienced, & knowledgeable.
Regarding today’s post, it is accurate & timely. It is frustrating to see what the Republicans do, & are not called out for, plus, as you point out, one short-lived scandal is replaced by the next, with biased reporting by the MSM. It reminds me of the endless coverage of Trump which contributed to his election as President. Thank you.
She will be a donation target for me. Of course, Pelosi email says McCarthy has $146,000,000 to help elect Repubs, and can I donate. Like I haven’t watched my money go down the tubes for decades…Dems can’t counter Rupert’s lies now that MSM seems inept at countering the Fox narrative, or even “just the facts, ma’am.”
I am old and my outrage meter has been high since Ronnie, but hit max with chump where it stays stuck. I have watched the inmates take over the asylum with self-righteous pride in their evil strategy. I have protested, donated and screamed to the high heavens while people around me debate Dancing With The Stars. We seem to be on the Titanic, yet I try…
Jeri, I am sure you are not old. I will be 73 in June and I don’t think I am old. My knees and left hip tell me I am old, but I am replacing them! I feel frustrated as you do, though. Young people are not taking voting seriously. So many people eligible to vote don’t bother. I want to pull my hair out sometimes!
To your advice on not losing our capacity for outrage, I add “don't just stand there and whine do something to make a positive difference.”
I see too many who feel overwhelmed by the daily outrage pushed at them. They are still trying to comprehend what to do about yesterday’s trauma when they learn of something else requiring their outrage. My own advice to them is decide one thing you believe you can do something about, preferably on a local or perhaps state level and focus on that with a precise laser like focus. Gather others to help with that one thing. There will be plenty of time to take on additional challenges after you have addressed the first challenge.
If you instead simply focus on the latest outrage you are unlikely to accomplish much of anything and only damage your mental and emotional health.
I have been full of outrage since before the 2016 election. My own sister tells me to chill out because nothing we can do will help. I will not turn off my outrage until our democracy is safe. Outrage takes its toll, but I will not give up.
Glad you put a question mark after your title for this piece, Robert. I would have titled it "Outrage simmering just below the surface ready to explode" ... and using an explanation point! It's 5 am here and my outrage is palpable and keeping me awake livid with simmering outrage. The media is a major part of the problem now -- even the so called liberal press. Even MSNBC in the lead-in photos for their highlights articles on Youtube show TRUMP eight times for every picture of President Biden. I counted. Talk about obsequious obeyance of the media to the ugliest person (inside and out) in the world. Republicans are doing a great job of villifying Biden with the media as willing accomplices. I believe women's rights will be the decisive issue turning outrage into voter turnout. I was hopeful when George Floyd's death felt like the beginning of a movement with people of all races and backgrounds joining together. Alas, the media made that a circus. Now I'm feeling a certainty that women's rights are being seen as human rights and the outrage that started with racial justice will explode into a movement despite the media and turn out voters in November. We, the people, ALL OF US this time!
Let's not forget the repeated stink of corruption that a new Trump administration would certainly usher in. Read this NYT article about how Trump's son-in-law and Treasury Secretary were out soliciting investors for their post administration funds (all the while joining in the Big Lie chorus). Vote decency, vote Democrat!
per NYT: "Kushner’s and Mnuchin’s Quick Pivots to Business With the Gulf. Weeks before the Trump administration ended, Jared Kushner and Steven Mnuchin met with future investors on official trips to the Middle East."
More than your arms must have been tired, Robert. The story you cited was from NYT, not WAPO, and the quote came not from a Republican voter, but from Rep. Carolyn Bordeaux, a wonderful congresswoman who may be defeated tomorrow, because another fine congresswoman, Lucy McBath, chose to run in Carolyn’s redrawn, more Democratic-favorable district rather than her much more challenging one. (So Democrats will lose one admirable legislator when they might—not probably, but possibly—have had two.)
But tired as you might have been, you certainly got it right that it is up to us to carry the outrage, AND to make it clear that we do. I’m going to suggest to my senators (Warren and Markey) that they bring a resolution to censure Sen. Cassidy. And I wonder how many thousand members of the Supreme Court bar we could get to sign a petition for Justice Thomas to recuse himself from all cases involving Jan. 6. (Indeed, he ought to recuse himself from all cases involving the Trump maladministration,)
Robert it sounds like you had a tiring bit rewarding weekend with your grandchildren who in essence are the future of our country and for whom in part you write. For months I have been looking for the outrage and just last night had a discussion about that issue with friends. Our bottom line is that most voters are over whelmed with the volume of Republican anti everything and own the libs diarrhea and almost daily stories about corruption and misleads by the Trump Administration and media negativity towards the Biden Administration. We feel most people don’t feel themselves the threat to Democracy and what it means to their everyday lives. We as a group feel that there is quiet outrage brewing and total discuss with Republican candidates and their racists rhetoric. We think many people are keeping their views to themselves and that come November will quietly vote and make their outrage known. As the Edition stated there is something happening everyday that could influence the election but we can never forget that midterms are local and that is where the focus needs to be. I hope we are right.
“The wife of a supreme court justice participated in an attempted coup. That fact is outrageous and should matter to every American and should remain on the front pages of every newspaper in America until the justice resigns or recuses himself from all election-related cases.”
We need a simple postcard campaign, sent to SCOTUS.
JUSTICE ( and Ginnie) THOMAS SHOULD RESIGN !
Robert, you and Jill are awesome grandparents ! Little Mermaid is a classic :) Although a book based on a half-woman/half fish would probably be banned here in Florida !
Although slightly off-topic I want to comment on the CPAC/Carlson/Hungary point. I am tired of hearing all the First Amendment purists talk about speech being the best antedate to hateful speech. Or how important it is to open yourself to opposing ideas. Blah blah blah. When Hitler told Germans in the mid-30’s that Jews were the source of Germany’s problems he didn’t need to say: Go out and kill them. He KNEW to a moral certainty that there were lots of Germans who would do just that. Today, in America, advocates of the replacement ideology say: We are innocent of Buffalo because WE don’t suggest violence. But, like Hitler, they know perfectly well the consequences of their words. I don’t have an easy answer to the very real First Amendment concerns. But for once let’s talk about the REAL issues. One thing we can say for sure: The authors of the First Amendment did not imagine a world in which hateful, inciting, or any, speech would be costless, instantaneous, and capable of reaching the whole country in a few seconds, with the click of a mouse. (Please no responses about guns being the problem. I agree that they are A problem, but let’s stick to the First Amendment issues.)
Thank you Ellie Kona for the Contact info for important campaigns in Pennsylvania, North Carolina & Oregon. Also $upporting "Dr. Bob" Lorinser in Michigan's 1st District; Dr. Bob's soliciations double as substantive Campaign Updates.
This is the value of Twitter for easily curating and amplifying messages in support of democracy.
Love Dr. Bob! MaryPat Sercu has educated us about his opponent, a right wing incumbent from Louisiana, as I recall, whose residency qualification is his vacation cabin, and who’s got to go!
Thank you Ellie Kona! And thank you for all you do on this site, HCR's and for Heather's Heard! I have learned so much, and the resources you discover are always spot on!
My outrage, which has been eating at me for years now, has bought me counseling and Zoloft. But I think the only thing that will help is winning the midterms. I walk around outraged all the time. The thing that helps most is my work against these traitors of which there is plenty with multiple organizations, but then most of you probably know this. I am starting to be outraged by PBS too. Judy Woodruff’s intonation is damning when she talks of inflation or the size of BBB. But I just can’t understand that dems can’t fight against this messaging. I am desperate already!
Robert Hubbell is performing a key role in pointing out how "The Mainstream Media" seems determined to endlessly exaggerate the difficulties faced by Democratic candidates this year, while ignoring how every Republican who gains a contested nomination
has to pay obeisance to what 65% of voters KNOW to be a lie. We can't let this absurd imbalance deter us from making a massive effort over the next six months to defeat the Trump idolators and to preserve American democracy for the coming generations. That this stark contrast must be presented to all American voters is NOT hyperbole, it is reality.
Roger, I deeply appreciated your comment and agree that the “stark contrast,” which I view as white hegemony v pluralistic democracy, must repeatedly be amplified nationwide. At the same time the public repeatedly must hear, despite Republican resistance, about the Dems’ legislative accomplished as well as the many bills they tried to deliver that were blocked. My posting on this thread elaborates on the latter.
I agree with your comments but I believe we are witnessing the racism that has existed for years which is now out in the open and fortunately a large percentage of our country are to some degree racists. The Biden Administration has done an excellent job in foreign affairs and made our country safer but the average voter doesn’t care or understand the value of this. People need to ask Republican’s to share their proposals for inflation, high gas prices and a response to the Republican led Replacement Theory.
Stephen, Though I agree with your reply on all counts, as incredulous as it sounds, when McConnell was asked about his party’s platform, he answered that we would find out once the party took back power. To date, no one has followed up.
I assume Mr. Berg meant "unfortunately" in reference to the prevalence of racists in our society. But we progressives are, I believe, better advised to depict the fundamental conflict as one of "democracy" v. anti-Constitutionalists and not put the focus on race.
I did mean unfortunately and intellectually the conflict is between democracy as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and the Federalists originalists who have there own definitions depending upon the issue but the underlying foundation is the view of the world defined by rich old white guys.
How unfortunate is that? We need young men and women to take the seats of those “old white men.” There need to be term limits in the Senate and the House. We will just end up with more Mitch McConnell’s if we don’t.
Roger, Rhetorically, I believe polar messaging is most effective when one conveys what each side represents rather than the opposition merely being anti-whatever.
Republicans have no response as to what they would do. They are simply going to blame President Biden and extol their passing of anti-abortion laws and the upcoming demise of Roe v Wade facilitated by their Supreme Court Majority!
All you have to do is look at who owns these publications to understand why they are determined to sabotage Democrats. As always, follow the money.
Thanks for pointing this out, Roger. I think the mainstream press took against Biden a while back and now subtly manipulate readers with the order in which achievements and mistakes are presented in both articles and editorials, in the simple use of words like "However," in the use of all the skills of good writers to create the reality. we believe. It's the main thing that drove me into the environs of Mr. Hubbell and Ms. Richardson.
I, too, am outraged, let alone deeply concerned, by the despicable scandals Robert cites that he rightfully claims have not been subject to sufficient critical scrutiny. I also trust that fellow subscribers will comment on the horrific consequences of not subjecting the words and deeds of these Republicans to such scrutiny.
I wish, instead, to present a different list, a list of hugely popular bills drafted by House Democrats over the past 16 months and opposed by nearly every House Republican. Here are some of them (Source: Mehdi Hasan):
1) A bill to give money to the FDA to help tackle the baby formula shortage
2) A bill to increase resources against domestic terrorism
3) A bill to crack down on price gouging by all companies
4) A bill to increase funding to areas of persistent poverty
5) A bill to provide billions in relief to restaurants and small businesses hit hard by the pandemic
6) A bill to cap the price of insulin
7) A bill to help veterans exposed to burn pits
8) A bill to increase American competition with China
9) A bill to extend child tax credits, establish universal Pre-K, and give Seniors free hearing aids
10) A bill to codify Roe v Wade into law and prevent premature births
11) A bill to strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965
12) A bill to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act
13) A bill to bring in new background checks for private gun sales
14) A bill to send $1,400 checks to ordinary Americans
15) A bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
—————
Considering the vast majority of House Republicans, “in their nihilism and denialism,” voted against each and every one of those hugely popular bills, Hasan notes that maybe House Democrats, and not Mehdi Hasan on Cable, should repeatedly be amplifying the legislation they were able to deliver despite nearly every House Republican voting against it. Similarly, Senate Democrats should express in full detail the legislation they would have advanced had it not been blocked, mostly by Republicans.
Thank you Barbara Jo for the list of "hugely popular bills", a focused list to positively impact fellow citizens lives - real action with real remedies.
My pleasure, Bryan. The work ahead is to prevail upon Democratic leadership to ensure that voters nationwide fully are aware of all the bills Democrats would have passed into law had their passage not been blocked. Meantime, as I have stated elsewhere, Senate Democrats should pass whichever Budget Reconciliation provisions (BBB) can gain support from 50 Senators and present the legislation to voters as a down payment of more to come if Dems hold the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats. House Democrats already have passed the full package so we’re just waiting on the Senate.
Ms. Krieger has performed a real public service by compiling this stark list of Republican destructive behavior in service of simply preventing the Biden administration from being able to cite ANY accomplishments, no matter how popular the action may be in THEIR districts.
There is a perfect model for how Democratic candidates can make this issue a winning platform: Harry Truman's against-all-odds 1948 victory. His theme was the "Do Nothing" GOP-dominated 80th Congress. Ours can be the "Oppose Everything" Republican Senators and Representatives in this current Congress. Keep the message succinct and simple and direct and it will WORK.
I agree that Dems need some succinct and hard hitting messaging. The "oppose Everything" GOP however has an unfortunately positive ring for the GOP---Mitch sees it as virtuous that he has opposed the Dems at every turn. Just my opinion.
Roger, I greatly appreciated your comment, and only would add that the Democratic messaging I had in mind simply would state:“America, when they didn’t care about you, we did.”
How about “The Oppose and Wreck Republicans”?
Concur with strategies (plural).
I fear that Mitch McConnell will hold that up until after the primaries. Manchin and Sinema would probably stop it as well.
Virginia, Because passage of Budget Reconciliation provisions only requires support from the 50 Democratic Senators, McConnell can’t block it. As for Manchin and Sinema, consider the following:
In West Virginia, Manchin’s West Virginian constituents have identified jobs, healthcare, childcare, and tax reform as their top priorities. Additionally, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
As for Arizona, there are repeated calls for expanding health care and also for holding Sinema accountable for her unseemly corporate ties, especially to Big Pharma.
Thank you for sharing this information with me. I hope their constituents speak up either now or in the midterms in the fall. We the People need to send the message to our Representatives and Senators that if they don’t vote for the things that we need, we won’t vote for them!
Virginia, As we speak, I’m encouraging whoever is interested to press Democratic leadership to use the polling data to pressure Manchin and Sinema to sign on to at least some of the budget reconciliation provisions (BBB) to present to voters as the downpayment, I noted earlier, of more to come if Dems retain the House and pick up at least 2 Senate seats.
I posted this list on my personal Facebook page. You made its easy to share. I ended may post with this: Why would Republicans do this? It's an election and power ploy. It makes the Democrats look worthless and like "do-nothings." It only works if no one sees it happening. This Ohio girl raised as a Republican left "the party" when Reagan promoted "trickle down." Yeah, right; like rich people would share. How's that working for you? We pay taxes; they don't. They get to keep more of what they earn and we don't. Your allegiance should not be a to a party but to your own human needs and worries and care for yourself and others. Be sure you know what you are voting - or not voting - for. Or you may be very surprised at what you lose for ignoring what some people are trying to take from us all.
Deborah, For some time, I have been promoting the idea that, nationwide, the country needs an Explainer-in-Chief to educate people about what they’re losing every time Biden’s agenda is stalled. Hence, I, especially appreciated your final point.
Does Manchin support ANY of these????
Jeri, Manchin’s West Virginian constituents have named jobs, health care, childcare, and tax reform as top priorities. Furthermore, workers affiliated with the United Coal Miners Union are itching for the training to help them make the transition from the fossil fuel industry to clean energy jobs.
Though you didn’t ask, voters in Arizona largely are calling for expanding healthcare, while also holding Sinema accountable for her unseemly corporate ties, especially to Big Pharma.
Great repost. Here’s the audio version of Mehdi Hasan’s self-prescribed 60 second “rant” challenge (and shows what is so great about Twitter as a forum for channeling our outrage and amplifying progressive messages and actions!):
https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1528543251392757761?s=21&t=QTEXigbkckwVShy2yJ5FlA
Florida desperately needs to replace Marco Rubio with Val Demings. He is ineffectual, better known for his inappropriate Biblical quotes on Twitter than any action to improve lives here in Florida. Val Demings was a shining star as the impeachment manager in the first trial of Trump. She’s intelligent, experienced, & knowledgeable.
Regarding today’s post, it is accurate & timely. It is frustrating to see what the Republicans do, & are not called out for, plus, as you point out, one short-lived scandal is replaced by the next, with biased reporting by the MSM. It reminds me of the endless coverage of Trump which contributed to his election as President. Thank you.
She will be a donation target for me. Of course, Pelosi email says McCarthy has $146,000,000 to help elect Repubs, and can I donate. Like I haven’t watched my money go down the tubes for decades…Dems can’t counter Rupert’s lies now that MSM seems inept at countering the Fox narrative, or even “just the facts, ma’am.”
I’m in Florida and continue to support Val. She has a track record that demonstrates commitment to service.
Would love to see a Rubio/Demings debate !
https://youtu.be/kPtN0KsqYps
Wouldn’t we all!
I am old and my outrage meter has been high since Ronnie, but hit max with chump where it stays stuck. I have watched the inmates take over the asylum with self-righteous pride in their evil strategy. I have protested, donated and screamed to the high heavens while people around me debate Dancing With The Stars. We seem to be on the Titanic, yet I try…
Jeri, I am sure you are not old. I will be 73 in June and I don’t think I am old. My knees and left hip tell me I am old, but I am replacing them! I feel frustrated as you do, though. Young people are not taking voting seriously. So many people eligible to vote don’t bother. I want to pull my hair out sometimes!
To your advice on not losing our capacity for outrage, I add “don't just stand there and whine do something to make a positive difference.”
I see too many who feel overwhelmed by the daily outrage pushed at them. They are still trying to comprehend what to do about yesterday’s trauma when they learn of something else requiring their outrage. My own advice to them is decide one thing you believe you can do something about, preferably on a local or perhaps state level and focus on that with a precise laser like focus. Gather others to help with that one thing. There will be plenty of time to take on additional challenges after you have addressed the first challenge.
If you instead simply focus on the latest outrage you are unlikely to accomplish much of anything and only damage your mental and emotional health.
Good points! Too tired to make them last night. But will continue to make those points.
I have been full of outrage since before the 2016 election. My own sister tells me to chill out because nothing we can do will help. I will not turn off my outrage until our democracy is safe. Outrage takes its toll, but I will not give up.
Glad you put a question mark after your title for this piece, Robert. I would have titled it "Outrage simmering just below the surface ready to explode" ... and using an explanation point! It's 5 am here and my outrage is palpable and keeping me awake livid with simmering outrage. The media is a major part of the problem now -- even the so called liberal press. Even MSNBC in the lead-in photos for their highlights articles on Youtube show TRUMP eight times for every picture of President Biden. I counted. Talk about obsequious obeyance of the media to the ugliest person (inside and out) in the world. Republicans are doing a great job of villifying Biden with the media as willing accomplices. I believe women's rights will be the decisive issue turning outrage into voter turnout. I was hopeful when George Floyd's death felt like the beginning of a movement with people of all races and backgrounds joining together. Alas, the media made that a circus. Now I'm feeling a certainty that women's rights are being seen as human rights and the outrage that started with racial justice will explode into a movement despite the media and turn out voters in November. We, the people, ALL OF US this time!
Let's not forget the repeated stink of corruption that a new Trump administration would certainly usher in. Read this NYT article about how Trump's son-in-law and Treasury Secretary were out soliciting investors for their post administration funds (all the while joining in the Big Lie chorus). Vote decency, vote Democrat!
per NYT: "Kushner’s and Mnuchin’s Quick Pivots to Business With the Gulf. Weeks before the Trump administration ended, Jared Kushner and Steven Mnuchin met with future investors on official trips to the Middle East."
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/22/business/jared-kushner-steven-mnuchin-gulf-investments.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWka3DIDmwYiO4IGImG9lzWIqhqfdY_mjeGX99HPaVqX-B_0OJZeklrVgKoo53Bl4kBLWA0r5y-RX8z0pTRRvY47TruJCGfGdtI-Yee7ViAISTiRrqMkjB6dlMyv5plcVr92HRf2v3EFLZq3tR8ieNxAc8tWTdWMHSOu_DoAx0ua86ULU2JsnlAUO1cXzHTm9CW-uhAJF0UUQSaOSs5tWUs69pcO8cVOLL_LXMicMn4h7YXAw94PdvjRs1xF8WPyeIc4fOaogeMycG22_wyCK5U2brPuWu_P1slI6iEekyhjvQEhB0NiqoeJS4dlg&smid=em-share
More than your arms must have been tired, Robert. The story you cited was from NYT, not WAPO, and the quote came not from a Republican voter, but from Rep. Carolyn Bordeaux, a wonderful congresswoman who may be defeated tomorrow, because another fine congresswoman, Lucy McBath, chose to run in Carolyn’s redrawn, more Democratic-favorable district rather than her much more challenging one. (So Democrats will lose one admirable legislator when they might—not probably, but possibly—have had two.)
But tired as you might have been, you certainly got it right that it is up to us to carry the outrage, AND to make it clear that we do. I’m going to suggest to my senators (Warren and Markey) that they bring a resolution to censure Sen. Cassidy. And I wonder how many thousand members of the Supreme Court bar we could get to sign a petition for Justice Thomas to recuse himself from all cases involving Jan. 6. (Indeed, he ought to recuse himself from all cases involving the Trump maladministration,)
Yep; thanks for the correction. I wrote portions of the newsletter while babysitting. I have learned my lesson.
Robert it sounds like you had a tiring bit rewarding weekend with your grandchildren who in essence are the future of our country and for whom in part you write. For months I have been looking for the outrage and just last night had a discussion about that issue with friends. Our bottom line is that most voters are over whelmed with the volume of Republican anti everything and own the libs diarrhea and almost daily stories about corruption and misleads by the Trump Administration and media negativity towards the Biden Administration. We feel most people don’t feel themselves the threat to Democracy and what it means to their everyday lives. We as a group feel that there is quiet outrage brewing and total discuss with Republican candidates and their racists rhetoric. We think many people are keeping their views to themselves and that come November will quietly vote and make their outrage known. As the Edition stated there is something happening everyday that could influence the election but we can never forget that midterms are local and that is where the focus needs to be. I hope we are right.
“The wife of a supreme court justice participated in an attempted coup. That fact is outrageous and should matter to every American and should remain on the front pages of every newspaper in America until the justice resigns or recuses himself from all election-related cases.”
We need a simple postcard campaign, sent to SCOTUS.
JUSTICE ( and Ginnie) THOMAS SHOULD RESIGN !
Robert, you and Jill are awesome grandparents ! Little Mermaid is a classic :) Although a book based on a half-woman/half fish would probably be banned here in Florida !
Although slightly off-topic I want to comment on the CPAC/Carlson/Hungary point. I am tired of hearing all the First Amendment purists talk about speech being the best antedate to hateful speech. Or how important it is to open yourself to opposing ideas. Blah blah blah. When Hitler told Germans in the mid-30’s that Jews were the source of Germany’s problems he didn’t need to say: Go out and kill them. He KNEW to a moral certainty that there were lots of Germans who would do just that. Today, in America, advocates of the replacement ideology say: We are innocent of Buffalo because WE don’t suggest violence. But, like Hitler, they know perfectly well the consequences of their words. I don’t have an easy answer to the very real First Amendment concerns. But for once let’s talk about the REAL issues. One thing we can say for sure: The authors of the First Amendment did not imagine a world in which hateful, inciting, or any, speech would be costless, instantaneous, and capable of reaching the whole country in a few seconds, with the click of a mouse. (Please no responses about guns being the problem. I agree that they are A problem, but let’s stick to the First Amendment issues.)
Add "anonymous" to the list of "costless, instantaneous, and capable of reaching the whole country"
Please don’t forget to add Tim Ryan to your donor list. He has a good chance of beating that complete phony JD Vance in the Ohio Senate race.
Yes; i mentioned Tim Ryan prominently when he secured the nomination the prior week. I agree that he has a shot at winning.
Thank you Ellie Kona for the Contact info for important campaigns in Pennsylvania, North Carolina & Oregon. Also $upporting "Dr. Bob" Lorinser in Michigan's 1st District; Dr. Bob's soliciations double as substantive Campaign Updates.
YES! Dr. Bob! Thank You, Bryan!!
This is the value of Twitter for easily curating and amplifying messages in support of democracy.
Love Dr. Bob! MaryPat Sercu has educated us about his opponent, a right wing incumbent from Louisiana, as I recall, whose residency qualification is his vacation cabin, and who’s got to go!
Thank you Ellie Kona! And thank you for all you do on this site, HCR's and for Heather's Heard! I have learned so much, and the resources you discover are always spot on!
Don’t forget Mark Kelly in AZ
My outrage, which has been eating at me for years now, has bought me counseling and Zoloft. But I think the only thing that will help is winning the midterms. I walk around outraged all the time. The thing that helps most is my work against these traitors of which there is plenty with multiple organizations, but then most of you probably know this. I am starting to be outraged by PBS too. Judy Woodruff’s intonation is damning when she talks of inflation or the size of BBB. But I just can’t understand that dems can’t fight against this messaging. I am desperate already!