how to we connect ourselves with the "resistance" as you posit??? is there a contact number, agency, person with whom we can navigate this resistance! sounds lile 1935 all over again!
Ok, I’m back. I needed some time, and I will continue to be kind to myself and others in dealing with all of this, but here we are, and these are the times we live in. May we meet the coming challenges with strength, clarity, and grace.
It’s clear from things I’ve read that many of the people who voted for Trump were misinformed or believed outright lies. The problem I believe is with our journalistic standards. We have given up reporting the news in order to sensationalize and to gain subscriptions. Unless journalism can clean up its act, we have no chance of combating the right wing news organizations that pedal lies and that has resulted in the reelection of Donald Trump. This is serious folks.
So much I don't understand. Jack Smith's (aka the DOJ) amended indictment has already been filed with Judge Chutkan's Court so why don't the wheels of justice now take on a life of their own and continue to turn? Why, if signing the Ethics Pledge is "required" and he refuses, would he be allowed to proceed to the swearing in? What does "required" mean? President Biden has immunity until Jan 20 noon, can't he legally intervene? Wish he had replaced Garland as soon as it was clear he was not up to the big job of protecting the rule of law. Many of us felt that way soon after he was confirmed. I am, like millions of us, having a hard time one week out feeling hopeful. Will keep reading you, though. Need you and Heather, Thanks.
imho, it's the media who is responsible for the election outcome. you have called them out aplenty, and plenty of us understand that the media circus is why he won in 2016 and why he won this time. and they have the NERVE to talk smack about democrats losing the election? ack! I'm grateful for you, for your sanity, and for my mindfulness practice, which I didn't have on board in 2016. I have far more inner resources to deal with whatever comes. and I'm aware of my good fortune to be white, economically stable at the low end, and beyond child-bearing years.
I'm gathering my reserves to be of whatever help I can to those who will be more threatened than I am. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time. and also, savoring the time of coffee and chocolate, and mandarins from Peru, and avocados from Mexico, and clean air and water, and all the other delicacies and delights that remain available still. Knowing that between climate chaos and this upcoming regime... who knows?
Robert- I am deeply grateful for your solidly grounded analysis and perspective. Thank you.
Yesterday, members of the local Indivisible group I help co-lead gathered for conversation and mutual support. The room was full and pie with ice cream was universally appreciated comfort food. The sharing was full of grief and also fortitude.
You are spot on about the vast grassroots ecosystem that has arisen since 2016. This is a hard place to be, but as we reminded our members, we have been here before, and this time we are not starting from scratch.
My major Thank You is for giving my very caring, loving and committed wife a balanced and hopeful way of looking at this point in History. She feels so much better after reading your thoughtful missives.
As we said in the 60’s,
“Struggle, Fight(legally), Unite and work together- we have to believe that the next few years of loss of democracy will wake up our slumbering fellow citizens.
Sorry, Robert, this 73 year old progressive is done. After 4 years of Trumpfuckery, I wrote hundreds of postcards to voters. For the next 4 years of an incredible economic recovery, I spent my weekends in Milwaukee canvassing until my back finally gave out. We had a fabulous candidate and Vp candidate against a demented, bigoted, felonious grifter, and 13 million less voters came to the polls. And we lost…bigly.
So, my brother, go ahead and keep beating your head against the wall of stupidity that is the American voter, and good luck. But this retired guy has earned some peace in retirement, not another 4 years of this shit. You folks are smart, well meaning…and preaching to the choir. I’m going to tune out, hold my Canadian dual citizenship dear, and get on with what remains of my life.
Thank you for your incredible perseverance over the years.
I think that Trump won due to targeted mis and disinformation to people who weren't paying enough attention to politics. AOC asked her followers who voted for her and for Donald why they voted for Donald and most of them had been targeted with misinformation that hit them specifically as Meta and X have lots of data on all of us and target each of us effectively if we aren't getting trusted news elsewhere.
I recommend Diane Butler Bass and her faith and democracy tour. We have to phase how much the Christian reconstructionist are the cause of this. Just google them, you’ll recognize them and it will scare you.
Thank you Robert for being the voice in the dark- I can barely tolerate headlines at this point- your bravery and encouragement is helping me so much I can’t really express it enough- 🙏🙏🙏
how to we connect ourselves with the "resistance" as you posit??? is there a contact number, agency, person with whom we can navigate this resistance! sounds lile 1935 all over again!
Ok, I’m back. I needed some time, and I will continue to be kind to myself and others in dealing with all of this, but here we are, and these are the times we live in. May we meet the coming challenges with strength, clarity, and grace.
It’s clear from things I’ve read that many of the people who voted for Trump were misinformed or believed outright lies. The problem I believe is with our journalistic standards. We have given up reporting the news in order to sensationalize and to gain subscriptions. Unless journalism can clean up its act, we have no chance of combating the right wing news organizations that pedal lies and that has resulted in the reelection of Donald Trump. This is serious folks.
So much I don't understand. Jack Smith's (aka the DOJ) amended indictment has already been filed with Judge Chutkan's Court so why don't the wheels of justice now take on a life of their own and continue to turn? Why, if signing the Ethics Pledge is "required" and he refuses, would he be allowed to proceed to the swearing in? What does "required" mean? President Biden has immunity until Jan 20 noon, can't he legally intervene? Wish he had replaced Garland as soon as it was clear he was not up to the big job of protecting the rule of law. Many of us felt that way soon after he was confirmed. I am, like millions of us, having a hard time one week out feeling hopeful. Will keep reading you, though. Need you and Heather, Thanks.
Once again, thank you Robert. And btw, your photo looks beautiful the way it is to my uncritical eye.
In the good news dept, Ruben Gallego has won, as has Jackie Rosen. That Senate R majority isn't that big.
imho, it's the media who is responsible for the election outcome. you have called them out aplenty, and plenty of us understand that the media circus is why he won in 2016 and why he won this time. and they have the NERVE to talk smack about democrats losing the election? ack! I'm grateful for you, for your sanity, and for my mindfulness practice, which I didn't have on board in 2016. I have far more inner resources to deal with whatever comes. and I'm aware of my good fortune to be white, economically stable at the low end, and beyond child-bearing years.
I'm gathering my reserves to be of whatever help I can to those who will be more threatened than I am. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time. and also, savoring the time of coffee and chocolate, and mandarins from Peru, and avocados from Mexico, and clean air and water, and all the other delicacies and delights that remain available still. Knowing that between climate chaos and this upcoming regime... who knows?
Robert- I am deeply grateful for your solidly grounded analysis and perspective. Thank you.
Yesterday, members of the local Indivisible group I help co-lead gathered for conversation and mutual support. The room was full and pie with ice cream was universally appreciated comfort food. The sharing was full of grief and also fortitude.
You are spot on about the vast grassroots ecosystem that has arisen since 2016. This is a hard place to be, but as we reminded our members, we have been here before, and this time we are not starting from scratch.
My major Thank You is for giving my very caring, loving and committed wife a balanced and hopeful way of looking at this point in History. She feels so much better after reading your thoughtful missives.
As we said in the 60’s,
“Struggle, Fight(legally), Unite and work together- we have to believe that the next few years of loss of democracy will wake up our slumbering fellow citizens.
Thank you Robert Hubbell for keeping the fire burning.
Our country has lived through the Revolutionary, Civil, WWI, WWII, Korea, Cold and Vietnam Wars.
And a few depressions, Civil, Women, LGBT+ struggles
Sorry, Robert, this 73 year old progressive is done. After 4 years of Trumpfuckery, I wrote hundreds of postcards to voters. For the next 4 years of an incredible economic recovery, I spent my weekends in Milwaukee canvassing until my back finally gave out. We had a fabulous candidate and Vp candidate against a demented, bigoted, felonious grifter, and 13 million less voters came to the polls. And we lost…bigly.
So, my brother, go ahead and keep beating your head against the wall of stupidity that is the American voter, and good luck. But this retired guy has earned some peace in retirement, not another 4 years of this shit. You folks are smart, well meaning…and preaching to the choir. I’m going to tune out, hold my Canadian dual citizenship dear, and get on with what remains of my life.
Thank you for your incredible perseverance over the years.
Best wishes, David
I think that Trump won due to targeted mis and disinformation to people who weren't paying enough attention to politics. AOC asked her followers who voted for her and for Donald why they voted for Donald and most of them had been targeted with misinformation that hit them specifically as Meta and X have lots of data on all of us and target each of us effectively if we aren't getting trusted news elsewhere.
I recommend Diane Butler Bass and her faith and democracy tour. We have to phase how much the Christian reconstructionist are the cause of this. Just google them, you’ll recognize them and it will scare you.
Thank you Robert for being the voice in the dark- I can barely tolerate headlines at this point- your bravery and encouragement is helping me so much I can’t really express it enough- 🙏🙏🙏
A good resource is #ResistanceLive on YouTube.
Robert Reich's blog post today is the best explanation I've seen of why Trump won this election and the one in 2016 as well. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-root-of-trumpism