There are still enough "traditional Republicans" to make his proposal a reality, if their courage can be bolstered enough to break with MAGA extremism. And at least a few have the training, experience and skills to lead in taking that bold step.
For those who'd like to help rather than just opine, let me suggest calling one or all of these representatives and urge them to run as a consensus candidate when the House meets to elect a new Speaker next week:
Don Bacon (R-NE): (202) 225-4155 D.C. or (402) 938-0300 District
Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA): (202) 225-4276 D.C. or (215) 579-8102 District
Mike Gallagher (R-WI): (202) 225-5665 D.C. or (920) 301-4500 District
David Joyce (R- OH): (202) 225-5731 D.C. or (440) 352-3939 District
You can learn a little more about each of these here:
Oct. 16 is the deadline for Virginians to register to vote for their upcoming election on Nov. 7. Rally anyone you know connected to Virginia to get folks to register and vote:
A Republican trifecta is on the line but very flippable. The States Project has researched where our precious donor dollars are most effective, and the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle funds go directly 100% to the progressive state legislature candidates' campaigns:
The voter registration deadline is this Tuesday, Oct. 10, for the election on Nov. 7.
On Nov. 7, Ohioans will decide whether to amend the state's constitution to restore reproductive freedom and protect abortion rights. Important local races are also on the ballot, and we have learned the importance of local political representation.
The Civics Center research is that fewer than 25% of 18 year olds in Ohio are registered to vote. Rally anyone you know with connections to folks in Ohio to talk it up and get people to register to vote! Here is the link for Ohio voter registration:
There are are the 18 split-ticket districts -- https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/the-new-crossover-members-of-the-house/ -- that elected a Republican to the House and Joe Biden to the White House. We can hope that not only will enough of them stand up and be counted, but also they will find their "disloyalty" to be an unexpected asset when they are certainly likely to be primaried.
And taking the liberty of adding another strand to this weekend's conversation, I thought y'all might find this thought from a savvy friend to be of interest. He sent it to folks who should have access to the Biden administration:
"As the 2024 election gets closer, I am concerned that autocratic nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia might cut oil supply to raise gas prices and tip the election against President Biden and the Democrats.
"In my opinion, it’s vital that President Biden gets out in front of this, preparing Americans to anticipate such a move and defining the narrative by framing it in advance as election interference."
Happy weekend to all and always with the deepest appreciation for Robert's great reporting, insightful commentating, and generous show casing of organizations and efforts that are making a difference in elections this year, next and beyond.
Remember: 1) the dead drop in Helsinki; 2) passing US secrets to Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office caught on film; 3) boxes upon boxes upon boxes of stolen US Intel; and 4) passing US secrets of our submarine nuclear arsenal to an Australian.
Remember: it’s not espionage unless it comes from the Espionage Region of France. If it happens in Helsinki, the Oval Office, Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago, it’s just sparkling treason.
I was naive to think that Republicans would wake up and learn from the chaos and infighting and make some major changes. The fact that Jordon and Scalise are candidates for the Speakers position and are being endorsed confirms that Republicans still don’t get it. My hope is that the disgust and mistrust levels of voters increases proportionally to the outrageous behaviors and rhetoric they are witness too
We simply cannot have Jim Big Mouth Jordan as third in line for the Presidency! I refuse to be put in the catatonic state that occurred when Fake 45 got into our sacred White House. Like Jessica Craven has been telling us, call or write to your representatives and let them know how you feel, especially if you have a Republican rep. Scalise would be catastrophic also as he has hung out with neo-Nazis. He is fighting cancer so I do not feel he would be at his “best” anyway. (Jamie Raskin surprised me with his tenacity while getting treatments.) Must fight back and fight hard!
Hello Everyone and excellent topics to discuss, Robert. Thank you! I’m confused as to why our media outlets never find and interview the people who are taking all the added jobs and are pleased that they have work. We always hear about folks who don’t have work or are upset with the economy but not from those who are now employed with a Biden- generated job. That would be an awesome CNN special, in my opinion.
And the Democrats “messaging” would be simple and derived from actual other citizens and not manufactured in a think tank, back room.
Jim Jordan cannot be our Speaker. Not ok. But I’m still proud that our Dem caucus didn’t enable the Republicans and McCarthy in that rules vote. That was a step towards breaking this dysfunctional family system we are in.
Thank you Robert, as always. Your newsletters and the readers’ comments are, for me, like Thanksgiving dinner, every day.
Trying to see Jim Jordan as an "opportunity" and not a crisis made worse is really a challenge. I am trying. But the man in Congress who knew the most, was aware of the planning of the Insurrection and probably contributed to it should not lead anyone or have any power. Argh.
I’m not so convinced that the New York civil fraud case would be as devastating to Trump’s cash flow as everyone seems to believe - and here’s my speculation and it is tied to his son-in-law Jared and curious if anyone has additional information.
My question has its basis in the fact that Trump always demands the lion’s share of ownership/equity and/or profits (without any cash investment by him or the Trump Organization) from every entity created that bears his name or exploits his brand, similar to Trump University or the 85-90% ownership he acquired of the Trump Media and Technology Group (that owns Truth Social) that is poised to go public with the SPAC now traded as DWAC. I find it highly improbable that he does not either own any equity in Jared’s Affinity Partners and/or rights to any distributions from the payments and profits derived from their investments!
As I recall, the $2 Billion given to the fund by the Saudis includes a $100 million dollar annual fee plus a percentage of profits.
Does any one in their right mind believe for a New Jersey nanosecond that Donald Trump allowed Jared (or for that matter Steve Mnuchin, Trump’s former Treasury Secretary, to found a one billion dollar fund, also gifted from the Saudis) at the tail end (or during?) Trump’s presidency without him demanding the lion’s share of equity and distributions?
Is there any way to find out who actually owns these entities and/or rights to distributions?
Hatred follows those who feel spurned, denied or otherwise diminished. They fear losing their place, posture and positions in society and the attending influence and finally money which then naturally follows and accrues. The hate we are hearing in the form of anti-semitism, anti-"otherism" and the simply general forms of racism, anti-women misogyny are the political equivalencies of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. They are convenient ways of distracting one from the corruption of the system and the advantage that some believe is their right.
So, the solution to this problem is, as has been proven in other aspects of the economy, how to satisfy the insatiable cravings for more money of those who feel entitled. How does one so steeped in the fear of losing what advantages they have been bestowed with, as a mere matter of course over our nation's history, into believing that they can shift their ingrained fear they are about to lose it all to realizing that a different course may make it possible for participation. How can one be assisted in envisioning themselves as participants in this new world that is coming. Personally, I fear that subconsciously their greatest fear is that they, as the majority of Americans already do, will have to work for their living.
At this juncture, I see term limits as the solution. What is most deep-seated in our politics are the members of Congress and the Senate. These are the oldest bodies of legislators in our nation's history. They are entrenched to the degree they have become congenital. They are an infirmed, bilious, sickly and literally dying body. What we need is youthful energy whose commitment to the greater good does not outlive itself.
I’m intrigued by the plan of Hakeem Jeffries to potentially engineer a more bi-partisan House. At this stage though, I’m not overly optimistic because his plan amounts to asking House Republicans to give up power, which I just can’t see happening. I ask myself if House Democrats would surrender such power if the roles were reversed and find myself coming away feeling that would be unlikely. Personally, I’d like to see the Dems make the bipartisan rule changes part of their 2024 election platform, committing to support said changes whether they win or lose the House. In a stroke that would inarguably place the Dems on the moral high ground, counter the narrative of Jeffries being opportunistic and potentially hypocritical, and put even more clear blue water between the party trying to save the Union, and the party that seems hell bent on setting the country on fire and watching the whole thing burn.
A reasonable voter would appreciate Jeffries’s words, acknowledge, indeed celebrate, that we have goals in common, and demand something similar from a credible speaker candidate: “to make life more affordable for American taxpayers, to keep communities safe and to strengthen democracy.”
Jeffries is so smart to focus clearly on RULES that enable Congress to WORK.
This seems a smart message to increase...much of this is about the mundane task of having and enforcing a work process that can deliver. Currently, only one party is interested in this.
I don’t know if it is scientifically accurate that it is darkest before dawn, but I do know that situations sometimes have to “hit bottom” or appear to be so dismal that participants in the situation realize that previously unthinkable action is now both “thinkable” and actually pragmatically possible. I’m proud of the House Democrats for being publicly on record for their willingness and obvious ability to negotiate with any sensible Republicans who are willing to publicly identify themselves and negotiate in good faith to find common ground.
Not to change the subject, but what about Trump telling nuclear sub secrets to Australia at MAL, who then told many others! Meanwhile Judge Cannon delays that trial. In any other world, Trump would be behind bars.
Mr. Jeffries' plea is elegant and gracious.
There are still enough "traditional Republicans" to make his proposal a reality, if their courage can be bolstered enough to break with MAGA extremism. And at least a few have the training, experience and skills to lead in taking that bold step.
For those who'd like to help rather than just opine, let me suggest calling one or all of these representatives and urge them to run as a consensus candidate when the House meets to elect a new Speaker next week:
Don Bacon (R-NE): (202) 225-4155 D.C. or (402) 938-0300 District
Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA): (202) 225-4276 D.C. or (215) 579-8102 District
Mike Gallagher (R-WI): (202) 225-5665 D.C. or (920) 301-4500 District
David Joyce (R- OH): (202) 225-5731 D.C. or (440) 352-3939 District
You can learn a little more about each of these here:
https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/if-mccarthys-out-whos-in
.
VIRGINIA !!!
Oct. 16 is the deadline for Virginians to register to vote for their upcoming election on Nov. 7. Rally anyone you know connected to Virginia to get folks to register and vote:
https://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register/
A Republican trifecta is on the line but very flippable. The States Project has researched where our precious donor dollars are most effective, and the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle funds go directly 100% to the progressive state legislature candidates' campaigns:
https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-To-Democracy
Thank you for your support!
OHIO !!!
The voter registration deadline is this Tuesday, Oct. 10, for the election on Nov. 7.
On Nov. 7, Ohioans will decide whether to amend the state's constitution to restore reproductive freedom and protect abortion rights. Important local races are also on the ballot, and we have learned the importance of local political representation.
The Civics Center research is that fewer than 25% of 18 year olds in Ohio are registered to vote. Rally anyone you know with connections to folks in Ohio to talk it up and get people to register to vote! Here is the link for Ohio voter registration:
https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/register/
https://www.thecivicscenter.org/
John Steiner
There are are the 18 split-ticket districts -- https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/the-new-crossover-members-of-the-house/ -- that elected a Republican to the House and Joe Biden to the White House. We can hope that not only will enough of them stand up and be counted, but also they will find their "disloyalty" to be an unexpected asset when they are certainly likely to be primaried.
And taking the liberty of adding another strand to this weekend's conversation, I thought y'all might find this thought from a savvy friend to be of interest. He sent it to folks who should have access to the Biden administration:
"As the 2024 election gets closer, I am concerned that autocratic nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia might cut oil supply to raise gas prices and tip the election against President Biden and the Democrats.
"In my opinion, it’s vital that President Biden gets out in front of this, preparing Americans to anticipate such a move and defining the narrative by framing it in advance as election interference."
Happy weekend to all and always with the deepest appreciation for Robert's great reporting, insightful commentating, and generous show casing of organizations and efforts that are making a difference in elections this year, next and beyond.
Cheers,
John
Remember: 1) the dead drop in Helsinki; 2) passing US secrets to Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office caught on film; 3) boxes upon boxes upon boxes of stolen US Intel; and 4) passing US secrets of our submarine nuclear arsenal to an Australian.
Remember: it’s not espionage unless it comes from the Espionage Region of France. If it happens in Helsinki, the Oval Office, Bedminster and Mar-a-Lago, it’s just sparkling treason.
Loose lips sink submarines (irreversibly)
I was naive to think that Republicans would wake up and learn from the chaos and infighting and make some major changes. The fact that Jordon and Scalise are candidates for the Speakers position and are being endorsed confirms that Republicans still don’t get it. My hope is that the disgust and mistrust levels of voters increases proportionally to the outrageous behaviors and rhetoric they are witness too
We simply cannot have Jim Big Mouth Jordan as third in line for the Presidency! I refuse to be put in the catatonic state that occurred when Fake 45 got into our sacred White House. Like Jessica Craven has been telling us, call or write to your representatives and let them know how you feel, especially if you have a Republican rep. Scalise would be catastrophic also as he has hung out with neo-Nazis. He is fighting cancer so I do not feel he would be at his “best” anyway. (Jamie Raskin surprised me with his tenacity while getting treatments.) Must fight back and fight hard!
Hello Everyone and excellent topics to discuss, Robert. Thank you! I’m confused as to why our media outlets never find and interview the people who are taking all the added jobs and are pleased that they have work. We always hear about folks who don’t have work or are upset with the economy but not from those who are now employed with a Biden- generated job. That would be an awesome CNN special, in my opinion.
And the Democrats “messaging” would be simple and derived from actual other citizens and not manufactured in a think tank, back room.
Jim Jordan cannot be our Speaker. Not ok. But I’m still proud that our Dem caucus didn’t enable the Republicans and McCarthy in that rules vote. That was a step towards breaking this dysfunctional family system we are in.
Thank you Robert, as always. Your newsletters and the readers’ comments are, for me, like Thanksgiving dinner, every day.
Trying to see Jim Jordan as an "opportunity" and not a crisis made worse is really a challenge. I am trying. But the man in Congress who knew the most, was aware of the planning of the Insurrection and probably contributed to it should not lead anyone or have any power. Argh.
In the Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/07/american-democracy-heather-cox-richardson-trump-biden
Here’s a change of topic…
I’m not so convinced that the New York civil fraud case would be as devastating to Trump’s cash flow as everyone seems to believe - and here’s my speculation and it is tied to his son-in-law Jared and curious if anyone has additional information.
My question has its basis in the fact that Trump always demands the lion’s share of ownership/equity and/or profits (without any cash investment by him or the Trump Organization) from every entity created that bears his name or exploits his brand, similar to Trump University or the 85-90% ownership he acquired of the Trump Media and Technology Group (that owns Truth Social) that is poised to go public with the SPAC now traded as DWAC. I find it highly improbable that he does not either own any equity in Jared’s Affinity Partners and/or rights to any distributions from the payments and profits derived from their investments!
As I recall, the $2 Billion given to the fund by the Saudis includes a $100 million dollar annual fee plus a percentage of profits.
Does any one in their right mind believe for a New Jersey nanosecond that Donald Trump allowed Jared (or for that matter Steve Mnuchin, Trump’s former Treasury Secretary, to found a one billion dollar fund, also gifted from the Saudis) at the tail end (or during?) Trump’s presidency without him demanding the lion’s share of equity and distributions?
Is there any way to find out who actually owns these entities and/or rights to distributions?
Hatred follows those who feel spurned, denied or otherwise diminished. They fear losing their place, posture and positions in society and the attending influence and finally money which then naturally follows and accrues. The hate we are hearing in the form of anti-semitism, anti-"otherism" and the simply general forms of racism, anti-women misogyny are the political equivalencies of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. They are convenient ways of distracting one from the corruption of the system and the advantage that some believe is their right.
So, the solution to this problem is, as has been proven in other aspects of the economy, how to satisfy the insatiable cravings for more money of those who feel entitled. How does one so steeped in the fear of losing what advantages they have been bestowed with, as a mere matter of course over our nation's history, into believing that they can shift their ingrained fear they are about to lose it all to realizing that a different course may make it possible for participation. How can one be assisted in envisioning themselves as participants in this new world that is coming. Personally, I fear that subconsciously their greatest fear is that they, as the majority of Americans already do, will have to work for their living.
At this juncture, I see term limits as the solution. What is most deep-seated in our politics are the members of Congress and the Senate. These are the oldest bodies of legislators in our nation's history. They are entrenched to the degree they have become congenital. They are an infirmed, bilious, sickly and literally dying body. What we need is youthful energy whose commitment to the greater good does not outlive itself.
I’m intrigued by the plan of Hakeem Jeffries to potentially engineer a more bi-partisan House. At this stage though, I’m not overly optimistic because his plan amounts to asking House Republicans to give up power, which I just can’t see happening. I ask myself if House Democrats would surrender such power if the roles were reversed and find myself coming away feeling that would be unlikely. Personally, I’d like to see the Dems make the bipartisan rule changes part of their 2024 election platform, committing to support said changes whether they win or lose the House. In a stroke that would inarguably place the Dems on the moral high ground, counter the narrative of Jeffries being opportunistic and potentially hypocritical, and put even more clear blue water between the party trying to save the Union, and the party that seems hell bent on setting the country on fire and watching the whole thing burn.
A reasonable voter would appreciate Jeffries’s words, acknowledge, indeed celebrate, that we have goals in common, and demand something similar from a credible speaker candidate: “to make life more affordable for American taxpayers, to keep communities safe and to strengthen democracy.”
Jeffries is so smart to focus clearly on RULES that enable Congress to WORK.
This seems a smart message to increase...much of this is about the mundane task of having and enforcing a work process that can deliver. Currently, only one party is interested in this.
I don’t know if it is scientifically accurate that it is darkest before dawn, but I do know that situations sometimes have to “hit bottom” or appear to be so dismal that participants in the situation realize that previously unthinkable action is now both “thinkable” and actually pragmatically possible. I’m proud of the House Democrats for being publicly on record for their willingness and obvious ability to negotiate with any sensible Republicans who are willing to publicly identify themselves and negotiate in good faith to find common ground.
Not to change the subject, but what about Trump telling nuclear sub secrets to Australia at MAL, who then told many others! Meanwhile Judge Cannon delays that trial. In any other world, Trump would be behind bars.