Two things...Haven't seen or heard much about Evan Mcmullin for some time. But he got a lot of airtime on cable news a few years ago. I recall thinking at the time that this young guy may be just a flash in the pan, but if he actually is what he seems to be, it's too bad there aren't more like him around. Don't know if he would be somebody that, as a nonpartisan, I could have voted for back before the GOP became what it is today. But he seemed like someone worthy of a listen at least. More than I can say of virtually anyone calling themselves a Republican now.
Also, I think from what little I could stomach of Judge Jackson's confirmation hearing, she has proven herself to be the quintessential example of judicial temperament. If I ever had the misfortune of getting my backside in a legal wringer, I'd sure rather find myself in her court than one of the likes of Brent I Like Beer Kavanaugh. Props to her for how she has handled the former dog and pony show that's now become a carnival of wolves and jackasses.
This from a WashingtonPost article about the passing of Madeleine Albright:
I continue my support for President Biden and of course Serbs were not threatening use of nuclear weapons, however I wonder what are we waiting for?!?!? At what level of mass atrocities will NATO engage in immediate, meaningful military action?
Within TWO MONTHS of air strikes people were at “the bargaining table”!!!
“At the U.N., Dr. Albright lobbied for airstrikes against Serbian positions. At one point she stunned Colin Powell, who was then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reluctant to intervene, by asking: “What’s the point of having this superb military you’re always talking about if we can’t use it?”
Recalling the scene in his memoirs, Powell wrote: “I thought I would have an aneurysm. American GIs were not toy soldiers to be moved around on some sort of global game board.” He noted that European allies, with troops on the ground, opposed bombing, adding that such action required a “particular political objective.”
After Serb forces overran the U.N. safe haven of Srebrenica and massacred thousands of civilians in June and July of 1995, White House opinion finally swung to Dr. Albright’s position. The first airstrikes, carried out by coalition forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, were launched in September 1995 and helped drive the Bosnian Serbs to the bargaining table.
Two months later, the Dayton peace accords, brokered by U.S. envoy Richard C. Holbrooke, ended the war in which an estimated 100,000 people died.“
As always, spot on and clear-headed about what we must do. Jordan and I have been texting for MoveOn (it's so easy that we've each done over 1M and it's rewarding because people respond and so we get some dialogue). And we do postcards to voters via TonytheDemocrat. But really looking forward to the start of the campaign of texting voters the information about their polling locations and voting requirements. I've never believed in fighting AGAINST the dark side but rather shining light and fighting FOR the side I believe in. So glad I found this newsletter to keep us informed and motivated!! Thanks and aloha!
Thank you for reporting on the battles going on in Utah. Tragic and hopeful. I hope you are listening to Senator Whitehouse this morning on the Federalist Society “ picking” of the Court. Fabulous. I agree the Republican Senators questioning is inane for the most part and unnecessary in light that her nomination will not affect the make up of the court. This is an overt display of Misogyny by most and worse by a few.
My heart aches listening to the Mayor of Kyiv describe what the Russians are doing to peace-loving Ukrainians. We are watching Hitler exterminating peaceful men, women and children and not seeing that he will come after us soon enough. Short of arresting Putin for war crimes and risk WWIII, there is no assurance we can avoid the inevitable worldwide conflagration. We may be destined to join the dinosaurs in heaven.
thanks for the laugh out loud: "Only readers from Missouri took offense over that mistake." ha! Also, Netflix is airing "Servant of the People," and I watched the first episode last night. Seeing the current president of Ukraine play the role in this satire was profoundly moving and unsettling. It brings everything about the war into sharper focus for me.
It is becoming more difficult to read this io adaily basis. I try to avoid Tv media and just read about the days events, but that's becoming difficult as well.
I agree that many of the lines of questioning by Republican Senators were not only irrelevant, but completely embarrassing. One of those embarrassing moments was Cornyn’s comments and questions around gay marriage. They seemed to indicate that legitimizing rights of gay marriage somehow delegitimized “traditional” marriage. I wanted to say to him “Do you not understand that allowing rights for gays does not take away your rights in any way?”
For Robert and followers of Today’s edition newsletter:
I have long respected the works of Thomas Friedman, NY Times opinion columnist. I find both his books and NY Times opinion pieces both thoughtful and thought provoking. After reading today’s column here I had a number of thoughts that I wished to hear your own and this Newsletter’s followers thoughts on:
Apologies for the long link but it should permit all to view Friedman’s column even without a NY Times subscription.
Friedman also references a book written by Stanford professor, Larry Diamond, “Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency.” I have downloaded a digital copy of this work and just started reading it.
My thought and question of all is to consider if the present experience of watching the follies of Putin in Ukraine and also quandaries causing pause by Xi Jinping in China suggest Americans will reject the authoritarianism of Trump? Will we learn from this experience the fallacy of following those who believe themselves infallible? Will we realize the importance of exploring alternative thoughts and different perspectives? Will Americans understand that a strength of democracy is the competition of ideas? That a weakness of autocracy is the suppression of different thoughts and perspectives? Or, alternatively will America dip its toes into autocracy by restoring Trump or a Trump lite figure to power thinking American democracy either too weak or too messy to succeed?
Before any respond I also think you may find the NY Times review of Diamond’s book here adding value to Friedman’s thoughts also:
I ask your views on this as I have found your own and this group’s perspectives on issues particularly helpful to in forming and exploring my own views.
Wow, I skipped that article last night. Thank you for recommending it. I think as we edge close to authoritarianism we run a higher risk of a "French revolution", an uprising of the common man against the rich. Mainly because it seems that in authoritarianism wealth is controlled by the few & power is controlled by the dictator. At what point do the sheep rebel? I've been shaped by how one speaker shouting nonsense could sway a crowd of college students. I was 19. I went back to my dorm & called my mother (during daytime long distance rates!) to ask how supposedly intelligent people could be so unaware. ( I don't remember any good response from her). Back to your question, I think mankind is extremely slow at learning from experience. Someday we might embrace learning from different perspectives.
Hi, Bruce. Thanks for the links. I read both articles. Freedman's piece is wonderful. At core, you are asking whether Americans will learn from the missteps of Xi and Putin? Will we learn that the solution to the ills of democracy is not "less democracy." I think the answer is yes. The two articles raise sweeping questions, but I will try to be brief.
First, I believe that the autocratic coups of China and Russia could not repeat themselves in America. Assume that Trump had succeeded in staying in power in 2021 despite having lost the election. What then? In Russia and China, the populations would have acceded to the coup because the coup plotters also controlled the armed forces. Not so in America. Americans would have turned out in the hundreds of millions to protest a successful coup--and the military would not have intervened, because millions of armed services members would be joining the protests.
Second, I believe Putin is doomed. Even if he stays in office, he is wounded, limited, and weak.
Third, the apparent strength of China's strong central government is a mirage. As the review of Diamond's book hints, China is a fractured collection of regions and ethnic groups that are not natural allies. How many revolutions has China endured in the last 125 years? Depending on how you count, at least three, and maybe four: Xinhai, the Communist Revolution (lasted 20 years), and the Cultural Revolution. And do we count the protests that led to the Tiananmen Square massacre as a failed revolution? Every year, China experiences approx 200,000 "mass incidents" that protest government policies. Check out Wikipedia, Protest and Dissent in China. In a society that does not tolerate protests, the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of illegal protests is what keeps Xi awake at night. The Chinese government is so repressive because it is frightened that a spark will ignite another revolution--which have roiled China with regularity over the last century and a half.
There is more, but I think that the present situation is distorted because of the ascendancy of Xi and Putin. If both were overthrown, we would see books announcing the "flowering of democracy" across the world. I think this situation is a temporary aberration.
Thank you for those thoughts. They are helpful. I share that during my business career in the software sector I travelled extensively internationally including to both Russia and China where I worked on several projects and met many people “on the ground” in both countries. One of my learnings from that experience is to separate people from their government in examining countries from afar. My own experience is that most people are basically decent and well intentioned. People everywhere have quite similar aspirations and core values regardless of those that might be held by their country’s leaders. It is that insight that provides me with the most hope for good in the world. Those in positions of power may control the moment, but inevitably it is the people and their aspirations and core value who prevail. Unfortunately those “moments” although only a flicker in history may last decades or longer and injure and damage entire nations and their people while they last.
As patience while it may be a virtue seems not to be a part of my own character, it is difficult to wait for necessary change to happen. I try my best to contribute in my own small way to hasten the arrival of a better destiny. Perhaps as more join in that effort we can see those changes we and so many wish for arrive.
"Two years ago, Putin published a “nuclear use” doctrine that said Russia reserved the right to use nuclear deterrence if Russia faced an existential threat." Two years ago. Who was president then? Who could have come out and made a statement that this was an alarming statement then? Who could have brought it to the attention of the American people, and explained why it was a statement that showed Putin as an outlier? Donald Trump. The man who was in thrall to Putin, who admired Putin and was, I believe, a wannabe Putin.
About the Republicans heinous line of questioning of Judge Brown, they want to accuse her of being too soft on child sex crimes while passing laws that force twelve-year-olds to have their rapist's baby.
Robert. What is beyond distressing is the the term Existential Threat has become completely malleable to Putin. If he does not get a land bridge to Crimea, that is a threat. If his troops are being pushed back to the border based on his history lesson of a vassal Ukrainian state, that is a threat. As Russia's economy collapses and armament material and funds and food become impossible to supply, that is an existential threat. His temperament shows he will not back down. At some point there will likely be a tactical nuclear event of size and determination (where and how), to inform us the rules have officially changed. We are somewhat boxed in. Push you lose, back off you lose. Here's hoping (and I believe we absolutely have the right president at the right moment leading us) we figure this out.
Brad, you are 100% correct. Putin suggested in a speech a few days after he invaded Ukraine that NATO membership for Ukraine "threatened the existence" of Russia. He may have been laying the groundwork for the use of battlefield nuclear weapons against one or more Ukrainian cities to decapitate the Ukrainian government.
Robert, please add to your list of shameful inquiry Senator Marcia Blackburn's request of Judge Jackson to define what a "woman" is! Just when you think you've heard it all! "Admirable restraint," indeed! Confirmation for sure; sainthood a possibility!
I did not see that exchange. I got to the point where I couldn't stand Blackburn's questioning and had to turn the sound off during her examination. Unbelievable!
Cruz, Hawley, and Cotton all criticized Judge Jackson for following the sentencing requirements mandated by statute and implemented by an independent commission created by Congress…because they are a “lawless” breed, led by a 🤡 who broke laws throughout his life and presidency and then tried incite an insurrection. Where is Merrick?
Just want to thank you. I’ve been reading your newsletter since the fall of 2020. You, and HCR, have given me hope and allowed me to keep calm (and sane) through that election, the insurrection, Covid and the anti-vax/anti-mask craziness, and all the “stuff” that has become our political life. I have been able to carry on with my activism, and encourage others to do so, with confidence and a clear vision.
Two things...Haven't seen or heard much about Evan Mcmullin for some time. But he got a lot of airtime on cable news a few years ago. I recall thinking at the time that this young guy may be just a flash in the pan, but if he actually is what he seems to be, it's too bad there aren't more like him around. Don't know if he would be somebody that, as a nonpartisan, I could have voted for back before the GOP became what it is today. But he seemed like someone worthy of a listen at least. More than I can say of virtually anyone calling themselves a Republican now.
Also, I think from what little I could stomach of Judge Jackson's confirmation hearing, she has proven herself to be the quintessential example of judicial temperament. If I ever had the misfortune of getting my backside in a legal wringer, I'd sure rather find myself in her court than one of the likes of Brent I Like Beer Kavanaugh. Props to her for how she has handled the former dog and pony show that's now become a carnival of wolves and jackasses.
This from a WashingtonPost article about the passing of Madeleine Albright:
I continue my support for President Biden and of course Serbs were not threatening use of nuclear weapons, however I wonder what are we waiting for?!?!? At what level of mass atrocities will NATO engage in immediate, meaningful military action?
Within TWO MONTHS of air strikes people were at “the bargaining table”!!!
“At the U.N., Dr. Albright lobbied for airstrikes against Serbian positions. At one point she stunned Colin Powell, who was then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reluctant to intervene, by asking: “What’s the point of having this superb military you’re always talking about if we can’t use it?”
Recalling the scene in his memoirs, Powell wrote: “I thought I would have an aneurysm. American GIs were not toy soldiers to be moved around on some sort of global game board.” He noted that European allies, with troops on the ground, opposed bombing, adding that such action required a “particular political objective.”
After Serb forces overran the U.N. safe haven of Srebrenica and massacred thousands of civilians in June and July of 1995, White House opinion finally swung to Dr. Albright’s position. The first airstrikes, carried out by coalition forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, were launched in September 1995 and helped drive the Bosnian Serbs to the bargaining table.
Two months later, the Dayton peace accords, brokered by U.S. envoy Richard C. Holbrooke, ended the war in which an estimated 100,000 people died.“
As always, spot on and clear-headed about what we must do. Jordan and I have been texting for MoveOn (it's so easy that we've each done over 1M and it's rewarding because people respond and so we get some dialogue). And we do postcards to voters via TonytheDemocrat. But really looking forward to the start of the campaign of texting voters the information about their polling locations and voting requirements. I've never believed in fighting AGAINST the dark side but rather shining light and fighting FOR the side I believe in. So glad I found this newsletter to keep us informed and motivated!! Thanks and aloha!
Thank you for reporting on the battles going on in Utah. Tragic and hopeful. I hope you are listening to Senator Whitehouse this morning on the Federalist Society “ picking” of the Court. Fabulous. I agree the Republican Senators questioning is inane for the most part and unnecessary in light that her nomination will not affect the make up of the court. This is an overt display of Misogyny by most and worse by a few.
My heart aches listening to the Mayor of Kyiv describe what the Russians are doing to peace-loving Ukrainians. We are watching Hitler exterminating peaceful men, women and children and not seeing that he will come after us soon enough. Short of arresting Putin for war crimes and risk WWIII, there is no assurance we can avoid the inevitable worldwide conflagration. We may be destined to join the dinosaurs in heaven.
thanks for the laugh out loud: "Only readers from Missouri took offense over that mistake." ha! Also, Netflix is airing "Servant of the People," and I watched the first episode last night. Seeing the current president of Ukraine play the role in this satire was profoundly moving and unsettling. It brings everything about the war into sharper focus for me.
It is becoming more difficult to read this io adaily basis. I try to avoid Tv media and just read about the days events, but that's becoming difficult as well.
I am sorry. They criticized her for NOT following the guidelines and sentencing way below them.
I agree that many of the lines of questioning by Republican Senators were not only irrelevant, but completely embarrassing. One of those embarrassing moments was Cornyn’s comments and questions around gay marriage. They seemed to indicate that legitimizing rights of gay marriage somehow delegitimized “traditional” marriage. I wanted to say to him “Do you not understand that allowing rights for gays does not take away your rights in any way?”
For Robert and followers of Today’s edition newsletter:
I have long respected the works of Thomas Friedman, NY Times opinion columnist. I find both his books and NY Times opinion pieces both thoughtful and thought provoking. After reading today’s column here I had a number of thoughts that I wished to hear your own and this Newsletter’s followers thoughts on:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/opinion/xi-putin-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqYhkS1UZASbSRdkhrxqAwujOhaQhmn74aTSPVDNaieQJBozKs2H8WZ1eXfphlTKKWI0Gd7Y1WP15yuIYZxRjQgWkr8PByZgPLWBo9N66G2pq0sKIBbti_W-2NWLhcOsvjvWlsh2HERTiWqHf03AgIQl389AyJRzxhyt-luqSGfV129J-wf4gGpt7ID8AbyWJtPHiYA5sbJTENlqPr1lrBJwKHG3bjtWe6LkfcQhNCF2gTHh35W406NI0K8rdc8OKlKpFMlPS4wmsjE9c&referringSource=articleShare
Apologies for the long link but it should permit all to view Friedman’s column even without a NY Times subscription.
Friedman also references a book written by Stanford professor, Larry Diamond, “Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency.” I have downloaded a digital copy of this work and just started reading it.
My thought and question of all is to consider if the present experience of watching the follies of Putin in Ukraine and also quandaries causing pause by Xi Jinping in China suggest Americans will reject the authoritarianism of Trump? Will we learn from this experience the fallacy of following those who believe themselves infallible? Will we realize the importance of exploring alternative thoughts and different perspectives? Will Americans understand that a strength of democracy is the competition of ideas? That a weakness of autocracy is the suppression of different thoughts and perspectives? Or, alternatively will America dip its toes into autocracy by restoring Trump or a Trump lite figure to power thinking American democracy either too weak or too messy to succeed?
Before any respond I also think you may find the NY Times review of Diamond’s book here adding value to Friedman’s thoughts also:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/books/review/larry-diamond-ill-winds.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbcoohkTlUaBibfWt8ktVqciObOzaN7gnbkNjnQRTdLyuMTD82B_0OIeqtla8B13yieQJUJFo4Tc8FI770VOV1xGU7vq4GYmZ8BLmI4-Ny-UDpr1dfEB71mtGLgMDT8Ir92mvi15E7XYWToWqDb1ycxNU0y98seAFKr3HcJw63DFfckmYUtmKd8We0pAGsIdyKIvPL3Ch9hO9_gbhvU6QA-X-ExSiiE1JfHqOpGKFMOfAqAGHBv4m8868dePccVO8v8LR0gecn5idYBG47pkEjZ3hHQPGBZemJ_zOU&referringSource=articleShare
I ask your views on this as I have found your own and this group’s perspectives on issues particularly helpful to in forming and exploring my own views.
Thank you.
Wow, I skipped that article last night. Thank you for recommending it. I think as we edge close to authoritarianism we run a higher risk of a "French revolution", an uprising of the common man against the rich. Mainly because it seems that in authoritarianism wealth is controlled by the few & power is controlled by the dictator. At what point do the sheep rebel? I've been shaped by how one speaker shouting nonsense could sway a crowd of college students. I was 19. I went back to my dorm & called my mother (during daytime long distance rates!) to ask how supposedly intelligent people could be so unaware. ( I don't remember any good response from her). Back to your question, I think mankind is extremely slow at learning from experience. Someday we might embrace learning from different perspectives.
Hi, Bruce. Thanks for the links. I read both articles. Freedman's piece is wonderful. At core, you are asking whether Americans will learn from the missteps of Xi and Putin? Will we learn that the solution to the ills of democracy is not "less democracy." I think the answer is yes. The two articles raise sweeping questions, but I will try to be brief.
First, I believe that the autocratic coups of China and Russia could not repeat themselves in America. Assume that Trump had succeeded in staying in power in 2021 despite having lost the election. What then? In Russia and China, the populations would have acceded to the coup because the coup plotters also controlled the armed forces. Not so in America. Americans would have turned out in the hundreds of millions to protest a successful coup--and the military would not have intervened, because millions of armed services members would be joining the protests.
Second, I believe Putin is doomed. Even if he stays in office, he is wounded, limited, and weak.
Third, the apparent strength of China's strong central government is a mirage. As the review of Diamond's book hints, China is a fractured collection of regions and ethnic groups that are not natural allies. How many revolutions has China endured in the last 125 years? Depending on how you count, at least three, and maybe four: Xinhai, the Communist Revolution (lasted 20 years), and the Cultural Revolution. And do we count the protests that led to the Tiananmen Square massacre as a failed revolution? Every year, China experiences approx 200,000 "mass incidents" that protest government policies. Check out Wikipedia, Protest and Dissent in China. In a society that does not tolerate protests, the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of illegal protests is what keeps Xi awake at night. The Chinese government is so repressive because it is frightened that a spark will ignite another revolution--which have roiled China with regularity over the last century and a half.
There is more, but I think that the present situation is distorted because of the ascendancy of Xi and Putin. If both were overthrown, we would see books announcing the "flowering of democracy" across the world. I think this situation is a temporary aberration.
Thank you for those thoughts. They are helpful. I share that during my business career in the software sector I travelled extensively internationally including to both Russia and China where I worked on several projects and met many people “on the ground” in both countries. One of my learnings from that experience is to separate people from their government in examining countries from afar. My own experience is that most people are basically decent and well intentioned. People everywhere have quite similar aspirations and core values regardless of those that might be held by their country’s leaders. It is that insight that provides me with the most hope for good in the world. Those in positions of power may control the moment, but inevitably it is the people and their aspirations and core value who prevail. Unfortunately those “moments” although only a flicker in history may last decades or longer and injure and damage entire nations and their people while they last.
As patience while it may be a virtue seems not to be a part of my own character, it is difficult to wait for necessary change to happen. I try my best to contribute in my own small way to hasten the arrival of a better destiny. Perhaps as more join in that effort we can see those changes we and so many wish for arrive.
Thank you and others for your efforts.
"Two years ago, Putin published a “nuclear use” doctrine that said Russia reserved the right to use nuclear deterrence if Russia faced an existential threat." Two years ago. Who was president then? Who could have come out and made a statement that this was an alarming statement then? Who could have brought it to the attention of the American people, and explained why it was a statement that showed Putin as an outlier? Donald Trump. The man who was in thrall to Putin, who admired Putin and was, I believe, a wannabe Putin.
About the Republicans heinous line of questioning of Judge Brown, they want to accuse her of being too soft on child sex crimes while passing laws that force twelve-year-olds to have their rapist's baby.
Robert. What is beyond distressing is the the term Existential Threat has become completely malleable to Putin. If he does not get a land bridge to Crimea, that is a threat. If his troops are being pushed back to the border based on his history lesson of a vassal Ukrainian state, that is a threat. As Russia's economy collapses and armament material and funds and food become impossible to supply, that is an existential threat. His temperament shows he will not back down. At some point there will likely be a tactical nuclear event of size and determination (where and how), to inform us the rules have officially changed. We are somewhat boxed in. Push you lose, back off you lose. Here's hoping (and I believe we absolutely have the right president at the right moment leading us) we figure this out.
Brad, you are 100% correct. Putin suggested in a speech a few days after he invaded Ukraine that NATO membership for Ukraine "threatened the existence" of Russia. He may have been laying the groundwork for the use of battlefield nuclear weapons against one or more Ukrainian cities to decapitate the Ukrainian government.
Robert, please add to your list of shameful inquiry Senator Marcia Blackburn's request of Judge Jackson to define what a "woman" is! Just when you think you've heard it all! "Admirable restraint," indeed! Confirmation for sure; sainthood a possibility!
I did not see that exchange. I got to the point where I couldn't stand Blackburn's questioning and had to turn the sound off during her examination. Unbelievable!
Think this might expose a tendency toward masochism on my part?!
Omg, I missed that…I could only take a few sentences after she started talking; should have stuck to the closed captioning I guess.
Cruz, Hawley, and Cotton all criticized Judge Jackson for following the sentencing requirements mandated by statute and implemented by an independent commission created by Congress…because they are a “lawless” breed, led by a 🤡 who broke laws throughout his life and presidency and then tried incite an insurrection. Where is Merrick?
Just want to thank you. I’ve been reading your newsletter since the fall of 2020. You, and HCR, have given me hope and allowed me to keep calm (and sane) through that election, the insurrection, Covid and the anti-vax/anti-mask craziness, and all the “stuff” that has become our political life. I have been able to carry on with my activism, and encourage others to do so, with confidence and a clear vision.