One of your best letters, Robert. Your calm, clear voice of reason and sanity, often mixed with humor, keeps me going. It’s my favorite way to start the day—followed by a second cup of coffee and Jill’s cheery garden video.
Thank you for linking us up to the Carry Water site and tonight’s zoom meeting on Texas Democrats. The quote from Lincoln that starts today’s newsletter, and your analysis of news coverage are both profound and hopeful. You are a wellspring of cautious optimism in very trying times. Most of all, thank you for sparing thoughts for the Europeans who are suffering horrific effects of climate change.
Thanks for your wise counsel. Your call for patience and fortitude reminds me of an old saw about Great Britain in the days of Empire: Britain always starts off losing battles and ends up winning wars. The same has often been true of the United States (think of Bull Run and Chancellorsville, Pearl Harbor and Bataan). Let's keep calm and go forward in the certainty that right will prevail. (Not to say that I don't have disagreements with Biden and Democrats in Congress. But those are small potatoes.)
As for Rob Portman and his ilk, their refusal to give sufficient money to the IRS provides a wonderful slogan: Republicans favor tax fraud. (To tread on your patience, when I started practicing law half a century ago, I did tax law. With very, very few exceptions, the people I dealt with at the IRS were true public servants--honest, open, professional and hard-working. Even then, before Reagan's anti-government jermiad, I used to say that the American people would be astounded if they knew the quality of the peoplr working at the IRS. I trust that they have retained much of that professionalism and dedication.)
I'll be calling Collin's office later today. In the meantime here's a letter:
Letter to Susan Collins:
Senator-
Whatever is wrong with collecting money the government is owed? "If you want to make money, you have to spend money," is a concept known to business leaders for decades. Funding the IRS so they can get billions of dollars from tax cheats is just common sense. Clearly GOP members have lost their minds!
“Sen. Rob Portman said Sunday that IRS enforcement was officially off the table as a means for funding the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.”
What, oh what say you, Senator? Will you take the good so called senator Portman aside and give him a dementia test, and not the one that the former president took!??
GOP standards for sanity must be higher than "person woman camera tv."
Is this the way you represent Maine by standing by and letting your party side with tax cheats? You are responsible to the tax payers who voted for you to shut Portman up and talk some sense into him! Do it!
Someone tell me I am wrong when I say that if the GOP gains a slim majority in the Senate in 2022, that Mitch (or whoever replaces him if he leaves this polluted planet for lower places) will execute a change to the filibuster so it doesn't permit the Dems to do what the GOP has done. And the Dems will squawk "foul play" and "hypocrisy" and the GOP will shrug and say nothing (but praise the likes of Machiavelli) - and Manchin and Sinema will join them in changing it. Someone tell me I'm wrong and why. I'm not sure I can bear to be right.
Weighing in on this whole thread: If the filibuster is abolished, we will still have guardrails: The House and the president. So the filibuster is not the bulwark of democracy that Mitch McConnell makes it out to be. And i don't think we should fear democracy. if one party controls both chambers of Congress and the presidency, it seems odd that a Senate rule can override the will of the people. If a party abuses its position of power, we still have the ballot box. If the filibuster becomes a crutch for people not believing in the power of the electorate to effect change, that is a very bad result, indeed.
I had that very thought, Janet. And, the thing is, this coming election is the primary time Rs will have successful gerrymandered the districts and suppressed voting to such a degree that they can win any seats. As much as I'd love to see the filibuster get busted, it is a risk to wish for it at this time. The other two times we caved to changes to get what we wanted short-term, both backfired on us. That was the Supreme Court justice confirmations and I can't remember the other.
Indeed, Deborah. That's why I think the Dems are going to blow a fuse when the GOP does it. In an instant, if they were in our spot. For those of you who see some possible harm that comes from undoing the filibuster, it will undoubtedly happen if the GOP thinks it is good for them. No risk of harm will stop them. They would storm the Capitol to set aside the filibuster if it will give them the power they need. I understand your reluctance to be risky, but our Democracy is at stake. Wouldn't you do it in an instant to save the life of the person you love the most? How ironic if the good conscience of Democrats is the end to Democracy and the taking hold of fascism in this country.
One of your best letters, Robert. Your calm, clear voice of reason and sanity, often mixed with humor, keeps me going. It’s my favorite way to start the day—followed by a second cup of coffee and Jill’s cheery garden video.
Thank you for linking us up to the Carry Water site and tonight’s zoom meeting on Texas Democrats. The quote from Lincoln that starts today’s newsletter, and your analysis of news coverage are both profound and hopeful. You are a wellspring of cautious optimism in very trying times. Most of all, thank you for sparing thoughts for the Europeans who are suffering horrific effects of climate change.
I have heard from several readers in Europe in the affected areas. All are safe, so far.
Thanks for your wise counsel. Your call for patience and fortitude reminds me of an old saw about Great Britain in the days of Empire: Britain always starts off losing battles and ends up winning wars. The same has often been true of the United States (think of Bull Run and Chancellorsville, Pearl Harbor and Bataan). Let's keep calm and go forward in the certainty that right will prevail. (Not to say that I don't have disagreements with Biden and Democrats in Congress. But those are small potatoes.)
As for Rob Portman and his ilk, their refusal to give sufficient money to the IRS provides a wonderful slogan: Republicans favor tax fraud. (To tread on your patience, when I started practicing law half a century ago, I did tax law. With very, very few exceptions, the people I dealt with at the IRS were true public servants--honest, open, professional and hard-working. Even then, before Reagan's anti-government jermiad, I used to say that the American people would be astounded if they knew the quality of the peoplr working at the IRS. I trust that they have retained much of that professionalism and dedication.)
Wonderful way to end today’s posting, Robert. thanks as always!
I'll be calling Collin's office later today. In the meantime here's a letter:
Letter to Susan Collins:
Senator-
Whatever is wrong with collecting money the government is owed? "If you want to make money, you have to spend money," is a concept known to business leaders for decades. Funding the IRS so they can get billions of dollars from tax cheats is just common sense. Clearly GOP members have lost their minds!
“Sen. Rob Portman said Sunday that IRS enforcement was officially off the table as a means for funding the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/18/portman-irs-enforcement-infrastructure-package-499988
What, oh what say you, Senator? Will you take the good so called senator Portman aside and give him a dementia test, and not the one that the former president took!??
GOP standards for sanity must be higher than "person woman camera tv."
Is this the way you represent Maine by standing by and letting your party side with tax cheats? You are responsible to the tax payers who voted for you to shut Portman up and talk some sense into him! Do it!
Very sincerely,
Someone tell me I am wrong when I say that if the GOP gains a slim majority in the Senate in 2022, that Mitch (or whoever replaces him if he leaves this polluted planet for lower places) will execute a change to the filibuster so it doesn't permit the Dems to do what the GOP has done. And the Dems will squawk "foul play" and "hypocrisy" and the GOP will shrug and say nothing (but praise the likes of Machiavelli) - and Manchin and Sinema will join them in changing it. Someone tell me I'm wrong and why. I'm not sure I can bear to be right.
Weighing in on this whole thread: If the filibuster is abolished, we will still have guardrails: The House and the president. So the filibuster is not the bulwark of democracy that Mitch McConnell makes it out to be. And i don't think we should fear democracy. if one party controls both chambers of Congress and the presidency, it seems odd that a Senate rule can override the will of the people. If a party abuses its position of power, we still have the ballot box. If the filibuster becomes a crutch for people not believing in the power of the electorate to effect change, that is a very bad result, indeed.
Plus, Janet and Robert, without the filibuster, we could pass the Voting Rights Act and avoid most of the R voter suppression moves.
I had that very thought, Janet. And, the thing is, this coming election is the primary time Rs will have successful gerrymandered the districts and suppressed voting to such a degree that they can win any seats. As much as I'd love to see the filibuster get busted, it is a risk to wish for it at this time. The other two times we caved to changes to get what we wanted short-term, both backfired on us. That was the Supreme Court justice confirmations and I can't remember the other.
Indeed, Deborah. That's why I think the Dems are going to blow a fuse when the GOP does it. In an instant, if they were in our spot. For those of you who see some possible harm that comes from undoing the filibuster, it will undoubtedly happen if the GOP thinks it is good for them. No risk of harm will stop them. They would storm the Capitol to set aside the filibuster if it will give them the power they need. I understand your reluctance to be risky, but our Democracy is at stake. Wouldn't you do it in an instant to save the life of the person you love the most? How ironic if the good conscience of Democrats is the end to Democracy and the taking hold of fascism in this country.