You write, "I expect to receive emails from readers urging patience, arguing that Garland has a lot on his plate and needs time to address the many scandals of the Barr era."
Being a pessimist, I'm not one of those people. I strongly believe that the "lack of concern" the Biden administration is showing is a terrible approach. Why? Because it makes me and other law-abiding citizens feel like the rule of law doesn't matter. Even worse, since the Democratic Party STILL can't get its act together when any sane person knows this is a crisis, I see them as weak, inept, and utterly clueless.
I am watching my state legislature going full-on Trump, despite the fact that we're bright purple, and it is beyond frustrating that there is no coordinated response from those at the top. I agree that we should all "do something" and I have for decades. But now, for the first time, I am truly questioning why I bother.
Democrats are allowing Republicans to rewrite history and break laws with impunity. I have been a democrat my whole voting life for multiple reasons. However, and it breaks my heart to write this, I honestly don't know if I will "fight" anymore. If the Democratic leadership doesn't care, why in the hell should I? This article from Slate reflects my feelings. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/no-consequences-for-trump-garland-biden.html
Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion, which I know is contrary to yours.
Hi, Adrienne. I understand your feelings of frustration. I share them. The one thing we can't do is give up. The Freedom Riders in the Civil Rights Movement were a small minority for years--until they weren't. Someone needs to keep the resistance going, even when prospects seem dim. That must be us.
Hi Robert. Thanks for all you do. You are correct about the importance of resistance, but while the far left and center left bicker, Republicans are continuing their destruction.
I’ve always supported the Dems but they are not resisting forcefully enough and because they can’t be bothered to fight, I’ve decided to step back from the fray. I’ll continue to vote, but that’s it. I know this will be seen as selfish but decades of fighting with few results have made me cynical. If I could emigrate to New Zealand like my daughter did, I’d leave this country in a heartbeat. Good luck to you in the fight. I’m sorry to say that I’m out.
My sentiments exactly. There are thousands of Dems who are starting to feel this way. I'm tired of the fight. We can't want "justice" or fairness more than the people we elect hoping that they will want --NEED--it as much as we do. Stacy Abrams and a few others can't do it alone either. Democratic leaders don't seem to get how exhausted and discouraged their constituents are. It's pathetic--Crystal W.
I intend to email these quotes from Dahlia Lithwick of Slate to my Congressman & Senator! Thanks, Adrienne, for the link. We must continue to Keep the Faith ;)
“… Despite the best efforts of Robert Mueller, two impeachment trials, myriad court cases, House oversight, and a decisive election, we can all see that the worst excesses of the Trump years were pleaded, argued, sometimes proved, and then dismissed…
There has been no real reckoning with the broken laws and shattered norms of the Trump presidency, nor with the ostensibly conclusive results of the 2020 election, and certainly not with the violent insurrection of Jan. 6.
As Will Saletan observed last week, none of these theoretically discrete phenomena are dead or buried; they are instead not merely informing many people’s present but also rapidly distorting the future!”
From: “The Price of No Consequences for Trump
Joe Biden and Merrick Garland are acting like Donald Trump was a crazy dream. But the threat to American democracy will only get worse the longer we ignore it!”
I just saw Dahlia Lithwick's article, which was published this morning and noted the parallels to my strong expression of frustration in today's newsletter.
From taking Trump's side on the issue of immunity in defense of the defamation action (undoubtedly meritorious) by the woman who accuses DT of rape (undoubtedly true), Merrick Garland worries me. His read on the American public towards the traitor whose stay in our White House was a stain on Democracy is already shocking. He didn't even start off strong. And VP Harris telling our South American friends not to lawfully seek asylum in the United States is very disappointing.
i am very concerned about garland and fear he was a port choice by Biden. No more Mr. Nice Guy Joe. Get tough with the corrupt Republicans. These are dangerous times.
Republicans are controlling the narrative? I guess that depends which narrative you are listening to. They are surely not controlling the debate on recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. They are not controlling the debate on infratstructure--obstruction is only obstruction. They are not controlling the debate on the country's place in the world. Indeed, they are playing no part in that debate. I concede that they are controlling the narrative on ludicrous "audits" of election results, but as far as I am concerned, they are welcome to it; everyone who is not already a dyed-in-the wool Trumper knows how silly those are.. They may be controlling the debate about unwarranted intrusions into privacy rights of media, lawmakers and White House counsel, but only in the sense that only Republicans have been committing those sorts of outrages. And Congress will look deeply into those last.
It woud be nice if the Justice Department would wade into the fight over voting rights more forcefully right now, but Garland did promise to hire a whole lot of new lawyers for the Civil Rights Division, and to use them to look critically at new voter-suppression legislation. I suspect that there will be a flood of highly-talented applicants for those jobs. We'd all be happier if the Justice Department were in court right now to fight the bills that have passed in Georgia and other states, but the 2022 election is almost 18 months away. There's time for the Department to prepare well and bring solid suits to protect voting rights in that election. I'm still hoping that it will.
You are right that the question of "who is controlling the narrative" is a matter of perspective and what we mean by "narrative.". My point is this: Biden is doing things to make America better, safer, healthier, etc. I have been effusive in my praise of those efforts. But he (and the DOJ) have been subdued and low key in responding to the pervasive Republican claims of fraud in 2020. One response is to ignore those claims as the ravings of madmen. That is not necessarily an unreasonable response, but it cedes the political discussion to the loudest and most unhinged voices. That is what I mean when I say that "Republicans are controlling the narrative." It could be otherwise. Biden, Harris, Garland, Pelosi, Schumer, et al. could be engaged in a media blitz with a unified message about the importance of protecting voter rights and the falsity of Trump's claims of fraud. Instead, we get sound bites from the Capitol hallways and oblique references to the Arizona audit in speeches. What is happening in Arizona is illegal, outrageous, dangerous, and corrosive to democracy. Those are words that Biden, Harris, Garland et al should be using every day. If they don't, the news vacuum is filled with statements by Ron Johnson and Gov. DeSantis and Donald Trump. That is what I mean by controlling the narrative.
On the one hand, i completely agree that the Democrats need to control the narrative and step up to counter the wackadoo Republican storyline - but at the same time, I do think there is a fine line, and that the risk is that the Democrats find themselves in a vocal and excalating spitting contest which is exactly what the republicans want. I think there is some benefit to ignoring them, but I agree that there is a point at which we ignore them to our peril.
You touch on the points that I discuss in response to JJMargolis, above.I I agree that it is a fine line and involves judgment. But to my point of view, the Democrats have lost control of the narrative. They seem lethargic and fatalistic about 2022. Reasonable people can disagree, but in my view, the Democratic leadership and Biden administration have leaned too far in the direction of ignoring the claims of fraud.
Garland’s lack of forceful action thus far is beyond concerning; it’s scary. Whatever he fails to correct from the last four years will become precedent for the future.
And as usual, Dems are in the background. You’re in touch with Jaime Harrison? Tell him he needs to get Dems fired up. NOW. Not 3 months before election day. NOW.
Every week I write postcards and make calls. I have to do something to push back on the onslaught of minority rule. And to keep from falling into despair. There are too many who feel as I do.
Robert, as usual, I agree with you regarding Garland's performance thus far. As of now, I am not feeling so bad that he didn't make it to the Supreme Court (except for the fact that the balance on the bench would be better.) I also agree with you completely about the Ds losing the narrative battle--in fact, it doesn't even seem that we've come to the battle fully armed.
It seems that you want to be the voice of the AG. that is not the way that a Judge would address these issues. The IG is the way to get to the bottom of these issues not a witch hunt begun by a polarized AG. Sally Yates would not have done this the way you want. So who is the AG you want and do you want Garland fired about 3months into his term. You want a response that shoots first and asks questions later.
I really don't want to read rants. I can do them myself. in contrast you had a very important portion of the letter to get info on who in the house is endangered. It got lost in the noise. Try to pack those and other election thoughts into separate emails
Plain and simple you are no longer the voice crying in the wilderness. To be the voice when Trump took office and thereafter tried to smother and talk over alternative thoughts.
I think you misunderstood my point. I said that the AG investigation was both good and necessary. But it is not enough. Merrick Garland is the chief law enforcement officer in the U.S., not the Inspector General. The DOJ's reputation has been damaged under Trump and Barr. As the leader of the DOJ, Garland is THE person who speaks for the DOJ. His silence is troubling.
What is it you want him to say before the facts are established. The IG did not begin his investigation is it not appropriate to wait until he completes it to begin talking. I just don't know one way or the other but what I am urging is toning it down. Words without actions amount to simply sounding off.
He should say, "I understand that there are troubling allegations about conduct in the DOJ over the last four years. I want to assure the American people that I take these allegations seriously and am working to understand the facts. Please be patient as we conduct our investigation. In the meantime, please rest assured that the DOJ under my watch will work to serve justice in an impartial and objective manner." What has he said? Nothing.
You write, "I expect to receive emails from readers urging patience, arguing that Garland has a lot on his plate and needs time to address the many scandals of the Barr era."
Being a pessimist, I'm not one of those people. I strongly believe that the "lack of concern" the Biden administration is showing is a terrible approach. Why? Because it makes me and other law-abiding citizens feel like the rule of law doesn't matter. Even worse, since the Democratic Party STILL can't get its act together when any sane person knows this is a crisis, I see them as weak, inept, and utterly clueless.
I am watching my state legislature going full-on Trump, despite the fact that we're bright purple, and it is beyond frustrating that there is no coordinated response from those at the top. I agree that we should all "do something" and I have for decades. But now, for the first time, I am truly questioning why I bother.
Democrats are allowing Republicans to rewrite history and break laws with impunity. I have been a democrat my whole voting life for multiple reasons. However, and it breaks my heart to write this, I honestly don't know if I will "fight" anymore. If the Democratic leadership doesn't care, why in the hell should I? This article from Slate reflects my feelings. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/no-consequences-for-trump-garland-biden.html
Thank you for allowing me to share my opinion, which I know is contrary to yours.
Hi, Adrienne. I understand your feelings of frustration. I share them. The one thing we can't do is give up. The Freedom Riders in the Civil Rights Movement were a small minority for years--until they weren't. Someone needs to keep the resistance going, even when prospects seem dim. That must be us.
Hi Robert. Thanks for all you do. You are correct about the importance of resistance, but while the far left and center left bicker, Republicans are continuing their destruction.
I’ve always supported the Dems but they are not resisting forcefully enough and because they can’t be bothered to fight, I’ve decided to step back from the fray. I’ll continue to vote, but that’s it. I know this will be seen as selfish but decades of fighting with few results have made me cynical. If I could emigrate to New Zealand like my daughter did, I’d leave this country in a heartbeat. Good luck to you in the fight. I’m sorry to say that I’m out.
My sentiments exactly. There are thousands of Dems who are starting to feel this way. I'm tired of the fight. We can't want "justice" or fairness more than the people we elect hoping that they will want --NEED--it as much as we do. Stacy Abrams and a few others can't do it alone either. Democratic leaders don't seem to get how exhausted and discouraged their constituents are. It's pathetic--Crystal W.
I intend to email these quotes from Dahlia Lithwick of Slate to my Congressman & Senator! Thanks, Adrienne, for the link. We must continue to Keep the Faith ;)
“… Despite the best efforts of Robert Mueller, two impeachment trials, myriad court cases, House oversight, and a decisive election, we can all see that the worst excesses of the Trump years were pleaded, argued, sometimes proved, and then dismissed…
There has been no real reckoning with the broken laws and shattered norms of the Trump presidency, nor with the ostensibly conclusive results of the 2020 election, and certainly not with the violent insurrection of Jan. 6.
As Will Saletan observed last week, none of these theoretically discrete phenomena are dead or buried; they are instead not merely informing many people’s present but also rapidly distorting the future!”
From: “The Price of No Consequences for Trump
Joe Biden and Merrick Garland are acting like Donald Trump was a crazy dream. But the threat to American democracy will only get worse the longer we ignore it!”
Slate, BY DAHLIA LITHWICK
June 14, 2021 5:40 am
I just saw Dahlia Lithwick's article, which was published this morning and noted the parallels to my strong expression of frustration in today's newsletter.
From taking Trump's side on the issue of immunity in defense of the defamation action (undoubtedly meritorious) by the woman who accuses DT of rape (undoubtedly true), Merrick Garland worries me. His read on the American public towards the traitor whose stay in our White House was a stain on Democracy is already shocking. He didn't even start off strong. And VP Harris telling our South American friends not to lawfully seek asylum in the United States is very disappointing.
i am very concerned about garland and fear he was a port choice by Biden. No more Mr. Nice Guy Joe. Get tough with the corrupt Republicans. These are dangerous times.
Republicans are controlling the narrative? I guess that depends which narrative you are listening to. They are surely not controlling the debate on recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. They are not controlling the debate on infratstructure--obstruction is only obstruction. They are not controlling the debate on the country's place in the world. Indeed, they are playing no part in that debate. I concede that they are controlling the narrative on ludicrous "audits" of election results, but as far as I am concerned, they are welcome to it; everyone who is not already a dyed-in-the wool Trumper knows how silly those are.. They may be controlling the debate about unwarranted intrusions into privacy rights of media, lawmakers and White House counsel, but only in the sense that only Republicans have been committing those sorts of outrages. And Congress will look deeply into those last.
It woud be nice if the Justice Department would wade into the fight over voting rights more forcefully right now, but Garland did promise to hire a whole lot of new lawyers for the Civil Rights Division, and to use them to look critically at new voter-suppression legislation. I suspect that there will be a flood of highly-talented applicants for those jobs. We'd all be happier if the Justice Department were in court right now to fight the bills that have passed in Georgia and other states, but the 2022 election is almost 18 months away. There's time for the Department to prepare well and bring solid suits to protect voting rights in that election. I'm still hoping that it will.
You are right that the question of "who is controlling the narrative" is a matter of perspective and what we mean by "narrative.". My point is this: Biden is doing things to make America better, safer, healthier, etc. I have been effusive in my praise of those efforts. But he (and the DOJ) have been subdued and low key in responding to the pervasive Republican claims of fraud in 2020. One response is to ignore those claims as the ravings of madmen. That is not necessarily an unreasonable response, but it cedes the political discussion to the loudest and most unhinged voices. That is what I mean when I say that "Republicans are controlling the narrative." It could be otherwise. Biden, Harris, Garland, Pelosi, Schumer, et al. could be engaged in a media blitz with a unified message about the importance of protecting voter rights and the falsity of Trump's claims of fraud. Instead, we get sound bites from the Capitol hallways and oblique references to the Arizona audit in speeches. What is happening in Arizona is illegal, outrageous, dangerous, and corrosive to democracy. Those are words that Biden, Harris, Garland et al should be using every day. If they don't, the news vacuum is filled with statements by Ron Johnson and Gov. DeSantis and Donald Trump. That is what I mean by controlling the narrative.
On the one hand, i completely agree that the Democrats need to control the narrative and step up to counter the wackadoo Republican storyline - but at the same time, I do think there is a fine line, and that the risk is that the Democrats find themselves in a vocal and excalating spitting contest which is exactly what the republicans want. I think there is some benefit to ignoring them, but I agree that there is a point at which we ignore them to our peril.
You touch on the points that I discuss in response to JJMargolis, above.I I agree that it is a fine line and involves judgment. But to my point of view, the Democrats have lost control of the narrative. They seem lethargic and fatalistic about 2022. Reasonable people can disagree, but in my view, the Democratic leadership and Biden administration have leaned too far in the direction of ignoring the claims of fraud.
Thank you for lighting a fire under Mr. Garland!
LOL! Would that he be moved.
Garland’s lack of forceful action thus far is beyond concerning; it’s scary. Whatever he fails to correct from the last four years will become precedent for the future.
And as usual, Dems are in the background. You’re in touch with Jaime Harrison? Tell him he needs to get Dems fired up. NOW. Not 3 months before election day. NOW.
Every week I write postcards and make calls. I have to do something to push back on the onslaught of minority rule. And to keep from falling into despair. There are too many who feel as I do.
Robert, as usual, I agree with you regarding Garland's performance thus far. As of now, I am not feeling so bad that he didn't make it to the Supreme Court (except for the fact that the balance on the bench would be better.) I also agree with you completely about the Ds losing the narrative battle--in fact, it doesn't even seem that we've come to the battle fully armed.
It seems that you want to be the voice of the AG. that is not the way that a Judge would address these issues. The IG is the way to get to the bottom of these issues not a witch hunt begun by a polarized AG. Sally Yates would not have done this the way you want. So who is the AG you want and do you want Garland fired about 3months into his term. You want a response that shoots first and asks questions later.
I really don't want to read rants. I can do them myself. in contrast you had a very important portion of the letter to get info on who in the house is endangered. It got lost in the noise. Try to pack those and other election thoughts into separate emails
Plain and simple you are no longer the voice crying in the wilderness. To be the voice when Trump took office and thereafter tried to smother and talk over alternative thoughts.
I think you misunderstood my point. I said that the AG investigation was both good and necessary. But it is not enough. Merrick Garland is the chief law enforcement officer in the U.S., not the Inspector General. The DOJ's reputation has been damaged under Trump and Barr. As the leader of the DOJ, Garland is THE person who speaks for the DOJ. His silence is troubling.
What is it you want him to say before the facts are established. The IG did not begin his investigation is it not appropriate to wait until he completes it to begin talking. I just don't know one way or the other but what I am urging is toning it down. Words without actions amount to simply sounding off.
He should say, "I understand that there are troubling allegations about conduct in the DOJ over the last four years. I want to assure the American people that I take these allegations seriously and am working to understand the facts. Please be patient as we conduct our investigation. In the meantime, please rest assured that the DOJ under my watch will work to serve justice in an impartial and objective manner." What has he said? Nothing.