I have little patience for complaints that are not followed by potential solutions. And actions.
Go ahead and vent - then tell me what you are going to do about it.
Robert, you inspire and motivate us. I have been sharing your substack link with every friend and relative I speak with.
We don't have to take much time to act. It takes a minute to write to a Senator. This is mine this morning. No big deal. But I suspect I am one of thousands doing the same thing. Politicians count the calls and the emails.
"Today, I write about voting rights. PLEASE assist in carving out an exception to the filibuster to pass VOTING RIGHTS legislation. Nothing else will matter if the Republicans are allowed to corrupt their states voting rights laws. Stay in Washington until it is done! Everything spins around this issue - including the planet."
1. Regarding Joe Manchin and his understanding of the "entitlement society." Manchin's opposition to the child tax credit seemed more authentic when it was grounded in his opposition to its being part of creating an "entitlement society." The combination of disdain for people on welfare and a vision of people manipulating their circumstances to obtain free rides from the government is a distasteful picture that Reagan waived at us and JD Vaughn pictured for us. Because eligibility for the child tax credit is so high (single taxpayers earning less than $95,000, joint filers earning less than $170,000) Manchin's complaint has no basis. According to the IRS, 88% of children are eligible for the child tax credit. This is more akin to social security for which 97% of Americans are estimated to be eligible.
2. Optimism. I'm pretty optimistic about expanding the Democratic majority in the Senate. Candidates like Tim Ryan, Cheri Beasley, Val Demings who have cleared the field in the primary as they work to flip a Republican seat are cause for optimism. While there are four Democratic incumbents generally considered to be vulnerable, none are as vulnerable as, say, Heidi Heitkamp was in 2018. The House is harder to judge. As states complete redistricting plans (before the courts get involved) the House has already been so gerrymandered by Republicans, their redistricting goal appears to be primarily to prevent Republicans from being subject to successful challenges rather than to increase their number of seats. Voter suppression, however, is an issue to be combatted with (could it happen?) the help of Joe Manchin or with state by state organizing to get people to the polls despite the new laws.
Amen, brother! I stand with you in defying the omniscience of media pundits, of which number you are not one. It is work these days finding a cool head that can reason, and that is why I start every day with this blog/podcast before the crazy can get in. Obviously, Manchin is an egotistical object in the road to passage of much-needed federal funding legislation, and I am beginning to dislike seeing his photo every morning almost as much as I did the mug of 45. He is also profane and unprofessional. We could do without the exhaustion of a 24 hour bombardment that dulls the impact of developments and makes progress difficult to discern when it occurs. You give me tools to weather doomsaying, a demerit I always found endemic to social media. Thanks as always for sharing your steady mind.
Thank you as always for your concluding thoughts - your persistent optimism and encouragement to us your readers to not succumb to the pundits' bludgeoning is so heartening. I recently listened to a podcast in which (one of my heroes) Bryan Stevenson, says, "Hope is our superpower...injustice prevails where hopelessness persists."
For me the plan is to expect Independents to join Democrats in defeating DeSantis and Rubio in Florida of narrow election victories. The problem is to inform the public about the "anti-voting" measures that DeSantis is pushing through a Republican State legislature. In a few recent discussions with what I assumed were reasonable intelligent individuals they revealed they had no knowledge of recently passed legislation, they have their heads in the sand. We have to find ways to engage and inform those outside of the "Hubble-Cox" bubble. Ideas are welcome.
Robert your newsletter triggered a deep rooted anxiety I have had for several months. It feels like Republicans are aggressively and slowly attacking democracy through voter suppression state laws, abortion legal challenges, and outright intimidation of school board members, election officials and anyone who voices objection to Trump created lies around the Big Lie and other nonsensical statements and congressional subpoenas. It’s death by a 1000 cuts. What I want is simple. I want Democrats to stand up and loudly and clearly say “ We have had enough and we won’t take this anymore”. No more Mr. Nice guy. As Leo Durocher once said.: “Nice guys finish last”
I soooo agree with your optimism! It really helps! My admiration grows with every newsletter. Many thanks to you and Jill! ( I was finally able to subscribe👍). Marcia Herman, Los Angeles
Your optimism is a big reason why I read your newsletter before anything else every morning. There is no option other than working our tails off to keep the House in 2022 and to gain real control of the Senate. Thank you for keeping us informed and encouraged.
I agree that we must be and should be optimistic. To do so we must turn our attention to the many reasons independent, moderate Republicans or Democrats have to vote in 2022 & 2024 to expand the Democratic majority in contrast allowing those enabling and abetting the Trump and dark money efforts to dismantle democracy and constitutional justice. Our energy needs to be focused on telling our story, making clear what the Republicans who lie and spread misinformation are up to, and Get Out The Vote. We owe it to our country, communities, families and friends. To focus on anything else is to give in to dark times. Go ahead. Be angry with those Democrats who have not been team members. Give that anger it’s due and move on with a refocus of our time to more productive and rewarding ends.
No smoking gun, Robert? There's more smoke coming from T___p and his henchpeople than threatened your mountain cabin a few months ago. A child of five could see it. I know, because I asked a child of five about it just yesterday, and he spotted it.
Your positive conclusions keep us looking forward. Thank you for that. I still believe in our democracy and will keep up postcards to voters etc!!! Thank you
Thank you. If we aren’t open to possibilities then what’s left? There are good people out there, including ourselves working hard for democracy. I can get down sometimes, even discouraged, but it’s important to “change the lens through which you view the world” and come back to optimism and the undreamed of possibilities ahead.
A very smart friend of mine (Hi Carole) asked why BBB is being presented as such a huge bill. "Trillions" frighten people. Most people can't keep track of what's in it.
Smaller focused bills with smaller price tags could pass more easily, no? And let's have everyone on record for or against child care, elder care, etc.
I have little patience for complaints that are not followed by potential solutions. And actions.
Go ahead and vent - then tell me what you are going to do about it.
Robert, you inspire and motivate us. I have been sharing your substack link with every friend and relative I speak with.
We don't have to take much time to act. It takes a minute to write to a Senator. This is mine this morning. No big deal. But I suspect I am one of thousands doing the same thing. Politicians count the calls and the emails.
"Today, I write about voting rights. PLEASE assist in carving out an exception to the filibuster to pass VOTING RIGHTS legislation. Nothing else will matter if the Republicans are allowed to corrupt their states voting rights laws. Stay in Washington until it is done! Everything spins around this issue - including the planet."
1. Regarding Joe Manchin and his understanding of the "entitlement society." Manchin's opposition to the child tax credit seemed more authentic when it was grounded in his opposition to its being part of creating an "entitlement society." The combination of disdain for people on welfare and a vision of people manipulating their circumstances to obtain free rides from the government is a distasteful picture that Reagan waived at us and JD Vaughn pictured for us. Because eligibility for the child tax credit is so high (single taxpayers earning less than $95,000, joint filers earning less than $170,000) Manchin's complaint has no basis. According to the IRS, 88% of children are eligible for the child tax credit. This is more akin to social security for which 97% of Americans are estimated to be eligible.
2. Optimism. I'm pretty optimistic about expanding the Democratic majority in the Senate. Candidates like Tim Ryan, Cheri Beasley, Val Demings who have cleared the field in the primary as they work to flip a Republican seat are cause for optimism. While there are four Democratic incumbents generally considered to be vulnerable, none are as vulnerable as, say, Heidi Heitkamp was in 2018. The House is harder to judge. As states complete redistricting plans (before the courts get involved) the House has already been so gerrymandered by Republicans, their redistricting goal appears to be primarily to prevent Republicans from being subject to successful challenges rather than to increase their number of seats. Voter suppression, however, is an issue to be combatted with (could it happen?) the help of Joe Manchin or with state by state organizing to get people to the polls despite the new laws.
Amen, brother! I stand with you in defying the omniscience of media pundits, of which number you are not one. It is work these days finding a cool head that can reason, and that is why I start every day with this blog/podcast before the crazy can get in. Obviously, Manchin is an egotistical object in the road to passage of much-needed federal funding legislation, and I am beginning to dislike seeing his photo every morning almost as much as I did the mug of 45. He is also profane and unprofessional. We could do without the exhaustion of a 24 hour bombardment that dulls the impact of developments and makes progress difficult to discern when it occurs. You give me tools to weather doomsaying, a demerit I always found endemic to social media. Thanks as always for sharing your steady mind.
Thank you as always for your concluding thoughts - your persistent optimism and encouragement to us your readers to not succumb to the pundits' bludgeoning is so heartening. I recently listened to a podcast in which (one of my heroes) Bryan Stevenson, says, "Hope is our superpower...injustice prevails where hopelessness persists."
For me the plan is to expect Independents to join Democrats in defeating DeSantis and Rubio in Florida of narrow election victories. The problem is to inform the public about the "anti-voting" measures that DeSantis is pushing through a Republican State legislature. In a few recent discussions with what I assumed were reasonable intelligent individuals they revealed they had no knowledge of recently passed legislation, they have their heads in the sand. We have to find ways to engage and inform those outside of the "Hubble-Cox" bubble. Ideas are welcome.
Robert your newsletter triggered a deep rooted anxiety I have had for several months. It feels like Republicans are aggressively and slowly attacking democracy through voter suppression state laws, abortion legal challenges, and outright intimidation of school board members, election officials and anyone who voices objection to Trump created lies around the Big Lie and other nonsensical statements and congressional subpoenas. It’s death by a 1000 cuts. What I want is simple. I want Democrats to stand up and loudly and clearly say “ We have had enough and we won’t take this anymore”. No more Mr. Nice guy. As Leo Durocher once said.: “Nice guys finish last”
I soooo agree with your optimism! It really helps! My admiration grows with every newsletter. Many thanks to you and Jill! ( I was finally able to subscribe👍). Marcia Herman, Los Angeles
Your optimism is a big reason why I read your newsletter before anything else every morning. There is no option other than working our tails off to keep the House in 2022 and to gain real control of the Senate. Thank you for keeping us informed and encouraged.
I agree that we must be and should be optimistic. To do so we must turn our attention to the many reasons independent, moderate Republicans or Democrats have to vote in 2022 & 2024 to expand the Democratic majority in contrast allowing those enabling and abetting the Trump and dark money efforts to dismantle democracy and constitutional justice. Our energy needs to be focused on telling our story, making clear what the Republicans who lie and spread misinformation are up to, and Get Out The Vote. We owe it to our country, communities, families and friends. To focus on anything else is to give in to dark times. Go ahead. Be angry with those Democrats who have not been team members. Give that anger it’s due and move on with a refocus of our time to more productive and rewarding ends.
No smoking gun, Robert? There's more smoke coming from T___p and his henchpeople than threatened your mountain cabin a few months ago. A child of five could see it. I know, because I asked a child of five about it just yesterday, and he spotted it.
Thank you Robert! Onward — sharing your resolve!
https://twitter.com/nancylathamlfa/status/1471298051218104322?s=10
Your positive conclusions keep us looking forward. Thank you for that. I still believe in our democracy and will keep up postcards to voters etc!!! Thank you
In the spirit of hope most VA state rep losses were under 200 votes. Work at it.
Thank you. If we aren’t open to possibilities then what’s left? There are good people out there, including ourselves working hard for democracy. I can get down sometimes, even discouraged, but it’s important to “change the lens through which you view the world” and come back to optimism and the undreamed of possibilities ahead.
Thank you for helping us keep the faith that we are not doomed to a Republican takeover.
A very smart friend of mine (Hi Carole) asked why BBB is being presented as such a huge bill. "Trillions" frighten people. Most people can't keep track of what's in it.
Smaller focused bills with smaller price tags could pass more easily, no? And let's have everyone on record for or against child care, elder care, etc.
Doesn't that make sense?