“In a development largely ignored by the press...” has been an ongoing problem for quite some time. We have stories about Ron DeSantis wearing lifts in his boots taking precedence over President Biden’s handling of multiple crises at once. Biden is also in the unenviable position of being blamed for things that are essentially out of his control, while not being given adequate credit for his remarkable accomplishments. It’s just infuriating.
Civil discourse is breaking down. This week, I read an exceptional, but very long, article that is essentially a meta-analysis of details available about the rocket or missile that hit the hospital in Gaza, causing hundreds of casualties. The article was published on Substack late last week by Seth Abramson, an independent journalist and former journalism professor. Because his analysis leads to the conclusion that it was an IDF missile or rocket that hit the hospital, while IDF continues to dismiss this, he received an abundance of hate male, including comments on his Substack site that said he, a Jew himself, was cheering on the deaths of Israelis. He continues to stand by his analysis, and I respect him for that.
There is SO much to think about in today’s post. At the moment, I have one simple question as the rest seems overwhelming and impossibly difficult. Why did some Democrats vote to not expel Santos? I can’t begin to understand that they think he should keep his seat in the House.
Prior to 2016, I was a lifelong Republican. I was careful not to criticize any Republican candidate because, even though I might disagree with them on an issue, I still preferred them to a Democrat. Trump changed my view. I am now a Democrat.
I do not understand the left's obsession with dividing their party into factions when the ONLY thing that matters right now in this country, is defeating Trump in 2024. For me personally, it doesn't matter what Biden does or doesn't do. What matters is defeating the most corrupt criminal to ever run for president. If the left keeps this up, Trump will be president again. Is that what they want? I hope not.
Most days it feels like the Democrats are constantly in hand to hand combat with Republicans on multiple fronts over a wide variety of issues and concerns. As an example “the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has scored the House Republicans’ bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel and to “offset” that spending with $14.3 billion in cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As those of us who have followed the economics of adequately funding the IRS predicted, the CBO found that the cuts to the IRS would cost far more than they save. As it is currently constructed, the bill would add $26.8 billion to the national budget deficit” . How many voters know about this and where is the extensive media coverage. The challenge is most Americans have no idea what the “ national budget deficit” is and could care less. I think the challenge the Democratic Party has is how to adequately address the multiple issues created and supported by Republicans that most Americans do not support in a simple and clear hard hitting message everyone will understand.
Re the ongoing Tommy Tuberville fiasco, are there grounds to challenge any of the several anti-democratic Senate rules (holds, filibuster, etc.) in court? It seems self-evident that these rules deprive millions of Americans of the representation to which they’re entitled. I know it’s a stretch, but I’m curious. Robert? Another reader?
I believe there is a silent majority who are saddened about the tragedy on both sides. We feel horrible about the terrorism of Hamas and the loss of civilian life in Gaza. It is frustrating to watch it unfold every day.
At the same time we have the Republicans (Mike Johnson and Tommy Tuberville) doing their best to stymie our progress. This is what makes me angry.
I support Biden all the way and trust his judgment that he is working on these issues behind the scenes.
The irony is stunning. Biden is the ONLY leader who could wisely handle (not solve) the dreadful Hamas war and now Biden being vilified for it.....when his opponent would be a complete disaster in the same situation. The progressives who don't like Biden would prefer xxxxxxx, really?
I'm pretty sure it was Rebecca Solnit who first crafted the remark about personal voting (I've been quoting her in my GOTV letters I've written through Vote Forward to voters in VA recently) that says: "Your vote is not a Valentine; it is a chess move for the world that you would like to see." I may be slightly mis-quoting here -- anyone's free to check my work -- but this is the gist and something we all need to take to heart in the upcoming elections. As you've said, there's no problem w/disagreements within a party, there's no reason to 100% think that any president is a godlike figure who can do no wrong/not fulfill our expectations, and there's every reason in the world to support Biden in this election cycle. Unlike the GOP, we are not fractious toddlers who can't handle not getting our way all the time.
To Robert's point, the GOP has essentially split into two parties united in name only: the traditional interventionist/Reaganomics wing and the MAGA isolationist/populist wing. That's not just disagreeing on one issue. It's having two diametrically opposed world views.
Also, if you look back to World War II, there were progressive groups in the US and UK who were virulently opposed to Allied bombing of German cities that caused civilian casualties, even though the Germans were bombing civilian targets in London and other cities in the UK. Dr. Goebbels (the Nazi propaganda minister) and his minions did their best to stir up these protests, releasing horrific photos of dead children and families and the like. Since all press reporting in Germany was subject to scrutiny by Goebbels, he was able to control that narrative.
So nothing new under the sun and all that.
Finally, I think primarying certain Democrats who do the party more harm that good is perfectly justified, especially where the constituents do not feel that the member of Congress is adquately representing their district. That threat is what keeps our representatives accountable.
ETA: Remember too that the vast majority of those "I am not voiting for Biden" young progressives on social media (a) do not vote anyway and (b) live in very very very deep blues areas like the Bay Area and Brooklyn where Democrats are in no danger of losing.
Agreed, Robert Hubbell. Democrats need to grow up and realize that what binds us together is so much greater than what divides us. Like many, I am appalled at Israel's callous and seemingly indiscriminate use of violence against Palestinian civilians. My heart aches for them and for the Israeli civilians who have been kidnapped or killed. But, we don't know all that has been done behind the scenes by Biden, Blinken, and others to temper Israel's fury thus far. Abandoning Biden would be handing Trump the Presidency in all likelihood, as his base would be even more energized by our defection. We need to stay the course because the alternative is the demise of our democratic society and our freedoms as we have known them, and even possibly martial law, the thought of which is chilling.
Lastly, the only part of your clinical assessment of what the GOP would do if they regained the White House is your statement that "science will be replaced by Biblical teaching." As a Christian, I have to defend the actual contents of The Holy Bible. It is those who manipulate and distort God's word who are anti-science. In actuality, a fair-minded reader would find that The Bible is not anti-science at all.
Is my observation that VP Harris is being involved more, recently, on point? If she is to be his running mate again (and of course she will) then she needs to be perked up, for sure.
And I'm also wondering whether it would ever be appropriate for the President to host a "conference" for the congressional democrats - really for the purpose of responding to the objections of those who believe his Israel policy is against Palestine. I'm imagining that he would "hear" them and then might even modify his policy in response or at least point out how he is already trying to intervene in behalf of the Palestinians (which it seems he is) but he might ask them for suggestions about what further he might do. They need to be heard, by him, in order for there to be more coordination and unity among the Democrats
Robert is absolutely right. There is much more that should unite us than what divides us. We should continue to have discourse, respectfully, and seek to achieve understanding and consensus.
In many matters, there are no right answers. We must seek to find the best answers to serve the greater good. That, to me is a bigger difference than policies between Democrats and Republicans. We stand for the greater good; they stand for every person for themselves. We are one for all, and they are all for one.
We are Democrats and Progressives; we air our dirty clothes in public, fight like Cats but in the end, will come together to reelect President Biden. Because the alternative is too horrible; an untethered Trump seeking revenge on everybody who wronged him. An example was the outrage over Democrats in the House joining Republicans to not expel Mr Santos. Twitter was aflame with criticism until Mr Raskin released his justification, then the fires died down.
And then there's the Senate, a world of obscure rules and accommodations written like a Monty Python sketch where you have to have a vote on having a vote, or let one member bring progress to a halt.
All this is a result of the razor thin margins in both houses of Government. But despite all this disagreement and rancor, President Biden forges ahead, guiding the country with a firm hand and resolve.
“In a development largely ignored by the press...” has been an ongoing problem for quite some time. We have stories about Ron DeSantis wearing lifts in his boots taking precedence over President Biden’s handling of multiple crises at once. Biden is also in the unenviable position of being blamed for things that are essentially out of his control, while not being given adequate credit for his remarkable accomplishments. It’s just infuriating.
Civil discourse is breaking down. This week, I read an exceptional, but very long, article that is essentially a meta-analysis of details available about the rocket or missile that hit the hospital in Gaza, causing hundreds of casualties. The article was published on Substack late last week by Seth Abramson, an independent journalist and former journalism professor. Because his analysis leads to the conclusion that it was an IDF missile or rocket that hit the hospital, while IDF continues to dismiss this, he received an abundance of hate male, including comments on his Substack site that said he, a Jew himself, was cheering on the deaths of Israelis. He continues to stand by his analysis, and I respect him for that.
There is SO much to think about in today’s post. At the moment, I have one simple question as the rest seems overwhelming and impossibly difficult. Why did some Democrats vote to not expel Santos? I can’t begin to understand that they think he should keep his seat in the House.
Prior to 2016, I was a lifelong Republican. I was careful not to criticize any Republican candidate because, even though I might disagree with them on an issue, I still preferred them to a Democrat. Trump changed my view. I am now a Democrat.
I do not understand the left's obsession with dividing their party into factions when the ONLY thing that matters right now in this country, is defeating Trump in 2024. For me personally, it doesn't matter what Biden does or doesn't do. What matters is defeating the most corrupt criminal to ever run for president. If the left keeps this up, Trump will be president again. Is that what they want? I hope not.
Most days it feels like the Democrats are constantly in hand to hand combat with Republicans on multiple fronts over a wide variety of issues and concerns. As an example “the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has scored the House Republicans’ bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel and to “offset” that spending with $14.3 billion in cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As those of us who have followed the economics of adequately funding the IRS predicted, the CBO found that the cuts to the IRS would cost far more than they save. As it is currently constructed, the bill would add $26.8 billion to the national budget deficit” . How many voters know about this and where is the extensive media coverage. The challenge is most Americans have no idea what the “ national budget deficit” is and could care less. I think the challenge the Democratic Party has is how to adequately address the multiple issues created and supported by Republicans that most Americans do not support in a simple and clear hard hitting message everyone will understand.
Re the ongoing Tommy Tuberville fiasco, are there grounds to challenge any of the several anti-democratic Senate rules (holds, filibuster, etc.) in court? It seems self-evident that these rules deprive millions of Americans of the representation to which they’re entitled. I know it’s a stretch, but I’m curious. Robert? Another reader?
I believe there is a silent majority who are saddened about the tragedy on both sides. We feel horrible about the terrorism of Hamas and the loss of civilian life in Gaza. It is frustrating to watch it unfold every day.
At the same time we have the Republicans (Mike Johnson and Tommy Tuberville) doing their best to stymie our progress. This is what makes me angry.
I support Biden all the way and trust his judgment that he is working on these issues behind the scenes.
The motion against Greene was dropped by the Democratic member who brought it, after her motion against Tlaib was defeated.
The irony is stunning. Biden is the ONLY leader who could wisely handle (not solve) the dreadful Hamas war and now Biden being vilified for it.....when his opponent would be a complete disaster in the same situation. The progressives who don't like Biden would prefer xxxxxxx, really?
I'm pretty sure it was Rebecca Solnit who first crafted the remark about personal voting (I've been quoting her in my GOTV letters I've written through Vote Forward to voters in VA recently) that says: "Your vote is not a Valentine; it is a chess move for the world that you would like to see." I may be slightly mis-quoting here -- anyone's free to check my work -- but this is the gist and something we all need to take to heart in the upcoming elections. As you've said, there's no problem w/disagreements within a party, there's no reason to 100% think that any president is a godlike figure who can do no wrong/not fulfill our expectations, and there's every reason in the world to support Biden in this election cycle. Unlike the GOP, we are not fractious toddlers who can't handle not getting our way all the time.
As always Robert, thank you.
We MUST win in 2024! No
alternative!
Some history:
In 2020, the press was also pushing the "Young Progressives Reject Biden" storyline.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/young-democrats-have-rejected-biden-and-it-could-cost-him-the-nomination/
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article242566611.html
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/joe-biden-democrats-alienate-youth-support
And then in October, the narrative switched to: https://time.com/5892826/younger-democrats-backing-biden/
To Robert's point, the GOP has essentially split into two parties united in name only: the traditional interventionist/Reaganomics wing and the MAGA isolationist/populist wing. That's not just disagreeing on one issue. It's having two diametrically opposed world views.
Also, if you look back to World War II, there were progressive groups in the US and UK who were virulently opposed to Allied bombing of German cities that caused civilian casualties, even though the Germans were bombing civilian targets in London and other cities in the UK. Dr. Goebbels (the Nazi propaganda minister) and his minions did their best to stir up these protests, releasing horrific photos of dead children and families and the like. Since all press reporting in Germany was subject to scrutiny by Goebbels, he was able to control that narrative.
So nothing new under the sun and all that.
Finally, I think primarying certain Democrats who do the party more harm that good is perfectly justified, especially where the constituents do not feel that the member of Congress is adquately representing their district. That threat is what keeps our representatives accountable.
ETA: Remember too that the vast majority of those "I am not voiting for Biden" young progressives on social media (a) do not vote anyway and (b) live in very very very deep blues areas like the Bay Area and Brooklyn where Democrats are in no danger of losing.
Agreed, Robert Hubbell. Democrats need to grow up and realize that what binds us together is so much greater than what divides us. Like many, I am appalled at Israel's callous and seemingly indiscriminate use of violence against Palestinian civilians. My heart aches for them and for the Israeli civilians who have been kidnapped or killed. But, we don't know all that has been done behind the scenes by Biden, Blinken, and others to temper Israel's fury thus far. Abandoning Biden would be handing Trump the Presidency in all likelihood, as his base would be even more energized by our defection. We need to stay the course because the alternative is the demise of our democratic society and our freedoms as we have known them, and even possibly martial law, the thought of which is chilling.
Lastly, the only part of your clinical assessment of what the GOP would do if they regained the White House is your statement that "science will be replaced by Biblical teaching." As a Christian, I have to defend the actual contents of The Holy Bible. It is those who manipulate and distort God's word who are anti-science. In actuality, a fair-minded reader would find that The Bible is not anti-science at all.
Is my observation that VP Harris is being involved more, recently, on point? If she is to be his running mate again (and of course she will) then she needs to be perked up, for sure.
And I'm also wondering whether it would ever be appropriate for the President to host a "conference" for the congressional democrats - really for the purpose of responding to the objections of those who believe his Israel policy is against Palestine. I'm imagining that he would "hear" them and then might even modify his policy in response or at least point out how he is already trying to intervene in behalf of the Palestinians (which it seems he is) but he might ask them for suggestions about what further he might do. They need to be heard, by him, in order for there to be more coordination and unity among the Democrats
You are right on the money, Robert! chins up!
I love it when MTG loses a vote!
Robert is absolutely right. There is much more that should unite us than what divides us. We should continue to have discourse, respectfully, and seek to achieve understanding and consensus.
In many matters, there are no right answers. We must seek to find the best answers to serve the greater good. That, to me is a bigger difference than policies between Democrats and Republicans. We stand for the greater good; they stand for every person for themselves. We are one for all, and they are all for one.
We are Democrats and Progressives; we air our dirty clothes in public, fight like Cats but in the end, will come together to reelect President Biden. Because the alternative is too horrible; an untethered Trump seeking revenge on everybody who wronged him. An example was the outrage over Democrats in the House joining Republicans to not expel Mr Santos. Twitter was aflame with criticism until Mr Raskin released his justification, then the fires died down.
And then there's the Senate, a world of obscure rules and accommodations written like a Monty Python sketch where you have to have a vote on having a vote, or let one member bring progress to a halt.
All this is a result of the razor thin margins in both houses of Government. But despite all this disagreement and rancor, President Biden forges ahead, guiding the country with a firm hand and resolve.