I don’t have words for it all anymore, no words for what is happening and has happened for so many years. I only have what I can describe as what was concern that became determined to try to discuss and now, I have awakened to just a seething rage. I watched PBS’ Ben Franklin the other day to find inspiration and comfort. It helped. France and Slovenia having election that did not turn to autocracy and worse is a small bright spot.
Sigh. I don’t know how you do it HCR, but I have such immense respect and gratitude for your letters. Thank you.
LH, I'm with you on this rollercoaster of rage with respect to the sheer manipulation of lies proffered by these Republicans! How the Trumpist populace cannot see through them, leaves me gobsmacked.
As Heather states: "Those deep in the insurrection have flat out lied about their participation in it, suggesting they know it was illegal." Yet, their followers continue to find them credible. Each one of these Republican leaders and representatives should be locked up for their roles in the insurrection.
I join you, LH, in thanking HCR and endorsing a profound admiration for her. Heather, my respect for your work and the dedication you impart to your country, your scholarship, and to us is boundless.
Propaganda is the reason, I’m sure that Ronnie is spinning in his grave at how Rupert has skewed, lied and normalized evil. Or was this his plan all along, I have to think not. Rupert has gone off the rails in the quest for money and power. And half of America has gone with him. Such is the power of self-serving lies. Germany proved that.
I wonder if, in addition to the actual words and body language, faux news is also inserting subliminal visual messages to hook viewers. Might explain the extra-strong loyalty of viewers
They are manipulating neurobiology, no subliminal messages needed. Keep people's HPA axis spewing chemicals that shut down frontal lobe reasoning. Keep them in fight or flight and fear response. There's a sweet spot where they're still scared and angry enough to get out and vote, but not so overly panicked that they shut down. That said, they do shut down. An uncanny number of Trumpy relatives switch to Animal Planet when they can't take it any longer.
You know me, Rowshan. Always on lookout for the sneaky stories that escape and connect some dots. The Elon Musk acquisition of Twitter story has been interesting. Like others that consider Musk an oligarch, I don’t. He is an ego-arch if anything, brilliant but an absolute loner in his own sphere of influence. Am posting a sneaky article from local Sarasota Her-Trib that connects some dots regarding trump social media and the timing with all things King Elon empire. https://sarasotaheraldtribune-fl.newsmemory.com/?publink=4da79796d_134842e
Trump has his viper’s nest in Florida a state surrounded in water. Putin has his submarines, oh and nukes. When Elon’s rockets arrive we may have the Florida Missile Crisis.
The body politic in America has been poisoned and at some point it begins to feel irrremediable . In the last decade the poison has been dripped into the country and for a while was absorbed without undue harm in the bloodstream. When the assassins faced meager opposition, they increased the drip steadily until eventually this poison coursed freely through the bloodstream. Eventually the pace became frenetic because the victim refused to die and when fully engaged, America is a country of peculiar and intense excess.
The organs have now been attacked and slowly the vitality and will of the victim to resist is being sapped.
The metaphor is melodramatic and not just a bit outré, but I could not help but feel it, as I read Heather’s compact and brilliant piece this morning. It is frightening.
Somewhere, somehow, sometime, there will come a climatic moment. This is too big and too definitional of the split in America to simply drizzle away until only memories remain, as of some vague but deeply disturbing nightmare.
If the public hearings from the 1/6 committee, are done coherently and dramatically (it seems impossible to imagine that the latter is not a certainty), then there will be the impact that Jamie Raskin has predicted. They may galvanize a majority of Americans to rage. The Trumpists will feel cornered, but we know now they will not be silent in shame. The possibility of violent conflict occurring in the wake of those hearings is non-zero, particularly if some event, not now predictable, acts as a catalyst.
For this reason it is clear that the DOJ give some unambiguous and concrete signal that the events of November 3 through January 6 were not some silly cosplay that got out of hand. They must show the American people that crimes of the greatest significance were committed.
The poisoners of American democracy must be wrong-footed. The attack on them for their concerted actions needs to be sweeping and as fierce as true justice can be.
Very much my own fear, Eric, and a brilliant metaphor in this time of plague. It feels almost now like a time of waiting, stepping in when there's an opening, but the arguments have been heard, the jury has received their instructions.
Rage must be channeled into grassroots political action. Get people registered. Know your community. Get people to vote and reject these traitors and ideological pharaohs who have enslaved peoples minds.
Unfortunately, it may now be too late for that simplistic form of "democracy." The Repugnant Party fascists in many states like Florida have countermanded the vote, with blatant gerrymandering and now special police to "protect" voting which has never been proven to need protecting. Administrators can now decide if the votes were for the Right candidate and throw them out if not.
We have watched how fascism takes over a once democratic form of government with deceit and Big Lies. "When they go low - Politely watch them win."
It's stunning what destruction DeSantis has done in 3.5 years having won by only 32,400 votes. I can only hope this year's election will find him unseated although his war chest suggests it's near impossible.
The House Select Committee, and you and I, all know, as HCR clearly points out today that "elected representatives and appointed members of our government were actively working to end our democracy." This is possible because enough of those whom our democracy gives the right to vote were able to be fooled into putting such a government into power. Democracy is fragile. It includes the potential for its own demise. Slovenians caught it in time but an ominous 40% of French voters, fortunately not enough, were willing to let go of it. On November 8, let's all vote like the Slovenians or the sane 60% of Frenchmen did. There is no other choice.
There are only two reasons to live in Florida: (1) the absence of winter and (2) low taxes. Otherwise, it is indeed a cesspool fit only as a source of drinking water for Republicans.
This is absolutely spot-on! Neither expressions of dismay nor the wringing of hands will rid our country of this existential threat to its future. Those of us who value living in a democratic society must unite to insure the level of voter turnout needed to win a "political ground war" that will be fought street by street, town by town, and State by State. The time for action is now!
Thank you, Seth. This old warrior needs to be reminded--now more than ever--that there is, as I always tell my friends who stay back because "there's nothing I can do," you can always lick envelopes.
I watched Ben Franklin last week and am now watching Ken Burns: The National Parks-America’s Best Idea. Both have inspired such a feeling of pride in what our democracy means. I mentioned to my husband, if the likes of DeSantis and Abbott have their way, the states will decide creating the National Parks was unconstitutional and take the land back for the states. He replied, “ Never going to happen!” I said, “Really? Did you ever think 40% of Americans would believe Biden wasn’t legitimately elected?”
The news from Europe’s elections is encouraging but they don’t have a Fox News brainwashing their voters.
I wish more Americans would watch the story of our National Parks. It might help the cause of democracy and how good government can work for all the people. Naive? Perhaps. It sure brought me to tears and swelled my heart. ❤️
LH, I am with you. I've just recently watched Ken Burns' "Ben Franklin" also and live with a constant dread in this time of all-powerful social media and the hatefulness of the Republican Trumpist Party. Thank you for expressing your feelings.
He would repeat himself emphatically. Then he would say, “Outlaw traditional hierarchical corporations, where the workers are exploited to enrich the executives, and allow ONLY worker-owned companies, collectives, and cooperatives, where the money and power are shared fairly.”
You speak for so many of us, LH. Every morning i wake up to a world that seems altered in a way that you only find in sci fi novels. This morning, I've made a vow, I've turned to reading my books first hour in the morning to stay calm and of course to read HCR, our calmest and most comprehensive source. Your Ben Franklin seems to have done the same for you. I will try to find it.
PBS has the Ben Franklin, 2 part series on this month. I spoke recently with a colleague in China, and they were very carefully sharing how dystopian it has all become in Shanghai. Each time I find myself falling into a deep rut of all the emotions, I do work to focus on hope, focus on actions I can and do take with groups, and to recognize the situations others are facing.
The ONLY reason Musk is buying Twitter is to put Doofus tRump back on the airwaves (along with the rest of his GOP and QAnon supporters) They’re all giddy with excitement at this powerful tool that will soon again be at their complete disposal. Personally, I’d love to see Facebook, Twitter, Instagram turned OFF. The stupidity outweighs the benefit.
I too dropped off the Facebook universe when stories about selling our data to anyone with money surfaced. The best part, I no longer get pulled into my former sister-in-law's manufactured dramas, what a relief. Probably added 10 years to my life span.
You could share a photo or two of Sammy Sanchez with us, Hale Irwin. It might lighten the gloom that keeps encroaching on us in these unfathomable times.
I’ve been facebook free for 2 years now; May 7, 2020 when I got suspended for “Hate Speech” because I posted how Ahmaud Arbery made me fear for my own black grandson because these HATEFUL WHITE MONSTERS are everywhere. The algorithm ‘bots were given complete control then and they cannot determine nuances of speech. That was the last of it, and I lost connection with many Cyber Friends but the few that I really connected with are still connected by e-mail.
I "deactivated" FB a few months ago - mostly as a time management decision. I miss some elements - some sharing of non-political info. But mostly, I feel just fine. And after all, this is a much better forum with much smarter "friends"!
However, I did NOT delete my account. I may feel the need to return in full combat mode next year. If only whackos put stuff on FB, the algorithms will favor the whackos - metastasizing.
I left Facebook in Oct. 2020 and after a few free days, I could actually sleep through the night. It had truly become an addiction, first thing in the morning, last thing at night. Sounds like many of us HCR followers are all members of a new support group..Facebook Free.
I gave up FB 6 months ago because I was dealing with high blood pressure. I had to get rid of as many stressors in my life as I could and that was the first to go. But it did help me to see the division quite clearly.
This is a sea change. Musk’s pronouncement that he wants to save civilization by allowing more freedom of speech is right out of Goebbels playbook. I got suspended for posting anti-chump comments; they were always skewed toward chump’s blather until his treachery could not be ignored. Now the propagandists rule as never before…. Musk will do what chump attempted, I fear.
Agreed. To hell with Tw. Find another mode of communication, a clean one. Twitter is another, far more wickedly pernicious version of Fox Propaganda, Russian state news, and Chinese media. George Orwell would be saying, “I told you so.”
If freedom of speech is protected by the first Amendment, why was Twitter set up so that a person could hide behind a phony ‘handle’? Why do the rich hide behind a PAC or SuperPAC? Why are Koch and his ilk supporting so many front organizations rather than stand behind their libertarian madness?
Has anyone read Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean? Terrifying history of the conservative agenda and the depth of its tentacles in our legal, educational, philanthropic, think tank and economic systems. It is like a black mold that permeates out institutions unseen for decades as the growth occurred and is now in such full bloom we cannot breathe.
Paraphrasing Cato the Elder: "Fleeceblock and Twitter delenda est!"
As to "publishing their algorithm" - the strategy is: "Ply the ranting drunk at the end of the bar with triples and keep 'em coming; pay no mind to what happens when he staggers out to the parking lot, manages to find his keys and start up, and drives off. Not our responsibility!"
Farcecrock and Glitter will never have me. The most insidious and wicked Orwellian mind-fuck machinery ever devised. If you’re connecting with important or inspiring somebody or somebodies, move them to Substack or a group text thread.
Well, I am an artist. I have a whole community of other painters on Instagram I'd never know otherwise and who are a source of great joy, encouragement and generosity. I stay in that niche. Plus gardening.
About six months ago, I had to completely quit Twitter to save my well being (literally). That's when I went to IG, which of course can be as bad as any of the platforms. But I've found it easy to stay away from hate, lies, and politics in general there. It's been a godsend. Twitter was addictive for me, going down terrifying rabbit holes about the peril of our situation. IG is has an addictive quality as well, but at least it's positive content. I read Heather's letter every night or morning, but that's about it as far as exposure to the news. This after five plus years of nonstop anxiety/panic reading.
True, but it’s also true that with FB you find that you often don’t like people that you know, while with T you find that you really like some people that you have never met.
YES! I quit when trump was running for President and I saw how many of my friends were buying in - Totally shocked me. I didn't want to associate with them anymore
FB doesn’t know what to do with me. I signed up 10 years ago, during grad school, to keep track of family, neighborhood and friends. After reports of personal information abuses i deleted all my info and pics. I enjoy the groups I’ve joined but steadfastly refuse to peruse any that FB suggests. Same with the sidebar ads.
I never see obnoxious political stuff and blocked the folks who spout nonsense, like the chemtrail conspiracy.
For some reason, probably because of limited friends/groups followed, I get bored after 10-15 minutes and just shut it down.
Never ever wanted Twit or the others. I think my education (lots of science courses for fun and an MPA) helps me resist the insidious insanity. But many of my highly educated friends have fallen down the rabbit hole.
I agree Nomi. And my daughter who is a potter basically was able to create and make her business thrive with Instagram. I don't see much controversial stuff on there. It's mostly related to the kinds of things I am interested in. Twitter is a whole 'nother story!
I "left" FB during the 2020 election cycle but returned on Biden's inauguration. I don't do politics there. My paddling buddies are a great source of information not only for great places to paddle but great equipment, too. I'm in the market for a Class B camper van. I've joined two groups to help me learn and decide between a Travato and Roadtrek. Posters there are amazingly dedicated and a source of solving problems quickly and, for me, it helps to figure out which model has the most challenges for maintenance.
IG is for photos. Think: National Geographic.
I find that Twitter leads the news by a day or two, unless it's something really big and then only by a few hours. I have a short list of folks I read, including Heather. Twitter is the best source for keeping up with the craziness of DeSantis. I read epidemiologists, physicians, nurses, teachers, and the like for personal takes on what's happening. And, I learn whether Zelensky survived overnight!
I don’t agree with the reasoning, MMG, that Musk is only acquiring Twit to put Trump back on it. He and Trump do not fit that mode. There is animosity on trump’s part. Elon never would have graced The Apprentice with his presence as a contestant. Musk is in his own sphere, not the MAGA sphere. My guess is that Musk plans to use Twit for “free” advertising influence. He wants to push Teslas and SpaceX more than pushing any other human being, including the former.
I WISH y'all could get a sample of some of the political ads we're being subjected to down here. Just this evening (it showed up at dinner time and almost made me hurl...) one appeared for the first time for Perdue for governor that is the voice of T***p peddling the same lies about the fraudulent election being stolen from him and that Gov. Kemp wouldn't do the right thing and stand up for election integrity...bah blah blah. The two candidates for Lt. Governor have spots, each trying to see who can go further to the right, though only one has T***p's endorsement, which he wastes no time in trumpeting. Kemp's ads attacking Perdue are very gingerly avoiding saying anything negative about T***p, and he even quotes T***p talking about how China has benefited from the outsourcing of our jobs, implying this is Perdue's fault. But then, Perdue blames Kemp for everything going wrong right now, even the war in Ukraine, saying it all started here in Georgia. Um...yeah. Kemp is also already attacking Abrams, figuring he'll be the one more than likely be running against her--calling her a hypocrite, only out for herself, and blaming her for mask mandates, etc. etc. It's all I can do to keep from throwing things at the television. Thank goodness I only have it on for local and national news and Jeopardy!...then I flip it over to baseball, or PBS if there's something on, or turn it off. It's gonna be this and more for the next 6+ months...Lord, give me strength!!
NC was sane a while back, until McCrory and Art Pope decided to go rogue. About the same time that Rush Limbaugh started his blather there. The propaganda and hate campaign worked like it has nationwide, but there is sanity to be found.
NC is similar to Georgia and, to a degree, Virginia in its "blue islands". In GA those are the cities Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, etc., in NC the Research Triangle, Asheville, Charlotte, etc., and Virginia the northern area around DC. These areas are tilting these states toward purple, but the recent gubernatorial race in Virginia just showed us how tenuous those blue votes can be among independents. This mixture of red and blue areas is especially true in the present-day South, but so much depends on turn-out among minorities and young urban voters. In Georgia, Abrams showed the potential of what can happen when these segments are reached and become actively involved. Republicans here know that and are doing everything in their power to marginalize the groups who would vote against them, at least as far as down ballot representation is concerned. I forget the exact percentages, but for a long time it was something like 75-80% of races in GA were Republicans running unopposed. That is starting to change, especially with more women running than ever before, and more women of colour running, which is encouraging. As usual with the South, it's an area best described as "complicated".
Thank you, dear Roland, for the gentle, factual reminder that it’s NEITHER the (entire) South, NOR any other region of this country that has all the backwards/evil folk. 💙
A few people, some of whom like me a lot (based on the ❤️s they send me), are reminding me about the nasty part of NC. Like I don’t know. But what everyone has to keep in mind is that what we think changes consciousness as a whole. Reality changes as we think and feel and believe. Picturing NC as purple or blue accelerates it happening. No good thought is ever wasted, and considering that all of humanity is trending towards multicultural inclusive society, the more we picture it, the faster it happens. Individuals in atheistic and realistic and pragmatic mindsets often think they are alone, or disempowered. No! What do you think, how you perceive, influences. It just does.
Oh, my kindred soul, so well said! Thoughts given words can and do take flight — may they travel far and fast, spreading good (unless karmic and geared toward defeating hate?!).
I'd love it if it were true. If TN (my state) is any indication, there is nearly no purple tinge what so ever. Memphis (huge black population), and maybe Nashville. But I think that's it. My Memphis suburb is deep red, and the further from Memphis, the redder it gets. I have no hope at all.
“Today, Tennessee resembles the rest of the country politically. Republicans control rural and suburban areas and Democrats rule the cities. Nashville has it’s (sic) first ever female mayor, a Democrat. Memphis is reliably Democratic. Chattanooga elected a young Democrat for mayor recently.”
AND, The Liberal Redneck, fabulous Trae Crowder, is from TN!
Well, let us be reminded that Mark Meadows is from NC. What a fine job he has been doing, right?? Jim Crow is alive and well, in the South. It’s our job to drive those criminals under rocks or in my opinion, incarcerate them for life.
No, Ashley, I agree with you. I made a blanket statement because I grew up in rural NC in the 50’s-60’s. It’s what I remember back then. Don’t know when your schools integrated but ours didn’t until 1964.
No, it’s actually the rural areas that I am referring to. The people I know who have moved there have moved to remote rural areas. They are reporting that the state is heading in the right direction, towards purple. Surprising, because most of the people we know (outside of CA) obviously live in known progressive areas. New England, New York state, Colorado, West Coast states. We know almost nobody (outside of LFAA) in Republican-dominant states: except NC. Go figure. Of course it could be a fluke.
I have sane and insane wings of my family there. I grew up there. No bastion of liberalism, but the Golden Rule has not been stomped to death until McCrory
We haven't watched a TV channel that allows ads in many years. We read the news in the morning. If we have the stomach for a recap at night, we tune in the PBS Newshour. Then TV off through a fun dinner. Close up shop, head for the big ROKU powered TV. No ads. Just more entertainment than anyone deserves. Cable channels like the formerly dominant major networks are gasping for breath. Advertisers are shifting dollars to online venues because...
Most younger folks I know don't watch the stations that have ads. They stream. And they watch their phones while they stream. Save yourself from the pain. Cut the cord.
I am in Oregon and we have plenty of Rs advertising. One of them I call Stan the Screamer. They thankfully don't mention death star, but hit on crime, homelessness, mandates, and horrors, things designed to address climate change. We also have the unsmiling Bob Tiernan who somehow forgot to pay his property taxes. Nobody addresses how they are going to solve all these things. Then we have Carrick Flynn (D) who has barraged us with mailers and ads long before anyone else. He has hardly voted, most of his money is from out of state, and he just goes around in his flannel shirts trying to look like a regular Oregon guy. The primary can't come soon enough and there will be fewer ads, but they will probably be nastier. Biden has also endorsed the worst D in our delegation, Kirk Schrader.
You're surprised to discover that Biden, VP to the finest Rockefeller Republican to ever hold office (I loved the guy personally, but really, what went on between 2008-16 was what created Now), is no lefty?
I am not full bore for Biden. I was disappointed in Obama in many ways too. I never have thought either was a lefty. The lefties around here are still for Bernie who isn't my favorite either. Personally I thought in terms of Obama it didn't matter what he did, a large portion of the population was angry that a person of his skin tone became president.
I was so disappointed to see that Michele. Schrader voted against negotiating lower drug prices. Suspicious for some big pharma deep pockets. Jaime McLeod-Skinner gets my vote!
So was I. This is no longer my district, but she would get my vote also. I have a feeling he will prevail, but we will see. I think my vote is going to Salinas in my district. We have Mr. Flynn flannel shirt running in ours. Schrader is a pharma heir and his ad claims he worked for lower drug prices which is a damn lie.
Well unfortunately Michelle I’m not in that district either. I live in Hood River, that has become more progressive, but it is clumped in with Eastern Oregon in district 2. The part that wants to join Idaho. I say go for it! I am rooting for Jaime even though I can’t vote for her. I think Adam Prine looks like a better candidate for our democratic election. If Hood River has it’s say he will beat Republican incumbent Bentz🙏
We are on the northwest edge of congressional district 2 but DEFINITELY NOT part of the group that wants to join Idaho. It is a very large district geographically because most of it is rural. The Idaho wannabes are south and east of us. That’s why I say let them go. Then our district would be blue.
I am sorry about District 2. We are now in state legislative districts that are likely to be R which does not make us happy. For years we were represented by Courtney and Clem.
Connection with the insane political ads. I live in NW Pennsylvania and it has been non-stop with the outrageous commercials. David McCormick's are the worst, closely followed by Mehmet Oz and Bill McSwain. They're attacking each other and courting Trump who endorsed Oz. I've not seen any political ads (yet) for the other Republican candidates for U.S.Senate and PA. governor but they're out there. The ads are sophmoric, mean spirited, and ridiculous. Also enraging and motivating. Vote blue!
Don't shoot me, Kamila, but I have been donating to Fetterman for many, many months now. Do you have someone else you "endorse"? Being in Virginia, I don't see any of the Pennsylvania ads.
Oh my gracious, I support John Fetterman too! He is the real deal. Thank you for donating to him. His ads are on point, mature, and inspiring. Josh Shapiro is also a great person who is worthy of your attention and support. He is currently the Attorney General in Pennsylvania and is running to be Governor. Both John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro make Democrats in PA. proud.
So relieved to hear you (from PA) support John Fetterman, too! I will check out Josh Shapiro. Hopefully, he'll do better than my guy did in Virginia last year!
In California, donating to John Fetterman as well as others in various states for governor or Congressional seats. I think I now have about a dozen in my list.
Thank you for your reply to my comment. It was very encouraging to know that John Fetterman is garnering the attention of thoughtful people like you. Not surprisingly, he has also gained the attention of the MAGA cohort. Dave McCormick has recruited Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, and Stephen Miller, among others, for his Senate campaign. Too bad for McCormick TFG endorsed Mehmet Oz.
U.S Representative Mike Kelly (R, U.S District 16) is also up for re-election. He is a resident of Butler County. The county just ousted their Election Director, Aaron Sheasley, for unspecified reasons. It's a good bet that his ouster was the result of a group of believers of the Big Lie who accused Sheasley of mishandling the 2020 election. Since Mike Kelly was one of the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results after the attack on Congress on January 6, it's not a reach to think he had a hand in it. Kelly also attempted to disenfranchise many of his constituents when he filed suit seeking a court order to throw out all mail in ballots in PA. or alternatively to throw out ALL votes and appoint state lawmakers to decide the winner. He is being challenged by two Democrats, Dan Pastore of Erie County and Rick Telesz from Lawrence County. Both are less than ideal but are worthy of consideration and support because they're taking on the despicable Mr. Kelly.
Sorry for the ramble! Hopefully you made it to the end.
I did make it to the end, Kamila, wide-eyed! I am supporting my U.S. Rep, Jennifer Wexton, who is up for reelection along with another rep, Abigail Spanberger. In the meantime, our newly installed R governor is trying to vacate the terms of the elected school board in my county: "Gov. Glenn Youngkin amended more than 100 bills and vetoed 25 more this week. One amended bill would require all nine members of the Loudoun County School Board to stand for elections in the fall, reducing the term length of seven members." Not sure if that can be blocked. Chicanery abounds😕
Thank you Heather for your information. I am relieved by the election outcomes in France and Slovenia. And so disgusted with the Republican insurrectionists. I am thankful to the Jan 6 committee for all of their hard work and hope the DOJ will start moving on this. I’m afraid Elon Musk owning Twitter is ominous.
I am on both Facebook and Twitter. Facebook for the number of writer friends and the communication between friends. Twitter to be able to see the postings of political entities I trust for information and insight. At first I thought I would drop off Twitter because of the sale to Musk but certain people I follow on Twitter are urging us to stay and keep our voices and thoughts alive - to counter any voices that may rise up to sell false ideas and misinformation. They have convinced me to stay - at least for a while because my mantra is Evil flourishes in a silent room. I do not intend to be silent. If I know anything in these political times, being silent only allows voices like MTG, Jordan, Cruz, et al to be heard without challenge. That is the equivalent of handing a loaded gun to a certified killer.
I'm on FB because it's where I buy supplies for my beading addiction. And to keep in touch with family and friends.
There are hundreds of small business owners from all over the world who sell exclusively on FB because it's easier and cheaper than Etsy and other places.
And because of all those business owners, I know I could travel almost any place on this planet and have a place to stay.
Way before FB there were places where you could meet like minded people.
I've made friends all over the world through a blues page run by a guy in a small town in Ireland. In fact, I actually got meet some of those people here during the international blues challenge.
I don't pay attention to all the bs on FB. I just scroll past it.
FB is what I make of it.
As for Twitter, never logged in, but I do like reading the comments, which is harder to do lately without logging in, but I'm not losing any sleep over it.
Gonna hold my opinion until after musk takes over and see how it goes. Which is pretty good for me, because I don't like Musk at all.
Beth. I have discovered with Twitter that you can click on the "sign in" when it comes up and blocks your access to the comments you are reading !and then immediately click on the page back arrow on your device. You will come right back to where you were in reading Twitter comments. I don't want to sign up for Twitter but learn alot from the comments for example from Laurence Tribe.
Good to have someone else here who understands the value of social media for small businesses like mine- fellow beader. 😎😛 But seriously, I too know folks all over the world now and can track my friends in Eastern Europe and make sure they are safe. Tough to ignore the bs but I amplify the good too. Bead on and amplify democracy!!
Hey, Rusty. Thanks for your perception and decision to stay on FB and Twitter for the reasons you stated. I look forward to Heather's chats on FB Tuesdays and Thursdays, so go there for that purpose.
You make the only germane argument and many of the varsity here use it for the same tool. Not to use it would be like charging the machine guns on horseback. My take is that everyone who believes as we do should abandon twitter and leave the scum of the earth to enjoy themselves alone. Of course that is no where near possible, so that makes you recon. Deal?
Stuff Musk into one of his rockets and fire him into the sun. The man is #1 on my list of those who qualify under the old "Texanism": they *needed* "termination with extreme prejudice"!
This HCR board is my only interactive media as well. However, I am being urged by some to get Facebook. I will never get Twitter. Who wants to read something so shallow as 140 characters?
I never liked the Twitter concept. It always seemed like a snarky hit and run format. Drop an insult here, a lie there...then watch the mayhem. It's like a bully pulpit for angry people.
But I am considering tweeting at some point. There is a war going on. This old guy may be needed. But do I tweet or water the vegetables? These are the great questions of life...which is short and lacking in time for all my ambitions.
The sad thing Mike is that some people make it their priority and spend hours on them. I often thought the same thing but then realized that they probably let more important things go because they're obsessed with it.
My sister is on Facebook and if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t have been introduced to Heather’s letters. I know there is positive and negative on both Facebook and Twitter and you can glean what is of value like my sister does on Facebook. It’s unfortunate though that so many latch on to disinformation, hateful rhetoric and conspiracy theories
Plus, she chats on FB which I have learned to "not live without!" She makes you feel like she's talking to a real friend, hanging out, having a conversation.
I started an account in order to follow Andy Borowitz; this was long ago! Now Borowitz is a New Yorker regular and I stopped using Twitter also long ago. Until...links from HCR letters. I had to dig for my password page to get on.
Yes. I confess to Facebook because it is useful to keep in contact with family, friends, and ex-students. I belong to several progressive groups here in Salem on it. One of the people is brave enough to go to wing nut events and film them. I also belong to several English history, places, and culture groups.
Yes Michele. I was on as you were for the same reasons. My family is scattered from hell to breakfast and they insisted “me too”. I loved it, we were drawn so much closer. My withdrawal from it was painful, and in fact that is where I found HCR. I thought she was just another pretty face on Facebook. I lost her rather absorbing messages until I looked online and became aware of her much larger persona. Facebook has great value for society. I will go back when we get it fixed.
Think we should all worry when what could be for the common good gets owned (locked up) in the hands of one individual. Worse, when the individual has a profitable vision of how the world would be if he was writing code for the game of life.
Wondering however, that 30% of French voters did not vote. Worried about GOTV in the US, we need to focus on good voters caring enough to vote no matter what the obstacles! Big turnout in 22 and 24 will matter in a positive way.
The actual rate of abstension was 28,2% of registered voters. Of those that did vote fully 8,8% turned in a blank vote. Thus Macron was supported by less than 39% of registered voters. Of that 39%, exit surveys indicate that 40% of those voting for Macron did so uniquely to stop Le Pen winning....and that brings him down to less than 25% of registered voters that actually wanted him as President as first choice.....less than his first round total of 28%. The difference between the fervent 25% and the reluctant extra 14% (making 39%) being made up by voters of the extreme left under Melenchon and the Communist Party, the loony left Ecolo Party, the job hungry non-macronite centrists and the aged that he had cowed by covid related fears. Macron disappointed most of the French because of his lack of achievements, his total lack of empathy, his reluctance to listen and by his arrogance with regard to the ordinary french people. One had the feeling that he considered the election such a foregone conclusion that it was a waste of his time to campaign. If he had bent an ear a little more closely to the French people these past five years he wouldn't be in the pickle he is in now....he'll be President but without a majority to govern and will face the humiliation of impotence. One even wonders, under Heather's definition, who was effectively the Far Right candidate and whether autocracy was actually defeated.
“. . . exit surveys indicate that 40% of those voting for Macron did so uniquely to stop Le Pen winning.”
Welcome to the 2020 election in the U.S. Some significant portion of that 81 million turnout for Joe Biden was actually an anti-Trump (and everything & everyone he represents) vote.
Macron's and Biden's wins sound similar. Voted in to prevent the other candidate, not for what the winner was proposing. Can imagine Macron's new term will be uphill, as is Biden's first, not because of the policies, but because there wasn't enough belief that he could achieve anything. Both will be haunted by unchanging lack of hope that government will work for us. All attention (most) goes to confirming the bias toward government as the problem. We get what we look for, even when we are better fed, clothed, and supported.
Hey, Stuart. Well, I've long lost the article I read about this. But the take-away was that Le Pen's loss is not regarded as a loss by her or her supporters. They are actually thrilled with the percentage that voted for her; and they are expecting to build on that in the next election.
Not my win, Lynell. The performance is indeed seen as an "advance" by her party, but it confirms what her "competitor" Zemmour says of her that she cannot win. There is always the question whether she wants to win or just to be liked as a good opposition. Currently to win she needs to accept to ally herself with the rest of the "right" that are "nationalist" and effectively take a back seat..
Thank you for your reply, Stuart. It goes without saying that my holiday trip to France back in the seventies in no way bestows upon me the requisite knowledge of that landscape's politics. So with that, I'll bid you adieu!
The view of the tourist is of course incomplete, seeing rather the remaining aura of a glorious past and the beauty of the little villages and countryside. Living their is another kettle of fish.
The abstention rate in both the first and second rounds were very close. The 28% are those that don't care, physically can't get out to vote or are so pissed off with the system and the mediocrities that it proposes that they have given up.
The added percentages refer to those who voted. Karen said 30% of eligible voters didn’t cast a vote. I also read somewhere that a significant number of voters skipped the presidential choice and only voted for down ballot candidates.
Yes, you and Karen are citing figures that match those on today's Krystal and Saggar's Breaking Points show in a very well done summary. A sizable number wanted neither candidate, so they just abstained.
And voted Blank! (8,8% of those voting). The 3rd round so to speak is just starting...the elections to the National Assembly. In local elections since Macron has been in power his people have been annihalated. His massive parliamentary majority followed his win in 2017. Since they have been in charge, Parliament has effectively become a body to register Macron's unilateral decisions. His party will in all probability be reduced to a rump and Macron will not be able to form a government. The power goes with a majoriy in The National Assembly. A coalition of the dominant parties will effectively impose a Prime Minister on Macron and reduce the President to the role of a Figurehead.
6 hours ahead indeed. I've already chatted a little with Peter as our house in Provence is not too far from him in Nice. I think he already has my coordinates. Always happy to renew with friends. Did you hear about the latest attack in Nice...a priest and a nun attacked in a downtown church by a knife-weilding "frenchman" (the french media are very careful about no saying since when and from where) "known for his psychological troubles" . This is now the standard expression for "lone wolf" terrorist attacks. Apparently he wanted to kill Macron but couldn't...! Fortunately the victims lives are not in danger. i'm always happy to chat as our decision should be more or less made by this autumn when we'll have the results of the National Assembly elections and subsequent coalition negotiations.
You stated it as “Those deep in the insurrection have flat out lied about their participation in it, suggesting they know it was illegal.” What chance do you think that the Justice Department has to bring the actors identified in McCarthy’s text messages to Justice for sedition?
This morning I had an email from an American friend who has lived in Italy most of her adult life and married a concert violinist who was born in the former soviet republic of Georgia. Her husband who died of COVID last year admired Putin. Today she told me that she was hearing news trying to convince Europeans "that the real blame for this horrible war should be given to the USA, since they want to DOMINATE Russia and want to use the excuse of the Ukrainian thing to be able to do this." She wanted my opinion on this. My response was I thought what Putin is saying is that he's mad at the United States for not letting him just walk in and take over a sovereign country. I went on to talk about how Putin had underestimated how this would go etc. ... all the stuff the readers here know very well. I found it sobering that Putin was trying his disinformation campaign on the Europeans but then we here in America certainly are getting too much crazy disinformation from our own politicians. Let's do what we can to defang disinformation everywhere starting in our own backyards.
Cathy, we, the USA, are partly responsible for the war in Ukraine in one way. Modeling.....
First, Ukraine is one of three countries with large deposits of Lithium. Second, Ukraine also has large deposits of natural gas. So, whomever controls Ukraine controls a LOT of money going forward.
Flash back to 2003. Iraq had large deposits of oil. However, weapons inspectors, put on the ground by the Reagan administration in the 1980's, had been reporting, to the UN, on the absence of nuclear capability in Iraq for more than 15 years in 2003.
The Bush administration, on its own, outside of the CIA, generated a "big lie" about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction that threatened the world. Even the CIA tried to counter this lie, and one of the members of the CIA who was trying to clear this lie up was outed by the Bush administration to silence her. (see Valerie Plame on google or the Netflix documentary "Fair Game".
Then, based on a gigantic lie, we invaded Iraq with, remember? Shock and Awe? Hospitals, schools, Mosques, ancient historical buildings and palaces turned to rubble. Beautiful, ancient cities filled with families and people who had done nothing at all to the US.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians killed. Millions displaced to Europe.
PUTIN WAS PAYING ATTENTION to the strategy and the goals. WE SHOWED PUTIN THE WAY.
PUTIN JUST USED THE SAME EXACT STRATEGY TO INVADE UKRAINE. Spread a lie, then, invade with shock and awe.
I think Putin is surprised we even cared at all. I kind of am too.
After all, Americans did not give one thin dime about Iraq being invaded based on lies, nor did they care about the carpet bombing of Iraq cities or the massive kill rates of civilians.
So, I am sure Putin is surprised Americans gave one thin dime about Ukraine.
I mean, we, us Americans, did not care AT ALL, about the destruction of Iraq based on lies.
Jeri, I believe you and a few Americans cared. I was a raving lunatic at the time and my friends all thought I was nuts. "Who cares Mike?". "Let it go Mike."
I am still crushed by what we did to the ancient, beautiful cities of Iraq. PLUS, it was a stable society sans any terrorism except for Saddam Hussein, whom we had sided with in the Iraq/Iran war (except for illegally selling weapons to Iran).
Mike - I am afraid you are right. Nothing can excuse what the leaders of our government at the time did back then. Am trying to find the "yeah but" - and I guess it is this - Ukraine is a budding democracy, the form of government that most of the civilized world recognizes as the go-to way to run countries. It must be protected from authoritarian countries who invade it. Hussein's Iraq was the polar opposite, led by a cruel dictator who was giving the whole world the middle finger, dangerously so.
Tucker Carlson is no more an impartial serious journalist than my Great Aunt Ruth was and she has been dead a long time. Even in the grave she has more integrity than he has ever had. He is an entertainment talking head that is only interested in pushing what will bring in the most $$$ for Faux News and keep him in the spotlight. They should be forced to change their name from Fox News to Fox Infotainment.
That France and Slovenia can recognize a rat when they see one is a heartening sign, but in France it will be more telling to see how many seats Le Pen can garner.
I wish there were more voters like the five that filed the suit against MTG. It needs to happen all over the country if they are not unseated by their own states.
Pamela, he is a dead ringer for a bully in our Junior High. He was in our library holding a girl by the throat and jabbing her viciously in her privates with a metal ruler. The library was on the second floor and had only one window, and then it didn’t. That is how most of the free world feels. I hope the library is on the tenth floor when his flight comes.
Hi Pat. I took a music break and thought of you when listening to Croce but you got the wrong song. 'I got a name' was the one I thought I was aiming at. What's new?
The sun is shining and it’s raining. Someone is getting married. At least that is the magic involved. My hand was itching so apparently I’m getting money. (Tax back I expect). The doorbell rang and music was playing and sure enough there was Fern. Made me smile. Sup?
You know that I enjoy stories. This one is moving. A lot going on. Glad you're smiling. I'm smiling, too. I was deeply tired when I ran your bell. Feeling better now. See you again, before too long.
I am still baffled that the statements from Perjury Taylor Greene have not gotten the ride out that they should have by the media. Is this a precursor to another round of actions by the GOP that will be without consequences? Probably.
On my way to the dentist this morning I noticed the Republicans are putting out their "F*ck Biden next to their brand new Trump 2024 flags in earnest. What I did notice were that these flags weren't flying infront of what should be condemned trailers. I'm seeing these on very nice houses. Is that an indication of the cross over from Democrats to Republicans . A reflection of the current polling of Biden.
I see these flags too at houses and trailers all along the economic spectrum. Our kids ride to school and pass them. How can there be no shame for flying flag with ugly curse words along public streets? I’ve never seen this before. It makes me angry, sad, and just disappointed
Ted, there is a business that I pass on my way to work that put up a huge "Let's go Brandon" sign in their front window when the GOP started that foolishness. The business is located directly down the street from a K-12 school. I calmly called the business owner and requested it to be removed given their location to the school. That was met with a barrage of vulgarity from the owner.
It’s desperation time for the social Neanderthals who support whites, males, heterosexuals, and Christians. Ever since the Obamas appeared in the WH, they’ve been freaking out. They know now beyond a shadow of a doubt that their lifestyle, their society of white and male superiority, is in deep trouble. That’s why Trump. That’s why their venom towards Biden, which is actually venom towards you and me. Hence the profanity. Yes, Linda, it’s you and me and Heather and everyone here that they hate, despise, and resent.
hmmm...I fit all of those descriptors and I'm no lover of tfg, autocrats OR radical conservative views. In fact, I think the current president will be seen far more favorably by history than he is at the moment. Voters are fickle, polls don't capture a deeper understanding of the forces in motion at any one time. There's this confounding tendency for the public to blame the president for every event occurring around the world, or blame him for not having an immediately effective way of making "it" (whatever is wrong with the world at the moment) magically go away.
I agree. I have posted many times that Biden is, quite unexpectedly and under the radar, acting like our wildest dreams come true. I don’t think our fantasies of a Schiff or Raskin or Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris Presidency could match what this guy is managing to pull off. I would vote for him again, but this time with gusto. He is a gem. Doesn’t look like one, but man what results. I can see why they have “Let’s go Brandon“ flags and bumper stickers and window stickers everywhere. He is their worst nightmare. If I were in love with the old white / heterosexual / male / Christian superior society, I would hate Biden too. Intensely.
I quess there are kids that will see these flags and grasp the meaning of a vulgar message that is symbol of hate and intolerance. Other kids will not, and that’s enough to normalize it. I just finished Fiona Hill’s book. Populism is just one more way to exploit and manipulate those who have been or who feel forgotten, discarded, and abandoned by a post industrialized world that is unpredictable and constantly evolving. The more I read the more I am realizing it all boils down to inequality; the lack of education that robs potential and opportunity, and upward mobility. Their pain and insecurity both real and imagined can be fed a steady high calorie but low nutrient diet of populism from demagogues who claim to know some “other” group, who are responsible for everything wrong with their shortcomings.
Ted, agreed. Because of where I work, I live in 2 counties in New York State. As a statistics nerd, I tend to look hard at the Educational stats when I try to understand people. Both Counties I live in have very similar rankings. 50% math, 42-46% reading skills. Both counties rank a 3/10, which puts both in the bottom 50% in the State. Nothing to be proud of. One statistic that jumps out is minority percentage. Onondaga County, where I grew up, has a 37% minority versus 7% minority in Chenango County. There is your key to tolerance. The F*ck Biden and Trump flags are everywhere in Chenango County. I literally could count on 1 hand those flags I have seen in Onondaga County.
Bam. On the money, Linda, literally. Your example can be copied thousands of times across the nation and world. To mention a statistic like this now in any education circle of legislative “experts” would be considered CRT and dastardly.
Thank you Linda. Check those counties for opioid #'s and I think you will find something similar. Check the Pandemic Deaths and they all mirror the same message. As Fiona Hill and Robert D. Putnam point out, these are the communities that are suffering the most in the transition from Industrialization to Information technology/service economy/creative economy. The residents there do not know why, how, or what, they only know they are not able to experience the promise of the American Dream. The more they are forgotten, the more room there is for demagogues to manipulate them and populist to exploit them for only for their vote, and then enrage them to political violence to maintain power over all of society. These facts should concern us all. There are real needs that need to be addressed for those who have voted for the TFG, we can afford to forget about them. For me that is the lesson from the political rise of TFG to Jan 6th.
Ted, in fact I recently had a discussion about the opioid epidemic in Chenango County with an Academic very involved in the Community. It is horrendous.
I know for a fact Onondaga County is not much better. The is a strong parallel.
I traveled 140 miles from Salmon Idaho to Missoula Montana for healthcare services for my wife and her almost blue eyes, all good! On that 280 mile drive we saw perhaps 300 elk, at least 500 deer, and only 4 discernible republicans. Mind you, both states are red havens. What I really saw was thousands of homes without Trump adornment. One lone Douglas fir had a Trump sign about 100 feet up which has been there since 2016. Some evening I’ll put my climbers on.
I’m with you TC. All the way. (MTG and others) I was just telling my wife the other day that I took a close look at the face of that groper Herbster. I can see the sleaze in his face. The face and the eyes are revealing. https://images.app.goo.gl/pzrCdiTK2cz2WuQZ6
Agree - however she is wholly responsible for the smug look on her face that speaks to me. The first time I ever saw her was that short video inside a "safe" area during the insurrection, where she was caught in video from a fellow representative smirking and yucking it up with Gozar, and/or another one of the perpetrators. Since then, nothing from her has surprised me.
Sometimes I think my husband and I need to get prepared to live in an autocracy because it seems inevitable. The only thing is most Americans have only lived in a free, democratic society. How do we prepare? Buy a gun now if you don’t have one and learn how to defend ourselves? Save more money because the economy could sink into recession or a depression? Do both? Find another country to move to? This is the most scared I have ever been for my family’s future economic stability and happiness. I do not want to live in a country under a dictatorship. Everyday I think about selling our house and moving out of the country. I am a retired teacher and have taught foreign students whose families came here to America for political asylum. It seems unbelievable to me that Americans could be moving to other countries in the near future to escape political instability and violence. I am especially upset today because long time friends of ours are devoted Fox News watchers and Trump cult members. Our friendship is disintegrating, they refuse to listen to any other view but what Fox News tells them to think. They bash democrats even though they know we are democrats, if we give any opinion that is different from theirs, they become visibly angry. It is so sad and upsetting. We have met for 20 years once a month for dinner but I think we won’t be eating together much longer. If this happens between good friends, how will long will it be before our country descends into political violence, and chaos. We could become like Ireland was before the Good Friday peace agreement. My guess is we will find out after the midterm elections at the earliest and by 2024 for sure.
I will stand by my comments and my convictions. But moving to another country (Canada) really is sounding better and better. Nov of this year - huge for me.
This has happened in my family and it breaks my heart. My two sisters, one in Alabama and one in Georgia, both whom I love deeply, have gone to the dark side - one a while ago due mostly to her "conversion" to 7th day Adventism. They are among the worst, politically. The other more recently, and even more disturbingly. She is (was?) the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. But then something came over her and I think it might have been when Obama was elected. She is like most Alabamans - racist. And that, IMO, is the key. Now when we get together, at times there is an elephant in the room. A much bigger elephant than before especially since covid. I am subjected to subtle denigration - snide comments under ones breath, little jokes that are not funny. Wokeness, socialism, snowflakes, sheeple, etc.
I continue to fear the possibility of the Country falling into a fascist autocracy but the elections in France and Slovenia give me hope, as does the continued work here in this post and elsewhere to push forward the truth and let it energize the people to do the same in our elections.
Friends from the region are concerned – convinced that Russia’s increasing military presence in Serbia bodes ill for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro.
Between the age of 11 and 16 1/2 I was raised at The Orthogenic School of The University of Chicago. I slept in a dorm room of eight for 6.5 years. Only severely disturbed were admitted. I entered Monday, January 9, 1950. I tested 160 on the Stanford Binet. I had refused to read. The Director of The School was Bruno Bettelheim, a PhD in art history. He authored books and articles that explored the work he directed and the children. Love Is Not Enough was his first best seller. He was imprisoned in Dachau and Buchenwald before WW II. He undoubtedly bought his way out. I knew him well and we remained close until he killed himself.
In 1955, Dr. B, as he preferred, suggested The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. He wanted me to understand the past and prepare for the future. We discussed the Holocaust and European concentration camps, Auschwitz and many others, the gas chambers and crematoriums, Hitler’s final solution, Mussolini, the gestapo, fascism, anti-semitism, prejudice, restricted real estate, US slavery, intolerance, and American fanatics.
Bettelheim was clear. In your lifetime, Sandy, you will experience fascism and prejudice, fanatics and dangerous people and mobs, this will not end. Human nature does not change, he said.
Historians, educated people, political and military, and top educators are infected with blinding intolerance. The need to feel superior masks inferiority, fear and insecurity. Groups are often dangerous. Intolerance is common. I learned. Americans are easily duped and often violent.
Bettelheim would not admit kids or hire therapeutic staff with colored skins. He said they were inferior. The School kitchen, cleaning and support staff were all dark skinned. I worked in the kitchen.
The dark skinned support staff was far more stable than the therapeutic staff.
In Wall Street, in 1965, White, Weld & Company, a WASP NYSE general partnership of snobs and Ivy League lightweights, held a partners’ meeting to decide if hiring a Jewish part-time secretary for full time was appropriate: she’s still alive. Her maiden name was Mildred Bergman. She not well. She knew White, Weld.
Wall Street antisemitism is a given. No one hired a Negro or Hispanic in sales, research or trading. Many firms blocked Jews. Law firms were similar.
Academics that do not evidence empathy are common.
Thanks for writing how America has ACTUALLY BEEN when compared to the ideal that Lincoln was trying to achieve.
I did not have your challenging path to travel and applaud your navigating that path.
But, the path I travelled ALSO showed me a true America that is far out of sync with what Lincoln was and what he hoped for and still is out of sync with that ideal.
Thanks for sharing your story of America. Reality stories from Americans matter.
Mike, we employed 330 Barbadians for many years to rebuild our plantation house at Easy Hall, St. Joseph, stopped devaluation of the B’dos dollar working with the IMF with a grant to put 6,000 back to work in 1993.. ending the sugar strike.
Sandy, I have met others with stories similar to yours. People who have ended up in institutions that, for whatever reason, served the needs/desires of the institution rather than those of the people they purported to serve. This is a pervasive, insidious form of cruelty. My career an an RN has been one long struggle to first recognize, then reconcile, eventually rebel, and in one case flee from this state of affairs. I am not broken, but I am not whole either. Thank-you for your post.
The Year They Sold Wall Street by Timothy Carrington, Houghton Mifflin, ed. Nan Talese, is about me, Steve Abbott. I worked a year at The Orthogenic School, 63/4, was asked to tun it, declined. My story is atypical. Married 6/15/60. Six children, 11 grandchildren - we’ve raised a few children of others, helped a Nobel Peace Prize girl and others, www.lewisfamilyfarm.com and @SBLewisSB www.sblewis.netwww.sblewis.com
Thank you, Heather. As the world turns! That was the name of an old daytime soap opera. That had less drama than we are currently seeing in our world today.
Carol Burnett did an ongoing parody skit on that soap on her weekly comedy show. She called it, “As the Stomach Turns”. Seems appropriate for what we are witnessing.
Those were the carefree days with little money and jobs that paid $1.65 and hour and rent was $50 dollars a month. I was in the hospital 7 days after the birth of my daughter. The total bill was $100. We had no insurance so paid $5 and month on the bill. The doctors bill was also $100 and we paid him $5 per month. So the soap operas were what we dreamed for in our future!
Very strange, but I'm not able to "heart" this letter. When I click on the icon, I get an error message. Hoping it's just me and not something with the Substack site. Anyway, another fantastic roundup of today's most important news. Thank you, Heather.
I don’t have words for it all anymore, no words for what is happening and has happened for so many years. I only have what I can describe as what was concern that became determined to try to discuss and now, I have awakened to just a seething rage. I watched PBS’ Ben Franklin the other day to find inspiration and comfort. It helped. France and Slovenia having election that did not turn to autocracy and worse is a small bright spot.
Sigh. I don’t know how you do it HCR, but I have such immense respect and gratitude for your letters. Thank you.
LH, I'm with you on this rollercoaster of rage with respect to the sheer manipulation of lies proffered by these Republicans! How the Trumpist populace cannot see through them, leaves me gobsmacked.
As Heather states: "Those deep in the insurrection have flat out lied about their participation in it, suggesting they know it was illegal." Yet, their followers continue to find them credible. Each one of these Republican leaders and representatives should be locked up for their roles in the insurrection.
I join you, LH, in thanking HCR and endorsing a profound admiration for her. Heather, my respect for your work and the dedication you impart to your country, your scholarship, and to us is boundless.
Propaganda is the reason, I’m sure that Ronnie is spinning in his grave at how Rupert has skewed, lied and normalized evil. Or was this his plan all along, I have to think not. Rupert has gone off the rails in the quest for money and power. And half of America has gone with him. Such is the power of self-serving lies. Germany proved that.
Ronnie is spinning for joy, you mean. All of this started with him.
Ronnie was a useful idiot. He went along with whatever his handlers told him to do.
Useful idiot later on, but Reagan was in full control of himself when he cooperated with Senator Joe McCarthy as president of the Screen Actors Guild.
WOW! I knew he was politically active from a young age, but, Wow. Why wasn't that factoid in the commercials in 1979?!
That's fascinating! I thought he had been a Democrat as a younger man, and that Nancy turned him. I had no idea.
Just like "W".
My father was a moderate Republican and a man of few words. He detested Ronnie and referred to him as "an amiable dolt."
I wonder if, in addition to the actual words and body language, faux news is also inserting subliminal visual messages to hook viewers. Might explain the extra-strong loyalty of viewers
They are manipulating neurobiology, no subliminal messages needed. Keep people's HPA axis spewing chemicals that shut down frontal lobe reasoning. Keep them in fight or flight and fear response. There's a sweet spot where they're still scared and angry enough to get out and vote, but not so overly panicked that they shut down. That said, they do shut down. An uncanny number of Trumpy relatives switch to Animal Planet when they can't take it any longer.
You know me, Rowshan. Always on lookout for the sneaky stories that escape and connect some dots. The Elon Musk acquisition of Twitter story has been interesting. Like others that consider Musk an oligarch, I don’t. He is an ego-arch if anything, brilliant but an absolute loner in his own sphere of influence. Am posting a sneaky article from local Sarasota Her-Trib that connects some dots regarding trump social media and the timing with all things King Elon empire. https://sarasotaheraldtribune-fl.newsmemory.com/?publink=4da79796d_134842e
Salud Rowshan.
Omgosh!!! All the SNEAKY SH..🤯🤯🤯🤯.
I Just Put THIS LINK ON FACEBOOK!!!!
Thank You Christine!🙃🙂
Thanks, Christine…for connecting the dots…of course, in Florida..sigh
Thanks Christine. Bam!!
Trump has his viper’s nest in Florida a state surrounded in water. Putin has his submarines, oh and nukes. When Elon’s rockets arrive we may have the Florida Missile Crisis.
Salud, Christine! Thanks so much for this -- quite the article!
Seething rage is a completely natural and understandable response to this cesspool of anti-democratic activity.
The body politic in America has been poisoned and at some point it begins to feel irrremediable . In the last decade the poison has been dripped into the country and for a while was absorbed without undue harm in the bloodstream. When the assassins faced meager opposition, they increased the drip steadily until eventually this poison coursed freely through the bloodstream. Eventually the pace became frenetic because the victim refused to die and when fully engaged, America is a country of peculiar and intense excess.
The organs have now been attacked and slowly the vitality and will of the victim to resist is being sapped.
The metaphor is melodramatic and not just a bit outré, but I could not help but feel it, as I read Heather’s compact and brilliant piece this morning. It is frightening.
Somewhere, somehow, sometime, there will come a climatic moment. This is too big and too definitional of the split in America to simply drizzle away until only memories remain, as of some vague but deeply disturbing nightmare.
If the public hearings from the 1/6 committee, are done coherently and dramatically (it seems impossible to imagine that the latter is not a certainty), then there will be the impact that Jamie Raskin has predicted. They may galvanize a majority of Americans to rage. The Trumpists will feel cornered, but we know now they will not be silent in shame. The possibility of violent conflict occurring in the wake of those hearings is non-zero, particularly if some event, not now predictable, acts as a catalyst.
For this reason it is clear that the DOJ give some unambiguous and concrete signal that the events of November 3 through January 6 were not some silly cosplay that got out of hand. They must show the American people that crimes of the greatest significance were committed.
The poisoners of American democracy must be wrong-footed. The attack on them for their concerted actions needs to be sweeping and as fierce as true justice can be.
Very much my own fear, Eric, and a brilliant metaphor in this time of plague. It feels almost now like a time of waiting, stepping in when there's an opening, but the arguments have been heard, the jury has received their instructions.
I am tired of being afraid and afraid of waiting for more of the same.
Yes. The thing I most am is very very tired.
"Somewhere, somehow, sometime, there will come a climatic moment. "
I think you meant a "climactic moment". A climatic moment is coming, too.
Ah…well spotted. :)
And agreed.
Rage must be channeled into grassroots political action. Get people registered. Know your community. Get people to vote and reject these traitors and ideological pharaohs who have enslaved peoples minds.
Unfortunately, it may now be too late for that simplistic form of "democracy." The Repugnant Party fascists in many states like Florida have countermanded the vote, with blatant gerrymandering and now special police to "protect" voting which has never been proven to need protecting. Administrators can now decide if the votes were for the Right candidate and throw them out if not.
We have watched how fascism takes over a once democratic form of government with deceit and Big Lies. "When they go low - Politely watch them win."
It's stunning what destruction DeSantis has done in 3.5 years having won by only 32,400 votes. I can only hope this year's election will find him unseated although his war chest suggests it's near impossible.
Clearly bully Ron does not think he has enough money to buy re-election. If he did, he wouldn’t bother with special police to harass voters.
The problem isn’t DeSantis. It’s Florida voters.
Good people need to get busy and VOTE!!!
The House Select Committee, and you and I, all know, as HCR clearly points out today that "elected representatives and appointed members of our government were actively working to end our democracy." This is possible because enough of those whom our democracy gives the right to vote were able to be fooled into putting such a government into power. Democracy is fragile. It includes the potential for its own demise. Slovenians caught it in time but an ominous 40% of French voters, fortunately not enough, were willing to let go of it. On November 8, let's all vote like the Slovenians or the sane 60% of Frenchmen did. There is no other choice.
Florida seems to be the new Cesspool Central home for the Republicans. Sorry Rob.
There are only two reasons to live in Florida: (1) the absence of winter and (2) low taxes. Otherwise, it is indeed a cesspool fit only as a source of drinking water for Republicans.
They are also knocking people off the voter lists.
Seth,
This is absolutely spot-on! Neither expressions of dismay nor the wringing of hands will rid our country of this existential threat to its future. Those of us who value living in a democratic society must unite to insure the level of voter turnout needed to win a "political ground war" that will be fought street by street, town by town, and State by State. The time for action is now!
Manchin said elect more Democrats. I don’t usually agree with him. He’s correct about this. It’s time to embrace working class democracy
Manchin said elect more Democrats?
Good, is there a Democrat running against that DINO?
His popularity is rising quickly. That good ol boy, aw shucks demeanor of his just wins them over as he stabs them in the back.
Thank you, Seth. This old warrior needs to be reminded--now more than ever--that there is, as I always tell my friends who stay back because "there's nothing I can do," you can always lick envelopes.
Well said. Rage just wastes our energy if it's not channeled into a positive direction.
Yes of course, Susan. When the spirit sees a moral outrage and feels that outrage, that’s the energy that fuels the engine of change.
That's it in a nutshell.
I watched Ben Franklin last week and am now watching Ken Burns: The National Parks-America’s Best Idea. Both have inspired such a feeling of pride in what our democracy means. I mentioned to my husband, if the likes of DeSantis and Abbott have their way, the states will decide creating the National Parks was unconstitutional and take the land back for the states. He replied, “ Never going to happen!” I said, “Really? Did you ever think 40% of Americans would believe Biden wasn’t legitimately elected?”
The news from Europe’s elections is encouraging but they don’t have a Fox News brainwashing their voters.
I wish more Americans would watch the story of our National Parks. It might help the cause of democracy and how good government can work for all the people. Naive? Perhaps. It sure brought me to tears and swelled my heart. ❤️
Ken Burns falls into a rare category as does HCR: They recognize that beauty and democracy are their own reasons for being.
I will watch the National Park’s next.
It is inspiring and educational as well as breathtakingly beautiful!
LH, I am with you. I've just recently watched Ken Burns' "Ben Franklin" also and live with a constant dread in this time of all-powerful social media and the hatefulness of the Republican Trumpist Party. Thank you for expressing your feelings.
I was told that B. Franklin hated corporations and wanted them made illegal in the new U.S. Wonder what he would say now?
He would repeat himself emphatically. Then he would say, “Outlaw traditional hierarchical corporations, where the workers are exploited to enrich the executives, and allow ONLY worker-owned companies, collectives, and cooperatives, where the money and power are shared fairly.”
You speak for so many of us, LH. Every morning i wake up to a world that seems altered in a way that you only find in sci fi novels. This morning, I've made a vow, I've turned to reading my books first hour in the morning to stay calm and of course to read HCR, our calmest and most comprehensive source. Your Ben Franklin seems to have done the same for you. I will try to find it.
PBS has the Ben Franklin, 2 part series on this month. I spoke recently with a colleague in China, and they were very carefully sharing how dystopian it has all become in Shanghai. Each time I find myself falling into a deep rut of all the emotions, I do work to focus on hope, focus on actions I can and do take with groups, and to recognize the situations others are facing.
Oh for goodness sake’s. These people. Still pissing on us and telling us it’s raining.
The true meaning of "trickle down" economics.
And it's Golden Rain - so we should feel extra grateful (snark)
The ONLY reason Musk is buying Twitter is to put Doofus tRump back on the airwaves (along with the rest of his GOP and QAnon supporters) They’re all giddy with excitement at this powerful tool that will soon again be at their complete disposal. Personally, I’d love to see Facebook, Twitter, Instagram turned OFF. The stupidity outweighs the benefit.
It is not stupidity. It is organized, purposeful sedition.
Right! I was referring to the level of stupidity in most FB and Twitter posts in general.
I murdered FaceBook years ago. The world lost many great pictures of Sammy Sanchez my Ring-tailed Red Cat. 🐈. I gained some Peace!
I too dropped off the Facebook universe when stories about selling our data to anyone with money surfaced. The best part, I no longer get pulled into my former sister-in-law's manufactured dramas, what a relief. Probably added 10 years to my life span.
Their data breach resulted in my data being found on the dark web. Still getting hell from it two years later…
You could share a photo or two of Sammy Sanchez with us, Hale Irwin. It might lighten the gloom that keeps encroaching on us in these unfathomable times.
Really hate that I can’t share my cat pics, but I understand why.
My Granddaughter is on my Community Icon
See my new Substack image
I'll be gone two years on July 1, when Fleeceblock decided the hacker that took my page was me and I was the intruder. Thank god.
One year for me, they objected to my truth about chump posts. Zuck sucks.
I never signed up. It seemed a little bit to out there for me.
I’ve been facebook free for 2 years now; May 7, 2020 when I got suspended for “Hate Speech” because I posted how Ahmaud Arbery made me fear for my own black grandson because these HATEFUL WHITE MONSTERS are everywhere. The algorithm ‘bots were given complete control then and they cannot determine nuances of speech. That was the last of it, and I lost connection with many Cyber Friends but the few that I really connected with are still connected by e-mail.
How anyone dare hack your sizzlin’ griddle, TC.
I've been Facebook Free for about 90 days disappointing many fans of my Floof, Shag the subStandard Poodle.
I "deactivated" FB a few months ago - mostly as a time management decision. I miss some elements - some sharing of non-political info. But mostly, I feel just fine. And after all, this is a much better forum with much smarter "friends"!
However, I did NOT delete my account. I may feel the need to return in full combat mode next year. If only whackos put stuff on FB, the algorithms will favor the whackos - metastasizing.
I left Facebook in Oct. 2020 and after a few free days, I could actually sleep through the night. It had truly become an addiction, first thing in the morning, last thing at night. Sounds like many of us HCR followers are all members of a new support group..Facebook Free.
I gave up FB 6 months ago because I was dealing with high blood pressure. I had to get rid of as many stressors in my life as I could and that was the first to go. But it did help me to see the division quite clearly.
I deactivated my Twitter account yesterday. Am not in support of Musk money.
This is a sea change. Musk’s pronouncement that he wants to save civilization by allowing more freedom of speech is right out of Goebbels playbook. I got suspended for posting anti-chump comments; they were always skewed toward chump’s blather until his treachery could not be ignored. Now the propagandists rule as never before…. Musk will do what chump attempted, I fear.
Agreed. To hell with Tw. Find another mode of communication, a clean one. Twitter is another, far more wickedly pernicious version of Fox Propaganda, Russian state news, and Chinese media. George Orwell would be saying, “I told you so.”
If freedom of speech is protected by the first Amendment, why was Twitter set up so that a person could hide behind a phony ‘handle’? Why do the rich hide behind a PAC or SuperPAC? Why are Koch and his ilk supporting so many front organizations rather than stand behind their libertarian madness?
Has anyone read Democracy in Chains by Nancy MacLean? Terrifying history of the conservative agenda and the depth of its tentacles in our legal, educational, philanthropic, think tank and economic systems. It is like a black mold that permeates out institutions unseen for decades as the growth occurred and is now in such full bloom we cannot breathe.
Great book, the slave states are still primarily the ones holding us back.
Roland,
I still write letters (although I type them). Then, throw them in an envelope and mail them.
I love you, Mike
Love you too Roland!!
:-)
This won’t age well… is right out of Goebbels playbook. Freedom folks. Might be here.
Paraphrasing Cato the Elder: "Fleeceblock and Twitter delenda est!"
As to "publishing their algorithm" - the strategy is: "Ply the ranting drunk at the end of the bar with triples and keep 'em coming; pay no mind to what happens when he staggers out to the parking lot, manages to find his keys and start up, and drives off. Not our responsibility!"
Farcecrock and Glitter will never have me. The most insidious and wicked Orwellian mind-fuck machinery ever devised. If you’re connecting with important or inspiring somebody or somebodies, move them to Substack or a group text thread.
Or perhaps Mindcook and Bitter? Basefook and Shitter?
As you can see, I’m not a fan
As noted above, I deactivated my Twitter/Glitter/Shitter account yesterday. Refuse to support right wing garbage.
You rock, Pam‼️
Oh, right. Wrong generation. 😆
I will never be on Farcecrock and Glitter either Roland. With you.
Exactly, but I found both useful until their agenda became too blatant to ignore
What benefit?
Well, I am an artist. I have a whole community of other painters on Instagram I'd never know otherwise and who are a source of great joy, encouragement and generosity. I stay in that niche. Plus gardening.
About six months ago, I had to completely quit Twitter to save my well being (literally). That's when I went to IG, which of course can be as bad as any of the platforms. But I've found it easy to stay away from hate, lies, and politics in general there. It's been a godsend. Twitter was addictive for me, going down terrifying rabbit holes about the peril of our situation. IG is has an addictive quality as well, but at least it's positive content. I read Heather's letter every night or morning, but that's about it as far as exposure to the news. This after five plus years of nonstop anxiety/panic reading.
They're all addictive and designed that way. the algorithm promotes anger because a strong emotional connection keeps people "engaged."
True, but it’s also true that with FB you find that you often don’t like people that you know, while with T you find that you really like some people that you have never met.
YES! I quit when trump was running for President and I saw how many of my friends were buying in - Totally shocked me. I didn't want to associate with them anymore
I should have said I didn’t want to associate with the ones that were over the top, disrespectful, and just wanted to argue - loudly.
I do have some Republican friends
Yes, and ‘engagement’ creates more data to sell.
Yup, I know. But for the six months I've been on Instagram, I have not felt anger on there.
FB doesn’t know what to do with me. I signed up 10 years ago, during grad school, to keep track of family, neighborhood and friends. After reports of personal information abuses i deleted all my info and pics. I enjoy the groups I’ve joined but steadfastly refuse to peruse any that FB suggests. Same with the sidebar ads.
I never see obnoxious political stuff and blocked the folks who spout nonsense, like the chemtrail conspiracy.
For some reason, probably because of limited friends/groups followed, I get bored after 10-15 minutes and just shut it down.
Never ever wanted Twit or the others. I think my education (lots of science courses for fun and an MPA) helps me resist the insidious insanity. But many of my highly educated friends have fallen down the rabbit hole.
I agree Nomi. And my daughter who is a potter basically was able to create and make her business thrive with Instagram. I don't see much controversial stuff on there. It's mostly related to the kinds of things I am interested in. Twitter is a whole 'nother story!
I "left" FB during the 2020 election cycle but returned on Biden's inauguration. I don't do politics there. My paddling buddies are a great source of information not only for great places to paddle but great equipment, too. I'm in the market for a Class B camper van. I've joined two groups to help me learn and decide between a Travato and Roadtrek. Posters there are amazingly dedicated and a source of solving problems quickly and, for me, it helps to figure out which model has the most challenges for maintenance.
IG is for photos. Think: National Geographic.
I find that Twitter leads the news by a day or two, unless it's something really big and then only by a few hours. I have a short list of folks I read, including Heather. Twitter is the best source for keeping up with the craziness of DeSantis. I read epidemiologists, physicians, nurses, teachers, and the like for personal takes on what's happening. And, I learn whether Zelensky survived overnight!
And there are responsible thousands like you, Kelly. It’s the old adage…it only takes a few rotten Mac apples to spoil the entire platform.
Agreed. I spend zero time on FB, Tw and Insta.
I don’t agree with the reasoning, MMG, that Musk is only acquiring Twit to put Trump back on it. He and Trump do not fit that mode. There is animosity on trump’s part. Elon never would have graced The Apprentice with his presence as a contestant. Musk is in his own sphere, not the MAGA sphere. My guess is that Musk plans to use Twit for “free” advertising influence. He wants to push Teslas and SpaceX more than pushing any other human being, including the former.
Hoping you’re right, Christine. No more evil 🍊(apologies to oranges).
I WISH y'all could get a sample of some of the political ads we're being subjected to down here. Just this evening (it showed up at dinner time and almost made me hurl...) one appeared for the first time for Perdue for governor that is the voice of T***p peddling the same lies about the fraudulent election being stolen from him and that Gov. Kemp wouldn't do the right thing and stand up for election integrity...bah blah blah. The two candidates for Lt. Governor have spots, each trying to see who can go further to the right, though only one has T***p's endorsement, which he wastes no time in trumpeting. Kemp's ads attacking Perdue are very gingerly avoiding saying anything negative about T***p, and he even quotes T***p talking about how China has benefited from the outsourcing of our jobs, implying this is Perdue's fault. But then, Perdue blames Kemp for everything going wrong right now, even the war in Ukraine, saying it all started here in Georgia. Um...yeah. Kemp is also already attacking Abrams, figuring he'll be the one more than likely be running against her--calling her a hypocrite, only out for herself, and blaming her for mask mandates, etc. etc. It's all I can do to keep from throwing things at the television. Thank goodness I only have it on for local and national news and Jeopardy!...then I flip it over to baseball, or PBS if there's something on, or turn it off. It's gonna be this and more for the next 6+ months...Lord, give me strength!!
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/04/kemp-and-perdue-get-nasty-in-georgia-gubernatorial-debate.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Intelligencer%20-%20April%2025%2C%202022&utm_term=Subscription%20List%20-%20Daily%20Intelligencer%20%281%20Year%29
I feel for you, I really do. The South seeks to ‘rise” again. I am glad I left NC and never looked back.
NC is being repopulated with good people. We seem to know several people who have moved there. I think it’s moving into the purple zone.
NC was sane a while back, until McCrory and Art Pope decided to go rogue. About the same time that Rush Limbaugh started his blather there. The propaganda and hate campaign worked like it has nationwide, but there is sanity to be found.
NC had Terry Sanford as governor when I was younger. He was a great leader. There hasn’t been a decent one until Cooper, of recent years.
NC is similar to Georgia and, to a degree, Virginia in its "blue islands". In GA those are the cities Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, etc., in NC the Research Triangle, Asheville, Charlotte, etc., and Virginia the northern area around DC. These areas are tilting these states toward purple, but the recent gubernatorial race in Virginia just showed us how tenuous those blue votes can be among independents. This mixture of red and blue areas is especially true in the present-day South, but so much depends on turn-out among minorities and young urban voters. In Georgia, Abrams showed the potential of what can happen when these segments are reached and become actively involved. Republicans here know that and are doing everything in their power to marginalize the groups who would vote against them, at least as far as down ballot representation is concerned. I forget the exact percentages, but for a long time it was something like 75-80% of races in GA were Republicans running unopposed. That is starting to change, especially with more women running than ever before, and more women of colour running, which is encouraging. As usual with the South, it's an area best described as "complicated".
Nothing like having Stacey Abrams to “complicate” things!!👏🏼👏🏼
Stacey represents what we need from Government, and who we need in Leadership.
Bruce, TN makes the “blue islands” list too, you likely know. Here’s to the purpling of our seas.💜💙
Not sure Madison Cawthorn is part of the purple zone...
Right, and keep in mind where Meadows comes from. If NC is going purple, then please hurry up!
Ok, when did I ever say I was immune to wishful thinking. GO BLUE NC‼️
I’ve been writing postcards to voters there on behalf of Cheri Beasley for US Senate.
Thank you, dear Roland, for the gentle, factual reminder that it’s NEITHER the (entire) South, NOR any other region of this country that has all the backwards/evil folk. 💙
I never fall into that trap. Thanks for noticing.
Love you Ashley 💙💙
A few people, some of whom like me a lot (based on the ❤️s they send me), are reminding me about the nasty part of NC. Like I don’t know. But what everyone has to keep in mind is that what we think changes consciousness as a whole. Reality changes as we think and feel and believe. Picturing NC as purple or blue accelerates it happening. No good thought is ever wasted, and considering that all of humanity is trending towards multicultural inclusive society, the more we picture it, the faster it happens. Individuals in atheistic and realistic and pragmatic mindsets often think they are alone, or disempowered. No! What do you think, how you perceive, influences. It just does.
Oh, my kindred soul, so well said! Thoughts given words can and do take flight — may they travel far and fast, spreading good (unless karmic and geared toward defeating hate?!).
I think NC in reality is purple already. It’s a heavily gerrymandered and voter suppressed state, like much of the South, the vestiges of Jim Crow.
I'd love it if it were true. If TN (my state) is any indication, there is nearly no purple tinge what so ever. Memphis (huge black population), and maybe Nashville. But I think that's it. My Memphis suburb is deep red, and the further from Memphis, the redder it gets. I have no hope at all.
Have a little faith/hope, Jay, and move on in to the BLUE(s) city! 💙
https://www.movoto.com/guide/brentwood-tn/best-places-to-live-in-tennessee-for-democrats-and-republicans/
Excerpt:
“Today, Tennessee resembles the rest of the country politically. Republicans control rural and suburban areas and Democrats rule the cities. Nashville has it’s (sic) first ever female mayor, a Democrat. Memphis is reliably Democratic. Chattanooga elected a young Democrat for mayor recently.”
AND, The Liberal Redneck, fabulous Trae Crowder, is from TN!
I love him ❤️
Well, let us be reminded that Mark Meadows is from NC. What a fine job he has been doing, right?? Jim Crow is alive and well, in the South. It’s our job to drive those criminals under rocks or in my opinion, incarcerate them for life.
Marlene,
Let me say again (and again), there are plenty of us bleeding BLUE here in the South, working our tooshes off for We The People, All of Us This Time!💙
Sadly, as I feel certain you know, hate is not confined to the South.
No, Ashley, I agree with you. I made a blanket statement because I grew up in rural NC in the 50’s-60’s. It’s what I remember back then. Don’t know when your schools integrated but ours didn’t until 1964.
College towns, yes but there are many many rural areas. Not that there aren’t some people there, but you know…
No, it’s actually the rural areas that I am referring to. The people I know who have moved there have moved to remote rural areas. They are reporting that the state is heading in the right direction, towards purple. Surprising, because most of the people we know (outside of CA) obviously live in known progressive areas. New England, New York state, Colorado, West Coast states. We know almost nobody (outside of LFAA) in Republican-dominant states: except NC. Go figure. Of course it could be a fluke.
I have sane and insane wings of my family there. I grew up there. No bastion of liberalism, but the Golden Rule has not been stomped to death until McCrory
I feel your pain. But here is my prescription.
We haven't watched a TV channel that allows ads in many years. We read the news in the morning. If we have the stomach for a recap at night, we tune in the PBS Newshour. Then TV off through a fun dinner. Close up shop, head for the big ROKU powered TV. No ads. Just more entertainment than anyone deserves. Cable channels like the formerly dominant major networks are gasping for breath. Advertisers are shifting dollars to online venues because...
Most younger folks I know don't watch the stations that have ads. They stream. And they watch their phones while they stream. Save yourself from the pain. Cut the cord.
I wish you well. Abrams is on my donation list.
Bill, you’re a mentor!💙
I am in Oregon and we have plenty of Rs advertising. One of them I call Stan the Screamer. They thankfully don't mention death star, but hit on crime, homelessness, mandates, and horrors, things designed to address climate change. We also have the unsmiling Bob Tiernan who somehow forgot to pay his property taxes. Nobody addresses how they are going to solve all these things. Then we have Carrick Flynn (D) who has barraged us with mailers and ads long before anyone else. He has hardly voted, most of his money is from out of state, and he just goes around in his flannel shirts trying to look like a regular Oregon guy. The primary can't come soon enough and there will be fewer ads, but they will probably be nastier. Biden has also endorsed the worst D in our delegation, Kirk Schrader.
You're surprised to discover that Biden, VP to the finest Rockefeller Republican to ever hold office (I loved the guy personally, but really, what went on between 2008-16 was what created Now), is no lefty?
I am not full bore for Biden. I was disappointed in Obama in many ways too. I never have thought either was a lefty. The lefties around here are still for Bernie who isn't my favorite either. Personally I thought in terms of Obama it didn't matter what he did, a large portion of the population was angry that a person of his skin tone became president.
Your point is well-taken. When people like me proclaimed on election night 2008 that "We finally won the election of 1968!".... we were wrong.
…and the other 'Democrat' who contributed to it more mightily is named Bill Clinton.
Are you talking about the reaction to Obama, or his take on politics?
I was so disappointed to see that Michele. Schrader voted against negotiating lower drug prices. Suspicious for some big pharma deep pockets. Jaime McLeod-Skinner gets my vote!
So was I. This is no longer my district, but she would get my vote also. I have a feeling he will prevail, but we will see. I think my vote is going to Salinas in my district. We have Mr. Flynn flannel shirt running in ours. Schrader is a pharma heir and his ad claims he worked for lower drug prices which is a damn lie.
Well unfortunately Michelle I’m not in that district either. I live in Hood River, that has become more progressive, but it is clumped in with Eastern Oregon in district 2. The part that wants to join Idaho. I say go for it! I am rooting for Jaime even though I can’t vote for her. I think Adam Prine looks like a better candidate for our democratic election. If Hood River has it’s say he will beat Republican incumbent Bentz🙏
Hood River is stuck being lumped in with that district that wants to go Moscow/Hungary/Belarus? ☠️
I’m sorry to hear that.
This desire to be part of Idaho comes up on a regular basis. It's the cowboy/outlaw mentality.....freedumb you know.
We are on the northwest edge of congressional district 2 but DEFINITELY NOT part of the group that wants to join Idaho. It is a very large district geographically because most of it is rural. The Idaho wannabes are south and east of us. That’s why I say let them go. Then our district would be blue.
I am sorry about District 2. We are now in state legislative districts that are likely to be R which does not make us happy. For years we were represented by Courtney and Clem.
Sorry that Dems have to resort to republican tactic of embracing the worst of the flock…
I have held my nose and voted for Schrader because he is better than the R running.
Connection with the insane political ads. I live in NW Pennsylvania and it has been non-stop with the outrageous commercials. David McCormick's are the worst, closely followed by Mehmet Oz and Bill McSwain. They're attacking each other and courting Trump who endorsed Oz. I've not seen any political ads (yet) for the other Republican candidates for U.S.Senate and PA. governor but they're out there. The ads are sophmoric, mean spirited, and ridiculous. Also enraging and motivating. Vote blue!
Don't shoot me, Kamila, but I have been donating to Fetterman for many, many months now. Do you have someone else you "endorse"? Being in Virginia, I don't see any of the Pennsylvania ads.
Oh my gracious, I support John Fetterman too! He is the real deal. Thank you for donating to him. His ads are on point, mature, and inspiring. Josh Shapiro is also a great person who is worthy of your attention and support. He is currently the Attorney General in Pennsylvania and is running to be Governor. Both John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro make Democrats in PA. proud.
So relieved to hear you (from PA) support John Fetterman, too! I will check out Josh Shapiro. Hopefully, he'll do better than my guy did in Virginia last year!
In California, donating to John Fetterman as well as others in various states for governor or Congressional seats. I think I now have about a dozen in my list.
Me too, Judith!
Thank you for your reply to my comment. It was very encouraging to know that John Fetterman is garnering the attention of thoughtful people like you. Not surprisingly, he has also gained the attention of the MAGA cohort. Dave McCormick has recruited Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, and Stephen Miller, among others, for his Senate campaign. Too bad for McCormick TFG endorsed Mehmet Oz.
U.S Representative Mike Kelly (R, U.S District 16) is also up for re-election. He is a resident of Butler County. The county just ousted their Election Director, Aaron Sheasley, for unspecified reasons. It's a good bet that his ouster was the result of a group of believers of the Big Lie who accused Sheasley of mishandling the 2020 election. Since Mike Kelly was one of the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results after the attack on Congress on January 6, it's not a reach to think he had a hand in it. Kelly also attempted to disenfranchise many of his constituents when he filed suit seeking a court order to throw out all mail in ballots in PA. or alternatively to throw out ALL votes and appoint state lawmakers to decide the winner. He is being challenged by two Democrats, Dan Pastore of Erie County and Rick Telesz from Lawrence County. Both are less than ideal but are worthy of consideration and support because they're taking on the despicable Mr. Kelly.
Sorry for the ramble! Hopefully you made it to the end.
I did make it to the end, Kamila, wide-eyed! I am supporting my U.S. Rep, Jennifer Wexton, who is up for reelection along with another rep, Abigail Spanberger. In the meantime, our newly installed R governor is trying to vacate the terms of the elected school board in my county: "Gov. Glenn Youngkin amended more than 100 bills and vetoed 25 more this week. One amended bill would require all nine members of the Loudoun County School Board to stand for elections in the fall, reducing the term length of seven members." Not sure if that can be blocked. Chicanery abounds😕
“Dave McCormick has recruited Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway, and Stephen Miller, among others, for his Senate campaign.”
RETCH 🤮
Jeopardy...yes!
So sorry, Bruce.
Best,
An understanding neighbor 💙
TV in Texas is unbearable during election time. Glad I have Roku for some diversion.
We watch very little except the local and national news and some sporting events. Otherwise, we stream.
🍊 Sewage’s voice on a political ad. YECH. I’d want to hurl too. 🤮
Thank you Heather for your information. I am relieved by the election outcomes in France and Slovenia. And so disgusted with the Republican insurrectionists. I am thankful to the Jan 6 committee for all of their hard work and hope the DOJ will start moving on this. I’m afraid Elon Musk owning Twitter is ominous.
I am glad to say I have never joined Twitter.
I am on both Facebook and Twitter. Facebook for the number of writer friends and the communication between friends. Twitter to be able to see the postings of political entities I trust for information and insight. At first I thought I would drop off Twitter because of the sale to Musk but certain people I follow on Twitter are urging us to stay and keep our voices and thoughts alive - to counter any voices that may rise up to sell false ideas and misinformation. They have convinced me to stay - at least for a while because my mantra is Evil flourishes in a silent room. I do not intend to be silent. If I know anything in these political times, being silent only allows voices like MTG, Jordan, Cruz, et al to be heard without challenge. That is the equivalent of handing a loaded gun to a certified killer.
I'm on FB because it's where I buy supplies for my beading addiction. And to keep in touch with family and friends.
There are hundreds of small business owners from all over the world who sell exclusively on FB because it's easier and cheaper than Etsy and other places.
And because of all those business owners, I know I could travel almost any place on this planet and have a place to stay.
Way before FB there were places where you could meet like minded people.
I've made friends all over the world through a blues page run by a guy in a small town in Ireland. In fact, I actually got meet some of those people here during the international blues challenge.
I don't pay attention to all the bs on FB. I just scroll past it.
FB is what I make of it.
As for Twitter, never logged in, but I do like reading the comments, which is harder to do lately without logging in, but I'm not losing any sleep over it.
Gonna hold my opinion until after musk takes over and see how it goes. Which is pretty good for me, because I don't like Musk at all.
Beth. I have discovered with Twitter that you can click on the "sign in" when it comes up and blocks your access to the comments you are reading !and then immediately click on the page back arrow on your device. You will come right back to where you were in reading Twitter comments. I don't want to sign up for Twitter but learn alot from the comments for example from Laurence Tribe.
Good to have someone else here who understands the value of social media for small businesses like mine- fellow beader. 😎😛 But seriously, I too know folks all over the world now and can track my friends in Eastern Europe and make sure they are safe. Tough to ignore the bs but I amplify the good too. Bead on and amplify democracy!!
Great comment, Beth! "FB is what I make of it."
Hey, Rusty. Thanks for your perception and decision to stay on FB and Twitter for the reasons you stated. I look forward to Heather's chats on FB Tuesdays and Thursdays, so go there for that purpose.
If you want to communicate with your friends and stay away from the idiots, start a substack and notify your friends.
Way past my ability at this point, but both became too toxic when anything critical of chump violated their “community standards.”
Sadly, in order to respond to them, first you have to listen to them. No thanks...
You make the only germane argument and many of the varsity here use it for the same tool. Not to use it would be like charging the machine guns on horseback. My take is that everyone who believes as we do should abandon twitter and leave the scum of the earth to enjoy themselves alone. Of course that is no where near possible, so that makes you recon. Deal?
You will likely be suspended if you speak too loudly. I do know that.
Why does that actually make me smile coming from y’all.
Stuff Musk into one of his rockets and fire him into the sun. The man is #1 on my list of those who qualify under the old "Texanism": they *needed* "termination with extreme prejudice"!
You are 200% right. Another option would be nice but T and FB are run by Rupert on steroids
I have not either, or Facebook. This community is the closest I come to social media.
This HCR board is my only interactive media as well. However, I am being urged by some to get Facebook. I will never get Twitter. Who wants to read something so shallow as 140 characters?
Not me.
I never liked the Twitter concept. It always seemed like a snarky hit and run format. Drop an insult here, a lie there...then watch the mayhem. It's like a bully pulpit for angry people.
But I am considering tweeting at some point. There is a war going on. This old guy may be needed. But do I tweet or water the vegetables? These are the great questions of life...which is short and lacking in time for all my ambitions.
That's easy, Mike. Shallow people.
Perhaps.
I would add, people with a lot of free time.
The sad thing Mike is that some people make it their priority and spend hours on them. I often thought the same thing but then realized that they probably let more important things go because they're obsessed with it.
Some of us are also on Hubbell, Reich, Craven, Rather...and don't forget TC :)
No Twitter for me but I do read Heather's letters on Facebook. Another perspective.
My sister is on Facebook and if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t have been introduced to Heather’s letters. I know there is positive and negative on both Facebook and Twitter and you can glean what is of value like my sister does on Facebook. It’s unfortunate though that so many latch on to disinformation, hateful rhetoric and conspiracy theories
Facebook is a deal with the Devil.
Plus, she chats on FB which I have learned to "not live without!" She makes you feel like she's talking to a real friend, hanging out, having a conversation.
Likewise. Birds of a feather, Karen.
Me too, Karen.
I admit to finding WhatsApp (owned by Meta) useful for international phone calls and quick messaging with my wife, but Facebook is an abomination.
I joined Twitter for the express purpose of sending a pic of Obama in the Tan Suit to tfg on his birthday. I can live without it
Now that is the single best reason for being on Tw that I have seen‼️ Nice work Barbara 🥰
I started an account in order to follow Andy Borowitz; this was long ago! Now Borowitz is a New Yorker regular and I stopped using Twitter also long ago. Until...links from HCR letters. I had to dig for my password page to get on.
I am only on Twitter to read who HRC retweets, LOL!
Anything that HRC I would be interested in!
Me either and if I had, I would no longer be on it as of today. it will be filled with hatred, threats, and ugliness more than it already is.
Twitter?
Yes. I confess to Facebook because it is useful to keep in contact with family, friends, and ex-students. I belong to several progressive groups here in Salem on it. One of the people is brave enough to go to wing nut events and film them. I also belong to several English history, places, and culture groups.
Yes Michele. I was on as you were for the same reasons. My family is scattered from hell to breakfast and they insisted “me too”. I loved it, we were drawn so much closer. My withdrawal from it was painful, and in fact that is where I found HCR. I thought she was just another pretty face on Facebook. I lost her rather absorbing messages until I looked online and became aware of her much larger persona. Facebook has great value for society. I will go back when we get it fixed.
I am no fan of it in many ways, but it serves its purpose for me.
“Me too, me too”
Either have I. Boring!
More than ominous, I fear. His ego outshines chump. Something I thought was impossible. And he’s crazy in a functional way.
Think we should all worry when what could be for the common good gets owned (locked up) in the hands of one individual. Worse, when the individual has a profitable vision of how the world would be if he was writing code for the game of life.
Name the names. Shame the names. Charge the names. Indict the names.
Try the names. Convict the names. Incarcerate the names. That is the rule of law.
YES, 7 times....name, shame, charge, indict, try, convict, incarcerate. Love this, John.
Wondering however, that 30% of French voters did not vote. Worried about GOTV in the US, we need to focus on good voters caring enough to vote no matter what the obstacles! Big turnout in 22 and 24 will matter in a positive way.
Amusing Twitter meme found today: A determined woman holds up a sign: “VOTE BLUE! GRAB EM BY THE MIDTERMS!!!”
Clever!
The actual rate of abstension was 28,2% of registered voters. Of those that did vote fully 8,8% turned in a blank vote. Thus Macron was supported by less than 39% of registered voters. Of that 39%, exit surveys indicate that 40% of those voting for Macron did so uniquely to stop Le Pen winning....and that brings him down to less than 25% of registered voters that actually wanted him as President as first choice.....less than his first round total of 28%. The difference between the fervent 25% and the reluctant extra 14% (making 39%) being made up by voters of the extreme left under Melenchon and the Communist Party, the loony left Ecolo Party, the job hungry non-macronite centrists and the aged that he had cowed by covid related fears. Macron disappointed most of the French because of his lack of achievements, his total lack of empathy, his reluctance to listen and by his arrogance with regard to the ordinary french people. One had the feeling that he considered the election such a foregone conclusion that it was a waste of his time to campaign. If he had bent an ear a little more closely to the French people these past five years he wouldn't be in the pickle he is in now....he'll be President but without a majority to govern and will face the humiliation of impotence. One even wonders, under Heather's definition, who was effectively the Far Right candidate and whether autocracy was actually defeated.
Hi Stuart!
“. . . exit surveys indicate that 40% of those voting for Macron did so uniquely to stop Le Pen winning.”
Welcome to the 2020 election in the U.S. Some significant portion of that 81 million turnout for Joe Biden was actually an anti-Trump (and everything & everyone he represents) vote.
As the chump “win” was morons who were antiHRC (and women). Most had listened to Rupert’s savaging of Hillary for decades, I’ll wager…
Macron's and Biden's wins sound similar. Voted in to prevent the other candidate, not for what the winner was proposing. Can imagine Macron's new term will be uphill, as is Biden's first, not because of the policies, but because there wasn't enough belief that he could achieve anything. Both will be haunted by unchanging lack of hope that government will work for us. All attention (most) goes to confirming the bias toward government as the problem. We get what we look for, even when we are better fed, clothed, and supported.
Hey, Stuart. Well, I've long lost the article I read about this. But the take-away was that Le Pen's loss is not regarded as a loss by her or her supporters. They are actually thrilled with the percentage that voted for her; and they are expecting to build on that in the next election.
So should I say sorry for your win?
Not my win, Lynell. The performance is indeed seen as an "advance" by her party, but it confirms what her "competitor" Zemmour says of her that she cannot win. There is always the question whether she wants to win or just to be liked as a good opposition. Currently to win she needs to accept to ally herself with the rest of the "right" that are "nationalist" and effectively take a back seat..
Thank you for your reply, Stuart. It goes without saying that my holiday trip to France back in the seventies in no way bestows upon me the requisite knowledge of that landscape's politics. So with that, I'll bid you adieu!
The view of the tourist is of course incomplete, seeing rather the remaining aura of a glorious past and the beauty of the little villages and countryside. Living their is another kettle of fish.
Stuart, I for one do not consider this problem as a 'tourist'. Are you speaking generally or is your comment directed to someone in particular?
You have common sense, Lynell, which goes a long way as do Russian banks funding Le Penn & Friends.
Many thanks, Fern!
Thanks for this analysis!
Voter turn-out in 22 and 24 is EVERYTHING. It’s CRITICAL.
28% of voters abstained. Apparently many had supported the far-left candidate in the first round of voting.
The abstention rate in both the first and second rounds were very close. The 28% are those that don't care, physically can't get out to vote or are so pissed off with the system and the mediocrities that it proposes that they have given up.
Is apathy a strategy too? Keep voting no matter what!
Macron received 58.5 and LePen received 41.5 58.5%+41.5%+100%
I'm not seeing the 30% you are referring to... what am I missing??
The added percentages refer to those who voted. Karen said 30% of eligible voters didn’t cast a vote. I also read somewhere that a significant number of voters skipped the presidential choice and only voted for down ballot candidates.
Yes, you and Karen are citing figures that match those on today's Krystal and Saggar's Breaking Points show in a very well done summary. A sizable number wanted neither candidate, so they just abstained.
And voted Blank! (8,8% of those voting). The 3rd round so to speak is just starting...the elections to the National Assembly. In local elections since Macron has been in power his people have been annihalated. His massive parliamentary majority followed his win in 2017. Since they have been in charge, Parliament has effectively become a body to register Macron's unilateral decisions. His party will in all probability be reduced to a rump and Macron will not be able to form a government. The power goes with a majoriy in The National Assembly. A coalition of the dominant parties will effectively impose a Prime Minister on Macron and reduce the President to the role of a Figurehead.
6 hours ahead indeed. I've already chatted a little with Peter as our house in Provence is not too far from him in Nice. I think he already has my coordinates. Always happy to renew with friends. Did you hear about the latest attack in Nice...a priest and a nun attacked in a downtown church by a knife-weilding "frenchman" (the french media are very careful about no saying since when and from where) "known for his psychological troubles" . This is now the standard expression for "lone wolf" terrorist attacks. Apparently he wanted to kill Macron but couldn't...! Fortunately the victims lives are not in danger. i'm always happy to chat as our decision should be more or less made by this autumn when we'll have the results of the National Assembly elections and subsequent coalition negotiations.
It's only 2% worse than in the last election, however.
The last two are historic lows in the last 40 to 50 years.
Cross pressured voters often don’t vote.
Those are the percentages of those who voted, not of the whole population.
Those percentages are of the people who actually voted. 30% were no shows.
Heather, As Rachel Maddow said today, “the only thing that disqualifies you in today’s Republican Party is not going along with the insurrection”.
https://youtu.be/t_7lmgZxAV4
You stated it as “Those deep in the insurrection have flat out lied about their participation in it, suggesting they know it was illegal.” What chance do you think that the Justice Department has to bring the actors identified in McCarthy’s text messages to Justice for sedition?
This morning I had an email from an American friend who has lived in Italy most of her adult life and married a concert violinist who was born in the former soviet republic of Georgia. Her husband who died of COVID last year admired Putin. Today she told me that she was hearing news trying to convince Europeans "that the real blame for this horrible war should be given to the USA, since they want to DOMINATE Russia and want to use the excuse of the Ukrainian thing to be able to do this." She wanted my opinion on this. My response was I thought what Putin is saying is that he's mad at the United States for not letting him just walk in and take over a sovereign country. I went on to talk about how Putin had underestimated how this would go etc. ... all the stuff the readers here know very well. I found it sobering that Putin was trying his disinformation campaign on the Europeans but then we here in America certainly are getting too much crazy disinformation from our own politicians. Let's do what we can to defang disinformation everywhere starting in our own backyards.
Cathy, we, the USA, are partly responsible for the war in Ukraine in one way. Modeling.....
First, Ukraine is one of three countries with large deposits of Lithium. Second, Ukraine also has large deposits of natural gas. So, whomever controls Ukraine controls a LOT of money going forward.
Flash back to 2003. Iraq had large deposits of oil. However, weapons inspectors, put on the ground by the Reagan administration in the 1980's, had been reporting, to the UN, on the absence of nuclear capability in Iraq for more than 15 years in 2003.
The Bush administration, on its own, outside of the CIA, generated a "big lie" about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction that threatened the world. Even the CIA tried to counter this lie, and one of the members of the CIA who was trying to clear this lie up was outed by the Bush administration to silence her. (see Valerie Plame on google or the Netflix documentary "Fair Game".
Then, based on a gigantic lie, we invaded Iraq with, remember? Shock and Awe? Hospitals, schools, Mosques, ancient historical buildings and palaces turned to rubble. Beautiful, ancient cities filled with families and people who had done nothing at all to the US.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians killed. Millions displaced to Europe.
PUTIN WAS PAYING ATTENTION to the strategy and the goals. WE SHOWED PUTIN THE WAY.
PUTIN JUST USED THE SAME EXACT STRATEGY TO INVADE UKRAINE. Spread a lie, then, invade with shock and awe.
I think Putin is surprised we even cared at all. I kind of am too.
After all, Americans did not give one thin dime about Iraq being invaded based on lies, nor did they care about the carpet bombing of Iraq cities or the massive kill rates of civilians.
So, I am sure Putin is surprised Americans gave one thin dime about Ukraine.
I mean, we, us Americans, did not care AT ALL, about the destruction of Iraq based on lies.
I did, I’m still embarrassed beyond words at “shock and awe” and the fools who bought the fantasy. Why even seeing a pic of W makes me heave.
Jeri, I believe you and a few Americans cared. I was a raving lunatic at the time and my friends all thought I was nuts. "Who cares Mike?". "Let it go Mike."
I am still crushed by what we did to the ancient, beautiful cities of Iraq. PLUS, it was a stable society sans any terrorism except for Saddam Hussein, whom we had sided with in the Iraq/Iran war (except for illegally selling weapons to Iran).
You make a very good point. It's all about money, isn't it? It's a sad commentary on our civilization. How do we break these patterns?
Mike - I am afraid you are right. Nothing can excuse what the leaders of our government at the time did back then. Am trying to find the "yeah but" - and I guess it is this - Ukraine is a budding democracy, the form of government that most of the civilized world recognizes as the go-to way to run countries. It must be protected from authoritarian countries who invade it. Hussein's Iraq was the polar opposite, led by a cruel dictator who was giving the whole world the middle finger, dangerously so.
" "yeah but" - and I guess it is this - Ukraine is a budding democracy"
I honestly think the "yeah but"
is really: The pictures of the people in the press are of white people.
in Iraq? The pictures of the dead children and women and grandmothers were .... brown and sometimes had a headscarf.
Evil Muslims, just kill 'em. THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is Amurca.
The lies are Orwellian
“Defang Disinformation”. Exactly Cathy. Just added it to local School Board commentary.
Tucker Carlson is no more an impartial serious journalist than my Great Aunt Ruth was and she has been dead a long time. Even in the grave she has more integrity than he has ever had. He is an entertainment talking head that is only interested in pushing what will bring in the most $$$ for Faux News and keep him in the spotlight. They should be forced to change their name from Fox News to Fox Infotainment.
That France and Slovenia can recognize a rat when they see one is a heartening sign, but in France it will be more telling to see how many seats Le Pen can garner.
I wish there were more voters like the five that filed the suit against MTG. It needs to happen all over the country if they are not unseated by their own states.
Here, here. Le Pen being a Putin lover is enough to taint her forever, one would hope.
Too bad loving Putin doesn’t disqualify public figures in the US.
No - I think Mélenchon is going to cut Le Pen down to size in the Législatives.
I hope so
Pamela, he is a dead ringer for a bully in our Junior High. He was in our library holding a girl by the throat and jabbing her viciously in her privates with a metal ruler. The library was on the second floor and had only one window, and then it didn’t. That is how most of the free world feels. I hope the library is on the tenth floor when his flight comes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hickVDiW8k0
Howdy Jimmie.
Hi Pat. I took a music break and thought of you when listening to Croce but you got the wrong song. 'I got a name' was the one I thought I was aiming at. What's new?
The sun is shining and it’s raining. Someone is getting married. At least that is the magic involved. My hand was itching so apparently I’m getting money. (Tax back I expect). The doorbell rang and music was playing and sure enough there was Fern. Made me smile. Sup?
You know that I enjoy stories. This one is moving. A lot going on. Glad you're smiling. I'm smiling, too. I was deeply tired when I ran your bell. Feeling better now. See you again, before too long.
I think there are nine states waiting on the outcome.
Thank you Heather.
I am still baffled that the statements from Perjury Taylor Greene have not gotten the ride out that they should have by the media. Is this a precursor to another round of actions by the GOP that will be without consequences? Probably.
On my way to the dentist this morning I noticed the Republicans are putting out their "F*ck Biden next to their brand new Trump 2024 flags in earnest. What I did notice were that these flags weren't flying infront of what should be condemned trailers. I'm seeing these on very nice houses. Is that an indication of the cross over from Democrats to Republicans . A reflection of the current polling of Biden.
I really, for all of our sakes hope not.
Be safe. Be well.
I see these flags too at houses and trailers all along the economic spectrum. Our kids ride to school and pass them. How can there be no shame for flying flag with ugly curse words along public streets? I’ve never seen this before. It makes me angry, sad, and just disappointed
Ted, there is a business that I pass on my way to work that put up a huge "Let's go Brandon" sign in their front window when the GOP started that foolishness. The business is located directly down the street from a K-12 school. I calmly called the business owner and requested it to be removed given their location to the school. That was met with a barrage of vulgarity from the owner.
It’s desperation time for the social Neanderthals who support whites, males, heterosexuals, and Christians. Ever since the Obamas appeared in the WH, they’ve been freaking out. They know now beyond a shadow of a doubt that their lifestyle, their society of white and male superiority, is in deep trouble. That’s why Trump. That’s why their venom towards Biden, which is actually venom towards you and me. Hence the profanity. Yes, Linda, it’s you and me and Heather and everyone here that they hate, despise, and resent.
hmmm...I fit all of those descriptors and I'm no lover of tfg, autocrats OR radical conservative views. In fact, I think the current president will be seen far more favorably by history than he is at the moment. Voters are fickle, polls don't capture a deeper understanding of the forces in motion at any one time. There's this confounding tendency for the public to blame the president for every event occurring around the world, or blame him for not having an immediately effective way of making "it" (whatever is wrong with the world at the moment) magically go away.
I agree. I have posted many times that Biden is, quite unexpectedly and under the radar, acting like our wildest dreams come true. I don’t think our fantasies of a Schiff or Raskin or Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris Presidency could match what this guy is managing to pull off. I would vote for him again, but this time with gusto. He is a gem. Doesn’t look like one, but man what results. I can see why they have “Let’s go Brandon“ flags and bumper stickers and window stickers everywhere. He is their worst nightmare. If I were in love with the old white / heterosexual / male / Christian superior society, I would hate Biden too. Intensely.
I keep hitting the heart and nothing happens, so I’ll just say well said Roland!!!!
It only matters that the propaganda master hates him.
Pure music buddy!
Especially with Rupert’s lying mouths blathering the gospel according to chump all the way.
I quess there are kids that will see these flags and grasp the meaning of a vulgar message that is symbol of hate and intolerance. Other kids will not, and that’s enough to normalize it. I just finished Fiona Hill’s book. Populism is just one more way to exploit and manipulate those who have been or who feel forgotten, discarded, and abandoned by a post industrialized world that is unpredictable and constantly evolving. The more I read the more I am realizing it all boils down to inequality; the lack of education that robs potential and opportunity, and upward mobility. Their pain and insecurity both real and imagined can be fed a steady high calorie but low nutrient diet of populism from demagogues who claim to know some “other” group, who are responsible for everything wrong with their shortcomings.
Ted, agreed. Because of where I work, I live in 2 counties in New York State. As a statistics nerd, I tend to look hard at the Educational stats when I try to understand people. Both Counties I live in have very similar rankings. 50% math, 42-46% reading skills. Both counties rank a 3/10, which puts both in the bottom 50% in the State. Nothing to be proud of. One statistic that jumps out is minority percentage. Onondaga County, where I grew up, has a 37% minority versus 7% minority in Chenango County. There is your key to tolerance. The F*ck Biden and Trump flags are everywhere in Chenango County. I literally could count on 1 hand those flags I have seen in Onondaga County.
Bam. On the money, Linda, literally. Your example can be copied thousands of times across the nation and world. To mention a statistic like this now in any education circle of legislative “experts” would be considered CRT and dastardly.
Christine, one other point that is worth mentioning is the poverty level. That does general go hand in hand with the other 2 factors I mentioned.
Christine, one other point that is worth mentioning is the poverty level. That does general go hand in hand with the other 2 factors I mentioned.
Thank you Linda. Check those counties for opioid #'s and I think you will find something similar. Check the Pandemic Deaths and they all mirror the same message. As Fiona Hill and Robert D. Putnam point out, these are the communities that are suffering the most in the transition from Industrialization to Information technology/service economy/creative economy. The residents there do not know why, how, or what, they only know they are not able to experience the promise of the American Dream. The more they are forgotten, the more room there is for demagogues to manipulate them and populist to exploit them for only for their vote, and then enrage them to political violence to maintain power over all of society. These facts should concern us all. There are real needs that need to be addressed for those who have voted for the TFG, we can afford to forget about them. For me that is the lesson from the political rise of TFG to Jan 6th.
Ted, in fact I recently had a discussion about the opioid epidemic in Chenango County with an Academic very involved in the Community. It is horrendous.
I know for a fact Onondaga County is not much better. The is a strong parallel.
I would most definitely NOT be patronizing that business!
The race to the bottom is popular, bodes poorly for us all
I traveled 140 miles from Salmon Idaho to Missoula Montana for healthcare services for my wife and her almost blue eyes, all good! On that 280 mile drive we saw perhaps 300 elk, at least 500 deer, and only 4 discernible republicans. Mind you, both states are red havens. What I really saw was thousands of homes without Trump adornment. One lone Douglas fir had a Trump sign about 100 feet up which has been there since 2016. Some evening I’ll put my climbers on.
Perjury Taylor Greene—brilliant!
It's very nice, isn't it? Has a sort of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Civil-War-virtue era ring to it.
I thought so, too!
I call her Potato Face. her ugly soul is carved on her face.
She is not responsible for her facial features. The ugliness isn’t there. She is responsible for her ugly words and actions.
But the ugly soul is now printed on her face. If you look at most of that bunch, you can see their soullessness on the face and in the eyes.
I’m with you TC. All the way. (MTG and others) I was just telling my wife the other day that I took a close look at the face of that groper Herbster. I can see the sleaze in his face. The face and the eyes are revealing. https://images.app.goo.gl/pzrCdiTK2cz2WuQZ6
Agree - however she is wholly responsible for the smug look on her face that speaks to me. The first time I ever saw her was that short video inside a "safe" area during the insurrection, where she was caught in video from a fellow representative smirking and yucking it up with Gozar, and/or another one of the perpetrators. Since then, nothing from her has surprised me.
Agreed. I imagine her first sentence as a toddler was “You can’t make me.“
So true. Ha!
Carol, absolutely true. Her ugliness is in her heart.
Oh jeez. You are killing me. I live in Idaho. Potatoes are so sensitive here. I’ll go see if I can get em bedded down again. Sheesh.
Let's not use trans as an insult guys, k?
Agree. My bad. I deleted it, but, MJT is ugly inside and out.
Agreed. 1000%
Pre-dental depression? It all comes out right in the end.
😁
Hahaha, are you sure
Sometimes I think my husband and I need to get prepared to live in an autocracy because it seems inevitable. The only thing is most Americans have only lived in a free, democratic society. How do we prepare? Buy a gun now if you don’t have one and learn how to defend ourselves? Save more money because the economy could sink into recession or a depression? Do both? Find another country to move to? This is the most scared I have ever been for my family’s future economic stability and happiness. I do not want to live in a country under a dictatorship. Everyday I think about selling our house and moving out of the country. I am a retired teacher and have taught foreign students whose families came here to America for political asylum. It seems unbelievable to me that Americans could be moving to other countries in the near future to escape political instability and violence. I am especially upset today because long time friends of ours are devoted Fox News watchers and Trump cult members. Our friendship is disintegrating, they refuse to listen to any other view but what Fox News tells them to think. They bash democrats even though they know we are democrats, if we give any opinion that is different from theirs, they become visibly angry. It is so sad and upsetting. We have met for 20 years once a month for dinner but I think we won’t be eating together much longer. If this happens between good friends, how will long will it be before our country descends into political violence, and chaos. We could become like Ireland was before the Good Friday peace agreement. My guess is we will find out after the midterm elections at the earliest and by 2024 for sure.
Watched my best friend and family do the same. It’s heartbreaking
"How do we prepare?"
First, don't write much inflammatory stuff on this board (which might be too late for me).
Second, obtain citizenship in another country like Canada (you can purchase for a million bucks, which, might looke really cheap in a few years).
Third, don't put up yard signs so that the Gestapo reports you after the election.
Generally, don't involve yourself in conversations where others could report you to secret police (there will be many).
But, the most important is to find a country you think you would not mind living in and obtain citizenship.
Too old for most of that, but my daughter and grands may need to consider
I will stand by my comments and my convictions. But moving to another country (Canada) really is sounding better and better. Nov of this year - huge for me.
This has happened in my family and it breaks my heart. My two sisters, one in Alabama and one in Georgia, both whom I love deeply, have gone to the dark side - one a while ago due mostly to her "conversion" to 7th day Adventism. They are among the worst, politically. The other more recently, and even more disturbingly. She is (was?) the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. But then something came over her and I think it might have been when Obama was elected. She is like most Alabamans - racist. And that, IMO, is the key. Now when we get together, at times there is an elephant in the room. A much bigger elephant than before especially since covid. I am subjected to subtle denigration - snide comments under ones breath, little jokes that are not funny. Wokeness, socialism, snowflakes, sheeple, etc.
Family, the gift that keeps on *living*!
Dump your "friends" that become visibly angry if you express your perspective with respect to them.
They are not friends. They are enemies. Might as well own up to it today and move on.
I continue to fear the possibility of the Country falling into a fascist autocracy but the elections in France and Slovenia give me hope, as does the continued work here in this post and elsewhere to push forward the truth and let it energize the people to do the same in our elections.
They live a lot closer to Ukraine and the ties to Putin more obvious. That said, the rumblings in Serbia are ominous.
Serbia is pro-Putin. The place has been a pimple on the world's ass for a millenium. Remember who started World War I.
Aptly put.
Friends from the region are concerned – convinced that Russia’s increasing military presence in Serbia bodes ill for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Montenegro.
I have thought this for years, keep an eye on Serbia, their lot is quiet until they are not.
Between the age of 11 and 16 1/2 I was raised at The Orthogenic School of The University of Chicago. I slept in a dorm room of eight for 6.5 years. Only severely disturbed were admitted. I entered Monday, January 9, 1950. I tested 160 on the Stanford Binet. I had refused to read. The Director of The School was Bruno Bettelheim, a PhD in art history. He authored books and articles that explored the work he directed and the children. Love Is Not Enough was his first best seller. He was imprisoned in Dachau and Buchenwald before WW II. He undoubtedly bought his way out. I knew him well and we remained close until he killed himself.
In 1955, Dr. B, as he preferred, suggested The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. He wanted me to understand the past and prepare for the future. We discussed the Holocaust and European concentration camps, Auschwitz and many others, the gas chambers and crematoriums, Hitler’s final solution, Mussolini, the gestapo, fascism, anti-semitism, prejudice, restricted real estate, US slavery, intolerance, and American fanatics.
Bettelheim was clear. In your lifetime, Sandy, you will experience fascism and prejudice, fanatics and dangerous people and mobs, this will not end. Human nature does not change, he said.
Historians, educated people, political and military, and top educators are infected with blinding intolerance. The need to feel superior masks inferiority, fear and insecurity. Groups are often dangerous. Intolerance is common. I learned. Americans are easily duped and often violent.
Bettelheim would not admit kids or hire therapeutic staff with colored skins. He said they were inferior. The School kitchen, cleaning and support staff were all dark skinned. I worked in the kitchen.
The dark skinned support staff was far more stable than the therapeutic staff.
In Wall Street, in 1965, White, Weld & Company, a WASP NYSE general partnership of snobs and Ivy League lightweights, held a partners’ meeting to decide if hiring a Jewish part-time secretary for full time was appropriate: she’s still alive. Her maiden name was Mildred Bergman. She not well. She knew White, Weld.
Wall Street antisemitism is a given. No one hired a Negro or Hispanic in sales, research or trading. Many firms blocked Jews. Law firms were similar.
Academics that do not evidence empathy are common.
The suburbs are segregated.
Private clubs are unfailingly restricted.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is unique.
Sandy, BEST POST OF THE DAY.
Thanks for writing how America has ACTUALLY BEEN when compared to the ideal that Lincoln was trying to achieve.
I did not have your challenging path to travel and applaud your navigating that path.
But, the path I travelled ALSO showed me a true America that is far out of sync with what Lincoln was and what he hoped for and still is out of sync with that ideal.
Thanks for sharing your story of America. Reality stories from Americans matter.
Mike, we employed 330 Barbadians for many years to rebuild our plantation house at Easy Hall, St. Joseph, stopped devaluation of the B’dos dollar working with the IMF with a grant to put 6,000 back to work in 1993.. ending the sugar strike.
“Diamonds”
Are a girl’s best friend...
Sure Sandy Lewis, deflect.
Sandy, I have met others with stories similar to yours. People who have ended up in institutions that, for whatever reason, served the needs/desires of the institution rather than those of the people they purported to serve. This is a pervasive, insidious form of cruelty. My career an an RN has been one long struggle to first recognize, then reconcile, eventually rebel, and in one case flee from this state of affairs. I am not broken, but I am not whole either. Thank-you for your post.
The Year They Sold Wall Street by Timothy Carrington, Houghton Mifflin, ed. Nan Talese, is about me, Steve Abbott. I worked a year at The Orthogenic School, 63/4, was asked to tun it, declined. My story is atypical. Married 6/15/60. Six children, 11 grandchildren - we’ve raised a few children of others, helped a Nobel Peace Prize girl and others, www.lewisfamilyfarm.com and @SBLewisSB www.sblewis.net www.sblewis.com
“The dark skinned support staff was far more stable than the therapeutic staff.”
Definitely, Sandy. Definitely.
Lordy, and WOW
Thank you, Heather. As the world turns! That was the name of an old daytime soap opera. That had less drama than we are currently seeing in our world today.
Carol Burnett did an ongoing parody skit on that soap on her weekly comedy show. She called it, “As the Stomach Turns”. Seems appropriate for what we are witnessing.
Agree!
I do remember, wish for the days when the soap opera was on the tv
Those were the carefree days with little money and jobs that paid $1.65 and hour and rent was $50 dollars a month. I was in the hospital 7 days after the birth of my daughter. The total bill was $100. We had no insurance so paid $5 and month on the bill. The doctors bill was also $100 and we paid him $5 per month. So the soap operas were what we dreamed for in our future!
Very strange, but I'm not able to "heart" this letter. When I click on the icon, I get an error message. Hoping it's just me and not something with the Substack site. Anyway, another fantastic roundup of today's most important news. Thank you, Heather.
Now it's working. Just clicked on the heart. Thank you again!
It may be getting musclebound from constant activity. It always recovers in the end - you pretend to go away, and when you look back, it's there!
Just hit "renew" and it all comes up ok