576 Comments
тна Return to thread

So they predict that Trump will win next year because his base is rabidly loyal and the rest of us are too dispirited to vote for Biden. Let's prove them wrong.

Expand full comment

I'm not dispirited. I'm angry at the lawlessness in Congress, especially on the Republican side. Vote for law and democracy while you still can.

Expand full comment

Thank you Jay; I am not dispirited at all. Neither is Hannah Moldavin , the Spokeswoman for the J6 Committee (@HannaMuldavin). Hannah reports 5 House Congressional Representatives participated in the J6 Insurrection & did not respond to J6 Committee subpoenas. Hannah says those 5 need "accountability"; I say they need criminal indictments.

One of those called out by Liz Cheney "you did this" inside the House aisles during the J6 attack was KEVIN MCCARTHY who is not running for re-election. Hopefully, Kevin will be busy having some court dates as an unindicted coconspirator.

Expand full comment

I think the JANUARY 6TH COMMITTEE meetings should be shown on an endless loop for the next year. Those truth tellers need to be seen and remembered.

Expand full comment

Great idea!

Expand full comment

I remain angry at Liz CheneyтАЩs refusal to go after those Congress members who aided in the insurrection. Many members of her j-6 committee quit in disgust over her refusal. It was a dangerously stupid choice she made.

Expand full comment

I do not know enough about US history and politics. I have some personal experience with how tough it is to criticize the extremists in groups and organizations I have been a member of, I was impressed with Liz Cheney's courage given where she lives and I was amazed that her father supported her. I am reading ad learning here. I live in Canada and we have all the same issues in Canada. In fact I feel Canadians who like me watched in horror the election of former President Trump are in for a very painful time. Monied MAGAs are everywhere in Canada and indeed authoritarian populists are popping up everywhere. Your work is vital. Thank you,

Expand full comment

Thank you Linda. I have followed the continuing DOJ prosecutions & plea deals closely which now total over 1100 but, we will I see what the J6 Committee spokeswoman has transmitted on her social media Platform. We may see 1 or more of the House Perps show up in trials as Coconspirators. Kevin McCarthy is leaving the DC jurisdiction. That will not help him.

FYI, LIZ CHENEY will be interviewed by Rachel Madden tomorrow on her Monday 9 PM Eastern MSNBC show.

Expand full comment

Thank you P&J Rebellion in Canada.

Expand full comment

In fact it's Patrick Henry time: Freedom not slavery. Democracy not the divine right of kings. Give me Liberty or Give me death!

Expand full comment

I hope there are non violent possibilities and that we can stop the blood bath occurring now in Gaza and occurring our of sight of cameras everywhere in the majority world .

Expand full comment

тЬМЁЯП╝

Expand full comment

At least the congress showed justice in expelling Santos.

Expand full comment

The vote should have been unanimous.

Expand full comment

I don't how many Neo-Republicans were moved by justice or optics. Santos has lacked the crowd-appeal of Der Dumpster.

Expand full comment

Der Dumpster. My new favorite pseudonym for He Who Must Not Be Named.

Expand full comment

Good point. I meant to say ideally.

Expand full comment

They are no majority Dirk, just a loud, bawdy cheer leading squad lavishing in too much coverage; it's always been a conjured illusion.

Expand full comment

But they have ensnared plenty of тАЬhelpersтАЭ who are and will be embedded in important positions in Nov. Texas is full of money, leaders, helpers, and cretins. They are spread far and wide. In other states, they will be strategically placed. Never doubt that they are dead serious and dedicated to the ugliest idol ever patched together.

Expand full comment

Jeri, They foresee an oligarchy in which they have more power because they are in the тАЬinner circleтАЭ. They ignore how those that once were in the innermost circle have been tossed aside for the slightest signs of тАЬdisloyaltyтАЭ. They fail to acknowledge that, as Ezra KleinтАЩs book title says тАЬEverything Trump Touches DiesтАЭ.

Expand full comment

That's actually Rick Wilson's book--but your point stands.

Expand full comment

Looks like the Kevins would have figured that out by now.

Expand full comment

Jeri, just like the remoras that groom sharks, they feel that sticking close will protect them.

Expand full comment

Options must be slim and none. But the repubs are in a prison of their own making,

Expand full comment

Excellent point. Power seems to act like a powerful drug. Under its influence, this inner circle feels invincible. It's an illusion but a dangerous one if the rest of society doesn't keep them in check....

Expand full comment

Interesting truths and perspectives, being more pragmatic on improving the poor's basic needs than which truth is true on subjective phenomenology. I hope you can offer some feedback on my lifelong journey for a better US society. See details in my posted comment at: https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/december-1-2023?r=5hgfu&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=44660927

Expand full comment

So true.

Expand full comment

You might be thinking of Rick Wilson :)

That being said, wish Trump would do a self skin check every morning.

Expand full comment

DL, youтАЩre right. Should have checked before I posted.

Expand full comment

I only know because I've a signed copy :)

Expand full comment

I'm hoping that doesn't include our nation.

Expand full comment

You are so correct Jerri. Do not become complacent by believing that the тАЬradical fewтАЭ can be ignored and they will go away. Everyone everywhere must heed our responsibility to tend to our freedoms and not take these freedoms for granted. I daily find it difficult to understand there are those that want to destroy our way of governance, our way of life - how can that be!? Be informed. Vote. ItтАЩs your most valuable privilege.

Expand full comment

Have since of age. No patience with those who don't, family or not.

Expand full comment

They may be "spread far and wide" but they are not the majority of the totality of American voters. Sometimes these power-grabbers delude themselves into thinking they have more power than they do. Case in point: yesterday, the four top Republicans led by the dangerous Mike Johnson voted against expelling Santos simply to keep a guaranteed vote for their agenda. They thought they were sending a message to their fellow Republicans to fall in line and vote the same. The majority, however, sent a different message back.

Expand full comment

true, but in swing states, they will be well-placed. Texas has it down pat.

Expand full comment

It's a cult, and every day Trump is sure to feed them their daily dose of lies and vitriol.

Expand full comment

indeed it is, as dangerous as Jim Jones, and his ilk. Or more so.

Expand full comment

Trump's cult is huge, and it's financed by dark money. Jones merely filched his followers' bank accounts and SS checks. The true danger of Trump is in the fact that very powerful people want to see him become president.

Expand full comment

Yep, more so than before. They got a whiff of political power

Expand full comment

The fascists and their ilk.

Expand full comment

Yes. And we must be aware of the nine states so far that have rejected ERIC, the тАШElection Regulation Information CenterтАЩ. It has been the tool used by 30 states to prevent fraud, with the voter rolls being continuously updated. It was achieved after a long struggle which required resorting to many sources to make it faultless. They had to rely on Social Security numbers and DMV records to make to foolproof. It was funded by George Soros. Nine states have now rejected it claiming itтАЩs an invasion of privacy. They claim they can replace it but have failed to come up their own process that will prevent fraud. Is the endgame for them to be able to scour the ballots after the voting closes and claim fraud and invalidate the election? Or is it Soros and believing it has to be a left-wing invention?

Expand full comment

Thank you for this. Crazy how Soros has been demonized as what the repub billionaires are. Except they are the real villans. No surprises there. Hope NC does the right thing.

Expand full comment

You're absolutely right Jeri, and I thank you for stepping in following my comment ! I mean that. I did not intend to minimize to the degree it certainly appears I did in that too brief comment. 'They do' have a lot of "helpers" and the ensnared, numbering in the millions and many embedded in very strategic positions. They cannot and must not be ignored. They are extremely well funded, organized, and own the advantage of many years planning and executing said plans, successfully I might add; Let us count the ways, a highly effective near nationwide gerrymander of local and state political systems, a well stacked judicial system all the way to SCOtUS, and a death grip on many local and national broadcast means. The minority I spoke of are the leaders; financiers, think tanks, organizational leaders, etc. And yes, they are deadly serious about power, money, and reigning supreme, as opposed to civil democratic law. Now that I have myself nearly hyperventilating, I should end here with this; It simply isn't going to be enough to be right; we have to sell it. That's what we're learning here hopefully.

Expand full comment

Agree with every important word

Expand full comment

Their objective of ginning up MAGA votes is as real as their actions to suppress our efforts to steer towards sanity. The 2016 election was very much a strategic game of number suppression in States like MI, PA, WI. They are at it again. Trying to flood the media-sphere with тАЬhopelessтАЭ news, and faux-polling to discourage us or make us question BidenтАЩs age and competence. The choice is Sanity or Insanity. The gop House Speaker voting to keep Santos is emblematic of the insanity in store for us if we donтАЩt keep pushing back, up and forward against all current gop.

Expand full comment

Lordy I hope you are correct.

Expand full comment

Vote and remind everyone you know to do the same

Expand full comment

Robert Hubbell counters the Kagan prognosis very effectively. We are not sheep. See his concluding thoughts in today's newsletter, https://open.substack.com/pub/roberthubbell/p/weekend-edition?r=48ef0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Expand full comment

Thanks!! This is just what I needed. I subscribe to Hubbel's newsletter, but hadn't read it yet today.

Expand full comment

Appreciate this redirect

Expand full comment

So I just read Robert Hubbell's comments, thank you for the link, but I wanted to post a link to my comments here on Letters to Americans, but not being a paying subscriber, I failed. I hope you can read my post comment today, here is the link, and consider sharing it with Robert Hubbell's aspirations for a better healthier USA. PPJ https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/december-1-2023?r=5hgfu&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=44660927

Expand full comment

Another of us for sure

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Dec 2, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

You are exactly right about U.S. and Germany post WWI. Germany so hampered by the reparations and the shame heaped on the country as a whole made it much worse. And the hyperinflation experienced by the German populace bears no comparison to our single low digit that is going down for us. In addition, France and Belgium pulled a Putin and invaded the Ruhr Valley and made that area a hostage. Then Herr Hitler took advantage with his anti-Jewish rants that played into the scapegoating of Jews in Germany. A similarity with our own version of a racist autocrat ensued with Hitler's failed "insurrection" (Beer hall putsch) that helped him to power 10 years later. I highly recommend the new book by Volker Ullrich, "Germany 1923: Hyperinflation, Hitler's Putsch, and Democracy in Crisis," Liverwright, 2023.

Expand full comment

Fox has convinced people that our economy is in a bad state. And high food prices are making people believe it. ItтАЩs not good.

Expand full comment

Nils Bohr is sometimes credited with saying тАЬIt is very hard to predict, especially the future.тАЭ which he probably did, but it predates him.

Expand full comment

Until I started reading Letters it was hard for me to predict the past.

Expand full comment

Alec, you are so right. I like the humor and also the serious point; HCR illuminates the past for us. And that, in turn, clarifies whatтАЩs happening in our daily lives in the present. She does it with humility but I think itтАЩs a gift. Forgive this wordy reply, but I want lastly to say IтАЩm grateful to you for your post. It started off my day in a cheerful, positive way.

Expand full comment

No need to forgive. You make others realize weтАЩre not alone, and in fact far from it!!

Expand full comment

Brilliant!

Expand full comment

Especially hard to predict the past when DJT keeps rewriting it.

Expand full comment

Yup.

Expand full comment

I see what you did there, lol

Expand full comment

Yes, it's all about turnout. What also lies "just beneath" the 50% or so of Americans who usually turn out for federal elections? The ones who generally don't bother to vote in the world's largest superpower, and a whole cadre of evangelicals to can't wait to turn out?

Expand full comment

I know a lot of young people are upset with Biden because of the Israeli/Hamas war and the repercussions in Gaza. If you truly care about the Palestinians, the LAST thing you want is a Trump who'll support anything Netanyahu wants to do.

If you're supset about student loan debt, you'll get ZERO relief from a Trump presidency.

If you have loved ones are are LGBTQ+ or a woman who wants bodily autonomy, yoiu're not doing better under Trump.

If you think economically you'll be better off, you won't unless you're rich or a Trump loyalist. He only cares about himself and his ego.

If you think the markets will love a Trump presidency, they don't like instability and nothing is more unstable than Trump.

If you want a younger candidate, Trump is 4 years younger, and 20 years crazier so you're not winning there either.

In other words, unless you're a straight, wealthy, male, and a Trump loyalist, you're much better off with Biden, regardless of his age or other shortcomings .

Expand full comment

We'd better!

Expand full comment

Dirk I just posted the Letter to Facebook and urged people to vote D while summarizing the Letter.

Expand full comment

That appears to be the image that most media (MSM & all) are projecting, isnt it? Plus the running down of Biden - age wise - altho melonhead is only 3 years younger and far from mentally competent!

Expand full comment

LetтАЩs!

Expand full comment