I was stressed when Trump and Hillary ran. I was stressed from the moment that the 2016 election was called up until Jan. 20th. Just when I was beginning to feel a sense of calm, we have Marjorie Taylor Green getting a standing ovation and the Republicans trying to demote Liz Cheney because she voted differently than they wanted her to…
I was stressed when Trump and Hillary ran. I was stressed from the moment that the 2016 election was called up until Jan. 20th. Just when I was beginning to feel a sense of calm, we have Marjorie Taylor Green getting a standing ovation and the Republicans trying to demote Liz Cheney because she voted differently than they wanted her to. My stress is knocking on the door of my brain. I knew that things would be bad for a while but I was hoping for a modicum of decency. I am just so thankful that I can watch Biden ignore the chaos. When he speaks it seems like a trusted soul telling me that everything is going to be fine.
Jen Psaki’s daily Press Briefing is my antidote of choice these days – professional, upbeat, confident and she has a friendly, non-combative way of reminding questioners when they put words in her mouth or stir the pot a bit too briskly, that she’s having none of it.
I'm still getting over it all. Being in shock. 4 years of shock. Now normalcy. It makes you breathe deep, deep sighs of relief and gratitude. I'm in love with my country. I'm in love with all of you and with Heather. I'm in love with my gorgeous wife, my sweet little home, our lovely dog, my job, Joe Robinette Biden, Kamala Magnificent Star Harris, the new Cabinet members (exc. Vilsack), wow it's good again to be alive. Thank you Wendy.
I like her as well. She was on “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me” last week and she is very approachable, funny and personable. She comes off to me as being quite genuine and down to earth. I hope she continues to get out there front and center every, single, day. I also hope she appears on more conservative shows. If she can help peel off a few republicans and the republican party splits further I think democrats could have a shot at winning midterms.
Not sure she would want to be on the Sunday shows – that might be a bit out of her wheelhouse – but she is undeniably an asset.
Frankly, this administration enjoys a bounty of bright, competent people who can speak to the policies President Biden is proposing. Ms. Psaki is doing a first-rate job in her current position: I’d hate to see that effectiveness inadvertently compromised by overexposure.
Ms Psaki's voice is heard in the land without the Sunday talk shows. They are better suited to officials without the daily platform of the WH press secretary.
I saw an interview with her on Pod Save America - she & I believe all 3 of those men worked in the Obama administration - were catching up with each other - it was nice to see.
Remember the old cowboy movies when the Calvary came riding over the hills to defeat the bad guys? That’s how I feel about Heather and Jen having Biden’s back.
Except that the "bad guys" were often the Native Americans who were trying to recover their life and property from "thieves" and defend themselves from their murderous intentions!
Yes, but as a 50’s child, we were not taught the ugly truth about the genocide of Native Americans. Those cowboy movies indoctrinated all of us to believe what wasn’t true... that Native Americans were savages who would scalp women and children. They scared the beJesus out of me as a kid! Thank God for true historians who did the work to open our eyes.
Too many of us still don't. Note the flare-ups all over the country, including here in NC, against teaching the truth of the racism and genocide and misogyny. Our Lt. Governor is railing against what the right sees as worse than political correctness, but downright (in their eyes) propaganda. "The libs want to turn our children against our own country!"
It certainly made the railways and land speculators a lot of money in th 19thC.
I've read studies which show that at least a third of the cowboys were Black and a significant part of the rest were Native Americans...so much for marketing!
No problem. I watch any cowboy movie that passes. Love it! Seen most at least 3 times. When i know that they are historical fantasies I moan and i get told to shut up because nobody can hear. I keep coming back for more. We are also members of the Wyoming History Association!
Goodness Zoe don't bother with the apology. You're good. We're just reminiscing about how our understanding of cowboys and Indians has changed since the old TV westerns we grew up with.
Yeah, I think Zoe is referring to the bad white guys, the black hats, the lawless creeps who killed whomever stood in their way regardless of ethnicity. In Zoe's telling, it's "Who Killed Liberty Valance" and the thug played by Lee Marvin is stopped by the naïf played by Jimmy Stewart and spoiler alert John Wayne's character. Lee Marvin's character was ruthless against whites and natives alike.
A film critic once said that Lee Marvin excelled at playing villains and unsympathetic heroes. If he was still alive, what's his best role in a film on the Trumpsky admin? Suggestions welcome.
I have similar feelings. Biden and his team are doing a good job as symbols of hope.
Then I go to the office on Feb 3 (first time since Jan 13), and the existing situation in DC dulls the hope. Pass though a 17'H fence with razor wire, and show my badge to armed National Guard to get to the building, again to get to the 395 ramp to go home. The Guard is there to protect us... I prefer a time when this level of protection was not needed.
It’s terribly sad to see, Rebecca, even from a distance on television and in photographs. When I lived in D.C., the wide expanse from the Capitol across the National Mall to the Washington Memorial took my breath away every day. The physical, visual space felt like a sweeping example of all the hope and vision embodied in our country, even though we have always been imperfect and unfinished. To see it encircled by fencing, razor wire and camouflage is heartbreaking. It is as if all the hope and vision of a better future, represented in the physical openness and access that had always been a hallmark of that area, is being squeezed out of that sacred space. I fear that January 6th changed so much that can never be undone, just as happened with 9/11.
Ir recalls a brief visit to Belfast in late 1975 in the midst of the IRA's war against Britain. Troops, barbed wire, sandbags all over; security checks for transit and stores; buses boarded to search for weapons and bombs. DC isn't exactly like that, but it's uncomfortably close.
Knowledge of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, which spanned 30 years, should cause us to shake in terror at the possibility of anything similar erupting in the United States. Read “Say Nothing,” by Patrick Radden Keefe for a deep investigation into the tragic toll of that period of Irish history. I thought I had some knowledge about that period of time in Ireland, because my Irish heritage (my mother was Irish) motivated me to keep tabs on the events as they unfolded, but Keefe’s book provided a raw, eye-opening account of how the conflict ravaged communities in Northern Ireland and its people.
Will do. My mother was a Mooney- Phelan. When my daughter was born after 3 sons- and 4 years after my tubes were tied, my mother said it was my fault for this "little miracle" because I had given each of my sons a middle name after a grandparent, but none for her. But she preferred Phelan, Thank You. So now we call our grown girl "Elise Phelan Tubal Ligation Randall."
A rain storm passed overhead this afternoon as I wrapped up a text similar to yours. And as I looked up, I saw a rainbow standing in sharp contrast to the black storm that had just passed -as if its very presence had sent them away. Hope and trust are finally settling in for me and I sense they are for you as well :) Peace
I agree totally, Wendy. It’s wonderful to see a politician getting down to the real business needed for our Country! We need to do our best to be like Joe and not give QANON Woman any oxygen in the press. We can’t ignore this faction but the less airtime on National news the better.
I partially agree. Tempering the press that Greene gets is necessary but personally I think when the smoke clears after the war the republicans will be in a loosing position. Republicans will be losers if Biden’s administration can improve peoples lives and also let everyone know who did it. I also think Biden will get some credit from some people for quietly but forcefully stepping over republicans to get people some support and a shot.
I was stressed when Trump and Hillary ran. I was stressed from the moment that the 2016 election was called up until Jan. 20th. Just when I was beginning to feel a sense of calm, we have Marjorie Taylor Green getting a standing ovation and the Republicans trying to demote Liz Cheney because she voted differently than they wanted her to. My stress is knocking on the door of my brain. I knew that things would be bad for a while but I was hoping for a modicum of decency. I am just so thankful that I can watch Biden ignore the chaos. When he speaks it seems like a trusted soul telling me that everything is going to be fine.
I hear you, Wendy.
Jen Psaki’s daily Press Briefing is my antidote of choice these days – professional, upbeat, confident and she has a friendly, non-combative way of reminding questioners when they put words in her mouth or stir the pot a bit too briskly, that she’s having none of it.
I really appreciate her too. I can't get over the change back to sanity.
I'm still getting over it all. Being in shock. 4 years of shock. Now normalcy. It makes you breathe deep, deep sighs of relief and gratitude. I'm in love with my country. I'm in love with all of you and with Heather. I'm in love with my gorgeous wife, my sweet little home, our lovely dog, my job, Joe Robinette Biden, Kamala Magnificent Star Harris, the new Cabinet members (exc. Vilsack), wow it's good again to be alive. Thank you Wendy.
I'll have what he's having.
Yes, so will I please!!!
Make mine a double!~
🤣😅😂
What you said, but substitute "my dear husband" and "my adorable cats."
Wendy Raksin, the sanity is very refreshing
I like her as well. She was on “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me” last week and she is very approachable, funny and personable. She comes off to me as being quite genuine and down to earth. I hope she continues to get out there front and center every, single, day. I also hope she appears on more conservative shows. If she can help peel off a few republicans and the republican party splits further I think democrats could have a shot at winning midterms.
That’s an interesting proposition.
Not sure she would want to be on the Sunday shows – that might be a bit out of her wheelhouse – but she is undeniably an asset.
Frankly, this administration enjoys a bounty of bright, competent people who can speak to the policies President Biden is proposing. Ms. Psaki is doing a first-rate job in her current position: I’d hate to see that effectiveness inadvertently compromised by overexposure.
Ms Psaki's voice is heard in the land without the Sunday talk shows. They are better suited to officials without the daily platform of the WH press secretary.
I agree completely! Joe + Jen = a winning combination.
I like Jen very much— her smart and no nonsense style.
I saw an interview with her on Pod Save America - she & I believe all 3 of those men worked in the Obama administration - were catching up with each other - it was nice to see.
I’m glad to hear that she worked with them. They are smart guys.
She even manages to be decent when she signals she's not suffering the inevitable fools.
Remember the old cowboy movies when the Calvary came riding over the hills to defeat the bad guys? That’s how I feel about Heather and Jen having Biden’s back.
Except that the "bad guys" were often the Native Americans who were trying to recover their life and property from "thieves" and defend themselves from their murderous intentions!
Yes, but as a 50’s child, we were not taught the ugly truth about the genocide of Native Americans. Those cowboy movies indoctrinated all of us to believe what wasn’t true... that Native Americans were savages who would scalp women and children. They scared the beJesus out of me as a kid! Thank God for true historians who did the work to open our eyes.
It was known in the 70s and 80s when Reagan was climbing using the stereotyped imagery and symbolism. Education didn't reach everybody too fast.
Yes, very true. Too many of us didn’t want to believe Americans could be the “bad” actors!!!
Too many of us still don't. Note the flare-ups all over the country, including here in NC, against teaching the truth of the racism and genocide and misogyny. Our Lt. Governor is railing against what the right sees as worse than political correctness, but downright (in their eyes) propaganda. "The libs want to turn our children against our own country!"
It certainly made the railways and land speculators a lot of money in th 19thC.
I've read studies which show that at least a third of the cowboys were Black and a significant part of the rest were Native Americans...so much for marketing!
My husband is Chippewa, and as a kid often played the cowboy in back yard squirmishes. But never the Sioux.
Hardly surprising as it's what the others called the Lakota, Dakota etc and i think it means "enemy" .
I apologize. I was being much too shallow. I was only thinking black and white hats. While doing my happy dance, I don’t want to step on toes.
No apologies needed. It was just a metaphor and all metaphors are imperfect. We all knew exactly what you meant.
No problem. I watch any cowboy movie that passes. Love it! Seen most at least 3 times. When i know that they are historical fantasies I moan and i get told to shut up because nobody can hear. I keep coming back for more. We are also members of the Wyoming History Association!
Goodness Zoe don't bother with the apology. You're good. We're just reminiscing about how our understanding of cowboys and Indians has changed since the old TV westerns we grew up with.
Yeah, I think Zoe is referring to the bad white guys, the black hats, the lawless creeps who killed whomever stood in their way regardless of ethnicity. In Zoe's telling, it's "Who Killed Liberty Valance" and the thug played by Lee Marvin is stopped by the naïf played by Jimmy Stewart and spoiler alert John Wayne's character. Lee Marvin's character was ruthless against whites and natives alike.
A film critic once said that Lee Marvin excelled at playing villains and unsympathetic heroes. If he was still alive, what's his best role in a film on the Trumpsky admin? Suggestions welcome.
Oh, that's easy. The Dirty Dozen. It's your call whether the Dozen are the Republicans, or the Nazi elite are the Republicans. Opinions welcome.
Who is Jen?
Jen Psaki; cf. R Dooley's comment near here.
It's refreshing to see daily press briefings that are conversations, not mixed martial arts contests as under the unnamed former president.
Duuhhhhh . . .
sorry I don't have much opportunity to watch TV, I forgot about Jen.
You are in for a big treat! Fresh air.
Heard her on NPR'S "Wait! Wait ! Don't Tell Me!" Last weekend. She's also pretty funny.
I have similar feelings. Biden and his team are doing a good job as symbols of hope.
Then I go to the office on Feb 3 (first time since Jan 13), and the existing situation in DC dulls the hope. Pass though a 17'H fence with razor wire, and show my badge to armed National Guard to get to the building, again to get to the 395 ramp to go home. The Guard is there to protect us... I prefer a time when this level of protection was not needed.
Yes. Really inconceivable, in our country, and so sad.
It’s terribly sad to see, Rebecca, even from a distance on television and in photographs. When I lived in D.C., the wide expanse from the Capitol across the National Mall to the Washington Memorial took my breath away every day. The physical, visual space felt like a sweeping example of all the hope and vision embodied in our country, even though we have always been imperfect and unfinished. To see it encircled by fencing, razor wire and camouflage is heartbreaking. It is as if all the hope and vision of a better future, represented in the physical openness and access that had always been a hallmark of that area, is being squeezed out of that sacred space. I fear that January 6th changed so much that can never be undone, just as happened with 9/11.
Ir recalls a brief visit to Belfast in late 1975 in the midst of the IRA's war against Britain. Troops, barbed wire, sandbags all over; security checks for transit and stores; buses boarded to search for weapons and bombs. DC isn't exactly like that, but it's uncomfortably close.
Knowledge of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland, which spanned 30 years, should cause us to shake in terror at the possibility of anything similar erupting in the United States. Read “Say Nothing,” by Patrick Radden Keefe for a deep investigation into the tragic toll of that period of Irish history. I thought I had some knowledge about that period of time in Ireland, because my Irish heritage (my mother was Irish) motivated me to keep tabs on the events as they unfolded, but Keefe’s book provided a raw, eye-opening account of how the conflict ravaged communities in Northern Ireland and its people.
Will do. My mother was a Mooney- Phelan. When my daughter was born after 3 sons- and 4 years after my tubes were tied, my mother said it was my fault for this "little miracle" because I had given each of my sons a middle name after a grandparent, but none for her. But she preferred Phelan, Thank You. So now we call our grown girl "Elise Phelan Tubal Ligation Randall."
Funny!
By the way, the audio version of “Say Nothing,” read by the author, is excellent.
100%!
💞
A rain storm passed overhead this afternoon as I wrapped up a text similar to yours. And as I looked up, I saw a rainbow standing in sharp contrast to the black storm that had just passed -as if its very presence had sent them away. Hope and trust are finally settling in for me and I sense they are for you as well :) Peace
I agree totally, Wendy. It’s wonderful to see a politician getting down to the real business needed for our Country! We need to do our best to be like Joe and not give QANON Woman any oxygen in the press. We can’t ignore this faction but the less airtime on National news the better.
I partially agree. Tempering the press that Greene gets is necessary but personally I think when the smoke clears after the war the republicans will be in a loosing position. Republicans will be losers if Biden’s administration can improve peoples lives and also let everyone know who did it. I also think Biden will get some credit from some people for quietly but forcefully stepping over republicans to get people some support and a shot.
“Peace Is Every Step” by Thich Nhat Hanh. I feel it could be recommended reading for all activists.
Amen to that Wendy!