Unfortunately I was one who partially watched enough to see Haley Steven’s LYING about the Afghanistan withdrawal. She needs to give “credit” where credit is due.
This is what REALLY happened, as reported from the LA Times:
After the 2020 election, then-President Trump rushed to sign an immediate withdrawal order to pull troops out of Afghanistan in what a member of the congressional committee investigating Jan. 6, 2021, described as evidence he knew his term was coming to an end.
“Knowing that he had lost and that he had only weeks left in office, President Trump rushed to complete his unfinished business,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said.
“One key example is this: President Trump issued an order for large-scale troop withdrawals.”
In swiftly signing the order on Nov. 11, 2020, to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan and Somalia before incoming President Biden’s inauguration, Kinzinger argued, Trump “disregarded concerns about the consequences for fragile governments on the front lines of the fight against ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorists.” L
Military and national security leaders panned the order in recorded interviews with Jan. 6 investigators.
“It is odd. It is non-standard,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told the panel. “It is potentially dangerous. I personally thought it was militarily not feasible nor wise.”
Gen. Keith Kellogg, former Vice President Mike Pence’s national security advisor, said he told the White House Presidential Personnel Office and Douglas Macgregor, a former advisor to the Defense secretary, “that if I ever saw anything like that, I would do something physical, because I thought what that was doing was a tremendous disservice to the nation.”
5,000 pissed off Taliban prisoners released? How about the Kurds (our ally in dealing with ISIS) abandoned by trump. Now they have friends with Russia. Nice going
Thanks for the reminder about Trump's Afghanistan withdrawal order. Perhaps you could help me understand something. Many have criticized Biden for the rapid withdrawal. Was the Trump order executed by Biden without reconsidering Trump's order or was Biden's withdrawal order a separate order. I realize it may be neither, but I'm at a loss to understand how the order may have evolved between Trump's order and the actual withdrawal after Biden took office?
Paul Porter: As far as I understand, Biden decided to withdraw (full knowing it was probably going to be chaotic at uch short notices) because he cared more about the United States, as a nation (not as a president) being taken seriously. That is, he didn't want to create the impression to foreign nations that the United States is unreliable, wishy-washy, nor changes it's mind every 4-8 years just because a new president comes along. Does this makes sense? I hope so! It bothers me no end when people blame Biden for the "disastrous withdrawal " (and did you notice how Biden never makes excuses "oh, it's the TFG's fault" but takes full responsibility??? Really, it's not Biden’s way but he could just belly ache all day and blame the mistakes all on Trump yet decided not to.)
We will probably never know a la the Rs held Biden entirely responsible with the withdrawal in August, 2020. Didn't 45 make a deal with the Taliban? (and the US released a bunch of terrorist prisoners)
In your July 16 Letter you said "Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, for example, claimed that “Women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans all saw record low employment under Donald J. Trump,” when in fact those record lows have come under Biden. " Am I reading it wrong or did you mean to say record high employment instead of record low employment.?
Whoops, no, you're right, Malia. In the written text she says: "Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, for example, claimed that 'Women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans all saw record low employment under Donald J. Trump.'”
Perhaps MAGA Republicans regard it as a GOOD thing that women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans all had trouble finding jobs under Trump. But more likely Heather has misquoted Youngkin.
Heather covering the RNC seems odd and not her wheelhouse -- though I guess she feels compelled to cover it. Rallies are just fun and frivolity (relative to most aspects of politics), so earnest and wonky character assassination just doesn't play as well. Better to make fun of the whole thing, if possible.
What's not mentioned here is what appears to be the enormous crisis of confidence Democrats are now enduring with Joe Biden. Adam Schiff has now called for him to step down. I may be coming around to the idea of a Kamala Harris - Josh Shapiro ticket (he's governor of PA). Such a ticket would give Democrats a chance to take PA, and hopefully inspire enough blacks, women and Jews to also take WN, GA and AZ. Michigan may be lost due to the large Arab population and GAZA. What do you think?
Jim ,you say it"appears to be the enormous crisis of confidence Democrats are now enduring with Joe Biden."
Since the debate, I'm betting there are more "WHITE MEN"who are bailing or jumping ship on Biden than women of any demographic. I may be wrong, but that's what it look & sounds like to me. Freaking out and impulsivity abounds!!!!!!!(just my opinion, willing to be entirely wrong!)
I pretty much stopped watching any cable news (past 2 yrs.) bc of their presentation of doom & gloom. I began watching other stations on YouTube which do include snippets of cable but for the most part are reporting more honestly. (these stations are not donors to the R party as both CNN & MSNBC, the NYT etc. are)
I realize that I've been hearing about Project 2025 for the past 2 yrs on these alternate news sources and just recently the cable channels are beginning to air information about it.
The good news for us, is that Vance was NOT A GOOD PICK for 45.
He embraces all of 2025 and is even more extreme than 45 regarding women's rights.
He opposes ALL abortion even in the case of rape & incest.(and has said so)
He has also said that in homes where there is abuse or domestic violence that parents "should stay together for the children." Seriously?
After teaching for over 25 years, the trauma that a child experiences in a violent home whether physical or emotional abuse can ruin a life more so than if parents come to terms with the fact that they love their kids but cannot live together.
I suppose getting educated at Yale doesn't guarantee or say much for common sense.
He also has praised Alex Jones on multiple occasions. (the crisis actor conspiracy theory guy who said the Sandy Hook school shooting episode in Newtown Conn was staged and no one died)..
Don't worry about the Arab population too much. Yes, the management of this situation has been horrible. But if 45 gets in Crazy Netanyahu will only make it worse for the oppressed ppl living there. In addition, project 2025 promises that 15 million ppl will be put in camps and deported on "day 1" Perhaps if the all ppl hear of the alternative they may come out and vote vs. sitting home. I do get why they are angry.
Thus, WOMEN, MEN, KIDS 18 AND OLDER MUST COME OUT & VOTE!!!!
THERE IS A DOCUMENTARY CALLED "BAD FAITH" THAT JUST CAME OUT THIS YEAR AND IT GOES INTO THE ROOTS OF THE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST MOVEMENT WHICH IS AND HAS BEEN SLOWLY TURNING OUR COUNTRY INTO AN AUTOCRACY/THEOCRACY....
Here's the free link to "Bad Faith." The "Real Christians" interviewed are saying these folks, this movement, are not @ the "Real Christians."
Absolutely! It's unthinkable and unacceptable that anyone in this day and age would propose that parents "should stay together for the children." I mean if that isn't a backward position, what is?
I just don't think we can win this election with an entirely negative approach on how bad Trump (and Vance) are. We have to give voters something to be FOR. Biden has the positive record and good proposals but what young people -- yes, probably primarily white men -- along with blacks, Latinos, and low-information swing voters mainly see is someone's who's too damn old, who's unlikely to survive four more years in good health. Strategically, Kamala Harris and Josh Shapiro might offer a way to win the swing states. Admittedly, it's a desperate move.
Women, predominantly, black women won the election for Biden in 2020.
My hope is that women will come out in droves. Kamala Harris has already been scrutinized/vetted to run as VP.
This is so much bigger than 45.
Oppression of women, by men who would be happy to see women barefoot & pregnant at home, ain't gonna happen!
This past Spring in TN, the Senate tried to pass legislation that women could not wear short or sleeveless shirts /blouses in the chamber. (thankfully it didn't pass)
Those ppl who subscribe to "trickle down economic" theory don't realize that the $ never trickled down far enough. It no longer works, bc ppl figured out that it never worked as their families were not accumulating any wealth and the wealthy were getting wealthier.
I think all of this is happening because of the fear of a changing demographic in our country. Hence, the escalation of Racism, Antisemitism, Anti-Muslim, the book banning, the attempt to take over our public schools and mandate what can and what cannot be taught in them. It's nuts. All fear based.
The very rich who own this country(same ppl as the ones who own SCOTUS,)want to turn the clock back to a time that no longer exists. I mean women couldn't have cc in their own names back then. Today men are threatened by women. In this situation men react and women clearly respond.
Looks like the Dem elite are working right now to convince Biden to step down. So you'll get at least part of your wish. They're probably stuck with Kamala at the top of the ticket, since they can't piss of the black female base. But they'd be better off with anyone one else who has a proven record as a strong orator, which Kamala has not yet developed into.
Unfortunately I was one who partially watched enough to see Haley Steven’s LYING about the Afghanistan withdrawal. She needs to give “credit” where credit is due.
This is what REALLY happened, as reported from the LA Times:
After the 2020 election, then-President Trump rushed to sign an immediate withdrawal order to pull troops out of Afghanistan in what a member of the congressional committee investigating Jan. 6, 2021, described as evidence he knew his term was coming to an end.
“Knowing that he had lost and that he had only weeks left in office, President Trump rushed to complete his unfinished business,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said.
“One key example is this: President Trump issued an order for large-scale troop withdrawals.”
In swiftly signing the order on Nov. 11, 2020, to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan and Somalia before incoming President Biden’s inauguration, Kinzinger argued, Trump “disregarded concerns about the consequences for fragile governments on the front lines of the fight against ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorists.” L
Military and national security leaders panned the order in recorded interviews with Jan. 6 investigators.
“It is odd. It is non-standard,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told the panel. “It is potentially dangerous. I personally thought it was militarily not feasible nor wise.”
Gen. Keith Kellogg, former Vice President Mike Pence’s national security advisor, said he told the White House Presidential Personnel Office and Douglas Macgregor, a former advisor to the Defense secretary, “that if I ever saw anything like that, I would do something physical, because I thought what that was doing was a tremendous disservice to the nation.”
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-10-13/trump-signed-order-for-immediate-afghanistan-withdrawal-after-election-loss
5,000 pissed off Taliban prisoners released? How about the Kurds (our ally in dealing with ISIS) abandoned by trump. Now they have friends with Russia. Nice going
Meant Niki Haley not Haley Stevens!
Thanks for the reminder about Trump's Afghanistan withdrawal order. Perhaps you could help me understand something. Many have criticized Biden for the rapid withdrawal. Was the Trump order executed by Biden without reconsidering Trump's order or was Biden's withdrawal order a separate order. I realize it may be neither, but I'm at a loss to understand how the order may have evolved between Trump's order and the actual withdrawal after Biden took office?
Paul Porter: As far as I understand, Biden decided to withdraw (full knowing it was probably going to be chaotic at uch short notices) because he cared more about the United States, as a nation (not as a president) being taken seriously. That is, he didn't want to create the impression to foreign nations that the United States is unreliable, wishy-washy, nor changes it's mind every 4-8 years just because a new president comes along. Does this makes sense? I hope so! It bothers me no end when people blame Biden for the "disastrous withdrawal " (and did you notice how Biden never makes excuses "oh, it's the TFG's fault" but takes full responsibility??? Really, it's not Biden’s way but he could just belly ache all day and blame the mistakes all on Trump yet decided not to.)
We will probably never know a la the Rs held Biden entirely responsible with the withdrawal in August, 2020. Didn't 45 make a deal with the Taliban? (and the US released a bunch of terrorist prisoners)
5,000 prisoners
In your July 16 Letter you said "Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, for example, claimed that “Women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans all saw record low employment under Donald J. Trump,” when in fact those record lows have come under Biden. " Am I reading it wrong or did you mean to say record high employment instead of record low employment.?
I heard "record low UN-employment," Malia. Better check the recording.
Whoops, no, you're right, Malia. In the written text she says: "Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, for example, claimed that 'Women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans all saw record low employment under Donald J. Trump.'”
Perhaps MAGA Republicans regard it as a GOOD thing that women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans all had trouble finding jobs under Trump. But more likely Heather has misquoted Youngkin.
Really? i thought I heard unemployment.... it's worth getting clarification.
it is "unemployment"
Heather covering the RNC seems odd and not her wheelhouse -- though I guess she feels compelled to cover it. Rallies are just fun and frivolity (relative to most aspects of politics), so earnest and wonky character assassination just doesn't play as well. Better to make fun of the whole thing, if possible.
Truly an Upside down Trumpanian-side world, by the MAGA the extremist and the far-right cult morons...
What's not mentioned here is what appears to be the enormous crisis of confidence Democrats are now enduring with Joe Biden. Adam Schiff has now called for him to step down. I may be coming around to the idea of a Kamala Harris - Josh Shapiro ticket (he's governor of PA). Such a ticket would give Democrats a chance to take PA, and hopefully inspire enough blacks, women and Jews to also take WN, GA and AZ. Michigan may be lost due to the large Arab population and GAZA. What do you think?
Jim ,you say it"appears to be the enormous crisis of confidence Democrats are now enduring with Joe Biden."
Since the debate, I'm betting there are more "WHITE MEN"who are bailing or jumping ship on Biden than women of any demographic. I may be wrong, but that's what it look & sounds like to me. Freaking out and impulsivity abounds!!!!!!!(just my opinion, willing to be entirely wrong!)
I pretty much stopped watching any cable news (past 2 yrs.) bc of their presentation of doom & gloom. I began watching other stations on YouTube which do include snippets of cable but for the most part are reporting more honestly. (these stations are not donors to the R party as both CNN & MSNBC, the NYT etc. are)
I realize that I've been hearing about Project 2025 for the past 2 yrs on these alternate news sources and just recently the cable channels are beginning to air information about it.
The good news for us, is that Vance was NOT A GOOD PICK for 45.
He embraces all of 2025 and is even more extreme than 45 regarding women's rights.
He opposes ALL abortion even in the case of rape & incest.(and has said so)
He has also said that in homes where there is abuse or domestic violence that parents "should stay together for the children." Seriously?
After teaching for over 25 years, the trauma that a child experiences in a violent home whether physical or emotional abuse can ruin a life more so than if parents come to terms with the fact that they love their kids but cannot live together.
I suppose getting educated at Yale doesn't guarantee or say much for common sense.
He also has praised Alex Jones on multiple occasions. (the crisis actor conspiracy theory guy who said the Sandy Hook school shooting episode in Newtown Conn was staged and no one died)..
Don't worry about the Arab population too much. Yes, the management of this situation has been horrible. But if 45 gets in Crazy Netanyahu will only make it worse for the oppressed ppl living there. In addition, project 2025 promises that 15 million ppl will be put in camps and deported on "day 1" Perhaps if the all ppl hear of the alternative they may come out and vote vs. sitting home. I do get why they are angry.
Thus, WOMEN, MEN, KIDS 18 AND OLDER MUST COME OUT & VOTE!!!!
THERE IS A DOCUMENTARY CALLED "BAD FAITH" THAT JUST CAME OUT THIS YEAR AND IT GOES INTO THE ROOTS OF THE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST MOVEMENT WHICH IS AND HAS BEEN SLOWLY TURNING OUR COUNTRY INTO AN AUTOCRACY/THEOCRACY....
Here's the free link to "Bad Faith." The "Real Christians" interviewed are saying these folks, this movement, are not @ the "Real Christians."
https://tubitv.com/movies/100020971/bad-faith
Domestic violence. Wouldn't that include violence to the children also?
Absolutely! It's unthinkable and unacceptable that anyone in this day and age would propose that parents "should stay together for the children." I mean if that isn't a backward position, what is?
In some (or one) states a person who has a restraining order against him is still allowed to possess a gun . What could possibly go wrong?
I just don't think we can win this election with an entirely negative approach on how bad Trump (and Vance) are. We have to give voters something to be FOR. Biden has the positive record and good proposals but what young people -- yes, probably primarily white men -- along with blacks, Latinos, and low-information swing voters mainly see is someone's who's too damn old, who's unlikely to survive four more years in good health. Strategically, Kamala Harris and Josh Shapiro might offer a way to win the swing states. Admittedly, it's a desperate move.
Women, predominantly, black women won the election for Biden in 2020.
My hope is that women will come out in droves. Kamala Harris has already been scrutinized/vetted to run as VP.
This is so much bigger than 45.
Oppression of women, by men who would be happy to see women barefoot & pregnant at home, ain't gonna happen!
This past Spring in TN, the Senate tried to pass legislation that women could not wear short or sleeveless shirts /blouses in the chamber. (thankfully it didn't pass)
Those ppl who subscribe to "trickle down economic" theory don't realize that the $ never trickled down far enough. It no longer works, bc ppl figured out that it never worked as their families were not accumulating any wealth and the wealthy were getting wealthier.
I think all of this is happening because of the fear of a changing demographic in our country. Hence, the escalation of Racism, Antisemitism, Anti-Muslim, the book banning, the attempt to take over our public schools and mandate what can and what cannot be taught in them. It's nuts. All fear based.
The very rich who own this country(same ppl as the ones who own SCOTUS,)want to turn the clock back to a time that no longer exists. I mean women couldn't have cc in their own names back then. Today men are threatened by women. In this situation men react and women clearly respond.
Looks like the Dem elite are working right now to convince Biden to step down. So you'll get at least part of your wish. They're probably stuck with Kamala at the top of the ticket, since they can't piss of the black female base. But they'd be better off with anyone one else who has a proven record as a strong orator, which Kamala has not yet developed into.
Thanks Heather for tonight’s letter. Vance now in the picture is another big reason to vote on November 5th to save our democracy.
Thank you so much for your posts. They are helping to sustain me.