Today was a good day here at home too. Manchin met with the Texas State Dems who walked out on a legislative vote. They stifled the Repubs and they wanted to explain their strategy to Manchin. I believe they gave him food for thought because he is talking a different game now. At least, that’s what I hope for.
"Manchin supports making Election Day holiday, 15 days early voting, ban on partisan gerrymandering, automatic voter registration, disclosure of dark money as part of revised For the People Act" so now is the time to ratchet up pressure on Manchin--calls, emails, brief letters.
Breaking up the Voting Bills to get as much as possible in place by 2022 is, and always has been, essential. Already, Manchin has said that he supports getting rid of Gerrymandering. On the personal ID issue it might be interesting to explore what constitutes an acceptible ID and it is perhaps better in the short term to make sure everyone has just such a document. In France you don't vote without showing your Voter Registration Card or other official identification.....but then in France everyone is supposed to have an official ID if they are eligible to vote. I have a Residence Permit onnly and thus cannot vote. Those here illegally or temporarily don't have papers and are not on the register to vote. On the "roll cleaning and clearing " issue, rules must be laid down about how you constitute and keep a voting list up-to-date and I don't think Manchin should gain any "flexibility". Manchin seems relatively open to "federalizing" absentee voting and pre-election voting....this can be worked on. I can't see him objecting to "minimum" numbers of polling stations in relation to population density either...States can then always do better! In exchange for the above considerations, the counterpart required of Manchin is that he accept severe limitations of the "Money" issue.
As far as I know, all states now offer a 'smart' Drivers License and an analogue for non-drivers that are recognised as effective ID. The only challenge would seem to be making sure that everyone who is qualified has the opportunity to get one.
Even in deep blue Massachusetts, getting that higher rated license requires documentation that is a barrier even to many well off people. It’s got to be far worse for most people. Requiring ID will reduce voting unless getting it is strongly supported - that is, made inexpensive in both time and money.
I wonder if anyone has challenged voter ID laws, where getting that ID required substantial money or effort, on the grounds that it is actually a poll tax?
Definitely. S1 includes a provision that anyone without ID can sign a statement that they are who they say they are, and then vote. That could help against unfair ID laws. On the other hand, I have voted for years at a small, neighborhood polling place where the older people staffing the tables know everyone by sight. No wait, no fuss, no ID needed. Everyone should be able to vote the same way.
What does MA require beyond a birth certificate and proof of residence? Both, as well as a Social Security card, are easy to acquire and, other than $10 or so for the Birth certificate, are free. I don't disagree with your point, just wonder how serious the barrier really is.
Your Michigan license or state ID card (what if you never had one??)
And one of the following:
Government-issued birth certificate with raised seal or stamp
Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
An approved citizenship or legal presence document
If you are not a U.S. citizen and have temporary legal status, please make sure you bring the required documents.
If your name is different from what's on your birth certificate, you'll need to bring
in a certified name-change document, such as a marriage license or court order.
Name-change documents must show both the changed name and the previous name.
Divorce decrees may be used if they are certified (copies are not accepted) and if they
show the changed name and the previous name. Multiple documents may be needed
if your name has changed more than once.
It took 7 months for my mom to obtain a copy of her first marriage license from the state. Now it will be several months before she can get an appt at SOS to actually obtain the ID. Without my help, my mom would not be able to navigate this process.
So, although it may seem easy on the surface to get ID, it can be very complicated for many people.
Also, Michigan state legislature just yesterday passed a bill requiring ID to vote.
I got one of these "real" IDs a couple of years ago and it was easy for me ONLY because I'm a nut job about having necessary documentation in place ( comes from having immigrant family didn't have paperwork, period. Birth certificates were not accurate or didn't exist, etc.) I saw how difficult it was for some people in line with me to get one because they didn't have a passport and/or showed up with non-certified birth certificates (eg, copies without imprint) or whose passport was expired.....not an ordinary thing to handle for most people. I found myself coaching friends about what documents to have in hand before going to the Registry. Many people will just say forget it and then be sorry whenever they need one of these pieces of plastic that 'prove' you've jumped through certain hoops with the right set of papers to show. And this was in Blue Blue MA too.
Just thinking off the top of my head here: ability to get to the appropriate town/city office when they're open during business hours which is also when many people are at work. Most hourly working people aren't able to take time off work without fear of lost wages and/or losing their job (this from a nurse who spends the day talking with patients who need an appt but can't make our office hours which are still M-F 8-4!!!). Could they do it online? Maybe, if they have access to a computer and the internet. Even in MA, not everyone does. We MUST make it easier and free.
Here are the requirements for MA "real ID." "Required documents include one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Massachusetts residency, your social security card (if you've been issued one) and a current driver's license if you are applying to exchange one issued by another U.S. state"
Ooops, our privilege is showing. Many Native Americans, for instance, live in extremely rural areas, and some in sub-standard housing that has no known address. If they can afford it, they can get a PO box for mail, which is often many miles from home, and does not qualify as an address. BIPOC urban dwellers may be without cars or even the $ to afford a non-driver's ID. The proverbial "souls to the polls" bus rides after Sunday Black church attendance is being curtailed by some of the state's Sunday poll closure legislation. Even with an ID, many "souls" cannot get to sparsely located polls. Elderly and disabled voters who benefit from mail-in ballots are also being challenged. So, ID is a moot point. It's being able to vote at all that is the issue.
Recall, I forget the state, put addresses were required but one tribe had no addressed, just P.O Boxes which were deemed unacceptable. The tribe had to work with local authorities who were less than cooperative to establish addressed. There are a host of issues with Voter ID but Dem/Progressives just be working those issues. That requirement is not going away. Many don't understand the problem.
The problem isn't that ID is required, but the types of ID that are being required and the difficulty and cost of obtaining them. I don't know of many people who will quibble about identifying themselves to vote, even if the ID is nothing more than a signature comparison.
Kimceann, true ‘dat. To see the example of an apparent lie being used as a legitimate concern and further to use that lie to demean individual liberties is really quite astounding. And then to see us run after it with panties in a knot and not agree to it but respond in a way to get around it or satisfy it is horrifying.
Make calls. Put pressure on. Pass For the People Act and the John Lewis Act. I really don’t like how it’s now up to the people to help other people muck through the fraud and satisfy the affect and effects of a lie.
And the ability to pay for one. In Washington state, the option for obtaining a Real ID level driver's license costs $113. That could be a barrier for low-income folks.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 requiring states to ultimately upgrade requirements for drivers license or state ID. I believe most states are now in compliance. Basic requirements are:
1. Primary ID such as certified birth certificate or passport.
2. Proof of Social Security (there are alternatives)
3. 2 proofs of residence such as utility bill, bank statement, letter from homeless shelter, health ID with address, voters ID, etc.
This can be difficult for people born out of state, those in unstable housing, and the elderly. Cost to obtain proof can also be a barrier. This would be a worthy project for voting rights organizations to take on. A state ID is useful for all citizens for numerous reasons.
Yes. If the help is available to any person to get a state ID or a federal ID that confirms info AND if that help had been a matter-of-fact service for decades, then great. To make it all of a sudden an issue just because multiple states demand it for voting and many consider the demand a voter suppression tactic, it is generating chaos and resentment.
I agree that it is great for every person to have an ID to access many services that require one. However, because one of my own children and SO many families living in situational poverty that I have worked with in the school system tell me how long and sometimes excruciating that system is, I find it unfortunate that now it is now attached to voter rights requirements. Last year, I renewed my passport and one would have thought the wait line extended around the city limits and I had all required documentation.
Just saying it’s unfortunate that we are trying now to THINK UP a way to help people do something easily that should have been in place always.
CA has what’s called the Real ID system. It is a pain but you present your passport, certified (not a copy) birth certificate, and an electric bill. Once you present all of those, after waiting, 3 hours 🙄, you get your picture taken and w/in 2-3 weeks, you get your new driver’s license. CA’s DMV offices are a mess and a true pain in the a**!
And it excludes the non driver, the home bound, the ill and the elderly? There are those individuals, a few of whom I know, who are restricted in how long they can stand, or endure crowded waits, but are very committed to voting. Fortunately they have their DL but IF they did not.....
The REAL ID Act didn't necessarily require those upgrades. It simply stated that "a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a state to any person unless the state is meeting the requirements" specified in the Real ID Act.
But since most people use their state driver's license as ID...
It seems France and Italy do voting in similar ways. All adults are required to have photo IDs. Tourists have their passports. Foreigners who reside permanently in Italy -- like me -- must also have a residence permit. All Italians and foreign residents are also required to have a state-issued photo ID whether or not they also have driving licenses, and their addresses are known to the authorities in the cities and towns where they live. It is my understanding that if the police ask you to show them your ID and you can't, they can give you a ticket, but as a practical matter, if you can tell them your name and address they can check your identity on the spot on-line. Italians and foreign residents are also issued a health card which guarantees them no questions asked healthcare.
Italian citizens also have voting cards that -- along with their ID cards -- they show as they enter a polling place. The voting card is stamped so you cannot vote twice, I suppose. The default status is that all citizens are automatically registered to vote in their their own town (comune, bureaucratically speaking) and every square inch of Italy is in one comune or another. If you move from one comune to another for residence purposes, you are issued a new ID and voting card. The moment you change residence, your new comune communicates this to your old comune, so it would be very difficult to vote in more than one place in any given election.
Some Americans might think, "Oh, how bureaucratic" or "How onerous" or "What a pain in the ass", but it really isn't and Italians think nothing of it. They know that free, fair, no-hassle voting is one of the things that keeps them from sliding back into tyranny, which they have had to endure for much of their very long history.
Ah, I suppose if I was able to vote (post-brexit etc) it would have been obvious to me. The VRC is distributed by the municipal government of the commune in which you live when you are on the voter list! To be on the list you have to address yourself to the relevant Town Hall with proof of identity and proof of your actually living in the commune...an ID, passport and energy bill would do the trick. However you have to have the right to vote in the first place! Only other country, EU citizens (for the municipal and European elections) and French citizens (Presidential, National Assembly, Regional, Departmental and municipal elections) need apply. If you are a French citizen and live in the US then the government organizes registration and voting for national elections at various consulates around the world. Temporary absences might enable you to authorize (with appropriate documentation IDs etc) somebody to vote in your stead if you are registered in a commune somewhere. Hope this helps.
The Election Day holiday is unnecessary if at least 15 days of early voting is required, as long as that includes some Saturdays and possibly Sundays. We’ve just added Juneteenth as a federal holiday, over objections about cost to the federal government. Election Day as a federal holiday won’t help the majority of voters and even if states add it to their holiday rosters, it won’t help so many workers. There are always essential workers (police, hospitals, etc.) and most stores are open on holidays. The big needs are early voting and absentee ballots.
The Really Big News is that he's open to reforming the filibuster so that, instead of having to get 6- votes to overcome it, the other side has to maintain it with 41 votes - no more skipping town because the other side doesn't have the 60. They'll actually have to filibuster actively.
They should do it tomorrow. Time enough in 2023 to do more on this when the "Manchin permitted" Voter Bills' "acceptible" parts are individually past so that election perenity is assured at least.
What isn't a "French" word in English? While making a local display of signs for my students, in English-Spanish-French, I had the "Danger/Peligro" and asked my Haitian co-worker what was the French word for "Danger." Yep, it is Danger. Who knew? One of the many of our shared words. Possibly brought by the Norman invasion.
Here's interesting news: Stacey Abrams has announced she would be very happy to have a voting bill like Manchin outlined turn into law. Now if the "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" caucus in the House Democrats can wrap their heads around saying "yes" and calling it a victory, things may happen.
Annnndddd (how long did you think this would take?) 90 minutes ago The Gravedigger of Democracy (McConnell) publicly announced that Abrams' support for this demonstrates that Manchin's Modification is as unacceptable to the Confederate Conjobs as the original.
Then the Dems and the GOP can concentrate on the real issue...filling to galeries to "support their "Extreme Sport" team with enthusiastic supporters singing their song. I predict, given the average age and probable life-style induced bad health of many, we'll be looking at a whole slew of Senatorial elections replacing incapacitated incumbents.
The meeting between President Biden and President Putin went about as well as could be expected.
The take-away – Biden is clear-eyed about what might be possible to achieve in the way of stabilizing the relationship. As he said in his comments following their meeting, the next few months will tell us if Russia is prepared to engage constructively with the US. He is not relying on anything Putin might have said – he is waiting for results.
I listened with interest to Madeline Albright on CNN last night discussing Biden’s success regarding America’s diplomacy abroad this past week. She doesn’t miss a beat.
Wow. Thanks for link, Christine. Albright puts the whole thing into perspective for conditions today and doesn't once get bogged down in no longer relevant BS. She is brilliant, both in her understanding of what's going on and her ability to communicate its significance in a clear way.
Just watched it - she is a powerful voice we are fortunate to have on our team. Thank you for the link.
While we're on the topic of outstanding public officials, I happened to catch VP Harris and Treasury Secretary Yellen (and other notable speakers) deliver remarks on June 15th about providing capital for small businesses. Secretary Yellen was very impressive. You might enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN5cmImKhJ8
Excellent Endeavor! And powerful presentation by amazing women leaders and Sen. Mark Warner.! Brought years to my eyes - what a difference this will make for America! Thank you for the link R. Dooley!
Absolutely! He didn’t need a swagger to appear to be a leader, because he IS one. Our man. The world’s man. Pooh-tin behaved himself, yet he was he was in the presence of true power and quiet truth, and he knew it.
Does anyone know whether he's receiving daily intelligence briefings? There was a lot of discussion about withholding them, but I never heard any resolution.
I thought P's expression revealed that he had been challenged. He is so used to BS-ing his countrymen and Trump-like oligarchs that a reminder of the facts must have caused him concern. He was very peevish with his "so do you" responses and false-equivalencies.
Trump abandoned America’s global leadership position, preferring an “America First” mantra, yet expecting everyone to move out of the way for him to stand there and glare, in the mistaken impression that his posturing looked like strength. He assumed the world would just have to follow his impulsive, uninformed rants, insulting our allies and heaping praise on our adversaries. Today. Biden showed us what true leadership looks like, and our G7 partners breathed a sigh of relief.
Your description of 45 as "posturing" is so accurate, and in two definitions of the term: (1) "behavior or speech that is intended to attract attention and interest, or to make people believe something that is not true" (Cambridge Dictionary); and (2) "Catalepsy or posturing. The person either passively induces or actively maintains an unnatural posture contrary to the direction of gravity" (psychcentral.com)--the invariably slanting-forward side view of the former president illustrates this well!
Rose! I’ve never heard that word or description! It’s SO “trump-stance!
Yesterday I heard for the first time that the word “trumpery” meaning little value, showy but worthless, fraudulent, is a derivative of the French word “tromper” meaning deceit.
Stuart…I almost fell out hearing this. I laughed repeatedly after hearing earlier a newscaster saying “trumpery” and something about a French word. So I dove into Google and French translation and found it. Hahahahahaha. It’s as delicious as a buttery croissant!
Some Generals lead from the front, others from behind. None consider that the best strategy is to race the troops to the enemy's front line without regard for their ability to keep up and be with him/her when she/he strikes the first blow. Sounds more like suicide! The soundest strategy is always a global one that makes sure that everyone is cohesively and coherently fulfilling their role and has all the resources necessary to do so. As always and as in management, the boss works for his team and not the otherway round. When the troops are successful we achieve something....and we remember well the General.
DJT was so out of his league from the beginning. Remember when he said something along the lines of "who knew this healthcare stuff is so complicated?" But he "rallied" with his Roy Cohn-taught mobster behavior and and Rev N.V. Peale-taught positive thinking (both essentially comprised his "religion") which he has used his whole life to bluff, bully and storm his way through life.
I want to thank HCR and all of you who post on here.
I'm not politically savy and realize everyday how little I know, so thanks for sharing and helping educate me.
With that said, it truly feels good to again be proud to be an American.
I know that our president isn't perfect, who is? But I'm willing to be patient and give him a chance. I get tired of everyone saying that things aren't moving fast enough. Guess what, democracy isnt like watching Law and Order where everything is settle in an hour, it takes time to get things done, especially when you have one party who only wants to obstruct.
I guess being a caregiver and realizing that right now my life is sort of on hold, I can take my time and enjoy each hour of the day that I get to spend time with my husband and breathe a sigh of relief because we have a new man in charge who cares about us all.
I felt gratified throughout the first part of Biden’s visit, but he was obviously on friendly and eagerly receptive soil. He handled himself like the old professional he is, but that part was a mere appetizer. A grueling main course lay ahead.
Annoying, I am sure to many Americans that it should be so. Russia is boastful and proud and threatening on its surface, sickening with rot and decay on the inside. I pity the man or woman who takes over from Putin one day - it will happen - and has to try to rebuild that economy.
But yesterday *was* that important because Trump had cast such a Munich-like pall on the last summit. Right-thinking Americans were appalled that their President could be so sickeningly obsequious to a murderous thug. It appeared to be a stain that would never was out.
Yesterday Joe Biden more than rose to the occasion. He was more than magnificent at every moment in his interactions with Putin. He was thoroughly prepared. Every word was calibrated to earn respect back for America. Yet he was wise enough not to resort to needless and cheap saber-rattling. The United States is the big dog. This Administration and this man knew he could speak softly yet firmly. He clearly has Putin’s attention and respect. It may have been my imagination but that despicable man looked old and even smaller yesterday. What a bravura performance by Biden. America has a President who will only enhance its stature and commitment to the straight road in international relations.
That it was a strain on him was made obvious by his intemperate and churlish answer to Kaitlin Collins of CNN at the press conference following. And then there was that inexplicably lovely grace note of a President publicly apologizing to a member of the media. That Biden would understand that he had used words that were cutting to her is so like him. He is kind to his roots.
I fancy that the ransomware attacks will slow or even die off. Putin, I think, will put the word out.
And, in what must be another smile-inducing moment, Americans will long remember the inimitable Rachel Scott of ABC who asked Putin not once but twice about his penchant for eliminating opposition in the memorable words, “Mr. Putin, what are you afraid of”?
There is a woman of such steel that she reduced Putin to gibberish about America’s BLM problem. Spot on, Rachel.
I continue to think of the fact that Biden was undervalued for years, but he never gave up, and now he is proving his worth to us and the rest of the world. Initially, I was simply happy that we no longer had wrecking ball Trump at the helm, but I didn't expect that Biden would/could accomplish what he has. With all of our country's flaws, it appears that we're being offered another chance.
It thrilled me to see Putin rocked back on his heels by Rachel Scott, and her unflappable poise when she pointed out that his answer didn't address her question, then asking what was he afraid of. I liked her before that performance, but she was extraordinary!
This week has been a shot in the arm for many of us, after years of worrying whether our democracy would even survive. No wonder the minority party is increasingly desperate.
Biden has spent nearly 50 years in politics. He IS very smart, and is decent to his core. And unlike so many politicians he has learned from his mistakes. Had I understood all this from the get-go, he probably would have been my first choice, despite how much I like Sanders.
Truly great. On another note, I feel that the ransom ware attacks will not diminish. I think that it has become a normalized hacker process in the dark hallways of cyberspace. However, what I think is different is that President Biden fully is aware of America’s capabilities in this sort of “spy space”. Stuff of novels in the past but a reality now. Difference is that former president, in my opinion, used the capabilities against the very people and institutions he was sworn to protect. President Biden will not be deterred by threats that we in can return muster.
A misunderstanding. No doubt how I expressed myself was at fault.
Everything I read indicated that this particular series of ransomware attacks - Solar Winds, Colonial Pipeline et al - were conducted by Russians with the tacit, even perhaps more than tacit, support of the Russian government. It is, after all, a state where it can be hard to tell it’s mafia from its leaders, so entwined are they.
Biden laid out 16 areas of activity in the United States yesterday which the Administration would be deeply pained to see attacked. He also pointed out to Putin that Russia’s economy is largely driven by oil. Although he didn’t threaten anything he pointed out how embarrassed Russia would be in the eyes of the world were they to be caught going after any of the 16 American infrastructure centerpieces or were their own pipelines attacked. I thought that was masterfully put. And it was this I was referencing in my first post.
Alas ransomware and hacking in general is here to stay and may well become the primary modality of war in years to come.
It was the US and Israel who struck Iran’s nuclear facilities 11 years ago with the uber-powerful Stuxnet virus.
North Korea brought Sony nearly to its knees a few years back.
My general view is that if a capability is developed it will be used, perhaps out of malevolence, perhaps from financial motives, and sometimes from the simple drive of showing off the fruits of one’s labours.
I witnessed this first hand as a computer science teacher two decades ago. One of my better (after a fashion) students brought down the entire school network with a program composed of an endless self-replicating loop which eventually consumed all available hard drive space.
O tempore, o mores! would sum up my thoughts when I had to account for my principal for this. :)
The worst is yet to come - by far the worst - in cyberspace. And so I rain on another parade.
But yesterday Biden said a stern yet graceful, “Back off.” to Putin in this regard. I think the message will be taken for at least until, say, Trump has won a seat in the House and is acclaimed Majority Leader.
Neither am I politically savvy and like you I truly appreciate this oportunity to learn from those who are. I've always enjoyed reading history and so feel that much of the history I learn from Heather is a review (and having been a teacher myself, I do value review!), but what keeps me coming to this forum is the chance to read the reflections of those who are able to analyze the connections between history and current events in a myriad of ways even beyond what Dr Richardson has the space or time to do. She has full-time work otherwhere, as do many of us herein, so it is the plethora of views that inform me more completely.
I also appreciate that this forum is not limited to the more erudite of us, but that we can all put in our two cents worth and will be read (not always without push-back, but generally without rancor).
I'm so glad that having Biden and Harris at the helm are allowing you some much-needed relief from the daily, hourly anxiety most of us have gone through for 4 years, on top of the need to be present with your spouse. I hope this respite also gives you some time just for Beth!
Beth, Lanita and Others: Don't sell yourself short. All of those who participate in "Letters From an American" are "politically savvy." That they are here ... and not somewhere else ... is evidence of that.
To me, the best news of the day is Senator Manchen starting to embrace changing the filibuster and supporting the For the People Act. Sounds like he might go for the filibuster with 41 needed to keep the filibuster going rather than 60 to stop it. He's proposed a few changes to the For the People Act which at least at first glance look OK. Think we need to thank the West Virginian people for protesting and making sure Manchen knows they are in favor of keeping our democracy.
Let's not leave out Rev. Dr. William Barber's Moral Monday March on Manchin that was held Monday the 14th in West Virginia. I haven't found any press coverage. The Poor People's Campaign is leading another Moral Monday March, this time in Washington, Monday the 21st.
That seems to be Manchin's MO. Fuss and fume for the sake of his state's social conservatives, then quietly return to the Democratic fold, once his position is secure with WV voters.
"What President Biden really did was to rally our allies behind a defense of democracy." Thank you for cutting through all the noise and boiling down this oh-so important trip to its essence. Fascinating to watch anti-democracy Republicans huff and puff and harumph in response to Biden's accomplishments.
Boobert the Colorado gunbunny claimed Biden was going to give Alaska back to Russia at the meeting. These dumbasses are such an embarrassment to the species. They're no Sapiens, that's for sure.
“Boobert the Colorado gun bunny”. TC, how do you come up with this stuff? I laughed more at the descriptor than her insanely dumb response of the stealing of Alaska. If she was in front of me I’d ask her if she knew of the receipt for the original Alaska purchase.
Bobert, Garth, Green, Cawthorn loud, incompetent nitwits who add no value to Congress as they grift their way through their terms like they are cast members on a reality tv show. Dumbasses is an excellent description of them.
I'm sure she doesn't understand what you mean....after all, Trump wanted to buy Greenland. Seward gave $7.2 million for Alaska in 1867. Just image the profit to be made by selling it today! Personal integrity, continental integrity, national integrity...huh? Another thing beyond her ken (Scottish for know)) perhaps.
That $7.2 million in 1867 was equivalent to about $130 million today. Still an incredible bargain! (Always inflation adjust your dollars. Just google "inflation calculator".) (If Boobert and gunbunny are reading this they're totally flummoxed by now!)
She's being compared to a certain Alaskan who said she could see Russia from her porch. But, even Palin looks scholarly compared to that microcephalic idiot.
President Biden bringing in Dr Fiona Hill to consult about Putin was brilliant.
Dr Hill gave not only first hand credible knowledge of Putin and his workings but the visual of a confident, educated woman who actual knows what makes Putin tick. I'm fairly certainly there was a collective "oh shit" from the Kremlin when the White House announced that Dr Hill was consulting directly with President Biden. Well played. 👏
I am amazed, grateful, and encouraged when I see all the ways the Biden Administration is using the resources available to him. Many are willing, I bet, because of his decades of bridge building. Fiona!!
I was impressed with President Biden's press conference following the meeting with Putin. He showed how to deal will a dictator. Not how to be dealt by one as Trump had.
Yesterday's news was filled with unsubstantiated bullshit from the GOP of how "weak Biden is". Each interview was depicting exactly how Trump acted during his 4 year tenure, but they interjected Biden's name. The GOP seemed to use the same color to paint an image of Biden throughout the day. That does run in the same vain as their constant beat down for their Big Lie routine.
I find it interesting that there are GOP Members who are concerned with Juneteenth and its implication directed towards CRT. Wait until they realize how January 6th will be seen moving forward as the day that the Capitol was sullied by insurrectionists from within the GOP.
From Fiona Hill wanting to be ill to Putin saying “We don’t have to look each other in the eye and soul and make pledges of eternal love and friendship” speaks to the total lack of statecraft in the previous administration. Biden was the best choice for foreign relations. I wish he’d get bolder domestically and defend voters rights more aggressively.
Sounds like Pooh-tin revealed a little contempt for his puppet....
Our president doesn’t like to blow the horn before the train is moving. He looks like he is not aggressive or assertive enough, meanwhile he has a plan and is quietly moving mountains; give him a little time, watch what happens....give him credit for this week. I haven’t been this proud as an American in such a long time.
I agree about Fiona Hill and Putin's dis of the Menace, but as Gustav says (below), Biden's style is not to make broad pronouncements before his plans are concrete. I firmly believe that he has been working on voter protections and threats to our democracy since before he took office. He looks benign, but he knows when it's best to strike.
I would say Biden achieved all the "resetting" he meant to achieve.
He re-established that the US is working to a defined foreign policy once more, and by doing so he began a resumption of the efforts among our allies and us to manage world affairs in a coherent way. Our presence tips the scales back where they need to be for that to succeed. From that perspective, this was a master-class in soft power.
Scanton Times-Tribune version of Biden-Putin Meeting
Joe: “Vlad, you’ve got to knock this silly shit off. If you don’t your ass is mine. Capisce?”
Vlad: “Hruump!”
Joe: (Columbo voice) “Just one more thing. You know that guy whose name you can’t remember, you got in prison? It would be a real pity if something happened to him. Get my drift? You might give your rich buddies a heads up. They probably should check their offshore account balances more often?
So easy to perch on the high and mighty throne casting pious judgments about Russia's dirty tricks. Now, why exactly was it that the USA had Julian Assange arrested whose British trial appears by all accounts as rigged as Steven Donziger's , the attorney who had won a massive environmental case against Chevron in Ecuador? How come mainstream media forget to report about his USA pushed legal troubles, harassment? Oh, and yea, about the truth and then the whole truth that we are experts in...Afghanistan troop withdrawal? "American spy agencies and American allies will maintain a “less visible” presence in the country. The departure will not include the thousand troops maintained in the country “off the books,” as Pentagon sources told the New York Times, including elite Army Rangers working for both the Pentagon and the CIA. More troops will remain positioned in neighboring countries, and attack planes will be within rapid reach, forewarned of “insurgent fighters” by armed surveillance drones. Civilian contractors may also play a role on the ground." (Time.com)And, um, then there's this. "Speaking to reporters onboard the Northern Fleet’s flagship, the Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) missile cruiser, at its Arctic base of Severomorsk, Moiseyev charged that NATO drills have edged closer to Russian borders, and noted increasingly frequent flights by U.S. nuclear-capable strategic bombers." Gosh, were the Russians in similar proximity to the USA, how sanguine would we be? Lastly, if we were hypothesize this show of muscle flexing towards Russia, (and China for that matter), has more to do with image management at home, from what domestic issues might Biden et al want our eyes deflected?
We have a true “Elder” statesman President, and for the foreseeable future. In our memory, are the childish trysts of recent "adolescent male" American presidents. We’ve seen youthful folly in this century occupy the White House, until Joseph R Biden brought wisdom, compassion and dignity to the office, to the world stage, and to the American people.
President Biden, and how refreshingly stable and solid I feel to type this. "President Biden, the Elder”, in the archetypal sense of the male and female (Croan) sage. One who has seen the depths of death in a way so close, real and terrifying. Who has come home to his heart, the same heart which beats in all of humanity. One who is not terrified of “the other”, but celebrates what one sees in the other as a reflection of one’s own soul. To break bread, together. imho.
On the other hand, we have a conservatism which views oneself as the arbiter of freedom. I consider the concept of freedom in America as a set of individual rights to hone one’s ego, caught in something called Immature Personality Disorder (found in wikipedia this AM). This IPM I may define as "the necessity for the light to be shown on oneself,” which I know all too well myself. Is my liberalism at times my expression of the immature male, wrapped in varying blue hues of righteousness? “Yes," I would say. But I also feel that "all others are friends I have simply not met". Do I allow my own IPM to guide my life, or do I remember to see the universal heart which allows the birds to now pierce the pre-dawn darkness, reminding me that all is well in this moment. imho
Thank God for President Joseph R Biden. May I remember to live according to his example, the the Elder male, to see ALL of my neighbors as simply a reflection of my mind and heart. May I have compassion for themselves and “myselves”, as I struggle with my personal history in this dysfunctional land of misplaced freedom. Finally, I see a caucasian male whom I feel proud to call in “the home of the brave” .imho
I’ve read your entry twice, Frederick. I’m going to think about it some more. It’s such a substantial comment about the inherent psychological need of, in this case, males. Something in my study of relationships and energy for years. Thank you. What a tie-in to this week’s world stage with Pres Biden.
Thanks for your reply Christine. My judgement is that the European male, generally speaking, is more bound to a relational experience of life. The American prides oneself on individualism and “the lone ranger.” The American male experiences “freedom” to allow oneself to satisfy egoistic needs, of the “I” rather than the “we”. I prefer the relational. I have a hard time with the egoism of the male psyche. My experience of the zen teaching of “emptiness” - meaning interdependence - leads me to a more relational sense of life; I am not separate from my perceptions, but inherently interdependent. No, that’s more confusing, I am sure
I was hoping to hear Heather's thoughts about Manchin's expressing willingness to restructure the filibuster along Al Franken's suggestions. "I think, basically, it should be [that] 41 people have to force the issue versus the 60 that we need in the affirmative. So find 41 in the negative...I think one little change that could be made right now is basically anyone who wants to filibuster ought to be required to go to the floor and basically state your objection and why you're filibustering and also state what you think needs to change that'd fix it, so you would support it. To me, that's pretty constructive," Manchin during a Monday zoom.
Interesting, the numbers on the Juneteenth vote. Unanimous in the Senate? Feeling guilty about the award for the capitol police officers? Or just fishing for votes. Go ahead, label me a cynic.
All things considered, seems quite odd. Hollow. Granted, no substance, such as reparations. Between now and when it kicks in, how many Black people will be killed by police? Will public education be overhauled and finally provide quality education for all, nationwide? Will disparities and inequities In healthcare, finance, the injustice system, employment be remedied? Will the country address systemic racism in a meaningful way? Or is this new federal holiday yet another distraction?
You know, I had this thought too Renee. And I'm surprised there is not more cynicism out there. (OK, great, we have a holiday, but we still have black kids getting stopped by abusive police for no reason) I guess we have to take all these teeny steps and hope, some day, they will add up to a worthy thing. I'm not sure I'm that patient though.
Kimberly, the bandwagon for this seems enormous, and loud. Not necessarily well-informed. Smoke and mirrors, bread and circuses, and Trojan horses work. This new holiday seems all of the above. The loud, steady, drum beat seems to be drowning out (or intimidating) anything or anyone contrary. Considering the current attack on Black voting rights, getting excited about this federal recognition seems insane. Also skeptical considering most reports and explanations I've read are historically inaccurate, and diminish the perspectives of enslaved Black people, and the crucial role of Black soldiers who routed the Confederate Texas government.
Did anyone see the video of the NBC reporter, Rachel Scott, questioning Putin at the press conference? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/abc-correspondent-putin-opponents-russia-b1867295.html She nailed him and he never responded. Pretty brave to challenge that way. I also heard there was a reporter who questioned Putin in Russian. And....I think we should give a shout out to Fiona Hill. Not only did she want to feign illness to stop tRump from further embarrassing the US, but on this Biden trip, she was one of his primary Russian expert advisors. Glad her expertise is still sought after.
On another topic....How mush further can the retuglicans embarrass themselves? Believing Biden was ready to give Alaska back to Russia? Voting against giving the medal of honor to capitol police? Voting against making Juneteenth a federal holiday? Afraid of CRT because it's the "truth"? Pathetic representatives of true Americans.
What a difference it makes to have a functional adult in the room! Actually, a statesman. He has been preparing all his life for this role. He has assembled a plethora of working groups with viable instruction/outcome statements that will result in a slew of actionable items. His assignments of tasks to the right people (e.g., the Sinema-Manchin ijits, consulting Dr. Fiona Hill) is delightful. Certain there is much to critique, there is also much to celebrate.
Today was a good day here at home too. Manchin met with the Texas State Dems who walked out on a legislative vote. They stifled the Repubs and they wanted to explain their strategy to Manchin. I believe they gave him food for thought because he is talking a different game now. At least, that’s what I hope for.
"Manchin supports making Election Day holiday, 15 days early voting, ban on partisan gerrymandering, automatic voter registration, disclosure of dark money as part of revised For the People Act" so now is the time to ratchet up pressure on Manchin--calls, emails, brief letters.
https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe
https://twitter.com/AriBerman/status/1405228494020304909?s=20
Breaking up the Voting Bills to get as much as possible in place by 2022 is, and always has been, essential. Already, Manchin has said that he supports getting rid of Gerrymandering. On the personal ID issue it might be interesting to explore what constitutes an acceptible ID and it is perhaps better in the short term to make sure everyone has just such a document. In France you don't vote without showing your Voter Registration Card or other official identification.....but then in France everyone is supposed to have an official ID if they are eligible to vote. I have a Residence Permit onnly and thus cannot vote. Those here illegally or temporarily don't have papers and are not on the register to vote. On the "roll cleaning and clearing " issue, rules must be laid down about how you constitute and keep a voting list up-to-date and I don't think Manchin should gain any "flexibility". Manchin seems relatively open to "federalizing" absentee voting and pre-election voting....this can be worked on. I can't see him objecting to "minimum" numbers of polling stations in relation to population density either...States can then always do better! In exchange for the above considerations, the counterpart required of Manchin is that he accept severe limitations of the "Money" issue.
As far as I know, all states now offer a 'smart' Drivers License and an analogue for non-drivers that are recognised as effective ID. The only challenge would seem to be making sure that everyone who is qualified has the opportunity to get one.
Even in deep blue Massachusetts, getting that higher rated license requires documentation that is a barrier even to many well off people. It’s got to be far worse for most people. Requiring ID will reduce voting unless getting it is strongly supported - that is, made inexpensive in both time and money.
I wonder if anyone has challenged voter ID laws, where getting that ID required substantial money or effort, on the grounds that it is actually a poll tax?
I'm pretty sure there is case law from Reconstruction to just that effect but, not being an attorney, will defer to informed legal judgement.
Absolutely. It would cut the ground out from under the GOP.
No one should have to pay to vote. Period. Don't you agree?
But IDs are not just for that are they? There are obligations in citizenship as well as rights.
Definitely. S1 includes a provision that anyone without ID can sign a statement that they are who they say they are, and then vote. That could help against unfair ID laws. On the other hand, I have voted for years at a small, neighborhood polling place where the older people staffing the tables know everyone by sight. No wait, no fuss, no ID needed. Everyone should be able to vote the same way.
What does MA require beyond a birth certificate and proof of residence? Both, as well as a Social Security card, are easy to acquire and, other than $10 or so for the Birth certificate, are free. I don't disagree with your point, just wonder how serious the barrier really is.
Requirements In Michigan:
Your Michigan license or state ID card (what if you never had one??)
And one of the following:
Government-issued birth certificate with raised seal or stamp
Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
An approved citizenship or legal presence document
If you are not a U.S. citizen and have temporary legal status, please make sure you bring the required documents.
If your name is different from what's on your birth certificate, you'll need to bring
in a certified name-change document, such as a marriage license or court order.
Name-change documents must show both the changed name and the previous name.
Divorce decrees may be used if they are certified (copies are not accepted) and if they
show the changed name and the previous name. Multiple documents may be needed
if your name has changed more than once.
It took 7 months for my mom to obtain a copy of her first marriage license from the state. Now it will be several months before she can get an appt at SOS to actually obtain the ID. Without my help, my mom would not be able to navigate this process.
So, although it may seem easy on the surface to get ID, it can be very complicated for many people.
Also, Michigan state legislature just yesterday passed a bill requiring ID to vote.
I got one of these "real" IDs a couple of years ago and it was easy for me ONLY because I'm a nut job about having necessary documentation in place ( comes from having immigrant family didn't have paperwork, period. Birth certificates were not accurate or didn't exist, etc.) I saw how difficult it was for some people in line with me to get one because they didn't have a passport and/or showed up with non-certified birth certificates (eg, copies without imprint) or whose passport was expired.....not an ordinary thing to handle for most people. I found myself coaching friends about what documents to have in hand before going to the Registry. Many people will just say forget it and then be sorry whenever they need one of these pieces of plastic that 'prove' you've jumped through certain hoops with the right set of papers to show. And this was in Blue Blue MA too.
Just thinking off the top of my head here: ability to get to the appropriate town/city office when they're open during business hours which is also when many people are at work. Most hourly working people aren't able to take time off work without fear of lost wages and/or losing their job (this from a nurse who spends the day talking with patients who need an appt but can't make our office hours which are still M-F 8-4!!!). Could they do it online? Maybe, if they have access to a computer and the internet. Even in MA, not everyone does. We MUST make it easier and free.
Here are the requirements for MA "real ID." "Required documents include one proof of identity, one proof of legal presence, two proofs of Massachusetts residency, your social security card (if you've been issued one) and a current driver's license if you are applying to exchange one issued by another U.S. state"
I live in WI & it is so tough here to get REAL ID you pretty much need a passport. Well no prob for ME, but for others it would be.
A job that the federal government might want to give to Stacey Abrams perhaps.
Ooooh…wouldn't that be wonderful??!!
Ooops, our privilege is showing. Many Native Americans, for instance, live in extremely rural areas, and some in sub-standard housing that has no known address. If they can afford it, they can get a PO box for mail, which is often many miles from home, and does not qualify as an address. BIPOC urban dwellers may be without cars or even the $ to afford a non-driver's ID. The proverbial "souls to the polls" bus rides after Sunday Black church attendance is being curtailed by some of the state's Sunday poll closure legislation. Even with an ID, many "souls" cannot get to sparsely located polls. Elderly and disabled voters who benefit from mail-in ballots are also being challenged. So, ID is a moot point. It's being able to vote at all that is the issue.
Recall, I forget the state, put addresses were required but one tribe had no addressed, just P.O Boxes which were deemed unacceptable. The tribe had to work with local authorities who were less than cooperative to establish addressed. There are a host of issues with Voter ID but Dem/Progressives just be working those issues. That requirement is not going away. Many don't understand the problem.
What up, folks? There is no voter fraud.
We don't need no stinkin' voter ID
Please don't buy into that conversation.
The problem isn't that ID is required, but the types of ID that are being required and the difficulty and cost of obtaining them. I don't know of many people who will quibble about identifying themselves to vote, even if the ID is nothing more than a signature comparison.
yes, sign your name.
Kimceann, true ‘dat. To see the example of an apparent lie being used as a legitimate concern and further to use that lie to demean individual liberties is really quite astounding. And then to see us run after it with panties in a knot and not agree to it but respond in a way to get around it or satisfy it is horrifying.
Make calls. Put pressure on. Pass For the People Act and the John Lewis Act. I really don’t like how it’s now up to the people to help other people muck through the fraud and satisfy the affect and effects of a lie.
I imagine a 'parody protest' where a large number of people dress up in KKK robes and hold signs saying "We support voter suppression laws".
And the ability to pay for one. In Washington state, the option for obtaining a Real ID level driver's license costs $113. That could be a barrier for low-income folks.
For comparison purposes, how much does a standard license or state issued ID cost?
The fee for a first-time base-level driver's license is $89. Personally, I think that fee is also too high for low-income folks.
This is a huge challenge.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 requiring states to ultimately upgrade requirements for drivers license or state ID. I believe most states are now in compliance. Basic requirements are:
1. Primary ID such as certified birth certificate or passport.
2. Proof of Social Security (there are alternatives)
3. 2 proofs of residence such as utility bill, bank statement, letter from homeless shelter, health ID with address, voters ID, etc.
This can be difficult for people born out of state, those in unstable housing, and the elderly. Cost to obtain proof can also be a barrier. This would be a worthy project for voting rights organizations to take on. A state ID is useful for all citizens for numerous reasons.
Yes. If the help is available to any person to get a state ID or a federal ID that confirms info AND if that help had been a matter-of-fact service for decades, then great. To make it all of a sudden an issue just because multiple states demand it for voting and many consider the demand a voter suppression tactic, it is generating chaos and resentment.
I agree that it is great for every person to have an ID to access many services that require one. However, because one of my own children and SO many families living in situational poverty that I have worked with in the school system tell me how long and sometimes excruciating that system is, I find it unfortunate that now it is now attached to voter rights requirements. Last year, I renewed my passport and one would have thought the wait line extended around the city limits and I had all required documentation.
Just saying it’s unfortunate that we are trying now to THINK UP a way to help people do something easily that should have been in place always.
Shoulda-Woulda-Coulda is a barrier.
CA has what’s called the Real ID system. It is a pain but you present your passport, certified (not a copy) birth certificate, and an electric bill. Once you present all of those, after waiting, 3 hours 🙄, you get your picture taken and w/in 2-3 weeks, you get your new driver’s license. CA’s DMV offices are a mess and a true pain in the a**!
And it excludes the non driver, the home bound, the ill and the elderly? There are those individuals, a few of whom I know, who are restricted in how long they can stand, or endure crowded waits, but are very committed to voting. Fortunately they have their DL but IF they did not.....
We make appointments here in SC and walk out with the new license the same day. The earliest available appointment at my local DMV? August.
The REAL ID Act didn't necessarily require those upgrades. It simply stated that "a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a state to any person unless the state is meeting the requirements" specified in the Real ID Act.
But since most people use their state driver's license as ID...
It seems France and Italy do voting in similar ways. All adults are required to have photo IDs. Tourists have their passports. Foreigners who reside permanently in Italy -- like me -- must also have a residence permit. All Italians and foreign residents are also required to have a state-issued photo ID whether or not they also have driving licenses, and their addresses are known to the authorities in the cities and towns where they live. It is my understanding that if the police ask you to show them your ID and you can't, they can give you a ticket, but as a practical matter, if you can tell them your name and address they can check your identity on the spot on-line. Italians and foreign residents are also issued a health card which guarantees them no questions asked healthcare.
Italian citizens also have voting cards that -- along with their ID cards -- they show as they enter a polling place. The voting card is stamped so you cannot vote twice, I suppose. The default status is that all citizens are automatically registered to vote in their their own town (comune, bureaucratically speaking) and every square inch of Italy is in one comune or another. If you move from one comune to another for residence purposes, you are issued a new ID and voting card. The moment you change residence, your new comune communicates this to your old comune, so it would be very difficult to vote in more than one place in any given election.
Some Americans might think, "Oh, how bureaucratic" or "How onerous" or "What a pain in the ass", but it really isn't and Italians think nothing of it. They know that free, fair, no-hassle voting is one of the things that keeps them from sliding back into tyranny, which they have had to endure for much of their very long history.
Do you happen to know the process for obtaining a French VRC?
VRC?.....Vaccine Ressource Center? If so anyone can find the sites and take appointments on line...if the understand French. If not that what is VCR?
Sorry...Voter Registration Card
Ah, I suppose if I was able to vote (post-brexit etc) it would have been obvious to me. The VRC is distributed by the municipal government of the commune in which you live when you are on the voter list! To be on the list you have to address yourself to the relevant Town Hall with proof of identity and proof of your actually living in the commune...an ID, passport and energy bill would do the trick. However you have to have the right to vote in the first place! Only other country, EU citizens (for the municipal and European elections) and French citizens (Presidential, National Assembly, Regional, Departmental and municipal elections) need apply. If you are a French citizen and live in the US then the government organizes registration and voting for national elections at various consulates around the world. Temporary absences might enable you to authorize (with appropriate documentation IDs etc) somebody to vote in your stead if you are registered in a commune somewhere. Hope this helps.
The Election Day holiday is unnecessary if at least 15 days of early voting is required, as long as that includes some Saturdays and possibly Sundays. We’ve just added Juneteenth as a federal holiday, over objections about cost to the federal government. Election Day as a federal holiday won’t help the majority of voters and even if states add it to their holiday rosters, it won’t help so many workers. There are always essential workers (police, hospitals, etc.) and most stores are open on holidays. The big needs are early voting and absentee ballots.
Sundays must be included, both for souls to the polls buses after Sunday church, and for any other people for whom Sunday is the only day they can go.
You are correct. However it is a beginning.
As Mary Richards would say, "Not awful" news...thanks, Ellie! (Mary Tyler Moore)
Thank you for this, Ellie Kona! Shared in both forums and now i will add my own voice.
Let me throw in my Thank You for brightening my day. Where's there is life there is hope and my hope level just got ratcheted up.
Thank you, Ellie.
Thanks, Ellie!
Wow! Did he say that? That would be great.
The Really Big News is that he's open to reforming the filibuster so that, instead of having to get 6- votes to overcome it, the other side has to maintain it with 41 votes - no more skipping town because the other side doesn't have the 60. They'll actually have to filibuster actively.
They should do it tomorrow. Time enough in 2023 to do more on this when the "Manchin permitted" Voter Bills' "acceptible" parts are individually past so that election perenity is assured at least.
Integrity?
The state of being whole as well as being honest and having strong moral principles.
Perenity?
Sorry about the "n" . The state or quality of being perennial.
Is that sort of a French word?
What isn't a "French" word in English? While making a local display of signs for my students, in English-Spanish-French, I had the "Danger/Peligro" and asked my Haitian co-worker what was the French word for "Danger." Yep, it is Danger. Who knew? One of the many of our shared words. Possibly brought by the Norman invasion.
Any gardener knows it in English. It is similar in French...Pérennité
perennity - permanent
Thanks. New word of the day.
Exactamundo.
Here's interesting news: Stacey Abrams has announced she would be very happy to have a voting bill like Manchin outlined turn into law. Now if the "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" caucus in the House Democrats can wrap their heads around saying "yes" and calling it a victory, things may happen.
Annnndddd (how long did you think this would take?) 90 minutes ago The Gravedigger of Democracy (McConnell) publicly announced that Abrams' support for this demonstrates that Manchin's Modification is as unacceptable to the Confederate Conjobs as the original.
I'm soooooooo surprised! (not)
AMEN, TC!
Ahhhh. Big news and good news. Been waiting to pop some corn and watch “The New Filibuster….Don’t Leave Town”
Then the Dems and the GOP can concentrate on the real issue...filling to galeries to "support their "Extreme Sport" team with enthusiastic supporters singing their song. I predict, given the average age and probable life-style induced bad health of many, we'll be looking at a whole slew of Senatorial elections replacing incapacitated incumbents.
Help me Obi-Wan. You’re my only hope.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
The meeting between President Biden and President Putin went about as well as could be expected.
The take-away – Biden is clear-eyed about what might be possible to achieve in the way of stabilizing the relationship. As he said in his comments following their meeting, the next few months will tell us if Russia is prepared to engage constructively with the US. He is not relying on anything Putin might have said – he is waiting for results.
IMHO, Biden represented the country well.
I listened with interest to Madeline Albright on CNN last night discussing Biden’s success regarding America’s diplomacy abroad this past week. She doesn’t miss a beat.
https://twitter.com/CuomoPrimeTime/status/1405337168168501251
Wow. Thanks for link, Christine. Albright puts the whole thing into perspective for conditions today and doesn't once get bogged down in no longer relevant BS. She is brilliant, both in her understanding of what's going on and her ability to communicate its significance in a clear way.
Albright is such a great communicator, deftly putting together the pieces of this diplomatic puzzle. I wish we had more like her.
(And Chris Cuomo is totally crushing on her)❤️
Just watched it - she is a powerful voice we are fortunate to have on our team. Thank you for the link.
While we're on the topic of outstanding public officials, I happened to catch VP Harris and Treasury Secretary Yellen (and other notable speakers) deliver remarks on June 15th about providing capital for small businesses. Secretary Yellen was very impressive. You might enjoy it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN5cmImKhJ8
Excellent Endeavor! And powerful presentation by amazing women leaders and Sen. Mark Warner.! Brought years to my eyes - what a difference this will make for America! Thank you for the link R. Dooley!
I had the same reaction, MaryPat - It was one of the most inspiring presentations I've seen.
Thank you, Christine. I love that woman!
Thank you for posting this link Christine. Upbeat and to the point!
Thanks, Christine, for posting this link. Very informative!
Thx for link. Cannot watch everything
Hahahahaha. That’s an understatement on this stream. We are so fortunate to have so many links shared!
Thanks so much for this link, Christine. Love Madeline.
Thank you for this Christine.
Absolutely! He didn’t need a swagger to appear to be a leader, because he IS one. Our man. The world’s man. Pooh-tin behaved himself, yet he was he was in the presence of true power and quiet truth, and he knew it.
Putin thought tRump was a useful idiot.
Pooh-tin owned the U.S. during the tRump years!
idjt WAS a useful idiot. Wonder if he remains useful.
Does anyone know whether he's receiving daily intelligence briefings? There was a lot of discussion about withholding them, but I never heard any resolution.
He was correct
"quiet truth," excellent!
Indeed.
I thought P's expression revealed that he had been challenged. He is so used to BS-ing his countrymen and Trump-like oligarchs that a reminder of the facts must have caused him concern. He was very peevish with his "so do you" responses and false-equivalencies.
Yes. Madeline Albright pointed out how many “what-abouts” he cited. She also called it a typical but ridiculous tactic of Putin.
Yes. The way he slouches in the chair is telling too, I think.
Trump abandoned America’s global leadership position, preferring an “America First” mantra, yet expecting everyone to move out of the way for him to stand there and glare, in the mistaken impression that his posturing looked like strength. He assumed the world would just have to follow his impulsive, uninformed rants, insulting our allies and heaping praise on our adversaries. Today. Biden showed us what true leadership looks like, and our G7 partners breathed a sigh of relief.
Your description of 45 as "posturing" is so accurate, and in two definitions of the term: (1) "behavior or speech that is intended to attract attention and interest, or to make people believe something that is not true" (Cambridge Dictionary); and (2) "Catalepsy or posturing. The person either passively induces or actively maintains an unnatural posture contrary to the direction of gravity" (psychcentral.com)--the invariably slanting-forward side view of the former president illustrates this well!
Rose! I’ve never heard that word or description! It’s SO “trump-stance!
Yesterday I heard for the first time that the word “trumpery” meaning little value, showy but worthless, fraudulent, is a derivative of the French word “tromper” meaning deceit.
How expanding vocabulary serves one sometimes!
And the french noun is "tromperie"..;the direct equivalent.
Stuart…I almost fell out hearing this. I laughed repeatedly after hearing earlier a newscaster saying “trumpery” and something about a French word. So I dove into Google and French translation and found it. Hahahahahaha. It’s as delicious as a buttery croissant!
Tut, tut, tut! So fattening...but oh so nice with a good coffee. Typical tromperie...looks good, tastes good but no real content.
Or the Southwest version: "All hat, no cattle".
Alas, Trump does NOT look good and his behavior is typically in very poor taste...
Today is vocabulary building day. Thanks, everyone.
Delicious! May I share?
Good morning Gailee. Yes!
Indeed, Christine!
A posturing poser.....full of trumpery.
And with his nose always pointed firmly towards the sky 🤮
So interesting!
Some Generals lead from the front, others from behind. None consider that the best strategy is to race the troops to the enemy's front line without regard for their ability to keep up and be with him/her when she/he strikes the first blow. Sounds more like suicide! The soundest strategy is always a global one that makes sure that everyone is cohesively and coherently fulfilling their role and has all the resources necessary to do so. As always and as in management, the boss works for his team and not the otherway round. When the troops are successful we achieve something....and we remember well the General.
DJT was so out of his league from the beginning. Remember when he said something along the lines of "who knew this healthcare stuff is so complicated?" But he "rallied" with his Roy Cohn-taught mobster behavior and and Rev N.V. Peale-taught positive thinking (both essentially comprised his "religion") which he has used his whole life to bluff, bully and storm his way through life.
I want to thank HCR and all of you who post on here.
I'm not politically savy and realize everyday how little I know, so thanks for sharing and helping educate me.
With that said, it truly feels good to again be proud to be an American.
I know that our president isn't perfect, who is? But I'm willing to be patient and give him a chance. I get tired of everyone saying that things aren't moving fast enough. Guess what, democracy isnt like watching Law and Order where everything is settle in an hour, it takes time to get things done, especially when you have one party who only wants to obstruct.
I guess being a caregiver and realizing that right now my life is sort of on hold, I can take my time and enjoy each hour of the day that I get to spend time with my husband and breathe a sigh of relief because we have a new man in charge who cares about us all.
I felt gratified throughout the first part of Biden’s visit, but he was obviously on friendly and eagerly receptive soil. He handled himself like the old professional he is, but that part was a mere appetizer. A grueling main course lay ahead.
Annoying, I am sure to many Americans that it should be so. Russia is boastful and proud and threatening on its surface, sickening with rot and decay on the inside. I pity the man or woman who takes over from Putin one day - it will happen - and has to try to rebuild that economy.
But yesterday *was* that important because Trump had cast such a Munich-like pall on the last summit. Right-thinking Americans were appalled that their President could be so sickeningly obsequious to a murderous thug. It appeared to be a stain that would never was out.
Yesterday Joe Biden more than rose to the occasion. He was more than magnificent at every moment in his interactions with Putin. He was thoroughly prepared. Every word was calibrated to earn respect back for America. Yet he was wise enough not to resort to needless and cheap saber-rattling. The United States is the big dog. This Administration and this man knew he could speak softly yet firmly. He clearly has Putin’s attention and respect. It may have been my imagination but that despicable man looked old and even smaller yesterday. What a bravura performance by Biden. America has a President who will only enhance its stature and commitment to the straight road in international relations.
That it was a strain on him was made obvious by his intemperate and churlish answer to Kaitlin Collins of CNN at the press conference following. And then there was that inexplicably lovely grace note of a President publicly apologizing to a member of the media. That Biden would understand that he had used words that were cutting to her is so like him. He is kind to his roots.
I fancy that the ransomware attacks will slow or even die off. Putin, I think, will put the word out.
And, in what must be another smile-inducing moment, Americans will long remember the inimitable Rachel Scott of ABC who asked Putin not once but twice about his penchant for eliminating opposition in the memorable words, “Mr. Putin, what are you afraid of”?
There is a woman of such steel that she reduced Putin to gibberish about America’s BLM problem. Spot on, Rachel.
A great day, America.
I continue to think of the fact that Biden was undervalued for years, but he never gave up, and now he is proving his worth to us and the rest of the world. Initially, I was simply happy that we no longer had wrecking ball Trump at the helm, but I didn't expect that Biden would/could accomplish what he has. With all of our country's flaws, it appears that we're being offered another chance.
It thrilled me to see Putin rocked back on his heels by Rachel Scott, and her unflappable poise when she pointed out that his answer didn't address her question, then asking what was he afraid of. I liked her before that performance, but she was extraordinary!
This week has been a shot in the arm for many of us, after years of worrying whether our democracy would even survive. No wonder the minority party is increasingly desperate.
Biden has spent nearly 50 years in politics. He IS very smart, and is decent to his core. And unlike so many politicians he has learned from his mistakes. Had I understood all this from the get-go, he probably would have been my first choice, despite how much I like Sanders.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Life….a field manual.
Truly great. On another note, I feel that the ransom ware attacks will not diminish. I think that it has become a normalized hacker process in the dark hallways of cyberspace. However, what I think is different is that President Biden fully is aware of America’s capabilities in this sort of “spy space”. Stuff of novels in the past but a reality now. Difference is that former president, in my opinion, used the capabilities against the very people and institutions he was sworn to protect. President Biden will not be deterred by threats that we in can return muster.
Just saying.
A misunderstanding. No doubt how I expressed myself was at fault.
Everything I read indicated that this particular series of ransomware attacks - Solar Winds, Colonial Pipeline et al - were conducted by Russians with the tacit, even perhaps more than tacit, support of the Russian government. It is, after all, a state where it can be hard to tell it’s mafia from its leaders, so entwined are they.
Biden laid out 16 areas of activity in the United States yesterday which the Administration would be deeply pained to see attacked. He also pointed out to Putin that Russia’s economy is largely driven by oil. Although he didn’t threaten anything he pointed out how embarrassed Russia would be in the eyes of the world were they to be caught going after any of the 16 American infrastructure centerpieces or were their own pipelines attacked. I thought that was masterfully put. And it was this I was referencing in my first post.
Alas ransomware and hacking in general is here to stay and may well become the primary modality of war in years to come.
It was the US and Israel who struck Iran’s nuclear facilities 11 years ago with the uber-powerful Stuxnet virus.
North Korea brought Sony nearly to its knees a few years back.
My general view is that if a capability is developed it will be used, perhaps out of malevolence, perhaps from financial motives, and sometimes from the simple drive of showing off the fruits of one’s labours.
I witnessed this first hand as a computer science teacher two decades ago. One of my better (after a fashion) students brought down the entire school network with a program composed of an endless self-replicating loop which eventually consumed all available hard drive space.
O tempore, o mores! would sum up my thoughts when I had to account for my principal for this. :)
The worst is yet to come - by far the worst - in cyberspace. And so I rain on another parade.
But yesterday Biden said a stern yet graceful, “Back off.” to Putin in this regard. I think the message will be taken for at least until, say, Trump has won a seat in the House and is acclaimed Majority Leader.
Neither am I politically savvy and like you I truly appreciate this oportunity to learn from those who are. I've always enjoyed reading history and so feel that much of the history I learn from Heather is a review (and having been a teacher myself, I do value review!), but what keeps me coming to this forum is the chance to read the reflections of those who are able to analyze the connections between history and current events in a myriad of ways even beyond what Dr Richardson has the space or time to do. She has full-time work otherwhere, as do many of us herein, so it is the plethora of views that inform me more completely.
I also appreciate that this forum is not limited to the more erudite of us, but that we can all put in our two cents worth and will be read (not always without push-back, but generally without rancor).
I'm so glad that having Biden and Harris at the helm are allowing you some much-needed relief from the daily, hourly anxiety most of us have gone through for 4 years, on top of the need to be present with your spouse. I hope this respite also gives you some time just for Beth!
Beth, Lanita and Others: Don't sell yourself short. All of those who participate in "Letters From an American" are "politically savvy." That they are here ... and not somewhere else ... is evidence of that.
What you say, Beth…beautiful
Thanks.
To me, the best news of the day is Senator Manchen starting to embrace changing the filibuster and supporting the For the People Act. Sounds like he might go for the filibuster with 41 needed to keep the filibuster going rather than 60 to stop it. He's proposed a few changes to the For the People Act which at least at first glance look OK. Think we need to thank the West Virginian people for protesting and making sure Manchen knows they are in favor of keeping our democracy.
Let's not leave out Rev. Dr. William Barber's Moral Monday March on Manchin that was held Monday the 14th in West Virginia. I haven't found any press coverage. The Poor People's Campaign is leading another Moral Monday March, this time in Washington, Monday the 21st.
IMHO, PPC is where it's at! May they persevere.
Ezra Klein has a piece in today’s NYT on this topic:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/opinion/joe-manchin-filibuster-voting-rights.html?referringSource=articleShare
That seems to be Manchin's MO. Fuss and fume for the sake of his state's social conservatives, then quietly return to the Democratic fold, once his position is secure with WV voters.
Whatever it takes, the right to vote is winning the day.
Really hope that you’re right.
"What President Biden really did was to rally our allies behind a defense of democracy." Thank you for cutting through all the noise and boiling down this oh-so important trip to its essence. Fascinating to watch anti-democracy Republicans huff and puff and harumph in response to Biden's accomplishments.
Boobert the Colorado gunbunny claimed Biden was going to give Alaska back to Russia at the meeting. These dumbasses are such an embarrassment to the species. They're no Sapiens, that's for sure.
“Boobert the Colorado gun bunny”. TC, how do you come up with this stuff? I laughed more at the descriptor than her insanely dumb response of the stealing of Alaska. If she was in front of me I’d ask her if she knew of the receipt for the original Alaska purchase.
Not much. It was from Russia. It actually still belongs to the Inuit and Iliut and other indigenous people.
40 years of practice. If you can't entertain them when you take a meeting with a studio executive, you aren't walking out with the rent money. :-)
"If you're gonna tell someone the truth, better make them laugh. Otherwise they're gonna kill you."
That's the heart and soul of great comedy.
True ‘dat in so many slippery meetings!
Bobert, Garth, Green, Cawthorn loud, incompetent nitwits who add no value to Congress as they grift their way through their terms like they are cast members on a reality tv show. Dumbasses is an excellent description of them.
Back in the day, we used to just call them 'blowhards'. People at the bar who no one would buy a beer.
I'm sure she doesn't understand what you mean....after all, Trump wanted to buy Greenland. Seward gave $7.2 million for Alaska in 1867. Just image the profit to be made by selling it today! Personal integrity, continental integrity, national integrity...huh? Another thing beyond her ken (Scottish for know)) perhaps.
Omigosh, Stuart. I forgot about the former president wanting to buy Greenland. Hahahahahahaha
That $7.2 million in 1867 was equivalent to about $130 million today. Still an incredible bargain! (Always inflation adjust your dollars. Just google "inflation calculator".) (If Boobert and gunbunny are reading this they're totally flummoxed by now!)
Hahahahahaha. If they have any relevant math skills!
"Ken": American for "know", though "understand" comes a little closer.
Upvote for gunbunny.
She's being compared to a certain Alaskan who said she could see Russia from her porch. But, even Palin looks scholarly compared to that microcephalic idiot.
100% increase when you go from 1 grey cell to 2
And if they are dumbasses, what does that make of the people who believe them?
Suckers.
Conned
President Biden bringing in Dr Fiona Hill to consult about Putin was brilliant.
Dr Hill gave not only first hand credible knowledge of Putin and his workings but the visual of a confident, educated woman who actual knows what makes Putin tick. I'm fairly certainly there was a collective "oh shit" from the Kremlin when the White House announced that Dr Hill was consulting directly with President Biden. Well played. 👏
I am amazed, grateful, and encouraged when I see all the ways the Biden Administration is using the resources available to him. Many are willing, I bet, because of his decades of bridge building. Fiona!!
Cathy. I completely agree. I hope he makes Dr Hill his go to person as he works with Putin.
Thank you Heather.
I was impressed with President Biden's press conference following the meeting with Putin. He showed how to deal will a dictator. Not how to be dealt by one as Trump had.
Yesterday's news was filled with unsubstantiated bullshit from the GOP of how "weak Biden is". Each interview was depicting exactly how Trump acted during his 4 year tenure, but they interjected Biden's name. The GOP seemed to use the same color to paint an image of Biden throughout the day. That does run in the same vain as their constant beat down for their Big Lie routine.
I find it interesting that there are GOP Members who are concerned with Juneteenth and its implication directed towards CRT. Wait until they realize how January 6th will be seen moving forward as the day that the Capitol was sullied by insurrectionists from within the GOP.
Be safe, be well.
Linda, a great way of putting it. I didn’t watch the GOP or their media, thanks for your summary.
Thank you Gustav.
From Fiona Hill wanting to be ill to Putin saying “We don’t have to look each other in the eye and soul and make pledges of eternal love and friendship” speaks to the total lack of statecraft in the previous administration. Biden was the best choice for foreign relations. I wish he’d get bolder domestically and defend voters rights more aggressively.
Sounds like Pooh-tin revealed a little contempt for his puppet....
Our president doesn’t like to blow the horn before the train is moving. He looks like he is not aggressive or assertive enough, meanwhile he has a plan and is quietly moving mountains; give him a little time, watch what happens....give him credit for this week. I haven’t been this proud as an American in such a long time.
The opposite of posturing. How refreshing--and presidential!
Still waters running deep!
My thoughts exactly. It began on Day One.
"I haven't been this proud as an American in such a long time."
For me, I have never felt pride in my own country before this moment.
Making "pledges of eternal love and friendship" is the autocratic MO, as described in "Putin and Berlusconi: A Strongman Love Story" by Ruth Be-Ghiat:
https://lucid.substack.com/p/putin-and-berlusconi-a-strongman
Ellie. That was a disgustingly good read. Thank you for link.
typo alert: the distinguished writer is Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Great piece Ellie. Thank you.
Thanks for the source Ellie. I didn't know of this one.
Ohhh. Thank you, Ellie.
I agree about Fiona Hill and Putin's dis of the Menace, but as Gustav says (below), Biden's style is not to make broad pronouncements before his plans are concrete. I firmly believe that he has been working on voter protections and threats to our democracy since before he took office. He looks benign, but he knows when it's best to strike.
I would say Biden achieved all the "resetting" he meant to achieve.
He re-established that the US is working to a defined foreign policy once more, and by doing so he began a resumption of the efforts among our allies and us to manage world affairs in a coherent way. Our presence tips the scales back where they need to be for that to succeed. From that perspective, this was a master-class in soft power.
Let's cut to the chase.
Scanton Times-Tribune version of Biden-Putin Meeting
Joe: “Vlad, you’ve got to knock this silly shit off. If you don’t your ass is mine. Capisce?”
Vlad: “Hruump!”
Joe: (Columbo voice) “Just one more thing. You know that guy whose name you can’t remember, you got in prison? It would be a real pity if something happened to him. Get my drift? You might give your rich buddies a heads up. They probably should check their offshore account balances more often?
Gotta bounce, Later Gator.”
Funny bone again.
🤣 Love this!!
Hahahahahahaha.
So easy to perch on the high and mighty throne casting pious judgments about Russia's dirty tricks. Now, why exactly was it that the USA had Julian Assange arrested whose British trial appears by all accounts as rigged as Steven Donziger's , the attorney who had won a massive environmental case against Chevron in Ecuador? How come mainstream media forget to report about his USA pushed legal troubles, harassment? Oh, and yea, about the truth and then the whole truth that we are experts in...Afghanistan troop withdrawal? "American spy agencies and American allies will maintain a “less visible” presence in the country. The departure will not include the thousand troops maintained in the country “off the books,” as Pentagon sources told the New York Times, including elite Army Rangers working for both the Pentagon and the CIA. More troops will remain positioned in neighboring countries, and attack planes will be within rapid reach, forewarned of “insurgent fighters” by armed surveillance drones. Civilian contractors may also play a role on the ground." (Time.com)And, um, then there's this. "Speaking to reporters onboard the Northern Fleet’s flagship, the Pyotr Veliky (Peter the Great) missile cruiser, at its Arctic base of Severomorsk, Moiseyev charged that NATO drills have edged closer to Russian borders, and noted increasingly frequent flights by U.S. nuclear-capable strategic bombers." Gosh, were the Russians in similar proximity to the USA, how sanguine would we be? Lastly, if we were hypothesize this show of muscle flexing towards Russia, (and China for that matter), has more to do with image management at home, from what domestic issues might Biden et al want our eyes deflected?
Riiiiiight. Nothing to see here, they all do it, whatabout JFKs affairs, etc.
Deflection 101 must be a required freshman course at Undermine Democracy U.
We have a true “Elder” statesman President, and for the foreseeable future. In our memory, are the childish trysts of recent "adolescent male" American presidents. We’ve seen youthful folly in this century occupy the White House, until Joseph R Biden brought wisdom, compassion and dignity to the office, to the world stage, and to the American people.
President Biden, and how refreshingly stable and solid I feel to type this. "President Biden, the Elder”, in the archetypal sense of the male and female (Croan) sage. One who has seen the depths of death in a way so close, real and terrifying. Who has come home to his heart, the same heart which beats in all of humanity. One who is not terrified of “the other”, but celebrates what one sees in the other as a reflection of one’s own soul. To break bread, together. imho.
On the other hand, we have a conservatism which views oneself as the arbiter of freedom. I consider the concept of freedom in America as a set of individual rights to hone one’s ego, caught in something called Immature Personality Disorder (found in wikipedia this AM). This IPM I may define as "the necessity for the light to be shown on oneself,” which I know all too well myself. Is my liberalism at times my expression of the immature male, wrapped in varying blue hues of righteousness? “Yes," I would say. But I also feel that "all others are friends I have simply not met". Do I allow my own IPM to guide my life, or do I remember to see the universal heart which allows the birds to now pierce the pre-dawn darkness, reminding me that all is well in this moment. imho
Thank God for President Joseph R Biden. May I remember to live according to his example, the the Elder male, to see ALL of my neighbors as simply a reflection of my mind and heart. May I have compassion for themselves and “myselves”, as I struggle with my personal history in this dysfunctional land of misplaced freedom. Finally, I see a caucasian male whom I feel proud to call in “the home of the brave” .imho
Nice, Frederick. I think this could be broadened to encompass all of humanity.
I’ve read your entry twice, Frederick. I’m going to think about it some more. It’s such a substantial comment about the inherent psychological need of, in this case, males. Something in my study of relationships and energy for years. Thank you. What a tie-in to this week’s world stage with Pres Biden.
Thanks for your reply Christine. My judgement is that the European male, generally speaking, is more bound to a relational experience of life. The American prides oneself on individualism and “the lone ranger.” The American male experiences “freedom” to allow oneself to satisfy egoistic needs, of the “I” rather than the “we”. I prefer the relational. I have a hard time with the egoism of the male psyche. My experience of the zen teaching of “emptiness” - meaning interdependence - leads me to a more relational sense of life; I am not separate from my perceptions, but inherently interdependent. No, that’s more confusing, I am sure
Beautiful and wise, Frederick. Thank you for sharing.
I was hoping to hear Heather's thoughts about Manchin's expressing willingness to restructure the filibuster along Al Franken's suggestions. "I think, basically, it should be [that] 41 people have to force the issue versus the 60 that we need in the affirmative. So find 41 in the negative...I think one little change that could be made right now is basically anyone who wants to filibuster ought to be required to go to the floor and basically state your objection and why you're filibustering and also state what you think needs to change that'd fix it, so you would support it. To me, that's pretty constructive," Manchin during a Monday zoom.
‘Right now’ sounds good to me.
Interesting, the numbers on the Juneteenth vote. Unanimous in the Senate? Feeling guilty about the award for the capitol police officers? Or just fishing for votes. Go ahead, label me a cynic.
By the end of the Roman Empire there were 180 public holidays per year. Games and bread distribution to calm and bribe the masses.
All things considered, seems quite odd. Hollow. Granted, no substance, such as reparations. Between now and when it kicks in, how many Black people will be killed by police? Will public education be overhauled and finally provide quality education for all, nationwide? Will disparities and inequities In healthcare, finance, the injustice system, employment be remedied? Will the country address systemic racism in a meaningful way? Or is this new federal holiday yet another distraction?
You know, I had this thought too Renee. And I'm surprised there is not more cynicism out there. (OK, great, we have a holiday, but we still have black kids getting stopped by abusive police for no reason) I guess we have to take all these teeny steps and hope, some day, they will add up to a worthy thing. I'm not sure I'm that patient though.
And "I'm not sure I'm that patient though." Same here.
Kimberly, the bandwagon for this seems enormous, and loud. Not necessarily well-informed. Smoke and mirrors, bread and circuses, and Trojan horses work. This new holiday seems all of the above. The loud, steady, drum beat seems to be drowning out (or intimidating) anything or anyone contrary. Considering the current attack on Black voting rights, getting excited about this federal recognition seems insane. Also skeptical considering most reports and explanations I've read are historically inaccurate, and diminish the perspectives of enslaved Black people, and the crucial role of Black soldiers who routed the Confederate Texas government.
This was articulated eloquently by VP Harris on Friday. I agree with you!!
Sarcastic perhaps, not cynical. Write on, Kimberly.
Yep!
Did anyone see the video of the NBC reporter, Rachel Scott, questioning Putin at the press conference? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/abc-correspondent-putin-opponents-russia-b1867295.html She nailed him and he never responded. Pretty brave to challenge that way. I also heard there was a reporter who questioned Putin in Russian. And....I think we should give a shout out to Fiona Hill. Not only did she want to feign illness to stop tRump from further embarrassing the US, but on this Biden trip, she was one of his primary Russian expert advisors. Glad her expertise is still sought after.
On another topic....How mush further can the retuglicans embarrass themselves? Believing Biden was ready to give Alaska back to Russia? Voting against giving the medal of honor to capitol police? Voting against making Juneteenth a federal holiday? Afraid of CRT because it's the "truth"? Pathetic representatives of true Americans.
Actually she.is an ABC reporter. But brave nonetheless. The American who questioned him in Russian was a black woman from the Wall Street Journal.
....much.
I did watch Rachel Scott. It was greAt!
What a difference it makes to have a functional adult in the room! Actually, a statesman. He has been preparing all his life for this role. He has assembled a plethora of working groups with viable instruction/outcome statements that will result in a slew of actionable items. His assignments of tasks to the right people (e.g., the Sinema-Manchin ijits, consulting Dr. Fiona Hill) is delightful. Certain there is much to critique, there is also much to celebrate.
A STATESMAN! EXACTLY!
Trump Republican brand of politics supported by media like FOX should forever be known as "trumped-up charges".