Thanks for starting out with the departure of Jen Psaki. I will miss her in that role but look forward to watching Karine take over. I sure hope Beto prevails and Abbott is left literally, out in the cold. And Kemp…well, he has a very formidable opponent in Stacey Abrams. I pray she kicks his ass to the curb.
Imo, Jen Psaki brought the exceptional talents needed to conduct democratic discourse under challenging conditions. While I expect that Karine Jean Pierre will be yet another great asset, I cannot help but mourn to loss of Jen Psaki and her unfailing competence. Thank heavens there were a few weeks of lead time to this development, as the news hit hard.
Wasn't meant to be satire. Not sure I understand your meaning. Seriously - during the Trump administration we had Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders Huckabee, Sarah Grisham, and of course Kayleigh McEnany. They either could safely be characterized as clowns, or could be safely characterized as no-shows, or both. All seemed like children to me, compared to the adult in the room Psaki.
Ah, I get it and I agree with you! Indeed she was a wonderful propagandist. She had to cover for perhaps the most disastrous presidency in modern history. One in which the US handled a pandemic worse than any nation on Earth and no, not because people didn't get vaccinated. We have one of the highest vaccination rates and the highest death rate. She also had to cover for our absolutely disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan whereby we shutdown the principle air base, Bagram, before evacuations were complete and instead relied on Kabul International. 2.5 TRILLION dollars later, our sole achievement was to turn the Taliban into a conventional military armed with Billions of Dollars of our weapons. Obama expanded that war, Trump signed the Doha Agreement to eventually end it and Biden absolutely whiffed on the execution. But I know Trump Bad, Anything not Trump Good! Everything Trump say and do Bad!
Now in the midst of Economic Collapse and skyrocketing inflation, not to mention millions imprisoned and homeless, Psaki has to sell the American people on yet another war and has succeeded for about 30% of them. Indeed, she is an absolutely wonderful propagandist. No wonder she’s about to make millions at MSNBC.
Not going to get angry or rant, Charles. But I have to tell you, your response covers too much to address at one time (in debates it is called a Gish Gallop"). I will focus on one item - Covid. I agree that "the US handled a pandemic crisis worse than any nation on earth". But that is where my agreement ends. If you look at the nations who got on top of the pandemic quickly and permanently - nations like New Zealand, but there are more - they locked down very quickly and very completely. They took the virus very seriously, and were able to open up carefully with minimal impact, and minimal sickness and death. The US did the opposite - The Trump administration saw covid as a damper on its version of a booming economy, and simply tried to wish it away or to outright deny it. They cared not one iota about the well being of the people; only the stock market. It resisted any kind of a lock-down, mocked masks when they were and are very effective, and once locking down became a no brainer, it was too late. The virus won. The Trump administration, although it correctly authorized emergency work to develop vaccines, was slow to advocate them, and was quick to push for quack fixes like hydroxychloroquine, quick to knock down the experts like Fauci, and quick to point out that getting vaccinated was just a personal choice and nothing more. There is a reason why the US surpassed all other civilized nations in covid death rates and infections - and that distinction falls directly in Trump's lap. When Biden took office, he inherited an unmitigated covid disaster, thanks to the previous administration. And had to make it his priority number one emergency. Thanks to the efforts of his administration, the country gradually turned the corner, and most of us can now breath a sigh of relief and can see light at the end of the tunnel. I say most of us because there still a large segment of the population who want to own the libs and refuse to take the vaccinations. Wonder if you are in that group....
After 4 years of the would-be emperor, I can't imagine anyone whose first year in office would appear as a shining jewel. It started with a pair of coveralls and a broom, while the slob who vacated the place was still bellowing bulls**t at high volume. The US failure in Afganistan started when we failed to learn the lesson directly in front of us as the Soviet Union turned tail and ran after a decade trying to pacify Afganistan. They just couldn't see the compassion in our eyes behind the tactical gear, the armored vehicles, the anti-opium raids and failure to grasp the power of conservative Islamic traditions.
Marlene, I don't remember a W.H. press secretary that I appreciated more than Psaki. Her replacement, Karine Jean-Pierre, in addition to more than 20 years of political experience, brings a very different personal background to the job. I wonder whether the yellow jacket (you know who I mean) will try to sting her. Today is her first day. My comment is about Jean-Pierre, actually, she does a superb job of it herself.
Yes, Fern, Karine brings many years of experience and I look forward to hearing her command the room. No one wants to go back to the years of 2016-2020 with the absolute worst press secretaries we have ever had! Psaki was a diamond; quick-witted, honest but never brutal, brilliant and resilient. Karine is controversial and I kinda like that she will be dealing with the likes of the Faux News folks as they try to tear her down. She is also the first black woman and a lesbian to have this role. I call that progression!
Marlene, I saw Karine quite a few times on MSNBC. She is polite, succinct and has a beautiful smile. You have pointed to one of the connections that I most want to see -- how will she deal with the provocateurs? Psaki was an Ace of Diamonds in so many ways, one of which was how to use their jabs in the interest of a message the administration wanted to send. We feel the same about Jen; she came with a full deck and knew how to deal. I lived in Queens, NY for much of my childhood - so did the 'yellow jacket' and Karine. All three of us have stingers. Eager to share notes with you.
My gut feeling at present is that the GA GOP will eventually rally together around Kemp. Sad to say, their hatred of Abrams is SO strong it will serve as the glue to unite them. Perdue is so far out of the race it really is no contest. I also expect T***p will distance himself from Perdue because Perdue is losing, and T***p hates being associated with losers. Kemp has thus far refrained from attacking T***p directly and has very deftly skated around the lack of a T***p endorsement. He's obviously not doing anything to antagonize the T***p base so they will not feel so bad ending up voting for him in November. At this point the numbers show Kemp ahead of Abrams and I don't think there will be a serious enough rift within the GA GOP to adversely affect Kemp's numbers. Kemp's ads are already attacking Abrams--she's a "socialist" and leading the "woke mob", two of the terms Republicans are all using in lock-step. The right-wing is already REALLY mobilised and fired up about this election, so the only way to fight this is with a huge turn-out among Democrats.
Yes well, the “numbers” were not in Warnock’s or Ossoff’s favor either, at first, as I recall. Hope Stacey comes out swinging, like she normally does, and hits the Pro-Rape party between the eyes.
But, if memory serves, the numbers for Warnock vs Loeffler and Ossoff vs Perdue by the election (which was in January) were much closer than the most recent numbers I've seen for a hypothetical match-up of Kemp vs Abrams right now. That could easily change. Abrams certainly has her work cut out for her.
Let's hope that the currently-lethargic Dems here in Georgia have been energized by the leaked Alito draft. In the primaries that are currently underway, the turnout has been record-breaking, even compared to 2020, so fingers crossed.
Camilla, that's great news. I voted last Sunday, and it was slow, but I'm guessing that many people didn't get the word that Sunday voting has been initiated. We're in Gwinnett, which is usually proactive. We had many women on our ballot, too. Hoping!
That covers a big piece for today, Marlene. I’m keeping Stacey Abrams in mind today and active, young black women today as I attend power gatherings. I believe they are a big piece of the puzzle future.
Ditto to all you say, Marlene. I fail to understand the people of Texas who are so supportive of Abbot. But then, I could say that about anywhere there is a Republican uber-lord. I wonder if the abortion fracas at the SCROTUS (Supreme Court Republicans of the US) is meant as a deterrent from attention to the erratic leaders whose failures are becoming obvious?
It’s not all Texans, a fact to which I can attest. However, the barbarians are at the door, many dressed as little old ladies. It’s not just the macho MAGAts. This is true of any state, even the “reddist.” It’s why my preference for The United States to ditch the South will never fly. I could move (with much difficulty) but many cannot. Hence, blues must fight on, wherever they may be.
They did a tribute to Psaki and Peter Doocey on Steve Doocey's FOX show that was sincere. Peter Doocey gave sincere praise to Psaki and even went to far as to say Psaki made him a better reporter.
It's a win-win for democracy if both things happen at the same time -- that the TFG-backed candidate loses in the Republican primary, AND that Stacy Abrams soundly defeats Kemp in the general election. That's the optimal outcome (and of course, keeping the two Democrat senators in their seats). Now, if Georgia would just wake up and ditch the radicals in the State government who are holding its citizens hostage via a Republican-led (sorry, I mean right-wing radical-infested) legislature.
You can dream but the Democrats are going to get walloped as they ought to. As the 40 BILLION aid package to Raytheon I mean Ukraine just demonstrated, the anti-war component of the Democratic Party that used to exist during the Dubya years is gone. Everyone, aside from the most sheltered and privileged amongst us, can plainly see that the Democratic Party is a catastrophic lie. We have two right-wing parties to choose from in this country and right now, the "Democratic" one is worse.
Sadly, you have chosen to back the wrong people. I generally oppose war, but when a peaceful country is invaded by an authoritarian war monger, we need to defend.
The Dems are too beholden to corporate donors for my taste, BUT! And it's a very big but. Dems are pro democracy while Republicans are doing all they can to reduce and remove the people's voice by voter suppression and filling vote administration's with corrupt people who are willing to flip votes to candidates of their choosing.
If Trump had really won, Repubs wouldn't need to stack administrative positions with flunkies, nor would they need to suppress votes.
Respectfully, you are backing the wrong people. You really bought into the lie that the Democratic Party is "Pro Democracy" didn't you? Remember when we were lied into invading Iraq? That was supposed to be about "Spreading Democracy". Instead we spread death and destruction. How about Afghanistan? How did that turn out? How about when we armed extremist Islamic groups to fight the Syrian Government? Did we successfully spread Democracy then?
None of those wars would have happened without Democratic Party support. In fact, despite promises of "Hope and Change" the Democratic Party became full Neo-Con under Obama who started 3 new wars (Libya, Syria, Yemen) with US involvement and the expansion of an existing one, Afghanistan.
No madam, you are supporting the wrong people. Do you really think 40 BILLION to Raytheon I mean Ukraine is going to help bring about peace? This is not about peace. At the moment, the only opposition to this madness is in the Republican Party so if we have to choose the less rotten of two apples, I guess for now mine is red.
Time to wake up people! HRC I mean HCR is not your friendly historian. She is propagandizing you for profit.
Yessir, Republican Primary in Virginia is June 21st. I'd be happy to discuss with you please feel free to call (434) 284-2525 or email c.blundon@gmail.com
If you keep backing Republicans, you will soon find that we will have no elections at all. The fact that Trump and too many Republican members of congress helped plan and support the violent overthrow of our government should tell you something, but evidently, it does not.
P.S. George W. Bush, a REPUBLICAN President lied us into Iraq.
Cheryl , It appears that your intentions are well. Regarding your apparent confusion, I mostly blame the corporate propaganda that lies to you every day, but, If I'm being honest, I also blame you. Had you have had a consistent motivation to dig for and understand the truth yourself, I'm sure you would have succeeded. Instead it would certainly appear that you doubled down on your partisan worldview.
You seem to be unaware of the evil that you defend because you have been sheltered from the violence and propagandized your entire life. When I talk about evil in this context, I speak of that which leads to a form of suffering that is beyond comprehension, as a result of war . For our part, the suffering that arises from multiple foreign US-led wars of aggression without popular consent or real understanding: Vietnam, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen and now Ukraine.
We have lived in a country that is responsible for having wrought untold suffering on populations across the globe. This has been a bi-partisan effort. I feel that it is my patriotic duty to ensure that my fellow citizens are free of propaganda and fully aware of the reality of this suffering such that future suffering might be mitigated with the goal of outright avoidance.
We were dealt this hand: Two corrupt parties. What is the way out of this mess? My take: Never pledge allegiance to either one. Go with whichever is the less evil at that particular moment. There are times in modern history when the Democratic Party has clearly been the more sinister of the two (LBJ massively escalating the Vietnam War, Clinton era sanctions on Iraq resulting in death of ~ 500,000 children) and vice-versa (Illegal invasion of Iraq under Dubya resulting in ~ 1,000,000).
I'm happy to talk to you about this in greater depth anytime. c.blundon@gmail.com
I am surprised that Dr Richardson switched to other topics so suddenly, with no further comment about Karine Jean-Pierre. K J-P bears more scrutiny. Her anti-Israel rhetoric concerns me as I wonder about the administration’s general stance on Israel. Time will tell, I hope this blog will keep an eye on her.
Pat, Sorry, but John Lennon wrote "Give Peace a Chance". A link to the man himself singing it is below.
The next link is to the song sung in Ukraine in 2014 (the year Russia took a big bite of it.)
To hear the great Les Brown, deliver 'Your Dream is Possible", see the 3rd link below. After an improbable start, Les made his dream come true, and that's exactly what he wants for you.
Fern, you knocked it out of the park. Fresh from a women's march and news of yet another terrorist murder of 10 innocent Black grocery shoppers by a tactical geared white supremacist, get out the tissues. Then get out the vote.
Well I’ll be darned! The truth comes to the light of day despite excellent propaganda. Let that be a warning. She has a two hour head-start on most of us. Thanks for the truth again and the music.That damn Fern, I tell you.
Who be 'darned', you propagandist! You, Mr. Pat Cole, had a two hour head start to spread 'false news'. Soon, we hope, to be passe. In the past, got that? We want the TRUTH! Try, Pat, to 'Imagine' that!
Honestly, reading & seeing news regarding the killing of an American-Palestinian journalist by Israel soldiers? Then the disruption (to put it mildly) of the funeral of that journalist? I think that changes many peoples views of Israel! Then there is the destruction of Palestinian homes?? And so much more. The underdog Israel has become the bully. Sadly, thats nothing new.
Yes Spooky. And for all second guessing Karine Jean-Pierre already, isn’t that just typical. Never do I see a male appointee to anything pre-judged so vociferously as women are. LETS SEE HOW SHE DOES AS PRESS SEC’Y become convening a jury. This is a day to praise and hold up women as high as you can.
I believe that Beto can fix Texas...the problem child. On more than one occasion, we've seen Texas wanting to go at it alone and listened to their tantrums of their quest for independence from the United States. We all know that cooperation builds strength and separation weakens. Texas needs to learn a lesson by observing the human body. Cells love working together in tandem to produce optimum health. What happens when a cell goes rogue? Cancer.
I like that Beto actually wants the job and is working hard to reach voters. He did the same in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate. He visited every one of 254 counties in the state--a daunting prospect given Texas' size. Some he visited more than once. He answers questions and treats people with respect. He's what we need.
I modified this post. Please see Barbara's post about 12 comments below this one with links to Beto O'Rourke's accomplishments and also comparing his accomplishments with Ted Cruz (which are nearly non-existent.
I think Beto O'Rourke would be better for Texas than anyo of the others who are running.
Do you count Beto’s actions during the winter grid failure? While Cruz fled and Abbott gouged, Beto organized a lot of people to check on their neighbors and if needed bring them to safety.
Instead of asking what has he done, maybe you should be asking why not ask what has the current people done?
Seems like the people of TX don't seem to mind paying more money for bad decisions.
Look at the over priced electric bill of 26+ billion, the billions he lost with his stunt at the border and now that Mexican rail line (I think that was it) that I am sure will cost more billions.
Maybe think about helping Beto and making sure he hires experienced people to help him.
The governor, much like the president doesn't really do the actual work, it's the people that they hire that does it.
So instead of talking about what he hasn't done talk about what he can.
What exactly do you have to lose?
By the way, I was planning on moving to TX after my husband passes so I could be close to my grandson. Those plans are on hold because I can't move to a state that treats it citizens like they do.
Beth, I like the idea of focussing on what the existing governor has not done, and, of course that is a lot and if I include what he has done, Gerrymandered to minimize the minority votes in Harris County and around Austin, then it looks even worse.
But, I also think it is reasonable to want to see someone who has a history of accomplishment go into leadership. It bodes well.
I know, we have history of electing people with no accomplishments: Reagan, Bush II, Trump, BUT, look what happened after those low accomplishment folks got in power.
They DID hire people. People who knew how to rip us off and steal us blind.
Hiring people and hiring the right people are two different things. Trump's cabinet was physically the ugliest group of people I've ever seen--because they were ugly on the inside, focused on deconstructing the government by destroying watchdogs so that they could enrich themselves as much as possible...yeck....
I would argue that a D in front of the name does not assure competence, capability, or good intentions. Trump did hire people who were competent in the jobs they were hired to do, they just went doing the jobs we thought they were doing, and in the public interest.
You got it Beth--surrounding yourself with the right people is the key. I feel for your trepidation about moving to TX. The political polarization in this country is affecting people to the point that they are moving to states more conducive to their leanings. I have two friends whose relatives moved to TX after drinking the QAnon koolaid. If, God forbid, the worst case scenario happens in this country, my husband and I are planning to infiltrate Vancouver, Canada, via friends....
according to a good many columns written many years ago, by Ms. Ivins, the governor doesn't have as much power as the lieutenant governor. Beto needs to surround himself with experienced people and hope a strong supporter wins the "Lite Guv" office. Of course that could have changed in the 20 to 30 years since I first read about Texas' strange governmental arrangements.
To some degree, I think, but mainly because the current gov represents the interests of those who look after their own interests. Texas has had some very good people as gov, who were trashed the whole way. Johnson, though not a perfect man, somehow emerged from that system with the ability to use his political talent to support a set of programs that enhanced human dignity. The overflow from the war in Viet Nam (and his personal shortcomings) did him in politically. He was a good lesson that sometimes a flawed human being can be a better choice than someone who presents as a savior. Later on, GW was the pure product of the distorted Texas way of doing things, and carried it right into the White House. Between Reagan's legacy and his, our political culture changed. In Texas, it kind of looks like a continuing downward spiral since then. Sad when you think of some of the really fine individuals who have been part of Texas politics and then discarded.
Here is some information. What is frustrating is that it took me all of 5 minutes to research O'Rourke. I hope the people of Texas can see a clear difference between O'Rourke, Abbot and Cruz. It only takes a minute to look into issues.
"Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) voter mobilization organization launched a new voter registration tool on Thursday, days after the Texas legislature approved a controversial elections overhaul bill that many say will restrict access to the ballot box.
The group, Powered by People, launched the “Drive-to-You” program, an on-demand voter registration service that will allow eligible Texas voters to register to vote from their homes.
Over their six years in Congress, what have Cruz and O'Rourke gotten done? We dug into their legislative histories and asked both men for their top accomplishments in the Capitol.
Send him the support of a few good electrical engineers. It is only the quality of individuals who work for you that will bridge the gaps. The leadership of a man is found in the people he chooses.
It is the team you build that makes it happen. Back in the day I ran a team that put in a new 5 stand hot mill, in today's dollars a half billion project. We took out the old mill and put in the new in 45 days 10 and a half hours. What did I do? I got the signs made and installed that put the company name on the side of the mill. The team of about 20 did the project. Plus all of the production folks kept the rest of the plant running during those 45 days.
If you have been on a commercial aircraft in the last 30 years you flew on metal rolled on that mill. It the team that did this, I just built the team.
It strikes me that what you did at the outset was provide a focus, and identity for your project that your team could identify with, a prerequisite for teamwork. And gave it visibility and purpose. Going to assume you also had support from the community which makes a big difference too. Big difference in scale, but good basic principle. I think that's pretty much what Biden is doing. It strikes that in spite of the obstacles and brickbats constantly being thrown his way, he continues to respect the ability of his team to handle things, and sets the tone for success.
What you say is focus true and the project itself was an out growth of a board modernization plan that I was part of leading up to this project. One of the interesting things was that in many ways the team itself was made up of "rejects". The lead electrical engineer was a very quite, but experienced engineer that turned out to be very creative and very effective at building relationships with a foreign suppler. His old boss was happy to give him up and the team was happy to have him. (He didn't fit "the mold" so to speak.) The lead mechanical engineer was just considered too young to do the job - but once again very creative and very hardworking. The piping designer was this "old guy" from the corporate design department that just wanted to move back to his home town for his coming retirement. Damn he was good and fit right in. Same with the assigned purchasing agent that handled all of the local suppliers and contractors. The mill was designed and built in Germany by an outstanding supplier and one of the key team building aspects was taking team members to Germany - for a week or in some cases 2 weeks. Nothing helps build a team like getting them away from home for a short period and just being with other team members and building one on one relationships with each other and with members of the suppliers team. Besides German beer is really good.
One other thing, I had the experience of living with our young family in Wales working with very difficult technical problems in a plant there. You get a chance to learn that just because the way you would do things "at home" isn't the only way things can be done. People that are different from you doesn't mean that they can't be just as effective as you can be.
Jeeze Mike. I am half way across the South Fork of the Flathead river pulling 8 loaded mules. Why don’t I just rein that lead mare to a halt and see how many of them hot mountain canary’s decide to roll? Been there done that! Bad decision to pull a halt now. How bout we get on to camp before we start running into more downfall?
You are so right,Barbara. Most of the accolades and successes CEOs get come from outstanding individuals who work for them. In my own businesses I hired the best I could find. Their well earned accolades make me look purty smart.
Yes, experience and accomplishments matter, but, character matters more. That’s the quality I’m looking for in candidates.
And the Democrats’ tendency to find fault in our own doesn’t serve us well. We need to support and protect decent candidates willing to enter the brutal ring of politics.
Geez Louise--look at what's the alternative! For God's sake, I've never had political experience, but I can be governor of Texas! All one has to do is pick the right people and cheerlead. Beto is a one-man-band....
Mike, I've been thinking about your post. Zelensky had very little political experience before he was elected President of Ukraine, although he did have significant business and creative accomplishments. Imo, Beto should run on an anti-corruption campaign as Zelensky did, perhaps combined with a "pro-democracy in Texas" platform. Anti-corruption is a courageous stance and it resonates with people deeply. Russia is a good example of the danger of no effective opposition to corruption, right? I see Sandra has mentioned Zelensky also. Imo, your Texan friends would do well to shift their focus from Beto's bio to the deeper issues facing their state.
Mike is not saying HE thinks Beto would not be a good governor, he saying the PEOPLE of TX might not think he'll be a good governor because he doesn't have a lot of important accomplishments. And, because of that, he might not be a good candidate because he might not be able to beat the Republican. It's an excellent point. Democrats need to consider electability I'm the general election. They didn't with Hillary and look what happened.
Hillary was eminently qualified, but, decades of Republican lies caused voter mistrust. Unfortunately many Democrats and independents believed those lies. And still she won the popular vote, but, sadly not the electoral votes. All Democrats need to back our candidates regardless of who we would have preferred. Stop shooting ourselves in the foot.
Hind sight is 100 per centavos. Hillary won! The election was stolen! Or is that just “owning the libs”? I think the world of Mike who built his empire in the Empire State. The toughest venue in planet USA. But the father of the bride should be on time for the wedding.
It's not hindsight, it's intelligent analysis. We Democrats get too insulated in our own world. In 2016, I was a Conservative Republican who was sick of the Republican establishment and the establishment in general. I planned to vote for Bernie, but like many, I never would have voted for Hillary. I am now a Progressive. I would vote for her now but only as an absolute last resort. And speaking of stealing elections, I believe there were bad actors involved in the Primaries and that Bernie would have won had those bad actors not done what they did.
Congratulations you and millions came to the same conclusion. As did I. Except….. I recognized Trump and chose the lessor of my 2 evils. While I was unhappy She was competent, capable, and far and away more presidential. Not a hard choice at all in hindsight!
I know he’s passionate. My sons and I went to one of his rallies in Charleston when he was running for President. I think he would be great if elected AND had solid democratic support under him in the Tx legislature. That’s where so many well-intentioned governors get screwed. Things have gotten that bad all over.
I so agree with your wonderful comparison to the body being made by cooperating cells and comparing rogue cells to cancer. I tend to think of humans as strange, undifferentiated cells, keeping the comparison. We can clump together to do something good, otherwise we just wander around trying to stay out of trouble.
My husband is an engineer in power generation, in the field for 40 years. He says nobody can fix the Texas grid. It's going to take a great deal of federal legislation to even make it functional, something that most Texans will not support, and certainly not the powerful in Texas, stuffing their pockets.
Yes, get rid of the existing corruption is the necessary start and where greeds are involved, they will be reluctant to let go of ill gotten gains. However, it needs to happen, so we will be donating to Beto. I am thinking now about my grandfather who went many places as the head of a crew building large boilers for power. I have no idea if he actually did some of the building.
That's a good list, but absent what I've read so far? Texans must be willing to pay to fix the system. They have consistently voted to 1) reduce costs in lieu of quality and long-game risks 2) fill their flood absorbing sponges around Houston, and 3) protect industry over citizens in regard to toxic chemical releases.
Medicaid picks up the tab for the impoverished citizens downwind battling cancer. The National Flood Program picks up the tab every time Houston floods. Interestingly, Texas is absolutely fine with federalizing risk. They are not willing to pay for a reliable grid and may have been caught off guard when the rest of the country couldn't come to the rescue with the electricity problems.
The best part of the Texas power problems is companies needing reliable power will think twice about relocating there. That and the culture wars—wait until vigilantes go after tech employees, accusing them of having out of state abortions.
I agree. We might be more successful helping the Republican nation realize the features and benefits of progress over regression rather than our current failing philosophy of calling them losers and stupid. How many advertisers call their target audience unsavory. Perhaps we should instead offer them a value approach and give them the respect with which we allow them to choose. I don’t mean to be cheesy here like selling vacuums. Instead we are a political option, a party that offers an agenda with many of the bells and whistles people, of both parties need. As long as the Republican leadership has come out representing themselves as the do nothing party, the going nowhere party, and the party taking away, we might as well put forward our better options allowing them a choice. If we give them their respect back and squelch some of our rhetoric I feel strongly that many will begin to realize we have a better platform. This is a matter of choice, perhaps we should take advantage.
Thanks, Pat. Well said. I've been saying much the same thing for years (and so has Heather). So very tired of name calling that gets us nowhere and just displays the egotistical superiority felt by too many people who think of themselves as liberal but are not. They end up boxing all of us into a corner.
Pat, I appears that you live in one of the hubs of the ultra-conservative, right-wing's reach for control. The primary between Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin and Gov. Brad Little is this Tuesday. Do you have a perspective about this struggle for power? Both sides (Republicans) are very much to the right, with one side seeming to want independence from the federal government.
'A Fracture in Idaho’s G.O.P. as the Far Right Seeks Control
Ahead of a primary vote, traditional Republicans are raising alarm about the future of the party, warning about the growing strength of militia members, racists and the John Birch Society.'
'BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — At a school gymnasium in northern Idaho, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin regaled a crowd with stories of her feuds with the current governor, a fellow Republican, including the time when he briefly left the state and she issued a mutinous but short-lived ban on coronavirus mask mandates.'
'Gov. Brad Little had worked in recent years to slash taxes and ban abortion, but for Ms. McGeachin and the hundreds gathered at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the John Birch Society in late March, the governor was at cross purposes with their view of just how conservative Idaho could and should be.'
'They clapped as one candidate advocated “machine guns for everyone” and another called for the state to take control of federal lands. A militia activist, who was once prosecuted for his role in an infamous 2014 standoff with federal agents in Nevada, promised to be a true representative of the people. A local pastor began the meeting with an invocation, asking for God to bless the American Redoubt — a movement to create a refuge anchored in northern Idaho for conservative Christians who are ready to abandon the rest of the country.'
“We’re losing our state,” said Ms. McGeachin, who is now seeking to take over the governor’s job permanently. “We’re losing our freedoms.”
'The bitter intraparty contest between Ms. McGeachin and Mr. Little, set to be settled in the state’s primary election on Tuesday, reflects the intensifying split that is pitting Idaho’s conventional pro-gun, anti-abortion, tax-cut conservatives against a growing group of far-right radicals who are agitating to seize control of what is already one of the most conservative corners of the Republican Party in the country.'
'The state has long been a draw for ultraconservatives disillusioned with the liberal drift in other parts of the nation, many of them settling off the grid in the mountains of northern Idaho or among like-minded people in towns like Bonners Ferry. Over the years, the Idaho panhandle has been home to white supremacist groups and people ready to take up arms against the U.S. government. Such groups and their allies have been particularly wary of the changing nature of Idaho’s cities, including the legions of other newcomers responding to a booming job market in Boise.' (NYTimes) Link to the article is gifted.
Hi Holly, I completely understand that no one can fix the Texas Grid. I think, however, it is a great slogan desIgned to get people's attention and address the environment of failure and corruption prevelant in Texas today.
The most common mental disorder in the United States is anxiety, which affects about 40 million adults or about 18.1% of the population. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable; however, less than 40% of those suffering (36.9%) receive treatment.
Thank you for your observations on Kemp; this highlights that what some call “Reasonable Republicans” (I dubbed them “Remorseful Republicans” — for having held their noses and embraced Trump when his poll numbers read well) are still enemies of fair elections, enemies of the welfare of the people (he’s against taxation for reasonable services a government should provide), and enemies of freedom (bodily autonomy among freedoms enshrined in the Preamble of our Constitution). They simply back a slightly different stank of fascism than Trump’s clownish Gröpenführer persona.
In local races here in northern Michigan, we are seeing candidates advertise they are "moderate Republican" as they go up against incumbent tRumpers in the primaries. The Split!
There are virtually no truly moderate Rs as they have all bought into the mantra of the party of death. Years ago I could feel OK voting for Rs like Mark Hatfield, but I have voted a straight D ticket for many years now. Our election day is Tuesday and the turnout (vote by mail easy) is putrid. Hopefully it will pick up in the remaining days.
Same here. In those days, Packwood and Hatfield worked for what was best for Oregon; we also had some decent Republican governors. Even though I never voted for him, I always appreciated Gordon Smith, who made it a point to meet with Ron Wyden and often the two of them walked into the senate together.
I voted for Norma Paulus who I actually met once. I also met the Packwood lawyers after he got into trouble being a jerk with women. That was too bad because both he and Hatfield did well by Oregon. I never voted for a R for president having lived through Nixon and Ray Gun. I have been registered as a R a few times especially the first time I signed up to vote as my dad stood over to me to make sure I did. I remember thinking that I had no intention of voting R in most races as I did it.
I read the entire Oregon election pamphlet. I'm neither Dem nor GOP, so I didn't get to lodge a vote for the primary. Non-partisan positions and measures did not generate much political traction. I voted anyway, but it's the general election that matters most here.
It is an indication of Joe Biden’s executive abilities that in the midst of inflation, the Ukraine invasion, a lingering pandemic, and the constant barrage of stink bombs thrown in his direction from the GOP, that he still looks to the future by reaching out to our Asian neighbors.
I am not ready, at this point, to label Joe Biden a great president, but I will call him a goddamn good one.
Yet, David Gergen is on PBS trashing all the oldsters, some of whom are helping democracy hang on by a thread. Me thinks he is more partisan than he pretends. Can we just end one crisis (well, an onslaught) before inviting more instability. That said, he had a point, just his timing is worse than bad…
I beg to differ. Gergen wasn't "trashing all the oldsters". He was simply saying that it's time for us to step aside and let younger more agile minds lead. It doesn't have to be a "wipe out" for our generation. Just a recognition that someone who is 40, 50 or 60 will have fresher skills and a sharper mind. Time to hand the batons off to them before they are old farts, too.
THE single biggest issue that draws support away from Joe Biden - a man who IMO is doing an exemplary job - is his age and stumbling speech. You and I know he has always had a speech impediment. But many Americans see him as "doddering". Sad but true.
I am 75 and I still participate in leadership roles. But I know that I and everyone I have met who is this age (plus or minus 5 years) do not have the same stamina, sharp memory or awareness of current technology that someone 20 or 30 years younger could have.
And I think the Democrats would attract a lot more younger voters if Biden, Pelosi and Schumer would gracefully step aside when the time is right. There are a lot of bright rising stars who believe as we do who will fill the void instantly. They are being held back.
Raskin, Booker, Schiff, Abrams, Demmings, Bass, etc.
Less a matter of being held back as waiting until they are ready. People my age are in the process of getting things in place for younger people (though there are some who hang on because they are used to status quo). All those you named and more at national level. More at the state and local level. The problem has been getting more people in those younger age groups involved to strengthen the base. It's the kids who are really active. I don't think many people, including most of the folks on this forum, realize how very critical the local and state races are to preparation for 2024. Mid-terms historically have lower turn-outs because of the unfortunate emphasis on national races. But this one in particular has potentially historic outcomes.
BTW, thanks to whoever posted the Beto O'Roarke speech. I'm not on Instagram and tend to avoid Twitter, so might not have picked it up. Dynamic. I love that he spoke directly to the audience about things that mattered to them, without leaving out the underlying factors. We need more of that kind of thing. Biden also speaks this way though his style is more low-key. I hope we don't get too far into the "style" assessment trap of response, which ends up hurting everybody.
I don't think anyone had the knowledge or experience to deal with foreign issues as does Biden. The younger ones have their strengths but I don't see another Pelosi anywhere.
Who’s doing the holding back? Just asking. Are you sure these legislators even want to move on up? Maybe they feel they are being more effective where they are at this moment?
This could be true in some cases. My point is that our biggest challenge is to get younger people to vote. They are hardly inspired by we elders. We need a JFK.
We had one in Barack Obama but then far too many people of all stripes sat out the 2010 midterms which, of course was a disaster for the rest of his presidency and the recoil that was tfg.
Just like HRC was, will we never learn. Has anybody ever read the positive traits for male CEOs and the negative traits for women in the workplace. Forceful v aggressive, blah, blah, blah
I sometimes feel the same. But when I really look at why I get upset at some of the personalities on those stations, it's because I want them to stop being so "fair" attempting to present both sides. Basically they are trying to strike an old fashioned balance of views. The problem is that times have changed and we are in a civil war.
The other side is saying and doing horrific things. And they are not getting called out enough. I think Judy Woodruff is an example of someone who could be more challenging. I think it would be great if she were to step back and let someone like Amna Nawaz lead the show. Judy could continue to do special reporting.
All that being said I would not like to see public broadcasting become an MSNBC. I like what Rachel says - usually. But that's not what I want on PBS or NPR.
I don't think they are trying to play both sides. Like NYT and Washington Post they are trying to save their hides if the Republicans gain power and institute fascist controls on the media. It's up to NPR to preserve their tradition. I can't abide the overwhelming number of commercials. They are going the way of Corporate greed. How can an organization fund raise twice a year AND have commercials AND Government support?
Judy Woodruff needs to leave. She is not changing with the times. This is not our Grandmother's NPR or World. I can say this because I am in my 70's.
MSM seems to be unable to defend against attacks on democracy. They respond to trivial and significant "talking points" with the same sense of urgency.
Gergan said on PBS that just after WWII was the apex of American culture. Yeah, for white males. Women couldn’t buy a car without a “responsible male co-signing, a husband could beat and rape his wife, and I haven’t even gotten to people of color. Rose colored hindsight
I took part in a conference in Copenhagen this past weekend, with a few dozen educators, psychologists, futurists, community activists, and governmental officials across Europe. Five of our colleagues from Finland were there, so I asked them about NATO accession. Of the five, four said they'd always been against it until now. One told me she considers herself mostly a pacifist, but also feels they have no choice now, given Russia's actions (and history). All five firmly backed Finland's direction to join.
Had you been talking to any Swedes I guess you would have gotten the same kind of answers. Although, we are raising our eyebrows at Erdogan's dealings: aha! we would be allies to Erdogan's Turkey too. The possibility of being allied to Trump's America after 2024 hasn't really been seen over the horizon yet.
Swedish non allied policy is going back to 1818, when the new king (Bernadotte) decided to form a union with Norway instead of trying to conquer Finland back from Russia, which some of his protagonists had hoped for. His argument, as one of Napoleons former generals, was sober enough: even if Sweden could win Finland back he would never be able to hold that long border to Russia. So, a union with Norway was a kind of substitute. A union that the Norwegians were able to vote themselves out of in 1905, without any bloodshed.
Now, when Putin's Russia is openly aiming at an empire from the Pacific to the Atlantic, the easiest Atlantic naval base to get would be on the Swedish west coast; as long as we are non allied. Swedes have been kidding themselves that we are 'serving peace' and standing by Finland with being non allied. When Lavrov is telling us to 'serve peace' and Finland is going ahead of us, it's time Sweden wake up to realities.
No, there were no Swedes there, but you're likely correct. Two of the Finns I spoke with were raised during the middle of the Cold War, had grandparents who'd fought the Russians in '39. One guy used to visit one of the islands off Porkkala, where the Soviets maintained a naval base (by treaty) until 1956. More recently (2018, here: https://taskandpurpose.com/bulletpoints/russian-military-island-bases-finland/), the Finns conducted a series of 17 raids on 100 island/coastal locations to snuff out clandestine Russian attempts to gain secret footholds for future military endeavors. So, for them, this is VERY real now. Russia has tried bullying Sweden in recent years as well, but I'm not sure with things that "real."
I suspect Sweden is timing their decision in-step with Finland's. I could be wrong, but my guess is both countries' militaries will welcome this. Several years before France's political masters could bring themselves to allow France back into NATO's military side, its military badly wanted to do so--the advantages in sharing transportation workloads and C4I alone make it a boon for those armed forces.
Erdogan is, as Heather noted, trying for his own wanted concessions, and of course heavily-considering his own self-inflicted domestic issues. At least he's the dictator we can keep close (and yes, can influence a bit when we need to). Unlike Orban, Erdogan and Turkey are important strategically, and much more than just a pain in our butt.
I wouldn't call it "Trump's America," regardless what happens in 2024. It will either not happen and he, personally at least, will start to fade away for good (this is a mixed bag. Pence and his ilk are certainly much more respectful of rule-of-law. They are also more-capable politicians and perhaps capable of keeping The Too-Far Right viable for longer), or we will see something much worse--think it's that bifurcated. I honestly think it's 55-45.
Like Sweden, Middle America will have to wake up to the fact that the existentially-threatened Right will not fade away by choice or force of nature alone. Or not. We can certainly continue to be disengaged, quiet and passive; continue to allow fringes on the Right AND Left (yes, we just hear less about them) dictate our future because we can't be bothered. They (the Too-Far Right) will have to be shown the door--firmly, legally, and possibly at times in a full-nelson; hopefully without a fist to the face. We can do it by fully-activating a voter base that would defeat Trump and his ilk quite-decisively...or continue to never hit 70% of voting in our electorate (no matter what the stakes or what events have occurred. We hit 67% in 2020 and speak of this like it's amazing) yet somehow wish things were different. Beatings will continue until morale improves.
On Swedish Radio today was a former Trump official saying he thinks Trump is going to continue saying he will run for the presidency, but is unlikely to do it because what he fears most of all is being a looser (again, and he knows it). Thanks for your posts
Well, it's interesting. I think a lot of Republicans would LOVE for the prospects of him winning in '24 to be so bad that he does exactly that (guys like Pompeo, Christie, etc). It's hard to know what will happen. I agree that Trump (who's a wuss, make no mistake) will avoid a can't-win scenario--but it would have to be painted to him by his OWN PEEPS in strongly-convincing narratives, repeatedly over months. The man is a relentless narcissist who continually re-gravitates to his own internal narrative, regardless of physical facts. There are still legions of Trump sycophants in the GOP; worse, most of them firmly believe that Trump-alone can cohere their freakazoid, diverse base (the one Heather pointed out just the other day) and have any chance at winning. Sadly (and ironically), they might be right. Best case is, he runs, 73% of our electorate actually vote, and is defeated so decisively (say, by 18 million votes) it can't be contested. Problem is, there are ~50-70 million Americans for whom 7 million votes weren't enough already. Worst case is Trump legitimately but narrowly wins the electoral vote but loses the popular vote by >8 million. I think we'll be in another civil war before the end of the decade if that happens; I really do.
So at least one trump official knows tfg lost!! "Big steal" my hiney. Honest votes are what they steal. Tfg will never get over that Hillary got millions more votes than he did, despite the rigging his party inflicts.
That's true and actually the main reason he ran for president in the first place--when he first threw his hat in the ring, even he never imagined he could win. Now, with the legal battles he faces et al, he NEEDS the money. This is what his SM endeavors are for as well--a way to obtain cash, first and foremost, but also keep his name perpetually in the media.
What HCR didn't mention and you maybe alluded to with Erdoğan's "self-inflicted domestic issues" is specifically why he's against Finland and Sweden joining NATO. It's about the Kurds again. Both Sweden and Finland, like The Netherlands, have offered themselves as havens for the PKK, or the Kurdish Communist party. Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organisation. (They were responsible for some bombings in Turkey in the '80s and '90s.) The Kurds have been a thorn in the side of Turkey since forever, and their desire for autonomy within Turkey continues to be a problem. That other EU countries recognise the Kurds and the PKK has long been a sticking point between the EU and Turkey. In my time in The Netherlands I remember many demonstrations by the PKK--in fact there was a big one in Amsterdam the last time I was there in 2019. (It was over the arrest/imprisonment of a Kurdish resistance leader in Turkey, or something...I confess, I knew nothing about it.) Having 2 more countries in NATO with seeming sympathies with the Kurds rankles Turkey. So I do wonder if the US and others can maybe placate Erdoğan and Turkey by giving them a bunch of arms. Maybe.
Sweden's and Finland's issue with Turkey is up on the table. At first it seemed to be a matter of Turkey holding a key to reach other goals. Now it seems to be a about different views of different parts of the Kurdish minority, and Sweden and Finland are not alone among other NATO countries in who is to be considered terrorist and which are legitimate minority organisations among the Kurds.
The British empire left the Kurds divided between Iraq, Iran and Turkey on purpose. They knew the Kurds had a strong sense of cultural identity, a language of their own, and capacity to fight for themselves. Enough to be not only a thorn in the side, but a pain in the ass of all three countries; creating the desired destabilization of the region. Also possible allies for interventions by other countries, latest used by the US and Syria to defeat ISIS, which left the Kurds as always saying: The mountains are only friends.
Turkey may be right in their claim that PKK activists have found refuge in Sweden, but Erdoghan is probably more worried that the Kurds have books printed in their language; all printed in Sweden, and other influences on civil society. Last I heard of a young Kurdish man, who had been living in Sweden for many years, and was about to bring his old uncle from Turkey to Sweden and felt the need to warn his uncle of the Swedish society: "you know they have same sex marriage, hbtq-rights and such.." The old man answered: "but that's what democracy is about, that's what we've been fighting for, everybody's right to be what they are."
I saw a report this morning that Turkey has been in talks with both Sweden and Finland that seem to be making progress. As I have read, both the US and the EU have officially labeled the PKK as a terrorist organisation, but the EU seems to get around outright banning the PKK by also considering them a political party? I've often wondered about that. They do have a presence in Holland as well, but they seem to have ceased with as much terrorist activity as they engaged in in the past. I completely agree that the Kurds have been consistently handed a bad deal by just about everybody. As an ethnic group they are scattered through a variety of countries (there are even different Kurdish ethnic groups within the Kurdish population) and because of that they have never really had their own homeland. That prospect has long been one of Turkey's greatest fears because they constitute a significant minority within Turkey's borders. Let's hope the talks are fruitful and Turkey's concerns can be dealt with.
The talks seem to be going on well, and the concerned EU official has evidently very good contact with Turkey, and speaks Turkish. France refused to accept Turkey as an EU member, and i think Erdogan's turning Turkey away from democracy and their secular constitution has started from that. Yes, the Kurds are said to be 12 millions, more than the population of Sweden, and to deny such a large group education and literature in their own language, I think is asking for terrorists. On the other hand the example from Mosul and the self governing Kurdish majority in that part of Iraq, is not so promising. It started out well with cooperation of different Kurdish groups and tolerance of minorities. After some time it was reported that different Kurdish groups were not cooperating very well, and there seems to have been growing intolerance and discrimination of others. Terrorist groups have been known to start "political branches", like northern Ireland, and I think that can be a way forward, even if it seems hypocritical. About the state of Israel I have been thinking that it is in need of outer enemies in order not to fall apart from inner conflict, and all Israeli foreign policy is in line with this. A Kurdish state would perhaps be in the same predicament.
And it's still ongoing, actually, including (at least as of a few years ago) attacks--we just don't hear about it. I was stationed there in 2014, and PKK remained a considerable problem at that time--one of the Turkish generals I had as a boss had known little else in his career. Really hard to say if there will be any transactional nod to Turkey here--I'm not current with US stances toward Erdogan's increasingly problematic rule. Their building of some of the very effective drones Ukraine is using now is partially a result of the U.S. not selling Predator to them about 12 years ago.
IMHO Trump brought the real Republican agenda out from under the rocks during his one term, while Pence et al are masterful at camouflaging the very attitudes, theocracy, distain for anyone not in their mold and fold that is their platform. Smug sincerity, now that Roe v Wade is toast, will give them the moral authority to leave Trump on the sacrificial alter while less dramatically pushing the agenda.
They would LIKE to do that, no doubt. Can they? I think that is very uncertain. For all his faults, Trump has two things--an innate sense of attracting media/social attention and a fearlessness in statement that he can back up by "just being Trump." Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of GOP pols who think (and have thought) over the past few years that they can use Trump to a certain point, then do exactly what you say (you can throw Ted Cruz into that group, for sure), but actually DOING it has proven harder than they thought. This is good, in a way--because at the end of the day, he is STILL Donald Trump. As a political historian stated during the period leading up to Jan 6 (yes, BEFORE), "Hitler didn't play golf."
Olof - a matter of curiosity. Where on Sweden's west coast? Browsing along the west coast, the only substantial port I see is Gothenburg. Is there/are there other naval bases on the Atlantic side of Sweden? On Google Earth, Gothenburg appears to be more of a commercial port.
Thanks for your interest and curiosity. I didn't know about the revival of the Musko base, but on the other hand I hadn't heard of it being closed either. Russia's imperial dreams would be satisfied with conquering the southern part of Sweden, like Crimea and Donbas of Ukraine. I'm sure there is also a marine base on the west coast, but Musko and Karlskrona are both in the Baltic, which is priority for Sweden's defense. Russian access to the Atlantic through the Baltic is only via the narrow strait between Denmark and Sweden, that could easily be blocked.
Yes, I'm aware of that very narrow strait and how it can be defended by Sweden should there be a need to block Russian warships from exiting to the Atlantic from their base in Kaliningrad or St. Petersburg. I assume Sweden and Denmark could bar passage as has been done (more or less) with the Bosporus from the Black Sea. Putin really opened up a can of worms for Russia when he decided to invade Ukraine.
In 1994, I accepted my parents' invitation to join them for a Baltic Cruise. We entered the Baltic via the Kiel Canal. I no longer recall details of the return to England from the Baltic but assume it was via the strait you refer to as we stopped for a short day(!) (which is why I'm not a fan of cruise ships) in Copenhagen. Of course, we also stopped in St. Petersburg; my main impression other than the Winter Palace and the Fortress, was a grimy gray city. Hopefully, there have been good changes in the intervening years. Sad to think of that city now being cut off from the west once again.
Your comments today are so interesting, Robert. I love first hand accounts from people. I’ve never been to Finland. Have your travels taken you to that country, Robert?
Sorry to not respond earlier. They have not. I have only been to Denmark in Scandinavia and Lithuania in the Baltic States, so I have a lot of travelling still to do.
I've seen it mentioned, as well, in context that Finland has been preparing themselves for the likelihood of Russia cutting them off.
I like this paragraph from the NYT article: "Although Finland’s national grid operator said that the suspension had a minimal impact, with other suppliers able to meet the country’s energy needs, the swiftly unfolding events in Finland underscore how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is shaking up the military balance in Europe and backfiring on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia."
I watched Jen Psaki's last press briefing. It made me feel proud that she held her ground and stayed above the fringe at these briefings for these many months. She was the face of the White House and did well considering she was face to face with those press members that felt their only intent was to derail her every day.
I wish her well on her next journey.
Someone needs to mess with Texas. This abomination of a State needs a shake down from top to bottom. Ann Richards would be very disappointed to see what it has become.
Sorry, not liking the violent imagery. And frankly, we are shoveling a ton of money out the door -- it will be over $50 billion in two months. That really is a lot when you consider our other priorities. At this rate, how much more as the war grinds on? Is it taboo to ask if there are any limits?
Elon Musk’s priority was to spend $44billion so he could personally own Twitter. Maybe getting the wealthy to pay taxes would solve a few of our problems. Global warming won’t pause while we look for quarters under the sofa cushions.
Just as Repubs have no limits to tear down and trash Democracy for their own fascist version, how can a limit be set to preserve true democracy? Spend.
I don’t think it’s taboo at all, nor should it be. I support Ukraine and spending my taxes (in another country) on helping out, but your question on limits is absolutely something to be debated. Who would we be if we didn’t demonstrate the value and importance of debate and healthy disagreement? No better than Putin’s puppets.
Legitimate question, true. But when will other start wondering when do we get to take charge of the war given how much American money is going to it, bleeding us, while other domestic issues are not addressed. I just don't believe the atop by Paul is in good faith on his part.
Rand Paul: $40 billion on foreign aid? What a travesty! Elon Musk: $44 billion for Twitter is a small indulgence I can afford. Worth it to un-ban Trump and watch the fun.
Tonight’s letter gave me more hope than some of the recent ones. Perhaps it was Jen Psaki’s remarks about the importance of the press. Thank you for finding positive stories among the weeds!
Time to tell PBS and NPR that they lose our donations if they spew fascist party thoughts. That is anti-American and puts them in a dangerous place. Say it loudly.
Remember, Brian Kemp oversaw his own election when he ran as Secretary of State for Governor of Georgia against Stacy Abrams. He was and is a crooked man.
Exactly. Pennsylvania’s state legislature is chock-full of schemers against democracy who “work” -against the people of their state- part-time, pay themselves handsomely (including gold-plated health insurance while people in rural areas have no teeth) to slop at the trough of frack-daddies from Texas (and a few home-growns) and banks and insurance companies.
In contrast to the trump reign of terror when I only watched the SNL versions of press conferences, I thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning these past 15 months. Jen Psaki is a real pro and the mutual respect in the press room was evident from day one. As much as Psaki will be missed, I look forward to tuning in to her successor, Karine Jean-Pierre.
Janet! You did EXACTLY what I did. I never watched the bad propaganda show that was a Trump "press conference". But, I always watched the SNL versions.
A split GOP is the best outcome in this moment as elections approach. The more acrimonious the better.These battles are going to play out state by state. The war really is establishment Republicans vs Trumpers. The battle lines are becoming VERY clear. Primary elections are where a species will eat it's own kind to survive. I'm really curious to see who attends this Bradley awards in DC on Tuesday night and what gets said from the podium and the round table they do. And what gets said off the stage. Last year Bill Barr was the most senior person from the former administration in the room...but he had no formal speaking role...and yes our crew all commented that he does look like Fred Flintstone in a suit.
This event has taken on a new meaning for me. I made the observation that my crew is like this little lib SEAL Team in the belly of the whale. The fact that the event is held in the Building Museum holds some irony. It's now dedicated to architecture and creating healthy and artful buildings and spaces...and historically it was built as the the Civil War pension building...to take care of the business of administrating payments to the US vets who won the Civil War fighting for Abe & Grant. So it was created to take care of the people who won the war run by the first Republican President. It's also haunted. www.nbm.org
It's very well done now. I've done a lot of events in there over the past 20 years. One last thought on Trump. He is so totally selfish and childlike, that he'll NEVER do what's best for the people, group or organization, unless it serves his needs.
So Lynell, good morning. Here's my Cliff Notes version of this years Bradley Prizes event. The Miles Stiebel Orchestra & singer were excellent. If you have $15,000 to $20,000 to spend on a band, consider these folks. They played from the "American Songbook". A video was rolled to intro them that showed the likes of Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis jr. Not a very conservative collection of musical talent. Made me laugh.
Kim Strassel of the WSJ and Fox was the hostess of the show & moderator of their "round table" conversation. She was the only person that spoke in a mic that used the term "counter culture". Several times.
It felt like "diversity" was on the minds of their award board chaired by Richard W. Graber who had been W Bush's Ambassador to the Czech Republic. The winners were Wilfred M. McClay, a white Irish history professor who wrote "Land of Hope".
Glen C. Loury a black professor of Economics who writes and studies on "racial inequality".
The star of the show and VERY impressive human being was Chen Guangcheng. A blind Chinese man who is a human rights activist. He escaped China and wrote "The Barefoot Lawyer", which I want to read. In the written program for the event he thanks Hillary Clinton as Sec of State for granting him sanctuary at our Beijing Embassy. He never mentioned Clinton or the Obama Administration by name from the stage. His story is incredible and should be a film.
It felt like the event organizers were working to sound like middle of the road America. The name Trump never was uttered on stage, nor was Obama, Biden, Clinton or Pelosi...or Bush for that matter. They talk about "American exceptionalism" as their belief.
I did not recognize anyone in the crowd. None of their former winners like Jeb Bush, Bill Kristol, Gary Sinese or George Will. Nor was Bill Barr in attendance, who had been at the last event.
There was no "battle plan" or specific examples presented. Abortion was not mentioned once. Nor were gun rights. No candidates were endorsed.
Except for Chen, it all felt very academic. Kind of like "We are the guys who understand the truth about America". We know the way. Follow us if you are a real patriot.
There was no press riser, nor cameras from CNN, Fox or MSNBC.
The building looked great and a good time was had by all.
I think J Psaki did a good job. Who would want that job ? I like the comparison you showed between the number of Psakis press conferences compared to all of Trumps press conferences over 4 years. I wish Karine Pierre much success !
O' Rourke needs to keep educating Texans about the deregulation and mismanagement of their electric grid. That was terrible what happened to those people.
That would be amazing if Finland and Sweden join NATO !
Ms Psaki will cash in on her performance as White House Press Secretary as well as all the preparatory roles she filled over 20 years off and on in government. Perhaps MSNBC will allow her to travel the world, but probably not on Air Force One. She set a different standard for the position; remember tfg's first press secretary? The ankle biter for the President, purveyor of "alternate facts", contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" and now a talk show host for NewsMax...he didn't fly quite so high, unfortunately. Money is a great seduction; history would reward her far more for a full term in office, so to speak. On the other hand, there's no reason she can't move in and out of the mainstream media just as she has moved in and out of government positions. Biden will be lucky to find similar talent in her understudy. Maybe she can become the next Rachel Maddow...
The Dems seem to be lacking a compelling theme heading through the primaries and into the general election season. Inflation, Afganistan, the border kerfuffle, failure to enact the majority of the Build Back Better agenda in a 50:50 Senate; all topics needing plenty of spin. They could be making hay with the SCOTUS's bombshell disclosure, the growing rift between MAGA and the remainder of the Republican party, the Party of NO (no to all Biden initiatives, no party platform, no consensus leader, no popular majority in recent elections) as well as touting the jobs numbers, economic growth, US brokerage of NATO resurgence, support for Ukraine, progress in supply chain bottlenecks, etc. Where are the talking heads for this message within the Democratic Party? As inane as the Republican monologue may be, quietly going about the business of governing and ignoring it means that the inane monologue is roughly all the public will hear between now and November. Who will be the megaphone for the Dems? It isn't Biden; his schtick is more like the fireside chat than the big rally leader.
There are plenty of capable Dems speaking out, from Congress to tweets. To name a few: Rep Jamie Raskin, Sen Elizabeth Warren, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris (I still get a smile out of writing that), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep Katie Porter, Michigan State Senator Mallory Mcmorrow. That line about no Dem messaging is as up to date as baby food for a teenager.
Amplification is the issue. Mainstream media are busy working for Rupert. It has to be us.
I’m thinking that deal was cut a while back. She’s probably going to pick up 4 days after Rachel on Monday. Perhaps that’s just my fantasy since Monday is all we have of Rachel
I LIKE your characterization of the Republicans as "the party of NO!" It's simple, direct and largely accurate. Rather than seeking a megaphone for the Dems, they should take a page from the R's and have ALL Dem candidates refer to their opposition as "the party of NO." It certainly fits most all of their stands and positions including and perhaps most especially the SCOTUS leaks.
Texas is one of those places that makes no sense to a European. And in passing, since Heather is a historian, the fascistic leanings of its elites aren’t new: Texaco was one of General Franco’s financiers during the Spanish Civil War.
On a slightly different note - "U.S. ties to the region after the previous administration pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact in 2017" - which actually was one of the few things that T-rump did that was good - obviously unintentionally. The Trans-Pacific Partnership has some very nasty clauses - which bode badly for the environment. Particularly, that if a signatory government enables legislation (such as a carbon tax) that could impact the profitability of companies in other signatory states, then they can be hit with very severe penalties. Don't get in the way of profit..OK???
Jeri, that is so true. I am just realizing that I may not figure all this out by the end of my life. But I can try! And your other point about needing to know who knows also strikes a chord. I grew up believing that the evening news would provide me with all I needed to know. I really only started to see beyond that when I discovered HCR and the great community of thinking people here. I am so grateful. Also for the internet, which allows me to learn as fast as I want. There is a lot I want to know about.
Thanks for starting out with the departure of Jen Psaki. I will miss her in that role but look forward to watching Karine take over. I sure hope Beto prevails and Abbott is left literally, out in the cold. And Kemp…well, he has a very formidable opponent in Stacey Abrams. I pray she kicks his ass to the curb.
STACEY ABRAMS❤❤❤ Donate to her campaign
And to Beto, Texas cannot survive under Abbott any longer!
Done!
Donating monthly!
You don't stand with Ukraine, you stand with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin as your fellow citizens languish.
I bet you feel so virtuous with your Ukraine flag profile picture! It's like you really have skin in the game now!
Imo, Jen Psaki brought the exceptional talents needed to conduct democratic discourse under challenging conditions. While I expect that Karine Jean Pierre will be yet another great asset, I cannot help but mourn to loss of Jen Psaki and her unfailing competence. Thank heavens there were a few weeks of lead time to this development, as the news hit hard.
Psaki was just wonderful. And a gigantic change from the clowns who were in there during Trump's reign.
Thanks for the satire
Wasn't meant to be satire. Not sure I understand your meaning. Seriously - during the Trump administration we had Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders Huckabee, Sarah Grisham, and of course Kayleigh McEnany. They either could safely be characterized as clowns, or could be safely characterized as no-shows, or both. All seemed like children to me, compared to the adult in the room Psaki.
Ah, I get it and I agree with you! Indeed she was a wonderful propagandist. She had to cover for perhaps the most disastrous presidency in modern history. One in which the US handled a pandemic worse than any nation on Earth and no, not because people didn't get vaccinated. We have one of the highest vaccination rates and the highest death rate. She also had to cover for our absolutely disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan whereby we shutdown the principle air base, Bagram, before evacuations were complete and instead relied on Kabul International. 2.5 TRILLION dollars later, our sole achievement was to turn the Taliban into a conventional military armed with Billions of Dollars of our weapons. Obama expanded that war, Trump signed the Doha Agreement to eventually end it and Biden absolutely whiffed on the execution. But I know Trump Bad, Anything not Trump Good! Everything Trump say and do Bad!
Now in the midst of Economic Collapse and skyrocketing inflation, not to mention millions imprisoned and homeless, Psaki has to sell the American people on yet another war and has succeeded for about 30% of them. Indeed, she is an absolutely wonderful propagandist. No wonder she’s about to make millions at MSNBC.
Not going to get angry or rant, Charles. But I have to tell you, your response covers too much to address at one time (in debates it is called a Gish Gallop"). I will focus on one item - Covid. I agree that "the US handled a pandemic crisis worse than any nation on earth". But that is where my agreement ends. If you look at the nations who got on top of the pandemic quickly and permanently - nations like New Zealand, but there are more - they locked down very quickly and very completely. They took the virus very seriously, and were able to open up carefully with minimal impact, and minimal sickness and death. The US did the opposite - The Trump administration saw covid as a damper on its version of a booming economy, and simply tried to wish it away or to outright deny it. They cared not one iota about the well being of the people; only the stock market. It resisted any kind of a lock-down, mocked masks when they were and are very effective, and once locking down became a no brainer, it was too late. The virus won. The Trump administration, although it correctly authorized emergency work to develop vaccines, was slow to advocate them, and was quick to push for quack fixes like hydroxychloroquine, quick to knock down the experts like Fauci, and quick to point out that getting vaccinated was just a personal choice and nothing more. There is a reason why the US surpassed all other civilized nations in covid death rates and infections - and that distinction falls directly in Trump's lap. When Biden took office, he inherited an unmitigated covid disaster, thanks to the previous administration. And had to make it his priority number one emergency. Thanks to the efforts of his administration, the country gradually turned the corner, and most of us can now breath a sigh of relief and can see light at the end of the tunnel. I say most of us because there still a large segment of the population who want to own the libs and refuse to take the vaccinations. Wonder if you are in that group....
After 4 years of the would-be emperor, I can't imagine anyone whose first year in office would appear as a shining jewel. It started with a pair of coveralls and a broom, while the slob who vacated the place was still bellowing bulls**t at high volume. The US failure in Afganistan started when we failed to learn the lesson directly in front of us as the Soviet Union turned tail and ran after a decade trying to pacify Afganistan. They just couldn't see the compassion in our eyes behind the tactical gear, the armored vehicles, the anti-opium raids and failure to grasp the power of conservative Islamic traditions.
Plop
The White House Press briefing has become a regular feature of my day. Psaki did a terrific job! The contrast with the former admin is night and day.
Thanks for the satire
Kudos to Jen Psaki and her most admirable work🌼🌿
Thanks for the satire
Are you that "reporter" from Fox News? You sure seem to have a problem with the justifiable praise being given to Psaki.
Marlene, I don't remember a W.H. press secretary that I appreciated more than Psaki. Her replacement, Karine Jean-Pierre, in addition to more than 20 years of political experience, brings a very different personal background to the job. I wonder whether the yellow jacket (you know who I mean) will try to sting her. Today is her first day. My comment is about Jean-Pierre, actually, she does a superb job of it herself.
Yes, Fern, Karine brings many years of experience and I look forward to hearing her command the room. No one wants to go back to the years of 2016-2020 with the absolute worst press secretaries we have ever had! Psaki was a diamond; quick-witted, honest but never brutal, brilliant and resilient. Karine is controversial and I kinda like that she will be dealing with the likes of the Faux News folks as they try to tear her down. She is also the first black woman and a lesbian to have this role. I call that progression!
Marlene, I saw Karine quite a few times on MSNBC. She is polite, succinct and has a beautiful smile. You have pointed to one of the connections that I most want to see -- how will she deal with the provocateurs? Psaki was an Ace of Diamonds in so many ways, one of which was how to use their jabs in the interest of a message the administration wanted to send. We feel the same about Jen; she came with a full deck and knew how to deal. I lived in Queens, NY for much of my childhood - so did the 'yellow jacket' and Karine. All three of us have stingers. Eager to share notes with you.
Where in Queens? I spent a couple of decades in an apartment in Kew Gardens, a block from Forest Park.
Bayside.
And the GA GOP is divided and angry lowering their vote
My gut feeling at present is that the GA GOP will eventually rally together around Kemp. Sad to say, their hatred of Abrams is SO strong it will serve as the glue to unite them. Perdue is so far out of the race it really is no contest. I also expect T***p will distance himself from Perdue because Perdue is losing, and T***p hates being associated with losers. Kemp has thus far refrained from attacking T***p directly and has very deftly skated around the lack of a T***p endorsement. He's obviously not doing anything to antagonize the T***p base so they will not feel so bad ending up voting for him in November. At this point the numbers show Kemp ahead of Abrams and I don't think there will be a serious enough rift within the GA GOP to adversely affect Kemp's numbers. Kemp's ads are already attacking Abrams--she's a "socialist" and leading the "woke mob", two of the terms Republicans are all using in lock-step. The right-wing is already REALLY mobilised and fired up about this election, so the only way to fight this is with a huge turn-out among Democrats.
Yes well, the “numbers” were not in Warnock’s or Ossoff’s favor either, at first, as I recall. Hope Stacey comes out swinging, like she normally does, and hits the Pro-Rape party between the eyes.
But, if memory serves, the numbers for Warnock vs Loeffler and Ossoff vs Perdue by the election (which was in January) were much closer than the most recent numbers I've seen for a hypothetical match-up of Kemp vs Abrams right now. That could easily change. Abrams certainly has her work cut out for her.
Yes she does but she’s in it to win it!
🤞🏻🙏🏻
Let's hope that the currently-lethargic Dems here in Georgia have been energized by the leaked Alito draft. In the primaries that are currently underway, the turnout has been record-breaking, even compared to 2020, so fingers crossed.
Nancy, I live in Columbia County and voted a few days ago. My fingers are crossed, too. I’ve never seen so many women on a ballot before.
Camilla, that's great news. I voted last Sunday, and it was slow, but I'm guessing that many people didn't get the word that Sunday voting has been initiated. We're in Gwinnett, which is usually proactive. We had many women on our ballot, too. Hoping!
🤞
That covers a big piece for today, Marlene. I’m keeping Stacey Abrams in mind today and active, young black women today as I attend power gatherings. I believe they are a big piece of the puzzle future.
Salud, Marlene! 🗽🙋🏻🙋🏼🙋🏽🙋🏾🙋🏿
Salud, Christine! 🦾💪🏼💪🏻💪🏽💪🏾
Ditto to all you say, Marlene. I fail to understand the people of Texas who are so supportive of Abbot. But then, I could say that about anywhere there is a Republican uber-lord. I wonder if the abortion fracas at the SCROTUS (Supreme Court Republicans of the US) is meant as a deterrent from attention to the erratic leaders whose failures are becoming obvious?
It’s not all Texans, a fact to which I can attest. However, the barbarians are at the door, many dressed as little old ladies. It’s not just the macho MAGAts. This is true of any state, even the “reddist.” It’s why my preference for The United States to ditch the South will never fly. I could move (with much difficulty) but many cannot. Hence, blues must fight on, wherever they may be.
Abbott is a gerrymandered autocrat, the majority of Texans do not support him.
I appreciate your correction of my assumption. I think I should worry more about gerrymandering.
SCROTUS
They did a tribute to Psaki and Peter Doocey on Steve Doocey's FOX show that was sincere. Peter Doocey gave sincere praise to Psaki and even went to far as to say Psaki made him a better reporter.
Wow. Every little bit of honesty on FOX helps.
No kidding! Ms. Kaleigh (former Press Sec under TFG) must be furious.
I call him Dookie but nice to hear that he praised her.
Dear God, please grant Marlene's prayers.
💞💞💞💞💞💞
It's a win-win for democracy if both things happen at the same time -- that the TFG-backed candidate loses in the Republican primary, AND that Stacy Abrams soundly defeats Kemp in the general election. That's the optimal outcome (and of course, keeping the two Democrat senators in their seats). Now, if Georgia would just wake up and ditch the radicals in the State government who are holding its citizens hostage via a Republican-led (sorry, I mean right-wing radical-infested) legislature.
A girl can dream, can't she?
You can dream but the Democrats are going to get walloped as they ought to. As the 40 BILLION aid package to Raytheon I mean Ukraine just demonstrated, the anti-war component of the Democratic Party that used to exist during the Dubya years is gone. Everyone, aside from the most sheltered and privileged amongst us, can plainly see that the Democratic Party is a catastrophic lie. We have two right-wing parties to choose from in this country and right now, the "Democratic" one is worse.
Plop
Sadly, you have chosen to back the wrong people. I generally oppose war, but when a peaceful country is invaded by an authoritarian war monger, we need to defend.
The Dems are too beholden to corporate donors for my taste, BUT! And it's a very big but. Dems are pro democracy while Republicans are doing all they can to reduce and remove the people's voice by voter suppression and filling vote administration's with corrupt people who are willing to flip votes to candidates of their choosing.
If Trump had really won, Repubs wouldn't need to stack administrative positions with flunkies, nor would they need to suppress votes.
Respectfully, you are backing the wrong people. You really bought into the lie that the Democratic Party is "Pro Democracy" didn't you? Remember when we were lied into invading Iraq? That was supposed to be about "Spreading Democracy". Instead we spread death and destruction. How about Afghanistan? How did that turn out? How about when we armed extremist Islamic groups to fight the Syrian Government? Did we successfully spread Democracy then?
None of those wars would have happened without Democratic Party support. In fact, despite promises of "Hope and Change" the Democratic Party became full Neo-Con under Obama who started 3 new wars (Libya, Syria, Yemen) with US involvement and the expansion of an existing one, Afghanistan.
No madam, you are supporting the wrong people. Do you really think 40 BILLION to Raytheon I mean Ukraine is going to help bring about peace? This is not about peace. At the moment, the only opposition to this madness is in the Republican Party so if we have to choose the less rotten of two apples, I guess for now mine is red.
Time to wake up people! HRC I mean HCR is not your friendly historian. She is propagandizing you for profit.
So, you'll share your preferred slate of candidates?
Yessir, Republican Primary in Virginia is June 21st. I'd be happy to discuss with you please feel free to call (434) 284-2525 or email c.blundon@gmail.com
If you keep backing Republicans, you will soon find that we will have no elections at all. The fact that Trump and too many Republican members of congress helped plan and support the violent overthrow of our government should tell you something, but evidently, it does not.
P.S. George W. Bush, a REPUBLICAN President lied us into Iraq.
Cheryl , It appears that your intentions are well. Regarding your apparent confusion, I mostly blame the corporate propaganda that lies to you every day, but, If I'm being honest, I also blame you. Had you have had a consistent motivation to dig for and understand the truth yourself, I'm sure you would have succeeded. Instead it would certainly appear that you doubled down on your partisan worldview.
You seem to be unaware of the evil that you defend because you have been sheltered from the violence and propagandized your entire life. When I talk about evil in this context, I speak of that which leads to a form of suffering that is beyond comprehension, as a result of war . For our part, the suffering that arises from multiple foreign US-led wars of aggression without popular consent or real understanding: Vietnam, Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen and now Ukraine.
We have lived in a country that is responsible for having wrought untold suffering on populations across the globe. This has been a bi-partisan effort. I feel that it is my patriotic duty to ensure that my fellow citizens are free of propaganda and fully aware of the reality of this suffering such that future suffering might be mitigated with the goal of outright avoidance.
We were dealt this hand: Two corrupt parties. What is the way out of this mess? My take: Never pledge allegiance to either one. Go with whichever is the less evil at that particular moment. There are times in modern history when the Democratic Party has clearly been the more sinister of the two (LBJ massively escalating the Vietnam War, Clinton era sanctions on Iraq resulting in death of ~ 500,000 children) and vice-versa (Illegal invasion of Iraq under Dubya resulting in ~ 1,000,000).
I'm happy to talk to you about this in greater depth anytime. c.blundon@gmail.com
Yes, yes, yes and yes!
AMEN!!!
I, too, will miss Jen Psaki.
I am surprised that Dr Richardson switched to other topics so suddenly, with no further comment about Karine Jean-Pierre. K J-P bears more scrutiny. Her anti-Israel rhetoric concerns me as I wonder about the administration’s general stance on Israel. Time will tell, I hope this blog will keep an eye on her.
Remember the song Les Brown wrote. “Give Peace a Chance”?
Pat, Sorry, but John Lennon wrote "Give Peace a Chance". A link to the man himself singing it is below.
The next link is to the song sung in Ukraine in 2014 (the year Russia took a big bite of it.)
To hear the great Les Brown, deliver 'Your Dream is Possible", see the 3rd link below. After an improbable start, Les made his dream come true, and that's exactly what he wants for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayZbP6XCKoE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etYeu7gDlm8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHxbNEZwDvw
Fern, you knocked it out of the park. Fresh from a women's march and news of yet another terrorist murder of 10 innocent Black grocery shoppers by a tactical geared white supremacist, get out the tissues. Then get out the vote.
Ellie, I cannot write now -- it not tissues Ellie --unbearable. We'll talk.
Well I’ll be darned! The truth comes to the light of day despite excellent propaganda. Let that be a warning. She has a two hour head-start on most of us. Thanks for the truth again and the music.That damn Fern, I tell you.
Who be 'darned', you propagandist! You, Mr. Pat Cole, had a two hour head start to spread 'false news'. Soon, we hope, to be passe. In the past, got that? We want the TRUTH! Try, Pat, to 'Imagine' that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkgkThdzX-8
I had hoped Les Brown would bring you out. Now tell us some good news! This forum is ready for good news not squabbling over semantics.
Fern is such a fabulous rascal.
Yes, rascal
Honestly, reading & seeing news regarding the killing of an American-Palestinian journalist by Israel soldiers? Then the disruption (to put it mildly) of the funeral of that journalist? I think that changes many peoples views of Israel! Then there is the destruction of Palestinian homes?? And so much more. The underdog Israel has become the bully. Sadly, thats nothing new.
Yes Spooky. And for all second guessing Karine Jean-Pierre already, isn’t that just typical. Never do I see a male appointee to anything pre-judged so vociferously as women are. LETS SEE HOW SHE DOES AS PRESS SEC’Y become convening a jury. This is a day to praise and hold up women as high as you can.
Salud!
Ever so true! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Yeah Jen's propaganda was good, let's see if Karine can match!
"I will fix the grid.” – Beto O'Rourke
A short and sweet message that should be on billboards throughout the State of Texas!
I believe that Beto can fix Texas...the problem child. On more than one occasion, we've seen Texas wanting to go at it alone and listened to their tantrums of their quest for independence from the United States. We all know that cooperation builds strength and separation weakens. Texas needs to learn a lesson by observing the human body. Cells love working together in tandem to produce optimum health. What happens when a cell goes rogue? Cancer.
I like that Beto actually wants the job and is working hard to reach voters. He did the same in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate. He visited every one of 254 counties in the state--a daunting prospect given Texas' size. Some he visited more than once. He answers questions and treats people with respect. He's what we need.
Cruz cheated.
and fled to Cancun while people suffered....
Sophia.
I modified this post. Please see Barbara's post about 12 comments below this one with links to Beto O'Rourke's accomplishments and also comparing his accomplishments with Ted Cruz (which are nearly non-existent.
I think Beto O'Rourke would be better for Texas than anyo of the others who are running.
Do you count Beto’s actions during the winter grid failure? While Cruz fled and Abbott gouged, Beto organized a lot of people to check on their neighbors and if needed bring them to safety.
After watching Zelenski I realize that sometimes leaders are created in crisis and leadership emerges. Abbott needs to go.
Joan, thank you. Yes, this counts from my perspective.
Instead of asking what has he done, maybe you should be asking why not ask what has the current people done?
Seems like the people of TX don't seem to mind paying more money for bad decisions.
Look at the over priced electric bill of 26+ billion, the billions he lost with his stunt at the border and now that Mexican rail line (I think that was it) that I am sure will cost more billions.
Maybe think about helping Beto and making sure he hires experienced people to help him.
The governor, much like the president doesn't really do the actual work, it's the people that they hire that does it.
So instead of talking about what he hasn't done talk about what he can.
What exactly do you have to lose?
By the way, I was planning on moving to TX after my husband passes so I could be close to my grandson. Those plans are on hold because I can't move to a state that treats it citizens like they do.
Beth, I like the idea of focussing on what the existing governor has not done, and, of course that is a lot and if I include what he has done, Gerrymandered to minimize the minority votes in Harris County and around Austin, then it looks even worse.
But, I also think it is reasonable to want to see someone who has a history of accomplishment go into leadership. It bodes well.
I know, we have history of electing people with no accomplishments: Reagan, Bush II, Trump, BUT, look what happened after those low accomplishment folks got in power.
They DID hire people. People who knew how to rip us off and steal us blind.
Hiring people and hiring the right people are two different things. Trump's cabinet was physically the ugliest group of people I've ever seen--because they were ugly on the inside, focused on deconstructing the government by destroying watchdogs so that they could enrich themselves as much as possible...yeck....
All those you mention were Republicans.
I would argue that a D in front of the name does not assure competence, capability, or good intentions. Trump did hire people who were competent in the jobs they were hired to do, they just went doing the jobs we thought they were doing, and in the public interest.
Gerrymandered in Tarrant county too......
You got it Beth--surrounding yourself with the right people is the key. I feel for your trepidation about moving to TX. The political polarization in this country is affecting people to the point that they are moving to states more conducive to their leanings. I have two friends whose relatives moved to TX after drinking the QAnon koolaid. If, God forbid, the worst case scenario happens in this country, my husband and I are planning to infiltrate Vancouver, Canada, via friends....
according to a good many columns written many years ago, by Ms. Ivins, the governor doesn't have as much power as the lieutenant governor. Beto needs to surround himself with experienced people and hope a strong supporter wins the "Lite Guv" office. Of course that could have changed in the 20 to 30 years since I first read about Texas' strange governmental arrangements.
I miss Molly. She knew the Texas “‘leg” so well and did satire/inform with excellence.
I honor her, and Ann Richard, and Jim Hightower, and some others who had the courage to speak up.
To some degree, I think, but mainly because the current gov represents the interests of those who look after their own interests. Texas has had some very good people as gov, who were trashed the whole way. Johnson, though not a perfect man, somehow emerged from that system with the ability to use his political talent to support a set of programs that enhanced human dignity. The overflow from the war in Viet Nam (and his personal shortcomings) did him in politically. He was a good lesson that sometimes a flawed human being can be a better choice than someone who presents as a savior. Later on, GW was the pure product of the distorted Texas way of doing things, and carried it right into the White House. Between Reagan's legacy and his, our political culture changed. In Texas, it kind of looks like a continuing downward spiral since then. Sad when you think of some of the really fine individuals who have been part of Texas politics and then discarded.
Propaganda works, Karl Rove knows
Bad when both are MAGAt idjits
We are looking purple
💪🏽
Here is some information. What is frustrating is that it took me all of 5 minutes to research O'Rourke. I hope the people of Texas can see a clear difference between O'Rourke, Abbot and Cruz. It only takes a minute to look into issues.
"Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) voter mobilization organization launched a new voter registration tool on Thursday, days after the Texas legislature approved a controversial elections overhaul bill that many say will restrict access to the ballot box.
The group, Powered by People, launched the “Drive-to-You” program, an on-demand voter registration service that will allow eligible Texas voters to register to vote from their homes.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/570567-beto-orourke-launches-a-voter-registration-tool-allowing-texans-to-register/#:~:text=Beto%20O%E2%80%99Rourke%20launches%20tool%20allowing%20Texas%20voters%20to%20register%20at%20home
and
Over their six years in Congress, what have Cruz and O'Rourke gotten done? We dug into their legislative histories and asked both men for their top accomplishments in the Capitol.
https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/02/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-congressional-accomplishments-texas/#:~:text=Ted%20Cruz%20and%20Beto%20O%E2%80%99Rourke%20entered%20Congress%20at%20the%20same%20time.%20Here%E2%80%99s%20what%20they%20have%20accomplished.
Barbara.
Thank you.
I will send these links to folks I know in Texas.
Also, these links are really very good.
Lastly, apology for bringing on a sense of frustration. My own search, which I did do, did not turn up much at all.
Mike, you asked an honest, sincere question, and it was answered. This is exactly the discourse we need on this forum.
Miselle, I did try to find stuff but maybe my searches were not good.
I wasn't fussing at you Mike. Just venting in general. Sorry.
Barbara,
Everything you did was exactly correct. I appreciate your kind post with good information.
I modified my post to reference yours.
Well done and thank you again.
Powered by people, my favorite monthly donation…
Thank you.
Send him the support of a few good electrical engineers. It is only the quality of individuals who work for you that will bridge the gaps. The leadership of a man is found in the people he chooses.
It is the team you build that makes it happen. Back in the day I ran a team that put in a new 5 stand hot mill, in today's dollars a half billion project. We took out the old mill and put in the new in 45 days 10 and a half hours. What did I do? I got the signs made and installed that put the company name on the side of the mill. The team of about 20 did the project. Plus all of the production folks kept the rest of the plant running during those 45 days.
If you have been on a commercial aircraft in the last 30 years you flew on metal rolled on that mill. It the team that did this, I just built the team.
Hot mill. One piece of Hot Shot Leadership! You are the right stuff.
Annie D Stratton (VT, PacNW)
just now
It strikes me that what you did at the outset was provide a focus, and identity for your project that your team could identify with, a prerequisite for teamwork. And gave it visibility and purpose. Going to assume you also had support from the community which makes a big difference too. Big difference in scale, but good basic principle. I think that's pretty much what Biden is doing. It strikes that in spite of the obstacles and brickbats constantly being thrown his way, he continues to respect the ability of his team to handle things, and sets the tone for success.
What you say is focus true and the project itself was an out growth of a board modernization plan that I was part of leading up to this project. One of the interesting things was that in many ways the team itself was made up of "rejects". The lead electrical engineer was a very quite, but experienced engineer that turned out to be very creative and very effective at building relationships with a foreign suppler. His old boss was happy to give him up and the team was happy to have him. (He didn't fit "the mold" so to speak.) The lead mechanical engineer was just considered too young to do the job - but once again very creative and very hardworking. The piping designer was this "old guy" from the corporate design department that just wanted to move back to his home town for his coming retirement. Damn he was good and fit right in. Same with the assigned purchasing agent that handled all of the local suppliers and contractors. The mill was designed and built in Germany by an outstanding supplier and one of the key team building aspects was taking team members to Germany - for a week or in some cases 2 weeks. Nothing helps build a team like getting them away from home for a short period and just being with other team members and building one on one relationships with each other and with members of the suppliers team. Besides German beer is really good.
One other thing, I had the experience of living with our young family in Wales working with very difficult technical problems in a plant there. You get a chance to learn that just because the way you would do things "at home" isn't the only way things can be done. People that are different from you doesn't mean that they can't be just as effective as you can be.
Jeeze Mike. I am half way across the South Fork of the Flathead river pulling 8 loaded mules. Why don’t I just rein that lead mare to a halt and see how many of them hot mountain canary’s decide to roll? Been there done that! Bad decision to pull a halt now. How bout we get on to camp before we start running into more downfall?
Agree Pat. No CEO knows every skill needed for her/his span of control. She/he hires good people.
You are so right,Barbara. Most of the accolades and successes CEOs get come from outstanding individuals who work for them. In my own businesses I hired the best I could find. Their well earned accolades make me look purty smart.
And I'll bet you did not take credit for their work like some bosses I've had.
But they sure think they do. And many can’t abide a smart woman.
Absolutely!!
…and gets rid of the wrong people too.
He can simply do what has been done in El Paso. Tie the grid to the federal system, diversify the sources of power to Texas.
Or...doesn't the Sun ever shine in Texas? So there must be a way to make solar energy there a d shut down the disfunctional grid.
Yes, experience and accomplishments matter, but, character matters more. That’s the quality I’m looking for in candidates.
And the Democrats’ tendency to find fault in our own doesn’t serve us well. We need to support and protect decent candidates willing to enter the brutal ring of politics.
That’s nail on the head. First don’t be cruel or corrupt.
Ain’t that the truth…
Yes!
Geez Louise--look at what's the alternative! For God's sake, I've never had political experience, but I can be governor of Texas! All one has to do is pick the right people and cheerlead. Beto is a one-man-band....
He’s not Abbott, he has a fire in the belly, go Beto.
Mike, I've been thinking about your post. Zelensky had very little political experience before he was elected President of Ukraine, although he did have significant business and creative accomplishments. Imo, Beto should run on an anti-corruption campaign as Zelensky did, perhaps combined with a "pro-democracy in Texas" platform. Anti-corruption is a courageous stance and it resonates with people deeply. Russia is a good example of the danger of no effective opposition to corruption, right? I see Sandra has mentioned Zelensky also. Imo, your Texan friends would do well to shift their focus from Beto's bio to the deeper issues facing their state.
I am unfamiliar with what Abbott had accomplished before he was elected. Definitely he has accomplished some of the extreme right agenda items since.
Mike is not saying HE thinks Beto would not be a good governor, he saying the PEOPLE of TX might not think he'll be a good governor because he doesn't have a lot of important accomplishments. And, because of that, he might not be a good candidate because he might not be able to beat the Republican. It's an excellent point. Democrats need to consider electability I'm the general election. They didn't with Hillary and look what happened.
Hillary was eminently qualified, but, decades of Republican lies caused voter mistrust. Unfortunately many Democrats and independents believed those lies. And still she won the popular vote, but, sadly not the electoral votes. All Democrats need to back our candidates regardless of who we would have preferred. Stop shooting ourselves in the foot.
She called deplorables deplorables and was trashed for it. Never a more appropriate truth
But that was such an ignorant move that cost her so many votes. She put her ego above all else.
Bernie savaged Hillary—splitting creating the destructive chasm we have today.
BS. He had different opinions than she did. The savaging came via the media, looking to pit one candidate against another.
Hind sight is 100 per centavos. Hillary won! The election was stolen! Or is that just “owning the libs”? I think the world of Mike who built his empire in the Empire State. The toughest venue in planet USA. But the father of the bride should be on time for the wedding.
HRC should have changed gender to please plenty of men I know. WTH
She didn't need to wear a toga and testify, although her tetification put many men to shame. She still is a leader.
It's not hindsight, it's intelligent analysis. We Democrats get too insulated in our own world. In 2016, I was a Conservative Republican who was sick of the Republican establishment and the establishment in general. I planned to vote for Bernie, but like many, I never would have voted for Hillary. I am now a Progressive. I would vote for her now but only as an absolute last resort. And speaking of stealing elections, I believe there were bad actors involved in the Primaries and that Bernie would have won had those bad actors not done what they did.
Congratulations you and millions came to the same conclusion. As did I. Except….. I recognized Trump and chose the lessor of my 2 evils. While I was unhappy She was competent, capable, and far and away more presidential. Not a hard choice at all in hindsight!
Bernie would have won in a fair contest. No doubt.
What exactly was/is the problem with Hillary?
He’s got my vote!
A lot of things get fixed when a leader puts the needs and wants of the people ahead of her or his own.
I think it was HST who said that great things can be accomplished if who gets the credit is not an issue, or something like that
Texas grid independence is just a smokescreen for giving contracts to their friends who in turn donate to their campaigns.
Exactly
Check this out, he’s about as genuine and passionate as they come: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cda4_YoLHwm/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
I know he’s passionate. My sons and I went to one of his rallies in Charleston when he was running for President. I think he would be great if elected AND had solid democratic support under him in the Tx legislature. That’s where so many well-intentioned governors get screwed. Things have gotten that bad all over.
Yes, very true, hoping also to get rid of Lt. Gov. Patrick who's equally corrupt and replace him with Mike Collier - a phenomenal candidate!
I so agree with your wonderful comparison to the body being made by cooperating cells and comparing rogue cells to cancer. I tend to think of humans as strange, undifferentiated cells, keeping the comparison. We can clump together to do something good, otherwise we just wander around trying to stay out of trouble.
Even slime (one cell) can do better than we do (The Secret Mind of Slime, NOVA, PBS). Best NOVA n years…
As in Koch and the cattle industry
That’s good to know. Thanks.
Excellent comment, Sophie.
My husband is an engineer in power generation, in the field for 40 years. He says nobody can fix the Texas grid. It's going to take a great deal of federal legislation to even make it functional, something that most Texans will not support, and certainly not the powerful in Texas, stuffing their pockets.
Holly,
I am sure there is some real difficulty in "fixing" the Texas grid since it is truly a deadly mix of bad engineering and corruption.
But, it is not impossible. It would just require:
1. Getting rid of the corruption.
2. Then, committing to long term re-engineering of subsystems and systems.
3. As the engineering goes complete, construction would streamline behind it.
BUT, the hardest part of the above?
Number 1: Getting rid of the existing corruption.
Because, a LOT of people are getting rich and staying rich off the current mess.
Yes, get rid of the existing corruption is the necessary start and where greeds are involved, they will be reluctant to let go of ill gotten gains. However, it needs to happen, so we will be donating to Beto. I am thinking now about my grandfather who went many places as the head of a crew building large boilers for power. I have no idea if he actually did some of the building.
That's a good list, but absent what I've read so far? Texans must be willing to pay to fix the system. They have consistently voted to 1) reduce costs in lieu of quality and long-game risks 2) fill their flood absorbing sponges around Houston, and 3) protect industry over citizens in regard to toxic chemical releases.
Medicaid picks up the tab for the impoverished citizens downwind battling cancer. The National Flood Program picks up the tab every time Houston floods. Interestingly, Texas is absolutely fine with federalizing risk. They are not willing to pay for a reliable grid and may have been caught off guard when the rest of the country couldn't come to the rescue with the electricity problems.
Repubs have cheated for decades, and have no intention of stopping. But we try
Texans definitely don't want to be taxed. But, as Houston nears 101F in MAY, lets see if keeing the grid lit becomes a priority.
And THAT is exactly why Beto won't be able to fix the grid.
Mike, thanks.
daria, thank you as well.
The best part of the Texas power problems is companies needing reliable power will think twice about relocating there. That and the culture wars—wait until vigilantes go after tech employees, accusing them of having out of state abortions.
I agree. We might be more successful helping the Republican nation realize the features and benefits of progress over regression rather than our current failing philosophy of calling them losers and stupid. How many advertisers call their target audience unsavory. Perhaps we should instead offer them a value approach and give them the respect with which we allow them to choose. I don’t mean to be cheesy here like selling vacuums. Instead we are a political option, a party that offers an agenda with many of the bells and whistles people, of both parties need. As long as the Republican leadership has come out representing themselves as the do nothing party, the going nowhere party, and the party taking away, we might as well put forward our better options allowing them a choice. If we give them their respect back and squelch some of our rhetoric I feel strongly that many will begin to realize we have a better platform. This is a matter of choice, perhaps we should take advantage.
Thanks, Pat. Well said. I've been saying much the same thing for years (and so has Heather). So very tired of name calling that gets us nowhere and just displays the egotistical superiority felt by too many people who think of themselves as liberal but are not. They end up boxing all of us into a corner.
Yes Annie. We should go back to love and logic.
Pat, I appears that you live in one of the hubs of the ultra-conservative, right-wing's reach for control. The primary between Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin and Gov. Brad Little is this Tuesday. Do you have a perspective about this struggle for power? Both sides (Republicans) are very much to the right, with one side seeming to want independence from the federal government.
'A Fracture in Idaho’s G.O.P. as the Far Right Seeks Control
Ahead of a primary vote, traditional Republicans are raising alarm about the future of the party, warning about the growing strength of militia members, racists and the John Birch Society.'
'BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — At a school gymnasium in northern Idaho, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin regaled a crowd with stories of her feuds with the current governor, a fellow Republican, including the time when he briefly left the state and she issued a mutinous but short-lived ban on coronavirus mask mandates.'
'Gov. Brad Little had worked in recent years to slash taxes and ban abortion, but for Ms. McGeachin and the hundreds gathered at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the John Birch Society in late March, the governor was at cross purposes with their view of just how conservative Idaho could and should be.'
'They clapped as one candidate advocated “machine guns for everyone” and another called for the state to take control of federal lands. A militia activist, who was once prosecuted for his role in an infamous 2014 standoff with federal agents in Nevada, promised to be a true representative of the people. A local pastor began the meeting with an invocation, asking for God to bless the American Redoubt — a movement to create a refuge anchored in northern Idaho for conservative Christians who are ready to abandon the rest of the country.'
“We’re losing our state,” said Ms. McGeachin, who is now seeking to take over the governor’s job permanently. “We’re losing our freedoms.”
'The bitter intraparty contest between Ms. McGeachin and Mr. Little, set to be settled in the state’s primary election on Tuesday, reflects the intensifying split that is pitting Idaho’s conventional pro-gun, anti-abortion, tax-cut conservatives against a growing group of far-right radicals who are agitating to seize control of what is already one of the most conservative corners of the Republican Party in the country.'
'The state has long been a draw for ultraconservatives disillusioned with the liberal drift in other parts of the nation, many of them settling off the grid in the mountains of northern Idaho or among like-minded people in towns like Bonners Ferry. Over the years, the Idaho panhandle has been home to white supremacist groups and people ready to take up arms against the U.S. government. Such groups and their allies have been particularly wary of the changing nature of Idaho’s cities, including the legions of other newcomers responding to a booming job market in Boise.' (NYTimes) Link to the article is gifted.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/us/idaho-republican-primary-little-mcgeachin.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWka3DIDm8fiPkORImM8kfKILBuf8Y52zWQTdkEKKUuQfVo36pbPlBxTwTtp5CLlZ0OIyQz74KvW2d8l7T8YYcFyx64JG-oNLU4g7SloxONNDX3X_DZ2HB1JQ96oZAxJUWti3AM2vzFF-Fq24R61f4iU5EqRTpWdzDK66ezc2h2O9SCahzY6AckCaoOCXyIw4nqu_9Xex5SCFnGUHp4_W47jdtaM9kRN6z8RAUyLIu82f5CTzw1c_r6QsE5VIPWlL51sLHSqRHqyMe-xfg-Fq08r6ol_YggLy30G-oa6J6IIa50&smid=url-share
My son is a nuclear engineer, he concurs Holly.
Hi Holly, I completely understand that no one can fix the Texas Grid. I think, however, it is a great slogan desIgned to get people's attention and address the environment of failure and corruption prevelant in Texas today.
The most common mental disorder in the United States is anxiety, which affects about 40 million adults or about 18.1% of the population. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable; however, less than 40% of those suffering (36.9%) receive treatment.
...
Mental Health Statistics by State 2022.
State % of Adults
Virginia 5.53%
Texas 5.28%
Alaska 5.20%
Tennessee 5.17%
46 more rows
And why is the TX grid such a mess? Because they went rogue....
Is it that bad?
Beto will "fix" all of Texas as well. Abbott is a disgrace....vying with deathSantis for biggest disgrace.
DeSantis is fascist. Abbott is Far far right extremist.
Or a billboard of Abbot, “I alone haven’t fixed it”
Good one!
Was that a most excellent statement no one can argue with? Go Beto!!
Ya hear that Mad Dog, get to it…
Good morning, Daria. Good to see you here.... Hope all is well there in Mexico.
Hey Pam! Good Sunday!! I thought I replied yesterday but my internet is acting very oddly the last couple of days🌷❤
Glad to know all is well. Hope the internet is back behaving.
Agree 1000%. What better is there to say, Beto?
Gov Abbott, “ I will redirect the Jewish Space lasers to a solar farm outside Waco to fix the grid”
Direct it to the state capitol
🤣
Thank you for your observations on Kemp; this highlights that what some call “Reasonable Republicans” (I dubbed them “Remorseful Republicans” — for having held their noses and embraced Trump when his poll numbers read well) are still enemies of fair elections, enemies of the welfare of the people (he’s against taxation for reasonable services a government should provide), and enemies of freedom (bodily autonomy among freedoms enshrined in the Preamble of our Constitution). They simply back a slightly different stank of fascism than Trump’s clownish Gröpenführer persona.
The “good guys” ain’t good
It’s really terrifying when Kemp is the relative good guy.
In local races here in northern Michigan, we are seeing candidates advertise they are "moderate Republican" as they go up against incumbent tRumpers in the primaries. The Split!
Except it’s Diet Coke vs Coke One or whatever. No choice.
There are virtually no truly moderate Rs as they have all bought into the mantra of the party of death. Years ago I could feel OK voting for Rs like Mark Hatfield, but I have voted a straight D ticket for many years now. Our election day is Tuesday and the turnout (vote by mail easy) is putrid. Hopefully it will pick up in the remaining days.
Same here. In those days, Packwood and Hatfield worked for what was best for Oregon; we also had some decent Republican governors. Even though I never voted for him, I always appreciated Gordon Smith, who made it a point to meet with Ron Wyden and often the two of them walked into the senate together.
I voted for Norma Paulus who I actually met once. I also met the Packwood lawyers after he got into trouble being a jerk with women. That was too bad because both he and Hatfield did well by Oregon. I never voted for a R for president having lived through Nixon and Ray Gun. I have been registered as a R a few times especially the first time I signed up to vote as my dad stood over to me to make sure I did. I remember thinking that I had no intention of voting R in most races as I did it.
As a fellow Oregonian, I hear and feel you.
Have read that Oregon's turnout (all mail-in or drop-off ballots) could be a record low. Depressing.
I hope that people are going to vote this weekend and Monday and Tuesday. A lot of people do put it off.
**meekly raises hand-**
Yes, hope.
It might help that ballots postmarked on Tuesday will be counted if received within a week later. New rule.
Yes, and I hope that helps.
I read the entire Oregon election pamphlet. I'm neither Dem nor GOP, so I didn't get to lodge a vote for the primary. Non-partisan positions and measures did not generate much political traction. I voted anyway, but it's the general election that matters most here.
Very
It is an indication of Joe Biden’s executive abilities that in the midst of inflation, the Ukraine invasion, a lingering pandemic, and the constant barrage of stink bombs thrown in his direction from the GOP, that he still looks to the future by reaching out to our Asian neighbors.
I am not ready, at this point, to label Joe Biden a great president, but I will call him a goddamn good one.
Yet, David Gergen is on PBS trashing all the oldsters, some of whom are helping democracy hang on by a thread. Me thinks he is more partisan than he pretends. Can we just end one crisis (well, an onslaught) before inviting more instability. That said, he had a point, just his timing is worse than bad…
I beg to differ. Gergen wasn't "trashing all the oldsters". He was simply saying that it's time for us to step aside and let younger more agile minds lead. It doesn't have to be a "wipe out" for our generation. Just a recognition that someone who is 40, 50 or 60 will have fresher skills and a sharper mind. Time to hand the batons off to them before they are old farts, too.
THE single biggest issue that draws support away from Joe Biden - a man who IMO is doing an exemplary job - is his age and stumbling speech. You and I know he has always had a speech impediment. But many Americans see him as "doddering". Sad but true.
I am 75 and I still participate in leadership roles. But I know that I and everyone I have met who is this age (plus or minus 5 years) do not have the same stamina, sharp memory or awareness of current technology that someone 20 or 30 years younger could have.
And I think the Democrats would attract a lot more younger voters if Biden, Pelosi and Schumer would gracefully step aside when the time is right. There are a lot of bright rising stars who believe as we do who will fill the void instantly. They are being held back.
Raskin, Booker, Schiff, Abrams, Demmings, Bass, etc.
Less a matter of being held back as waiting until they are ready. People my age are in the process of getting things in place for younger people (though there are some who hang on because they are used to status quo). All those you named and more at national level. More at the state and local level. The problem has been getting more people in those younger age groups involved to strengthen the base. It's the kids who are really active. I don't think many people, including most of the folks on this forum, realize how very critical the local and state races are to preparation for 2024. Mid-terms historically have lower turn-outs because of the unfortunate emphasis on national races. But this one in particular has potentially historic outcomes.
BTW, thanks to whoever posted the Beto O'Roarke speech. I'm not on Instagram and tend to avoid Twitter, so might not have picked it up. Dynamic. I love that he spoke directly to the audience about things that mattered to them, without leaving out the underlying factors. We need more of that kind of thing. Biden also speaks this way though his style is more low-key. I hope we don't get too far into the "style" assessment trap of response, which ends up hurting everybody.
I do agree with you, particularly with the quality of people you've cited, but I'm also on the side of the wise old sage....
❤️👍😎🇺🇦
They are riding. That’s what is important. Everything with truth is dynamic now, not static as the other viewpoint.
I don't think anyone had the knowledge or experience to deal with foreign issues as does Biden. The younger ones have their strengths but I don't see another Pelosi anywhere.
Who’s doing the holding back? Just asking. Are you sure these legislators even want to move on up? Maybe they feel they are being more effective where they are at this moment?
This could be true in some cases. My point is that our biggest challenge is to get younger people to vote. They are hardly inspired by we elders. We need a JFK.
We had one in Barack Obama but then far too many people of all stripes sat out the 2010 midterms which, of course was a disaster for the rest of his presidency and the recoil that was tfg.
Felt his timing was a gift to MAGAts, as one older than you, I feel that I lose my focus as is evident by my posts, but I can still call evil evil.
Agreed on his timing. I was hoping for Warren, myself. BTW, you call out evil quite well and I appreciate your posts.
I love Warren, but she’s poison to too many in the middle
Just like HRC was, will we never learn. Has anybody ever read the positive traits for male CEOs and the negative traits for women in the workplace. Forceful v aggressive, blah, blah, blah
Excellent suggestions of ones to step up/take over. Gives hope.
True
I have seen PBS and NPR leaning more right these past few years.
I sometimes feel the same. But when I really look at why I get upset at some of the personalities on those stations, it's because I want them to stop being so "fair" attempting to present both sides. Basically they are trying to strike an old fashioned balance of views. The problem is that times have changed and we are in a civil war.
The other side is saying and doing horrific things. And they are not getting called out enough. I think Judy Woodruff is an example of someone who could be more challenging. I think it would be great if she were to step back and let someone like Amna Nawaz lead the show. Judy could continue to do special reporting.
All that being said I would not like to see public broadcasting become an MSNBC. I like what Rachel says - usually. But that's not what I want on PBS or NPR.
I don't think they are trying to play both sides. Like NYT and Washington Post they are trying to save their hides if the Republicans gain power and institute fascist controls on the media. It's up to NPR to preserve their tradition. I can't abide the overwhelming number of commercials. They are going the way of Corporate greed. How can an organization fund raise twice a year AND have commercials AND Government support?
Judy Woodruff needs to leave. She is not changing with the times. This is not our Grandmother's NPR or World. I can say this because I am in my 70's.
MSM seems to be unable to defend against attacks on democracy. They respond to trivial and significant "talking points" with the same sense of urgency.
200%
Attempted like
Chump really changed the game with that “both sides crap.” Rupert Murdoch couldn’t be more pleased as he sees MSM follow his lead
Exactly so.
👍❤️
👍❤️
Gergan said on PBS that just after WWII was the apex of American culture. Yeah, for white males. Women couldn’t buy a car without a “responsible male co-signing, a husband could beat and rape his wife, and I haven’t even gotten to people of color. Rose colored hindsight
Well said. While he made a good point about letting younger folks lead, his memories of the post WWII world was warped by his privileges.
I took part in a conference in Copenhagen this past weekend, with a few dozen educators, psychologists, futurists, community activists, and governmental officials across Europe. Five of our colleagues from Finland were there, so I asked them about NATO accession. Of the five, four said they'd always been against it until now. One told me she considers herself mostly a pacifist, but also feels they have no choice now, given Russia's actions (and history). All five firmly backed Finland's direction to join.
(Sweden)
Had you been talking to any Swedes I guess you would have gotten the same kind of answers. Although, we are raising our eyebrows at Erdogan's dealings: aha! we would be allies to Erdogan's Turkey too. The possibility of being allied to Trump's America after 2024 hasn't really been seen over the horizon yet.
Swedish non allied policy is going back to 1818, when the new king (Bernadotte) decided to form a union with Norway instead of trying to conquer Finland back from Russia, which some of his protagonists had hoped for. His argument, as one of Napoleons former generals, was sober enough: even if Sweden could win Finland back he would never be able to hold that long border to Russia. So, a union with Norway was a kind of substitute. A union that the Norwegians were able to vote themselves out of in 1905, without any bloodshed.
Now, when Putin's Russia is openly aiming at an empire from the Pacific to the Atlantic, the easiest Atlantic naval base to get would be on the Swedish west coast; as long as we are non allied. Swedes have been kidding themselves that we are 'serving peace' and standing by Finland with being non allied. When Lavrov is telling us to 'serve peace' and Finland is going ahead of us, it's time Sweden wake up to realities.
No, there were no Swedes there, but you're likely correct. Two of the Finns I spoke with were raised during the middle of the Cold War, had grandparents who'd fought the Russians in '39. One guy used to visit one of the islands off Porkkala, where the Soviets maintained a naval base (by treaty) until 1956. More recently (2018, here: https://taskandpurpose.com/bulletpoints/russian-military-island-bases-finland/), the Finns conducted a series of 17 raids on 100 island/coastal locations to snuff out clandestine Russian attempts to gain secret footholds for future military endeavors. So, for them, this is VERY real now. Russia has tried bullying Sweden in recent years as well, but I'm not sure with things that "real."
I suspect Sweden is timing their decision in-step with Finland's. I could be wrong, but my guess is both countries' militaries will welcome this. Several years before France's political masters could bring themselves to allow France back into NATO's military side, its military badly wanted to do so--the advantages in sharing transportation workloads and C4I alone make it a boon for those armed forces.
Erdogan is, as Heather noted, trying for his own wanted concessions, and of course heavily-considering his own self-inflicted domestic issues. At least he's the dictator we can keep close (and yes, can influence a bit when we need to). Unlike Orban, Erdogan and Turkey are important strategically, and much more than just a pain in our butt.
I wouldn't call it "Trump's America," regardless what happens in 2024. It will either not happen and he, personally at least, will start to fade away for good (this is a mixed bag. Pence and his ilk are certainly much more respectful of rule-of-law. They are also more-capable politicians and perhaps capable of keeping The Too-Far Right viable for longer), or we will see something much worse--think it's that bifurcated. I honestly think it's 55-45.
Like Sweden, Middle America will have to wake up to the fact that the existentially-threatened Right will not fade away by choice or force of nature alone. Or not. We can certainly continue to be disengaged, quiet and passive; continue to allow fringes on the Right AND Left (yes, we just hear less about them) dictate our future because we can't be bothered. They (the Too-Far Right) will have to be shown the door--firmly, legally, and possibly at times in a full-nelson; hopefully without a fist to the face. We can do it by fully-activating a voter base that would defeat Trump and his ilk quite-decisively...or continue to never hit 70% of voting in our electorate (no matter what the stakes or what events have occurred. We hit 67% in 2020 and speak of this like it's amazing) yet somehow wish things were different. Beatings will continue until morale improves.
On Swedish Radio today was a former Trump official saying he thinks Trump is going to continue saying he will run for the presidency, but is unlikely to do it because what he fears most of all is being a looser (again, and he knows it). Thanks for your posts
Well, it's interesting. I think a lot of Republicans would LOVE for the prospects of him winning in '24 to be so bad that he does exactly that (guys like Pompeo, Christie, etc). It's hard to know what will happen. I agree that Trump (who's a wuss, make no mistake) will avoid a can't-win scenario--but it would have to be painted to him by his OWN PEEPS in strongly-convincing narratives, repeatedly over months. The man is a relentless narcissist who continually re-gravitates to his own internal narrative, regardless of physical facts. There are still legions of Trump sycophants in the GOP; worse, most of them firmly believe that Trump-alone can cohere their freakazoid, diverse base (the one Heather pointed out just the other day) and have any chance at winning. Sadly (and ironically), they might be right. Best case is, he runs, 73% of our electorate actually vote, and is defeated so decisively (say, by 18 million votes) it can't be contested. Problem is, there are ~50-70 million Americans for whom 7 million votes weren't enough already. Worst case is Trump legitimately but narrowly wins the electoral vote but loses the popular vote by >8 million. I think we'll be in another civil war before the end of the decade if that happens; I really do.
Republicans cheat, cheat, cheat
So at least one trump official knows tfg lost!! "Big steal" my hiney. Honest votes are what they steal. Tfg will never get over that Hillary got millions more votes than he did, despite the rigging his party inflicts.
And saying so allows him to pocket gullible voters’ $$$
That's true and actually the main reason he ran for president in the first place--when he first threw his hat in the ring, even he never imagined he could win. Now, with the legal battles he faces et al, he NEEDS the money. This is what his SM endeavors are for as well--a way to obtain cash, first and foremost, but also keep his name perpetually in the media.
I dream
What HCR didn't mention and you maybe alluded to with Erdoğan's "self-inflicted domestic issues" is specifically why he's against Finland and Sweden joining NATO. It's about the Kurds again. Both Sweden and Finland, like The Netherlands, have offered themselves as havens for the PKK, or the Kurdish Communist party. Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organisation. (They were responsible for some bombings in Turkey in the '80s and '90s.) The Kurds have been a thorn in the side of Turkey since forever, and their desire for autonomy within Turkey continues to be a problem. That other EU countries recognise the Kurds and the PKK has long been a sticking point between the EU and Turkey. In my time in The Netherlands I remember many demonstrations by the PKK--in fact there was a big one in Amsterdam the last time I was there in 2019. (It was over the arrest/imprisonment of a Kurdish resistance leader in Turkey, or something...I confess, I knew nothing about it.) Having 2 more countries in NATO with seeming sympathies with the Kurds rankles Turkey. So I do wonder if the US and others can maybe placate Erdoğan and Turkey by giving them a bunch of arms. Maybe.
Sweden's and Finland's issue with Turkey is up on the table. At first it seemed to be a matter of Turkey holding a key to reach other goals. Now it seems to be a about different views of different parts of the Kurdish minority, and Sweden and Finland are not alone among other NATO countries in who is to be considered terrorist and which are legitimate minority organisations among the Kurds.
The British empire left the Kurds divided between Iraq, Iran and Turkey on purpose. They knew the Kurds had a strong sense of cultural identity, a language of their own, and capacity to fight for themselves. Enough to be not only a thorn in the side, but a pain in the ass of all three countries; creating the desired destabilization of the region. Also possible allies for interventions by other countries, latest used by the US and Syria to defeat ISIS, which left the Kurds as always saying: The mountains are only friends.
Turkey may be right in their claim that PKK activists have found refuge in Sweden, but Erdoghan is probably more worried that the Kurds have books printed in their language; all printed in Sweden, and other influences on civil society. Last I heard of a young Kurdish man, who had been living in Sweden for many years, and was about to bring his old uncle from Turkey to Sweden and felt the need to warn his uncle of the Swedish society: "you know they have same sex marriage, hbtq-rights and such.." The old man answered: "but that's what democracy is about, that's what we've been fighting for, everybody's right to be what they are."
I saw a report this morning that Turkey has been in talks with both Sweden and Finland that seem to be making progress. As I have read, both the US and the EU have officially labeled the PKK as a terrorist organisation, but the EU seems to get around outright banning the PKK by also considering them a political party? I've often wondered about that. They do have a presence in Holland as well, but they seem to have ceased with as much terrorist activity as they engaged in in the past. I completely agree that the Kurds have been consistently handed a bad deal by just about everybody. As an ethnic group they are scattered through a variety of countries (there are even different Kurdish ethnic groups within the Kurdish population) and because of that they have never really had their own homeland. That prospect has long been one of Turkey's greatest fears because they constitute a significant minority within Turkey's borders. Let's hope the talks are fruitful and Turkey's concerns can be dealt with.
The talks seem to be going on well, and the concerned EU official has evidently very good contact with Turkey, and speaks Turkish. France refused to accept Turkey as an EU member, and i think Erdogan's turning Turkey away from democracy and their secular constitution has started from that. Yes, the Kurds are said to be 12 millions, more than the population of Sweden, and to deny such a large group education and literature in their own language, I think is asking for terrorists. On the other hand the example from Mosul and the self governing Kurdish majority in that part of Iraq, is not so promising. It started out well with cooperation of different Kurdish groups and tolerance of minorities. After some time it was reported that different Kurdish groups were not cooperating very well, and there seems to have been growing intolerance and discrimination of others. Terrorist groups have been known to start "political branches", like northern Ireland, and I think that can be a way forward, even if it seems hypocritical. About the state of Israel I have been thinking that it is in need of outer enemies in order not to fall apart from inner conflict, and all Israeli foreign policy is in line with this. A Kurdish state would perhaps be in the same predicament.
The other thing I was inferring is that the Turkish economy is in BAD shape right now and possibly headed for major collapse.
And it's still ongoing, actually, including (at least as of a few years ago) attacks--we just don't hear about it. I was stationed there in 2014, and PKK remained a considerable problem at that time--one of the Turkish generals I had as a boss had known little else in his career. Really hard to say if there will be any transactional nod to Turkey here--I'm not current with US stances toward Erdogan's increasingly problematic rule. Their building of some of the very effective drones Ukraine is using now is partially a result of the U.S. not selling Predator to them about 12 years ago.
IMHO Trump brought the real Republican agenda out from under the rocks during his one term, while Pence et al are masterful at camouflaging the very attitudes, theocracy, distain for anyone not in their mold and fold that is their platform. Smug sincerity, now that Roe v Wade is toast, will give them the moral authority to leave Trump on the sacrificial alter while less dramatically pushing the agenda.
They would LIKE to do that, no doubt. Can they? I think that is very uncertain. For all his faults, Trump has two things--an innate sense of attracting media/social attention and a fearlessness in statement that he can back up by "just being Trump." Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of GOP pols who think (and have thought) over the past few years that they can use Trump to a certain point, then do exactly what you say (you can throw Ted Cruz into that group, for sure), but actually DOING it has proven harder than they thought. This is good, in a way--because at the end of the day, he is STILL Donald Trump. As a political historian stated during the period leading up to Jan 6 (yes, BEFORE), "Hitler didn't play golf."
Great point.
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Great post Olaf. Thanks.
Olof - a matter of curiosity. Where on Sweden's west coast? Browsing along the west coast, the only substantial port I see is Gothenburg. Is there/are there other naval bases on the Atlantic side of Sweden? On Google Earth, Gothenburg appears to be more of a commercial port.
I searched online to learn a bit more about the Swedish navy and found this interesting 2019 Guardian article. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/30/swedish-navy-returns-to-vast-underground-hq-amid-russia-fears
Thanks for your interest and curiosity. I didn't know about the revival of the Musko base, but on the other hand I hadn't heard of it being closed either. Russia's imperial dreams would be satisfied with conquering the southern part of Sweden, like Crimea and Donbas of Ukraine. I'm sure there is also a marine base on the west coast, but Musko and Karlskrona are both in the Baltic, which is priority for Sweden's defense. Russian access to the Atlantic through the Baltic is only via the narrow strait between Denmark and Sweden, that could easily be blocked.
Yes, I'm aware of that very narrow strait and how it can be defended by Sweden should there be a need to block Russian warships from exiting to the Atlantic from their base in Kaliningrad or St. Petersburg. I assume Sweden and Denmark could bar passage as has been done (more or less) with the Bosporus from the Black Sea. Putin really opened up a can of worms for Russia when he decided to invade Ukraine.
In 1994, I accepted my parents' invitation to join them for a Baltic Cruise. We entered the Baltic via the Kiel Canal. I no longer recall details of the return to England from the Baltic but assume it was via the strait you refer to as we stopped for a short day(!) (which is why I'm not a fan of cruise ships) in Copenhagen. Of course, we also stopped in St. Petersburg; my main impression other than the Winter Palace and the Fortress, was a grimy gray city. Hopefully, there have been good changes in the intervening years. Sad to think of that city now being cut off from the west once again.
My two favorite stops on the cruise were Talinn, Estonia and Helsinki. I still hold in my mind's eye the TV tower in Tallinn which Estonians successfully defended against Russian efforts to it over in 1991. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallinn_TV_Tower#1991_defense_of_Estonia
First paragraph, third sentence says it all…
Russia has just suspended electricity sales to Finland in retaliation for their intention to join NATO. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/14/world/russia-ukraine-war-news/russia-suspends-electricity-exports-to-finland-in-apparent-retaliation-for-helsinkis-nato-decision?smid=url-copy
Yes, something entirely anticipated. I have not yet seen what Finland will do, but they knew this was coming--I saw it mentioned three days ago.
Your comments today are so interesting, Robert. I love first hand accounts from people. I’ve never been to Finland. Have your travels taken you to that country, Robert?
Sorry to not respond earlier. They have not. I have only been to Denmark in Scandinavia and Lithuania in the Baltic States, so I have a lot of travelling still to do.
I've seen it mentioned, as well, in context that Finland has been preparing themselves for the likelihood of Russia cutting them off.
I like this paragraph from the NYT article: "Although Finland’s national grid operator said that the suspension had a minimal impact, with other suppliers able to meet the country’s energy needs, the swiftly unfolding events in Finland underscore how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is shaking up the military balance in Europe and backfiring on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia."
Thank you Heather.
I watched Jen Psaki's last press briefing. It made me feel proud that she held her ground and stayed above the fringe at these briefings for these many months. She was the face of the White House and did well considering she was face to face with those press members that felt their only intent was to derail her every day.
I wish her well on her next journey.
Someone needs to mess with Texas. This abomination of a State needs a shake down from top to bottom. Ann Richards would be very disappointed to see what it has become.
Be safe. Be well.
“Ann Richards would be very disappointed..,”
And Molly Ivin’s too!
I still grieve for both, as I have watched the unabated destruction
Very true.
Ah, yes. Ann Richards would indeed be so sad to see how her state of TX has sunk to the bottom of the swamp.
Pam, I often wonder how different this country would be if she were still here.
I agree, Linda. And, while her daughter, Cecile, is strong for women's rights, she doesn't hold a candle to her mom.
Ann Richards has joined Beto’s campaign.
I'd love to send Rand Paul's next door neighbor a baseball bat. (The one who punched him last year)
Maybe his neighbour has Ukrainian buddies.
WTF is he thinking? Trying to show us he's the jerk we know him to be, I guess.
Sorry, not liking the violent imagery. And frankly, we are shoveling a ton of money out the door -- it will be over $50 billion in two months. That really is a lot when you consider our other priorities. At this rate, how much more as the war grinds on? Is it taboo to ask if there are any limits?
Elon Musk’s priority was to spend $44billion so he could personally own Twitter. Maybe getting the wealthy to pay taxes would solve a few of our problems. Global warming won’t pause while we look for quarters under the sofa cushions.
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👎🏻 Get over it
Just as Repubs have no limits to tear down and trash Democracy for their own fascist version, how can a limit be set to preserve true democracy? Spend.
I don’t think it’s taboo at all, nor should it be. I support Ukraine and spending my taxes (in another country) on helping out, but your question on limits is absolutely something to be debated. Who would we be if we didn’t demonstrate the value and importance of debate and healthy disagreement? No better than Putin’s puppets.
Legitimate question, true. But when will other start wondering when do we get to take charge of the war given how much American money is going to it, bleeding us, while other domestic issues are not addressed. I just don't believe the atop by Paul is in good faith on his part.
Rand Paul: $40 billion on foreign aid? What a travesty! Elon Musk: $44 billion for Twitter is a small indulgence I can afford. Worth it to un-ban Trump and watch the fun.
Tfg will be happy to take charge, and give boss Putin his dream
Tonight’s letter gave me more hope than some of the recent ones. Perhaps it was Jen Psaki’s remarks about the importance of the press. Thank you for finding positive stories among the weeds!
Our MSM needs a reminder. I saw Gary Abernathy on PBS today spewing Rupert’s talking points. Literally made me heave…
Time to tell PBS and NPR that they lose our donations if they spew fascist party thoughts. That is anti-American and puts them in a dangerous place. Say it loudly.
Congress has already trashed their funding, we’re about all they have. Maybe they should remember that
Beware of revenge subpoenas coming back at you Democrats. We already know enough about Jan. 6, he thinks. Slimy little man.
They were coming whether the Dems issued subpoenas or not.
Remember, Brian Kemp oversaw his own election when he ran as Secretary of State for Governor of Georgia against Stacy Abrams. He was and is a crooked man.
Was it 56,000 voter registrations that got ‘lost’ in a desk drawer in Kemp’s department, preventing all those people from voting?
I have absolutely no kind words about this thief. What he did to Abrams was despicable! Like I said, I pray voters in GA hand her the governorship.
Let us not forget this.
ТЯцм₽ is doing more in Georgia than just backing political candidates. His party has election officials in line to skew the elections. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/13/trump-big-lie-georgia-election-officials
All over the South and then some…
Exactly. Pennsylvania’s state legislature is chock-full of schemers against democracy who “work” -against the people of their state- part-time, pay themselves handsomely (including gold-plated health insurance while people in rural areas have no teeth) to slop at the trough of frack-daddies from Texas (and a few home-growns) and banks and insurance companies.
As we’ve seen in most instances concerning trump…he attracts bumbling idiots who draw LOTS of attention to their actions.
In contrast to the trump reign of terror when I only watched the SNL versions of press conferences, I thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning these past 15 months. Jen Psaki is a real pro and the mutual respect in the press room was evident from day one. As much as Psaki will be missed, I look forward to tuning in to her successor, Karine Jean-Pierre.
Janet! You did EXACTLY what I did. I never watched the bad propaganda show that was a Trump "press conference". But, I always watched the SNL versions.
Was great!
😂. It was the only way to survive!
A split GOP is the best outcome in this moment as elections approach. The more acrimonious the better.These battles are going to play out state by state. The war really is establishment Republicans vs Trumpers. The battle lines are becoming VERY clear. Primary elections are where a species will eat it's own kind to survive. I'm really curious to see who attends this Bradley awards in DC on Tuesday night and what gets said from the podium and the round table they do. And what gets said off the stage. Last year Bill Barr was the most senior person from the former administration in the room...but he had no formal speaking role...and yes our crew all commented that he does look like Fred Flintstone in a suit.
Will be waiting for your intel on this awards ceremony, Mike!
This event has taken on a new meaning for me. I made the observation that my crew is like this little lib SEAL Team in the belly of the whale. The fact that the event is held in the Building Museum holds some irony. It's now dedicated to architecture and creating healthy and artful buildings and spaces...and historically it was built as the the Civil War pension building...to take care of the business of administrating payments to the US vets who won the Civil War fighting for Abe & Grant. So it was created to take care of the people who won the war run by the first Republican President. It's also haunted. www.nbm.org
I have a vague memory of visiting that museum eons ago. Check for improvements, will ya, while you're there...LOL!
It's very well done now. I've done a lot of events in there over the past 20 years. One last thought on Trump. He is so totally selfish and childlike, that he'll NEVER do what's best for the people, group or organization, unless it serves his needs.
Roger that, Mike.
So Lynell, good morning. Here's my Cliff Notes version of this years Bradley Prizes event. The Miles Stiebel Orchestra & singer were excellent. If you have $15,000 to $20,000 to spend on a band, consider these folks. They played from the "American Songbook". A video was rolled to intro them that showed the likes of Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis jr. Not a very conservative collection of musical talent. Made me laugh.
Kim Strassel of the WSJ and Fox was the hostess of the show & moderator of their "round table" conversation. She was the only person that spoke in a mic that used the term "counter culture". Several times.
It felt like "diversity" was on the minds of their award board chaired by Richard W. Graber who had been W Bush's Ambassador to the Czech Republic. The winners were Wilfred M. McClay, a white Irish history professor who wrote "Land of Hope".
Glen C. Loury a black professor of Economics who writes and studies on "racial inequality".
The star of the show and VERY impressive human being was Chen Guangcheng. A blind Chinese man who is a human rights activist. He escaped China and wrote "The Barefoot Lawyer", which I want to read. In the written program for the event he thanks Hillary Clinton as Sec of State for granting him sanctuary at our Beijing Embassy. He never mentioned Clinton or the Obama Administration by name from the stage. His story is incredible and should be a film.
It felt like the event organizers were working to sound like middle of the road America. The name Trump never was uttered on stage, nor was Obama, Biden, Clinton or Pelosi...or Bush for that matter. They talk about "American exceptionalism" as their belief.
I did not recognize anyone in the crowd. None of their former winners like Jeb Bush, Bill Kristol, Gary Sinese or George Will. Nor was Bill Barr in attendance, who had been at the last event.
There was no "battle plan" or specific examples presented. Abortion was not mentioned once. Nor were gun rights. No candidates were endorsed.
Except for Chen, it all felt very academic. Kind of like "We are the guys who understand the truth about America". We know the way. Follow us if you are a real patriot.
There was no press riser, nor cameras from CNN, Fox or MSNBC.
The building looked great and a good time was had by all.
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Me too, Lynell. If the current Senate is any indication, then I think the Pro-Rape party will stick together like Musketeers.
I always thought Bill Barr looked like Earl Sinclair, the Dad in the 1991-94 TV series "Dinosaurs"! :)
I think J Psaki did a good job. Who would want that job ? I like the comparison you showed between the number of Psakis press conferences compared to all of Trumps press conferences over 4 years. I wish Karine Pierre much success !
O' Rourke needs to keep educating Texans about the deregulation and mismanagement of their electric grid. That was terrible what happened to those people.
That would be amazing if Finland and Sweden join NATO !
Thank you for your analysis HCR .
Ms Psaki will cash in on her performance as White House Press Secretary as well as all the preparatory roles she filled over 20 years off and on in government. Perhaps MSNBC will allow her to travel the world, but probably not on Air Force One. She set a different standard for the position; remember tfg's first press secretary? The ankle biter for the President, purveyor of "alternate facts", contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" and now a talk show host for NewsMax...he didn't fly quite so high, unfortunately. Money is a great seduction; history would reward her far more for a full term in office, so to speak. On the other hand, there's no reason she can't move in and out of the mainstream media just as she has moved in and out of government positions. Biden will be lucky to find similar talent in her understudy. Maybe she can become the next Rachel Maddow...
The Dems seem to be lacking a compelling theme heading through the primaries and into the general election season. Inflation, Afganistan, the border kerfuffle, failure to enact the majority of the Build Back Better agenda in a 50:50 Senate; all topics needing plenty of spin. They could be making hay with the SCOTUS's bombshell disclosure, the growing rift between MAGA and the remainder of the Republican party, the Party of NO (no to all Biden initiatives, no party platform, no consensus leader, no popular majority in recent elections) as well as touting the jobs numbers, economic growth, US brokerage of NATO resurgence, support for Ukraine, progress in supply chain bottlenecks, etc. Where are the talking heads for this message within the Democratic Party? As inane as the Republican monologue may be, quietly going about the business of governing and ignoring it means that the inane monologue is roughly all the public will hear between now and November. Who will be the megaphone for the Dems? It isn't Biden; his schtick is more like the fireside chat than the big rally leader.
There are plenty of capable Dems speaking out, from Congress to tweets. To name a few: Rep Jamie Raskin, Sen Elizabeth Warren, President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris (I still get a smile out of writing that), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep Katie Porter, Michigan State Senator Mallory Mcmorrow. That line about no Dem messaging is as up to date as baby food for a teenager.
Amplification is the issue. Mainstream media are busy working for Rupert. It has to be us.
Agree re maddow
I’m thinking that deal was cut a while back. She’s probably going to pick up 4 days after Rachel on Monday. Perhaps that’s just my fantasy since Monday is all we have of Rachel
We can only hope!
Jen’s earned it. She will be a Presidential campaign manager one day, and the country will be stronger when she does.
That'll be something to look forward to.
I LIKE your characterization of the Republicans as "the party of NO!" It's simple, direct and largely accurate. Rather than seeking a megaphone for the Dems, they should take a page from the R's and have ALL Dem candidates refer to their opposition as "the party of NO." It certainly fits most all of their stands and positions including and perhaps most especially the SCOTUS leaks.
Well they are the party of NO but now, they are the PRO-RAPE Party!
indeed; just like we've adopted tfg (I prefer the lower case version) for the prior adminstration the PON would be a suitable substitute for the GOP.
Or PRP: Pro-Rape Party
Who indeed, Teddy R, where are you.
Texas is one of those places that makes no sense to a European. And in passing, since Heather is a historian, the fascistic leanings of its elites aren’t new: Texaco was one of General Franco’s financiers during the Spanish Civil War.
Texas was sane during Ann Richard’s leadership, and then comes Rove and W, to destroy sanity with Goebbels level propaganda.
"The oilman ...would, in fact, prove to be the best American friend a Fascist dictator could have."
https://tomdispatch.com/adam-hochschild-a-corporation-goes-to-war/
Also, Rachel Maddow’s book “Blowout” is great. She talks about our ties to Russia in the oil industry. Big ugh!
Good book!
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Good book!
"You can trust your car to the man who wears the star”
It sounds militaristic, now that you bring this up.
Thanks! "Spain in our Hearts; Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939" is now on my list of books I want to read.
On a slightly different note - "U.S. ties to the region after the previous administration pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact in 2017" - which actually was one of the few things that T-rump did that was good - obviously unintentionally. The Trans-Pacific Partnership has some very nasty clauses - which bode badly for the environment. Particularly, that if a signatory government enables legislation (such as a carbon tax) that could impact the profitability of companies in other signatory states, then they can be hit with very severe penalties. Don't get in the way of profit..OK???
Did not know that, damn, it’s hard to know all the things that factor in. Guess that’s why I always need to know who knows…
Jeri, that is so true. I am just realizing that I may not figure all this out by the end of my life. But I can try! And your other point about needing to know who knows also strikes a chord. I grew up believing that the evening news would provide me with all I needed to know. I really only started to see beyond that when I discovered HCR and the great community of thinking people here. I am so grateful. Also for the internet, which allows me to learn as fast as I want. There is a lot I want to know about.
As I recall, the TPP was principally to benefit corporations. I'm glad the U.S. is out of it now. Seemed like a bad idea to start with.
Totally agree.