Wow!! Tonight’s Letter is a stunner. It amazes me that you can stay on top of so many stories. It also amazes and exhilarates me that Biden is acting like the Energizer Bunny, getting things done not just for the betterment of America, but also for the world.
You have a point, but since I have suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 35 years, I see "Energizer Bunny" as one of our highest compliments. President Biden is truly amazing.
I personally didn’t sense that Cathy meant any disrespect whatsoever. At the same time, I’m happy to accord Biden the respect he deserves for maintaining an even keel and for all of the progress he has made. I welcome hearing the full spectrum of positive statements about Biden, given that people have unfairly (to my way of thinking) discounted him as weak, lackluster, and not “strong”. Let’s show one another some latitude in how we express our pleasure that the midterm elections were as strong as they were for the electoral process and for providing democracy the support it’s so full he deserves.
One of my favorite cousins has had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for about the same length of time, MaryPat, and it is a blistering illness--made worse by the lack of knowledge about it and, not to go on my feminist rant here, but some very bad attitudes about it. Biden is an interesting man, slow-moving, soft-spoken, gentlemanly, but I have two indelible images of him--running with Obama down the halls of the White House and his barely controlled rage at Trump in that first debate as Trump baited him with taunts about his son and every trigger possible for a stutterer. Biden kept control of himself but you could feel the energy, and I think we don't always grasp what that requires. But I think the most impressive aspect of his character is the holding firm. Not to be too silly about it, but he knows when to hold 'em and he knows when to fold 'em.
It turned out, and I read it in several mainstream papers, that someone must have researched the things most likely to disturb or derail a person with a history of stuttering, and trump used them all. I later looked up just the basic facts about that disability, and by gosh, there it all was. Talk about street fighting. Bunch of gangsters
I don't think it has much to do with what he does or doesn't do. The political winds start blowing in this country and they just keep on blowing in one direction until . . .who knows? The money boys or the press or some non-event turns them. Biden's political history and skills are working behind the scenes hammering out compromises, and this isn't a world in which that is going to get much recognition. It's a darned shame that we require loud noise and chaos to even get our attention.
Yes, excellent point: “RESPECT even among liberals.” Biden was a responsible as ANYONE for turning the Bigly Red Wave/TSUNAMI into its current IN REALITY Pink Tinkle. Even CONSERVATIVES are admitting that this is a huge loss for Republicans and many are pointing at Trumpty Dumpty for this loss. Sleepy Joe he ain’t!! Let’s Go, Joe!!
Precisely, Cathy! This is what we need on all fronts.
It’s so encouraging that we are cracking down with more sanctions on Iran!
“Meanwhile, authorities in Iran are cracking down on the protesters there, with news of torture and now of a death sentence for one of the 15,000 protesters who have been arrested. Today, national security advisor Jake Sullivan condemned the human rights abuses inflicted on its citizens by the Iranian government and called for ‘accountability…through sanctions and other means.’”
An update from Allen Hingston as he makes his way back to Canada:
“We are on the train to Berlin 6 hours then 45 minutes to change trains to Frankfurt 4 more hours. There was a large gap between the platform and the rail car. We literally had to throw Lucky across the gap. We are in a compartment of 6 seats and Lucky lies on the floor. We can finally relax for a while.”
Yes! Biden is doing a fabulous job keeping the momentum moving forward on so many levels! Steady and unwavering at the helm; an example here and abroad that blows the lid off the republican wing nuts and world dictators. Let's also be sure we work hard to identify, mentor, and support the next generation of leaders in the democratic party - that is the crucial long game.
Yes, isn't it delicious to have a skilled, experienced leader who actually works! And actually works for the good of the whole, for country, democracy, international relationships and planet? Whose ego is not his dominant feature? It is gobsmacking to see President Biden covering the world stage with his wisdom and pulling countries together. Finally, oxygen for Americans and the world. Hopefully, this sets a stable stage for when the ones who have done nothing but attempted to suck oxygen, sanity and finances out of our country and the world, are indicted and tucked away in small, silent places where their destructive, seditious, anti-democracy thrust and brainwashing of vulnerable people, dissolves like a jailed dessert of red-hatted jello. Might be a political poem in there one day...but coffee first. Doesn't it feel like Humpty has been losing his power and prestige suddenly? Another delicious for today. Perfect timing. Holiday indictments for him, his spawn and his cronies. I will certainly be looking under our national Christmas tree for a multitude of indictments as we are steered away from the crass, authoritarian wannabes.
I agree. But, when I was age 18-60, it was practically impossible to stay informed. I could not read like I do since I retired and took up volunteer work instead of long grinding work days and evenings with kids events.
Now, retired and with my kids well launched? I have more flexible schedule and can read in the early am instead of get lunches together, plan the day and shoot off to work with my kids all set.
So, having previously been, and, honestly, even now, am still mostly ignorant, Dr. Richardson's letter is really, really key for my informational status. I assume, by now, she has a staff working at least part time to mine the information, then, her brain composites it in a way that leaves me informed without having spent hours getting that way.
In fact, that is the beauty of what she is doing for all of us. Making it possible to stay informed without working full time to do it.
Agree. My overall goal is to get folks to realize there is more to life/news than main stream media. In these Midterms I 100% ignored polls, talking heads and op eds. I focused on President Biden's speeches, the Government websites, and alternate news. I read Dr. Richardson and Mr. Hubbell. I worked for elections. And as a result I knew the Democrats would prevail.
It really is upsetting to see the media torturing Americans for money.
Barbara. I cannot say I knew the Democrats would prevail, but, I did and do know the polls are way off since 2016. I think it is because polls use landline phoning still. Not a representative sample.
Yes. Money grubbing is a sad, ugly part of existing in general.
I look forward to retirement also with the thought of having the time to stay informed, and not from mainstream media. I have learned an enormous amount from these letters and the comments. I just wish my memory could hold in everything I've learned. The challenges of getting old and dealing with chronic Lyme Disease and Covid brain fog are upon me but I will not give up. Thank you all, especially Dr. Richardson, for keeping me informed.
My comment was not meant to put anyone down. Offering alternate news sources is a part of these comments sections. Offering different viewpoints of this comments world is essential. Otherwise we become participants of groupthink and group speak.
I am going to be heretical here but there have been times I disagreed with something Dr. Richardson says in her political commentary. Her history expertise; never!
Old dogs have plenty of tricks, and know how to use them. The pups need to learn a thing or two. Now if we didn’t have the party devoted to gumming the works, it would be a much less bumpy road. BTW, the all-hands-on-deck Dem effort was impressive (including Liz and Adam). We still have political resources that are not bat-shit-crazy, unlike the Repub party.
Beating a drum for democracy and trying to conquer evil by doing good, Biden is a very good spokesperson and leader. May his health and well being hold him up. The things he is going through would grind me to dust.
Jimminy Cricket, I wilted serving on a small town elected (volunteer) select board 15+ years ago and I was only in my early 50's at the time! I cannot even imagine handling the level of stress and obstacles Biden has endured (personal and political). And, he has done it with grace, calm, empathy, and persistence. Biden wasn't my first choice but once elected, I've been 200% in his court and impressed with the # of accomplishments particularly given every road block thrown in his way.
The current Ambassador to China, Nick Burns (and brilliant career diplomat) spoke to a group of us at an NPR event in Boston before the 2020 election. He has been my "go to" person for foreign affairs for years. Besides teaching at Harvard, he was a consultant to Biden's foreign policy team. I introduced myself afterwards to reminisce about our home town (his brother was in my high school class-like that meant anything!) But, he is the type of person that when he talks with you, regardless of the topic, you are the only person in the room and he is delightfully engaged. That was my brief close up assessment that Biden would put together a top cabinet. If Nick was on board, who was I to disagree!
What a nice story. Thanks for that. And he has a tough job as Ambassador to China for sure. I have enjoyed seeing President Biden choosing the best and brightest to staff his Administration.
Biden is doing an amazing job. I wish more Americans would take note. That said, I still think he's getting immigration wrong, and I wish he would push the Democrats to pass a national, mandatory E-verify, which would both stanch illegal immigration and get more of the working class vote for the Democrats, which we need.
But again, despite what he's not doing on immigration, I think he's doing an amazing job. At my advanced age (I was born early in the Eisenhower Administration) I realize that no president is going to do everything I want, but I can't think of any president in my adulthood who's done as much as Biden.
Me too, Joe amazes me, he can talk to so many people and stay on point. he has a vision, he knows what it will take, and he is getting us what we need, what the world needs, going forward.
What I love, yes love, about HCR is her down-home NewEnglander style. I watched her online chat Tuesday and chuckled at the way she was dressed for what appeared to be an early winter day. Her brilliance, unaffectedness, and kindness infuse everything she does.
I wish to offer my great thanks for posting the link. I just read the interview. Dr. Richardson at her best, no doubt.
Her concluding sentence says a great deal about who she is: "And that for somebody like me is an unfathomable gift. "
Dr. Richardson remains completely without arrogance, conceit, or a shred of a desire to keep the attention pointed at her, even though it is. Really, amazing.
And, I think I have one of the same caps she is wearing (I have too many caps)!
I still have my college softball cap, plus a “Flour Power” from the bakery, ASA Umipire/tournament hats and a variety of SWAT, training etc. hats from law enforcement.
Thank you for posting this. It is a great article. We are so lucky to have Dr. Richardson sharing her views. Her clarity of thinking and her ability to express her thoughts so well is such a gift for all of us. She teaches me every day! I don’t know how I would have survived the turmoil of these last few years without her calming approach to explaining the events by cutting out the noise.
Go BC! Happy to see the leaders of Boston College further recognize the seemingly tireless effort of Dr Richardson. So thank you on behalf of so many alumni who read her letter and admire her work; she’s a good one! We all felt the uncertainty and negativity lift in a meaningful way these past few days as our democracy proved its strength and the good judgment of the majority of American voters. Educators like Dr Richardson played a role in making that happen as did all of us who voted. We the People didn’t falter. We’ll keep up the effort just as our parents did during the Depression and during WWII and our fore-bearers did since they first arrived here. President Biden is a good and honorable president with the character and experience to see that the will of the majority of American voters is done. The world realizes this, too and now the stage is set for many of the initiatives people everywhere want and need to be implemented. It’s truly happening, but only because each of us decided that our vote mattered and took the time to exercise our right to express our leadership preferences secretly and securely. In Ukraine we’re fighting off the occupiers; in Iran we’re fighting the repressive regime, in Brazil we’re fighting to protect the Amazon, and everywhere we’re fighting to stop the destruction of our precious planet upon which all life depends. We’ll keep doing so.
and when we win these fights a new era of social justice and world peace will dawn for our grandchildren to carry forward...
Thanks for posting this link. An FYI - there is a link in the article to an audio version of the interview with HCR on the BC Magazine Podcast. Linking below for convenience of those who would enjoy hearing the interview.
I love the line at the end: " I also feel like I have been given the golden ring in that, for a historian, there is literally no better position in our entire history than to be the person who gets to keep the record of this era."
I feel like I am auditing a BC history class with all of the Professor's writings/videos/books.
I just finished reading the seven pages & it’s very informative. I liked the part where they are discussing: “Will the rise of social media and the spread of disinformation complicate or change the nature of the work that historians will be doing a hundred years from now?”
And Heather answers: “...the real issue for archivists is curation. Whose voice gets to stay in the archives? Who gets to be there? And the proliferation of so many different forms of media and of speech means that we’re going to lose most of it. How many of your emails do you have from the late 1990s? I have none. I don’t have an archive. If it had all been on paper, I would, at this point in my life, have an archive. I don’t have one. That stuff’s going to get lost.”
“IF IT HAD ALL BEEN ON PAPER, I WOULD AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE HAVE AN ARCHIVE.”
I am an Archivist (hoarder). I was a prolific op-ed letter writer during the 1980s to 2000, having 200 of them published, which I made xerografic copies and kept in binders with the news clip to which it referred. I also kept many unpublished letters and essays on various civil rights issues that I kept in binders – a whole bookshelf of them that luckily, FIU took for their Special Collections library, (after I scanned them all). So, I have a digital copy of that history from my perspective as well as the paper documents in the library. In fact I had the advantage on some of those embarrassing writings 30 or 40 years ago to write my change of attitude on them before preserving.
Thanx for posting the link, BK. I've just right-clicked and copied the whole thing into a Word Doc and will read it with my next cup of coffee. (Only 7 pages in Time New Roman 12 font - with intro pic). It will be filed (HCR-Intrvw) at the top of the various HCR-Ltrs I've collected over the years and give more background to them. In fact gonna send the link URL to ppl I sometimes share these letters with.
Rob Boyte (Miami Beach) - "I've just right-clicked and copied the whole thing into a Word Doc and will read it with my next cup of coffee."
For what it's worth, if you are using Microsoft Edge or Chrome (It may work in others, IDK), the extension "print friendly and pdf" makes it much easier. You can directly edit the page and either print it out or convert it to a PDF document. Both ways include the article's Title and URL in the Header/Footer -- for future reference.
Thanx for the info, but I am still using Microsoft Word 97-2003. I prefer fewer whistles & bells. I don't print things any more, just keep them and can make screen caps like my old movie reviews posted on various Web pages - but kept in Word Doc. where I can now make memes of text & pix for posting anew. I even took the offset pic of Heather and put the BC Magazine logo on the left side to insert in the doc. Word is my Art medium now.
But wouldn't a PDF document do the same thing? It would include the images as well as providing direct access to the original (for reposting selected parts with source).
PDF to me is like a scan of a page and is a very big file. I have scans of my bio & journal entries but e-mailing is slow. However when I take screen shots of sections of a page, where I can move pix & text to fit better, it becomes a whole new art form for me. Plus the colors & fotos are move vivid than a scan. It's what I do.
I wish we could post images, I could show you what I do.
Thank you, BK, for this tip. I just read the interview, and the one thing that comes through is that just as a musician needs to play or sing or compose or conduct, and an artist needs to make beautiful art, Heather discovered that she has a talent for explaining history and political context; in other words, for teaching. And, of course, writing, which I suspect she already knew. And, she discovered that "ordinary" people wanted desperately to understand the truth of things. I know that feeling, because when I retired from practicing law and began taking courses with a group of elders, I discovered that I had many things I wanted to tell them and a talent for explaining them clearly, and they were things they desperately wanted to understand. So, I taught American Constitutional Law, and Current Issues in the Law, and I never had such a good time in my life. I read and read, and soaked up so much historical and legal information, and broke it down for my non-lawyer students. A ten-year illness of my husband, and his death in 2021, intervened, but I hope to return to teaching or writing. And, of course, thank you, Heather. Don't stop anytime soon.
Thank you so much, BK, for sharing this link. I just finished listening to the podcast of this insightful interview of our amazing Prof. Heather Cox Richardson.
Wow. A nation regains its democratic footing as the insurrectionists are defeated at the polling booths. And a super experienced President engages with world leaders during a trip that makes my head spin with pride. Wow.
Informed voting, or at least reasonably well informed voting, and this site and HCR helps. It's the future of our society, and much to do with the future that future generations will inherit being decided. With great power comes great responsibility.
J L, I write to thank you for suggesting that an uninformed electorate isn’t healthy for democracy. Regrettably, Washington officials, too often, are permitted to set the agenda for journalism leaving the press simply to recount what officials say instead of subjecting their words and deeds to critical scrutiny.
I imagine you and I would agree on the importance of strong, honest, and accurate reporting that includes relating stories people in high places wouldn’t want told, for example how major corporations are using the cover of inflation to drive up prices. Sadly, instead of acting as filters for readers and viewers, sifting the truth from the propaganda, journalists largely fail to provide context, background, or any sense of which claims hold up and which are misleading.
In a word, if journalism is to help shape the ability of citizens to think critically about important issues, it must be able to expose deception and get as close as possible to the verifiable truth.
If we take Lincoln at his word (and why would we not want to?) and consistently pursue government of, by and for the people, then we, collectively, are flying the plane. If we snooze, we lose. If we accept bad charts and screwy data, we risk collision with a mountainside, as we seem to be risking with climate. If we are texting when we should be scanning the horizon, we could also go down in flames. But we also need a reliable network of navigational aids, and know what to rely on and what to distrust. As a nation, we need reporters committed to vigilance and accuracy, and I could be wrong, but it seems to me that suffered quite a lot in my lifetime.
Deep and significant investigative reporting is still out there, but not as visible as it seemed to me it had been before the "Reagan Revolution" when much of the press seemed content to just play along. The "afflict the comfortable" part seemed to take a back seat. It certainly did at CBS when you read the CEOs comments from 2016 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leslie-moonves-donald-trump-may-871464/ . We have to hold our major news outlets, our representatives acting in our name and ostensible interests, and ourselves to higher standards to make wiser decisions and reduce the odds of epic disasters.
J L, I’m no expert on the subject, but I do know, when the landmark Communications Act of 1934 (that led to the creation of the FCC) was under consideration, a vigorous public movement had emerged to argue for a broadcast system that would serve the interests of citizens and communities. The deregulation pressure that began, as you stated, during the Reagan era eliminated many public-interest rules.
I recall in the early 2000s that a movement like the one in 1934 had emerged. Its founders urged fellow citizens to engage the mainstream, not retreat from it. The public, they said, needed to understand that what they see, hear, and read, is not only the product of programmers and producers, but also a set of policy decisions made by the people we vote for.
Knowing that journalism and democracy are deeply linked, we now more than ever have to enlist journalists who are eager to build on that momentum.
Ida Tarbell and her fellow "muckrakers" helped usher in a "progressive era" - yes the word was viewed with admiration.
I recently completed "Titan" - Chernow's bio of John D. Rockefeller. It was an aggressive press that changed the course of history.
Robert Reich's explanations of how the Oligarchs and big corporations "price for profit" get too little attention. He actually quotes CEOs as being proud of the opportunity to maximize profits during periods of high inflation.
The Repuglicans dare to blame Biden for high prices when it is actually their campaign donors who are bleeding us.
Makes me want to scream: "Give me some socialism"!
Bill, I won’t give you socialism, an economic and political system that advocates collective or government control and ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. What I will do, because I recognize capitalism is not very good at distributing a nation’s wealth, is to level its effects by wedding it to social democratic institutions that contain its excesses and moderate its greedy and self-serving impulses.
I would not want a total socialism either. Nordic countries have the best model. Social safety nets, social support and a very successful regulated capitalism. And the people are the happiest in the world. And happy to pay high taxes that level the playing field.
'Kari Lake Furious After Arizona Awards Her Participation Trophy'
'PHOENIX (The Borowitz Report)—The former television anchorwoman Kari Lake became enraged after the state of Arizona attempted to present her with a participation trophy for her unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign.'
'According to the Arizona state constitution, every losing candidate for statewide office is entitled to such a trophy, as well as an eight-by-eleven-inch “certificate of participation,” suitable for framing.' (Satire, NewYorker)
Thus, the advance of so many substacks, written by informed and intelligent thinkers, will be replacing the corporate-owned, sensationalized, talking headed mainstream media and propaganda grooming-machines that destroy our citizens braincells.
@Pensa_VT, Admittedly, since engaging in Substack conversations this past year, my perspectives on a host of issues have both broadened and deepened, While I accept we never really know how the impact of our actions might ripple out, I don’t doubt they matter immensely.
$$$ talk to MSM and influence what we are told, whether they are Dem $$$ or Rep $$$. And then there are POV. It takes most of my day to feel I've learned enough to understand what's what is one or two subjects - and I'm 96 and have the time and the interest. Of course, I'm slower now, but even so many areas of our lives are changing so fast and being reported in such detail that it truly is impossible for most citizens to keep up while conducting their daily lives.
One needs self-confidence and good self-care and self-control and flexibility - and the wit to know which one needs to be in play at the moment. L&B&L
Ida, I appreciate your thoughtful reply. In response to your opening portrayal of MSM as a commercial, profit-driven enterprise, for me, the issue, practically speaking, invariably boils down to two questions: 1) Can the media meaningfully engage in “public service” and nurture the fundamental discourse critical to maintaining a democratic republic and still remain solvent? or 2) Will the desire to make bigger profits actually drive media owners to provide expedient rather than useful content?
I suppose the answer partly rests with whether average citizens take note of and actually care whether the media are fair and accurate and are guided by democratic principles.
Yes the midterm election results brought sunshine to our democracy, and it was the American people and our free and fair elections that brought Democracy home.
'...Democrat Cisco Aguilar, who told Nick Corasaniti of the New York Times: “People are tired of chaos…. They want stability; they want normalcy; they want somebody who’s going to be an adult and make decisions that are fair, transparent, and in the best interest of all Nevadans.” (Letter)
Today's Letter is a golden nugget containing many of the reasons that America and most American voters have resisted the lies that the Republicans have been peddling. 'NO' victories for election deniers in the swing states and, in no small measure, part of our election victories are the result of how Biden and Democrats in the House and Senate have demonstrated their support for the American people.
For a broader view, '...conservative columnist Max Boot of the Washington Post notes, “Republicans lost the election—and so did [Russian president Vladimir] Putin, MBS [Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman], and [former/incoming Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.” (Letter)
" When it comes to political institutions, economic relations, and social bonds, entropy and decay can be profoundly damaging and harmful. Considering the then ascendant Islamic State, John Gray returned to Hobbes to offer a valuable reminder:
What we are witnessing is the rediscovery of an essential truth: our freedoms are not free-standing absolutes but fragile constructions that remain intact only under the shelter of state power.
There is plenty in his article to question, but the central point is an important one: we tend to take for granted the vital conditions of state order and functioning institutions within which we exercise our freedoms, and that ‘endemic anarchy can be a more intractable obstacle to civilized existence than many kinds of despotism’."
Olof, you are right. We tend to take things for granted. If Trump did one singular good thing, by default, he got Americans to take our elections more seriously, right down to local elections. We learned how fragile our democracy had become and this election was a referendum on democracy. Even some in the GOP seem to be seeking some level of civility in rejecting Trump and extremists.
Well, I just quoted some good reminders. From a Swedish perspective I think Americans have been showing an admirable amount of activism, against very severe challenges in this election. What some Swedish progressives have to remind themselves of is the standing of 'international law'. Often you hear people speak of international law, as if there was someone enforcing it anywhere near the enforcement of the state legislation.
Olof, perhaps this states what you are pointing to, 'Unlike national or domestic law, international law is not set down in any legislation approved by a parliament. Even multilateral treaties do not apply to all states, but only to those which have consented to be so bound, by signing and ratifying or acceding to them. As a result, the precise rules of international law are often more difficult to identify than national laws, and may be found in a variety of sources.' More generally:
'International law is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for states across a broad range of domains, including war, diplomacy, economic relations, and human rights.' (Wikipedia)
Don’t sleep through this one. We must attack the cause. FIRST, we must file a statement of the problem. SECOND, we must offer the solution to the problem - and follow through...
Don’t Look Up.. is a metaphor, a movie, a warning.
I don't want to be a downer as everyone enjoys this moment of puppy uppers.
However, the margins that every Democrat won by are razor, razor thin. Trump will announce his run for Presidency today, and, he has demonstrated his ability to get Republicans to crawl at his feet many times successfully after appearing down and out. Remember McCarthy denouncing him then crawling from DC to Mara Lago on his lips to ask Trump for forgiveness??
Razor thin margins. A fascist who mustered an army to overthrow the government is about to run for President again.
Correct. Nightmare is a constant. But today it’s Trump declaring. Big presser. The New Yorker is sending a name brand guy. He’s telling one and all, Trump is running. Headline. Ratings. Slow Tuesday Night, Trump in lights. Fresh dye for his hair. Sun lamp for his face. Sockets covered. Greased. Wm. Jennings Bryan rehearsed and lost. Inherit the Wind. Trump never rehearses. No dress rehearsal. Just more lies. He will not actually declare. It’s the Nth teaser. More theater Grade B. President Biden may not run. No one knows till next year. Don’t hold your breath.
I think the whole announcement of an announcement is just another way for him to keep his name in the headlines. He is a quivering pathetic blob of insecurity. He needs to be talked about because his parents ignored him.
And...he may be getting signals that indictments from more than one agency are in the mail. He will try to steal the narrative. It isn't going to work.
I think Merrick Garland will be viewed as the most effective and noteworthy AG in our history. The public forgets what you noted. He is a top notch judge who would not entertain prosecutions that are incomplete in their preparations. His case will be air tight and totally damning. As will those from Leticia and Fanni.
Yes, I am still that optimistic dreamer. But I think I am right.
"...announcement of an announcement..." that he's going to announce in a future announcement of previous announcings, all the while announcing it's not his fault. 🤬
And the mainstream media continues to give him what he wants! TFG was the lead on the Today show this morning, at which time I turned off the TV in disgust.
I commented a week ago that I have my doubts that he will declare: why would he cut off the spigot of all that cash coming to pay his legal bills? I said I think it more likely that he'd push some new Trump labeled product to his base--a new fan club that for the mere price of $29.99 sends you a glossy certificate, upgrade to $59.99 and you are a VIP member!!
But in the wake of all the election news and his waning popularity, one wonders if the GOP will continue to invite him to rallies for candidates, and we all know how he feeds on the crowds. So perhaps he will?
Sandy, I have not forgotten that not that long ago, there was a lot of angst on this forum and you were the voice that said he was going down! I look for your insights each day. Keep up the good work.
Yes. He’s going down. AND he will be charged, tried, convicted and sentenced. Not to jail! Secret Service will not allow that. He’s home jailed in Florida... in his castle.
Not certain Trump runs. He makes money by not declaring. Senior reporters from all over are scheduled to cover this. The New Yorker will be there. It will be interesting. Packed. A circus.
Actually, Heather's excellent newsletter made my head spin, too! An indefatigable president! I'm sure the results of the election gave him an added boost of mental energy. This is the result of our votes, so essential to our democracy. Upon arising this morning (overseas) I saw a text from a friend back home that Katie Hobbs won the election for governor in Arizona. Great news! It looks like AZ might be turning more blue than purple. I also read some additional articles on Kari Lake that surprised me. I had no idea she had been such a "liberal" and a Buddhist, now claiming to be Christian (that was a fast conversion!). All for the sake of power. She was so certain that being a Trump in heels, she would win, and perhaps go on to run for president in 2024. Joe Biden has been a terrific president and he continues to build bridges. Onward to the re-election of Raphael Warnock!
And yet the right continues to describe Biden as a senile, bumbling has-been while the fruits of 47 years of leadership are now paying off. Heather’s description of his most recent international “road trips” speaks for itself.
Here's an interesting thought; TFG has demonstrated (for worse rather than better) how a former president can have a very influential role in subsequent politics. Biden could take a page from the MAGA playbook, but for the good of the nation instead. Imagine the next president with a set of ACTIVE former chief executives extending the message throughout the tenure of the sitting POTUS, rather than just in the few weeks before an election? A term in the White House qualifies the POTUS to free security and travel, a hefty pension and automatic preferred admission to most private/public venues on earth, not to mention multi-million dollar book deals and 6 figure speaking engagements. The Obamas now live down the lane from the Kennedy and Bush families on Martha's vineyard (or where-ever). You don't qualify for that kind of real estate purely on wages in office.
Love how Biden’s extraordinary performance triggers the critics to wish him gone. And chump’s “clown with a flamethrower” performances make the MAGAts and their ilk love him as a golden idol. Logic is dead…
Interesting. But if the president goes to a male an open collaboration of power would seem unlikely…. In humanities current state of evolution. If a sane woman with integrity gets in someday it might be a different story.
Easy does it there, tiger...maybe a laxative,a suppository and some private time on your porcelain throne will make you feel better. You diminish your own message when you get personal. Do you think Obama and Clinton had nothing whatsoever to do with shoring up the democratic vote in places where Biden was Persona non-Grata? TFG's constant insertion of himself into the current political climate has been nothing but painful, but our current President might have benefited greatly by some more vocal support across the last 2 years by individuals who held the office previously and have an unparalleled view of how things do and don't get done. I'm not frightened to imagine how things might be different AND work to the betterment of society. Call me a dreamer, call me a fool, whatever you please, but I'm something other than an expletive sputtering, anger stuffed critic...and I often LIKE a lot of what you contribute, nonetheless.
Nope. As you so well know, I love and respect President Biden. History will agree with me.
But nobody should be President at 82. I don't care how spry he is. Nobody can be as energetic as is required for this job at that age. Nobody.
Let's get some perspective by reflecting on how rapidly the Presidency ages every occupant of the White House. It is more than a 24/7 job. It is like being asked to be a non-stop super computer.
And here is the factor we give much too little attention to. We need the votes of young people. We need a charismatic candidate that will attract the votes of those who see Biden differently than you and I do. We need a Kennedy or Obama who will inspire us with rhetoric that brings tears to our eyes.
But...as I have said, if Joe is the candidate after a fair and square primary, I would crawl across broken glass and flaming hot coals to vote for him.
It should have been Biden in 2008 and Obama now...
Some good news from Oregon. Andrea Salinas (D) is the new Congressional rep for the newly formed 6th district. Thankfully, the insufferable Mike Erickson is not. I am also glad that Hobbs won in Arizona over that wing nut R. This is all good news, both at home and abroad and a reminder that the work is never done even though we are breathing a bit of a sigh of relief. We have made our donation to Warnock as well.
I’ve made my donation to Rev. Warnock, today, too. Hoping and sending positive energy. It’s almost unbelievable that he didn’t breeze by Walker. The remnants of TFG are still here. But so are we.
Me too Irenie. There are a number of technical Senate rules that make 51 to 49 margin much better than 50-50 plus Kamala. For the full list, see Rachel's interview of Senator Schumer earlier tonight. Not the least of which is Judicial appoinlments that are 2/3 women. Support Rev Warnock!
If you needed an appendectomy you would look for someone qualified, right? Why do we ever think running a huge, modern country requires no proven, relevant aptitude or preparation?
I had a friend over on Facebook post a meme: "Dear football fans who told Colin Kaepernick to "stay out of politics", where are you now with Herschel Walker?"
40 letters and 40 postcards in the mail, I burned out my old printer this week! And thankfully, my daughter came to help write them all as these arthritic hands don't write legibly anymore. Now, sending positive thoughts into the universe.
Irenie, I've made my donation to Rev. Warnock as well, I wrote and mailed 40 letters to Georgia residents. I learned of this writing campaign on here. As a retired person on a very fixed income, this was a great way for me to help and only cost me paper, envelopes and stamps. You choose 5 or 20 names, they send you a form letter talking about the runoff election. You hand write the envelope and a one or two sentence addition, "I vote because..." You don't mention a candidate or a party. It's just a reminder to vote in the runoff on Dec. 6. Here's the web address if anyone wants to participate.
Katie Hobbs has won? Thank goodness. Now fingers crossed that pistol-packin' mama will lay that pistol down, and then it's time to doorknock for Warnock (sorry, but I'm feeling frivolously cheerful).
Our former CD rep was a DINO for more than 20 years. Our Democratic candidate would have been awesome in Congress. I'm very sad that she lost this election and only hope the largely Democratic Oregon delegation will persuade the republican to join them in legislating wisely.
The problem is she might have been awesome once in office, but she didn't get there, did she? The other guy might have been a DINO, but he was a D, and that would count right now for House control (like Manchin and Sinema count for Senate control). If you didn't like him, it would have been better to nominate a moderate who fit the district. You can't make a district fit the candidate, it only works the other way around.
"You can't make a district fit the candidate, it only works the other way around."
Oh yes you can... it's called gerrymandering.
Thanks to some super people here... i'm learning all about it from a different perspective! Miriam, Bryan, Mary Ann, MaryPat... THANK YOU! Hubs and i stayed up way late last night watching Slay the Dragon... documentary. We'll watch it again this evening - earlier ... when we're more awake. :D Explains sooo much!!
thanks, Mike. unfortunately, after some intense studying, consulting and observing over the past few days, i've learned that (surprise!)... not gonna happen in TX. i know you're shocked... and not coming back. don't blame you.
We are talking here about Kurt Schrader, who was a terrible loser and if he had an ounce of D in him, should have been helping Ds. He wasn't and was instead making pronouncements all over the place and actually supporting at one point, Machine Gun Betsy for governor. Jamie, btw, made a very graceful concession speech, so different from him and also the R for governor who lost. The problem was Marion County where I live and Linn County in terms of where Jamie lost. Also the Rs poured lots of money into this and the Ds didn't. And I don't consider Schrader a moderate.
What a great GOOD NEWS letter. And it looks like the press thinks there’s good news to report, too. Our President is making and keeping commitments at home and abroad. Yes, as he said, We’re back. And after too many years in the red, blue is a beautiful color. “I said that America was back—back at home, back at the table, and back to leading the world. In the year and a half that’s followed, we’ve shown exactly what that means. America is keeping its commitments.”
It does appear that the Republicans will control the House, barely. But they’re living in a new political reality now. Party leaders, including and especially TFG, are losing control, the party is splitting into factions, maybe even into a third MAGA party of TFG feels snubbed.
In any event, the newly chastened Republican Party is not the unified force it’s been, so a razor-thin majority doesn’t mean much as the party is tearing itself apart.
And, as the wild fringe-nuts bounce around the House, announcing investigations into everything Dem, pointing fingers and missing votes and just generally bringing progress to a halt, we can finally point at THEM and pound on the fact that they are why things aren't getting done. Dems need to control the narrative and constantly challenge Republican "explanations" and excuses.
Totally ick. But then even more ick is Republicans thinking they can interfere and” stick their noses” in most private and personal women’s bodies and right to privacy. Disgusting
I would love to agree that the R's consider themselves newly chastened--and perhaps some of the saner members of that party actually do feel suitably admonished and will proceed accordingly. It certainly would be nice to be able to think so.
However, considering what I have most recently read, the fringe-nut-righties are too busy looking around for someone or something else to blame for their failure (echoes of tfg, anybody?) to meditate honestly on the reasons for their drubbing (however razor thin were the margins--the expectations of a red "wave" were thoroughly trounced). That the R's are blaming "unhappy, drug-addicted, SSRI-receiving single spinsters and cat ladies" along with Gen z voters and goodness knows at what-all else their blaming finger will point is hilarious, but also scary, because it means that the R's have not been jarred enough to even modify their policies (provided they have anything approaching sane, consistent policies). It appears that they will do what their (former) hero has always done: double down.
Who's writing these ridiculous scripts for them? I can't believe the whole R side of the House is populated by addle-pates. This tectonic shift towards normalcy offers them genuine job-satisfaction and fulfilment, something they may not yet have experienced in political careers based on histrionics.
Don't feel bad. Taking back the House in 2024 will be easy after two years of the Klown Kar Kawkuss that won't be able to decide on whether or not to order Chinese takeout for lunch, while the Fwee-dumb Kawkuss is in the back seat throwing their feces out the windows at passers-by and taking turns grabbing for the steering wheel. Neither Quiverin' Qevin nor Striver Stefanik will be able to steer that thing in a straight line for ten feet.
In fact, taking it back will politically be easier than defending it again. For two years we point out to voters "this is why you cannot have nice things."
Forty years has been more than enough time for Reagan's "high tide" to Lift(s) all boats". After decades of massively propitiating the rich, it's past time to keenly reevaluate whose interests Reaganomics have been serving.
I don't think we should take a single thing for granted, like taking back the House in 2024 being easy. We all must be diligent in protecting our democracy and work towards a better future. There will be plenty who want to undo our gains. It's up to us to continue to vote and encourage others to do so. The vitriol will not stop as we move towards 2024, but this election is certainly the first step.
I think that the "Fwee-dumb" should be a "Kawkass", as in what will they pull out of that orifice next! I also note the Klown Kar Kawkuss does denote a triple K.
Mim, yes, however it ends up, at least we are participating in governing again. The last presidency , TFG’s, was wasted and counterproductive, and threatened our Democracy. And standing in the world. And there’s still deniers out there. We have catching up to do. That’s happening.
And "participating" looks like a keyword. Congress wasn't designed to be a battlefield. Prime definition of the word: "the act or action of coming together and meeting". That majestic building can at last return to being a temple.
"Congress wasn't designed to be a battlefield." My thoughts exactly, Anne-Louise. We should be able to have the other side in control and not shudder with horror over it.
Sorry, California, like New York, didn't come out and vote at 2018 levels. The result in New York was loss of four Democratic seats in close elections that could have been won with 2018 levels of turnout. In California, three seats that were taken from the Republicans in 2018, that went R in 2020, cannot be taken back at lower-than-2018 turnout.
The two most over-rated "strongholds" just proved what happens when you sit on your ass and expect good things.
My absentee ballot from Orange County, California arrived with the cover letter, guides, envelope...everything BUT the ballot, which page read "Unable to open the URL". The phone numbers didn't work. Is there a law suit in the offing?
(When a URL like this one doesn't work, sometimes it helps to back up and attack it piecemeal. I was starting from scratch, so I searched for "orange county california voting" and found ocvote.gov, then scrolled down (and down) the page till I found the button for Voting; from there, the button or link (I forget which) for Military and Overseas Voters, then finally the link that wasn't for US military members.)
As for phone numbers and other contact info - the phone version of ocvote.gov isn't good about displaying those - the overall county government site should be more forthcoming.
Not much can be done about this election, alas, but raising a stink might help for the next. Write a letter of complaint to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, and contact the relevant unit of the League of Women Voters as well. LWV probably also knows better than I what other recourse you might still have.
Another resource is the Federal Voting Assistance Project, fvap.gov. It allows a voter to download and print a backup ballot and official envelope; when I checked this in 2020, the backup ballot was generic, so after providing identifying information and signing a declaration of eligibility, the voter had to write in each race/proposition and the voter's choice - but from my 2020 exploration I don't recall the state-specific drop-down that the 2022 site sports, so FVAP might now be providing state-specific stuff. A backup ballot is counted as long as the voter is eligible and doesn't provide an official county-issued ballot by the deadline.
Having grown up and been educated in New York, I was horrified with the election results. New Yorkers, you have to do MUCH better next election. Start getting your act together now.
Defying all expectations, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain have produced incredible results for the nation and the world beyond our shores. America is back, said President Biden. Our understated modest president has set the bar. He has said, Watch me... and all should. Joe Knows Us are three words to remember. Majority Whip James Clyburn is the fourth Democrat leading us, and Black Women are leading our sadly prejudiced nation.... our white supremacy types know they are losing. Let’s hope Professor Heather Cox Richardson grows in her understanding of what’s happening as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ascends. This is the most important moment in the last two years.
Hubs and i were talking about that Extreme Court... and he told me Chief Justice Roberts has no control anymore... which is one way those dangerous ones can do what they do. Then i thought, you know who oughta be Chief Justice?? Justice Jackson!! She's a powerful leader... for so many reasons. Even if she's the newest one, i don't care. Sooner or later, it needs to be her. Sooner would be better...
Agree. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has all the qualities needed: ethics, knowledge, decency, humility, humanity, compassion, tolerance, superior intelligence, understanding of our country.
Yes, Sandy.. She's all of those and more. She's like a rock or anchor that's been missing... with wit, humor, grace, and the most agile, brilliant legal mind there. Firm and gentle at once... she's clearly meant to be IN CHARGE... already.
It's a cliche, I guess, but seems the best way to sum up President Biden's performance: he's the right person for the job at the right time. Let the Republicans continue to denigrate him, lie grotesquely about his accomplishments, and make themselves look like fools.
Working against so many cross currents, Biden has still achieved so much — not just for the country but the world. And while the GOP looks nearly certain to take the House, the thin margin will hopefully prevent them from doing substantial damage.
We're certainly appreciating him in Australia now that we've voted out our mini-Trump prime minister and got ourselves a sort of junior Biden. They're meeting in the framework of the ASEAN and COP meetings, which will sort out the damage done by their predecessors with the connivance of Boris Johnson, who has slithered away, and both have secured (separate) one-on-one meetings with Xi.
Slithering has been a prominent method of propulsion lately. Funny you should mention it. I am tired of the slithering too. And hissing. What with the forked tongues and all.
Oh wow! Somehow, i thought you were in Europe, Anne-Louise. I have some dear friends in Australia! Yes!! Congratulations on booting your own version of cheeto and gaining someone more sensible. Yay for all the beginnings in Asia and Middle East of healing divisions and damage by all the predecessors. Things really are looking up... Peace!
I lived and worked for years in Europe, Suz-an, where my life began and my culture is rooted, and three of whose languages I speak. I'm happy to know you have dear friends down here! Whereabouts?
Yes. And such calmness and compassion reaching out to all of us. He is also the republican’s president. Once again we are near a balance of power which bodes well for constructive objectivity and sane cooperation.
President Biden’s numerous accomplishments, international and domestic, rank him among the best. Having succeeded to the degree he has against an opposition party singularly dedicated to his failure is astounding.
The GOP wanted the 2022 election to be a referendum on Biden and the Democrats. Looks like they got their wish. Perhaps the election was a referendum on American democracy as well.
A lovely respite and recap, before heading back into the trenches to support Senator Warnock. As someone who was raised in Atlanta, it is cause for joyful reflection that both Warnock and Walker are Black men. That in itself speaks volumes about the changes in the South. More important, their differences point to the absurdity of seeing people by the color of their skin and not by the goodwill of their hearts, minds, and actions.
Time for the MLK Jr quote to be used for Warnock: "I hope my children will not be judged for the color of their skin, but for the content of their character."
On a hopeful note, my Millennial Son told me today the big Republican donors have pulled out of the Walker race because the Senate is already lost. Hope that's correct.
That sounds extremely plausible Citizen60. Good news. I hope so as well; sadly, it shows that everything is a calculated transaction with these types, not an act of hopeful endorsement. Of course, with Walker there is little to endorse in the man. I actually pity him, because he is a just a strategic pawn to these people--a box to be checked. An asset, not a human being.
Hey, KEM. I'm no political analyst, but my guess is Walker got on the GOP ticket because he is a black man, someone who could go against another black man in the person of Senator Warnock. It didn't matter to them that he has no qualifications. If he wins, the GOP will be directing him every step of the way once he is in office.
That said, a U.S. Senate race between two black men in Georgia would have been impossible not so long ago!
No wonder you wrote so early tonight...such a positive letter to us! We sure need good news. I am still waiting for you to inform us of Trump being dragged into court, facing Garland. I am drooling just thinking about it. :)
Morning, Marlene! To me, having him humiliated on national news seems more powerful than an actual indictment for crimes, which I'm still anticipating happening. It just seems from his point of view being a loser is something he cares about more than being labeled a criminal.
So many constructive developments reviewed here, it’s a pleasure to read. Not quite like a C.J. Cregg press conference from West Wing, but that same kind of wonky glee, even if just for a moment :)
Felt kind of the same spirit watching Kinzinger and Cheney go to work on the body, while Schiff and Thompson established a merciless jab.
Hoping for a judgment against a certain criminal mastermind soon - kind of a West Wing meets Rocky meets Law and Order mash up that’s quite entertaining lately!
Lots of moving pieces, like a well-played chess game, all directed at the King. A long game requiring careful strategies and logistics to advance the game toward a winning conclusion. Cooperation among the pieces coordinated to attack and protect simultaneously. Thank you for this succinct summary of current events.
It is very encouraging that so many voters saw through the lies and games of the Insurrectionists and voted for Democrats. I can't wait to see the statistics on the voting of independents, various age groups, ethnicities and other subsets.
While Biden has done a good job on many fronts, the media emphasis on him as THE reason for these election results seems unwarranted and excessive.
What about the impact of J6 insurrection and the hearings, what about the impact of the crazy Supreme Court and it’s decision to overturn Roe, what about the crazy behavior of Trump and his MAGA cult? Frankly, I believe these combined events scared the hell out of women, young people and others who then turned out to vote for their rights and normalcy. This dynamic makes more sense to me than some sort of fantastic success of the Biden s administration.
You’re right, the combination of the SC Dodd decision did help get the election turnout. But Biden’s leadership has protected the J6 hearings, which has done a lot toward informing those who do not read Heather’s newsletters or hear her chats.
ok, Eyore, the GOP is complicit in their spectacular belly flop this cycle; I am at least as relieved by the fact that one of two things may also have happened; moderate republicans either stayed home, or quietly added their votes to the democratic side of the ledger. There IS a silent faction in the GOP, trying to figure out how to come out from the cold without being beheaded by the extremists. The next two years could be very illuminating as they attempt to exterminate the big orange cockroach.
I hope that the criticism that I am hearing from you is at the media emphasis, and not that all the factors that you have mentioned are ignored in other realms.
It is possible to give President Biden the accolades for doing all that he's done in his first two years in office AND to recognize that the actions of SCROTUS and of the absolute (I am loathe to utilize the only appropriate term for this descriptor of today's RepubliQan party that I have for fear of getting my mouth washed out with soap and for insulting bats) conduct of the MAGAts and their cult.
Yes, my concern is largely with media emphasis before and after election. They relied on meaningless polls before election and did little to help voters understand the real causes of inflation, for example.
I would add to your list of "other reasons" would include at least young people's recognition that without immediate and urgent political action they will likely inherit a cinder or maelstroms of storms with the denial of, or lack of any plan for dealing with, the Climate Crisis. The Youth stand to lose the most from political inaction on that front.
Good news on many fronts. I, however, have been disenfranchised by recent Kentucky redistricting maps. Further, the Democratic party lost their appeal. Judge said: new maps are unfair; the old maps were unfair. But they aren't unconstitutional by state constitution. Ugh. GOP picked up 5 more seats with a super majority 80 in Kentucky house. I fear if enough states have super majority
- the plan for the GOP to call/vote/demand a new Constitutional Convention will succeed. Just imagine the GOP re-write of the US Constitution.
I believe that Ohio went red over unconstitutional maps. The Ohio Supreme Court threw out , for the 4th time, the Republican drawn maps but the state ignored this and went with these heavily gerrymandered districts and thus Dems had zero chance to win fairly in this last election. I believe the voters of Ohio lost out and a class action lawsuit against the state may be in order.
I believe it has already been filed. As an Ohioan who is utterly dismayed that our once swing-state status has made a hard right turn, I feel somewhat left out by the jubilation of the last election. J. D. Vance will be an R pawn in the Senate. The Ohio General Assembly has a veto-proof Republican majority, and I listened to a radio interview this morning about a bill introduced in the Ohio House to make a fertilized egg a person. Sigh. Thank goodness for Dr. R and this forum.
Katie Fahey’s success in Michigan w Voters Not Politicians & the ballot initiatives they enabled in both 2018 & 2022 are THE model every purple state should be using, especially in Wisconsin, NY, Ohio, Kentucky & Florida--and even in places like Louisiana, which has, so far, successfully diluted the black vote for state & federal legislatures via gerrymandering.
I am currently in the biggest red district in IL, and our County Board is very GQP (Mary Miller is our US rep). The Board put a very confusing (nonbinding) resolution on our ballots that sounded like it was against gerrymandering when, in fact, it was a shot at our governor, Pritzker. This resolution overwhelmingly won, simply because most voters hate gerrymandering (and it went on the ballot at the last possible minute so many Dems didn’t understand it). Especially in semi- & full-on rural areas, voters see how few choices they have to make their voices heard, for local judges, and so the percentage of nonpartisan voting for ending gerrymandering is significant (not that I want it ended right now, in IL; not until a majority of state legislatures are out of the hands of the crazies and their districts are fairly apportioned.)
There's a whole documentary about this called Slay the Dragon about what happened when citizens led by Katie took on the issue in Michigan. https://www.slaythedragonfilm.com/
Melissa, I feel your pain. Here in NC, the districts are egregiously gerrymandered. The R's are doing all they can to disenfranchise everyone but themselves. My Congress weasel is a seditionist who voted to overturn the election. So is the new senator. I feel like I have no voice. Not only that as a former public school teacher, I feel under attack by the deplorables in the General Assembly. I hope the Republican Party burns itself to the ground. People in some places have reason for optimism, but in places like NC, optimism for a better future is somewhat diminished.
I have seen the torment that public school teachers are being subjected to in the Kentucky. In fact the state representative (district 31) - is school choice, anti-critical race theory and generally full of it. I went from being represented by a lawyer to a light bulb sales rep. Further, she had been disqualified but got put back on the ballot on appeal. JCPS (Jefferson County) has virtual learning for most of the pandemic. I got to push my then high school junior/senior to do her school work. I gained an even greater respect for the teaching profession. My mom is a retired educator. I know how hard she worked. But what my daughter's teachers went above and beyond. We should start a new political party that values education above all. 40+ years of attacks on public education and public universities have led us to - a less educated electorate and a student debt crisis. Ugh.
Agree, Jenn ... it seems similar here in TX. And it's absolutely the case about the gerrymandering here.
However... there are LOTS of PO'd people here... especially women... who are organizing into large groups whose voices are growing louder and more defiant. Beto and his fellow Dems offered us a whole different approach.. and got soundly defeated. Regrouping and figuring out how to move ahead is happening... and maybe there are similar movements in NC, too. Reason for hope?
We have a lot off pissed off women here in Ohio and many of them voted blue but because of our unconstitutional maps we had no chance. We had a great Senatorial candidate in Tim Ryan but instead, we got the odious Trump-backed JD Vance. Women everywhere are concerned and upset but what can we do other than get out and vote and donate $$ to campaigns. I did postcards to swing states(Pennsylvania) and evidently that must have helped because they went Blue. HELP
Spent a LOTTA time studying this possibility over the past few days. Consulted with people (including attorneys) who've dedicated lotsa time and effort to this idea. Won't happen in this state. :-(
I agree.These heavily gerrymandered districts skewed maps and gave elections to Republicans.It happened here in Ohio, in Florida and other states.It is taking away our power to vote in free and fair elections making them, unfair.It is not only Republicans who do it but in this mid-term election, this was the party that used it to it’s advantage.Democrats would have easily taken the House if not for these terrible maps.
I agree. So why is it trumpublicans are screaming that elections are rigged when they damn well aren’t and democrats are being quiet when our voices are being shut out? We are wimps. We’ve shut our own voices down.
Wow!! Tonight’s Letter is a stunner. It amazes me that you can stay on top of so many stories. It also amazes and exhilarates me that Biden is acting like the Energizer Bunny, getting things done not just for the betterment of America, but also for the world.
Not an “Energizer Bunny”
A world leader
Diplomat
Balm to our country
What does he have to do to receive respect even among liberals?
You have a point, but since I have suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 35 years, I see "Energizer Bunny" as one of our highest compliments. President Biden is truly amazing.
I personally didn’t sense that Cathy meant any disrespect whatsoever. At the same time, I’m happy to accord Biden the respect he deserves for maintaining an even keel and for all of the progress he has made. I welcome hearing the full spectrum of positive statements about Biden, given that people have unfairly (to my way of thinking) discounted him as weak, lackluster, and not “strong”. Let’s show one another some latitude in how we express our pleasure that the midterm elections were as strong as they were for the electoral process and for providing democracy the support it’s so full he deserves.
Agreed.
One of my favorite cousins has had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for about the same length of time, MaryPat, and it is a blistering illness--made worse by the lack of knowledge about it and, not to go on my feminist rant here, but some very bad attitudes about it. Biden is an interesting man, slow-moving, soft-spoken, gentlemanly, but I have two indelible images of him--running with Obama down the halls of the White House and his barely controlled rage at Trump in that first debate as Trump baited him with taunts about his son and every trigger possible for a stutterer. Biden kept control of himself but you could feel the energy, and I think we don't always grasp what that requires. But I think the most impressive aspect of his character is the holding firm. Not to be too silly about it, but he knows when to hold 'em and he knows when to fold 'em.
I remember those debates! I think he told him to shut up at one stage.
It turned out, and I read it in several mainstream papers, that someone must have researched the things most likely to disturb or derail a person with a history of stuttering, and trump used them all. I later looked up just the basic facts about that disability, and by gosh, there it all was. Talk about street fighting. Bunch of gangsters
He takes pleasure in inflicting cruelty. It's evident in all he does.
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
Ditto.
💞
Agree. Good batteries on the road.
Salud, MaryPat!
🗽
I also deal with CFS and love the Energizer Bunny!
"Deal with CFS" is more accurate. I could say I dance with CFS, and have my share of slow ones.
As a life long liberal, he has my respect! Although he is a scant few years older than I, I consider him to be a wise elder statesman.
Older is not wiser across the aisle, sad to say. And their “young” pups exhibit the worst of “teenage recklessness” and immature cognition.
Reckless, immature and immoral. TBH, the ‘young pups’ are a clear and present danger to the future of this country.
I don't think it has much to do with what he does or doesn't do. The political winds start blowing in this country and they just keep on blowing in one direction until . . .who knows? The money boys or the press or some non-event turns them. Biden's political history and skills are working behind the scenes hammering out compromises, and this isn't a world in which that is going to get much recognition. It's a darned shame that we require loud noise and chaos to even get our attention.
Yes, excellent point: “RESPECT even among liberals.” Biden was a responsible as ANYONE for turning the Bigly Red Wave/TSUNAMI into its current IN REALITY Pink Tinkle. Even CONSERVATIVES are admitting that this is a huge loss for Republicans and many are pointing at Trumpty Dumpty for this loss. Sleepy Joe he ain’t!! Let’s Go, Joe!!
I've actually called it a "red tinkle" and suggesting that it is symptomatic of an infection...
Haha, spoken like someone who has had a UTI!! I'm on antibiotics as I write!
Hey! that revived my Heart!
Been there done that! Hope you feel better.
Indeed! Needs medical attention, but Dr. Oz is out of his league in this one!
Ha! ha! Not a single heart working, but I have to laugh at this one.
Excellent points! We are indeed fortunate.
Precisely, Cathy! This is what we need on all fronts.
It’s so encouraging that we are cracking down with more sanctions on Iran!
“Meanwhile, authorities in Iran are cracking down on the protesters there, with news of torture and now of a death sentence for one of the 15,000 protesters who have been arrested. Today, national security advisor Jake Sullivan condemned the human rights abuses inflicted on its citizens by the Iranian government and called for ‘accountability…through sanctions and other means.’”
An update from Allen Hingston as he makes his way back to Canada:
“We are on the train to Berlin 6 hours then 45 minutes to change trains to Frankfurt 4 more hours. There was a large gap between the platform and the rail car. We literally had to throw Lucky across the gap. We are in a compartment of 6 seats and Lucky lies on the floor. We can finally relax for a while.”
Many thanks for this update on Allen and family, Rowshan!!
Yes! Biden is doing a fabulous job keeping the momentum moving forward on so many levels! Steady and unwavering at the helm; an example here and abroad that blows the lid off the republican wing nuts and world dictators. Let's also be sure we work hard to identify, mentor, and support the next generation of leaders in the democratic party - that is the crucial long game.
Yes, isn't it delicious to have a skilled, experienced leader who actually works! And actually works for the good of the whole, for country, democracy, international relationships and planet? Whose ego is not his dominant feature? It is gobsmacking to see President Biden covering the world stage with his wisdom and pulling countries together. Finally, oxygen for Americans and the world. Hopefully, this sets a stable stage for when the ones who have done nothing but attempted to suck oxygen, sanity and finances out of our country and the world, are indicted and tucked away in small, silent places where their destructive, seditious, anti-democracy thrust and brainwashing of vulnerable people, dissolves like a jailed dessert of red-hatted jello. Might be a political poem in there one day...but coffee first. Doesn't it feel like Humpty has been losing his power and prestige suddenly? Another delicious for today. Perfect timing. Holiday indictments for him, his spawn and his cronies. I will certainly be looking under our national Christmas tree for a multitude of indictments as we are steered away from the crass, authoritarian wannabes.
Thank you, Janet W...agreed!
Go to whitehouse.gov or state.gov to get the real news on what is going on. I also focus on Reuters, BBC, and the Guardian to flesh out information.
It's fabulous that Dr. Richardson does such an excellent job of synthesizing our USA news today but it's also up to us to do the work as well.
"its also up to us to do the work as well".
I agree. But, when I was age 18-60, it was practically impossible to stay informed. I could not read like I do since I retired and took up volunteer work instead of long grinding work days and evenings with kids events.
Now, retired and with my kids well launched? I have more flexible schedule and can read in the early am instead of get lunches together, plan the day and shoot off to work with my kids all set.
So, having previously been, and, honestly, even now, am still mostly ignorant, Dr. Richardson's letter is really, really key for my informational status. I assume, by now, she has a staff working at least part time to mine the information, then, her brain composites it in a way that leaves me informed without having spent hours getting that way.
In fact, that is the beauty of what she is doing for all of us. Making it possible to stay informed without working full time to do it.
Agree. My overall goal is to get folks to realize there is more to life/news than main stream media. In these Midterms I 100% ignored polls, talking heads and op eds. I focused on President Biden's speeches, the Government websites, and alternate news. I read Dr. Richardson and Mr. Hubbell. I worked for elections. And as a result I knew the Democrats would prevail.
It really is upsetting to see the media torturing Americans for money.
Barbara. I cannot say I knew the Democrats would prevail, but, I did and do know the polls are way off since 2016. I think it is because polls use landline phoning still. Not a representative sample.
Yes. Money grubbing is a sad, ugly part of existing in general.
I look forward to retirement also with the thought of having the time to stay informed, and not from mainstream media. I have learned an enormous amount from these letters and the comments. I just wish my memory could hold in everything I've learned. The challenges of getting old and dealing with chronic Lyme Disease and Covid brain fog are upon me but I will not give up. Thank you all, especially Dr. Richardson, for keeping me informed.
My comment was not meant to put anyone down. Offering alternate news sources is a part of these comments sections. Offering different viewpoints of this comments world is essential. Otherwise we become participants of groupthink and group speak.
I am going to be heretical here but there have been times I disagreed with something Dr. Richardson says in her political commentary. Her history expertise; never!
Diversity of thought is both normal and needed.
Done.
Old dogs have plenty of tricks, and know how to use them. The pups need to learn a thing or two. Now if we didn’t have the party devoted to gumming the works, it would be a much less bumpy road. BTW, the all-hands-on-deck Dem effort was impressive (including Liz and Adam). We still have political resources that are not bat-shit-crazy, unlike the Repub party.
Beating a drum for democracy and trying to conquer evil by doing good, Biden is a very good spokesperson and leader. May his health and well being hold him up. The things he is going through would grind me to dust.
Jimminy Cricket, I wilted serving on a small town elected (volunteer) select board 15+ years ago and I was only in my early 50's at the time! I cannot even imagine handling the level of stress and obstacles Biden has endured (personal and political). And, he has done it with grace, calm, empathy, and persistence. Biden wasn't my first choice but once elected, I've been 200% in his court and impressed with the # of accomplishments particularly given every road block thrown in his way.
He was my first choice and my admiration has only grown since then.
The current Ambassador to China, Nick Burns (and brilliant career diplomat) spoke to a group of us at an NPR event in Boston before the 2020 election. He has been my "go to" person for foreign affairs for years. Besides teaching at Harvard, he was a consultant to Biden's foreign policy team. I introduced myself afterwards to reminisce about our home town (his brother was in my high school class-like that meant anything!) But, he is the type of person that when he talks with you, regardless of the topic, you are the only person in the room and he is delightfully engaged. That was my brief close up assessment that Biden would put together a top cabinet. If Nick was on board, who was I to disagree!
What a nice story. Thanks for that. And he has a tough job as Ambassador to China for sure. I have enjoyed seeing President Biden choosing the best and brightest to staff his Administration.
I know. He amazes me. And he looks in better shape than many of the politicians I see today.
Biden is doing an amazing job. I wish more Americans would take note. That said, I still think he's getting immigration wrong, and I wish he would push the Democrats to pass a national, mandatory E-verify, which would both stanch illegal immigration and get more of the working class vote for the Democrats, which we need.
But again, despite what he's not doing on immigration, I think he's doing an amazing job. At my advanced age (I was born early in the Eisenhower Administration) I realize that no president is going to do everything I want, but I can't think of any president in my adulthood who's done as much as Biden.
Me too, Joe amazes me, he can talk to so many people and stay on point. he has a vision, he knows what it will take, and he is getting us what we need, what the world needs, going forward.
What I love, yes love, about HCR is her down-home NewEnglander style. I watched her online chat Tuesday and chuckled at the way she was dressed for what appeared to be an early winter day. Her brilliance, unaffectedness, and kindness infuse everything she does.
Yes!! Energizer Bunny! Let’s Go, Joe….while Sleepy Trumpie is in the Dumpty.
BK,
I wish to offer my great thanks for posting the link. I just read the interview. Dr. Richardson at her best, no doubt.
Her concluding sentence says a great deal about who she is: "And that for somebody like me is an unfathomable gift. "
Dr. Richardson remains completely without arrogance, conceit, or a shred of a desire to keep the attention pointed at her, even though it is. Really, amazing.
And, I think I have one of the same caps she is wearing (I have too many caps)!
Thank you.
Dear Mike,
There is no such thing as too many caps.
Love, Ally, who owns many, many caps.
ps I don't have that one. Must....find....
Ally. I have collected my work caps going back 46 years or so.
My favorite is an old IH cap.
International Harvestor.
I still have my college softball cap, plus a “Flour Power” from the bakery, ASA Umipire/tournament hats and a variety of SWAT, training etc. hats from law enforcement.
She does wear a lot of (figurative) hats!
Thank you for posting this. It is a great article. We are so lucky to have Dr. Richardson sharing her views. Her clarity of thinking and her ability to express her thoughts so well is such a gift for all of us. She teaches me every day! I don’t know how I would have survived the turmoil of these last few years without her calming approach to explaining the events by cutting out the noise.
Go BC! Happy to see the leaders of Boston College further recognize the seemingly tireless effort of Dr Richardson. So thank you on behalf of so many alumni who read her letter and admire her work; she’s a good one! We all felt the uncertainty and negativity lift in a meaningful way these past few days as our democracy proved its strength and the good judgment of the majority of American voters. Educators like Dr Richardson played a role in making that happen as did all of us who voted. We the People didn’t falter. We’ll keep up the effort just as our parents did during the Depression and during WWII and our fore-bearers did since they first arrived here. President Biden is a good and honorable president with the character and experience to see that the will of the majority of American voters is done. The world realizes this, too and now the stage is set for many of the initiatives people everywhere want and need to be implemented. It’s truly happening, but only because each of us decided that our vote mattered and took the time to exercise our right to express our leadership preferences secretly and securely. In Ukraine we’re fighting off the occupiers; in Iran we’re fighting the repressive regime, in Brazil we’re fighting to protect the Amazon, and everywhere we’re fighting to stop the destruction of our precious planet upon which all life depends. We’ll keep doing so.
and when we win these fights a new era of social justice and world peace will dawn for our grandchildren to carry forward...
Thanks for posting this link. An FYI - there is a link in the article to an audio version of the interview with HCR on the BC Magazine Podcast. Linking below for convenience of those who would enjoy hearing the interview.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1143224/11543305
I love the line at the end: " I also feel like I have been given the golden ring in that, for a historian, there is literally no better position in our entire history than to be the person who gets to keep the record of this era."
I feel like I am auditing a BC history class with all of the Professor's writings/videos/books.
I just finished reading the seven pages & it’s very informative. I liked the part where they are discussing: “Will the rise of social media and the spread of disinformation complicate or change the nature of the work that historians will be doing a hundred years from now?”
And Heather answers: “...the real issue for archivists is curation. Whose voice gets to stay in the archives? Who gets to be there? And the proliferation of so many different forms of media and of speech means that we’re going to lose most of it. How many of your emails do you have from the late 1990s? I have none. I don’t have an archive. If it had all been on paper, I would, at this point in my life, have an archive. I don’t have one. That stuff’s going to get lost.”
“IF IT HAD ALL BEEN ON PAPER, I WOULD AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE HAVE AN ARCHIVE.”
I am an Archivist (hoarder). I was a prolific op-ed letter writer during the 1980s to 2000, having 200 of them published, which I made xerografic copies and kept in binders with the news clip to which it referred. I also kept many unpublished letters and essays on various civil rights issues that I kept in binders – a whole bookshelf of them that luckily, FIU took for their Special Collections library, (after I scanned them all). So, I have a digital copy of that history from my perspective as well as the paper documents in the library. In fact I had the advantage on some of those embarrassing writings 30 or 40 years ago to write my change of attitude on them before preserving.
Archives indeed!
Yes! Since HCR started, besides regaining a measure of sanity, I feel like I have had a better than college history class and education!
HCR is an American treasure!!! Well done, Professor!!
And, I'll bet MIT now regrets not giving her tenure!
MIT??
I had no idea she did not get tenure there!
I am not surprised and not.
I doubt Dr Richardson does much of the currying favor part of getting tenure.
Oy
Thank you for posting. I have not seen this previously and I look forward to reading it.
Thanx for posting the link, BK. I've just right-clicked and copied the whole thing into a Word Doc and will read it with my next cup of coffee. (Only 7 pages in Time New Roman 12 font - with intro pic). It will be filed (HCR-Intrvw) at the top of the various HCR-Ltrs I've collected over the years and give more background to them. In fact gonna send the link URL to ppl I sometimes share these letters with.
Rob Boyte (Miami Beach) - "I've just right-clicked and copied the whole thing into a Word Doc and will read it with my next cup of coffee."
For what it's worth, if you are using Microsoft Edge or Chrome (It may work in others, IDK), the extension "print friendly and pdf" makes it much easier. You can directly edit the page and either print it out or convert it to a PDF document. Both ways include the article's Title and URL in the Header/Footer -- for future reference.
https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/search/print%20friendly%20and%20pdf
Thanx for the info, but I am still using Microsoft Word 97-2003. I prefer fewer whistles & bells. I don't print things any more, just keep them and can make screen caps like my old movie reviews posted on various Web pages - but kept in Word Doc. where I can now make memes of text & pix for posting anew. I even took the offset pic of Heather and put the BC Magazine logo on the left side to insert in the doc. Word is my Art medium now.
Do you sometimes long for Wordperfect 4.2? I think my favorite machine of all time was a 286 Pentium, running DOS, with a whopping 1Mb of memory.
WordPerfect was the perfect word processing program back in the day.
Yes! (groan).
Yes.
But wouldn't a PDF document do the same thing? It would include the images as well as providing direct access to the original (for reposting selected parts with source).
PDF to me is like a scan of a page and is a very big file. I have scans of my bio & journal entries but e-mailing is slow. However when I take screen shots of sections of a page, where I can move pix & text to fit better, it becomes a whole new art form for me. Plus the colors & fotos are move vivid than a scan. It's what I do.
I wish we could post images, I could show you what I do.
Thank you, BK, for this tip. I just read the interview, and the one thing that comes through is that just as a musician needs to play or sing or compose or conduct, and an artist needs to make beautiful art, Heather discovered that she has a talent for explaining history and political context; in other words, for teaching. And, of course, writing, which I suspect she already knew. And, she discovered that "ordinary" people wanted desperately to understand the truth of things. I know that feeling, because when I retired from practicing law and began taking courses with a group of elders, I discovered that I had many things I wanted to tell them and a talent for explaining them clearly, and they were things they desperately wanted to understand. So, I taught American Constitutional Law, and Current Issues in the Law, and I never had such a good time in my life. I read and read, and soaked up so much historical and legal information, and broke it down for my non-lawyer students. A ten-year illness of my husband, and his death in 2021, intervened, but I hope to return to teaching or writing. And, of course, thank you, Heather. Don't stop anytime soon.
Good teachers are a precious commodity! I hope you get back in the classroom soon.
Thanks you for sharing!
Just got my copy the other day.
Thanks for posting this for others.
Great article. I love the headline photo of Heather with her hands on her hips and arms akimbo.
Thank you so much, BK, for sharing this link. I just finished listening to the podcast of this insightful interview of our amazing Prof. Heather Cox Richardson.
Thank you very much for the link to the Boston College article!
Thank you BK. I was again moonbeamed when she brought up her belief in the enlightenment process.
Wow. A nation regains its democratic footing as the insurrectionists are defeated at the polling booths. And a super experienced President engages with world leaders during a trip that makes my head spin with pride. Wow.
If this is a dream, don't wake me up.
Voting IS our superpower!
Informed voting, or at least reasonably well informed voting, and this site and HCR helps. It's the future of our society, and much to do with the future that future generations will inherit being decided. With great power comes great responsibility.
J L, I write to thank you for suggesting that an uninformed electorate isn’t healthy for democracy. Regrettably, Washington officials, too often, are permitted to set the agenda for journalism leaving the press simply to recount what officials say instead of subjecting their words and deeds to critical scrutiny.
I imagine you and I would agree on the importance of strong, honest, and accurate reporting that includes relating stories people in high places wouldn’t want told, for example how major corporations are using the cover of inflation to drive up prices. Sadly, instead of acting as filters for readers and viewers, sifting the truth from the propaganda, journalists largely fail to provide context, background, or any sense of which claims hold up and which are misleading.
In a word, if journalism is to help shape the ability of citizens to think critically about important issues, it must be able to expose deception and get as close as possible to the verifiable truth.
If we take Lincoln at his word (and why would we not want to?) and consistently pursue government of, by and for the people, then we, collectively, are flying the plane. If we snooze, we lose. If we accept bad charts and screwy data, we risk collision with a mountainside, as we seem to be risking with climate. If we are texting when we should be scanning the horizon, we could also go down in flames. But we also need a reliable network of navigational aids, and know what to rely on and what to distrust. As a nation, we need reporters committed to vigilance and accuracy, and I could be wrong, but it seems to me that suffered quite a lot in my lifetime.
Deep and significant investigative reporting is still out there, but not as visible as it seemed to me it had been before the "Reagan Revolution" when much of the press seemed content to just play along. The "afflict the comfortable" part seemed to take a back seat. It certainly did at CBS when you read the CEOs comments from 2016 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leslie-moonves-donald-trump-may-871464/ . We have to hold our major news outlets, our representatives acting in our name and ostensible interests, and ourselves to higher standards to make wiser decisions and reduce the odds of epic disasters.
J L, I’m no expert on the subject, but I do know, when the landmark Communications Act of 1934 (that led to the creation of the FCC) was under consideration, a vigorous public movement had emerged to argue for a broadcast system that would serve the interests of citizens and communities. The deregulation pressure that began, as you stated, during the Reagan era eliminated many public-interest rules.
I recall in the early 2000s that a movement like the one in 1934 had emerged. Its founders urged fellow citizens to engage the mainstream, not retreat from it. The public, they said, needed to understand that what they see, hear, and read, is not only the product of programmers and producers, but also a set of policy decisions made by the people we vote for.
Knowing that journalism and democracy are deeply linked, we now more than ever have to enlist journalists who are eager to build on that momentum.
Ida Tarbell and her fellow "muckrakers" helped usher in a "progressive era" - yes the word was viewed with admiration.
I recently completed "Titan" - Chernow's bio of John D. Rockefeller. It was an aggressive press that changed the course of history.
Robert Reich's explanations of how the Oligarchs and big corporations "price for profit" get too little attention. He actually quotes CEOs as being proud of the opportunity to maximize profits during periods of high inflation.
The Repuglicans dare to blame Biden for high prices when it is actually their campaign donors who are bleeding us.
Makes me want to scream: "Give me some socialism"!
Bill, I won’t give you socialism, an economic and political system that advocates collective or government control and ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. What I will do, because I recognize capitalism is not very good at distributing a nation’s wealth, is to level its effects by wedding it to social democratic institutions that contain its excesses and moderate its greedy and self-serving impulses.
I would not want a total socialism either. Nordic countries have the best model. Social safety nets, social support and a very successful regulated capitalism. And the people are the happiest in the world. And happy to pay high taxes that level the playing field.
'Kari Lake Furious After Arizona Awards Her Participation Trophy'
'PHOENIX (The Borowitz Report)—The former television anchorwoman Kari Lake became enraged after the state of Arizona attempted to present her with a participation trophy for her unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign.'
'According to the Arizona state constitution, every losing candidate for statewide office is entitled to such a trophy, as well as an eight-by-eleven-inch “certificate of participation,” suitable for framing.' (Satire, NewYorker)
Thus, the advance of so many substacks, written by informed and intelligent thinkers, will be replacing the corporate-owned, sensationalized, talking headed mainstream media and propaganda grooming-machines that destroy our citizens braincells.
@Pensa_VT, Admittedly, since engaging in Substack conversations this past year, my perspectives on a host of issues have both broadened and deepened, While I accept we never really know how the impact of our actions might ripple out, I don’t doubt they matter immensely.
$$$ talk to MSM and influence what we are told, whether they are Dem $$$ or Rep $$$. And then there are POV. It takes most of my day to feel I've learned enough to understand what's what is one or two subjects - and I'm 96 and have the time and the interest. Of course, I'm slower now, but even so many areas of our lives are changing so fast and being reported in such detail that it truly is impossible for most citizens to keep up while conducting their daily lives.
One needs self-confidence and good self-care and self-control and flexibility - and the wit to know which one needs to be in play at the moment. L&B&L
Ida, I appreciate your thoughtful reply. In response to your opening portrayal of MSM as a commercial, profit-driven enterprise, for me, the issue, practically speaking, invariably boils down to two questions: 1) Can the media meaningfully engage in “public service” and nurture the fundamental discourse critical to maintaining a democratic republic and still remain solvent? or 2) Will the desire to make bigger profits actually drive media owners to provide expedient rather than useful content?
I suppose the answer partly rests with whether average citizens take note of and actually care whether the media are fair and accurate and are guided by democratic principles.
--->>> "informed voting" <<<--- Yes!
'What a difference a day makes
24 little hours...'
Yes the midterm election results brought sunshine to our democracy, and it was the American people and our free and fair elections that brought Democracy home.
'...Democrat Cisco Aguilar, who told Nick Corasaniti of the New York Times: “People are tired of chaos…. They want stability; they want normalcy; they want somebody who’s going to be an adult and make decisions that are fair, transparent, and in the best interest of all Nevadans.” (Letter)
Today's Letter is a golden nugget containing many of the reasons that America and most American voters have resisted the lies that the Republicans have been peddling. 'NO' victories for election deniers in the swing states and, in no small measure, part of our election victories are the result of how Biden and Democrats in the House and Senate have demonstrated their support for the American people.
For a broader view, '...conservative columnist Max Boot of the Washington Post notes, “Republicans lost the election—and so did [Russian president Vladimir] Putin, MBS [Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman], and [former/incoming Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu.” (Letter)
Down with the dictators and the autocrats.
Down with bullies.
Christofer Hobson in today's letter:
" When it comes to political institutions, economic relations, and social bonds, entropy and decay can be profoundly damaging and harmful. Considering the then ascendant Islamic State, John Gray returned to Hobbes to offer a valuable reminder:
What we are witnessing is the rediscovery of an essential truth: our freedoms are not free-standing absolutes but fragile constructions that remain intact only under the shelter of state power.
There is plenty in his article to question, but the central point is an important one: we tend to take for granted the vital conditions of state order and functioning institutions within which we exercise our freedoms, and that ‘endemic anarchy can be a more intractable obstacle to civilized existence than many kinds of despotism’."
Olof, you are right. We tend to take things for granted. If Trump did one singular good thing, by default, he got Americans to take our elections more seriously, right down to local elections. We learned how fragile our democracy had become and this election was a referendum on democracy. Even some in the GOP seem to be seeking some level of civility in rejecting Trump and extremists.
Well, I just quoted some good reminders. From a Swedish perspective I think Americans have been showing an admirable amount of activism, against very severe challenges in this election. What some Swedish progressives have to remind themselves of is the standing of 'international law'. Often you hear people speak of international law, as if there was someone enforcing it anywhere near the enforcement of the state legislation.
Olof, perhaps this states what you are pointing to, 'Unlike national or domestic law, international law is not set down in any legislation approved by a parliament. Even multilateral treaties do not apply to all states, but only to those which have consented to be so bound, by signing and ratifying or acceding to them. As a result, the precise rules of international law are often more difficult to identify than national laws, and may be found in a variety of sources.' More generally:
'International law is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for states across a broad range of domains, including war, diplomacy, economic relations, and human rights.' (Wikipedia)
“…GOP seem to be seeking some level of civility…” ain’t happened yet. See what tomorrow brings…
Don’t sleep through this one. We must attack the cause. FIRST, we must file a statement of the problem. SECOND, we must offer the solution to the problem - and follow through...
Don’t Look Up.. is a metaphor, a movie, a warning.
"There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root."
- Thoreau
Not a Dream, the Nightmare Is Over. Trump Inc., going up the river. Otisville will be crowded. Allentown PA will be busy.
The Pardon Man will not be pardoned.
President Ford is dead.
Putin Inc., will be charged.
A G. Garland is a planner and a damn good judge.
Stay tuned. The nation is going to get a lesson in civics.
Civics 101. Pass fail.
Sandy,
"the Nightmare Is Over"
I don't want to be a downer as everyone enjoys this moment of puppy uppers.
However, the margins that every Democrat won by are razor, razor thin. Trump will announce his run for Presidency today, and, he has demonstrated his ability to get Republicans to crawl at his feet many times successfully after appearing down and out. Remember McCarthy denouncing him then crawling from DC to Mara Lago on his lips to ask Trump for forgiveness??
Razor thin margins. A fascist who mustered an army to overthrow the government is about to run for President again.
The Nightmare has only just begun.
Correct. Nightmare is a constant. But today it’s Trump declaring. Big presser. The New Yorker is sending a name brand guy. He’s telling one and all, Trump is running. Headline. Ratings. Slow Tuesday Night, Trump in lights. Fresh dye for his hair. Sun lamp for his face. Sockets covered. Greased. Wm. Jennings Bryan rehearsed and lost. Inherit the Wind. Trump never rehearses. No dress rehearsal. Just more lies. He will not actually declare. It’s the Nth teaser. More theater Grade B. President Biden may not run. No one knows till next year. Don’t hold your breath.
Ain’t over till the fat guy sings. At Sing Sing.
I think the whole announcement of an announcement is just another way for him to keep his name in the headlines. He is a quivering pathetic blob of insecurity. He needs to be talked about because his parents ignored him.
And...he may be getting signals that indictments from more than one agency are in the mail. He will try to steal the narrative. It isn't going to work.
I think Merrick Garland will be viewed as the most effective and noteworthy AG in our history. The public forgets what you noted. He is a top notch judge who would not entertain prosecutions that are incomplete in their preparations. His case will be air tight and totally damning. As will those from Leticia and Fanni.
Yes, I am still that optimistic dreamer. But I think I am right.
News FLASH! He declares tonight. Inside information. Matt Gaetz / Jewish space laser.
"...announcement of an announcement..." that he's going to announce in a future announcement of previous announcings, all the while announcing it's not his fault. 🤬
Michael Cohen has said tfg will not run--he will just talk about it endlessly, thus keeping himself in the news. Ugh!
And the mainstream media continues to give him what he wants! TFG was the lead on the Today show this morning, at which time I turned off the TV in disgust.
I commented a week ago that I have my doubts that he will declare: why would he cut off the spigot of all that cash coming to pay his legal bills? I said I think it more likely that he'd push some new Trump labeled product to his base--a new fan club that for the mere price of $29.99 sends you a glossy certificate, upgrade to $59.99 and you are a VIP member!!
But in the wake of all the election news and his waning popularity, one wonders if the GOP will continue to invite him to rallies for candidates, and we all know how he feeds on the crowds. So perhaps he will?
Sandy, I have not forgotten that not that long ago, there was a lot of angst on this forum and you were the voice that said he was going down! I look for your insights each day. Keep up the good work.
Miselle, good morning!
This article in the NY Times answers your questions.........hold your hat!!
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/opinion/trump-2024-announcement-republicans.html?unlocked_article_code=a0fzZFrmV7uRSl7ZBIFe7x9EjNs4nuQdnM0a_jlHznYDXjsEVg-t_6VB3ylxtTtbjdxEI54UiTTY_ZsHfzRsd5Zkl1YsXHI57Co7H8ILXxRgpdv7awaEgwP6Yh4S3n_h60DStotZ3b7vTWWFejvLjbcuwOj9SGySx_kzjW3DnXuBpz6R1h72VTDyzq034QFaLY7yWNf5BxpN9-b1U-g8tquG5MHVKLDp1-ldozoOygEEHCuAhl88IMyksE7an9YHIrNQ7OugU8b7gXxG7WsaBdldl-NxmoQ-wrw5sB0BgNq0i-7SUtNDXLz_3DEweQ1ocsr-Whl3OTfnut-gU6pm7AVxIhrEbCWDO3Zf_Tc&smid=share-url
The RNC will not pay his legal bills any longer if he declares.
Sure they will.
Soon, the Republican Party will all be crawling at his feet again.
Just wait. It has happened before.
I saw that the other day. He will just have to get deeper in his rubes pockets. He will find a way.
Yes. He’s going down. AND he will be charged, tried, convicted and sentenced. Not to jail! Secret Service will not allow that. He’s home jailed in Florida... in his castle.
Yesterday Seth Abromson wrote about the Patriot Party ... https://open.substack.com/pub/sethabramson/p/on-the-eve-of-trump-announcing-his?utm_source=direct&r=9bfb7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web ... it’s good to be aware. I want it to be over, but it’s not.
Mike, I completely agree.
We are looking down the barrel of Trump.2.0
He and his minions will be serving revenge at every meal.
"He and his minions will be serving revenge at every meal."
And? The sad thing is that is really the actual plan he has.
Mike, exactly. He looks no further ahead than that.
As much as anything he does has an actual plan.
Not certain Trump runs. He makes money by not declaring. Senior reporters from all over are scheduled to cover this. The New Yorker will be there. It will be interesting. Packed. A circus.
I fear you are right, the Republican backbone is severely warped…
"Puppy-uppers"...???!
Biden has been operating on razor thin margins all along!
So in what way are the accomplishments HCR enumerates "puppy-uppers"?
Aye. Bad voice of words. I just meant as happy as a puppy. Even that might not be clear. I just meant happy.
...held at the right angle, a razor gives a clean shave not a slash or a gash...
Let us pass
Actually, Heather's excellent newsletter made my head spin, too! An indefatigable president! I'm sure the results of the election gave him an added boost of mental energy. This is the result of our votes, so essential to our democracy. Upon arising this morning (overseas) I saw a text from a friend back home that Katie Hobbs won the election for governor in Arizona. Great news! It looks like AZ might be turning more blue than purple. I also read some additional articles on Kari Lake that surprised me. I had no idea she had been such a "liberal" and a Buddhist, now claiming to be Christian (that was a fast conversion!). All for the sake of power. She was so certain that being a Trump in heels, she would win, and perhaps go on to run for president in 2024. Joe Biden has been a terrific president and he continues to build bridges. Onward to the re-election of Raphael Warnock!
It’s not a dream, Bill. We are woke and proud of it.
Take a hike, haters. Straight from the woodshed to clear your heads and hearts. Now you know what a whoopin’ feels like.
Salud! We are the United States of America. 🗽
Proud of the “woke” label. Not a negative to be aware of the threats to our sanity and our world.
And yet the right continues to describe Biden as a senile, bumbling has-been while the fruits of 47 years of leadership are now paying off. Heather’s description of his most recent international “road trips” speaks for itself.
Going to sleep toniite without waking up to a nightmare!
So, Bill, do you officially take back "Somebody else in 2024"? :-)
Here's an interesting thought; TFG has demonstrated (for worse rather than better) how a former president can have a very influential role in subsequent politics. Biden could take a page from the MAGA playbook, but for the good of the nation instead. Imagine the next president with a set of ACTIVE former chief executives extending the message throughout the tenure of the sitting POTUS, rather than just in the few weeks before an election? A term in the White House qualifies the POTUS to free security and travel, a hefty pension and automatic preferred admission to most private/public venues on earth, not to mention multi-million dollar book deals and 6 figure speaking engagements. The Obamas now live down the lane from the Kennedy and Bush families on Martha's vineyard (or where-ever). You don't qualify for that kind of real estate purely on wages in office.
Love how Biden’s extraordinary performance triggers the critics to wish him gone. And chump’s “clown with a flamethrower” performances make the MAGAts and their ilk love him as a golden idol. Logic is dead…
"A term in the White House qualifies the POTUS to free security and travel"
Which Trump abused liberally to spend most of his time on his golf course WHILE he was President. A true loser.
But, so much winning. Or was that cheating?
We both know Trump is a loser even though he cheats all the time. A born loser.
Interesting. But if the president goes to a male an open collaboration of power would seem unlikely…. In humanities current state of evolution. If a sane woman with integrity gets in someday it might be a different story.
Thanks for the word salad nonsense. Do you have a clue what you are talking about? "Geniuses" like you are a damn embarrassment.
Easy does it there, tiger...maybe a laxative,a suppository and some private time on your porcelain throne will make you feel better. You diminish your own message when you get personal. Do you think Obama and Clinton had nothing whatsoever to do with shoring up the democratic vote in places where Biden was Persona non-Grata? TFG's constant insertion of himself into the current political climate has been nothing but painful, but our current President might have benefited greatly by some more vocal support across the last 2 years by individuals who held the office previously and have an unparalleled view of how things do and don't get done. I'm not frightened to imagine how things might be different AND work to the betterment of society. Call me a dreamer, call me a fool, whatever you please, but I'm something other than an expletive sputtering, anger stuffed critic...and I often LIKE a lot of what you contribute, nonetheless.
You're point is well taken.
Nope. As you so well know, I love and respect President Biden. History will agree with me.
But nobody should be President at 82. I don't care how spry he is. Nobody can be as energetic as is required for this job at that age. Nobody.
Let's get some perspective by reflecting on how rapidly the Presidency ages every occupant of the White House. It is more than a 24/7 job. It is like being asked to be a non-stop super computer.
And here is the factor we give much too little attention to. We need the votes of young people. We need a charismatic candidate that will attract the votes of those who see Biden differently than you and I do. We need a Kennedy or Obama who will inspire us with rhetoric that brings tears to our eyes.
But...as I have said, if Joe is the candidate after a fair and square primary, I would crawl across broken glass and flaming hot coals to vote for him.
It should have been Biden in 2008 and Obama now...
Agree.
Some good news from Oregon. Andrea Salinas (D) is the new Congressional rep for the newly formed 6th district. Thankfully, the insufferable Mike Erickson is not. I am also glad that Hobbs won in Arizona over that wing nut R. This is all good news, both at home and abroad and a reminder that the work is never done even though we are breathing a bit of a sigh of relief. We have made our donation to Warnock as well.
I’ve made my donation to Rev. Warnock, today, too. Hoping and sending positive energy. It’s almost unbelievable that he didn’t breeze by Walker. The remnants of TFG are still here. But so are we.
Me too Irenie. There are a number of technical Senate rules that make 51 to 49 margin much better than 50-50 plus Kamala. For the full list, see Rachel's interview of Senator Schumer earlier tonight. Not the least of which is Judicial appoinlments that are 2/3 women. Support Rev Warnock!
"What we need to do is keep having those gas-guzzling cars, 'cause we got the good emissions under those cars." - Herschel Walker
I rest my argument, we must support Senator Warnock's reelection.
Whaaaaat? For real?
What a tidbit, JL.
🗽
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/herschel-walker-us-should-keep-gas-guzzling-cars-that-produce-good-emissions/ar-AA146uus
I'm huffing those good emissions - for air quality demolitions...
…”our good air will float over on top of China’s bad air” but they not putting a dollar toward any Green New Deal.
Really? Yikes.
Support Senator Raphael Warnock in his re-election.
🗽
Say what? OMG!
If you needed an appendectomy you would look for someone qualified, right? Why do we ever think running a huge, modern country requires no proven, relevant aptitude or preparation?
I had a friend over on Facebook post a meme: "Dear football fans who told Colin Kaepernick to "stay out of politics", where are you now with Herschel Walker?"
Good one, Ally!
BTW, thanks for the thank you card!
Thanks for the donation!
Got your lovely card, Ally. It's a keeper!
40 letters and 40 postcards in the mail, I burned out my old printer this week! And thankfully, my daughter came to help write them all as these arthritic hands don't write legibly anymore. Now, sending positive thoughts into the universe.
Same here. In a couple of weeks I may give again, but the idea was to give once up front and ignore the future solicitations!
Irenie, I've made my donation to Rev. Warnock as well, I wrote and mailed 40 letters to Georgia residents. I learned of this writing campaign on here. As a retired person on a very fixed income, this was a great way for me to help and only cost me paper, envelopes and stamps. You choose 5 or 20 names, they send you a form letter talking about the runoff election. You hand write the envelope and a one or two sentence addition, "I vote because..." You don't mention a candidate or a party. It's just a reminder to vote in the runoff on Dec. 6. Here's the web address if anyone wants to participate.
https://votefwd.org/
I'm awaiting my approval from voteforward. Think I'll have a fun weekend of it.
Thank you Ally and Carol, please keep us informed on productive strategies.🕯🕯
I agree! I did 160 letters for here in AZ
Katie Hobbs has won? Thank goodness. Now fingers crossed that pistol-packin' mama will lay that pistol down, and then it's time to doorknock for Warnock (sorry, but I'm feeling frivolously cheerful).
Thank goodness is right!
And the bad news in Oregon is that the candidate who was too blue for the 4th CD lost to the Republican, a D turnover.
Our former CD rep was a DINO for more than 20 years. Our Democratic candidate would have been awesome in Congress. I'm very sad that she lost this election and only hope the largely Democratic Oregon delegation will persuade the republican to join them in legislating wisely.
The problem is she might have been awesome once in office, but she didn't get there, did she? The other guy might have been a DINO, but he was a D, and that would count right now for House control (like Manchin and Sinema count for Senate control). If you didn't like him, it would have been better to nominate a moderate who fit the district. You can't make a district fit the candidate, it only works the other way around.
And this is why I support ranked choice voting.
"You can't make a district fit the candidate, it only works the other way around."
Oh yes you can... it's called gerrymandering.
Thanks to some super people here... i'm learning all about it from a different perspective! Miriam, Bryan, Mary Ann, MaryPat... THANK YOU! Hubs and i stayed up way late last night watching Slay the Dragon... documentary. We'll watch it again this evening - earlier ... when we're more awake. :D Explains sooo much!!
Good point and good post.
thanks, Mike. unfortunately, after some intense studying, consulting and observing over the past few days, i've learned that (surprise!)... not gonna happen in TX. i know you're shocked... and not coming back. don't blame you.
And this is the awful thing about gerrymandering! A lot of people end up with a representative who doesn't represent them.
that's just the beginning... it's way worse than that
We are talking here about Kurt Schrader, who was a terrible loser and if he had an ounce of D in him, should have been helping Ds. He wasn't and was instead making pronouncements all over the place and actually supporting at one point, Machine Gun Betsy for governor. Jamie, btw, made a very graceful concession speech, so different from him and also the R for governor who lost. The problem was Marion County where I live and Linn County in terms of where Jamie lost. Also the Rs poured lots of money into this and the Ds didn't. And I don't consider Schrader a moderate.
The 5th district actually. The 4th went to Val Hoyle, a D. It was close in the 5th.
assume you're being facetious
That is really good news. We're sending more money to Georgia and Warnock.
What a great GOOD NEWS letter. And it looks like the press thinks there’s good news to report, too. Our President is making and keeping commitments at home and abroad. Yes, as he said, We’re back. And after too many years in the red, blue is a beautiful color. “I said that America was back—back at home, back at the table, and back to leading the world. In the year and a half that’s followed, we’ve shown exactly what that means. America is keeping its commitments.”
It's not a done deal yet, Irenie, but it looks like the R's will control the House, alas.
It does appear that the Republicans will control the House, barely. But they’re living in a new political reality now. Party leaders, including and especially TFG, are losing control, the party is splitting into factions, maybe even into a third MAGA party of TFG feels snubbed.
In any event, the newly chastened Republican Party is not the unified force it’s been, so a razor-thin majority doesn’t mean much as the party is tearing itself apart.
Will be easier getting control and order from the chaos in the House in ‘24 than keeping the majority in ‘22. Weird but perhaps true.
That razor thin majority keeps the playing field right where it needs to be and will be the MAGAts undoing.
Salud, Ralph.
🗽
And, as the wild fringe-nuts bounce around the House, announcing investigations into everything Dem, pointing fingers and missing votes and just generally bringing progress to a halt, we can finally point at THEM and pound on the fact that they are why things aren't getting done. Dems need to control the narrative and constantly challenge Republican "explanations" and excuses.
They can't all be king.
Hearts!
💙💙💙
Or the evil jester.
And maybe, finally, a few Republicans with see the writing on the wall and vote for the good of the country instead of Kissing Mitch’s ass
Visual… ick.
Totally ick. But then even more ick is Republicans thinking they can interfere and” stick their noses” in most private and personal women’s bodies and right to privacy. Disgusting
Joan,
One can only wish, but, not likely to happen.
I would love to agree that the R's consider themselves newly chastened--and perhaps some of the saner members of that party actually do feel suitably admonished and will proceed accordingly. It certainly would be nice to be able to think so.
However, considering what I have most recently read, the fringe-nut-righties are too busy looking around for someone or something else to blame for their failure (echoes of tfg, anybody?) to meditate honestly on the reasons for their drubbing (however razor thin were the margins--the expectations of a red "wave" were thoroughly trounced). That the R's are blaming "unhappy, drug-addicted, SSRI-receiving single spinsters and cat ladies" along with Gen z voters and goodness knows at what-all else their blaming finger will point is hilarious, but also scary, because it means that the R's have not been jarred enough to even modify their policies (provided they have anything approaching sane, consistent policies). It appears that they will do what their (former) hero has always done: double down.
Who's writing these ridiculous scripts for them? I can't believe the whole R side of the House is populated by addle-pates. This tectonic shift towards normalcy offers them genuine job-satisfaction and fulfilment, something they may not yet have experienced in political careers based on histrionics.
Don't feel bad. Taking back the House in 2024 will be easy after two years of the Klown Kar Kawkuss that won't be able to decide on whether or not to order Chinese takeout for lunch, while the Fwee-dumb Kawkuss is in the back seat throwing their feces out the windows at passers-by and taking turns grabbing for the steering wheel. Neither Quiverin' Qevin nor Striver Stefanik will be able to steer that thing in a straight line for ten feet.
In fact, taking it back will politically be easier than defending it again. For two years we point out to voters "this is why you cannot have nice things."
Forty years has been more than enough time for Reagan's "high tide" to Lift(s) all boats". After decades of massively propitiating the rich, it's past time to keenly reevaluate whose interests Reaganomics have been serving.
I don't think we should take a single thing for granted, like taking back the House in 2024 being easy. We all must be diligent in protecting our democracy and work towards a better future. There will be plenty who want to undo our gains. It's up to us to continue to vote and encourage others to do so. The vitriol will not stop as we move towards 2024, but this election is certainly the first step.
TC…as usual, sizzlin’. You said it much better than how I tried to express it to a commenter above. I had a LOL reading yours. 😂
🗽
My experience exactly. I used to fancy myself a wordsmith. My hat has been handed to me by several folks in this LFAA family.
That’s public education at work. Learning from others. I love it.
🗽
I think that the "Fwee-dumb" should be a "Kawkass", as in what will they pull out of that orifice next! I also note the Klown Kar Kawkuss does denote a triple K.
Ha! Triple K blow bag of stink air. Under their hoods.
🗽
But only with the best emissions, according to Heissman Trophy winner with all the brain hits.
Mim, yes, however it ends up, at least we are participating in governing again. The last presidency , TFG’s, was wasted and counterproductive, and threatened our Democracy. And standing in the world. And there’s still deniers out there. We have catching up to do. That’s happening.
And "participating" looks like a keyword. Congress wasn't designed to be a battlefield. Prime definition of the word: "the act or action of coming together and meeting". That majestic building can at last return to being a temple.
"Congress wasn't designed to be a battlefield." My thoughts exactly, Anne-Louise. We should be able to have the other side in control and not shudder with horror over it.
Don’t give up on the house just yet!
Waiting on CA to pull the house through. Crossing fingers!
Sorry, California, like New York, didn't come out and vote at 2018 levels. The result in New York was loss of four Democratic seats in close elections that could have been won with 2018 levels of turnout. In California, three seats that were taken from the Republicans in 2018, that went R in 2020, cannot be taken back at lower-than-2018 turnout.
The two most over-rated "strongholds" just proved what happens when you sit on your ass and expect good things.
My absentee ballot from Orange County, California arrived with the cover letter, guides, envelope...everything BUT the ballot, which page read "Unable to open the URL". The phone numbers didn't work. Is there a law suit in the offing?
I hope you took it to your polling station so you could get a provisional ballot. You still had the opportunity to make your voice heard.
CA poll worker here...
There is provision for US voters abroad to download a ballot and envelope to mail in case the official county-supplied ballot miscarries or might arrive too late. This link should produce a county-specific ballot: https://www.ocvote.gov/voting/military-and-overseas-voters/overseas-voter-info.
(When a URL like this one doesn't work, sometimes it helps to back up and attack it piecemeal. I was starting from scratch, so I searched for "orange county california voting" and found ocvote.gov, then scrolled down (and down) the page till I found the button for Voting; from there, the button or link (I forget which) for Military and Overseas Voters, then finally the link that wasn't for US military members.)
As for phone numbers and other contact info - the phone version of ocvote.gov isn't good about displaying those - the overall county government site should be more forthcoming.
Not much can be done about this election, alas, but raising a stink might help for the next. Write a letter of complaint to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, and contact the relevant unit of the League of Women Voters as well. LWV probably also knows better than I what other recourse you might still have.
Another resource is the Federal Voting Assistance Project, fvap.gov. It allows a voter to download and print a backup ballot and official envelope; when I checked this in 2020, the backup ballot was generic, so after providing identifying information and signing a declaration of eligibility, the voter had to write in each race/proposition and the voter's choice - but from my 2020 exploration I don't recall the state-specific drop-down that the 2022 site sports, so FVAP might now be providing state-specific stuff. A backup ballot is counted as long as the voter is eligible and doesn't provide an official county-issued ballot by the deadline.
OH!
Having grown up and been educated in New York, I was horrified with the election results. New Yorkers, you have to do MUCH better next election. Start getting your act together now.
Fingers crossed.....
by such a slim margin that the Speaker, especially if McCarthy--will do nothing but pointless investigations.
Unless they find Joe Biden sold Nebraska to Russia or China, they'll be as "fruitful" as the 11 Benghazi Republican Investigations were.
Defying all expectations, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain have produced incredible results for the nation and the world beyond our shores. America is back, said President Biden. Our understated modest president has set the bar. He has said, Watch me... and all should. Joe Knows Us are three words to remember. Majority Whip James Clyburn is the fourth Democrat leading us, and Black Women are leading our sadly prejudiced nation.... our white supremacy types know they are losing. Let’s hope Professor Heather Cox Richardson grows in her understanding of what’s happening as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ascends. This is the most important moment in the last two years.
Thanks, Sandy. Love this commentary.
Thanks.
Hubs and i were talking about that Extreme Court... and he told me Chief Justice Roberts has no control anymore... which is one way those dangerous ones can do what they do. Then i thought, you know who oughta be Chief Justice?? Justice Jackson!! She's a powerful leader... for so many reasons. Even if she's the newest one, i don't care. Sooner or later, it needs to be her. Sooner would be better...
Agree. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has all the qualities needed: ethics, knowledge, decency, humility, humanity, compassion, tolerance, superior intelligence, understanding of our country.
Yes, Sandy.. She's all of those and more. She's like a rock or anchor that's been missing... with wit, humor, grace, and the most agile, brilliant legal mind there. Firm and gentle at once... she's clearly meant to be IN CHARGE... already.
It's a cliche, I guess, but seems the best way to sum up President Biden's performance: he's the right person for the job at the right time. Let the Republicans continue to denigrate him, lie grotesquely about his accomplishments, and make themselves look like fools.
Working against so many cross currents, Biden has still achieved so much — not just for the country but the world. And while the GOP looks nearly certain to take the House, the thin margin will hopefully prevent them from doing substantial damage.
We're certainly appreciating him in Australia now that we've voted out our mini-Trump prime minister and got ourselves a sort of junior Biden. They're meeting in the framework of the ASEAN and COP meetings, which will sort out the damage done by their predecessors with the connivance of Boris Johnson, who has slithered away, and both have secured (separate) one-on-one meetings with Xi.
Slithering has been a prominent method of propulsion lately. Funny you should mention it. I am tired of the slithering too. And hissing. What with the forked tongues and all.
The snake eating it's tail.
Oh wow! Somehow, i thought you were in Europe, Anne-Louise. I have some dear friends in Australia! Yes!! Congratulations on booting your own version of cheeto and gaining someone more sensible. Yay for all the beginnings in Asia and Middle East of healing divisions and damage by all the predecessors. Things really are looking up... Peace!
I lived and worked for years in Europe, Suz-an, where my life began and my culture is rooted, and three of whose languages I speak. I'm happy to know you have dear friends down here! Whereabouts?
Yes. And such calmness and compassion reaching out to all of us. He is also the republican’s president. Once again we are near a balance of power which bodes well for constructive objectivity and sane cooperation.
isn't it wonderful? so grateful for this progress toward constructive and productive efforts for a change.
I agree, Michael, that Pres. Biden is the right person for this job at the right time.
AGREE, Michael!! Well said. Thank you!
That's a lot of accomplishments. I'm 79 and have only stunned admiration for Biden's stamina.
Thanks, as always, Heather, for distilling all of today's news bites into digestible bits. It is so good to read good news.
Don’t you really mean that poor, old, decrepit, senile, crazy man(not really president)that somehow manages to confound the creeps at FAUX NOISE?
Too bad Peleton can't use him for their ads...
Thank you for this gentle sprinkle of optimism. It's not your job to make us feel good, but it's Oh so nice when the events of the day abide.
President Biden’s numerous accomplishments, international and domestic, rank him among the best. Having succeeded to the degree he has against an opposition party singularly dedicated to his failure is astounding.
The GOP wanted the 2022 election to be a referendum on Biden and the Democrats. Looks like they got their wish. Perhaps the election was a referendum on American democracy as well.
2024 is looking better every day.
They got their wish to our delight.
Well said, Ralph.
🗽
A lovely respite and recap, before heading back into the trenches to support Senator Warnock. As someone who was raised in Atlanta, it is cause for joyful reflection that both Warnock and Walker are Black men. That in itself speaks volumes about the changes in the South. More important, their differences point to the absurdity of seeing people by the color of their skin and not by the goodwill of their hearts, minds, and actions.
You can say that again. All color aside, Warnock has integrity. Walker does not. Simple as that.
And brains. And experience. Warnock has those in addition to integrity. Walker does not.
Agreed but a smart person with lots of experience and no integrity is worthless to me as a politician or as a human being. So I narrowed my ask a bit.
Time for the MLK Jr quote to be used for Warnock: "I hope my children will not be judged for the color of their skin, but for the content of their character."
On a hopeful note, my Millennial Son told me today the big Republican donors have pulled out of the Walker race because the Senate is already lost. Hope that's correct.
That sounds extremely plausible Citizen60. Good news. I hope so as well; sadly, it shows that everything is a calculated transaction with these types, not an act of hopeful endorsement. Of course, with Walker there is little to endorse in the man. I actually pity him, because he is a just a strategic pawn to these people--a box to be checked. An asset, not a human being.
If that's what the Millennials are saying to each other, there's every chance that it's so.
Hey, KEM. I'm no political analyst, but my guess is Walker got on the GOP ticket because he is a black man, someone who could go against another black man in the person of Senator Warnock. It didn't matter to them that he has no qualifications. If he wins, the GOP will be directing him every step of the way once he is in office.
That said, a U.S. Senate race between two black men in Georgia would have been impossible not so long ago!
Agree on both points.
Well said, Lynell. Good Morning!!
GOOD point!
KEM, 1,000%!!
No wonder you wrote so early tonight...such a positive letter to us! We sure need good news. I am still waiting for you to inform us of Trump being dragged into court, facing Garland. I am drooling just thinking about it. :)
Morning, Marlene! To me, having him humiliated on national news seems more powerful than an actual indictment for crimes, which I'm still anticipating happening. It just seems from his point of view being a loser is something he cares about more than being labeled a criminal.
So many constructive developments reviewed here, it’s a pleasure to read. Not quite like a C.J. Cregg press conference from West Wing, but that same kind of wonky glee, even if just for a moment :)
Felt kind of the same spirit watching Kinzinger and Cheney go to work on the body, while Schiff and Thompson established a merciless jab.
Hoping for a judgment against a certain criminal mastermind soon - kind of a West Wing meets Rocky meets Law and Order mash up that’s quite entertaining lately!
Lots of moving pieces, like a well-played chess game, all directed at the King. A long game requiring careful strategies and logistics to advance the game toward a winning conclusion. Cooperation among the pieces coordinated to attack and protect simultaneously. Thank you for this succinct summary of current events.
Yes!
It is very encouraging that so many voters saw through the lies and games of the Insurrectionists and voted for Democrats. I can't wait to see the statistics on the voting of independents, various age groups, ethnicities and other subsets.
While Biden has done a good job on many fronts, the media emphasis on him as THE reason for these election results seems unwarranted and excessive.
What about the impact of J6 insurrection and the hearings, what about the impact of the crazy Supreme Court and it’s decision to overturn Roe, what about the crazy behavior of Trump and his MAGA cult? Frankly, I believe these combined events scared the hell out of women, young people and others who then turned out to vote for their rights and normalcy. This dynamic makes more sense to me than some sort of fantastic success of the Biden s administration.
Bonnie Svarstad,
You’re right, the combination of the SC Dodd decision did help get the election turnout. But Biden’s leadership has protected the J6 hearings, which has done a lot toward informing those who do not read Heather’s newsletters or hear her chats.
Agree. (Temporary heart failure). (Heart is back, can't delete the comment).
ok, Eyore, the GOP is complicit in their spectacular belly flop this cycle; I am at least as relieved by the fact that one of two things may also have happened; moderate republicans either stayed home, or quietly added their votes to the democratic side of the ledger. There IS a silent faction in the GOP, trying to figure out how to come out from the cold without being beheaded by the extremists. The next two years could be very illuminating as they attempt to exterminate the big orange cockroach.
What about all you are saying? And you can bet your bippy the SC’s rulings have scared the hell out of sane people.
I hope that the criticism that I am hearing from you is at the media emphasis, and not that all the factors that you have mentioned are ignored in other realms.
It is possible to give President Biden the accolades for doing all that he's done in his first two years in office AND to recognize that the actions of SCROTUS and of the absolute (I am loathe to utilize the only appropriate term for this descriptor of today's RepubliQan party that I have for fear of getting my mouth washed out with soap and for insulting bats) conduct of the MAGAts and their cult.
Yes, my concern is largely with media emphasis before and after election. They relied on meaningless polls before election and did little to help voters understand the real causes of inflation, for example.
My wife made a comment last week: “I want news, not opinions!”
So true.
I would add to your list of "other reasons" would include at least young people's recognition that without immediate and urgent political action they will likely inherit a cinder or maelstroms of storms with the denial of, or lack of any plan for dealing with, the Climate Crisis. The Youth stand to lose the most from political inaction on that front.
Good news on many fronts. I, however, have been disenfranchised by recent Kentucky redistricting maps. Further, the Democratic party lost their appeal. Judge said: new maps are unfair; the old maps were unfair. But they aren't unconstitutional by state constitution. Ugh. GOP picked up 5 more seats with a super majority 80 in Kentucky house. I fear if enough states have super majority
- the plan for the GOP to call/vote/demand a new Constitutional Convention will succeed. Just imagine the GOP re-write of the US Constitution.
I believe that Ohio went red over unconstitutional maps. The Ohio Supreme Court threw out , for the 4th time, the Republican drawn maps but the state ignored this and went with these heavily gerrymandered districts and thus Dems had zero chance to win fairly in this last election. I believe the voters of Ohio lost out and a class action lawsuit against the state may be in order.
I believe it has already been filed. As an Ohioan who is utterly dismayed that our once swing-state status has made a hard right turn, I feel somewhat left out by the jubilation of the last election. J. D. Vance will be an R pawn in the Senate. The Ohio General Assembly has a veto-proof Republican majority, and I listened to a radio interview this morning about a bill introduced in the Ohio House to make a fertilized egg a person. Sigh. Thank goodness for Dr. R and this forum.
😣
This ballot initiative worked in Michigan:
https://votersnotpoliticians.com/
Katie Fahey’s success in Michigan w Voters Not Politicians & the ballot initiatives they enabled in both 2018 & 2022 are THE model every purple state should be using, especially in Wisconsin, NY, Ohio, Kentucky & Florida--and even in places like Louisiana, which has, so far, successfully diluted the black vote for state & federal legislatures via gerrymandering.
I am currently in the biggest red district in IL, and our County Board is very GQP (Mary Miller is our US rep). The Board put a very confusing (nonbinding) resolution on our ballots that sounded like it was against gerrymandering when, in fact, it was a shot at our governor, Pritzker. This resolution overwhelmingly won, simply because most voters hate gerrymandering (and it went on the ballot at the last possible minute so many Dems didn’t understand it). Especially in semi- & full-on rural areas, voters see how few choices they have to make their voices heard, for local judges, and so the percentage of nonpartisan voting for ending gerrymandering is significant (not that I want it ended right now, in IL; not until a majority of state legislatures are out of the hands of the crazies and their districts are fairly apportioned.)
Victoria, did you hear Ira Glass talk about OH gerrymandering on This American Life?
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/784/mapmaker
Check out what people here have talked about in Michigan. Katie Fahey who started https://votersnotpoliticians.com/
There's a whole documentary about this called Slay the Dragon about what happened when citizens led by Katie took on the issue in Michigan. https://www.slaythedragonfilm.com/
Now, Katie is head of https://www.thepeople.org/ as they spread the word.
Not sure how exactly we can do what they did in every state. I'm looking at it pretty hard to figure it out!
Thank-you for sharing this!I do appreciate it.
https://votersnotpoliticians.com/
Melissa, I feel your pain. Here in NC, the districts are egregiously gerrymandered. The R's are doing all they can to disenfranchise everyone but themselves. My Congress weasel is a seditionist who voted to overturn the election. So is the new senator. I feel like I have no voice. Not only that as a former public school teacher, I feel under attack by the deplorables in the General Assembly. I hope the Republican Party burns itself to the ground. People in some places have reason for optimism, but in places like NC, optimism for a better future is somewhat diminished.
I have seen the torment that public school teachers are being subjected to in the Kentucky. In fact the state representative (district 31) - is school choice, anti-critical race theory and generally full of it. I went from being represented by a lawyer to a light bulb sales rep. Further, she had been disqualified but got put back on the ballot on appeal. JCPS (Jefferson County) has virtual learning for most of the pandemic. I got to push my then high school junior/senior to do her school work. I gained an even greater respect for the teaching profession. My mom is a retired educator. I know how hard she worked. But what my daughter's teachers went above and beyond. We should start a new political party that values education above all. 40+ years of attacks on public education and public universities have led us to - a less educated electorate and a student debt crisis. Ugh.
Sounds like it is time for the federal government to step in, like during school desegregation, but for de-gerymandering.
I’m in western NC so you know we got a maggot here as well. As for Chuckie baby going to DC makes me ill. He’s a no good lowlife and I’m being kind.
Agree, Jenn ... it seems similar here in TX. And it's absolutely the case about the gerrymandering here.
However... there are LOTS of PO'd people here... especially women... who are organizing into large groups whose voices are growing louder and more defiant. Beto and his fellow Dems offered us a whole different approach.. and got soundly defeated. Regrouping and figuring out how to move ahead is happening... and maybe there are similar movements in NC, too. Reason for hope?
We have a lot off pissed off women here in Ohio and many of them voted blue but because of our unconstitutional maps we had no chance. We had a great Senatorial candidate in Tim Ryan but instead, we got the odious Trump-backed JD Vance. Women everywhere are concerned and upset but what can we do other than get out and vote and donate $$ to campaigns. I did postcards to swing states(Pennsylvania) and evidently that must have helped because they went Blue. HELP
Work now to do like Michigan andvote in an independent resdistricting commission.
https://votersnotpoliticians.com/
Spent a LOTTA time studying this possibility over the past few days. Consulted with people (including attorneys) who've dedicated lotsa time and effort to this idea. Won't happen in this state. :-(
😣
This ballot initiative worked in Michigan:
https://votersnotpoliticians.com/
I agree.These heavily gerrymandered districts skewed maps and gave elections to Republicans.It happened here in Ohio, in Florida and other states.It is taking away our power to vote in free and fair elections making them, unfair.It is not only Republicans who do it but in this mid-term election, this was the party that used it to it’s advantage.Democrats would have easily taken the House if not for these terrible maps.
I agree. So why is it trumpublicans are screaming that elections are rigged when they damn well aren’t and democrats are being quiet when our voices are being shut out? We are wimps. We’ve shut our own voices down.
I don’t want to imagine any such thing as that.
You don't have to imagine it. They are four state legislature votes away from doing it.
This ballot initiative worked in Michigan.
https://votersnotpoliticians.com/