In an interview this morning with CNN’s Dana Bash, Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake refused to say that she would accept the results of the upcoming election-- unless she wins.
Voter suppression, redistricting and gerrymandering, sowing doubt, and outright lying are all the GOP has. They will try to cut Social Security and Medicare, and may well succeed if our populace doesn't awaken to how dangerous this party has become and defeat them with overwhelming numbers. So many pivotal races seem close which helps the narrative that cheating is what contributes to Democratic victories. I am praying for a tsunami of Democratic turnout.
Pray harder, because the polls are showing that in Blue states, voters are not acting with a lot of determination, because they think their rights are safe since Republicans don't run things there.
Police office Fanone, who was attacked on Jan. 6th, said in an interview that the thing that will do us in is indifference. Democrats being indifferent about voting. I think he said a mouthful. There is so much at state and it's so frightening to think of the alternative, with a GOP win. That would be the end of our support for Ukraine, among other things, which was attacked again this morning (I'm in Germany so the news came early) by drones from Iran dropping on Kiev.
Sadly, we are speaking to those who agree with us, not those who don't read this Letter every day. The Democratic message is not being heard/understood that Democracy is in peril for many Democrats.
As long a people worry more about their pocket book, i.e. inflation they will ignorantly blame the administration and support fascism. Biden could walk on water it would not matter. The GOP has worked for decades to set the agenda, the talking points, control of the states voting systems. IF they will win this midterm, we are through as a democracy. If you think that is hyperbole, you have not paid attention.
Right! And GOP gleefully blames inflation on Biden when it is a post-pandemic, worldwide problem. The French just saw massive protests over this issue. Ignorance can be exploited too easily by malign players.
Ignorance can be exploited too easily by malign players. Spot on. Democracy requires an informed populous. Trump could not have gotten near the WH if voters were less ignorance and less hateful.
It will be as terrifying as you say. If Republicans are in charge, tax cuts for the wealthy will reemerge, food prices will continue to escalate because of droughts and oil because of OPEC countries limiting production, and the resulting recession will be blamed on the Biden administration.
They want power and they are and will do what is necessary to maintain it. We are doomed. Remember the quote that is accredited to Stalin, "Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything."
As I wrote before. OPEC and other producing countries have never held to their reduced quotas. The future price of oil always takes a jump on the announced reduction of their production, but the price always settles back to were it was before the announcement. Producers cheat on their quotas because they are all addicted to $. They will sell as much as they can as long as there is a margin of profit.
Aye, there’s the rub. I’ve been saying for years that if it wasn’t for Rush Limbaugh and the useless Kardashian clan, this country would be in a much better place. Hatred and vapid celebrity worship has sucked the soul out of the less intelligent among us. And there are an awful lot of them.
Reality tv in general did a lot of dumbing down. Idjt on his golden throne gave us The Apprentice and may soon give us The Dictator. Don’t sit back. The primaries should be a wake up call.
SOMA. Isn’t that the taking over of the population by numbing their minds with a pleasure hit? (used in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World? ) Reality tv reminds me of that. Numb, indifferent zombies.
Hate is a stronger motivator than hope, it appears. I don't want to "own" the Q's, I just want those pesky civil rights thingies to apply to everyone, not just people that look/think/act/believe like me.
Yup we all should want those "pesky civil rights thingies" to be for everyone! Getting the message to indifferent voters is the key - but is it getting there?
Watched CBS Sunday episode regarding the Oregon residents who want to turn 60% (?) of Oregon over to Idaho? I'm sure you know about this. I just do not understand why they feel so disenfranchised - left out - oddly enough djt wasnt mentioned once!
This has been their mantra for years. It's all those libs in the Willamette Valley who keep them from doing what they please and what they please is to continue to destroy the fragile lands of eastern Oregon. As for southern Oregon, except for Ashland, this is outlaw territory. The idea that we should do something about climate change is anathema to them. I am sure they are also worried about their guns. And they would be in a world of hurt without immigrants, who do the grunt work there, just like they do everywhere.
It is mostly the rural part of the state (which is almost everything east of the Cascades, and some of southwestern Oregon (described accurately by Michele as "outlaw territory"; just google the "State of Jefferson" movement in S. Oregon and N. California) that wants to cozy up with idyllic Idaho, home of the Freeman movement and bastion of white supremacy.
So true, their deliberate ignorance is a passion, also true of those who “pretend” to accept Joe as legitimate. They are just wisely looking to future evil machinations instead of buying chump’s insanity about 2020. The coalition of rogue republicans, racists, Pharisees, zygote warriors, “immigrant haters,” and greedy bastards is a a force that many refuse to acknowledge, even as they steamroll over everything we hold dear. Chump and Rupert have given ALL of them the roadmap as Goebbels did Hitler. And we blather on.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384
"Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree, I have looked on our present state of liberty as a short-lived possession unless the mass of the people could be informed to a certain degree." --Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.
"No nation is permitted to live in ignorance with impunity." --Thomas Jefferson: Virginia Board of Visitors Minutes, 1821. ME 19:408
"Freedom [is] the first-born daughter of science." --Thomas Jefferson to Francois D'Ivernois, 1795. ME 9:297
"Light and liberty go together." --Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, 1795.
And education in possibly half the country is believed to be too dangerous to allow the Truth. Instead of Truth, Enlightenment, Debate, critical Thinking, CRT, etc.LIES, distortion, and omissions are the approved curriculum. How do we counter that? Counter that which is symbolic and a warning: daily book “burning” or banning and the continuing creation of ignorance and fear. We don’t give up on Truth.
You certainly have the coalition correct. I do like the term zygote warriors. One of my Jewish ex-colleagues responded to death star's comment about Jews. She wrote exactly what I was thinking which I am not going to post here. No one who is sane would do other that loathe that festering cancer.
I don’t know what polls you are readingTC but I live in a used-to-be-blue state, in the only swing district left, CD2. We are in a helluva fight to keep the district blue - the second most expensive Congressional election in the country at this point. The RNC has poured millions of dollars into this battle, as have corporations that promised not to give more money to seditionist politicians (which describes the R candidate here perfectly) The Dems have poured in many millions too and are as organized as I’ve ever seen.
In my local district, the head of the dems is a 40 something mom of three, who works full time, and worries about her younger brother who just had a stroke at age 39. Despite all that, she keeps us busy with door-knocking, texting, delivering lawn signs, and working on messaging since the third party candidate in the CD2 race just died. In 2020, the 3rd party candidate garnered 6% of the vote in what was the 5th closest election in the country. The dem candidate who won, Angie Craig, was the chief author of the bill to lower the costs of prescription drugs that Biden signed into law earlier this year. We are eager to earn the votes of those that would have voted for Overby. But time is short.
Many LFAA readers have learned here that being active is necessary - me included. Postcarding, texting, making strategic gifts to candidates where such gifts can make a difference, door knocking and more. I can only add that despite my fatigue and anxiety, I understand that we will never be able to sit back and relax again if we are to preserve this democracy. So this election is but a beginning. Going forward, I will be busy regardless. And the hundreds of active volunteers in my district here will be at my side working it.
Will millions of Dems also step forward? All I can say is that I’m proud of the local efforts we have made. And whatever the polls say, I’m in the battle for democracy for whatever time I have left on the planet. And I will remain optimistic that I can recruit others too. Cynicism is a luxury I cannot afford.
Thank you Sheila. I needed to hear that as my optimism faltered when I read TC’s comment. I’ve been reading Michael Moore’s daily points on why he believes the polls are WRONG. He is forecasting a BLUE Tsunami. He also said the polls were wrong in 2016 and predicted a win for trump. No one listened.
I also read Michael Moore’s daily points! And Robert Hubble here on Substack. Both help. In addition, I walk my dog more right now... cause sometimes people really suck. 😎 seriously Sharon, keep the faith. Whatever happens, we have to be active in defense of democracy. Cynicism helps nothing, IMHO.
I think the Kansas vote on abortion gives us hope. But the truth is it will all depend on how many people vote. In my state (NM), a traditionally blue state in recent years, is not even totally reliable. The pandemic and safety measures have whipped up Republican talking points. And they hit home here because we are basically a poor state. People were hit hard by closures and apparently have forgotten that compared to other places, fewer people got sick and fewer people died. But likewise, crime has risen sharply and the city of Santa Fe has a huge shortage of police officers. These are the conditions which have alarmed voters. And it’s anyone’s guess whether they will vote for long time security or the promise of short term relief.
I also have perused Moore's posts. I am not a fan of polls having learned about them years ago from a lady on the Maddow Blog who worked in the industry for years. Here in Oregon, I see Ds working hard, attending many local events that happen in the course of every year and getting out beyond cities. All of the Rs in major races have made clear that they are against abortion and that alone may cost them the race. What does bother me about all of this is that Rs will not agree if they lose.
We know they have the “stolen election” playbook memorized but I’m counting on people getting tired of claims and lawsuits that are wasting our tax dollars. The courts…even trumps judges… are proving them wrong. I’m going to stay optimistic and believe more of us are finally understanding how the Republicans have been hijacking our elections through voter suppression and throwing off the ledgers, valid registered voters! If we can get more Senators and keep the House we will pass legislation to protect our voting rights without the help of Republicans! Keep working to convince everyone you know to vote BLUE! If you know an elderly person in an assisted living home be certain they’ve changed their address and take them out to vote or help them vote by mail. Call the activities director of the home and ask if she/he will work to help residents insure they are registered in their “new” assisted living home. I’m taking someone to vote tomorrow in VA and the voting office offered to do curbside voting so my elderly passenger doesn’t need to come via his wheelchair!
Yes, taking positive action is the only comfort right now. My friends and I have collected a list of people that replied to our offers to drive them to the polls and that's what we're doing....
I am with you Sheila. I live in a blue-ish county in Northern CA. There are lots of us who are very active with writing postcards, phone banking, etc. It gives me hope. (I, too, read Michael Moore daily and Robert Hubbell.)
Another small thing that gives me hope is that a Starbucks in Oklahoma City just voted 15-2 to unionize.
Jensen is truly an abomination. That he spread so many lies about vaccines and masking during the height of the pandemic in 2021 made me wish I had a corn field to retreat to where I could scream and not wake the neighborhood! Fortunately, even my very conservative immediate neighbor, who is a pediatrician, has said she cannot vote for him. She hates that Walz supports abortion rights but understands that Jensen has abrogated his Hippocratic oath. Some hope that Walz and Flannigan will prevail.
I can’t start on that entitlement issue you’ve flagged. Unbelievable…… Glad you are here Lisa.
Liz, The Minnesota I grew up in has always been a bit purple but having lived in the district Ilhan Omar currently represents means I didn’t live with it or see it or have to deal with it much. Tougher by far to live in a Congressional district that is so damn gerrymandered, that the Proud Boy, truck driving, Trump flag- waving folks are also nearby and determined to “own the libs.” One of my neighbors actually showed up to our polling place and demanded to stand behind the election judges to make absolutely certain there was no fraud. There is no fraud but these bastards threaten, cajole and all but force the idea that because MN allows same day registration, that fraud is rampant. I provoked him the next day by putting up lawn signs for the Dems. He hasn’t spoken to me since. Fine by me- Thanks for helping get out the vote!
Yup! Praying harder, have yard signs, and earlier this year, when my feet hadn't acted up got petition signatures. Will ramp up LTE's, and pray even harder.
Thank you! Please pray for me too while you are at it! I am a Democrat running for Clay County Indiana Treasurer. I am 79 and this is the first time I have ever done anything like this in my life. I have experience and have a 4 year degree from ISU majoring in Accounting. My opponent is a career Republican at our county courthouse!
Thank you! I will be so glad when the election is over! I hope I can survive! LOL. I can't believe the stress level! I voted "for me" yesterday! There were no television camera or reporters covering my voting! LOL
Are the polls breaking down those blue-state voters by race? Because I've got this sneaking suspicion that the complacent ones are mostly white and relatively affluent. We're the same ones who didn't realize that democracy was in danger until 2016, and who have been mostly OK -- or at least not protesting very loudly -- with most of what's happened since Reagan. (I've been saying for years that Bill Clinton is the only Republican presidential candidate I've ever voted for, and one of my big regrets is that until after 2008 I assumed Hillary Clinton was of the same ilk.)
Why, oh why, don’t Dems hammer on the Republican promise to cut SS and Medicare. Republicans had already decided that the people would never stand for that, so here come the hate mongers, with the money and the bull horns. If only 10% of the God-awful begging emails I get even acknowledged this, I would weep with joy. That this election is close, is a testament to the power of monied propaganda and Dem messaging done by incompetents.
The ads in New England are starting to do just that: the NH Senate race, in particular. Maggie Hassan is using footage of Bolduc to bring his 'kill Social Security' rhetoric to the forefront. I'm adding to her war chest to keep her ads running...
Yes, the Democrats are missing an opportunity to expose the Trumplican's plans to dismantle Soc Sec and Medicare. It's open enrollment time for Medicare so what better time to inform voters?
Jeri, besides the postcards and letters to voters, here is what I am doing for this election cycle. I read both Yahoo and MSN.com daily for news. I go to the comment sections and read a lot of them. Those that are blatant LIES, I report as misinformation. (Pretty easy to do, in Yahoo each comment has the three dots like on here. It brings up a list and you click the false news) If it is an opinion comment, I keep posting exactly what you mention about GOP plans for those pesky "entitlements"--especially if the commenter mentions that s/he is a senior. I try to be civil. Sometimes, they do make my blood pressure rise though!
My company's retiree healthcare (a partial subsidy for supplements to Medicare) is being phased out and we are being offered only a Medicare Advantage plan from United Healthcare - one of the greediest of the health insurance companies. So we take a hit of about $3-4k if we want to stick with Medicare and supplements. But I'm against this move to privatize Medicare - the profit for the insurance companies has to come from somewhere, and they're not as efficient as the government in this realm. Those CEOs are wildly overpaid, and that money comes from the premiums they don't use to pay for our care.
Florida illustrates how much states matter, as noted by ProPublica:
"Florida’s constitution was amended in 2010 to prohibit partisan-driven redistricting."
Nevertheless, before Hurricane Ian, DeSantis repeatedly rejected his Republican state legislature's redistricting maps and wore them down until they "wiped away half of the state’s Black-dominated congressional districts, dramatically curtailing Black voting power in America’s largest swing state. One of the districts, held by Democrat Al Lawson, had been created by the Florida Supreme Court just seven years before." DeSantis enlisted national GOP consultants including a redistricting attorney specialist.
With all due respect to prayers, WE have to do the footwork to make a Democratic voter tsunami turnout. Palmer Report says it very well with identifying the top 8 competitive Senate races:
"If you don't have the money, donate your time.
If you don't have the time, donate your money.
If you don't have time or money, start posting the above links, so your followers who have time and money will see it and contribute.
Volunteering can be in person or done remotely, and can be anything from going door to door, to phone banking, to working from home, to sending postcards to voters, to working at the polls on election day. Sign up with the candidates and they'll send you the volunteering details."
The important concept is to work smart. Safe races don't need us, and races 10 points behind won't get saved by us, no matter how much we love that candidate. The States Project identifies the critically flippable state legislatures. The deadline for fundraising is midnight today, October 17, Pacific Time. Then the funds get distributed to the campaigns so as to free the candidates for meeting voters in person, the most effective way to get votes. If you missed it before, now is the time to make even a small donation--these add up to make a difference, and today get matched by a donor to double the value of your donation to help save democracy! (Thank you to the fantastic folks who have already donated to the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle!)
“With all due respect to prayers, WE have to do the footwork to make a Democratic voter tsunami turnout. Palmer Report says it very well with identifying the top 8 competitive Senate races:
"If you don't have the money, donate your time.
If you don't have the time, donate your money.
If you don't have time or money, start posting the above links, so your followers who have time and money will see it and contribute.
Volunteering can be in person or done remotely, and can be anything from going door to door, to phone banking, to working from home, to sending postcards to voters, to working at the polls on election day. Sign up with the candidates and they'll send you the volunteering details."”
My thoughts too! Helping to GOTV is the what matters. Even vote Firward is away to do it from home. Tell others why you vote and encourage them to plan their own voting! (Early when possible)
I've written 145 letters to 4 states for Vote Forward, and 100 postcards to NH voters, due to be mailed on 10/28 & 50 already sent postcards for Granite State Matters, a NH group against ultra libertarians (who've infected the Republican majority to the point one of them is the majority leader in the NH House and a fair portion of them disguise themselves as Republicans, who go right along w/their awful agenda.)
I have posted a comment above, Ellie. It was your encouragement that got me to write postcards and letters.
In the past, I've donated funds to campaigns as I could afford. I won't bang on doors. I did do phone calls in the past (and it wasn't a good experience for me)
The deadline for postcards has passed but the letters campaign is still going on and it is easy to do! www.Votefwd.org
I encourage anyone who has the time and inclination to do so. You need access to a printer, you print out the letter and add a line or two handwritten. You also need envelopes and postage. You can request a minimum of 4 letters. FOUR LETTERS--I bet just about all of us reading can do that.
These letters are sent to encourage people to vote. I am encouraging the HCR fans to write the letters.
Ellie, it was kindly suggested to me by Fern that you may have a connection to help based on my comment below as follows: "The key here is to get HCR’s outlines for curriculums to people in education, so that upcoming potential voters (happening very soon) can know these facts. How can we get this valuable information in the right hands while Biden is President, and we have a Democrat leader in the top Education position?" I'm willing to do some legwork to get her curriculums to teachers I know so true history can begin being taught to future voters.
Thomas Jefferson said it best and my apology because in another post I added an example:
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384"
Here is a whole collection of insight which can be summed up as:
Having once been fooled by Ronald Reagan's bashing of Jimmy Carter, our last really good and responsible President, I can honestly say, I was not being willful.
I was just being completely, utterly ignorant AND surrounded, at that time, by far right propaganda.
Many, many Americans are in the same spot. All day long they hear far right propaganda and they don't have the tools to question what they hear.
When I was ignorant, I was not a bad person, not evil, not trying to steal any elections, nothing.
I was just ignorant. Which, made me dangerous and makes it possible to turn me into a weapon. As Thomas Jefferson somehow understood.
I voted for Ronald Reagan and he proceeded to destroy the America I knew back then.
Now? It is almost like my former self somehow vanished through my ridiculously lengthy process of education and rigorous technical work as a professional.
Someone says some BS now? I can tell by the tone of the voice and the word choice.
But, many cannot. I was once one of them.
Not a deliberate member of the ignorant. An accidental, ignorant part of the problem.
Yes, you are a good person and more effort should be spent listening to those who recognize they once were captives to propaganda, and welcoming them to the ranks of those defending democracy.
Thanks. I have done a few things way back that might not put me in the category of "good person" to be honest.
But, having entered the middle class around age 27, some of my old edge has eroded with time.
Now? I can see so many people, like the farmer I partner with up here, who are where I used to be. I try to chat with them, BUT, just like I used to be, he is firmly ensconced in lies and propaganda and my words bounce.
Jeanne, I have learned so much from listening to people like you and Mike-especially about my own shortcomings. I've grown too, in this process of digesting Heather's letters and so many of the responses. I've had to think and rethink, and it is often that someone caused a door to fly open and let a warm breeze into my mind. Thank you for being one of those people.
I have learned and changed so much just from reading these letters and doing further research on everything I find the time for. The comments have been a huge help. I never realized just how much I wasn't aware of. I try to make everything a learning experience.
Brilliant, Jeri! Thank you. You have expressed here what so many of us have experienced and stuggled to express. My compacency was rooted in my faith that the systems of “checks and balances” would hold. Putin, Trump and the GOP all knew there were ways to subvert it, to twist the language into gibberish and lies. A corporation is a person? What!! The Supreme Court’s assault on the separation of church and state. An attempted coup that damn near succeeded!!!
Thank you, Mike. Both for your honesty about how you changed looking at things, but also for reminding people that those who are caught up in the far rights confabulations are not themselves bad people, but people who are trying to make sense of things that don't actually make sense, and being used by amoral people misusing their power and influence.
I am glad you made that hard journey. You show US how to engage with people by being open ourselves, rather than on auto-reject. AND, as others point out, your story can help other people in the same boat pay attention to their own uncertainties and rethink where they are.
And it is our responsibility to keep our minds receptive to people on the way to change. Bless you.
Your journey is inspirational, Mike S. It would be just grand if American democracy could be saved by convincing many ignorant souls to follow your path. Unfortunately, that cannot work because for every changeable person like you, there are 10,000 people like your friend the farmer, who will not change. The only hope for saving democracy is the get people inclined to vote for Democrats to actually cast votes in this year’s election. No time to waste on people like your farmer friend.
I listened to Al Franken’s latest podcast on higher education. He interviewed Will Bunch who just wrote a book. We as a country are in a terrible place on this issue.
Yes that was me. I couldn’t imagine, whether right or left, not putting country first. I was a fool, an ignorant fool. So I voted haphazardly or sometimes not at all. But I’m here now. Just submitted my mail in, blue down the line. 2016 went to independent. 2018 dem and am here to stay. I regret not recognizing the peril a lot earlier.
I watched the Indiana Senator Debate on PBS last night. Those debating were Democrat Thomas M. McDermott, Jr, Libertarian James M. Scenak and Republican "no vote against anything proposed by Democrats" Todd Young. Young responded to questions using the "TFG Method of Communication" (sorry to say I kept flipping him off and screaming at the television). Libertarian Scenak was extremely out of his element but sounded like a decent guy. And, if McDermott isn't elected as our Indiana Senator I will be so very disappointed. He will work for those that he represents. It is time that Indiana moves forward with the times!
Don't be too sure about that. The last time SS was attacked, us older folks rose in fury. And the time before that. And the time before that (which was when I became a youngish Grey Panther... we're still around).
Republicans who say they won't accept election results if they lose aren't running for office. They're trying to gain power illicitly. I'd say illegally but there's no law against being a despicable liar.
The plethora of lying cheating lawyers are a disgrace! The Bar ASSociations are a worse disgrace as they are supposed to police the profession. E.g., Every lawyer on Trump's Georgia call should be disbarred and charged criminally! These people are making Bar complaints against the lawyers and I am glad to see it! https://the65project.com/
The first rule of being a lawyer should be that however vigorously you serve those you represent, that you always adhere to the law. The same for police.
I'm praying, too. But thanks to encouragement from others on this forum, I am writing postcards and letters to voters. The deadline for postcards was this weekend, the letters are to be mailed on Oct 29th.
I purchased bulk postcards online fairly cheaply. The Postcards to Voters site links you to campaigns, gives you a 3 line script to write and you can do as many as you wish--minimum of 5. The hardest thing of it was good penmanship of my arthritic hands!
The letters to voters from Vote Forward, I find even easier. They are non-partisan and do not support any candidate, but encourage voting. You do need a printer to print out as many of the letters as you want to send. You will be given a list of names, all you need to add your personal non-partisan reason for voting. (My message: My Vote is My Voice. I want to be heard! Your voice matters, too. Please vote!) You also need to address the envelope and of course, first class postage is more than a postcard.
Since we are all inundated with slick mailings, I am hopeful that the handwritten letter addressed to a real person might encourage them to vote. There is still time to do this if anyone is able.
www.Votefwd.org I believe they offer kits to those unable to afford the items, and also take donations for those who have the treasure but not the time.
I can't just sit back and bemoan the results if I haven't at least tried to do something.
I can understand and appreciate the arthritic issue- I drive for a door knocker. I've done 145 letters to 4 states for Vote Forward. My message was about 1. telling my elected officials what's important to me-2.voting rights/democracy, 3.access to "all aspects" of healthcare (w/o saying abortion) 4. good schools, and 5. a healthier environment for our only home.
I've done this for the last two elections- written letters. The analysis after the elections shows that of those who responded, having received a personalized letter actually made a difference. Miselle, thank you for your help! This has proven to be a great get out the vote strategy in the past few elections. :)
My hope was that young people would hear the alarm about how their future could be ruined and they would come out in droves to vote. However, I read a article in the NYT that has left me depressed--suicides among 10-21 year-olds has increased 54% from 2007 to 2021 precisely because they feel insecure about their future. But from my experience Carmen, prayer works!
It matters where we look. Voters of Tomorrow and Olivia Julianna/Gen-Z for Change are powerfully awesome and doing the footwork to support the prayers:
Why does the mainstream media keep asking candidates if they’ll accept the results of an election if they lose? It’s an idiotic question. Except for the case of the presidency where because of the Electoral College someone can actually lose the popular vote and still win, in all other elections, if you get fewer votes, you lose. Period. There is no requirement that the loser accept the outcome. In the case of Kari Lake, she’s not in office so she can’t refuse to leave if she loses. She can’t show up and move into the governor’s office. She can sue(and lose); she can whine; she can wail and pout. But she can’t change the outcome. Not enough votes? You lose. Don’t accept it? Too bad. Work it out with your therapist. But stop giving these people airtime, headlines and pseudo-legitimacy by asking an irrelevant question. The media - and not just Fox - are complicit.
I agree that it is essentially a whacked question. Why would any journalist feel the need to ask such a question? It's ridiculous! It's a treasonous attitude! But here is the thing. It apparently is an appealing thing to say to the folks who have left democracy in the dust. It's a winning campaign tool if you are appealing to the robotic dolts who have embraced hate.
This is the same technique that gave us the Third Reich. Start lying and keep lying and lying until enough people are on board because you fed their hate for the other. It's stunning, isn't it?
But why should we be shocked when for as long as there has been language, people have bought fantasy over reality. Because it was repeated over and over again. Otherwise, how can you explain the fact that millions of people really think there was a Noah's Ark and we and all the animals come from those that survived the flood on a big boat. So upon reflection, none of this is surprising. Some people will believe anything. Would anyone like to hear about turning water to wine...or for that matter, walking on water? Is it any wonder that so many people are easily conned?
Following along with your argument, election denialism, and the tendency to flock to conspiracy theories rather than science, seem to engender the exact type of faith and dedication that religion does.
Yup. It has been human nature since we learned to talk. Asking gods for rain, blaming a blasphemous person for crop failure. All nonsense embraced with complete conviction.
Most people believe what they are brainwashed/indoctrinated/trained/taught to believe. Very few people are 100% independent critical thinkers. Anyone who has a simple understanding of psychology knows this. I think Bill's comment is spot on and deserves a lot of reflection on everyone's part.
The Republican playbook is not original; they are using the same tactics that authoritarian regimes have used for millenniums. Actually, it is the playbook that every successful political party has employed. It is simple, easy to implement, and it works.
So why don't the Democrats adopt the same tactics of persuasion as the Republicans? Ostensibly, many of their ideas and principles have majority support. Why do they shy away from democratic socialist policies? They dumped liberalism for pseudo progressivism. I think the reason is obvious - follow the money!
In my lifetime, the Democratic party has moved further and further to the right as the modern-day robber barons have gained greater control over politicians and elections. Democrats have been resigned to developing one expertise - the art of triangulation. Every election is a balancing act between promising to fulfill the needs of their constituency (regular Americans) while at the same time mollifying their wealthy donors. The beauty of modern-day Democratic politics is you only need to find one or two dissenters to defeat or compromise legislation. e.g. Sinema and Manchin though there were many other Democrats who were happy to see Biden's Build Back Better proposals shot down.
If you wonder why there is indifference and apathy then I say "show me the money." Promises made and not kept for decades has resulted in a lot of voter apathy. BTW, a lot of those blue-collar Republicans used to be blue-collar Democrats who have seen their middle-class status eroded because (in their minds) Democrats didn't stand-up and protect and save unions and union jobs. Washington politicians allowed good jobs to leave the country and added insult to injury with unfavorable trade protections. NAFTA was good for corporations which ultimately was only good for corporate execs and stockholders. Democrats let unions die without a fight and with it went collective bargaining which was and is the only defense against the robber barons. You can blame Republicans all you want, but Democrats share in the blame by not coming through for blue-collar, middle-class workers. It is clear to me that the level of mistrust in government and politicians has resulted in voter apathy.
If you did well and rose on your own merits, good for you and congratulations, but the reality is for millions and millions of Americans, they have struggled to find good paying jobs. Over the decades, government has done little to compensate the loss of job security and a livable wage. I can't remember exactly, but the minimum wage adjusted from 196x should be around $80 today! Social Security benefits are below the poverty line. Most Americans over 65 have little or nothing saved for retirement and cannot afford to retire. Many can't find jobs earning a livable wage, and in many cases, they will be taxed for earning a livable wage. This is America, not a third world country. You can argue, as Republicans do, that it is not the government's responsibility to compensate for economic hardship. Maybe so, but it is also not government's responsibility to give unfair advantages to the robber barons and the investor class in America.
I could go on and on about unaffordable healthcare, unlivable minimum wage, cost of education and student loans, loss of consumer protections, inadequate and underfunded Social Security, skyrocketing cost of fuel, food and housing, and failure to mitigate climate change. In each and every one of these categories, the wealthy robber barons have prevailed to their betterment and to the detriment of the vast majority of Americans. There is so much bullshit in American politics and it is endless to the point that most people tuning it out especially when dealing with the reality of making ends meet. Republicans blame Democrats and vice versa. The truth of the matter is people who are tuned in are biased one way or another, and the rest just are sick and tired of all the bullshit.
This saying (whoever it is actually attributed to) rings true every election: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” So, yea go vote, but it is way past time to wake up to why people are not motivated to vote. Why are we asked to spend billions to get politicians elected, most of who are working hand-in-hand with their wealthy donors? Why are we asked to give politicians money to do their job and represent our interests? America is not a democratic republic; it's for all intents and purposes, a defacto kleptocracy. It is the best government that money can buy.
There are plenty off us Leo old of good faith snd progressive who are mature enough not to take relooks stereotypes literally but are syombokic lessons. So careful not to lump us in with those who abuse snd distort “religion” and use it for political purposes.
I am a fan of any faith that promotes democracy, diversity and compassion for our fellow travelers. I applaud any faith that respects the planet, science and other species as part of an important web of life.
Any faith that wants to truly help others has my respect. I know some faithful who fall into that camp.
Candidates like Kari Lake will refuse to concede, their supporters gather and make mob threats of violence that turn their mob violent. It’s a more common tactic in Eastern Europe, that has migrated to the West.
I don't think that it will happen but if it does happen, those who threaten violence should be dispatched quickly and demonstrably. It doesn't help that the Justice Department is not moving quickly to indict and punish high profile seditionists which in my mind is most of the Republican Party. They took an oath of office. It's about time they be held accountable, don't you think?
Merrick Garland has a record of 100% convictions in his jury trials as a prosecutor. For Jan 6th I think he is being cautious for a reason. Charges can’t be partisan, even though QOP will claim that it is, no matter what. To get to the truth, he has to work bottom up. Turn many to state’s witness at each level to the top. If he doesn’t do it this way, what are the consequences IF QOP wins back the house or senate, or God forbid TFG wins a 2nd term by cheating with red state sec’s of states, and corrupt county officials help?
If the unthinkable happens, they will come after Garland, Biden, DOJ prosecutors, investigators, witnesses, etc, etc. Garland must be prudent, exact, bullet proof the case.
I am terrified of Kari Lake. Principled Katie Hobbs looks like sick little mouse next to her. I just hope that people see through the lipstick and heels....
Agree. I’m not sure why Hobbs won’t engage Lake in a debate. Lake should be called out on all issues before Election Day. Hobbs should take the gloves off and start intellectual/pro democracy/pro womens health punching.
Democrats appear to embrace Michelle Obama's when-they-go-low-I-go-high dribble. I told my husband that if I was running I would be rabidly unleashed and that he would be continuously embarrassed and mortified. My mild-mannered husband actually said, "I'd support anything you said." It made me actually think about running myself!
I think that’s what a reasoned debate is to me. One can debate and maintain the high ground but with the gloves off. Voters need to see prospective leaders squash, smash, disqualify these QOP nut jobs in real life on screen and live. Of course it has to be a fair debate. But it has to happen. It is what makes voters fall in love. It makes reasonable independents question why they would vote for stupid racists candidates. It forces white republican women to reconcile the issues of abortion and equal access to HC.
I think it’s a bad question because the interviewer doesn’t ask follow-up questions. “Why would your winning the election not be free of voter fraud?” What evidence is there that the Dems, and only the Dems, commit this crime? You realize that Drumpf has never adduced any evidence convincing enough to prove that the election was stolen, don’t you?” I could go on, but it’s frustrating that the timid media types just let these statements stand as a possible fact, rather than the naked propaganda it is.
And anyone familiar with the win-at-all-costs ethos of the GOP, conservatives and cut-throat businesspeople would find it hard to believe they wouldn’t avail themselves of the same “fraud” as Dems.
My thoughts exactly. I wonder, one more time, just how much the media has exploited this issue for the sensationalism effect. There was someone who lost a primary last summer and refused to concede. Nothing happened. Don't remember this? It's because the media dropped it.
Lake is dangerous. She is not good for the Country. She is a media darling because whether they admit it or not she is one of them and they like that.
For all the terror and horror and covid and DeJoy's voter suppression from the last election who is sitting in the White House at this moment? Can we please retire chicken little? Let's get down to the business of voting.
With the growth of "media" and all it entails, journalistic integrity has all but disappeared. There are no corroboration of statements, no deep dives into the details of an event, just soundbites and clickbait any more. It is arriving at the point where any newspaper or local to national TV news is just blathering propaganda to sell stuff or make money for the owner of said media. Then, you have to contend with the plethora of internet "news" where opinions are presented as fact and reporting is just regurgitation of opinions. Factor in the use of media (especially social media) that is so easily manipulated to foster divide and you've got today's America, which is the product of at least 3 generations of dumbed down public education.
Agree Ally. The takeover of local journalism by media giants, the voter laziness which goes for the 30 second info feed and the inability/refusal to parse fact from fiction is a mess. The media would change if people quit buying into their bs. But Americans appear to be more interested in the latest sports scores and Kanye than Democracy
Candidates have to know the game within the game. Plenty of opportunities to garner their own sound bites to expose the crazies. Right? Like Warnock did to Walker and others. They need to hammer home the principles of good democratic governance and expose the bs of the QOP. They need to debate to demonstrate their leadership capability.
Shouldn’t Hobbs debate Kari Lake? Hobbs should I think. Expose Lake as a racist fascist Q crazy anti democratic demagogue that she herself has cultivated as a candidate. Democratic candidates should be ruling the debates, as many are. The issue of women's access and privacy to health care is the issue to attack first in red and purple states like Arizona. Democrats should debate and use these issues ti expose their competitors as ignorant, cruel, racist, naive to facts that drive common sense policy.
Then they need to say that. Because there are reporters and some analysts who simply state that "Dems are in trouble" or Dems are likely to lose the house" as if it is a background fact. I've noted before that there is a lot of lazy reporting. It's lower key right now, but just as irresponsible. I've read and heard too many of the say things that indicate that they have NO understanding of how polling works or what a "margin of error" means. That is even sometimes on NPR and other responsible news sources. Their colleagues should be calling them out in the moment by restating the comment in a more accurate manner, but it gets left to be "balanced" in a later story, leaving the impression that it is an either/or situation. It is not, and the reporting has an obligation to say that clearly.
Amen, by the way, derived from Hebrew through Greek, Latin and then Old English, is an old legal term, that simply indicates "It is agreed" or "so be it", or simply, affirmation of something said. Some New England select boards still use it when an action is voted on affirmatively, and I've heard it in legal courts as well. I love word trivia.
I think they ask the question now to get people on record. However, they should follow up with the facts that elections are fundamental to our society, and NO proof of fraud of any significant size has been shown in our elections.
“It was not so very long ago that historians taught the Wilmington coup as a shocking anomaly in our democratic system, but now, 124 years after it happened, it is current again. Modern-day Republicans appear to reject not only the idea they could lose an election fairly, but also the fundamental principle, established in the Declaration of Independence, that all Americans have a right to consent to their government.”
Modern day R’s are racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, anti (real) Christian limp POS. If you are a respectable Republican, you will understand your obligation to your country. and vote with the D's. Had to get this off my chest. In Tel Aviv with COVID, and no Dear Trump, I, an American Jew, owe you nothing. The Christian Right (Your vanguard) has a great deal of responsibility for Palestinian suffering as well as the Israeli and Jewish American Right, extremism is never good🙏.
Well said. I have been puzzled by my RWNJ (I have stolen the moniker "Reich Wing Nut Job from another reader) friends and their unwavering support for Israel (expressed by support of Netanyahu) in ways that do not seem to support either Israel or Jews.
Yes, elections in name only. Candidates have taken TFG’s mantra, “I’ll accept the election results if I win.” Even a six year old knows there’s a winner and loser. A tantrum over checkers? Maybe. Repubs go a step further and start an insurrection. We have been warned.
So they want to turn back the calendar a couple of centuries? It won’t happen if we don’t let it happen. Even the T**** appointed judges are not that conservative, I hope.( on a number of occasions they have ruled against the former)
They want to go back to monarchs and feudalism; AKA so-called "Supply Side Economics"
“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” - Lincoln
His Supreme Court Justices are way too evangelical right wing for me. Thankfully his other judge appointees seem to be following the letter of the law.
Not in Virginia either. I learned about it from HCR in 2020. I learned about Tulsa in 2019 on a visit to the African America Museum. These are the “good old days” of education to which the right wants to return.
I learned of both the Wilmington coup and the Tulsa Race Massacre from a friend in either 2018 or 2019; neither was ever mentioned in any of the high school or college history classes that I took in the mid-late 1970's. She was astounded that those were not taught in schools in Oregon then.
We should prepare ourselves for a world of hurt. The cancers the R party have created are hard to bare. The so-called news pundits keep repeating that the Dems will lose the House and possibly the Senate. That’s driving a stake in my heart. In the meantime, this crazy woman in AZ (Lake) is dangerous and I think Katie Hobbs has her hands full of Lake’s lies. DeSantis doesn’t take a break, does he? I read where he is planning yet another bus ride for immigrants to be deposited who knows where! Stop The Insanity!!
The problem in Arizona is Katie Hobbs is a stiff. She's running a nice "civilzed" campaign and won't go after Lake. Said she wouldn't debate her because that would "normalize" the disinformation. So Lake gets debate night all to herself with an empty podium for an opponent. Stupidstupidstupidstupid.
TC, I fear Hobbs is not the exception, but represents a number of Democratic candidates, who, rather than taking the fight to Republicans, are allowing Republican lies and distortions to go unanswered.
Barbara Jo & TC, I fear Ms. Hobbs, as do most Democrats running for office, face a "Hobson's Choice" as in no choice at all. If a Democrat accepts a debate, s/he is confronted with an array of unsupportable allegations by Republican opponents to argue and try to debunk and thereby allow the Republican opponent to set the agenda. If the Democrat (Hobbs in this instance) refuseS to participate in a debate about lies and untruths, s/he is seen as ceding the agenda; either way the Democrat loses; hence a Hobson's Choice.
@JohnM, As you stated, by refusing to debate, Hobbs “ced[ed] the agenda,” a decision I fear will cost her (and us) the governorship in a battleground state. If I may borrow a phrase from Bernie Sanders, I consider it “political malpractice” to allow an adversary’s lies and distortions to go unanswered. Hence I would contend one ought not run for office, particularly when the stakes are so great, if she or he cannot face off with an opponent and subject that person’s words and deeds to critical scrutiny.
I agree with you and Bernie Sanders, yet find myself flummoxed by the thought of spending time debating whether Democrats are all cannibalistic pedophiles or that any election a Republican loses was rigged, especially after over 60 (61?) court findings to the contrary. Perhaps it would be sufficient for a Democrat to use a debate to point out what the Biden Administration HAS already accomplished and not get caught up in endlessly debunking whatever most recent conspiracy has been flung into the debate.
@JohnM, I agree with TC and merely would add, that while abortion care, let alone democracy, must remain on the front burner, Dems need to focus more on a pro-worker agenda—$15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, universal healthcare, tax reform, and more, all of which have received zero Republican support.
Jeri, Regrettably, I believe Beto’s image largely has been damaged by his failed Senate and Presidential runs, particularly the latter wherein he took positions viewed by much of the mainstream as politically perilous.
Agreed. I sent him a few bucks because he is a saint compared to the current evil idiot governor. But Beto lost his races the day he started talking about guns. He might as well have said he was a Satanist. The worship of guns in many regions of this nutty nation exceeds religious belief. You can find that right here in sections of New England ("Live Free or Die" whackos)...but Texas?
Bill, I would add that Beto’s positions on immigration expressly promoted in Presidential debates, while hailed by progressives, was another politically perilous stance.
Beto’s choices are silence, telling the truth or agreeing through lies. So any choice might be good politics but morally questionable. He has been known to confront lies with truth: “warning strong language”
Irenie, While I don’t know what you mean by “agreeing through lies,” I believe Beto is gifted and never would refuse to debate. Regrettably, as noted in an exchange with another subscriber, I fear that Beto’s image largely has been damaged by his failed Senate and Presidential campaigns, particularly the latter, wherein he took positions viewed by the mainstream as politically perilous.
Barbara, upon rereading “agreeing through lies” I also find it confusing. Truth vs …, I was writing about choices, not that he would choose to lie in order to garner votes. His honesty and support of Truth and Justice is a risk in a red state. And if I could, I would vote for him. But I’m also grateful I don’t live in a red state.
Irenie, I appreciate the clarification and merely would note politicians, especially, must be concerned about the values and interests of their constituents. I don’t mean to suggest they have to be deceptive or manipulative. What I do mean is that the burden rests with the politician to win over prospective voters.
Imagine a social studies/history curriculum for grades 9 – 12, in which students learn the difference between what actually happened, the history of United States, versus the myths that have been perpetrated.
Another social studies curriculum is designed to teach the various uses of Fraud:
1a: DECEIT, Trickery specifically: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right --
-- which has been employed at various times in our history by members of the US government and others in order to overthrow it. Think of the processes towards overthrowing the government as a chain, in which each link (fraud) leads the way to the next until the real-world collapses – what’s true and what’s false? The institutions, rule of law, and functions of government collapse, along with the real world and a small group of fraudsters control the people in an autocratic form of government or a dictatorship.
Think of those classes. Heather Cox Richardson has drawn the outlines for such curriculums.
We are now living in an America we could not have imagined.
’… Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake refused to say that she would accept the results of the upcoming election-- unless she wins. Former president Trump said the same in 2020, and now more than half of the Republican nominees in the midterm elections have refused to say that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election because, they allege, there was voter fraud. This position is an astonishing rejection of the whole premise on which this nation was founded: that voters have the right to choose their leaders.’ (Letter)
‘The Declaration of Independence ‘… rejected the idea of social hierarchies in which some men were better than others and should rule their inferiors. Instead, it set out a new principle of government, establishing that “all men are created equal” and that governments derive “their just power from the consent of the governed.” (Letter)
‘Modern-day Republicans appear to reject not only the idea they could lose an election fairly, but also the fundamental principle, established in the Declaration of Independence, that all Americans have a right to consent to their government.’ (Letter)
Today’s Letter belongs everywhere. It is as a compass telling us where we are and We the People are America. The Letter relates, in large measure, how we got here. All Americans need to know. It is our government, and we are the only ones who can save it.
So many of today's citizens are so damned "civilized" -- just like traditional German politicians before Adolf Hitler came on the scene, with his beer-hall-barackroom histrionics.
If "civilized" means mealy-mouthed euphemisms and hypocrisy, we can do without it.
Time for the stinging goad, time for that bucket of icy water.
Time to rouse couch potatoes from their mattress-graves!
Various factors, Peter. The people were robbed, understandable mistrust, racism -- not difficult to ignite, propagandize, manipulation and disinformation on social media social and Fox News, social isolation and people stopped dead in their tracks and with many going backward in terms of economic security, loss of communities, the fragmentation of society... The power brokers, dark money, the Republican Party, widespread corruption, economic system and rule of law weighted strongly in favor of the rich getting much richer...
There are signs of life among those who know -- the Bernie Sanders contingent, other progressives, some grassroots organizations, Blacks, women...not enough...as for the Democratic Party (I'd rather not get into that)!
The key here is to get HCR’s outlines for curriculums to people in education, so that upcoming potential voters (happening very soon) can know these facts. How can we get this valuable information in the right hands while Biden is President, and we have a Democrat leader in the top Education position?
I believe that there is a way from here to make contact with HCR that is not direct. Ellie Kona's link is near the beginning of comments today; she may know how you might do it. I think Ellie might be helpful in other ways, so tell her what you have in mind. Sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
There will never be a nationalized curriculum. Never! Even if there was an approved national curriculum of any subject, teaching bias would prevail. Ultimately, people believe what they want to believe, hear what they want to hear, and say what they want to say.
It doesn’t have to be nationalized at all. Just starting small in school districts that are open to it would be a good beginning. I know many teachers who would welcome it.
I have read articles in both The Washington Post and The NY Times about Dems losing and it makes me sick. I am hoping that women will turn out in greater numbers regarding abortion, and the men who support them will, also. We have a tough road ahead. That doesn't mean we cannot win.
A recent WaPo article "reported" that the Republicans may sweep the House or words to that effect. It was presented as straight news. Note that the operative word is "may". Both of these publications are becoming increasingly irresponsible in their incessant quest for clickbait.
Agree, Rick. WaPo reporters have become over reliant on their incredibly stupid polls and sloppy interviews. It’s disgusting and some days seems no better than Fox.
I agree with you, Rick. People see this and say, what's the point of voting. People forget what happened when HRC ran for president. She won the popular vote, yes, but there were thousands who didn't vote and wrote to her to say they were sorry. It really ticked her off, she didn't want to hear it. The GOP will steal an election if they can and it has gotten worse with tfg.
In Iran, women have risen after four decades of being trampled underfoot by corrupt fundamentalists and their goons. Not just hijab burners, hijab wearers.
Iranians are showing the example -- and dying for freedom!
I think you mean that in America millions have been beaten and bamboozled by Big Daddy bullies and failed-fascist-politicians-turned-preacher.
It's the free that need to wake up and fight for their rights as citizens. If they don't want to lose citizenship and become mere subjects. If not objects.
They are a great organization. I wrote 150 letters before the 2020 election. Unfortunately, I'm not able to do that this year as I'm overseas and I wouldn't be able to send them in time when Vote Forward says to release the letters.
There is an enormous amount of hand wringing in the comments today. Much of it is driven by media political commentary by those who make money with controversy and "polls" and the emotions they can stir.
But no polls can measure the emotional fury created by the Dobbs decision. No polls are measuring the freak out by Americans who see a nation on the verge of governmental collapse. No polls can accurately measure the incredible anger of millions of Americans who have watched a NYC real estate con man make fools out of us....and mock the standards of behavior that were as basic as apple pie and a hamburg barbecue - until now.
We may lose the House. The Senate? Who knows. Regardless, we have Joe Biden as President for two more years. And I choose to believe that by the time we get to voting in 2024, the backlash against the current insanity will prevail. Younger women are NOT going to let old white farts rule their lives. LGBTQ folks and those who love them are not going to simply stand by and be told what rest rooms to use or how their identity should be defined. We are beyond that now. The recent attacks on ALL women and the millions who define themselves uniquely are not going to be ignored.
Maybe if it gets a little worse in the short run, the next generations will wake up and finally participate to a degree that will turn the tide to inclusion, tolerance and diversity as virtues. I believe we will see real human rights reassert themselves in most states. Perhaps there will always be certain locales where it is not safe to live. But I believe that most of America will reject the Neo Nazi Fascist Vomit that now serves as Republican principles and talking points.
Most young people, in general , are not bible thumpers and don't find religion of interest - especially the "excluding kind". Most young people see diversity as normal. Most young people seek truth and embrace science. Most young people are pissed that we are ignoring and denying the Climate Crisis.
We will prevail. We are the majority. I am hopeful.
Bill, most of these comments are like preaching to the choir. How do we get the message shaped so that people who are conspiracy theorists, Qanon followers, Trump butt kissers, will at least look at it with a somewhat different eye? How many people do we need to influence besides everyone who reads HCR?
Most people like money. Many are just plain selfish. For those that are still convinceable, we should be touting the amazing legislation will bring Americans good jobs.
And most of all we should be quoting Rick (Medicare Fraud King) Scott wanting to "sunset" Social Security and Medicare.
“Will you accept the results of the upcoming election?” Why is asking candidates this question a thing? The very asking of it gives the concept of not accepting the results life. It should be not be a question that needs to be asked. It is a clear requirement that if you are a candidate you WILL be bound by the election results. No whining. Geez.
WILL YOU ACCEPT THE ELECTION RESULTS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE?
In a country that upholds justice rather than buying it, those who won't commit themselves to accepting voters' decision would be disbarred and forfeit their civic rights.
You would think one of the conditions for running for office is accepting the results. As far as I'm concerned, that is implied in the Constitution, and certainly confirmed in taking the oath of office. If it were up to me, no one could run for office if they go on record refusing to accept the results unless they win. Challenging whatever is fine, but ultimately, you must accept the results. End of story.
This is another enormous and profound failing of the media in general, and they should be taken to task. Personally, I do that by not subscribing to their tabloid trash or patronizing their advertisers.
There is a problem with the straightforward approach we espouse -- a rather obvious one we both missed.
Hours after writing, I see a headline in the very right-wing National Review that accuses Stacey Abrams of "dodging" on whether she will accept the outcome of the gubernatorial vote in Georgia if it goes against her.
Her "dodge" is to say that acceptance will depend on voters' fair access to the vote...
The kindest thing one could say about many Americans' (and others') attitude to party politics is that they treat it as a tribal game.
No game, when the choice is between upholding a democratic republic, however flawed its democracy, and installing a permanent one-party oligarchic tyranny. As in today's Russia...
When faced with a party hijacked by mafia, a cabal that always announces its next projected crime by accusing the other party of committing it, a cabal whose entire ethos is winning at all costs, by means fair or foul, we have a real problem on our hands. All the more so when these people's purpose is to ensure that political power never extends to persons whose skin color differs from their own... above all, not to the descendants of slaves whose possession their ancestors never willingly relinquished...
Their struggle (I use those words advisedly) is to impose states' rights to lie to, cheat and oppress their citizens, in effect depriving them of their rights as citizens and turning them into rather less than "subjects".
Given the unprecedented power and influence of the United States and the very real current challenges to global survival, their success would be a planetary disaster.
Republicans routinely engage in whataboutisms. The problem with their whataboutisms is that they are superficial and when examined in context or in detail, the whataboutism turns out to be not at all the same.
So, in the case of Stacey Abrams, she's saying if you Republicans affect voter turnout by preventing or impeding people from voting, we will challenge the outcome. This is not the same as saying that I (the Republican candidate) will not accept the outcome if I lose a legitimately held election. As I originally said, challenging the results is fine but once the challenge(s) is decided then the election results stand.
There was no dodge by Abrams. She was misquoted and mischaracterized by a Republican biased media outlet. When I look at it, Democrats have facts and evidence on their side, but they seldom vigorously challenge Republican lies, hypocrisy and mischaracterizations. Why do they fear the bombastic lies and mischaracterizations of Republicans when they have truth on their side?
As you may recall, I frequently cite tribalism as an innate quality of humanity. It is also a characteristic of the entire animal kingdom. It is part of the whole concept of survival of the fittest and it isn't going to change anytime soon.
I think about the concept of 'civilization' and I often reflect upon the fact that in terms of character and morality, humans really haven't advanced that far. A civilized approach eschews boundaries, skin color, religion and sexual identities, and strives for developing unity through commonality. Tribalism is counter to becoming more civilized. Tribes justify their existence and actions as a means to selfishly protect and serve their own.
America is a relatively young country, and our republic has a relatively unique guiding charter. We like to think of ourselves as having an exemplary form of democracy. The essential part of a functioning democracy is to be inclusive and equal. The United States of America implies that we all get along to go along, and work for the common good. A democracy implies majority rule wherein every challenge and problem are met with solutions that do the greatest good for the most people.
However, the Founding Fathers did not take into account the dynamics of tribalism, nor did they envision that a few enormously wealthy people would use tribalism to drive a wedge throughout society. Their strategy was basic divide and conquer. United we stand, divided we fall. Today, it looks more like we're going to fall than stand because tribalism is a prevailing force that is counter to preserving civilization. It is important to mention that tribalism is not unique to this country - it's divides countries and within countries all over the world.
In my experience, most Americans are naturally vain and self-serving because this country thrives on personal initiative and does not value the importance of personal responsibility within the context of society as a whole.
It's always a pleasure exchanging ideas with you Peter. Cheers!
I'm with you all the way on this. The report on Tracey Abrams was plainly a dishonest presentation designed to appeal to readers' prejudices -- her patent ability plainly scares them.
I'm troubled by tribalism rather than tribes, by the paranoid nuclear family (however understandable the paranoia) rather than by families. And reassured by the extended family rather than the nuclear one. All these levels of identity should provide us with windows on the world and a sound base from which to seek what we really are, beyond all those labels.
However, tribal attitudes to politics exist within my own family, and my English niece was most offended by the suggestion that she should consider tactical voting... Since then, triumphalism hasn't taken long to give way to something very different. Yet it may be that no one has yet begun to understand what's happening or the dangers that now lie ahead, because no one ever looked beyond "the way we've always voted" or took the trouble to look into who or what they were voting for.
I have known Europeans welcomed into African tribes and extended European families that welcomed and protected the children of strangers, including Africans, as family members. Rarer, I understand, in the States.
Nowadays, of course, we are under attack from an ultra-Darwinist form of far-right anarchism, exemplified by criminals like the last occupant of the White House and by individualist extremists who call themselves "libertarians". Their exclusive liberty at the expense of anyone else's... Their "divide and misrule".
*
On my first visit to the US I had a conversation on exiting the New York subway with a very well-dressed and self-confident black man who found time to say to me that in this city one could live one's entire life within one's narrow community, speaking their language, eating their food, meeting no one outside of it; but in that case one would never get on in the world... Joining the mainstream, one could have it both ways, enjoying all the advantages of American life AND still being welcome in one's community of origin...
(My own attitudes were formed during a few childhood years in South Africa. I often wonder what could have happened if I'd stayed on and grown up there. Either the white tribe's culture, which I reacted against, or... prison? Younger friends who came ten or twenty years later crossed all barriers...)
So much fell into place for me on reading your closing paragraph. Thank you, ChipsPOV, for setting it all out so plainly.
After witnessing seemingly endless instances of indifference to truth on the part of supposedly reputable media, I caught sight or headlines that amounted to partisan gloating… on behalf of a criminal enterprise. Then I asked myself, “How is this possible? How can they be so grossly irresponsible? How can they not see what they are doing?”
After a moment’s utter confusion, I could see only one explanation. Money. Nothing else counts for anything. Words are sold like sausages—except that even in the most unregulated society, no one would dare sell food so tainted.
“Free speech”—yet another of the fetishes we adore, abuse and betray. Free speech, prostituted by and on behalf of the powerful.
I went on my way to deal with other matters. On returning, I read your simple, straightforward statement, and that final paragraph stopped me in my tracks.
Given the extreme gravity of our current circumstances, media handling of truth and falsehood is not merely irresponsible, not merely meretricious, it is criminal. And the crimes concerned are heinous.
By their amorality, their unconcern for any values except sales, media become the accomplices of swindlers, of perjurers, of seditionists, spokesmen for racketeers, organizers of diversions to attract attention away from politicians’ unavowable activities, normalizers of murder, spreaders of paranoia, even the servants and enablers of traitors. And in this list I have not even included the active criminals, the deliberate purveyors of mendacious propaganda.
At times like these, the only permissible partisanship is a firm commitment to truth, regardless of our prejudices and preferences.
Thank you Professor for providing the history of our elections. The repub years of cheating and lying, of blatantly creating laws that prevent every citizen to vote, even using courts to make sure the white male vote counts more than any other in some states. White Christian Male is the ideal repub. Okay, friends get out the Vote as if our Democracy depends on Democrats retaining Power, because it does.
Had I been asked, I would have said that reforming the Electoral Count Act would not have been among the top 5 things we needed to do to address the complex challenges facing our voting systems today. To be clear, absent comprehensive federal voter protection safeguards, I worry that Republicans at the local and state levels simply won’t include all the ballots in the certified results, which, in a Presidential election, would come way before we got to counting electors in the House and Senate chambers.
I largely base my concerns on Democracy Docket Founder Marc Elias’s portrayal, discussed back in July, of a Republican election subversion plan he expects will be enacted as early as this fall. Admittedly, Elias is not suggesting that Republican election officials are laying the groundwork blatantly to declare their candidates the winner whether or not the candidate wins enough votes. He views the Republican election subversion plan as more sophisticated than that. Rather, Elias anticipates that Republicans will use “false allegations of fraud as a pretext to remove ballots from the vote totals and then certify those incomplete results.”
While I don’t doubt that when litigation ensues Elias and his team will mount arguments whose conclusions can be nailed to the post with confirming evidence, I am not as confident that our courts will stand for the beacons of democracy that we need them to be.
Anti women, anti Black, anti Jews. Perhaps we didn't think antisemitism would roar its ugly head in this country to the extent it has until Charlottesville. My father-in-law lost 22 first cousins in the Holocaust. I live in a town where there were many Holocaust survivors, many of whom have now died, but their children and grandchildren still live there.
It's pretty sickening what is in store for us if voters are complacent. We cannot afford it. Abortion will be the law of the land, and the rogue SCOTUS will continue to break down our democracy. We can forget Medicare and Social Security. No matter if we have paid into anything. And we can forget support for Ukraine.
(2 of 2) Then there are the ringleaders and other fascists who are intentionally doing this--mostly for their personal gain or because they were abducted as a child and forced to worship at the altar of Reagan at the expense of all other things (the Ultimate Truth in the Universe: Ronnie Reagan. Think about that deeply, Mitch and Newt. You realize how stupid you are now, right?). They simply must be stopped. Peacefully now...by force later. You choose. Yes, you, every person reading this.
Mark my words--these are the descendants of the same ethos/block that took our nation to civil war. And, as they've shown, they will outright lie to a camera and refute the laws of physics to grab/stay in power. The last step is violence. And does anyone not believe they'll do it? No, they WANT it, in part, because they believe they will have the upper hand (I've said this for 3 years now--if the military--the Army in particular--isn't reinforcing statements of oath and vetting its members for loyalty, they are making a big mistake).
But...make THEM start it, folks--don't take ANY bait (and there will be bait. Look for this in the years ahead--events and demonstrations made to spark violence that can be pinned on "immigrants and criminals"). Make them the ones who, once again, chose villainy, morally inexcusable paths to destruction. It's not a fait accompli until the day it is. Let's do EVERYTHING we can to keep that from happening. Yes, I still have hope. Get back to me in 3 weeks...
And then, possibly, we will have to finish what we never did 160 years ago. God help us if that comes to pass--but yes, I will be ready. We still have a chance to turn the Titanic next month...
Spot on: "descendants of the same ethos/block that took our nation to civil war". Not just that, they are aching to "make things right" with another war, if need be. Chilling.
This letter makes me so angry that I'm just going to have to take a virtual chill pill. I will have to debate with my conservative parents regarding how they need to vote Dem in the midterms over cribbage.
Gingrich, Falwell, Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanen, Reagan....and Rosh Limbaugh: sowed the seeds for this new Republican Party. And they considered Mitt Romney not nasty enough to be the GOP candidate in 2016.
He is a Pharisee of the new order. Should have been trashed in the 90’s. Oh wait, he was. Then the devil incarnate blessed him. Should have been a clue…
"That Declaration rejected the idea of social hierarchies in which some men were better than others and should rule their inferiors." Well, except all women and black men.... For me, this really helps clarify what it means to be a proud "originalist."
And ever since "it set out a new principle of government, establishing that 'all men are created equal,'" we've been trying to redefine "all" and "equal."
Republicans have a sordid history of electoral fraud. In addition to Heather’s liturgy, there was the Hayes-Tilden presidential race in 1876.
There were 20 electoral votes ‘disputed’ by Republicans. The Republicans pulled a switcharoo on the special electoral commission and Hayes ‘won’ all 20 contested votes and the presidency. [Historians acknowledge that Tilden was clearly the winner.]
Rutherford Hayes was called “Rutherfraud’ and a prominent Washington newspaper referred to “Your Fraudulency” during Hayes’ presidency.
This is terrifying. The racism, antisemitism, misogyny, anti “other” of the Republican party is a threat to the values and decency of Americans. How and why the Republicans have gone down this path is clear. The fact that we Dems can’t get our message about what is at stake out more directly and forcefully is troubling and increasingly dangerous to what we hold dear.
Agreed. And that is one of the many reasons I’m a life long Dem. A clearer and stronger message of the strong policies that have helped American would be useful now. I think.
Jeri! Virtual hugs going your way!! I commented to you above about how I respond to comments on Yahoo and msn.com and Rick Scott is what I bring up all the time.
I think there are a myriad of reasons "why" messaging for Democrats or Democratic ideals are difficult, especially now. For one, "Stop the Steal" is far easier to say than "The election was conducted fairly and in accordance with federal and state laws regarding elections and vote counting" just as "Build the Wall" is much easier to say than "Conditions in many Central and South American countries have created an influx of people seeking asylum, and the laws regarding immigration and asylum seeking are outmoded and need to be rewritten; especially with regard to DACA and other reparations for individuals who may have illegally come to this country with no ability to have formed intent." For another, there is the brainwashing via propaganda that has been in place since the dismantling of the Fairness Doctrine.
Voter suppression, redistricting and gerrymandering, sowing doubt, and outright lying are all the GOP has. They will try to cut Social Security and Medicare, and may well succeed if our populace doesn't awaken to how dangerous this party has become and defeat them with overwhelming numbers. So many pivotal races seem close which helps the narrative that cheating is what contributes to Democratic victories. I am praying for a tsunami of Democratic turnout.
Pray harder, because the polls are showing that in Blue states, voters are not acting with a lot of determination, because they think their rights are safe since Republicans don't run things there.
Police office Fanone, who was attacked on Jan. 6th, said in an interview that the thing that will do us in is indifference. Democrats being indifferent about voting. I think he said a mouthful. There is so much at state and it's so frightening to think of the alternative, with a GOP win. That would be the end of our support for Ukraine, among other things, which was attacked again this morning (I'm in Germany so the news came early) by drones from Iran dropping on Kiev.
True, Putin is counting on the Midterms, on the GOP Russian Party riding to the rescue and transforming his defeat into Victory...
But that is only for starters, with far worse to come.
Not just for Lib'ruls. For the world.
Get Real -- wake up and vote while you still can -- the World is counting on you!
Sadly, we are speaking to those who agree with us, not those who don't read this Letter every day. The Democratic message is not being heard/understood that Democracy is in peril for many Democrats.
As long a people worry more about their pocket book, i.e. inflation they will ignorantly blame the administration and support fascism. Biden could walk on water it would not matter. The GOP has worked for decades to set the agenda, the talking points, control of the states voting systems. IF they will win this midterm, we are through as a democracy. If you think that is hyperbole, you have not paid attention.
Right! And GOP gleefully blames inflation on Biden when it is a post-pandemic, worldwide problem. The French just saw massive protests over this issue. Ignorance can be exploited too easily by malign players.
Ignorance can be exploited too easily by malign players. Spot on. Democracy requires an informed populous. Trump could not have gotten near the WH if voters were less ignorance and less hateful.
It will be as terrifying as you say. If Republicans are in charge, tax cuts for the wealthy will reemerge, food prices will continue to escalate because of droughts and oil because of OPEC countries limiting production, and the resulting recession will be blamed on the Biden administration.
They want power and they are and will do what is necessary to maintain it. We are doomed. Remember the quote that is accredited to Stalin, "Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything."
As I wrote before. OPEC and other producing countries have never held to their reduced quotas. The future price of oil always takes a jump on the announced reduction of their production, but the price always settles back to were it was before the announcement. Producers cheat on their quotas because they are all addicted to $. They will sell as much as they can as long as there is a margin of profit.
If they win, 99.9% of Americans cease to be citizens and become mere pigs in a poke.
But the Kardashians have a new season of tripe
Aye, there’s the rub. I’ve been saying for years that if it wasn’t for Rush Limbaugh and the useless Kardashian clan, this country would be in a much better place. Hatred and vapid celebrity worship has sucked the soul out of the less intelligent among us. And there are an awful lot of them.
I think the applicable phrase is "redeeming social value" in that it is one thing the Kardashians lack.
Reality tv in general did a lot of dumbing down. Idjt on his golden throne gave us The Apprentice and may soon give us The Dictator. Don’t sit back. The primaries should be a wake up call.
G O T V. Turn off the tv and get out the vote.
SOMA. Isn’t that the taking over of the population by numbing their minds with a pleasure hit? (used in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World? ) Reality tv reminds me of that. Numb, indifferent zombies.
I just watched the movie "Idiocracy" last night. Thought it was a documentary.
Agree with you.
We're still having to convince Democrats that elections are held every two years, not every four, and for more offices than president.
Republican voters, on the other hand, would crawl naked over a mile of broken glass to vote agin' the lib'ruls.
Hate is a stronger motivator than hope, it appears. I don't want to "own" the Q's, I just want those pesky civil rights thingies to apply to everyone, not just people that look/think/act/believe like me.
Yup we all should want those "pesky civil rights thingies" to be for everyone! Getting the message to indifferent voters is the key - but is it getting there?
Watched CBS Sunday episode regarding the Oregon residents who want to turn 60% (?) of Oregon over to Idaho? I'm sure you know about this. I just do not understand why they feel so disenfranchised - left out - oddly enough djt wasnt mentioned once!
This has been their mantra for years. It's all those libs in the Willamette Valley who keep them from doing what they please and what they please is to continue to destroy the fragile lands of eastern Oregon. As for southern Oregon, except for Ashland, this is outlaw territory. The idea that we should do something about climate change is anathema to them. I am sure they are also worried about their guns. And they would be in a world of hurt without immigrants, who do the grunt work there, just like they do everywhere.
It is mostly the rural part of the state (which is almost everything east of the Cascades, and some of southwestern Oregon (described accurately by Michele as "outlaw territory"; just google the "State of Jefferson" movement in S. Oregon and N. California) that wants to cozy up with idyllic Idaho, home of the Freeman movement and bastion of white supremacy.
So true, their deliberate ignorance is a passion, also true of those who “pretend” to accept Joe as legitimate. They are just wisely looking to future evil machinations instead of buying chump’s insanity about 2020. The coalition of rogue republicans, racists, Pharisees, zygote warriors, “immigrant haters,” and greedy bastards is a a force that many refuse to acknowledge, even as they steamroll over everything we hold dear. Chump and Rupert have given ALL of them the roadmap as Goebbels did Hitler. And we blather on.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384
"Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree, I have looked on our present state of liberty as a short-lived possession unless the mass of the people could be informed to a certain degree." --Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.
"No nation is permitted to live in ignorance with impunity." --Thomas Jefferson: Virginia Board of Visitors Minutes, 1821. ME 19:408
"Freedom [is] the first-born daughter of science." --Thomas Jefferson to Francois D'Ivernois, 1795. ME 9:297
"Light and liberty go together." --Thomas Jefferson to Tench Coxe, 1795.
And education in possibly half the country is believed to be too dangerous to allow the Truth. Instead of Truth, Enlightenment, Debate, critical Thinking, CRT, etc.LIES, distortion, and omissions are the approved curriculum. How do we counter that? Counter that which is symbolic and a warning: daily book “burning” or banning and the continuing creation of ignorance and fear. We don’t give up on Truth.
You certainly have the coalition correct. I do like the term zygote warriors. One of my Jewish ex-colleagues responded to death star's comment about Jews. She wrote exactly what I was thinking which I am not going to post here. No one who is sane would do other that loathe that festering cancer.
TC, you just love to bring people down, don't you?
Complacency is the soil for Authoritarianism.
Fanone's book is excellent!
Very alarming news.
I don’t know what polls you are readingTC but I live in a used-to-be-blue state, in the only swing district left, CD2. We are in a helluva fight to keep the district blue - the second most expensive Congressional election in the country at this point. The RNC has poured millions of dollars into this battle, as have corporations that promised not to give more money to seditionist politicians (which describes the R candidate here perfectly) The Dems have poured in many millions too and are as organized as I’ve ever seen.
In my local district, the head of the dems is a 40 something mom of three, who works full time, and worries about her younger brother who just had a stroke at age 39. Despite all that, she keeps us busy with door-knocking, texting, delivering lawn signs, and working on messaging since the third party candidate in the CD2 race just died. In 2020, the 3rd party candidate garnered 6% of the vote in what was the 5th closest election in the country. The dem candidate who won, Angie Craig, was the chief author of the bill to lower the costs of prescription drugs that Biden signed into law earlier this year. We are eager to earn the votes of those that would have voted for Overby. But time is short.
Many LFAA readers have learned here that being active is necessary - me included. Postcarding, texting, making strategic gifts to candidates where such gifts can make a difference, door knocking and more. I can only add that despite my fatigue and anxiety, I understand that we will never be able to sit back and relax again if we are to preserve this democracy. So this election is but a beginning. Going forward, I will be busy regardless. And the hundreds of active volunteers in my district here will be at my side working it.
Will millions of Dems also step forward? All I can say is that I’m proud of the local efforts we have made. And whatever the polls say, I’m in the battle for democracy for whatever time I have left on the planet. And I will remain optimistic that I can recruit others too. Cynicism is a luxury I cannot afford.
Thank you Sheila. I needed to hear that as my optimism faltered when I read TC’s comment. I’ve been reading Michael Moore’s daily points on why he believes the polls are WRONG. He is forecasting a BLUE Tsunami. He also said the polls were wrong in 2016 and predicted a win for trump. No one listened.
I also read Michael Moore’s daily points! And Robert Hubble here on Substack. Both help. In addition, I walk my dog more right now... cause sometimes people really suck. 😎 seriously Sharon, keep the faith. Whatever happens, we have to be active in defense of democracy. Cynicism helps nothing, IMHO.
Another good Substack author is Thom Hartmann's Hartmann Report
I think the Kansas vote on abortion gives us hope. But the truth is it will all depend on how many people vote. In my state (NM), a traditionally blue state in recent years, is not even totally reliable. The pandemic and safety measures have whipped up Republican talking points. And they hit home here because we are basically a poor state. People were hit hard by closures and apparently have forgotten that compared to other places, fewer people got sick and fewer people died. But likewise, crime has risen sharply and the city of Santa Fe has a huge shortage of police officers. These are the conditions which have alarmed voters. And it’s anyone’s guess whether they will vote for long time security or the promise of short term relief.
I also have perused Moore's posts. I am not a fan of polls having learned about them years ago from a lady on the Maddow Blog who worked in the industry for years. Here in Oregon, I see Ds working hard, attending many local events that happen in the course of every year and getting out beyond cities. All of the Rs in major races have made clear that they are against abortion and that alone may cost them the race. What does bother me about all of this is that Rs will not agree if they lose.
We know they have the “stolen election” playbook memorized but I’m counting on people getting tired of claims and lawsuits that are wasting our tax dollars. The courts…even trumps judges… are proving them wrong. I’m going to stay optimistic and believe more of us are finally understanding how the Republicans have been hijacking our elections through voter suppression and throwing off the ledgers, valid registered voters! If we can get more Senators and keep the House we will pass legislation to protect our voting rights without the help of Republicans! Keep working to convince everyone you know to vote BLUE! If you know an elderly person in an assisted living home be certain they’ve changed their address and take them out to vote or help them vote by mail. Call the activities director of the home and ask if she/he will work to help residents insure they are registered in their “new” assisted living home. I’m taking someone to vote tomorrow in VA and the voting office offered to do curbside voting so my elderly passenger doesn’t need to come via his wheelchair!
I trust Michael Moore's insights, and I LOVE his restored local State Theatre here in Traverse City, Michigan!
Yes, taking positive action is the only comfort right now. My friends and I have collected a list of people that replied to our offers to drive them to the polls and that's what we're doing....
I am with you Sheila. I live in a blue-ish county in Northern CA. There are lots of us who are very active with writing postcards, phone banking, etc. It gives me hope. (I, too, read Michael Moore daily and Robert Hubbell.)
Another small thing that gives me hope is that a Starbucks in Oklahoma City just voted 15-2 to unionize.
💙
Jensen is truly an abomination. That he spread so many lies about vaccines and masking during the height of the pandemic in 2021 made me wish I had a corn field to retreat to where I could scream and not wake the neighborhood! Fortunately, even my very conservative immediate neighbor, who is a pediatrician, has said she cannot vote for him. She hates that Walz supports abortion rights but understands that Jensen has abrogated his Hippocratic oath. Some hope that Walz and Flannigan will prevail.
I can’t start on that entitlement issue you’ve flagged. Unbelievable…… Glad you are here Lisa.
Liz, The Minnesota I grew up in has always been a bit purple but having lived in the district Ilhan Omar currently represents means I didn’t live with it or see it or have to deal with it much. Tougher by far to live in a Congressional district that is so damn gerrymandered, that the Proud Boy, truck driving, Trump flag- waving folks are also nearby and determined to “own the libs.” One of my neighbors actually showed up to our polling place and demanded to stand behind the election judges to make absolutely certain there was no fraud. There is no fraud but these bastards threaten, cajole and all but force the idea that because MN allows same day registration, that fraud is rampant. I provoked him the next day by putting up lawn signs for the Dems. He hasn’t spoken to me since. Fine by me- Thanks for helping get out the vote!
New Yorkers, get out there and vote! It’s not a done deal here by any means!
And "red" states need to wake up before it is too late!
Yup! Praying harder, have yard signs, and earlier this year, when my feet hadn't acted up got petition signatures. Will ramp up LTE's, and pray even harder.
Thank you! Please pray for me too while you are at it! I am a Democrat running for Clay County Indiana Treasurer. I am 79 and this is the first time I have ever done anything like this in my life. I have experience and have a 4 year degree from ISU majoring in Accounting. My opponent is a career Republican at our county courthouse!
Go you! Good luck and God Speed! :)
Thank you! I will be so glad when the election is over! I hope I can survive! LOL. I can't believe the stress level! I voted "for me" yesterday! There were no television camera or reporters covering my voting! LOL
Are the polls breaking down those blue-state voters by race? Because I've got this sneaking suspicion that the complacent ones are mostly white and relatively affluent. We're the same ones who didn't realize that democracy was in danger until 2016, and who have been mostly OK -- or at least not protesting very loudly -- with most of what's happened since Reagan. (I've been saying for years that Bill Clinton is the only Republican presidential candidate I've ever voted for, and one of my big regrets is that until after 2008 I assumed Hillary Clinton was of the same ilk.)
God help us all.
Why, oh why, don’t Dems hammer on the Republican promise to cut SS and Medicare. Republicans had already decided that the people would never stand for that, so here come the hate mongers, with the money and the bull horns. If only 10% of the God-awful begging emails I get even acknowledged this, I would weep with joy. That this election is close, is a testament to the power of monied propaganda and Dem messaging done by incompetents.
The ads in New England are starting to do just that: the NH Senate race, in particular. Maggie Hassan is using footage of Bolduc to bring his 'kill Social Security' rhetoric to the forefront. I'm adding to her war chest to keep her ads running...
I've donated to Maggie as well. Some of the ads have Bolduc's own voice saying the antiabortion crap out loud.
Yes, the Democrats are missing an opportunity to expose the Trumplican's plans to dismantle Soc Sec and Medicare. It's open enrollment time for Medicare so what better time to inform voters?
Jeri, besides the postcards and letters to voters, here is what I am doing for this election cycle. I read both Yahoo and MSN.com daily for news. I go to the comment sections and read a lot of them. Those that are blatant LIES, I report as misinformation. (Pretty easy to do, in Yahoo each comment has the three dots like on here. It brings up a list and you click the false news) If it is an opinion comment, I keep posting exactly what you mention about GOP plans for those pesky "entitlements"--especially if the commenter mentions that s/he is a senior. I try to be civil. Sometimes, they do make my blood pressure rise though!
I suggest this activity to you as well.
I am also completely befuddled by the same thing! What will those poor ignorant Republicans do when they learn that, oops, no more SS checks....
My company's retiree healthcare (a partial subsidy for supplements to Medicare) is being phased out and we are being offered only a Medicare Advantage plan from United Healthcare - one of the greediest of the health insurance companies. So we take a hit of about $3-4k if we want to stick with Medicare and supplements. But I'm against this move to privatize Medicare - the profit for the insurance companies has to come from somewhere, and they're not as efficient as the government in this realm. Those CEOs are wildly overpaid, and that money comes from the premiums they don't use to pay for our care.
...and let's not forget that CEO's of medical insurance companies rake on tons of money/compensation. An example is the top 7 CEO's made a total of $283 MILLION last year: https://www.statnews.com/2022/05/12/health-insurance-ceos-raked-in-record-pay-during-covid/
Just copied and posted to Facebook. Thanks for this info!
Thank you so much for posting this, I had no idea. As a senior on Medicare, this is important to me.
Florida illustrates how much states matter, as noted by ProPublica:
"Florida’s constitution was amended in 2010 to prohibit partisan-driven redistricting."
Nevertheless, before Hurricane Ian, DeSantis repeatedly rejected his Republican state legislature's redistricting maps and wore them down until they "wiped away half of the state’s Black-dominated congressional districts, dramatically curtailing Black voting power in America’s largest swing state. One of the districts, held by Democrat Al Lawson, had been created by the Florida Supreme Court just seven years before." DeSantis enlisted national GOP consultants including a redistricting attorney specialist.
https://twitter.com/ellie_kona/status/1581381273884364801?s=20&t=VEmtGdSE_dhRYK4iZyqE-A
With all due respect to prayers, WE have to do the footwork to make a Democratic voter tsunami turnout. Palmer Report says it very well with identifying the top 8 competitive Senate races:
"If you don't have the money, donate your time.
If you don't have the time, donate your money.
If you don't have time or money, start posting the above links, so your followers who have time and money will see it and contribute.
Volunteering can be in person or done remotely, and can be anything from going door to door, to phone banking, to working from home, to sending postcards to voters, to working at the polls on election day. Sign up with the candidates and they'll send you the volunteering details."
https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1581825003179253762?s=20&t=On3LRqWkTcfJN-xfHWiAWA
The important concept is to work smart. Safe races don't need us, and races 10 points behind won't get saved by us, no matter how much we love that candidate. The States Project identifies the critically flippable state legislatures. The deadline for fundraising is midnight today, October 17, Pacific Time. Then the funds get distributed to the campaigns so as to free the candidates for meeting voters in person, the most effective way to get votes. If you missed it before, now is the time to make even a small donation--these add up to make a difference, and today get matched by a donor to double the value of your donation to help save democracy! (Thank you to the fantastic folks who have already donated to the Tending to Democracy Giving Circle!)
https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/1XQhnyD/Tending-to-Democracy
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
“With all due respect to prayers, WE have to do the footwork to make a Democratic voter tsunami turnout. Palmer Report says it very well with identifying the top 8 competitive Senate races:
"If you don't have the money, donate your time.
If you don't have the time, donate your money.
If you don't have time or money, start posting the above links, so your followers who have time and money will see it and contribute.
Volunteering can be in person or done remotely, and can be anything from going door to door, to phone banking, to working from home, to sending postcards to voters, to working at the polls on election day. Sign up with the candidates and they'll send you the volunteering details."”
My thoughts too! Helping to GOTV is the what matters. Even vote Firward is away to do it from home. Tell others why you vote and encourage them to plan their own voting! (Early when possible)
I've written 145 letters to 4 states for Vote Forward, and 100 postcards to NH voters, due to be mailed on 10/28 & 50 already sent postcards for Granite State Matters, a NH group against ultra libertarians (who've infected the Republican majority to the point one of them is the majority leader in the NH House and a fair portion of them disguise themselves as Republicans, who go right along w/their awful agenda.)
I've written that myself above, before I got to your comment.
It is really SO easy to do.
I have posted a comment above, Ellie. It was your encouragement that got me to write postcards and letters.
In the past, I've donated funds to campaigns as I could afford. I won't bang on doors. I did do phone calls in the past (and it wasn't a good experience for me)
The deadline for postcards has passed but the letters campaign is still going on and it is easy to do! www.Votefwd.org
I encourage anyone who has the time and inclination to do so. You need access to a printer, you print out the letter and add a line or two handwritten. You also need envelopes and postage. You can request a minimum of 4 letters. FOUR LETTERS--I bet just about all of us reading can do that.
These letters are sent to encourage people to vote. I am encouraging the HCR fans to write the letters.
I correct myself, the minimum is FIVE letters. Still very easy to do! I hope readers will consider it.
FYI-the mailing date for Vote Forward is 10-28-22.
Ellie, it was kindly suggested to me by Fern that you may have a connection to help based on my comment below as follows: "The key here is to get HCR’s outlines for curriculums to people in education, so that upcoming potential voters (happening very soon) can know these facts. How can we get this valuable information in the right hands while Biden is President, and we have a Democrat leader in the top Education position?" I'm willing to do some legwork to get her curriculums to teachers I know so true history can begin being taught to future voters.
Hi Midge. I do not know anything about HCR's "outlines for curriculums to people in education." You could email her at
heather.richardson@bc.edu
Thanks!
Carmen,
Thomas Jefferson said it best and my apology because in another post I added an example:
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." --Thomas Jefferson to Charles Yancey, 1816. ME 14:384"
Here is a whole collection of insight which can be summed up as:
The problem with America is Americans.
https://famguardian.org/Subjects/Politics/ThomasJefferson/jeff1350.htm#:~:text=39.1%20No%20Freedom%20Without%20Education&text=%22Light%20and%20liberty%20go%20together,Jefferson%20to%20Tench%20Coxe%2C%201795.
Deliberate ignorance is worse than stupidity.
Jeri,
Having once been fooled by Ronald Reagan's bashing of Jimmy Carter, our last really good and responsible President, I can honestly say, I was not being willful.
I was just being completely, utterly ignorant AND surrounded, at that time, by far right propaganda.
Many, many Americans are in the same spot. All day long they hear far right propaganda and they don't have the tools to question what they hear.
When I was ignorant, I was not a bad person, not evil, not trying to steal any elections, nothing.
I was just ignorant. Which, made me dangerous and makes it possible to turn me into a weapon. As Thomas Jefferson somehow understood.
I voted for Ronald Reagan and he proceeded to destroy the America I knew back then.
Now? It is almost like my former self somehow vanished through my ridiculously lengthy process of education and rigorous technical work as a professional.
Someone says some BS now? I can tell by the tone of the voice and the word choice.
But, many cannot. I was once one of them.
Not a deliberate member of the ignorant. An accidental, ignorant part of the problem.
Mike S
Yes, you are a good person and more effort should be spent listening to those who recognize they once were captives to propaganda, and welcoming them to the ranks of those defending democracy.
Rhea,
Thanks. I have done a few things way back that might not put me in the category of "good person" to be honest.
But, having entered the middle class around age 27, some of my old edge has eroded with time.
Now? I can see so many people, like the farmer I partner with up here, who are where I used to be. I try to chat with them, BUT, just like I used to be, he is firmly ensconced in lies and propaganda and my words bounce.
But, we remain positive about each other. Mostly.
I believe In aspirational goodness as a protective force (aka hope) for a better world.
Mike, I was also one of the ignorant. I'm learning more every day and determined to know the truth. It's never too late.
Jeanne, I have learned so much from listening to people like you and Mike-especially about my own shortcomings. I've grown too, in this process of digesting Heather's letters and so many of the responses. I've had to think and rethink, and it is often that someone caused a door to fly open and let a warm breeze into my mind. Thank you for being one of those people.
I have learned and changed so much just from reading these letters and doing further research on everything I find the time for. The comments have been a huge help. I never realized just how much I wasn't aware of. I try to make everything a learning experience.
Brilliant, Jeri! Thank you. You have expressed here what so many of us have experienced and stuggled to express. My compacency was rooted in my faith that the systems of “checks and balances” would hold. Putin, Trump and the GOP all knew there were ways to subvert it, to twist the language into gibberish and lies. A corporation is a person? What!! The Supreme Court’s assault on the separation of church and state. An attempted coup that damn near succeeded!!!
It’s wake-up and vote time! Thanks Jeri!!
Thank you, Mike. Both for your honesty about how you changed looking at things, but also for reminding people that those who are caught up in the far rights confabulations are not themselves bad people, but people who are trying to make sense of things that don't actually make sense, and being used by amoral people misusing their power and influence.
I am glad you made that hard journey. You show US how to engage with people by being open ourselves, rather than on auto-reject. AND, as others point out, your story can help other people in the same boat pay attention to their own uncertainties and rethink where they are.
And it is our responsibility to keep our minds receptive to people on the way to change. Bless you.
Your journey is inspirational, Mike S. It would be just grand if American democracy could be saved by convincing many ignorant souls to follow your path. Unfortunately, that cannot work because for every changeable person like you, there are 10,000 people like your friend the farmer, who will not change. The only hope for saving democracy is the get people inclined to vote for Democrats to actually cast votes in this year’s election. No time to waste on people like your farmer friend.
Mike S, so how do we break that ignorance before it’s too late?
MLMinET.
I broke my own ignorance through a long process of education.
So, in general, ignorance is broken on the back of education.
Thomas Jefferson pushed his whole life for public education.
I listened to Al Franken’s latest podcast on higher education. He interviewed Will Bunch who just wrote a book. We as a country are in a terrible place on this issue.
Yes that was me. I couldn’t imagine, whether right or left, not putting country first. I was a fool, an ignorant fool. So I voted haphazardly or sometimes not at all. But I’m here now. Just submitted my mail in, blue down the line. 2016 went to independent. 2018 dem and am here to stay. I regret not recognizing the peril a lot earlier.
Would that thoughtful words might still inspire. Appreciate the link....
I watched the Indiana Senator Debate on PBS last night. Those debating were Democrat Thomas M. McDermott, Jr, Libertarian James M. Scenak and Republican "no vote against anything proposed by Democrats" Todd Young. Young responded to questions using the "TFG Method of Communication" (sorry to say I kept flipping him off and screaming at the television). Libertarian Scenak was extremely out of his element but sounded like a decent guy. And, if McDermott isn't elected as our Indiana Senator I will be so very disappointed. He will work for those that he represents. It is time that Indiana moves forward with the times!
We'd better do a heckofalot more than praying!
even when their retirement is taken away many older voters will still vote R because they are now brainwashed.
Don't be too sure about that. The last time SS was attacked, us older folks rose in fury. And the time before that. And the time before that (which was when I became a youngish Grey Panther... we're still around).
Republicans who say they won't accept election results if they lose aren't running for office. They're trying to gain power illicitly. I'd say illegally but there's no law against being a despicable liar.
Me too.
Then they'll say fraud! rigged! This is looking a thousand times worse than the Mexican wall.
Absolutely that is what will happen. And lawyers will become richer.
The plethora of lying cheating lawyers are a disgrace! The Bar ASSociations are a worse disgrace as they are supposed to police the profession. E.g., Every lawyer on Trump's Georgia call should be disbarred and charged criminally! These people are making Bar complaints against the lawyers and I am glad to see it! https://the65project.com/
The first rule of being a lawyer should be that however vigorously you serve those you represent, that you always adhere to the law. The same for police.
Damn, what a thought..
THAT is the rule! Bar ASSociations do not enforce it for 'politicians' but excessively aggressively do so for average schmos.
Disbarment is done by a court. The bar associations can send recommendations for or against disbarment.
I'm praying, too. But thanks to encouragement from others on this forum, I am writing postcards and letters to voters. The deadline for postcards was this weekend, the letters are to be mailed on Oct 29th.
I purchased bulk postcards online fairly cheaply. The Postcards to Voters site links you to campaigns, gives you a 3 line script to write and you can do as many as you wish--minimum of 5. The hardest thing of it was good penmanship of my arthritic hands!
The letters to voters from Vote Forward, I find even easier. They are non-partisan and do not support any candidate, but encourage voting. You do need a printer to print out as many of the letters as you want to send. You will be given a list of names, all you need to add your personal non-partisan reason for voting. (My message: My Vote is My Voice. I want to be heard! Your voice matters, too. Please vote!) You also need to address the envelope and of course, first class postage is more than a postcard.
Since we are all inundated with slick mailings, I am hopeful that the handwritten letter addressed to a real person might encourage them to vote. There is still time to do this if anyone is able.
www.Votefwd.org I believe they offer kits to those unable to afford the items, and also take donations for those who have the treasure but not the time.
I can't just sit back and bemoan the results if I haven't at least tried to do something.
I can understand and appreciate the arthritic issue- I drive for a door knocker. I've done 145 letters to 4 states for Vote Forward. My message was about 1. telling my elected officials what's important to me-2.voting rights/democracy, 3.access to "all aspects" of healthcare (w/o saying abortion) 4. good schools, and 5. a healthier environment for our only home.
I've done this for the last two elections- written letters. The analysis after the elections shows that of those who responded, having received a personalized letter actually made a difference. Miselle, thank you for your help! This has proven to be a great get out the vote strategy in the past few elections. :)
My hope was that young people would hear the alarm about how their future could be ruined and they would come out in droves to vote. However, I read a article in the NYT that has left me depressed--suicides among 10-21 year-olds has increased 54% from 2007 to 2021 precisely because they feel insecure about their future. But from my experience Carmen, prayer works!
It matters where we look. Voters of Tomorrow and Olivia Julianna/Gen-Z for Change are powerfully awesome and doing the footwork to support the prayers:
https://twitter.com/VotersTomorrow/status/1582051569235021826?s=20&t=0kT19FNiPUReDP-S9J9QUA
https://twitter.com/VotersTomorrow/status/1582089529103908864?s=20&t=0kT19FNiPUReDP-S9J9QUA
https://twitter.com/VotersTomorrow/status/1582017037592690688?s=20&t=0kT19FNiPUReDP-S9J9QUA
https://twitter.com/genzforchange/status/1582112722845544448?s=20&t=0kT19FNiPUReDP-S9J9QUA
https://twitter.com/0liviajulianna/status/1582083322401804288?s=20&t=0kT19FNiPUReDP-S9J9QUA
So sad!
Why does the mainstream media keep asking candidates if they’ll accept the results of an election if they lose? It’s an idiotic question. Except for the case of the presidency where because of the Electoral College someone can actually lose the popular vote and still win, in all other elections, if you get fewer votes, you lose. Period. There is no requirement that the loser accept the outcome. In the case of Kari Lake, she’s not in office so she can’t refuse to leave if she loses. She can’t show up and move into the governor’s office. She can sue(and lose); she can whine; she can wail and pout. But she can’t change the outcome. Not enough votes? You lose. Don’t accept it? Too bad. Work it out with your therapist. But stop giving these people airtime, headlines and pseudo-legitimacy by asking an irrelevant question. The media - and not just Fox - are complicit.
I agree that it is essentially a whacked question. Why would any journalist feel the need to ask such a question? It's ridiculous! It's a treasonous attitude! But here is the thing. It apparently is an appealing thing to say to the folks who have left democracy in the dust. It's a winning campaign tool if you are appealing to the robotic dolts who have embraced hate.
This is the same technique that gave us the Third Reich. Start lying and keep lying and lying until enough people are on board because you fed their hate for the other. It's stunning, isn't it?
But why should we be shocked when for as long as there has been language, people have bought fantasy over reality. Because it was repeated over and over again. Otherwise, how can you explain the fact that millions of people really think there was a Noah's Ark and we and all the animals come from those that survived the flood on a big boat. So upon reflection, none of this is surprising. Some people will believe anything. Would anyone like to hear about turning water to wine...or for that matter, walking on water? Is it any wonder that so many people are easily conned?
Following along with your argument, election denialism, and the tendency to flock to conspiracy theories rather than science, seem to engender the exact type of faith and dedication that religion does.
Yup. It has been human nature since we learned to talk. Asking gods for rain, blaming a blasphemous person for crop failure. All nonsense embraced with complete conviction.
Agreed, completely. However... asking gods for rain, in a drought as bad as this one... seems like it couldn't hurt...
Just saying “religion” isa problem but people of faith who care about justice peace and integrity of creation are not in that stereotyped category.
Most people believe what they are brainwashed/indoctrinated/trained/taught to believe. Very few people are 100% independent critical thinkers. Anyone who has a simple understanding of psychology knows this. I think Bill's comment is spot on and deserves a lot of reflection on everyone's part.
The Republican playbook is not original; they are using the same tactics that authoritarian regimes have used for millenniums. Actually, it is the playbook that every successful political party has employed. It is simple, easy to implement, and it works.
So why don't the Democrats adopt the same tactics of persuasion as the Republicans? Ostensibly, many of their ideas and principles have majority support. Why do they shy away from democratic socialist policies? They dumped liberalism for pseudo progressivism. I think the reason is obvious - follow the money!
In my lifetime, the Democratic party has moved further and further to the right as the modern-day robber barons have gained greater control over politicians and elections. Democrats have been resigned to developing one expertise - the art of triangulation. Every election is a balancing act between promising to fulfill the needs of their constituency (regular Americans) while at the same time mollifying their wealthy donors. The beauty of modern-day Democratic politics is you only need to find one or two dissenters to defeat or compromise legislation. e.g. Sinema and Manchin though there were many other Democrats who were happy to see Biden's Build Back Better proposals shot down.
If you wonder why there is indifference and apathy then I say "show me the money." Promises made and not kept for decades has resulted in a lot of voter apathy. BTW, a lot of those blue-collar Republicans used to be blue-collar Democrats who have seen their middle-class status eroded because (in their minds) Democrats didn't stand-up and protect and save unions and union jobs. Washington politicians allowed good jobs to leave the country and added insult to injury with unfavorable trade protections. NAFTA was good for corporations which ultimately was only good for corporate execs and stockholders. Democrats let unions die without a fight and with it went collective bargaining which was and is the only defense against the robber barons. You can blame Republicans all you want, but Democrats share in the blame by not coming through for blue-collar, middle-class workers. It is clear to me that the level of mistrust in government and politicians has resulted in voter apathy.
If you did well and rose on your own merits, good for you and congratulations, but the reality is for millions and millions of Americans, they have struggled to find good paying jobs. Over the decades, government has done little to compensate the loss of job security and a livable wage. I can't remember exactly, but the minimum wage adjusted from 196x should be around $80 today! Social Security benefits are below the poverty line. Most Americans over 65 have little or nothing saved for retirement and cannot afford to retire. Many can't find jobs earning a livable wage, and in many cases, they will be taxed for earning a livable wage. This is America, not a third world country. You can argue, as Republicans do, that it is not the government's responsibility to compensate for economic hardship. Maybe so, but it is also not government's responsibility to give unfair advantages to the robber barons and the investor class in America.
I could go on and on about unaffordable healthcare, unlivable minimum wage, cost of education and student loans, loss of consumer protections, inadequate and underfunded Social Security, skyrocketing cost of fuel, food and housing, and failure to mitigate climate change. In each and every one of these categories, the wealthy robber barons have prevailed to their betterment and to the detriment of the vast majority of Americans. There is so much bullshit in American politics and it is endless to the point that most people tuning it out especially when dealing with the reality of making ends meet. Republicans blame Democrats and vice versa. The truth of the matter is people who are tuned in are biased one way or another, and the rest just are sick and tired of all the bullshit.
This saying (whoever it is actually attributed to) rings true every election: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” So, yea go vote, but it is way past time to wake up to why people are not motivated to vote. Why are we asked to spend billions to get politicians elected, most of who are working hand-in-hand with their wealthy donors? Why are we asked to give politicians money to do their job and represent our interests? America is not a democratic republic; it's for all intents and purposes, a defacto kleptocracy. It is the best government that money can buy.
There are plenty off us Leo old of good faith snd progressive who are mature enough not to take relooks stereotypes literally but are syombokic lessons. So careful not to lump us in with those who abuse snd distort “religion” and use it for political purposes.
I am a fan of any faith that promotes democracy, diversity and compassion for our fellow travelers. I applaud any faith that respects the planet, science and other species as part of an important web of life.
Any faith that wants to truly help others has my respect. I know some faithful who fall into that camp.
So, apologies for any "lumping".
I absolutely love this, and just posted this in quotes: "Not enough votes? You lose. Don’t accept it? Too bad. Work it out with your therapist."
💙
Candidates like Kari Lake will refuse to concede, their supporters gather and make mob threats of violence that turn their mob violent. It’s a more common tactic in Eastern Europe, that has migrated to the West.
I don't think that it will happen but if it does happen, those who threaten violence should be dispatched quickly and demonstrably. It doesn't help that the Justice Department is not moving quickly to indict and punish high profile seditionists which in my mind is most of the Republican Party. They took an oath of office. It's about time they be held accountable, don't you think?
Merrick Garland has a record of 100% convictions in his jury trials as a prosecutor. For Jan 6th I think he is being cautious for a reason. Charges can’t be partisan, even though QOP will claim that it is, no matter what. To get to the truth, he has to work bottom up. Turn many to state’s witness at each level to the top. If he doesn’t do it this way, what are the consequences IF QOP wins back the house or senate, or God forbid TFG wins a 2nd term by cheating with red state sec’s of states, and corrupt county officials help?
If the unthinkable happens, they will come after Garland, Biden, DOJ prosecutors, investigators, witnesses, etc, etc. Garland must be prudent, exact, bullet proof the case.
Keep the faith.
Thanks, Ted. I agree 100%. I'm tired of hearing Garland criticized for doing his job well.
I am terrified of Kari Lake. Principled Katie Hobbs looks like sick little mouse next to her. I just hope that people see through the lipstick and heels....
Agree. I’m not sure why Hobbs won’t engage Lake in a debate. Lake should be called out on all issues before Election Day. Hobbs should take the gloves off and start intellectual/pro democracy/pro womens health punching.
Democrats appear to embrace Michelle Obama's when-they-go-low-I-go-high dribble. I told my husband that if I was running I would be rabidly unleashed and that he would be continuously embarrassed and mortified. My mild-mannered husband actually said, "I'd support anything you said." It made me actually think about running myself!
I think that’s what a reasoned debate is to me. One can debate and maintain the high ground but with the gloves off. Voters need to see prospective leaders squash, smash, disqualify these QOP nut jobs in real life on screen and live. Of course it has to be a fair debate. But it has to happen. It is what makes voters fall in love. It makes reasonable independents question why they would vote for stupid racists candidates. It forces white republican women to reconcile the issues of abortion and equal access to HC.
You sure?
I think it’s a bad question because the interviewer doesn’t ask follow-up questions. “Why would your winning the election not be free of voter fraud?” What evidence is there that the Dems, and only the Dems, commit this crime? You realize that Drumpf has never adduced any evidence convincing enough to prove that the election was stolen, don’t you?” I could go on, but it’s frustrating that the timid media types just let these statements stand as a possible fact, rather than the naked propaganda it is.
And anyone familiar with the win-at-all-costs ethos of the GOP, conservatives and cut-throat businesspeople would find it hard to believe they wouldn’t avail themselves of the same “fraud” as Dems.
My thoughts exactly. I wonder, one more time, just how much the media has exploited this issue for the sensationalism effect. There was someone who lost a primary last summer and refused to concede. Nothing happened. Don't remember this? It's because the media dropped it.
Lake is dangerous. She is not good for the Country. She is a media darling because whether they admit it or not she is one of them and they like that.
For all the terror and horror and covid and DeJoy's voter suppression from the last election who is sitting in the White House at this moment? Can we please retire chicken little? Let's get down to the business of voting.
With the growth of "media" and all it entails, journalistic integrity has all but disappeared. There are no corroboration of statements, no deep dives into the details of an event, just soundbites and clickbait any more. It is arriving at the point where any newspaper or local to national TV news is just blathering propaganda to sell stuff or make money for the owner of said media. Then, you have to contend with the plethora of internet "news" where opinions are presented as fact and reporting is just regurgitation of opinions. Factor in the use of media (especially social media) that is so easily manipulated to foster divide and you've got today's America, which is the product of at least 3 generations of dumbed down public education.
Great combination. <sarcasm>
Agree Ally. The takeover of local journalism by media giants, the voter laziness which goes for the 30 second info feed and the inability/refusal to parse fact from fiction is a mess. The media would change if people quit buying into their bs. But Americans appear to be more interested in the latest sports scores and Kanye than Democracy
Candidates have to know the game within the game. Plenty of opportunities to garner their own sound bites to expose the crazies. Right? Like Warnock did to Walker and others. They need to hammer home the principles of good democratic governance and expose the bs of the QOP. They need to debate to demonstrate their leadership capability.
Shouldn’t Hobbs debate Kari Lake? Hobbs should I think. Expose Lake as a racist fascist Q crazy anti democratic demagogue that she herself has cultivated as a candidate. Democratic candidates should be ruling the debates, as many are. The issue of women's access and privacy to health care is the issue to attack first in red and purple states like Arizona. Democrats should debate and use these issues ti expose their competitors as ignorant, cruel, racist, naive to facts that drive common sense policy.
Maybe they want the public to see what some candidates believe.
Then they need to say that. Because there are reporters and some analysts who simply state that "Dems are in trouble" or Dems are likely to lose the house" as if it is a background fact. I've noted before that there is a lot of lazy reporting. It's lower key right now, but just as irresponsible. I've read and heard too many of the say things that indicate that they have NO understanding of how polling works or what a "margin of error" means. That is even sometimes on NPR and other responsible news sources. Their colleagues should be calling them out in the moment by restating the comment in a more accurate manner, but it gets left to be "balanced" in a later story, leaving the impression that it is an either/or situation. It is not, and the reporting has an obligation to say that clearly.
Andrea, all I can say is Amen to that.
Amen, by the way, derived from Hebrew through Greek, Latin and then Old English, is an old legal term, that simply indicates "It is agreed" or "so be it", or simply, affirmation of something said. Some New England select boards still use it when an action is voted on affirmatively, and I've heard it in legal courts as well. I love word trivia.
I think they ask the question now to get people on record. However, they should follow up with the facts that elections are fundamental to our society, and NO proof of fraud of any significant size has been shown in our elections.
It's actually a logical question for a candidate who thinks he or she can only lose because of voter fraud, but yeah - well put.
How insane that it should be that simple but isn’t.
Thank you for your post, Andrea
What a farce our elections are about to become!
“It was not so very long ago that historians taught the Wilmington coup as a shocking anomaly in our democratic system, but now, 124 years after it happened, it is current again. Modern-day Republicans appear to reject not only the idea they could lose an election fairly, but also the fundamental principle, established in the Declaration of Independence, that all Americans have a right to consent to their government.”
Modern day R’s are racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, anti (real) Christian limp POS. If you are a respectable Republican, you will understand your obligation to your country. and vote with the D's. Had to get this off my chest. In Tel Aviv with COVID, and no Dear Trump, I, an American Jew, owe you nothing. The Christian Right (Your vanguard) has a great deal of responsibility for Palestinian suffering as well as the Israeli and Jewish American Right, extremism is never good🙏.
No argument here
I agree
Well said. I have been puzzled by my RWNJ (I have stolen the moniker "Reich Wing Nut Job from another reader) friends and their unwavering support for Israel (expressed by support of Netanyahu) in ways that do not seem to support either Israel or Jews.
Ally Love RWNJ (“Reich Wing Nut Job”).
Yes, elections in name only. Candidates have taken TFG’s mantra, “I’ll accept the election results if I win.” Even a six year old knows there’s a winner and loser. A tantrum over checkers? Maybe. Repubs go a step further and start an insurrection. We have been warned.
So they want to turn back the calendar a couple of centuries? It won’t happen if we don’t let it happen. Even the T**** appointed judges are not that conservative, I hope.( on a number of occasions they have ruled against the former)
They want to go back to monarchs and feudalism; AKA so-called "Supply Side Economics"
“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” - Lincoln
And the one that blatantly favored him, Judge Cannon, is about to be overturned by the 11th Circuit.
His Supreme Court Justices are way too evangelical right wing for me. Thankfully his other judge appointees seem to be following the letter of the law.
Chump is so over the top corrupt that not even all bought judges can hold their noses that long. But so many can.
History repeating itself. One would think we would learn from it.
“We learn from history that we do not learn from history.” - Hegel
yes
That coup was not taught in any of my NC history classes in the 60's and 70's.
Not in Virginia either. I learned about it from HCR in 2020. I learned about Tulsa in 2019 on a visit to the African America Museum. These are the “good old days” of education to which the right wants to return.
I learned of both the Wilmington coup and the Tulsa Race Massacre from a friend in either 2018 or 2019; neither was ever mentioned in any of the high school or college history classes that I took in the mid-late 1970's. She was astounded that those were not taught in schools in Oregon then.
Oregon's Black Exclusion Law language wasn't removed form the state constitution until 2002; that may be why.
Pretty sure that has something to do with it.
All the while claiming to “save the country.”
We should prepare ourselves for a world of hurt. The cancers the R party have created are hard to bare. The so-called news pundits keep repeating that the Dems will lose the House and possibly the Senate. That’s driving a stake in my heart. In the meantime, this crazy woman in AZ (Lake) is dangerous and I think Katie Hobbs has her hands full of Lake’s lies. DeSantis doesn’t take a break, does he? I read where he is planning yet another bus ride for immigrants to be deposited who knows where! Stop The Insanity!!
The problem in Arizona is Katie Hobbs is a stiff. She's running a nice "civilzed" campaign and won't go after Lake. Said she wouldn't debate her because that would "normalize" the disinformation. So Lake gets debate night all to herself with an empty podium for an opponent. Stupidstupidstupidstupid.
Never discount the Democrats’ ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
So sick of it. Been watching this fiasco for most of my long life, Dems let Rupert Murdoch snatch the narrative over and over….
👍🏼
Sadly true.
😔
TC, I fear Hobbs is not the exception, but represents a number of Democratic candidates, who, rather than taking the fight to Republicans, are allowing Republican lies and distortions to go unanswered.
Barbara Jo & TC, I fear Ms. Hobbs, as do most Democrats running for office, face a "Hobson's Choice" as in no choice at all. If a Democrat accepts a debate, s/he is confronted with an array of unsupportable allegations by Republican opponents to argue and try to debunk and thereby allow the Republican opponent to set the agenda. If the Democrat (Hobbs in this instance) refuseS to participate in a debate about lies and untruths, s/he is seen as ceding the agenda; either way the Democrat loses; hence a Hobson's Choice.
@JohnM, As you stated, by refusing to debate, Hobbs “ced[ed] the agenda,” a decision I fear will cost her (and us) the governorship in a battleground state. If I may borrow a phrase from Bernie Sanders, I consider it “political malpractice” to allow an adversary’s lies and distortions to go unanswered. Hence I would contend one ought not run for office, particularly when the stakes are so great, if she or he cannot face off with an opponent and subject that person’s words and deeds to critical scrutiny.
I agree with you and Bernie Sanders, yet find myself flummoxed by the thought of spending time debating whether Democrats are all cannibalistic pedophiles or that any election a Republican loses was rigged, especially after over 60 (61?) court findings to the contrary. Perhaps it would be sufficient for a Democrat to use a debate to point out what the Biden Administration HAS already accomplished and not get caught up in endlessly debunking whatever most recent conspiracy has been flung into the debate.
@JohnM, I agree with TC and merely would add, that while abortion care, let alone democracy, must remain on the front burner, Dems need to focus more on a pro-worker agenda—$15 hourly minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, universal healthcare, tax reform, and more, all of which have received zero Republican support.
Yes, say "that's a lie" and then tell what has actually been done.
Absolutely right!
She could at least hold real rallies and get out of her basement. Zoom doesn't cut it when most people do not see an emergency.
True in Tx, Beto tries but money buries and exalts
Jeri, Regrettably, I believe Beto’s image largely has been damaged by his failed Senate and Presidential runs, particularly the latter wherein he took positions viewed by much of the mainstream as politically perilous.
Agreed. I sent him a few bucks because he is a saint compared to the current evil idiot governor. But Beto lost his races the day he started talking about guns. He might as well have said he was a Satanist. The worship of guns in many regions of this nutty nation exceeds religious belief. You can find that right here in sections of New England ("Live Free or Die" whackos)...but Texas?
Bill, I would add that Beto’s positions on immigration expressly promoted in Presidential debates, while hailed by progressives, was another politically perilous stance.
Beto’s choices are silence, telling the truth or agreeing through lies. So any choice might be good politics but morally questionable. He has been known to confront lies with truth: “warning strong language”
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-democratic-candidate-beto-orourke-confronts-texas-gov-abbott-at-news-briefing-for-uvalde-school-shooting
Irenie, While I don’t know what you mean by “agreeing through lies,” I believe Beto is gifted and never would refuse to debate. Regrettably, as noted in an exchange with another subscriber, I fear that Beto’s image largely has been damaged by his failed Senate and Presidential campaigns, particularly the latter, wherein he took positions viewed by the mainstream as politically perilous.
Barbara, upon rereading “agreeing through lies” I also find it confusing. Truth vs …, I was writing about choices, not that he would choose to lie in order to garner votes. His honesty and support of Truth and Justice is a risk in a red state. And if I could, I would vote for him. But I’m also grateful I don’t live in a red state.
Irenie, I appreciate the clarification and merely would note politicians, especially, must be concerned about the values and interests of their constituents. I don’t mean to suggest they have to be deceptive or manipulative. What I do mean is that the burden rests with the politician to win over prospective voters.
It’s not that the lies and distortions go unanswered, they just fall on deaf ears...I live in AZ and the cult is alive and well.
Carol, Though your reply is not to me, I would note that the target audience are “persuadables” not MAGA.
I couldn't agree more.
Same here.
She afraid, insecure, without the guts or imagination to go after her opponent.
And people are asked/begged to contribute to her campaign. People aren't fools and they don't like giving money to losers.
I keep tellin' ya, TC, you are needed in office!
But I get why you wouldn't do it.
👍🏼
Imagine a social studies/history curriculum for grades 9 – 12, in which students learn the difference between what actually happened, the history of United States, versus the myths that have been perpetrated.
Another social studies curriculum is designed to teach the various uses of Fraud:
1a: DECEIT, Trickery specifically: intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right --
-- which has been employed at various times in our history by members of the US government and others in order to overthrow it. Think of the processes towards overthrowing the government as a chain, in which each link (fraud) leads the way to the next until the real-world collapses – what’s true and what’s false? The institutions, rule of law, and functions of government collapse, along with the real world and a small group of fraudsters control the people in an autocratic form of government or a dictatorship.
Think of those classes. Heather Cox Richardson has drawn the outlines for such curriculums.
We are now living in an America we could not have imagined.
’… Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake refused to say that she would accept the results of the upcoming election-- unless she wins. Former president Trump said the same in 2020, and now more than half of the Republican nominees in the midterm elections have refused to say that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election because, they allege, there was voter fraud. This position is an astonishing rejection of the whole premise on which this nation was founded: that voters have the right to choose their leaders.’ (Letter)
‘The Declaration of Independence ‘… rejected the idea of social hierarchies in which some men were better than others and should rule their inferiors. Instead, it set out a new principle of government, establishing that “all men are created equal” and that governments derive “their just power from the consent of the governed.” (Letter)
‘Modern-day Republicans appear to reject not only the idea they could lose an election fairly, but also the fundamental principle, established in the Declaration of Independence, that all Americans have a right to consent to their government.’ (Letter)
Today’s Letter belongs everywhere. It is as a compass telling us where we are and We the People are America. The Letter relates, in large measure, how we got here. All Americans need to know. It is our government, and we are the only ones who can save it.
So many of today's citizens are so damned "civilized" -- just like traditional German politicians before Adolf Hitler came on the scene, with his beer-hall-barackroom histrionics.
If "civilized" means mealy-mouthed euphemisms and hypocrisy, we can do without it.
Time for the stinging goad, time for that bucket of icy water.
Time to rouse couch potatoes from their mattress-graves!
Various factors, Peter. The people were robbed, understandable mistrust, racism -- not difficult to ignite, propagandize, manipulation and disinformation on social media social and Fox News, social isolation and people stopped dead in their tracks and with many going backward in terms of economic security, loss of communities, the fragmentation of society... The power brokers, dark money, the Republican Party, widespread corruption, economic system and rule of law weighted strongly in favor of the rich getting much richer...
There are signs of life among those who know -- the Bernie Sanders contingent, other progressives, some grassroots organizations, Blacks, women...not enough...as for the Democratic Party (I'd rather not get into that)!
Yes, rising again in today's America, the stench of Germany in 1933.
Yes, that's true. I just edited my reply to you, so it has some color.
But Fern,
In order to ingest today's letter, one has to be able to read AND concentrate for up to six minutes. How many Americans can do? Or, will choose to do?
I posted your favorite quote today. Along with Thomas Jefferson's similar quote.
The key here is to get HCR’s outlines for curriculums to people in education, so that upcoming potential voters (happening very soon) can know these facts. How can we get this valuable information in the right hands while Biden is President, and we have a Democrat leader in the top Education position?
I believe that there is a way from here to make contact with HCR that is not direct. Ellie Kona's link is near the beginning of comments today; she may know how you might do it. I think Ellie might be helpful in other ways, so tell her what you have in mind. Sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
There will never be a nationalized curriculum. Never! Even if there was an approved national curriculum of any subject, teaching bias would prevail. Ultimately, people believe what they want to believe, hear what they want to hear, and say what they want to say.
It doesn’t have to be nationalized at all. Just starting small in school districts that are open to it would be a good beginning. I know many teachers who would welcome it.
👍🏼
May it be presented on Fox, sorry, just a wild thought. But is WaPo or NYT so crazy?
I have read articles in both The Washington Post and The NY Times about Dems losing and it makes me sick. I am hoping that women will turn out in greater numbers regarding abortion, and the men who support them will, also. We have a tough road ahead. That doesn't mean we cannot win.
A recent WaPo article "reported" that the Republicans may sweep the House or words to that effect. It was presented as straight news. Note that the operative word is "may". Both of these publications are becoming increasingly irresponsible in their incessant quest for clickbait.
Agree, Rick. WaPo reporters have become over reliant on their incredibly stupid polls and sloppy interviews. It’s disgusting and some days seems no better than Fox.
I agree with you, Rick. People see this and say, what's the point of voting. People forget what happened when HRC ran for president. She won the popular vote, yes, but there were thousands who didn't vote and wrote to her to say they were sorry. It really ticked her off, she didn't want to hear it. The GOP will steal an election if they can and it has gotten worse with tfg.
Republicans wrote the book on stealing elections and the MAGAts love it
Rick,
Both of those publications are increasingly pandering to the right because, if they don't, in November they might get shut down.
Where are the guts, must one do a deep Google search
Women are rising in IRAN!
Why are they sleeping in America?
Get Real!
Because, part of America is MORE fundamentalist that Iranian women in Iran.
Come on Mike, read world news.
In Iran, women have risen after four decades of being trampled underfoot by corrupt fundamentalists and their goons. Not just hijab burners, hijab wearers.
Iranians are showing the example -- and dying for freedom!
I think you mean that in America millions have been beaten and bamboozled by Big Daddy bullies and failed-fascist-politicians-turned-preacher.
It's the free that need to wake up and fight for their rights as citizens. If they don't want to lose citizenship and become mere subjects. If not objects.
Mike us right, so are you. In my humble opinion…
Mike can surely not have meant to label Iranian women dying for freedom "fundamentalists".
Yet he did it.
Intended or not, such an insult.
When MSM agrees with Fox, can we really?
Please consider writing letters--the minimum you commit to is 4. FOUR. That's it. And it is pretty easy, go to www.Votefwd.org
They are a great organization. I wrote 150 letters before the 2020 election. Unfortunately, I'm not able to do that this year as I'm overseas and I wouldn't be able to send them in time when Vote Forward says to release the letters.
Hello friends,
There is an enormous amount of hand wringing in the comments today. Much of it is driven by media political commentary by those who make money with controversy and "polls" and the emotions they can stir.
But no polls can measure the emotional fury created by the Dobbs decision. No polls are measuring the freak out by Americans who see a nation on the verge of governmental collapse. No polls can accurately measure the incredible anger of millions of Americans who have watched a NYC real estate con man make fools out of us....and mock the standards of behavior that were as basic as apple pie and a hamburg barbecue - until now.
We may lose the House. The Senate? Who knows. Regardless, we have Joe Biden as President for two more years. And I choose to believe that by the time we get to voting in 2024, the backlash against the current insanity will prevail. Younger women are NOT going to let old white farts rule their lives. LGBTQ folks and those who love them are not going to simply stand by and be told what rest rooms to use or how their identity should be defined. We are beyond that now. The recent attacks on ALL women and the millions who define themselves uniquely are not going to be ignored.
Maybe if it gets a little worse in the short run, the next generations will wake up and finally participate to a degree that will turn the tide to inclusion, tolerance and diversity as virtues. I believe we will see real human rights reassert themselves in most states. Perhaps there will always be certain locales where it is not safe to live. But I believe that most of America will reject the Neo Nazi Fascist Vomit that now serves as Republican principles and talking points.
Most young people, in general , are not bible thumpers and don't find religion of interest - especially the "excluding kind". Most young people see diversity as normal. Most young people seek truth and embrace science. Most young people are pissed that we are ignoring and denying the Climate Crisis.
We will prevail. We are the majority. I am hopeful.
Bill, most of these comments are like preaching to the choir. How do we get the message shaped so that people who are conspiracy theorists, Qanon followers, Trump butt kissers, will at least look at it with a somewhat different eye? How many people do we need to influence besides everyone who reads HCR?
Most people like money. Many are just plain selfish. For those that are still convinceable, we should be touting the amazing legislation will bring Americans good jobs.
And most of all we should be quoting Rick (Medicare Fraud King) Scott wanting to "sunset" Social Security and Medicare.
Thank you. Your comments are very much needed.
“Will you accept the results of the upcoming election?” Why is asking candidates this question a thing? The very asking of it gives the concept of not accepting the results life. It should be not be a question that needs to be asked. It is a clear requirement that if you are a candidate you WILL be bound by the election results. No whining. Geez.
QUESTION TO EVERY CANDIDATE:
WILL YOU ACCEPT THE ELECTION RESULTS, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE?
In a country that upholds justice rather than buying it, those who won't commit themselves to accepting voters' decision would be disbarred and forfeit their civic rights.
Depends on who's in control, doesn't it?
You would think one of the conditions for running for office is accepting the results. As far as I'm concerned, that is implied in the Constitution, and certainly confirmed in taking the oath of office. If it were up to me, no one could run for office if they go on record refusing to accept the results unless they win. Challenging whatever is fine, but ultimately, you must accept the results. End of story.
This is another enormous and profound failing of the media in general, and they should be taken to task. Personally, I do that by not subscribing to their tabloid trash or patronizing their advertisers.
There is a problem with the straightforward approach we espouse -- a rather obvious one we both missed.
Hours after writing, I see a headline in the very right-wing National Review that accuses Stacey Abrams of "dodging" on whether she will accept the outcome of the gubernatorial vote in Georgia if it goes against her.
Her "dodge" is to say that acceptance will depend on voters' fair access to the vote...
The kindest thing one could say about many Americans' (and others') attitude to party politics is that they treat it as a tribal game.
No game, when the choice is between upholding a democratic republic, however flawed its democracy, and installing a permanent one-party oligarchic tyranny. As in today's Russia...
When faced with a party hijacked by mafia, a cabal that always announces its next projected crime by accusing the other party of committing it, a cabal whose entire ethos is winning at all costs, by means fair or foul, we have a real problem on our hands. All the more so when these people's purpose is to ensure that political power never extends to persons whose skin color differs from their own... above all, not to the descendants of slaves whose possession their ancestors never willingly relinquished...
Their struggle (I use those words advisedly) is to impose states' rights to lie to, cheat and oppress their citizens, in effect depriving them of their rights as citizens and turning them into rather less than "subjects".
Given the unprecedented power and influence of the United States and the very real current challenges to global survival, their success would be a planetary disaster.
Republicans routinely engage in whataboutisms. The problem with their whataboutisms is that they are superficial and when examined in context or in detail, the whataboutism turns out to be not at all the same.
So, in the case of Stacey Abrams, she's saying if you Republicans affect voter turnout by preventing or impeding people from voting, we will challenge the outcome. This is not the same as saying that I (the Republican candidate) will not accept the outcome if I lose a legitimately held election. As I originally said, challenging the results is fine but once the challenge(s) is decided then the election results stand.
There was no dodge by Abrams. She was misquoted and mischaracterized by a Republican biased media outlet. When I look at it, Democrats have facts and evidence on their side, but they seldom vigorously challenge Republican lies, hypocrisy and mischaracterizations. Why do they fear the bombastic lies and mischaracterizations of Republicans when they have truth on their side?
As you may recall, I frequently cite tribalism as an innate quality of humanity. It is also a characteristic of the entire animal kingdom. It is part of the whole concept of survival of the fittest and it isn't going to change anytime soon.
I think about the concept of 'civilization' and I often reflect upon the fact that in terms of character and morality, humans really haven't advanced that far. A civilized approach eschews boundaries, skin color, religion and sexual identities, and strives for developing unity through commonality. Tribalism is counter to becoming more civilized. Tribes justify their existence and actions as a means to selfishly protect and serve their own.
America is a relatively young country, and our republic has a relatively unique guiding charter. We like to think of ourselves as having an exemplary form of democracy. The essential part of a functioning democracy is to be inclusive and equal. The United States of America implies that we all get along to go along, and work for the common good. A democracy implies majority rule wherein every challenge and problem are met with solutions that do the greatest good for the most people.
However, the Founding Fathers did not take into account the dynamics of tribalism, nor did they envision that a few enormously wealthy people would use tribalism to drive a wedge throughout society. Their strategy was basic divide and conquer. United we stand, divided we fall. Today, it looks more like we're going to fall than stand because tribalism is a prevailing force that is counter to preserving civilization. It is important to mention that tribalism is not unique to this country - it's divides countries and within countries all over the world.
In my experience, most Americans are naturally vain and self-serving because this country thrives on personal initiative and does not value the importance of personal responsibility within the context of society as a whole.
It's always a pleasure exchanging ideas with you Peter. Cheers!
I'm with you all the way on this. The report on Tracey Abrams was plainly a dishonest presentation designed to appeal to readers' prejudices -- her patent ability plainly scares them.
I'm troubled by tribalism rather than tribes, by the paranoid nuclear family (however understandable the paranoia) rather than by families. And reassured by the extended family rather than the nuclear one. All these levels of identity should provide us with windows on the world and a sound base from which to seek what we really are, beyond all those labels.
However, tribal attitudes to politics exist within my own family, and my English niece was most offended by the suggestion that she should consider tactical voting... Since then, triumphalism hasn't taken long to give way to something very different. Yet it may be that no one has yet begun to understand what's happening or the dangers that now lie ahead, because no one ever looked beyond "the way we've always voted" or took the trouble to look into who or what they were voting for.
I have known Europeans welcomed into African tribes and extended European families that welcomed and protected the children of strangers, including Africans, as family members. Rarer, I understand, in the States.
I am aware that social Darwinism is still very much alive in America, but very few ever became aware of the antidotes, like Piotr Kropotkin's Mutual Aid -- A Factor of Evolution (https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/petr-kropotkin-mutual-aid-a-factor-of-evolution).
Nowadays, of course, we are under attack from an ultra-Darwinist form of far-right anarchism, exemplified by criminals like the last occupant of the White House and by individualist extremists who call themselves "libertarians". Their exclusive liberty at the expense of anyone else's... Their "divide and misrule".
*
On my first visit to the US I had a conversation on exiting the New York subway with a very well-dressed and self-confident black man who found time to say to me that in this city one could live one's entire life within one's narrow community, speaking their language, eating their food, meeting no one outside of it; but in that case one would never get on in the world... Joining the mainstream, one could have it both ways, enjoying all the advantages of American life AND still being welcome in one's community of origin...
(My own attitudes were formed during a few childhood years in South Africa. I often wonder what could have happened if I'd stayed on and grown up there. Either the white tribe's culture, which I reacted against, or... prison? Younger friends who came ten or twenty years later crossed all barriers...)
But that was in 1994. Now?
So much fell into place for me on reading your closing paragraph. Thank you, ChipsPOV, for setting it all out so plainly.
After witnessing seemingly endless instances of indifference to truth on the part of supposedly reputable media, I caught sight or headlines that amounted to partisan gloating… on behalf of a criminal enterprise. Then I asked myself, “How is this possible? How can they be so grossly irresponsible? How can they not see what they are doing?”
After a moment’s utter confusion, I could see only one explanation. Money. Nothing else counts for anything. Words are sold like sausages—except that even in the most unregulated society, no one would dare sell food so tainted.
“Free speech”—yet another of the fetishes we adore, abuse and betray. Free speech, prostituted by and on behalf of the powerful.
I went on my way to deal with other matters. On returning, I read your simple, straightforward statement, and that final paragraph stopped me in my tracks.
Given the extreme gravity of our current circumstances, media handling of truth and falsehood is not merely irresponsible, not merely meretricious, it is criminal. And the crimes concerned are heinous.
By their amorality, their unconcern for any values except sales, media become the accomplices of swindlers, of perjurers, of seditionists, spokesmen for racketeers, organizers of diversions to attract attention away from politicians’ unavowable activities, normalizers of murder, spreaders of paranoia, even the servants and enablers of traitors. And in this list I have not even included the active criminals, the deliberate purveyors of mendacious propaganda.
At times like these, the only permissible partisanship is a firm commitment to truth, regardless of our prejudices and preferences.
Thank you Professor for providing the history of our elections. The repub years of cheating and lying, of blatantly creating laws that prevent every citizen to vote, even using courts to make sure the white male vote counts more than any other in some states. White Christian Male is the ideal repub. Okay, friends get out the Vote as if our Democracy depends on Democrats retaining Power, because it does.
White Male, CINO... (as in RINO and DINO). It looks as though dyed blonde female is the other side of the same coin (the "tails" side).
My usual litany is "white, male, cisgendered, heterosexual Christian"; I do like yours however. Much less typing involved! 😜
Had I been asked, I would have said that reforming the Electoral Count Act would not have been among the top 5 things we needed to do to address the complex challenges facing our voting systems today. To be clear, absent comprehensive federal voter protection safeguards, I worry that Republicans at the local and state levels simply won’t include all the ballots in the certified results, which, in a Presidential election, would come way before we got to counting electors in the House and Senate chambers.
I largely base my concerns on Democracy Docket Founder Marc Elias’s portrayal, discussed back in July, of a Republican election subversion plan he expects will be enacted as early as this fall. Admittedly, Elias is not suggesting that Republican election officials are laying the groundwork blatantly to declare their candidates the winner whether or not the candidate wins enough votes. He views the Republican election subversion plan as more sophisticated than that. Rather, Elias anticipates that Republicans will use “false allegations of fraud as a pretext to remove ballots from the vote totals and then certify those incomplete results.”
While I don’t doubt that when litigation ensues Elias and his team will mount arguments whose conclusions can be nailed to the post with confirming evidence, I am not as confident that our courts will stand for the beacons of democracy that we need them to be.
They have never stopped formulating Machiavellian strategies, not for a nanosecond
Agreed.
Anti women, anti Black, anti Jews. Perhaps we didn't think antisemitism would roar its ugly head in this country to the extent it has until Charlottesville. My father-in-law lost 22 first cousins in the Holocaust. I live in a town where there were many Holocaust survivors, many of whom have now died, but their children and grandchildren still live there.
It's pretty sickening what is in store for us if voters are complacent. We cannot afford it. Abortion will be the law of the land, and the rogue SCOTUS will continue to break down our democracy. We can forget Medicare and Social Security. No matter if we have paid into anything. And we can forget support for Ukraine.
Abortion, really
I suspect there are a few words missing regarding abortion, based upon other things listed.
For sure the abortion issue is vitally important, I have three daughters, but it is not the only issue.
(2 of 2) Then there are the ringleaders and other fascists who are intentionally doing this--mostly for their personal gain or because they were abducted as a child and forced to worship at the altar of Reagan at the expense of all other things (the Ultimate Truth in the Universe: Ronnie Reagan. Think about that deeply, Mitch and Newt. You realize how stupid you are now, right?). They simply must be stopped. Peacefully now...by force later. You choose. Yes, you, every person reading this.
Mark my words--these are the descendants of the same ethos/block that took our nation to civil war. And, as they've shown, they will outright lie to a camera and refute the laws of physics to grab/stay in power. The last step is violence. And does anyone not believe they'll do it? No, they WANT it, in part, because they believe they will have the upper hand (I've said this for 3 years now--if the military--the Army in particular--isn't reinforcing statements of oath and vetting its members for loyalty, they are making a big mistake).
But...make THEM start it, folks--don't take ANY bait (and there will be bait. Look for this in the years ahead--events and demonstrations made to spark violence that can be pinned on "immigrants and criminals"). Make them the ones who, once again, chose villainy, morally inexcusable paths to destruction. It's not a fait accompli until the day it is. Let's do EVERYTHING we can to keep that from happening. Yes, I still have hope. Get back to me in 3 weeks...
And then, possibly, we will have to finish what we never did 160 years ago. God help us if that comes to pass--but yes, I will be ready. We still have a chance to turn the Titanic next month...
Spot on: "descendants of the same ethos/block that took our nation to civil war". Not just that, they are aching to "make things right" with another war, if need be. Chilling.
We already saw the bait during the George Floyd demonstrations. They were called Antifa riots, among other things.
This letter makes me so angry that I'm just going to have to take a virtual chill pill. I will have to debate with my conservative parents regarding how they need to vote Dem in the midterms over cribbage.
Gingrich, Falwell, Pat Robertson, Pat Buchanen, Reagan....and Rosh Limbaugh: sowed the seeds for this new Republican Party. And they considered Mitt Romney not nasty enough to be the GOP candidate in 2016.
There is no doubt about the damage they have caused, starting with Newt.
He is a Pharisee of the new order. Should have been trashed in the 90’s. Oh wait, he was. Then the devil incarnate blessed him. Should have been a clue…
"That Declaration rejected the idea of social hierarchies in which some men were better than others and should rule their inferiors." Well, except all women and black men.... For me, this really helps clarify what it means to be a proud "originalist."
And ever since "it set out a new principle of government, establishing that 'all men are created equal,'" we've been trying to redefine "all" and "equal."
Ask any preschooler.
Seems pretty simple to me......what "all" and "equal" mean.
And, gee, I thought that we had progressed in our understanding. We don’t live in the time of White and male is right, or do we??
Every generation has to learn. Each has to be taught. We don't inherit knowledge.
And some have been so carefully taught.
Stone in a video documentary admitting it worked so well for them to steal a win in Bush v Gore in 2000 that they were tripling down on it in 2020.
How is this not a taped admission of crimes committed and the intent to commit more
https://mobile.twitter.com/cguld/status/1581673512141737989
AN ANCESTRY OF REPUBLICAN ELECTORAL FRAUD
Republicans have a sordid history of electoral fraud. In addition to Heather’s liturgy, there was the Hayes-Tilden presidential race in 1876.
There were 20 electoral votes ‘disputed’ by Republicans. The Republicans pulled a switcharoo on the special electoral commission and Hayes ‘won’ all 20 contested votes and the presidency. [Historians acknowledge that Tilden was clearly the winner.]
Rutherford Hayes was called “Rutherfraud’ and a prominent Washington newspaper referred to “Your Fraudulency” during Hayes’ presidency.
Trumpublicans are The Fraudulency Party.
This is terrifying. The racism, antisemitism, misogyny, anti “other” of the Republican party is a threat to the values and decency of Americans. How and why the Republicans have gone down this path is clear. The fact that we Dems can’t get our message about what is at stake out more directly and forcefully is troubling and increasingly dangerous to what we hold dear.
It may be because we don't fight dirty, like the GOP
Agreed. And that is one of the many reasons I’m a life long Dem. A clearer and stronger message of the strong policies that have helped American would be useful now. I think.
How about just screaming Rick Scott’s ideas. He gave Dems ammunition.
Jeri! Virtual hugs going your way!! I commented to you above about how I respond to comments on Yahoo and msn.com and Rick Scott is what I bring up all the time.
How about making friends with Fox?
I think there are a myriad of reasons "why" messaging for Democrats or Democratic ideals are difficult, especially now. For one, "Stop the Steal" is far easier to say than "The election was conducted fairly and in accordance with federal and state laws regarding elections and vote counting" just as "Build the Wall" is much easier to say than "Conditions in many Central and South American countries have created an influx of people seeking asylum, and the laws regarding immigration and asylum seeking are outmoded and need to be rewritten; especially with regard to DACA and other reparations for individuals who may have illegally come to this country with no ability to have formed intent." For another, there is the brainwashing via propaganda that has been in place since the dismantling of the Fairness Doctrine.