Some thoughts on Hillary Clinton's comment: when I was in the military and stationed at USCENTCOM, we dealt, long-term, with the wily tactics of the Iranians in the Persian Gulf. One thing the IRGC Navy (yes, IRGC have a naval component too) did was, intermittently but with deliberateness, violate how close they came to our larger vessels. They were seemingly reckless behaviors that weren't. After a while, the reason became obvious: to desensitize us to their actions, so when the day came to REALLY try something audacious, we'd have our guard down, let them too close, while thinking, "Oh, it's just those Iranians acting crazy again." Well, Trump has done the same. To us. There's been SO much craziness, "unprecedented," and outright stupidity the past five years, we too have let our guard down. Things are said or done, sometimes daily, that 20 years ago would have everyone on full-alert. Now? The frog is nearly boiled. The media doesn't help, because THEY often can't see the forest for the trees either, STILL focus on the most outlandish, click-baity or visible moments, and have told us quite a few times how "disastrous" this or that thing is...and 24 or 48 hrs later, we move on; after a while it's just a big Boy Who Cried Wolf job...while the real wolf's been there all along. And, frankly, too few of us understand the pieces (or want to) of what's involved enough to accurately assess it for ourselves. Lastly, of course, we're also dealing with COVID and all that entails for closing in on two years as well--that part is understandable--so, we're worn out, den-sensitized, and partially ignorant...while the scared, desperate 1/3 of our population keeps trying to steal a march on us and steal the flag. Yes, we absolutely are in this moment--something that's existed and been swelling for nearly 11 months now--yet seem half-awake, and largely-incognizant of what's really happening or at stake. Unfortunately, it might take something Pearl Harbor/Fort Sumter-like in scale (I mean, we already had an INSURRECTION, and barely put down our cell phones) to change this.
Very much agree. We as a Country are numb. We have been battered for 5 hard years. There is only so much trauma and drama people can take. The Republicans have embraced an anti-Democratic rhetoric so unheard of before that people really can't comprehend the seriousness of it. They think politicians and Fox, Newsmax, OAN and others are just popping off like trump. They fail to see the deadly message embedded in the raucous lies. I sometimes wonder if these people getting rich off the lies they are spreading have a true idea that they are involved in an attempt to destroy Democracy. I fully believe the MAGA Cult members have absolutely no idea how miserable their lives would be under a Dictatorship.
We need to support people such as HRC, Jennifer Rubin, James Carville, John Meacham and members of the Lincoln Project and most importantly the Biden Administration who are beating the drum of Democracy. We can continue to be awake to what is happening and to do what we can as an American.
Chet, that was Jocelyn’s beautiful voice and one of the many reasons I collaborate with her. We do it primarily for our own enjoyment but we like to share. Here are the words:
Jennifer Rubin is a columnist for the Washington Post. James Carville is a Democratic Strategist and is considered quite the sage when it comes to politics. James Meacham is a historian of great renown. Both Carville and Meacham told Brian Williams recently that Democracy is hanging by a thread. Yikes. Stuart Stevens of the Lincoln Project said the same thing yesterday. I support the Lincoln Project. They helped elect President Biden.
Barbara, I have seen John Meacham interviewed many times in recent years Here is a bit about him and a listing of the books he has written.
Jon Ellis Meacham is an American writer, reviewer, historian and presidential biographer. He has helped shape some of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s important speeches. A former executive editor and executive vice president at Random House, he is a contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to Time magazine, and a former editor-in-chief of Newsweek. (Wikipedia)
JON MEACHAM BOOKS IN ORDER
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
Voices in Our Blood (2001) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Franklin and Winston (2003) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
American Gospel (2006) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
American Lion (2008) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (2012) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Thomas Jefferson: President & Philospher (2014) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Destiny and Power (2015) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Soul of America (2018) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Songs of America (2019) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Hope of Glory (2020) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
In the Hands of the People (2020) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
His Truth Is Marching on (2020) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
@RobertMcTague You are spot on. Thank You very much for posting this.
I spent 10 hours a week volunteering and thousands of dollars in Dem political donations last year through Jan 5th and now I am bombarded w daily political email that scream
louder and louder and yet I ignore them because I am exhausted, need to focus on my own life, my non political business and my family and no longer have the energy for the intense fight I showed up for a year and more ago.
I agree that this is “an urgent existential crisis” and yet all I can do is keep my monthly donations to Dems going, read HCR daily, try to stay informed and post some on social media but I do not want to make one phone call, send one text or postcard to register more Dems or fight for Texas women or even climate change!
I am spent! Help! What to do??
what are you all doing now?
I am so grateful for the community of intelligent democracy loving fellows.
Cara, I often feel like you do. I’m simply exhausted by all the threats and trying my damnedest to save democracy with postcards, letters, whatever. And I , too, feel like I’m neglecting my personal life. So what I’ve found helpful is to take breaks. Every Sunday, for example. One or two days during the week. I find doing something away every day doesn’t help as much, but full (or nearly full) days helps more. Also less news and more music. If you recharge your batteries they will propel you longer. Yesterday I went to the post office for a new supply of stamps and postcards and now I’m ready for another round of communications. Oh, and if this fits for you, a little wine doesn’t hurt either. Good luck.
During the Vietnam War, the Quakers sent little plastic bags with rice to the White House. The government never mentioned it at the time, but decades later, when some secret documents became abailable, it was discovered that the government had discussed this peaceful measssge at length. No effort made in good faith is wasted.
The weekends are away from the news for me. This weekend we will work out in the yard getting it ready for winter....I am starting to prune back roses....and I will cook a stew for the week on Sunday while listening to Sunday Brunch (10-1 PDT) on All Classical which you can stream. They are working to be inclusive in their music and so you will hear lots of composers and musicians that are new at least to me. I also read a lot staying away from political books. I am a mystery fan and right now I am reading about five female writers who the author calls outsiders...Mary Shelley, Emily Bronte, George Eliot, Olive Schreiner, and Virginia Woolf. I am fortunate in that I am retired and also an introvert, so I don't mind the COVID restrictions too much. We are getting our booster tomorrow.
I used to spend huge amounts of time reading historical romances or sewing. Now I have trouble focusing. I can’t get through a book because my mind won’t relax. Now I waste time playing iPad games and jumping back to the news. I’m working very hard at breaking that cycle.
I understand that problem. When I have monkey mind, it's time to do breathing exercises or meditation. Years ago when I found myself unable to focus and also had neck issues, I found reiki and that has helped me tremendously since. It hooks me into the energy of the universe as do the other things I mention in this post and that helps me to relax. Also I do not feel compelled to finish every book I start. If i can't get into it, I put it down. I have two, one on cotton slavery and one on the forced expulsion of Native Americans from the east to west of the Mississippi, that made me so angry that I had to put them down. I am sill not ready to take them up again.
I’m right there with you. Only I listen to audiobooks while I play, and don’t go to the news at all. I’ve had a very very difficult year on a personal level, and am finding that reading new fiction is just too much for me right now. I’m rereading old favorites. Sometimes on incessant repeat! Harry Potter got me through cancer treatment, and here I am, listening to it again.
We watched the entire Harry Potter movies during my husbands recovery from prostate cancer surgery recovery. It was tough for him to go from working every day to nothing. I am trying to get back to sewing but the 500 Covid masks I made last year wiped me out so bad I couldn’t look at a machine again.
Disclaimer: Retired , although cared for beloved dad with dementia who lived with us almost 3 years before he passed away several months ago. I now have the emotional energy to do, as Annette, postcards, letters, emails. I live in a RED FL county so I connected with a neighboring FL House Rep who is young and progressive. Just reading her weekly updates gives me hope and suggests ways to help including voter reg at local colleges which could be fun.
I love to read, especially historical fiction. I try to read all my news to avoid the drama of the talking heads. Household rule is no television at dinner, just music and non-political convo. A lot of yoga, meditation/deep breathing especially with brain spin in the middle of the night. Daily gratitude…..and wine :)
Hi, again. Do you have any interest in joining a subset of this group for community and activism? We call ourselves "Heather's Herd". If so, just send an e-mail to heathersherd@gmail.com and I or Ellie Kona will respond.
We are kindred spirits for sure! Less news, more music, a mellow-glowing candle, and a glass or two of wine — perfect salve for such world-weary exhaustion!
Thanks for responding! I take loads of breaks but I still have a business and family to run… would love to hear more from others here what you are (or are not!) doing politically during this existential time…
Cara, boy do I feel you especially on the issue of making calls. Take a break, renew and when you are ready get back in the fight. Although it seems like you are continuing to contribute and you should not be so hard on yourself.
Hello. I was looking forward to hearing this. I can see and feel the horses slow heavy energy and the darkened stable :). Thank you for that image. Unfortunately it won’t let me open it. Not sure if you can repost? Thanks.
For all of you who fight the good fight and find yourselves exhausted, frustrated, disheartened, my professional advice is to see your truth of how you feel, acknowledge it, and open your heart to yourself that that is your truth in this moment. In over 35 years of medical practice, the only thing I've ever seen really heal someone is self-compassion. But it needs to be for your truth in this moment. Open-heartedly witnessing your truth will, indeed, set you free.
Thank you Robert, i have felt this is exactly what the extremists on the right have been doing, little by little taking more and more. But what can we do when our own agencies and legal solutions continue to allow them to run rampant over our democracy with no punishment? Thank you for your service, i know this makes it that much harder to watch.
Robert McT, … and don’t you just feel like a voice crying in the wilderness when you post this.
The irony of today’s two topics on HCR is that a light is being shined on the medium being the message in the Facebook hearings. While that medium and its flood of messages has desensitized us so completely that we now have these wonderful broad fully accessible media platforms which we can all partake in yet it leaves us completely powerless to have an effect on the actual world where the GOP has been busy transmuting fact to fantasy.
Meanwhile Mr. Zuckerberg (Sugarhill?) is pushing the Next Big Thing; the Metaverse, which will make our disassociation with reality complete.
This is a brilliant clarion call. Thank you for taking the time to write it, Robert.
The danger is almost inconceivable and is often demonstrated in seemingly small bits of news.
For example, a Washington judge made news the other day when she sentenced a 1/6 rioter to *more than the prosecution had asked for*. It seems there has been a disturbing pattern of accused getting extraordinarily light sentences.
Could there be any more telling example of either a) how feckless the DOJ has become or b) how deeply it is in the grip of Trump loyalists?
The Supremes have emerged from obscurity recently to make earnest speeches whose intent is to prop up their legitimacy. “Nothing to see here” is the general theme. Just business as usual, rockin’ the shadow docket.
When has this ever happened?
The “When the cat’s away, the mouse will play” act going on in Idaho where the Lieutenant Governor, in a spasm of energy that arose from the governor’s absence from the state, issued an executive order banning all institutions in the state from issuing mask mandates or vaccination requirements. The Governor has announced he will repeal the results of his adjunct’s brazen quest for attention, but once again we are seeing democracy taking a pummeling, this time in the “great” state of Idaho, which incidentally is near rock bottom in handling this wave of the pandemic.
When things get to the point of, “You can’t make this stuff up”, one can be sure that a serious reckoning lies ahead. It’s a question of when, not if, a moment of historic violence acts as a catalyst for chaos.
Maybe, in the soon to be immortal words of Mike Pence on “a single day in January”.
I wish I could say that I myself am desensitized, but if my blood pressure is any indication, I'm on high alert ALL the time, anticipating the worst every moment...because it seems the "worst" is just around the bend. The debt ceiling debacle may do it once and for all.
The GOP Fascist Party seems to be unaware that they too will become extinguished in this boiling cauldron, not only politically, but financially. Unless they are among the billionaires whose hidden assets are off shore, unless they have undisclosed safe locations, not a single one of them will be safe when their constituent "base" loses savings, social security, Medicare, jobs and the roofs over their heads. And these constituents are the white supremacist base - angry, out of control, violent, and ARMED. So Mitch better watch his back - he's in as much danger playing with this fire as anyone on either side of the aisle. My two cents.
As as been said time and again, our democracy will not be destroyed like the quick and dramatic implosion of a building, but like the slow and unstoppable flow of lava.
What we are seeing with the actions of the Senate Republicans is proof that there are no "good Republicans" left. Rmoney came out and declared himself in favor of filibustering the debt vote. Murkowski dithers but does nothing. And that @#$%#$#!! Susan Collins has the gall to say that if the Democrats dropped the reconciliation BBB bill, that they could have a debt ceiling vote. There isn't one of them who isn't The Enemy of this country.
TC, we've had "reborn Christians", reborn Trumpsters and why not reborn Repugs...once this is over. Everyone of them will spin in the wind if and when Trump etc desolve into dust......or we'll have reborn Dems à la Manchin/Sinema who were always on the side of power. Power for power's sake is what drives them all to one degree or another.
I access this on my Twitter account. It allows users to Bookmark posts and make lists to organize other Twitter accounts you are interested in. You can name your lists.
For the record, mine are set to Private because a lot of people don’t like to be on public lists. Because mine are private I can’t share them.
Good morning, TC. If default would only damage Americans, I would say, "Fine, let's just default the MFer and learn a good lesson the hard way!" But, given that we would drag the whole world down with us, that is not a good option at all. No the Democrats need to wrap their minds around this. Either they pass voting, infrastructure and the BBB bills in something close to their original form, or the lagers await us. Not, not free beer.
Tell that to Manchin, the man who doesn't have a mind to be changed. What he said this morning is the dumbest-ass shit I have ever heard from any politician, anywhere, ever.
It still sickens me. Hillary was one of the most qualified presidential candidates to ever run. But decades of character assassination by the GOP and plain old sexism made her unelectable. We are our own worst enemies.
Thank you Grace. Listening to this I’m asking myself if Republicans are really worse now or just more visible, because I sure don’t understand how this person could keep getting re-elected all those years. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f99PcP0aFNE
Maine's Sen. Susan Collins was swept into office last year by a broad coalition. She will not be primaried or 'Cheneyed' but is still on board with the ReaganMcConnellTrump anti government agenda and tactics.
Susan Collins like Ted Stevens has finessed the art of buying loyalty with her constituents by bringing home “pork”, and lots of it. Looking back at her Facebook page from the months leading up to the election highlighting all her special projects and $$ she brought to her base plus, could serve as a lesson on how to secure your Senate seat for years to come.
Yes and so far, with the manipulation of re districting and gerrymandering they are doing just that...holding on to power by drawing crazy shaped districts that huddle all dems in one place and effectively reduce the impact of their voices. I recommend David Litt's new book DEMOCRACY IN ONE BOOK OR LESS. Lays out so clearly how we have come to where we are and wonderful engaging read.
And wasn’t Collins explaining her position against federal voting oversight because her state has high turnout so she doesn’t think the federal government should interfere with her state’s election process. Shouldn’t interfere with any state’s process. Is she simply unaware of what has been going on with the obstruction template used by all those states hell bent on suppression?
About the only positive thing to be said about Susan Collins is that she's a bit less gauche than most of her fellow insurrectionists. But, you sure wouldn't want to buy a used car from her.
"The documents I have provided to Congress prove that Facebook has repeatedly misled the public about what it's own research reveals about the safety of children, the efficacy of its artificial intelligence systems and its role in spreading divisive and extreme messages. I came forward because I believe that every human being deserves the dignity of truth." - Seems Francis Haugen is a candidate for the Nobel Peace Price.
Somebody tell Rupert Murdoch, his ownership of the WSJ does not erase the Fox catastrophe. Buying the WSJ was his smoothest move yet, his claim to legitimacy, when he has none.
“I will flatly say that the bulk of this country’s white population impresses me, and has so impressed me for a very long time, as being beyond any conceivable hope of moral rehabilitation. They have been white, if I may so put it, too long: the effect on their personalities, their lives, their grasp of reality, has been as devastating as the lava which so memorably immobilized the citizens of Pompeii. They are unable to conceive that their version of reality, which they want me to accept, is an insult to my history and a parody of theirs and an intolerable violation of myself. James Baldwin, “The Price May Be Too High,” The New York Times, February 2, 1969.”
How then, do we deal with those whom Baldwin condemns "as being beyond any conceivable hope of moral rehabilitation"? Some try to evade the problem by moving to a quaint Maine fishing port, a bucolic Adirondack farm, a gated community in Florida or Arizona or even choose to live outside of the country in places like France or Mexico. Others remain here, usually in our urban centers where these different versions of reality visibly clash on a daily basis. And Baldwin identifies the believers in one of those versions as "the bulk of this country's white population" seventy-four million of whom voted for that perverted version of reality in 2020 and are trying to enshrine it in our educational system wherever they can. Dealing with this is challenging, to say the least. I hope succeeding generations are up to it.
I saved HCR’s 10/4 post for this evening, followed immediately by reading this evening’s post. And…
I’m a musician, not a political scientist, and, given the current state of our union, my soul’s stuck in a spin cycle with a lopsided load. Thanks to Heather’s research and posts, I’m grateful to be learning more about who we are as a nation - irrespective of our troubling past and present. I can only hope more of US awake from our sociopolitical slumbers before it’s too late.
Some thoughts on Hillary Clinton's comment: when I was in the military and stationed at USCENTCOM, we dealt, long-term, with the wily tactics of the Iranians in the Persian Gulf. One thing the IRGC Navy (yes, IRGC have a naval component too) did was, intermittently but with deliberateness, violate how close they came to our larger vessels. They were seemingly reckless behaviors that weren't. After a while, the reason became obvious: to desensitize us to their actions, so when the day came to REALLY try something audacious, we'd have our guard down, let them too close, while thinking, "Oh, it's just those Iranians acting crazy again." Well, Trump has done the same. To us. There's been SO much craziness, "unprecedented," and outright stupidity the past five years, we too have let our guard down. Things are said or done, sometimes daily, that 20 years ago would have everyone on full-alert. Now? The frog is nearly boiled. The media doesn't help, because THEY often can't see the forest for the trees either, STILL focus on the most outlandish, click-baity or visible moments, and have told us quite a few times how "disastrous" this or that thing is...and 24 or 48 hrs later, we move on; after a while it's just a big Boy Who Cried Wolf job...while the real wolf's been there all along. And, frankly, too few of us understand the pieces (or want to) of what's involved enough to accurately assess it for ourselves. Lastly, of course, we're also dealing with COVID and all that entails for closing in on two years as well--that part is understandable--so, we're worn out, den-sensitized, and partially ignorant...while the scared, desperate 1/3 of our population keeps trying to steal a march on us and steal the flag. Yes, we absolutely are in this moment--something that's existed and been swelling for nearly 11 months now--yet seem half-awake, and largely-incognizant of what's really happening or at stake. Unfortunately, it might take something Pearl Harbor/Fort Sumter-like in scale (I mean, we already had an INSURRECTION, and barely put down our cell phones) to change this.
Very much agree. We as a Country are numb. We have been battered for 5 hard years. There is only so much trauma and drama people can take. The Republicans have embraced an anti-Democratic rhetoric so unheard of before that people really can't comprehend the seriousness of it. They think politicians and Fox, Newsmax, OAN and others are just popping off like trump. They fail to see the deadly message embedded in the raucous lies. I sometimes wonder if these people getting rich off the lies they are spreading have a true idea that they are involved in an attempt to destroy Democracy. I fully believe the MAGA Cult members have absolutely no idea how miserable their lives would be under a Dictatorship.
We need to support people such as HRC, Jennifer Rubin, James Carville, John Meacham and members of the Lincoln Project and most importantly the Biden Administration who are beating the drum of Democracy. We can continue to be awake to what is happening and to do what we can as an American.
Exactly.
Ok I wrote a song with my friend Jocelyn. It’s kind of a lament.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Qx9wZVA6qbY&feature=share
You have a beautiful voice. Are the lyrics available anywhere...I can't quite understand them all.
Chet, that was Jocelyn’s beautiful voice and one of the many reasons I collaborate with her. We do it primarily for our own enjoyment but we like to share. Here are the words:
Is the world going crazy
Is the world going mad
If truth doesn’t matter
It’s so very sad
If your heart is full of hate
There’s no room for love
It’s a simple as 1, 2, 3
Wasted the time we had, but this time we have
I’ll spend it wondering
Is the world going crazy
Is the world going mad
It’s the human condition
But we are all we’ll ever have
Color is but a pigment
of your hateful imagination
Is the world going crazy
Is the world going mad
We’ve lost our Sunday School ways
It’s so very sad
If your heart is full of hate
There’s no room for love
It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3
wasted the time we had, but this time we have
Let’s spend it wondering how
We can have a world where
No one goes hungry
Or imagine if no one’s
Without habitation
Dare we work towards a world
Where the ground is finally level
And we at last see each other Eye to Eye
But if your heart is full of hate
There’s no room for love
It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3
Wasted the time we had, but this time we have
I don’t want to spend it wondering
Is the world going crazy
Is the world going mad
Only together can we solve
A world that’s going crazy
A world that’s going mad
Barbara, Thank you for the references we need to support. I’ll look them up.
Jennifer Rubin is a columnist for the Washington Post. James Carville is a Democratic Strategist and is considered quite the sage when it comes to politics. James Meacham is a historian of great renown. Both Carville and Meacham told Brian Williams recently that Democracy is hanging by a thread. Yikes. Stuart Stevens of the Lincoln Project said the same thing yesterday. I support the Lincoln Project. They helped elect President Biden.
Barbara, I have seen John Meacham interviewed many times in recent years Here is a bit about him and a listing of the books he has written.
Jon Ellis Meacham is an American writer, reviewer, historian and presidential biographer. He has helped shape some of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s important speeches. A former executive editor and executive vice president at Random House, he is a contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to Time magazine, and a former editor-in-chief of Newsweek. (Wikipedia)
JON MEACHAM BOOKS IN ORDER
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
Voices in Our Blood (2001) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Franklin and Winston (2003) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
American Gospel (2006) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
American Lion (2008) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power (2012) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Thomas Jefferson: President & Philospher (2014) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Destiny and Power (2015) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Soul of America (2018) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Songs of America (2019) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
The Hope of Glory (2020) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
In the Hands of the People (2020) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
His Truth Is Marching on (2020) Hardcover Paperback Kindle
Thanks for this Fern.
.Sorry for the typo; his first name is - Jon.
Thanks again.
@RobertMcTague You are spot on. Thank You very much for posting this.
I spent 10 hours a week volunteering and thousands of dollars in Dem political donations last year through Jan 5th and now I am bombarded w daily political email that scream
louder and louder and yet I ignore them because I am exhausted, need to focus on my own life, my non political business and my family and no longer have the energy for the intense fight I showed up for a year and more ago.
I agree that this is “an urgent existential crisis” and yet all I can do is keep my monthly donations to Dems going, read HCR daily, try to stay informed and post some on social media but I do not want to make one phone call, send one text or postcard to register more Dems or fight for Texas women or even climate change!
I am spent! Help! What to do??
what are you all doing now?
I am so grateful for the community of intelligent democracy loving fellows.
Cara, I often feel like you do. I’m simply exhausted by all the threats and trying my damnedest to save democracy with postcards, letters, whatever. And I , too, feel like I’m neglecting my personal life. So what I’ve found helpful is to take breaks. Every Sunday, for example. One or two days during the week. I find doing something away every day doesn’t help as much, but full (or nearly full) days helps more. Also less news and more music. If you recharge your batteries they will propel you longer. Yesterday I went to the post office for a new supply of stamps and postcards and now I’m ready for another round of communications. Oh, and if this fits for you, a little wine doesn’t hurt either. Good luck.
During the Vietnam War, the Quakers sent little plastic bags with rice to the White House. The government never mentioned it at the time, but decades later, when some secret documents became abailable, it was discovered that the government had discussed this peaceful measssge at length. No effort made in good faith is wasted.
Wow
The weekends are away from the news for me. This weekend we will work out in the yard getting it ready for winter....I am starting to prune back roses....and I will cook a stew for the week on Sunday while listening to Sunday Brunch (10-1 PDT) on All Classical which you can stream. They are working to be inclusive in their music and so you will hear lots of composers and musicians that are new at least to me. I also read a lot staying away from political books. I am a mystery fan and right now I am reading about five female writers who the author calls outsiders...Mary Shelley, Emily Bronte, George Eliot, Olive Schreiner, and Virginia Woolf. I am fortunate in that I am retired and also an introvert, so I don't mind the COVID restrictions too much. We are getting our booster tomorrow.
I used to spend huge amounts of time reading historical romances or sewing. Now I have trouble focusing. I can’t get through a book because my mind won’t relax. Now I waste time playing iPad games and jumping back to the news. I’m working very hard at breaking that cycle.
I understand that problem. When I have monkey mind, it's time to do breathing exercises or meditation. Years ago when I found myself unable to focus and also had neck issues, I found reiki and that has helped me tremendously since. It hooks me into the energy of the universe as do the other things I mention in this post and that helps me to relax. Also I do not feel compelled to finish every book I start. If i can't get into it, I put it down. I have two, one on cotton slavery and one on the forced expulsion of Native Americans from the east to west of the Mississippi, that made me so angry that I had to put them down. I am sill not ready to take them up again.
I’m right there with you. Only I listen to audiobooks while I play, and don’t go to the news at all. I’ve had a very very difficult year on a personal level, and am finding that reading new fiction is just too much for me right now. I’m rereading old favorites. Sometimes on incessant repeat! Harry Potter got me through cancer treatment, and here I am, listening to it again.
Yes, totally relate- read Harry Potter during Chemo!
We watched the entire Harry Potter movies during my husbands recovery from prostate cancer surgery recovery. It was tough for him to go from working every day to nothing. I am trying to get back to sewing but the 500 Covid masks I made last year wiped me out so bad I couldn’t look at a machine again.
Kathy, I hope those personal difficulties have waned or evaporated completely!
Being retired makes all the difference! Thank you fir your midweek political work.
Disclaimer: Retired , although cared for beloved dad with dementia who lived with us almost 3 years before he passed away several months ago. I now have the emotional energy to do, as Annette, postcards, letters, emails. I live in a RED FL county so I connected with a neighboring FL House Rep who is young and progressive. Just reading her weekly updates gives me hope and suggests ways to help including voter reg at local colleges which could be fun.
I love to read, especially historical fiction. I try to read all my news to avoid the drama of the talking heads. Household rule is no television at dinner, just music and non-political convo. A lot of yoga, meditation/deep breathing especially with brain spin in the middle of the night. Daily gratitude…..and wine :)
Hi, Kathy.....which "red" county are you in? I am in red Pasco County.
Greetings from across the way.I’m on the east coast in Brevard County.
Hi, again. Do you have any interest in joining a subset of this group for community and activism? We call ourselves "Heather's Herd". If so, just send an e-mail to heathersherd@gmail.com and I or Ellie Kona will respond.
Annette,
We are kindred spirits for sure! Less news, more music, a mellow-glowing candle, and a glass or two of wine — perfect salve for such world-weary exhaustion!
Thanks for responding! I take loads of breaks but I still have a business and family to run… would love to hear more from others here what you are (or are not!) doing politically during this existential time…
Art, bookbinding, news moratoriums and pleasure reading (mystery fiction mostly).
Cara, boy do I feel you especially on the issue of making calls. Take a break, renew and when you are ready get back in the fight. Although it seems like you are continuing to contribute and you should not be so hard on yourself.
This is a special day
…a good day to meditate and start something new, with the new Moon in Libra saying “Can’t we all just get along?”
https://www.icloud.com/notes/0t7Nw5gdchBoQWAsp3QR0tkrg
Hello. I was looking forward to hearing this. I can see and feel the horses slow heavy energy and the darkened stable :). Thank you for that image. Unfortunately it won’t let me open it. Not sure if you can repost? Thanks.
The image on the meditation video is of counyty scenes, not of the stable. https://www.icloud.com/notes/0t7Nw5gdchBoQWAsp3QR0tkrg
I played this to mgy three old mares after lunch today as they relaxed in the stable, which is dark inside (flies dont like dark olaces)
…places. I wish you could have seen them all, lower lips loose, eyes closed, snooring softly…
I take breaks such as a lot of walking and non-political reading. We have to pace ourselves.
For all of you who fight the good fight and find yourselves exhausted, frustrated, disheartened, my professional advice is to see your truth of how you feel, acknowledge it, and open your heart to yourself that that is your truth in this moment. In over 35 years of medical practice, the only thing I've ever seen really heal someone is self-compassion. But it needs to be for your truth in this moment. Open-heartedly witnessing your truth will, indeed, set you free.
@Steven M Hall, MD - That’s Beautiful!! Thank You. 💜
Thank you Robert, i have felt this is exactly what the extremists on the right have been doing, little by little taking more and more. But what can we do when our own agencies and legal solutions continue to allow them to run rampant over our democracy with no punishment? Thank you for your service, i know this makes it that much harder to watch.
Robert McT, … and don’t you just feel like a voice crying in the wilderness when you post this.
The irony of today’s two topics on HCR is that a light is being shined on the medium being the message in the Facebook hearings. While that medium and its flood of messages has desensitized us so completely that we now have these wonderful broad fully accessible media platforms which we can all partake in yet it leaves us completely powerless to have an effect on the actual world where the GOP has been busy transmuting fact to fantasy.
Meanwhile Mr. Zuckerberg (Sugarhill?) is pushing the Next Big Thing; the Metaverse, which will make our disassociation with reality complete.
I can only marvel.
This is a brilliant clarion call. Thank you for taking the time to write it, Robert.
The danger is almost inconceivable and is often demonstrated in seemingly small bits of news.
For example, a Washington judge made news the other day when she sentenced a 1/6 rioter to *more than the prosecution had asked for*. It seems there has been a disturbing pattern of accused getting extraordinarily light sentences.
Could there be any more telling example of either a) how feckless the DOJ has become or b) how deeply it is in the grip of Trump loyalists?
The Supremes have emerged from obscurity recently to make earnest speeches whose intent is to prop up their legitimacy. “Nothing to see here” is the general theme. Just business as usual, rockin’ the shadow docket.
When has this ever happened?
The “When the cat’s away, the mouse will play” act going on in Idaho where the Lieutenant Governor, in a spasm of energy that arose from the governor’s absence from the state, issued an executive order banning all institutions in the state from issuing mask mandates or vaccination requirements. The Governor has announced he will repeal the results of his adjunct’s brazen quest for attention, but once again we are seeing democracy taking a pummeling, this time in the “great” state of Idaho, which incidentally is near rock bottom in handling this wave of the pandemic.
When things get to the point of, “You can’t make this stuff up”, one can be sure that a serious reckoning lies ahead. It’s a question of when, not if, a moment of historic violence acts as a catalyst for chaos.
Maybe, in the soon to be immortal words of Mike Pence on “a single day in January”.
Thanks for your articulation. Many of us feel hopelessness and helplessness. Want to grab my walker and join a counter insurrection.
Me too! What a sight we would be. And yet. Here we are hobbled by Covid.
GAWD, how I wish I didn’t have to “like” your comment, Robert.
Well said.
I wish I could say that I myself am desensitized, but if my blood pressure is any indication, I'm on high alert ALL the time, anticipating the worst every moment...because it seems the "worst" is just around the bend. The debt ceiling debacle may do it once and for all.
The GOP Fascist Party seems to be unaware that they too will become extinguished in this boiling cauldron, not only politically, but financially. Unless they are among the billionaires whose hidden assets are off shore, unless they have undisclosed safe locations, not a single one of them will be safe when their constituent "base" loses savings, social security, Medicare, jobs and the roofs over their heads. And these constituents are the white supremacist base - angry, out of control, violent, and ARMED. So Mitch better watch his back - he's in as much danger playing with this fire as anyone on either side of the aisle. My two cents.
As as been said time and again, our democracy will not be destroyed like the quick and dramatic implosion of a building, but like the slow and unstoppable flow of lava.
The volcano has erupted.
Midterms will tell the future of America.
Exactly Robert. The profound blindness to this growing danger does not bode well.
Excellent comment. Yep, time to put down our cell phones for a few minutes.
Spot on. Thank you for your service.
Robert, In the future, please spell out abbreviations and acronyms, thank you.
What we are seeing with the actions of the Senate Republicans is proof that there are no "good Republicans" left. Rmoney came out and declared himself in favor of filibustering the debt vote. Murkowski dithers but does nothing. And that @#$%#$#!! Susan Collins has the gall to say that if the Democrats dropped the reconciliation BBB bill, that they could have a debt ceiling vote. There isn't one of them who isn't The Enemy of this country.
TC, we've had "reborn Christians", reborn Trumpsters and why not reborn Repugs...once this is over. Everyone of them will spin in the wind if and when Trump etc desolve into dust......or we'll have reborn Dems à la Manchin/Sinema who were always on the side of power. Power for power's sake is what drives them all to one degree or another.
That’s why I’ve been keeping a list of all the Trumpists so I never forget and accidentally support them.
Please keep that list to publish for us, Lisa!!
A few links to who are insurrectionists:
https://twitter.com/sethabramson/status/1428761535778803727?s=21
https://twitter.com/sky_lee_1/status/1417205104701329410?s=21
https://twitter.com/crewcrew/status/1400776875937611783?s=21
https://twitter.com/amoneyresists/status/1360722058410344455?s=21
https://twitter.com/ellie_kona/status/1349612397137281024?s=21
https://twitter.com/jeffjwarwick/status/1444434126094880772?s=21
Twitter Lists (private mode, of course) makes it easy. Every one of them that turns up gets added to the list.
How to access this?
A few links to who are insurrectionists:
https://twitter.com/sethabramson/status/1428761535778803727?s=21
https://twitter.com/sky_lee_1/status/1417205104701329410?s=21
https://twitter.com/crewcrew/status/1400776875937611783?s=21
https://twitter.com/amoneyresists/status/1360722058410344455?s=21
https://twitter.com/ellie_kona/status/1349612397137281024?s=21
https://twitter.com/jeffjwarwick/status/1444434126094880772?s=21
I access this on my Twitter account. It allows users to Bookmark posts and make lists to organize other Twitter accounts you are interested in. You can name your lists.
For the record, mine are set to Private because a lot of people don’t like to be on public lists. Because mine are private I can’t share them.
How about reborn and behind bars?
Good morning, TC. If default would only damage Americans, I would say, "Fine, let's just default the MFer and learn a good lesson the hard way!" But, given that we would drag the whole world down with us, that is not a good option at all. No the Democrats need to wrap their minds around this. Either they pass voting, infrastructure and the BBB bills in something close to their original form, or the lagers await us. Not, not free beer.
Tell that to Manchin, the man who doesn't have a mind to be changed. What he said this morning is the dumbest-ass shit I have ever heard from any politician, anywhere, ever.
Where did you hear it, TC? I'm a "dumb-ass shit" connoisseur. Don't want to miss it.
On MSNBC, just before they started reporting the School Shooting Du Jour.
I'm not sure I can see MSNBC on my computer here in Italy, but I'll give it a try. Thanks.
This has been clear for way before trump, Hillary must be as disillusioned as any human on earth.
It still sickens me. Hillary was one of the most qualified presidential candidates to ever run. But decades of character assassination by the GOP and plain old sexism made her unelectable. We are our own worst enemies.
Fox started out the gate, watched friends become venomous
I had to admit it, but you are correct. What I struggle with is why?
Fear, both of being primaried and of physical harm by members of TFG’s base.
Mary Hardt wins the intertoobz!
Tutorial needed for those of us who do not & never will use Instagram. #intertoobz?
Google Ted Stevens.
Thank you Grace. Listening to this I’m asking myself if Republicans are really worse now or just more visible, because I sure don’t understand how this person could keep getting re-elected all those years. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f99PcP0aFNE
Got it, Thanks for the Memories.
Internet
Maine's Sen. Susan Collins was swept into office last year by a broad coalition. She will not be primaried or 'Cheneyed' but is still on board with the ReaganMcConnellTrump anti government agenda and tactics.
But she is very concerned.
Strong letter to follow no doubt /s
Susan Collins will not support a voting rights bill.
Susan Collins like Ted Stevens has finessed the art of buying loyalty with her constituents by bringing home “pork”, and lots of it. Looking back at her Facebook page from the months leading up to the election highlighting all her special projects and $$ she brought to her base plus, could serve as a lesson on how to secure your Senate seat for years to come.
Greed and power, who said that a taste of absolute power will reveal who someone really is…. But Fox and clones, and MSM, keep the big lie going
Profiles in Cowardice
The demographics are not in their favor and they are desperately trying everything to hold onto power.
Yes and so far, with the manipulation of re districting and gerrymandering they are doing just that...holding on to power by drawing crazy shaped districts that huddle all dems in one place and effectively reduce the impact of their voices. I recommend David Litt's new book DEMOCRACY IN ONE BOOK OR LESS. Lays out so clearly how we have come to where we are and wonderful engaging read.
And wasn’t Collins explaining her position against federal voting oversight because her state has high turnout so she doesn’t think the federal government should interfere with her state’s election process. Shouldn’t interfere with any state’s process. Is she simply unaware of what has been going on with the obstruction template used by all those states hell bent on suppression?
About the only positive thing to be said about Susan Collins is that she's a bit less gauche than most of her fellow insurrectionists. But, you sure wouldn't want to buy a used car from her.
(Sweden)
"The documents I have provided to Congress prove that Facebook has repeatedly misled the public about what it's own research reveals about the safety of children, the efficacy of its artificial intelligence systems and its role in spreading divisive and extreme messages. I came forward because I believe that every human being deserves the dignity of truth." - Seems Francis Haugen is a candidate for the Nobel Peace Price.
“Every human being deserves the dignity of truth.” Yup. 🤙🏻
Somebody tell Rupert Murdoch, his ownership of the WSJ does not erase the Fox catastrophe. Buying the WSJ was his smoothest move yet, his claim to legitimacy, when he has none.
“I will flatly say that the bulk of this country’s white population impresses me, and has so impressed me for a very long time, as being beyond any conceivable hope of moral rehabilitation. They have been white, if I may so put it, too long: the effect on their personalities, their lives, their grasp of reality, has been as devastating as the lava which so memorably immobilized the citizens of Pompeii. They are unable to conceive that their version of reality, which they want me to accept, is an insult to my history and a parody of theirs and an intolerable violation of myself. James Baldwin, “The Price May Be Too High,” The New York Times, February 2, 1969.”
Great quote, Sandy, from a great author whose NYT article could have been written yesterday.
Exactly.
In 1969, this whitey was just trying to scrape by, but this old whitey agrees with him.
How then, do we deal with those whom Baldwin condemns "as being beyond any conceivable hope of moral rehabilitation"? Some try to evade the problem by moving to a quaint Maine fishing port, a bucolic Adirondack farm, a gated community in Florida or Arizona or even choose to live outside of the country in places like France or Mexico. Others remain here, usually in our urban centers where these different versions of reality visibly clash on a daily basis. And Baldwin identifies the believers in one of those versions as "the bulk of this country's white population" seventy-four million of whom voted for that perverted version of reality in 2020 and are trying to enshrine it in our educational system wherever they can. Dealing with this is challenging, to say the least. I hope succeeding generations are up to it.
I saved HCR’s 10/4 post for this evening, followed immediately by reading this evening’s post. And…
I’m a musician, not a political scientist, and, given the current state of our union, my soul’s stuck in a spin cycle with a lopsided load. Thanks to Heather’s research and posts, I’m grateful to be learning more about who we are as a nation - irrespective of our troubling past and present. I can only hope more of US awake from our sociopolitical slumbers before it’s too late.