We can make our First Grade teachers and parents proud that they taught us to print neatly. And also add our efforts to realizing BlueWave 2024. By writing postcards to voters. (Don't forget Letters to the Editor before the pre Election Day deadlines kick in.)
The empirical evidence is on our side. But how we present it is crucial. Persuasion is an invitation, not an ultimatum.
A sad headline from The Washington Post: As Taliban starts restricting Afghan men, some regret staying silent.
Julie - it was so nice to see NE State Senator Mike McConnell refuse to succumb to Trump's wishes. I have lived almost 1/2 of my life in Lincoln or Omaha and the backlash had they overturned the electoral college rule would have been fierce.
For the past 20 years we have lived in rural ME and even though our 1 electoral vote often clashes with NE, I. am glad they both split their votes this way. How interesting would the elections be if CA,TX,FL and NY split their votes that way, and the swing states as well.
It was originally intended that votes would be counted by districts, not winner take all by state. Imagine if my home state of NC awarded its 16 electoral votes like this 11 for Kamala Harris and 5 for CFDT. Awarding electors by district comes much closer to electing a president by popular vote than winner take all.
Heathers fb live last week was all about how the electoral college got so messed up. And sadly it was Jefferson who started it.
And Heather made the point that it is one of the primary reasons Americans feel their votes don't count. If you are a Republican in California, they don't! A Democrat in Ohio--well, vote for Sherrod Brown.
A dem here in Texas! My husband likes to keep reminding me that my vote for Harris won’t count but that doesn’t stop me from casting it. (Note: He also will be voting for Harris - he just likes playing Devil’s Advocate). One interesting development in this year’s election is that many more races have Democratic opponents to the usually unopposed Republicans down ballot. I like to think that’s a very good sign for the future.
But you don't know enough about Trump to not vote for him? You can find out everything Harris has been doing for the past 40 years. But it does require reading.
I just ran a relay race through northern Michigan and 75% of the yards have signs and saw very few Harris signs. It was unbelievable- yard after yard. Even though I am an uncomfortable blue dot in a deeply red state, I was glad to get back home and not have those signs haunt my vision anymore! Feeling very sad for those of you who reside in battleground states.
Might have to check out the postcards and see how many I can send to MI.
Do it, Maria. Try Blue Wave. They send state postcards with stick on addresses. That’s fast. But be careful to mail each one separately. (Even no-sticker cards will stick together and every one needs to get to the addressee.) Meanwhile, think of yourself as a soldier in this war for democracy. At 90, I think of being part of the “war effort” during World War II. To “do something” is everyone’s job now as it was then.
Barbara, I'm travelling out West with my son and grandson, but when I return I'll be finishing my stack of 200 (or is it 250? I forget🤷) to mail to Michigan voters as well.
Many Democratic supporters are actually afraid to put out any indication of supporting The Democratic Party and candidates because they are justifiably afraid of anything from vandalism to personal attack by the MAGAheads on them or their families. I have a feeling that a good number of people with Trump signs have them up for protection even though they plan to vote Blue. I think the same applies to polls - many people are saying they support Trump from fear of retaliation but in the voting booth - they will vote their true selves and vote for Harris/Walz. That is why the polls saying it's a close race don't get me down. Polls only reflect what people who respond to polling questions say and many of them are afraid to go on the record anywhere as not supporting Trump. But in their hearts, they know they will vote Blue. Onward!
NLTownie: here's what I did with my Harris/Walz sign (I wish I could post a photo): it's placed near the house, facing the street, and I stretched an American flag (about 3' by 5') just above it.
It gives 2 messages: vote to preserve democracy, and reclaim the flag.
Okay. I get that. However: I timidly put out my Harris and Harris/Walz signs in a town full of Trump signs. Presto! Almost overnight Harris signs began popping up like mushrooms after a rain! Sometimes, being the first gives permission and courage to others! Neighbors have said "I saw your sign and am glad you're on the right side."
I agree. I live in NC and there are Trump signs everywhere. I have signs in my yard for local candidates, but not Harris/Walz. And I wish I felt safe putting a bumper sticker on my car, but do not.
Yes. Even years ago, canvassing a purple suburban district outside Northern VA, I was surprised to hear people say that they were probably the only Democratic voters in their development. Without naming names, I was happy to them 'you are not alone' in a good way:)
Daniel, again, ThankYou for posting the link to field team six. As a retiree, I am writing several hours a day. And happy to 'mix it up' by volunteering through different groups.
I apologized to my local post office agent for so many postcards. And he said, even for our tourist town which routinely keeps well stocked - postcard stamps have been 'flying off the shelves.'
(Just hoping DeJoy won't find a way to sabotage the efforts. He certainly doesn't want to shrink the GOP manufactured USPS deficit, provide an efficient government service - or save Democracy.)
I worry about DeJoy too! Doing at least 10 a day from TonyTheDemocrat (thank you, Miss Warren, for teaching me to print well), which I mail, one at a time on opposite sides of the mailbox to be certain they don’t stick together. Today 100 from Blue Wave which will come with address stickers and only a couple of lines to write, so out in two days. Then back to TonyTheDemocrat and either Florida (De Santos has VoteByMail, county by county, with PHONE NUMBERS FOR OBTAINING BALLOTS) or Sherrod Brown in Ohio.
I just moved to Michigan from Kansas. First thing I did was to register to vote. Got my Kamala yard sign out. For the first time in decades, I feel giddy that my vote may actually make a difference! Woo-Hoo!!!
This is so deeply scary in a country that prides itself on freedom. How much freedom has already been lost when ordinary citizens are afraid to openly express their political choice? When I was in my late teens I campaigned for a forward-thinking candidate. I was wearing a campaign button at the house of my friend Leah. Her father was a survivor of the Nazi camps in WW II. He took me aside and advised me not to openly wear the campaign button. "The people who would harm you never forget." he warned me as he sincerely begged me to take the button off. Out of respect I did and thanked him for his concern. After I left Leah's house, I put it back on. That was sixty years ago. I thought I lived in a country where I would never have to worry about showing support for whatever political party I supported. Yet, here we are. Please vote Blue. It's very possible may not have the option to do it in another election.
I've written hundreds as well. I'm finding it's one of the few things that keep me sane in the current version of alternate reality whatshisface insists on trying to beat us down with.
When someone asked how many postcards I was writing (to swing state FL)....I said 1000....but there were only 200. It seemed like a lot at the time! So glad I did it!
Very true. Candidate Trump leads in two or three key states. Hard to believe. Judging from comments made on C-span's call in shows, people do not trust the economy under President Biden. Many just think candidate Trump is the living, breathing end. Hard to believe.
The propaganda has been unbelievably effective has it not. Biden should be hailed as a genius on the economy, not denigrated. But Rupert won’t allow it and the MSM only counters with the both sides byllschittery.
The even handed ness of the media in the face of evil is shocking. No questions about how the hell you can be a smug Republican and threaten your neighbors.
It is a problem. Of course, the population of listeners -- or, at least, telephoners -- is not representative. C-span is the only neutral place for them to go. Occasionally, someone will say a civil war is coming. The population is fifty-plus years old. Younger people have jobs to go to.
Ned, I think I'd go crazy or ballistic listening to that. It's the same reason I don't read Letters to the Editor anymore. (Yet here I am, expressing my own opinion while reading those of others 🤷 )
The choice should be clear to all, but David Sedaris' wry comparison comes to mind: (paraphrasing): when presented with a choice between a cowpie and a grilled chicken breast, you don't ask how the chicken is seasoned.
Deep down, I believe that Harris/Walz will massively win the popular vote. I've been out West (CO, AZ, UT, NV) travelling with my son and grandson, and expected to see a lot of signs for the other guy. In fact there have been few for either candidate, but I'd guess it's 50:50 at worst. My last I saw said "Utah Voters for Harris".
Anyway, will a massive pop vote difference be enough to win the Electoral College, especially in the face of misdeeds by Republican election officials? Dunno. But those that choose the cowpie might be ordering it for all of us.
Fascinating to witness the GOP 'phrase/lie of the day' travel so fast. From/through sectors of officialdom and the populace. If I hear it on the replay of the Fox Sunday morning show, I'll certainly hear it on Monday's Washington Journal.
Heartening to hear our formidable Democrats in Congress! Just imagine being on a committee chaired by Comer, Jordan et al. But our House Dems are amazing and too many to mention - certainly the entire Progressive Caucus.
From venerable Civil Rights stalwarts like Hank Johnson, Jim Clyburn to Jamie Raskin, Jerry Nadler, Jim McGovern, Sheila Jackson Lee, Rosa DeLauro, et al, to AOC, Joe Neguse, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost.
To name just a few.
And not just the Progressive Caucus. We have a deep bench!
And not only their statements of fact and policy, but their true respect for the institution.
Doug, I suspect that you and I are the same in that it is less what someone says (when it contradicts my view) but how that person says it. For the M.A.G.A. types who are obnoxious, they are no more interested in hearing from us than we are in listening to them.
Conservative though arguably l be, I know what side of the barricades I will be one if push comes to shove. The counting of votes, voter suppression, and overall intimidation will play a large role in deciding the presidency; I hope I am way wrong on that one.
Evangelicals almost across the board are preaching "Apocalypse Now", not the movie version either. In fact, a religious End Times sentiment has been in full force for quite a long time. I remember that as a Baptist kid from the 50s. Now it's soused in overturning RvW and momentum from the pulpits and pews is likely in overdrive.
I remember overhearing two male 5th grade teachers in Missouri One asked the other how he could afford a vacation cabin he was buying in Canada since he had also just bought a new Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner hardtop convertible. He replied that he bought them on credit and wouldn't have to pay for them since Armageddon was coming within months.
It was 1957 and the 5th grade teacher told another that Armageddon was just months away. He had some Watch Tower literature that I think he believed a bit too much. I did toy with the idea of the world ending in 1957 at least enough to use it as an excuse to quit doing home work (which didn't go over well with any of the teachers).
I started doing some research on all the other times someone said the world was going to end and decided I better prepare a bit in case it didn't end when they claimed it would. I haven't been a steady student of such believers but recently found a bit on Clara Endicott Sears, whom my mother had worked for as a maid back around 1940 when she stayed at "The Pergolas" in Harvard, MA, and her book, "Days of Delusion." I found a these on Clara Endicott Sears that includes mention the book and Millerites at https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Kennedy, Megan M., ""This place is not meant for recreation. It is meant for inspiration" :: the legacies of Clara Endicott Sears/"
"...Concurrently, she pursued a curiosity in the Millerite craze which culminated in her 1924 treatise Days of Delusion. Her interest was specifically in the devout disciples of William Miller, a New York Baptist who predicted the end of the world would come in 1844. Prior to the expected millennium, Miller brought many followers to Harvard for a short period to seek a spiritual commune, not altogether unlike Bronson Alcott's.Following the Great Disappointment, when the world continued and no apocalypse occurred, many post-Disappointment believers formed the modern day Seventh Day Adventists. Sears showed compassion for the plight of the believers, depicting their devotion and disappointment. Through personal testimonies, records, and brief narrative, Sears compiled a story that examined a time when "the minds and souls of men and women responded in inverse ratio to undercurrents of mental and spiritual agitation."
Though her title implies her feeling that Millerites were essentially deluded and misled by their leader, the naivete of the group did not affect her reverence for their faith and perseverance..."
That seems the closest connection to people and places I've met or been to related to earlier claimants of knowing when Armageddon was coming. I found a list of something like 130 times it was supposed to happen since his 1843-44 prediction that haven't happened (and 6 more due to happen soon).
I'm still into planning for what to continue doing to improve it if it doesn't end as advertised.
If i recall, just the "the saved" are saved, most of humankind is doomed, and if you're a Jehovah's Witness, that's only about 144,000 saved as i vaguely recall. This of course is a fantasy, and you can find similar sentiments if you page through the New Testament. Try Hebrews for example. I shudder from time to time when i think that's what people can actually think. The Nazis ran an outsized genocide when they planned to exterminate most of Ukraine, and i think Byelorussia and replace them with Germans. I shudder when i even think of what the Russians are now doing with Ukraine.
one must understand that Trump derives his support not from the crap he vomits but the revenge against something they perceive is hostile to their way of life. We should think about that in greater depth. We should for openers, stop with the blame game. And stop calling white people the privileged group. It doesn’t matter if there is plausibility to the idea.
This is true. A FB “red” friend reposted why she is voting red. And while I didn’t agree- I saw where much of it was coming from. I scrolled on by- but I wish there was a good way to really engage on the substance and the fears that drive this group.
I also had a red FB acquaintance claim Harris rose to the top “on her back.” I asked for her source and got the usual nonanswer “look it up.” So I went to fact checking sites. Nothing. I responded that this is an old trope to denigrate professional women, of which I was one. Then I blocked her.
I saw a clip of Judy Woodruff last night having convos with people with opposing views. I missed the full show. The close-mindedness of the haters was brutal to watch. People seem so afraid of what they know nothing about. Sad.
Bill, what do you propose instead? I agree that what we are doing is not working, but do you have an alternate suggestion for getting our point(s) across?
People have pretty much made up their minds in the respective camps. On the few undecideds likely to decide the presidency, I am inclined toward a civil, tasteful approach. Benjamin Franklin said something similar to a good example is the most persuasive sermon.
I’m absolutely humbled as well, dumbfounded that you ask me unless you are waiting to lower the guns upon my response. I know you by now. Sometimes so often people can’t articulate why they believe what they insist is true. And maybe they have a point. Sometimes I like to give examples. They day I was waiting for the euro North train to bring me back to CT and I observed a young Black woman smoking weed. I joked how I was once arrested selling weed to undercover cops and how I got off without doing prison time. her quick response was, “You know why don’t you? You are privledged.” While there might be some truth to that statement, instead, I got a good deal because I had a clean record, had a good lawyer, and I aided in the pre-sentencing phase by agreeing to volunteer for 6 months in a crisis intervention center and wound up staying for two years. But this young woman, infused in CRT was convinced my white skin got me off.
We need to end the blame game. Trumps popularity is the end result. I could write a book on it. In fact I have; “Donald’s Vanity Tantrums.”
I don't get it. Who the hell do these people think cleaned up the economic mess that Trump and his little team of minions left???? Here in Maine, Austin Theriault, a MAGA hand-picked by little Mikey Johnson, is campaigning against Jared Golden (who is a very lukewarm Dem). Jared's district is very red which is no doubt why he made some adverts that made a lot of Maine Dems pretty upset. We Dems who want the the Democrats to win the House, will still vote for him but he got some serious blowback on some of his remarks. (Especially those about Biden's competency and that ridiculous sop to the County Repubbies: that if Trump won, he, Golden, would be okay with it.)
That being said, Theriault's tired ads about "Harris' inflation" are aging out pretty fast.
It's always been this way. The POTUS always gets credit (good and bad) for the economy while in office. People don't seem to realize that the economy isn't instant up or down. It is usually the previous administration that leaves behind the economy at the end of his tenure that the next President gets credit for. I personally think Biden has done a marvelous job with, among other things, the economy. What would we have gone through and where would we be if the other guy had won the last election.
We'd already be a shithole country--exhausted and broke from Trump's tax cuts for the rich, his destruction of every remaining shred of a social safety net, the attempts of the evangelicals to make this "a Christian country", the attempts to weaponize the justice department to prosecute all of his "perceived enemies" and all his other ham-handed stupidities such as rounding up immigrants, including legal ones, not to mention handing Ukraine over to Putin for a kiss-up gift...and who know how much other mayhem he would have created by now....It doesn't bear thinking about!
I am Catholic and look forward to reading Gareth Gore’s book. I have no use for Leonard Leo or his ilk. Not all of us follow the Tim Busch (Napa Institute) or Leonard Leo (Opus Dei) models. They are also among those Catholics who are hostile toward Pope Francis.
Did you hear that a Federal judge in North Dakota has just blocked employee abortion and IVF protections at thousands of Catholic employers nationwide? No doubt the decision will be challenged but, yikes. Scary times.
Catholics have long been opposed to IVF- it’s in the “rule book” but it’s just not talked about at the pulpit. It is consistent with the position that life begins at conception.
Employees of a church (or diocese) have less recourse because they are considered ‘ministerial.’ This has been the law for years. For example, while the ACA mandated birth control be covered as a preventive service, Catholic employers were exempted. One can be fired for being in an SSM.
not quite up the level of actual scism. There is likely going to be quite the battle over what the next pope potentially stands for. I suspect a conservative hyper-reaction, likely backed by the American archbishoprics, among others.
Also true, i think most of the decline has already happened, right? But it's also happening even among evangelical denominations, and has hit liberal protestant churches hard, Anglican too mind you. So.... is this also part of a broad decline which has long made inroads across the OECD, esp Europe? American being an outlier relatively speaking? Just a matter of time? Just the same the RCC conservative anchors seem to have their heels dug in, so....
Why do they believe things were better under the Indicted Felon when we lost 104M Americans to Covid under his watch? That's more than any other industrialized country, due to his lies and mixed messages about masks and vaccines.
Thanks for the list. Use it people!! Field Team 6 is fantastic and the text banking is easy. Jon Tester needs help phone banking and canvassing if anyone’s able to help. Florida, Nebraska, Texas all on play so everyone do something!!! I’m writing postcards. Do what you can. All we care about is on the line.
I have sent postcards to Nebraska voters through Blue Wave. I also have some to send that I got from the local NC Democratic Party Headquarters for our candidate for governor, Josh Stein. So I am imagining that anyone can get postcards to send through your local Democratic Party Headquarters.
Lin, in our town they will not print political letters in our 2xper week former daily newspaper. It is more like a high school sports report! And, who was arrested for drugs that past week.
Today, because of the American Leadership Paralysis due to the forthcoming November 20224 Election, Israel launched over 1,000 Air-Strikes in Lebanon killing over 500 Lebanese... The hope for a Cease Fire in Gaza is effectively Dead for now... Today the USA sent additional Troops to the Middle-East.... The USA could rein in Israel's Actions by enacting an Arms-Embargo denying Israel resupply, as Israel is already Armed-To-The-Teeth with American Weapons.... This is more than enough for Israel's Self-Defense... This could end very badly for the USA...
Netanyahu sure knows how to screw the helping hand that the US has given to Israel. He will do everything to aid chump and sound tough on terrorists, while being one.
Netanyahu's meddling against the USA goes back to the 1990s... He has the same Prime-Directives as DJT.... Stay Out Of Prison, and More Power... DJT will Destroy the USA... Netanyahu will Destroy Israel....
Don't forget that Netanyahoo slept in Jared Kushner's bed when he visited the US years ago. There will always be that connection between the VonTrump crime family and Bibi.
Apache, so oddly familiar how a segment of US society truly believes in and supports TFFFG’s “vision” (nightmare?) of America. From what I’ve read there is a somewhat similar division of “vision” in Israel as well. It is exhausting, but no time to rest in countering autocratic leadership. ☮️
Hello Barbara... When you meet Israelis, they have a 'Siege Mentality'... They are convinced that the 'World-Is-Out-To-Get-Them'... This is Paranoid... Instead of making Peace, they have chosen to Arm-Themselves-To-The-Teeth, and Terrorize their Neighbors... Blessed-Are-The-Peace-Makers...
Bibi was educated in the US. He knows our politics well and because he is associated with ultra Orthodox extremists, he not only gets money and arms from Biden but from them too. There are many in the Brooklyn area. If you will recall, they burned their masks in a huge bonfire, as a defiance to the order of wearing them for their safety when Covid hit. I tell you this as a Jewish woman, who was raised in rural NC as a child of Holocaust victims, who are turning over and over in their graves.
Netanyahu has expressed Contempt in the Past for many American Jews for being too Liberal, and Naive... I've Walked Through Haredi Neighborhoods, and have Friends with Children of the Jewish European Holocaust....
I wonder Who Netanyahu has visited more... Putin, or Biden... I've noticed that Netanyahu has not sent any 'Iron Domes', or 'David Slings' to Ukraine...
Problematic indeed. At least the Dems don't have to worry about "peaceful" sentiments from Maga. I do hope Muslim voters in Michigan et al come around to the "lesser of two evils" as far as they're concerned.
Cut 'em off at the knees. I thought Biden had already promised to stop sending arms if Bibi continued war crimes. Maybe my senility is creeping up on me. I'm a year and a half younger than TFFG, but it's a good thing I'm not running to be Commander in Chief!
Biden may have threatened, but it was an Empty Threat... There are now close to 1,000 U.S. Arms Air Lifts to Israel since Oct7, 2023... Netanyahu knows that Biden is a Short-Timer, and is trying to Tip The Election To Traitor DJT... Netanyahu will be in the USA for 5-Days... I wonder what he will doing ;-)
I’m hoping for our very savvy President to know how to handle this and his VP soon to be our next President to put it in no uncertain terms to the whole lot. Nitwit is playing us.
Hello Ashley... Ask the Palestinians, the Ukrainians, and now the Lebanese... Besides the Erosion of American Influence, the Relevance of the UN Influence is Slipping Away...
You can quit if you want to (says the former smoker and FB poster) I hate what social media has done to us all (everywhere), something needs to give. It is insanity.
Good Lord, at least when I got banned I accused chump of using Goebbels propaganda rules. Guess that violated a rule, although one against saying nasty things about chump.
So …..is there another format ? Could we start one? What paper would print a collection daily?perhaps The View or some semblance would do this. Wonder if Truth Social would …🤔?
I live in a RED, Fl county. My neighborhood has ~ 30 Trump signs/flags and now 4 Harris/Walz and counting.We were the only sign for months.Many Harris/Walz sign wavers are out every w-end at major intersections.They have literally driven away Trumpers with their numbers/enthusiasm.I’ve been wearing a Biden/Harris/Walz t-shirt since Feb without a single negative comment/complaint.
GOP has NO ground game here while my county was number 1 in the state for canvassing last week.Debbie Mucurasel-Powell is gaining on Rick Scott.
Please all, do whatever is in your comfort zone ! 41 days !
In 2016 there were perhaps 100 Trump signs in our little town. Lots of Trump flags and 4' x 8' Trump signs. In 2020, the number was cut in half with still some Trump flags and hats. This year there are maybe 10 houses with Trump signs in the yard and none of the flags or large signs. And I haven't seen a Trump MAGA hat yet.
I heard someone on MSNBC predict on Saturday that Harris/Walz will win by 50 million votes in spite of all of the polling. Wishful thinking to be sure, but if it happens the Democrats will own both Houses of Congress as well as the Presidency. Then they can work on the judiciary.
That sounds unbearable, Lisa. I don't know where in NY you are, but I'm seeing far fewer Trump signs in my rural community than I did in 2016. Our county is majority-Republican, but the demographics have been changing.
Could not agree more Avery. Brilliant and so informative. And so true so much of this has not been articulated on MSM, even MSNBC that does have some great report and commentators. Yet the all caps Trump message was blurted out non stop. My message continues, VOTE BLUE UP AND DOWN THE TICKET. This no matter how you feel to save democracy. The world is watching.
Agree. I hope that everyone will send a copy of this letter to everyone they know through their email/social media contacts. I hope they will raise it in every conversation they have with family, friends and coworkers and be ready to give the link for downloading. Really keen keeners could have copies of the letter with them to distribute. They could also attend community events and hand them out. People can call their local radio and TV stations and demand the station report this news several times. If you can afford it, find a bunch of friends who can afford it to pay to have the letter published in their local newspaper if there is one. This is what activism looks like. This is how to respond to Michelle Obama's call to 'Do something'. We do it because it makes a difference.
Thanks for all this, Prof Richardson. Two things stand out for me: the failing, stumbling "salesman" giving a $100 bill to a man in a grocery with a lame "we'll do this for you," pitch and the blatant Nazi signaling with the $14.88 sale price. The MAGA (and millions of other GOP camp followers) are in a very very dark place right now. NYT polls seem to be the outliers (where and how do the pollsters get the data????????????) --- in any case the NYT clearly seems to be unable to deal with the great swelling wave that is sweeping Kamala Harris forward and upward........
It would be right up there for Trump’s predilection for scams and grifts. I think cryptocurrency is a gigantic scam promoted by people who don’t want scrutiny of their own criminal activity.
Whatever the "pros" may be of Crapto, they are dwarfed by the demonstrable criminal "cons". It's like we don't sell dynamite to anyone at the hardware store. Yeah , it handy for removing stumps, but the downside of making it freely available is unacceptable.
Grover, I think this letter is a good answer to all the clutching of pearls headlines about polls today. We must be laser-focused in voting and getting out the vote in the only poll that matters. We actually did not watch national news today because the preview mentioned polling.
Michele, I totally agree with you. I looked at NYT on polls today (usually don't do that) . Headline is that Trump is gaining; main story on the consensus of polls is kamala up by significant number. It is crazy crazy and not to be taken seriously Writing postcards daily to support Sherrod Brown and heading to a fundraiser tomorrow. I know an experienced democrat pollster who has pointed out that polls can no longer be scientifically controlled---you have no real idea where people are if you use data from cell phone calls. Area code tells nothing. And there are more problems........
I say "Ignore everything the NYT writes about the "horse race" they are determined to cover from now until the election. They DO NOT want Harris to run away with the election.
True. DMN always has been ultra conservative. There is also a quite studied disinterest in mainstream media outlets about educating the public about the policies of each candidate, and in ignoring Trump’s increasing delusions.
I think the Oprah Zoom Hall was equivalent to that, Kathy. And here's a link everyone who wishes can broadcast to their friends and family networks... it's a song about Project 2025 that's like the oldie about how a bill gets passed in Congress:
We began getting the NYTimes when Trump was first elected. I am disgusted with their normalizing this election. Their pundits, some of them, infuriate me when they say that Harris has not yet earned their support. Oh brother!
My concern is that mainstream media are hedging their bets. If they are too anti-Trump and he is elected, they will be shut down. I admit I have become paranoid after becoming fmailiar with Project 2025.
I think they'll be shut down anyway. The Trumpers I know HATE the NYT, and they don't want to hear that the NYT hasn't exactly been cheerleading Harris, and certainly not Biden. Their minds are made up that the entire MSM (except Fox of course) is 'fake news'.
Tester needs postcards too. Montana is a tougher nut to crack in this election than Ohio, although Sherrod needs and deserves our support. I can't do postcards from out of country, but I can text!
Years ago when the Maddow blog still allowed commentary, there was a wonderful poster, Carolina Lady with Fan, who had worked for years in polling. After reading her posts, I ignored polls.
The NYTs overweights rural voters in its respondents by 12-15% . Rural voters heavily favor Trump/MAGA by ~65% -35%. This results in 4-5% Trump bias in theirbpolling results. Don't think of the Times poll as a balanced national poll. Think of it as a window into how MAGA America thinks.
so I googled to get a critique on NYT presidential polls and just about all I got was a long list of NYT articles, even after tweaking my vocabulary. So much for AI or whatever Google uses. I think a lot of Google results are as much about product placement as actual searching to answer the question. Not the first time for me.
I think this is just Google basic, off my pc. I used AI generically without knowing what internal algorithms google search uses. Quick look at "google" search says it's complicated, and AI doesnt appear in any obvious way. I have found that once google locks onto the first try, it tends to double down on it even if you change the search terms. By the same token, I've found it mostly? useful for all kinds of things.
I read somewhere recently (can't remember where--maybe the Atlantic??) that a lot of the highly suspect poll reporting, as well as the "sky is falling" emails and texts I am getting from every damn Dem organization in the universe, are all calculated moves to keep Dems engaged and willing to get off their tushies and vote. The problem with Dems is that they are lazy and can't be bothered unless there is a one ton rock hovering directly over their heads. Given that in the past 20 years the Other Side has voted in consistently higher numbers in the "big" federal elections (around 52-53%) than registered Dems (around 45-47%) the presumption in a lot of planning circles apparently is that if people think that Harris is way ahead, they won't bother to vote. The possibility that it has come to this--that in order to get Dems energized to do more than kvetch and refuse to engage because they're too damn lazy and complacent to do anything to help--makes me want to smack people upside the head.
I am a New Yorker and I have to defend the NYTIMES— no they’re not perfect and I sometimes cringe but I will pick up my paper from my doorstep in Marblehead and know there are plenty of facts I’ll learn today!
Given the gray lady's recent bias, I'd double check "facts" from the NYT, Liz. Useta be the paper of record, but not so much any more. Not only about politics and parties, their own opinions seem to be creeping into what should be straight reportage.
Awww…Marblehead. My parents were h s sweethearts there. In the annals of h s football my dad was “Soapy Waters (RHB)”.
“1938
A 7-3 record for McGuiness in his final season, highlighted by a 55-0 clobbering of Newburyport. Bud Keenan scored three touchdowns and Bruce Remick two...Danvers was shut out again, 6-0; Beverly fell, 13- 6; and Swampscott was routed, 21-0, to close the season . . . Marblehead won its fourth Northeastern Conference title in the five-year existence of the league. The Thanksgiving lineup: Hill, Mitchell (LE), Driscoll, W. Chirnshide (LT), Hawkes, Urie (LG), Hayes, Monroe() (C), Parker, Woodfin (RG), R. Chirnside, Caswell (RT), Haskell, Stackpole (RE), Remick, Cloutman (QB), Keenan (LHB), Tenney, Waters (RHB), Carey, Brophy, Hardwick, Clive (FB).”
Well that was a fun little trip down memory lane as it’s 5am and the Colorado elk are in the rut - bugling so loud outside my window I can’t possibly sleep.
The response rate (the percentage of people who answer the phone when called by a pollster) is the same for Republicans and Democrats: 2.5% I read this in the NYT yesterday. (Gift link, read down:
Make of it what you will. I know polls try to correct for things like that, but the 2.5% figure does not inspire much faith in the validity of the polls. I guess we'll see.
There would be some value if polls gave a measure of the reliability of results. Reliability looks at the consistency of observations - how closely do different polls (i.e., observations of the same subset of a population) correlate. If reliability is low, validity (does the measure actually measure what it purports to measure) must be questioned.
“ Vote buying (also referred to as electoral clientelism and patronage politics) occurs when a political party or candidate distributes money or resources to a voter in an upcoming election with the expectation that the voter votes for the actor handing out monetary rewards.[1] Vote buying can take various forms such as a monetary exchange, as well as an exchange for necessary goods or services.[2] This practice is often used to incentivise or persuade voters to turn out to elections and vote in a particular way. Although this practice is illegal in many countries such as the United States, Argentina, Mexico, Kenya, Brazil and Nigeria, its prevalence remains worldwide.”
The insanity continues, and the starkness of the choice between order and chaos, progress and retreat could not be more clear.
Secondly don’t believe the hype here in Philly. Some coordinated lawlessness with cars doing donuts and hooligans attacking police is not homegrown. These people are not from Philly proper, and I suspect right wing media opportunistically rides any bad news in cities to drive their anti urban narrative. Things are fine here.
And lastly, I had a brush here on Substack with the ugly anti-vax community after I posted a piece about why we continue to keep our daughter up to date with cdc recommended Covid vaccines. Gratefully, and our choice, and absolutely evidence based as I documented. And yet here is the crap that was attached to some restacks:
“ This piece of sh*t psycho is a f*cking murderer. F*cking moronic.” ~Derek Krane
“This so-called “doctor” is a brainwashed fool, and is part of the genocide agenda. He is complicit in murder." ~David Geezermann (an alias I presume)
“...the example of a mercenary and accomplice to genocide, who deserves to be in lifetime prison. The reason he is still working to murder children proves once again that we are in a depopulation war.” ~Professor Fred Nazar
“Some people should not be allowed children.” ~Tim West
“…has the CDC far up his *sshole. He suggested you murder your child with the Covid vaccine. I agree with you, Ryan. It’s not malpractice. It’s murder.” ~ Tim Holt
Sound familiar HCR? The same playbook of ignorance and intimidation that rolls straight down from the top of the Trump golden escalator.
4 years of Trump spewing garbage and poisoning the well of decency has long lasting effects. Boars Head had to shut down the Virginia plant, and we must shut down Trump and Vance. They are agents of disease far worse than listeriosis. But take heart. The first anti vaxxers wanted to dismember Edward Jenner, for the cowpox vaccine to prevent smallpox.
This is what freedom is all about…choice! One has the choice to not get immunized, as well as the choice to do so. Real freedom does not infringe upon the rights of others. The only thing the felon has done for the people in his base is give them the freedom to spew the hate and lies that already live within them. And if you don’t believe them, then you are the problem, not them.
If there is another virulent pandemic and there likely will be, immunization of all is the only way to stop it in its tracks. Freedom is not an issue here. We immunize for the good of all. Read a history of polio, or smallpox.
I presume your statement "you are the probelm" is meant to be the perspective of those who spew, not of those who reject the spew. The problem with anti-vaxxers is that if they refuse, for example, to vaccinate their children against measles and chicken pox, then their children are saddled with the possibility that they will infect and kill or maim others their age when they get the disease from another nonvaccinated kid. With refusal to vaccinatine against Covid, the adult who chooses that will put others at risk if (when) Covid strikes them. In the name of freedom, they feel freedom to infect others is their choice. So it seems to me, anyhow.
I disagree. Everyone can choose to do anything they want to but what they choose to do is not immune from consequences. The entire justice system and rule of law determines what choices are acceptable and what choices have consequences. When your choice has the potential and the likelihood that it will cause harm to the health, safety and life of other people, that choice is not acceptable and those type of choices must have consequences - drinking and driving, yelling 'fire' in a crowded public place, having an electrified fence around your property without posted warnings, requiring a fence around a backyard pool, not following food safety rules, etc. In the case of immunization, if you choose not to get immunized, then you should not have the right to be in public places like schools, church, theatres, parks because your choice to not get vaccinated is a danger to others. You will harm others.
The freedom to lie, deceive and spew hate is a moral issue and profoundly unchristian but when these choices threaten the very fabric of a society and pose physical and emotional harm, there ought to be consequences. Freedom as you express it is the basis for anarchy. Ever heard of war and how lies and information have caused world wars? Truth - everyone having access to the facts - is the basis for democracy. Opinions are not facts. I truly can't believe that you think that if I don't believe lies, I'M the problem?
Thanks for that tidbit of history. Most of what I read was how the public came around to support it. After all, he got the idea from local cowmaid practices in the English countryside. Also, in those days retribution was all round more graphic in general.
It is a form violence, meant to intimidate. Lies can be a form of violence, the politicizing of a sane COVID response being only one such example. Racism, anti-gay, and bullying or rape of women is is violence. And of course mayhem and murder are violence.
When the object is social and universal individual justice, rule of law is the alternative, But violence is and always was an effective way for individuals and factions to work their will; robbery, rape, murder, persecution, corruption, dictatorship, war, etc. All the creepy stuff; and there is always a following for those who want to go that road, especially when they wrap it in Orwellian cover stories.
Rule of law can enshrine any level of violence, it's the content of the law and social customs which matter. What you're talking about is social/political groups willing to strongarm their "our way or the highway" POVs. Democracies historically have had to encode more peaceable means slowly, as you rightly put it, backing it up with laws and enforcement. A messy process, right?
There is no law or social contract that cannot be abused and weaponized against social justice, as $COTUS proved in many ways. Nevertheless, the set-up we inherited was pretty well designed in support of just, inclusive governance., not the least of which has been the portals for democratic change. Ultimately the preponderance of our citizens must honor a genuine aspiration for universal justice, and inform our own choices in that context. Substantial messiness and imperfection is inevitable, but how much we strive to discover and apply our efforts toward justice is a choice, and choices weigh on outcomes.
I had an anti-vaxx friend of more than 30 years, Doc. For years I tried to discuss the scientific evidence of the vaccine's efficacy with her and was met with similar accusations of group think. I begged her to drop the subject once it had become clear that we couldn't talk about it politely (or rationally). She met every citation of studies that gave statistical evidence that vaccines are effective at keeping people out of hospital and avoiding long-term health issues with citations of junk science and conspiracy theories. She continued to send me links to videos trashing Fauci or lauding Bobby Jr. At last I told her that I no longer trusted her to respect my boundaries and blocked her on all platforms. Sad, but necessary to my mental health.
Vaccination is invasive and not always entirely safe, but pathogenic viruses is so much worse. I read about a Republican bigwig who was deliberately exposing his kids to Measles, so they would become immune "naturally". The fricking virus in invasive and far less safe than a vaccine. The vaccine is a "cheat sheet" for the immune system, like breaking Nazi codes in WWII. Measles sucks. I had it in the '50s) can be serious, and temporarily degrades general immune responses. It's truly delusional thinking.
O...M...G... Dr. McCormick, that is horrifying to see such a Medieval response. I read many of your Substack articles and it's clear you are an empiricist. It's sad how some people are either ignorant of, or distrusting of science. Keep fighting the Good Fight.
Some of these replies are likely from bots. Try not to take the ones from real people personally, they do not know you, and have no real grasp on the issue. They seem to be responding to their own demons by using ad hominem to demonizing you. Been there. It's not easy. I admire your courage and conviction.
this is the febrile lunacy generating right wing extremism and the related conspiracy theory world. A local on my FB just posted a very lengthy spew about how anti-covid vaccines have been causing "massive" spike in heart attacks esp among youth, operated by a "genocidal" pharmaceutical industry et al.
As a nurse, I keep myself current with all the vaccines recommended by the CDC and urge my family and friends to do the same. I had one bout with COVID several years ago and it lasted 11/2 days. I’m 77 with comorbidities and May likely have died if not vaxxed and boosted. Once I’m recovered from cataract surgeries, I’m getting the new vaccine with my annual flu shot.
As the parent of a toddler with cancer who has a port and requires frequent ER visits anytime he has a fever, we have unfortunately had a few run ins with Covid. I wish he could be vaccinated, but not yet. One day. I wish other families would vaccinate to help protect those that can’t (like my kid!) vaccine hesitancy absolutely blows my mind and even before my
Kid had cancer it infuriated me, but now I see it as a directly targeted and intentionally selfish threat to his life.
I feel the surprising lack of grace and patience in some replies I have experienced today have only served to remind me that I am not, obviously, a professional writer and should keep my thoughts to myself.
Not it is not Annie. You are correct. You can only provide consequences to folks who don’t comply. I don’t need a lesson about polio or the need for vaccines. My mom was an RN and pregnant with me during the height of the Polio epidemic in this country.
All of the examples that Heather has cited sound like good news, but am I correct in fearing that Trump's emphasis isn't on gaining votes but on suppressing the votes of those who don't support him? Even if the popular vote and the Electoral College votes are eventually in Harris' favor, will there be delay and chaos enough to make the transition from a Biden presidency to a Harris presidency more difficult than we expect? And will there be violence, condemned by most, but sought be a powerful few? It is hard to predict the reactions of a cornered animal, so we must be prepared and we must remain vigilant to the threats to our democracy and our freedom.
The thing that disturbs me the most is that a relative hand full of states may have the power to determine the outcome of this election.
I believe that Trump is focused on the Electoral College at this point, could care less about policies or keeping promises (if he can even keep them straight).
I don’t think I could stand another debacle like Gore or Hillary. We have to get rid of the EC and let the vast majority guide our country with their vote.
Agreed, G.P., but it's very hard to get rid of the EC, because it would take a constitutional amendment = 290 ayes in the house/67 in the senate OR 38 states ratifying its removal. None of that is feasible today. Same problem changing tenure or ethics rules for SCOTUS. Both need fixing badly, but there isn't enough legislative support to accomplish either yet.
Trump is supported by powerful forces. Look what the Supreme Court gave him. Those men have powerful motivated friends and they see a chance of a lifetime. He could lose all around and still gain the White House. Then die. Who cares about Trump; they have Vance.
It isn’t just suppression of voters but also that the majority of the investment of campaign money from the Trump camp is to fight the results of the vote on November 5th should Trump lose. Very, very little is being spent on a ground game for Trump. The efforts to mess up the vote count in Georgia is to throw the decision to the Republican majority controlled House of Representatives where it will be a one vote per state vote to decide the presidency.
The Trump machine will dispute the results of any swing state they don’t carry. His personal freedom is at stake. He will do everything in his power to thwart being subjected to the judicial system.
Heather has observed that Trump is not campaigning for the popular vote. As experienced observers such as Simon Rosenberg and Fred Wellman are commenting, we Democrats are on the winning team, the systems are holding (and preparing, e.g. Marc Elias's Democracy Docket team hired by Harris campaign), we'd rather be us than them, and our job is to Get Out The Vote.
Fred Wellman spoke on the Markers For Democracy "24 Hours in '24" Zoom event today, 9/24/24, and tomorrow will include Simon Rosenberg, Heather Cox Richardson, and other All Stars:
We should be prepared for any eventuality, Betsy, including "relatively smooth", even if a Georgia hand count has its way. It didn't work out very well for Trump last time. One curious remark Trump made the other day, if he "loses", this will be his last campaign. That a hint of an exit ramp?
That wasn't how I took it, Frank--it seemed to me to part and parcel of his assessment that he will win this time, and that there won't ever be the need for another campaign once he becomes dictator and gets rid of everyone who opposes him.
Reasonable fears, I think, Betsy. I also think preparations are already being made to prevent/ defend against violence and refusal to certify. I hope for a crushing blue landslide for presidency and congress. I fear, as you do, that nothing will be enough to make the MAGAs behave civilly and legally. At least if my hope bears fruit, there will be laws to enforce and maybe even a supreme court to protect the constitution.
The larger Q: why do so many tens of millions support -- at least, for one thing -- the racism?
In one of his videos today, Brian Tyler Cohen pegged Republicans as totally “just trafficking in a reality of their own creation.”
They’re addicted to porn (Mark Robinson), confinement of women to state control (the Clarence court), racist lies (Trump and Vance), and fraud, rape, and violating the Constitution (Trump and his Clarence court).
If they’d gone to schools with any humanities, they’d know we can learn to see realities outside us. We can see others as individuals, not just units in categories as standardized testing pushes.
But the conceits of our standardized testers serve our commodifiers, our rich, our vulgar. Thus of tens millions of fellow Americans helplessly rut in racism.
We can reverse this. We can key humanities to what they were prior to that 1971 Powell memo.
👏 On target!! As colleges (I taught in a leading liberal arts college in what I now see as the vanished "Golden Age of the Liberal Arts".) get "transformed" the country looses big time. The GOP has gutted school budgets from Kindergarten through graduate schools. Restore humanities, keep science growing, and get rid of college as vocational school. AND have truly first-class vocational schools for skilled trades and crafts, management, culinary arts, etc etc ---the world needs first-class plumbers, leather workers, carpenters, bricklayers, chefs, stenographers,-----the whole range of what keeps the world working well.
We need to be collaboratively creating our own culture instead of relying on commercial interests to manufacture it. We need to be making the rules, not just those with the most money. Rather, government of the people, by the people, for the people, for real; and we get little preparation for it.
It's not a real democracy, and certainly not a wise one, unless we, the people, are engaged, well informed, and responsible about taking on the gravity of our collective roles in creating and maintaining a viable free society.
I'm liking comments of GZ and JL and am agreed about collaboratively creating our own culture and all that includes. That's an amount of self-responsibility I rarely see. I do not get endorphins from witty condemnations and fantasies to cope with this hyper-polarized landscape. The problems run deep and manifest widely. Seeing violent conflicts increase while the stock market rises causes my disgust to reach a new level. I'm around so many entrenched bureaucracies trying to grow themselves among super-privileged mostly-liberal lineages that I rarely see people I want to vote for anymore. Your post reminds me to vote for people and policies that will do the least damage while giving us time to realize what taking on the gravity of our collective roles might be.
When you say "college as vocational school," Grover, I'm guessing you mean biz ed.
When I was an undergrad at the U of Michigan (1965-69), U.S. corporations wanted personnel whom colleges could teach in many richly varying ways, many majors possible.
As for "business" skills, pretty much all corporations then said work for us, we'll teach you our best skills for you ourselves.
Enter the Powell memo, 1971. And by the end of the decade humanities were done. Tenure largely shut down. State subsidies drastically cut (thank-you ALEC). New classes of grossly underpaid contingent labor taking over most all undergrad teaching. Students saddled with the largest debt to banks in human history. And K-12 suffocating not only under the new regimes of standardized testing, but poisoned further with the dehumanized conceits all the corporate predators craved.
Today's Ivy League? Nearly 50% of all there now major only in the biz ed (vocational training) suited to the nihilism of the predator classes.
Tens of millions who were formerly working class saw their jobs offshored, for them only to stew, addict themselves to opioids, buy their millions of AR-15s, and become the batshit crazy banshees for their hate-filled, narcissist, racist, fat, orange demagogue.
"They’re addicted to porn (Mark Robinson), confinement of women to state control (the Clarence court), racist lies (Trump and Vance), and fraud, rape, and violating the Constitution (Trump and his Clarence court)." How shocking it is to realize just a decade ago very few people would have taken you seriously. But fascism happens fast. Think Ceausescu, Franco, Mussolini. Yes, it CAN happen here.
Yes, kdsherpa, no one would have taken any of this seriously "just a decade ago."
But, then, just a decade ago Citizens United was only four years old. The Supreme Court a decade ago was only 14 years out from having rushed in to quash voting results in the presidential election for it far-right majority to guarantee Clarence's party the winner.
Things got bad, kdsherpa, as the far-right foundations post-Powell memo kicked in, hired record-breaking numbers of lobbyists, and put U.S. billionaires on steroids. As, too -- humanities dead in schools -- our worst predators could offshore those many millions of working class jobs and indebt more millions of college youth to the banks.
I vividly remember my Dad -- (who was a prof of Sociology at UNC. He was at UM prior to that, and I had the most wonderful first 10 years of life growing up in Ann Arbor. We left just before you arrived in A2, and moved to the segregated, KKK dominated South.) -- saying to me during Reagan's reign, when the Citizens United PAC began: "Well, there goes our democracy." It took 22 years to become enshrined in law, but the seeds of destruction were planted long before. [Please write a few words about the post-Powell memo. Thanks.]
1) Through the 1970s the Heritage Foundation and the Hoover Institute spent millions paying far right "scholars" to publish articles in the mainstream press decrying any and all in higher ed active in anti-war, civil rights, or feminist causes. Their real onus? To tar academics with any humanities for public issues. Their goal? To stigmatize humanities as amateurish, when academics should neuter themselves, stick to narrowed specializations only.
They won. Combined with ALEC's successful lobbying of state legislatures to cut public funding everywhere, tenure reduced and became trophy for only the most narrowed, specialized, neutered. By 1980 no U.S. elites accessed any humanities anymore. The new predator classes were free to offshore the millions of working class jobs, which they did, unseen by the rest of America for the next several decades.
2) Enter standardized testing. All of it stressed abstracted views of life only. Everything was linear, unit-based, categorical. Nothing human, nothing regionally unique, nothing but life as by abstracted groupings only. Totally demoralizing, commodifying, gripped by relentless causalities. See Diane Ravitch, "The Language Police," 2003.
The U.S., with its money, its desiccated Fulbright, set this new, dehumanized model for the rest of the world. See Minae Mizumura, "The Fall of Language in the Age of English," English translation Columbia U Press 2016.
If you assembled a compendium of creepy politicians who transgressed the rules of law and decency from about the time the Democratic Party walked away from it's Dixiecrat wing, I wonder how how they would stack in the Democrat-Republican columns? I cop to having biases, but it seems to me a lot of the creepiest stuff had a distinctly Republican spin.
I think you answered your own question, Phil, when you characterized racism, etc. as an addiction. I don't believe anyone can be argued or taught out of such a dependency. I'm not a 12 stepper, but I do agree that to change anything about oneself, one has to recognize that such and such is a problem. Maybe we could follow the smoking-is-bad-for-your-health model, but beliefs and biases are more abstract -- there's no scary consequence like cancer to make people want to relinquish them. And it's double tricky with so many so-called Christian ministries supporting these very ungodly habits "in the name of righteousness."
I think that we humans like approval, and like the Fox and the Crow, flattery can be used manipulatively. Take climate abuse. The prognosis is scary and remediation difficult, so there is relief in being assured that you don't have to worry about it. It's just bad people trying to scare you. There is relief in being told that all your problems are somebody else's faul,t and you have no responsibilities to up your game. It can be comforting to be told you are the "master race", and whatever else is wrong in your life, you are assured that tower over those inferior "others".
It's palliative, and it's BS that can't withstand the light of day, but like a narcotic, it is a refuge, and even a thrill; and people are reluctant to let it go. Especially when taught to believe it from when the first opened their eyes.
I feel like this election is like open heart surgery the result could end up either life or death. When writers from the NYT write articles saying Kamala Harris has to convince me to vote, my question or response would be “January 6th, 2022”. What sort of bubble people chose to live within? Why do we have to continually explain that we are the leading economy in the world that when Harris Biden took over was in a deep recession due to Covid. We have witnessed a superior administration to the previous and that seems list in the ecosystem of misinformation. 7 weeks left before the fate of our country and the world will be decided. The GOP are pushing for the American version of Brexit so that materials future is irrelevant . 47% of the country want this. If Harris wins we will avoid this potential iceberg. Thanks Heather!
I wouldn't be bothered with the NYT - just like all the Australian newspapers which keep telling us Trump is polling better than Harris. Better chance with the Guardian, although the Australian edition is somewhat diluted (and won't let you read the whole article unless you've committed yourself).
It is unlikely that the defeat of Trump will result in the scales falling from the eyes of his supporters. MAGA voters will remain disaffected, inhabiting an alternate reality impervious to the facts. It may take a generation for the political system to operate again with the support of two major parties that will defend the Constitution and respect the rule of law.
There is little hope of swaying the "we hear and obey master" crowd, but some poorly informed Trump supporters have drifted away. I know one who did, and another who was open to questioning "The Chosen One". There are a lot of "I hate politics" folks who need to be persuaded that their vote matters.
Thank you Heather for your almost daily account of what is happening at this crucial juncture in American (an world) history. We have a choice in the tight November election between democracy and the abyss, where we know not what darkness lies beyond. Even if Harris wins and the Senate and House have a Democrat majority, we will still see the aftermath of a decade of Trump.
That is for sure. We have a deep sickness in our society. Even with a Harris win we will all need to work together for a long time to heal this nation.
Yes, Lisa, we will have to work hard to heal our nation and each other. I stand ready with my broom, mop and bucket, and window cleaner. I know I won’t be alone!
I hear you!! I have to start with my own family. My Mother and I barely speak right now. She is 84 and I've been her Primary caregiver. She considers me a traitor because I left the GOP in '08, became a Democratic Activist and never looked back. I thought I had her straightened out after January 6th and the Hearings. She was done with Trump but she's back on the Trump train again (Thanks to 3 more years of Fox brainwashing) and has nothing good to say about Harris. Last time we spoke She said she was skipping Voting this year. 🙄😜 I'm the only Dem in my entire family besides my oldest daughter. Thank God for her. But my youngest has been with Trump. It's been an awful 10 years. So glad it's almost over!! 🙌🙏
Dear Laura, I am so sorry to hear your story. I don't know if it will help, but if you send me your address to bgerson@gmx.ch, I will be happy to send you a copy of my book, From Montgomery to the Matterhorn: Reflections on Life in My Two Homelands. I wrote this book because I grew up in Alabama always hearing the lie that a free market economy is not compatible with robust public services. Then I moved to Switzerland a country with a thriving economy AND a strong social safety net, a solid educational system, respected trade unions, public radio and television and health care for everyone. Perhaps your mom or your son would read my book which is written, I think, in an entertaining, non-dogmatic way. Part of the problem with Trump Republicans could be that they have never traveled, never seen how other countries manage the challenges of modern life. If anyone else is interested in having a copy, email me for a free one or order on line. Of course, my book deals chiefly with economic and social issues. European countries also face the problem of dealing with mass migration and finding solutions which don't blame the victim. Anyway, Lisa, stay strong and good luck.
I feel for you. Mom won’t tell anyone who she votes for, but we all regard Trump as a charlatan. My dad saw the GOP up close and personal when my family lived in Texas, and he detested them. He didn’t like George W. Bush or the other GOP candidates, and can’t stand Trump.
I have a similar struggle with my Republican daughter in Texas, Lisa. She began to see the light in '16 and voted for Hillary. She also supported Beto against Cruz for senate. She continues to disavow Trump, but she said she'd sit out the election rather than voting for Biden. I think she'll vote for Harris, but reluctantly. I'm working on it, but she says in TX it won't matter how or if she votes. I suggest that that could change if enough disaffected Republicans voted blue, but she shuts down and says we'll survive no matter who wins. I disagree, of course. It's a slow slog.
We’ve been sick for 400 years. On the positive side, we’re less sick now than we were in the 1950s. Then, 90% of white Americans held white supremacist beliefs and behaved accordingly. Now, it’s down to 60% of white Americans. Increased polarization but diminished racism. Sixty percent is an improvement but there is still a long way to go. Fortunately, consistently good government is within our reach if we can get the racist fraction of white Americans down to 50%.
What is so horrifying about the Trump meme is that his followers will vote for it no matter what he says or does . He then can use extremist slogans to pick up the beyond the fringe voters of resentment he privately derides. Classic Putinesque.
Prepare for another exaggeration as the word spreads about the 300 or so Oregonians who were noncitizens accidentally given the right to vote because they were issued drivers licenses. I can see this playing BIG in the immigration "debate" and ignoring the fact that a small clerical error was corrected. Vance will strike again.
I recall when it was national news that a careless Starbucks affiliate employee let someone buy a latte with "food stamps". What I did not see featured in the news (but heard about on NPR) was a doctor who swindled millions out the medicare, but was caught.
That's a big question for quite a number of Republican office holders. They wear their lawlessness as a badge of honor. The presidential race is literally the (ex) prosecutor vs. the felon.
Yes. Trump is not the problem. His 74 million acolytes are the problem. They have been with us for a long time, and the Republican Party has been exploiting, in earnest, their deep-seated racism to win elections since 1968. The difference is that they weren’t completely shameless about it until Trump showed how well shameless racism works with white American voters and, to boot, how well misogyny works with male American voters. None of Trump’s 74 million are decent human beings. It’s up to the rest of us, who are, if nothing else, decent human beings, to outvote the louts and pass and enforce laws to bring them to heel.
I have read the a frog will not really stay in a pot if it gets too hot, but we Americans have become increasingly inured to a long term rise in the level of governmental corruption. Recall that even enough Republicans expressed the willingness to convict Nixon in the Senate. That was then.
Rex Page (Left Coast), I heart your anger and frustration, but I don’t agree with your statement: “None of Trump’s 74 million are decent human beings.” That’s manufactured binary-choice talking. My brother-in-law has drunk the kool-aid, but he’s still a decent person. A dear friend is deeply anti-abortion and votes trump, but she is a decent person. My best friend’s husband is a trump voter and yet, I find him to be a decent person in all our interactions. I am working my ass off to get Harris elected. And afterwards there will be “The Reckoning” with the 74 million that were lied to. I don’t know how we solve this problem. But it is a problem humans have made, so we must find a way. I chose not to discount their humanity or fallibility.
MLRGRMI, his 74 million are the problem. I also struggle with the "decent human beings" part, and my opinions are riding a seesaw. Almost all of my former work cohort friends (retired cops and their spouses) are adamant supporters of fpotus. Some of the memes they are posting are hurtful, hateful, awful things. In Facebook land, I have been unfriended and blocked by a fair handful of them, and only one of them had the decency to tell me (after he unfriended but did not block me) "You know I love ya, but I hate the political stuff". This same guy has posted on his page a meme of two "restroom males" (the pictures on the doors of bathrooms so we know which one to go into), with one in outline, kicking another outline in rainbow colors in the groin and saying "this is what I think of your pride month". This is a guy who would (and has) done anything at all to help me out in various ways.
In my mind, it is right, that they have ALWAYS been with us. What fpotus has done is given them permission to be visible and proud of that hatred of and anger towards the "other". It is one thing to be a racist. It is another thing to think it is OK to put "Don't re-nig in 2024" on the back of your vehicle. They might do good acts, but their beliefs are questionable, and when there is a split like that, I don't see how they can be a "good person" and still hate so much.
Human nature is a mixed bag, and while we all bear responsibilities for the nature of our choices, and in some respects born equal, we are not born into equal circumstances, and while we are perfectly capable of lying to ourselves, we are also born clueless about a lot of stuff, and the quality of the stuff people want to fill our heads with varies. Some of it really works like malware when we are taught that some things should never be questioned. When looking for viable answers is actively punished. That implanted "Bug" can be potentially exploited for any purpose, and the effective strategy of divide and conquer has been exploited by despots of eons. We have got to recognize and oppose the inevitable emergence of the strategy above and beyond fighting the same battle again and again.
Yes, the “decent human beings” crack is debatable, and I would not have made it pre-Trump, but now that Trump has made the MAGA philosophy clear, I allow no exceptions. Not for your relatives. Not for you friends. Not for any Trump voter. My position is that any Trump voter is a person the world would be better off without. I don’t dispute your right to disagree, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking you are wrong.
I love them. I don't discuss politics with them. That doesn't stop me from sending out postcards for Dems, it doesn't stop me from sending messages to my representatives. Or from watching the debate with like-minded friends.
You gave a reply much better than the one I had in mind but didn't know how to express. I agree that trump supporters can be decent human beings; it is the brain washing, propaganda & repeating over & over of lies making people into true believers. I have had people wearing MAGA hats hold open doors & show other courtesies .
Yeah, Rex. 256 mil to 74 mil. Of course not all of the 256 mil are registered voters and can't be for reasons of age or citizenship. Still we can thank Taylor Swift for getting out the registration and hopefully the vote. Not enough yet, but a step in the right direction. I still support everyone's right to their own opinion... our challenge is to change their opinions, and that's a doozy. Inch by inch, though, friend.
Chicago 1962 I am a student nurse at Michael Reese Hospital, a Catholic woman patient can’t use contraception, bleeding out from botched abortion, asking me to pray for her. Asking me to forgive her. For what? For being too poor to afford another child? We can’t go back to those days.
With her blood on my shoes, I go to waiting room, to tell her husband and children that mommy will not be coming home.
I worked at Michael Reese in '64, Molly. Not as a nurse, but as some kind of admin aide -- I was a teen fresh out of high school. I was in a dept. that had a federal grant to study autism from all angles. My job was to categorize and count findings from all disciplines. I also worked as a grad student's assistant at U of Chicago, where I got to use a computer! I wished Michael Reese had had a counter-sorter computer. I had to use a knitting needle to stick through a stack of cards with a hole punched for each answer. I'd stick the needle through, lift the stack and let the cards without that punch fall, then count the remainder. Sounds like Georgia's hand count, no? Grueling, but informative.
Yes, how cool that you worked at Reese. I am forever grateful for everyone at Michael Reese who made me the person and the nurse I am. I learned compassion for any and everyone. I knew it all ready, but Reese told me that it is right. I hope the years have been good to you.
I got excited when I saw your post, Molly. My mom was a 1929 grad of St Mary's College, South Bend, IN and came to Michael Reese as an intern in dietetics. She was a life-long Catholic and also a staunch supporter of abortions rights for women because of what she had seen with women trying the coat-hanger method and dying or nearly so while she was at MR. We lost her at almost 106 and she was quite the gal. She hadn't worked outside our home until my dad died when mom was 54. She went back into dietetics and ended up as the chief dietician at the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne! Rosalie was a hell of a gal, as my son would say. I lift a glass to her and to you, Molly, for your service to your fellow human beings.
This comment is costing me $50 but is so worth the price. I had to join so I could reply to your post, Molly. I was so excited when I saw your post. My mother was a grad of St Mary's College, South Bend, IN in 1929. She was a home ec major and interned at Michael Reese in dietetics in 1930. We lost her a few years ago at almost 106. She was a life-long Catholic but to her dying day felt that abortion should be safe and legal. She alluded to horrible things she had seen while at Michael Reese because women did not have access to safe abortions and reverted to the coat-hanger method. Mom was a truly amazing woman and after becoming a widow at 54, never having worked outside our home while married, ended up as chief dietician at the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne IN. Here's a toast to you, mom, you were a hell of a gal as I'm sure you must be as well, Molly
Your mother was a special person, who loved and believed in the truth. Michael Reese was a special place that actually cared for patients over money… learned that clearly there.
PS: My Baby-Boomer Eyes conflated a couple sentences and thought they said Melania was being paid $200,000+ to "stand behind" her nude photos at a fund-raising rally . . . interesting use of the word, "behind."
The thing is, at the end of almost every performance of "Death of A Salesman" I have seen I find myself weeping for Willy. There's humanity in the man and certain nobility to his struggle to sell his version of the American Dream. "Attention must be paid," says a character at the conclusion.
I see Trump as someone from a Mamet play. I doubt I'll have any tears for him when he leaves the stage. And he's already received more than his share of attention.
Raising false hopes, you think? When Sarkozy blustered his way into the French presidency, he took the beauteous Carla (who had slept with everyone from Mick Jagger on) to London on an official trip. The serious papers said he looked like a gangster with his moll (she's taller than he is), one of the others put a full frontal nude from her modelling days on the front page. She smilingly ignored it.
My dream and passion are to have a landslide vote that wipes MAGA off the political map for ever.
Focusing on the final days of the campaign we must do everything we can to elect Kamala Harris. Do all you can. Phone calls, postcards, door to door, donations. We have the momentum. We need to capture every single vote.
If one is interested: in D.C. (at the National Press Club) there will be a conference of leading intellectuals and psychiatrists convening to promote a "psychological intervention."
Yes, I believe that Representative Jamie Raskin will be participating again. Tickets cost thirty-five dollars to pay for the venue and pay for getting the word out.
Everyone on this site already knows he's bat sh*t crazy. I have wanted to not hear another thing about Trump...It's been TOO long. But, the show just rolls on. It was the Greatest Show On Earth but, man, it's really getting old. Really old.
MAGA will be MAGA, they have only a small percentage of the total voters, their silos are shrinking, and we can save our breath. As Robert Hubbell notes, the largest "party" is the "Did Not Vote Party," and of voters, Democrats are about 30%, Republicans about 30%, and Independents/Undecideds about 40%. So our energy and resources are most effectively spent on:
1. Get Out The Vote of registered Democrats
2. Support organizations and campaigns who are registering and verifying voter registration, e.g. The Civics Center (registering high schoolers), League of Women Voters, Field Team 6, and VoteRiders
3. Support the growing number of "reasonable" Republicans who are speaking out against Trump, Mark Robinson, JD Vance, and their sycophants--and endorsing Harris-Walz, and better, down ballot Democrats.
Spot on, Ellie. I'm sending letters to voters through Vote Forward. It makes me feel I'm doing something constructive in the last weeks we have to pull this off. Thanks for the reminders and links!
Rupert Murdoch is the one man who’s managed to corrupt journalism in three nations: his native Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His son Lachlan Murdoch is carrying on his father’s dubious legacy in the United States with Fox “News.”
When the last scary NYT poll came out, I recall reading in the comments here an interesting one by a data specialist who said the poll over-sampled rural voters by 7–10%. I found that comforting. But it’s like a press rollercoaster ride - because, except here and in a few other places, it’s all about the horse race. And so the national mood swings up, swings down. If only the press really did focus on the issues and held Trump accountable for the mayhem he creates, the lies he tells, the vitriol he spews. Instead - up/down/up/down. I can’t wait for this to be over.
I wish this letter was being posted on the front page of every newspaper in America.
They can still win.
We still have work to do.
We can make our First Grade teachers and parents proud that they taught us to print neatly. And also add our efforts to realizing BlueWave 2024. By writing postcards to voters. (Don't forget Letters to the Editor before the pre Election Day deadlines kick in.)
The empirical evidence is on our side. But how we present it is crucial. Persuasion is an invitation, not an ultimatum.
A sad headline from The Washington Post: As Taliban starts restricting Afghan men, some regret staying silent.
https://www.galvanizeaction.org/new-research-informed-ads/
https://www.fieldteam6.org/all-volunteer-ops
https://www.winningthehouse.com/about
https://postcardstovoters.org/
Just finishing up the last of my 200 postcards that will go to Michigan voters
I’m working on 600 postcards for Nebraska! Every time I write ‘Dear (their name), I feel like I’m talking to them personally. It’s very therapeutic!
Go to bluewavepostcards.org, and wait for the next group to come out. They sell out quickly.
Julie - it was so nice to see NE State Senator Mike McConnell refuse to succumb to Trump's wishes. I have lived almost 1/2 of my life in Lincoln or Omaha and the backlash had they overturned the electoral college rule would have been fierce.
For the past 20 years we have lived in rural ME and even though our 1 electoral vote often clashes with NE, I. am glad they both split their votes this way. How interesting would the elections be if CA,TX,FL and NY split their votes that way, and the swing states as well.
It was originally intended that votes would be counted by districts, not winner take all by state. Imagine if my home state of NC awarded its 16 electoral votes like this 11 for Kamala Harris and 5 for CFDT. Awarding electors by district comes much closer to electing a president by popular vote than winner take all.
Yes!
Every state should have Ranked Choice Voting.
Like we have here in Alaska. However, RCV is on the ballot in Nov., to be repealed. Repubs, like Palin, do not like it.
Heathers fb live last week was all about how the electoral college got so messed up. And sadly it was Jefferson who started it.
And Heather made the point that it is one of the primary reasons Americans feel their votes don't count. If you are a Republican in California, they don't! A Democrat in Ohio--well, vote for Sherrod Brown.
Get out the vote for local races.
Oh Jen - my blue vote in Tennessee is absolutely meaningless when it comes to a presidential race. Abolishing the electoral college would fix that.
A dem in Idaho!
A dem here in Texas! My husband likes to keep reminding me that my vote for Harris won’t count but that doesn’t stop me from casting it. (Note: He also will be voting for Harris - he just likes playing Devil’s Advocate). One interesting development in this year’s election is that many more races have Democratic opponents to the usually unopposed Republicans down ballot. I like to think that’s a very good sign for the future.
WOW - thank you -- 600 is a commitment!!
Oh, I love it…at least I feel like I’m DOING something, rather than just waiting.
Wow! I thought I was doing a good job with my 100 postcards to Ohio voters. You're a machine!
200 to Florida
Thank you.
You are doing a good job.
WOW, Julie! I'm very impressed! That's a LOT of postcards!
Thank you.
good for you! That's the kind of energy that will help lift us into the winning position. Thank you!!!
leftism is VERY therapuetic. Its always about ME. Its never about the country
or your neighbors. That is the raison de etre of Harris's campaign.
Vote for me because I'm wonderful. You don't need to know any details.
Just feel the joy.
But you don't know enough about Trump to not vote for him? You can find out everything Harris has been doing for the past 40 years. But it does require reading.
That’s rich, James, since the right’s leader is ALL about him!
Mine are going to Georgia, with fingers crossed..
My 200 as well, Craig. Fingers crossed indeed! Just finished mine yesterday.
Thank you.
Same. Got mine out, fingers crossed. As I was writing them was wondering how they wouldn’t get there…
I just ran a relay race through northern Michigan and 75% of the yards have signs and saw very few Harris signs. It was unbelievable- yard after yard. Even though I am an uncomfortable blue dot in a deeply red state, I was glad to get back home and not have those signs haunt my vision anymore! Feeling very sad for those of you who reside in battleground states.
Might have to check out the postcards and see how many I can send to MI.
Do it, Maria. Try Blue Wave. They send state postcards with stick on addresses. That’s fast. But be careful to mail each one separately. (Even no-sticker cards will stick together and every one needs to get to the addressee.) Meanwhile, think of yourself as a soldier in this war for democracy. At 90, I think of being part of the “war effort” during World War II. To “do something” is everyone’s job now as it was then.
Yes, and get yard signs out! Traverse City area Dems have pop up van distribution and you can get a lot of them!
Oof! Every time I see one, I want to tape a giant speech bubble 💬 on the top that says, “Why?”
Barbara, I'm travelling out West with my son and grandson, but when I return I'll be finishing my stack of 200 (or is it 250? I forget🤷) to mail to Michigan voters as well.
Thanks! The number of Trump yard signs in comparison to Harris signs is formidable in my suburban area. Hard to fathom.
Many Democratic supporters are actually afraid to put out any indication of supporting The Democratic Party and candidates because they are justifiably afraid of anything from vandalism to personal attack by the MAGAheads on them or their families. I have a feeling that a good number of people with Trump signs have them up for protection even though they plan to vote Blue. I think the same applies to polls - many people are saying they support Trump from fear of retaliation but in the voting booth - they will vote their true selves and vote for Harris/Walz. That is why the polls saying it's a close race don't get me down. Polls only reflect what people who respond to polling questions say and many of them are afraid to go on the record anywhere as not supporting Trump. But in their hearts, they know they will vote Blue. Onward!
NLTownie: here's what I did with my Harris/Walz sign (I wish I could post a photo): it's placed near the house, facing the street, and I stretched an American flag (about 3' by 5') just above it.
It gives 2 messages: vote to preserve democracy, and reclaim the flag.
Okay. I get that. However: I timidly put out my Harris and Harris/Walz signs in a town full of Trump signs. Presto! Almost overnight Harris signs began popping up like mushrooms after a rain! Sometimes, being the first gives permission and courage to others! Neighbors have said "I saw your sign and am glad you're on the right side."
I agree. I live in NC and there are Trump signs everywhere. I have signs in my yard for local candidates, but not Harris/Walz. And I wish I felt safe putting a bumper sticker on my car, but do not.
Yes. Even years ago, canvassing a purple suburban district outside Northern VA, I was surprised to hear people say that they were probably the only Democratic voters in their development. Without naming names, I was happy to them 'you are not alone' in a good way:)
I hope you're right!
I hope you are right, but where is the BLUE courage?? We need to show support that defies the impression that Trump is ahead!
Thank you!
From Michigan, Thank You!
👍🫶🏻🖖
MSM is missing the blue tsunami.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/all-volunteer-ops/volunteer
Daniel, again, ThankYou for posting the link to field team six. As a retiree, I am writing several hours a day. And happy to 'mix it up' by volunteering through different groups.
I apologized to my local post office agent for so many postcards. And he said, even for our tourist town which routinely keeps well stocked - postcard stamps have been 'flying off the shelves.'
(Just hoping DeJoy won't find a way to sabotage the efforts. He certainly doesn't want to shrink the GOP manufactured USPS deficit, provide an efficient government service - or save Democracy.)
I worry about DeJoy too! Doing at least 10 a day from TonyTheDemocrat (thank you, Miss Warren, for teaching me to print well), which I mail, one at a time on opposite sides of the mailbox to be certain they don’t stick together. Today 100 from Blue Wave which will come with address stickers and only a couple of lines to write, so out in two days. Then back to TonyTheDemocrat and either Florida (De Santos has VoteByMail, county by county, with PHONE NUMBERS FOR OBTAINING BALLOTS) or Sherrod Brown in Ohio.
After a few cards that did not reach my granddaughter, I notified the post office, which told me, "Oh, they probably fell into our shredders (?!) WTF?
My bet is he has already found a way to sabotage the efforts.
I just moved to Michigan from Kansas. First thing I did was to register to vote. Got my Kamala yard sign out. For the first time in decades, I feel giddy that my vote may actually make a difference! Woo-Hoo!!!
Yay! Mine are ready to go out too!
This is so deeply scary in a country that prides itself on freedom. How much freedom has already been lost when ordinary citizens are afraid to openly express their political choice? When I was in my late teens I campaigned for a forward-thinking candidate. I was wearing a campaign button at the house of my friend Leah. Her father was a survivor of the Nazi camps in WW II. He took me aside and advised me not to openly wear the campaign button. "The people who would harm you never forget." he warned me as he sincerely begged me to take the button off. Out of respect I did and thanked him for his concern. After I left Leah's house, I put it back on. That was sixty years ago. I thought I lived in a country where I would never have to worry about showing support for whatever political party I supported. Yet, here we are. Please vote Blue. It's very possible may not have the option to do it in another election.
My Michigan postcards are ready to roll!
I am doing the same to Wisconsin!
I've written hundreds as well. I'm finding it's one of the few things that keep me sane in the current version of alternate reality whatshisface insists on trying to beat us down with.
Same...
I just finished 300 postcards to Michigan, and continue writing 😁
Thank you.
When someone asked how many postcards I was writing (to swing state FL)....I said 1000....but there were only 200. It seemed like a lot at the time! So glad I did it!
Well done, Barbara!
Now get those yard signs out! People need to see their neighbors want Harris/Walz to win! Enough of cowardice!
Very true. Candidate Trump leads in two or three key states. Hard to believe. Judging from comments made on C-span's call in shows, people do not trust the economy under President Biden. Many just think candidate Trump is the living, breathing end. Hard to believe.
The propaganda has been unbelievably effective has it not. Biden should be hailed as a genius on the economy, not denigrated. But Rupert won’t allow it and the MSM only counters with the both sides byllschittery.
Propaganda even on NPR.
The even handed ness of the media in the face of evil is shocking. No questions about how the hell you can be a smug Republican and threaten your neighbors.
They have changed since they have to beg for every dime. They are not publically supported anymore. Repubs goal from the start
CSpan call in shows.
Should be 'required reading.'
Trump as the living breathing end times of their prayers.
It is a problem. Of course, the population of listeners -- or, at least, telephoners -- is not representative. C-span is the only neutral place for them to go. Occasionally, someone will say a civil war is coming. The population is fifty-plus years old. Younger people have jobs to go to.
Ned, I think I'd go crazy or ballistic listening to that. It's the same reason I don't read Letters to the Editor anymore. (Yet here I am, expressing my own opinion while reading those of others 🤷 )
The choice should be clear to all, but David Sedaris' wry comparison comes to mind: (paraphrasing): when presented with a choice between a cowpie and a grilled chicken breast, you don't ask how the chicken is seasoned.
Deep down, I believe that Harris/Walz will massively win the popular vote. I've been out West (CO, AZ, UT, NV) travelling with my son and grandson, and expected to see a lot of signs for the other guy. In fact there have been few for either candidate, but I'd guess it's 50:50 at worst. My last I saw said "Utah Voters for Harris".
Anyway, will a massive pop vote difference be enough to win the Electoral College, especially in the face of misdeeds by Republican election officials? Dunno. But those that choose the cowpie might be ordering it for all of us.
The thing about CSpan is the reality check.
Fascinating to witness the GOP 'phrase/lie of the day' travel so fast. From/through sectors of officialdom and the populace. If I hear it on the replay of the Fox Sunday morning show, I'll certainly hear it on Monday's Washington Journal.
Heartening to hear our formidable Democrats in Congress! Just imagine being on a committee chaired by Comer, Jordan et al. But our House Dems are amazing and too many to mention - certainly the entire Progressive Caucus.
From venerable Civil Rights stalwarts like Hank Johnson, Jim Clyburn to Jamie Raskin, Jerry Nadler, Jim McGovern, Sheila Jackson Lee, Rosa DeLauro, et al, to AOC, Joe Neguse, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost.
To name just a few.
And not just the Progressive Caucus. We have a deep bench!
And not only their statements of fact and policy, but their true respect for the institution.
https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members
Doug, I suspect that you and I are the same in that it is less what someone says (when it contradicts my view) but how that person says it. For the M.A.G.A. types who are obnoxious, they are no more interested in hearing from us than we are in listening to them.
Conservative though arguably l be, I know what side of the barricades I will be one if push comes to shove. The counting of votes, voter suppression, and overall intimidation will play a large role in deciding the presidency; I hope I am way wrong on that one.
Evangelicals almost across the board are preaching "Apocalypse Now", not the movie version either. In fact, a religious End Times sentiment has been in full force for quite a long time. I remember that as a Baptist kid from the 50s. Now it's soused in overturning RvW and momentum from the pulpits and pews is likely in overdrive.
I remember overhearing two male 5th grade teachers in Missouri One asked the other how he could afford a vacation cabin he was buying in Canada since he had also just bought a new Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner hardtop convertible. He replied that he bought them on credit and wouldn't have to pay for them since Armageddon was coming within months.
Boy, is that guy going to be hurting.
My eyeballs actually widened in reaction to this
lol... crazy, but logical...
End times for whom?
Mankind per the Book of the Revelation?
The constitutional republic of the United States?
Either way, I shudder to think.
It was 1957 and the 5th grade teacher told another that Armageddon was just months away. He had some Watch Tower literature that I think he believed a bit too much. I did toy with the idea of the world ending in 1957 at least enough to use it as an excuse to quit doing home work (which didn't go over well with any of the teachers).
I started doing some research on all the other times someone said the world was going to end and decided I better prepare a bit in case it didn't end when they claimed it would. I haven't been a steady student of such believers but recently found a bit on Clara Endicott Sears, whom my mother had worked for as a maid back around 1940 when she stayed at "The Pergolas" in Harvard, MA, and her book, "Days of Delusion." I found a these on Clara Endicott Sears that includes mention the book and Millerites at https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Kennedy, Megan M., ""This place is not meant for recreation. It is meant for inspiration" :: the legacies of Clara Endicott Sears/"
"...Concurrently, she pursued a curiosity in the Millerite craze which culminated in her 1924 treatise Days of Delusion. Her interest was specifically in the devout disciples of William Miller, a New York Baptist who predicted the end of the world would come in 1844. Prior to the expected millennium, Miller brought many followers to Harvard for a short period to seek a spiritual commune, not altogether unlike Bronson Alcott's.Following the Great Disappointment, when the world continued and no apocalypse occurred, many post-Disappointment believers formed the modern day Seventh Day Adventists. Sears showed compassion for the plight of the believers, depicting their devotion and disappointment. Through personal testimonies, records, and brief narrative, Sears compiled a story that examined a time when "the minds and souls of men and women responded in inverse ratio to undercurrents of mental and spiritual agitation."
Though her title implies her feeling that Millerites were essentially deluded and misled by their leader, the naivete of the group did not affect her reverence for their faith and perseverance..."
That seems the closest connection to people and places I've met or been to related to earlier claimants of knowing when Armageddon was coming. I found a list of something like 130 times it was supposed to happen since his 1843-44 prediction that haven't happened (and 6 more due to happen soon).
I'm still into planning for what to continue doing to improve it if it doesn't end as advertised.
If i recall, just the "the saved" are saved, most of humankind is doomed, and if you're a Jehovah's Witness, that's only about 144,000 saved as i vaguely recall. This of course is a fantasy, and you can find similar sentiments if you page through the New Testament. Try Hebrews for example. I shudder from time to time when i think that's what people can actually think. The Nazis ran an outsized genocide when they planned to exterminate most of Ukraine, and i think Byelorussia and replace them with Germans. I shudder when i even think of what the Russians are now doing with Ukraine.
May they become enRaptured.
If I had the dough, I would go for Acropolis Now. 😉
🤦🏽♀️😨😢
one must understand that Trump derives his support not from the crap he vomits but the revenge against something they perceive is hostile to their way of life. We should think about that in greater depth. We should for openers, stop with the blame game. And stop calling white people the privileged group. It doesn’t matter if there is plausibility to the idea.
This is true. A FB “red” friend reposted why she is voting red. And while I didn’t agree- I saw where much of it was coming from. I scrolled on by- but I wish there was a good way to really engage on the substance and the fears that drive this group.
I also had a red FB acquaintance claim Harris rose to the top “on her back.” I asked for her source and got the usual nonanswer “look it up.” So I went to fact checking sites. Nothing. I responded that this is an old trope to denigrate professional women, of which I was one. Then I blocked her.
Next time tell her that is a lie that ignorant people have made up and that you thought she was smarter than that to fall for the BS.
Good for you. One way to avoid getting poisoned is by avoiding the poison.
I saw a clip of Judy Woodruff last night having convos with people with opposing views. I missed the full show. The close-mindedness of the haters was brutal to watch. People seem so afraid of what they know nothing about. Sad.
Bill, what do you propose instead? I agree that what we are doing is not working, but do you have an alternate suggestion for getting our point(s) across?
People have pretty much made up their minds in the respective camps. On the few undecideds likely to decide the presidency, I am inclined toward a civil, tasteful approach. Benjamin Franklin said something similar to a good example is the most persuasive sermon.
I’m absolutely humbled as well, dumbfounded that you ask me unless you are waiting to lower the guns upon my response. I know you by now. Sometimes so often people can’t articulate why they believe what they insist is true. And maybe they have a point. Sometimes I like to give examples. They day I was waiting for the euro North train to bring me back to CT and I observed a young Black woman smoking weed. I joked how I was once arrested selling weed to undercover cops and how I got off without doing prison time. her quick response was, “You know why don’t you? You are privledged.” While there might be some truth to that statement, instead, I got a good deal because I had a clean record, had a good lawyer, and I aided in the pre-sentencing phase by agreeing to volunteer for 6 months in a crisis intervention center and wound up staying for two years. But this young woman, infused in CRT was convinced my white skin got me off.
We need to end the blame game. Trumps popularity is the end result. I could write a book on it. In fact I have; “Donald’s Vanity Tantrums.”
From four years ago: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/17/how-is-arguing-with-trump-voters-working-out-for-you
"The end" could be within his capabilities.
I don't get it. Who the hell do these people think cleaned up the economic mess that Trump and his little team of minions left???? Here in Maine, Austin Theriault, a MAGA hand-picked by little Mikey Johnson, is campaigning against Jared Golden (who is a very lukewarm Dem). Jared's district is very red which is no doubt why he made some adverts that made a lot of Maine Dems pretty upset. We Dems who want the the Democrats to win the House, will still vote for him but he got some serious blowback on some of his remarks. (Especially those about Biden's competency and that ridiculous sop to the County Repubbies: that if Trump won, he, Golden, would be okay with it.)
That being said, Theriault's tired ads about "Harris' inflation" are aging out pretty fast.
They don't believe Trump left an economic mess... they have blinders on.
Because Faux News and Breitbart and Newsmax are their sources of "info"
It's always been this way. The POTUS always gets credit (good and bad) for the economy while in office. People don't seem to realize that the economy isn't instant up or down. It is usually the previous administration that leaves behind the economy at the end of his tenure that the next President gets credit for. I personally think Biden has done a marvelous job with, among other things, the economy. What would we have gone through and where would we be if the other guy had won the last election.
We'd already be a shithole country--exhausted and broke from Trump's tax cuts for the rich, his destruction of every remaining shred of a social safety net, the attempts of the evangelicals to make this "a Christian country", the attempts to weaponize the justice department to prosecute all of his "perceived enemies" and all his other ham-handed stupidities such as rounding up immigrants, including legal ones, not to mention handing Ukraine over to Putin for a kiss-up gift...and who know how much other mayhem he would have created by now....It doesn't bear thinking about!
He is the end, for sure. Has to be defeated by the largest possible margin.
Yes. A clear failure of public education.
"As Taliban starts restricting Afghan men, some regret staying silent."
Sounds familiar.
J L:
"When they came for the Jews, I was silent, because I was not a Jew..."
That’s what I thought of the moment I read the headline in the Post. Let’s not let that happen here.
Buyers remorse is a real thing.
Especially if it dawns on one that they've been sold out.
Well duh!!! This is still America! Women can vote and we can win!!!
Fear not…. Women will take back our country.
Lin, this was a link on Robert Hubbell’s article that I think you will be interested in. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/09/supreme-court-leonard-leo-catholicism.html
I am Catholic and look forward to reading Gareth Gore’s book. I have no use for Leonard Leo or his ilk. Not all of us follow the Tim Busch (Napa Institute) or Leonard Leo (Opus Dei) models. They are also among those Catholics who are hostile toward Pope Francis.
Did you hear that a Federal judge in North Dakota has just blocked employee abortion and IVF protections at thousands of Catholic employers nationwide? No doubt the decision will be challenged but, yikes. Scary times.
Catholics have long been opposed to IVF- it’s in the “rule book” but it’s just not talked about at the pulpit. It is consistent with the position that life begins at conception.
But, of course, because those “rules” were written by men!
Employees of a church (or diocese) have less recourse because they are considered ‘ministerial.’ This has been the law for years. For example, while the ACA mandated birth control be covered as a preventive service, Catholic employers were exempted. One can be fired for being in an SSM.
not quite up the level of actual scism. There is likely going to be quite the battle over what the next pope potentially stands for. I suspect a conservative hyper-reaction, likely backed by the American archbishoprics, among others.
Catholics have been leaving the formal church for a long time—their misogyny, anti-LBGTQ bias, positions on “pelvic issues,” etc.
Also true, i think most of the decline has already happened, right? But it's also happening even among evangelical denominations, and has hit liberal protestant churches hard, Anglican too mind you. So.... is this also part of a broad decline which has long made inroads across the OECD, esp Europe? American being an outlier relatively speaking? Just a matter of time? Just the same the RCC conservative anchors seem to have their heels dug in, so....
Why do they believe things were better under the Indicted Felon when we lost 104M Americans to Covid under his watch? That's more than any other industrialized country, due to his lies and mixed messages about masks and vaccines.
Working on my 200 postcards to Georgia voters and have finished those to NH voters. Mailing day for both is October 24.
Thanks for the list. Use it people!! Field Team 6 is fantastic and the text banking is easy. Jon Tester needs help phone banking and canvassing if anyone’s able to help. Florida, Nebraska, Texas all on play so everyone do something!!! I’m writing postcards. Do what you can. All we care about is on the line.
I have sent postcards to Nebraska voters through Blue Wave. I also have some to send that I got from the local NC Democratic Party Headquarters for our candidate for governor, Josh Stein. So I am imagining that anyone can get postcards to send through your local Democratic Party Headquarters.
I have 25 postcards to write and send tomorrow.
Lin, in our town they will not print political letters in our 2xper week former daily newspaper. It is more like a high school sports report! And, who was arrested for drugs that past week.
Today, because of the American Leadership Paralysis due to the forthcoming November 20224 Election, Israel launched over 1,000 Air-Strikes in Lebanon killing over 500 Lebanese... The hope for a Cease Fire in Gaza is effectively Dead for now... Today the USA sent additional Troops to the Middle-East.... The USA could rein in Israel's Actions by enacting an Arms-Embargo denying Israel resupply, as Israel is already Armed-To-The-Teeth with American Weapons.... This is more than enough for Israel's Self-Defense... This could end very badly for the USA...
Netanyahu sure knows how to screw the helping hand that the US has given to Israel. He will do everything to aid chump and sound tough on terrorists, while being one.
Netanyahu's meddling against the USA goes back to the 1990s... He has the same Prime-Directives as DJT.... Stay Out Of Prison, and More Power... DJT will Destroy the USA... Netanyahu will Destroy Israel....
Don't forget that Netanyahoo slept in Jared Kushner's bed when he visited the US years ago. There will always be that connection between the VonTrump crime family and Bibi.
A whole new meaning to odd bedfellows…
Apache, so oddly familiar how a segment of US society truly believes in and supports TFFFG’s “vision” (nightmare?) of America. From what I’ve read there is a somewhat similar division of “vision” in Israel as well. It is exhausting, but no time to rest in countering autocratic leadership. ☮️
Hello Barbara... When you meet Israelis, they have a 'Siege Mentality'... They are convinced that the 'World-Is-Out-To-Get-Them'... This is Paranoid... Instead of making Peace, they have chosen to Arm-Themselves-To-The-Teeth, and Terrorize their Neighbors... Blessed-Are-The-Peace-Makers...
Bibi was educated in the US. He knows our politics well and because he is associated with ultra Orthodox extremists, he not only gets money and arms from Biden but from them too. There are many in the Brooklyn area. If you will recall, they burned their masks in a huge bonfire, as a defiance to the order of wearing them for their safety when Covid hit. I tell you this as a Jewish woman, who was raised in rural NC as a child of Holocaust victims, who are turning over and over in their graves.
Netanyahu has expressed Contempt in the Past for many American Jews for being too Liberal, and Naive... I've Walked Through Haredi Neighborhoods, and have Friends with Children of the Jewish European Holocaust....
That’s the plan man. And Putin loves it
Bibi is doing all this crap to stay out of prison just like dumpster ! He doesn't give a shit about his people only of himself !
But he lies to himself as well as chump does. “only I know what is best…”
I wonder Who Netanyahu has visited more... Putin, or Biden... I've noticed that Netanyahu has not sent any 'Iron Domes', or 'David Slings' to Ukraine...
Yes
He’s “the Nazi in the mirror.” Refers to a chapter in Naomi Klein’s book.
Apropos
Well said.
Problematic indeed. At least the Dems don't have to worry about "peaceful" sentiments from Maga. I do hope Muslim voters in Michigan et al come around to the "lesser of two evils" as far as they're concerned.
Cut 'em off at the knees. I thought Biden had already promised to stop sending arms if Bibi continued war crimes. Maybe my senility is creeping up on me. I'm a year and a half younger than TFFG, but it's a good thing I'm not running to be Commander in Chief!
Biden may have threatened, but it was an Empty Threat... There are now close to 1,000 U.S. Arms Air Lifts to Israel since Oct7, 2023... Netanyahu knows that Biden is a Short-Timer, and is trying to Tip The Election To Traitor DJT... Netanyahu will be in the USA for 5-Days... I wonder what he will doing ;-)
I’d forgotten …TFFG! Thanks 🤣
I’m hoping for our very savvy President to know how to handle this and his VP soon to be our next President to put it in no uncertain terms to the whole lot. Nitwit is playing us.
I agree. Enough has proven to be way too much. They need to cease & desist.
Apache, there is no American leadership paralysis.
Hello Ashley... Ask the Palestinians, the Ukrainians, and now the Lebanese... Besides the Erosion of American Influence, the Relevance of the UN Influence is Slipping Away...
Post it on your Social Media and make it shareable.
Given the issues many readers on Joyce Vance’s Substack have had, it might be wise to post it as a comment to a post you write.
Ally, what issues have they had?
FB censors those of us posting links to Civil Discourse and LFAA saying it breaks some rule they make up
Please ..... FB?? censoring??
Amazing, huh? In fact, its incredible
Whaaaaaat???? FB I wish I could quit you.
I did when they banned me.
You can quit if you want to (says the former smoker and FB poster) I hate what social media has done to us all (everywhere), something needs to give. It is insanity.
AND….they just took down my post sharing it
Good Lord, at least when I got banned I accused chump of using Goebbels propaganda rules. Guess that violated a rule, although one against saying nasty things about chump.
I share LFAA daily on FB, headed by a pulled quote. So far they’re all still there.
So …..is there another format ? Could we start one? What paper would print a collection daily?perhaps The View or some semblance would do this. Wonder if Truth Social would …🤔?
Truth Social NEVER tells the truth.
Purely a comment for humor😉, JD.
I figured but couldn’t resist
I always do! One day I hope someone shares my posting.
Yes, especially in NY because it seems to be getting more Red by the day.
I live in a RED, Fl county. My neighborhood has ~ 30 Trump signs/flags and now 4 Harris/Walz and counting.We were the only sign for months.Many Harris/Walz sign wavers are out every w-end at major intersections.They have literally driven away Trumpers with their numbers/enthusiasm.I’ve been wearing a Biden/Harris/Walz t-shirt since Feb without a single negative comment/complaint.
GOP has NO ground game here while my county was number 1 in the state for canvassing last week.Debbie Mucurasel-Powell is gaining on Rick Scott.
Please all, do whatever is in your comfort zone ! 41 days !
✍️📲💲🚶🏻🪧🇺🇸
👕🛒
That's encouraging to hear
Great to hear. Yea
I wish it was like that in NY.
Sending blue juju your way, Lisa.💙
Thank you.
Kathy, thank you for all that you -- and others -- are doing. This is GREAT news!!! ♥️🙏🙏🙏🙏♥️
Even yesterday in Manhattan I saw an apartment window with a huge Trump sign -- Manhattan!!! It was so depressing.
In 2016 there were perhaps 100 Trump signs in our little town. Lots of Trump flags and 4' x 8' Trump signs. In 2020, the number was cut in half with still some Trump flags and hats. This year there are maybe 10 houses with Trump signs in the yard and none of the flags or large signs. And I haven't seen a Trump MAGA hat yet.
I heard someone on MSNBC predict on Saturday that Harris/Walz will win by 50 million votes in spite of all of the polling. Wishful thinking to be sure, but if it happens the Democrats will own both Houses of Congress as well as the Presidency. Then they can work on the judiciary.
I dream
Crazy right? I drive by mini rallies and huge Trump signs. My office is almost all Trump supporters. It feels like the 2016 election again.
That sounds unbearable, Lisa. I don't know where in NY you are, but I'm seeing far fewer Trump signs in my rural community than I did in 2016. Our county is majority-Republican, but the demographics have been changing.
I live in upstate NY -- Stefanik country -- and am seeing way more Harris/Walz signs than Trump signs, at least in my area.
Great!
Hope Stefanik gets voted out when the time comes.
My daughter says the same at hospital where she works
😨
😱
I was thinking the same thing Avery, when I read it. I'm sure we all would like to see the "truth tellers" about Trump get more press.
BIG WIN is the goal. We all should forward this to their local media and to individual journalists.
Maybe somebody could make that happen.
Could not agree more Avery. Brilliant and so informative. And so true so much of this has not been articulated on MSM, even MSNBC that does have some great report and commentators. Yet the all caps Trump message was blurted out non stop. My message continues, VOTE BLUE UP AND DOWN THE TICKET. This no matter how you feel to save democracy. The world is watching.
Agree. I hope that everyone will send a copy of this letter to everyone they know through their email/social media contacts. I hope they will raise it in every conversation they have with family, friends and coworkers and be ready to give the link for downloading. Really keen keeners could have copies of the letter with them to distribute. They could also attend community events and hand them out. People can call their local radio and TV stations and demand the station report this news several times. If you can afford it, find a bunch of friends who can afford it to pay to have the letter published in their local newspaper if there is one. This is what activism looks like. This is how to respond to Michelle Obama's call to 'Do something'. We do it because it makes a difference.
If you are on Facebook or other social media, share the article there.
I wish it was too. It wold create a GREATER landslide for Donald Trump.
Inflation has destroyed the American family. Core prices (Housing, Gas, Groceries) are up between 25-35% over the last four years
10-15 Million illegal immigrants are wrecking our infrastructure, draining cities funds for services, and escalating CRIME.
Leftist CAN even answer the question WHAT is a WOMAN? They want girls to shower and compete with boys.
HARRIS can't answer a SINGLE question without friendly questions and HELP. This election
is going to be a landslide.
Please publish the letter. Its a remainder of HOW bad the last four years are.
Me too
Me too
Absolutely! My local paper has become a sham. This morning had the usual Kathleen Parker drivel.
I am totally with you, Avery. This I letter is a beauty.
Thanks for all this, Prof Richardson. Two things stand out for me: the failing, stumbling "salesman" giving a $100 bill to a man in a grocery with a lame "we'll do this for you," pitch and the blatant Nazi signaling with the $14.88 sale price. The MAGA (and millions of other GOP camp followers) are in a very very dark place right now. NYT polls seem to be the outliers (where and how do the pollsters get the data????????????) --- in any case the NYT clearly seems to be unable to deal with the great swelling wave that is sweeping Kamala Harris forward and upward........
I wonder who he hit up for that $100 bill.
Real dirty money.
Wait for Trump Craptocurrency.
It would be right up there for Trump’s predilection for scams and grifts. I think cryptocurrency is a gigantic scam promoted by people who don’t want scrutiny of their own criminal activity.
Kathy, absolutely. And not to mention how bad crypto-mining is for the environment, in terms of energy requirements.
Whatever the "pros" may be of Crapto, they are dwarfed by the demonstrable criminal "cons". It's like we don't sell dynamite to anyone at the hardware store. Yeah , it handy for removing stumps, but the downside of making it freely available is unacceptable.
Wow, I am stealing that!
He's bribing people to vote for him!
It's the Republican way.
I'd check the face on the bill.
Dorian Gray.
Hahaha! I needed that!
His PACs. Who else? Did you think he'd spend his own money? Jamais.
Jim: His grandkids? 😁
Prearranged set-up no doubt!
LOL 😂
The huckster surely wouldn’t use his own money.
🤣
Grover, I think this letter is a good answer to all the clutching of pearls headlines about polls today. We must be laser-focused in voting and getting out the vote in the only poll that matters. We actually did not watch national news today because the preview mentioned polling.
Michele, I totally agree with you. I looked at NYT on polls today (usually don't do that) . Headline is that Trump is gaining; main story on the consensus of polls is kamala up by significant number. It is crazy crazy and not to be taken seriously Writing postcards daily to support Sherrod Brown and heading to a fundraiser tomorrow. I know an experienced democrat pollster who has pointed out that polls can no longer be scientifically controlled---you have no real idea where people are if you use data from cell phone calls. Area code tells nothing. And there are more problems........
I say "Ignore everything the NYT writes about the "horse race" they are determined to cover from now until the election. They DO NOT want Harris to run away with the election.
How I wish. The letters to the editor at the Dallas Morning News could be written by Rupert’s crew
True. DMN always has been ultra conservative. There is also a quite studied disinterest in mainstream media outlets about educating the public about the policies of each candidate, and in ignoring Trump’s increasing delusions.
They used to print my letters, no more.
Somebody could read it on a way popular talk show or blog…
I think the Oprah Zoom Hall was equivalent to that, Kathy. And here's a link everyone who wishes can broadcast to their friends and family networks... it's a song about Project 2025 that's like the oldie about how a bill gets passed in Congress:
https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/project-2025-explained-in-schoolhouse-rock-style/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3crfpcKPtOCfA_fN9ZKzuz-4jNJjuwtTcGK2gSWQo5KSZh2l9k6Czusrg_aem_UPCZs-dLf80_jv18Nj0CFw
We began getting the NYTimes when Trump was first elected. I am disgusted with their normalizing this election. Their pundits, some of them, infuriate me when they say that Harris has not yet earned their support. Oh brother!
Interesting, considering the NYT editorial board came out flat AGAINST Trump a while ago..... in lieu of the paywall at NYT, here's the Guardian write up from July. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/11/new-york-times-trump-unfit
My concern is that mainstream media are hedging their bets. If they are too anti-Trump and he is elected, they will be shut down. I admit I have become paranoid after becoming fmailiar with Project 2025.
I think they'll be shut down anyway. The Trumpers I know HATE the NYT, and they don't want to hear that the NYT hasn't exactly been cheerleading Harris, and certainly not Biden. Their minds are made up that the entire MSM (except Fox of course) is 'fake news'.
BS
Tester needs postcards too. Montana is a tougher nut to crack in this election than Ohio, although Sherrod needs and deserves our support. I can't do postcards from out of country, but I can text!
Good to know
Years ago when the Maddow blog still allowed commentary, there was a wonderful poster, Carolina Lady with Fan, who had worked for years in polling. After reading her posts, I ignored polls.
Rosenberg from Hopium Chronicles will give you a much more optimistic poll trend, and I've seen others.
Actually I have some pearls I. Old clutch so I don’t bite my nails on 11/05 — thank you!!!
The NYTs overweights rural voters in its respondents by 12-15% . Rural voters heavily favor Trump/MAGA by ~65% -35%. This results in 4-5% Trump bias in theirbpolling results. Don't think of the Times poll as a balanced national poll. Think of it as a window into how MAGA America thinks.
And be gobsmacked at how they resemble pre-war Germany in the 30’s
so I googled to get a critique on NYT presidential polls and just about all I got was a long list of NYT articles, even after tweaking my vocabulary. So much for AI or whatever Google uses. I think a lot of Google results are as much about product placement as actual searching to answer the question. Not the first time for me.
I opted out of AI on my phone, Frank. So far so good on IPad and laptop.
I think this is just Google basic, off my pc. I used AI generically without knowing what internal algorithms google search uses. Quick look at "google" search says it's complicated, and AI doesnt appear in any obvious way. I have found that once google locks onto the first try, it tends to double down on it even if you change the search terms. By the same token, I've found it mostly? useful for all kinds of things.
It took me a good hour to get it off my phone, but then I’m a bit challenged, technologically! 😂
lol i generally avoid the ai chatbots though customer service seem to deploy them, sometimes helpfully
That's the rub, rubes. Your real concerns need addressing, as Bill Katz stated above; your imaginary grievances and bigotry need treatment.
I heard “please Sir, may I have some more” in the background😂😂
Yup, thin gruel, 2 onions🧅🧅 a week & half a roll on Sunday.
🤪
Nice Twist on the moment, VermontGirl57.
Isn't it illegal for him to give out cash for votes?
When did legalities ever stop CFDT?
Yes it is and I sure hope somebody points that out!
Not if you're rich.
When did he ever care about legal???
Yeah, because he’s never done anything unethical or illegal before.
Did he give him a roll of paper towels too?
I read somewhere recently (can't remember where--maybe the Atlantic??) that a lot of the highly suspect poll reporting, as well as the "sky is falling" emails and texts I am getting from every damn Dem organization in the universe, are all calculated moves to keep Dems engaged and willing to get off their tushies and vote. The problem with Dems is that they are lazy and can't be bothered unless there is a one ton rock hovering directly over their heads. Given that in the past 20 years the Other Side has voted in consistently higher numbers in the "big" federal elections (around 52-53%) than registered Dems (around 45-47%) the presumption in a lot of planning circles apparently is that if people think that Harris is way ahead, they won't bother to vote. The possibility that it has come to this--that in order to get Dems energized to do more than kvetch and refuse to engage because they're too damn lazy and complacent to do anything to help--makes me want to smack people upside the head.
Interesting take, Linda. I really do not understand the Democrat's laziness when it comes to voting.
"where and how do the pollsters get the data"
Every poll should have the qualifier "among people who actually accept calls from 'spam risk' and are attention starved enough to talk to pollsters'"
I am a New Yorker and I have to defend the NYTIMES— no they’re not perfect and I sometimes cringe but I will pick up my paper from my doorstep in Marblehead and know there are plenty of facts I’ll learn today!
Given the gray lady's recent bias, I'd double check "facts" from the NYT, Liz. Useta be the paper of record, but not so much any more. Not only about politics and parties, their own opinions seem to be creeping into what should be straight reportage.
Awww…Marblehead. My parents were h s sweethearts there. In the annals of h s football my dad was “Soapy Waters (RHB)”.
“1938
A 7-3 record for McGuiness in his final season, highlighted by a 55-0 clobbering of Newburyport. Bud Keenan scored three touchdowns and Bruce Remick two...Danvers was shut out again, 6-0; Beverly fell, 13- 6; and Swampscott was routed, 21-0, to close the season . . . Marblehead won its fourth Northeastern Conference title in the five-year existence of the league. The Thanksgiving lineup: Hill, Mitchell (LE), Driscoll, W. Chirnshide (LT), Hawkes, Urie (LG), Hayes, Monroe() (C), Parker, Woodfin (RG), R. Chirnside, Caswell (RT), Haskell, Stackpole (RE), Remick, Cloutman (QB), Keenan (LHB), Tenney, Waters (RHB), Carey, Brophy, Hardwick, Clive (FB).”
Well that was a fun little trip down memory lane as it’s 5am and the Colorado elk are in the rut - bugling so loud outside my window I can’t possibly sleep.
https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/winning-it-in-october-nc-gop-keeps?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1223483&post_id=149268310&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2y96h&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
nice cut at NYT polls ...
I hope you sre right Grover.
The response rate (the percentage of people who answer the phone when called by a pollster) is the same for Republicans and Democrats: 2.5% I read this in the NYT yesterday. (Gift link, read down:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/23/upshot/trump-harris-sun-belt-polls.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NE4.SBR-.M_fdrPE5LAgS&smid=url-share
Make of it what you will. I know polls try to correct for things like that, but the 2.5% figure does not inspire much faith in the validity of the polls. I guess we'll see.
There would be some value if polls gave a measure of the reliability of results. Reliability looks at the consistency of observations - how closely do different polls (i.e., observations of the same subset of a population) correlate. If reliability is low, validity (does the measure actually measure what it purports to measure) must be questioned.
Is it legal for a candidate to give a voter $100 (or anything of value) and promise to give more after he’s elected?
Sounds like a bribe to me.
“ Vote buying (also referred to as electoral clientelism and patronage politics) occurs when a political party or candidate distributes money or resources to a voter in an upcoming election with the expectation that the voter votes for the actor handing out monetary rewards.[1] Vote buying can take various forms such as a monetary exchange, as well as an exchange for necessary goods or services.[2] This practice is often used to incentivise or persuade voters to turn out to elections and vote in a particular way. Although this practice is illegal in many countries such as the United States, Argentina, Mexico, Kenya, Brazil and Nigeria, its prevalence remains worldwide.”
I also wonder where they get their data…..How many people are they polling? Who is actually answering these questions the pollsters ask?
The wave is missing some crucial areas.
The NYT clearly seems to be unable to deal with anything but its bottom line $$$
The insanity continues, and the starkness of the choice between order and chaos, progress and retreat could not be more clear.
Secondly don’t believe the hype here in Philly. Some coordinated lawlessness with cars doing donuts and hooligans attacking police is not homegrown. These people are not from Philly proper, and I suspect right wing media opportunistically rides any bad news in cities to drive their anti urban narrative. Things are fine here.
And lastly, I had a brush here on Substack with the ugly anti-vax community after I posted a piece about why we continue to keep our daughter up to date with cdc recommended Covid vaccines. Gratefully, and our choice, and absolutely evidence based as I documented. And yet here is the crap that was attached to some restacks:
“ This piece of sh*t psycho is a f*cking murderer. F*cking moronic.” ~Derek Krane
“This so-called “doctor” is a brainwashed fool, and is part of the genocide agenda. He is complicit in murder." ~David Geezermann (an alias I presume)
“...the example of a mercenary and accomplice to genocide, who deserves to be in lifetime prison. The reason he is still working to murder children proves once again that we are in a depopulation war.” ~Professor Fred Nazar
“Some people should not be allowed children.” ~Tim West
“…has the CDC far up his *sshole. He suggested you murder your child with the Covid vaccine. I agree with you, Ryan. It’s not malpractice. It’s murder.” ~ Tim Holt
Sound familiar HCR? The same playbook of ignorance and intimidation that rolls straight down from the top of the Trump golden escalator.
https://mccormickmd.substack.com/p/why-we-keep-our-daughter-up-to-date
4 years of Trump spewing garbage and poisoning the well of decency has long lasting effects. Boars Head had to shut down the Virginia plant, and we must shut down Trump and Vance. They are agents of disease far worse than listeriosis. But take heart. The first anti vaxxers wanted to dismember Edward Jenner, for the cowpox vaccine to prevent smallpox.
This is what freedom is all about…choice! One has the choice to not get immunized, as well as the choice to do so. Real freedom does not infringe upon the rights of others. The only thing the felon has done for the people in his base is give them the freedom to spew the hate and lies that already live within them. And if you don’t believe them, then you are the problem, not them.
If there is another virulent pandemic and there likely will be, immunization of all is the only way to stop it in its tracks. Freedom is not an issue here. We immunize for the good of all. Read a history of polio, or smallpox.
I presume your statement "you are the probelm" is meant to be the perspective of those who spew, not of those who reject the spew. The problem with anti-vaxxers is that if they refuse, for example, to vaccinate their children against measles and chicken pox, then their children are saddled with the possibility that they will infect and kill or maim others their age when they get the disease from another nonvaccinated kid. With refusal to vaccinatine against Covid, the adult who chooses that will put others at risk if (when) Covid strikes them. In the name of freedom, they feel freedom to infect others is their choice. So it seems to me, anyhow.
I disagree. Everyone can choose to do anything they want to but what they choose to do is not immune from consequences. The entire justice system and rule of law determines what choices are acceptable and what choices have consequences. When your choice has the potential and the likelihood that it will cause harm to the health, safety and life of other people, that choice is not acceptable and those type of choices must have consequences - drinking and driving, yelling 'fire' in a crowded public place, having an electrified fence around your property without posted warnings, requiring a fence around a backyard pool, not following food safety rules, etc. In the case of immunization, if you choose not to get immunized, then you should not have the right to be in public places like schools, church, theatres, parks because your choice to not get vaccinated is a danger to others. You will harm others.
The freedom to lie, deceive and spew hate is a moral issue and profoundly unchristian but when these choices threaten the very fabric of a society and pose physical and emotional harm, there ought to be consequences. Freedom as you express it is the basis for anarchy. Ever heard of war and how lies and information have caused world wars? Truth - everyone having access to the facts - is the basis for democracy. Opinions are not facts. I truly can't believe that you think that if I don't believe lies, I'M the problem?
Thanks for that tidbit of history. Most of what I read was how the public came around to support it. After all, he got the idea from local cowmaid practices in the English countryside. Also, in those days retribution was all round more graphic in general.
It is a form violence, meant to intimidate. Lies can be a form of violence, the politicizing of a sane COVID response being only one such example. Racism, anti-gay, and bullying or rape of women is is violence. And of course mayhem and murder are violence.
When the object is social and universal individual justice, rule of law is the alternative, But violence is and always was an effective way for individuals and factions to work their will; robbery, rape, murder, persecution, corruption, dictatorship, war, etc. All the creepy stuff; and there is always a following for those who want to go that road, especially when they wrap it in Orwellian cover stories.
Rule of law can enshrine any level of violence, it's the content of the law and social customs which matter. What you're talking about is social/political groups willing to strongarm their "our way or the highway" POVs. Democracies historically have had to encode more peaceable means slowly, as you rightly put it, backing it up with laws and enforcement. A messy process, right?
There is no law or social contract that cannot be abused and weaponized against social justice, as $COTUS proved in many ways. Nevertheless, the set-up we inherited was pretty well designed in support of just, inclusive governance., not the least of which has been the portals for democratic change. Ultimately the preponderance of our citizens must honor a genuine aspiration for universal justice, and inform our own choices in that context. Substantial messiness and imperfection is inevitable, but how much we strive to discover and apply our efforts toward justice is a choice, and choices weigh on outcomes.
Perfect reply, J L Graham
I had an anti-vaxx friend of more than 30 years, Doc. For years I tried to discuss the scientific evidence of the vaccine's efficacy with her and was met with similar accusations of group think. I begged her to drop the subject once it had become clear that we couldn't talk about it politely (or rationally). She met every citation of studies that gave statistical evidence that vaccines are effective at keeping people out of hospital and avoiding long-term health issues with citations of junk science and conspiracy theories. She continued to send me links to videos trashing Fauci or lauding Bobby Jr. At last I told her that I no longer trusted her to respect my boundaries and blocked her on all platforms. Sad, but necessary to my mental health.
Vaccination is invasive and not always entirely safe, but pathogenic viruses is so much worse. I read about a Republican bigwig who was deliberately exposing his kids to Measles, so they would become immune "naturally". The fricking virus in invasive and far less safe than a vaccine. The vaccine is a "cheat sheet" for the immune system, like breaking Nazi codes in WWII. Measles sucks. I had it in the '50s) can be serious, and temporarily degrades general immune responses. It's truly delusional thinking.
That is horrifying & disgusting. Are you able to somehow report these demons as threatening?
O...M...G... Dr. McCormick, that is horrifying to see such a Medieval response. I read many of your Substack articles and it's clear you are an empiricist. It's sad how some people are either ignorant of, or distrusting of science. Keep fighting the Good Fight.
You should quit that Substack. I have found that Substacks where one can comment for free have some real nuts. Was this one free?
It's his.
Some of these replies are likely from bots. Try not to take the ones from real people personally, they do not know you, and have no real grasp on the issue. They seem to be responding to their own demons by using ad hominem to demonizing you. Been there. It's not easy. I admire your courage and conviction.
Is it possible that some of those responses are from Russian trolls, seeking to (further) divide Americans?
Hitler would be so proud of them.
this is the febrile lunacy generating right wing extremism and the related conspiracy theory world. A local on my FB just posted a very lengthy spew about how anti-covid vaccines have been causing "massive" spike in heart attacks esp among youth, operated by a "genocidal" pharmaceutical industry et al.
It is absolutely terrifying how ignorant these people are. They really don’t have a clue. And
They’re reveling in their ignorance. 😱
As a nurse, I keep myself current with all the vaccines recommended by the CDC and urge my family and friends to do the same. I had one bout with COVID several years ago and it lasted 11/2 days. I’m 77 with comorbidities and May likely have died if not vaxxed and boosted. Once I’m recovered from cataract surgeries, I’m getting the new vaccine with my annual flu shot.
As the parent of a toddler with cancer who has a port and requires frequent ER visits anytime he has a fever, we have unfortunately had a few run ins with Covid. I wish he could be vaccinated, but not yet. One day. I wish other families would vaccinate to help protect those that can’t (like my kid!) vaccine hesitancy absolutely blows my mind and even before my
Kid had cancer it infuriated me, but now I see it as a directly targeted and intentionally selfish threat to his life.
My god! So creepy and so very ignorant.
I feel the surprising lack of grace and patience in some replies I have experienced today have only served to remind me that I am not, obviously, a professional writer and should keep my thoughts to myself.
Thanks for the eye opening opportunity.
Not it is not Annie. You are correct. You can only provide consequences to folks who don’t comply. I don’t need a lesson about polio or the need for vaccines. My mom was an RN and pregnant with me during the height of the Polio epidemic in this country.
All of the examples that Heather has cited sound like good news, but am I correct in fearing that Trump's emphasis isn't on gaining votes but on suppressing the votes of those who don't support him? Even if the popular vote and the Electoral College votes are eventually in Harris' favor, will there be delay and chaos enough to make the transition from a Biden presidency to a Harris presidency more difficult than we expect? And will there be violence, condemned by most, but sought be a powerful few? It is hard to predict the reactions of a cornered animal, so we must be prepared and we must remain vigilant to the threats to our democracy and our freedom.
The thing that disturbs me the most is that a relative hand full of states may have the power to determine the outcome of this election.
I believe that Trump is focused on the Electoral College at this point, could care less about policies or keeping promises (if he can even keep them straight).
I don’t think I could stand another debacle like Gore or Hillary. We have to get rid of the EC and let the vast majority guide our country with their vote.
Yes, G.P., he is focused not on the voters, but rather on the vote counters. 🤬
Cause he already knows Kamala will win the popular vote
By Nov 5
Agreed, G.P., but it's very hard to get rid of the EC, because it would take a constitutional amendment = 290 ayes in the house/67 in the senate OR 38 states ratifying its removal. None of that is feasible today. Same problem changing tenure or ethics rules for SCOTUS. Both need fixing badly, but there isn't enough legislative support to accomplish either yet.
That's what i keep hearing, the Electoral College. No change from there anytime soon unless maybe the Dems get a senate supermajority. Ya think?
Trump is supported by powerful forces. Look what the Supreme Court gave him. Those men have powerful motivated friends and they see a chance of a lifetime. He could lose all around and still gain the White House. Then die. Who cares about Trump; they have Vance.
Exactly
Judith. Your last thought is why horrifies me the most!
It isn’t just suppression of voters but also that the majority of the investment of campaign money from the Trump camp is to fight the results of the vote on November 5th should Trump lose. Very, very little is being spent on a ground game for Trump. The efforts to mess up the vote count in Georgia is to throw the decision to the Republican majority controlled House of Representatives where it will be a one vote per state vote to decide the presidency.
But they need to mess up more than Georgia. If Harris wins Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, that's 270 electoral votes. Game over
Dems will litigate Georgia "to death", and the proposals there are being resisted by most concerned in that state, both Republicans and Democrats.
The Trump machine will dispute the results of any swing state they don’t carry. His personal freedom is at stake. He will do everything in his power to thwart being subjected to the judicial system.
Wisconsin TV is full of Trump’s hate commercials aimed at Ka-MA-la.
what Trump tried to get Pence to do Jan 6.
Heather has observed that Trump is not campaigning for the popular vote. As experienced observers such as Simon Rosenberg and Fred Wellman are commenting, we Democrats are on the winning team, the systems are holding (and preparing, e.g. Marc Elias's Democracy Docket team hired by Harris campaign), we'd rather be us than them, and our job is to Get Out The Vote.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kamala-harris-hires-massive-legal-team-to-fight-back-against-election-denials/ar-AA1p3cUm
Fred Wellman spoke on the Markers For Democracy "24 Hours in '24" Zoom event today, 9/24/24, and tomorrow will include Simon Rosenberg, Heather Cox Richardson, and other All Stars:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/24-hours-in-24-our-freedoms-are-on-the-ballot-postcard-around-the-clock-tickets-998091637957?cdmc=2mTSAK1z8glTPtKT25j34vK5fY2&refcode2=2mTSAK1z8glTPtKT25j34vK5fY2&refcodecdmc=2mTSAK1z8glTPtKT25j34vK5fY2
Read Robert Hubbell's "Today's Edition" addressing this concern:
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/keeping-control-of-the-senate
We should be prepared for any eventuality, Betsy, including "relatively smooth", even if a Georgia hand count has its way. It didn't work out very well for Trump last time. One curious remark Trump made the other day, if he "loses", this will be his last campaign. That a hint of an exit ramp?
That wasn't how I took it, Frank--it seemed to me to part and parcel of his assessment that he will win this time, and that there won't ever be the need for another campaign once he becomes dictator and gets rid of everyone who opposes him.
I was idly musing on the comment.
Reasonable fears, I think, Betsy. I also think preparations are already being made to prevent/ defend against violence and refusal to certify. I hope for a crushing blue landslide for presidency and congress. I fear, as you do, that nothing will be enough to make the MAGAs behave civilly and legally. At least if my hope bears fruit, there will be laws to enforce and maybe even a supreme court to protect the constitution.
How do you think a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court will all of a sudden start protecting the constitution?
Trump's in his 'Fat Elvis' phase—only this time, with a flamethrower.
Great analogy - scary/awful visual! : - 0
Okay, Fat Elvis stage. That's good, that's very good.
The larger Q: why do so many tens of millions support -- at least, for one thing -- the racism?
In one of his videos today, Brian Tyler Cohen pegged Republicans as totally “just trafficking in a reality of their own creation.”
They’re addicted to porn (Mark Robinson), confinement of women to state control (the Clarence court), racist lies (Trump and Vance), and fraud, rape, and violating the Constitution (Trump and his Clarence court).
If they’d gone to schools with any humanities, they’d know we can learn to see realities outside us. We can see others as individuals, not just units in categories as standardized testing pushes.
But the conceits of our standardized testers serve our commodifiers, our rich, our vulgar. Thus of tens millions of fellow Americans helplessly rut in racism.
We can reverse this. We can key humanities to what they were prior to that 1971 Powell memo.
👏 On target!! As colleges (I taught in a leading liberal arts college in what I now see as the vanished "Golden Age of the Liberal Arts".) get "transformed" the country looses big time. The GOP has gutted school budgets from Kindergarten through graduate schools. Restore humanities, keep science growing, and get rid of college as vocational school. AND have truly first-class vocational schools for skilled trades and crafts, management, culinary arts, etc etc ---the world needs first-class plumbers, leather workers, carpenters, bricklayers, chefs, stenographers,-----the whole range of what keeps the world working well.
We need to be collaboratively creating our own culture instead of relying on commercial interests to manufacture it. We need to be making the rules, not just those with the most money. Rather, government of the people, by the people, for the people, for real; and we get little preparation for it.
It's not a real democracy, and certainly not a wise one, unless we, the people, are engaged, well informed, and responsible about taking on the gravity of our collective roles in creating and maintaining a viable free society.
I'm liking comments of GZ and JL and am agreed about collaboratively creating our own culture and all that includes. That's an amount of self-responsibility I rarely see. I do not get endorphins from witty condemnations and fantasies to cope with this hyper-polarized landscape. The problems run deep and manifest widely. Seeing violent conflicts increase while the stock market rises causes my disgust to reach a new level. I'm around so many entrenched bureaucracies trying to grow themselves among super-privileged mostly-liberal lineages that I rarely see people I want to vote for anymore. Your post reminds me to vote for people and policies that will do the least damage while giving us time to realize what taking on the gravity of our collective roles might be.
When you say "college as vocational school," Grover, I'm guessing you mean biz ed.
When I was an undergrad at the U of Michigan (1965-69), U.S. corporations wanted personnel whom colleges could teach in many richly varying ways, many majors possible.
As for "business" skills, pretty much all corporations then said work for us, we'll teach you our best skills for you ourselves.
Enter the Powell memo, 1971. And by the end of the decade humanities were done. Tenure largely shut down. State subsidies drastically cut (thank-you ALEC). New classes of grossly underpaid contingent labor taking over most all undergrad teaching. Students saddled with the largest debt to banks in human history. And K-12 suffocating not only under the new regimes of standardized testing, but poisoned further with the dehumanized conceits all the corporate predators craved.
Today's Ivy League? Nearly 50% of all there now major only in the biz ed (vocational training) suited to the nihilism of the predator classes.
Tens of millions who were formerly working class saw their jobs offshored, for them only to stew, addict themselves to opioids, buy their millions of AR-15s, and become the batshit crazy banshees for their hate-filled, narcissist, racist, fat, orange demagogue.
"They’re addicted to porn (Mark Robinson), confinement of women to state control (the Clarence court), racist lies (Trump and Vance), and fraud, rape, and violating the Constitution (Trump and his Clarence court)." How shocking it is to realize just a decade ago very few people would have taken you seriously. But fascism happens fast. Think Ceausescu, Franco, Mussolini. Yes, it CAN happen here.
Yes, kdsherpa, no one would have taken any of this seriously "just a decade ago."
But, then, just a decade ago Citizens United was only four years old. The Supreme Court a decade ago was only 14 years out from having rushed in to quash voting results in the presidential election for it far-right majority to guarantee Clarence's party the winner.
Things got bad, kdsherpa, as the far-right foundations post-Powell memo kicked in, hired record-breaking numbers of lobbyists, and put U.S. billionaires on steroids. As, too -- humanities dead in schools -- our worst predators could offshore those many millions of working class jobs and indebt more millions of college youth to the banks.
Also, a decade ago, Justice Thomas had personally enjoyed the philanthropy of Leonard Leo for only a decade.
Philanthropy, David?
Or just more cynically transactional mutual predation by but two more of our typically sick living dead from schools all assembly line dehumanized?
(I think David is being sarcastic.)
And prior to that, Clearance was admitted to Yale Law School under Affirmative Action -- which he has since, personally decimated.
I vividly remember my Dad -- (who was a prof of Sociology at UNC. He was at UM prior to that, and I had the most wonderful first 10 years of life growing up in Ann Arbor. We left just before you arrived in A2, and moved to the segregated, KKK dominated South.) -- saying to me during Reagan's reign, when the Citizens United PAC began: "Well, there goes our democracy." It took 22 years to become enshrined in law, but the seeds of destruction were planted long before. [Please write a few words about the post-Powell memo. Thanks.]
A couple of things, kdsherpa.
1) Through the 1970s the Heritage Foundation and the Hoover Institute spent millions paying far right "scholars" to publish articles in the mainstream press decrying any and all in higher ed active in anti-war, civil rights, or feminist causes. Their real onus? To tar academics with any humanities for public issues. Their goal? To stigmatize humanities as amateurish, when academics should neuter themselves, stick to narrowed specializations only.
They won. Combined with ALEC's successful lobbying of state legislatures to cut public funding everywhere, tenure reduced and became trophy for only the most narrowed, specialized, neutered. By 1980 no U.S. elites accessed any humanities anymore. The new predator classes were free to offshore the millions of working class jobs, which they did, unseen by the rest of America for the next several decades.
2) Enter standardized testing. All of it stressed abstracted views of life only. Everything was linear, unit-based, categorical. Nothing human, nothing regionally unique, nothing but life as by abstracted groupings only. Totally demoralizing, commodifying, gripped by relentless causalities. See Diane Ravitch, "The Language Police," 2003.
The U.S., with its money, its desiccated Fulbright, set this new, dehumanized model for the rest of the world. See Minae Mizumura, "The Fall of Language in the Age of English," English translation Columbia U Press 2016.
If you assembled a compendium of creepy politicians who transgressed the rules of law and decency from about the time the Democratic Party walked away from it's Dixiecrat wing, I wonder how how they would stack in the Democrat-Republican columns? I cop to having biases, but it seems to me a lot of the creepiest stuff had a distinctly Republican spin.
I think you’re correct there.
No question about it, IMO -- and getting worse by the day.
The "Mr. Hyde" element is becoming more emboldened.
Yes. Very well said.
I think you answered your own question, Phil, when you characterized racism, etc. as an addiction. I don't believe anyone can be argued or taught out of such a dependency. I'm not a 12 stepper, but I do agree that to change anything about oneself, one has to recognize that such and such is a problem. Maybe we could follow the smoking-is-bad-for-your-health model, but beliefs and biases are more abstract -- there's no scary consequence like cancer to make people want to relinquish them. And it's double tricky with so many so-called Christian ministries supporting these very ungodly habits "in the name of righteousness."
I think that we humans like approval, and like the Fox and the Crow, flattery can be used manipulatively. Take climate abuse. The prognosis is scary and remediation difficult, so there is relief in being assured that you don't have to worry about it. It's just bad people trying to scare you. There is relief in being told that all your problems are somebody else's faul,t and you have no responsibilities to up your game. It can be comforting to be told you are the "master race", and whatever else is wrong in your life, you are assured that tower over those inferior "others".
It's palliative, and it's BS that can't withstand the light of day, but like a narcotic, it is a refuge, and even a thrill; and people are reluctant to let it go. Especially when taught to believe it from when the first opened their eyes.
I feel like this election is like open heart surgery the result could end up either life or death. When writers from the NYT write articles saying Kamala Harris has to convince me to vote, my question or response would be “January 6th, 2022”. What sort of bubble people chose to live within? Why do we have to continually explain that we are the leading economy in the world that when Harris Biden took over was in a deep recession due to Covid. We have witnessed a superior administration to the previous and that seems list in the ecosystem of misinformation. 7 weeks left before the fate of our country and the world will be decided. The GOP are pushing for the American version of Brexit so that materials future is irrelevant . 47% of the country want this. If Harris wins we will avoid this potential iceberg. Thanks Heather!
I wouldn't be bothered with the NYT - just like all the Australian newspapers which keep telling us Trump is polling better than Harris. Better chance with the Guardian, although the Australian edition is somewhat diluted (and won't let you read the whole article unless you've committed yourself).
January 6, 2021.
Also: "writers from the NYT " ?? ......Disgusting. I blame The NY Times for publishing that garbage.
Do they have Maggot subscribers they need please??? or, what?
Cancel. ..... I will soon. ..... I just have to fortify myself for the withdrawal symptoms.
That’s harsh
Brexit was stupid, but pales in comparison.
Brexit was an exercise in national self-harm. The "leave" case was an exercise in deceit. The Murdochs were in it up to their eyeballs.
Another plutocratic swindle.
It is unlikely that the defeat of Trump will result in the scales falling from the eyes of his supporters. MAGA voters will remain disaffected, inhabiting an alternate reality impervious to the facts. It may take a generation for the political system to operate again with the support of two major parties that will defend the Constitution and respect the rule of law.
There is little hope of swaying the "we hear and obey master" crowd, but some poorly informed Trump supporters have drifted away. I know one who did, and another who was open to questioning "The Chosen One". There are a lot of "I hate politics" folks who need to be persuaded that their vote matters.
It’s a choice between fascism and democracy.
I know that, but the cult overwhelms in Texas
Good. Let’s talk to our family, friends and neighbors if possible…to encourage them all to vote for democracy and VP Harris, too.
Old age takes many of those away, but grands still listen to me
Got it
Thank you Heather for your almost daily account of what is happening at this crucial juncture in American (an world) history. We have a choice in the tight November election between democracy and the abyss, where we know not what darkness lies beyond. Even if Harris wins and the Senate and House have a Democrat majority, we will still see the aftermath of a decade of Trump.
That is for sure. We have a deep sickness in our society. Even with a Harris win we will all need to work together for a long time to heal this nation.
Yes, Lisa, we will have to work hard to heal our nation and each other. I stand ready with my broom, mop and bucket, and window cleaner. I know I won’t be alone!
I hear you!! I have to start with my own family. My Mother and I barely speak right now. She is 84 and I've been her Primary caregiver. She considers me a traitor because I left the GOP in '08, became a Democratic Activist and never looked back. I thought I had her straightened out after January 6th and the Hearings. She was done with Trump but she's back on the Trump train again (Thanks to 3 more years of Fox brainwashing) and has nothing good to say about Harris. Last time we spoke She said she was skipping Voting this year. 🙄😜 I'm the only Dem in my entire family besides my oldest daughter. Thank God for her. But my youngest has been with Trump. It's been an awful 10 years. So glad it's almost over!! 🙌🙏
Dear Laura, I am so sorry to hear your story. I don't know if it will help, but if you send me your address to bgerson@gmx.ch, I will be happy to send you a copy of my book, From Montgomery to the Matterhorn: Reflections on Life in My Two Homelands. I wrote this book because I grew up in Alabama always hearing the lie that a free market economy is not compatible with robust public services. Then I moved to Switzerland a country with a thriving economy AND a strong social safety net, a solid educational system, respected trade unions, public radio and television and health care for everyone. Perhaps your mom or your son would read my book which is written, I think, in an entertaining, non-dogmatic way. Part of the problem with Trump Republicans could be that they have never traveled, never seen how other countries manage the challenges of modern life. If anyone else is interested in having a copy, email me for a free one or order on line. Of course, my book deals chiefly with economic and social issues. European countries also face the problem of dealing with mass migration and finding solutions which don't blame the victim. Anyway, Lisa, stay strong and good luck.
I feel for you. Mom won’t tell anyone who she votes for, but we all regard Trump as a charlatan. My dad saw the GOP up close and personal when my family lived in Texas, and he detested them. He didn’t like George W. Bush or the other GOP candidates, and can’t stand Trump.
Damn, Lisa, angst and love intertwined….no doubt with a heavy heart. 💔
I have a similar struggle with my Republican daughter in Texas, Lisa. She began to see the light in '16 and voted for Hillary. She also supported Beto against Cruz for senate. She continues to disavow Trump, but she said she'd sit out the election rather than voting for Biden. I think she'll vote for Harris, but reluctantly. I'm working on it, but she says in TX it won't matter how or if she votes. I suggest that that could change if enough disaffected Republicans voted blue, but she shuts down and says we'll survive no matter who wins. I disagree, of course. It's a slow slog.
Lauren, reluctant votes count just as much as enthusiastic votes! Hopefully there’ll be thousands of reluctant votes!
Ain't that the truth!
We’ve been sick for 400 years. On the positive side, we’re less sick now than we were in the 1950s. Then, 90% of white Americans held white supremacist beliefs and behaved accordingly. Now, it’s down to 60% of white Americans. Increased polarization but diminished racism. Sixty percent is an improvement but there is still a long way to go. Fortunately, consistently good government is within our reach if we can get the racist fraction of white Americans down to 50%.
We also need to defeat laws designed to preserve peddling misinformation to students.
We need more critical thinking in our public education
Point to alternatives and study sources like Steve Ballmer's philanthropic gift of USA Facts: https://usafacts.org/ might help?
Where do you get your numbers?
Exit polls in recent years. Living in American cuttfor the 1950s.
I get that being a Steven Pinker fan. But being "less sick", or being overly positive, can kill us in the long term. Think global warming.
Yes tres deeply wounded and practically dying— very long recovery
At least a decade.
What is so horrifying about the Trump meme is that his followers will vote for it no matter what he says or does . He then can use extremist slogans to pick up the beyond the fringe voters of resentment he privately derides. Classic Putinesque.
Prepare for another exaggeration as the word spreads about the 300 or so Oregonians who were noncitizens accidentally given the right to vote because they were issued drivers licenses. I can see this playing BIG in the immigration "debate" and ignoring the fact that a small clerical error was corrected. Vance will strike again.
I recall when it was national news that a careless Starbucks affiliate employee let someone buy a latte with "food stamps". What I did not see featured in the news (but heard about on NPR) was a doctor who swindled millions out the medicare, but was caught.
And what about Rick Scott, J L? How is that swindler still in public office?
That's a big question for quite a number of Republican office holders. They wear their lawlessness as a badge of honor. The presidential race is literally the (ex) prosecutor vs. the felon.
Weird.
Yes. Trump is not the problem. His 74 million acolytes are the problem. They have been with us for a long time, and the Republican Party has been exploiting, in earnest, their deep-seated racism to win elections since 1968. The difference is that they weren’t completely shameless about it until Trump showed how well shameless racism works with white American voters and, to boot, how well misogyny works with male American voters. None of Trump’s 74 million are decent human beings. It’s up to the rest of us, who are, if nothing else, decent human beings, to outvote the louts and pass and enforce laws to bring them to heel.
I have read the a frog will not really stay in a pot if it gets too hot, but we Americans have become increasingly inured to a long term rise in the level of governmental corruption. Recall that even enough Republicans expressed the willingness to convict Nixon in the Senate. That was then.
Rex Page (Left Coast), I heart your anger and frustration, but I don’t agree with your statement: “None of Trump’s 74 million are decent human beings.” That’s manufactured binary-choice talking. My brother-in-law has drunk the kool-aid, but he’s still a decent person. A dear friend is deeply anti-abortion and votes trump, but she is a decent person. My best friend’s husband is a trump voter and yet, I find him to be a decent person in all our interactions. I am working my ass off to get Harris elected. And afterwards there will be “The Reckoning” with the 74 million that were lied to. I don’t know how we solve this problem. But it is a problem humans have made, so we must find a way. I chose not to discount their humanity or fallibility.
MLRGRMI, his 74 million are the problem. I also struggle with the "decent human beings" part, and my opinions are riding a seesaw. Almost all of my former work cohort friends (retired cops and their spouses) are adamant supporters of fpotus. Some of the memes they are posting are hurtful, hateful, awful things. In Facebook land, I have been unfriended and blocked by a fair handful of them, and only one of them had the decency to tell me (after he unfriended but did not block me) "You know I love ya, but I hate the political stuff". This same guy has posted on his page a meme of two "restroom males" (the pictures on the doors of bathrooms so we know which one to go into), with one in outline, kicking another outline in rainbow colors in the groin and saying "this is what I think of your pride month". This is a guy who would (and has) done anything at all to help me out in various ways.
In my mind, it is right, that they have ALWAYS been with us. What fpotus has done is given them permission to be visible and proud of that hatred of and anger towards the "other". It is one thing to be a racist. It is another thing to think it is OK to put "Don't re-nig in 2024" on the back of your vehicle. They might do good acts, but their beliefs are questionable, and when there is a split like that, I don't see how they can be a "good person" and still hate so much.
It complicated, especially when the current Republican party is doing serious harm, an ideology with a trail of victims, even within their own ranks;
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/11/16/1996206/-South-Dakota-nurse-talks-about-dying-patients-who-still-believe-COVID-19-is-a-hoax?detail=emaildkre#comment_79362866
Human nature is a mixed bag, and while we all bear responsibilities for the nature of our choices, and in some respects born equal, we are not born into equal circumstances, and while we are perfectly capable of lying to ourselves, we are also born clueless about a lot of stuff, and the quality of the stuff people want to fill our heads with varies. Some of it really works like malware when we are taught that some things should never be questioned. When looking for viable answers is actively punished. That implanted "Bug" can be potentially exploited for any purpose, and the effective strategy of divide and conquer has been exploited by despots of eons. We have got to recognize and oppose the inevitable emergence of the strategy above and beyond fighting the same battle again and again.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/4/6/2233194/-I-work-with-dying-Trump-supporters-It-s-confusing
Those who are now supporters of Trump won't just go away.
Yes, the “decent human beings” crack is debatable, and I would not have made it pre-Trump, but now that Trump has made the MAGA philosophy clear, I allow no exceptions. Not for your relatives. Not for you friends. Not for any Trump voter. My position is that any Trump voter is a person the world would be better off without. I don’t dispute your right to disagree, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking you are wrong.
I have beloved relatives who state: DJT!
I love them. I don't discuss politics with them. That doesn't stop me from sending out postcards for Dems, it doesn't stop me from sending messages to my representatives. Or from watching the debate with like-minded friends.
You gave a reply much better than the one I had in mind but didn't know how to express. I agree that trump supporters can be decent human beings; it is the brain washing, propaganda & repeating over & over of lies making people into true believers. I have had people wearing MAGA hats hold open doors & show other courtesies .
Yeah, Rex. 256 mil to 74 mil. Of course not all of the 256 mil are registered voters and can't be for reasons of age or citizenship. Still we can thank Taylor Swift for getting out the registration and hopefully the vote. Not enough yet, but a step in the right direction. I still support everyone's right to their own opinion... our challenge is to change their opinions, and that's a doozy. Inch by inch, though, friend.
Classic despot.
This is where Trump wants to take women back to:
Chicago 1962 I am a student nurse at Michael Reese Hospital, a Catholic woman patient can’t use contraception, bleeding out from botched abortion, asking me to pray for her. Asking me to forgive her. For what? For being too poor to afford another child? We can’t go back to those days.
With her blood on my shoes, I go to waiting room, to tell her husband and children that mommy will not be coming home.
I want to scream and can’t.
The costs are real, and the female always pays the price. In that case, the man had to share it. In too many cases, the woman bears it alone.
Always
Absoluement if she survived at all
What a heartwrenching story. 😭
I worked at Michael Reese in '64, Molly. Not as a nurse, but as some kind of admin aide -- I was a teen fresh out of high school. I was in a dept. that had a federal grant to study autism from all angles. My job was to categorize and count findings from all disciplines. I also worked as a grad student's assistant at U of Chicago, where I got to use a computer! I wished Michael Reese had had a counter-sorter computer. I had to use a knitting needle to stick through a stack of cards with a hole punched for each answer. I'd stick the needle through, lift the stack and let the cards without that punch fall, then count the remainder. Sounds like Georgia's hand count, no? Grueling, but informative.
NASA had such a system in late 60’s. I had forgotten that. Lol
Yes, how cool that you worked at Reese. I am forever grateful for everyone at Michael Reese who made me the person and the nurse I am. I learned compassion for any and everyone. I knew it all ready, but Reese told me that it is right. I hope the years have been good to you.
This is costing me $50 but is so worth it.
I got excited when I saw your post, Molly. My mom was a 1929 grad of St Mary's College, South Bend, IN and came to Michael Reese as an intern in dietetics. She was a life-long Catholic and also a staunch supporter of abortions rights for women because of what she had seen with women trying the coat-hanger method and dying or nearly so while she was at MR. We lost her at almost 106 and she was quite the gal. She hadn't worked outside our home until my dad died when mom was 54. She went back into dietetics and ended up as the chief dietician at the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne! Rosalie was a hell of a gal, as my son would say. I lift a glass to her and to you, Molly, for your service to your fellow human beings.
This comment is costing me $50 but is so worth the price. I had to join so I could reply to your post, Molly. I was so excited when I saw your post. My mother was a grad of St Mary's College, South Bend, IN in 1929. She was a home ec major and interned at Michael Reese in dietetics in 1930. We lost her a few years ago at almost 106. She was a life-long Catholic but to her dying day felt that abortion should be safe and legal. She alluded to horrible things she had seen while at Michael Reese because women did not have access to safe abortions and reverted to the coat-hanger method. Mom was a truly amazing woman and after becoming a widow at 54, never having worked outside our home while married, ended up as chief dietician at the VA Hospital in Fort Wayne IN. Here's a toast to you, mom, you were a hell of a gal as I'm sure you must be as well, Molly
Your mother was a special person, who loved and believed in the truth. Michael Reese was a special place that actually cared for patients over money… learned that clearly there.
As Willy Loman knew all too well . . .
______________
PS: My Baby-Boomer Eyes conflated a couple sentences and thought they said Melania was being paid $200,000+ to "stand behind" her nude photos at a fund-raising rally . . . interesting use of the word, "behind."
Ha! Good one, Joanne!
With apologies to Tammy Wynette---
"Sometimes it's hard to be a woman,
giving all your love to just one Con-Man;
You'll have bad times,
And he'll have good times (Just ask Lara Looomer)
Doin' things that you don't understand
But if you love him, you'll forgive him,
Even though he's hard to understand (as most sociopaths are);
And if you love him, oh be proud of him (I know, a bit much to ask)
Cause after all, he's just a fat, lazy, cowardly disgrace of a man;
Stand BEHIND your Man,
And show the world you love him,
Keep getting all the loot you caaaaaaaaan,
Stand by your Con-Man!"
Daniel Streeter! Yes!! Perfect! Nothing like some musical humor-dorphins to lift our spirits!
Great song Daniel!! 🎵
Perfect!
I thought of Willy when reading that quote.
The thing is, at the end of almost every performance of "Death of A Salesman" I have seen I find myself weeping for Willy. There's humanity in the man and certain nobility to his struggle to sell his version of the American Dream. "Attention must be paid," says a character at the conclusion.
I see Trump as someone from a Mamet play. I doubt I'll have any tears for him when he leaves the stage. And he's already received more than his share of attention.
So true . . . sweet, sad, Willy wasn't a sociopathic fascist--just a victim of the American Dream gone bad . . . "
And yes to the Mamet characterization . . . definitely no tears.
Haven't you seen the life-sized nude photos, numbered and hand signed by Donald and Melania? Only $59.99, while they last... /s/
At least they are being "classy" about it. They could be hawking them for $14.88. No doubt they are signed using a sharpie.
Funny Betsy and Joanne!! 😆🤣😆
Um, Betsy, waiting for the nude photos of TFFFG……just kidding. 🤢🤮
I just threw up in my mouth....
ugh
Ewwwwwww . . .!!!
LOL.
Raising false hopes, you think? When Sarkozy blustered his way into the French presidency, he took the beauteous Carla (who had slept with everyone from Mick Jagger on) to London on an official trip. The serious papers said he looked like a gangster with his moll (she's taller than he is), one of the others put a full frontal nude from her modelling days on the front page. She smilingly ignored it.
🤣🤣🤣
My dream and passion are to have a landslide vote that wipes MAGA off the political map for ever.
Focusing on the final days of the campaign we must do everything we can to elect Kamala Harris. Do all you can. Phone calls, postcards, door to door, donations. We have the momentum. We need to capture every single vote.
Me too, Barbara... although I doubt anything will wipe bigotry or lust for power off the political map forever.
If one is interested: in D.C. (at the National Press Club) there will be a conference of leading intellectuals and psychiatrists convening to promote a "psychological intervention."
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-more-dangerous-state-of-the-world-and-the-need-for-fit-leadership-tickets-1013151101217
These are the same thought-leaders who emerged five and a half years ago to alert inside the belt-way, along with the rest of the people.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?458919-1/the-dangerous-case-donald-trump
Yes, I believe that Representative Jamie Raskin will be participating again. Tickets cost thirty-five dollars to pay for the venue and pay for getting the word out.
Everyone on this site already knows he's bat sh*t crazy. I have wanted to not hear another thing about Trump...It's been TOO long. But, the show just rolls on. It was the Greatest Show On Earth but, man, it's really getting old. Really old.
That is FOR SURE Judith. I am SO Over DJT...The Don-vict. Wish he were already there. 😆
I started the 2019 c-span event...it's really good.
This is all wonderful... but no one who only gets their news from FOX will ever hear any of it. How do we break into the Maga news silos?
MAGA will be MAGA, they have only a small percentage of the total voters, their silos are shrinking, and we can save our breath. As Robert Hubbell notes, the largest "party" is the "Did Not Vote Party," and of voters, Democrats are about 30%, Republicans about 30%, and Independents/Undecideds about 40%. So our energy and resources are most effectively spent on:
1. Get Out The Vote of registered Democrats
2. Support organizations and campaigns who are registering and verifying voter registration, e.g. The Civics Center (registering high schoolers), League of Women Voters, Field Team 6, and VoteRiders
3. Support the growing number of "reasonable" Republicans who are speaking out against Trump, Mark Robinson, JD Vance, and their sycophants--and endorsing Harris-Walz, and better, down ballot Democrats.
https://www.thecivicscenter.org/
https://www.lwv.org/
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
https://www.voteriders.org/
Ellie, you are always focused on effective action in the real world. Thank you once again for your discipline.
Spot on, Ellie. I'm sending letters to voters through Vote Forward. It makes me feel I'm doing something constructive in the last weeks we have to pull this off. Thanks for the reminders and links!
Thank you, as always, Ellie.
You don’t. Those people are lost. The only hope is to outvote them. We have enough voters to do that, just barely.
Deport Rupert and call him out. UK did that. It was on tv
Yup, even Brits " ... said it on tv".
Rupert Murdoch is the one man who’s managed to corrupt journalism in three nations: his native Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His son Lachlan Murdoch is carrying on his father’s dubious legacy in the United States with Fox “News.”
Yep, but James apparently had a change of heart, and demon daddy ain’t happy.
When the last scary NYT poll came out, I recall reading in the comments here an interesting one by a data specialist who said the poll over-sampled rural voters by 7–10%. I found that comforting. But it’s like a press rollercoaster ride - because, except here and in a few other places, it’s all about the horse race. And so the national mood swings up, swings down. If only the press really did focus on the issues and held Trump accountable for the mayhem he creates, the lies he tells, the vitriol he spews. Instead - up/down/up/down. I can’t wait for this to be over.