Thanks for the good advice. I am doing my best to be hopeful. It is hard sometimes when the coverage of the insanity seems endless. It has been a treat this weekend not to hear one story about Trump and Kump on my local news and the NPR briefs. We have not had a break this long in ages, 4 days. Maybe if we can get at least some of our media to only cover Trump and Kump when something specific happens instead of anticipating "later this week, Trump is supposed to ____" or "Trump is supposed to show up for ____ next week" (the same nothing for days ahead of anything happening, then covering the nothing event for hours upon hours). It makes it seem as though Trump really is being maligned as he claims, which he is not. Trump has lied and cheated his way through life, he is finally maybe being held accountable for a fraction of what he has done. We don't need to be beat over the head with it every day.
Ruth, In my view, a major problem with the preponderance of Trump coverage is that it feeds a bias, at least in Trump world, namely, that if Trump were guilty of such despicable wrongdoing, why did the powers-that-be not call him out well before the election season? Additionally, as increasing numbers learn that Biden has expressed a preference to run against Trump, they understandably are asking, if Trump is truly dangerous, why would anyone want him to win the Republican nomination? My point is that the time is long overdue for us to fail to see the next 14 months from a perspective other than our own.
Barbara Jo, yes, and one would think our media are OK with damaging our democracy. I honestly don't understand what they expect to get from another Trump administration. He was a total jerk the first time. He is ignorant of most things but alas, when people have chosen their deity, it is nearly impossible for them to see him as anything else. Of course, Trump has been called out before this. Being impeached twice is pretty serious and will go down in history as something that probably won't be seen again. We the People who actually care about what we have here must step up and get involved. I am now seriously trying to figure out what I will contribute to stopping the Republican anti-Americans from owning our nation.
“… one would think our media are OK with damaging our democracy.” Such an important point. I have long felt the media bear a great deal of the blame for his rise in the first place, but I hadn’t thought of it quite this way. My question is, what can we the people do about that? Clearly this isn’t a case of an unprejudiced media dutifully reporting the news; rather, it is an attention-seeking, “if it bleeds, it leads” situation. Trump makes the most noise, creates the most interest, is the most shocking — so he gets the most publicity, while Joe quietly plods onward, accomplishing ever so much, but getting little or (mostly) no credit. What to do?!
"Push" polling. Republican pollsters “flood the zone” with underpowered, poorly designed surveys to skew the results of polling aggregators like FiveThirtyEight.com.
Like I've said in the past, if in printed form, they are not even worthy to be used as toilet paper.
About the only use that current 'tied' one has is to scare the ever living bejeebus out of the semi-sane (hopefully!) majority to get up off of their complacent collective azzes, and FIGHT against the fascist takeover of the land in which they reside. ;)
I don’t think their research staff is doing them due diligence, providing them with accurate information the report - much how Ted Cruz operates by spouting anything he sees on the internet as factual.
Terre I concur absolutely. While President Biden and the Democrats have made significant accomplishments for the good and benefit of both Democrats and Republicans, the media still give all the attention to #45 and his cult of followers. It's like the bad guys are exciting while the good one are boring. I too wish I knew how we can reverse this trend to focus more on President Biden's vision for a more inclusive America.
A positive note. The media holds up a mirror which much distorts. It does not represent who we are, but what serves its purpose of making money. There are a whole lot of good sensible people in the US that never make the "breaking news".
As a former newspaper journalist, I can attest that we reporters and editors on the ground do not work just to make money (and we never made much). We had ideals, we wanted to inform people about the good and the bad, so they could do something about it.
I wouldn't call it 'boring',although I get what you're saying.It's a huge relief what our dear President has done and a sense of hope for the future.Like he says'let's finish the job'
Call them out: they misinform the voters, and reap profits in tax 'breaks' for many very rich 'people' (some who Brag about not paying taxes, like tfg).
Terre; The media want tax 'breaks' like other greedy rich 'people'. Tfg raided our treasury trillions of dollars for billionaire supporters. He steals from US and gives to the obscenely wealthy! They love ❤ him!
I for one think it's a nasty stain on America that this corrupt criminal TUMP is even allowed to run for anything, much less to be the Dictator of the United States. In any other free, democratic nation in the world, this evil and corrupt cretin would have been thrown in prison or faced a firing squad for what he has done. Why not here in America?? We must band together to keep this life long crook from even getting near the White House again. I am making preparations to leave the United States if he does happen to win. TUMP will most certainly be much worse this time than he was the first time he was Dictator. They have this manifesto thing for 2025 that spells out their plans for the United States and how they will dismantle the federal government and establish a Dictatorship here. It is extremely alarming to me. I didn't read the whole thing, the things i did read put a scare into me and made me sick. We need to get started right away to get out the vote to make sure these criminals lose.
I saw a poll, reported on PBS Newshour yesterday, that 41% of those polled think Biden has had significant accomplishments during his administration, while 51% think Trump did.
I think the problem is one of perception. Biden looks old and speaks slowly and often hesitantly. I fear that that has convinced many people that he is not mentally competent or physically able. He has to be on call 24/7, so we often see him when he is not at his best. Trump, in contrast, has plenty of time to rest and relax and hide any physical issues. He can time his infrequent rallies so that he appears younger and more vigorous. I wholeheartedly agree with what Robert Reich proposed, but I am worried.
Trump did nothing, nothing at all for the average American. A very small tax break which was barely noticed in biweekly paychecks. I heard that has expired. Nothing for COVID. Nothing in terms of healthcare updates. Never cared for the average worker! Ever.
I agree, but I just read a column citing another poll. Just before the pandemic, in early 2020, 57% of those polled thought the economy was doing well. Currently, the major economic indicators are quite similar to that period, yet only 19% of those polled say the economy is doing well. Maybe it's due to MSM coddling Trump and then criticizing Biden, while right wing media relentlessly incites anger against Biden.
Carolyn, I think you are right about perception, but the media works it too. When they play back Trump's BS, they play only the parts where he almost makes sense, that is, it is possible to understand the words he is saying. They play and replay his insults, lies, invectives, etc. When they cover Biden, they play bits of him actually dealing with current issues facing our nation and our people. There are no insults (I think men are supposed to insult people to prove their manhood or something). Biden is careful that what he says is clear as to what he has done or is doing. Trump never cared about clarity or even actual problems people were dealing with. Biden came with serious help for Maui and Florida. Trump brought paper towels to Puerto Rico. I also wonder with the polls who the pollers are actually speaking to and how honest those people are. Anyone living in reality knows Biden has done a lot for this country when Trump in office did little to help anyone but rich white men and hurt a lot of people including the separated families. Plus, Trump has been out of office more than 2 years and American attention spans are short. A free press is essential for a democracy and when that is abused as it is now, people do not get the truth, only the part of the truth the media want passed along with embellishments designed to sway the people. There is so much work to do and so little time!
Carolyn Herz : With corporate 'sponsorship' of even PBS, I don't trust their polling either. It's hard to believe those numbers, because tfg and his supporters have not been interested in serving the Common Good in any way. Criminal activity has been their 'game' for quite a while.Hostility about climate destruction and towards diversity, even voting rights are part of their 'platform' They weaponize the law and media with the Riger Stone mantra : "Possession is 9 tenths of the law". If you can cheat, you own everything that you can steal.
Ruth Sheets : call, write/email your secretary of state and let them know that you would support enforcement of the 14th Amendment. Keep Donald Trump off the ballot , because , according to the Constitution, he is disqualified because he incited an insurrection and encouraged a mob to interfere with certification of the 🗳 votes. He encouraged violence. " Fight like hell" he shouted on the Ellipse. "If you want to keep your country , you won,'t do it with weakness. You have to fight for it!
Laurie, already done, and I have contacted our governor too. It seems Republicans only like the 2nd amendment and the 5th (so they can refuse to answer). The 14th it seems to me is critically important but Republicans don't want people to have rights unless Republicans give those rights to them. That is not in the Constitution, Amendment 14 section 3 is.
Ruth Sheets : I'm glad you contacted your Secretary of State and even your Governor. Your comments are right: The Rs only like certain amendments that they can misinterpret and misuse. I will add to your list the first amendment. They still think lies are 'free speech, along with defamation and threats. The 14th should be their downfall!
Laurie, I, too have wondered lately when lies, defamation, and threats became part of "free speech." It seems to me that when one's speech puts someone else at risk, that is no longer "free," but something else that would be illegal. It seems Republicans have stretched the first and second amendments, or at least the parts they like and have ignored most of the rest of them, particularly the 14th and voting. I didn't think the Constitution was supposed to be a patchwork of what certain people could distort, or ignore according to their personal whims.
Ruth, To start, as for the powers-that-be not calling out Trump earlier, I should have clarified that I meant criminally. My point, in part, was to intimate, at least in my view, that our system is near-broken. On the matter of MSM, I think much of it cares deeply about preserving our democratic republic, and views the blow-by blow recounting of the much anticipated indictments as its responsibility to inform. Regrettably, except for Chris Hayes, I’ve heard no discussion about unintended consequences. As for your last point about stepping up, I couldn’t agree more that we are the only ones who can save ourselves, and also would note, while I would not follow Reich’s playbook verbatim, he does offer useful suggestions.
People must understand that time to incriminate Trump were the facts being gathered and worked on to support the cases. Jan. 6th Committee was over 2 years. Georgia was over 2 years. But these cases are solid in their information. However, they are moved out so far, that the concern is that they won’t have an ultimate impact if Trump is allowed to get elected.
Amy, While we have no choice but to forge ahead, in my view, we have two major setbacks to overcome. The first is the Senate’s failure, in 2021, to convict the impeached Trump, a ruling that would have disqualified Trump from seeking public office. The second is that well after sufficient factual predication had been established to justify opening up criminal investigations of Trump and his command structure, DOJ was focused solely on indicting the foot soldiers. Still, if we all commit ourselves to the fight, quoting another Substack host, “We have every reason to be hopeful and no reason to be complacent.”
"I am now seriously trying to figure out what I will contribute to stopping the Republican anti-Americans from owning our nation."
Then we are on the same page. Curious what you're doing?
For me:
- reviewing where and win I spend my time. Less FB commiserating with friends, more focus on mobilizing and rejoining the local activists. Speaking of which...
-Restoring ties to local activists groups that knock doors and register young voters. I hate approaching strangers. Makes me a bit nauseous. But if that's the best I can do, then I'll do it.
- taking an unprecedented interest in my local library and school district(s) (which are also under attack by GOP astroturf groups - but the librarians really are holding the line quietly)
End of the day, whatever happens with Trump, it's the ties to our healthy communities that must hold the line.
DRM, it sounds as though you have some good ideas for moving forward toward stopping a Republican fascist takeover. I am so sad I have to say that about Republicans, but they have been on that downward slide for a half century +. I do write a blog that I share with a variety of people. I sign petitions and keep informed. I do mention current issues and what I hope is new ways to look at them in my sermons as a supply preacher. I, too, am not much for walking up to people's doors, but would do it if I have someone to do it with. It is not exactly a great idea for me,a blind women to be walking to people's doors for a variety of reasons. I have recruited 2 poll workers and hope they will encourage more to step up. For me, that's a start.
You're a preacher? Now there is a community America needs to hear more from...there are huge variations among the many different faiths, but only one set of messages tends to get amplified.
Thank you for your work. This isn't a struggle that will be won or lost by Joe Biden or any other political figure...this is our country, and it is up to us all to try to preserve it. But whatever Trump or his successors do or try to do, if we meet them where we can, when we can, we will protect this country. As terrible as they seem, folks 100 years ago were far far worse - and yet somehow, America survived even those barbarities...mostly.
DRM, yes, I am ordained in the United Church of Christ. We are a denomination that believes in unifying, not dividing, truth-telling, not lying to get what you want, and above all, love your neighbor as you love yourself. These are hard things to live by but worth the effort on behalf of this planet we all share, the only one we have. We all do need to work together to neutralize the hatred and to keep the haters out of office when we can. It seems to me as though the Republican Party these days is made up of toddlers who never learned to share or care and their parents didn't expect them to have to grow up. Who wants to have toddlers in charge of anything, yet they keep getting elected. Now, how do we get the adults to the polls?
Victoria, In this context, I specifically was referring to those who, despite sufficient factual predication, failed to hold Trump and his command structure criminally accountable by opening up an investigation, while, at the same time, indicting the foot soldiers. I attribute this failure less so to corruption than to erring far too much on the side of caution.
Did you know an octopus has only 6 legs? The other two are arms. Donald Trump has just 2 legs, without the use of these 2 pathetic appendages he'll attempt to suck the life out of this country by squeezing our people to death much in the manner an octopus dispatches its prey. The only di8fference, a giant octopus has a very short life span, damn.
Marlo. I sure hope your comment will make a difference in coverage. We certainly have had enough of the lying, cheating, gaslighting Trump. We need more from and about the people who actually care about this nation and are doing things to help out, the ones who have not been indicted as Trump has been.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get a person like Elon Musk to change his stance and HELP US FIGHT against totalitarianism and SAVE our Democracy? What a HERO he would be in the eyes of the world. What a mark he would make in history!
I absolutely agree, Ruth, particularly about the mind numbing media avalanche of Trumparrhea. Media must stop treating their play by play coverage of every piece of excrement 'Trump and Kump' drops, forcing us to be spectators at an existential horse race or cock-fight if you will. If we pull our ears and eyeballs away from this garbage, we free ourselves to focus on the real issues that Prof. Reich has aptly encapsulated.
Quit the distraction from Crapitalist Overlords that need to be overthrown. It's like children stomping their feet they don't want to eat what Mom cooked for dinner. Fix your attitude about basic medical science and have better values. FUssing about a vaccine is IMMATURITY
Janet, I grew up with “Smoky the Bear” posters. They were everywhere and children knew that forest fires could be started by being careless and by being passive.
We need great posters like that to put truth out there.
Thanks. A quick note about Smoky... a film on PBS called “The Big Burn”.... fantastic and should be seen by all children and their parents.... please spread the word. YouTube has it. Done by PBS.educates like no tomorrow!
Also, post about and speak about the amazing success story of the Biden presidency. And correct people who complain that he is just not “inspiring”. The press is once again displaying their bias. They will not do their job, so we must do it for them.
The last time I saw a post like that, bemoaning DJT but calling Biden “uninspiring”, I countered with a long list of this president’s accomplishments and then asked “what would it take to inspire you”
The guy who made the post did not answer but many others did. Point taken.
I’ve been and still am incredibly disappointed in how
the mainstream press covers politics over the last few years. They simply aren’t engaging with reality. Their reporting is shallow and uninformed. What I especially dislike are their feeble attempts to cover
“both sides” of an issue. Rather than trying to please one side or the other, their job is to cover the facts
and only the facts. Anything else is a waste of time and energy.
Here is a summary of these accomplishments pulled together by the Indivisible team:
Some of the Biden administration’s biggest accomplishments:
Leading the nation through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and dramatically cutting child poverty by passing the American Rescue Plan
Shepherding in the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years and boosting wages for millions of workers
Passing the biggest climate investment in our nation’s history in the Inflation Reduction Act
Finally allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors
Confirming Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in a historic first, along with justices across the federal judiciary at an unprecedented rate
Brokering the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law across party lines to pass long-overdue investments in the country’s roads, bridges, public transit, airports, water systems, and access to high-speed internet
Securing a generational investment in American manufacturing and innovation through the CHIPS and Science Act
Working behind the scenes to get rail union workers a fair agreement for paid sick leave
Passing the first meaningful gun safety legislation in 30 years
Expanding our national monuments and establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument to protect sacred land for future generations
Fighting to reduce the burden of student debt, even in the face of historic opposition from the MAGA Supreme Court
And lastly, getting Republicans on the record taking credit for his achievements that they voted against time after time
Biden’s first term began with a trifecta and the mandate of the people to bring stability and a people-first administration to the White House. However, we soon learned -- due to the maneuverings of Senators Manchin and Sinema -- that our trifecta wasn’t a true, durable majority. Despite the obstruction caused by these senators and their moneyed interests, the Biden administration still managed all of these incredible achievements, and we are ready to send them back to the White House for more.
Doing the actual work of government IS boring to most people. Lots of details to review and consider. And there-in lies the problem of public perception. It really is unlike Trump’s side show which is all bluster and no concrete results. Let us not forget that Mexico was going to pay for the wall.
It happens I am reading Robert Reich's post today in Potsdam, just south of Berlin, in the Karl Foerster house which has been saved for the German nation as an exemplary cultural treasure. When one considers Trump, and the life of Karl Foerster (1874-1970), a great plantsman and garden designer, who had to live through the rise of the Nazis, then the second world war, the destruction of Berlin, and the conquest of eastern Germany by Russia in 1945 followed by subjection for 45 years of police state (of which Foerster suffered 'only' 25), one appreciates just what can happen to great civilisations if they allow a tyrant to take control. Trump has already set out an agenda like Hitler's play book: abolish the rule of law, unleash the storm troopers, incarcerate the liberal opposition, terrorize! The USA is the greatest exemplar of liberal democracy in human history. For this very reason Putin and all the other oligopolistic dictators want it destroyed. The next US election thus becomes a decisive moment for the entire human race. The lawful institutions the USA created to protect the constitution must incarcerate Trump and his followers so as to preserve democracies all over the world. The only other outcome is a descent into barbarism.
That was an awesome comment. Mr. Clark. It was a very accurate description of the outcome of the situation here in America and maybe all over the world.
I will visit this site when I return to visit in Berlin. Thanks for sharing this specific history. I lived in the former east Berlin after the fall of the Wall and could still sense the Stasi/Honeker Communist oppression in the way the East Berliner’s viewed their world.
Ciao from Italy. If you are or know one of the 6.5 million US citizens living abroad remind them that they can vote!! Send them to votefromabroad.org to register and request an overseas ballot. Our overseas votes can be the margin of victory in tight races!
Make sure that insurrectionists are prosecuted. Pressure Garland, even local prosecutors. Every state has statutes that make threats a crime. Also criminal conspiracy. E.G. if two MAGATs agree to give aid and comfort to insurrection, that's a crime. When they know that jail is inevitable they don't act out.
IMHO the House, specifically McCarthy, Gym Jordan, et al are obstructing justice. Put them on notice.
The odds of Trump actually running are slim. Fox, WSJ have not been telling their readers.....
I still think he'll never stand trial. I think he's delusional and scared and the amygdala dictates fight or flight. He has to know that he has little chance of fighting 91 counts with more to come. DOJ wins about 96% of all cases and Trump has 91 counts, making it look impossible.
He's in jeopardy of getting major judgments that far exceed his domestic assets. Key is the NY civil Oct 2 non jury trial for fraud, liquidated damages $250 mil. Exposure maybe a bil. He doesn't have it. His money is overseas.
And he'll have to defend several suits that can keep him off the ballot. The people arguing for it are mostly Federalist members like Luttig, who was to the right of Atilla. The way it's supposed to work is that a state can bar a candidate based on a preponderance of evidence standard. The argument is that he's admitted it in Truth Social and in interviews. The DC and Hotlanta cases are based on a finding of probable cause by a grand jury, which switches the burden to Trump to disprove it. Last year a New Mexico USDC applied it. It was last used extensively during WW I. But these advocates are not Democrats... this is not political.
According to his recent financial filings most of his assets and income are overseas. Next year in Abu Dhabi. Here's the Florida letter invoking 14th Amendment, Section 3.https://freespeechforpeople.org/.../fsfp-mfv-fl-letter-to...
As I said yesterday, MAGATs. IMHO insurrectionists shot their wad on Jan 6, 2021. I have been upset with Garland, the wuss. Consider behavior analysis. Hit them up the side of the head with a metaphorical 2 by 4 and they have an attitude adjustment.
Again, every state has statutes that make threats a crime. Also criminal conspiracy. E.G. if two MAGATs agree to give aid and comfort to insurrection, that's a crime. When they know that jail is inevitable they don't act out.
Not sure he can attempt to scarper with all the secret service guys in tow, and then there's the question of who'll take him - Russia, North Korea might be some of the only safe havens. Plan A is to run for office I'm sure, and hope he can pardon himself for the federal raps while challenging the constitutionality of a State conviction. The supreme court will ultimately decide:
1. If he's able to run under Section 3 (unlikely as they will effectively be making Presidential power above the law and undermining their own power in so doing)
2. Whether he'll have to serve time in Georgia (they'll likely back this too for the same reason assuming a guilty verdict, which again is very likely given the evidence)
Whatever way you cut it, things don't look too rosy for the Ape. That said, some of the other leading contenders are just as dangerous IMO, specifically Vivek and DeSantis
I thought there was a great deal of discussion during TFG’s administration about whether a president can pardon him/herself? The general legal consensus was that this was not possible. Or is this another of those selective memory things?! LOL
I've always thought Trump is a flight risk. At some level. Reckon he can find some pleasant place to go to without fear of extradition. Not predicting it, but the risk is there.
Thank you for helping us see the current test of our nation, as a democracy, as a unified (though diverse) peoples, as active persons who must work to hold our country to our basic, Constitutional principles. It is tempting to leave the work that needs to be done, to others; to past ent arguments; or to avoid the troubles that we meed to face.
Part of me thinks that you must be missing the usual excitement and anticipation of teaching at the start of a new term, being now retired. But whether that true or not, I thank you for broadening your "instruction" to all of us, who need your leadership and excitement to be active in what our nation requires now. Thank you for being a very important motivator, helping keep us active and continuing whatever involvement we need, to work together to help our country get through this challenge.
I think the thing to do in the coming months is to harpoon the Republican brand, using phraseology that exposes their “win at all costs” strategy. They don’t care a fig about their constituents, seeing them as pawns willingly sacrificed – sometimes literally.
They are #ProSTRIFE, choosing to inflict unnecessary hardships on their supporters,, both economically and physically, because they were bought and paid for years ago.
They aren’t conservative, they are #CORPservative - in servitude only to their corporate and billionaire donors.
They are trying to supplant democracy with #RepubloFascism, and willing to choke off the voice of the people at the ballot box if that’s what’s required to retain unjust power.
Won’t you please consider these hashtags in your own messaging? And remember, we support the only party that has any interest in #22ndCenturyThinking. We are the only people in this nation looking to make sure that civilization still exists for our grand children.
I’ve been following Anat for years, and she’s done a great job fine-tuning messaging in its most positive light. But these days truth isn’t enough, and some well-crafted snark, combined with these inherent truths, is the one-two punch we need in this particular fight.
I love Anat Shenker-Osorio's plug at the end of the interview regarding getting involved at the local level in politics. "Go local, go local, go local." You will get more bang for your buck for every hour or volunteering. Also, the power of positive messaging is great when it comes to immigration policy where people's negative vs. positive responses depend on framing. For many Americans who were born here, talking about "we are a nation of immigrants" doesn't motivate people to care about immigration reform because for those who were born here their nationalist tendencies get awakened when you talk about "we're a nation of immigrants," and even though many are descendants of immigrants they don't relate to that experience directly. But when you frame it in a way that you say immigrants are people "who move" and because we are a caring people we should help others to come and live here who are seeking freedom and prosperity, this will benefit our country by increasing production and the tax base and invention and ingenuity and it's the right thing to do on a humanitarian or humanistic level!!
Wait a minute. Is it possible that trump isn't as bad as all that? Is Robert overreacting and blowing everything out of proportion? Maybe trump did have some good ideas. Maybe the economy was better with trump. Maybe trump isn't a racist and misogynist. Maybe he is not to be feared to the extent that Robert thinks. Maybe he can make America great again. Maybe I've lost my f**king mind! Of course, he's a dirty, rotten scoundrel of the third order. Of course, he's so dangerous for people like most who read Robert's page that it's imperative that he not get near the White House ever again. He has that one quality that I've feared and despised in people since I was 3 years old. He understands how to completely corrupt everyone close to him. He knows how to get them to do whatever he wants, and his motives are absolutely corrupt. That's a tool I've seem my competitors use all my life. I've seen many who were not competition but who were seeking power and favor from people I knew or went to school with. The power to control peoples' behavior for self serving purposes by those who are totally immoral and absolutely unethical is something I seen as I've travelled through this life. I've seen it worked to perfection. I've seen it manipulate my honest and good friends. I've seen it used to hurt me. That's what trump possesses. That's his only tool, and he isn't afraid to use it in every situation that may arise. That is something we need to fear. It's why we must stop trump in his tracks. The really sad part is that he could use that skill for good, and actually get a lot done, but people like that who prey on the weaknesses of others can't even recognize good. It's a foreign concept. Their power comes from the dark side of humanity.
Yea, for sure, we must join hands and hearts and slay the evil dragon once and for all. I'm all in. I'll make my donations and encourage others to do the same. I'll follow Robert's advice to the extent that I can. I know you will, too. I am convinced we can defeat him. trump really is that dangerous and onerous. We all know that down to our toenails.
There is a disproportionate number of narcissists in positions of power in any career category, and they have an uncanny ability to make people adore them and place them on pedestals.
Thanks for this excellent advice. I’m an expat living in England, but will do all I can from here. Any suggestions for Americans in my position would be very helpful, too. Thanks again!
Thanks for the link - I always vote in the elections (I have a standing reminder that flashes up when I can contact my county's election board) - but I'd not heard of votefromabroad.org. I'll definitely be passing that on.
What about colleges where you're at with alot of US students. Are they encouraging people to vote ? Aren't there voter orgs like League of Women Voters you could contact that might play a role in getting students registered to vote-whether native or foreign . See Feenan and Salomon reply https://www.votefromabroad.org/
Very practical advice and strategies to behold. I live in Ohio. It used to be a purple state which prided itself with electing the eventual president whether it be Democrat or Republican. Not anymore! I am now surrounded with people who I used to know as reasonable and levelheaded, but now have completely lost their mind and have given up on our system of government. They now are ready to move to dictatorship and oligarchy to, in their eyes, "take back America." They believe only what they want to believe. They refuse to look at multiple sources of information and have dissolved themselves of facts. I will do my best to hope for the best for democracy continuing here in Ohio. However, the "compromise" which used to exist in our politics is gone for now. Most days I just can't believe I am waking up to "this" America.
Several years ago, I tried to start a movement where Senior Citizens (a group I belong to) are offered the chance to move from Blue states to Purple states, and have their moving expenses paid for by the party. There is nothing illegal or unethical about that, but I was dismayed by the response. I haven't mentioned it in years (I think) until I saw you listed this as one of the actions individuals can take.
I moved to a purple state to avoid being treated like dirt as a woman in Texas, and a year later it turned full blown Red through voter restrictions. Moving is not a solution, we must focus on eliminating voter restrictions.
I've written about this many times. Puerto Rico and DC have taxation without representation. In PR SSI is not available so there are millions of Puerto Ricans living in the states, most who would move back if SSI were available . These people receive governmental benefits that is portable within the states. There are more Puerto Ricans living in the metro NY area, counting places like CT than live on the island. If they relocated to small states. like say Wyoming, they could elect Democrats and vote to add Puerto Rico and DC as states. Same for the Dakotas, several other red states.
Housing is expensive in many states, less so in the Dakotas and Wyoming. It would pay communities that have to provide housing (at maybe a million per unit) to relocate them. There is already as small cottage industry doing this.
Similarly, some have advocated that Democrats abandon, say South Carolina, and relocate to another state. In essence, thiis has been occurring in Georgia.
Media is infaturated with focusing on trivial issues such as personalities, "potentential" issues, and gossip. Such content is easier and cheaper to produce than developing solid journalistic content. They need to be called through every available means for their laziness. If real news was reported rather than a daily dose of junk food equivalent, some charcters would end forgotten--as they should be.
This lack of linkage is why I think things will get worse. Wille Geist recently had an interview and they talked about skyrocketing home insurance rates as a result of weather disasters. He practically wrung his hands, What oh what can home owners/ buyers do ? No mention of climate. No talk of "quit voting for candidates who make climate change worse". No, the only thing to do is focus on an answer with a short time frame. We drift further out to sea.
Isn’t there still time for a Democratic Primary with Debates? The best way to “avoid complacency” is for Democrats to offer up a candidate who Democrats and even Independents can get excited about. We can do better than Joe Biden. Let’s nominate the best, brightest and sharpest Democrat we can find.
The candidate we choose has to be able to win against Trump. Biden is the only one who’s done it, plus he’s done a good job running the country, so I’m sticking with him. He’s not a “perfect” candidate - no one is - but his heart is in the right place and we know he can win.
I would also note, with relief, that Biden is a "competent" president.
He knows how government works and is not retreating from how important that is. In my span of existence he stands out, potentially only with LBJ, as one who knows how to make government serve the people rather than just the elites.
Historically the great presidents have often come from the accidents of history. Biden may well represent such as case.
The business of being 'boring' is a problem of American culture - this country has a need to be enthralled by something before they take notice - so much rubbish is thrown at the country in TV & 'News' that nobody pays attention unless somebody has been murdered or there is a huge flood or a mountain descends on a town - hence Biden's activities are barely noticed - nothing 'exciting' about anything he is doing - so they think - yet when you look at the actual results they are enormous - and Biden smiles sweetly & "carries on carrying-on" as they say in UK (I'm a Brit in US). It's really a stupid situation when Biden is trying so hard to put policies out there for ordinary working folks benefit, yet they are ignoring him !!!!
It comes from our strong preference for extroverts in our culture. People who are not blaring extroverts, advertising who they are whether or not it is true, are often viewed as sneaky.
But as we are not very close to an election, Biden is getting older and that may put people off like independents; Although as is mentioned WHO would be the nominee?
Trump despite everything he’s done is neck and neck with Biden BECAUSE the majority of the American people want a new President. We’re tired of the same old same ole. If the Democratic party wants to win in 2024, they’d better allow us voters, the Democratic Base, to decide who we want for president. Rather than making the choice for us.
You won’t ever persuade me that Joe Biden is the best, brightest, sharpest and most competent Democrat there is.
I totally agree with you. It is sickening that so many people are wanting a loudmouth celebrity for a President. A President's job is to govern and do good things for the people, not to be a loud mouthed, arrogant, narcissistic creep like Donald TUMP. I happen to like President Biden's approach to everything.
ElaiLaurence ; Had you noticed that Biden and the Democrats won the last two elections? 😳 There is not enough time to mess around with a new candidate. If you think tfg is such a shoo in to win; you are in dreamland. He has a minority of voters that shrinks all the time. The billionaire owned media and its polls lie and misinform! As they have done always.
Then you need to suggest a better candidate that you feel has a decent chance of winning - because that is the issue in the end. Biden is old I agree but so is the Moron on their side, and either could die any time - actually anybody over the age of 60 could do that, especially males. So who to support if you simply 'refuse' to vote for Biden - hopefully you are not suggesting a vote for the opposition's candidate instead - if so then you are not thinking straight ! If you don't like the Democrat's choice, just vote for the policies you prefer - ie Democrat - assuming you are not a troll !
Jennifer Bleasdale Stokes: so you won’t vote for Biden even if he’s our only choice other than a criminal fascist Republican? Wow. Sitting at home in moral righteousness will not protect democracy. I’d vote for my neighbor’s dog if said dog was the only alternative to autocracy on the ballot.
the no-brainer of no brainers. And yet, surprising still to me how many people act to hold on to some moral principle despite the obviousness of the damage it could cause. It must all be related to holding on to one's self-identiy, and voting against your conscience is tantamount to letting go of a part of your idenity. People will fight to the death to keep their sense of identity, oft times.
It’s a low down dirty shame, that with all the vibrant, capable, and yes, less senile candidates out there; the best that the Democrats can present is slow old, possibly corrupt Joe. And the best the repubs can put up is a cantankerous, deeply flawed and also possibly corrupt, DJT. That’s the real shame here, that’s the real danger.
💐 Thank you for your insightful and discerning comments, Ashrey. They’re like a fragrance. After all the close minded and crass comments I’ve had to respond to.
We need and deserve and want someone new and preferably much younger, too. With real solutions and integrity and compassion. I kinda wish Dr. Reich would run. He’d be a great president!
The only reason it’s “not in the cards”, is simply because the DNC is dealing us a bad hand. The election is 14 months out. There’s plenty of time for a Primary with debates. The fact that we the Democratic Base weren’t even consulted or considered before the decision was made not to have a primary is precisely what I find so objectionable. The party takes us for granted.
What ever else one might say about the GOP, they fear their base!!! So although they have as much to lose as the establishment Dems in our party, and although Trump is the overwhelming favorite, they are having a Primary and have had to date one debate. With more to come probably.
Ditch Biden. Off hand, let’s see if Gavin Newsome, the California governor is available. Somebody new would capture America’s attention and win!
Please clarify. Your comment doesn’t make sense. Are you asking for Biden’s platform? Look at his two years in office or catch some of his stump speeches. Are you asking for names of other Democrats? That’s what I was asking. What other Democrats? I don’t know of anyone better than Biden to defeat Trump, and we all know that another Trump term would be disastrous for our country and for the world.
Yes every candidate should publish a platform. Then the public knows their goals. For him to say "watch me" is simply insisting our faith in him as a savior to address the needs he hasn't yet addressed, or even published.
At some point the track record does matter - how well did he win the debates in 2020? The DNC stepped on quite a few of the 20+ candidates. It wasn't Joe's shining debate performance. We didn't get the best candidate in 2020 - the margin of Trump's win is troubling many. Biden isn't up for performing a general debate, his health is declining.
Biden still remains rooted in the crime bill, private prisons flourish and the conditions within them is getting worse. Policing for more prisoners is at a high. Laws are made to criminalize groups of people. Sadly white supremacy is riding high with a Supreme Court that doesn't find it morally unacceptable. It's certainly is not checked by the Executive Branch, and the Legislative Branch is scattered morally.
I agree wholeheartedly. This struggle hasn't looked close enough at what's in the box for Democrats. Many aren't researching the candidates to know either Marianne Williamson or Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. Plus the DNC appears unwilling to budge on debates, which is how a Democracy is informed better to select it's best candidate.
Approaching candidates with an open mind is helpful to learn their positions. A well developed platform that includes key issues shows this candidate has put thought into where their candidacy leads.
Williamson and, after the statements/positions he’s taken, Kennedy Jr won’t get my vote unless they are the only alternative to Trump. Cornel West has an unpaid taxes problem which shows a lack of responsibility.
Biden is the only realistic candidate at this point.
Just as GOP leaders are already attempting to deprive women of their right to decide for themselves whether to have children or not, the DNC, the Democratic National Committee is also attempting to deprive Democratic voters of the right to decide by a Democratic Primary with debates which Democrat we want to vote for. I for one cannot and will never vote for Biden. There are so many excellent Democratic potential candidates we could choose from.
The DNC sucks but that is no reason to go with anyone besides the one who has beat tfg. and also done a good job in spite of the $#it show across the aisle
No. Things are actually worse now for more people in America than when Trump left office. Because of Joe Biden.
You may like to keep things going in the same direction, Laurie. But most Americans on both sides of the political spectrum would like to move beyond Trump & Biden.
Not sure you can accurately speak for most Americans in this moment. Right now the face of the race is Biden who wants democracy and trump who wants a dictatorship. It boils down to that. Save democracy now.
I can speak with confidence about most Americans on this issue, because I can both ChatGPT and Google.
If Biden really wanted democracy, he’d agree to a primary with debates. That would be democracy. Even the Republicans are having a primary, even though Trump is the overwhelming favorite. Don’t the Democrats think their voters deserve as much? Seems Trump is more in favor of democracy than Biden in this regard.
Ms. Lesinski, try to remember that neither candidate is owed any votes. Even for re-election. Each still has to earn it.
With respect to Gen Z voters that's not what they see. Few are really on a party alignment, they look at the candidates. Young voters are finding information in social streams that aren't conventional.
Boomers like myself are dying off. Boomers have been dedicated voters, often party aligned, our influence is waning. We also use traditional news sources (however most are rededicated as edutainment rather than news, they can avoid defamation that way). Massive amounts of money go into these old tired communication pieces.
Young people cut out the fluff pieces and go direct to the candidate - often avoiding the party blockade.
Gen Z see Cornel West, Marianne Williamson, and RFKjr and they are digging in. Morals are gaining weight with voters. Fact checking is improving. Bidenomics while delivering some good - it's mediocre to what could be offered. Biden isn't the Climate President, nor has he addressed descheduling weed. Both are high ranking issues for young voters.
I'm wondering if your contributions towards the election go toward the DNC or directly to the candidate, possibly both. The money begins elections is very rigged toward maintaining the Duopoly. Democrats have been proving their candidates are middling with Republicans in cooperative stance.
There are so many issues right now that require a hard left turn
- retraining dirty energy workers to well paying Green energy jobs in a Just Transition. We're demanding Climate Action Now, not waiting for when it becomes convenient. Humans are exacerbating climate emergencies and this country emmits more than any other.
- universal health care
- legalizing marijuana (not just reducing the severity)
- moving mass transit forward (we lag the world in mobility options)
- healthy food security (people are sick & starving for healthy food)
- removing corporate business leaders from leading government offices (this simply continues corporatocracy)
- federal election finance reform (better candidates then are possible)
- higher education shouldn't be a heavy financial burden
- student debt and medical debt are destroying families
- military spending including DARPA needs to be reduced
The DNC doesn't do anything to secure these positions come through in a Presidential candidate. The corporate of the DNC is profit, that's it. They aren't accountable for the results delivered by the candidate pushed forward.
Political parties are not helping being our nation's best candidates forward. The use of superdelegates to ensure the party remains rooted in the Electoral College processes is subversive to democracy.
Don’t you think Democratic voters should be given the opportunity to decide who should represent us in the next election? Or do you think the decision should be made for you by the DNC? That’s the question.
If I had known that Biden was a Conservative democrat, I would never have voted for Obama! !!!
Steve, I would be delighted to vote Blue. If there were a candidate worthy of my vote. You are familiar with Dr. Reich! I’d vote for him or someone like him!
Sorry to disagree, but Biden is our only chance to beat Trump BECAUSE he is a decent human being. We can move on to the brightest and sharpest after we have again defeated Donald J. Trump. First we need to stop saying "We can do better than Biden!" Saying that gives aid and comfort to the one we need to banish.
I’m sure in home or on your block, you could locate another “decent human being”. Forgive me, but more than that is required to be the kind of president we need at this point in our history. We are on the verge of at least one Major Change and probably more which will cause economic and financial upheaval.
Biden hasn’t even handled the several on going major industry strikes well.
Trump is headed for prison. Two years later than he would have if Biden and his attorney general Garland appointed Jack Smith right after the Jan 6 hearings were completed. But Biden did nothing for two years so the GOP grew more emboldened!
We don’t need a puppet or a figurehead. We need real leadership!
As you can see, I could go on and on about how Biden has failed America! I’ll let you go.
Elai Laurence, if you are alluding to a competition with more progressive candidate, it has been done recently in the 2020 campaign. Unfortunately, I do not think all the people needed to support such a candidate exist yet. Of those who do, many hence voted strategically in the 2020 primaries not for their first choice, but for who they thought had the best chance in the general, Joe Biden.
A competition now, I think would produce the same results. Furthemore, people are tired and /or have limited time and so should their energy go to competing with one another or to working together to slay the dragon?
Elai Laurence, the GOP are having a primary because it is customary for the non-incumbent party to do so. And I will take a president who looks tired because he's doing his job any day over ruthless dictators. There's nothing wrong with disgreeing over policy with the President, but when you use the same ageist talking points as the GOP you sound like their operative or someone hell bent on sabotaging and depressing voter turnout for the incumbent. Which I see as a death wish for our great nation who many of us are striving to make better.
I understand RR's concern and alarm. The road ahead is hard, but it is no harder than the road Lincoln and his followers trod from 1858 until Lincoln's death. Indeed, it may well be less hard, because those who oppose plutocracy are better organized than they were in 1858. My recommendation is not to panic, not to lash out against "the world" nor to accept false friends whose presence tarnish your cause with their perversions and will alienate those would be your allies. I suggest you try to empty, to totally empty your mind, then sit silently for five minutes and pray to God for guidance. If you love God, even if you have blemished your life with serious sin, I believe He will come to you and show you a path forward. If God is silent, then follow your heart and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
This is a hard one to argue with because clearly Joe Biden is far superior to Trump and cronies. Biden is a good person at heart, Trump and company are not, and there is really not much debate about that. But they are still tied in the polls. Trump captured 40% of the country in a cult of personality and persecution thinking. Biden only has one major count against him, and it grows worse daily, he is old. Sorry, but it is truth. I am on the verge of retirement and am younger and fitter than Biden. Who can really manage the hardest job in the world at any age, let alone 81 and counting?
I follow African politics because I lived on that continent a number of years. Their biggest political problem, true in a number of countries including those that recently experienced coups, is the refusal of leaders to recognize that their time is done and they need to step aside. It doesn't help matters that former colonial powers, like France and England, want the old leaders to stay and continue the comfortable post-colonial system. Sound familiar? Biden, McConnell, Diane Feinstein, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Schumer, Trump, half the Supreme Court and a host of others, should step aside and get out of the way. We cannot solve the problems we have with the same old thinking. Enthusiasm depends upon the ability to grasp problems and think creatively about them. IRA is a good idea, and it is working somewhat, but it is far from adequate to address the dire nature of what is faced. There are younger, energized and creative leaders out there who can stretch to find and implement solutions that are beyond the reach of our present leadership. We need to elect them.
So yes, if Biden is our choice for president again, I will vote for him and work to have others do the same, but please recognize that a new generation of leaders is needed across the board. If not we will find that planetary collapse of the present corporate dominated neo-liberal (yes, even China and Russia) economic system into social and ecological chaos will happen sooner than we expect.
That is interesting. I just read the other day that the British / UK CommonWealth includes 2.5 Billion, with a B, people. Is that true ? That is a little less than 1/3 of the human population on planet Earth ?
Thanks for the good advice. I am doing my best to be hopeful. It is hard sometimes when the coverage of the insanity seems endless. It has been a treat this weekend not to hear one story about Trump and Kump on my local news and the NPR briefs. We have not had a break this long in ages, 4 days. Maybe if we can get at least some of our media to only cover Trump and Kump when something specific happens instead of anticipating "later this week, Trump is supposed to ____" or "Trump is supposed to show up for ____ next week" (the same nothing for days ahead of anything happening, then covering the nothing event for hours upon hours). It makes it seem as though Trump really is being maligned as he claims, which he is not. Trump has lied and cheated his way through life, he is finally maybe being held accountable for a fraction of what he has done. We don't need to be beat over the head with it every day.
Ruth, In my view, a major problem with the preponderance of Trump coverage is that it feeds a bias, at least in Trump world, namely, that if Trump were guilty of such despicable wrongdoing, why did the powers-that-be not call him out well before the election season? Additionally, as increasing numbers learn that Biden has expressed a preference to run against Trump, they understandably are asking, if Trump is truly dangerous, why would anyone want him to win the Republican nomination? My point is that the time is long overdue for us to fail to see the next 14 months from a perspective other than our own.
Barbara Jo, yes, and one would think our media are OK with damaging our democracy. I honestly don't understand what they expect to get from another Trump administration. He was a total jerk the first time. He is ignorant of most things but alas, when people have chosen their deity, it is nearly impossible for them to see him as anything else. Of course, Trump has been called out before this. Being impeached twice is pretty serious and will go down in history as something that probably won't be seen again. We the People who actually care about what we have here must step up and get involved. I am now seriously trying to figure out what I will contribute to stopping the Republican anti-Americans from owning our nation.
“… one would think our media are OK with damaging our democracy.” Such an important point. I have long felt the media bear a great deal of the blame for his rise in the first place, but I hadn’t thought of it quite this way. My question is, what can we the people do about that? Clearly this isn’t a case of an unprejudiced media dutifully reporting the news; rather, it is an attention-seeking, “if it bleeds, it leads” situation. Trump makes the most noise, creates the most interest, is the most shocking — so he gets the most publicity, while Joe quietly plods onward, accomplishing ever so much, but getting little or (mostly) no credit. What to do?!
All over the media is the WSJ poll showing Biden and Trump are tied.
Many (most?) polls are conducted not to survey public opinion but to influence it.
I can't believe that even MSNBC falls for it.
You are so right Daniel! I never pay attention to the polls now. They're propaganda.
Daniel Solomon: Thank you for calling them out. The media will never tell this story! Not even "The 'Good "guys'.
More and more I feel the media is making the news rather than just reporting it. And I am sick of seeing that face! in the news all the time!!!!
"Push" polling. Republican pollsters “flood the zone” with underpowered, poorly designed surveys to skew the results of polling aggregators like FiveThirtyEight.com.
Daniel is an asset to us and we know it!
Like I've said in the past, if in printed form, they are not even worthy to be used as toilet paper.
About the only use that current 'tied' one has is to scare the ever living bejeebus out of the semi-sane (hopefully!) majority to get up off of their complacent collective azzes, and FIGHT against the fascist takeover of the land in which they reside. ;)
I don’t think their research staff is doing them due diligence, providing them with accurate information the report - much how Ted Cruz operates by spouting anything he sees on the internet as factual.
I mean to report…🥹
They are owned by paedo-raping island Crapitalist Overlords as well. Try Rainer Shea for your news
Terre I concur absolutely. While President Biden and the Democrats have made significant accomplishments for the good and benefit of both Democrats and Republicans, the media still give all the attention to #45 and his cult of followers. It's like the bad guys are exciting while the good one are boring. I too wish I knew how we can reverse this trend to focus more on President Biden's vision for a more inclusive America.
A positive note. The media holds up a mirror which much distorts. It does not represent who we are, but what serves its purpose of making money. There are a whole lot of good sensible people in the US that never make the "breaking news".
As a former newspaper journalist, I can attest that we reporters and editors on the ground do not work just to make money (and we never made much). We had ideals, we wanted to inform people about the good and the bad, so they could do something about it.
You are right. The bad guys are more interesting. The good guys are having trouble getting the attention.
I wouldn't call it 'boring',although I get what you're saying.It's a huge relief what our dear President has done and a sense of hope for the future.Like he says'let's finish the job'
Call them out: they misinform the voters, and reap profits in tax 'breaks' for many very rich 'people' (some who Brag about not paying taxes, like tfg).
Terre; The media want tax 'breaks' like other greedy rich 'people'. Tfg raided our treasury trillions of dollars for billionaire supporters. He steals from US and gives to the obscenely wealthy! They love ❤ him!
I for one think it's a nasty stain on America that this corrupt criminal TUMP is even allowed to run for anything, much less to be the Dictator of the United States. In any other free, democratic nation in the world, this evil and corrupt cretin would have been thrown in prison or faced a firing squad for what he has done. Why not here in America?? We must band together to keep this life long crook from even getting near the White House again. I am making preparations to leave the United States if he does happen to win. TUMP will most certainly be much worse this time than he was the first time he was Dictator. They have this manifesto thing for 2025 that spells out their plans for the United States and how they will dismantle the federal government and establish a Dictatorship here. It is extremely alarming to me. I didn't read the whole thing, the things i did read put a scare into me and made me sick. We need to get started right away to get out the vote to make sure these criminals lose.
I saw a poll, reported on PBS Newshour yesterday, that 41% of those polled think Biden has had significant accomplishments during his administration, while 51% think Trump did.
I think the problem is one of perception. Biden looks old and speaks slowly and often hesitantly. I fear that that has convinced many people that he is not mentally competent or physically able. He has to be on call 24/7, so we often see him when he is not at his best. Trump, in contrast, has plenty of time to rest and relax and hide any physical issues. He can time his infrequent rallies so that he appears younger and more vigorous. I wholeheartedly agree with what Robert Reich proposed, but I am worried.
Trump did nothing, nothing at all for the average American. A very small tax break which was barely noticed in biweekly paychecks. I heard that has expired. Nothing for COVID. Nothing in terms of healthcare updates. Never cared for the average worker! Ever.
I agree, but I just read a column citing another poll. Just before the pandemic, in early 2020, 57% of those polled thought the economy was doing well. Currently, the major economic indicators are quite similar to that period, yet only 19% of those polled say the economy is doing well. Maybe it's due to MSM coddling Trump and then criticizing Biden, while right wing media relentlessly incites anger against Biden.
Yes, I think the media own the polls : some of them anyway. Media influences opinions.
Carolyn, I think you are right about perception, but the media works it too. When they play back Trump's BS, they play only the parts where he almost makes sense, that is, it is possible to understand the words he is saying. They play and replay his insults, lies, invectives, etc. When they cover Biden, they play bits of him actually dealing with current issues facing our nation and our people. There are no insults (I think men are supposed to insult people to prove their manhood or something). Biden is careful that what he says is clear as to what he has done or is doing. Trump never cared about clarity or even actual problems people were dealing with. Biden came with serious help for Maui and Florida. Trump brought paper towels to Puerto Rico. I also wonder with the polls who the pollers are actually speaking to and how honest those people are. Anyone living in reality knows Biden has done a lot for this country when Trump in office did little to help anyone but rich white men and hurt a lot of people including the separated families. Plus, Trump has been out of office more than 2 years and American attention spans are short. A free press is essential for a democracy and when that is abused as it is now, people do not get the truth, only the part of the truth the media want passed along with embellishments designed to sway the people. There is so much work to do and so little time!
Probably the WSJ poll.
Carolyn Herz : With corporate 'sponsorship' of even PBS, I don't trust their polling either. It's hard to believe those numbers, because tfg and his supporters have not been interested in serving the Common Good in any way. Criminal activity has been their 'game' for quite a while.Hostility about climate destruction and towards diversity, even voting rights are part of their 'platform' They weaponize the law and media with the Riger Stone mantra : "Possession is 9 tenths of the law". If you can cheat, you own everything that you can steal.
Ruth Sheets : call, write/email your secretary of state and let them know that you would support enforcement of the 14th Amendment. Keep Donald Trump off the ballot , because , according to the Constitution, he is disqualified because he incited an insurrection and encouraged a mob to interfere with certification of the 🗳 votes. He encouraged violence. " Fight like hell" he shouted on the Ellipse. "If you want to keep your country , you won,'t do it with weakness. You have to fight for it!
Laurie, already done, and I have contacted our governor too. It seems Republicans only like the 2nd amendment and the 5th (so they can refuse to answer). The 14th it seems to me is critically important but Republicans don't want people to have rights unless Republicans give those rights to them. That is not in the Constitution, Amendment 14 section 3 is.
Ruth Sheets : I'm glad you contacted your Secretary of State and even your Governor. Your comments are right: The Rs only like certain amendments that they can misinterpret and misuse. I will add to your list the first amendment. They still think lies are 'free speech, along with defamation and threats. The 14th should be their downfall!
Laurie, I, too have wondered lately when lies, defamation, and threats became part of "free speech." It seems to me that when one's speech puts someone else at risk, that is no longer "free," but something else that would be illegal. It seems Republicans have stretched the first and second amendments, or at least the parts they like and have ignored most of the rest of them, particularly the 14th and voting. I didn't think the Constitution was supposed to be a patchwork of what certain people could distort, or ignore according to their personal whims.
Ruth, To start, as for the powers-that-be not calling out Trump earlier, I should have clarified that I meant criminally. My point, in part, was to intimate, at least in my view, that our system is near-broken. On the matter of MSM, I think much of it cares deeply about preserving our democratic republic, and views the blow-by blow recounting of the much anticipated indictments as its responsibility to inform. Regrettably, except for Chris Hayes, I’ve heard no discussion about unintended consequences. As for your last point about stepping up, I couldn’t agree more that we are the only ones who can save ourselves, and also would note, while I would not follow Reich’s playbook verbatim, he does offer useful suggestions.
People must understand that time to incriminate Trump were the facts being gathered and worked on to support the cases. Jan. 6th Committee was over 2 years. Georgia was over 2 years. But these cases are solid in their information. However, they are moved out so far, that the concern is that they won’t have an ultimate impact if Trump is allowed to get elected.
Amy, While we have no choice but to forge ahead, in my view, we have two major setbacks to overcome. The first is the Senate’s failure, in 2021, to convict the impeached Trump, a ruling that would have disqualified Trump from seeking public office. The second is that well after sufficient factual predication had been established to justify opening up criminal investigations of Trump and his command structure, DOJ was focused solely on indicting the foot soldiers. Still, if we all commit ourselves to the fight, quoting another Substack host, “We have every reason to be hopeful and no reason to be complacent.”
Groups like Public Citizen,Common Cause and Indivisible are very proactive,check them out.
REdElisa, I contribute to all of those groups and agree they are strong.
"I am now seriously trying to figure out what I will contribute to stopping the Republican anti-Americans from owning our nation."
Then we are on the same page. Curious what you're doing?
For me:
- reviewing where and win I spend my time. Less FB commiserating with friends, more focus on mobilizing and rejoining the local activists. Speaking of which...
-Restoring ties to local activists groups that knock doors and register young voters. I hate approaching strangers. Makes me a bit nauseous. But if that's the best I can do, then I'll do it.
- taking an unprecedented interest in my local library and school district(s) (which are also under attack by GOP astroturf groups - but the librarians really are holding the line quietly)
End of the day, whatever happens with Trump, it's the ties to our healthy communities that must hold the line.
DRM, it sounds as though you have some good ideas for moving forward toward stopping a Republican fascist takeover. I am so sad I have to say that about Republicans, but they have been on that downward slide for a half century +. I do write a blog that I share with a variety of people. I sign petitions and keep informed. I do mention current issues and what I hope is new ways to look at them in my sermons as a supply preacher. I, too, am not much for walking up to people's doors, but would do it if I have someone to do it with. It is not exactly a great idea for me,a blind women to be walking to people's doors for a variety of reasons. I have recruited 2 poll workers and hope they will encourage more to step up. For me, that's a start.
You're a preacher? Now there is a community America needs to hear more from...there are huge variations among the many different faiths, but only one set of messages tends to get amplified.
Thank you for your work. This isn't a struggle that will be won or lost by Joe Biden or any other political figure...this is our country, and it is up to us all to try to preserve it. But whatever Trump or his successors do or try to do, if we meet them where we can, when we can, we will protect this country. As terrible as they seem, folks 100 years ago were far far worse - and yet somehow, America survived even those barbarities...mostly.
Let's keep trying to inspire one another.
DRM, yes, I am ordained in the United Church of Christ. We are a denomination that believes in unifying, not dividing, truth-telling, not lying to get what you want, and above all, love your neighbor as you love yourself. These are hard things to live by but worth the effort on behalf of this planet we all share, the only one we have. We all do need to work together to neutralize the hatred and to keep the haters out of office when we can. It seems to me as though the Republican Party these days is made up of toddlers who never learned to share or care and their parents didn't expect them to have to grow up. Who wants to have toddlers in charge of anything, yet they keep getting elected. Now, how do we get the adults to the polls?
Because powers that be are corrupt too. We need a clean sweep
Victoria, In this context, I specifically was referring to those who, despite sufficient factual predication, failed to hold Trump and his command structure criminally accountable by opening up an investigation, while, at the same time, indicting the foot soldiers. I attribute this failure less so to corruption than to erring far too much on the side of caution.
Did you know an octopus has only 6 legs? The other two are arms. Donald Trump has just 2 legs, without the use of these 2 pathetic appendages he'll attempt to suck the life out of this country by squeezing our people to death much in the manner an octopus dispatches its prey. The only di8fference, a giant octopus has a very short life span, damn.
However, an octopus is an incredibly intelligent animal.
Carol--And like Trump it has no spine.
Trump has a big mouth and a body that holds no form. What do you do with a man that serves no purpose? Fish food.
I forwarded part of your comment to the news stations. I added. “Less Trump, more Biden Accomplishments!”
Marlo. I sure hope your comment will make a difference in coverage. We certainly have had enough of the lying, cheating, gaslighting Trump. We need more from and about the people who actually care about this nation and are doing things to help out, the ones who have not been indicted as Trump has been.
I also included Biden’s “record” from the Hill. https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get a person like Elon Musk to change his stance and HELP US FIGHT against totalitarianism and SAVE our Democracy? What a HERO he would be in the eyes of the world. What a mark he would make in history!
Excellent!
Oh do I hear you. It’s just exhausting. You can blame the media for covering him 24/7. And he likes it regardless of it being negative.
To paraphrase the current president's recent brilliant tweet:
"What [he] said":
- P01135809'S DISQUALIFICATIOON OVER 14TH AMENDMENT SURGES INTO SPOTLIGHT:
https://youtu.be/8AgdRfFAV94?si=M2RT14olIvuvHm9t
When people reveal that they want the media to cover up what Inmate P01135809 says and does I must wonder which side they're on.
Is that really his number? If so, we should ALL call him by that new “name”! Call it like it is!
It is. I already do.
I absolutely agree, Ruth, particularly about the mind numbing media avalanche of Trumparrhea. Media must stop treating their play by play coverage of every piece of excrement 'Trump and Kump' drops, forcing us to be spectators at an existential horse race or cock-fight if you will. If we pull our ears and eyeballs away from this garbage, we free ourselves to focus on the real issues that Prof. Reich has aptly encapsulated.
Agreed! Ignore him!
Quit the distraction from Crapitalist Overlords that need to be overthrown. It's like children stomping their feet they don't want to eat what Mom cooked for dinner. Fix your attitude about basic medical science and have better values. FUssing about a vaccine is IMMATURITY
That’s very clever, but I wouldn’t want that shirt to even touch my skin.
Janet, I grew up with “Smoky the Bear” posters. They were everywhere and children knew that forest fires could be started by being careless and by being passive.
We need great posters like that to put truth out there.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jlFNffu0L.jpg
Oh David.... way ahead of me!! Great !
Thanks. A quick note about Smoky... a film on PBS called “The Big Burn”.... fantastic and should be seen by all children and their parents.... please spread the word. YouTube has it. Done by PBS.educates like no tomorrow!
AND REMEMBER...ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT THE TRUMP FORREST FIRE OF LIES!
Also, post about and speak about the amazing success story of the Biden presidency. And correct people who complain that he is just not “inspiring”. The press is once again displaying their bias. They will not do their job, so we must do it for them.
The last time I saw a post like that, bemoaning DJT but calling Biden “uninspiring”, I countered with a long list of this president’s accomplishments and then asked “what would it take to inspire you”
The guy who made the post did not answer but many others did. Point taken.
Annabel Ascher ; Well said! and good for you!
Would you share your list of accomplishments here? I would love to have a list ready to use as you have suggested! Thx!
I don’t know if this will copy here but if not check this page on the WH site. https://www.whitehouse.gov/therecord/
Thank you!!!!
I’ve been and still am incredibly disappointed in how
the mainstream press covers politics over the last few years. They simply aren’t engaging with reality. Their reporting is shallow and uninformed. What I especially dislike are their feeble attempts to cover
“both sides” of an issue. Rather than trying to please one side or the other, their job is to cover the facts
and only the facts. Anything else is a waste of time and energy.
Here is a summary of these accomplishments pulled together by the Indivisible team:
Some of the Biden administration’s biggest accomplishments:
Leading the nation through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and dramatically cutting child poverty by passing the American Rescue Plan
Shepherding in the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years and boosting wages for millions of workers
Passing the biggest climate investment in our nation’s history in the Inflation Reduction Act
Finally allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors
Confirming Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court in a historic first, along with justices across the federal judiciary at an unprecedented rate
Brokering the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law across party lines to pass long-overdue investments in the country’s roads, bridges, public transit, airports, water systems, and access to high-speed internet
Securing a generational investment in American manufacturing and innovation through the CHIPS and Science Act
Working behind the scenes to get rail union workers a fair agreement for paid sick leave
Passing the first meaningful gun safety legislation in 30 years
Expanding our national monuments and establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument to protect sacred land for future generations
Fighting to reduce the burden of student debt, even in the face of historic opposition from the MAGA Supreme Court
And lastly, getting Republicans on the record taking credit for his achievements that they voted against time after time
Biden’s first term began with a trifecta and the mandate of the people to bring stability and a people-first administration to the White House. However, we soon learned -- due to the maneuverings of Senators Manchin and Sinema -- that our trifecta wasn’t a true, durable majority. Despite the obstruction caused by these senators and their moneyed interests, the Biden administration still managed all of these incredible achievements, and we are ready to send them back to the White House for more.
Thank you. I was just preparing to write up a list but my internet went out for awhile.
This has been the most substantial presidency since the 1960s. We must give him another term to finish the work.
And that even if we were not staring into the great maw of Trumpian fascism.
Doing the actual work of government IS boring to most people. Lots of details to review and consider. And there-in lies the problem of public perception. It really is unlike Trump’s side show which is all bluster and no concrete results. Let us not forget that Mexico was going to pay for the wall.
Please print his accomplishments and share them. We should all be sharing his accomplishments to educate people.
It happens I am reading Robert Reich's post today in Potsdam, just south of Berlin, in the Karl Foerster house which has been saved for the German nation as an exemplary cultural treasure. When one considers Trump, and the life of Karl Foerster (1874-1970), a great plantsman and garden designer, who had to live through the rise of the Nazis, then the second world war, the destruction of Berlin, and the conquest of eastern Germany by Russia in 1945 followed by subjection for 45 years of police state (of which Foerster suffered 'only' 25), one appreciates just what can happen to great civilisations if they allow a tyrant to take control. Trump has already set out an agenda like Hitler's play book: abolish the rule of law, unleash the storm troopers, incarcerate the liberal opposition, terrorize! The USA is the greatest exemplar of liberal democracy in human history. For this very reason Putin and all the other oligopolistic dictators want it destroyed. The next US election thus becomes a decisive moment for the entire human race. The lawful institutions the USA created to protect the constitution must incarcerate Trump and his followers so as to preserve democracies all over the world. The only other outcome is a descent into barbarism.
That was an awesome comment. Mr. Clark. It was a very accurate description of the outcome of the situation here in America and maybe all over the world.
I will visit this site when I return to visit in Berlin. Thanks for sharing this specific history. I lived in the former east Berlin after the fall of the Wall and could still sense the Stasi/Honeker Communist oppression in the way the East Berliner’s viewed their world.
Ciao from Italy. If you are or know one of the 6.5 million US citizens living abroad remind them that they can vote!! Send them to votefromabroad.org to register and request an overseas ballot. Our overseas votes can be the margin of victory in tight races!
Wondering what is the best way to reach students overseas on a mass scale not individually
Tik Tok. https://time.com/6227149/democrats-tiktok-influencers-midterms-2022/
Biden campaign. https://www.axios.com/2023/04/09/bidens-digital-strategy-an-army-of-influencers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Joe_Biden_2020_presidential_campaign_celebrity_endorsements
Taylor Swift. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGWlqKpyx-4
Thank you for your helpful advice about preparing for the election and surviving the next 14 months.
"You're going to have to fight like hell, or you're not going to have a country anymore!"
It's time to make some good trouble.
Make sure that insurrectionists are prosecuted. Pressure Garland, even local prosecutors. Every state has statutes that make threats a crime. Also criminal conspiracy. E.G. if two MAGATs agree to give aid and comfort to insurrection, that's a crime. When they know that jail is inevitable they don't act out.
IMHO the House, specifically McCarthy, Gym Jordan, et al are obstructing justice. Put them on notice.
The odds of Trump actually running are slim. Fox, WSJ have not been telling their readers.....
Not generally reported,. Judge Howell made a determination that he is a flight risk. https://themessenger.com/politics/trump-flight-risk-federal-judge-ruling-indictments?fbclid=IwAR2grqwinv0aQVnkYOJlImsSTqhj7QCH37m_ghUDJZwDmuHnSLekqa9p6cc
I still think he'll never stand trial. I think he's delusional and scared and the amygdala dictates fight or flight. He has to know that he has little chance of fighting 91 counts with more to come. DOJ wins about 96% of all cases and Trump has 91 counts, making it look impossible.
He's in jeopardy of getting major judgments that far exceed his domestic assets. Key is the NY civil Oct 2 non jury trial for fraud, liquidated damages $250 mil. Exposure maybe a bil. He doesn't have it. His money is overseas.
And he'll have to defend several suits that can keep him off the ballot. The people arguing for it are mostly Federalist members like Luttig, who was to the right of Atilla. The way it's supposed to work is that a state can bar a candidate based on a preponderance of evidence standard. The argument is that he's admitted it in Truth Social and in interviews. The DC and Hotlanta cases are based on a finding of probable cause by a grand jury, which switches the burden to Trump to disprove it. Last year a New Mexico USDC applied it. It was last used extensively during WW I. But these advocates are not Democrats... this is not political.
According to his recent financial filings most of his assets and income are overseas. Next year in Abu Dhabi. Here's the Florida letter invoking 14th Amendment, Section 3.https://freespeechforpeople.org/.../fsfp-mfv-fl-letter-to...
As I said yesterday, MAGATs. IMHO insurrectionists shot their wad on Jan 6, 2021. I have been upset with Garland, the wuss. Consider behavior analysis. Hit them up the side of the head with a metaphorical 2 by 4 and they have an attitude adjustment.
Again, every state has statutes that make threats a crime. Also criminal conspiracy. E.G. if two MAGATs agree to give aid and comfort to insurrection, that's a crime. When they know that jail is inevitable they don't act out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_behavior_analysis
Not sure he can attempt to scarper with all the secret service guys in tow, and then there's the question of who'll take him - Russia, North Korea might be some of the only safe havens. Plan A is to run for office I'm sure, and hope he can pardon himself for the federal raps while challenging the constitutionality of a State conviction. The supreme court will ultimately decide:
1. If he's able to run under Section 3 (unlikely as they will effectively be making Presidential power above the law and undermining their own power in so doing)
2. Whether he'll have to serve time in Georgia (they'll likely back this too for the same reason assuming a guilty verdict, which again is very likely given the evidence)
Whatever way you cut it, things don't look too rosy for the Ape. That said, some of the other leading contenders are just as dangerous IMO, specifically Vivek and DeSantis
UAE, No extradition. Erik Prince is already in Abu Dhabi. Most of his assets, income are in Oman, Saudi. A USDC judge made the same observation.
Mar a Lago is about 3 miles from open water, The amount of bond is a joke.
I thought there was a great deal of discussion during TFG’s administration about whether a president can pardon him/herself? The general legal consensus was that this was not possible. Or is this another of those selective memory things?! LOL
I've always thought Trump is a flight risk. At some level. Reckon he can find some pleasant place to go to without fear of extradition. Not predicting it, but the risk is there.
Thank you for helping us see the current test of our nation, as a democracy, as a unified (though diverse) peoples, as active persons who must work to hold our country to our basic, Constitutional principles. It is tempting to leave the work that needs to be done, to others; to past ent arguments; or to avoid the troubles that we meed to face.
Part of me thinks that you must be missing the usual excitement and anticipation of teaching at the start of a new term, being now retired. But whether that true or not, I thank you for broadening your "instruction" to all of us, who need your leadership and excitement to be active in what our nation requires now. Thank you for being a very important motivator, helping keep us active and continuing whatever involvement we need, to work together to help our country get through this challenge.
I think the thing to do in the coming months is to harpoon the Republican brand, using phraseology that exposes their “win at all costs” strategy. They don’t care a fig about their constituents, seeing them as pawns willingly sacrificed – sometimes literally.
They are #ProSTRIFE, choosing to inflict unnecessary hardships on their supporters,, both economically and physically, because they were bought and paid for years ago.
They aren’t conservative, they are #CORPservative - in servitude only to their corporate and billionaire donors.
They are trying to supplant democracy with #RepubloFascism, and willing to choke off the voice of the people at the ballot box if that’s what’s required to retain unjust power.
Won’t you please consider these hashtags in your own messaging? And remember, we support the only party that has any interest in #22ndCenturyThinking. We are the only people in this nation looking to make sure that civilization still exists for our grand children.
Reich's advice to use logic facts etc has to be supplemented with narratives/framing that hits the emotions.
It's complicated. Anat Shenker-Osorio is helpful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGZcvhjCZVE
I’ve been following Anat for years, and she’s done a great job fine-tuning messaging in its most positive light. But these days truth isn’t enough, and some well-crafted snark, combined with these inherent truths, is the one-two punch we need in this particular fight.
I love Anat Shenker-Osorio's plug at the end of the interview regarding getting involved at the local level in politics. "Go local, go local, go local." You will get more bang for your buck for every hour or volunteering. Also, the power of positive messaging is great when it comes to immigration policy where people's negative vs. positive responses depend on framing. For many Americans who were born here, talking about "we are a nation of immigrants" doesn't motivate people to care about immigration reform because for those who were born here their nationalist tendencies get awakened when you talk about "we're a nation of immigrants," and even though many are descendants of immigrants they don't relate to that experience directly. But when you frame it in a way that you say immigrants are people "who move" and because we are a caring people we should help others to come and live here who are seeking freedom and prosperity, this will benefit our country by increasing production and the tax base and invention and ingenuity and it's the right thing to do on a humanitarian or humanistic level!!
Steveandjanereed, thanks!
Wait a minute. Is it possible that trump isn't as bad as all that? Is Robert overreacting and blowing everything out of proportion? Maybe trump did have some good ideas. Maybe the economy was better with trump. Maybe trump isn't a racist and misogynist. Maybe he is not to be feared to the extent that Robert thinks. Maybe he can make America great again. Maybe I've lost my f**king mind! Of course, he's a dirty, rotten scoundrel of the third order. Of course, he's so dangerous for people like most who read Robert's page that it's imperative that he not get near the White House ever again. He has that one quality that I've feared and despised in people since I was 3 years old. He understands how to completely corrupt everyone close to him. He knows how to get them to do whatever he wants, and his motives are absolutely corrupt. That's a tool I've seem my competitors use all my life. I've seen many who were not competition but who were seeking power and favor from people I knew or went to school with. The power to control peoples' behavior for self serving purposes by those who are totally immoral and absolutely unethical is something I seen as I've travelled through this life. I've seen it worked to perfection. I've seen it manipulate my honest and good friends. I've seen it used to hurt me. That's what trump possesses. That's his only tool, and he isn't afraid to use it in every situation that may arise. That is something we need to fear. It's why we must stop trump in his tracks. The really sad part is that he could use that skill for good, and actually get a lot done, but people like that who prey on the weaknesses of others can't even recognize good. It's a foreign concept. Their power comes from the dark side of humanity.
Yea, for sure, we must join hands and hearts and slay the evil dragon once and for all. I'm all in. I'll make my donations and encourage others to do the same. I'll follow Robert's advice to the extent that I can. I know you will, too. I am convinced we can defeat him. trump really is that dangerous and onerous. We all know that down to our toenails.
There is a disproportionate number of narcissists in positions of power in any career category, and they have an uncanny ability to make people adore them and place them on pedestals.
Charlie Jervis, dangerous yes, very dangerous.
"Maybe I've lost my f**king mind !!". Psychosis is often just temporary. Don't worry about it.
I think we should wait for the debates to start and just listen to what everyone has to say.
Thanks for this excellent advice. I’m an expat living in England, but will do all I can from here. Any suggestions for Americans in my position would be very helpful, too. Thanks again!
Find out now how to vote in the US primary on March 5 and on election day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024
votefromabroad.org
Thanks for the link - I always vote in the elections (I have a standing reminder that flashes up when I can contact my county's election board) - but I'd not heard of votefromabroad.org. I'll definitely be passing that on.
What about colleges where you're at with alot of US students. Are they encouraging people to vote ? Aren't there voter orgs like League of Women Voters you could contact that might play a role in getting students registered to vote-whether native or foreign . See Feenan and Salomon reply https://www.votefromabroad.org/
Great ideas - and thanks for the link!
Very practical advice and strategies to behold. I live in Ohio. It used to be a purple state which prided itself with electing the eventual president whether it be Democrat or Republican. Not anymore! I am now surrounded with people who I used to know as reasonable and levelheaded, but now have completely lost their mind and have given up on our system of government. They now are ready to move to dictatorship and oligarchy to, in their eyes, "take back America." They believe only what they want to believe. They refuse to look at multiple sources of information and have dissolved themselves of facts. I will do my best to hope for the best for democracy continuing here in Ohio. However, the "compromise" which used to exist in our politics is gone for now. Most days I just can't believe I am waking up to "this" America.
Several years ago, I tried to start a movement where Senior Citizens (a group I belong to) are offered the chance to move from Blue states to Purple states, and have their moving expenses paid for by the party. There is nothing illegal or unethical about that, but I was dismayed by the response. I haven't mentioned it in years (I think) until I saw you listed this as one of the actions individuals can take.
I moved to a purple state to avoid being treated like dirt as a woman in Texas, and a year later it turned full blown Red through voter restrictions. Moving is not a solution, we must focus on eliminating voter restrictions.
I've written about this many times. Puerto Rico and DC have taxation without representation. In PR SSI is not available so there are millions of Puerto Ricans living in the states, most who would move back if SSI were available . These people receive governmental benefits that is portable within the states. There are more Puerto Ricans living in the metro NY area, counting places like CT than live on the island. If they relocated to small states. like say Wyoming, they could elect Democrats and vote to add Puerto Rico and DC as states. Same for the Dakotas, several other red states.
Housing is expensive in many states, less so in the Dakotas and Wyoming. It would pay communities that have to provide housing (at maybe a million per unit) to relocate them. There is already as small cottage industry doing this.
Similarly, some have advocated that Democrats abandon, say South Carolina, and relocate to another state. In essence, thiis has been occurring in Georgia.
It's a alot to ask , unless people are contemplating a move to begin with.
Let's hope (and encourage) that there is more media coverage of the silliness of most main-stream media. The work of Media Matters and its analysis of the paucity of coverage of Hurricane Idalia is a good example (https://www.mediamatters.org/broadcast-networks/despite-clear-signals-hurricane-idalia-was-influenced-climate-change-less-2-tv).
Media is infaturated with focusing on trivial issues such as personalities, "potentential" issues, and gossip. Such content is easier and cheaper to produce than developing solid journalistic content. They need to be called through every available means for their laziness. If real news was reported rather than a daily dose of junk food equivalent, some charcters would end forgotten--as they should be.
This lack of linkage is why I think things will get worse. Wille Geist recently had an interview and they talked about skyrocketing home insurance rates as a result of weather disasters. He practically wrung his hands, What oh what can home owners/ buyers do ? No mention of climate. No talk of "quit voting for candidates who make climate change worse". No, the only thing to do is focus on an answer with a short time frame. We drift further out to sea.
I do this on the WAPO but they don't care.
What is ‘on the Wapo’?
Sorry. Washington Post.
Maybe because Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post?
Yes but he is supposed to be Liberal!
Money rules.
Isn’t there still time for a Democratic Primary with Debates? The best way to “avoid complacency” is for Democrats to offer up a candidate who Democrats and even Independents can get excited about. We can do better than Joe Biden. Let’s nominate the best, brightest and sharpest Democrat we can find.
The candidate we choose has to be able to win against Trump. Biden is the only one who’s done it, plus he’s done a good job running the country, so I’m sticking with him. He’s not a “perfect” candidate - no one is - but his heart is in the right place and we know he can win.
I would also note, with relief, that Biden is a "competent" president.
He knows how government works and is not retreating from how important that is. In my span of existence he stands out, potentially only with LBJ, as one who knows how to make government serve the people rather than just the elites.
Historically the great presidents have often come from the accidents of history. Biden may well represent such as case.
The business of being 'boring' is a problem of American culture - this country has a need to be enthralled by something before they take notice - so much rubbish is thrown at the country in TV & 'News' that nobody pays attention unless somebody has been murdered or there is a huge flood or a mountain descends on a town - hence Biden's activities are barely noticed - nothing 'exciting' about anything he is doing - so they think - yet when you look at the actual results they are enormous - and Biden smiles sweetly & "carries on carrying-on" as they say in UK (I'm a Brit in US). It's really a stupid situation when Biden is trying so hard to put policies out there for ordinary working folks benefit, yet they are ignoring him !!!!
Vcragain, interesting comment. I am thinking this may be mostly unconscious behavior.
It comes from our strong preference for extroverts in our culture. People who are not blaring extroverts, advertising who they are whether or not it is true, are often viewed as sneaky.
Trisha, thanks for the food for thought!
But as we are not very close to an election, Biden is getting older and that may put people off like independents; Although as is mentioned WHO would be the nominee?
Trump despite everything he’s done is neck and neck with Biden BECAUSE the majority of the American people want a new President. We’re tired of the same old same ole. If the Democratic party wants to win in 2024, they’d better allow us voters, the Democratic Base, to decide who we want for president. Rather than making the choice for us.
You won’t ever persuade me that Joe Biden is the best, brightest, sharpest and most competent Democrat there is.
Elai Laurence ; It seems that you want to hand the election to tfg. This is certainly not the time to bring in another Democrat contender.
I totally agree with you. It is sickening that so many people are wanting a loudmouth celebrity for a President. A President's job is to govern and do good things for the people, not to be a loud mouthed, arrogant, narcissistic creep like Donald TUMP. I happen to like President Biden's approach to everything.
My daughter has a sticker on the cat food canister she uses and is very true about Donald TUMP, the sticker reads: ''Elect a clown, expect a Circus''
It’s not about me. I will simplify it for you.
When you, Laurie, choose one candidate over another, should the candidate you rejected blame you? Are you at fault?
The Democratic Party has to offer the American electorate a winner! Not someone Trump, with all his defects, could still defeat.
There is still plenty of time to have a Democratic Primary and debates. We have over a year till the election.
ElaiLaurence ; Had you noticed that Biden and the Democrats won the last two elections? 😳 There is not enough time to mess around with a new candidate. If you think tfg is such a shoo in to win; you are in dreamland. He has a minority of voters that shrinks all the time. The billionaire owned media and its polls lie and misinform! As they have done always.
First, stop lying. Second, Straw man arguments are unconvincing. If you’re a Democrat and want your party to win the next election, ditch Biden!
I don't agree.
Suppose Biden dies tomorrow and anyway I wouldn't vote for him. I have a conscience.
This war in Ukraine is not going well and Ukraine will probably lose. This is Biden's baby.
Then you need to suggest a better candidate that you feel has a decent chance of winning - because that is the issue in the end. Biden is old I agree but so is the Moron on their side, and either could die any time - actually anybody over the age of 60 could do that, especially males. So who to support if you simply 'refuse' to vote for Biden - hopefully you are not suggesting a vote for the opposition's candidate instead - if so then you are not thinking straight ! If you don't like the Democrat's choice, just vote for the policies you prefer - ie Democrat - assuming you are not a troll !
Green Party. Cornel West.
I don't do trolling.
Jennifer Bleasdale Stokes: so you won’t vote for Biden even if he’s our only choice other than a criminal fascist Republican? Wow. Sitting at home in moral righteousness will not protect democracy. I’d vote for my neighbor’s dog if said dog was the only alternative to autocracy on the ballot.
This type of comment is exactly what puts people who are on the sidelines, away from voting for Biden.
the no-brainer of no brainers. And yet, surprising still to me how many people act to hold on to some moral principle despite the obviousness of the damage it could cause. It must all be related to holding on to one's self-identiy, and voting against your conscience is tantamount to letting go of a part of your idenity. People will fight to the death to keep their sense of identity, oft times.
Correct.
It’s a low down dirty shame, that with all the vibrant, capable, and yes, less senile candidates out there; the best that the Democrats can present is slow old, possibly corrupt Joe. And the best the repubs can put up is a cantankerous, deeply flawed and also possibly corrupt, DJT. That’s the real shame here, that’s the real danger.
💐 Thank you for your insightful and discerning comments, Ashrey. They’re like a fragrance. After all the close minded and crass comments I’ve had to respond to.
We need and deserve and want someone new and preferably much younger, too. With real solutions and integrity and compassion. I kinda wish Dr. Reich would run. He’d be a great president!
You make some sense, Robert.
The only reason it’s “not in the cards”, is simply because the DNC is dealing us a bad hand. The election is 14 months out. There’s plenty of time for a Primary with debates. The fact that we the Democratic Base weren’t even consulted or considered before the decision was made not to have a primary is precisely what I find so objectionable. The party takes us for granted.
What ever else one might say about the GOP, they fear their base!!! So although they have as much to lose as the establishment Dems in our party, and although Trump is the overwhelming favorite, they are having a Primary and have had to date one debate. With more to come probably.
Ditch Biden. Off hand, let’s see if Gavin Newsome, the California governor is available. Somebody new would capture America’s attention and win!
So you've looked at the other candidates?
What other candidates?
The Democrats other than Biden's published platform. Could you remind me where to find that?
Please clarify. Your comment doesn’t make sense. Are you asking for Biden’s platform? Look at his two years in office or catch some of his stump speeches. Are you asking for names of other Democrats? That’s what I was asking. What other Democrats? I don’t know of anyone better than Biden to defeat Trump, and we all know that another Trump term would be disastrous for our country and for the world.
Yes every candidate should publish a platform. Then the public knows their goals. For him to say "watch me" is simply insisting our faith in him as a savior to address the needs he hasn't yet addressed, or even published.
At some point the track record does matter - how well did he win the debates in 2020? The DNC stepped on quite a few of the 20+ candidates. It wasn't Joe's shining debate performance. We didn't get the best candidate in 2020 - the margin of Trump's win is troubling many. Biden isn't up for performing a general debate, his health is declining.
Biden still remains rooted in the crime bill, private prisons flourish and the conditions within them is getting worse. Policing for more prisoners is at a high. Laws are made to criminalize groups of people. Sadly white supremacy is riding high with a Supreme Court that doesn't find it morally unacceptable. It's certainly is not checked by the Executive Branch, and the Legislative Branch is scattered morally.
I agree wholeheartedly. This struggle hasn't looked close enough at what's in the box for Democrats. Many aren't researching the candidates to know either Marianne Williamson or Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. Plus the DNC appears unwilling to budge on debates, which is how a Democracy is informed better to select it's best candidate.
Approaching candidates with an open mind is helpful to learn their positions. A well developed platform that includes key issues shows this candidate has put thought into where their candidacy leads.
Williamson and, after the statements/positions he’s taken, Kennedy Jr won’t get my vote unless they are the only alternative to Trump. Cornel West has an unpaid taxes problem which shows a lack of responsibility.
Biden is the only realistic candidate at this point.
Just as GOP leaders are already attempting to deprive women of their right to decide for themselves whether to have children or not, the DNC, the Democratic National Committee is also attempting to deprive Democratic voters of the right to decide by a Democratic Primary with debates which Democrat we want to vote for. I for one cannot and will never vote for Biden. There are so many excellent Democratic potential candidates we could choose from.
The DNC sucks but that is no reason to go with anyone besides the one who has beat tfg. and also done a good job in spite of the $#it show across the aisle
No. Things are actually worse now for more people in America than when Trump left office. Because of Joe Biden.
You may like to keep things going in the same direction, Laurie. But most Americans on both sides of the political spectrum would like to move beyond Trump & Biden.
Not sure you can accurately speak for most Americans in this moment. Right now the face of the race is Biden who wants democracy and trump who wants a dictatorship. It boils down to that. Save democracy now.
I can speak with confidence about most Americans on this issue, because I can both ChatGPT and Google.
If Biden really wanted democracy, he’d agree to a primary with debates. That would be democracy. Even the Republicans are having a primary, even though Trump is the overwhelming favorite. Don’t the Democrats think their voters deserve as much? Seems Trump is more in favor of democracy than Biden in this regard.
Ms. Lesinski, try to remember that neither candidate is owed any votes. Even for re-election. Each still has to earn it.
With respect to Gen Z voters that's not what they see. Few are really on a party alignment, they look at the candidates. Young voters are finding information in social streams that aren't conventional.
Boomers like myself are dying off. Boomers have been dedicated voters, often party aligned, our influence is waning. We also use traditional news sources (however most are rededicated as edutainment rather than news, they can avoid defamation that way). Massive amounts of money go into these old tired communication pieces.
Young people cut out the fluff pieces and go direct to the candidate - often avoiding the party blockade.
Gen Z see Cornel West, Marianne Williamson, and RFKjr and they are digging in. Morals are gaining weight with voters. Fact checking is improving. Bidenomics while delivering some good - it's mediocre to what could be offered. Biden isn't the Climate President, nor has he addressed descheduling weed. Both are high ranking issues for young voters.
I'm wondering if your contributions towards the election go toward the DNC or directly to the candidate, possibly both. The money begins elections is very rigged toward maintaining the Duopoly. Democrats have been proving their candidates are middling with Republicans in cooperative stance.
There are so many issues right now that require a hard left turn
- retraining dirty energy workers to well paying Green energy jobs in a Just Transition. We're demanding Climate Action Now, not waiting for when it becomes convenient. Humans are exacerbating climate emergencies and this country emmits more than any other.
- universal health care
- legalizing marijuana (not just reducing the severity)
- moving mass transit forward (we lag the world in mobility options)
- healthy food security (people are sick & starving for healthy food)
- removing corporate business leaders from leading government offices (this simply continues corporatocracy)
- federal election finance reform (better candidates then are possible)
- higher education shouldn't be a heavy financial burden
- student debt and medical debt are destroying families
- military spending including DARPA needs to be reduced
The DNC doesn't do anything to secure these positions come through in a Presidential candidate. The corporate of the DNC is profit, that's it. They aren't accountable for the results delivered by the candidate pushed forward.
Political parties are not helping being our nation's best candidates forward. The use of superdelegates to ensure the party remains rooted in the Electoral College processes is subversive to democracy.
You had me tell you said you will never vote for Biden.
Mr. and Ms. Reed,
Don’t you think Democratic voters should be given the opportunity to decide who should represent us in the next election? Or do you think the decision should be made for you by the DNC? That’s the question.
If I had known that Biden was a Conservative democrat, I would never have voted for Obama! !!!
So you don’t want to go there with me.
I don't think the DNC is very good at most decisions so there's my answer.
The more consequential question is whether and which Party people, including you, will vote for in 2024.
Steve, I would be delighted to vote Blue. If there were a candidate worthy of my vote. You are familiar with Dr. Reich! I’d vote for him or someone like him!
Cornel West.
Sorry to disagree, but Biden is our only chance to beat Trump BECAUSE he is a decent human being. We can move on to the brightest and sharpest after we have again defeated Donald J. Trump. First we need to stop saying "We can do better than Biden!" Saying that gives aid and comfort to the one we need to banish.
Mr/Ms Laylander,
I’m sure in home or on your block, you could locate another “decent human being”. Forgive me, but more than that is required to be the kind of president we need at this point in our history. We are on the verge of at least one Major Change and probably more which will cause economic and financial upheaval.
Biden hasn’t even handled the several on going major industry strikes well.
Trump is headed for prison. Two years later than he would have if Biden and his attorney general Garland appointed Jack Smith right after the Jan 6 hearings were completed. But Biden did nothing for two years so the GOP grew more emboldened!
We don’t need a puppet or a figurehead. We need real leadership!
As you can see, I could go on and on about how Biden has failed America! I’ll let you go.
Absolutely.
Elai Laurence, if you are alluding to a competition with more progressive candidate, it has been done recently in the 2020 campaign. Unfortunately, I do not think all the people needed to support such a candidate exist yet. Of those who do, many hence voted strategically in the 2020 primaries not for their first choice, but for who they thought had the best chance in the general, Joe Biden.
A competition now, I think would produce the same results. Furthemore, people are tired and /or have limited time and so should their energy go to competing with one another or to working together to slay the dragon?
I don’t agree. Even the Republicans are having a Primary. On the Democratic side, the only one who looks tired and listless is Biden.
Elai Laurence, the GOP are having a primary because it is customary for the non-incumbent party to do so. And I will take a president who looks tired because he's doing his job any day over ruthless dictators. There's nothing wrong with disgreeing over policy with the President, but when you use the same ageist talking points as the GOP you sound like their operative or someone hell bent on sabotaging and depressing voter turnout for the incumbent. Which I see as a death wish for our great nation who many of us are striving to make better.
I understand RR's concern and alarm. The road ahead is hard, but it is no harder than the road Lincoln and his followers trod from 1858 until Lincoln's death. Indeed, it may well be less hard, because those who oppose plutocracy are better organized than they were in 1858. My recommendation is not to panic, not to lash out against "the world" nor to accept false friends whose presence tarnish your cause with their perversions and will alienate those would be your allies. I suggest you try to empty, to totally empty your mind, then sit silently for five minutes and pray to God for guidance. If you love God, even if you have blemished your life with serious sin, I believe He will come to you and show you a path forward. If God is silent, then follow your heart and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
This is a hard one to argue with because clearly Joe Biden is far superior to Trump and cronies. Biden is a good person at heart, Trump and company are not, and there is really not much debate about that. But they are still tied in the polls. Trump captured 40% of the country in a cult of personality and persecution thinking. Biden only has one major count against him, and it grows worse daily, he is old. Sorry, but it is truth. I am on the verge of retirement and am younger and fitter than Biden. Who can really manage the hardest job in the world at any age, let alone 81 and counting?
I follow African politics because I lived on that continent a number of years. Their biggest political problem, true in a number of countries including those that recently experienced coups, is the refusal of leaders to recognize that their time is done and they need to step aside. It doesn't help matters that former colonial powers, like France and England, want the old leaders to stay and continue the comfortable post-colonial system. Sound familiar? Biden, McConnell, Diane Feinstein, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Schumer, Trump, half the Supreme Court and a host of others, should step aside and get out of the way. We cannot solve the problems we have with the same old thinking. Enthusiasm depends upon the ability to grasp problems and think creatively about them. IRA is a good idea, and it is working somewhat, but it is far from adequate to address the dire nature of what is faced. There are younger, energized and creative leaders out there who can stretch to find and implement solutions that are beyond the reach of our present leadership. We need to elect them.
So yes, if Biden is our choice for president again, I will vote for him and work to have others do the same, but please recognize that a new generation of leaders is needed across the board. If not we will find that planetary collapse of the present corporate dominated neo-liberal (yes, even China and Russia) economic system into social and ecological chaos will happen sooner than we expect.
That is interesting. I just read the other day that the British / UK CommonWealth includes 2.5 Billion, with a B, people. Is that true ? That is a little less than 1/3 of the human population on planet Earth ?