112 Comments

Thank you for that; I found myself laughing out loud. Also, thank you for creating this newsletter, for your wonderful writing, and especially for your commitment.

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Rich, thanks for your thanks.

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“Is there anything you can remember from your date with her that might shed light on how she would perform as President?” -- How many times as the same question been asked of someone who dated a male candidate for President? I am pretty sure the answer is zero. "Oh, look, a woman is running for president -- let's investigate what it was like to date her in her 20s." This is a great example of how subtly institutionalized misogyny (in this case, or racism in another case) is woven into the fabric of daily life.

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Bennett, totally agree.

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Perhaps one day, someone will explain the visceral dislike of HRC by the NYT. At every opportunity, they heavily leaned into GOP talking points, eagerly pounced on negative stories, downplayed the horrors of Trumpism, failed to vet Trump, at all, during his candidacy, and seemed obsessed with rural diners. Hillary's email were the story of the century, but they barely shrugged at the Trump's family and Kushner's utter disregard for any national security protocols.5 years later, we have a pandemic that killed 700K, the collapse of our democracy, a deep distrust of government institutions, a Code Red environmental crisis, and the looming decimation of our remaining civil rights and social safety net. And still, NYT reporters give snarky interviews about Democrats, give passes to Republicans who allow their citizens to die to score political points, and cash in via a blizzard of books that catalogue what we all witnessed in real time. The pattern has been repeated with Biden: 24/7 coverage of the troubled Afghanistan withdrawal, with zero interest in the fate of our Kurdish allies, abandoned to beheadings, and 100K Kurdish families, abandoned to starvation, torture, and death. We're careening towards 1-party rule, and if Teump is reelected, 4 years of vengeance..and still the NYT shrugs.

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I thought the NYT was unfair in its coverage of Bernie because it thought him to radical, and unfair in its coverage of Hillary because she's a strong and competent woman.

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We are screwed up now because of the DNC. Bernie should have been nominated in 2016 and he would have mopped the floor with Trump. Nothing against Hillary, but the political establishment can't read the writing on the wall.

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Not true Bernie would have been mince meat for Trump. One reason Trump lost was that he couldn’t define Biden as a socialist radical.

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Are you talking about 2016 or 2020? Very different campaigns; very different elections.

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Bernie was just as much of a socialist in 2016. Sorry, bro, he would not have been able to govern against GOP Congress.

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We could pointlessly argue this for a week, but a lot of people who didn't get to vote for Bernie either didn't vote at all or voted for some 3rd party no-hoper, and this would have had its effect up and down the ticket. Amazing that everyone has forgotten how close Bernie came with small donations from small people like me.

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I've always wondered why Ms. Clinton was the choice we were given. For some reason I imagine some back-room deal where they decided she'd paid her dues and it was her turn. In retrospect I should have voted for her but I chose to vote for neither bad choice (as I saw it) and voted 3rd party. I believe our political system is badly messed up.

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The DNC is as relevant as a dinosaur, but while Bernie forced the party to the left (a much needed correction from the appeasement policies of decades), the difficult reality is that we live in a much more conservative country than many people realize. I would urge people to listen to The Focus Group, a podcast hosted by 'never-Trumper' Sarah Longwell to hear what suburban communities are thinking and the headwinds that Democrats face in 2022.

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Okay. I will check it out. Thank you.

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2016 was an opportunity missed. Voters didn't want another Bush or another Clinton; they couldn't get Bernie (even after his incredible campaign) so they went for Trump, and now we are still not back on the FDR/Truman path. I will look for The Focus Group.

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Hmmm. I really like Senator Sanders' Idk why more people aren't flocking to him. He needs help with distributing his message in a way which would appeal to everyone.

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Hilary Clinton is one heck of a strong lady; she oozes determination, courage & statesmanship! What a real gem!

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And now Senator Sanders' program is Democratic policy.

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It's remarkable to me to see how complicit they are in their own demise. We already know that SCOTUS has signaled an interest in changing libel laws. The GOP leadership is so far over the cliff that endorsing a North Korean-style media is certainly within the realm of possibility. And then, what happens to the NYT? Are they so ignorant of authoritarian regimes to believe that they alone will be spared?

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Doesn't Bezo's own the NYT now?

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No, Bezos owns the Washington Post.

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She has the insolence to be intelligent and capable. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34640834-down-girl

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I like an inordinate amount of butter on my popcorn, too.

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'Butter'. I'd put some salt in a napkin and add some as I worked through the bag ..

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I had the pleasure of reading a copy of the graduation address that Hillary gave at her own graduation, and it was clear to me that she was an extraordinary individual way back then. Clearly you had good taste even then.

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(Pancha Chandra): Two outstanding American heroes of mine; Robert Reich & Hillary Clinton.

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Hillary is not only more intelligent than Trump, but did more for the less fortunate during any year of her adult life than the former president in his lifetime! He is only better at negative branding of others!

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Well, I certainly would have preferred you to Bill Clinton as President of the United States!

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With regard to your lovely drawing of Hillary, she is now a 'hair icon'. But she is still a champion for our democracy. As are you. Thank you for all you yourself do to champion democracy - and all you do to simplify political rhetoric.

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I am such a fan of Hillary. She has been right about so much. I will never forgive the NYT for their “But Her Emails!” coverage. Now I subscribe to LAT and WaPo only.

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Hahaha—perfect response! That subject head was so unlike you, I had to read it right away. You’re the best!

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The media is still driven by the search for something sensational that will appeal to short attention spans. I mean, it does sell better than discussing issues. Right?

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LOL! Alas, nowadays in America, the extreme political divide, the anger that so often accompanies it, has deprived us of a sense of humor or irony, for that matter. The rabidly humorless seem to be leading the way, politically speaking.

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Hillary is a bright women. She highlighted Trumps dangers and it was obvious during the debates, they couldn’t stand each other.

She keep her humor and was professional.

I don’t know what she saw in Bill.

Your much more handsome and smarter/qualified than he was. Maybe her thick glasses needed an upgrade.

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Ha!

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Well, I liked both Hilliary and Bill, but he was naughty. You need to do an update on your wife. Have no idea who she is or what she may look like. It would be nice to know.

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Lucy, no seas curiosa 🧐 😇😀

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Agree totally with Ricks’ last statement 🤓

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Lame NYT reporter. His next question should have been "What in Antonioni's `Blowup' resonated with you and Hillary? What do you recall from your discussion of the film after viewing it?"

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Exactly, Martha (although I'm not sure I would have remembered either).

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I'm coming to the conclusion that inartful interviewers and editors do more damage than good, wasting a precious human commodity: attention. For professionals I'd assume have no qualms about doing research, their lack of engagement with their subject and subject matter are appalling. And it must be worse when they can't tread statistical waters. Given the weakened state of journalism in general, how about sharing some thoughts at some point on your most consequential interviews or favorite/best interviewers?

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I guess you never kissed her lips... :) And where is YOUR TV show??? Check Channel 75 on Spectrum in NY... CUNY TV... lots of discussion programs, incl Sam Roberts, NYTimes, the best they have. And why not get on Megyn Kelly? Lara Logan?--- you have strong contributions to make with all media!!! TY, Neal Hugh Hurwitz on Facebook, NY NY, Medellin, Israel.

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Needed a good laugh today

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