I am a delegate from Tennessee to the National Convention. We are 100% behind Kamala and committed to winning this election. We need the Dems to get behind her and let's concentrate on beating the convict.
Now if only you could get those party leaders who wanted Biden to hang it up to voice their support for Harris.. It will soon be 24 hours and they remain silent.. What are they waiting for..
Mr. D, "those party leaders" are afraid of Harris. They are not supporters of her because she is too close to being Progressive. Let us not forget that since Bill Clinton the Democratic Party has taken a giant stride to the right. Those leaders are waiting for someone more conservative, more White, perhaps a male, to challenge Harris for the nomination.
Maybe this was reasonable 9 hours ago. But in the past 48 hours or so, she's pulled in nearly a quarter million dollars in donations. Everyone is lining up behind her. The country WANTS progressive. The MAGA are scared of the word, but (except for the religious nutters) they also want reproductive freedom, a fair economic shake, for billionaires to play their fair share (which should be huge, given what the country has done for them), and national health care. The Republican elites call this socialism or communism - they have no idea of the meaning of either. They are in the service of the oligarchs and no one else. They overplayed their hand with the abortion bans.
Ms. Coyote, you are correct. For the last two decades polls have indicated that 2/3 of the voters want single payer health care and other progressive policies. The voters are to the left of the Democratic Party.
It is said, and I believe it, that there is no real Left in this country. We have the Right - the Democrats, and extremist right - the Republicans (pre-Trump). MAGA is simply fascist - so far off the charts, they will pull us over a cliff if they can. This is what a dying religion looks like - extremely reactionary. It isn't that Christianity will die, but that Evangelicalism is slowly bleeding to death. As it dies, it will take as many of us as possible with it. From the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, to fundamentalist corporal and spiritual child abuse, to people like Falwell and his pool boy escapades, scandal after scandal has eroded their influence. Women have had it with their womb-slavery intentions.
Oligarchs, throughout history, have controlled the masses with religious indoctrination. There is money behind all this cruelty and religious extremism and that money has been secured by Citizen's United.
Ms. Coyote, I could not agree with you any more than I do. Most Americans do not realize how far to the right the US is compared to Europe. Nor do they realize the much greater variety of political positions exist in European parliamentary systems.
I agree. I have no control over that. Biden has resigned , I think it was a good decision and now I am focusing on beating the felon. That’s all we have.
I recommend beating the convict by using the truth. Educating the cult what a dictatorship is and can do and what 2025 is and can do. Like, take your guns, end the minimum wage, chop you up in a bathroom, send you off to war without any weapons, end social security, end medicare, feed you polluted water and air and starve you, enslave you and your whole family, send you to an extermination camp, work you to death......I really think the maga have no clue as to what a dictatorship is. They picture themselves as holding the whip, when it will them getting whipped as well.
I have been working the Biden/Harris campaign for months, now all I have to do is switch the Name HARRIS to the top. We in Nevada have a great group of workers and volunteers, in every city. The various communities coming out for Biden, have not missed a beat. All hands on for Harris and whoever the VP will be. All great people, but I fear pulling out one of our Senators, and we cannot lose one senator or House Rep. We need to increase a supermajority in both branches. This Felon 45 cult must end. I have already expressed my condolences to the real Republican Party (GOP) which died back in 2016. Hard to believe that such a viable and ethical party at one time allowed itself to be manipulated and eliminated. The Felon 45 cult is just that a cult, and like many cults, some of its members are in prison. Buona Note
I never donate to politicians. In principle I am against ANY money in politics. That said, I just made a donation to Kamala. I'm probably not the only one who's making this sort of exception. It isn't a lot, but it's what I can send. We have the wind behind our backs. She deserves whatever support we can give.
Agreed! But careful about riding the “Prosecutor v Felon” horse exclusively. We cannot let this election be all about “beating Trump”…. But about our future and who we want be as a country.
Mr. Green, Political Scientists have been saying since the 1960s that Americans do not vote for a candidate as much as they vote against the other candidate. The felon thing is a winning approach.
Check polls and donations to Trump following New York convictions. Suggest there is much more to run against Trump than basing a campaign on calling him felon(even though he is one). Voters have plenty of sources for that fact.
That story came out in 2016 another one that was bought by the Inquirer to shut it down. The “ conspiracy crowd said Hillary didn’t pursue it because Bill was also a buddy of Epstein. Another female came out and said Trump had sex with her when she was 13. Without a condom. She said he just replied “ get an abortion “. That’s the rumor. Have not checked out anything about it.
Need to throw in a comment about Joe Manchin. NOW, he wants to run but he has to REregister as a Democrat!!! I am not a lady when it comes to this type of hypocrisy so to you, Joe Manchin, I say. F**K You!
Now, you want to be a Democrat so you can run for President! Where were you in the Senate when we needed a strong Democratic voice to get things done? Don't you dare think you can come back now!!!
Your kind approach toward President Biden is a good thing, Thom.
Vice President Harris was my original presidential candidate pick four years ago. Biden knew then that she had us covered just-in-case, and here we are at a last minute just-in-case.
This is the right thing to do. When we are facing down the biggest liar that ever held office and the worst president in our history, it is no time for Democrats to show the world that we are cowards.
It's no coincidence that her book is called "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey". It's a good read. She wants to be a good person and a good leader. I hope she turns out to be a great leader.
She posted this on X today: Vice President Harris: As a former Attorney General and courtroom prosecutor, I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, and cheaters who broke the rules. So hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type
I will happily support VP Harris for the job we already knew she might well have given President Biden’s age and health. All women, not just black women, will be energized by her name on the top of our ticket. Given the national we have become, we need a strong white male VP candidate from a swing state, and we have three at the ready, all of whom would be excellent choices. It is now our election to lose. Hopefully our traditional missteps will not lead to our seizing defeat from the jaws of victory.
No, for a variety of reasons on Pete, good as he is in so many ways.
My choices, in order, are Kelly, Shapiro, Beshear. I would say Whitmer but I can’t see this still macho country going for two women. Kelly has a great resume, is from a swing state, is married to Gabbie Giffords who was actually seriously injured in an assassination attempt. His only drawback to me is that the ticket would be all Western. Beshear may be too thin on experience. Shapiro would be my default. Major swing state, effective, and Jewish to avoid bleeding Jewish support and voters given that VP Harris is not viewed as being as supportive of Israel as President Biden has been.
Thank you for noting that the DNC stole the chance for a Bernie Sanders Democratic Presidency, enabling a traitor and anti- American racist to become president. Let's repay him with the Vice Presidency. Who has earned it more?
Yes, there's not enough public recognition that if Saunders had been the candidate against Trump instead of the very unlikeable Hillary, Trump would be history. This great threat to democracy is on the elite of the DNC.
Right. And Harris needs to listen to Sanders regarding military foreign policy. The killing in Gaza and Ukraine has got to stop. The Dems are just as complicit at times in terms of beating the war drums, like after 9/11.
Absolutely correct! And isn’t it time that the information that the Ukraine war is unnecessary came out in the mainstream press. Jan Stoltenberg of NATO admitted that in 2021, Putin sent a draft treaty to NATO indicating he would not invade Ukraine if NATO agreed that Ukraine could not become a NATO member: https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/nato-chief-admits-expansion-behind-russian-invasion
Thats right. As much as I like the domestic policies of the Democratic party and presidents, it was the Democrat president Johnson who signed my immoral draft notice to fight in Vietnam based on lies. And there were prominent Senators and Congressmen of the Democratic party who gave Bush a green light to invade Iraq based on lies. And Obama greatly increased the Bush drone assassinations in the Mideast. Not that Republicans have been better on these issues, but we cannot whitewash history and the current hawks in the Democrat party.
The "unlikeability" of Hillary was a result of constant, grinding sexism in the press. All we heard about was her hair, her pantsuits, her voice, her smile or lack of a smile, her husband, how standing by him was wrong, but leaving him would have been wrong, too. We heard when she "looked tired." She heard when she snapped at a nasty question. We heard about her speeches to bankers, but the men did the same and didn't get called out. We heard about her emails, constantly, though politicians on both sides had personal servers. We heard BERNIE calling her unfit, a vague charge that smacked of sexism. We saw his supporters in "Bern the Witch t-shirts." We were treated to constant videos of Trump rallies chanting "Lock her up."
If someone levied constant attacks like that at you or me, Jan, we'd have been labeled "unlikeable" as well.
Disregard my comment Mike. I didn't catch the drift of your comment. I hope that Kamala's ad gets national exposure, repeatedly I don't know if the Lincoln Project has the money.
I am with you, and appreciate the help. I really do. But just want you to remember that an ally today is not an ally tomorrow.
Lots of Reagan Republicans among the Never Trumpers. I will ally with anyone who is trying to keep that criminal away from the helm of government, but I am not fooled that this is a cozy relationship that will last post November 5th.
Totally agree. I get all of the Bulwarks newsletter, but I have a problem with them the same I have with Liz Cheney, they are ReaganRepublicans and have the same values and beliefs as MAGAts, only not so extreme. If it weren't for Bill Buckley and the Reagan Republicans, there would not have been any Tea Party, and there would not be any MAGAts.
Try to get an answer out of the Bulwark and Lncoln Project as to their position on things like Abortion, Gay Rights, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and raising the tax rate on those earning over 400,000 a year, and eliminating the tax shelters .
Thanks - there's good material in there! But, happily, she is much more than just the "anti-Trump." I think that needs to be brought out. Thom's summary is important to blitz - hardly anyone knows of her accomplishments since becoming VP.
I agree, but one thing that people don't seem to understand, or have ignored via the last three election cycles is that people vote against, more than they do for. People didn't vote for Trump, he had nothing to vote for, no platform and no record, they voted against hillary, that is why the October Surprise is so important.
People certainly didn't vote for Biden, but they had a track record and voted against Trump, now that Biden is out of the running, the anti Biden vote is nullified
Angst, anxiety, fear are greater motivators than love. Maybe our politico's should read Mahiavelli's The PRINCE.
@William. All politics is local. One size does not fit all. The same stuff that impresses people in blue states does not work so well in red states or in red majority distracts.
Lots more. Forms of benefits. SS, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, VA, etc. Ask me about Black Lung. Longshore and Harborworkers; Defense Base Act. War Hazards Act. Service Contract Acts. Safety.
Most of the unregistered folk who trend Democratic would register and vote Democratic up and down ballot except they need to be asked.
As a donor I get calls from candidates. Many, if not most have never heard of FT 6 or Democrats abroad, groups that can get them voters, volunteers and donors.
The same stuff that works in urban areas may not work in rural areas and vice versa.
I keep sayin' our "retribution" resolution could be Taylor Swift. Swifties can comment on her social media sites, supporting women, and adding voterizer.org to register eligible fans. https://voterizer.org/
I agree that fear is a powerful motivator - for good evolutionary reasons! Yet, I have picked up a yawning information gap on what the Democrats have been doing these past 4 years. Many people are motivated not only by fear, but having something to vote FOR. Having solid information retold again and again can move many on the fence to jump down on the side of reason. And it adds to the impetus to go out and vote.
Yes there is a yawning information gap as to what the Democrats have done in the past four years, and when one understands that he media are profit motivated corporations, and that democrats whose policy is to enforce regulations and make corporations and billionaires pay their fair share, you will understand why there is a yawning information gap.
We may wish that people voted or would vote for something, but just look at the last four elections, they voted against not for.
You agreed there is no greater motivation than fear. Biden's IRA fell off the front page they day after it was signed, Republicans who vetoed it claimed credit for it in their hometown papers and TV stations and there was no counter. The Democrats did not go on the air bragging about it, but the corporate media has been banging on the cost of gasoline, eggs and bread almost daily, and the IRA might as well have been signed by Woodrow Wilson.
On the other hand Project 2025 and Agenda 47 are frightful, the end of democracy, the end of freedom and that is the drum the Democrats should be banging 24/7
Let's hope that President Biden uses his remaining time in office to frame needed constitutional reform--AND boldly!
The monarch-like executive branch is a relic of the 18th Century where the operative modal was of kingdoms. With multiple countries improving on the U.S. model it is time to abandon the senseless exceptionalism and move towards a more parliamentary system. The needed reforms are actually not that great.
Of course the imperial Federal judiciary modeled after the U.K. Star Chamber needs major reform. We already have multiple good models in the States about how to limit and properly align a court system with democracy principles.
Thom, 99% of your essay was as awesome as all your writings. Thank you.
But no, Bernie was a spoiler and one of the big reasons we lost to Trump. His "she's not fit" cost us votes. I remember the "Bern the Witch" t-shirts and his slow response in condemning them - after the damage was done.
I thought Thoms piece was on the mark. Hillary would have never won the popular vote withought Bernie supporters supporting her. She did win imho. Sadly, the electoral college screwed us over and will continue to do so until it is abolished. Sadly, blaming Bernie supporters is the one of the main reasons young people refuse to join the Democratic Party.
I can understand why you feel this way. I know that Bernie inspired hope in the young, though as an older person, it all seemed to be based on how much largess he promised them. My adult son was very disappointed as he was very much the Bernie Bro and I admired his dedication. Hopefully you can understand why I feel the way I do. While you are right, many Bernie supporters did end up voting for Hillary, many did not and I know this from the many millennials in my life. Many sat out and many voted 3rd party. Nobody knows how much of an impact this made. I have a friend - 10 years younger. She was a Bernie supporter. She had been soured on Hillary by her involvement with the Bernie movement, and the right-wing propaganda machine, so when the moment came, she voted for Stein. Later, she actually broke down in tears - "I believed their lies. I believed it all. I believed Hillary was corrupt." She actually apologized for her vote, though I had never called her on it, nor do I expect anyone to ever apologize for their vote. We each make the best decision we can at the time. She said, "I was just sure Hillary was going to win, so I protest voted." In politics we just have to choose the best option afforded to us. It's a terrible system; but it is the system we have.
LOL!!! Trump just announced a big change he demands re the debate; he demands that it be moved to Fox, with his usual slurs aimed at ABC. If this transparent ploy fails, he will try another, or just promptly say no to the debate altogether. This is digging the proverbial hole. Already the unmistakable odor of cowardice is accompanying his other imperious odors. He is without a doubt truly scared about the debate, and in spite of his continued posturings of Roganest machismo, many undecidens will see and know how he cowers in the face of a fair fight. This is big!
The choice before us isn’t just between Trump vs Harris - - or Republican vs Democrat. It is the choice between providing generous tax cuts to the rich that allegedly trickle down vs a public policy that gives people a leg up. It is a choice between one side that seeks to impose their will on the other vs people that value the ability to distinguish truth from fiction and who view victory as learning what it means to be human - - after all .
Mr. Hartmann, you might add a comment about the debating ability of Vice President Kamala Harris.
As a litigator she sharpened her skills in the courtroom. Her tough questioning of various men like Bill Barr, Brett Cavanaugh and others displayed her fearless abilities. She is fierce in action, a formidable opponent. She will be the prosecutor who upholds the law against a convicted law breaking, criminal. This is once-in-a-lifetime, historical action coming up. What Hollywood screenwriter could have dreamed up such a script? If Trump is dumb and arrogant enough to debate her; she will eat him alive in front of the world. Every psychotherapist knows humiliation is the narcissist's greatest fear. If they debate Trump will shrink to insignificance.
To be completely honest I do not attach much significance to Presidential debates. After Jimmy Carter destroyed that dimwitted Ronald Reagan on TV; the network commentators next day were all calling the debate a toss up when in fact Carter had handed Reagan his head. This was enough to convince me that the debates are mostly a carnival show. It also displayed the conservative bias of TV for the country to see. I found myself asking rhetorically if the commentators had viewed the same debate I had.
This time it will be infinitely more difficult to hide Trump's inadequacy, no, lunacy if he debates Harris. This time around, debate might matter.
I'm excited and glad to see the Democrats pull a BOLD move for a change. The last thing we need right now is to nitpick and be indecisive about who should be the nominee, Democrats just don't have the time for that any more. I'm in full support of Harris, we need to all get behind her and kick ass! Here's a recent clip of Harris...we need more of this.
I am a delegate from Tennessee to the National Convention. We are 100% behind Kamala and committed to winning this election. We need the Dems to get behind her and let's concentrate on beating the convict.
Now if only you could get those party leaders who wanted Biden to hang it up to voice their support for Harris.. It will soon be 24 hours and they remain silent.. What are they waiting for..
Mr. D, "those party leaders" are afraid of Harris. They are not supporters of her because she is too close to being Progressive. Let us not forget that since Bill Clinton the Democratic Party has taken a giant stride to the right. Those leaders are waiting for someone more conservative, more White, perhaps a male, to challenge Harris for the nomination.
Not going to happen.
Maybe this was reasonable 9 hours ago. But in the past 48 hours or so, she's pulled in nearly a quarter million dollars in donations. Everyone is lining up behind her. The country WANTS progressive. The MAGA are scared of the word, but (except for the religious nutters) they also want reproductive freedom, a fair economic shake, for billionaires to play their fair share (which should be huge, given what the country has done for them), and national health care. The Republican elites call this socialism or communism - they have no idea of the meaning of either. They are in the service of the oligarchs and no one else. They overplayed their hand with the abortion bans.
Ms. Coyote, you are correct. For the last two decades polls have indicated that 2/3 of the voters want single payer health care and other progressive policies. The voters are to the left of the Democratic Party.
It is said, and I believe it, that there is no real Left in this country. We have the Right - the Democrats, and extremist right - the Republicans (pre-Trump). MAGA is simply fascist - so far off the charts, they will pull us over a cliff if they can. This is what a dying religion looks like - extremely reactionary. It isn't that Christianity will die, but that Evangelicalism is slowly bleeding to death. As it dies, it will take as many of us as possible with it. From the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, to fundamentalist corporal and spiritual child abuse, to people like Falwell and his pool boy escapades, scandal after scandal has eroded their influence. Women have had it with their womb-slavery intentions.
Oligarchs, throughout history, have controlled the masses with religious indoctrination. There is money behind all this cruelty and religious extremism and that money has been secured by Citizen's United.
Ms. Coyote, I could not agree with you any more than I do. Most Americans do not realize how far to the right the US is compared to Europe. Nor do they realize the much greater variety of political positions exist in European parliamentary systems.
I agree. I have no control over that. Biden has resigned , I think it was a good decision and now I am focusing on beating the felon. That’s all we have.
Jay Kou on Substack made a good point and I hope he is correct.. Check him out..
Everyone is endorsing her. Waiting on Obama. I can’t wait to hear from Michelle.
I recommend beating the convict by using the truth. Educating the cult what a dictatorship is and can do and what 2025 is and can do. Like, take your guns, end the minimum wage, chop you up in a bathroom, send you off to war without any weapons, end social security, end medicare, feed you polluted water and air and starve you, enslave you and your whole family, send you to an extermination camp, work you to death......I really think the maga have no clue as to what a dictatorship is. They picture themselves as holding the whip, when it will them getting whipped as well.
I have been working the Biden/Harris campaign for months, now all I have to do is switch the Name HARRIS to the top. We in Nevada have a great group of workers and volunteers, in every city. The various communities coming out for Biden, have not missed a beat. All hands on for Harris and whoever the VP will be. All great people, but I fear pulling out one of our Senators, and we cannot lose one senator or House Rep. We need to increase a supermajority in both branches. This Felon 45 cult must end. I have already expressed my condolences to the real Republican Party (GOP) which died back in 2016. Hard to believe that such a viable and ethical party at one time allowed itself to be manipulated and eliminated. The Felon 45 cult is just that a cult, and like many cults, some of its members are in prison. Buona Note
Thank you!
Thank you! And God Bless you!
I gave a big new donation to Harris this morning. Oh, and yesterday I became a FULL Hartmann subscriber. Thanks, Thom for this great essay above.
I never donate to politicians. In principle I am against ANY money in politics. That said, I just made a donation to Kamala. I'm probably not the only one who's making this sort of exception. It isn't a lot, but it's what I can send. We have the wind behind our backs. She deserves whatever support we can give.
Donated monthly to Kamala and bought her book!
Agreed! But careful about riding the “Prosecutor v Felon” horse exclusively. We cannot let this election be all about “beating Trump”…. But about our future and who we want be as a country.
We won't have a country if the felon wins.
Oh , we’ll have a country… just one we won’t recognize. My point: overworking the felon thing not a winning approach.
We need to promote hope and use the shot gun approach to all maga lies. At least we are fighting for democracy now. I hope she appoints a new AG
Mr. Green, Political Scientists have been saying since the 1960s that Americans do not vote for a candidate as much as they vote against the other candidate. The felon thing is a winning approach.
Check polls and donations to Trump following New York convictions. Suggest there is much more to run against Trump than basing a campaign on calling him felon(even though he is one). Voters have plenty of sources for that fact.
Now would be a good time to bring Epstein up?
In what context?
Birds of a feather flock together.
That story came out in 2016 another one that was bought by the Inquirer to shut it down. The “ conspiracy crowd said Hillary didn’t pursue it because Bill was also a buddy of Epstein. Another female came out and said Trump had sex with her when she was 13. Without a condom. She said he just replied “ get an abortion “. That’s the rumor. Have not checked out anything about it.
Need to throw in a comment about Joe Manchin. NOW, he wants to run but he has to REregister as a Democrat!!! I am not a lady when it comes to this type of hypocrisy so to you, Joe Manchin, I say. F**K You!
Now, you want to be a Democrat so you can run for President! Where were you in the Senate when we needed a strong Democratic voice to get things done? Don't you dare think you can come back now!!!
Right on! He put us through hell. What "chutspah" Manchin has!
normalcy, Manchin is a Republican in Democratic clothing. A hypocrite and a liar. Worse than Bill Clinton.
The munchkin is a turd!
Your kind approach toward President Biden is a good thing, Thom.
Vice President Harris was my original presidential candidate pick four years ago. Biden knew then that she had us covered just-in-case, and here we are at a last minute just-in-case.
This is the right thing to do. When we are facing down the biggest liar that ever held office and the worst president in our history, it is no time for Democrats to show the world that we are cowards.
It's no coincidence that her book is called "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey". It's a good read. She wants to be a good person and a good leader. I hope she turns out to be a great leader.
Kamala Harris is in a unique position to unmask Trump’s true character. In her debate with him she can look directly at him and say:
• 25 women have accused you of sexual assault
• In California, I prosecuted men who assaulted women and put them behind bars
• You’re lucky you didn’t commit your assaults on women in California
• If you had, you wouldn’t be here tonight.
Wow Mr. Weir, what piercing comments. Right to the point, and she is quite likely to do just that in debate.
She posted this on X today: Vice President Harris: As a former Attorney General and courtroom prosecutor, I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, and cheaters who broke the rules. So hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type
I will happily support VP Harris for the job we already knew she might well have given President Biden’s age and health. All women, not just black women, will be energized by her name on the top of our ticket. Given the national we have become, we need a strong white male VP candidate from a swing state, and we have three at the ready, all of whom would be excellent choices. It is now our election to lose. Hopefully our traditional missteps will not lead to our seizing defeat from the jaws of victory.
Kamala is the only race horse in the Democratic stable that has a chance of beating Trump.
The only one. watch this video of Kamala's 2020 Campaign, what a stark contrast and she needs to update and recycle the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-adjhWa_hc&ab_channel=TheBulwark
What three strong VP candidates are those, that you like? Buttigeig is one, correct?
No, for a variety of reasons on Pete, good as he is in so many ways.
My choices, in order, are Kelly, Shapiro, Beshear. I would say Whitmer but I can’t see this still macho country going for two women. Kelly has a great resume, is from a swing state, is married to Gabbie Giffords who was actually seriously injured in an assassination attempt. His only drawback to me is that the ticket would be all Western. Beshear may be too thin on experience. Shapiro would be my default. Major swing state, effective, and Jewish to avoid bleeding Jewish support and voters given that VP Harris is not viewed as being as supportive of Israel as President Biden has been.
Thanks. I will pay more attention to these three now.
Thank you for noting that the DNC stole the chance for a Bernie Sanders Democratic Presidency, enabling a traitor and anti- American racist to become president. Let's repay him with the Vice Presidency. Who has earned it more?
Yes, there's not enough public recognition that if Saunders had been the candidate against Trump instead of the very unlikeable Hillary, Trump would be history. This great threat to democracy is on the elite of the DNC.
Right. And Harris needs to listen to Sanders regarding military foreign policy. The killing in Gaza and Ukraine has got to stop. The Dems are just as complicit at times in terms of beating the war drums, like after 9/11.
Absolutely correct! And isn’t it time that the information that the Ukraine war is unnecessary came out in the mainstream press. Jan Stoltenberg of NATO admitted that in 2021, Putin sent a draft treaty to NATO indicating he would not invade Ukraine if NATO agreed that Ukraine could not become a NATO member: https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/nato-chief-admits-expansion-behind-russian-invasion
Putin was worried that when Ukraine became a NATO member, the US could put missiles on its border with Russia. The US had done so with Poland. But there was a country in between Russia and Poland. US missiles in the Ukraine would be like having Russian missiles in Cuba. https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-articles/nato-chief-admits-expansion-behind-russian-invasion
Thats right. As much as I like the domestic policies of the Democratic party and presidents, it was the Democrat president Johnson who signed my immoral draft notice to fight in Vietnam based on lies. And there were prominent Senators and Congressmen of the Democratic party who gave Bush a green light to invade Iraq based on lies. And Obama greatly increased the Bush drone assassinations in the Mideast. Not that Republicans have been better on these issues, but we cannot whitewash history and the current hawks in the Democrat party.
The "unlikeability" of Hillary was a result of constant, grinding sexism in the press. All we heard about was her hair, her pantsuits, her voice, her smile or lack of a smile, her husband, how standing by him was wrong, but leaving him would have been wrong, too. We heard when she "looked tired." She heard when she snapped at a nasty question. We heard about her speeches to bankers, but the men did the same and didn't get called out. We heard about her emails, constantly, though politicians on both sides had personal servers. We heard BERNIE calling her unfit, a vague charge that smacked of sexism. We saw his supporters in "Bern the Witch t-shirts." We were treated to constant videos of Trump rallies chanting "Lock her up."
If someone levied constant attacks like that at you or me, Jan, we'd have been labeled "unlikeable" as well.
I agree with you, but it's now too late to right the wrong done in 2016, because Bernie will be 83 in September.
He will not run. He is also too old. Sorry. We need new young faces.
Register more Democrats.
https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Here is a must watch video. It is Kamala's 2020 Video comparing her, the prosecutor, to the felon
If she doesn't recycle this video, updated, then the problem lies with the Democratic Party, not her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-adjhWa_hc&ab_channel=TheBulwark
Or maybe The Lincoln Project will recycle it.
Disregard my comment Mike. I didn't catch the drift of your comment. I hope that Kamala's ad gets national exposure, repeatedly I don't know if the Lincoln Project has the money.
The Lincoln Project is raking in $$$. I am one of them. They are committed to beating Trump.
I am with you, and appreciate the help. I really do. But just want you to remember that an ally today is not an ally tomorrow.
Lots of Reagan Republicans among the Never Trumpers. I will ally with anyone who is trying to keep that criminal away from the helm of government, but I am not fooled that this is a cozy relationship that will last post November 5th.
Here is the address of the Lincoln Project:
https://lincolnproject.us/
I don't know where they target their ads, but I love them.
Randi Rhodes plays them on her daily YouTube shows, which follow Thom's there on most weekdays ( https://youtube.com/@randirhodesshow?si=VcGQDCMnJpyvYhQp ).
That Video I linked to was from Tim Miller of the Bulwark, I am sure that the Bulwark and the Lincoln Project coordinate.
I am familiar with Randi Rhodes, I have watched her.
Thanx, I am sure that others that read your comment will enjoy her if they already don't.
...Yes. The Bulwark has been excellent.
Meidas Touch, and Beau of the Fifth Column have also been:
https://youtube.com/@meidastouch?si=pT46dCUJTRXFd4HH
https://youtube.com/@beauofthefifthcolumn?si=BRNWiozSWjJuGqkv
Totally agree. I get all of the Bulwarks newsletter, but I have a problem with them the same I have with Liz Cheney, they are ReaganRepublicans and have the same values and beliefs as MAGAts, only not so extreme. If it weren't for Bill Buckley and the Reagan Republicans, there would not have been any Tea Party, and there would not be any MAGAts.
Try to get an answer out of the Bulwark and Lncoln Project as to their position on things like Abortion, Gay Rights, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and raising the tax rate on those earning over 400,000 a year, and eliminating the tax shelters .
Thanks - there's good material in there! But, happily, she is much more than just the "anti-Trump." I think that needs to be brought out. Thom's summary is important to blitz - hardly anyone knows of her accomplishments since becoming VP.
I agree, but one thing that people don't seem to understand, or have ignored via the last three election cycles is that people vote against, more than they do for. People didn't vote for Trump, he had nothing to vote for, no platform and no record, they voted against hillary, that is why the October Surprise is so important.
People certainly didn't vote for Biden, but they had a track record and voted against Trump, now that Biden is out of the running, the anti Biden vote is nullified
Angst, anxiety, fear are greater motivators than love. Maybe our politico's should read Mahiavelli's The PRINCE.
@William. All politics is local. One size does not fit all. The same stuff that impresses people in blue states does not work so well in red states or in red majority distracts.
Try to identify special interest groups. Veterans. "not suckers or losers" works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHYCU6i-3j8
Pet lovers. "Trump hates dogs." https://rvat.org/
Charity. "Trump stole from kids with cancer."
Lots more. Forms of benefits. SS, Medicare, Medicaid, SSI, VA, etc. Ask me about Black Lung. Longshore and Harborworkers; Defense Base Act. War Hazards Act. Service Contract Acts. Safety.
Most of the unregistered folk who trend Democratic would register and vote Democratic up and down ballot except they need to be asked.
As a donor I get calls from candidates. Many, if not most have never heard of FT 6 or Democrats abroad, groups that can get them voters, volunteers and donors.
The same stuff that works in urban areas may not work in rural areas and vice versa.
I keep sayin' our "retribution" resolution could be Taylor Swift. Swifties can comment on her social media sites, supporting women, and adding voterizer.org to register eligible fans. https://voterizer.org/
I agree that fear is a powerful motivator - for good evolutionary reasons! Yet, I have picked up a yawning information gap on what the Democrats have been doing these past 4 years. Many people are motivated not only by fear, but having something to vote FOR. Having solid information retold again and again can move many on the fence to jump down on the side of reason. And it adds to the impetus to go out and vote.
Yes there is a yawning information gap as to what the Democrats have done in the past four years, and when one understands that he media are profit motivated corporations, and that democrats whose policy is to enforce regulations and make corporations and billionaires pay their fair share, you will understand why there is a yawning information gap.
We may wish that people voted or would vote for something, but just look at the last four elections, they voted against not for.
You agreed there is no greater motivation than fear. Biden's IRA fell off the front page they day after it was signed, Republicans who vetoed it claimed credit for it in their hometown papers and TV stations and there was no counter. The Democrats did not go on the air bragging about it, but the corporate media has been banging on the cost of gasoline, eggs and bread almost daily, and the IRA might as well have been signed by Woodrow Wilson.
On the other hand Project 2025 and Agenda 47 are frightful, the end of democracy, the end of freedom and that is the drum the Democrats should be banging 24/7
Let's hope that President Biden uses his remaining time in office to frame needed constitutional reform--AND boldly!
The monarch-like executive branch is a relic of the 18th Century where the operative modal was of kingdoms. With multiple countries improving on the U.S. model it is time to abandon the senseless exceptionalism and move towards a more parliamentary system. The needed reforms are actually not that great.
Of course the imperial Federal judiciary modeled after the U.K. Star Chamber needs major reform. We already have multiple good models in the States about how to limit and properly align a court system with democracy principles.
Thom, 99% of your essay was as awesome as all your writings. Thank you.
But no, Bernie was a spoiler and one of the big reasons we lost to Trump. His "she's not fit" cost us votes. I remember the "Bern the Witch" t-shirts and his slow response in condemning them - after the damage was done.
I thought Thoms piece was on the mark. Hillary would have never won the popular vote withought Bernie supporters supporting her. She did win imho. Sadly, the electoral college screwed us over and will continue to do so until it is abolished. Sadly, blaming Bernie supporters is the one of the main reasons young people refuse to join the Democratic Party.
I can understand why you feel this way. I know that Bernie inspired hope in the young, though as an older person, it all seemed to be based on how much largess he promised them. My adult son was very disappointed as he was very much the Bernie Bro and I admired his dedication. Hopefully you can understand why I feel the way I do. While you are right, many Bernie supporters did end up voting for Hillary, many did not and I know this from the many millennials in my life. Many sat out and many voted 3rd party. Nobody knows how much of an impact this made. I have a friend - 10 years younger. She was a Bernie supporter. She had been soured on Hillary by her involvement with the Bernie movement, and the right-wing propaganda machine, so when the moment came, she voted for Stein. Later, she actually broke down in tears - "I believed their lies. I believed it all. I believed Hillary was corrupt." She actually apologized for her vote, though I had never called her on it, nor do I expect anyone to ever apologize for their vote. We each make the best decision we can at the time. She said, "I was just sure Hillary was going to win, so I protest voted." In politics we just have to choose the best option afforded to us. It's a terrible system; but it is the system we have.
Oh my, I needed to edit my post for grammar and spelling but couldn't figure out how to do so. Sigh...
LOL!!! Trump just announced a big change he demands re the debate; he demands that it be moved to Fox, with his usual slurs aimed at ABC. If this transparent ploy fails, he will try another, or just promptly say no to the debate altogether. This is digging the proverbial hole. Already the unmistakable odor of cowardice is accompanying his other imperious odors. He is without a doubt truly scared about the debate, and in spite of his continued posturings of Roganest machismo, many undecidens will see and know how he cowers in the face of a fair fight. This is big!
The choice before us isn’t just between Trump vs Harris - - or Republican vs Democrat. It is the choice between providing generous tax cuts to the rich that allegedly trickle down vs a public policy that gives people a leg up. It is a choice between one side that seeks to impose their will on the other vs people that value the ability to distinguish truth from fiction and who view victory as learning what it means to be human - - after all .
Mr. Hartmann, you might add a comment about the debating ability of Vice President Kamala Harris.
As a litigator she sharpened her skills in the courtroom. Her tough questioning of various men like Bill Barr, Brett Cavanaugh and others displayed her fearless abilities. She is fierce in action, a formidable opponent. She will be the prosecutor who upholds the law against a convicted law breaking, criminal. This is once-in-a-lifetime, historical action coming up. What Hollywood screenwriter could have dreamed up such a script? If Trump is dumb and arrogant enough to debate her; she will eat him alive in front of the world. Every psychotherapist knows humiliation is the narcissist's greatest fear. If they debate Trump will shrink to insignificance.
To be completely honest I do not attach much significance to Presidential debates. After Jimmy Carter destroyed that dimwitted Ronald Reagan on TV; the network commentators next day were all calling the debate a toss up when in fact Carter had handed Reagan his head. This was enough to convince me that the debates are mostly a carnival show. It also displayed the conservative bias of TV for the country to see. I found myself asking rhetorically if the commentators had viewed the same debate I had.
This time it will be infinitely more difficult to hide Trump's inadequacy, no, lunacy if he debates Harris. This time around, debate might matter.
I'm excited and glad to see the Democrats pull a BOLD move for a change. The last thing we need right now is to nitpick and be indecisive about who should be the nominee, Democrats just don't have the time for that any more. I'm in full support of Harris, we need to all get behind her and kick ass! Here's a recent clip of Harris...we need more of this.
https://x.com/timjhogan/status/1814004101669413046
Mehdi Hasan
https://zeteo.com/p/my-advice-to-kamala-harris-on-how?utm_source=substack&publication_id=2325511&post_id=146884580&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=false&r=2g7cs&triedRedirect=true