Thank you for describing the Cow and Cower Response Cycle and for including the link to Molly McKew’s writing. Both are excellent.
I am so done with all the post election analysis that tries to reinforce this cowering mechanism. Yes, trump is doing what we expected, as quickly as we expected, with support from those we expected. It’s no surprise and no reason to run around with our hair on fire. Let’s figure out what we need to do that will show people the exact consequences of his actions and inactions.
If it wasn’t obvious before now, no amount of door knocking and personal outreach and money can compare with misinformation and disinformation that’s more easily influencing our electorate. It’s not because Dems aren’t plugged in enough in the ‘brosphere’ or whatever sphere. It’s because we need to figure out how to communicate. Even under Obama, Dems didn’t effectively communicate his achievements that directly affected people and Biden was worse even though what he’s accomplished is (will be) mammoth.
We need to start on Day One, tracking the things that prompted those to vote for Trump to show them how they fared along the way. We can be successful in the midterms if we have a story to tell and one that reaches people. How are we going to do that? Let’s figure it out.
I’m not sure that we haven’t reached a point that empty talk about promises never meant to be kept is all that attractive to voters.
What the DNC needs to have its Clintonite leaders replaced with progressives. And that’s not going to happen. I thought Harris, given her age, might be a change agent, as it were. She answered that by finishing the campaign running as alt-Republican, an approach that usually fails, in large part by depressing voter turnout out.
that Post story about our loss of trees bc of Helene...I'm in Asheville. we're still seeing the Biblical-disaster-level damage in bits and pieces. just read that we lost 20 percent of our trees. hard to convey the grief and desolation of it. hard to get your mind around. our house wasn't damaged but a mile away Biltmore Village was under 20 feet of water. everywhere you turn are piles of fallen trees and their debris. feels like we're suffering the consequences of two unforeseen, massive catastrophes: first Helene and now the election.
MM is 1 of the few publications I still follow. Thank you for that. Should I discontinue at some point, that would be a casualty of the content and not the written work.
In today’s newsletter, Heather Cox Richardson wrote: In an interview, Putin’s presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said today: "To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. As a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."
He promised conflicting things to a lot of people and he has to disappoint people, won’t make many people happy with the consequences. One example, deportations, or crashing the economy?
I suspect this is more about promises to Putin, Musk, Thiel, and anyone else who might have bailed him out... The last sentence sounds like a threat, Russian style.
James Ho, stalwart of the 5th CA, prized for his OTT opinions, and a tRump fav for a Scotus appointment. Planting the rewrite of birthright citizenship, an objective of tRumpy nutjobs such as Stephen "Himmler" Miller...look for some early test cases percolating up the federal court ladder to strip citizenship rights from children of immigrant parents lacking legal resident status. MAGA!
I'm sure defining immigrants as "invaders" couldn't *possibly* lead to the use of violence against them, either by the state or by individuals. As well, it's INCONCEIVABLE that use of legal rhetoric about "war or invasion" could ever be used as a justification for aforementioned violence. Preposterous! 🧐
“Despite calls from some liberal activists for Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down while Democrats can fill her seat before political power changes hands in January, she has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court, people close to the justice said”
RBG 2.0. I guess 7-2 is no different than 6-3 and it really signals that we need to work outside the court?
Of the number of things I’m pondering is whether SCOTUS was too kind to Trump under the belief that the voters would leave those who made up the majority off the hook by not electing him. Now that act of cowardice passed, I wonder if there’s still five votes to let him do what wants. Most immediately, that’s to appoint people without Senate approval. (Of course, the flip side of that is that there’s no one he could nominate with whom a Senate majority would have any issue.)
Thank you for describing the Cow and Cower Response Cycle and for including the link to Molly McKew’s writing. Both are excellent.
I am so done with all the post election analysis that tries to reinforce this cowering mechanism. Yes, trump is doing what we expected, as quickly as we expected, with support from those we expected. It’s no surprise and no reason to run around with our hair on fire. Let’s figure out what we need to do that will show people the exact consequences of his actions and inactions.
If it wasn’t obvious before now, no amount of door knocking and personal outreach and money can compare with misinformation and disinformation that’s more easily influencing our electorate. It’s not because Dems aren’t plugged in enough in the ‘brosphere’ or whatever sphere. It’s because we need to figure out how to communicate. Even under Obama, Dems didn’t effectively communicate his achievements that directly affected people and Biden was worse even though what he’s accomplished is (will be) mammoth.
We need to start on Day One, tracking the things that prompted those to vote for Trump to show them how they fared along the way. We can be successful in the midterms if we have a story to tell and one that reaches people. How are we going to do that? Let’s figure it out.
I’m not sure that we haven’t reached a point that empty talk about promises never meant to be kept is all that attractive to voters.
What the DNC needs to have its Clintonite leaders replaced with progressives. And that’s not going to happen. I thought Harris, given her age, might be a change agent, as it were. She answered that by finishing the campaign running as alt-Republican, an approach that usually fails, in large part by depressing voter turnout out.
All that said, happy to be proven wrong.
that Post story about our loss of trees bc of Helene...I'm in Asheville. we're still seeing the Biblical-disaster-level damage in bits and pieces. just read that we lost 20 percent of our trees. hard to convey the grief and desolation of it. hard to get your mind around. our house wasn't damaged but a mile away Biltmore Village was under 20 feet of water. everywhere you turn are piles of fallen trees and their debris. feels like we're suffering the consequences of two unforeseen, massive catastrophes: first Helene and now the election.
So sorry. Heartbreaking.
MM is 1 of the few publications I still follow. Thank you for that. Should I discontinue at some point, that would be a casualty of the content and not the written work.
In today’s newsletter, Heather Cox Richardson wrote: In an interview, Putin’s presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said today: "To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. As a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them."
What do you think this means?
He got help from Putin, who now expects payback, i.e. Ukraine.
Whatever it may end up being, it sounds pretty ominous.
He promised conflicting things to a lot of people and he has to disappoint people, won’t make many people happy with the consequences. One example, deportations, or crashing the economy?
I suspect this is more about promises to Putin, Musk, Thiel, and anyone else who might have bailed him out... The last sentence sounds like a threat, Russian style.
Yep.
James Ho, stalwart of the 5th CA, prized for his OTT opinions, and a tRump fav for a Scotus appointment. Planting the rewrite of birthright citizenship, an objective of tRumpy nutjobs such as Stephen "Himmler" Miller...look for some early test cases percolating up the federal court ladder to strip citizenship rights from children of immigrant parents lacking legal resident status. MAGA!
I'm sure defining immigrants as "invaders" couldn't *possibly* lead to the use of violence against them, either by the state or by individuals. As well, it's INCONCEIVABLE that use of legal rhetoric about "war or invasion" could ever be used as a justification for aforementioned violence. Preposterous! 🧐
“Despite calls from some liberal activists for Justice Sonia Sotomayor to step down while Democrats can fill her seat before political power changes hands in January, she has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court, people close to the justice said”
RBG 2.0. I guess 7-2 is no different than 6-3 and it really signals that we need to work outside the court?
My exact thoughts. She needs to be replaced asap and that is a tragedy but still. Mitigation.
‘We Will Put Your Fat Ass In Prison.’ This from the party who is so snowflakey about their children.
Of the number of things I’m pondering is whether SCOTUS was too kind to Trump under the belief that the voters would leave those who made up the majority off the hook by not electing him. Now that act of cowardice passed, I wonder if there’s still five votes to let him do what wants. Most immediately, that’s to appoint people without Senate approval. (Of course, the flip side of that is that there’s no one he could nominate with whom a Senate majority would have any issue.)
‘We Will Put Your Fat Ass In Prison.’ This from the party who is so snowflakey about their children.
David, Stephen "Himmler"
Miller isn't Trump's Chief of
Staff. I believe that's Susan
Wiles. Miller has a more
robust job. And there were
more additions.
SCOTUS, the Constitution &
Congressional Recess. Trump
and regime are all in for
delay, delay, delay. While he's
making his recess
appointments, how long will it
take for any "possible"
lawsuit to wend its way
through the courts?
Y'know, we've never, as a
country, been up against an
anauthoritarian fascist-like
thorough in-country takeover
before. I'm personally not
down with it and plan to
RESIST and not obey in
advance.
Miller is expected to be "deputy" chief of staff at the White House, ostensibly that puts him under Wiles.
The cabinet picks should be referred to as "nominees." Let's not anoint them yet.
I stand corrected. He's also
going to be involved with his
pet project of deportation.😔