Considering that the stock market’s Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 1,862 points today, and that General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly apologized for permitting himself to be used in Trump’s photo-op last week, the story I’m going to start with tonight might seem an odd one to choose.
Hello from Maine! I am always "up with the cows." I grew up milking them as a kid, and the habit of being an early riser has not left me. I have my morning routine, and the first sip of coffee is taken as soon as I open your letter. I am more than happy that I subscribed, and bought a subscription for my daughter in Iowa. We home schooled our children, placing a heavy emphasis on American History. My mother was pregnant with me in the summer of 1967. As a child she and I had a nightly bedtime routine. Supper, bath, kiss my David Cassidy poster goodnight, hop in to bed, American History lesson (no fairy tales for me), prayers, and the last was the recital of "Emancipation Proclamation, no taxation without representation." Fast forward to now, and boy golly, I appreciate my mom so much more. When all of our current events began occurring, like all of us, I felt ill prepared. I honestly didn't know how I was going to lead my children (20's - 30's) through this. Then I was introduced to HCR's letters. That's all it took. I found my firm footing, and am so very thankful. Keep on keeping on folks, we will get through this!
Trump is teaching us something ugly and shallow about politics, and his base, in 2020. Politics is now just theater (reality TV actually), it’s not about policy or governing. We continually criticize Trump for “not understanding history”, for “ignoring the rule of law”, for “insulting our allies”, for not governing. And Trump’s response to us is that that stuff is irrelevant.
Trump didn’t run for president to govern - that’s boring, hard work. He ran so that he could star in his latest reality TV show - about him being president. The only history that matters is the shallow, stilted history that his viewership (base) understands. Which is not a lot. History was his base’s least favorite subject (along with science and math) and foreigners make them uncomfortable, they don’t even speak American. The rule of law is an inconvenience. Governing is slow and boring, bad for ratings. It’s all a show and it’s all about him. All the time.
This is not to say that the presidency is irrelevant, or that Trump is not corrupt. Of course he and his cronies are using his presidency to line their pockets, and wreck the place. It’s to say that he isn’t incompetent in the way we see him as incompetent. We see him (rightly) as a terrible president, and he says, “Who cares, I’m not here to be president, I’m here to be a TV star.” He doesn’t care about any of that Constitution and history and Executive branch stuff. He only cares about the next episode (he churns those out at a dizzying pace), and the ratings. We think, “How abominable that Trump would hold a rally in Tulsa on Juneteenth!” Trump thinks, “Great story, everyone will be talking about it, the ratings will be through the roof!”
For Trump, the TV show is all that matters. He attacks CNN and NYT and even Fox sometimes, but only to keep the focus on his show. He doesn’t hate CNN, not as long as they’re talking about him. He demands that his team look good on television, not that they do their jobs (strike that, looking good on TV is their job). It’s all TV, all Trump, all the time. The Apprentice, Oval Office edition.
"Instead of making an argument for policy, the Republicans are simply backing Trump. "
I had to read the paragraphs preceding that sentence twice. We have truly entered the realm of authoritarian regimes when the GOP backs a man and not a platform. They are basically admitting that the party holds no ideology other than Trump, and they aren't even trying to hide it anymore.
I don't know; this feels like a really big deal - when you add up the near-daily barrage over the last 3.5 years (appointing Jared/Ivanka to power positions, firing officials who investigate him, refusing to allow government officials to testify, placing unqualified Trump-friendly judges in federal courts, turning the military on peaceful protesters, not bothering to update the party platform,) it seems like we're pretty close to boiling the proverbial frog alive. If he wins in November, I truly believe it's the end of Democracy.
Thank you, Heather, for your daily insights. Yet another day of news showcasing the autocratic government that Trump and his enablers are attempting to construct. Cannot imagine what they will build with four more years of this.
All, we cannot assume that the inept leadership that Donald Trump has exhibited in the last 3 1/2 years, particularly during a crisis filled 2020, will lead to his defeat in November.
The abomination known as the Electoral College makes it very possible for Trump to win again. The key is turning battleground states blue this Election Day. You’ll recall in 2016 Trump lost the popular vote by 3 million but won the presidency by winning battleground states by razor thin margins.
A volunteer opportunity called “Adopt a State” is an ideal effort for us to ensure the 2016 debacle is not repeated. It is led by ex-Obama staffers. Based on polling, they have identified 6 states - Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida and North Carolina - that are the keys to defeating Trump this time around.
Please consider joining this effort. You can dedicate as little or as much time as you want, all from the comfort of your home. They are holding virtual meetings this month to promote this effort. The attendance at the first two (over 15,000 in each) almost broke Zoom and the internet. But, given what’s at stake, the more the merrier. It’s never too late to jump in.
It’s not enough to just defeat Trump in November, the victory needs to be so overwhelming as to give the Biden administration a solid mandate to enact much needed social and governmental changes.
There's a gif circulating on social media that reads: "If you've ever wondered how regular people stood by and watched Germany descend into Naziism, now you know."
Ever since I was old enough to learn what that is, and how it was carried out, I've wondered.
I found the Washington Post's article highlighted the irony of the GOP's decision to recycle the 2016 platform quite well.
“The huge increase in the national debt demanded by and incurred during the current Administration has placed a significant burden on future generations.”
“The current Administration has exceeded its constitutional authority, brazenly and flagrantly violated the separation of powers, sought to divide America into groups and turn citizen against citizen.”
“The next president must restore the public’s trust in law enforcement and civil order by first adhering to the rule of law himself.”
“The current Administration has abandoned America’s friends and rewarded its enemies.”
I'm guessing it will be Jared's one-page bullet list that takes the stage in Jacksonville. If the press briefing room notebook is any indicator of the per-page bullet point presidential comprehension limit, look for 3 or 4 points.
Yesterday I wrote about the intentional use of the word "war" in political discourse and how that invokes conflict and becomes a call for militancy. Here is an example of how Ivanka slipped it in with her Twitter response to being canceled (Jane Mayer, New Yorker, June 11, 2020):
"It began last week, when a technical college affiliated with Wichita State University scrapped plans for a virtual commencement address by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, in a bow to student and faculty criticism of the President’s response to the nationwide protests over George Floyd’s killing. On Twitter, Ivanka blamed “cancel culture,” calling it 'antithetical to academia.' In a compromise brokered by the university, Ivanka’s remarks, instead of headlining the event, were demoted to being one in a menu of choices during the ceremony, on June 6th. If they wished, students could click on a link and see her dressed for the occasion, in a regal white sheath and turquoise earrings and brooch, as she addressed them as 'wartime' graduates.
Since December, I’ve read your essays in bed every night, eager to hear your fascinating observations and insight into this intolerable entropy. My political attention is scattered between here and England, my home countries—both vainly eager to outdo one another, it appears. Your work makes my grip on things that much easier. Thank you. Truly.
Happy to be a supporter. Been hoping to hear you monetize this for a while, either on Patreon or somewhere like here.
I was born (1957), raised and educated in Jacksonville FL. From my perspective Jax was the “Largest Blue Collar” town.
Pretty much who you know to get a good job.
As a child, going to Uncles and Aunts lot (in the “sticks”), we saw a klan rally in a pasture. Not knowing what it was, me and my cousin were curious. We were told not to go there because of our religion (Catholic) at the time.
My older brother did a essay on Walt Disney originally wanting to set up its FL center at the intersection of interstate 10 & 75 just west of Jacksonville. But Gillman pulp wood, would not sell them the land, in fear of driving up the local labor cost.
I understand that Americans have more than can be digested in a day of Trump's national flip flop policy. It as one international policy move that is really worth to consider. Trump has decided to go after employees at the ICC, International Criminal Court. This is outrageous and ill advised. I reckon that all of your allies will criticise USA for such a policy. Good friends will tell you when you are wrong, and now is the time to listen.
In my opinion it will be impossible to support US military operations if allies run the risk to be involved in un-punishable acts. USA does not have a good track record on averting and punishing war crimes.
I may very well have missed it, but I never heard General Mark Milley say the words, "I am sorry." I heard him say he should not have been there, should not have done it etc. I am old fashioned enough to believe an apology has the words "I am sorry" included.
Trump is going to have to impose a pretty strong non-pursuit document on attendees in Jacksonville if the current covid 19 infection rate continues to accelerate in Florida. 55 dead and climbing by June 8th according to local newspapers
Why bother to write a party platform when instead, you can simply hold rallies on the most threatening dates imaginable for black people. There’s the whole platform in one word: racism. Trump’s platform is racism, always has been, always will be. People simply weren’t quite ready for it to be stated outright in 2016, but now, they’re riled up and primed.
In our house, we suspect that Twitler's choice of Florida is also connected to his relationships with the Governor and it's two Senators, all three of whom are hard-core toadies of the President. We also suspect that, somehow, self-dealing money is involved.
On another front, the lack of a an updated platform clearly indicates that the GOP has surrendered, entirely, to becoming a cult of personality. There's no need for a lengthy platform document, because their candidate wouldn't (couldn't?) read it anyway. Based on that, they could easily put the GOP platform on a single note card with one bullet: "Our President For Life has the absolute right to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants."
Back in 1948, 72 years ago, Harry Truman commented that "The only 'good Republicans' are pushing up daisies." And that collection of winners (who included among their number a Senator elected in the "Republican year" of 1946 who two years later would give his name to a variety of demagoguery that is still remarked on for what it did to the country) are the ones nostalgically thought of today as "good Republicans who could never be voted into office today" (which is actually true).
They have *always* been scum. Their three actually-good presidents - Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, and Eisenhower - were hated by the real party who saw them as outliers (and when you consider the rest, they really are).
President Truman is still right. "The only 'good Republicans' are pushing up daisies." Hopefully they'll have a bumper crop from the hatealongs Old Blubber Neck is now holding, and a really big bumper crop of rotten apples come September, after the big Nuremberg Rally.
Laurean1 min
Hello from Maine! I am always "up with the cows." I grew up milking them as a kid, and the habit of being an early riser has not left me. I have my morning routine, and the first sip of coffee is taken as soon as I open your letter. I am more than happy that I subscribed, and bought a subscription for my daughter in Iowa. We home schooled our children, placing a heavy emphasis on American History. My mother was pregnant with me in the summer of 1967. As a child she and I had a nightly bedtime routine. Supper, bath, kiss my David Cassidy poster goodnight, hop in to bed, American History lesson (no fairy tales for me), prayers, and the last was the recital of "Emancipation Proclamation, no taxation without representation." Fast forward to now, and boy golly, I appreciate my mom so much more. When all of our current events began occurring, like all of us, I felt ill prepared. I honestly didn't know how I was going to lead my children (20's - 30's) through this. Then I was introduced to HCR's letters. That's all it took. I found my firm footing, and am so very thankful. Keep on keeping on folks, we will get through this!
Trump is teaching us something ugly and shallow about politics, and his base, in 2020. Politics is now just theater (reality TV actually), it’s not about policy or governing. We continually criticize Trump for “not understanding history”, for “ignoring the rule of law”, for “insulting our allies”, for not governing. And Trump’s response to us is that that stuff is irrelevant.
Trump didn’t run for president to govern - that’s boring, hard work. He ran so that he could star in his latest reality TV show - about him being president. The only history that matters is the shallow, stilted history that his viewership (base) understands. Which is not a lot. History was his base’s least favorite subject (along with science and math) and foreigners make them uncomfortable, they don’t even speak American. The rule of law is an inconvenience. Governing is slow and boring, bad for ratings. It’s all a show and it’s all about him. All the time.
This is not to say that the presidency is irrelevant, or that Trump is not corrupt. Of course he and his cronies are using his presidency to line their pockets, and wreck the place. It’s to say that he isn’t incompetent in the way we see him as incompetent. We see him (rightly) as a terrible president, and he says, “Who cares, I’m not here to be president, I’m here to be a TV star.” He doesn’t care about any of that Constitution and history and Executive branch stuff. He only cares about the next episode (he churns those out at a dizzying pace), and the ratings. We think, “How abominable that Trump would hold a rally in Tulsa on Juneteenth!” Trump thinks, “Great story, everyone will be talking about it, the ratings will be through the roof!”
For Trump, the TV show is all that matters. He attacks CNN and NYT and even Fox sometimes, but only to keep the focus on his show. He doesn’t hate CNN, not as long as they’re talking about him. He demands that his team look good on television, not that they do their jobs (strike that, looking good on TV is their job). It’s all TV, all Trump, all the time. The Apprentice, Oval Office edition.
"Instead of making an argument for policy, the Republicans are simply backing Trump. "
I had to read the paragraphs preceding that sentence twice. We have truly entered the realm of authoritarian regimes when the GOP backs a man and not a platform. They are basically admitting that the party holds no ideology other than Trump, and they aren't even trying to hide it anymore.
I don't know; this feels like a really big deal - when you add up the near-daily barrage over the last 3.5 years (appointing Jared/Ivanka to power positions, firing officials who investigate him, refusing to allow government officials to testify, placing unqualified Trump-friendly judges in federal courts, turning the military on peaceful protesters, not bothering to update the party platform,) it seems like we're pretty close to boiling the proverbial frog alive. If he wins in November, I truly believe it's the end of Democracy.
Thank you, Heather, for your daily insights. Yet another day of news showcasing the autocratic government that Trump and his enablers are attempting to construct. Cannot imagine what they will build with four more years of this.
All, we cannot assume that the inept leadership that Donald Trump has exhibited in the last 3 1/2 years, particularly during a crisis filled 2020, will lead to his defeat in November.
The abomination known as the Electoral College makes it very possible for Trump to win again. The key is turning battleground states blue this Election Day. You’ll recall in 2016 Trump lost the popular vote by 3 million but won the presidency by winning battleground states by razor thin margins.
A volunteer opportunity called “Adopt a State” is an ideal effort for us to ensure the 2016 debacle is not repeated. It is led by ex-Obama staffers. Based on polling, they have identified 6 states - Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida and North Carolina - that are the keys to defeating Trump this time around.
Please consider joining this effort. You can dedicate as little or as much time as you want, all from the comfort of your home. They are holding virtual meetings this month to promote this effort. The attendance at the first two (over 15,000 in each) almost broke Zoom and the internet. But, given what’s at stake, the more the merrier. It’s never too late to jump in.
It’s not enough to just defeat Trump in November, the victory needs to be so overwhelming as to give the Biden administration a solid mandate to enact much needed social and governmental changes.
Link below:
https://votesaveamerica.com/adopt-a-state/
There's a gif circulating on social media that reads: "If you've ever wondered how regular people stood by and watched Germany descend into Naziism, now you know."
Ever since I was old enough to learn what that is, and how it was carried out, I've wondered.
I found the Washington Post's article highlighted the irony of the GOP's decision to recycle the 2016 platform quite well.
“The huge increase in the national debt demanded by and incurred during the current Administration has placed a significant burden on future generations.”
“The current Administration has exceeded its constitutional authority, brazenly and flagrantly violated the separation of powers, sought to divide America into groups and turn citizen against citizen.”
“The next president must restore the public’s trust in law enforcement and civil order by first adhering to the rule of law himself.”
“The current Administration has abandoned America’s friends and rewarded its enemies.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/11/gops-decision-keep-its-2016-platform-is-well-little-awkward-trump/
I'm guessing it will be Jared's one-page bullet list that takes the stage in Jacksonville. If the press briefing room notebook is any indicator of the per-page bullet point presidential comprehension limit, look for 3 or 4 points.
""...Republican leaders either can’t manage or can’t be bothered with the basics of our political system... "
It's been this way for a long, long time.
Yesterday I wrote about the intentional use of the word "war" in political discourse and how that invokes conflict and becomes a call for militancy. Here is an example of how Ivanka slipped it in with her Twitter response to being canceled (Jane Mayer, New Yorker, June 11, 2020):
"It began last week, when a technical college affiliated with Wichita State University scrapped plans for a virtual commencement address by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, in a bow to student and faculty criticism of the President’s response to the nationwide protests over George Floyd’s killing. On Twitter, Ivanka blamed “cancel culture,” calling it 'antithetical to academia.' In a compromise brokered by the university, Ivanka’s remarks, instead of headlining the event, were demoted to being one in a menu of choices during the ceremony, on June 6th. If they wished, students could click on a link and see her dressed for the occasion, in a regal white sheath and turquoise earrings and brooch, as she addressed them as 'wartime' graduates.
What a beautiful, welcome godsend you are.
Since December, I’ve read your essays in bed every night, eager to hear your fascinating observations and insight into this intolerable entropy. My political attention is scattered between here and England, my home countries—both vainly eager to outdo one another, it appears. Your work makes my grip on things that much easier. Thank you. Truly.
Happy to be a supporter. Been hoping to hear you monetize this for a while, either on Patreon or somewhere like here.
I was born (1957), raised and educated in Jacksonville FL. From my perspective Jax was the “Largest Blue Collar” town.
Pretty much who you know to get a good job.
As a child, going to Uncles and Aunts lot (in the “sticks”), we saw a klan rally in a pasture. Not knowing what it was, me and my cousin were curious. We were told not to go there because of our religion (Catholic) at the time.
My older brother did a essay on Walt Disney originally wanting to set up its FL center at the intersection of interstate 10 & 75 just west of Jacksonville. But Gillman pulp wood, would not sell them the land, in fear of driving up the local labor cost.
Hello Heather and thank you!
I understand that Americans have more than can be digested in a day of Trump's national flip flop policy. It as one international policy move that is really worth to consider. Trump has decided to go after employees at the ICC, International Criminal Court. This is outrageous and ill advised. I reckon that all of your allies will criticise USA for such a policy. Good friends will tell you when you are wrong, and now is the time to listen.
In my opinion it will be impossible to support US military operations if allies run the risk to be involved in un-punishable acts. USA does not have a good track record on averting and punishing war crimes.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=200611-icc-statement
I may very well have missed it, but I never heard General Mark Milley say the words, "I am sorry." I heard him say he should not have been there, should not have done it etc. I am old fashioned enough to believe an apology has the words "I am sorry" included.
Trump is going to have to impose a pretty strong non-pursuit document on attendees in Jacksonville if the current covid 19 infection rate continues to accelerate in Florida. 55 dead and climbing by June 8th according to local newspapers
Why bother to write a party platform when instead, you can simply hold rallies on the most threatening dates imaginable for black people. There’s the whole platform in one word: racism. Trump’s platform is racism, always has been, always will be. People simply weren’t quite ready for it to be stated outright in 2016, but now, they’re riled up and primed.
In our house, we suspect that Twitler's choice of Florida is also connected to his relationships with the Governor and it's two Senators, all three of whom are hard-core toadies of the President. We also suspect that, somehow, self-dealing money is involved.
On another front, the lack of a an updated platform clearly indicates that the GOP has surrendered, entirely, to becoming a cult of personality. There's no need for a lengthy platform document, because their candidate wouldn't (couldn't?) read it anyway. Based on that, they could easily put the GOP platform on a single note card with one bullet: "Our President For Life has the absolute right to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants."
Back in 1948, 72 years ago, Harry Truman commented that "The only 'good Republicans' are pushing up daisies." And that collection of winners (who included among their number a Senator elected in the "Republican year" of 1946 who two years later would give his name to a variety of demagoguery that is still remarked on for what it did to the country) are the ones nostalgically thought of today as "good Republicans who could never be voted into office today" (which is actually true).
They have *always* been scum. Their three actually-good presidents - Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, and Eisenhower - were hated by the real party who saw them as outliers (and when you consider the rest, they really are).
President Truman is still right. "The only 'good Republicans' are pushing up daisies." Hopefully they'll have a bumper crop from the hatealongs Old Blubber Neck is now holding, and a really big bumper crop of rotten apples come September, after the big Nuremberg Rally.