17 September 2024
15 September 2024
Really pretty simple
Dr. Bandy Lee, a psychiatrist who sounded an early warning about the obvious mental health issues of Donald Trump, sums up the present situation. Trump is a psychopath, pure and simple, and such people, when placed in positions of power and authority, always abuse that power and cause great damage to the institutions, or governments, over which they are given responsibility and power. Which of course is why people who really understand this about him are horrified at the prospect of his being elected to high office again.
14 September 2024
Heather Cox Richardson today
This is well worth reading. https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/september-14-2024?r=8kzi3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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Why I deplore authoritarianism everywhere
I got into a discussion of far right parties in Europe, such as the Alternativ für Deutschland, and the right wing parties in Poland, Hungary, Turkiye, Italy, France, and Spain. And I mused the following, as my reason for opposing these movements with every fiber of my being.
These right wing parties share a fundamental belief in authority, whether of institutions or a strongman, and a skepticism of both the desirability and the possibility of democracy. Flawed as it is, representative democracy as a governing principle is the only one that has ever led to government even partially in the interests of ordinary people, as opposed to the rich and powerful. And when authoritarians have interposed their perquisites and power "in the name of" the people, such as the Marxist Leninist revolutions in Russia, China and the former Soviet sphere, the result has been indistinguishable from violent fascism in almost all respects other than semantics.
The current authoritarian regimes in Russia and China (and to a slightly lesser extent India, Iran and Israel) are constrained by geopolitics to some extent, but they represent a trend of history I deplore utterly, that being authoritarianism. Which I think of as "early stage totalitarianism," since the progression of one to the other seems to be all but universal throughout history. Authoritarians may or may not ally themselves with other authoritarian regimes, but what they all oppose is democracy, especially in their own countries.
Every authoritarian country has its liberal minority (sometimes underground), and every "democratic" country has its authoritarian institutions and factions, but when a broad comparison is made, there is none. Only countries with intact legal systems guaranteeing actual election of the government, with the ability to unelect them still intact, are places where stable prosperity and opportunity for self-directed lifestyle are even possible. These far right parties don't accept this, and all I can say is, that's the way to the nightmare of totalitarianism, to be resisted by any means to hand.
13 September 2024
We must come together and win this election, and not just the presidency
Even though it does now seem more likely than not that Harris & Walz will pull it out and win this election, we who support democracy simply cannot let up. Please contribute what you can, whether in money or your time. But I want to emphasize what I consider to be equally important. The House flip seems also relatively more likely, but contributing time and funds (if you can) to key House races is also vital. I live in a flippable district, Oregon 5, so that will get a lot of my attention. And possibly even more critical is the Senate, where retaining control is going to be a long shot. Manchin is out and W VA is lost. That means we have to run the table pretty much to retain control. Here's my list:
Rosen in Nevada
Gallego in Arizona
Slotkin in Michigan
Baldwin in Wisconsin
Brown in Ohio
Tester in Montana ... very tight, even leans R
Casey in Pennsylvania
Alsobrooks in Maryland... a surprisingly close race
There is also at least a chance for Mucarsel-Powell in Florida (against Medicare crook Scott) and Colin Allred in Texas (against Ted Cruz).
We don't have to win every one of these (and both FL and TX are real long shots), but we need to win almost all of them. So anything you can do to help Democrats keep the Senate is worth the investment. If Harris is to win and have a genuinely consequential presidency, given the obstructionist character of modern Republicans, we must have both Houses. We simply must. If we don't, we will muddle through, but we can't afford any more muddling. Climate action, court reform, voting rights reform... the list of must-dos is long.
Thanks, folks.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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12 September 2024
Say it ain't so, Thuringians
I want to believe it's not much more than historical coincidence, but the region of Germany known as Thuringia is the birthplace of both Heinrich Schütz (Köstritz, now Bad Köstritz, 1585) and Bach (Eisenach, 1685). It is also nowadays the geographic stronghold of the NeoNazi Alternativ für Deutschland party.
09 September 2024
Freeze out Elon Musk
In light of his stated willingness to engage in activities which are a clear conflict of interest, despite being a major contractor with the US government, I would advocate that the Harris administration, if we succeed (as we must), should formally or informally reduce its involvement with Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Starlink, and pursue anti monopoly policies wherever possible.
I say this as a Tesla owner. Musk heads up some great enterprises that have accomplished some remarkable things. But country comes first, above private interests, and certainly above political affiliations. And if he fails to adhere to that principle, he should be frozen out. The US should not be beholden to or dependent on any one person or organization for any vital interest. Perhaps if SpaceX, Tesla and Starlink find themselves the subject of internal sanctions, they will rein in their putative leader and act like the good corporate citizens all enterprises hoping to do business with the US government must be required to be.
07 September 2024
What is at stake
You know, I can freak about the election as readily as the next guy. But I can also look beyond an anticipated (more than hoped for) victory of the forces of democracy and reason to a time when Trump and Trumpism is in the rearview mirror of a country where elections work and we use civil processes to decide our policies. And I actually think the unity that will be required for that to happen will be good for our country. Already we are making common cause with Dick Cheney for crying out loud. And I look at Dick Cheney and very conservative Republicans and I no longer think of them, on any level, really, as enemies. They are political opponents, with whom, in our country's hour of need, we must, and we do, make common cause. The truth is we have far more interests in common with them than the issues where we disagree would make it seem. We stand for our Constitution and our principles of self-rule and majority rule, however imperfectly applied... together. Against the authoritarian, minoritarian, racist and misogynist would-be dictatorship that is what Trump and Trumpism stand for. Once we have broken through, we will have an opportunity to reset the system. There will be reforms. We will make sure we really do have majority rule. And it will be their challenge to achieve majorities, legitimately. Which, make no mistake, sometimes they will. This is how it needs to be. It's the essence, the sine qua non, of democracy. And we will have compromise, civil discourse, and a type of unity once taken for granted but now understood to be something vital, something worth working for, something even to make sacrifices for. I am hopeful. And I feel a sense of patriotism and determination to save our country and its system that I have really never felt before. And that, my friends, is a good thing.
Onwards to the victory we simply MUST achieve. There is no excuse or acceptance of failure.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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What this election is really all about
There is absolutely no excuse for supporting Trump. This is not an election about policy, or philosophy of governance, or ideology. It is about whether we have a democratic republican system.... or Fascism. That simple. If you don't see that, you're not paying enough attention or you have been taken in by lies and propaganda. But that's just not acceptable. We cannot afford to lose, as there will be no going back.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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05 September 2024
Don't panic over Nate Silver
No claim of originality here. The Harris campaign is actually using Nate Silver's claim that Trump is ahead in the electoral count to motivate supporters to give more and work harder. Which is great. But a reality check is in order. As Tom Bonier and Simon Rosenberg have pointed out, Silver, without sound reasons, is factoring in what has been referred to as a "sugar high," in other words a flush of support or honeymoon for Harris, which his model predicts will evaporate. But the actual facts pretty strongly suggest this is exaggerated if not out and out unfounded. Since Dobbs, Democrats have consistently overperformed, not underperformed, polls, and, while new voter registration was poor in 2016 and hardly better in 2020, it was stupendous in 2022 and played a big role in the avoidance of the predicted Red Wave that year. This year, it was sluggish before July 21, but has been completely off the charts (up 176% among black women, for example) since then. And donations, including first time donations, are breaking all records by large margins. Moreover, while the traditional "convention bounce" was perhaps not quite as great as hoped, the trendlines of support for Harris have been quite consistently upward. Most models that use indicative data in addition to polling give greater weight to these things than the kind of "vibes" data that Silver is apparently using. If you're familiar with Bayesian reasoning, Silver is giving substantial weight in his Bayesian "priors" to data that is not actually based on anything measurable, while underweighting these kinds of actual real world data.
All of which is to say, don't panic. Rosenberg had pretty much stopped saying "I'd much rather be us than them" in the weeks just before and after the disastrous July debate, but since Biden withdrew and Harris consolidated the support of the party in a pitch-perfect manner in the time leading up to the convention, he has been saying it with greater force and emphasis than ever. We have a lot of work to do and this election is not in the bag. But we are in a far, far better position than they are. We should take heart. We are winning, and we can sustain this momentum for the 60 days until the election. It will take determination, money, and hard work, but we can do it, and we must.
Oh, and if you likes you your "unscientific" prediction models, know that Alan Lichtman, who has successfully predicted every presidential election at least 60 days out since 1980, has issued his "Keys to the Whitehouse" prediction: Harris wins. He has two "keys" based on foreign policy which he says could still flip, but Harris wins anyway in his model.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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If you like this message, please share it with others.
02 September 2024
Fwd: September 1, 2024
I subscribe to Heather Cox Richardson's substack, which usually deals with current affairs, but this one contains an excellent brief history of the origins of American Labor Day. Richardson is one of our most diligent and communicative public intellectuals.
Arlington event
I'm guessing most of my far-flung correspondents are sick of hearing about Trump's utterly disrespectfully commandeering of Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery for an incredibly tone deaf, offensive, and patently illegal campaign event. But while mostly symbolic, I think this is actually a pretty big deal, as it combines many of the very reasons Trump is so obviously the most unqualified person ever to stand for election to the presidency in a serious way. It's arrogant, self-serving, self-aggrandizing, utterly disrespectful of the service of the fallen and the grief of their loved ones, etc. But it was the altercation, the hint of Jan. 6 style violence and contempt for law, that is most concerning, in my view. There must be video somewhere. The DOJ or FBI should (if they haven't already) subpena the materials, identify who shoved the Arlington employee (assuming, as I do, that this did happen). And that person should be charged with assaulting a federal employee in the course of their duties, and prosecuted in a high profile and exemplary fashion. Not political, but there should be a strong signal that this kind of behavior is not only disgusting, it is illegal, and there will be consequences. If possible, an effort to lodge a civil fine against the Trump campaign for violating regulations against using Arlington as a backdrop for campaign events should also be pursued.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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29 August 2024
Harris will need both the House and the Senate to be really effective... it's up to us
We are fortunate enough that we are not struggling financially, although far from rich. So I've considered it my responsibility as a citizen, given the ridiculous rulings of the Supreme Court that make huge amounts of money absolutely critical to any successful political campaign, to contribute what I can to pro-democracy candidates. I truly believe our democracy is under threat ... not so much this time from enemies foreign as from enemies domestic. (And I use the word "enemies" more than rhetorically: the MAGA movement is, in my view, directly opposed to the continuation of representative democracy in our country, which makes them the enemy of our Constitution. And the fact that their leader is all but openly calling for civil violence if (when) he loses is no joke).
We are doing other things too, but since we can afford to give more than token amounts, we are doing that.
And not just to the Harris campaign. It's easy to look up the 15 or so most likely House seats to flip to Democratic, and the critical Senate races are also easy to identify. Control of the Senate is going to be very difficult to retain, so every dollar counts. Tester in MT. Casey in PA. Sherrod Brown in OH. Slotkin in Michigan. Gallego in AZ. Rosen in NV. Even Colin Allred (D) in TX vs. Ted Cruz, and Mucarsel-Powell (D) vs. incumbent Rick Scott in FL, which are long shots, but not out of the question. I have made modest but meaningful contributions to the campaigns of every one of these.
Harris could turn out to be the most effective and substantial president, especially in domestic policies and programs, and in reinforcing rights and democratic norms, since FDR. But she will need both houses of Congress. I'm not bragging here, just pointing out that this is our responsibility as citizens. If you can afford even a little bit, please consider donating in a few of these congressional and Senate races.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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Trump team tries to illegally use Arlington as a campaign commercial backdrop
You might realistically expect that with all the supposedly expert guidance from his top-tier campaign managers, Trump would steer clear of disrespecting fallen American soldiers—again, yet here we are. It's hardly the rocket science of politics. Perhaps his sheer inability to transcend the reality TV persona that clinched him his only electoral victory in 2016—an angry white guy schtick—might just save us from another Trump reign.
Mental health experts like Drs. Bandy Lee, John Gartner, and Harry Segal say there's ample documentation (countless hours of video of his behavior)...to diagnose Trump with what's known as malignant narcissism, a toxic brew of antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders. This condition typically strips the subject of the capacity for self-reflection needed to alter their core behavior. Such individuals often overstep, leading to an inevitable "narcissistic collapse." It appears we're observing Trump's inevitable collapse in real time. (Probably exacerbated by what they all observe to be strong signs of incipient vascular dementia, which runs in his family).
K-A-R-M-A.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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27 August 2024
Lunacy extraordinaire
Seriously, does anyone, anyone actually buy Trump's "digital trading cards," which are literally nothing, just some digital imagery, at $99 a pop?
And if you're crazy enough to spring for 15 of them, for nearly $1500, you get one, one actual physical card, with a tiny swatch of cloth from the suit he wore when he debated Biden. Who would buy that? I find it hard to believe it's even real, but, apparently, it is. Our country has devolved into a truly weird place. Maybe we can somehow get back to some relatively normal place.
The first German opera... lost, but then a stab at modern reconstruction
Some of my farflung correspondents share my love of "classical" music or opera, or even music from before Bach. If you're not one of them, you might wanna click away.
You may have been exposed at some point to Orfeo and/or Incoronazione di Poppea and Rittorno d'Ulisse. (Monteverdi' extant operas; he actually wrote like 30 of them, but most of his are lost, which is usual for this kind of music).
You may also know of my outsize admiration for Heinrich Schuetz, who is known almost entirely for his quite serious sacred music, of which there is almost literally a ton. From 1615 to 1672, through peace and the worst war the world had seen to that time, he continued to compose, and publish, really exemplary sacred vocal music. Almost all his instrumental and secular music (apart from the juvenilia Italienische Madrigale) is lost. Most of it burned in library fires. Including the rendition into German and then into music of the same Dafne story. Schuetz is credited for the first German opera, in 1623. But of course it's lost except for the libretto.
Well, check this out. Schuetz Dafne. It's a "reconstruction," using other music by Schuetz and some other composers reworked to fit the words and with bridging and other modifications. Amazingly enough, the result is really very good. Of the Peri and Monteverdi and this one as a group, I find this the most successful and satisfying musically. Sacrilege! Schuetz above Monteverdi! Yes, actually. No spoken dialog, so not a singspiel in any sense. And no recitative to speak of, either, which makes it much more substantive and musically engaging. True that some of the numbers can barely conceal their origins as kleine geistliche Konzerte, but never mind.
It's a little volkisch. Even rustic. But it's absolutely charming, I have to contend.
25 August 2024
Seniors moving to Democrats for the first time in a generation?
Possibly the most telling demographic shift in recent polls is that in recent polls, for the first time in a quarter century, a majority of the over-65 cohort irrespective of party is in the Democratic column, supporting Harris. Seniors are the most reliable and stable voting bloc, and they are moving to Harris rather definitively.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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Harris has nailed the tone AND the substance
I've been on the Progressive end of the Democratic party all my adult life. But I think Harris's appeal to moderation... sanity, competence, progressive but not radical policy ideas... is exactly what it's going to take to turn this ship of state towards the right course. We have to get from here to there, and that means a transition. Harris has been pitch perfect on that, and really left Trumpers with nothing but hate and racism. There really is no rational case for Trump. None. So this is it: the commonsense, sane and moderate center of American politics can support her, or give in to extremism. And the only way anyone can vote for Trump is if they embrace the crazy, the hatred, and the racism. When it comes right down to it, I think she is going to carry the day, and give our country a chance to find its way back to the ideals and principles on which it was founded.
Onwards to victory in November! Let's not only give Harris the presidency, let's give her both houses of Congress to actually get the work of pulling our country back together going.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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21 August 2024
A phrase from Michelle Obama's speech
"The affirmative action of generational wealth."
Pure genius. And possibly the subtlest and smartest snub of Donald Trump you're likely to find.
20 August 2024
Luttig on the worst Supreme Court decision EVER
Judge J. Michael Luttig (a former conservative Republican jurist who was considered for a seat on the Supreme Court by GW Bush), of the "immunity" decision: today the Supreme Court ruled that the President of the United States is above the law. If there was ever a reason for a Constitutional Amendment, this is it."
He is absolutely right. If Trump becomes president again, then Heaven help America, because we will have demonstrated that the Constitution can fail, and has failed. If our 47th president is, as I fervently hope it will be, Kamala Harris, she must do everything possible to begin the process of repairing this grave defect, and other related failures of the Constitution, to actually keep democracy alive. These issues will not just go away, and winning an election or even ten elections will not fix them. Policy issues are important, but ensuring that our republic continues to be a republic, is of literally paramount importance.
I hope Harris understands this to her core, and makes this a tip-top priority starting on January 20, 2025... the real "Project 2025:" saving American democracy.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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17 August 2024
There is no excuse for not working and voting to save our democracy
A friend of mine who is so far left he's right protests to any claim that the Biden administration has handled the recovery from the pandemic-depression about as well as anyone could that "the market may be up, but ordinary people are hurting."
Well, sure, but how is that an argument against voting to save our democracy? Does he (or anyone) really believe that the Fascist Maga-low-maniacs would do better for the disenfranchised class? The complete lack of logic just baffles me.
But, seriously, for the first time in 50 years wages at the low end have outpaced inflation, most people are better off by any measure than they were during the Trump years, and we have a genuinely progressive candidate. Inflation is now at the target levels that will likely induce the Fed to cut interest rates in September. I have no patience with critiques of Harris and Walz from the left. Politics, by definition, is a question of pragmatism. We have a chance to snatch a center left victory from what looked a short time ago like certain defeat. And unthinkable catastrophe for America. What the hell do you expect? I take this as almost a Deus ex machina, we are reprieved. Or at least given a real chance. And for that, I am grateful, and not least to Joe Biden, for doing the right thing for the country.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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15 August 2024
Galvanizing for a Wave Election like no other in memory!
This is not a brag, just a point. My husband and I am comfortably retired. Not rich, but not hurting.
I have given more money to the Harris campaign, and various congressional, senate, and local Democratic campaigns than ever before, by a factor of, like, ten. (A lot of it when it was still Biden, but even more since).
The reason is obvious and that's not really my point. My late mother, who would be spinning in her grave if she had one at the thought of Trump being elected president (again!), used to take comfort that if she was thinking something, or aware of something in the political sphere, then others, many, many others, were likely having the same thought or receiving the same information. Or, of course, taking the same actions. So the money grassroots supporters are donating, and the volunteer work (GOTV, voter outreach, etc.) they are doing, are being replicated all around the country. I think the Democratic and pro-democracy electorate is electrified since the Harris advent... probably more than ever. Certainly it warrants comparison to JFK in 1960, Obama in 2008. Maybe even exceeds both of them. Trump is the goad, but people are responding because they care about democracy and feel, correctly, that it is under threat as never before. At least since the Civil War. It looks like all it really took was a clearly viable candidate.
I thought Biden should've decided not to run again. Probably should've announced in 2020 that he would serve only one term. And that's probably right, but, actually, the way things have turned out, apart from the three weeks of extreme political depression from the time it became clear he wasn't up to the campaign (not the presidency, the campaign) and the time he, unlike almost all other politicians, put his country first and did the right thing, has been stunning. The people are galvanized. They are passionate. About democracy. In ways that only palpable fear of the outcome if we lost can motivate. And that, friends, is a good thing. A very, very good thing.
Onwards to victory, friends. It's up to us. Will we blow them away? Take back the House? Reinforce the Senate? Elect governors and state legislatures, and local governments... everywhere at record numbers? Create a huge blue wave transforming the politics of our country dramatically in the direction of more, not less, democracy? We must. We must win, we must take back our democracy and lay the foundation for the greatest reconstruction since, well, since Reconstruction.
Courage.
RFK wants a job in the Harris administration. No, really.
WaPo reports that RFKJr contacted the Harris campaign about horse trading an endorsement for a cabinet position. Hmmm. One, well two, little problems come to mind:
- At this point, best estimates of Harris's experts likely show that RFK takes more votes from Trump than Harris, so his endorsement might not be worth much if anything at all;
- Face it, folks. RFKJr is nutso-butso. That's a technical term referring to a tendency towards hopelessly insane and self-contradictory behavior and utterances in unpredictable circumstances. (A condition he shares with Trump, although the etiology and manifestations of their respective disorders are somewhat different). Harris has too much integrity to put such a man in charge of any responsible position. Maybe with a minder and an understanding with the host government he could be made ambassador to Bhutan. I think they wouldn't mind (they're very accommodating), and it would at least keep him out of trouble.
The report includes the statement that there was no meeting. I imagine the message sent was on the order of "You're kidding, right?"
It's really very sad. Before the brainworm ate significant parts of his frontal and temporal lobes (at a guess), Kennedy was actually a smart and dedicated environmental lawyer and activist. One must wonder and lament at how the mighty have fallen.
13 August 2024
Trump spiraling?
Don't want to get ahead of the skis, so to speak, but in the last few days it really does seem that Trump is spiraling into serious mental dysfunction. Of the type that simply cannot be concealed or explained away. The speculation that he might not even make it to the election day is no longer wishcasting or silly speculation.
I'm not sure it would be a good thing for the country either. Preferable to beat the pants off him and start rebuilding a functional two party system. (Preferably with a goal of reforming our system so that two parties aren't the only options). If Trump literally collapses and has to be replaced on the ticket, there are too many unknowns for comfort.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
Thank You, Joe Biden
for doing the right thing for America
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Electoral map looking better and better
I got three things to say, Kamalamaniacs.
Arizona.
Georgia.
Nevada.
I'm not even that worried about Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Or New Mexico or Colorado. If she wins those, plus Nebraska's one blue district, all of New England, and the Democratic strongholds, she's got it, with any of these three, but we have to win at least one of them. I'm focusing on Arizona (postcards) and Nevada (GOTV). And Georgia is actually looking possible. Even NC and Ohio seem possible at this point.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
Thank You, Joe Biden
for doing the right thing for America
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11 August 2024
Biden recounts decision and makes a blunt warning about Trump
Watch this, if you please.
Biden is clearly not as articulate as he once was, but he shows every sign of having entered the phase of life you might call "the sage." He is reflective, coherent, and giving it out straight. And what he says contains some real insight.
His critical insight: if Trump loses, there will be trouble and possibly even violence, but that if he wins, we will be heading down a path that will change the course of history for decades, much for the worse. The likely consequences are not all unimaginable, but they are truly horrific, and the unknown consequences could be literally apocalyptic.
This may seem like a fairly commonplace observation, but for a president to say this, clearly and without ambiguity, is unprecedented. There has never been a presidential candidate with a good chance of winning who, to all available evidence, appears poised to literally demolish the institutions of representative democracy in our country. It is a crucial fight, almost on the level of a second Civil War. And unspoken but implicit: this election may be our one and only chance to prevent the dissolution of American democracy. If we avoid this catastrophe, we will at least have the potential to restore and strengthen democracy. But if Trump, or some future Trump, is allowed to destroy it to the foundations, there seems no realistic basis to assume it could ever be rebuilt. Democracy would no doubt rise again in some far off future, but the American experiment, the oldest actual republic, would have failed after just shy of 250 years. Of course, Biden didn't say all that, but I would argue it's implicit in what he says. The irony is rich that while the Trumpers wave their despoiled flags from every inappropriate place, it is Democrats, and independents who clearly see the evil in authoritarians like Trump, who are the patriots. The people who not only love America the brand but America the concept for how a free people should govern themselves. They profess love for America, but it is love for what America was founded for that distinguishes real patriotism.
I am grateful to Biden, not only for what he's done since 2020 (despite significant disagreements), but for laying the foundation for his successor. If, as we now dare to hope, democracy survives and reconstitutes itself in America, Biden will deserve a great deal of the credit for that.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
Thank You, Joe Biden
for doing the right thing for America
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10 August 2024
Real Hope for a decisive change in our country
I do not buy into the idea that you should "run like you're behind" or that taking real joy in your hope for a decent outcome for our country will "jinx it" or is somehow "hubris" or "arrogance." Bull. I feel relief and joy to have an actual hope, a fact-based hope, that the American people are about to reject Trump and Magamania now and forever. We have a long way to go to restore trust in institutions, and the upshot simply must be that we make reforms, including the Supreme Court, how we elect presidents (and Senators, and even Representatives, as in no gerrymandering).
If we are to reconstitute ourselves as a people that has faith in, and practices, democracy, we have to make our country more democratic, not less. And this needs to be a top priority, right alongside getting along in the world and maintaining an economy that works for all the people. But just three weeks ago this seemed a forlorn hope. Now, it seems like a goal, something to work for and towards, something that is not only possible, but feasible, with dedication, effort, and public education. Onward, friends, to victory in November and a sea-change in the American political landscape!
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
Thank You, Joe Biden
for doing the right thing for America
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Urging endorsement of Harris & Walz: I just signed this petition -- will you?
At the request of my friend Margaret, please see below.
Subject: I just signed this petition -- will you?
To: David Studhalter <xx
To: David Studhalter <xx
For sharing with your email list?
************************************
I just signed the petition "Urge Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and other musicians to endorse Kamala Harris for president!" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too.
This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding. You can read more and sign the petition here:
<a href="https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/urge-beyonce-taylor-swift-and-other-musicians-to-endorse-kamala-harris-for-president?share=45fc7e7c-f234-45c2-811c-fe2043daa463&source=email-share-button&utm_medium=&utm_source=email">https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/urge-beyonce-taylor-swift-and-other-musicians-to-endorse-kamala-harris-for-president?share=45fc7e7c-f234-45c2-811c-fe2043daa463&source=email-share-button&utm_medium=&utm_source=email</a>
Thank you!
08 August 2024
America's Grandpa
OK, it's silly, but I think of Walz as America's Grandpa. For the first time in quite a while, I feel genuine optimism about American politics.
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HARRIS
WALZ
Our Champions for Democracy
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06 August 2024
RFKJr calls Trump a sociopath... and a little considered Harris advantage
Trump picked someone who had compared him to Hitler as his veep... a decision I'm sure he regrets, but which actually demonstrates the impulsivity key to his malignant narcissistic personality disorder. But I think we can safely assume that RFKJr will not be pulling out and endorsing T, as some have said he might. Yesterday, along with the truly bizarre dead bear story, it was reported that he called Trump a "sociopath." Which is one of the more accurate things he's said on any subject recently.
Unrelated point: we all give Biden much-deserved credit for realizing that stepping aside and letting Harris take the torch was the right thing to do for the country. Here's another reason, not often talked about. In Alan Lichtman's "keys to the White House," incumbency is a big plus. But it works both ways. Harris inherits at least some of this advantage for 24, but where it could really matter is in 28. It will be Harris's first term, and she can run again. Obviously, Biden would not have been able to. We need a long term of Democratic governance to resettle American politics on the shared truth of integrated elections, etc. if we are to overcome the gradual slide into fascism that has been the direction we've been heading for far too long already. So, if by stepping aside Biden has made a two term presidency more likely for his successor, that, too, is an important reason to celebrate his decision.
04 August 2024
Earth to Christie: endorse Harris already
I have barely a scintilla of respect for Chris Christie. But, come on, Chris... endorse Kamala Harris already. Do you really expect us to believe you care anything about our country if you leave it hanging whether you support a committed and capable moderate Democrat over a lunatic out and out fascist? Seriously?
03 August 2024
Let Trump show us who he is
I am coming more and more to agree with those who say "deplatforming" Trump is a mistake. This man is so deeply, deeply broken and grossly unqualified for any position of responsibility whatsoever that the best strategy to convince any remaining low-information but basically sensible people not to vote for him is to let him be seen, as much as possible. The fiasco at the Black Journalists' convention is Exhibit A.
02 August 2024
No to state sponsored assassination
Look, I deplore terrorists as much as anyone. But state sponsored assassination, while it obviously happens and is just part of the reality of international relations, is simply not something we should countenance or practice. Period. And countries that practice it routinely, like Russia, and, it has to be said, Israel, should be condemned when they do it. Even when the victim is someone as awful as Hamas leader Haniyeh.
The de facto genocide in Gaza outstrips this event many times over, (as does, of course, the initial murderous attack of October 7 2023, but two wrongs don't make a right). And, I emphasize, this, too, is a reason why the US should not be giving unrestrained support for the right wing regime in Israel. I realize it's a politically tricky and divisive issue, but, as a matter of principle, this conduct must be condemned. If for no other reason, because the ramifications are almost entirely negative and merely reinforce a cycle of violence, attacks, recrimination, and retribution.
01 August 2024
Modest volunteering efforts for the election
Brad and I are planning to drive to Washoe County, Nevada (Reno) on Sunday before election day, then volunteer to drive people to the polls on election day. Nevada is a swing state, and Reno in particular needs every Democratic vote it can get. (Rideshare2vote).
We also have the dubious distinction of living in a district narrowly won by a hypocritical lying Republican (aren't they all?) in 2022. Oregon got a sixth House seat (at California's expense), but we managed to lose it to a Republican, going from 4/5 to 4/6. My point is that although Oregon is not a swing state, our votes count to help retake the House, even more than most Democrats'. Go Janelle Bynum, the Democratic candidate for Oregon's 5th Congressional District!
I signed up to send 500 GOTV postcards to addresses of potential Democratic voters in Arizona. This is quite a lot of work, but it's an effective GOTV method. (There are several orgs doing this, easiest way to volunteer is through Vote Save America. Google it).
We can and we will win both Nevada and Arizona!
Contributing money is great, but it's important for everyone to get involved in this election, in whatever way they can, to ensure that Democratic candidates win not only the presidency but both Houses of Congress. We must flood the field to ensure the preservation of democracy. Everyone needs to do what they can.
A hint of vanilla in coffee, and artificial food?
This may seem almost sacrilegious to some, but even though I'm a little bit of a coffee snob (whole high quality beans, ground at home), I've never found coffee that isn't improved with just a hint of vanilla. And I mean a hint.
And here's something I'm sure will stick in the craw of natural food fans. Some natural flavors are complex mixes of things that are virtually impossible to replicate. Strawberry. Even grape, especially as wine (although after 40 years sober, I kind of forget what wine tastes like). Grapefruit. Savory flavors... actually most food flavors. There are no simple molecules that taste like these foods. But some flavors are actually pretty simple, single molecules. And, expensive natural vanilla buffs will never agree, but the essence of vanilla, vanillin, is easily manufactured and works perfectly well. Maple essence is similar. Of course the natural foods are more complex, but these flavors are simple and easy to synthesize, so I use them without being abashed.
The great prophet of disruption, Tony Seba, says that the genetic science of directed fermentation is about to make it much easier to manufacture just about any organic molecule, including proteins and starches, so, in particular, the vast energy and resource intensive industry of livestock (including fish farming and dairy) is about to be replaced by artificially produced casein and whey proteins and many other things, to make essentially artificially induced food, made for us by genetically modified yeast. Even plant based foodstuffs could, in theory, be produced by yeast cheaper and with almost no land dedicated to the processes. He was right about the smartphone, correctly predicting the actual year (several years in advance) the product would break through. But here, I'm pretty sure, he's just wrong. Human relationships with food are really, really subtle, and these simple flavor molecules are the exception, not the rule. I will be very, very surprised indeed if Seba is right about this.
30 July 2024
Crypto is just a huge scam on society
"Bitcoin has no practical use other than criminal activity and money laundering."
-- David Cay Johnston
I have always thought this, but people have tried to explain to me why there are some reasons to think otherwise. I remain unconvinced.
28 July 2024
Authoritarianism is ANTITHETICAL to democracy, folks
One of the things that troubles me most about the large percentage of Americans who seemingly embrace Trump's anti-democratic authoritarianism is precisely that. A majority of these people, when asked, clearly don't believe in fair elections. To them, elections are fair if they win (even by cheating), and unfair if they don't. This is just not how it works and somehow we have to get past this very dangerous time in American history and get back to the principle of one-person-one-vote, trust in election administration (which historically, at least since the 20th century, has been very good overall), and belief that who wins should govern, even if you disagree with them. The tribalism and willingness to resort to violence is like a fatal cancer: we either excise it and survive or democracy dies. Which will it be?
Lichtman predicts Harris win.
There's nothing magical or mystical about it, and the model, while rational and successful going back decades (including when applied retroactively through at least most of the 20th century), is not strictly speaking scientific. Nonetheless, I take some considerable encouragement from the following:
Allan Lichtman, the presidential election prognosticator who has successfully predicted the last nine out of 10 White House races, has made his preliminary projection for the November contest: Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to win, he said Friday.
Considering the shitshow the election had become prior to Biden's announcement a week ago today, this is truly good news. When he predicted the Trump win in 2016, people pooh-poohed his whole model, but it was right then. Let's hope it's right now.
Democracy itself must be the highest priority
Some of my progressive friends tend to focus on the usual progressive agenda items politically, but I focus more on process, because, quite simply, if we don't have a democracy, we can forget about particular policy goals. So I place electoral college reform and Supreme Court reform (both of which could be effectively, if not ideally, accomplished through legislation, not requiring a constitutional amendment)... at the top of the agenda. Voting rights and ending gerrymandering and the effects of Citizens United ...right up there. Climate mitigation, reproductive rights, separation of church and state, and all the other issues that make up a progressive worldview: absolutely. But fixing the system itself is Job One.
I think Trump's recent statement that they intend to "fix" elections so his supporters "won't need to vote anymore" pretty much says it all in support of my priorities here.
27 July 2024
Orange One's Personality Disorder and Dementia (Fromm and the DSM-5 hallmarks)
I think this is worth reading in detail. It's ChatGPT's answer to my question about Erich Fromm's original classification of "malignant narcissism," which he characterized as "the essence of evil." Read this over, and tell me if you don't think every single one of these hallmarks of malignant narcissism don't apply to Trump.
>>
Erich Fromm's concept of "malignant narcissism," as you noted, combines traits of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and Antisocial Personality Disorder (sociopathy), among other features. To better understand how these clinical definitions compare to Fromm's conclusions, here are the diagnostic criteria for each disorder according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition):
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
The DSM-5 criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder include:
- Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from others.
- Fixation on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc.
- A belief that one is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions.
- A need for excessive admiration.
- A sense of entitlement.
- Interpersonally exploitative behavior.
- Lack of empathy.
- Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of them.
- Demonstration of arrogant and haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (Sociopathy)
The DSM-5 criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder include:
- A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
- Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors.
- Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
- Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
- Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
- Reckless disregard for the safety of self or others.
- Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
- Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
- The individual is at least age 18 years.
- There is evidence of Conduct Disorder with onset before age 15 years.
- The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Fromm's View on Malignant Narcissism as the "Essence of Evil"
Fromm's analysis of malignant narcissism extended beyond clinical descriptions to a philosophical and ethical dimension. He considered this condition to be particularly dangerous because it combines the self-absorption and entitlement of narcissism with the amorality and manipulativeness of sociopathy, adding a layer of aggression and paranoia. Fromm believed that this blend leads to behaviors that not only harm individuals but can also severely disrupt and damage societies.
Fromm argued that malignant narcissism's disregard for the common good and the rights of others, coupled with aggressive tendencies and a lack of conscience, embodies what many would describe as "evil." His conclusion was based on the observation that such individuals are capable of committing acts that have not only personal but also widespread social consequences, including fostering totalitarianism, perpetuating extreme prejudice, and committing mass atrocities.
In summary, Fromm's concept of malignant narcissism as the "essence of evil" stems from its potential to cause significant harm, both on interpersonal and societal levels, due to the unique and intense combination of traits from several personality disorders, particularly those associated with destructive behaviors and attitudes.
We've now removed the false equivalency of Biden's relatively mild and benign age-related cognitive impairment and Trump's severe and extremely dangerous personality disorder (combined with evidence of incipient vascular or possibly Alzheimer's type dementia). What this megalomaniac plans to do to our country is bad enough, but, politics and ideology aside, the risk of having someone like this in charge of the vast (and, thanks to the Supreme Court, now vaster than ever) power should be very, very alarming to anyone who gives the matter even a modicum of serious and intelligent consideration.
The only bright spot is that the personality disorder and mild dementia is making him act against his own interests frequently, and is also becoming so obvious, and so unattractive, that more and more people are having the "Oh, man, I just can't vote for this guy!" epiphany.
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