Re Israel/Gaze: News reports (and my experience in a text bank into Pennsylvania the other day) show backlash against President Biden's support for Israel. In my text bank several respondents complained about what they called "Biden's support for genocide" and that even local candidates, with no say in foreign affairs, were guilty of "complicity through silence."
The Presidential vote is still a year away, but it looks like the Gaza operation and suffering will last a long time. Any thoughts, Simon, on how big an issue this is for Democrats, and for messaging to counter it?
“Franklin, Tennessee, a wealthy suburb of Nashville that Donald Trump carried by 26 points, held local municipal elections this week and the controversial MAGA candidate for Mayor, along with a slate of MAGA Alderman candidates were destroyed at the polls.
MAGA Mayoral candidate Gabrielle Hanson only managed 20% of the vote, as Franklin voters demolished her scandal-ridden candidacy against moderate Republican incumbent Ken Moore.
.....All three MAGA candidates for City Alderman: Jeff Feldman, Patrick George and Gary Moore, were also roundly defeated, with each hovering around 30% support for their At-Large races against more moderate traditional candidates.
These losses in one of the most Trump-friendly areas of the nation signal that the MAGA brand may be wavering. Voters in Franklin, Tennessee opting for sane competent leadership over conspiracy theories and far-right fear rhetoric, spells bad news for a presidential candidate with 91 criminal indictments in Donald Trump.”
So he thinks we should be killing witches and he won't sit in a chair a menstruating woman has sat in? I know being snide about the Bible isn't exactly a hot take, but that's such a stupid thing to say. It's all so stupid!
Simon, What do we do about Dean Phillips? What a stupid vanity exercise! What is Steve Schmidt thinking??? The incredible arrogance of rich men who think that their ability to make money translates to political leadership is just honestly getting me down. What is the right response to this? I don’t want a third term representative to lead this country right now. I want Joe.
You are angry? That's the right emotion? This is not a newspaper. It's a simple newsletter that can't cover everything out there every day. If I were to write about it what I can I say that isn't already being said? The situation is ongoing, and there is time to address it. I've written frequently about the need for Dems to lean into saner gun laws. What else do you want me to do?
Stephanie, with all respect understand that All Here, are sickened by another shooting, myself included. But this is Not the place to point your anger. These are people fighting hard to make good change and don’t need your lashing out. Alternatively,
I suggest you call /email your reps with those feelings. And also new Speaker Mike Johnson, all who certainly & appropriately deserve your deep frustration.
If I had a nickel for every time these R’s told a lie, iI’d be the wealthiest man in town. Hypocrisy, disingenuousness, and bullshit are the trademarks of today’s Republican enterprise.
I wanted to highlight an excellent and very very timely report issued this morning by the Navigator Research Group. Leveraging a range of their own survey research they provide a very insightful analysis of how people in the US view the economy. They also offer tangible and practical ideas on how to address the reality that many Americans don't perceive the US economy being as robust as it actually is. The report also includes some important suggestions about how to make your messaging work best among Dems, Independents and even Republicans. This is well worth your time! Here is a link to the report on the Navigator site. https://navigatorresearch.org/what-do-americans-want-for-their-economy/
Absolutely. The key insights for me in the report are the suggestions about how best to communicate the messages. Not a 100% golden rule, but their angles on positioning make good sense to me, admittedly as a pure layperson.
I've resigned myself to accept that the radical right extremists will always be with us, just like the poor and marginalized sectors of our population. We are what we are; a very heterogeneous society with respect to world view. What concerns me more than the vocal minority are the vast number of disconnected, disengaged, disinterested, sometimes fearful, sometimes cowardly silent ones who sit on the sidelines every election. They can't be bothered to vote, feel their vote is insignificant, have given up on the concept of representative government. I understand where apathy comes from, given the monumental amount of corruption with which we are struggling in all branches of government. What should give us hope is the fact that we ARE struggling publicly with it, demanding that our justice system deal with it, even at the highest levels of government. Will there ever come a time when there's nothing about corruption in the news because we've successfully stamped it out? Probably not, but we either live by rules and try to enforce them or accept the status of chronic lawlessness. Those are essentially the only two choices we have; from my viewpoint, the choice is clear. It's my personal challenge to avoid succumbing to chronic fatigue in the process of trying to remain informed about it all. I want to live in peace, and that includes peace within my own mind. I read this page because it repeatedly reminds us of good things occurring, in spite of the noise coming from the commercial media. Somehow, that doesn't translate into rejoicing when juxtaposed with the prurient tabloid fascination with the utter corruption of our prior president and his crowd of miscreants. The popular press refuses to believe that things are better now than two years ago, refuses to credit the current administration with any success in turning the ship, refuses to acknowledge the restoration of our influence for good in the world, making the ongoing data that counters the narrative seem fragile somehow, as if we can't trust what the data is suggesting. Hope takes great courage; God grant me the courage to hope...please???
You are correct…I misdirected my anger, sadness and fear and I apologize.
The continual mass shootings, the state of our country and the war in Israel that is escalating is overwhelming. As a Jew it makes me sick that Israelis are being blamed considering how this began. Not to mention the antisemitism here and around the world.
No worries Stephanie. Thank you. Part of the reason I built Hopium was to give people a place to channel the anger, fear, anxiety we all have about this current moment into concrete action. It's not just how we win, it's also how we remain mentally and physically fit. Easy to get overwhelmed by it all. Glad you are here - keep fighting.
https://www.meidastouch.com/news/local-maga-candidates-lose-big-in-deep-red-tennessee-county
Re Israel/Gaze: News reports (and my experience in a text bank into Pennsylvania the other day) show backlash against President Biden's support for Israel. In my text bank several respondents complained about what they called "Biden's support for genocide" and that even local candidates, with no say in foreign affairs, were guilty of "complicity through silence."
The Presidential vote is still a year away, but it looks like the Gaza operation and suffering will last a long time. Any thoughts, Simon, on how big an issue this is for Democrats, and for messaging to counter it?
“Franklin, Tennessee, a wealthy suburb of Nashville that Donald Trump carried by 26 points, held local municipal elections this week and the controversial MAGA candidate for Mayor, along with a slate of MAGA Alderman candidates were destroyed at the polls.
MAGA Mayoral candidate Gabrielle Hanson only managed 20% of the vote, as Franklin voters demolished her scandal-ridden candidacy against moderate Republican incumbent Ken Moore.
.....All three MAGA candidates for City Alderman: Jeff Feldman, Patrick George and Gary Moore, were also roundly defeated, with each hovering around 30% support for their At-Large races against more moderate traditional candidates.
These losses in one of the most Trump-friendly areas of the nation signal that the MAGA brand may be wavering. Voters in Franklin, Tennessee opting for sane competent leadership over conspiracy theories and far-right fear rhetoric, spells bad news for a presidential candidate with 91 criminal indictments in Donald Trump.”
So he thinks we should be killing witches and he won't sit in a chair a menstruating woman has sat in? I know being snide about the Bible isn't exactly a hot take, but that's such a stupid thing to say. It's all so stupid!
Simon, What do we do about Dean Phillips? What a stupid vanity exercise! What is Steve Schmidt thinking??? The incredible arrogance of rich men who think that their ability to make money translates to political leadership is just honestly getting me down. What is the right response to this? I don’t want a third term representative to lead this country right now. I want Joe.
Phillips is going nowhere.
I’m so angry that you didn’t mention the awful mass shooting in Maine!!!!
That should be front and center.
Stephanie Schulman
You are angry? That's the right emotion? This is not a newspaper. It's a simple newsletter that can't cover everything out there every day. If I were to write about it what I can I say that isn't already being said? The situation is ongoing, and there is time to address it. I've written frequently about the need for Dems to lean into saner gun laws. What else do you want me to do?
Stephanie, with all respect understand that All Here, are sickened by another shooting, myself included. But this is Not the place to point your anger. These are people fighting hard to make good change and don’t need your lashing out. Alternatively,
I suggest you call /email your reps with those feelings. And also new Speaker Mike Johnson, all who certainly & appropriately deserve your deep frustration.
Take care
I needed good news today
If I had a nickel for every time these R’s told a lie, iI’d be the wealthiest man in town. Hypocrisy, disingenuousness, and bullshit are the trademarks of today’s Republican enterprise.
I wanted to highlight an excellent and very very timely report issued this morning by the Navigator Research Group. Leveraging a range of their own survey research they provide a very insightful analysis of how people in the US view the economy. They also offer tangible and practical ideas on how to address the reality that many Americans don't perceive the US economy being as robust as it actually is. The report also includes some important suggestions about how to make your messaging work best among Dems, Independents and even Republicans. This is well worth your time! Here is a link to the report on the Navigator site. https://navigatorresearch.org/what-do-americans-want-for-their-economy/
Thank you Craig. Didn't have time to review it this am. Appreciate you sharing with everyone. As you know I often cite Navigator's work.
Absolutely. The key insights for me in the report are the suggestions about how best to communicate the messages. Not a 100% golden rule, but their angles on positioning make good sense to me, admittedly as a pure layperson.
I've resigned myself to accept that the radical right extremists will always be with us, just like the poor and marginalized sectors of our population. We are what we are; a very heterogeneous society with respect to world view. What concerns me more than the vocal minority are the vast number of disconnected, disengaged, disinterested, sometimes fearful, sometimes cowardly silent ones who sit on the sidelines every election. They can't be bothered to vote, feel their vote is insignificant, have given up on the concept of representative government. I understand where apathy comes from, given the monumental amount of corruption with which we are struggling in all branches of government. What should give us hope is the fact that we ARE struggling publicly with it, demanding that our justice system deal with it, even at the highest levels of government. Will there ever come a time when there's nothing about corruption in the news because we've successfully stamped it out? Probably not, but we either live by rules and try to enforce them or accept the status of chronic lawlessness. Those are essentially the only two choices we have; from my viewpoint, the choice is clear. It's my personal challenge to avoid succumbing to chronic fatigue in the process of trying to remain informed about it all. I want to live in peace, and that includes peace within my own mind. I read this page because it repeatedly reminds us of good things occurring, in spite of the noise coming from the commercial media. Somehow, that doesn't translate into rejoicing when juxtaposed with the prurient tabloid fascination with the utter corruption of our prior president and his crowd of miscreants. The popular press refuses to believe that things are better now than two years ago, refuses to credit the current administration with any success in turning the ship, refuses to acknowledge the restoration of our influence for good in the world, making the ongoing data that counters the narrative seem fragile somehow, as if we can't trust what the data is suggesting. Hope takes great courage; God grant me the courage to hope...please???
Simon
You are correct…I misdirected my anger, sadness and fear and I apologize.
The continual mass shootings, the state of our country and the war in Israel that is escalating is overwhelming. As a Jew it makes me sick that Israelis are being blamed considering how this began. Not to mention the antisemitism here and around the world.
So again, please accept my apologies.
I do appreciate all that you do.
Stephanie
Your gift of an apology is significant. It’s heartwarming to know anyone that has the decency to acknowledge a mistake and make amends. ❤️
No worries Stephanie. Thank you. Part of the reason I built Hopium was to give people a place to channel the anger, fear, anxiety we all have about this current moment into concrete action. It's not just how we win, it's also how we remain mentally and physically fit. Easy to get overwhelmed by it all. Glad you are here - keep fighting.
More compelling charts on the strength of Bidenomics: https://substack.com/redirect/d3d75cf8-f951-4807-b745-93fbe6816ad6?j=eyJ1IjoiMjdpZ3YxIn0.WohXgCGlCEahwSYzanySMRJzjSC1UBBaxgmd31JeObM
Mike Johnson is full of shit.