Biden should stick with the comeback aspect of the state of the union. We are coming back from the brink of authoritarianism, we are coming back from sickness, we are coming back from economic collapse and now standing taller than our peer nations. We have work left to move forward stronger than ever before but going back to Trump is not how you get there.
Biden has a major challenge: He is not getting sufficient credit for the great accomplishments of his presidency. This is especially true with regards to the economy – which is booming!
Because the news media are not doing their job, Team Biden has to do a far better job of impacting and controlling the narrative. This is a monumental challenge.
Between now and November, President Biden should do his utmost to highlight and fight against *greedflation*. During the pandemic and its aftermath, many major corporations greatly increased their profit margins (in some cases obscenely so!) by increasing their prices far beyond their actual cost increases.
I believe President Biden can make even more effective use of his Bully Pulpit to call out "greedflation", shame specific corporations and industries, and thus show all American voters that he really is trying to bring down prices.
Also, an all-too-little-appreciated fact is that the Fed’s elevated interest rates are actually a factor that *exacerbates inflation*. This has been highlighted by numerous experts, including Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect, and, I believe, Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz
(Biden, of course, does not control Fed policy, but there is reason to question Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s lingering hesitancy about lowering rates.)
I don’t think we have a particularly good notion of how to do that. We are dealing with a cult that believes in whatever Trump says because he says it. I don’t think just a recital of this analysis will get us anywhere. But I don’t have a better idea
Well in fairness Vickie was referring to the the "on the fence"/squishy voters - not the cult members. There's no mistaking that the "cult" is simply not available to us. It starts with us sharing this newsletter and participating in all of the existing organizations ( indivisible, swing left, vote forward etc) that stitched together provide a pretty good starting point for expanding & spreading the message.
I didnt intend to be critical. I was reflecting on the ‘hardness’ of today’s polarization and the difficulty of understanding who the in-the-fence voters are. For example The Bulwark is mounting a huge campaign to reach possible on the fence former Trump voters. I don’t think they are good targets for a Biden economic message.
There is a large class of voters who are generally not tuned into politics or are for one or two issues. Generally speaking their attachment to either party is more culturally based than issue based.
My neighbor comes to mind. He is a mechanic, he is thoughtful, but definitely a second order news consumer. He might catch a few headlines a day, but most of his news is filtered through politico's in his life. I call him a cultural Republican. For the most part he thinks Politicians have little effect on peoples lives, and he is a Republican's mostly because 80% of the people in his life are.
High level he thinks Trump is baboonish but harmlessly entertaining to him. He hates McConnell, and likes Florida a lot, so I would say he probably thinks Desantis is alright. As to Dems, I would say he probably does not think about them, and to the extent he does he would probably say they are mostly concerned about someone besides him.
All that said, I do think he is probably going to vote for Democrats for the first time ever this fall. Dobbs kind of shook his attachment to the Republicans, but it will take 3 things. 1. Biden taking a big step on Weed, 2. Economy staying good and Biden talking up in an acceptable way, 3. Dems really laying a haymaker on the Republicans over Dobbs, IVF, and contraception.
I unfortunately snuck a look at the Cook Political Report ( bad idea I know ) and I had to turn away as I saw Charlie Cook's article entitled "Biden's Approval Ratings are even worse than they look" ( Or something similar). I guess we can add The Cook Political Report crew to the list of insidious analysts that give me chest pains ( and that we must prove wrong!)
When talking about rising gas prices -- and they are -- we need to be clear about why this is happening -- an aspect of the dangerous collusion of Putin, Saudis and MAGA/Trump. Unfortunately, it seems Biden doesn't have great ways at his disposal to change this as we ramp up to the election and MAGA uses gas prices against him. At the least, we can be info warriors, and support Biden if it comes to the fairly drastic measures that are at his disposal. Please read and circulate:
I hope this gets to Simon. I live in western Massachusetts which has a small maga community. I have been a delete for the Dems . I believe this is important and that the Dems power that be should listen . These maga people are all flying the American 🇺🇸 flag as if they own it. On their houses and trucks. I am flying my American Flag as well. It would be a great statement for the DNC to make a free American 🇺🇸 flag for every Democrat who want to fly it. It is not owned by the maga community
might need some differentiation (can't think of what it would be) so it's not taken as a sign of more MAGA. Maybe a blue flag next to it or a donkey kicking butt.
We have several American flags we’ve been flying every day for years. (The one on our dock here in Fl is paired with my Rhode Island/native state flag).
I’m pretty sure people don’t take us for MAGA with our Love Your Lagoon, Register To Vote signage and bumper stickers.😏
What stuns me is how many Americans dishonor the flag by leaving it outside at night, without proper illumination. (A spotlight or "rockets' red glare" is acceptable.)
Biden should celebrate his team more. "Folks, look at who Trump surrounded himself with. Some are in jail, others have come out against him." Biden has women, under-represented groups, experts in all fields and they all defend the constitution and don't lie. Brag on your people, Joe.
I posted a picture on social media of TFG's cabinet and Biden's cabinet, with this comment: If you are not excited by Joe Biden, consider his appointees and those advising him. Compare and contrast with GOP/MAGA. I'm excited about Deb Haaland, the first Native Secretary of the Interior. Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, Ketanji Brown Jackson, his Supreme Court Appointee. I could go on. You are also voting for his advisors and those who will ultimately decide our future. Don't forget Bill "don't believe your lyin' eyes believe my lies" Barr, Mark "let's burn documents in the WH fireplace" Meadows, Rex "let's burn down the planet with fossil fuels" Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon/Mobil...I could go on.
1. While I very much appreciate the fact that for many people the 4-5% increase in wages offsets the current rate of inflation this does not apply to those of us who are retired on fixed incomes.
MAGA is strong on reducing or eliminating Social Security and Medicare. Biden has repeatedly pushed back on this saying, “Not on my watch!”
When differences in policy are this stark, when one party talks about making changes that will affect millions (if not all) Americans - people are going to pay attention and vote accordingly.
(As an aside I am infuriated that MAGA keeps referring to these programs as “entitlements.” No. They are EARNED benefits!)
This issue will get people’s attention!
2. I live in the Midwest and we’re heading into our 3rd year of drought. Just the other night our governor and a couple of local cattlemen were interviewed about this. The cattle ranchers talked about the increased cost of hay (during drought hay fields produce decreased yields and hay prices have skyrocketed) and the fact many have been forced to reduce herds. Decreased production and increased cost of raising beef will translate to higher prices at the grocery store.
(It remains to be seen what our rainfall amounts will be this year but it’s currently not good.)
Though Biden can’t control the weather if consumer prices go up he’ll get the blame.
If you receive Social Security your COLA has been 8.7% and 3.2% in the last 2 years; and if you own stocks you are up 25% or more from 2021. Both Social Security benefits and stock returns have outpaced wage gains in recent years.
I stand corrected. I just did the math and I got a 3% increase. However last year my homeowners increased 40% and my car insurance increased as well. An insurance company I’ve been with for 36 years. (And yes, I’m a good driver. 😊) Those two increases alone absorbed more than my 3% COLA. Before gas, groceries, utilities, etc. all of which increased as well.
So while things might look good on paper the reality is that it’s been difficult navigating the economy since I retired. Which was 2019. For the amount of effort and thought I put into retirement I didn’t factor in a pandemic. And that changed everything.
Write postcards with Northeast Arizona Native Democrats! Because canvassing is so difficult due to distance...these cards are super effective. They increased turnout markedly in 2020, when Joe Biden won AZ by a little over 10K votes. Sign up here. https://www.mobilize.us/aznativeorganizingcampaign/event/527542/
Simon, you compare inflation to wage growth - but have social security benefits kept up or significantly offset inflation? Seniors may be experiencing a very different economy than workers and their families.
Just sent a donation to Gallego in Arizona. I live in Louisville, Ky. I am in a blue city but it is hard to be in such a red state! Love Hopium Chronicles!
Trickle-down and Soviet Five Year Plans....equally effective.
Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward was another economic gem.
China had long stood at the edge of the abyss – until Chairman Mao insisted on the "Great Leap Forward".
Biden should stick with the comeback aspect of the state of the union. We are coming back from the brink of authoritarianism, we are coming back from sickness, we are coming back from economic collapse and now standing taller than our peer nations. We have work left to move forward stronger than ever before but going back to Trump is not how you get there.
Biden has a major challenge: He is not getting sufficient credit for the great accomplishments of his presidency. This is especially true with regards to the economy – which is booming!
Because the news media are not doing their job, Team Biden has to do a far better job of impacting and controlling the narrative. This is a monumental challenge.
Between now and November, President Biden should do his utmost to highlight and fight against *greedflation*. During the pandemic and its aftermath, many major corporations greatly increased their profit margins (in some cases obscenely so!) by increasing their prices far beyond their actual cost increases.
I believe President Biden can make even more effective use of his Bully Pulpit to call out "greedflation", shame specific corporations and industries, and thus show all American voters that he really is trying to bring down prices.
Also, an all-too-little-appreciated fact is that the Fed’s elevated interest rates are actually a factor that *exacerbates inflation*. This has been highlighted by numerous experts, including Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect, and, I believe, Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz
(Biden, of course, does not control Fed policy, but there is reason to question Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s lingering hesitancy about lowering rates.)
Analysis is correct and over due. Will it ever translate into higher levels of approval.
I don’t think we have a particularly good notion of how to do that. We are dealing with a cult that believes in whatever Trump says because he says it. I don’t think just a recital of this analysis will get us anywhere. But I don’t have a better idea
Well in fairness Vickie was referring to the the "on the fence"/squishy voters - not the cult members. There's no mistaking that the "cult" is simply not available to us. It starts with us sharing this newsletter and participating in all of the existing organizations ( indivisible, swing left, vote forward etc) that stitched together provide a pretty good starting point for expanding & spreading the message.
I didnt intend to be critical. I was reflecting on the ‘hardness’ of today’s polarization and the difficulty of understanding who the in-the-fence voters are. For example The Bulwark is mounting a huge campaign to reach possible on the fence former Trump voters. I don’t think they are good targets for a Biden economic message.
There is a large class of voters who are generally not tuned into politics or are for one or two issues. Generally speaking their attachment to either party is more culturally based than issue based.
My neighbor comes to mind. He is a mechanic, he is thoughtful, but definitely a second order news consumer. He might catch a few headlines a day, but most of his news is filtered through politico's in his life. I call him a cultural Republican. For the most part he thinks Politicians have little effect on peoples lives, and he is a Republican's mostly because 80% of the people in his life are.
High level he thinks Trump is baboonish but harmlessly entertaining to him. He hates McConnell, and likes Florida a lot, so I would say he probably thinks Desantis is alright. As to Dems, I would say he probably does not think about them, and to the extent he does he would probably say they are mostly concerned about someone besides him.
All that said, I do think he is probably going to vote for Democrats for the first time ever this fall. Dobbs kind of shook his attachment to the Republicans, but it will take 3 things. 1. Biden taking a big step on Weed, 2. Economy staying good and Biden talking up in an acceptable way, 3. Dems really laying a haymaker on the Republicans over Dobbs, IVF, and contraception.
Oh please talk to your neighbor ! If your assessment of him is accurate - yay !!!!
Oh I didn't think you were. I wasn't trying to snide or anything either.
I unfortunately snuck a look at the Cook Political Report ( bad idea I know ) and I had to turn away as I saw Charlie Cook's article entitled "Biden's Approval Ratings are even worse than they look" ( Or something similar). I guess we can add The Cook Political Report crew to the list of insidious analysts that give me chest pains ( and that we must prove wrong!)
When talking about rising gas prices -- and they are -- we need to be clear about why this is happening -- an aspect of the dangerous collusion of Putin, Saudis and MAGA/Trump. Unfortunately, it seems Biden doesn't have great ways at his disposal to change this as we ramp up to the election and MAGA uses gas prices against him. At the least, we can be info warriors, and support Biden if it comes to the fairly drastic measures that are at his disposal. Please read and circulate:
https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-saudi-and-putin-scheme-for-screwing-1e4?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=302288&post_id=142309614&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=bvshj&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
I will be sharing this with the DTC when we meet this month.
I hope this gets to Simon. I live in western Massachusetts which has a small maga community. I have been a delete for the Dems . I believe this is important and that the Dems power that be should listen . These maga people are all flying the American 🇺🇸 flag as if they own it. On their houses and trucks. I am flying my American Flag as well. It would be a great statement for the DNC to make a free American 🇺🇸 flag for every Democrat who want to fly it. It is not owned by the maga community
might need some differentiation (can't think of what it would be) so it's not taken as a sign of more MAGA. Maybe a blue flag next to it or a donkey kicking butt.
We have several American flags we’ve been flying every day for years. (The one on our dock here in Fl is paired with my Rhode Island/native state flag).
I’m pretty sure people don’t take us for MAGA with our Love Your Lagoon, Register To Vote signage and bumper stickers.😏
Loud and proud !
❤️🤍💙
What stuns me is how many Americans dishonor the flag by leaving it outside at night, without proper illumination. (A spotlight or "rockets' red glare" is acceptable.)
Biden should celebrate his team more. "Folks, look at who Trump surrounded himself with. Some are in jail, others have come out against him." Biden has women, under-represented groups, experts in all fields and they all defend the constitution and don't lie. Brag on your people, Joe.
I posted a picture on social media of TFG's cabinet and Biden's cabinet, with this comment: If you are not excited by Joe Biden, consider his appointees and those advising him. Compare and contrast with GOP/MAGA. I'm excited about Deb Haaland, the first Native Secretary of the Interior. Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, Ketanji Brown Jackson, his Supreme Court Appointee. I could go on. You are also voting for his advisors and those who will ultimately decide our future. Don't forget Bill "don't believe your lyin' eyes believe my lies" Barr, Mark "let's burn documents in the WH fireplace" Meadows, Rex "let's burn down the planet with fossil fuels" Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon/Mobil...I could go on.
Two comments:
1. While I very much appreciate the fact that for many people the 4-5% increase in wages offsets the current rate of inflation this does not apply to those of us who are retired on fixed incomes.
MAGA is strong on reducing or eliminating Social Security and Medicare. Biden has repeatedly pushed back on this saying, “Not on my watch!”
When differences in policy are this stark, when one party talks about making changes that will affect millions (if not all) Americans - people are going to pay attention and vote accordingly.
(As an aside I am infuriated that MAGA keeps referring to these programs as “entitlements.” No. They are EARNED benefits!)
This issue will get people’s attention!
2. I live in the Midwest and we’re heading into our 3rd year of drought. Just the other night our governor and a couple of local cattlemen were interviewed about this. The cattle ranchers talked about the increased cost of hay (during drought hay fields produce decreased yields and hay prices have skyrocketed) and the fact many have been forced to reduce herds. Decreased production and increased cost of raising beef will translate to higher prices at the grocery store.
(It remains to be seen what our rainfall amounts will be this year but it’s currently not good.)
Though Biden can’t control the weather if consumer prices go up he’ll get the blame.
So we need to be prepared.
💪💙
From the White House today: https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/03/12/february-2024-cpi-report/ "Over the past year, grocery prices are down for pork, chicken, seafood, eggs, milk, coffee, and butter."
If you receive Social Security your COLA has been 8.7% and 3.2% in the last 2 years; and if you own stocks you are up 25% or more from 2021. Both Social Security benefits and stock returns have outpaced wage gains in recent years.
I stand corrected. I just did the math and I got a 3% increase. However last year my homeowners increased 40% and my car insurance increased as well. An insurance company I’ve been with for 36 years. (And yes, I’m a good driver. 😊) Those two increases alone absorbed more than my 3% COLA. Before gas, groceries, utilities, etc. all of which increased as well.
So while things might look good on paper the reality is that it’s been difficult navigating the economy since I retired. Which was 2019. For the amount of effort and thought I put into retirement I didn’t factor in a pandemic. And that changed everything.
Moreover, gas is dirt cheap – far less than half the price in Europe.
.
Fun fact: 82.4% of new cars sold in Norway last year were electric, up from 79.3% in 2022.
Write postcards with Northeast Arizona Native Democrats! Because canvassing is so difficult due to distance...these cards are super effective. They increased turnout markedly in 2020, when Joe Biden won AZ by a little over 10K votes. Sign up here. https://www.mobilize.us/aznativeorganizingcampaign/event/527542/
I am a big fan of theirs and write for them regularly - I am headed to the post office soon to mail some!
MY main concern is third party Kennedy Jr, Jill Stein, and Cornelius West. Last time Jill Stein ran trump was elected
Another reason to be firing on ALL CYLINDERS indeed !
I have a diversity flag next to it got it on Etsy
Simon, you compare inflation to wage growth - but have social security benefits kept up or significantly offset inflation? Seniors may be experiencing a very different economy than workers and their families.
Ken Buck has announced he will be leaving Congress at the end of NEXT WEEK! He had previousy announced he woud not run for reelection:
https://newrepublic.com/post/179766/house-republican-ken-buck-retiring-early
And MAGA Mike Johnson was taken by surprise!
https://newrepublic.com/post/179770/mike-johnson-no-idea-ken-buck-quitting-house-gop
Looks like it's a pretty ruby red district
Just the best reporting of facts and indices with context. Always feel refreshed and optimistic after reading. And deeply grateful for Joe Biden.
Just sent a donation to Gallego in Arizona. I live in Louisville, Ky. I am in a blue city but it is hard to be in such a red state! Love Hopium Chronicles!