Wait. . .haven't you heard? The algae blooms and peeling "American Flag Blue" paint are the fault of vandalism by "radical lunatic Dumocrats." "Law enforcement is investigating!" Glad Cash Kash is on the case.
Do you think he'll find a golem at the bottom? I think of his swamp-draining efforts as what coughed up Hegseth, Patel, and the rest of the clown show that is the cabinet.
Indeed they have. I am married to a Salvadoran man who raised our son to love and play the game, and I can't help but love it, too. I'll even stop in the middle of a perfectly breezy literary day to yell at the top of my lungs. Man, that feels good. To be yelling GO TEAM instead of. well, everything the Trump regime deserves.
I've long believed that one (of the many) things that makes sports far, far more important than some folks believe is that each sport contains in its structure, in the way it plays out, one or more really big, really important life lessons. For me, soccer's has always been "life is not fair...but you keep trying/going anyway." Anyone who has watched soccer for any length of time has seen games when one team has completely dominated a match and ends up losing. I don't think there's any other sport where that's possible to the same extent it's true in soccer. Hockey can come close, but even when it does, it's flicks of the wrist gone awry or a goalie "standing on his head" while more or less just standing there. It's a lot more agonizing in soccer, and not just because the target is eight times larger.
It's a lesson that's become all the more acute since the game made the worst decision in the history of sport--deciding tied matches with penalty kicks. Even if you allow for the fact that if they keep playing and playing, more and more players will get hurt, why not decide it based on corner kicks, which actually tell you something about what team played better and deserved to win? I don't even understand it from an economic perspective--the fans want to see goals, and PKs mean weaker teams spend the whole game "parking the bus" in front of the goal trying to get to them (esp. if they're fortunate to be the first to score) by preventing the other team from scoring instead of scoring themselves. What kind of message does it send that such cynical tactics are rewarded when the team that did everything but score loses on what statistics show very clearly is basically a coin flip (unless your team is England, of course)?
But given what life has been like in our country, I'm actually grateful for this calumny. Because the unfairness of life has been in our face every second of every day for two years now. The US men's national team has had its share of this over the years, too. Remember US-Germany in 2002 (omg--no don't)? US-Belgium 2014? US-Panama 2025? On the women's side, US-Sweden 2023? OK, I'm going to stop now. Maybe it's just the fan in me, but I don't know that I can remember any wins where *we* were outplayed and lucky to win. Anyway, here we are, in this pivotal year for our country, and the boys have grown into the moment like nobody could have imagined. Can you remember when our team had trouble completing consecutive passes? Now they're playing like a top country, top division club team! Which doesn't happen at the World Cup, because national teams are pulled together from all over and have almost no time to practice together. And yet *our* guys know what to do, just like the people of Minneapolis did this winter. Trump knows what it means--why do you think he pathetically tried to take our attention off the team after we scored for the third time against Paraquay by gratuitously announcing on Belzebuth Social that he'd (personally?) killed the head of the Venezuelan gang that supposedly justified attacking that country and its fishing boats (can we stop now?)? In the end, we may have to take our place in the family of nations, instead of dominating, just like all but one nation will be doing by the end of the competition. Or we may not. You never know with America :)
It was a very interesting synopsis. I loved it until you spoiled it, mentioning Trump's Babbling. Believe me, You have the game well understood. I consider myself somewhat of a Novice. And Yes, I understand the other side of the game. We are Hopium and America will always Dominate the World.
I am an Optimist!
And Win or lose the Game We Play, We will always be Proud of what they and We accomplished!
Well, Millie, it seems we've reached the point where Trump doesn't even have to touch things to ruin them--just mentioning his name will do the trick :/
Truth! My son was one of 150,000 fans celebrating the Canes' win in Raleigh yesterday -- a very joyous and necessary time to come together. I'm sure the crowd would have been huge no matter what, but somehow I think it might have been larger than it would have in less depressing times. We need community, joy, and togetherness, especially in times characterized not just by political division, but also by the loneliness engendered by AI and social media, and sports are a terrific way to achieve that.
Love the essays am regretting , for the first time in five years, giving up the tv. That sports party puts our political plight in even sharper contrast. Ted Blanche thumbed his nose at the judge in Florida who is investigating fraud on the court and filed no affidavit. An actin attorney general who wants the job wants to run the country alongside Top Felon. Bubble burst.
As the wonderful folk song goes, "All you fascists bound to lose. All you fascists bound to lose." And they will. And we will make certain that they do.
Congrats to the U.S. Mens Team. I just watched your interview with Rob Sand and turned around and contributed to Winning Iowa. What a great candidate and a great opportunity in Iowa.
Love this celebration of bringing the country together, so yeah for the players AND an Argentine coach!
Re: getting to work and the list of candidates: it's a great list. However, I have one point of disagreement - G Platner. Yes, I'd like someone other than Susan Collins, but not one who treats women with disrespect. I believe we are focused on people of substance, those who act with decency and respect towards women and every person of every color and ability. G Platner doesn't rise to that standard, in my opinion. Otherwise, let's march on and change the House and the Senate.
susan collins does not treat women with respect. and her actions are killing women. platner has baggage. so did us grant. so did sherman. so did patton. we gotta go to war with the army we have, someone once said......but it will be harder with him as the candidate; joe trippi says parts of maine are redder, and the gop hoped to flip it; but it is not panning out for them. the state overall is still blue. i just worry about what happens when millions are dumped on him....
I'm going to target my donations to states other than Maine. Platner has a lot of support, so I don't need to jump in to help if I have reservations about him. Onward.
I don’t know how often you read Hopium Chronicles or its posts, but there was a robust discussion about Platner’s candidacy a week or 2 ago. After evaluating the comments Simon invited us to make, he made the decision to add Platner to the list. Simon also said he was reaching out to the Platner campaign to invite him on for an interview. I hope Platner accepts and the community tunes in to hear him.
Unfortunately I can’t find the post with this community’s debate about Platner, but if you can and have not read it previously, I think you might find it enlightening.
Yes, I read HC, and I just looked at Simon's post. As stated above, I hope we can do better. That said, I'll watch any interview and withhold further comment until I do, even though my comments are just that, my comments, and are irrelevant since I don't live in Maine. I appreciate reading other Plucky Patriots viewpoints. Thanks Madam G and Fisher.
If it's any consolation, I don't care for Platner but I do want him to win given what we know about Collins. We know she will vote with Trump unless it doesn't matter. I would hope Platner and his team handle the onslaught that will be constant without finger pointing and just respond taking responsibility without any caveats. Also, I hope, if he wins, which will be tough, he doesn't turn out to be another Manchin or Sinema. Let's hope Collins doesn't win.
Collins is a disappointing individual. She wimps out. She kept making excuses for Trump and thinking "he'd change and learn his lesson." Trump has been a jerk since birth and is proud of it. At the very least, Susan Collins is a poor judge of character.
I just followed Simon's link to the post I had somehow missed. This paragraph jumped out at me:
"Through this process of meditating on virtue I’ve come to realize that I must be open to the idea that Graham Platner’s virtue is of a different sort. One of military service, of patriotism, of redemption, and of unyielding desire to take on the powerful to help those who’ve been left behind. That, yes, virtue can come in many forms."
This is an example of why this community, under Simon's watch, is so important to me. Thank you all for caring so much. We'll get through this together.
Rene, I understand what you're saying. I like the idea of picking states to donate to. I think I'll pick states other than Maine. There a lots of good candidates out there and we don't have to donate to every one.
I am just so excited about the BHO Ctr and its message of inclusivity and possibility. I feel optimistic again, and to me, that's what the best leaders do - they inspire us to be our best selves and to work to make this country's ideals a reality. Many of the elements of the Center echo the first presidential library & the Roosevelt estate and satellite locations in Hyde Park: the immersive experience of being inside the residence and on the property where he grew up; the library; the exhibits on his accomplishments but also where he fell short (civil rights, internment); the significant space dedicated to co-president Eleanor, which of course includes her residence at Valkill.; the programming and events. FDR planned and designed that stuff when he was still president, and while it of course is not free and does not include a public library, a garden, a working kitchen, a recording studio and a basketball court (!), it is a busy place and there are always researchers there. So all props to BHO & Michelle, but they are, in fact, continuing the Roosevelt tradition in more ways than one. :)
Also, on the subject of Dem fundraising, Sen. Warren announced today that she has donated "over $400,000 from her campaign account to 23 state parties to ensure Democrats win up and down the ballot in November." More of this, please!
Spending the day working on my DNC project and the postcards. Keep going!
Earlier this week, NY Mayor Mamdani gave a speech at the Knicks' parade. It was good, a joyful speech that celebrated the sports win but also went beyond sports. In it, he quoted a player who'd said, "You're allowed to think about the worst possible scenario, but you gotta go out there and do something about it." A very Hopium quote.
We so appreciate all you are doing to help thwart the anti-democratic forces reflected in MAGA's talk and action. We really have an impressive array of diverse candidates running throughout our country - and your interviews are wonderful introductions. What I see reflected in the financial support illustrates where the Hopium team wishes to put its resources. It shows what moves us all. Which is the reason I'm writing today. I'm disappointed - but not necessarily surprised - that the effort to help Maine senatorial candidate, Graham Platner, is doing quite poorly. I realize each of us has only so much we can afford to commit to the shared effort from time to time - and there are candidates that people might feel are more deserving than Platner. What I want to express is my disappointment that we Democrats - and Hopium fans - often show an amazing lack of grace. We are stunned that someone like Donald Trump - as vile and unrepentant as he always was - gets a pass from GOP (so called) "Christians" - when he is unwilling to acknowledge his mistakes (sins?) and continues to break most every commandment and Christian norm. We are shocked at their willingness to forgive (or ignore)! But on our side of the ledger, we seem to be able to withhold forgiveness and grace to someone who does confess his mistakes and is trying to amend them by doing the right thing. Who shows lesser character? The one who forgives without seeing repentance, or the one who fails to forgive when they do express repentance and regret? Perhaps they are both weighed in the scales of decency and found wanting. We, as Democrats, can do better, I think. If Platner, who seems to connect with Maine residents, is beaten by Collins, because he failed to be supported financially ... shame on us! I encourage anyone who is concerned about Platner to listen to his stump speeches. He knows how to connect. He's a very unpolished version of a James Talerico - but he resonates with people who are hungry for some authenticity. Thanks for listening.
We are all going to go on this Platner journey together but as a lifer political guy a pro tip - if you are trying to get folks to go along with something important to you it’s wise not to start the pitch by insulting your audience.
Your assumption that I don't donate much myself - because I'm a "visitor" - is insulting on two scores: I don't think my collective donations are "not ... much" - nor am I a visitor. I agree with Simon that I probably should have used a carrot instead of a stick in noting my concerns. But I thought this was a place for honest conversation. It seems to me that the Hopium community - of which I've been a part for some time - and contribute to in a variety of ways what I can afford - being on a retiree's fixed income - has a welcoming and inclusive attitude. I admit I am annoyed - perhaps overly so - about an attitude which condemns GOP "Christians" for being hypocrites in whitewashing Trump's behavior and lack of remorse, but also holding a high standard about someone's past failures while ignoring their willingness to admit failures and act rightly. It's not easy overlooking the past but if we expect better behavior in the future ought we not to at least believe that the "good" women and men we want to support are capable of change. I am, going to attempt to be good, and change to the point of never raising this troubling issue again.
The grace we all must have here is with one another, recognizing that there are very strong feelings in this community for and against Platner and we must at all times keep the discussion here respectful.
and elsewhere I think the pro-Platner folks have a lot of work to do to bring skeptical folks along here and throughout the family; and my advice is to be honest about that, and work hard and humbly to bring them along rather than chastising or making threats. People have limited money and lots of options so getting folks to prioritize him is going to require work as he is just one of the several dozen Senate and House candidates we need to flip the House and Senate this November. Asserting that people here have no "grace" for not yet supporting him is on the edge of being offensive, and when it comes to tough conversations like this in the family we must strive to raise our game and lift people up - not tear them down.
The reservations many people have about Platner are not about morality - which I think is a bit of a red herring - but about whether he can survive the attacks to come and is still viable candidate and good investment given all the other choices people. I've worked hard to create a safe space to have this conversation internally here and expect everyone to do the same.
SW, I actually would suggest taking your comment down, because you’re making assumptions, which in this case appear to be unfounded. Just my two cents.
i will contribute to Platner as taking back the Senate is vastly more important than his history BUT remember any Dem in office who screws up will be gone asap. We
SW I understand your frustration. At least I think I do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We all want the same thing or mostly do. Everyone has a choice to donate to whomever they wish to donate, write postcards, make calls, etc. I can't donate now bc my husband got laid off. So, I am waiting until after the primaries to donate what I can. I try to refrain from making broad generalizations. I have no idea who is donating and who is not donating. Let's just hope Collins loses. ❤️
Worth a listen: Ezra Klein & Chris Hayes talking about the shift happening between money and attention, how charisma, authenticity, and raw political talent is beginning to overtake the ability to successfully sit on the phone six hours a day raising money, which, in turn, is being driven by the concomitant rise in power of digital media and the decline in the efficacy of TV ads.
Increasingly that power is going to shift from merely distributing your TV ads online to something that really should be called "community media" instead. The first steps in that direction are already being taken as candidates like Platner, Talarico, and Ossoff have been as successful as they've been not because of "messaging" or killer 30-60 second spots, but because of longer clips, even whole speeches, particularly in the case of younger voters, as this prescient piece by Charlie Warzel after 2024 argued (gift link)
I think we're probably ultimately going to conclude that the whole idea that people's attention spans are only long enough for taglines and sound bites was a myth created by limits of the medium (i e TV) both in terms of the length of slots available and the cost to acquire them. As people spent more and more time in theyr vurtual homes rather than their physical ones, the consultant class continued to argue TV was still way more important because older people are the ones who vote and they're not online, which hasn't been true for quite some time--there are 80 year olds now who spend as much or more time online than most of "the kids."
The apotheosis will come when, as Simon has been saying for years, we finally start treating our supporters as partners instead of ATM machines, as creators of content, not just distributors, for candidates who fully *represent* them, as the Founders intended (and to do so, actually take seriously what they have to say, and the number of constituents who say it, not the number of dollars they have), who really means it when they say "this is not about me, it's about us." The notion that a candidate's of bad character because they change positions based on what voters want will seem crazy.
It's a transition that ought to be easier for the party that has relied more on the grassroots than money for most of its history than the one whose main support since the beginning of the Gilded Age has come from people used to giving orders and having them obeyed. I suspect, given the retail nature of a small state like Maine, and what the candidate seems most passionate about, that the Platner campaign, in particular, is on the leading edge of that transition. One of the beauties of community media is that its geographic limits are loose. If you're not happy with the financial support Platner is getting, that could already be another way to help.
Thanks for posting that info ... I'll check it out. These longer profiles - and the kinds of interviews Simon does - really help bring alive the character and experiences of the candidates which helps you see their motivations as driven by service and working for the common good. Getting those out there for people to see and reflect upon has to be more helpful in the long run than simply running 30-60 second ads.
I respect how passionate you are about Platner. I do take issue with the following two comments from you :
"What I want to express is my disappointment that we Democrats - and Hopium fans - often show an amazing lack of grace."
"If Platner, who seems to connect with Maine residents, is beaten by Collins, because he failed to be supported financially ... shame on us!"
To say anyone here is showing an amazing lack of grace is not helpful and rather sanctimonious. A lot of the Hopium community work very hard, each in their own way, to help elect Democrats. If one chooses to not support or be happy about a candidate, that is not a lack of grace.
We are not like the Republicans who get behind whomever their candidate turns out to be. Case in point - Trump.
Everyone is free to donate or not donate to Platner. I would, respectfully, suggest it is more helpful to your cause to post about what Platner wants to do in the Senate rather than beat up on people who are not happy with him.
Thanks for your response. I appreciate what you said and acknowledge that my comments were unhelpful. I am sure that some of the feeling of frustration I let override my respect and appreciation I have for this community isn't really about this community at all but those Democrats/Progressives/whomever they may be falling into the kind of anti-Al Franken posture that puts purity above all else. That's not to imply that I'm an advocate for lowering the standards by which we weigh candidates or judge politicians - but I fear we often cut off our nose to spite our face. Asking tough questions of Platner and expecting good behavior is very appropriate and essential. If he was unrepentant or continued acting in inappropriate ways - then good riddance. Many of us feel burned by supporting someone who goes on to disappoint us - I'm sure I'm not the only one. I was a contributor and strong supporter of Fetterman, for example - that has been a huge disappointment to me. There may be some underlying issues there that have caused his lurch to the right - but there is a corrective for those who aren't happy. Primary him and vote him out. If someone chooses to primary him in 2028 - they will get donations from me. Platner and everyone else should be held to the same standard: do they do what they claim they will do. I would hope so - I don't want to be disappointed again (although I'm sure I will be - people are flawed - I just have to look in the mirror to realize that's true). It is not easy when someone you admire and appreciate turns out to be someone different than you believed them to be. . . Eric Swalwell was my congressman for many years. I was delighted that he was running for the nomination for Governor - I sent him money - I talked him up with family and friends on social media - what a sad, but appropriate end, to what could have been a stellar career. Becerra is a great choice and he'll be outstanding - so my disappointment has waned a lot. So I'll take Thumper's Mom's advice - and Simon and yours - "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all."
It's tough for everyone. So much is on the line and we feel deeply about our democracy. For me, Al Franken situation was different. Suffice it to say, we lost a powerhouse in the Senate and I don't think Kirsten Gillibrand has ever really fully recovered from it.
I truly hope Susan Collins loses and I hope Platner is who he says he is now. I just can't cheerlead him on right now. But I respect those who can. Platner needs those who believe in him to help him convince those in Maine who are on the fence to vote for him.
Fetterman? oof - wish he was up for re-election or would resign but that's not happening.
Swalwell? Oh gosh. Everyone I know was going to vote for him. What a huge disappointment and I hope if the allegations against him are true, he goes to prison.
On a positive note, I have been watching the interviews Simon has been having with the candidates. Wow, what an inspiring group.
Between the American team's victories, the Tartan army, and the plucky Canadian team, it's been a nice diversion from all the stupid things the trump admin does on a daily basis. A little respite to refuel our tanks, and then we keep on pushing back against the harm he tries to inflict on our country.
refreshing to read a take on soccer here that is not, incredibly 34 years after the last time we hosted, the usual "soccer will never catch on here" ...yeah, second highest attendance after the english league, a plethora of big stars, mls players appearing all over various wc teams, and more popular than baseball....i think soccer has caught on. now, if only alexi lalas would shut up....and praise to landon donovan, he may say stupid stuff, but the public way he has spoken about losing his hair starting in his teens has literally inspired millions. and he has gotten better at calling games. i'll never forgive klinsmann for cutting him in 2014 for what were obvious personal reasons. if landon was on the field, he buries that late shot against belgium and we move on to the quarters. the guy who missed that sitter, wondolowski, has said he was villified for years over it. thanks for giving the cup a shout out simon, and thanks for the thoughtful articles. i have been a fan since i watched fellow rutgers alum alexi lalas and team beat colombia in 94, against all odds. that colombian team was stacked, and also gifted us an own goal, for which andres escobar literally paid with his life, tragically. as for lalas, voted for trump multiple times and is happy with the direction he is taking the country. his words. maybe fox pays him to say stupid stuff.....got a game here in nj today, ecuador vs curacao....stores are filled with people wearing ecuador jerseys. they should win. also, that paraguay win was epic last night, happy for them. turkey was supposed to dominate the group, and they are going home. we are excited to be hosting the final here in nj. and yes, it is nj. not ny/nj.
i think it caught on a long time ago. the stats speak for themselves. can't go anywhere without people talking about it. in 1994, it was like, what is the mundial? do we have a team? and tickets were 25 bucks....but most inspiring is the love coming from tourists who find americans are not what they have been led to believe; they are finding us friendly, the cities fascinating, and the food extraordinary. and those portions....that part about the kansas university playing their national anthem for algeria...in a red state in the heartland where everyone is supposed to mistrust foreigners, especially those from arab countries.....perhaps this is why the gop keeps wanting to defund higher ed and keeps telling people they don't need college degrees...i think we need more people with degrees, not fewer....
Thank you Beth, I haven’t seen the Documentary. Quite afew years ago I had a friend who was a Soccer Coach. Not any Major Teams, but he drove me crazy with Soccer!
We finally got a Green New Deal, it’s just that nobody expected it in the Reflecting Pool!
You can't make this stuff up.
Unless you're Donald Trump ;)
😂
ETTD--Everything Trump Touches Dies.
Wait. . .haven't you heard? The algae blooms and peeling "American Flag Blue" paint are the fault of vandalism by "radical lunatic Dumocrats." "Law enforcement is investigating!" Glad Cash Kash is on the case.
Oh, right, algal vandalism 🙄
Gotta blame someone else. Bacteria don't talk back...Or maybe they are staging a silent protest of their own against abject stupidity.
Single-celled organisms unite!
These folks make the Keystone Cops look like geniuses.
DId you catch this? The no bid contract was given to a Trump toady and his company "Green Water Services"
It's true.
Oh my!
In fairness, pathological narcissists always think everyone else behaves the way they do, so he probably thought they were lying
I will be forever grateful not to live in Donald Trump's head.
You can't make this stuff up. Monty Python, where are you?
Stu, you and Simon win the day!
I’m honored! And “Green Water Services!” Who is writing this script?
"Four Seasons" Landscaping.
This is ridiculous. The dingleberrynuthead strikes again.
Hey, thanks to Trump, at least the rest of the world has accelerated its push toward green energy.
And apparently now he said he’s having the pool emptied, so he’s “draining the swamp” after all
What a sad, pathetic, wreck of a man.
Do you think he'll find a golem at the bottom? I think of his swamp-draining efforts as what coughed up Hegseth, Patel, and the rest of the clown show that is the cabinet.
That's a good one. Thanks. What a s-show.
It'a often been said that Donald Trump’s taste is a crime against nature. Apparently Mother Nature agrees.
Great uplifting reporting, Simon!! We need all these positive thoughts to counter the regime!
Great game!
Hey Simon I’m in your adopted second home state of New Mexico, taking the family through the four corner states….
Pluck on!
Simon, I said I would watch the Game and OMG!! It was thrilling, exciting and magnificent. What a great Win!!!
Was it not FABULOUS!! Do you know there is a documentary on HBO about the men's team journey? I say go all in!!
man they have come a long way since 1990.....
Indeed they have. I am married to a Salvadoran man who raised our son to love and play the game, and I can't help but love it, too. I'll even stop in the middle of a perfectly breezy literary day to yell at the top of my lungs. Man, that feels good. To be yelling GO TEAM instead of. well, everything the Trump regime deserves.
I've long believed that one (of the many) things that makes sports far, far more important than some folks believe is that each sport contains in its structure, in the way it plays out, one or more really big, really important life lessons. For me, soccer's has always been "life is not fair...but you keep trying/going anyway." Anyone who has watched soccer for any length of time has seen games when one team has completely dominated a match and ends up losing. I don't think there's any other sport where that's possible to the same extent it's true in soccer. Hockey can come close, but even when it does, it's flicks of the wrist gone awry or a goalie "standing on his head" while more or less just standing there. It's a lot more agonizing in soccer, and not just because the target is eight times larger.
It's a lesson that's become all the more acute since the game made the worst decision in the history of sport--deciding tied matches with penalty kicks. Even if you allow for the fact that if they keep playing and playing, more and more players will get hurt, why not decide it based on corner kicks, which actually tell you something about what team played better and deserved to win? I don't even understand it from an economic perspective--the fans want to see goals, and PKs mean weaker teams spend the whole game "parking the bus" in front of the goal trying to get to them (esp. if they're fortunate to be the first to score) by preventing the other team from scoring instead of scoring themselves. What kind of message does it send that such cynical tactics are rewarded when the team that did everything but score loses on what statistics show very clearly is basically a coin flip (unless your team is England, of course)?
But given what life has been like in our country, I'm actually grateful for this calumny. Because the unfairness of life has been in our face every second of every day for two years now. The US men's national team has had its share of this over the years, too. Remember US-Germany in 2002 (omg--no don't)? US-Belgium 2014? US-Panama 2025? On the women's side, US-Sweden 2023? OK, I'm going to stop now. Maybe it's just the fan in me, but I don't know that I can remember any wins where *we* were outplayed and lucky to win. Anyway, here we are, in this pivotal year for our country, and the boys have grown into the moment like nobody could have imagined. Can you remember when our team had trouble completing consecutive passes? Now they're playing like a top country, top division club team! Which doesn't happen at the World Cup, because national teams are pulled together from all over and have almost no time to practice together. And yet *our* guys know what to do, just like the people of Minneapolis did this winter. Trump knows what it means--why do you think he pathetically tried to take our attention off the team after we scored for the third time against Paraquay by gratuitously announcing on Belzebuth Social that he'd (personally?) killed the head of the Venezuelan gang that supposedly justified attacking that country and its fishing boats (can we stop now?)? In the end, we may have to take our place in the family of nations, instead of dominating, just like all but one nation will be doing by the end of the competition. Or we may not. You never know with America :)
Hello Tom Thumb,
It was a very interesting synopsis. I loved it until you spoiled it, mentioning Trump's Babbling. Believe me, You have the game well understood. I consider myself somewhat of a Novice. And Yes, I understand the other side of the game. We are Hopium and America will always Dominate the World.
I am an Optimist!
And Win or lose the Game We Play, We will always be Proud of what they and We accomplished!
Well, Millie, it seems we've reached the point where Trump doesn't even have to touch things to ruin them--just mentioning his name will do the trick :/
Truth! My son was one of 150,000 fans celebrating the Canes' win in Raleigh yesterday -- a very joyous and necessary time to come together. I'm sure the crowd would have been huge no matter what, but somehow I think it might have been larger than it would have in less depressing times. We need community, joy, and togetherness, especially in times characterized not just by political division, but also by the loneliness engendered by AI and social media, and sports are a terrific way to achieve that.
Love the essays am regretting , for the first time in five years, giving up the tv. That sports party puts our political plight in even sharper contrast. Ted Blanche thumbed his nose at the judge in Florida who is investigating fraud on the court and filed no affidavit. An actin attorney general who wants the job wants to run the country alongside Top Felon. Bubble burst.
As the wonderful folk song goes, "All you fascists bound to lose. All you fascists bound to lose." And they will. And we will make certain that they do.
I hope you have heard Bette Midlers version.
No, I haven't. I just heard it the other day, but I'll go see if I can find Bette's rendition. Thanks so much!
Congrats to the U.S. Mens Team. I just watched your interview with Rob Sand and turned around and contributed to Winning Iowa. What a great candidate and a great opportunity in Iowa.
GO Team.
Thanks for sharing updates on USMNT Simon! I agree this could be an inspiration for America to shake off this administration in the coming elections
Let's shake them off right now by retooling our brains away from them and towards the world we want.
Love this celebration of bringing the country together, so yeah for the players AND an Argentine coach!
Re: getting to work and the list of candidates: it's a great list. However, I have one point of disagreement - G Platner. Yes, I'd like someone other than Susan Collins, but not one who treats women with disrespect. I believe we are focused on people of substance, those who act with decency and respect towards women and every person of every color and ability. G Platner doesn't rise to that standard, in my opinion. Otherwise, let's march on and change the House and the Senate.
Thank you, Simon for leading the charge.
Respectfully,
Rene
susan collins does not treat women with respect. and her actions are killing women. platner has baggage. so did us grant. so did sherman. so did patton. we gotta go to war with the army we have, someone once said......but it will be harder with him as the candidate; joe trippi says parts of maine are redder, and the gop hoped to flip it; but it is not panning out for them. the state overall is still blue. i just worry about what happens when millions are dumped on him....
I'm going to target my donations to states other than Maine. Platner has a lot of support, so I don't need to jump in to help if I have reservations about him. Onward.
I don’t know how often you read Hopium Chronicles or its posts, but there was a robust discussion about Platner’s candidacy a week or 2 ago. After evaluating the comments Simon invited us to make, he made the decision to add Platner to the list. Simon also said he was reaching out to the Platner campaign to invite him on for an interview. I hope Platner accepts and the community tunes in to hear him.
Unfortunately I can’t find the post with this community’s debate about Platner, but if you can and have not read it previously, I think you might find it enlightening.
Here's the post about why I decided to add Platner to our recommended list
https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/pulte-falls-talarico-launches-spanish
Yes, I read HC, and I just looked at Simon's post. As stated above, I hope we can do better. That said, I'll watch any interview and withhold further comment until I do, even though my comments are just that, my comments, and are irrelevant since I don't live in Maine. I appreciate reading other Plucky Patriots viewpoints. Thanks Madam G and Fisher.
If it's any consolation, I don't care for Platner but I do want him to win given what we know about Collins. We know she will vote with Trump unless it doesn't matter. I would hope Platner and his team handle the onslaught that will be constant without finger pointing and just respond taking responsibility without any caveats. Also, I hope, if he wins, which will be tough, he doesn't turn out to be another Manchin or Sinema. Let's hope Collins doesn't win.
Collins is a disappointing individual. She wimps out. She kept making excuses for Trump and thinking "he'd change and learn his lesson." Trump has been a jerk since birth and is proud of it. At the very least, Susan Collins is a poor judge of character.
https://american-ledger.com/corruption-secrecy/collins-husband-make-millions-from-government-contracts-intended-for-struggling-businesses/
I just followed Simon's link to the post I had somehow missed. This paragraph jumped out at me:
"Through this process of meditating on virtue I’ve come to realize that I must be open to the idea that Graham Platner’s virtue is of a different sort. One of military service, of patriotism, of redemption, and of unyielding desire to take on the powerful to help those who’ve been left behind. That, yes, virtue can come in many forms."
This is an example of why this community, under Simon's watch, is so important to me. Thank you all for caring so much. We'll get through this together.
Rene, I understand what you're saying. I like the idea of picking states to donate to. I think I'll pick states other than Maine. There a lots of good candidates out there and we don't have to donate to every one.
Happy news is welcomed here! ❤️🤍💙
I am just so excited about the BHO Ctr and its message of inclusivity and possibility. I feel optimistic again, and to me, that's what the best leaders do - they inspire us to be our best selves and to work to make this country's ideals a reality. Many of the elements of the Center echo the first presidential library & the Roosevelt estate and satellite locations in Hyde Park: the immersive experience of being inside the residence and on the property where he grew up; the library; the exhibits on his accomplishments but also where he fell short (civil rights, internment); the significant space dedicated to co-president Eleanor, which of course includes her residence at Valkill.; the programming and events. FDR planned and designed that stuff when he was still president, and while it of course is not free and does not include a public library, a garden, a working kitchen, a recording studio and a basketball court (!), it is a busy place and there are always researchers there. So all props to BHO & Michelle, but they are, in fact, continuing the Roosevelt tradition in more ways than one. :)
Also, on the subject of Dem fundraising, Sen. Warren announced today that she has donated "over $400,000 from her campaign account to 23 state parties to ensure Democrats win up and down the ballot in November." More of this, please!
Spending the day working on my DNC project and the postcards. Keep going!
tom kean jr is promising to make a special guest appearance, any day now....
June 30th!
Yeah - what is up with him anyway?
The famous Republican "two weeks away!"
Hi Lisa - I hadn't read that about Elizabeth Warren. Leadership!!!
How much do I love Elizabeth Warren and the Obamas???!!! Thanks for posting all of this, Lisa!
And that's her 2nd round of $400K fundraising/donating!
Wow I didn’t realize! 😲
Thank you, Simon!
Earlier this week, NY Mayor Mamdani gave a speech at the Knicks' parade. It was good, a joyful speech that celebrated the sports win but also went beyond sports. In it, he quoted a player who'd said, "You're allowed to think about the worst possible scenario, but you gotta go out there and do something about it." A very Hopium quote.
I'm working on postcards to Ohio voters today.
I think I'm gonna turn that one into a sticker--thanks Catherine :)
It was Jalen Brunson. Of course :)
Hi Catherine, Do you have a favorite postcarding group? Thanks for all you do!
Hello Simon ...
We so appreciate all you are doing to help thwart the anti-democratic forces reflected in MAGA's talk and action. We really have an impressive array of diverse candidates running throughout our country - and your interviews are wonderful introductions. What I see reflected in the financial support illustrates where the Hopium team wishes to put its resources. It shows what moves us all. Which is the reason I'm writing today. I'm disappointed - but not necessarily surprised - that the effort to help Maine senatorial candidate, Graham Platner, is doing quite poorly. I realize each of us has only so much we can afford to commit to the shared effort from time to time - and there are candidates that people might feel are more deserving than Platner. What I want to express is my disappointment that we Democrats - and Hopium fans - often show an amazing lack of grace. We are stunned that someone like Donald Trump - as vile and unrepentant as he always was - gets a pass from GOP (so called) "Christians" - when he is unwilling to acknowledge his mistakes (sins?) and continues to break most every commandment and Christian norm. We are shocked at their willingness to forgive (or ignore)! But on our side of the ledger, we seem to be able to withhold forgiveness and grace to someone who does confess his mistakes and is trying to amend them by doing the right thing. Who shows lesser character? The one who forgives without seeing repentance, or the one who fails to forgive when they do express repentance and regret? Perhaps they are both weighed in the scales of decency and found wanting. We, as Democrats, can do better, I think. If Platner, who seems to connect with Maine residents, is beaten by Collins, because he failed to be supported financially ... shame on us! I encourage anyone who is concerned about Platner to listen to his stump speeches. He knows how to connect. He's a very unpolished version of a James Talerico - but he resonates with people who are hungry for some authenticity. Thanks for listening.
We are all going to go on this Platner journey together but as a lifer political guy a pro tip - if you are trying to get folks to go along with something important to you it’s wise not to start the pitch by insulting your audience.
thank you, Simon.
Your assumption that I don't donate much myself - because I'm a "visitor" - is insulting on two scores: I don't think my collective donations are "not ... much" - nor am I a visitor. I agree with Simon that I probably should have used a carrot instead of a stick in noting my concerns. But I thought this was a place for honest conversation. It seems to me that the Hopium community - of which I've been a part for some time - and contribute to in a variety of ways what I can afford - being on a retiree's fixed income - has a welcoming and inclusive attitude. I admit I am annoyed - perhaps overly so - about an attitude which condemns GOP "Christians" for being hypocrites in whitewashing Trump's behavior and lack of remorse, but also holding a high standard about someone's past failures while ignoring their willingness to admit failures and act rightly. It's not easy overlooking the past but if we expect better behavior in the future ought we not to at least believe that the "good" women and men we want to support are capable of change. I am, going to attempt to be good, and change to the point of never raising this troubling issue again.
The grace we all must have here is with one another, recognizing that there are very strong feelings in this community for and against Platner and we must at all times keep the discussion here respectful.
As I've written here:
https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/pulte-falls-talarico-launches-spanish
and elsewhere I think the pro-Platner folks have a lot of work to do to bring skeptical folks along here and throughout the family; and my advice is to be honest about that, and work hard and humbly to bring them along rather than chastising or making threats. People have limited money and lots of options so getting folks to prioritize him is going to require work as he is just one of the several dozen Senate and House candidates we need to flip the House and Senate this November. Asserting that people here have no "grace" for not yet supporting him is on the edge of being offensive, and when it comes to tough conversations like this in the family we must strive to raise our game and lift people up - not tear them down.
The reservations many people have about Platner are not about morality - which I think is a bit of a red herring - but about whether he can survive the attacks to come and is still viable candidate and good investment given all the other choices people. I've worked hard to create a safe space to have this conversation internally here and expect everyone to do the same.
SW, I actually would suggest taking your comment down, because you’re making assumptions, which in this case appear to be unfounded. Just my two cents.
good thought
i will contribute to Platner as taking back the Senate is vastly more important than his history BUT remember any Dem in office who screws up will be gone asap. We
proved that with Swerllwell,A Winer(NY) ,etc.
SW I understand your frustration. At least I think I do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We all want the same thing or mostly do. Everyone has a choice to donate to whomever they wish to donate, write postcards, make calls, etc. I can't donate now bc my husband got laid off. So, I am waiting until after the primaries to donate what I can. I try to refrain from making broad generalizations. I have no idea who is donating and who is not donating. Let's just hope Collins loses. ❤️
Simon gives us a range of candidates whom he recommends for donations and we choose. We all have limited resources.
Worth a listen: Ezra Klein & Chris Hayes talking about the shift happening between money and attention, how charisma, authenticity, and raw political talent is beginning to overtake the ability to successfully sit on the phone six hours a day raising money, which, in turn, is being driven by the concomitant rise in power of digital media and the decline in the efficacy of TV ads.
https://bit.ly/klein_hayes
Increasingly that power is going to shift from merely distributing your TV ads online to something that really should be called "community media" instead. The first steps in that direction are already being taken as candidates like Platner, Talarico, and Ossoff have been as successful as they've been not because of "messaging" or killer 30-60 second spots, but because of longer clips, even whole speeches, particularly in the case of younger voters, as this prescient piece by Charlie Warzel after 2024 argued (gift link)
https://bit.ly/media_authenticity
I think we're probably ultimately going to conclude that the whole idea that people's attention spans are only long enough for taglines and sound bites was a myth created by limits of the medium (i e TV) both in terms of the length of slots available and the cost to acquire them. As people spent more and more time in theyr vurtual homes rather than their physical ones, the consultant class continued to argue TV was still way more important because older people are the ones who vote and they're not online, which hasn't been true for quite some time--there are 80 year olds now who spend as much or more time online than most of "the kids."
The apotheosis will come when, as Simon has been saying for years, we finally start treating our supporters as partners instead of ATM machines, as creators of content, not just distributors, for candidates who fully *represent* them, as the Founders intended (and to do so, actually take seriously what they have to say, and the number of constituents who say it, not the number of dollars they have), who really means it when they say "this is not about me, it's about us." The notion that a candidate's of bad character because they change positions based on what voters want will seem crazy.
It's a transition that ought to be easier for the party that has relied more on the grassroots than money for most of its history than the one whose main support since the beginning of the Gilded Age has come from people used to giving orders and having them obeyed. I suspect, given the retail nature of a small state like Maine, and what the candidate seems most passionate about, that the Platner campaign, in particular, is on the leading edge of that transition. One of the beauties of community media is that its geographic limits are loose. If you're not happy with the financial support Platner is getting, that could already be another way to help.
Thanks for highlighting the conversation between Ezra Klein and Chris Hayes. I watched it yesterday with interest but didn't think to share it.
Thanks for posting that info ... I'll check it out. These longer profiles - and the kinds of interviews Simon does - really help bring alive the character and experiences of the candidates which helps you see their motivations as driven by service and working for the common good. Getting those out there for people to see and reflect upon has to be more helpful in the long run than simply running 30-60 second ads.
I respect how passionate you are about Platner. I do take issue with the following two comments from you :
"What I want to express is my disappointment that we Democrats - and Hopium fans - often show an amazing lack of grace."
"If Platner, who seems to connect with Maine residents, is beaten by Collins, because he failed to be supported financially ... shame on us!"
To say anyone here is showing an amazing lack of grace is not helpful and rather sanctimonious. A lot of the Hopium community work very hard, each in their own way, to help elect Democrats. If one chooses to not support or be happy about a candidate, that is not a lack of grace.
We are not like the Republicans who get behind whomever their candidate turns out to be. Case in point - Trump.
Everyone is free to donate or not donate to Platner. I would, respectfully, suggest it is more helpful to your cause to post about what Platner wants to do in the Senate rather than beat up on people who are not happy with him.
MrsCQ
Thanks for your response. I appreciate what you said and acknowledge that my comments were unhelpful. I am sure that some of the feeling of frustration I let override my respect and appreciation I have for this community isn't really about this community at all but those Democrats/Progressives/whomever they may be falling into the kind of anti-Al Franken posture that puts purity above all else. That's not to imply that I'm an advocate for lowering the standards by which we weigh candidates or judge politicians - but I fear we often cut off our nose to spite our face. Asking tough questions of Platner and expecting good behavior is very appropriate and essential. If he was unrepentant or continued acting in inappropriate ways - then good riddance. Many of us feel burned by supporting someone who goes on to disappoint us - I'm sure I'm not the only one. I was a contributor and strong supporter of Fetterman, for example - that has been a huge disappointment to me. There may be some underlying issues there that have caused his lurch to the right - but there is a corrective for those who aren't happy. Primary him and vote him out. If someone chooses to primary him in 2028 - they will get donations from me. Platner and everyone else should be held to the same standard: do they do what they claim they will do. I would hope so - I don't want to be disappointed again (although I'm sure I will be - people are flawed - I just have to look in the mirror to realize that's true). It is not easy when someone you admire and appreciate turns out to be someone different than you believed them to be. . . Eric Swalwell was my congressman for many years. I was delighted that he was running for the nomination for Governor - I sent him money - I talked him up with family and friends on social media - what a sad, but appropriate end, to what could have been a stellar career. Becerra is a great choice and he'll be outstanding - so my disappointment has waned a lot. So I'll take Thumper's Mom's advice - and Simon and yours - "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all."
It's tough for everyone. So much is on the line and we feel deeply about our democracy. For me, Al Franken situation was different. Suffice it to say, we lost a powerhouse in the Senate and I don't think Kirsten Gillibrand has ever really fully recovered from it.
I truly hope Susan Collins loses and I hope Platner is who he says he is now. I just can't cheerlead him on right now. But I respect those who can. Platner needs those who believe in him to help him convince those in Maine who are on the fence to vote for him.
Fetterman? oof - wish he was up for re-election or would resign but that's not happening.
Swalwell? Oh gosh. Everyone I know was going to vote for him. What a huge disappointment and I hope if the allegations against him are true, he goes to prison.
On a positive note, I have been watching the interviews Simon has been having with the candidates. Wow, what an inspiring group.
Thank you,
thank you
all glory be. I can't stop singing John Denver, and it's been a long time since I did that.
Between the American team's victories, the Tartan army, and the plucky Canadian team, it's been a nice diversion from all the stupid things the trump admin does on a daily basis. A little respite to refuel our tanks, and then we keep on pushing back against the harm he tries to inflict on our country.
refreshing to read a take on soccer here that is not, incredibly 34 years after the last time we hosted, the usual "soccer will never catch on here" ...yeah, second highest attendance after the english league, a plethora of big stars, mls players appearing all over various wc teams, and more popular than baseball....i think soccer has caught on. now, if only alexi lalas would shut up....and praise to landon donovan, he may say stupid stuff, but the public way he has spoken about losing his hair starting in his teens has literally inspired millions. and he has gotten better at calling games. i'll never forgive klinsmann for cutting him in 2014 for what were obvious personal reasons. if landon was on the field, he buries that late shot against belgium and we move on to the quarters. the guy who missed that sitter, wondolowski, has said he was villified for years over it. thanks for giving the cup a shout out simon, and thanks for the thoughtful articles. i have been a fan since i watched fellow rutgers alum alexi lalas and team beat colombia in 94, against all odds. that colombian team was stacked, and also gifted us an own goal, for which andres escobar literally paid with his life, tragically. as for lalas, voted for trump multiple times and is happy with the direction he is taking the country. his words. maybe fox pays him to say stupid stuff.....got a game here in nj today, ecuador vs curacao....stores are filled with people wearing ecuador jerseys. they should win. also, that paraguay win was epic last night, happy for them. turkey was supposed to dominate the group, and they are going home. we are excited to be hosting the final here in nj. and yes, it is nj. not ny/nj.
I see it differently. This is REAL Football catching on!
i think it caught on a long time ago. the stats speak for themselves. can't go anywhere without people talking about it. in 1994, it was like, what is the mundial? do we have a team? and tickets were 25 bucks....but most inspiring is the love coming from tourists who find americans are not what they have been led to believe; they are finding us friendly, the cities fascinating, and the food extraordinary. and those portions....that part about the kansas university playing their national anthem for algeria...in a red state in the heartland where everyone is supposed to mistrust foreigners, especially those from arab countries.....perhaps this is why the gop keeps wanting to defund higher ed and keeps telling people they don't need college degrees...i think we need more people with degrees, not fewer....
Thank you for your comment. A lot of great food for thought!
Thank you Beth, I haven’t seen the Documentary. Quite afew years ago I had a friend who was a Soccer Coach. Not any Major Teams, but he drove me crazy with Soccer!