“The vast majority of Democrats”. Really. Those of us not in a coma know that it’s the two Trojan horses who are trying to tank the agenda. And it appears that they will
As I have said before, sensationalism sells. We are fed whatever will pull in the dollars. We are getting to be a power driven society, and therein lies the danger. The two party system is not that anymore - debate is not welcomed, derisiveness is embraced by the media and a scary portion of the people. The people don't seem to be in control of the votes anymore. Why do we believer so much fiction and so little fact? I'll never give in to this kind of thinking. I was both blessed and cursed by the ability to see both sides of issues, more than one point of view, and a sense of fairness and truth. Stand strong, America. Take back your country. And vote.
I feel that democrats need to be much bolder with their message (which is what the majority of Americans want), dealing with the media and calling out republicans more directly and specifically on their pro corporate, anti voting and anti social security/medicare/living wage etc. sentiments.
We need "ambassadors" in every state (isimilar to Stacy Abrams' successful program) to connect with organizations and educate, connect and work on issues with people on a local level AND influence the press. This will take time but we need to do something I think?
Thank you, Mr. Rather, for another insightful and steady message. Your writing often helps restore a sense of calm to my spirit.
You make an excellent point with this statement: "The Republicans have powerful megaphones on television and social media amplifying the disinformation and outright lies by which they rally their base."
Why is it that there do not seem to be additional "powerful megaphones" sending out a daily dose of the "Big Truth"? Thankfully we have you! I also follow Prof. Heather Cox Richardson's posts which always place events in a clarifying historical context. But I do not find similar voices easily in the media; I search for them. The Republicans are perpetuating the former President's daily inundation of tantrums and fake rage rants, and those are powerful messages to their base.
What I fear right now is a shroud of complacency hovering too close around our country. The threat of January 6, the fact that none of the key instigators has yet faced charges, the barrage of outrageous statements from elected officials who are clearly not trying to serve or protect the Constitution, these are things we as a nation are "acclimating" to (for want of a better word.)
I do believe that the pen is mightier than the sword and that words can change the world. How can the voice of reason be amplified?
I live and vote in Arizona and have let Senator Sinema know that I am fearful that if the Democrats don't stick together and pass President Biden's agenda we will lose all chances to get anything done for a long time. My husband and I are actually talking of the possible need to move to a bluer state after the midterms.
You are correct Dan when you speak of the republicans media megaphones.
The Democrats need such a megaphone as well. Unfortunately for many Americans the local amd national media outlets are not giving us a balanced reporting of almost any local or national goings on. It’s almost ALL sensational! Tiring and frustrating!! Utterly unacceptable!
Yes I agree, The Democratic party is unified. Virginia's Joe Manchin and Arizona's Krysten Sinema have their parts to play in Building back America. So what is so wrong with the Republican party other than observing the direction of the country. I still believe that we should eliminate all political parties in this country except one, The Democratic party. There would never be any opposition to their parties platform. The Democrats would always get their way, millions of people would support them and we could toss them peanuts for the show, one country under the Democrat.
TCinLA publishes a substack called "That's Another Fine Mess." A day or so ago, he wrote about the track record of Kyrsten Sinema and it isn't pretty. She's about as trustworthy as a cobra and just as dangerous.
Hi Dan - lifelong Democrat here. And also a Maricopa County, AZ voter who has watched in horror as Republicans here conducted a "fraudit" on my votes. Democracy IS in danger - and the media is not helping. Headlines like "Dems in disarray!" "Dem incompetence threatens Biden agenda!" hark back to ancient tropes. This is not a WWE match. Legislating takes time - it is not fodder for Twitter. The ONLY Dems in the way right now are Manchin and Sinema. Dems here know this. I have called Sinema's office every day for the last week. They finally stopped answering - you can't even leave a message at her office in D.C. My truth is the following: I am PROUD to be a Dem. I am FURIOUS at Sinema's betrayal. And I am working with lots of other Dems in AZ to get Biden's agenda passed. It is hard to work with a Senator who literally posts a picture of herself with a huge ring that says "F*ck off." So no - the Dems aren't divided. Media stories to that effect are wrong.
I'm in the same "hot" boat as you, Alison. Lots of emails and calls to you know who. Even voted for the AZ Dem Party resolution to try to get her attention. However, one thing that has me encouraged is the statement I heard from one of the House Dems is that they are working as I write this to put a dollar amount for each line item on the Build Back Better bill and see what $ amount are they really talking about. Who knows what that might be and they can go from there. At a minimum, they can ask their voters, do you want to lose $XXX for childcare or $XXX for enlarging Medicare (by the way, this could wait until next year IMHO)? For once we would be talking about line items and everyone would know what they are proposing. It all started at $6T, then $3.5T so who knows where it will end up. AND if our obfuscating Senator wants to continue to balk, then we will have no option but to vote her out.
Good to know, Frank! And yes, she keeps insisting "it's too much" without specifying what she'd cut. That's obstruction - not legislating. So maybe the dollar amounts you mention will help...
I sent money to ACT BLUE to support the primary PAC working to oust Sinema and I keep reposting that link on my FB page and on Twitter. I live in Texas - where we are working equally as hard to rid ourselves of the twin devils Abbott and Paxton, but I can help my fellow Dems in AZ as well. Good luck. We both have awful people living off our dime in DC and in our state legislatures and offices of government.
I SO agree with all of the comments concerning the Media, as usual, running the show with drama that doesn't exist! I just heard one positive thing happening in Texas--Matthew Dowd is running for Texas Lt. Governor! He decided this after the January 6th insurrection. He will work to get rid of Abbotts's ridiculous election and abortions laws and he realizes how important (unlike Ted Cruz in Cancun) it is to work on the horrendous electrical grid crisis! So, there IS hope if we all keep working together, despite the hell we have gone through the last 5+ years! NOW IS THE TIME FOR REAL CHANGE, as we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to invest in the future for THE PEOPLE!
Thank you, Ellen!! I too have contributed to the PAC that will primary her. And I so feel for the folks in Texas - yikes!! You have a sister here in AZ! :-)
The key phrase - Democrats have won the popular vote in every election except one. Mainstream media is sensationalizing the Democratic/democratic process to get viewership. Republicans are very boring since none of them seem to have an original idea and are willing to sit quietly until they're given marching orders. Except for the young ones who don't seem to have read anything factual in their lives (Green, Cawthorne, etc).
Let’s not forget that McConnell does need his bridge from Kentucky to Ohio. Mansion needs even more! Probably will work out at 2.2 trillion, give or take. In line with the Great Society legislation and the New Deal.
“The vast majority of Democrats”. Really. Those of us not in a coma know that it’s the two Trojan horses who are trying to tank the agenda. And it appears that they will
No comments received since this one. Am I still on the paid list? Rosalie Thompson
"It’s just not clear if that will be enough. But it might be." HOPE
As I have said before, sensationalism sells. We are fed whatever will pull in the dollars. We are getting to be a power driven society, and therein lies the danger. The two party system is not that anymore - debate is not welcomed, derisiveness is embraced by the media and a scary portion of the people. The people don't seem to be in control of the votes anymore. Why do we believer so much fiction and so little fact? I'll never give in to this kind of thinking. I was both blessed and cursed by the ability to see both sides of issues, more than one point of view, and a sense of fairness and truth. Stand strong, America. Take back your country. And vote.
I feel that democrats need to be much bolder with their message (which is what the majority of Americans want), dealing with the media and calling out republicans more directly and specifically on their pro corporate, anti voting and anti social security/medicare/living wage etc. sentiments.
We need "ambassadors" in every state (isimilar to Stacy Abrams' successful program) to connect with organizations and educate, connect and work on issues with people on a local level AND influence the press. This will take time but we need to do something I think?
Thank you, Mr. Rather, for another insightful and steady message. Your writing often helps restore a sense of calm to my spirit.
You make an excellent point with this statement: "The Republicans have powerful megaphones on television and social media amplifying the disinformation and outright lies by which they rally their base."
Why is it that there do not seem to be additional "powerful megaphones" sending out a daily dose of the "Big Truth"? Thankfully we have you! I also follow Prof. Heather Cox Richardson's posts which always place events in a clarifying historical context. But I do not find similar voices easily in the media; I search for them. The Republicans are perpetuating the former President's daily inundation of tantrums and fake rage rants, and those are powerful messages to their base.
What I fear right now is a shroud of complacency hovering too close around our country. The threat of January 6, the fact that none of the key instigators has yet faced charges, the barrage of outrageous statements from elected officials who are clearly not trying to serve or protect the Constitution, these are things we as a nation are "acclimating" to (for want of a better word.)
I do believe that the pen is mightier than the sword and that words can change the world. How can the voice of reason be amplified?
I live and vote in Arizona and have let Senator Sinema know that I am fearful that if the Democrats don't stick together and pass President Biden's agenda we will lose all chances to get anything done for a long time. My husband and I are actually talking of the possible need to move to a bluer state after the midterms.
Much of the public does not know whether the social infrastructure bill will pay for itself or not.
And Sinema is opposed to messing with the Trump tax cuts
We’ll see how that shakes out.
Thank you, Dan Rather, for a ray of hope. I think often of Will Rogers' comment: I don't belong to any organized political party - I'm a Democrat.
You are correct Dan when you speak of the republicans media megaphones.
The Democrats need such a megaphone as well. Unfortunately for many Americans the local amd national media outlets are not giving us a balanced reporting of almost any local or national goings on. It’s almost ALL sensational! Tiring and frustrating!! Utterly unacceptable!
Yes I agree, The Democratic party is unified. Virginia's Joe Manchin and Arizona's Krysten Sinema have their parts to play in Building back America. So what is so wrong with the Republican party other than observing the direction of the country. I still believe that we should eliminate all political parties in this country except one, The Democratic party. There would never be any opposition to their parties platform. The Democrats would always get their way, millions of people would support them and we could toss them peanuts for the show, one country under the Democrat.
TCinLA publishes a substack called "That's Another Fine Mess." A day or so ago, he wrote about the track record of Kyrsten Sinema and it isn't pretty. She's about as trustworthy as a cobra and just as dangerous.
Hi Dan - lifelong Democrat here. And also a Maricopa County, AZ voter who has watched in horror as Republicans here conducted a "fraudit" on my votes. Democracy IS in danger - and the media is not helping. Headlines like "Dems in disarray!" "Dem incompetence threatens Biden agenda!" hark back to ancient tropes. This is not a WWE match. Legislating takes time - it is not fodder for Twitter. The ONLY Dems in the way right now are Manchin and Sinema. Dems here know this. I have called Sinema's office every day for the last week. They finally stopped answering - you can't even leave a message at her office in D.C. My truth is the following: I am PROUD to be a Dem. I am FURIOUS at Sinema's betrayal. And I am working with lots of other Dems in AZ to get Biden's agenda passed. It is hard to work with a Senator who literally posts a picture of herself with a huge ring that says "F*ck off." So no - the Dems aren't divided. Media stories to that effect are wrong.
I'm in the same "hot" boat as you, Alison. Lots of emails and calls to you know who. Even voted for the AZ Dem Party resolution to try to get her attention. However, one thing that has me encouraged is the statement I heard from one of the House Dems is that they are working as I write this to put a dollar amount for each line item on the Build Back Better bill and see what $ amount are they really talking about. Who knows what that might be and they can go from there. At a minimum, they can ask their voters, do you want to lose $XXX for childcare or $XXX for enlarging Medicare (by the way, this could wait until next year IMHO)? For once we would be talking about line items and everyone would know what they are proposing. It all started at $6T, then $3.5T so who knows where it will end up. AND if our obfuscating Senator wants to continue to balk, then we will have no option but to vote her out.
Good to know, Frank! And yes, she keeps insisting "it's too much" without specifying what she'd cut. That's obstruction - not legislating. So maybe the dollar amounts you mention will help...
I sent money to ACT BLUE to support the primary PAC working to oust Sinema and I keep reposting that link on my FB page and on Twitter. I live in Texas - where we are working equally as hard to rid ourselves of the twin devils Abbott and Paxton, but I can help my fellow Dems in AZ as well. Good luck. We both have awful people living off our dime in DC and in our state legislatures and offices of government.
I SO agree with all of the comments concerning the Media, as usual, running the show with drama that doesn't exist! I just heard one positive thing happening in Texas--Matthew Dowd is running for Texas Lt. Governor! He decided this after the January 6th insurrection. He will work to get rid of Abbotts's ridiculous election and abortions laws and he realizes how important (unlike Ted Cruz in Cancun) it is to work on the horrendous electrical grid crisis! So, there IS hope if we all keep working together, despite the hell we have gone through the last 5+ years! NOW IS THE TIME FOR REAL CHANGE, as we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to invest in the future for THE PEOPLE!
Thank you, Ellen!! I too have contributed to the PAC that will primary her. And I so feel for the folks in Texas - yikes!! You have a sister here in AZ! :-)
The key phrase - Democrats have won the popular vote in every election except one. Mainstream media is sensationalizing the Democratic/democratic process to get viewership. Republicans are very boring since none of them seem to have an original idea and are willing to sit quietly until they're given marching orders. Except for the young ones who don't seem to have read anything factual in their lives (Green, Cawthorne, etc).
Let’s not forget that McConnell does need his bridge from Kentucky to Ohio. Mansion needs even more! Probably will work out at 2.2 trillion, give or take. In line with the Great Society legislation and the New Deal.
Agree, as always , with all you said .
Oh, I profoundly hope you are right.