I don't know about anyone else, but I went to read the latest news letter, (all the rest are podcasts) and it said I had to upgrade to Founders Subscriptions. I think I signed up for for year subscription of the Bulwark in the first month if production. There were quite a few newsletters which I enjoyed reading. Now there was one newsletter and the rest podcasts and I couldn't access the newsletter. I find that annoying. Am I alone?
How do I pick ? as I'm not a great fan of ELVIS---that leaves BRUCE---THE WINNER IN MY BOOK ! yes I did listen to ELVIS part of the time but I sure listened to OTHER PEOPLE because I thought they were much better. P.S. I'm 80yrs old & young at Heart-----SO THERE !
Apologies for being very late to the conversation. I have been wondering if saying the crisis is coming in 2024 is the wrong way of looking at the situation. A person who attempted to overturn the results of an election has 40% support for being president. The support behind him interferes with the ability to use legal process to address his criminal activity and his saying that he wants to be a dictator does not interfere with his level of support. *This* is the crisis. Trump can die tomorrow and we would still have a problem but if Trump lived 20 more years but his support dried up tomorrow, our problems are solved.
Robert Hubbell's counterfactual list of all the things that could have gone wrong for Biden and the Democrats provides solid ground for optimism re 2024. Add to this a Republican opposition that has embraced the worst aspects of MAGA and Donald Trump, as opposed to a unified Democratic Party that has effectively sidelined the relatively few voices of lefty extremism, and one is fully justified in believing that next year will see serious losses for the GOP. They are in the process of learning the wisdom of Rick Wilson's immortal "Everything Trump Touches Dies." It may be happening more slowly than we would hope, but happening it surely is.
I was willing to overlook the exclusion of Annie Lennox Winter wonderland from the contest but how the fuck does Ray Charles' That Spirit of Christmas not take this down? Was Scott Foster the ref?
I love reading JVL but I will offer a contrarian view:
1) The Democratic Party is not healthy. Sure, it is healthier than the Republican Party, but that is, I think, a very low standard. Part of the problem is that both parties are weak and both are effectively controlled by outside institutions (the media, activist groups and the tyranny of small donors). But because most of the media is on the left, its coverage of the left identitarian movement distorts the Democrats more than similar institutions of the right distort Republicans. As a result, Democratic politicians cannot escape the cultural branding associated with left-wing Progressives. The current polling on Israel-Hamas war among the young people is just depressing.
2) Biden was forced to govern as a moderate; he didn't want to. Or he was too weak to resist the House Progressive Caucus. Filibuster was preserved because Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema said no; not because Biden did. Sure, there are other Senate Democrats that want to keep the filibuster but they are not speaking out. Adding new states is a particularly radical idea; it would not change much in the balance of the Electoral College. Instead, Biden could push for the expansion of the House (say, adding 100 new seats) and in the process, give DC representation in the House. If DC is not a state, it cannot have Senators, but surely it can have Congressional Districts. If the Supreme Court ruled against it, Democrats would then have a good argument for adding DC as a state.
3) Biden's biggest mistake is running for reelection. I don't think JVL appreciates how mad people are at Biden for the inflation. BTW, what caused George HW Bush to lose reelection after having 90% popularity during the Gulf War? The recession officially ended in March 1991! But in June of 1992, unemployment was 7.8% and the benefits only went for 26 weeks; there was no Obamacare etc... Politics are often irrational. On the other hand, ANY other Democrat (except MAYBE Kamala Harris) would have beaten Trump handily. Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Jared Polis, Wes Moore - pick anyone. Even Harris would have had to step up her game if she were to win the nomination.
4) Biden may not have wanted to go after Trump at first, but he ended up doing that anyway. Add to this the Bragg indictment, which should have never been handed down, and you have the "rallying around the flag" effect. Sarah Isgur at the Dispatch suggested that Jack Smith could have brought one charge - Obstruction - on the Documents case, and he could have gone to trial much sooner. I don't know whether this is true, but now, it will be a miracle if we have the trial before the election. I realize the DOJ felt they had no choice; but if they truly wanted to leave him alone, they should have just let States (Georgia in particular) to do it. Given all of the delays his legal team will throw, it was too late to bring Jan 6th indictments in early August of 2023.
Our involvement in the war in Ukraine is very important. We make a clear defense of democracy and reassert our commitment to a free and stable Europe, and have the right to see the same degree of commitment from the major countries if we have some hiccups at home. Warfare is changing as we speak. We will need defense companies with the skill and commitment to quality that Apple has with consumer products, because future success will depend on the right tools for our military. Sadly, war in some form seems always to be with us.
Thanks for the hopeful message, and the reminder of the state of affairs that we were in 4 years ago. If only the Democrats would make these points part of their message.
I must admit, you point "We are not involved in any wars" made me take pause. "Why is that a deal?" I thought. That's how far removed we now are from over 20 years of involvement in our modern version of the Punic Wars. Let's trumpet that victory and make sure it overshadows the clumsy withdrawal from Afghanistan in public discourse.
And the economy is truly heading in the right direction. For heaven's sake, say so! Take credit, we all know the Orange one would. God, sometimes I think the Democrats are as bad as my fellow Minnesotans: way too modest for their own good, never able to take credit, always quick to look at their own failings. Not a bad inclination, mind you, but only if you don't dwell on it such that it overshadows the good in you.
The fight continues, no doubt. But I'm glad you were able to share a moment of light.
Not only would Trump take credit for real success he makes up successes that never took place and then keeps repeating the claim to invent reality. We should absolutely not do that but Dems don’t brag nearly enough.
I don't know about anyone else, but I went to read the latest news letter, (all the rest are podcasts) and it said I had to upgrade to Founders Subscriptions. I think I signed up for for year subscription of the Bulwark in the first month if production. There were quite a few newsletters which I enjoyed reading. Now there was one newsletter and the rest podcasts and I couldn't access the newsletter. I find that annoying. Am I alone?
Trump will be able to pick up where Nixon and Reagan left off...
How do I pick ? as I'm not a great fan of ELVIS---that leaves BRUCE---THE WINNER IN MY BOOK ! yes I did listen to ELVIS part of the time but I sure listened to OTHER PEOPLE because I thought they were much better. P.S. I'm 80yrs old & young at Heart-----SO THERE !
Apologies for being very late to the conversation. I have been wondering if saying the crisis is coming in 2024 is the wrong way of looking at the situation. A person who attempted to overturn the results of an election has 40% support for being president. The support behind him interferes with the ability to use legal process to address his criminal activity and his saying that he wants to be a dictator does not interfere with his level of support. *This* is the crisis. Trump can die tomorrow and we would still have a problem but if Trump lived 20 more years but his support dried up tomorrow, our problems are solved.
Robert Hubbell's counterfactual list of all the things that could have gone wrong for Biden and the Democrats provides solid ground for optimism re 2024. Add to this a Republican opposition that has embraced the worst aspects of MAGA and Donald Trump, as opposed to a unified Democratic Party that has effectively sidelined the relatively few voices of lefty extremism, and one is fully justified in believing that next year will see serious losses for the GOP. They are in the process of learning the wisdom of Rick Wilson's immortal "Everything Trump Touches Dies." It may be happening more slowly than we would hope, but happening it surely is.
Trump et.al. spews garbage politics and threats and little else.
Biden is doing his job which is enabling programs that support the American people and upholding the Constitution.
Ask yourself, what do you prefer?
And specifically the track on the Christmas Vacation sondtrack by Ray Charles.
I was willing to overlook the exclusion of Annie Lennox Winter wonderland from the contest but how the fuck does Ray Charles' That Spirit of Christmas not take this down? Was Scott Foster the ref?
Thanks JVL for finding some positives & helping to keep me sane for the past several years!
The problem...despite all of the positives that JB has fostered, Trump still outpolls him.
Sadly, if it becomes a campaign of personalities, (and despite how toxic he seems to us), Trump may win.
I love reading JVL but I will offer a contrarian view:
1) The Democratic Party is not healthy. Sure, it is healthier than the Republican Party, but that is, I think, a very low standard. Part of the problem is that both parties are weak and both are effectively controlled by outside institutions (the media, activist groups and the tyranny of small donors). But because most of the media is on the left, its coverage of the left identitarian movement distorts the Democrats more than similar institutions of the right distort Republicans. As a result, Democratic politicians cannot escape the cultural branding associated with left-wing Progressives. The current polling on Israel-Hamas war among the young people is just depressing.
2) Biden was forced to govern as a moderate; he didn't want to. Or he was too weak to resist the House Progressive Caucus. Filibuster was preserved because Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema said no; not because Biden did. Sure, there are other Senate Democrats that want to keep the filibuster but they are not speaking out. Adding new states is a particularly radical idea; it would not change much in the balance of the Electoral College. Instead, Biden could push for the expansion of the House (say, adding 100 new seats) and in the process, give DC representation in the House. If DC is not a state, it cannot have Senators, but surely it can have Congressional Districts. If the Supreme Court ruled against it, Democrats would then have a good argument for adding DC as a state.
3) Biden's biggest mistake is running for reelection. I don't think JVL appreciates how mad people are at Biden for the inflation. BTW, what caused George HW Bush to lose reelection after having 90% popularity during the Gulf War? The recession officially ended in March 1991! But in June of 1992, unemployment was 7.8% and the benefits only went for 26 weeks; there was no Obamacare etc... Politics are often irrational. On the other hand, ANY other Democrat (except MAYBE Kamala Harris) would have beaten Trump handily. Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Jared Polis, Wes Moore - pick anyone. Even Harris would have had to step up her game if she were to win the nomination.
4) Biden may not have wanted to go after Trump at first, but he ended up doing that anyway. Add to this the Bragg indictment, which should have never been handed down, and you have the "rallying around the flag" effect. Sarah Isgur at the Dispatch suggested that Jack Smith could have brought one charge - Obstruction - on the Documents case, and he could have gone to trial much sooner. I don't know whether this is true, but now, it will be a miracle if we have the trial before the election. I realize the DOJ felt they had no choice; but if they truly wanted to leave him alone, they should have just let States (Georgia in particular) to do it. Given all of the delays his legal team will throw, it was too late to bring Jan 6th indictments in early August of 2023.
Our involvement in the war in Ukraine is very important. We make a clear defense of democracy and reassert our commitment to a free and stable Europe, and have the right to see the same degree of commitment from the major countries if we have some hiccups at home. Warfare is changing as we speak. We will need defense companies with the skill and commitment to quality that Apple has with consumer products, because future success will depend on the right tools for our military. Sadly, war in some form seems always to be with us.
Thanks for the hopeful message, and the reminder of the state of affairs that we were in 4 years ago. If only the Democrats would make these points part of their message.
I must admit, you point "We are not involved in any wars" made me take pause. "Why is that a deal?" I thought. That's how far removed we now are from over 20 years of involvement in our modern version of the Punic Wars. Let's trumpet that victory and make sure it overshadows the clumsy withdrawal from Afghanistan in public discourse.
And the economy is truly heading in the right direction. For heaven's sake, say so! Take credit, we all know the Orange one would. God, sometimes I think the Democrats are as bad as my fellow Minnesotans: way too modest for their own good, never able to take credit, always quick to look at their own failings. Not a bad inclination, mind you, but only if you don't dwell on it such that it overshadows the good in you.
The fight continues, no doubt. But I'm glad you were able to share a moment of light.
Not only would Trump take credit for real success he makes up successes that never took place and then keeps repeating the claim to invent reality. We should absolutely not do that but Dems don’t brag nearly enough.
Regarding the footnote: same
Merry Christmas everyone!!!
For everyone looking for the perfect album this holiday I suggest Monster Ballads Xmas. It starts with Skid Row and ends with Billy Idol.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYBK5Y3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24SIXDXIFCJTW&keywords=Monster+Ballads+xmas&qid=1703457457&sprefix=monster+ballads+xmas%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1
And for a song that should have been in JVL's list The Monkees singing a 16th century Spanish Carol Riu Riu Chiu. https://youtu.be/riG85oA6Wy4?si=MZ4xrd6k2tJyT-j-
Thank you Jonathan for the best of Christmas gifts - hope. A much happier 2024 for you all.