Though the sky may indeed go dark with a Trump victory, we must remember the sun comes up everyday. And with it comes the promise of a new day. Stay strong everyone.
Thank you to everyone at The Bulwark. You do make difference.
The Bulwark has saved me from night terrors and daytime depression. I’m an old lady, voted since the dark age of Nixon. Raised Republican, gave up on R candidates but called myself Independent. Until I heard Charlie Sykes’s epiphany and dire warnings about DJT. 2013, if memory serves. Deeply disturbed by Wisconsin’s gerrymandered Minority Rule with Scott Walker, Trump-lite. When the Bulwark arrived, I grabbed it like a line to a drowning woman. You guys really ARE the best, at everything you do. (BTW, when TFG got the nomination in 2016, I joined the Democratic Party.) Today it feels like you all are family - my chosen family, a family by love, as Kamala Harris says. I love learning the names of all behind the scenes! I am a spiritual person, not religious, but tonight I’m praying like MAD, painting portraits of dogs and shutting down every media other than The Bulwark. We won’t lose, we will win, we will win bigly. We will have a future that I can leave to the next generations with pride, especially to girls around the world.
But, just in case, I’m armed with weapons to fight as the Enemy Within, with long handled paint brushes, hiking poles, maps, compass, (‘cause those fools can’t decipher them), notebooks, pens, a checkbook (another mystery object) and a PhD in Irony.
PS: about Scott Walker - sadly. I knew his father, Llewelyn, pastor of a large nearby church. We organized a teen self counseling group at my son’s high school together. I am sad to see how corrupt and incompetent his son turned out to be. Lew was a wonderful man.
Using Wrestling as an analogy was a great way to explain the last ten years. Thank you JVL and the team of The Bulwark for giving us a non-BS take on today's political scene.
I only discovered The Bulwark and Pod Save America, Democracy Docket this election season. I have been so impressed by the experience, intelligence, expertise, eloquence, charm and civility, interviewing and on and on. I am a nervous wreck as I type now, but you all have got me through this. I went to WI to canvas and I have made phonecalls for the Environmental Voter Project, made donations, and managed to keep my inbox and messages undercontrol, just barely. I will rely on everyone as returns dribble in and I will be OK, with you all in my tribe. Thank you.
I have learned so much from listening to and reading the Bulwark over the past year or two… It’s like getting a PhD with analysis of history that’s only hours old….the brilliance of Sarah, JVL, and Tim is continually astounding. Thanks for everything you do.
The Bulwark has helped keep me sane these past few years. I always feel like I’m getting an honest take from folks not interested in spinning a particular narrative. The MSM seems too reluctant to tell it like it is (I guess) for fear of blowback from the few non-MAGA folks watching them. So they too often try to “both sides” it even when there is really only one legitimate side.
Plus, I really admire the Bulwark folks for putting their money where their mouth is and being willing to take an unpopular stand in the Trumpified GOP. As we have seen in recent years, that kind of behavior isn’t “normal”.
JVL, since I discovered the Bulwark in 2000, I feel completely indebted to you, Sarah, Tim, Bill, Charlie, and THE ENTIRE CREW (including the wonderful names that I'm seeing for the first time or just hearing in the thank yous at the end of a podcast). I love the recent additions of Will, AB, and Sam. You are all fantastic, and I look forward to seeing what challenges and issues you focus upon after we defeat the orange menace this week.
With sincere appreciation for this entire publication, onwards...
My coping mechanism today - an hour run this morning and three-mile late afternoon walk (latter was accompanied by the outstanding Miller-Frum podcast today). My coping mechanism tonight – a good bottle of red wine. Have to confess - have always detested professional wrestling (even more during the Trump era!!). I further confess to being an eternal optimist, so I am pulling hard for outcome 3 - "Harris wins a clean victory." Even if we end up there - between outcome 3 and outcome 4, the work continues. That work has to include reform of the Electoral College which makes no sense in the modern age (David Frum was very convincing on the podcast today!). Fingers crossed!
I wake up to Sonny Bunch giving me light drink recipes, so as to stretch out my drunk over the course of the evening (and who knows, maybe the rest of the week).
Next up JVL, intentionally or not, presents what reads as a eulogy after a mass tragedy and says "it was an honor to know y'all". Past tense?
It should all be unsettling but what's worrying me most is how inappropriately sanguine i am feeling. I feel like everything will be OK, regardless if it's OK or not.
On the off chance that life proceeds as normal, i'd love to read a newsletter about what all those behind-the-scenes folk actually do. Or even if life doesn't proceed as normal, i'm always fascinated by the normal people who do extraordinary things to keep things working as normal.
2. JVL turns his considerable skills to writing about things other than DT. (or professional wrestling. JVL, I lost interest at about age 10, when my dad convinced me it was fake.)
3. Bulwark finds new things to write about, like moderate political ideas that satisfy the needs of the less fortunate, adequately defend the nation and raise Federal revenues so we don’t lose our ability to sell Bonds, with a plan to reduce the deficit over time. IMO, this is as existential a problem as global warming.
4. Creat a forum for discussing these issues beyond the occasional comment. There are a lot of smart folks out here that might help make Bulwark more than a huge blog post. If KH takes the helm in January, your goals will change. A lot. Use your position wisely. Don’t allow “survival of the firm” to become your reason for existing. And don’t think that doesn’t happen all the time. Just look at the Republican Party.
I am here with you, JV, and Tim, and Sarah, and Bill, and Will and everyone because I was following the guidance of a very wise man, Mr Rogers, who advised that when things are scary
Though the sky may indeed go dark with a Trump victory, we must remember the sun comes up everyday. And with it comes the promise of a new day. Stay strong everyone.
Thank you to everyone at The Bulwark. You do make difference.
The Bulwark has saved me from night terrors and daytime depression. I’m an old lady, voted since the dark age of Nixon. Raised Republican, gave up on R candidates but called myself Independent. Until I heard Charlie Sykes’s epiphany and dire warnings about DJT. 2013, if memory serves. Deeply disturbed by Wisconsin’s gerrymandered Minority Rule with Scott Walker, Trump-lite. When the Bulwark arrived, I grabbed it like a line to a drowning woman. You guys really ARE the best, at everything you do. (BTW, when TFG got the nomination in 2016, I joined the Democratic Party.) Today it feels like you all are family - my chosen family, a family by love, as Kamala Harris says. I love learning the names of all behind the scenes! I am a spiritual person, not religious, but tonight I’m praying like MAD, painting portraits of dogs and shutting down every media other than The Bulwark. We won’t lose, we will win, we will win bigly. We will have a future that I can leave to the next generations with pride, especially to girls around the world.
But, just in case, I’m armed with weapons to fight as the Enemy Within, with long handled paint brushes, hiking poles, maps, compass, (‘cause those fools can’t decipher them), notebooks, pens, a checkbook (another mystery object) and a PhD in Irony.
PS: about Scott Walker - sadly. I knew his father, Llewelyn, pastor of a large nearby church. We organized a teen self counseling group at my son’s high school together. I am sad to see how corrupt and incompetent his son turned out to be. Lew was a wonderful man.
Using Wrestling as an analogy was a great way to explain the last ten years. Thank you JVL and the team of The Bulwark for giving us a non-BS take on today's political scene.
I only discovered The Bulwark and Pod Save America, Democracy Docket this election season. I have been so impressed by the experience, intelligence, expertise, eloquence, charm and civility, interviewing and on and on. I am a nervous wreck as I type now, but you all have got me through this. I went to WI to canvas and I have made phonecalls for the Environmental Voter Project, made donations, and managed to keep my inbox and messages undercontrol, just barely. I will rely on everyone as returns dribble in and I will be OK, with you all in my tribe. Thank you.
I have learned so much from listening to and reading the Bulwark over the past year or two… It’s like getting a PhD with analysis of history that’s only hours old….the brilliance of Sarah, JVL, and Tim is continually astounding. Thanks for everything you do.
Deeply grateful for every hour you and your colleagues put in!
The Bulwark has helped keep me sane these past few years. I always feel like I’m getting an honest take from folks not interested in spinning a particular narrative. The MSM seems too reluctant to tell it like it is (I guess) for fear of blowback from the few non-MAGA folks watching them. So they too often try to “both sides” it even when there is really only one legitimate side.
Plus, I really admire the Bulwark folks for putting their money where their mouth is and being willing to take an unpopular stand in the Trumpified GOP. As we have seen in recent years, that kind of behavior isn’t “normal”.
Keep up the good work.
JVL, since I discovered the Bulwark in 2000, I feel completely indebted to you, Sarah, Tim, Bill, Charlie, and THE ENTIRE CREW (including the wonderful names that I'm seeing for the first time or just hearing in the thank yous at the end of a podcast). I love the recent additions of Will, AB, and Sam. You are all fantastic, and I look forward to seeing what challenges and issues you focus upon after we defeat the orange menace this week.
With sincere appreciation for this entire publication, onwards...
My coping mechanism today - an hour run this morning and three-mile late afternoon walk (latter was accompanied by the outstanding Miller-Frum podcast today). My coping mechanism tonight – a good bottle of red wine. Have to confess - have always detested professional wrestling (even more during the Trump era!!). I further confess to being an eternal optimist, so I am pulling hard for outcome 3 - "Harris wins a clean victory." Even if we end up there - between outcome 3 and outcome 4, the work continues. That work has to include reform of the Electoral College which makes no sense in the modern age (David Frum was very convincing on the podcast today!). Fingers crossed!
I wake up to Sonny Bunch giving me light drink recipes, so as to stretch out my drunk over the course of the evening (and who knows, maybe the rest of the week).
Next up JVL, intentionally or not, presents what reads as a eulogy after a mass tragedy and says "it was an honor to know y'all". Past tense?
It should all be unsettling but what's worrying me most is how inappropriately sanguine i am feeling. I feel like everything will be OK, regardless if it's OK or not.
On the off chance that life proceeds as normal, i'd love to read a newsletter about what all those behind-the-scenes folk actually do. Or even if life doesn't proceed as normal, i'm always fascinated by the normal people who do extraordinary things to keep things working as normal.
A perfect day in the neighborhood:
1. Trump loses.
2. JVL turns his considerable skills to writing about things other than DT. (or professional wrestling. JVL, I lost interest at about age 10, when my dad convinced me it was fake.)
3. Bulwark finds new things to write about, like moderate political ideas that satisfy the needs of the less fortunate, adequately defend the nation and raise Federal revenues so we don’t lose our ability to sell Bonds, with a plan to reduce the deficit over time. IMO, this is as existential a problem as global warming.
4. Creat a forum for discussing these issues beyond the occasional comment. There are a lot of smart folks out here that might help make Bulwark more than a huge blog post. If KH takes the helm in January, your goals will change. A lot. Use your position wisely. Don’t allow “survival of the firm” to become your reason for existing. And don’t think that doesn’t happen all the time. Just look at the Republican Party.
Grateful for all the Bulwark. And to the staff we don’t see- thank you!!!
Love you buddy, thanks for getting us through another one.
So Say We All.
Whatever happens tonight, my sincerest thanks to everyone at the Bulwark for all your work and all in the Bulwark community for your support.
I am here with you, JV, and Tim, and Sarah, and Bill, and Will and everyone because I was following the guidance of a very wise man, Mr Rogers, who advised that when things are scary
“Look for the helpers.”
Thank you for being my and everyone’s helpers.