Now that most people have voted, and the risk is minimal that a few fence-sitters take my comments as an excuse to not vote for Harris, I have been thinking of this irony often lately. Trump voters will feel much more pain under Trump 2.0 than if Harris wins. Much more than they felt under Trump 1.0 when many "guardrails" were in place. Yet they were more miserable than happy even then; they just blamed Democrats and GOP "guardrails." And miserable during Biden's term, even though Trump had more sway over GOP Congress than any former president, and SCOTUS gave them a win on Dobbs and "immunity." Bottom line is that the more Trump voters get their way, the more miserable they become. Like drug addicts. They will need to feel much more pain before a critical mass of them take responsibility and kick the habit, for their own health as well as that of their country.
A lovely newsletter. It matched my emotional state perfectly. I was up this morning, due to Iowa, but now I'm worried again But it's been fun slogging through this season with all of you.
Bill Kristol, not Krystal (damn voice recognition and poor proofreading) has got it right. We must keep working to stay true to our principles and protect our democracy, which is a never-ending task.
The men who have served as president of the United States since Washington's time have exhibited varying degrees of honor, intelligence, character, and ability over time, but the trend since the 1960's has been, with some exceptions, generally negative - before finally fully dropping to zero in 2016, with the election of Donald Trump. It will be both ironic and fitting, therefore, if the last man to serve as president, Joe Biden, succeeds in restoring honor to the male-president tradition he represents by setting the stage for the first woman to become president - assuming Ms Harris beats the grotesque humonculus she's running against, who, if he still somehow succeeds, will represent the final, ineveitable disaster that as always been lurking as long as the male tradition has held sway.
One small pushback: The Democrats are already a responsible governing party. They have been able to get support into Ukraine in a responsible manner, they have passed reasonable legislation, and they generally have kept the government functioning, all while dealing with a party that can't admit that Trump lost the 2020 election, much less is a serial criminal.
If KH pulls it off, it is important to remember that most of the Trump sycophants like Rubio and Sununu want Trump to lose so they can take power back for themselves and their like-minded brethren. If they see the chance to end The Great MAGA Terror, it is hard to imagine them not doing it.
I'm a bit more than half-way through reading Erik Larson’s "The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris" in which the author, wittingly or not, drew unmistakable parallels between the discourse of the lead-up to Lincoln's 1860 election and our current process:
"I was well into my research on the saga of Fort Sumter and the advent of the American Civil War when the events of January 6, 2021, took place. As I watched the Capitol assault unfold on camera, I had the eerie feeling that present and past had merged. It is unsettling that in 1861 two of the greatest moments of national dread centered on the certification of the Electoral College vote and the presidential inauguration."
I suspect that a significant number of Republican-registered voters, women and men, may actually vote for Harris out of disdain for The Oathbreaker. How that will apply to The Oathbreaker's sycophants in down-ballot contests is beyond my perception.
However, if The Oathbreaker is defeated - by any margin - we must expect a violent reaction orchestrated by many of his most vocal and aggressive minions and conducted, not by the majority of Republican voters, but by the truly fascist groups who have allied themselves to him in the hope of destroying our Constitution and government.
Before they start counting the votes, I want to stand up and applaud all of you at the Bulwark for bearing unblinking witness to the perforated gasbag the Republican Party has chosen to be their face of America. Whatever the result tonight, tomorrow or next month, The Bulwark is a remarkable achievement: lively, often funny writing on profoundly important issues, all the more impressive because it is comes off as non-partisan even though many of its writers apprenticed in extremely partisan politics. The Bulwark is exactly what a journal of current affairs should be. Thanks!
Now that most people have voted, and the risk is minimal that a few fence-sitters take my comments as an excuse to not vote for Harris, I have been thinking of this irony often lately. Trump voters will feel much more pain under Trump 2.0 than if Harris wins. Much more than they felt under Trump 1.0 when many "guardrails" were in place. Yet they were more miserable than happy even then; they just blamed Democrats and GOP "guardrails." And miserable during Biden's term, even though Trump had more sway over GOP Congress than any former president, and SCOTUS gave them a win on Dobbs and "immunity." Bottom line is that the more Trump voters get their way, the more miserable they become. Like drug addicts. They will need to feel much more pain before a critical mass of them take responsibility and kick the habit, for their own health as well as that of their country.
Okay...I will bite
What, specifically, do the Dems need to do to become in Kristol's mind..."a truly responsible governing party"?
Specifically, what does that look like and just who the hell are we being compared to?
I did get a break today, first time in months (other than Sundays & holidays). No campaign ads in the mail for me to take straight to the recycle bin!
2024: The year that Trump bet it all, on Leroy Jenkins.
A lovely newsletter. It matched my emotional state perfectly. I was up this morning, due to Iowa, but now I'm worried again But it's been fun slogging through this season with all of you.
Bill Kristol, not Krystal (damn voice recognition and poor proofreading) has got it right. We must keep working to stay true to our principles and protect our democracy, which is a never-ending task.
The men who have served as president of the United States since Washington's time have exhibited varying degrees of honor, intelligence, character, and ability over time, but the trend since the 1960's has been, with some exceptions, generally negative - before finally fully dropping to zero in 2016, with the election of Donald Trump. It will be both ironic and fitting, therefore, if the last man to serve as president, Joe Biden, succeeds in restoring honor to the male-president tradition he represents by setting the stage for the first woman to become president - assuming Ms Harris beats the grotesque humonculus she's running against, who, if he still somehow succeeds, will represent the final, ineveitable disaster that as always been lurking as long as the male tradition has held sway.
The only thing I am paying attention to are the words of the undecided voter.
The Current with Matt Galloway - Nov. 5, 2024: These U.S. voters were undecided. What made up their minds? https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63/clip/16106336
Thank you for posting this - I've added the podcast to my listening list. On the subject of undecideds, they're quite intense.
Also watch Pete Buttigieg vs 25 Undecided Voters on Jubilee. It's eye opening.
One small pushback: The Democrats are already a responsible governing party. They have been able to get support into Ukraine in a responsible manner, they have passed reasonable legislation, and they generally have kept the government functioning, all while dealing with a party that can't admit that Trump lost the 2020 election, much less is a serial criminal.
If KH pulls it off, it is important to remember that most of the Trump sycophants like Rubio and Sununu want Trump to lose so they can take power back for themselves and their like-minded brethren. If they see the chance to end The Great MAGA Terror, it is hard to imagine them not doing it.
Dear God,
End MAGA tonight.
Amen
God: Meet me halfway. Vote!
I'm a bit more than half-way through reading Erik Larson’s "The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris" in which the author, wittingly or not, drew unmistakable parallels between the discourse of the lead-up to Lincoln's 1860 election and our current process:
"I was well into my research on the saga of Fort Sumter and the advent of the American Civil War when the events of January 6, 2021, took place. As I watched the Capitol assault unfold on camera, I had the eerie feeling that present and past had merged. It is unsettling that in 1861 two of the greatest moments of national dread centered on the certification of the Electoral College vote and the presidential inauguration."
I suspect that a significant number of Republican-registered voters, women and men, may actually vote for Harris out of disdain for The Oathbreaker. How that will apply to The Oathbreaker's sycophants in down-ballot contests is beyond my perception.
However, if The Oathbreaker is defeated - by any margin - we must expect a violent reaction orchestrated by many of his most vocal and aggressive minions and conducted, not by the majority of Republican voters, but by the truly fascist groups who have allied themselves to him in the hope of destroying our Constitution and government.
Got at least three hours. And getting ready to start phone banking at 10am. Great post. Thanks for the hard work everyone on the team has been doing!
Josh Sanderson (@jdsboston)
Before they start counting the votes, I want to stand up and applaud all of you at the Bulwark for bearing unblinking witness to the perforated gasbag the Republican Party has chosen to be their face of America. Whatever the result tonight, tomorrow or next month, The Bulwark is a remarkable achievement: lively, often funny writing on profoundly important issues, all the more impressive because it is comes off as non-partisan even though many of its writers apprenticed in extremely partisan politics. The Bulwark is exactly what a journal of current affairs should be. Thanks!
Team, let's drive it to victory. Please ping all your networks to ensure they're voting today and ask them to do the same!
Don't throw shade at Nick. The fact that we root for him should encourage you.