As they say "It is what it is..." and worrying about it won't change a thing. It is too late for either side to take any major changes/pivots. I even doubt that an "October Surprise" for either side will change the dynamics.
As long as there is a margin of error there is cause for either hope or despair however we choose to look at it. A good dose of Stoic reserve will serve us better over the next weeks and keeping our focus on what needs and can be done to maximize a favorable outcome.
And never forget that we (and they) are powerless over the electorate, the distribution of Electoral College votes, and if tossed into the House the outcome there, and any interference the Supreme Court might interject into the process.
The Founders and previous generations of lawmakers never expected that choosing a President would have cataclysmic consequences. They assumed all candidates for office would fall within the spectrum of normal. They never anticipated that the office would be such a high stakes matter. They always thought that state and regional interests would outweigh any national monopoly on power as we have with the two parties today.
2024 will be a defining election in American history and the outcome is entirely in the hands of the voters. That is scary enough in and of itself.
Well, he was watching events unfold in the Jacksonian era which one could argue presaged the eventual outcome we see today--- but sadly, he was not widely read by anyone, especially politicians, until the 20th century as the liberal democratic answer to Marxism. By which time the decadence of the American political system was already well advanced. Tocqueville was one of Newt Gingrich's "go to" thinkers. In fact Tocqueville is a cherry tree from which anyone can pick what suits them best.
His best know quote "America is great because America is good. And if she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” popularized by Ronald Reagan was something he never said!
Thanks for that reply, I can see you are knowledgeable. I do not know Tocqueville well, as you say he gets cherry picked for suitable quotes, myself included. Though, His quotes are not empty to someone like me, I want to better understand the frailties of democracy, hence asking a question. I am one of those individuals who until recently thought free democracies were rock solid. You’ve added context, again thanks. I’d like to be better educated when applying historical quotes/ideas. The surface knowledge of learning history is never enough. Last week I asked an English professor this question regarding Tocqueville who mentioned that the philosophy that without a skilled autocrat, society will devolve into mob rule comes as early as Socrates. Jonathan Rauch author of the Constitution of Knowledge, interviewed June 17, 2021 in the podcast Conversations with Bill Kristol discusses the evolution of philosophy of society. Now I am beginning to recognize the fragility, and the world of topical books and media is exploding in front of me. The Bulwark gives me a quick easy leg up on some of the important points to recognize.
OK, I am really trying to be calm, but one month to go and this election is neck and neck??? 50-50???
Aaaaaaagggghhhhhh
Please, some universe intervention to knock the fpotus out of any popularity whatsoever. Something! Maybe he falls down drooling in all future appearances, screaming gibberish, tearing off all his clothes and hair....Something, anything, to get his numbers sinking to double digit downers everywhere.Please.
I am from Illinois and outside of Chicagoland Illinois is farm land and Republican except for one county Christian county used to be Democratic according to a friend who grew up there. Still, Chicago is large compared to the farmlands and Illinois, which has had governors from both parties is currently solidly Blue. That is as long as the Chicago Machine can get the vote out. Let us hope Philly and Pittsburg also prevail.
Care for a sick laugh: just saw some Congress idiot on a clip shown on MSNBC - didn't catch the name of the idiot as I was coming inside with Nomi - crowing about arresting Biden, Harris and everyone else he doesn't like, and - this is the fun part - deporting not merely illegals but also immigrants in general and ANCHOR BABIES if Trump wins. Let's see: Anchor babies: 4 of Trump's kids, his grandkids, Vance's wife and kids, and the list goes on. Maybe they'll go back 3 generations as the Nazis did in identifying Jews even among Christians. Damn - that would cover Trump as well. Hmmmmmm.
To paraphrase the eloquent Representative from Louisiana (where else?), Clay Higgins is 'like something stuck to the bottom of America's boot. Just scrape it off and move on with history.'
I would add MIke Johnson of Seven Mountain Magic infamy, whose membership in The New Apostolic Reformation requires him to convert every member of planet earth to his version of Godliness, or God will not return and he will not get to experience Heaven.
I would also like to see you list of governors, since currently it is Red States who are doing the best job of implementing Project 2025. As for Lieutenant governors, I think Mark Robinson has the concept of being a racist, sexist White person, but did not realize that skin color matters in this equation.
I know this is as tough as picking a favorite Beatles song, but no list of "worst GOP" Congressman is complete without the venerable Louis Gohmert. Take it with a grain of salt, but I'd give him Chip Roy's spot. (Sure, he's terrible, but strictly JV when compared to Gohmert.)
"Clay Higgins is an election-denying, conspiracy-peddling racial arsonist who is a disgrace to the People’s House. This is who they have become. Republicans are the party of Donald Trump, Mark Robinson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Clay Higgins and Project 2025. The extreme MAGA Republicans in the House are unfit to govern.”
All I would add is not only are they unfit to govern they are incapable of it.
As a person of Irish descent growing up in Boston, we learned very young about the virulent anti-Irish sentiment when the Irish began to arrive in large numbers, the "no-Irish-need-apply" signs on businesses, the cartoons depicting us as drunken, ignorant and lazy buffoons, the fear mongering and hostility. I say this to remind citizens in cities with new immigrants and across the country that this is the story of America - different groups come here to make a better life, often face prejudice and hatred and then eventually become assimilated into American life.
How about we skip over the prejudice and hatred chapter and get to the good part?
I am in pain about the polls. How can this be? How stupid is the electorate? Any rational decision from any perspective (Cuban suggests tariffs will affect businesses even more than taxes—so even billionaires have no rationale) must be for Harris. Do people really want Trump to trash the economy,keep women locked in their homes, take away their. Affordable Care Act not to mention Social Security and Medicare and get us into wars? Is this sane? What is the basis for their vote? Racism? Fear of the other? Stupidity? I don’t get it. Trump lost manufacturing jobs increased the national debt gave tax cuts to a tiny number of people who didn’t need them then the rest of us paid the difference, killed hundreds of thousands during COVID. Do these seem like things we want to repeat? Get a grip people. This is why cutbacks in education are not cost effective
Your last sentence says it all: "...cutbacks in education..."
I have seen too many interviews with focus groups where people said something like "they hadn't paid much attention but their grocery prices had gone up so they were going to vote for Trump.
Also, I know people (my family in particular) who only watch FOX, and when asked why on earth they are supporting Trump, they spout about "the border and all the hordes coming across." That's it, except an occasional "things were better when Trump was in office."
Does anyone else remember a time when people were obsessing about grocery prices and expecting that price increases were the President's fault? Have I missed something over the years?
Talk about pining for better times. Sure the economy was good for 3 years, but even year 2.5 we hit a manufacturing recession (dear Democrats be more like Pete Buttigieg here ffs). The level of memory holing we’ve done as a population is astounding. I was far less engaged politically but holy shit Trump was EXHAUSTING. I’d rather not. For the love of my sleep cycle, America, let’s not do this again.
Speaking of memory holing, I've never seen such astounding levels of amnesia in my life as I've seen with people regarding the -- apparently now nonexistent -- global COVID pandemic.
All the polls keep telling/ reminding us is that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." One day we can only hope that Trumpism will be viewed by historians as "that other peculiar institution."
The immediate threat to the US is that when Haley says that politics is not for thin-skinned people, the current R party is really standing for the proposition that politics is not for non-white skinned people. If you don't get that maybe you need to be skinned to be taught a lesson (other forms of lynching having gone a bit out of style. And "put the personal part of it aside?' As in "I hate you because you are not white, but it's nothing personal?" None of that nonsense from Haley and Pence ids helpful now as you continue to point out. It is all like "there, there, don't cry. I'm sure those fingers will grow back."
"politics is not for thin-skinned people". She is REALLY missing the actual issue here. Guess it's easy for her; she's not the target of bomb threats and other attacks.
Higgins and Kennedy, Louisiana’s finest racists. You sure know how to grow ‘em. There are no words adequate to express my disgust.
As they say "It is what it is..." and worrying about it won't change a thing. It is too late for either side to take any major changes/pivots. I even doubt that an "October Surprise" for either side will change the dynamics.
As long as there is a margin of error there is cause for either hope or despair however we choose to look at it. A good dose of Stoic reserve will serve us better over the next weeks and keeping our focus on what needs and can be done to maximize a favorable outcome.
And never forget that we (and they) are powerless over the electorate, the distribution of Electoral College votes, and if tossed into the House the outcome there, and any interference the Supreme Court might interject into the process.
The Founders and previous generations of lawmakers never expected that choosing a President would have cataclysmic consequences. They assumed all candidates for office would fall within the spectrum of normal. They never anticipated that the office would be such a high stakes matter. They always thought that state and regional interests would outweigh any national monopoly on power as we have with the two parties today.
2024 will be a defining election in American history and the outcome is entirely in the hands of the voters. That is scary enough in and of itself.
As you suggest, the Founders didn’t know, but would you say that Tocqueville predicted this potential outcome?
Well, he was watching events unfold in the Jacksonian era which one could argue presaged the eventual outcome we see today--- but sadly, he was not widely read by anyone, especially politicians, until the 20th century as the liberal democratic answer to Marxism. By which time the decadence of the American political system was already well advanced. Tocqueville was one of Newt Gingrich's "go to" thinkers. In fact Tocqueville is a cherry tree from which anyone can pick what suits them best.
His best know quote "America is great because America is good. And if she ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” popularized by Ronald Reagan was something he never said!
Thanks for that reply, I can see you are knowledgeable. I do not know Tocqueville well, as you say he gets cherry picked for suitable quotes, myself included. Though, His quotes are not empty to someone like me, I want to better understand the frailties of democracy, hence asking a question. I am one of those individuals who until recently thought free democracies were rock solid. You’ve added context, again thanks. I’d like to be better educated when applying historical quotes/ideas. The surface knowledge of learning history is never enough. Last week I asked an English professor this question regarding Tocqueville who mentioned that the philosophy that without a skilled autocrat, society will devolve into mob rule comes as early as Socrates. Jonathan Rauch author of the Constitution of Knowledge, interviewed June 17, 2021 in the podcast Conversations with Bill Kristol discusses the evolution of philosophy of society. Now I am beginning to recognize the fragility, and the world of topical books and media is exploding in front of me. The Bulwark gives me a quick easy leg up on some of the important points to recognize.
OK, I am really trying to be calm, but one month to go and this election is neck and neck??? 50-50???
Aaaaaaagggghhhhhh
Please, some universe intervention to knock the fpotus out of any popularity whatsoever. Something! Maybe he falls down drooling in all future appearances, screaming gibberish, tearing off all his clothes and hair....Something, anything, to get his numbers sinking to double digit downers everywhere.Please.
Will somebody PLEASE explain to me why PA is tied when she's got - I would think - both Shapiro and Fetterman stumping for her???
Ever been to PA? They jokingly call everything outside of Philly and Pittsburgh “Pensyltucky” for a reason!
I am from Illinois and outside of Chicagoland Illinois is farm land and Republican except for one county Christian county used to be Democratic according to a friend who grew up there. Still, Chicago is large compared to the farmlands and Illinois, which has had governors from both parties is currently solidly Blue. That is as long as the Chicago Machine can get the vote out. Let us hope Philly and Pittsburg also prevail.
Care for a sick laugh: just saw some Congress idiot on a clip shown on MSNBC - didn't catch the name of the idiot as I was coming inside with Nomi - crowing about arresting Biden, Harris and everyone else he doesn't like, and - this is the fun part - deporting not merely illegals but also immigrants in general and ANCHOR BABIES if Trump wins. Let's see: Anchor babies: 4 of Trump's kids, his grandkids, Vance's wife and kids, and the list goes on. Maybe they'll go back 3 generations as the Nazis did in identifying Jews even among Christians. Damn - that would cover Trump as well. Hmmmmmm.
To paraphrase the eloquent Representative from Louisiana (where else?), Clay Higgins is 'like something stuck to the bottom of America's boot. Just scrape it off and move on with history.'
Well Clay Higgins clearly just has a concept of being a human being, and not a very good one.
I hope her bet is a good one. It looks to me like MAGA (ie. Nuts) will be here for a good long time. Good luck, Nikki.
Clay Higgins definitely has done enough to make my top 10 of worst house members:
1. Jim Jordan
2. Chip Roy
3. Paul Gosar
4. Marjorie Taylor Greene
5. Clay Higgins
6. James Comer
7. Matt Gaetz
8. Andy Biggs
9. Anna Paulina Luna
10. Lauren Boebert
I would add MIke Johnson of Seven Mountain Magic infamy, whose membership in The New Apostolic Reformation requires him to convert every member of planet earth to his version of Godliness, or God will not return and he will not get to experience Heaven.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2021/may/27/us-mass-shootings-database
I would also like to see you list of governors, since currently it is Red States who are doing the best job of implementing Project 2025. As for Lieutenant governors, I think Mark Robinson has the concept of being a racist, sexist White person, but did not realize that skin color matters in this equation.
Nice list. We can quibble over a spot or two but the direction is very good.
I know this is as tough as picking a favorite Beatles song, but no list of "worst GOP" Congressman is complete without the venerable Louis Gohmert. Take it with a grain of salt, but I'd give him Chip Roy's spot. (Sure, he's terrible, but strictly JV when compared to Gohmert.)
Gohmert is gone I believe in 2022
You need a better hobby.
I never watched much reality TV but the Republican Party makes the Jersey Shore look like Downton Abbey
This from Hakeem Jeffries best summed it up.
"Clay Higgins is an election-denying, conspiracy-peddling racial arsonist who is a disgrace to the People’s House. This is who they have become. Republicans are the party of Donald Trump, Mark Robinson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Clay Higgins and Project 2025. The extreme MAGA Republicans in the House are unfit to govern.”
All I would add is not only are they unfit to govern they are incapable of it.
As a person of Irish descent growing up in Boston, we learned very young about the virulent anti-Irish sentiment when the Irish began to arrive in large numbers, the "no-Irish-need-apply" signs on businesses, the cartoons depicting us as drunken, ignorant and lazy buffoons, the fear mongering and hostility. I say this to remind citizens in cities with new immigrants and across the country that this is the story of America - different groups come here to make a better life, often face prejudice and hatred and then eventually become assimilated into American life.
How about we skip over the prejudice and hatred chapter and get to the good part?
https://www.history.com/news/when-america-despised-the-irish-the-19th-centurys-refugee-crisis
"The key lies" and then apparently Pence goes on to tell them.
Re the Clay Higgins "repentance" - what kind of God do you pray to, after a tweet like that?
I am in pain about the polls. How can this be? How stupid is the electorate? Any rational decision from any perspective (Cuban suggests tariffs will affect businesses even more than taxes—so even billionaires have no rationale) must be for Harris. Do people really want Trump to trash the economy,keep women locked in their homes, take away their. Affordable Care Act not to mention Social Security and Medicare and get us into wars? Is this sane? What is the basis for their vote? Racism? Fear of the other? Stupidity? I don’t get it. Trump lost manufacturing jobs increased the national debt gave tax cuts to a tiny number of people who didn’t need them then the rest of us paid the difference, killed hundreds of thousands during COVID. Do these seem like things we want to repeat? Get a grip people. This is why cutbacks in education are not cost effective
Your last sentence says it all: "...cutbacks in education..."
I have seen too many interviews with focus groups where people said something like "they hadn't paid much attention but their grocery prices had gone up so they were going to vote for Trump.
Also, I know people (my family in particular) who only watch FOX, and when asked why on earth they are supporting Trump, they spout about "the border and all the hordes coming across." That's it, except an occasional "things were better when Trump was in office."
Does anyone else remember a time when people were obsessing about grocery prices and expecting that price increases were the President's fault? Have I missed something over the years?
As Bill the Cat from Bloom County would say: “Ack!” Then he would probably spit up a fur ball.
Talk about pining for better times. Sure the economy was good for 3 years, but even year 2.5 we hit a manufacturing recession (dear Democrats be more like Pete Buttigieg here ffs). The level of memory holing we’ve done as a population is astounding. I was far less engaged politically but holy shit Trump was EXHAUSTING. I’d rather not. For the love of my sleep cycle, America, let’s not do this again.
Speaking of memory holing, I've never seen such astounding levels of amnesia in my life as I've seen with people regarding the -- apparently now nonexistent -- global COVID pandemic.
The people pushing Trump and much more old Vance are nasty. It will be very, very bad. You won’t be exhausted, you will be looking for the exit.
What do you expect from Higgins and company? MAGA!
All the polls keep telling/ reminding us is that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." One day we can only hope that Trumpism will be viewed by historians as "that other peculiar institution."
The immediate threat to the US is that when Haley says that politics is not for thin-skinned people, the current R party is really standing for the proposition that politics is not for non-white skinned people. If you don't get that maybe you need to be skinned to be taught a lesson (other forms of lynching having gone a bit out of style. And "put the personal part of it aside?' As in "I hate you because you are not white, but it's nothing personal?" None of that nonsense from Haley and Pence ids helpful now as you continue to point out. It is all like "there, there, don't cry. I'm sure those fingers will grow back."
"politics is not for thin-skinned people". She is REALLY missing the actual issue here. Guess it's easy for her; she's not the target of bomb threats and other attacks.