Margaret, your point No. 3 is spot on. I listened to an NPR segment yesterday that reported the impeachment story in a completely straight fashion. I was talking back to my car radio, wondering why an editor hadn’t inserted some context.
Thoughts on Heather Cox Richardson’s latest; specifically “ … after years in which the Republican narrative was largely unchallenged in popular political culture, reminds me of the rise of the so-called muckrakers of the Progressive Era.“
The mainstream press has to stop "reporting" as normal and start SHOUTING.
They need to decide whether they are pro-democracy or not, because there is only one party right now that is invested in democracy. Supporting American democracy shouldn't be considered partisan.
We stopped being a democratic nation with 2 political parties a long time ago, and obviously now since Trump.
People need to know that Republicans are intentionally causing disfunction in government because this is how autocracy is done. The media should be shouting this instead of the blah, blah, blah reporting of it.
The Repukes are trying to destroy the government with all of their chaotic and treasonous activity. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from what we are witnessing with our own eyes, day after day. It’s a page from the Nazi playbook, the same kind of unrest and disorder the brown shirts caused in the streets of every major city in Germany until the Weimar Republic was strangled.
They do it to make the Federal government look weak and reactive; incapable, incapacitated and incompetent. We don’t have Brown Shirts brawling in the streets (yet), but what we have is elected representatives from the Repuke party acting like idiots in Congress to make the American people believe that our form of government doesn’t work any longer.
I wouldn’t hold my breath hoping the mainstream media is going to call out the Repukes or Mr. Trump, because they’re not. The mainstream print and televised media aided and abetted Trump’s rise to power in 2016. The NYT and WAPO are controlled by individuals possessed of enormous wealth and both newspapers cowered before him in his first administration. Lickspittles and toffee nosed toadies to a man. Don’t look for bravery and guts from the vaunted 4th Estate; there’s none to be found in the major papers of record.
Thanks for what you do, Ms. Sullivan. I noticed the Times' headline too. For once, Doug Balloon's "NY Times Pitchbot won't be able to use it. An outlier or a trend? I guess we'll see.
Ms. Sullivan: Rational and sane Americans (some days it seems like there are so few!) understand that this impeachment proceeding is political retaliation done on Mr. Trump’s orders, with the hope that it will distract people from Mr. Trump’s many legal challenges. It is an attempt to drag a red herring across the unfolding political landscape and if the rational and sane aren’t up in arms about it I suggest two possible reasons: 1) Trump fatigue/disgust, and 2) they are remaining silent because it’s contemptible and doesn’t deserve a moment of their time or the energy it takes to condemn and ridicule it.
Regarding this “Sue” person. It should come as no surprise that people have stupid ideas. Where they get them from is anyone’s guess. When President Obama was elected many of the African Americans I work with were convinced the federal government was going to issue reparations checks to every African American in the country. I don’t know where they got this idea from - certainly President Obama didn’t campaign on a platform of reparations - but they were sincere in their beliefs.
I fear the American people don’t really know anything about how their government works. And far too many people believe the President is more like a king, than an elected official. This King- President has enormous powers and can lower the price of goods and services, or make the repair and upkeep of your residence magically happen. His word is the law of the land. Sue, appears to be one of these people. It’s sad. My father and grandfather’s generations didn’t believe such nonsense, but ever since 9/11, the American people, like an orphaned child, have been searching for a strongman who will protect them from all the consequences of their bad behavior abroad, and bogeymen within.
BTW....I suspect that Sue, quoted in the Washington Post, has never lived under a dictatorship. She might have a different perspective/opinion if she had.
I think you are right about the need for civics and media/information literacy education. There's a new project called CivicsOnSocial on twitter by "Eleven Films" - https://twitter.com/CivicsOnSocial
Perhaps it would get people to pay attention? Thanks for all you're doing!
Late to the letter but wanted to comment on the last part (“dictator for a day”) which included a quote from a woman who related strongly to Trump’s statement, saying that she can be a dictator as a parent and so was her father before her.
She is demonstrating something that cognitive science and linguistics pro George Lakoff describes as the Strict Father worldview. Most conservatives and some independents and moderate liberals unconsciously apply this worldview to all or part of the life experience. Trump is very skilled at tapping into that and winning approval.
Over at Lakoff’s substack “FrameLab” they’ve posted a great summary of the science behind Strict Father (and the more liberal view, Nurturing Parent). The article is called “Understanding Trump (again)” It’s long, but a great read if you’re not familiar with this work already.
The reason I’m sharing here is that the last section of the post is titled “How Can Democrats Do Better?” and it offers many communication tips, some of which might apply to the media. For the rest of us: “Values come first, facts and policies follow in the service of values.”
Corporate media enjoys making a ton of money on ratings. Most electeds want to keep getting elected. Neither seem to care about the future of the country or consider that our country is in jeopardy. Most are rich white men who take advantage of living in a democracy and are largely insulated from issues non rich white men face. Seems to me like a dictatorship would have some affect on them, though. While my take seems super cynical, I just don't know how 2024 ends. My logical brain still can't believe Trump was elected in 2016, so I can't even take my mind to another Trump presidency, which would be the end of our country. There would be no coming back from it.
I'm afraid to say that all of these attacks on democracy are having an effect on me (perhaps this is what Michelle Goldberg was talking about); I have come to believe that a vast number of my countrypersons are unable to distinguish between fact and fantasy, and that the people who represent them are happy to take advantage of that. Maybe it's time we stop pretending that elections can lead to representative government, or that such government will act in the best interests of the electors. What do you think of this: The Worst People Run for Office. It’s Time for a Better Way. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/21/opinion/elections-democracy.html?smid=nytcore-android-share ?
It’s depressing and hard to argue with. I believe (and hope) that enough good people, working diligently for democracy, can salvage a grim situation. Thanks for these thoughts.
Actually, to call it "illogic" is too mild, since that would imply that there was some possible logical process that somehow went awry. "Hyprocrisy" is a more appropriate characterization.
Margaret, your point No. 3 is spot on. I listened to an NPR segment yesterday that reported the impeachment story in a completely straight fashion. I was talking back to my car radio, wondering why an editor hadn’t inserted some context.
That’s very bad
Thoughts on Heather Cox Richardson’s latest; specifically “ … after years in which the Republican narrative was largely unchallenged in popular political culture, reminds me of the rise of the so-called muckrakers of the Progressive Era.“
Has a corner turned or is this a blip?
I have it but haven’t yet read. Thanks.
The mainstream press has to stop "reporting" as normal and start SHOUTING.
They need to decide whether they are pro-democracy or not, because there is only one party right now that is invested in democracy. Supporting American democracy shouldn't be considered partisan.
We stopped being a democratic nation with 2 political parties a long time ago, and obviously now since Trump.
People need to know that Republicans are intentionally causing disfunction in government because this is how autocracy is done. The media should be shouting this instead of the blah, blah, blah reporting of it.
The Repukes are trying to destroy the government with all of their chaotic and treasonous activity. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from what we are witnessing with our own eyes, day after day. It’s a page from the Nazi playbook, the same kind of unrest and disorder the brown shirts caused in the streets of every major city in Germany until the Weimar Republic was strangled.
They do it to make the Federal government look weak and reactive; incapable, incapacitated and incompetent. We don’t have Brown Shirts brawling in the streets (yet), but what we have is elected representatives from the Repuke party acting like idiots in Congress to make the American people believe that our form of government doesn’t work any longer.
I wouldn’t hold my breath hoping the mainstream media is going to call out the Repukes or Mr. Trump, because they’re not. The mainstream print and televised media aided and abetted Trump’s rise to power in 2016. The NYT and WAPO are controlled by individuals possessed of enormous wealth and both newspapers cowered before him in his first administration. Lickspittles and toffee nosed toadies to a man. Don’t look for bravery and guts from the vaunted 4th Estate; there’s none to be found in the major papers of record.
Thanks for what you do, Ms. Sullivan. I noticed the Times' headline too. For once, Doug Balloon's "NY Times Pitchbot won't be able to use it. An outlier or a trend? I guess we'll see.
Let’s hope it’s a trend. But place no bets
Ms. Sullivan: Rational and sane Americans (some days it seems like there are so few!) understand that this impeachment proceeding is political retaliation done on Mr. Trump’s orders, with the hope that it will distract people from Mr. Trump’s many legal challenges. It is an attempt to drag a red herring across the unfolding political landscape and if the rational and sane aren’t up in arms about it I suggest two possible reasons: 1) Trump fatigue/disgust, and 2) they are remaining silent because it’s contemptible and doesn’t deserve a moment of their time or the energy it takes to condemn and ridicule it.
Regarding this “Sue” person. It should come as no surprise that people have stupid ideas. Where they get them from is anyone’s guess. When President Obama was elected many of the African Americans I work with were convinced the federal government was going to issue reparations checks to every African American in the country. I don’t know where they got this idea from - certainly President Obama didn’t campaign on a platform of reparations - but they were sincere in their beliefs.
I fear the American people don’t really know anything about how their government works. And far too many people believe the President is more like a king, than an elected official. This King- President has enormous powers and can lower the price of goods and services, or make the repair and upkeep of your residence magically happen. His word is the law of the land. Sue, appears to be one of these people. It’s sad. My father and grandfather’s generations didn’t believe such nonsense, but ever since 9/11, the American people, like an orphaned child, have been searching for a strongman who will protect them from all the consequences of their bad behavior abroad, and bogeymen within.
Perhaps some civics (and media literacy) education would help!
Great column in The Guardian.
I haven't yet check out NPR but I expect, as usual, it will be insightful.
Many thanks again!
I think Brian was more so but happy to have the opportunity.
BTW....I suspect that Sue, quoted in the Washington Post, has never lived under a dictatorship. She might have a different perspective/opinion if she had.
I hope she won’t get the chance to find out. But it’s far from impossible!
I think you are right about the need for civics and media/information literacy education. There's a new project called CivicsOnSocial on twitter by "Eleven Films" - https://twitter.com/CivicsOnSocial
Perhaps it would get people to pay attention? Thanks for all you're doing!
Late to the letter but wanted to comment on the last part (“dictator for a day”) which included a quote from a woman who related strongly to Trump’s statement, saying that she can be a dictator as a parent and so was her father before her.
She is demonstrating something that cognitive science and linguistics pro George Lakoff describes as the Strict Father worldview. Most conservatives and some independents and moderate liberals unconsciously apply this worldview to all or part of the life experience. Trump is very skilled at tapping into that and winning approval.
Over at Lakoff’s substack “FrameLab” they’ve posted a great summary of the science behind Strict Father (and the more liberal view, Nurturing Parent). The article is called “Understanding Trump (again)” It’s long, but a great read if you’re not familiar with this work already.
The reason I’m sharing here is that the last section of the post is titled “How Can Democrats Do Better?” and it offers many communication tips, some of which might apply to the media. For the rest of us: “Values come first, facts and policies follow in the service of values.”
Corporate media enjoys making a ton of money on ratings. Most electeds want to keep getting elected. Neither seem to care about the future of the country or consider that our country is in jeopardy. Most are rich white men who take advantage of living in a democracy and are largely insulated from issues non rich white men face. Seems to me like a dictatorship would have some affect on them, though. While my take seems super cynical, I just don't know how 2024 ends. My logical brain still can't believe Trump was elected in 2016, so I can't even take my mind to another Trump presidency, which would be the end of our country. There would be no coming back from it.
Please keep writing!! I appreciate your insights.
I'm afraid to say that all of these attacks on democracy are having an effect on me (perhaps this is what Michelle Goldberg was talking about); I have come to believe that a vast number of my countrypersons are unable to distinguish between fact and fantasy, and that the people who represent them are happy to take advantage of that. Maybe it's time we stop pretending that elections can lead to representative government, or that such government will act in the best interests of the electors. What do you think of this: The Worst People Run for Office. It’s Time for a Better Way. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/21/opinion/elections-democracy.html?smid=nytcore-android-share ?
It’s depressing and hard to argue with. I believe (and hope) that enough good people, working diligently for democracy, can salvage a grim situation. Thanks for these thoughts.
Actually, to call it "illogic" is too mild, since that would imply that there was some possible logical process that somehow went awry. "Hyprocrisy" is a more appropriate characterization.
Fair point. Thanks.