"I founded this newsletter, because normal people were not getting what they needed to be good citizens. I arrived at that belief, because it became clear to me, after writing about politics for long enough, that the Washington press and pundits corps don’t necessarily see the dangers normal people see."
I can't thank you enough for the information you provide. It's invaluable!
And growing up with local newspapers and Cronkite in the evening? Oh how I miss old school journalism. Or maybe I'm just getting old. ;-)
Thank you for your timely piece today regarding & explaining the state of journalism in our country, at least in D.C. I am just sick & tired of the media covering, quoting, and printing the words of the separatists! During the Civil War the separatist South had its own newspapers. Perhaps D.C. journalists, aka Northern journalists, should only cover Democrats?
Will someone please drum it into Brian Williams's head that going to Harvard does not mean you are smarter or more competent or insightful? Williams introduces every pundit with their university pedigree as if that gives them credibility. John, you have so perfectly articulated the actual meaning of a "prestigious" degree: it signals a foundation rooted in elitist culture.
I think the problem is that journalists inside the beltway are afraid of being seen as too extreme, paranoid, or captive to conspiracy theories. They have to characterize this radicalization of GOP power grab tactics as 'politics as usual', in part because otherwise they might seem naive or not jaded enough for their bosses, colleagues, etc. It's more about professional reputation than professional responsibilities. We saw the same thing with the reluctance to brand The Former Guy's constant lying as actual 'lies.' It took 3+ years for them to finally acknowledge that reality.
Part of that is due to the frog-in-the-pot effect. We've seen dirty attack politics from the GOP since the early days of the Clinton administration. And the Republicans have been gradually turning up the heat ever since. So it does seem like politics as usual -- until it isn't. And then it will be too late.
I feel it's worth stating here a reminder: We have useful ways of fighting back and overturning overturned elections....reversing authoritarian reversals... Never forget that. Moderates and liberals need to remember that WE ARE THE MAJORITY.
Targeted boycotts and strikes can and will upend the fascists when the time comes. (We need to be less reliant on the knee jerk marches IMHO) I've felt for a long time the day of reckoning with the authoritarians was impending. We came close on Jan 6th - it WILL happen in 2022 - I'm sure of it. The good news is we're not Germans - stolen elections en masse will - I presume - will get push back from the majority. We - the majority - should be talking about strikes and boycotts - and any other technique to ruin the Far Right's plans.
We need to remember to stay empowered. The GOP is doing this now because they've suffered no consequences. Let us plan their consequences.
"I founded this newsletter, because normal people were not getting what they needed to be good citizens. I arrived at that belief, because it became clear to me, after writing about politics for long enough, that the Washington press and pundits corps don’t necessarily see the dangers normal people see."
I can't thank you enough for the information you provide. It's invaluable!
And growing up with local newspapers and Cronkite in the evening? Oh how I miss old school journalism. Or maybe I'm just getting old. ;-)
I'm here for you!
Thank you for your timely piece today regarding & explaining the state of journalism in our country, at least in D.C. I am just sick & tired of the media covering, quoting, and printing the words of the separatists! During the Civil War the separatist South had its own newspapers. Perhaps D.C. journalists, aka Northern journalists, should only cover Democrats?
You're very welcome.
Will someone please drum it into Brian Williams's head that going to Harvard does not mean you are smarter or more competent or insightful? Williams introduces every pundit with their university pedigree as if that gives them credibility. John, you have so perfectly articulated the actual meaning of a "prestigious" degree: it signals a foundation rooted in elitist culture.
I've met more than a few with a wall full of paper in frames, who didn't know shit from Shinola. But you can't tell them that. ;-)
I think the problem is that journalists inside the beltway are afraid of being seen as too extreme, paranoid, or captive to conspiracy theories. They have to characterize this radicalization of GOP power grab tactics as 'politics as usual', in part because otherwise they might seem naive or not jaded enough for their bosses, colleagues, etc. It's more about professional reputation than professional responsibilities. We saw the same thing with the reluctance to brand The Former Guy's constant lying as actual 'lies.' It took 3+ years for them to finally acknowledge that reality.
Part of that is due to the frog-in-the-pot effect. We've seen dirty attack politics from the GOP since the early days of the Clinton administration. And the Republicans have been gradually turning up the heat ever since. So it does seem like politics as usual -- until it isn't. And then it will be too late.
By the bye, the road map laid out here is very much of a piece with Levitsky's and Ziblatt's discussion in their book "How Democracies Die."
I feel it's worth stating here a reminder: We have useful ways of fighting back and overturning overturned elections....reversing authoritarian reversals... Never forget that. Moderates and liberals need to remember that WE ARE THE MAJORITY.
Targeted boycotts and strikes can and will upend the fascists when the time comes. (We need to be less reliant on the knee jerk marches IMHO) I've felt for a long time the day of reckoning with the authoritarians was impending. We came close on Jan 6th - it WILL happen in 2022 - I'm sure of it. The good news is we're not Germans - stolen elections en masse will - I presume - will get push back from the majority. We - the majority - should be talking about strikes and boycotts - and any other technique to ruin the Far Right's plans.
We need to remember to stay empowered. The GOP is doing this now because they've suffered no consequences. Let us plan their consequences.
I'm just diggin' Jeff Clark's cosmic Chinese thermometers...