Dec 31, 2023·edited Dec 31, 2023Liked by Jessica Craven
Thank you, Jess -- and here's to a very Happy New Year! Two ideas for you to consider re: language choices.
1. Let's call the J6 "riot" an "insurrection." Several courts/judges have made this legal distinction, and insurrection doesn't downplay what happened into a "spontaneous unruly riot". I submit using "riot" plays into Trump/R hands that it wasn't planned. It clearly was engineered by Trump as central to his attempted coup (also a more accurate name instead of the namby-pamby "election interference").
2. Let's call "conservatives" the "extremists" they are. You could modify using "far-right", if you want. What the Missouri school board -- and too many extremist states -- is doing to citizens is extreme, hurtful and dangerous. It is not "conservative," and we fall into the R's trap. R desperately want to cast D's as profligate "liberals" who don't know the value of a dime and themselves as defenders of rational government. We know that's a lie, but it resonates with too many selfish and frightened voters. We should embrace our Big Tent philosophy that every starfish counts, and we can't let up on clearly calling out the stranglehold on too many Americans represented by R's.
Excellent points, both of them. I believe in both cases I was borrowing language from the article I linked to, but even so, I will pay closer attention in the future and avoid those words.
It seems to me that the Republicans are the US equivalent of Hamas. They have a stranglehold on part our population and use them as human shields to avoid accountability. So many people in red states don't want the R extremists, but because of rigged voting maps the districts become "safe" for the extremists.
😂😂 Actually Bob, I think he has a problem with the stench at both ends. I live for the day, if I even live that long, when I never have to hear about or see this man ever again.
Thank you for channeling resources available to help decide positive outcomes for the upcoming elections! I became inspired by your newsletters and enlisted with a postcards campaign, a step I've never taken before.
Then I read LP Rick Wilson’s post and it all made sense.Actually all his “ rules” make sense.
“ Last week, we released a silly, fun, frankly juvenile ad about Trump’s robust odor.
We didn’t do it just to make poop jokes; we did it because we know that when Trump is angry, distracted, and focused on himself, he makes it impossible for his campaign to do what a professional campaign should be doing. It makes his attack against Biden seem even more wildly unhinged and manic.”
Yeah, I also think that anything that chips away at his strongman aura, which is what his deeply insecure followers are drawn to, is valuable strategically. When he comes across as weak or small his "spell" is similarly weakened. Or one can hope.
Agree, and that’s what the Lincoln Project tends to focus on because they know that the Biden campaign won’t make ads like this. Biden is too classy a guy, but the LP has no problem coming down to Trump‘s level to agitate him. Also, happy new year, Jessica, to you and your beautiful family. Thank you for everything. You do so much that it’s really impossible to thank you adequately!
I agree that anything we can do to chip away at Trump's strongman aura is important. So I offer this thought with all respect and affection for you and your work, Jessica.
I have been watching a few interviews with Trump supporters on youtube and it seems that anything that sounds like a personal attack on him just makes them defend him more strongly. I've been concerned about the explosion of videos and social media posts about this aspect of him because it's personal, the kind of attack that riles up his defenders even more. There's a grossness to it that smacks of the way I've seen some of his supporters attack "the commies" in the videos. I think we'll have better results if we stick to criticizing his words and actions, and leave the personal attacks to the other side.Thanks again for all you do!
Generally, I agree with you, Terry. But any criticism of their idol, whether factual, sarcastic, or otherwise, inflames them. Among friends (like here), it provides a bit of a release.
In my published essays I try to stay on the high road, where there's a lot less traffic. I do occasionally take a detour though.
Bob, that makes sense. And I get it about the bit of release when among friends. I think I tend to be overly sensitive about the energy that's generated by ad hominem attacks. (The Lincolm Project ads have really bothered me.) I think I'll try to relax a bit about that! Happy New Year to you!
The Lincoln Project uses data-driven strategies and they can help us win with unconventional methods because,as you know,there is nothing conventional about Trump.The rest of us must do what we are able/comfortable with to help save democracy. And you certainly rock it with your activism!🏃🏻♀️
Well said, Bob. I’m generally against these ad hominem attacks, but there are some political strategists who think this is a good way to derail the idea of Trump as some kind of superhero. And, I don’t think these diehard followers are going to be convinced to do anything but fall at Trump‘s feet. Most of these Lincoln Project ads are directed at the 7 to 11% of moderate Republicans and independents who could throw the election to Biden easily. If Trump starts seeming even more unhinged than usual because of these ads, that draws voters away from him.
I do agree with this strategy of chipping away at his fake strongman persona but just can't do this particular aspect - I do however feel that his internal rottenness is seeping out in his poopy aura and that maybe finally some karmic equivalence is manifesting, and am fine with other people using this weakness... sounds rather contradictory but it's how I feel.
Trump’ Secret Service agents should be a bit more diligent concerning increasing his bathing and changing his diapers. If he lost a little weight, actually quite a bit, he could do away with the girdle and changes his own diapers. Although incontinence may come with age, laziness and incompetence don’t.
So many good things in this issue! For me personally, given the current job search situation and my 14 year job ending in less than 2 weeks, the NYT article by Mary Pipher that you shared a link to has struck a chord and brings some comfort to me, during these darker days. I too have tried to light a candle for those I've come across recently who are struggling deeply with existential concerns.
"Every day I remind myself that all over the world most people want peace. They want a safe place for their families, and they want to be good and do good. The world is filled with helpers. It is only the great darkness of this moment that can make it hard to see them.
No matter how dark the days, we can find light in our own hearts, and we can be one another’s light. We can beam light out to everyone we meet. We can let others know we are present for them, that we will try to understand. We cannot stop all the destruction, but we can light candles for one another."
Thank you for the steady doses of emotional vitamins, and may 2024 be wonderful to you, Ms. Craven!
And you, Jan! Thank YOU for all you did this year, and all that you will do this year. HNY!
Thank you, Jess -- and here's to a very Happy New Year! Two ideas for you to consider re: language choices.
1. Let's call the J6 "riot" an "insurrection." Several courts/judges have made this legal distinction, and insurrection doesn't downplay what happened into a "spontaneous unruly riot". I submit using "riot" plays into Trump/R hands that it wasn't planned. It clearly was engineered by Trump as central to his attempted coup (also a more accurate name instead of the namby-pamby "election interference").
2. Let's call "conservatives" the "extremists" they are. You could modify using "far-right", if you want. What the Missouri school board -- and too many extremist states -- is doing to citizens is extreme, hurtful and dangerous. It is not "conservative," and we fall into the R's trap. R desperately want to cast D's as profligate "liberals" who don't know the value of a dime and themselves as defenders of rational government. We know that's a lie, but it resonates with too many selfish and frightened voters. We should embrace our Big Tent philosophy that every starfish counts, and we can't let up on clearly calling out the stranglehold on too many Americans represented by R's.
Thanks for listening❣️
Excellent points, both of them. I believe in both cases I was borrowing language from the article I linked to, but even so, I will pay closer attention in the future and avoid those words.
I appreciate you more than you know!!!
Welcome home ;-)
It seems to me that the Republicans are the US equivalent of Hamas. They have a stranglehold on part our population and use them as human shields to avoid accountability. So many people in red states don't want the R extremists, but because of rigged voting maps the districts become "safe" for the extremists.
So true — brilliant!
I like streamlining the terns we us. That makes a lot of sense. It might also have a bigger impact if we all used the same words.
Happy New Year, Jess and Everyone!
p.s. I can't help myself - With all of the crap that comes out of his mouth, I think the Defendant's odor problem is his breath!
Apparently it's all of it. Also makeup. It's supposed to be quite a stench. Also, Happy New Year to you, too, Bob! Thank you for all you do!
😂😂 Actually Bob, I think he has a problem with the stench at both ends. I live for the day, if I even live that long, when I never have to hear about or see this man ever again.
Love these positive posts. They are as refreshing as they are informative. Happy, Happy New Year to you and yours ❤️😊🎉🍾
Thanks, Susan! And back at you!
😊
Oregon started providing health care to immigrants with undocumented legal status this year! https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hsd/ohp/pages/healthier-oregon.aspx#:~:text=People%20of%20Any%20Age%20or,Oregon%20Health%20Plan%20(OHP)%20Benefits
Oh wow! I will add that to next week's! Thanks!
Hmm it looks like it started in July?
Best wishes for the New Year!
Thank you for channeling resources available to help decide positive outcomes for the upcoming elections! I became inspired by your newsletters and enlisted with a postcards campaign, a step I've never taken before.
Oh, DL, that makes me so, so happy! Thank you, and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Great list! Now let’s rest up and get ready to kick butt next year!
That's right! I am doing just that! Happy New Year, Jason.
Happy New Year Jess.
And you, Dave! Thank you!
Except for the part about the Kinzinger mask, this is a great list. I will not lower myself to Trump's level.
Again, I agree that it's puerile. But see my argument above for why weakening Trump's aura of machismo and strength is important.
In small doses, I think it's apropos.
agree on this point as well... I can't and won't bring myself down to that level either.
About the Kinzinger “stink”….The Lincoln Project released a related “ stinky” ad that I thought was odd. ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-4M85B3HNg
Then I read LP Rick Wilson’s post and it all made sense.Actually all his “ rules” make sense.
“ Last week, we released a silly, fun, frankly juvenile ad about Trump’s robust odor.
We didn’t do it just to make poop jokes; we did it because we know that when Trump is angry, distracted, and focused on himself, he makes it impossible for his campaign to do what a professional campaign should be doing. It makes his attack against Biden seem even more wildly unhinged and manic.”
https://open.substack.com/pub/therickwilson/p/ten-rules-for-2024?r=fqsxl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Yeah, I also think that anything that chips away at his strongman aura, which is what his deeply insecure followers are drawn to, is valuable strategically. When he comes across as weak or small his "spell" is similarly weakened. Or one can hope.
Agree, and that’s what the Lincoln Project tends to focus on because they know that the Biden campaign won’t make ads like this. Biden is too classy a guy, but the LP has no problem coming down to Trump‘s level to agitate him. Also, happy new year, Jessica, to you and your beautiful family. Thank you for everything. You do so much that it’s really impossible to thank you adequately!
I agree that anything we can do to chip away at Trump's strongman aura is important. So I offer this thought with all respect and affection for you and your work, Jessica.
I have been watching a few interviews with Trump supporters on youtube and it seems that anything that sounds like a personal attack on him just makes them defend him more strongly. I've been concerned about the explosion of videos and social media posts about this aspect of him because it's personal, the kind of attack that riles up his defenders even more. There's a grossness to it that smacks of the way I've seen some of his supporters attack "the commies" in the videos. I think we'll have better results if we stick to criticizing his words and actions, and leave the personal attacks to the other side.Thanks again for all you do!
Generally, I agree with you, Terry. But any criticism of their idol, whether factual, sarcastic, or otherwise, inflames them. Among friends (like here), it provides a bit of a release.
In my published essays I try to stay on the high road, where there's a lot less traffic. I do occasionally take a detour though.
Happy New Year!
Bob, that makes sense. And I get it about the bit of release when among friends. I think I tend to be overly sensitive about the energy that's generated by ad hominem attacks. (The Lincolm Project ads have really bothered me.) I think I'll try to relax a bit about that! Happy New Year to you!
Chaplain Terry, I always love your spirit !
The Lincoln Project uses data-driven strategies and they can help us win with unconventional methods because,as you know,there is nothing conventional about Trump.The rest of us must do what we are able/comfortable with to help save democracy. And you certainly rock it with your activism!🏃🏻♀️
Happy New Year Year!💙
Oh, Kathy that makes so much sense! Thank you for your kind words, and blessings for the New Year!!
Well said, Bob. I’m generally against these ad hominem attacks, but there are some political strategists who think this is a good way to derail the idea of Trump as some kind of superhero. And, I don’t think these diehard followers are going to be convinced to do anything but fall at Trump‘s feet. Most of these Lincoln Project ads are directed at the 7 to 11% of moderate Republicans and independents who could throw the election to Biden easily. If Trump starts seeming even more unhinged than usual because of these ads, that draws voters away from him.
I do agree with this strategy of chipping away at his fake strongman persona but just can't do this particular aspect - I do however feel that his internal rottenness is seeping out in his poopy aura and that maybe finally some karmic equivalence is manifesting, and am fine with other people using this weakness... sounds rather contradictory but it's how I feel.
Trump’ Secret Service agents should be a bit more diligent concerning increasing his bathing and changing his diapers. If he lost a little weight, actually quite a bit, he could do away with the girdle and changes his own diapers. Although incontinence may come with age, laziness and incompetence don’t.
Agree.
Happy New Year, Jess. We will rock it!
And you, too, Victoria! And yes we will!
HAPPY NEW YEAR Jessica. Thank you so much for keeping us on it with no excuses.
FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!!
So many good things in this issue! For me personally, given the current job search situation and my 14 year job ending in less than 2 weeks, the NYT article by Mary Pipher that you shared a link to has struck a chord and brings some comfort to me, during these darker days. I too have tried to light a candle for those I've come across recently who are struggling deeply with existential concerns.
"Every day I remind myself that all over the world most people want peace. They want a safe place for their families, and they want to be good and do good. The world is filled with helpers. It is only the great darkness of this moment that can make it hard to see them.
No matter how dark the days, we can find light in our own hearts, and we can be one another’s light. We can beam light out to everyone we meet. We can let others know we are present for them, that we will try to understand. We cannot stop all the destruction, but we can light candles for one another."
Thanks for the reference to Dr. Pipher on finding light. I’m going to buy her book on meditations! Happy New Year!
Glad you are back!