PROGRESSIVES WON IN CALIFORNIA Mark Twain’s famous quote, "The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated,"can be applied to the New York Report that California voters had rejected progressives and their vision of criminal justice reform in favor of tough-on-crime candidates, made with only a fraction of the votes counted in the low-turnout, off-year primary elections. “Election results in San Francisco and Los Angeles were the latest signs of a restless Democratic electorate that remains deeply unsatisfied and concerned about public safety,” the sub-hed of the Times’ story read.
Thanks, TC! Others (or was it you?) have pointed out that the number turning out to vote in the Chesa Boudin recall was pretty small, too small to extrapolate much at all. Needs reiterating that his recall backers working before he had done anything.
If NYT can find a negative way to spin a story on the war in Ukraine or a negative headline they use it. Depending on NYT or WaPo for news about the war would have you believe that Ukraine lost long ago. Why are they intent on turning America against supporting Ukraine?
If you check the opinion section at WaPo you will find Ukraine still supported. The problem (and if you look right here at the topics I've written on in the past 6 weeks, you'll see it here) is that we're all ending up with our own "end of the world" stories and events. You guys, being from Ukraine (at least your wife, tho you have lived there awhile) see that as the "end of the world you know" (and you're right). And it's easy here to get concerned over the very likely "end of the world" we know. I was just having a long argument with myself this morning over having not written about Ukraine recently. Welcome to the human condition - somehow, we do have to worry about all of it. That's hard.
The comment was not aimed at you. You have covered Ukraine well. And America has its own end of the world as we know it. Who is to say it may not be worse than Ukraine's situation now. I do not envy you. Ukraine knows who the enemy is and is able to physically fight back. The assistance from our allies is greatly appreciated. Putin keeps threatening to escalate the war, A very hollow threat. Escalate with what?
Allen. I am frustrated with trying to find meaningful coverage concerning Ukraine. I do not believe for one damn second the goal of reporting that minimizes the war or whose goal is gradual disinterest and reducing the intense support for Ukraine demonstrated by the American populace at beginning of war. It is a controlling aspect of the media now that I abhor. Same with recent domestic massacres and gun issues. Jump “interest” to other topics or circle around the loop to continued obsession with Trump.
One outlet I listen to every week is Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN every Sunday. Today, for 50% of the hour, he had General Patraeus and Admiral Stavridis. Strategy, motivation, historical perspective were discussed. Also the imperative goal of getting grain out of Ukraine, how to do it and risk involved were crucial points in my mind.
Not sure what media outlets you and Tanya can access, but wanted to share. And also, know that so many of us keep Ukraine close. The conflict and reasons for it are same with any conflict whose goal is to destroy democracy as the only path to authoritarianism.
It’s a war being waged on several fronts and I keep my focus on victory of the Light. For me, there is no opposite.
War Monitor on Twitter provides a pretty much up to date blow by blow on the war, with maps. https://euromaidanpress.com/ is also good at up to date on a daily basis with the ISW Institute for the study of war daily summary of every source they can lay hands on. I usually check it every couple of days.
Have you tried the Guardian? No paywall. Their Ukraine coverage is extensive. Military stuff, op eds, human interest pieces. (My relative supplied one on how teachers are doing their best in bomb shelters, students still trying to study for university entrance exams, little kids being helped to just hang in there.)
Yes. I do read that selectively. Appreciate your suggestion, Carol. My print resources for news are limited. I still will go to a few “people” on broadcast news.
Allen, It is good to find you. For the first time, I think Trump will be roped in. It is not from hope or wish, I believe he will get nailed. Will he be prosecuted? He will be exposed. Not all of his tons of dirty money will be exposed, but The Don will be Done. He was born a crooked pig, and see how long this country let him get away with it. Our 'rule of law' has a sliding scale - the ultra-rich get away with stealing from the people. As you go down the scale, ending with the minorities, punishments, deserved or not, become more severe. I know that you knew that, just wanted you to know that I know it, too!
Allen, you, the family and Ukrainian people are on my mind and in my heart. 💙💛🌻
Yes, Fern, you are right in that the J6 will sink Trump. Not enough of the rest will go to jail but at least he will. That puts DeSantis next in line. He is far more dangerous than Trump as he is much smarter. And even more evil
Not sure he'll go to jail, maybe to Russia or Hungary?
DeSantis is all you say. He is unpopular in the country. The hypnotized cult isn't big enough. He's not liked by anyone, except for the maniacs in Florida... Cannot guess where he'll land.
The Democrats better find an excellent candidate - Biden won't sell. Harris won't sell.
I think I’ve indicated before my lack of, um, appreciation for the efforts of our journalists. What gets me is why they want (clearly they want), progressives and liberals generally to fail. Class based discomfort? They also want a recession and the turnover of the House and Senate to GQP control with the midterms, but that’s a different story. Or is it?
I'm sure the bosses' interests govern a lot of it, but I also think another calculation is that when the republicans are controlling at least one of the other two branches (as they now control the Judicial branch), there's more outrage among their (mostly pretty liberal) readers, which makes us more inclined to depend on the papers involved for more "depth" than is available on tv. hence, readership increases. or am I not being cynical enough?
That's an interesting point, but everything I am seeing about media control is "movement to the center." Bezos has told the WaPo to lower the controversy, as has Sulzberger at the NYT. There's also the "centrism" going on at CNN now, with on-air talent "toning it down" following the departure of Jeff Zucker.
Question is how they define center. Have they not already leaned toward equal time for sensible and pitiful arguments ? Bothsidesism, comparing apples to ping pong balls?
David, I LIKED your comment. We need more journalism, the whole world does. I think our journalists are underappreciated. They are our heros and sheros, too. It isn't only Trump and his cadre who tear the free-press apart. Society depends on an educated citizenry. How do we know what's going on and who's doing what to whom?
There are countless examples of journalists providing vital information about what is happening here and elsewhere. A very recent example, "Proud Boys Led Major Breaches of Jan. 6 Video (2 days ago). A months long Times investigation using court documents, text messages and video reveals how teams of Proud Boys instigated critical breaches on the Capitol on Jan. 6."
I suggest that while the press is dogging tfg and the fringiest of the fringe, they equally dog progressives and I do think it’s fair to say that they instinctively root for progressive failure. Maybe it’s bothsiderism. Personally, based on my limited contact with local journalists, I suspect there is an element of classism afoot. But what accounts for the enthusiasm for declaring a recession asap? That’s not a bothsiderism thing, is it? For example George Stephanpolis (sp?) interviewed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen today and cited that 40+% (high 40’s-don’t recall the exact number), of economists predict a recession within the year, and he asked her why she doesn’t go along with that. Of course Sec. Yellen gave a reasoned answer (although if it were me I’d reply I’d rather side with the 50+% of economists who didn’t predict a recession, you dang fool. But then that’s the lawyer in me creeping out).
Clearly a recession means Democratic defeat in the midterms and a complete end to progressive policy aims for two, and maybe ten, years. I suspect there is a link other than journalists just following the boss’ orders.
Gary, I don't know what is driving your claims. My reading and research is widely based and does not in any way confirm your opinion of journalists. If you are pursuing social media, Fox News and other such outlets, so be it.
I don't know Fern, you can see the NYT, WaPo and CNN changing, and their owners have all made it clear in the recent past that "becoming centrist" is what they as the owners want to see happen. It's not Fox, it's the "lib'rul meedeeya" that's doing it.
TC,, I don''t know that I will have the time in the next day or two to write down the names of excellent journalists who have not and would not move one way or another to smudge their work -- these jump to mind - M. Schmidt, M. Haberman, N. Fandos, R. Cohen, R. Draper, N. Confessore, N. Yermak, P. Krugman, D. Fallis, M. Gold, D. Kirkpatrick, R. Grimaldi, A. Brittain, A Liptak, R. Barnes, M. Flaherty, M. Brown. I am not devoted to CNN. I make my own judgements about the coverage, which is based on careful readings. I hear a lot of complaints about the 'news'. I think some complainers do not know the difference between media outlets and journalism. Many do not know what journalism represents and its standards. Accusations are sometimes based on the readers' biases, such as wanting Biden to receive more favorable treatment, whether or not it is journalistically warranted. The economies of the newspaper business, social media, etc., have greatly reduced the amount of news available to the American public. We are at a serious juncture in terms of democracy in this country and in desperate need of local and state news, which is journalistically grounded. It appears to me that your seemingly negative perspective and the sources on which it is based warrant more discussion between us in the near future.
Gary, Thank you for your response. My main concern is about the paucity of local/state news with a journalistic foundation now not available to the American public. Complaints about the NY Times and WAPO, are understandably, however, unwarranted bashing of the free-press, and I am not speaking of the fascists now, can be harmful to an endangered source of the facts. We need more journalists on every spot in the world, including the USA. We'll 'talk' more about this subject in the near future.
At the very least, they are going with glass half empty all the time. The beat journalists maybe less so than the editors and network executives? NYT will every few days explain why Trump can escape prosecution.
Thanks for the clarification. A relief to say the least. The nation is in deep doodoo. Any voter giving their vote to anyone hanging out with the gop is voting to end democracy in this nation. If that happens, there will be one person choosing the nation's president. Apparently the gop in Texas, where Judge Luttig hales from, have produced a "platform" that makes a central statement that President Biden is illegitimately elected! Holy Cow! What he testified to is happening in his own state in real time! This crowd should be relocated to another planet since they seem to be living on one already. Unfortunately there are not enough Tesla or Bezos rockets to take them all to Mars where they could duke it out for who will be king. So that means everyone must vote against gop candidates everywhere in the U.S. And that is too bad, because the dems, unfortunately, seem to have trouble shining the light in the right direction - directly to the dark corners where chicanery is the order of the day.
Same Trump play card here as played in 2020. Claim victory early, don’t wait for the mail in votes. Cheap setup for calling fraud. Blah, blah, blah. Cringeworthy that Trump and his ilk continue the same fraudulent act of calling election fraud and claiming victory based only on in person voting. Still constantly makes headlines over real news. And the “ilk” grows. Like fleas on rats. My eye looks constantly for the least bit of integrity in any kind of reporting. There one will find real news. And it’s usually what one will term as “good” anymore.
as soon as TFF started insisting he'd won on the day after Election Day after announcing many months ahead of the that if he lost, it would be a "fix" (it seems genuinely insane to me that this particular fact is completely ignored by his people and mentioned very, very infrequently by ours), it became completely obvious to me that this was going to be their go-to strategy for every lost election forever. this doesn't bode well for the future of this republic, to say the least. in this two-party system we (which we weren't SUPPOSED to have, according to the Founders) I think it's the biggest indication that the future of this republic might end up being no republic at all.
Thanks for the clarification. Gives us hope. But sadly, it won't be the stuff of headlines. And the recall will add to the self flagellation of Democrats who never seem to tire of defeatism.
I refer all to Robert Hubbell who lays out the sordid truth and THEN offers solutions.
TC, it could be worse. At least you don't live in Texas...
Thank you TC for the update on the voting results. Have been wondering how it went since I live in a small CA town with limited news availability and our only local TV news all comes from LA. Your info is so encouraging to hear especially the Mayor race in LA, even tho I don't get to vote on that issue. Glad Mr. Mallworld isn't doing good. `Again, thanks.
Law enforcement has lost any honor it pretended it ever had. I hope those progressive/reform candidates succeed in the general election.
Which makes me sad that an honorable person like you is tarred with that brush.
Yes. Worse than that are those who believe with all their hearts they are honorable. And aren’t.
Thanks, TC! Others (or was it you?) have pointed out that the number turning out to vote in the Chesa Boudin recall was pretty small, too small to extrapolate much at all. Needs reiterating that his recall backers working before he had done anything.
If NYT can find a negative way to spin a story on the war in Ukraine or a negative headline they use it. Depending on NYT or WaPo for news about the war would have you believe that Ukraine lost long ago. Why are they intent on turning America against supporting Ukraine?
If you check the opinion section at WaPo you will find Ukraine still supported. The problem (and if you look right here at the topics I've written on in the past 6 weeks, you'll see it here) is that we're all ending up with our own "end of the world" stories and events. You guys, being from Ukraine (at least your wife, tho you have lived there awhile) see that as the "end of the world you know" (and you're right). And it's easy here to get concerned over the very likely "end of the world" we know. I was just having a long argument with myself this morning over having not written about Ukraine recently. Welcome to the human condition - somehow, we do have to worry about all of it. That's hard.
The comment was not aimed at you. You have covered Ukraine well. And America has its own end of the world as we know it. Who is to say it may not be worse than Ukraine's situation now. I do not envy you. Ukraine knows who the enemy is and is able to physically fight back. The assistance from our allies is greatly appreciated. Putin keeps threatening to escalate the war, A very hollow threat. Escalate with what?
Well, nonetheless, I responded since I did feel guilty for "not keeping up." Thanks.
Well, don't, please
Allen. I am frustrated with trying to find meaningful coverage concerning Ukraine. I do not believe for one damn second the goal of reporting that minimizes the war or whose goal is gradual disinterest and reducing the intense support for Ukraine demonstrated by the American populace at beginning of war. It is a controlling aspect of the media now that I abhor. Same with recent domestic massacres and gun issues. Jump “interest” to other topics or circle around the loop to continued obsession with Trump.
One outlet I listen to every week is Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN every Sunday. Today, for 50% of the hour, he had General Patraeus and Admiral Stavridis. Strategy, motivation, historical perspective were discussed. Also the imperative goal of getting grain out of Ukraine, how to do it and risk involved were crucial points in my mind.
Not sure what media outlets you and Tanya can access, but wanted to share. And also, know that so many of us keep Ukraine close. The conflict and reasons for it are same with any conflict whose goal is to destroy democracy as the only path to authoritarianism.
It’s a war being waged on several fronts and I keep my focus on victory of the Light. For me, there is no opposite.
Traitors and treason…go f*ck yourselves.
Unidad,Allen!
War Monitor on Twitter provides a pretty much up to date blow by blow on the war, with maps. https://euromaidanpress.com/ is also good at up to date on a daily basis with the ISW Institute for the study of war daily summary of every source they can lay hands on. I usually check it every couple of days.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/06/19/russo-ukrainian-war-day-116-russia-fails-to-establish-full-control-of-sievierodonetsk-5-for-5-prisoners-exchange-successful/
As to discussions of the war by arm chair experts, I'm not a fan though I listen to or read a few
Have you tried the Guardian? No paywall. Their Ukraine coverage is extensive. Military stuff, op eds, human interest pieces. (My relative supplied one on how teachers are doing their best in bomb shelters, students still trying to study for university entrance exams, little kids being helped to just hang in there.)
Yes. I do read that selectively. Appreciate your suggestion, Carol. My print resources for news are limited. I still will go to a few “people” on broadcast news.
Allen, It is good to find you. For the first time, I think Trump will be roped in. It is not from hope or wish, I believe he will get nailed. Will he be prosecuted? He will be exposed. Not all of his tons of dirty money will be exposed, but The Don will be Done. He was born a crooked pig, and see how long this country let him get away with it. Our 'rule of law' has a sliding scale - the ultra-rich get away with stealing from the people. As you go down the scale, ending with the minorities, punishments, deserved or not, become more severe. I know that you knew that, just wanted you to know that I know it, too!
Allen, you, the family and Ukrainian people are on my mind and in my heart. 💙💛🌻
Yes, Fern, you are right in that the J6 will sink Trump. Not enough of the rest will go to jail but at least he will. That puts DeSantis next in line. He is far more dangerous than Trump as he is much smarter. And even more evil
Right, ? ? Right, Right.
Not sure he'll go to jail, maybe to Russia or Hungary?
DeSantis is all you say. He is unpopular in the country. The hypnotized cult isn't big enough. He's not liked by anyone, except for the maniacs in Florida... Cannot guess where he'll land.
The Democrats better find an excellent candidate - Biden won't sell. Harris won't sell.
Klobuchar?
Read this from WAPO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/22/liberal-money-election-deniers/
It's two v. one re the NY Times and WAPO. We'll duke it out another time.
T🌻ke a hug!
Hah! I love your Kane connection…!
I hope Mr. Mallworld has a little Rosebud to give him solace.
I think I’ve indicated before my lack of, um, appreciation for the efforts of our journalists. What gets me is why they want (clearly they want), progressives and liberals generally to fail. Class based discomfort? They also want a recession and the turnover of the House and Senate to GQP control with the midterms, but that’s a different story. Or is it?
It's what their bosses want, and they know which side the bread is buttered on.
I'm sure the bosses' interests govern a lot of it, but I also think another calculation is that when the republicans are controlling at least one of the other two branches (as they now control the Judicial branch), there's more outrage among their (mostly pretty liberal) readers, which makes us more inclined to depend on the papers involved for more "depth" than is available on tv. hence, readership increases. or am I not being cynical enough?
That's an interesting point, but everything I am seeing about media control is "movement to the center." Bezos has told the WaPo to lower the controversy, as has Sulzberger at the NYT. There's also the "centrism" going on at CNN now, with on-air talent "toning it down" following the departure of Jeff Zucker.
Question is how they define center. Have they not already leaned toward equal time for sensible and pitiful arguments ? Bothsidesism, comparing apples to ping pong balls?
David, I LIKED your comment. We need more journalism, the whole world does. I think our journalists are underappreciated. They are our heros and sheros, too. It isn't only Trump and his cadre who tear the free-press apart. Society depends on an educated citizenry. How do we know what's going on and who's doing what to whom?
There are countless examples of journalists providing vital information about what is happening here and elsewhere. A very recent example, "Proud Boys Led Major Breaches of Jan. 6 Video (2 days ago). A months long Times investigation using court documents, text messages and video reveals how teams of Proud Boys instigated critical breaches on the Capitol on Jan. 6."
I suggest that while the press is dogging tfg and the fringiest of the fringe, they equally dog progressives and I do think it’s fair to say that they instinctively root for progressive failure. Maybe it’s bothsiderism. Personally, based on my limited contact with local journalists, I suspect there is an element of classism afoot. But what accounts for the enthusiasm for declaring a recession asap? That’s not a bothsiderism thing, is it? For example George Stephanpolis (sp?) interviewed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen today and cited that 40+% (high 40’s-don’t recall the exact number), of economists predict a recession within the year, and he asked her why she doesn’t go along with that. Of course Sec. Yellen gave a reasoned answer (although if it were me I’d reply I’d rather side with the 50+% of economists who didn’t predict a recession, you dang fool. But then that’s the lawyer in me creeping out).
Clearly a recession means Democratic defeat in the midterms and a complete end to progressive policy aims for two, and maybe ten, years. I suspect there is a link other than journalists just following the boss’ orders.
Gary, I don't know what is driving your claims. My reading and research is widely based and does not in any way confirm your opinion of journalists. If you are pursuing social media, Fox News and other such outlets, so be it.
I don't know Fern, you can see the NYT, WaPo and CNN changing, and their owners have all made it clear in the recent past that "becoming centrist" is what they as the owners want to see happen. It's not Fox, it's the "lib'rul meedeeya" that's doing it.
TC,, I don''t know that I will have the time in the next day or two to write down the names of excellent journalists who have not and would not move one way or another to smudge their work -- these jump to mind - M. Schmidt, M. Haberman, N. Fandos, R. Cohen, R. Draper, N. Confessore, N. Yermak, P. Krugman, D. Fallis, M. Gold, D. Kirkpatrick, R. Grimaldi, A. Brittain, A Liptak, R. Barnes, M. Flaherty, M. Brown. I am not devoted to CNN. I make my own judgements about the coverage, which is based on careful readings. I hear a lot of complaints about the 'news'. I think some complainers do not know the difference between media outlets and journalism. Many do not know what journalism represents and its standards. Accusations are sometimes based on the readers' biases, such as wanting Biden to receive more favorable treatment, whether or not it is journalistically warranted. The economies of the newspaper business, social media, etc., have greatly reduced the amount of news available to the American public. We are at a serious juncture in terms of democracy in this country and in desperate need of local and state news, which is journalistically grounded. It appears to me that your seemingly negative perspective and the sources on which it is based warrant more discussion between us in the near future.
I steer clear of Fox and it’s ilk. I guess we just have different sensitivities to the tone of the coverage.
I see what you see and the people at Puck News have been covering the changes.
Gary, Thank you for your response. My main concern is about the paucity of local/state news with a journalistic foundation now not available to the American public. Complaints about the NY Times and WAPO, are understandably, however, unwarranted bashing of the free-press, and I am not speaking of the fascists now, can be harmful to an endangered source of the facts. We need more journalists on every spot in the world, including the USA. We'll 'talk' more about this subject in the near future.
At the very least, they are going with glass half empty all the time. The beat journalists maybe less so than the editors and network executives? NYT will every few days explain why Trump can escape prosecution.
Thanks for the clarification. A relief to say the least. The nation is in deep doodoo. Any voter giving their vote to anyone hanging out with the gop is voting to end democracy in this nation. If that happens, there will be one person choosing the nation's president. Apparently the gop in Texas, where Judge Luttig hales from, have produced a "platform" that makes a central statement that President Biden is illegitimately elected! Holy Cow! What he testified to is happening in his own state in real time! This crowd should be relocated to another planet since they seem to be living on one already. Unfortunately there are not enough Tesla or Bezos rockets to take them all to Mars where they could duke it out for who will be king. So that means everyone must vote against gop candidates everywhere in the U.S. And that is too bad, because the dems, unfortunately, seem to have trouble shining the light in the right direction - directly to the dark corners where chicanery is the order of the day.
Dead-on right!
TC, you should send this to the NYT! It appears to be in the business of making news instead of reporting it.
Same Trump play card here as played in 2020. Claim victory early, don’t wait for the mail in votes. Cheap setup for calling fraud. Blah, blah, blah. Cringeworthy that Trump and his ilk continue the same fraudulent act of calling election fraud and claiming victory based only on in person voting. Still constantly makes headlines over real news. And the “ilk” grows. Like fleas on rats. My eye looks constantly for the least bit of integrity in any kind of reporting. There one will find real news. And it’s usually what one will term as “good” anymore.
Unita. 🗽
as soon as TFF started insisting he'd won on the day after Election Day after announcing many months ahead of the that if he lost, it would be a "fix" (it seems genuinely insane to me that this particular fact is completely ignored by his people and mentioned very, very infrequently by ours), it became completely obvious to me that this was going to be their go-to strategy for every lost election forever. this doesn't bode well for the future of this republic, to say the least. in this two-party system we (which we weren't SUPPOSED to have, according to the Founders) I think it's the biggest indication that the future of this republic might end up being no republic at all.
TC: I feel much more upbeat now after reading your CA progressive election update piece knowing there’s a glimmer of hope. Good one.
Thanks for the clarification. Gives us hope. But sadly, it won't be the stuff of headlines. And the recall will add to the self flagellation of Democrats who never seem to tire of defeatism.
I refer all to Robert Hubbell who lays out the sordid truth and THEN offers solutions.
TC, it could be worse. At least you don't live in Texas...
Thank you TC for the update on the voting results. Have been wondering how it went since I live in a small CA town with limited news availability and our only local TV news all comes from LA. Your info is so encouraging to hear especially the Mayor race in LA, even tho I don't get to vote on that issue. Glad Mr. Mallworld isn't doing good. `Again, thanks.
Thanks, TC. Good news is always welcome news!