as Ruth often says, Trump doesn't care if people loose their lives to support him, demonstrated in this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/03/us/politics/trump-pa-rally-election.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XE4.TxmA.d_VKUBCDzcyA&smid=url-share "Later, acknowledging a gap in the protective glass, he gestured to the press area. “They’re my glass,” he said. “Those people are my glass . . . His spokesman, Steven Cheung, later claimed that the comments from Mr. Trump . . . had “nothing to do with the media being harmed” but rather “actually looking out for their welfare.” We're in uncanny territory folks, where words can mean anything but their meaning; however, more in tune with Ruth's LUCID message earlier today: we're on a roll joyfully strengthening democracy. Go Team!
The threat to this nation comes in two parts; the fact that tRump is a very sick man, mentally, and that his supporters are in denial that he is sick. No one in their right mind would elect a lunatic, so MAGAs simply say he's normal. The motivated reasoning here is just stunning.
I was a strong supporter of Joe Biden, and was unhappy about the efforts to get him to step down, but the minute Kamala Harris opened her mouth and started talking, I realized that the change was exactly what we needed as a country. We desperately need to feel hope, and like there's a possibility of change, and Harris/Walz bring that to us. I very much hope they win the election, and I'm certain that if they do, they will help us to stay motivated to effect change.
Me too. I am happy to say I was wrong. I was afraid that misogyny & racism would keep Kamala from winning & any other candidate would not have the time to create a campaign. Kamala has been perfect for the moment. I am confident she’ll win & Dems will retake the House.
I was very much afraid of all the misogyny and racism, too. But Kamala's style draws people in and it's difficult (IMO) to resist her, especially since she is offering hope and change, something I think we all want and need.
Rick… so very true in my opinion. If the media would just shut up about Trump it would stop giving him the free press he gets. Negative or positive press it still keeps him in the American psyche and its subconscious influence upon us as we go to the polls soon! Money talks and he is good copy with his insane comments every few days. Keeps us thinking about him that’s for sure! Aaaaag I need an exorcism after this election and probably a touch up exorcism or two over the next few months. We know what’s coming ahead!
One of the things that I hope for is that all that education Ruth and others have done gets recognized as a significant contribution to American democracy. While the election isn't determined yet, it's clear to me that people are more aware of autocracy than ever before. And that matters.
Keep up the good work of educating our less aware fellow citizens. We cannot turn our backs on them. One day they will realize they were fed a false set of principles. Just like the America First Movement of the late 1930s they chose the wrong horse. The good guys win in the movies. In real life, we have to make the change happen just like other Americans did in the 1940s.
Well said, such a good point. Fellow Americans, come to your senses see with your eyes. Unbelievable as these egregious acts are, embrace courage to see the falsehoods. Come back to center.
Your message is so inspiring and encouraging. . . . thank you for everything you are doing . . . . This message of Hope could not come out a better time.
Our responsibility, as it has ever been, is to continue the work of keeping democracy healthy and inclusive, no matter the outcome of this election! It's been too easy to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting, so let's keep nourishing this democratic system, this republic, staying involved.
Thanks for the optimistic letter. I have much concern that if the Harris ticket does not prevail, the Heritage members fully are intent on permanence and regardless of the majority will, seek to keep power and have been working to set the locks and bolts in place.
So reassuring to know we have experts like Ruth who can help us all see our way through. Authentic candidates generate actual power within the people- a power We may have let wane. But No More!
After a quarter of a century we are arguing about democracy. Back then we had truly majestic arguments forwarded by the likes of Jefferson, Franklin, Adams et al … now we have Trump and MAGA who preach fascism but without truly understanding what it is. This is the horrific opposite of progress.
A depraved, demented sociopath who threatens courageous adversaries like Liz Cheney with firing squad vs Harris Walz... #VoteBlue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB23KtHIPO
Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat: With vivid memories of 1960, Joyful Warrior, Kamala Harris, has run the very best, most substantive, most charismatic campaign since my very fond memory of the young Jack Kennedy and equally Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.
It is very worrying that the GOP is overwhelmed with the radical-right racist wing.
As long as our good, conservative fellow-citizens fail to get middle-right, responsible leadership, but instead are with the MAGA-KKK hucksters, we will face the tension of each Presidential race putting our very Democracy at perilous risk.
This peril is not a stable basis for the preservation of our liberties.
Even as an Elizabeth-Warren Democrat, and even though I disagree with traditional Conservatives on 90% of the issues, and disagree substantively and strongly with them, these disagreements are within the core-values of our Democracy as formulated in The Federalist Papers.
It is in my own best interests, as an Elizabeth Warren Democrat, that there be a competitive, responsible Conservative, right-of-center Party with popular strength and with pushback against programs I hold dear.
I welcome the day when the Republicans turn to traditions represented by Bob Dole, Jack Kemp, John Boehner, and Asa Hutchinson, and Democrats and Republicans have to fight hard to obtain votes from the middle. Such a party would urge fiscal restraint and try to reduce government regulation, and they would continue to drive me nuts, but they would represent the core values of our Democracy as set forth in "The Federalist Papers," and I would form friendships across the aisle, while arguing vigorously over policy.
But I would recognize: Our differences would be substantial, but our country is safe.
As long as one of the major parties veers towards Fascism, our Republic faces continuous dangers and instability. This fascist leaning would either lead towards tyranny or would render our democracy unstable.
GOP: Please bring back responsible, conservative, right of center leadership with the core values of "The Federalist Papers." This is an imperative for the stability of our Republic!
You’re giving me insight I didn’t have. I hadn’t thought of the possibility that we may now see the sunset of the duopoly and a future of a multiparty system. This is compelling.
Yes, Ruth! Yes !Yes! History is all about stories people tell about themselves and others. Let's maintain or create our common good: freedom / democracy/ our sacred constitutional contract with one another. How can we find a medium that will reach and spread to as many folks as possible, now especially when we exist in media bubbles separating us, with reliable and unreliable information, where autocrats, tyrants and dictators want to ban art, books, story-telling, conversations 1st amendment stuff as "dangerous" unless it is autocrat-sanctioned. After all didn't J.D. reach thousands with his "fly-over country" HILLBILLY Elegy memoir. My new question: Does anyone know how the got published? Who promoted it? Who paid him to write it?
Keep the faith and thanks Ruth for all you do!
as Ruth often says, Trump doesn't care if people loose their lives to support him, demonstrated in this article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/03/us/politics/trump-pa-rally-election.html?unlocked_article_code=1.XE4.TxmA.d_VKUBCDzcyA&smid=url-share "Later, acknowledging a gap in the protective glass, he gestured to the press area. “They’re my glass,” he said. “Those people are my glass . . . His spokesman, Steven Cheung, later claimed that the comments from Mr. Trump . . . had “nothing to do with the media being harmed” but rather “actually looking out for their welfare.” We're in uncanny territory folks, where words can mean anything but their meaning; however, more in tune with Ruth's LUCID message earlier today: we're on a roll joyfully strengthening democracy. Go Team!
The threat to this nation comes in two parts; the fact that tRump is a very sick man, mentally, and that his supporters are in denial that he is sick. No one in their right mind would elect a lunatic, so MAGAs simply say he's normal. The motivated reasoning here is just stunning.
I was a strong supporter of Joe Biden, and was unhappy about the efforts to get him to step down, but the minute Kamala Harris opened her mouth and started talking, I realized that the change was exactly what we needed as a country. We desperately need to feel hope, and like there's a possibility of change, and Harris/Walz bring that to us. I very much hope they win the election, and I'm certain that if they do, they will help us to stay motivated to effect change.
Me too. I am happy to say I was wrong. I was afraid that misogyny & racism would keep Kamala from winning & any other candidate would not have the time to create a campaign. Kamala has been perfect for the moment. I am confident she’ll win & Dems will retake the House.
I was very much afraid of all the misogyny and racism, too. But Kamala's style draws people in and it's difficult (IMO) to resist her, especially since she is offering hope and change, something I think we all want and need.
Democracy has a real chance now, but it's still a rough road ahead if big media keeps trying to sabotage it.
Rick… so very true in my opinion. If the media would just shut up about Trump it would stop giving him the free press he gets. Negative or positive press it still keeps him in the American psyche and its subconscious influence upon us as we go to the polls soon! Money talks and he is good copy with his insane comments every few days. Keeps us thinking about him that’s for sure! Aaaaag I need an exorcism after this election and probably a touch up exorcism or two over the next few months. We know what’s coming ahead!
One of the things that I hope for is that all that education Ruth and others have done gets recognized as a significant contribution to American democracy. While the election isn't determined yet, it's clear to me that people are more aware of autocracy than ever before. And that matters.
"..... that people are more aware of autocracy... "
And its ugliness!
Seeing neighbors embracing fascism is shocking. They easily made the leap from Republicanism to fascism.
Inexplicable, Steve! I’m 79 & my eyes can’t believe it!
Keep up the good work of educating our less aware fellow citizens. We cannot turn our backs on them. One day they will realize they were fed a false set of principles. Just like the America First Movement of the late 1930s they chose the wrong horse. The good guys win in the movies. In real life, we have to make the change happen just like other Americans did in the 1940s.
Well said, such a good point. Fellow Americans, come to your senses see with your eyes. Unbelievable as these egregious acts are, embrace courage to see the falsehoods. Come back to center.
Your message is so inspiring and encouraging. . . . thank you for everything you are doing . . . . This message of Hope could not come out a better time.
Our responsibility, as it has ever been, is to continue the work of keeping democracy healthy and inclusive, no matter the outcome of this election! It's been too easy to sit back and let others do the heavy lifting, so let's keep nourishing this democratic system, this republic, staying involved.
Thanks for the optimistic letter. I have much concern that if the Harris ticket does not prevail, the Heritage members fully are intent on permanence and regardless of the majority will, seek to keep power and have been working to set the locks and bolts in place.
So reassuring to know we have experts like Ruth who can help us all see our way through. Authentic candidates generate actual power within the people- a power We may have let wane. But No More!
May the force be with us......
After a quarter of a century we are arguing about democracy. Back then we had truly majestic arguments forwarded by the likes of Jefferson, Franklin, Adams et al … now we have Trump and MAGA who preach fascism but without truly understanding what it is. This is the horrific opposite of progress.
Still, valiant nonetheless.
A depraved, demented sociopath who threatens courageous adversaries like Liz Cheney with firing squad vs Harris Walz... #VoteBlue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB23KtHIPO
Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat: With vivid memories of 1960, Joyful Warrior, Kamala Harris, has run the very best, most substantive, most charismatic campaign since my very fond memory of the young Jack Kennedy and equally Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.
It is very worrying that the GOP is overwhelmed with the radical-right racist wing.
As long as our good, conservative fellow-citizens fail to get middle-right, responsible leadership, but instead are with the MAGA-KKK hucksters, we will face the tension of each Presidential race putting our very Democracy at perilous risk.
This peril is not a stable basis for the preservation of our liberties.
Even as an Elizabeth-Warren Democrat, and even though I disagree with traditional Conservatives on 90% of the issues, and disagree substantively and strongly with them, these disagreements are within the core-values of our Democracy as formulated in The Federalist Papers.
It is in my own best interests, as an Elizabeth Warren Democrat, that there be a competitive, responsible Conservative, right-of-center Party with popular strength and with pushback against programs I hold dear.
I welcome the day when the Republicans turn to traditions represented by Bob Dole, Jack Kemp, John Boehner, and Asa Hutchinson, and Democrats and Republicans have to fight hard to obtain votes from the middle. Such a party would urge fiscal restraint and try to reduce government regulation, and they would continue to drive me nuts, but they would represent the core values of our Democracy as set forth in "The Federalist Papers," and I would form friendships across the aisle, while arguing vigorously over policy.
But I would recognize: Our differences would be substantial, but our country is safe.
As long as one of the major parties veers towards Fascism, our Republic faces continuous dangers and instability. This fascist leaning would either lead towards tyranny or would render our democracy unstable.
GOP: Please bring back responsible, conservative, right of center leadership with the core values of "The Federalist Papers." This is an imperative for the stability of our Republic!
You’re giving me insight I didn’t have. I hadn’t thought of the possibility that we may now see the sunset of the duopoly and a future of a multiparty system. This is compelling.
Yes, Ruth! Yes !Yes! History is all about stories people tell about themselves and others. Let's maintain or create our common good: freedom / democracy/ our sacred constitutional contract with one another. How can we find a medium that will reach and spread to as many folks as possible, now especially when we exist in media bubbles separating us, with reliable and unreliable information, where autocrats, tyrants and dictators want to ban art, books, story-telling, conversations 1st amendment stuff as "dangerous" unless it is autocrat-sanctioned. After all didn't J.D. reach thousands with his "fly-over country" HILLBILLY Elegy memoir. My new question: Does anyone know how the got published? Who promoted it? Who paid him to write it?