Gabe you are our I.F Stone for our times, and terribly needed.===== Harris should be far in the lead. A great illness has infected the voting public. Where is the message that will tilt the race. There must be one. N. Sasowskh
Hard to argue against your thesis. I happen to live in southern Arizona and during the midterm elections I watched the Republican Party nominate candidates that were simply unelectable. Just the rambling thoughts of an old hermit.
Gabe, this is a very interesting and insightful article. I learned a lot, but it makes me shake my head. I don't know what's the matter with Those Folks.
You're a very talented writer - which you know. Keep going, keep writing, no matter what happens. We need you.
Hey Gabe, not only does the current Republican Party lack guardrails, it is, in fact, dead. It’s a stiff, bereft of life, pushing up daisies, kicked the bucket, shuffled off its mortal coil, joined the choir invisible. IT IS AN EX-PARROT!! —PARTY! I meant to say party.
Why don't I hear more from candidates about the Republicans defeating most of the bills these last four years that many of them are running on this year?
Thank you, Gabe for your insights. I have a different take on this- maybe I am just more old and cynical. My thought is this: Even though the RGA, the Republican Governors Association, has finally pulled all funding from this race, Robinson is still receiving tacit support from his Republican colleagues. I think there are two things at play here and the Republicans are doing this on purpose.
One- Donald Trump is a clown. Mark Robinson is an even sicker, demented clown. Leaving Robinson in the race to be excoriated leaves Trump alone and makes Trump look saner and less silly than he really is.
Two- When Robinson loses, all the stereotypes of the black male as unreliable and oversexed will be proven for them. See, they'll say, he lost because he’s a black male. This is what white nationists believe. They have tolerated black Americans in their Republican Party for years. Now that MAGA runs the party, Robinsons loss will prove that their racism, their stereotype is true and proven.
I think the same will happen to Kari Lake when she loses. She’s more MAGA than Trump but this will be misogyny’s win. See, they'll say, she lost because she’s a stupid, hysterical female. This fits MAGAs patriarchy profile.
The little clown scapegoats will lose so Trump can win the day by appearing more sane and tolerant, less racist and misogynistic in comparison.
Is the party supposed to have the power and authority to determine who enters the race and who gets on the ballot? Isn’t that the purpose of the primary system? Each candidate comes with his/her own flaws (some more obvious than others), but isn’t the system designed for the voters to determine who they want to represent them?
I struggle with allowing a few leaders in a party to make decisions for the voters. Should we want higher ups in the party to determine who the candidates are without using a primary system? Is the method in which Kamala became the party nominee truly a democratic way? Back room deals with party elites may ensure the candidates are more polished, but do we really want to undermine the electoral process to win an election?
For those looking to support a democratic candidate that could be in danger, look to Maryland. Both campaigns are lacking (as usual) in enthusiasm but Larry Hogan is the known and is liked enough (because he is nice although he accomplished next to nothing, mostly vetoed things, and ran against 2 very weak Democratic candidates). Some recent polls say Angela Alsobrooks is ahead but I'm still holding my breath on that Senate seat not going into McConnells win column where Larry, nice as he is (and vocally anti-trump but he vetoed MDs Bill to strengthen abortion rights) will be a back bencher and do what he is told in the Senate Note: He isn't going to vote for Harris or Trump, like GWB...two politicians choosing not to vote and both have asked for ny vote twice!
This was an excellent piece with really interesting data and analysis. Thanks! I think it helps to have an historical perspective overlaid our current political climate. That’s why I also read Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From an American Substack.
The NC GOP had a good alternative in Dale Falwell but went with Robinson since being Black still has an outsized advantage in NC. (And, perhaps everywhere. Which Democrat was willing to step in and challenge a Black Woman?) Josh Stein was almost indicted for false statements in political ads—blaming his opponent who had no control over the process of rape kits when, in fact, Stein as AG had some control. I guess that is punching above his weight. I thought Trump’s comment about Robinson being MLK Jr. on steroids might have been an attempt at humor now that we are aware that King was a womanizer. It is pretty tough to expect any Republican to condemn someone for what is reported on CNN.
Gabe you are our I.F Stone for our times, and terribly needed.===== Harris should be far in the lead. A great illness has infected the voting public. Where is the message that will tilt the race. There must be one. N. Sasowskh
Hard to argue against your thesis. I happen to live in southern Arizona and during the midterm elections I watched the Republican Party nominate candidates that were simply unelectable. Just the rambling thoughts of an old hermit.
Gabe, this is a very interesting and insightful article. I learned a lot, but it makes me shake my head. I don't know what's the matter with Those Folks.
You're a very talented writer - which you know. Keep going, keep writing, no matter what happens. We need you.
Hey Gabe, not only does the current Republican Party lack guardrails, it is, in fact, dead. It’s a stiff, bereft of life, pushing up daisies, kicked the bucket, shuffled off its mortal coil, joined the choir invisible. IT IS AN EX-PARROT!! —PARTY! I meant to say party.
Why don't I hear more from candidates about the Republicans defeating most of the bills these last four years that many of them are running on this year?
One of your best newsletters, Gabe! Excellent analysis, great & copious examples, and many superb turns of phrase. Well done!
I appreciate your insight and thoughtful writing. Congratulations.
Thank you, Gabe for your insights. I have a different take on this- maybe I am just more old and cynical. My thought is this: Even though the RGA, the Republican Governors Association, has finally pulled all funding from this race, Robinson is still receiving tacit support from his Republican colleagues. I think there are two things at play here and the Republicans are doing this on purpose.
One- Donald Trump is a clown. Mark Robinson is an even sicker, demented clown. Leaving Robinson in the race to be excoriated leaves Trump alone and makes Trump look saner and less silly than he really is.
Two- When Robinson loses, all the stereotypes of the black male as unreliable and oversexed will be proven for them. See, they'll say, he lost because he’s a black male. This is what white nationists believe. They have tolerated black Americans in their Republican Party for years. Now that MAGA runs the party, Robinsons loss will prove that their racism, their stereotype is true and proven.
I think the same will happen to Kari Lake when she loses. She’s more MAGA than Trump but this will be misogyny’s win. See, they'll say, she lost because she’s a stupid, hysterical female. This fits MAGAs patriarchy profile.
The little clown scapegoats will lose so Trump can win the day by appearing more sane and tolerant, less racist and misogynistic in comparison.
Is the party supposed to have the power and authority to determine who enters the race and who gets on the ballot? Isn’t that the purpose of the primary system? Each candidate comes with his/her own flaws (some more obvious than others), but isn’t the system designed for the voters to determine who they want to represent them?
I struggle with allowing a few leaders in a party to make decisions for the voters. Should we want higher ups in the party to determine who the candidates are without using a primary system? Is the method in which Kamala became the party nominee truly a democratic way? Back room deals with party elites may ensure the candidates are more polished, but do we really want to undermine the electoral process to win an election?
For those looking to support a democratic candidate that could be in danger, look to Maryland. Both campaigns are lacking (as usual) in enthusiasm but Larry Hogan is the known and is liked enough (because he is nice although he accomplished next to nothing, mostly vetoed things, and ran against 2 very weak Democratic candidates). Some recent polls say Angela Alsobrooks is ahead but I'm still holding my breath on that Senate seat not going into McConnells win column where Larry, nice as he is (and vocally anti-trump but he vetoed MDs Bill to strengthen abortion rights) will be a back bencher and do what he is told in the Senate Note: He isn't going to vote for Harris or Trump, like GWB...two politicians choosing not to vote and both have asked for ny vote twice!
This was an excellent piece with really interesting data and analysis. Thanks! I think it helps to have an historical perspective overlaid our current political climate. That’s why I also read Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From an American Substack.
The NC GOP had a good alternative in Dale Falwell but went with Robinson since being Black still has an outsized advantage in NC. (And, perhaps everywhere. Which Democrat was willing to step in and challenge a Black Woman?) Josh Stein was almost indicted for false statements in political ads—blaming his opponent who had no control over the process of rape kits when, in fact, Stein as AG had some control. I guess that is punching above his weight. I thought Trump’s comment about Robinson being MLK Jr. on steroids might have been an attempt at humor now that we are aware that King was a womanizer. It is pretty tough to expect any Republican to condemn someone for what is reported on CNN.
I appreciate your thoughtful insight.
Fascinating as the Republican Party keeps telling Libertarians about losing. Who is more comfortable in losing: The Libertarians or the Republicans?
I am surprised that you are citing Nate silver, another who is bought by the billionaire Peter Theil
Exactly! I dropped his sub the moment I discovered that fact. No reason to willingly give them more wealth. Make them work their grift!
How is Silver bought by Thiel? They don’t share the same politics, and Nate Silver is a self made millionaire. He doesn’t need a rich patron.