Excellent as usual Joe, even if I do end up disagreeing with you plenty. I had to chuckle at your take on the WSJ’s “non endorsement” of Trump— totally correct. On the other hand, as a remaining voice of reason on the right, they often take issue with Trump; they just correctly see the Democrats as the much worse choice.
Regarding your assertion that “the Democrat ascendency has been stopped in its tracks,” I remain skeptical. The country continuously ratchets to the left and whatever midcourse correction of sanity occurs, it never fully compensates. For example, 15-20 million illegal immigrants cross our border under Biden and are immediately housed, given health care and schooling with no realistic plan of deportation.
I support legal immigration but this is the very physical manifestation of the “Democrat ascendency” incarnate. Also an insane way to run a sovereign country, which Kamala would continue.
Ps Love the book section and would love to see your take on music and movies, and yes, even NY sports.
I concur. Both my husband and I love reading you, and we are approximately the same age, having lived many of the same experiences. Both of us have been independents as long as we could vote from the late 1960s. I was in college when the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act were enacted. However, as a woman, access to birth control was almost non-existent well before Roe vs. Wade. It was difficult pre-Title IX as an athlete (lucky I went to a girls' private high school and could compete against other girls' schools, at least until college when there were no sports whatsoever). Then, title IX happened, Roe vs. Wade and the American Disabilities Act, followed by a gradual acceptance of gay relationships/marriage and (I thought) a more diverse, multicultural society. Now, I see all of this being threatened repeatedly and supported by so many people it makes my head spin. My husband and I are avid hikers and have spent considerable time around the country in many rural and exurban places, and yes, we have seen poverty. But really, by and large, the country is healthy, changing and, in many places, improving. We had a recent experience hiking in the Kittanniny Mountains in western NJ along the Delaware River, and when we went to trailheads, we passed by lovely, well-kept homes with huge yards and two to three nice vehicles out front (including the ubiquitous, large, expensive pickup) with Trump signs, banners, flags, you name it. One after the other, maybe 90% of the homes. Also, the area has few black or brown people in site, the county seat Newton prosperous and a lovely downtown, little poverty, and looks pretty healthy. And this is just one place in the country. We have seen many. It is not about economics!!! So many people, who are not affected by the "hordes" of immigrants who are taking away their jobs, are still voting for Trump. It is totally perplexing and depressing. I have hated the left-wing identity politics but that so little affects everyday people's lives, just like the "informed wisdom" about immigrants, and it is pretty obvious that the "woke" culture stuff is disappearing. The problem is that so many Trumpists justify what they are doing by invoking a culture that is not relevant much anymore. It is all so tiring and ridiculous if it weren't so dangerous.
Don't overlook the British prcedural Line Of Duty , with an upgraded (from my childhood ) Irish Catholic curse "Jesus, Mary , Joseph, and the wee donkey "
How to spend the last weekend? I’m stocked up on beer, plan on streaming some mindless trash. It’s gonna be Real Housewives all weekend. Monday and Tuesday are gonna be the toughest to get through though. Back to work, so gotta face those days sober.
Loved your recommendations for British crime series. What about HAPPY VALLEY with the brilliant James Norton as the villain? Superb. And The Fall with Gillian Anderson.
I assume this means you've already digested all of Luther and Sherlock with Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Cheers, and here's to getting through the next few days. And the next four years.
Excellent as usual Joe, even if I do end up disagreeing with you plenty. I had to chuckle at your take on the WSJ’s “non endorsement” of Trump— totally correct. On the other hand, as a remaining voice of reason on the right, they often take issue with Trump; they just correctly see the Democrats as the much worse choice.
Regarding your assertion that “the Democrat ascendency has been stopped in its tracks,” I remain skeptical. The country continuously ratchets to the left and whatever midcourse correction of sanity occurs, it never fully compensates. For example, 15-20 million illegal immigrants cross our border under Biden and are immediately housed, given health care and schooling with no realistic plan of deportation.
I support legal immigration but this is the very physical manifestation of the “Democrat ascendency” incarnate. Also an insane way to run a sovereign country, which Kamala would continue.
Ps Love the book section and would love to see your take on music and movies, and yes, even NY sports.
Hey Potomac: it’s the Democratic ascendency.
I concur. Both my husband and I love reading you, and we are approximately the same age, having lived many of the same experiences. Both of us have been independents as long as we could vote from the late 1960s. I was in college when the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act were enacted. However, as a woman, access to birth control was almost non-existent well before Roe vs. Wade. It was difficult pre-Title IX as an athlete (lucky I went to a girls' private high school and could compete against other girls' schools, at least until college when there were no sports whatsoever). Then, title IX happened, Roe vs. Wade and the American Disabilities Act, followed by a gradual acceptance of gay relationships/marriage and (I thought) a more diverse, multicultural society. Now, I see all of this being threatened repeatedly and supported by so many people it makes my head spin. My husband and I are avid hikers and have spent considerable time around the country in many rural and exurban places, and yes, we have seen poverty. But really, by and large, the country is healthy, changing and, in many places, improving. We had a recent experience hiking in the Kittanniny Mountains in western NJ along the Delaware River, and when we went to trailheads, we passed by lovely, well-kept homes with huge yards and two to three nice vehicles out front (including the ubiquitous, large, expensive pickup) with Trump signs, banners, flags, you name it. One after the other, maybe 90% of the homes. Also, the area has few black or brown people in site, the county seat Newton prosperous and a lovely downtown, little poverty, and looks pretty healthy. And this is just one place in the country. We have seen many. It is not about economics!!! So many people, who are not affected by the "hordes" of immigrants who are taking away their jobs, are still voting for Trump. It is totally perplexing and depressing. I have hated the left-wing identity politics but that so little affects everyday people's lives, just like the "informed wisdom" about immigrants, and it is pretty obvious that the "woke" culture stuff is disappearing. The problem is that so many Trumpists justify what they are doing by invoking a culture that is not relevant much anymore. It is all so tiring and ridiculous if it weren't so dangerous.
https://open.substack.com/pub/bariweiss/p/whatever-happens-love-thy-neighbor-trump-kamala?r=4itbq&utm_medium=ios
Don't overlook the British prcedural Line Of Duty , with an upgraded (from my childhood ) Irish Catholic curse "Jesus, Mary , Joseph, and the wee donkey "
How to spend the last weekend? I’m stocked up on beer, plan on streaming some mindless trash. It’s gonna be Real Housewives all weekend. Monday and Tuesday are gonna be the toughest to get through though. Back to work, so gotta face those days sober.
Loved your recommendations for British crime series. What about HAPPY VALLEY with the brilliant James Norton as the villain? Superb. And The Fall with Gillian Anderson.
I assume this means you've already digested all of Luther and Sherlock with Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Cheers, and here's to getting through the next few days. And the next four years.
Luther and Sherlock - this is the ultimate comfort show. Really fun.