You are right that the first response is to try and come up with a harsh rebuttal when someone says something harsh, especially when it is online and not face to face. I ask for nuance when trying to explain my positions, and try to give it to others.
Do I miss you on CNN, yes I do because I like your point of view. But, now I get it in a different place. You keep doing you, I thought the speeches last night by the Obamas were amazing, and how wonderful it is to hear a well written speech delivered by great orators.
Chris: I’ve been reading you every day since you started your Substack column. You’ve written many good ones, but your piece today furthering what President Obama said in his speech last night at the DNC is easily one of your best! Brilliant!
As long as Donald J Trump is at the helm of the Republican Party, there will not be civility. He, and his adherents, are incapable of it. And having a “no insults” rule on the part of Democrats would be meaningless .Trump’s incessant nastiness is tiring, and it is not useful. It gets him no more new voters, and his magafolk have heard it all before.I enjoy the occasional nuanced “dick joke” in the context in which Barack Obama presented it. That said, I would not want to see Democrats go one-on-one with Republicans in mud slinging.
I agree. I also agree with Chris. I don't know what the answer is. Remember Michelle Obama's line "when they go low, we go high"? That seems so quaint now, and unrealistic. The whole "they're so weird" thing that took off. I honestly think it caught trump and others by surprise. He sputtered for a while trying to figure how to respond--which in my book is a good thing.
Chris, I could not agree more. Having three young adult children who are all voters I worry they will eventually just tune out all political news and not vote. Democracy works best when the public stays informed, discusses opinions civilly, and votes
Chris: This post is exactly why I'm a founding (or whatever you call it) subscriber. And as for CNN and popping off. It's natural. It's human. I get it. But if you step back and look at your body of work and the community you've built since then, while CNN closed one door to you, it pointed you to a window that you opened and let this Substack sunshine in. Just wait until you have 10,000 paid subscribers - you'll thank CNN for the kick in the ass and punch in the face that got you here.
I dunno Chris... with all due respect... and I mean this sincerely.... I don't think that there is any room for discussion, compromise, or "seeing the other side" with Nazis/Fascists.... Trump and his MAGA meatheads represent an existential threat to our democracy and way of life (Joe Biden: right message, wrong messenger). I don't see how "dialog" is within the realm of possibility.
FDR didn't seek "dialog" with Hitler. Politicians today don't look for "common ground" with the KKK. I believe that the same applies to Trump and all his supporters.
My only hope is that after many years of following a supply-side economic model (in which we lost a significant chunk of our domestic manufacturing capabilities and pretty much abandoned all of the workers in those industries), followed by four years of Trump, and a global economic crash due to the pandemic, that we've been able to take the first steps towards "recovery" under Biden's administration.
I also think that during this period many voters simply gave up and tuned everything out.
My hope is that Kamala Harris has reignited a spark of optimism, and that the sheer number of voters that gave up on the system might be motivated enough to return to the voting booths in November and take back the power and the momentum. In short, I think the number of voters that seek a return to "normalcy" far exceeds the number of angry haters in the MAGA propaganda cult. We're already seeing signs of that from Donnie Dementia. His amour has been penetrated and far too many people have come to the realization that he's all bluster and volume, and there's simply nothing there. He's been publicly castrated and has nothing more to offer other than regurgitated soundbites from 2016 and 2020. His act has gotten old and stale.
Unfortunately, I see terrifying parallels between the US today and pre-1933 Germany:
1. Society alienated by an economy that has excluded huges numbers of them
2. A dysfunctional government (Weimar Republic) that never really provides answers that make most people's live better
3 A doddering President (Hindenburg) who is more of a figurehead than a capable leader
4. A dictator wannabe (you know who) lusting for unlimited power
5. A legal environment where the President/Fuhrer is legally allowed to do anything they want (Enabling Act) as long as it's within the exercise of their duties
Pretty incredible, isn't it? And the only thing standing between us and internment camps for political opponents is Kamala Harris.................
Even if Harris gets elected in November and continues Biden's general objectives regarding the economic restoration of the country, it doesn't do anything to address the two HUGE elephants still in the room; all members of the do-nothing-beyond-being-vocal-and-obstructionist MAGA propaganda cult still in Congress, and the overtly corrupt Supreme Court.
Perhaps this movement will be large enough and powerful enough to capture majorities in both houses of Congress. And perhaps some of the dottering right-wing enablers on the Supreme Court will decide to step down when faced with charges of Impeachment.
But let's get Harris and Walz in place first before we try to tackle the rest.
Right on, my friend! First we have to deal with the existential threat to our way of life. Then we need to address root causes. That will take more time, but we will have bought ourselves sometime by defeating Trump. Just like the MAGA meatheads, it's possible to understand why Germans supported Hitler without excusing them for it.
BTW - I thought of a 6th parallel between the US in 2024 and Weimar Germany:
6. The party seeking absolute power has issued a manifesto (Mein Kampf) that lays out precisely what they plan to do once they gain power (Projject 2025 anyone???)
I don’t disagree with your take on the magatts… at the same time… painting all of ANY group with the same broad brush doesn’t leave any room for compromise. Compromise is what democracy is about. Otherwise we’d have a parliament , prime minister from a single party. No split governments.
There are thousands of Republicans that are not Trump lovers but can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democrat. I think I’d be in the same boat if the shoe was on the other foot.
And I'm sure that there were some Nazis in Germany that were "very fine people" and shouldn't be painted with the same brush.... My point is that there IS no room for compromise with racism, hatred and ignorance. Seeking "common ground" only normalizes their evil beliefs....
Germans in the 40’s is a good comparison. Not every German was a supporter… some had no idea of the genocide taking place. Some simply remained silent out of fear. There should be no compromise on defending the constitution… I agree. But not all members of the Republican Party are maga. Talking to those people we shouldn’t assume they have those same beliefs
Yes.... but in the 1930s.... Hitler was universally popular amongst the Germans. He got like 90%+ of the vote in the last election before the war.... Germans only began turning against Hitler and developing amneisia when they realized that the war was lost and they were going to be occupied (by the US/UK if they were lucky, by the Soviets if they weren't....._)
I have the same fear. I just read an opinion piece from Newsweek that spewed such ridiculous, unfounded hate towards President Biden and Democrats that it makes me wonder how much progress we can make slamming our kindness into brick walls. But I'm all for trying whatever it takes to make the world a kinder and better place.
While I agree to some extend with your initial comment, ie how do you compromise with fascists and Nazis, your “two inches to the right” comment just dots the “i” and crosses the “t” on Chris’s *entire* argument in this column! We cannot think, for a second, that we’re “better” than the MAGA cult of personality when we stoop to even the *suggestion* of political violence being acceptable.
I'm sorry.... but we ARE better than a bunch of NAZIS and FASCISTS that want to destroy our democracy... At least... *** I *** am better. I would like to thnk that you are as well.
I notice that no one has any objections to the thought of political violence if it had been directed against Hitler and spared us the Holocaust and horrors of WW2... I fail to see the difference...
Chris - all by myself, in my office, I just gave you a raucous standing applause. Thank you for saying (writing) it. As much as I try to walk in other’s shoes, I, too, am guilty of reacting and attacking without thinking from time-to-time. I thought of this last night listening to Obama, and am truly appreciative of your highlighting this again today.
I will re-double my efforts to do better. Thank you for highlighting this issue.
Chris, well said. If you will bear with me, there has been something good out of the Trump takeover of the Republican Party. I had been a life long Republican and for the most part voted the straight party line. One deviation was when I voted for Perot. Things changed in 2020. I could no longer support the Republican Party. What that did for me was to open up my eyes to the other side. Yes, there are policy ideas and concepts that I don’t agree with, but I have found the other side is not evil, as was being espoused by the pundits I had followed. These were all well educated persons, with what I perceived were strong values and principles. But they lacked the one value that I have come to appreciate and seek. You spelled it out well — GRACE. I need it and I need to freely give it to others.
Excellent post. Improving the system often requires improving ourselves, and that's the biggest challenge. In part because it's SO DAMN EASY to supply a snarky reply.
Last week when Kamala Harris outlined her economic plans, one commenter scolded you for not emphasizing it sufficiently. I drafted a reply, edited it a bunch of times, and finally realized that that I been super critical of many of your posts over the previous three weeks. In the past the general rule of thumb was to write down all of your angry thoughts today, and if you felt the same way the following morning, send the letter. Technology has pretty much eliminated the sleep-on-it delay. The writing and editing of my reply to the commenter provided me with the opportunity to realize that I'd been an ass with some of my comments to you. Boiling it down I think it all stemmed from general insecurities. After Biden stepped down and Harris took the top spot, a long dormant feeling of hope, optimism, and (yes) joy, sprung up like a flower in the Spring. And who the "f" is Chris Cillizza to pop my West Wing fantasy bubble with posts dealing with the realities of issues happening on the ground? I'll put that so-and-so in his place with my own witty retorts!!!
If the Titanic could turn on a dime it would just be another forgotten steamship from the past. Changing society will take some time, but perhaps we're making the first course adjustment away from the divisiveness of our recent past.
In line with the above, a few weeks ago I submitted a Q that didn't make the cut to to receive an A from you, so perhaps you'll reconsider it now.
What do you see as the lifespan of the MAGA Republican movement? 5 years? 10 years? 50 years? Has it been so ingrained that it will still be as powerful as it is today after Trump dies, or is there a realistic chance that the remnants of the old Republican party Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, etc.) could regain some of its stature?
This is just my opinion, but I think when Trump dies, the MAGA cult will too. Their leader will be gone, and I don’t think there’s anyone who could replace him, thankfully!
You are right on the mark Chris. We are better than what is happening these days. We all need to wake up and take responsibility for being decent, civil human beings. Differences are what makes this country special. We can and should learn something every day. Today day you delivered an excellent message and something to think about and learn from. Thank you!
Amen to your comments. Especially the last 2 paragraphs. I have been snoozing friends on Facebook due to the rancor of recent posts. Maybe I should find another way.........
I am going to recount a conversation I had very recently with an Uber driver. A thirty something black gentleman-I use that word on purpose-that up until recently was a double hater. But that had changed after the last few rants by T. The quick version is that we spoke the entire trip. I am a 73 yr old white retiree and democrat by birth. I help my mom stuff envelopes for JFK. My driver was a registered republican. My point? As you pointed out in Barack’s speech, the ability to debate and express our views freely and CIVILY are integral to our American fabric. It’s what makes us Americans. And the conversation we had really uplifted me. Side note-Michelle’s comment on black jobs made me laugh out loud. I’m sure T is seething.
The dramatic increase in rancor, negativity and nihilism in America is the worst of the many sins that Trump and his noxious MAGA movement have created. Decency DOES matter. When the leader of a Party, cult..whatever.. totally dismisses that sentiment and builds his entire operation around vitriol, hate and division that leaves a mark, both locally and natiinally. If we are to realize a future such as the Obamas spoke of, we will first have to sweep Trump and co. into history's dustbin.
You are right that the first response is to try and come up with a harsh rebuttal when someone says something harsh, especially when it is online and not face to face. I ask for nuance when trying to explain my positions, and try to give it to others.
Do I miss you on CNN, yes I do because I like your point of view. But, now I get it in a different place. You keep doing you, I thought the speeches last night by the Obamas were amazing, and how wonderful it is to hear a well written speech delivered by great orators.
Chris: I’ve been reading you every day since you started your Substack column. You’ve written many good ones, but your piece today furthering what President Obama said in his speech last night at the DNC is easily one of your best! Brilliant!
As long as Donald J Trump is at the helm of the Republican Party, there will not be civility. He, and his adherents, are incapable of it. And having a “no insults” rule on the part of Democrats would be meaningless .Trump’s incessant nastiness is tiring, and it is not useful. It gets him no more new voters, and his magafolk have heard it all before.I enjoy the occasional nuanced “dick joke” in the context in which Barack Obama presented it. That said, I would not want to see Democrats go one-on-one with Republicans in mud slinging.
I agree. I also agree with Chris. I don't know what the answer is. Remember Michelle Obama's line "when they go low, we go high"? That seems so quaint now, and unrealistic. The whole "they're so weird" thing that took off. I honestly think it caught trump and others by surprise. He sputtered for a while trying to figure how to respond--which in my book is a good thing.
Chris, I could not agree more. Having three young adult children who are all voters I worry they will eventually just tune out all political news and not vote. Democracy works best when the public stays informed, discusses opinions civilly, and votes
Chris: This post is exactly why I'm a founding (or whatever you call it) subscriber. And as for CNN and popping off. It's natural. It's human. I get it. But if you step back and look at your body of work and the community you've built since then, while CNN closed one door to you, it pointed you to a window that you opened and let this Substack sunshine in. Just wait until you have 10,000 paid subscribers - you'll thank CNN for the kick in the ass and punch in the face that got you here.
well said! longtime reader, recent paid subscriber. count me in on being better at civic engagement. thanks for what you do.
Thanks, Andrew. Appreciate you.
I dunno Chris... with all due respect... and I mean this sincerely.... I don't think that there is any room for discussion, compromise, or "seeing the other side" with Nazis/Fascists.... Trump and his MAGA meatheads represent an existential threat to our democracy and way of life (Joe Biden: right message, wrong messenger). I don't see how "dialog" is within the realm of possibility.
FDR didn't seek "dialog" with Hitler. Politicians today don't look for "common ground" with the KKK. I believe that the same applies to Trump and all his supporters.
You have a very valid point.
My only hope is that after many years of following a supply-side economic model (in which we lost a significant chunk of our domestic manufacturing capabilities and pretty much abandoned all of the workers in those industries), followed by four years of Trump, and a global economic crash due to the pandemic, that we've been able to take the first steps towards "recovery" under Biden's administration.
I also think that during this period many voters simply gave up and tuned everything out.
My hope is that Kamala Harris has reignited a spark of optimism, and that the sheer number of voters that gave up on the system might be motivated enough to return to the voting booths in November and take back the power and the momentum. In short, I think the number of voters that seek a return to "normalcy" far exceeds the number of angry haters in the MAGA propaganda cult. We're already seeing signs of that from Donnie Dementia. His amour has been penetrated and far too many people have come to the realization that he's all bluster and volume, and there's simply nothing there. He's been publicly castrated and has nothing more to offer other than regurgitated soundbites from 2016 and 2020. His act has gotten old and stale.
Unfortunately, I see terrifying parallels between the US today and pre-1933 Germany:
1. Society alienated by an economy that has excluded huges numbers of them
2. A dysfunctional government (Weimar Republic) that never really provides answers that make most people's live better
3 A doddering President (Hindenburg) who is more of a figurehead than a capable leader
4. A dictator wannabe (you know who) lusting for unlimited power
5. A legal environment where the President/Fuhrer is legally allowed to do anything they want (Enabling Act) as long as it's within the exercise of their duties
Pretty incredible, isn't it? And the only thing standing between us and internment camps for political opponents is Kamala Harris.................
The parallels are sobering.
Even if Harris gets elected in November and continues Biden's general objectives regarding the economic restoration of the country, it doesn't do anything to address the two HUGE elephants still in the room; all members of the do-nothing-beyond-being-vocal-and-obstructionist MAGA propaganda cult still in Congress, and the overtly corrupt Supreme Court.
Perhaps this movement will be large enough and powerful enough to capture majorities in both houses of Congress. And perhaps some of the dottering right-wing enablers on the Supreme Court will decide to step down when faced with charges of Impeachment.
But let's get Harris and Walz in place first before we try to tackle the rest.
Right on, my friend! First we have to deal with the existential threat to our way of life. Then we need to address root causes. That will take more time, but we will have bought ourselves sometime by defeating Trump. Just like the MAGA meatheads, it's possible to understand why Germans supported Hitler without excusing them for it.
BTW - I thought of a 6th parallel between the US in 2024 and Weimar Germany:
6. The party seeking absolute power has issued a manifesto (Mein Kampf) that lays out precisely what they plan to do once they gain power (Projject 2025 anyone???)
Agreed! But for everyone's sake, we owe him the "Billy Martin."
What's that???????
I don’t disagree with your take on the magatts… at the same time… painting all of ANY group with the same broad brush doesn’t leave any room for compromise. Compromise is what democracy is about. Otherwise we’d have a parliament , prime minister from a single party. No split governments.
There are thousands of Republicans that are not Trump lovers but can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democrat. I think I’d be in the same boat if the shoe was on the other foot.
And I'm sure that there were some Nazis in Germany that were "very fine people" and shouldn't be painted with the same brush.... My point is that there IS no room for compromise with racism, hatred and ignorance. Seeking "common ground" only normalizes their evil beliefs....
Germans in the 40’s is a good comparison. Not every German was a supporter… some had no idea of the genocide taking place. Some simply remained silent out of fear. There should be no compromise on defending the constitution… I agree. But not all members of the Republican Party are maga. Talking to those people we shouldn’t assume they have those same beliefs
Yes.... but in the 1930s.... Hitler was universally popular amongst the Germans. He got like 90%+ of the vote in the last election before the war.... Germans only began turning against Hitler and developing amneisia when they realized that the war was lost and they were going to be occupied (by the US/UK if they were lucky, by the Soviets if they weren't....._)
I have the same fear. I just read an opinion piece from Newsweek that spewed such ridiculous, unfounded hate towards President Biden and Democrats that it makes me wonder how much progress we can make slamming our kindness into brick walls. But I'm all for trying whatever it takes to make the world a kinder and better place.
The world will be a better place once Trump and his filth are consigned to the trash can of history.... just two inches to the right...........
No, Peter, just no!
While I agree to some extend with your initial comment, ie how do you compromise with fascists and Nazis, your “two inches to the right” comment just dots the “i” and crosses the “t” on Chris’s *entire* argument in this column! We cannot think, for a second, that we’re “better” than the MAGA cult of personality when we stoop to even the *suggestion* of political violence being acceptable.
Just no.
I'm sorry.... but we ARE better than a bunch of NAZIS and FASCISTS that want to destroy our democracy... At least... *** I *** am better. I would like to thnk that you are as well.
I notice that no one has any objections to the thought of political violence if it had been directed against Hitler and spared us the Holocaust and horrors of WW2... I fail to see the difference...
Chris - all by myself, in my office, I just gave you a raucous standing applause. Thank you for saying (writing) it. As much as I try to walk in other’s shoes, I, too, am guilty of reacting and attacking without thinking from time-to-time. I thought of this last night listening to Obama, and am truly appreciative of your highlighting this again today.
I will re-double my efforts to do better. Thank you for highlighting this issue.
Chris, well said. If you will bear with me, there has been something good out of the Trump takeover of the Republican Party. I had been a life long Republican and for the most part voted the straight party line. One deviation was when I voted for Perot. Things changed in 2020. I could no longer support the Republican Party. What that did for me was to open up my eyes to the other side. Yes, there are policy ideas and concepts that I don’t agree with, but I have found the other side is not evil, as was being espoused by the pundits I had followed. These were all well educated persons, with what I perceived were strong values and principles. But they lacked the one value that I have come to appreciate and seek. You spelled it out well — GRACE. I need it and I need to freely give it to others.
Excellent post. Improving the system often requires improving ourselves, and that's the biggest challenge. In part because it's SO DAMN EASY to supply a snarky reply.
Last week when Kamala Harris outlined her economic plans, one commenter scolded you for not emphasizing it sufficiently. I drafted a reply, edited it a bunch of times, and finally realized that that I been super critical of many of your posts over the previous three weeks. In the past the general rule of thumb was to write down all of your angry thoughts today, and if you felt the same way the following morning, send the letter. Technology has pretty much eliminated the sleep-on-it delay. The writing and editing of my reply to the commenter provided me with the opportunity to realize that I'd been an ass with some of my comments to you. Boiling it down I think it all stemmed from general insecurities. After Biden stepped down and Harris took the top spot, a long dormant feeling of hope, optimism, and (yes) joy, sprung up like a flower in the Spring. And who the "f" is Chris Cillizza to pop my West Wing fantasy bubble with posts dealing with the realities of issues happening on the ground? I'll put that so-and-so in his place with my own witty retorts!!!
If the Titanic could turn on a dime it would just be another forgotten steamship from the past. Changing society will take some time, but perhaps we're making the first course adjustment away from the divisiveness of our recent past.
In line with the above, a few weeks ago I submitted a Q that didn't make the cut to to receive an A from you, so perhaps you'll reconsider it now.
What do you see as the lifespan of the MAGA Republican movement? 5 years? 10 years? 50 years? Has it been so ingrained that it will still be as powerful as it is today after Trump dies, or is there a realistic chance that the remnants of the old Republican party Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, etc.) could regain some of its stature?
This is just my opinion, but I think when Trump dies, the MAGA cult will too. Their leader will be gone, and I don’t think there’s anyone who could replace him, thankfully!
I never wish death on anyone, but it's a fate none of us can escape at some point.
But on this one, Lord Almighty, sooner rather than later isn't a bad idea for the country and the world.
You are right on the mark Chris. We are better than what is happening these days. We all need to wake up and take responsibility for being decent, civil human beings. Differences are what makes this country special. We can and should learn something every day. Today day you delivered an excellent message and something to think about and learn from. Thank you!
Amen to your comments. Especially the last 2 paragraphs. I have been snoozing friends on Facebook due to the rancor of recent posts. Maybe I should find another way.........
I am going to recount a conversation I had very recently with an Uber driver. A thirty something black gentleman-I use that word on purpose-that up until recently was a double hater. But that had changed after the last few rants by T. The quick version is that we spoke the entire trip. I am a 73 yr old white retiree and democrat by birth. I help my mom stuff envelopes for JFK. My driver was a registered republican. My point? As you pointed out in Barack’s speech, the ability to debate and express our views freely and CIVILY are integral to our American fabric. It’s what makes us Americans. And the conversation we had really uplifted me. Side note-Michelle’s comment on black jobs made me laugh out loud. I’m sure T is seething.
Excellent column today and a great reminder for all of us... "Do unto others as...."
The dramatic increase in rancor, negativity and nihilism in America is the worst of the many sins that Trump and his noxious MAGA movement have created. Decency DOES matter. When the leader of a Party, cult..whatever.. totally dismisses that sentiment and builds his entire operation around vitriol, hate and division that leaves a mark, both locally and natiinally. If we are to realize a future such as the Obamas spoke of, we will first have to sweep Trump and co. into history's dustbin.
I find your candor refreshing, Chris. Keep up the good work!