How about instead of kvetching about our miserable whining about our inconvenient political absurdity, look here what Jared Kushner's weapons are doing:
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/7/19/pbs_report_from_yemen_as_millions
Forget about Trump for a minute & forward this to Jared Kushner:
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/7/19/pbs_report_from_yemen_as_millions
Don't let Jared & Ivanka take another bite of that kosher ribeye without their seeing this handiwork by Kushner's dealmaking with his Saudis.
9
Why do you think there will be an election in November? It is naive to think that the Republicans, who are in the cat bird’s seat, will allow an election. Putin can turn off our internet, and goodness gracious, we can’t run our voting machines. What a shame!!! What a surprise!!
The Republican Congress wouldn’t even allow a floor vote to fund the securing of the ballot counts in the states. Given what goes on now that was unthinkable only a few months ago, it is easy to imagine that the mere fact of an election is in jeopardy.
20
When I ranted and raved about the evils of American Imperialism (and with reason: I hail from that "toilet paper" island), my Dad would laugh and calm me down by reassuring me America would fall from within, betrayed by its own people. And it has come to pass: the betrayal was planned, engineered and executed (in almost literal fashion) by the Republican party and its constituents. Time to sit back and enjoy the show (actually, time to fly to the rescue!)
9
About time, Mr Bruni, that you should talk sense.
Thanks.
4
Hey you citizens, do you have any problems with the Electoral College?
9
From Roosevelt on the Democratic Party has frayed the proper cloth to what America can become . This statement is not clearance to the GOP either. Korea Berlin Vietnam Serbia 911 Afghanistan Iraq ..... each party is in kin to these tragedies. The air of resentment to the decades of national dysfunction roots in the growl against President Trump. The tamper by a self serving beauracrcy sums to dead time in which the US was overolled by itself ... stained in status quo . Vote indeed vote away.. but cast after thought and facing truth
We have to be wary of the effect of normalizing deviance to the point where nothing surprises us anymore. And we have to get off our...couches...and vote. Citizenship is hard. Facebook complaining is easy. Get out there and vote in November. And take a few friends with you (after you've made sure they have registered).
4
Everyday the hysterical Left, embarrassed by Hillary's worthless performance in the election, claims the sky is falling for one reason or another. They ignore the roaring economy, and record unemployment rates. The facts don't matter, they lost, and President Trump is ruining what was supposed to be a party ushering in a socialist new world order for America. Obama was handing off the baton to Hillary in the continuing effort to fundamentally change America. So the Left is hysterical. Not only did the lose because they nominated an incompetent and lazy candidate, they lost to a NYC playboy billionaire. They are hysterical because President Trump is dismantling the fragile leftist structure that obama attempted to put into place. They are hysterical because once again a conservative president is showing what conservative policy can do to spur on the economy and enrich the American people. Frank Bruni is a typist for the Left spewing the tired old dogma, along with chicken little predictions of what President Trump might do. The hysterical Left refuse to open their eyes and actually see what is truly happening. No one has been tougher on Russia than President Trump. He is arming the Ukraine, implementing tougher sanctions on Russia, enabling Nato to spend more money on European defense. No one, save Ronald Reagan, can lay claim to a tougher stance on Russia. President Trump is running circles around his detractors.
10
This nation needs a wave of intelligence, common sense and decency to overwhelm the crass, ignorant and cult like base which supports Donald Trump.
Although Hillary's 'deplorable' word was ill conceived for electoral purposes, it was a spot on description of a semi dormant group of American voters. Yes, our government needed (needs) a cleansing. Yes, we needed (need) new blood leading our nation in new directions.
But alas, in 2016 we threw out the baby and kept the filthy bath water.
20
WAY TO GO MR. BRUNNI, ONLY VIABLE WAY TO GO, THIS PRESIDENT MUST BE SIDELINED TO STOP THE DAMAGE TO OUR BELOVED COUNTRY, ALOT AT STAKE,STAND UP AMERICA AND VOTE
5
Mr. Bruni is on point..And, I might add, among my Republican friends and acquaintances these days, there is an utter revulsion of the lack of real courage inside this party...
This fear of a corpulent, serial liar, who is basically a tough talking wimp who collapses like a cheap tent when confronted by REAL STRENGTH confounds me. This is neither a brave man or an honorable one and those who fear him strike me as even more weak than he is.
I hear a lot about "hate" and it is simply less of an issue than the sheer exhaustion of dealing with a true mentally unstable leader 24/7. People are simply weary of the next meltdown, controversy or venal tweet. We ALL need a timeout from this particularly demeaning reality show.....
So, let's all decide to vote and let's all be dedicated to take back NORMALCY in our lives..Abandon cable news for at least 4 days per week and buy a real newspaper...Donate to the candidate you want to win. Do as I do and mute the TV when he is doing his verbally fueled "performance art"......His utter neediness for attention should only exhaust those who get paid to deal with it....
We can win and we MUST.....Take back your summer and then get ready to prove that we do, indeed, care enough to save our Democracy and our own sanity from this assault of venal anger and emotional abuse.....
17
So true. We have to do something. We always look to see if the Republicans still support Trump. They always do. Even if it looks like, well, maybe Vladimir Putin is our actual president. Doesn't matter. Gotta support Trump. I used to love Steinbeck's Americans. The Joads of The Grapes of Wrath. But now it is clear. Those Joads most likely would have voted for Donald Trump. They wouldn't have known any better. And that is the state of America today. Educationless.
15
Here in Canada the Trumpistan administration and its Republican acolytes are viewed as the greatest threat to the real western democracies since Neville Chamberlain in Munich, NATO should be reorganized to identify the USA as its real enemy, sadly we can only speculate that the apethetic US voters, repressed and without leadership will throw the Republicans out and have an impeachment trial.
8
As parents this November, we must make sure to get our own kids to vote. Too much of the youth, unbelievably still isn't convinced that voting is worth their time. We have to make sure if they live at college, they know how to get an absentee ballot. Send them a stamp to mail it back with if necessary, make it easy. For their generation, it's not something many have ever done. It sounds stupid because it is stupid, but they aren't stupid, just busy wrapped in their courses and lives. Voter registration and participation starts at home.
12
"We got it wrong in 2016."
Really? What did *we* get wrong? Did you have some late-polling that would clue you into how low the GOP was willing to stoop to steal an election?
Effective or not, the Russian meddling was just one straw to the Clinton loss. Despite all of their effort, she was leading in the polls and would have won an election held on 10/28. Then the GOP leaked the Comey letter to the public...'leaked' isn't quite the right word and 'released' does not convey the degree of harm caused by its publication. An effective Hatch Act that applies to ALL branches would have protected the election. The release of Comey's letter dovetailed nearly perfectly with Mr. Trump's rally-speak of 'crooked Hillary' and 'Lock her up!' chants. It brought back #NeverTrumpers who were at least going to maintain their moral rectitude and not vote for this pretender and it shunted nearly the entirely of the late deciders to Mr. Trump. It handed him the election. There is no doubt.
What the media got wrong was failing to perform the due diligence that a free and fair election requires and reveal Mr. Trump's history of philandering and hush money pay-offs, opting instead to repeat the low-hanging fruit dropped on them from Internet 'sources'. What you got wrong was bearing false tales for Russkies rather than uncovering the truth about the candidates. You can do better next time but only if you see your actual errors in 2016. You helped to bury her. Own it.
23
I am disgusted, yes. But not with Donald Trump. He is acting exactly as he promised: a total blowhard, misfit, quasi-white nationalist, fill-in-the-blank. But I am infuriated with the Democrats. I haven't heard a peeping from Nancy Pelosi. It was very nice that she set a record with an 8-hour-long DACA Speech on the House floor, but how about the subversive behavior of our president in Helsinki? More than a few Republican howled. Pelosi? Incredibly she used the summit as a fund raising tool, begging for money via an e-mail. Just breath-taking.
8
To make our votes COUNT,in addition to urging people to vote, please work on any of these. Then you can stop engaging with news that saps your emotional energy without making a difference-- with a clear conscience.
1) Make sure election machines register votes properly; are less hack-able; and that every election can be verified by auditing.
verified voting.org
2) Work against voter suppression.
ACLU.org
3) Work towards the popular vote, not the electoral college, determine the presidency.
State legislatures can commit to giving all their electoral votes to whichever candidate gets the most votes in their state; this would be in place as soon as 270 electoral votes have been committed this way. We are about 2/3 of the way there, so this is completely feasible. Currently, 63% of the votes needed have been committed, with a number of other state legislatures considering signing on.
national popular vote.com
4) Work towards ranked-choice voting, not winner-take-all. This would end candidates only considering the biggest or strongest group of voters, and would greatly decrease the incentive for gerrymandering.
fair vote.org
.
6
the House AND the Senate...both...the Republican party can rebuild itself later...after they return to their roots.
1
A BRIBE scenario (an interest in Russian oil company in return for lifting sanctions) explains Trump’s unprecedented attacks on the free press (over 250 tweets attacking the press), his attacks on the F.B.I (the agency charged with the duty to investigate bribes of public officials),his attacks on the United States Department of Justice (the agency charged with the prosecution of corrupt public officials) and his attacks on the C.I.A (the agency charged with protecting the United States from attacks by foreign countries like Russia). A BRIBE scenario also explains Trump’s secret meeting with Putin in Heksinki. See trumpbribe.com
7
Finally, some words of sanity.
Sadly, I'm not convinced the Democrats are up to this challenge because they have no discernible program other than "not Trump." I'm an independent and I keep getting spammed by Democrats asking me to vote blue just because Trump is so horrible.
I will, but that's not enough. Democrats have to find a voice and stop deluding themselves into thinking they'll solve the Trump mess by impeachment. Not gonna happen,
4
Put two and two together: Anne Applebaum’s column today speaks of the analytics which the Russians stole from the Democrats and Trump’s change fof strategy late in the electons after the analytics were stolen.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/did-putin-share-...
Plus Bruni here:
“I don’t believe, nor see any evidence, that more Americans wanted him as our president than wanted Hillary Clinton. But roughly 40 percent of Americans who were eligible to vote didn’t. Clinton was much preferred by the youngest voters, ages 18 to 29. But fewer than one in two of them cast a ballot.
And Trump won the presidency because of about 78,000 ballots in three states.”
Remember, Hillary won the popular vote by almost 3 million votes.
That’s probably what happened in the 2016 elections and Trump, Putin, and Mueller know it. But, we have to vote!!!
1
Frank, alt-title that will accomplish something:
"Disgusted With Emperors Trump? Do This" --- fire a loud, sustained, public, 'in the streets', but totally non-violent "Shout (not shot) heard round the world" to ignite an essential completion to our First American "Revolution Against Empire" [Justin du Rivage's definitive history of ours 242 years ago].
Unlike the inane and incorrect "There Is a Revolution on the Left. Democrats Are Bracing" --- Revolutions are never done by voting for either Vichy party of the Empire, but only by confronting Empires --- and Revolutions, from Moses walking his people out of one, Christ overcoming one with love, and our fore-fathers initially trying to Declare their reasons for peacefully separating from the British one (but having to ultimately fight their way out), most real Revolutions are Against Empire (whether the Empire is called a kingdom, a dynasty, or has an Emperor, like faux-Emperor Trump, Chancellor, Fuhrer, or George III, et al.).
Bernie made some mild popular-progressive points with this incomplete two-word sound-bite "Political Revolution" (against what, Bernie? An 'action sentence' needs an 'object')
Fortunately, this the first Disguised Global Capitalist in world history that can be 'exposed' and 'shouted-down' with just a Peaceful Political/economic and social(ist) "Revolution Against Empire" --- as Pat would have shouted if Tom had taken the Paine to edit his rallying cry:
Give us Liberty over Empire or Give us Death
3
I note a number of comments pooh-poohing the "every vote counts" mantra. This is defeatist thinking and actually gives cover to or outright encourages abstention from one's civic duty and responsibility.
It is very interesting, disturbing and downright scary that the nation that gave the world's countries a template for democracy has one of the lowest participation rates in the very act of what democracy is.
How scary is it? As bad as Trump is --because Trump is as incompetent, as ignorant, as greedy, as immoral and amoral, and as cowardly as he is-- if he is not held to account in November, things will only get worse. Much, much worse.
It doesn't have to be rocket science. As simplistic as Frank's admonition is, it remains the only real solution.
8
Why doesn’t the Congress protect us?
6
Over 20% of U.S. citizens aren't registered to vote. A step further would be asking friends, acquaintances and casual strangers if they're registered to vote.
If they are registered follow up with asking if they have a voter registration card that shows their current address.
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
5
My experience with voting day.
Please make sure all voting areas are accessible by wheelchair.
Remembering going up to an elementary school ( I can walk on my own) on a particular voting day.
Lots of people coming up to the front door to vote.
They were not denied but directed to the back of the building as was the rest of us.
Don't want to disturb the kids after all.
There were 14 wooden stairs to get up to vote. Needless to say those in wheelchairs just turned around and went home
5
Voting by your phone has been all the rage since the mid-1990's.
It would help those stuck at their home - as the sales people would say.
Still like the pencil (inside) the circle vote.
Lots of paper yes but it removes the chad challenge and manipulation of electronic voting booths.
"It’s called voting."
Yes, but first, how do I vote?
Start by asking Uncle Sam:
Register to Vote and Confirm or Change Registration. https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
For similar help, go to HeadCount (https://www.headcount.org/verify-voter-registration).
Now, whom do I vote for?
Start with VOTE411.org, from the nonpartisan, unbiased League of Women Voters. You'll an online voter's guide, and you can compare candidates' positions--in their own words-- side-by side. And you can even build your own ballot and take it with you to the voting booth.
Your vote is your voice! Speak it!
2
Your own newspaper, the NYT, ran a piece earlier this year detailing the facts that a Blue Wave is not a given.
I canvass for only registered Blue voters and I can tell you for a fact they are ready to vote against the current administration or do not have a clue.
Democrats have a history of not voting in midterms.
I hope I am wrong but as usual, the Blues have a way of not reaching their potential.
https://nytimes.com/2018/03/20/upshot/special-elections-democratic-wave-...
4
Be sure to verify your registration - that you're listed as an active voter, with the party you chose. Every state has a way to do this. In Florida___ https://registration.elections.myflorida.com/CheckVoterStatus
2
Okay! Fine... If voting against Trump in November is the only positive suggestion The New York Times can come up with to take a step towards removing Trump from power, and stopping him from starting an election stunt war, let's talk about what The New York Times in general and this columnist in particular should be doing over the next 15 weeks to contribute to the Stop Trump campaign.
First, ditch the whole issue of partisanship. This is about doing anything possible to remove Trump from office. This newspaper must support any Democrat in any race to do everything possible to secure a Democrat House next year. The objective is to vote against Trump, there is no other criteria.
Second, be specific. Pick what you believe to be the 30 most winnable races in the House and write two specific columns about those races each week. Interview the voter turnout manager for each Democrat candidate and print specific details and instructions as to what readers can do to contribute to success in that race.
Third, use your contacts to find 30 national entertainment celebrities and organise free Vote Democrat concerts for election night in each of the 30 districts you are covering and promote those concerts relentlessly. Entry will be free for any registered Democrat with proof they voted that day. Turn the whole celebrity thing back at Trump with both barrels, aim at getting 1,000,000 Democrats to those concerts.
This newspaper can do more than anyone else to Stop Trump. So will you?
13
Mr. Bruni: I can tell you precisely how to take back Congress.
You and all other lefty liberal Dems must REVERSE your position on illegal immigration and support strong borders....ICE...and agree to deport all illegals and their illegal families, with NO exceptions -- and mandatory E-verify (yes putting employers in JAIL for violating!).
Do that, and you will win in a trice.
Continue to push for illegal immigration, open borders, DACA and Dreamers and amnesty ... and you will continue to LOSE LOSE LOSE.
Your choice.
3
Attention all you contributors who assert that Republicans want to suppress voting while Democrats are bathed in virtue.
History teaches that there is a proud tradition among some Democrats to engage in voter fraud. For example, the New York Times concluded that LBJ stole his first election to the US Senate. (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/11/us/how-johnson-won-election-he-d-lost....
It is not wrong for Republicans to want to make sure that only citizens vote. During an investigation into the razor thin 1996 Congressional election between Congressman “B-1 Bob” Dornan and Loretta Sanchez, there was evidence that 748 votes were cast by non-citizens.
It is not wrong for Republicans to want to prevent voter fraud by people who vote more than once. In 2011 an NAACP leader was sent to prison for voting ten times in the same election. The gentleman voted under six names of people who were alive, and four who were dead.
A simple news search will reveal many other examples of recent voting shenanigans, including elections where there were more votes cast than adults living in the voting district.
We should all be concerned about this. The more we increase the opportunity for voter fraud, the more voter fraud we will have.
2
To be sure, Mr Bruni, registering voters is requisite to A WAVE OF DEMOCRACY.
Your web-link to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s website is useful to any aspiring voter. For what is a democracy, without its voters.
For 37 States and DC, the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) provides ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION. Start here, find "Register to Vote" and the downloadable form and link to all 38 websites.
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-212645
These two (2) seemingly simple acts, register and vote, are being defeated by APATHY, Mr Bruni. Even the Dead must be taught Walking. Animate.
1
It is easy to help get out the vote. One way to do it from home is Postcards to Voters (postcardstovoters.org).
"The moral of the Helsinki freak show" is not what Frank Bruni suggests, if we are to believe Stephen Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies at Princeton and NYU. Cohen writes for the left-liberal literary outlet, "The Nation," which is published by his wife of 30 years, Katrina vanden Heuvel.
Prof. Cohen tells us that Trump's Helsinki comments were “heretical and profoundly true”—that both Russia & America are at fault for the worsening geopolitical relations. (This analysis is not new. It had in fact caused the Soviet Union to declare Cohen persona non grata from 1982 to 1985.)
Cohen explained that Russia policy of the 3 prior presidents, Clinton, Bush & Obama, were wrong, that Trump’s analysis is right, & that Trump must be given the opportunity to correct America’s flawed policy because the alternative is war.
He said further that given the alternative, like all prior presidents Trump had to meet with the head of state, but that never before had he (Cohen) witnessed what followed this summit: “pornography masquerading as news analysis and commentary.”
Prof. Cohen ended by saying, “I didn’t vote for him, but bravo to President Trump!”
In a less unhinged milieu, Stephen Cohen's comments would have put an end to the post-Helsinki madness.
4
Also look at Red2Blue https://red2blue.org/ They provide peer to peer texting, phone banking, creative services, fundraising, postcard writing, canvassing and social media using volunteers. And don't forget your local Planned Parenthood. They are coordinating a variety of voter registration, phone banking and canvassing events.
In Northern Westchester and Putnam Valley we will get out the vote to get rid of our local tea party, GOP, TRump supporting State Senator Terence Murphy and Assembly Member Kevin Byrne. All volunteers welcomed.
4
All citizens over 18 should be required to vote.
3
There is a fundamental flaw in our voting. And I think it is a major contributor to voter apathy. Along with the horrid Citizens United decision, we must also do away with the electoral college. When I vote in my local and state elections, my one vote counts. But when I vote in my gerrymandered district for president, I am washed downstream in the flood of the electoral college. We are the only democracy (even as we are holding to it by the fingernails) where one person equals one vote. It was a compromise to the southern states in the original constitution. Now that we have nominally "freed the slaves" it is time to do away with it. Then and only then can we truly be held accountable for the people we elect to the presidency.
8
What scares the heck out of me is average people who strongly support Trump. I live in NY go figure. My point being that those folks in “flyover” country hold the key but they are even stronger supporters of Trump..
7
Casting a ballot is free. Casting an oligarch out of office is priceless.
15
OK. Here's something the NYTimes can do to help us. Provide a recipe for people to check whether their registration is still valid in their state. There are huge efforts to "clean" the registered-voter rolls by eliminating people who might vote Democratic. Show us how to block this, well before getting turned away on November 6.
6
So, so right! But votes by themselves sometimes have to be overwhelming to oust the bad politicians, because those who are in power have devious ways to magnify the votes of their followers. Consider gerrymandering, gaining control of the judicial branch to settle Florida-like election disputes, setting hours and places for voting, drawing in the "bribes" (I refer to the Citizens United ruling that any amount of money can be given undisclosed to the most undeserving candidate), and the ubiquitous media outlets that are paid to promote Trump. So I am fearful of a win by the Party of Evil , the party of Trump which now controls the government and is run by that "useful idiot". Where we as a nation are losing our ability to overcome Trumpism is in our educational system, which is not doing its job of giving every child a good education, an education that would empower our people to think critically and reach rational decisions. Its not just Devos, symptomatic of the system's failure,who is to blame. The party in power controls the education of our youth and is more interested in producing robotic followers than original thinkers. If we want to develop a strong and decent country we must set up fair and balanced schooling which would present to developing minds the plethora of possible truths and the intellectual weapons where the most reasonable conclusion can be reached. Schools should consider evolution, atheism , agnosticism, evolution of ideas historically, etc.
6
Our greatest foe at this point is cynicism. And unfortunately, some of our biggest talking points these days are completely counter-productive.
You know what happens when you tell people again and again that Republicans have successfully gerrymandered the country, and the electoral college makes the votes of people in all but the least populated states redundant and pointless? They lose all faith in the system, and become completely apathetic.
If we want to bolster voter turnout, we need to give people hope. We need to remind one another that none of this is a foregone conclusion, and the cracks in our system that are being exploited right now can easily be repaired -- if we elect politicians who aren't doing the exploiting.
6
If you wanted to destroy America you can't do it militarily. Too strong.
But you can use the 'divide and conquer' approach, and that's exactly what Trump is doing. He's fomenting hatred of the left by the right by spouting lies like 'the democrats want open borders'. So don't be surprised that after a while the left begins to hate the right. Mission accomplished.
Putin couldn't have planned it better if he were our president.
7
Thank for using the phrase "feeling of helplessness". That describes the emotion very well. Day after day, week after week the monstrosity in the White House astonishes us, befuddles us, outrages us, but there seems to be nothing people with a lick o' sense can do about it... until November!
6
Thank you for keeping the focus on November.
3
My friends who voted for Trump find nothing that he has done particularly bad or wrong. They would vote for him again.
3
Will voting be enough considering gerrymandering of Congressional districts and limiting of voting rights? Bruni sounds a bit naive.
6
Voting?
Voting is essential, but not nearly enough. It is a cheap absolution from your responsibilities as a citizen.
In case you have noticed, voting doesn’t work as well as it used to. Gerrymandering and voter suppression have made for “minority government”. And even if there is no “meddling” again, the Senate will be Red State minority rule for a long time.
How about education & critical thinking? Without those, people will cue for hours to vote against democrats and their “Obamacare death panels”.
5
If more people who run on care and concern vote than those who run on rage and revenge, Trump will lose.
4
Isn't there anything but voting for the other party we can do? We have been doing this for some 250 years already! Third Party? Oh no that would bring us back to the one we are suppose to get rid of! Merry Xmas everyone.
I'm scared. Very scared. After reading this and Maureen and Andrew Sullivan I spent an hour curled up in a ball on my bed. How can we get the apathetic voter in the blue states to the polls? How can we show them the consequences of their inaction? Ask them if what is really happening in our country is what they really want, the very real danger of what they're not doing. That's the key: getting the undecided to vote and vote blue. How can we get the "don't cares" to see what is happening for real and to vote to stop it? That's what has to happen. And I will do my part.
14
Voting in midterm elections is NOT the same as casting an individual ballot for a presidential candidate. Midterm elections are terribly important and entirely reflective of what the populace wants: IF Democrats can gain control of Congress at midterm elections, we have a chance - a really good chance - to balance the scales between the executive and legislative branches of our government, just as the creators of our constitution planned.
Democracy requires citizen involvement and action. Without it, those with an immense need for power will lay claim to it and we will no longer be a democracy. This bears repeating: GET OUT AND VOTE 2018!
16
Completely agree, but I would hope you might spend some time about how we rebuild the mess of a democracy that got us into this of a president.
10
With gerrymandering, new voter suppression laws and easily hackable electronic voting machines that leave no paper trail; the faith that Americans still put in the electoral process is astounding. The way our bizarre electoral college system works, a bad actor would need only to turn or ‘lose’ a small percentage of votes in a few select precincts in order to steal an entire election.
What also astounds me is the fact that no mainstream media outlet has ever investigated the shocking disconnect between what all the major pollsters predicted for the 2016 election and the eventual outcome. We all seem to take for granted that the polls (which are usually pretty accurate) were wrong.
Call it a conspiracy theory if you want, but rigged elections are a reality in much of the world. American exceptionalism aside, there’s no rule saying the same couldn’t (and hasn’t) happened here. Given what we already *know* about Russia’s role in the 2016 election, isn’t more than a little suspicious that our Republican-controlled congress is now blocking funds for election security measures?
Yes, I’m going to vote. But I hold no illusions.
38
@PM - Sadly I agree.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/10/voter-suppression-may-have-...
Josh Mitteldorf: Intro to Election Theft in America (part 1 of 4) https://tinyurl.com/yanc473c
“How to Rig an Election"
https://tinyurl.com/y9xx63f6
“Intro to Election Theft in America"
https://tinyurl.com/yanc473c
How Much Faith Do You Have in the Vote Counting Process? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TY6FCsVWGlM
"Code Red: Computerized Election Theft and the New American Century"
http://codered2014.com
13
Dems do need a good pep talk, and to stay on message in the clearest manner. A bubble in search of a pin in the markets and inflation, and debt markets would wake up the Republicans on the fence that could make the difference.
Otherwise, Trump has rewarded his voters with fulfilled campaign promises. He might be a bad president, but he is awfully good at election winning, with or without Russian help in 2018 and 2020.
Too many candidates, too many messages, that is how the Dems lose in 2018 and 2020.
6
He won one election, by a fluke. So how is he “awfully good at winning elections “?
2
Yes, do get out and vote! Vote your conscious and for candidates who will make a difference. I am a Marylander (registered Dem) willing to give Governor Larry Hogan (R) a chance in the 2018 election because he supports our state and works in a bipartisan manner. I'm also teacher and am impressed with his support of MD schools. I believe Hogan is one of the only moderate Republican governors who has a majority support from Maryland Democrats in this era of crazy, divisive American politics. I compare him with perhaps Sen. Collins of Maine who tries to bring both sides together for a dialogue (loved her talking stick back when the budget bill was under negotiation). These type of Republicans are unique and are certainly almost non-existent. I will *NOT*, however, give DT or his cronies the benefit of the doubt because he is amoral, self-serving, and not working for our country. I will support whichever candidate runs against him and restores some semblance of democracy and American values.
7
I'm going to use your beautifully phrased pleas again and again to get out the vote. You are absolutely right that using the power of our democracy is the only way to get our democracy back. Thank you for this powerful message.
10
Frank, Please explain why I received a text (Xfinity text enabled line, his old number) for my deceased father-in-law, asking me to vote for Gavin Newsom, when I asked why - I was thanked for voting in the last election. Probably the Russians.
11
I'm actively engaged in registering young voters---those who will be 18 by November 2018. In my community, I'm finding a massive wave of energy going into these midterms since they realize the results of trump's America will paint a very bleak future for them. As for the recent college graduates, I'm hearing from more and more of them that their plans are to leave the country and take their education with them---but still will vote by absentee ballot---and not return until trump and his corrupt cronies are long gone. This is the election of the young generation, and they ARE motivated to get the vote out.
22
For more than a year, I've heard the cry "Give Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt". So I did. At this point, the "benefit of the doubt" trick is over.
I thought things couldn't get worse. But the did! I thought Trump had some redeeming qualities as a leader and as a negotiator. I was wrong on both counts.
So, I will vote against Trump, and those Republicans who are left standing in November. And I will encourage my fellow-Democrats and all those Republicans who doubt the President's ability to lead or even negotiate anything that will benefit this country, to vote against him.
In addition, I will ask all those who think he has done nothing to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States while in office to join me at the polls.
18
This is 2018 and voting does make a difference and working for candidates and contributing any money one can. The Republican Congress reads their tea leaves and shift with their base which is narrow. This is a time when a vote for the other side will wake them up if they lose Congress and hopefully see the dead end to which they have lead their party. Good Republican, Democrat and Independent voters can bring a change despite the dark money people. Just work for better candidates and VOTE.
10
Trump is simply being Trump; there's no surprise. Frightening are those who truly and genuinely believe he's doing just fine. What exactly do we we do about them, for they are in our midst and have far greater influence and impact on our experience. Beware the followers.
16
@no kidding
I'm not really a true follower but could you explain what is so frightening? He seems like a man fulfilling the promises of his campaign to his base. Where is the threat?
1
I learned the hard wait that every vote counts. I couldn't bother voting for my candidate in a local Illinois state representative race. The vote ended up being a dead tie. Lawsuits ensued, and the ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court was used as precedence by SCOTUS to rule about "hanging chads" in Bush v Gore.
True story, and there's teeny part of me that still feels guilty, as if I was personally responsible for the Iraq war. I guess cumulative personal responsibilities add up.
Pullen v Mulligen, Ill. Supreme Court.
15
There isn't a single accomplishment for Trump, while his failures keep mounting. The GOP tax plan is a total disaster. Taxes have gone up because of the SALT deduction limit. Nobody other than the billionaires donating to the GOP got a pay hike. The stock market is stuck in the mud all year. It was going up for years before trump as the economy recovered under Obama-after the GOP engineered 2008 recession. Economic growth is zero after inflation. Millions of struggling people have lost their health coverage, are paying more for coverage and drugs, and getting less coverage. On the world stage, Trump has been treasonous-and should have quit for it last week, the allies are fleeing and hiding their heads in the sand, Putin is building more and more powerful and accurate nukes along with trump, making the world unsafer than ever.
21
@Observer
I for one have enjoyed my tax break as a middle class american. I'm not sure how anyone can say that has been a disaster.
2
Voting is the least that we can do. If we are going to turn things around, it is going to take an effort by those who think that they don't make a difference and have no responsibility in building a strong democracy. We can and must make a difference or we will all lose together, the great gifts that we have been given.
18
Interesting that the columnist mentions George Will and his urge to vote against the Republicans this year. Yet, I just read a piece moments ago in the Washington Post by George Will coming out against Bob Menendez as Senator for New Jersey.
Will, like many is going after Menendez character. Odd in that many Republicans/Conservative like to complain about the character of various D candidates, but if you ask them about Trumps taxes, his multiple affairs, his misogyny, his abusive bullying of any number of people they change the subject.
So, Mr. Will, and any of you other Republicans- do you value character? I don't think so. Winning at any cost is the only thing. Unfortunately it is costing us our freedoms, our standing in the world, our dignity. And worse, almost 40% of our population supports him still. It is a cult.
How did we get stuck with this guy? Vote. All of us, get out and vote.
16
The last time Democrats took a congressional lead in the midterms we had a massive shock to the economy. It resulted in a landslide victory for Republicans in 2010 and ever since.
I'm not ready to allow Democrats the opportunity to repeat their failed policies as they continue to ignore the lessons of their failures.
Hillary 2020 !!!
4
Well, what can we do about the fact that some voting machines
are hackable?
What do we do about Russian interference in the voting process?
Also, Democrats need to get on point about the message being sent.
It’s time to address that stagnating wages, disappearing pensions, and lack of job security are problems affecting many Americans.
It’s time to present unified front.
16
Thank you for the link to the DCCC web site. I signed up to help out in a nearby competitive district since I live in a solidly Democratic district.
Elections have consequences and we've spent the last 18 months living with the consequences of 2016...a chaotic and destructive foreign policy that emboldens adversaries and frightens allies, a gutting of health insurance markets, rollbacks of regulatory protections in the environment, finance, safety, food safety, medicine and medical devices, a multi-front trade war that's already cut the price of soybeans by 25 percent and more. All presided over by a man whose only loyalty is to himself and who thinks of life as a series of zero-sum transactions.
In 2018, it's time to create some new consequences. To those inclined to sit it out, I ask if not this, if 18 months of awfulness is not enough, then what?
If not now, then when? When he provokes a war? When he pulls out of NATO? When he craters the economy?
And if not us, then who? This is our country, our election, our vote. We truly do get the government we deserve and we deserve so much more than Donald Trump and his band of enablers, grifters, sycophants, nationalists and authoritarians.
15
House districts are hard to flip, but not impossible, in heavily Gerrymandered states. Whereas the Senate is pretty much, as of now at least - knock on wood - un-Gerrymanderable (did I coin a phrase there? Kidding.)
Just a thought, and maybe not a great one. Counterintuitive as it may be, these days, the Senate might actually be the house of the people rather than the House itself?
Thoughts welcomed.
5
Re: "the Senate might actually be the house of the people rather than the House itself?"
Well, it might more accurately be the house of "the people from small or sparsely populated states". Wyoming gets 2 senators, just like California, so each Wyoming resident gets more than 60 times the representation per capita.
States like Montana, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and many more. These rural states are very pro gun, and have a higher percentage of single issue anti-abortion voters. Tough for Democrats to overcome those handicaps, now that they are no longer credible as the party protecting workers jobs and wages.
From NYT's Thomas Edsall:
"..among those who say immigration is their top issue, opponents outnumber supporters by nearly two to one. In this respect, immigration is similar to gun control — both mobilize opponents more than supporters."
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/opinion/the-democrats-immigration-...
How did we get to this point?
Obama won Wisconsin *big*, on populist rhetoric in 2008. Then he bailed out banks and left everyone else in the lurch. THAT is why Democrats got routed in 2010.
GOP governor Scott Walker of (once blue Wisconsin) now wins big on low taxes, as low paid workers can't afford any more. Tammy Baldwin is likely to lose this Nov, along with many other Dem senate incumbents nationwide. If Dems can't come out with a big, credible plan to raise wages - and a credible messenger - they will never climb out of this hole.
3
When it's all said and done it's not what people think walking into the voting booth or what they think when they leave. It's all about whether they showed up in the first place and which button did they push.
At least that's the Republican approach. Those of us who think it matters WHY we vote for a particular candidate believe we can't make an informed choice unless we are informed. This means doing some soul searching. Part of this searching might be developing our own personal mission statement before voting. Covey has some good thoughts on this along with others. One particularly important step is identifying one's core values.
My voting choice is easy this time around. I will vote for a ham sandwich before I'll vote for any Republican. But I can't use this simple litmus test as an excuse to be lazy about the candidate I vote for. The Democratic Party is definitely more desirable than the do-nothing Republicans. But this must not be what the platform is built upon. The Republicans are despicable but they are effective. Democrats need to separate the wheat from the chaff and utilize the cleverness and energy of the Republican successes that are consistent with the Democratic Party's core values. Feel good approaches, utopic ideas, and simply voting against Republicans won't cut it any more. If Democrats do benefit from Trump's incompetence and take the White House, rest assured the Republicans will begin plotting to get it back the day they lose.
10
We no longer can be just react by voting. By November we may not have the right to vote if it looks like Democrats are going to win. Trump will do every thing to win the midterms including fix every election possible. I am totally scared by what is going to happen.
16
Why don't Congressional Republicans tell the truth about why they can no longer support Trump. They have plenty of "material" to work with. Maybe that would finally get thru to Trump supporters?
7
Don't just vote; vote against Trump and the ineffectual Republican Party that has failed to date to stand up to him.
12
The reality is that very very few of us will have any impact with our votes...I can see that in my own family....those of us who live in Chicago, our candidates will win by large margins...my sister in Georgia? It doesn't matter how she votes...Trump rules. There are only a handful of areas where a vote will result in a different make-up than what we have today.
3
@Southern Hope
Buck up! It's not as bad as you think. Here in PA we have a new Democratic Congressman in decidedly Republican district, so don't let your pessimism prevent you from a) voting yourself, and b) doing whatever you can to turn your district Democratic - donating $ and time.
4
Another illustration that voting matters:
Mr. Trump this week considered offering Putin the opportunity to question a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and other Americans, some of whom have been exposing his wrongdoing.
On July 19 the Senate passed 98-0 a resolution (see it at this link https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/sres584/BILLS-115sres584ats.pdf ) rejecting Trump's position. Notice that all 12 sponsors of the resolution are Democrats. While 49 Republicans voted for the resolution, not one chose to be named as sponsor.
We need more people in the Senate who are unafraid of Trump.
19
Disgusted? Yes. Exhausted? Yes. How much more of Trump's imbecility do we have to listen to? The American people elected a man who is, for all intents and purposes, the village idiot. I look forward to voting for, then watching someone in the White House who seems at least half-normal.
17
SHEER IDIOCY! "Voting" got us into this mess! "Voting" is not the answer! 50% of Americans are functionally illiterate! How can they intelligently vote? Oh, I get it; because they're American, intelligence isn't required; they'll just pull the right lever because, well, they're American.
Our system does not work! You're like a wife who keeps waiting for her husband to come home sober and not beat her. I absolutely do not care what the psychology of the situation is; if the WIFE does not change behavior, she is going to keep getting beaten or worse.
4
Frank,
Sorry to tell you this pal, but the silent majority, the sleeping giant has awoke and you will see us coming out of the wood work to take America to the wood shack for corporal disipline.
We will come down from the mountains
We will come in from the prairies
We will airboat in from the swamps
We will canoe in from the bayou
We will come in from the beaches
We will come out from the forests
We will come in from the deserts
We will come out from hiding in the cities
We will bus in from the churches and retirement homes
We will come out incognito from the university's
The red wave of Patriots will fight to turn back the clock and reset America to 1950.
Enjoy the ride!
4
Yeah, sure, if somebody can pry the giant bag of Cheetos out of your left and the gallon can of cheap beer out of your right, and get some kindly neighbor with a forklift to wedge in through the back sliding door and lever you off the davenport.
Till then, appreciate the threats and all, but I think we'll be keeping stuff like, oh, Brown v Board of Education, Medicare, the EPA, thank you very much.
7
If liberals voted the US would have a liberal government because most Americans share the liberal values of tolerance, compassion, honesty, humility, diplomacy, environmental protection, health care for all and basic economic fairness, roughly the opposite of what the current Republican Party stands for. Why don't more liberals vote? I'd say political cynicism ("they're all crooks"), stringent litmus tests (not as progressive as I'd like therefore I'll sit this one out"), feelings of helplessness("what's my one little vote going to matter?"). I'm sure there are millions of reasons and excuses but now we're seeing where that liberal apathy has landed us. Fortunately there are growing sings of a great awakening sweeping the country but the rubber will meet the road in November. I couldn't agree more with what Frank Bruni is saying here.
11
Trump and the GOP hard liners do not know the meaning of negotiating, truth and treating people fairly and decently.
6
The comments to this piece are mostly encouraging voting to end/modify the disaster now destroying the country.
This would be the only concern if our votes were accurately counted and recorded.
The efforts of the Republican/Diebold machine voting system to disenfranchise us with the possibly coordinated Russian effort is their hole card. The Republicans could receive zero votes and still win the election.
We need verifiable paper ballots NOW.
15
2016 was decided by 78,000 votes, as you point out. That, and the fact that Hillary won by 3 million votes - not more - and that third party candidates got 7 million votes, are all the product of several factors: Russian hacking into not just social media but probably also vote counting, dirty tricks both de facto and de jure, and gerrymandering (down ballot contests affecting whether people vote or not). Improving turnout is fine but can't necessarily undo the evil of those key factors. Has anything changed? I fear the answer is no, except that maybe they're a little worse.
6
As a citizen of a country, people have both the right and the duty to cast a ballot in an election. For those living outside the country there are various ways to register in order to receive an absentee ballot. A helpful website is www.votefromabroad.org and I would urge all those who have not yet registered for the November election to get their forms sent in on time and exercise their rights as long as the opportunity still exists to do so. When the UK held their 'leave or remain' referendum, many UK citizens were barred from having a voice as they had lived outside the country for too many years. Americans abroad have the chance to make sure they have a say and that their views and opinions are represented through their absentee ballots.
6
I will be voting this November, as I have in every election since I reached voting age. I strongly agree with Bruni about the importance of everyone voting, especially those who are worried about the status quo.
That said, I saw nothing in this op-ed discussing how to deal with the possibility that Russian hackers will tamper with the voting in the next elections. Last week both DNI Coats and FBI Director Wray stated that the Russians are actively trying to interfere in the 2018 election right now. In the two years since the 2016 elections, Russian hackers have had ample time to break into state election systems, alter registration databases, alter software, etc.
Democrats need to have a plan for validating the integrity of the voting process.
Pre-election, races vulnerable to manipulation should be identified. That includes state voting systems without any paper trail, with databases connected to the internet, and using commercial systems known to have been attacked. If possible, state and local election system and registration databases should be forensically analyzed for criminal alteration. Preparations for wide scale election monitoring and exit polling should be made. Democratic lawyers familiar with local voting laws should be found and asked to be ready to issue legal challenges, if necessary.
Post-election, vote totals across the country should be reviewed for unexpected results, publicized, and challenged, if necessary.
10
Thank you, Mr. Bruni. You have strengthened my resolve to devoting myself to getting out the vote for this year's elections.
7
Maybe I'll vote if the Dems don't try to undercut their own like they did Sandeers.
2
Please. Dem third party candidates and stay at home protest votes elected Bush#2 in 2000 and Trump in 2016. The math will always be the same. Dems can ONLY win if we all vote for the same candidate. No matter how bad certain voters’ feelings are hurt because their favorite candidate isn’t on the ballot.
14
@jkk I don't remember telling anybody that we should only be able to pick between Two Parties. Can you? It has become harder to tell the difference since Reagan. I would back a new Progressive Party in an instant.
1
@Rodrian Roadeye I suggest you reality check that 3rd party candidate's actual likelihood of winning before you cast that ballot. You could in fact be enabling the choice you really don't want. A sad but true fact of living in a two party system. If every Stein vote went to Clinton, and every Johnson vote went to Trump, Trump still wins, but if half the Johnson votes go Clinton, she's president.
3
If anyone has any character going into politics, it will soon be assassinated by dark money.
You claim the Democrats are good at venting.
I disagree.
When you vent over fake narratives that you yourself have created, essentially scaring yourself into an hysterical state with your own fairy tales, people just think you’re strange.
7
@Ken
What fake narrative? You don't think the Russians tampered? You don't think the Comey letter was fatal? Where is the fairy tale?
2
Hillary, go again.
2
Time to face the fact that republicans are as traitorous as trump. To them it is all about party over country. I did not serve my country to see it taken over by racists, misogynists, the amoral and unethical, the religious zealots, the climate deniers, the dimwitted, and the obscenely corrupt un-American billionaires. Republicans, if the fact that the president takes secret meetings with an known murderer, our biggest adversary, our enemy, and then applauds his greatness while throwing our intelligence agencies under the bus, what will it take? If separating children from their parents and treating them inhumanely, caging and drugging them doesn't bother you, then a special place in hell awaits you. If it doesn't bother you to leave your children and grandchildren paying off trillions in debt, living in pollution, without health care, then you have no soul.
11
White Christians feel deeply, and profoundly, that their tribe is under attack. They believe that Trump - working through god - will save them = civilization. I have talked to these people. They don't care about trump's behavior the environment, corporate greed or russia. They only care about preserving white christian majority/morality. They are anti-gay, (it's a sin...and trans is an abomination against god) pretty much racist (they are welfare abusers), anti women's rights (eve came from adam's rib, etc. not they other way around and abortion is murder)...etc. They won't stop until the USA is the christian equivalent of iran. It's god, then country. My question is - where does being human fit in, because humanity seems to be at the bottom of the list. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
16
The only segment of the transcript missing was how Putdestroyika was going to get that ball to his kid.
More than Trump, its time to eradicate the Republican Party once and for all. America can not stand any more of this parade of lunacy and corruption. The Russians have focussed their efforts on the GOP because it represents all that is weak about America: crackpot religion, gun worship, homophobia, misogyny, racism and sleaze. It's one stop shopping for hackbot saboteurs of democracy. America is greater than this, truly, and not in disgusting terms Trump, Fox, the NRA, the Evangelical Church, Putin, Koch and Mercer project. Time to stand up for our true selves and wipe away the stain.
122
@Angstrom Unit Right on...in 2018 start the eradication of the GOP; vote a Democrat straight ticket! Best of luck and Godspeed
Excellent column. To summarize: we are holding a national IQ test Nov 6. There are two parts to passing the test. First, show up. Second, understand that Trump is on every ballot, and vote accordingly.
8
Mike is right, and his observation is growing. I hope not, but it still looks like the media will help re-elect Donald Trump.
1
Voter participation is indeed the key. It's amazing that the Democratic Party is not using a memorable advertising slogan to get people to the polls. How about, "1 for 2" ? Every Democrat should encourage 2 of their friends or family members to vote.
7
This message is particularly true given that Trump just gave Putin the green light to hack and cyberattack this election so long as it advantages him.
7
At least since 9/11, Repubs have wrapped themselves in the flag and proclaimed themselves the only true patriots, the only people who respect the Constitution, the only ones who truly love America. It is high time for Dems to reverse this narrative, to wave the flag ourselves in support of a nation of laws, not men, and to offer a definition of freedom that doesn't depend on going to another country with military firepower. As a teacher, I see myself as a patriot who tries to exemplify and model the virtues established by our founding fathers. I urge fellow Dems to take back the flag and wave it proudly in defiance and redefinition of today's angry right wing conception of the term. (And while we are at it, Christians might well have a shot at taking back "christianity" from those enamored of a vulgar, mean-spirited, adulterous liar).
9
Could have predicted that from the headline alone. But how do you get the masses who are not paying attention to vote? Loud obnoxious activism and shaming the people taking tacos right out of the mouths of babes. We need both the genteel and the vulgar participating in removing Trump. This ain't bean bag or chess or the debate society.
4
The latest deflection tactic is to point out that while Trump gets along fine with Kim and Vlad, the president's staff is aware these fellas are not good guys and might pose a danger to our country. Since congress will do nothing to resolve this contradiction in the White House, it's hard to figure what a vote for a Republican really amounts to.
On the other hand, a vote for any Democrat for any reason is an anti-Trump vote so there is no excuse for not voting.
9
Frank- You’re right, voters have to come out. However, this will only happen if candidates are responding to each community’s needs. The one size fits all is not going to work. Schumer can’t be the face of the party. His goals and aims are too narrow and personal.
2020 is the challenge for both parties. And, in the age of Citizens United, which makes elections about money - there’s not even the pretense of running for office in the name of public service - the challenge is even more gargantuan. How come when the country is supposed to have so very many geniuses around, democracy is collapsing before our eyes?
I *always* vote, in the primaries and general elections. I once signed myself out of the hospital early on election day.
However, I usually vote for third parties, in order to send a message to the Democratic Party: other voters are staying home because of their move to the right, because they ignore the working-class in favor of their wealthy campaign contributors.
Look at the issues that Bernie Sanders and the other progressives drew crowds with: health care, education. Obama gave us the far-right, free-market Heritage Foundation health plan. Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq war.
I voted for Ralph Nader in 2000, because I couldn't pull a lever with Joe Lieberman's name on it.
I voted for Hillary Clinton only because Bernie Sanders urged us to (and struck a good deal for his support).
Democrats -- if you want my vote, come back from the right. Don't blame me for your failures.
5
@Norman Democrats may be more to the "right" than you prefer, but between Republicans and Democrats, who is more aligned with your political beliefs on health care and education?
And if you and many on the left need convincing that this is an election where you have to be wooed to get out and vote Democrat, then it is you who will lose for thinking you are in a political buyer's market. Believe me, Republicans and those on the right are not going to behave like that, and they win because you and others on the left do.
9
Trump won the Electoral College while Hillary won the election. It is our system that is at fault. This is why Ralph Nader could not get on the debates among other things. Citizens in this country are not much aware and don't really want to either. They think overall that this is it, the best.
3
Thank you for this article; it's important. I just hope that the Russian meddling, which Trump has openly encouraged Putin to continue, won't undo the power of the ballot box.
7
While Bruni is correct to share polling results that show the vast majority of Republicans still support him and his behaviors at Helsinki. But what also needs to be widely touted is his loss of Independents. And that seems to be growing. Now, Dems rely on those Indys voting and that's the kicker. But more Dems registered nationwide than Republicans.
5
Clearly, Mr. Bruni is correct that the only (and last?) hope of a peaceful path back from the current Russian-Republican tyranny to our former constitutional democratic republic is the November election.
However, loyal Americans must not assume we will have an honest election.
We all must be acutely aware that Putin's foreign operatives and our domestic Russian-Republicans will do all they can to prevent the U.S. from having honest elections by, among other crimes:
1. Illegally stripping voting rights from American citizens likely to vote for Democrats.
2. Reducing the number of polling places in Democratic precincts to such a small number that it takes many hours to cast a vote, thereby blocking the casting of votes.
3. Using I.C.E. agents and other right-wing thugs to obstruct access to polling places in Democratic precincts. (How may Latino American citizens will be detained on their way to vote?)
4. Using corrupt Russian-Republican officials to cast fraudulent votes on voting machines hidden from public view?
5. Using Russian computer hackers and corrupt Russian-Republican officials and contractors to rig computers to compute false vote tallies.
6. Having the Department of Justice and other Russian-Republican controlled agencies refuse to enforce election laws and prosecute election fraud by Russian-Republicans.
American democracy is on the edge of a precipice.
11
Is Trump turning the Republican party into the party of Peaceniks? And turning the Democratic party into the party of Resurrected Cold Warriors? In Helsinki he sort of gave the Military Industrial Complex the cold shoulder. But isn't that often the left's inclination?
I fully agree that Trump must be curbed, and that the only mechanism for doing that is the vote. But because he is not bound by any fixed values or ethics, he is free to twist and mangle the facts and party objectives to meet the needs of the moment. By November he could be portraying his party as the party of comfortable peace-loving self- indulgence, and the Democrats as the party of hawkish asceticism, eager to reimpose all those nuisance regulations.
To win in November taking pot shots at Trump may not work. It will take powerful charisma and an uncomplicated positive message. There are more than enough voters out there that dislike Trump. The job is to make them like the Democrats.
5
Voting is important but voting for Democrats is even more important. We argued with Nader people till we were blue in the face that a vote for Nader was a vote for George W. Bush. They did not listen and we got George W. Bush which got us into a huge war and brought us Isis. We argued with Bernie people till we were blue in the face that Hillary which is just progressive as Bernie, only she was way more competent.
They still don’t seem to understanding that the Republicans wanted Bernie, the Russians wanted Bernie. because they knew that without Bernie they could not win.
Many Bernie people are just like the deplorable‘s they want to tear the system down. Chill stern and Bernie are both losers. And Republicans love them.
3
Overheard on Park Avenue last evening: "I can't believe how horrible the state of the world is because of that terrible man in the White House! What are we all to do? Anyway, what time is our dinner reservation at Jean George because we want to arrive early for our orchestra seats to Hamilton."
7
For the life of me, I cannot understand why The Left is not mobilizing The Other Than Trump Voters? The daily barrage of Democrats telling the country how vile Trump is has a ring of Whining. I say let Trump keep his aggrieved voters and keep it moving.Economically disadvantage Southerners fought to maintain slavery during The Civil War when it would have benefitted them to end free labor.Rarely in America do our voters vote in their best interest.so the Dems goal of winning over Trump's base is a fools errand. Almost forty percent of Americans could care less how Trump looked with Putin or if the election was rigged. Why not motivate the 60 percent who are scared out of wits that Trump is President? Four months from the election someone needs to ignite a fire in the belly of other Than Trump Voters.
5
Amen.
The Trump campaign was based on dishonesty and corrupt character and that's just what we got - a dishonest, corrupt character.
10
Can we really wait to November when we have a President openly colluding and conspiring with the very man who was behind the attack on America employing 21st century cyber-warfare to put Donald Trump in The White House? Everyday this man is is revealed as a traitor to our nation and its Constitution. Can we really believe that we'll have a fair election with is "willing accomplices" purging voters by the thousands from the registration rolls and Poppa Putin sending his hackers to twist the truth and even compromise the very vote? We cannot, and must not, assume that the mid-term election will be fair when it is actively being rigged as I write this. Of course, the House Republicans just voted down additional funds to protect the voting process, and the President still refuses to acknowledge Russian meddling and order his intelligence agencies to combat it. The nation is at war, but our enemies include the Republican Party, Donald Trump, and Russia. Just waiting until November is a fantasy and a "fool's errand." We need to protest now; we need a fool-proof, tamper-proof backup system like voting by mail; early registration and voting; and we need to stop the purging of the voting rolls by Republicans. We are approaching midnight in America and, if we do not act now to clean up the registration and voting process, we may be astonished when November arrives with Republican majorities in Congress.
7
"A nation’s direction can hinge on a margin that small."
Only if the framers of that nation's Constitution planted the antidemocratic seed they called the electoral college.
4
The link to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s website allows a visitor to plug in his or her address, but THAT's IT!
Nothing else is available unless you register on the website.
There's no way on God's green earth that many of us will knowingly post our names AND addresses to be hacked by Russians or scammers looking for an easy dollar.
I made a campaign donation on line before the trump/russian theft and
I'M STILL WASTING INORDINATE TIME WITH EMAIL FROM EVERY BEGGAR WITH A CAUSE!
(thanks russia?!)
Protecting their donors should be the DCCC's FIRST priority.
4
Unfortunately, one of the reasons Trump won was because there were so many who disliked Hillary. If the democrats cannot or will not present a very favoable candidate, this fiasco could repeat. I believe we need new and experienced ..in government
people who are middle of the road, not extreme and not looking out for their own interests, [the dems can do that as well as the republicans.] I also know the importance of the next election, but I am not confident that the DNC will do what is necessary.
4
And progressive and moderate democrats must agree that whoever wins the primary, we support the democratic nominee full throttle. No whining, no "Jill Steining," no sitting home.
Our democracy is at stake. Whoever wins the primary we fight for tooth and nail, whether it's our candidate or the one who beat our candidate in the primary.
The Orange Menace must be stopped. And only the (unified) democrats can do it.
12
@Sparky
Can you tell me what our democracy is at stake? I've heard multiple people say this as if the sky is falling but I simply don't understand it.
Firstly we are a democratic republic so there is no democracy. Secondly, what has been done that you believe is such a threat?
1
The difficulty is multiplied by states' use of the minimum numbers of voting machines making lines depressingly long. Along with moving polling stations to locations far removed from the centers of the districts with nonexistent parking facilities. Absentee ballot is the only way to vote this year while not falling prey to the right's efforts to suppress the vote. Verify your voting info apply for an absentee ballot and mail it back before election day. Note: Extra postage may be required due to the weight and size of the envelope.
5
2016 offered two less than desirable presidential candidates, at least for those I spoke with. A number of those Individuals told me that they choose to vote for a minor third Party candidate. I continue to wonder how many of those third party votes made a difference in the outcome of the election?
4
@Tacitus,
Not as much, nor as many, as those that flipped parties. Again.
2
Each time I read, hear or see mention of trump as an amplification of the average American’s frustration or anxiety, I’m amazed. New Yorkers have watched his ego-driven, “me only” foolishness for decades.
His only intent is to amplify himself.
There are countless disgusting, conceited, hateful, selfish, arrogant, racist, sexist, narcissistic, judgmental acts of self-promotion we’ve witnessed ad nauseam from trump. From pillar to post his life has been an expose of indignant and oblivious disdain for any and all decency, with crass repetition of behaviors we all despise.
Imagine a friend (probably no longer), coworker or family member who’s always out to lie, cheat, steal, denigrate, deceive and run afoul of anything good and decent. The person who no one would have anything good to say about. Their mere presence is repulsive. You’d literally (and justifiably) hide the women and children. He’s the exact kind of person you would’ve denied audience or access long ago.
No one would ever say that repugnant person “Speaks for me.” in any capacity.
Except when elected?
13
Voting is critical. But can we expect people who put children in internment camps to respect the vote?
We need to be filling the streets in peaceful protest now, protests that are incontrovertibly larger than “the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.”
Bonus: you can post sassy tweets and dank memes while you march.
6
Trump has the support of the majority of the American people. Get over it.
3
@Karen
I think that would be better stated as he has the support of the majority of American areas. There is a much larger concentration of people in cities and those typically vote democrat. So technically you are incorrect, Trump lost the popular vote but won the vast majority of area and counties.
5
No, he doesn’t, he didn’t, and he won’t.
THAT is a truly depressing thought.
2
Yes frank, VOTE THERE IS NO EXCUSE
7
Democrats need to reach the young voters.l where and how they consume information. There is a young woman in my office who went to the woman’s march in DC and is an advocate for LGBTQ. She does not read newspapers. Honestly she looked at me with a bit of confusion when I talked about buying subscriptions to NYT and WaPo to support journalism during these ‘fake news’ times and stay informed. Newspapers are not in this otherwise engaged millenial’s world. I guess FB is it despite their role in facilitating Russian interference and lack of journalistic integrity. Voters need to vote, but they need to be better consumers of information as well.
7
We have "a republic, if you can keep it."
Vote!
6
Republicans have to go in order for this country to survive! The Republican Party is corrupt and has no moral aurhority. They have proven that they care nothing for our Constitution, and are incapable of governing.
13
Please pay attention, dummies! Our elections are rigged. Democrats won the 2016 Presidential election - until Vladimir Putin put the entire Russian Intelligence and Counter Intelligence into the fray. And President Barrack Obama and stupid FBI Director James Comey didn't think it was a good idea to alert the American public.
Traitor Trump has withdrawn funding to protect elections from cyber attack. Want to know what Putin and Donald talked about privately in Helsinki? The planned how the Russians will insure that Republicans are re-elected at all levels of government in the 2018 midterm elections. This isn't about politics anymore. This is about national security. Don't vote for Republicans who are ought to surrender the country to Putin. Vote for Democrats who are also dumb but they are at least rightfully afraid to become Russians, something which rich Republicans don't mind.
10
@San Francisco Voter
It's not a good idea to start off by calling people names if you want to be taken seriously. It costs you credibility and minimizes the impact you could potentially have to put people on your side.
5
This November, vote for TRAP,
The Russian-American Party.
2
Thank you Mr. Bruni.
Yes, it's great to have Stephen Colbert and MSNBC defuse our emotional and spiritual despair, but ACTION and EMPOWERMENT are the keywords here.
I live in a Republican state: Idaho.
These Axios Republican 'polls' mentioned are highly suspect to me. No one has polled me, my HVAC service man, my book club, my friends, my neighbors in terms of our decayed trust and utter disgust in this administration. I've become politically active for the first time in my life. I'm horrified watching this systematic dismantling of our institutions and democracy.
Also, I do not take my two Republican senators off the hook for valuing their own political ambitions above country. Neither one is even up for re-election until 2022! Mike Crapo gets reminded he publicly refused to endorse candidate Trump and Jim Risch gets reminded he's on record for having to 'hold his nose in order to vote for Trump'. There are town hall meetings our senators are still accountable for attending.
Thank God there is much work for American citizens to do before the November mid-terms.
8
@Susanna
I'm genuinely curious what dismantling you think is occurring? I've heard that countless times but I can't meet someone half way until I understand their viewpoint. I would appreciate if you could help me see where you're coming from.
1
Yes but ask the Trumpers what is so good about this president and u won't get anything either. The point is one president two party and three hundred twenty million citizens. It is unworkable and never has been but hey the best democracy money can buy.
2
Ever since the election, I have begged folks to vote. And I don't mean just my friends. Every time I stand in a line, I counsel all the other standees to VOTE. I tell the cashier to VOTE. Every time I go to the PO, I say: Please VOTE. I say it in the grocery store and at the bank. I always add: "This is our privilege, and it is the only thing we can do that will keep our democracy alive."
9
Keep doing the same things and supporting the same party apparatus that couldn't beat Trump and the GOP in 2016, eh? No mention of how flawed our 'democracy' is that the second presidential election in two decades was won by the person that got fewer votes?
We need real reform and real change, which the weak, captured by big money, Democratic leadership will not achieve even if they win the House. If that happens, I imagine the Dem leadership and equally spineless Times opinion section will be back to urging compromise and civility, not calling for a legislative boot on Trump's throat.
People should start organizing with groups that promise to push real progressive and radical change, like Justice Democrats, the DSA, the New Economy Coalition, the Poor People's Campaign, SURJ, and innumerable local groups supporting and organizing vulnerable people (who are often discouraged or barred from voting, like non-citizens and the formerly incarcerated).
We will win a better world by organizing with each other, not phone banking for a party leadership that is divorced from the concerns and realities of most people in this country.
3
@Will
Presidential elections aren't won or lost based on the most votes by design. By that logic someone could say that Trump won 75% of counties and therefore won the VAST majority of the vote. Both are useless statistics.
Yes, please triple dog dare, then vote.
First point is that whoever wins a U.S. president election will protect the U.S. And whoever wins a Russian election will protect Russia. So it doesn’t matter who wins.
Second point is that if expert government computer hackers can get into another country’s computers the most important valuable information to hack is about that country’s defense system. This would be information on type of airplanes, war ships, submarines, weapons, nuclear missile sites, soldiers, tanks, etc.
Which do you think is most important?
How can Trump 'attack' a democracy that just isn't there Frank. Can u tell me something about, among many, election 2000?
@Suzy Sandor How about 2008 and 2012? If monstrous conspiracy of unseen oligarchs conspire to manipulate election results in the GOP's favor, then why did they allow the most liberal Democrat in history win two elections? Did they just decide that they just weren't in the mood to destroy democracy and stay out of the game until 2016. Republicans went to the polls in greater numbers than the Dems. And millions of people who voted for Obama didn't turn out for Clinton. We most certainly have a democracy---for those who want to take the trouble to participate in it.
2
I deeply, achingly yearn to come home to the Democratic Party, but since the end of Clinton's first term they have become increasingly hostile to me. It's not about the shepherd's pie of parochial interests; it is about the bone deep loathing for the working class who can't quite succeed yet refuse to allow themselves victimhood. I did not vote for Trump and I never will, so I will remain a voter without a party. I am persuadable. Come win my vote (not that it matters since I live in a Deep Blue district in California).
2
Right. And the D party's election slogan will be:
For the People.
That will surely do it.
1
Will definitely vote in 2020. For Trump.
3
@M
As things are currently so will I but I'm curious why you will. People need information to help understand others and the only way we can do that is by communicating. So what is your reason?
1
In reply to Cletus Butzin
You don’t want to read or hear anyone’s opinions AND have decided NOT to Vote? Really? What does this prove? This lack of action allows our Representatives to chip away at the foundation of our democracy. Don’t just sit there and do nothing. If you don’t like the information out there seek new avenues to educate yourself!! Try:
Vote Smart- votesmart.org : A nonpartisan non-profit organization. It covers candidates and elected officials in six basic areas: background information, issue positions (via the Political Courage Test), voting records, campaign finances, interest group ratings, and speeches and public statements. Vote Smart also provides records of public statements, contact information for state and local election offices, polling place and absentee ballot information, ballot measure descriptions for each state (where applicable), links to federal and state government agencies, and links to political parties and issue organizations.
There’s also National League of Women Voters-
www.lwv.org
The League of Women Voters is officially nonpartisan--it neither supports nor opposes candidates or parties. It does, however, support a variety of progressive public policy positions, including campaign finance reform, universal health care, abortion rights, climate change action and environmental regulation, and gun control.
These are only two organizations that can provide you with information that does not give an opinion just the issue.
6
2016 Results
Clinton - 28%
Trump - 26%
Winner - President Apathy - 43% of “vote”
Blacks don’t vote in large numbers in Wisconsin because of Scott Walker’s Voter ID law and hopelessness probably. 40% of young black voters between ages 18-25 don’t have driver’s licenses and 50% of state penitentiary prisoners are black with only 6% of the population being black. There’s strong Affirmative Action in Wisconsin in the opposite direction to disadvantage Blacks. Walker signed the Voter ID law smiling and remarking, “this one’s obviously special”, despite no evidence of significant voter fraud. Only one person voted twice - and he was a Republican. How can Walker claim that he loves American democracy, when he makes it harder to vote?
8
What we need is a "voting challenge" to go viral like the "ice bucket challenge." Grab your friends, make a plan, share on social media . . . then vote, celebrate afterwards, share on social media. Voting is currently a solitary "should do" that too many people don't make time for. It needs to be a communal "can't wait to do" that everyone wants to be a part of.
4
Actually, I believe we got it very right in 2016. We avoided the calamity of another “everyone is a victim” - identity politics - corporate owned - liberal.
“We” votes for Obama twice, and Trump once because they promised to set fire to the establishment which loves the rich and the poor - but hates the working middle class. Obama lied.
Trump lied.
“We” will vote for Trump again - unless another candidate at least promises to set fire to the establishment.
Until Democrats get that - they’ll continue to be the Republicans impotent little brothers and sisters.
3
@Satisfied Voter - President Obama did everything in his power to keep the promises he made and he accomplished quite a bit despite Republican opposition.
6
@DR
I would argue that President Obama did nearly everything he promised. As it turns out he vastly overplayed how popular those ideas would be and it has resulted in Republicans dominating political races at all levels of government since 2010. For better or worse, as he put it "Elections have consequences"
Disgusted with Donald Trump? Do this:
Give the People something to vote for, instead of something to vote against.
Put Medicare for All; Free College Tuition; Ending the Wars; Legalizing Marijuana; Breaking Up The Banks; and Repealing the Bush/Trump Tax Cuts on the ballot and you'll get a Blue Tsunami.
4
@G.Janeiro
I don't think that's entirely true. The first question many people will ask if those things is on the ballot is... who is going to pay for all of that?
It's the same issue we have with stopping hate speech. I'm all for stopping hate speech under a single condition, I get to determine what defines hate speech.
If you're unwilling to give me that power I'm unwilling to give you that power and therefore no one should be told what they can and cannot say.
3
@Mike funny, when it’s time to invade another country or give the rich another tax cut, no one ever asks, “how’re you gonna pay for that??”
Ok, here’s how we’re going to pay for it: by cutting the Pentagon budget; by adopting a Wall Street Casino Gambling Speculation Tax; by making hedge fund managers pay the same rate as their secretaries; by restoring the Estate Tax to FDR levels; by bringing all the troops back home; by closing 100 military bases, which would still leave us with 900+ around the world; by repealing the Bush/Trump Tax Cuts; etc.; etc.
@G.Janeiro
Actually I ask who is going to pay when there is a war.
I appreciate the reply and I agree with most of your statements on how to do it. I don't agree with removing the tax cuts or raising the estate tax but the others I'm on board with
Yes, I'm disgusted with Donald Trump. So disgusted that though I am a Republican, I will not vote for them in the fall. I have even given consideration to to voting for the Democrats. But I can't do it. Here's why:
-- Iran Nuclear Deal. Just as the Republicans have been supine in failing to stand up to Trump, almost all congressional Democrats meekly followed their leader to support a concessionary agreement that at most postponed a terrorist theocracy's progress to having nuclear weapons.
-- Israel. One need not think Israel is a perfect country to realize it is an ally on the front lines fighting the same Islamic radicals who would gladly murder us all. But Obama treated Israel as an enemy, placing on that country the entire onus for the lack of peace with the Palestinians, although Israel has made serious offers of an independent Palestinian state, while the latter has never made any meaningful concession whatsoever.
-- The "Dear Colleague" Letter. Sorry, I refuse to tolerate the Democrats' forcing colleges to adopt guidelines on the adjudication of sexual assault complaints that 28 Harvard law professors, male and female, called fundamentally incompatible with due process.
-- Transgender bathrooms. For Washington to tell every school district in the country that providing single-user facilities for the gender dysphoric isn't good enough is a species of tyranny. It's also an indication of just how radical the Democrats have become.
I will cast a blank ballot.
3
@Howard F Jaeckel
I agree with disagreeing on the college guidelines re: sexual assault. but luckily I don't have to agree with everything said by a politician or even by a friend. In fact, I'd be suspicious of anyone who told me everything I wanted to hear.
2
Casting a blank ballot is a vote for Trump.
Politicians regularly rank at the bottom of lists of people/professions people trust/admire/ respect. A vote for a Democrat is a vote to give more money, power, and control over your life to politicians. Insert definition of insanity here.
3
Vote NOw! When it matters. Call you Senator! What? Don't have anything to say? How American! The Sounds of Silence.
1
After days of egregious actions followed by inept explanations, Friday drooled even more shame on the shameless trump. And the next day and all the nexts will bring new outrages, either brought to light by the intrepid press or by trumpian real-time tweets. It doesn't end; the travesty of this thug in office will not cease until Congress itself is threatened by a voter backlash and does what it should to end it.
4
Turnout goes two ways. If Brett Kavenaugh is not confirmed before the mid-terms, turnout for the GOP, especially in the "battle ground" states will be great. Best thing for the Dems is to hope this issue is resolved before it is time to vote. Win the war, not the battle.
Republicans are in locked step. The president is a traitor. Young people never vote. The stakes have never been higher...yadda, yadda, yadda. You failed to mention the single most important thing concerning the upcoming election: The Economy. And the last time I checked, people were making money hand over fist. If Democrats lose again in November, it won't be because of gerrymandering or voter turnout, it will be because they wasted their breath on stupid distractions and forgot what matters most to Americans and America: The Almighty Dollar. Comrade Trump is many things, but he is also a sitting chief executive presiding over a booming economy. You think the Dems can beat that? Care to put your money where your mouth is?
@Sue
Th only people making money in this economy are the 1%.
Not anyone I know.
4
People say impeachment of trump is a bad idea because Pence is worse.
I say, could be true but Mike Pence in unelectable, with no personality, with dead eyes and country grown.
Please all vote in this November and my focus is on Sherrod Brown.
5
I have just read some of the responses to Bruni's article. It appears that Bruni's opinion is directed only to the Democrats. Where is the voice for the Republicans? Why is the media so one sided. This is the USA and when I was young, the media published the facts, not their own personal opinion. It would be healthier for our nation if all voices could be heard, instead of shutting out one voice over another. I good eg was Whoppi Goldberg this past week on the View. Judge Jeanine Pirro was voicing her opinion and Whoppi came unglued, loosing all sense of reality. We are granted free speech and that means each side has a voice; not one side screamed to shut off the other side! I am pretty disgusted with the way our citizens are acting. If the Democrats want to win elections, then pull away from the far left because you are losing all your power; and you will keep losing until you reach some middle ground!
3
@Elaine he did mention the republicans. He pointed out that in a recent survey 79% of republicans were happy with tump's traitorous and servile comments to Putin and that the Russian investigation is nothing more then a distraction. When over 3/4th of a party is fine with outright treason there is not much to be done for them.
2
@Elaine - Did you see the word Opinion at the top of the page?
3
George Will has bailed on the party of trump? Mirabile dictu!
Oh, and VOTE!!!
3
One of the unforeseen downsides of longer lives is the trend toward authoritarian blowhards. Please vote in some younger people. Time for the old ones to pass along the baton. We need to bring the median age of office holders closer to those that have future interests at stake.
6
Virtue signaling.
3
By far, the most important election in my long life was November 2016. The second most important will be November 2018. Brace yourselves between now and then for more over-the top antics by 45 to inflame his manic base. And, btw, Mike A., I would cut him some slack if I ever saw an opening in his gawdawful behavior and grant him some “human dignity” if he had any.
5
I have stopped reading any article with the word Trump in the header from the dozens of online news sources I read every day. I suggest all news sources band together to have a “No Trump News” day.
3
Yes by all means - vote. America is at a tipping point. Dark forces, both foreign and domestic are poised to take away your freedoms. For the Trump true believers, he will abandon you, his real motives have only to do with himself and his need for revenge, power and control. Should Democrats win big in November and begin in earnest an investigation, Trump will simply resign and go to Russia for asylum. Putin would like nothing better than to have Trump installed in a golden palace, filled with fried chicken, cheeseburgers and Diet Coke, for all the world to see what made in America really looks like!
3
An American Amusement Park
Tell us something we didn't already know.
2
Does anyone know who won the election in 2000? No one knows for sure!
2
Know what? I agree with everything you say, Mr. Bruni. BUT.......I have a very hard time non the less because you still can't figure out that The Republican Party, at least the current version, which has been building itself into a coalition of evil (Christian Conservatives who will turn this country into a narrow minded theocracy of their religious beliefs, aided and abetted by FILTHY money from the rich----no make that the SUPER RICH who want to protect their $$$$ at the cost of all fairness to others).
A quote from you:
My plea isn’t a partisan one, nor am I romanticizing the Democratic Party, which has problems galore.
I'm sort of with you, I believe more in personal responsibility than the Dems do, believe that Government "fixes" need to be carefully considered and then carefully considered a second time, but.................
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!! You still cling to the outrageous belief that the Democrats have problems galore when the Republicans are behaving as they are and have been for more than 20 years (they have been building to this for 30+ years). The Democrats over reach is in reaction to all of this, trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to contain the damage. Obama was not a perfect president, I'll give you that. But his single biggest legislative accomplishment was a godsend to the low economic end of this country and didn't exactly hurt the middle classes. And the Republicans still want to destroy the ACA. HOW DARE YOU COMPARE THE TWO PARTIES??
5
Right on, Frank!
And thanks for the new word -- "perfervid."
2
Phone-banks? Nobody talks on phones anymore. Most inbound phone calls are telemarketing robocalls. Strangers calling, whether to pitch aluminum siding, free vacations, or political candidates, are immediately rebuffed as an intrusive annoyance.
The last time a campaigner phoned me to support a ballot measure I let them know that, even though I supported the proposition, I was so annoyed with their interruption of my enjoyment of a television broadcast that I would now vote against the proposition just for spite.
Please do not pester people at home with telephone calls.
2
Turning against his alleged "support" for a ballot proposition just to "spite" a telephone caller strikes me as all you need to know about Robert M's "advice" on electoral politics.
It seems like to me that Robert M is a Republican afraid of the blue wave that is coming in November, and the sensible strategy for enhancing that blue wave included in Bruni's piece.
4
@Robert M
I'm no fan of calls, but if my alone time is important,
I mute my cell or lift my receiver.
Spite and racism were the ONLY reasons trump got ANY votes, russian collusion or not!
2
The challenge is to sustain the determination to vote in November. This sounds weird, but I devoutly hope that Trump doesn't become normal before it's time to vote. We almost need him to continue in the pattern of a disgrace a day--short of war, of course--to help us maintain our outrage.
Volunteers are needed to assist all for whom voting is a challenging task. We must whittle down that horrible statistic that 40% of the electorate didn't bother to vote in 2016.
2
Articles like this make me laugh. Partisan politics at its peak. Both sides ranting and raving like they have truth, justice and the American way on their side. Neither one any better than the other.
Sports teams show how silly this is. I live in San Francisco, but I think professional sports silly so I always root against the local teams. I like to go to my gym and watch the television there, and cheer for the opposition. It used to get me scowls and howls like in this article until others caught on and now just ignore me.
Donald Trump is a little different from normal politicians. But he's not that much different. All the angst and rage in Frank Bruni's article is way overblown. Just like the ranting and raving from those who argue that Oakland's Warriors basketball team is evil. Maybe you don't like them, but they aren't evil, are they?
Why can't we all just calm down? Maybe we might even be able to work together to solve issues like immigration, poverty, homelessness, poor health, Syria, Iran, Ukraine, North Korea. Instead of being consumed with Russian fever that robs us of reason and turns us into partisan warriors.
3
@John Smithson - it's okay with you that Trump is so friendly with Putin? It's okay with you that he unilaterally imposed all those tariffs (which will both raise prices for all of us, and eliminate jobs and lower profits for farmers and others)? It's okay with you that Trump is appointing people like Betsy DeVos, who know nothing and care even less about the Department she's heading? And Ben Carson, who knows and cares nothing about the poor, who are supposed to be under his charge?
I just don't get your apathy.
9
@olderworker
As Moshe Dayan said, "If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." Donald Trump should be talking to Vladimir Putin. The more the better.
Trump is not being friendly. He knows Putin is an enemy. Like Trump I make deals for a living. Flattery costs nothing and is effective. Trump uses it skillfully. Good for him.
The tariffs are designed as a means to an end, not as an end. They will end soon, one way or another.
As to Betsy DeVos, she certainly does know a lot about education. She has been a leader in the field for decades. She's not a liberal, so her views are unpopular among teachers, but you can't fault her expertise.
And Ben Carson certainly does know about the poor. He grew up desperately poor, and worked his way out of poverty. He may not be the greatest bureaucrat, but he's certainly far from the worst.
All in all, I'm impressed with Donald Trump. Politicians always make campaign promises to get elected, then shift with political winds. Trump made campaign promises, and now he is doing what he said he would do.
What a refreshing change. And what does he get for it? Pure partisan pushback. Resistance. It's like a war is going on. Both sides can -- and should -- do better. A lot is at stake.
@John Smithson
So, if President Obama had held the same exact news conference with Putin, you would have been ok with it? You would have accepted his "I misspoke" excuse? You think it would have been ok for him to meet Putin alone, with no one else in the room?
My guess is no, you would have been screaming bloody murder. And instead of defending him, the Democrats would have been overcome with depression and worry that this would be the end of the Democratic party.
1
Vote for the same old same old! That would certainly feel good, and moreover, solve nothing! Alleluia!
Here is an example: human rights for children, as defined by the United Nations. All countries subscribe to them, but for one country. The USA. When Obama and his gang had a supermajority, they could easily have joined the rest of humanity, and make it illegal to separate children from parents except in really extreme cases. They didn't. They put children in cages, and... Trump did the same. Whose fault is that? The fake progressives who campaigned for Obama? (I campaigned heavily for Obama myself, giving years of life for him: zero return!)
So now "democrats" and other pseudo-social justice types rightly scream against Trump separating kids and parents. But why didn't they strike these infamous US laws and practices, separating kids from parents, when they could?
More pertinently, where is the really progressive agenda? When Obama finished his mandate, inequality reached its highest level, ever. When Obama finished, life expectancy in the USA took its most serious dip in a century. Where is the plan to fix all these problems?
A new McCarthyism has been launched. With Russia accused of "interfering" in elections. As if the US had never "interfered" in elections anywhere?
The rage against Trump is often commendable. However, the truth is worse: the rage is secretly directed at Obama. Trump is only the name that can be uttered. So don't vote for the same old. Think anew!
2
Should the Dems fail to capture a majority in at least one of the two chambers, we're toast.
It really is just that simple.
Really.
8
It makes no difference overall whether you are a supporter or a hater of Mr. Trump, the message should be the same. Get Out And Vote!!
I would rather see a big turnout and my candidate, city councilman to president, lose than to see mine win in a race that no one cared enough to vote in.
3
To get people to vote--and vote out Trump collaborators in treason, do this: go door-to-door and talk to your neighbors. If you live in a city and are in a dog owner, you already have a leg up in this.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her team knew this. All politics is local, and you only get to local by taking each individual voter in your district as a separate person to be met face-to-face and listened to.
Then tell how Trump's policies--and GOP complaisance, collaboration, and downright treason affects your neighbors' pocketbooks and futures...and are inevitable if you don't vote.
2
In a tape leaked from a Republican meeting just before Trump had the 2016 nomination, GOP Speaker Ryan talked about how Russia “hacked the DNC … and, like, delivered it to who?”
Then Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy responded “There’s
2 people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump. Swear to God.” Ryan told the group to keep that secret, that they were a team.
Rohrabacher supported Putin's invasion of Crimea. Trump said to NATO leaders Crimea rightfully belongs to Russia because most of its people speak Russian. And it's clear from the fallout from the Putin summit <----> Republicans don't care about the 2018 Putinization of America.
4
Thank you, Mr. Bruni--and let's just remember that there are a lot of people out there who, just like Trump and the GOP, do not want the good gals and guys showing up to vote.
All the Crooked Hillary jazz, the lying, was aimed at voter suppression. And the constant yelling about Jill Stein and St. Bernie did every bit as much damage.
Now, we're hearing endless alibis and excuses and scapegoatings: the Media! The gerrymandering! The DNC! Nancy Pelosi! They're why I didn't show up and vote!
If we keep it up, we'll be back here next year drivelling about how Republcans kept the House.
Please vote. If you possibly can, throw in a little money and do a little phone bank work or something. Yes, it's Bad Times...would you like to see them get worse?
5
If there was REALLY all this supposed disgust in the country that Bruni speaks of, he wouldn’t have to write this article. Bruni is coming to the realization that his views are not the views of a good many Americans. I say Americans because the folks of whom he wants us to vote for are throwing in with socialists and illegal immigrants more and more with each passing day. Maxine Waters is burning the flag. The Democrat Party is being represented by socialiats. Democrat politicians are spending more time advocating for illegals and abolishing ICE then figuring out the best path forward to provide economic opportunity for their constituents. All the while Trump talks taxes, trade, and economic strength every day.
This Ian
November is going to be yet another big let down for the extreme elements in the Democrat Party. When will they ever learn?
2
Mr. Bruni's focus seems to remain somewhat selective in this piece. He refers to "the Helsinki freak show", but does not seem to take issue with President Obama's excrutiating open-microphone capitulation to Dmitri Medvedev on 5/26/2012, when he promised to have "more flexibility" after the elections. Is this the kind of representation we all deserved?
Would Mr. Bruni prefer that small children be held in the same confines as criminal adults? Is that what they do in cities like New York or Chicago?
He laments being "morally wiped out", but seems to take no issue with illegal aliens murdering US citizens or SCOTUS justices who rule against constitutional law and therefore undermine our citizens' rights to congressional representation.
Mr. Bruni uses the words "harm", "anger", "corruptions" and "will", but I'm not sure Mr. Bruni understands who has more reason to feel the emotions that these words can invoke. The 2016 elections were decided, fairly, by Americans who had more than enough of President Obama's "rule by fiat". They were in no mood to accept the same from a character like Hillary Clinton. Our constitution protects Mr. Bruni's right to distort facts and misguide us, but it also protects our right to be informed, to be heard and to be represented in our own country. We have the right to reject a false ideology that that serves no one but the top echelons. If Mr. Bruni thinks he can ever convince us otherwise, well, good luck with that.
3
The only solution to Trump is to impeach him in the House of Representatives and force him to resign or be removed from office in the Senate. Endlessly failing to state that will not get us very far towards getting past the Trump disaster.
If finally acknowledged and implemented, impeachment and resignation (or removal) would take care of "disgusted with Donald Trump." It would not, however, take care of "disgusted with the Democratic establishment" who helped get Trump elected."
Furthermore, just replacing Congressional Republican incumbents with Democrats may not be enough to even get Trump out of the Oval Office, and for two reasons:
1) Democrats in the current Congress have been the greatest political cowards in US history,
2) Some Republican senators will need to publicly support removing Trump, because Democrats cannot possibly get the required 2/3 majority of that Congressional chamber on their own.
There is no avoiding the stark reality, no matter how many times the news media denies it: If the Democratic establishment had not insisted on nominating the unelectable Hillary Clinton, Trump would probably not have ever become president.
1
We get it. It should have been Bernie. Etc.
I voted for Hillary, primary and general elections, and the DNC was not holding a gun to my head.
3
Part of our current fix is that when they read an op-ed calling for voters to vote, Trumpists fly into the usual tizzy and start rounding up the usual suspects. Seems everybody else is a girly-man, the economy is "roaring," as they say with an odd unanimity, Robert Mueller's a witch-hunting commie, Trump's a genius--you know the drill, as it hasn't changed much since I used to pick up the phone back when I was a kid, and get howled at by the John Birch Society wackos for ten minutes.
I'd have thought everybody could at least read the darn article and support the idea that everybody should vote, but then I reflect that Trump and the GOP deliberately tried to depress the vote. And some on the Left pitched in and helped.
Let's not get suckered again, okay? Please vote.
2
What do we need to galvanize our citizens against this attack on democracy, and alien invasion! Maybe somebody need to make a movie like Independence Day, but based on the current politics. If the only way we can grab America's collective short attention span is a movie...I don't use Facebook, does anyone know if the forces of good are flooding it with factual messages and get out the vote memes?
3
“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.”
“The people—the people—are the rightful masters of both congresses, and courts—not to overthrow the constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”
—Abraham Lincoln, September, 1859
I guess we won’t be counting on the 79% of Republicons who are too busy to “adhering to [our] Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort” to help us “overthrow the men who pervert” the Constitution.
1
Speaking of cults ... Democrats have to realise that 2020 is not the time for symbolism or feel good “inclusiveness”. Only a white male can beat trump. I know I’ll get hosed for saying so and that’s too bad. I’ll be drummed out of the ranks of liberals for prioritising winning over making a point. If sexism helped “elect” trump-and it was, big time-putting any woman at the top of the ticket will have the same effect.
Think of how much of trump’s and his Brownshirts’ venom would be rendered impotent against a white male. Believe me, I wish Hillary was president. But 2020 is not the time for making history. It’s time for saving it.
1
Poor Frank. Still mad Hilla lost. Yeah, Trump didn't have a very good week. Obama had some bad ones too. Why not find something nice to say? Get over it Bro.
4
If democrats would come up with policies and ideas that would actually help those in the middle class, they might win an election now and again.
Not gonna happen though, so .......
no blue wave. #justwalkaway
1
@Jake - Democrats have done just that but those ideas don't fit on a baseball hat. Any person willing to put a little thought and some reading time knows the Democratic stance on education, health care, the environment etc., all of the things that impact our daily lives the most.
4
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
9
Congressional Republicans, you no longer tolerate clarity, so waffling Trump, incapable of complexity or scholarship, is your manchild: winging his duties as commander in chief, personally insulting the heads of state of our allies and neighbors; calling out the FBI, the CIA and the NSA as scheming, bumbling incompetents; holding children hostage; turning a cold eye on sweltering storm ravaged Puerto Rico; trashing healthcare, the environment, public education, our Constitution, NATO, and the rule of law, lying out of both sides of his mouth, pausing only to ad lib plummy tales of his own grandeur.
Republican Congress Persons, you have no honor, no dignity, no shame. You are reaping the whirlwind. Any regrets? I thought not. But...but, Trump to "BeBest" for the Helsinki Summit played golf, then clandestinely fornicated with the former head of the Soviet KGB who, by the way, engineered his own illegal reelection. Still, most of you standby your Manchild raging assaults on our democracy, crude temper tantrums, and wrecking ball diplomacy. OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!
3
The dishonesty of the judicial nullification of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" is one of the most stupid and repulsive features of this infantile nation.
3
Americans have become lazy and irresponsible with their right to vote. People in other countries are literally dying to vote. Our own fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters have died so we can vote. Make some effort. Stop complaining. Get off your butt and vote. The Ugly American is depending upon the lazy American.
5
In the past before the 2016 elections, the choices were either Democratic or Republican.
In politics today, we have two choices but they are not those of the past.
Today, you can choose to be a Democratic Socialist or a National Socialist.
Trump and his followers have chosen National Socialism, the philosophy of "Me First".
The "Suppress the Government" Party wants Americans to have fewer choices.
The philosophy of "We First" is the choice of Democratic Socialists.
The "Empower the People" Party wants Americans to have unlimited choices.
1
This is true to a point. However, if the Russians can hack our election systems, we are done for. And note that the House this week refused to give states money to toughen up their defenses because (they said) the states already have enough money. So, the Repubs need the Russians help to win. And really we are so trusting with our votes.
5
"Congressional Republicans have decided that to cross Trump is to commit suicide. They need to be convinced that not crossing him is as fatal a course."
It may be it's not a question of crossing Trump, but a question of complicity.
How many GOP have got Russian connections? How many GOP have accepted "donations" from the NRA/Alekander Torshin friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and deputy head of the Russian central bank? It is easily confirmed that no small number of the GOP have accepted these donations.
The "donations" are common knowledge among GOP ranks. To wit:
The Washington Post " in May 2017 published a transcript of a conversation from June 2016 among the House Republican leadership, in which the House majority leader Kevin McCarthy made clear that he was aware “the Russians hacked the DNC and got the opp research that they had on Trump” and speculated “there’s two people, I think, that Putin pays: [Representative Dana] Rohrabacher and Trump.” Amid laughter, House Speaker Paul Ryan insisted that the conversation remain off the record, adding, “What’s said in the family stays in the family.” Ryan would later claim he and McCarthy were joking."
It is chilling, in addition to unpatriotic, possibly treasonous that a once very respected party is easily $bought$ by a dictator whose goal is to divide our country and alienate us from our allies.
Yes! Stay informed and do vote. It is what we can do and it is our civic duty.
3
You've delivered the most important message.Vote! It is the most effective way to clean up this mess.
Should we manage to turn things around over the next election cycle, each of us must examine the preferences and affiliations that brought us to this, for we and we alone are responsible.
2
I am an independent voter who voted for Clinton, despite holding my nose as I did so. Nevertheless, she was, experience- wise, far more qualified than the pretender, our current president. I personally know several neighbors who were so turned off by both Democratic and Republican choices they simply wouldn't vote for either one. A big mistake, as they have learned. To date, I haven't seen any Democrat hopefuls who appeal to me. Therein lies the problem: too many old faces and not enough young blood in the mix. I would prefer not to hold my nose as I vote.
4
@Diogenes
Life is full of choices and decisions to be made and voting or not voting has consequences whether you hold your nose or not. Your neighbors who were so 'turned off' by their choices and so didn't vote, actually did vote.
4
This is about the mid-terms, not 2020.
3
I hope that the Democratic Party candidates will not be complacent and believe their election to office will be a shoo-in. Hubris and believing all the hype brought Hillary Clinton and her fellow party members to defeat. This must not happen again. It will not be easy to defeat Trump, whose supporters don't seem to care about his major mishandling of his job but it can be done if the Dems run effective campaigns. Michelle Obama (and her husband), along with those Republicans who are equally disgusted by the current president, must speak out against him frequently and strongly.
strongly
1
Bruni is missing something important. Even a great number of Trump supporters are appalled by him, but they've largely learned to tune him out. What they do like are the results he's producing that Trump's opponents ignore because they disagree with them so vehemently and are still unable to accept the results of the 2016 elections.
What Trump voters and the middle can't ignore is the hyperbolic attacks on Trump and the policies that they largely agree with, and on them as supporters of these policies.
They are not inclined to vote for unhinged leftists who somehow think that "our very democracy is under attack" and that the sky will fall unless we abolish ICE, elect democratic socialists, obstruct obstruct obstruct, and impeach a lawfully elected president.
Why would most Americans vote for more marches, more insults, more shrieking, more obstruction, more profanity, and more obstruction? They know where it's coming from.
1
Mid-term election participation rates typically fall off
at least 10 basis points from presidential year elections.
The rates in the few special elections are not particularly high either.
So, despite all the activist hyperactivity, this does not yet seem to have diffused out into vast zones of the country outside larger cities. Large numbers of people may be anxious, disgusted, uncertain what to do, but can that translate into simple decisive action, e.g., checking if
one is registered, registering to vote if not, and then
understanding that not to vote for a democrat will simply
continue the current grotesque spectacle? I wonder.
Take the average suburban voter whose economic/ social concern interests have been looked after by his/her trumpican representative who
is not part of the nunes-gohmert-gaetz enabler cabal, just a normal guy. Why would it not suffice to hear
the same level of concern as that uttered by ryan or mcconnell
to help convince said voter to come out and vote as usual?
Changing allegiance is difficult, and a high wall has to be scaled...The best would be to have said voter not choose, which is also quite difficult to internalize. So I don't see how control flips from that voter pool. Especially in the senate contests.
Instead the indifferent voter, one disgusted with politics, needs to swallow hard and choose civic participation, despite the targeted negative noise designed to reinforce that disgust.
Almost more frustrating than Trump is the coterie of Democrats who don't vote. This is just as much acting against one's own interests as the zombie Trump supporters who keep pulling the R lever despite the fact that it damages them. The Democratic party doesn't help. It does not have a comprehensive message. It relies on identity politics and content-free opposition to Trump to motivate voters. Voters must have something to vote for. The Democratic strategy is anemic.
5
This is for the 70% of Republicans who still, seemingly, support Trump. Your President is doing things his way irrespective of what State Department boffins, Defence department boffins, Economics boffins, etc. are telling him; he has surrounded himself with a bunch of people who are either sycophants or simply weak-willed ; he is trying to run your country as a one-man show.
Do you not really, honestly, believe that your country deserves better? Strangely enough, Trump's foreign 'foes' do while your real foreign adversaries do not.
1
Amazingly helpful writing.
Good news: 90% of us - right and left - want politicians who don't chase huge sums of money for campaigns. Who can then serve "We The People" instead of their money masters.
Devs: create a simple app that lets millions make a mass viral demand politicians cannot ignore.
Money out of politics now!
"We The People 250."
A constitutional amendment
1) max contribution to any candidate for public office - $250. Any level - city council to president.
2) same $250 limit for "political speech" (if a person or group wants to air a commercial taking a political view, the funds for that commercial, that political speech, can only be garnered in maximum $250 chunks. No billionaire or organization can command the airwaves with massive buys of political speech.)
3) all congressional districts drawn by non-partisan panels. California does this now.
4) no lobbying after leaving Congress. No employment by any company on which the politician voted.
5) complete disclosure of all financial holdings and tax records from any candidate and all sitting politicians.
6) automatic registration to vote at birth for citizens.
7) easy voting by mail - done successfully in Oregon now. Paper can't be hacked.
8) extra provisions, drafted by experts in campaign finance for all other issues.
Our government is not for sale!
Our brave soldiers did not die for that.
We turn 250 in eight years.
$250 limit ammendment.
Our early birthday present to America.
3
One unstated message in Bruni's piece is that the left must consolidate their vote around whoever is the Democratic candidate in their state or district. The "progressive" versus "establishment" has to be suppressed for the good of our future.
Why? Because this election is not about any one particular candidate, it is about which party has the majority in one or both chambers of Congress. That party gets to set the legislative agenda, staff committees, conduct investigations, etc.
It is the difference between having Mitch McConnell or Chuck Schumer as Senate majority leader. Kevin McCarthy versus someone like Tim Ryan as Speaker of the House.
It would put the "check and balance" to the Trump/Republican hard-right agenda in service of the 1% of the past year and a half.
2
It seems that the NYT community still does not get it. This focus on Trump is totally besides the point. The focus should be on the US population. Why is he so popular? If he is a racist then it is democracy that shows that around 50% of the US voters is. And racism is a stable personality trait. So don’t expect any change under any circumstance. His voters will always vote for him. If Trump is defeated narrowly the US will still have to face this problem with their own population! The NYT community is apparently too scared to discuss this much bigger issue. It would be brave to avoid for one week criticism on Trump and replace it with a, yes elitist, criticism on and evaluation of those near 50%. As a suggestion the NYT could discuss the role of racism in fascism. And please blame it on the German population not on the leader in the thirties (a population who BTW never voted as much as 50% for its own idiot). But the NYT could also discuss the very poor US educational system in the context of Trump’s voters. So NYT go beyond Trump bashing and do some intelligent analyses.
1
@Dick Bierman. Bruni's piece was about motivating the left to vote and get involved in voter registration and voter turnout between now and the election. It was about using the power of the left to win back one of the chambers of Congress. It was not about "changing" the minds of Trump supporters. In fact, Bruni treated their political opinions as basically unchangeable and opined that motivation and turnout by the left is what is imperative and the key to victory.
3
Amen, brother.
3
Vote by mail Close polling places and save the costs. All votes are tallied on paper ballots. You have all the time you want in the privacy of your own home to make your decisions. You have a few weeks to make your decision.
We have been doing is since a 1998 initiative.
Works GREAT!
2
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the ultra liberal winner of the N.Y. Democratic congressional primary, travelled Friday to Kansas to campaign for two progressive congressional candidates. She will be continue visiting other states to also campaign for those liberal candidates also. She will be spreading her leftist message but will it resonate with the voters in these more moderate parts of the country. She may appeal to the coastal elites but it is highly unlikely her message will appeal to these more conservative voters.
Is this the new face of the Democratic Party? It certainly looks this way but what Ms. Cortez may not realize is that her leftist policies will not play well in the more moderate parts of our country. People are more middle of the road in these parts and her progressive views will turn people off from the Democratic Party.
Of course, this is wonderful news for Republicans who will continue to win more elections and keep control of both houses of Congress. They will be able to pass more bills which will benefit Americans and make their lives even rosier. This is what the Republicans mean when they say they want to make America great again. They are certainly succeeding and will only continue.
1
Correction:
She will continue to visit other states to spread her progressive views.
@WPLMMT - Name three of those bills that actually improve the lives of average Americans.
Why don't we make it easier to vote? Voting over a 2 day period. Poll stations stay open the first night until 10pm. Online access to see if you are registered. Ability to cast provisional vote if there is a problem with your papers. Ability to cast your vote at any polling station because the voter verfication is online and connected by wireless internet, a great innovation from the previous decade.
5
The cry of "No taxation without representation" was not only a protest against unfair taxes but also a demand for representation -- a demand that we each have a voice in how we are governed. Our system of checks and balances is broken because the Republican Congress is spineless. Republicans saved the Union in the 1860's. The Democratic Party -- in particular the Southern half and many in the North -- was then the party of treason. Today, the roles are reversed. What we saw happen in Helsinki was just as real as Munich. The moral corruption we witness with this Republican Congress every day is real. For the sake of the Union, We must vote out the Traitor's Republican enablers in 2018. Failure is not an option.
4
Absolutely - vote as if your life depends upon it.
3
Frank Bruno is always reasonable and fair. Frank for president?
Though I know you're far too busy to read my comment, I am eternally grateful for your presence and all your perceptive and intelligent evidence based insights you offer in the NY Times and Don Lemon's CNN nightly program. I really miss you two guys when Mr. Lemon's nightly program isn't televised as expected.
1
so, what is plan B for the Democrats if Nov doesn't go well? I only ask because they were so sure of victory in 2016 they had no plan B and that's how we got here. What is plan B is Kavanaugh gets borked and the next nominee, and every subsequent nominee until it gets filled, is worse than Kavanaugh? Does anyone ever think anything through any more? Sorry, that was rhetorical.
Hillary was not wanted. Period. Democrats like me saw Bernie Sanders removed from the ballot. Bernie was wanted.
5
Bernie may have been wanted, but Trump was gotten. Happy? Bernie or Busters busted it. Happy?
3
@Dad, Bernie was nothing more than a dark money nihilist appealing to the extreme left.
3
@Dad
Sanders ran as a Democrat but lost the Democratic primary, he wasn't 'removed' from the ballot, he lost the election because he didn't have enough votes. Primary voters decided that.
7
The only part Bruni missed is that those who did not vote in 2016 should be doing penance. They should publicly admit they failed in their civic duty so they are partially to blame AND THEY WILL NOT EVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN
2
It’s also their right not to vote.
1
NO! NO! NO! Frank
Don't encourage people to register and vote!!!
DON'T REGISTER!
DON'T VOTE!
THANK YOU!
GIVES ME MORE POWER!
Here in Stamford, CT, only 12% of the registered voters bothered to come out for the 2017 election. Anyway, only about 70% of the eligible residence have bothered to register. So, Frank, based on that I had 14 votes!
See what I mean by more power? And, I have only missed voting once since I registered a couple of decades ago.
5
Vote. It is your duty as a citizen. Besides if you don't vote you have no right to complain about the government.
2
So many people are living such better lives, all while leftists scream their Trump hatred. My hope is Republicans will do well in 2018 and 2020 because so many Americans will be turned off by Trump hatred and promotion of Democratic Socialism or Communism.
3
Can you specify whose life is now better, and in what way?
4
So many Russians may be leading better lives, but not Americans. Trumpists are, and always have been, delusional and divorced from reality. My hope is the we bury Trump and his lunatic minions forever starting in 2018.
4
@Bill Carson
Very rich, very white people might be leading better lives; no one else is, unless you are counting the criminals he pardoned. Trump is the one kissing up to the Communists after they rigged the election for him, or hadn't you heard? The Communists intervened because the were AFRAID OF Hillary Clinton and because they own Donald Trump. I guess the "news" you listen to which tells you how rosy Trumpworld is forgot to mention his traitorous activities. How blind do conservatives have to be to ignore their own hypocrisy? My hope is that the GOP gets destroyed at the ballot box in 2018 and are forced to impeach Trump for their own survival.
1
I'm a college professor. Every student who brings me proof that they have voted gets an extra-credit "A" in my course. I don't care who they voted for (that's a lie; of course I do, but I cannot promote one candidate over another) but at least it provides some extra motivation. It's one of the things I can do personally to get out the vote.
6
@Brad Geagley - Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Let each of us pledge for the 2018 election to get registered and to the polls two voters that otherwise would not participate. I so pledge.
4
Instead of more of the same, how about a general voting strike? Holding up signs saying why and silently standing by the polling places?
We already have a general voting strike called apathy. That's like holding a match up at a concert when you want the band behind the curtain to hear the applause and the house lights to stay down. Sorry - I just thing that match thing is the stupidest, most counterproductive thing of all time, next to Trump voters, of course.
1
It’s time to cure this Trump tumor, not complain about it. The time for complaining is past. Vote and get as many people to vote as you can.
4
Yes, we all have to vote. We have to vote to make sure that in the next "election" we will still be ABLE to vote. Our voting rights are being shaved away, and we are not paying attention. A populace that is not able to vote, who's representatives only answer to moneyed elites, who cannot count on the courts providing relief, will only be able to take to the streets to shout their frustration. You'd think Mitch McConnell, with all his shrewd gamesmanship would appreciate this.
2
Yep, preaching to the choir, but sometimes the choir needs a loud noise to make it actually do something. VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
3
Yes, the participation rate must increase from what it was in 2016 for a more representative democracy that holds those elected accountable.
The message of the Democratic Party is not at all clear to me. The fact is that Trump appeals to base instincts of fear of societal change, racism, xenophobia, religious hypocrisy and anything that Obama approved. His policies have actually hurt many of his avid constituents. Trump is actively destroying checks and balances and any number of our Constitutional rights, not least the freedom of the press. He should be vigorously castigated at all levels for his failure to protect and defend our Constitution and country, but for the Democrats to have a real chance there must be a resonant theme that captures their vision. Believe in America Again or something akin to an expression of a positive vision, as opposed to destroying institutions and our environment as Trump has done so far, might actually resonate. The message has to be personal to motivate participation.
Democrats may have to start the whataboutism used so effectively by the righties. I am taken back a bit by the new expression "Resistance," that is a typically pointed and negative sound bite of the righties. Sounds a bit like a fictional minority, but those who oppose Trump are actually the majority of Americans. Why not call ourselves Real Americans? Real Americans are what anyone who does not support Trump!
The lesson of 2016 is don't let the perfect get in the way of the good. Hillary Clinton was far from a perfect candidate and ran a bad campaign. She certainly underestimated Trump and his appeal. Many who wanted Bernie Sanders did not vote for her. The fact that 40% of the electorate did not vote is terrible. Of course they wish now that they had held their noses and voted for Clinton. So, now Frank's advice is apt. Mobilize voter registration. Work for local candidates as well as up the ticket. It is important not only to take back the House and possibly the Senate in November, but also to reclaim state houses and governorships which have been lost to the GOP. Trump has already cemented his legacy in a way that cannot be undone with his SCOTUS picks. There could be more given the ages of the Justices. That is in addition to the chaos and ineptitude since his tenure began. Those of us who are not Americans can only cheer you on.
2
Great read this morning! We all vote around here...
4
Disgusted With Donald Trump is hardly the feeling I have. I cannot even listen to him anymore. I rely of newscasts and reporters to give me the report of what he said. I currently live in a red state with almost no hope of having any Democratic victories. But, I will still vote, even if my one vote gets overwhelmed by the Trump followers. I hope other will vote no matter how bleak it seems. It is the only way now to displace the disgraceful Republicans.
So what did I do to listen to politics (or more accuracy history). I went on a tear of listening to historical speeches that were uplifting: Lincoln's Gettysburg address, Reagan's "tear down that wall" speech, Obama's Philadelphia race speech, Churchhill's "we will fight" speech. I feel much better now.
4
Perfect! BUT, the Democrats have to come up with something more in terms of a substantive and workable plan, than has been offered before. And humiliation of opposition through self-proclaimed intellectual elitism is a sure strategy for failure. Many who voted for Trump have been hurt, but they’re not stupid. At best, Trump is the disaster we needed to wake up. Importantly, everything wasn’t all right before him ... in the “good old days.” The government needs reform. And dynasties, though familiar and comfortable for many, have shown not to be effective for America as far as I can see. The same old “leaders” with the same old lines have to step aside, preferably with grace, for the sake a new day in changed time. That 40 - 45% of eligible voters didn’t vote in the last General Election ought to very troubling to those who favor and trust in representative democracy. Putting the blame of the disaster we have with Trump on him alone is much too simple.
1
Stop blaming the Russians. American democracy has always been for sale, and it’s an international market. Our empire looms large in the world so there’s a lot of interested buyers. The once dominant American working class voters sold out long ago to hucksters shilling faith and patriotism.
4
I am so exhausted by Trumps coverage that I can't help but for him again.
1
U are a funnyman, we need more like u.
Ever since citizens united became the law of the land, enabling big business to essentially bribe our politicians, I trust no one.
I especially don’t trust the operations counting our votes.
It’s open season for voter fraud. The GOP will definitely alter voting results if they can get away with it. Be vigilant, the GOP will do ANYTHING to hold on to power. Self preservation is in their DNA. It’s the 1% against all of us. I vote, I donate, I protest, and I keep my pitchfork sharpened.
4
This is a movie I would like to walk out on but can’t.
It can only have two endings. One is a president removed from office in disgrace. The other is a corrupt president who remains in office because members of his party are more interested in getting re-elected to keep their jobs instead of actually doing their jobs.
Either way, it makes the United States a weak country headed for third world status drawing the ire and disgust of the remainder of the democratic world all the while becoming a puppet of autocratic thugs. The only things that keep us from being totally overrun are the nuclear arsenal and the immense buying power of the economy. Absent those items, the USA would be relegated to the scrap heap of failed political experiments.
Since the republicans represent a smaller percentage of registered voters than in the past, that approval rating isn’t as large as it appears. It will be up to us, the unaffiliated registered voters, now the largest constituency, to turn the tide.
5
Disgusted? Frank, that's an understatement. Trump has alienated almost every demographic but those who believe there is a deep state conspiracy inside of our government that only Fox Mulder and Dana Scully can solve. He has betrayed our nation and he refuses to change course. He doubled down on Putin. Let's face it - he's aligning our interests with Russia's and he has no intention of stopping.
5
Call me selfish, but when I look back on the last year and a half of all this reported madness and Armageddon, my life hasn’t changed for the better or worse one bit, just that much older regardless. In anything all the paranoia and irrational hysteria in reaction to Trump has created has only made me a more disenchanted and cynical nihilist. It’s strange how I envy as well as pity those who can somehow still care about any of this. Now I feel that those slaves who built the pyramids must have felt they were answering to an even higher calling and sense of purpose as what I see around today.
2
Unfortunately, you are speaking to those already committed to voting.
2
Both Trump and the GOP are acting like they have an awful lot to hide. Trump's even talked to Putin about having a joint cyber security unit for “election hacking."
What are Republicans doing about funding election security?
Trump's campaign manager was a Russian agent--now in prison awaiting trial. His Education Secretary's brother met with Putin allies to set up a Trump back channel, and lied about it to Congress.
In a tape leaked from a Republican meeting just before Trump had the 2016 nomination, GOP Speaker Ryan talked about how Russia “hacked the DNC … and, like, delivered it to who?”
Then Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy responded “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump. Swear to God.” Ryan told the group to keep that secret, that they were a team.
Rohrabacher supported Putin's invasion of Crimea. Trump said to NATO leaders Crimea rightfully belongs to Russia because most of its people speak Russian. And it's clear from the fallout from the Putin summit Republicans don't care about the 2018 Putinization of America.
1
The Rabid Right, a perennially angry lot, always turns out to vote, and they will redouble their efforts for Trump. Michelle Obama can be a Churchillian force, exhorting all qualified voters to put down this dangerous regime. The sooner the better.
5
I want to share your optimism about voting. But I don't trust the Russian hackers. They don't need to hack every state, just a little "tweaking" in a few to keep the status quo. There's a reason Putin always wins. The Russians are good at what they do.
3
While I was growing up my father worked in 3 countries which had dictators.
In primary school our reading book was the biography of the dictator's wife. We were warned not to speak English in public and never to make any comment on the local situation.
We could not wear T-shirts or other clothes that looked "American."
Because prices were set, frozen, by the government, sugar, flower and other essentials were hard to get.
We all knew of people who fled their country, leaving everything behind. We knew of people who disappeared.
All this because there was no democracy. The best guarantee that we won't have to live in dictatorship is to VOTE. Cherish our democracy, VOTE. Protect your family VOTE.
7
Years ago I wrote George Will off as intelligent but gutless, unsuited for the political knife fight and useless. I was very wrong. I'd like to be proven wrong about other Republican pundits. But I have little hope.
Years ago I wrote establish Democrat leaders and much of the Democrat base off as one trick ponies, predictable, unsuited for the political knife fights and useless. So far that's been proven correct.
Th economy is roaring, with people of color making the greatest advancements; the supreme court will defend our Constitutionally enshrined rights against Progressivists for a generation or more; Americans are safer due to increased border security and immigration-law enforcement; foreign policy breakthroughs have been made beyond anyone's imagination.
To be disgusted with Trump over mere words in the face of such positive developments is stupid.
@Philpy - It is not roaring. It is coasting on President Obama's success.
Tariffs are already having an impact, fuel prices are rising, people are in danger of losing their health care.
Banking regulations are being undone and so are environmental regulations. The cost of environmental clean up is astronomical and the ripple effect on health, businesses etc. will be immense.
2
78,000 ballots in 3 states did it? Then, we have to find out who those 78,000 voters are before they can do it again.
1
In a Democracy, we have to go after the system rather than after the citizens lawfully using it.
6
Exactly. We have voted our way I to this, we can vote our way out. When we do have saner mind's in control, we need to demand compulsory voting as the price and validation of our citizenship. Get rid of Presidents Day and make votig days the holiday.
2
It is appalling to realize that Russian propaganda helped elect djt. The Russians never stopped with their mission to destroy democracy, and now they have djt leading the attack. Remember when djt shouted about "rigged elections" during his campaign rallies? He knew, absolutely, what was going on. He knew, and he did not expect to win....nobody was more surprised than him. Now he's back at it, he knows Putin is undermining our democracy right now, all over the internet. And very likely trying to hack our voting machines. This is why djt is doing nothing to stop it. So just as important as getting out the vote, it is vital to saving our democracy to make sure that every voting machine is in fact not being hacked!
3
Has anybody but me noticed that the Deep State Paranoia is everywhere now?
Yes, it flourishes mostly among Trump supporters for whom it is the foundation stone of all of their political thinking, but never-Trumpers like myself are not immune.
Just this morning, I found myself wondering whether Putin has secretly installed a radio transmitter in Trump’s brain or dental fillings or otherwise brainwashed him in accord with procedures laid down in The Manchurian Candidate.
The truth is that Trump is merely a extremely stupid man, greedy for power, bedeviled by feelings of inferiority who will easily be brought down as soon as a few Republicans rediscover their patriotism and do the right thing.
3
... an extremely stupid man ....
It is important that everyone check the status of their voter registration before October. The republicans are busy purging voter registration rolls, and yours could "accidentally " be purged. Don't forget how many voters this happened to in 2016.
2
If the midterm election doesn't fulfill our hopes, what then? The United States has become too divisive -- Republicans care more about the unborn than the born while striving to deprive women of insurance coverage for both birth control, childbirth, and post-natal care. As a native Californian, I'm not sure why blue state tax dollars have to support corporate welfare in red states where whites with massive chips on their shoulders not only vote against their own interests but also for the disenfranchisement of black voters who need much fairer representation. I suspect we might be facing civil war or a struggle along those lines. Perhaps the time has come to recognize that Republicans want a completely different country on behalf of their donors -- something that resembles Gilead but with less ethnic diversity. I don't want to live in that country, and, thankfully, I don't as an expat in Canada. This is no reprieve, of course, from the shame and grief of watching children torn from their parents on the border.
3
Yet, my vote wont work, and the votes of many democrats wont work. They didnt work in 2000, they didnt work in 2016... Even in the Obama years a vote hardly functioned. The system has failed and will continue to fail without a full reboot.
1
The voting districts/electoral college process is tilted - there is no one person one vote to determine the people's will. I live in California and it has voted always the same - hence, no point in voting.
This is simply not true, by a long shot. Among other things, Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed the redistricting effort that you're bothered by.
3
@Salvador: Try re-examining your attitude. I live in a heavily gerrymandered district. Our Republican Congressman is now the richest man in the House, and hasn't held a town hall in nine years. His seat is so safe, he doesn't bother representing anyone who doesn't pour money into his campaigns.
But we are sick of the status quo, and Democrats are out there, organizing, donating, and campaigning for his opponent. It is a total long shot, but by god, we are not going to make it easy for that arrogant McCaul. We are going to force him to defend his seat, for once in his life. He is going to have to spend money and mobilize voters and actually pay attention to what is going on in his district. Of course we want to win. And our guy, Mike Siegel, is working really hard to do so. We will not concede without first putting up a huge fight. We are going to shift the balance eventually, and this is just the beginning.
1
I live in the District of Columbia. They have voted for the Democratic candidate for President in every election since they were given the vote by the XXIII Amendment. They voted 90% for Clinton. She did better than Putin in Russia.
Why should anyone else bother to vote?
1
This is the first time in my 83 years that the U. S. itself feels unmoored. The institutions - economic, industrial, military, legal, academic, media in its many forms - that flaws and all, have sustained us, have brought the power of government to us on every level, are scorned by the loudest voices in the country. We are getting a good look at an America without leadership, whose center is not holding, and it is terrifying particularly because there is nowhere to turn for solace, reassurance, reasonable discourse, and certainly not peace.
40
The sentiment is great.
Columnists wishing to effect change would do well to follow their own advice:
Keep it simple. Focus on action.
It's hard to find the action item here and many people will respond: "TL:DR" (Too Long, Didn't Read). Instead, put your point in your first paragraph, as Republicans do: stop merely talking; give time and money to campaigns, now.
15
I think Melania Trump speaks for MOST Americans who she states (via her apparel), "I don't really care. Do u?"
6
Trump will call it rigged and I will vote.
Trump voters will call Russia fake news and I will vote.
I am 24 and I will vote vote vote
75
A M E N!!!!!!!!
Mr Bruni, finally someone is calling us all to do the right thing for the sake of our country.
You can count on me.
Now it's in every decent American's hand to stop this madness.
Vote all Republicans out!
31
@Charna, saddle up, don the armor, let the righteous crusade begin! Forward, to medieval times. This is what I call progress. It’s sobering to suddenly look out of the window and realize the train never even left the station.
— as to finding fresh methods for mocking him. A blimp in a diaper is a hoot.
Frank, you just don’t get it, that talk like that is the problem. Keep piling it on and your grave only gets deeper.
3
@ John Doe, Did you actually read the paragraph in which this fragment is embedded? Did you read the column? This is not about a fleeting chuckle at a protest blimp; it’s about the importance of voting. Mr. Bruni indeed gets it.
1
All we have right now is thumb-sucking ahead of another "Gotcha!" election that will be treated as an immutable act of God.
@Steve Bolger, it is amazing how every four years is promised as the next second coming. A simple review of that math is not a good idea, as hope only springs out of illusion.
If you think I would vote for a democrat after the childish and treasonous behavior of the left, think again. Every time I read or listen to a member of the MSM or a democrat pol, I get nauseous at the stupidity and the brazen attempt to disenfranchise those who voted for Trump. So let's play a game, lefties, and see if you can give real answers to any of the following:
1) Where is the evidence for collusion? Don't tell me, oh Mueller's got it. Trust me if he had anything it would be public by now.
2) Exactly what high crime or misdemeanor has Trump committed that warrants impeachment?
3) What enemy of the US has Trump given aid or comfort to that would warrant charging him with treason.
4) What exactly has Trump done to try to take away our democracy.
5) How has your life --- you daily life -- gotten worse since Trump was elected president.
6) What responsibilities as president has Trump disregarded.
7) What do democrats stand for other than free everything, identity politics and hating Trump.
Don't give general answers or something you heard on CNN etc. Give me some facts. There are none by the way but go ahead and try.
8
Please tell me how your life has gotten better under trump. Do you have more money in your paycheck because of his tax cuts? Is your medical insurance less expensive? How about your co-pays? Do you have a clinic or hospital within 50 miles from where you live? Or are you just happy that Trump is waging war on people of color and the economically disadvantaged? Oops I'm sorry, I should have used the word Trump prefers: (lazy) people on WELFARE.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg...
1
That's pretty rich, since you're citing guys like Lou Dobbs word for word. But FYI, the answer to about half your questions is real simple: Mueller's running an investigation into whether, and how, the Russian government meddled in our elections, and into--as the mandate he was handed by Republicans that Trump appointed!--related matters.
The others are simple, too: a kleptocratic KGB colonel, a Stalinist dictator, and President Xi are not our buddies. So while of course we have to try and get along with the other kids, peace is better than war, and all the other truisms of Lou Dobbs et al, here's a question or two for you:
Why is Donald Trump sucking up to them? And why doesn't he want anybody at all tohave the least idea of what he's saying behind closed doors? Let me guess--the art of the deal, which Trump didn't write. The wisdom of his brilliance, which is nowhere visible in his entire career. The trustiworthiness of his Mandate, which...never mind, cannot finish the phrase without laughing.
Otherwise, it ain't Frank Bruni who's shrieking, or demanding impeachment proceedings. He's saying what most Americans think: that this is nuts, and that it's vital we all go vote.
Sorry you have such difficulties with being asked to go vote.
@Robert Lou Dobbs -- never watch him. Note you didn't answer any of the questions. But I'd ask these back -- why did HRC do the Russian reset? Why did Obama tell Romney that thinking Russia was a big threat was so 80's. Why did he tell Medvedev to tell Vlad he could be more flexible when the election was over.
Why did Obama let Russia take over Crimea and Ukraine. Why did he draw the red line in the sand then back down? Why did he do nothing about N Korea? Why did HRC take money from foreign entities for the foundation -- why did Bill give speeches to a Russian Bank?
See folks -- you have to deal with some bad people. in the world. And sometimes having a private conversation is the best way. Sometimes pumping the bad guys up a little. Or you could just do nothing -- like Obama.
A babushka over Lady liberty? What rot. Trump already has a noose around her neck, and no gop supporter has complained. The gop is totally complicit, every single GOP voter!
18
And when some whacky third party comes a calling, send them away this year. They have done enough damage to this country.
And what was Jill Stein doing at a dinner with Vladimir Putin in 2015?
Coincidence?
Absolutely not!
25
Vote. vote. vote. Get inolved with voting registration drives. Help drive people to polling stations
18
The NYT should return to allowing more than three replies to appear with a comment. I don’t like pushing a reply out by posting another reply.
From @Mark (Iowa):
@Blue Moon: Why do you think that a newspaper should publish a guidebook for propaganda to persuade voters? I would rather see a newspaper traffic in news and facts, not propaganda. Why are you are looking to your media outlets for your opinions? Media outlets should deal in facts. Your political opinions should come from your heart.
This is an OP-ed, Mark. And every election is about opinions that relate to facts. The NYT persistently publishes verifiable facts that counter Trump’s relentless mendacity.
I am trying to convey that we need a periodic (weekly?) operational mini field manual for workers on the front lines trying to persuade voters, with the facts; I have no problem carrying around the latest NYT “cheat sheet” if that’s what gets the job done flipping Congress in November. I want to learn from people smarter than I am how best to convince voters.
“MAGA” and “Crooked Hillary” worked to help get Trump elected; we need to acknowledge and accept it: that kind of persuasion and repetition cater to how our brains are wired.
At this point, I like HRC’s “Stronger Together.” But “Treasonous Trump” and “Traitor Trump” also work for me. Democrats need to become comfortable with powerful phrases like these if they want to win! (And don’t forget that MAGA was originally used by Ronald Reagan in 1980.)
6
"A large-enough showing by voters opposed to Trump would overcome the forces of gerrymandering and overwhelm the Koch brothers."
I wish I could be sure of that Mr. Bruni. If nobody does anything about Russian interference before the midterms -- and it appears that nobody will -- I have little hope that a large turnout in favor of Democratic candidates will make a difference. I voted in the last election, as did everybody I know who is eligible to vote, but I can't help feeling that our votes didn't count because of gerrymandering and other interference.
5
It's vital that people vote...and that they think a bit before they do. Up here in Canada, we had more than one election where a clear majority of voters voted against the right-wing conservative party which ended up running the country. Because progressive voters split their votes between two parties: the Liberals and New Democrats. The rightwing conservatives, meanwhile, voted for a single party: the former Reform Alliance, which had adopted the name of the Conservative party - and got their voters. So Canada was run for years by a minority of voters: the conservative ones, the ones who vote like clockwork.
Those were highly educational years. More than once, the Prime Minister suspended Parliament when he thought he might lose a crucial vote.
At midterms, Americans who want some sort of democracy should vote...but take care not to split their vote. Republican voters will turn out in droves...and they'll all vote for Trump.
By all means vote. But think before you vote.
5
I question the polls which show Trump's popularity rising among Republicans. Is it possible that more people no longer are willing to claim GOP affiliation, hence the rise in popularity with his shrinking base? Whatever is going on, turning out the vote this fall is critical for our country's future.
8
@Kevin Cummins Agreed. The rise of so-called "Independents" began with those too ashamed they voted for George W. Bush. I have rarely met an Independent who formerly identified as a Democrat.
The Republican party is quickly becoming the sludge that remains as the formerly rational and moral party members evaporate into Independents.
Save democracy. Save America. Save Europe. Save the world. Vote Democrat in November.
7
Mr. Bruni writes: "And Trump won the presidency because of about 78,000 ballots in three states". -- Did not Kennedy win only by about 20,000 votes over Nixon in 1960?
As for the uncouth boor in the White House: you reap what you sow.
Agree that we have to stop stressing out, and saying "how on earth did we get here?" Part of it was gerrymandering by state legislatures, ours here in NC has outdone itself in that regard. But we have to understand where Trump voters in the heartland and the South are "coming from." My real anger is with Congress and the portion of the 1% that will stick with Trump forever, as long as he continues to stick it to the 99%. As a child of the deep South, raised mostly elsewhere and a healthcare professional of 40 years,here are my guesses about where some Trump supporters "are." Some are like Jefferson Sessions (no the Jefferson part doesn't have anything to do with Thomas Jefferson) who grew up in the town I visited every summer to see my grandparents. They are thinly veiled racists who still believe the South will rise again (so they kept their Confederate money, still...). Their hate for Obama was not just because he was black, to them it was even worse that he was bi-racial (I will spare you all their terms for bi-racial). They will NEVER see that he was a mid-western white farmer's daughter's child, who was raised in large part by his white grandparents, who loved him! I don't see them having changed much in my 64 years, so don't hold your breath on that group (also they love their guns, and believe that when we are invaded by a foreign country, only unregistered guns will not be found and confiscated, so they will be the saviors of the country). To be continued..
3
Practice democracy. Vote.
3
Thank you so much for sharing the George Will WaPo article link. What a blistering indictment of his own party, but one that should have happened five years ago after the 2012 presidential fiasco with Romney. Instead of learning from that post-mortem, they doubled and tripled down on their racist, sexist, Christianist, hateful attacks on those "liberal Democrat traitors" who "want open borders" and "deserve to be stripped of their (native) citizenship for being unpatriotic by not supporting this wanna-be tyrant." I am starting to feel some hope that real conservatives are finally waking up from their minimizing, rationalizing, and denying Trump's lust for absolute power at all costs is in danger of toppling our democracy. I am a diehard Liberal Democrat, but I take heart in knowing that there are still sane Republicans out there who are just as freaked out about this treasonous presidency and traitorous GOP Congress who refuse! refuse to carry out their Constitutional duty to check this power-mad man baby who is intent on destroying our country and turning it over for debts incurred from borrowing money from Putin and his oligarch buddies. Putin has made it pretty clear in the past year that he is not afraid to kill, via poison, in different countries around the world, anyone who opposes him. If Trump doesn't get THAT message loud and clear, I don't know what will. #ITMFA #RESIST #Notmypresident
2
The future of our democracy rests with each and everyone of us. If we fail to participate we hand our Nation and our lives and those of our family, friends, colleagues and fellow Americans over to the FOX Nation who embrace a proto-fascist in the White House and the moral tyranny of the Supreme Court that will deprive women of their basic rights and responsibilities to care for themselves and their health and reproductive choices.
5
We need to be protesting en masse every day.
6
@Anne That might not be a good idea. Every month, the number of people working increases. So, protest turnout would appear to be failing. My company, for one, does not have a time code for "Resisting", "Protesting Trump" or "Impeach Trump Rallies".
If the economy keeps growing, pretty soon, the only ones without a job will be newborn babies and dead people.
1
Good luck, democrats. Hillary lost an easily winnable election because the young and minority members of her own party couldn't be bothered to put down their Obamaphones long enough to to go to the polls. What will be differ next time? Not much. Does anyone thing Elizabeth Warren or Joe Biden will ever get on their radar?
2
Dream on Bruni.
Those Republicans are also going to be getting out the vote just like the Democrats. No one ever thought Trump could get elected and he did. And now there is doubt that the Democrats can take over the congress. Those Republicans are angry, hateful racist people who have their goofy right wing religious agenda to appease (oh and I forgot the guns) and racist reasons to vote for trump. They got out the vote before, they will do it again.
4
Vote for Dems.
Call your Senators and Representative on each issue that matters to you. Overwhelm them with calls. Be heard and make a loud noise.
If you have the physical capability, join those who are marching and demonstrating - be seen.
Send money, even a little, to those warriors who carry forward the causes of freedom - NARAL, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, FCNL, and Dems in every red state.
3
Correction!! Mississippi, South Carolina and about a dozen other states do not allow voting by mail, so be ready to get in line.
3
Keep deserting Russia would severely harmful to the US interests at many places that's what Trump recognized..
He is 100% right in the present changing world politics...
Wake up....
Trump admirers, or deplorable’s as Hillary Clinton called them have found their Ugly American and they love him. What is it about him they love is a reasonable question. Boorish behavior? Incompetence? Ignorance? The ability to lie, and cover it up with another lie, and then double down on both lies? It’s like they’ve never seen such a proud buffoon and the love it. It’s almost like he’s the biggest dumbest clown ever, and it thrills their little souls that he can be president. Like a god send. Made in their image. Like the father of all Ugly Americans.
To the majority of Americans and others around the world, we are aghast. But it’s our fault. Like Mr Bruno said we didn’t take advantage of the vote. That precious little vote. It can save us.
5
Talking about ignorant despicables voting against self interest. I find it more frustrating that democrats don't vote. America would not be in current situation if more democrats went to the poll since there are many of us. Yes, I understand that gop has put up road blocks to voting but even so, democrats are very pathetic when it comes to voting - shocked just a little more than 1/2 eligible voted. We should not be outraged and shocked if we don't vote. You have no right to complain and scream if you don't vote! Democrats, you outnumber the treasonous repblicans so you can simply end this current nightmare by solely by voting. Trust me, it's not that hard. You should be ashamed for putting trump in the white house by your inaction. So vote and end this nightmare, you have the power!
4
We need a "check" not only on POTUS, but on an abusive one party cult system that is running roughshod over our government, economy, healthcare, environment, society, culture, civility and the majority of American voters.
If the GOP-cult stopped cheating and followed the rule of law and wishes of the majority, we'd have a chance. But add in the Russians and regardless of the size of the Blue Tsunami turnout, they have the edge and resources to suppress and cheat us. Indeed, they succeeded in 2016 and we now have an illegitimate POTUS and SCOTUS Justice and a nominee. Gerrymandering extends, in effect, all the way into the Electoral College.
"... the Helsinki freak show" now opening in the fall in our nation's capital - complete with a military parade debut and voter suppression taken to the max with trump's armed militias and non-uniformed Russians (East Ukraine, anybody?).
Yet 90% of Republicans support the trump! They're not babysitters - they are enablers, conspirators and obstructors of any semblance of justice or accountability. Why else would the Russians ally themselves and target Republicans with Russian prostitutes in Moscow and the NRA to achieve their nefarious ends in our own country?
Vote Democrat - Not Russian.
4
Mr. Bruni, when you say “we got it wrong in 2016”—
I assume that the NYTimes, you included, are owning up to completely missing the boat with Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries of 2016.
Many of us here at the NYTimes readership begged you and Krugman and Blow and Editorial Page et al to listen and not tow the establishment line. But to no avail.
And now look around you.
3
@srwdm
I share your frustration with the Times' political coverage in 2016. But we need to move on to what's necessary this year. If you want to have a prayer of seeing any part of the Bernie Sanders agenda become a reality, get to work for the nearest Democrats. You shouldn't have to look hard to find them here in Mass.
@srwdm
Best comment yet. Thank you for saying it.
Bernie lost by 4 million botes even though he was supported in infiltrated by Republicans and Russians.
Pretty people are just as much of a cult as Trump people. And where are Bernie‘s taxes?
2
We hear from (many) distinguished career intelligence officers this week and seasoned foreign service folk about disbelief and complete disarray in all areas of the the White House and now in all areas of this "government". Mr Bruni encourages us to vote, and i hope we will. Republican rank and file support went...up to 79% this week in polls. Yet over-educated very highly connected Republican neo-con opinion folk, even and especially in the NYT write ....humor columns about Trump and Putin? or sound like they are out there with Lennie from Of Mice and Men and just want to talk about some hysterical topic akin to "the rabbits". That said, I do not see where a 2018 Obama or RFK and for the future is going to come from. Please Karma, surprise me. Now.
1
The sad fact is that internet memes placed by Russians, like those that said a vote for Hillary is a vote for the Devil and a vote for Trump is a vote for Jesus, would not have been effective if a large portion of the American public were not gullible morons. Even mainstream Republican leaders like Bush and Rubio misjudged the Republican voters out there in flyover country. They support Trump and listen to FOX News and AM radio. As Obama said, they cling to their guns and bibles. They look down on educated people. Take a drive through Tennessee. Every little town has a gas station, a Dollar General store and six Baptist Churches. Think they understand the effect of tariffs on trade? All they want is their guns and bibles and their job in a factory. The wealthy oligarchs know exactly how to push the voters buttons to get what they want, which is tax cuts for themselves - end of story. Trump ran against "the government," so anything he does that upsets the apple cart his supporters like. Facts do not matter in the least.
4
Get out and vote, vote, vote in November Republicans otherwise you will have to hear more of this babble about Big Bad Russia. Remember, the deadly enemy is China. Vote!
@Ray - China, the country Trump products are made in?
Venting does little to further the conversation.
Seeking compromise does.
Think about it for a while, Mr. Bruni, before your knee hits your chin.
3
Russian hacking, Gerrymandering, purging of voter rolls....these things are what keep the GOP in power. See 2016.
1
~~~ May The Wave Be With You ~~~
I tell each voter at the door or on the phone: "John Kennedy beat Richard Nixon by One Vote per Precinct. YOUR Vote could be THAT one vote! Vote By Mail when possible [Paper for audit. NO lines. In CA can check Rec'd & then Counted online.]
"There is no reason goodness cannot triumph over evil, so long as the angels are as well-organized as the Mafia .." (Vonnegut)
18
Trump environmental damage is moving fast so let me add to Bruni's voting advice. Give money to the legal groups slowing and challenging GOP damaging actions. I hope the NYT lets me post Earthjustice whose 400 lawyers are actively fighting back. Join Audubon specifying moneys to buy land to protect it or for legal actions. The attacks on the environment will be hard to undo quickly. Make your money be a vote as well.
2
After all the venting, Frank, one wonders how you would have enough energy left to vote.
5
All these delusional, NY Times, hate Trump 24/7 opinion writers all have something in common...they voted for Hillary and lost bigly. There will be a red wave in November. Americans vote with their wallets. Peace and prosperity equals big Republican gains. Stay tuned.
6
Actually I'm disgusted with NYT nonsense. Trump is addressing trade scams that destroyed the great US textile industry-- the first President to step up.
6
You’re kidding right? The presidency requires adults in the room NOW. The president is banking on the midterms, the confusion, fake news, continued trade wars, alienation of Europe, etc.,etc. Putin in the Oval Office, oh my.
Trump’s oxygen is due process rigged with misinformation and being the news of day with everybody guessing what just happened.
How many non-Trump company’s would tolerate trump? Even Rex Tilerson, one of Trump’s more logical choices was fired on Twitter.
Yea, i’m really going to do what you suggest, but can you tell me with a straight face, significant damage isn’t going to take place while congress rejiggers itself after the elections?
Congress and its subjugation by Trump is how he does it.
Trump has no rule book, doesn’t write anything down, and uses
procedural chaos to disrupt a rule of law democracy.
I’m going to be disgusted with Trump all the way till 2024.
Like Vietnam, people will look back one day and say “how’d they let him be president”. Ken Burns, get your self going on the history of the presidency ASAP.
1
Make sure you are still registered. Voter purges are rampant lately.
7
Frank Bruni, You are and always have been a voice of reason. Thank you
4
The Russians are pouring more and bigger money into it, to get the right candidates for them elected. They've infiltrated every big-money right wing group you can think of, the N.R.A., evangelicals. They own you.
2
@Timbuk So, why didn't the Russians spend on Planned Parenthood? They could have made the same kind of commercials for PP as the NRA.
A black and white theme. A woman threatened by right wing zealots, clutching Bibles. A dark alley. A coat hanger.
Then, a couple women step forward saying something to the effect of, "Only your vote can protect a woman's right to choose."
Democrats are True Blue. Vote for America like your life depended on it!
4
And donate!
4
Trump, repugnant in so many ways, compromised, and an asset of an adversary's intelligence an security apparatus, is politically the culmination of the neofascist drift driven by the Republican Party for decades. We will either stop Trump and the Republicans, or the United States will be a fascist state.
10
@Ghost Dansing So when Ted Kennedy asked the Soviets for help in 1984 to defeat Reagan, what did that make him?
1
"...Congressional Republicans have decided that to cross Trump is to commit suicide..." [op cit]
But I think there's a way out, for those Congressional Republicans who know the difference between right and wrong.
And that is to join with Democrats, in a move to impeach the President immediately, before the Midterms arrive in November.
Why?
Because in a “Trump-Free” America, swing voters as well as moderate Republicans, who also know the difference between right and wrong, will then feel “free-again!” [MLK] to vote for the candidate of their choice," without fear of surrendering to a ruthless dictator.
I for one, am desperately looking forward to a World without Trump, where thoughtful and patriotic Republicans [and Democrats!] will again be emboldened to vote with their hearts and minds, and not have to bow in obeisance to this Madman, who has the gaul to imagine, “[that] only I can fix [it]!”
My fellow Americans, are you with me?
7
despite the discomfort expressed by disappointed democrats the "venting" has gone on, as it does even in this call for votes against a president who was elected by votes or stay-aways disdainfully consigned to baskets by our failed candidate.
so who do we choose from the "outraged" and "deeply disgusted" to elect? who among the leaders of the party has anything to offer besides invective, who among them offers cogent critical argument instead of hysterical ad hominum attacks, the most juvenile of fallacies?
the old guard, hillary and her "restart button?" joe who jumped to echo obama's scolding of romney for calling russia "a threat?"
the new kids, ocasio-cortez, the economics and international relations major who backed away from her criticism of israel with a disclaimer of any "geopolitical knowledge?"
who have we got who has spoken out against the ranting, against the compromise of open debate in our schools, the rebirth of hollywood blacklisting, the general decline of civility...blame trump for everything if you will, but elect who? maxine waters?
the republicans have proven that aimless dissent ("hell, no!") doesn't work...when their day came, they weren't ready with anything better, see health care...hard to see that we're ready for anything better either, across the board, immigration, (schumer doesn't want congress involved!), north korea (the door is open), russia (who've been after us since lenin), china (the prime cyber criminal). etc.
name some names.
1
Make America America Again.
6
I just KNEW the term "Putin's Patsy" would get under Trump's orange skin. He just broke wind on Twitter again, calling Obama a "patsy." Totally, his M.O.! When he is tagged with a name that fits, he tries to stick onto someone else. Unfortunately for him, nobody is buying it this time.
4
If you think you can't get out to vote in the next election then ask for a mail in ballot. You fill out at home, drop in mail box before the election; they give you a date when it has to be mailed but I believe that is very close to the election date. I'm an older senior and in 2017 asked to receive mail in ballots. Got mine well before election, filled it out and mailed. Turns out was a good idea to change to mail in ballot as sold my car in May 2018 so don't drive but friend mailed for me; or maybe you live close to the post office. Voting this year is VITAL. It's IMPORTANT. Voting should not be put on the bottom of the to do list, especially with damage Trump is doing to this country. It won't get better with him.
3
Thank you Mr. Bruni. After reading your column I immediately made small donations to Senators Testor, Heikamp and Warren. I also made small donations to DelGado in the Hudson River Valley and the young shooting star in Queens for Congress. Our Commonwealth is safely blue so I will focus on important races elsewhere. A big hope I have for Dems is that the Clintons have the decency to stay out of this one and that Bernie puts personal ambition aside and supports others. Lastly, in my work I am lucky enough to come across fellow citizens and residents of our country from all walks of life and have - still - great hope for our country. Ignore Trump, stop elite thinking, find empathy, talk sense.
7
@Bill Wilson. Please take a look at Jared Golden running in the Maine second congressional district to unseat Republican Bruce Poliquin. Golden is a veteran, a progressive, and a principled man.
4
@Maggie thank you, I will support him.
In 1998, Oregon became the first state to conduct all of its elections, local, state and federal, by mail. So many voters had by then become absentee voters, requesting home ballots, that it was a simple decision here to switch all elections to voting-at-home. No precinct polling, No more polling stations. No more standing in long lines to cast ballots. No more expense for all that. The results became clear: Voting rates shot up for all elections and among all demographics. There can be nothing more "American" than that, to Frank Bruni's point. Washington State soon followed, then so did Colorado. Now a number of states, are making plans to follow this trend. Even some individual counties around the country are beginning to experiment with it. It works. Oregon will never go back to the long lines with seniors in wheelchairs waiting outdoors, and absent youth who can't get to the polls either. Voting at home and mailing in one's ballot avoids the glitchy and hackable voting-machine methodology that some states seem to love. Who wants their vote hacked by Putin's cyber criminals? It is the safest and most convenient method to vote. Even if you live in a state without this convenience, at least you can vote absentee and can request such a ballot. Combine voting at home with automatic voter registration techniques, such as "motor-voter" (when your vehicle registration occurs) and the system moves the needle a long way toward increased voter participation.
8
I won't vote in this relic of 2-Party-winner-take-all-lesser-of-2-evils-Electoral-College system and if that means more of the same so be it. Only a huge implosion might change things and we are no where near it.
2
In Maine’s second district a young Democrat, Jared Golden, is challenging the Republican incumbent, Bruce Poliquin. Gold has a lot of support from those of us disgusted with Poliquin’s unquestioning support of Trump. The problem , however, is getting the message out. Poliquin accepts PAC donation (and huge corporate donations from Amazon, among others) while Gold has refused them, instead relying on relatively small individual donations.
10
I vote. My wife votes. My kids vote. My friends, neighbors, and customers vote. Unless all the foregoing are fibbing to me, I only know one person who has admitted to not voting (and he’s dead).
We have lost our way, and are on the edge of a dark forest. Today’s op-ed by Nathan Sharansky about the 50-year-anniversary of Sakarov’s essay about human rights illustrates how very lost we are, and how far we have fallen.
If your plea to vote is heeded, and we all perform our civic duty and regain some control over Trump, we still have to contend with viscous, obstructionist Republicans like Mitch McConnell, et al. Remember what they did to Barack Obama’s chance to nominate a Supreme Court Justice?
Even if we regain all or part of Congress, we are still lost in the woods and a long, long way from comity.
I vote. My wife votes. My kids vote. ... But I have a very bad feeling about all this, and the cult of Trump, and his Republican enablers. I think we’re slipping towards another civil war.
12
Good point! With the 2 exceptions: One, Gerrymandering distorts the voting count. It provides an overwhelming levarage to a Red minority, to take over an entire state; so, one-man, one-vote is distorted, voting is not by plurality. The Dems had the same winning hope, but the Reds over-spent them across the spectrum. Which brings us to Two: as long as money can buy US elections, the Koch Brothers will outspend all others to keep the Reds in Place. Not to speak of Gospadin P., who started buying Trump long, long time ago, and keeps a cyber war agains the US. Not only opinions were cleverly manipulated by the clever G-Hackers at Petrograd; US voting machine software was widely compromised. Sadly, voting is not as effective today as it is cracked up (all over) to be.
2
@Dr. Moshe Ben-Reuven, I think every state's congressional delegation should be elected at large to make gerrymandering ineffective.
1
I carry voter registration forms, pens, and stamps everywhere I go. A casual conversation can lead to a new voter. This is very easy to do (make sure to comply with your state’s laws about helping others to register).
10
Also important is to vote for the Democrat - 3rd party protest votes will not help in this case and are votes to keep Trump and the Republicans in total control.
For those not so thrilled with the Democrats, just think how emboldened Trump, Mitch McConnell and the right-wing will be if they win in November after all of this.
21
Everyone is entitled to vote as they see fit.
I have come to the conclusion that despite the fact that both political parties spend HUGE amounts on money on their political campaigns, very little of this money is used to inform prospective voters so that they can vote wisely and sensibly. Far too much money is "squandered " on 20 second sound bites as well as negative ads -- much as though one were marketing a detergent, rather than a candidate for public office. Since a well-informed voter should be the primary objective of all of this, we need to "keep it simple" and focus on that -- and only that-- objective. The Womesn's League of Voters" once prepared a circulated a flier that listed all of the candidates views on major issue pertaining to the office they were seeking. This list was made available to ALL voters free of charge, either by mailing to all registered voters or by distribution at all public libraries. We need to return to this very sensible and intelligent approach and perhaps enhance and /or improve its effectiveness by providing the necessary funds to keep it going. It would be a wonderful thing if all candidate agreed that this be the only mechanism used to fund political campaigns and that they accept no other campaign contributions. In so doing, we would take a big step toward establishing a mature and lasting democracy in which ALL can participate fully. But, I suppose this makes too much sense...........
1
Couldn't be more current. In New Mexico in the last mid-term in 2014 only 6% of the 18-35 age voters went to the polls and we had the first GOP lead state House in 60 years. We re-captured the state House in 2016 when New Mexican Democrats decided to vote. I expect a similar pattern in November except that there is a contentious Gubernatorial race between Congresswoman Lujan-Grisham (Democrat), and Tea Party Congressman Pearce. Democrats better see that voting is patriotism. This is where GOP voters beat us every time. Red states are doing everything they can to keep us from voting (gerrymandering, voting purges), so it is a headwind.
7
I agree with Frank Bruno. I do want to point out that I live in a state, Ohio, where the Republican attorney general and Republican leaders have gone out of their way to legally stop Democrats from voting. Sometimes they've lost in the courts - recently they won. Trying to disenfranchise Democratic voters in a number of states must be discussed and addressed.
5
While I agree with all of that, I also fear the Democratic Party is going to sabotage itself with its tolerance for suicidal flirtations with a 2020 run by unelectable "coastal elite" figures like Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Corey Booker, and with silly proposals to "abolish ICE." Regardless of how I personally feel about some of these folks and some of these positions, the simple fact is that they are unelectable in a national campaign against Trump, and Job #1 is to gain control of one or both houses of Congress, followed about a nanosecond behind by Job #2, which is to get that bloated disgrace out of the White House. We may win with candidates and policy ideas from the far left of the party in some isolated precincts, but the lessons of special elections so far is that in most cases, we win by drawing away that mass of voters in the middle who are sympathetic to core Democratic ideas - universal health care, strong labor protections, strong Social Security and Medicare programs - but don't want to be preached to by "elites from the coasts." Would I love to see a woman of color be elected President? Of course I would - it would be a great day and a good thing for the country, assuming it's the right woman of color of course - but that's for later. Right now we have to break the spell, and as much as a lot of very energized anti-Trump voters don't want to hear it, that's going to take a centrist, bipartisan governor from the heartland.
13
Many of us don’t care about the color or gender of the candidate.
Only in the Times would a commentator feel comfortable announcing that the race and gender of a candidate is a source of pride.
When, I when, will Democrats get beyond their racist sexist biases.
2
Wow, you really didn't get it. Race and gender don't matter, that was the whole point. Nominating someone because they're a woman or a person of color or both - which seems to be the obsession of many in the Democratic party right now - is not only pointless, it's a recipe for defeat. even if that person happens to be a great candidate. Those centrists who went for Trump did so out of weariness with political correctness, and anything that even hints at that will be disastrous. Your comment is typical of right-wing critics - twist what your antagonists are saying until it's unrecognizable, but serves your purpose, which is pretty much all you care about, facts or no facts.
I'm on my way out this morning to early vote. It is the single most effective way for adults to turn things around in our wonderful country - no excuses.
4
@Explain it. “Only a minority of trump voters are ‘happy with Trump…’“
Let’s not mince words. That is simply false. With our current understanding of the meaning of the word truth, if you know that it’s false, that makes it a lie. In virtually every recent poll 90% of Republicans approved of Trump. In a poll conducted six months ago, 61% of Trump voters said they don’t care what he does, they’ll vote for him anyway. That’s called being more than happy. That’s called belonging to a cult. 87% of Trump voters, in multiple polls, say they believe, “Black people don’t do as well in this country because they’re lazy.“ That makes them deplorables. Yes, racists are deplorable. Finally, let’s look at your invented statistics on the American economy. Now we’re into downright crazy. You think only 300,000 Americans are employed in the tech sector? For heaven sake‘s, Apple and Microsoft alone employ 250,000 people. It is deeply saddening that anybody who grew up in this country can’t even read a newspaper. It is more saddening that their lack of education leads them to vote for despots. Tell your architect friends they don’t have to worry. We won’t have any government regulation to speak of pretty soon, because American corporations will be making all the rules. If your friends think that’s going to generate jobs, I don’t believe they went to graduate school to become lawyers or architects. Somebody here isn’t telling the truth.
4
I'm afraid if I sat in a phone bank I might alienate more people than I attract given as I am these days to a random sort of Tourette's syndrome brought on by imbecilic Trump talking points I hear about town. Dems will have to settle for some of my unused Bernie bucks.
3
Vote for who?
Pelosi? Really?
Please,D’s, give us policies and leaders
5
Demand physical ballots in your state!
9
Voting is the way! We have to find a way to also fight the cancerous propaganda channel Fox News. They are the root cause of the cult mindset of the followers and have fostered the increasing political division in this country.
8
If you don't vote, it is your fault too.
6
Vote for who and what? The Democrats aren't offering anything new and innovative. And what about those of us who have a hard time voting for a Christian?
1
Well said, a call to arms!
2
Almost all Dems and nearly as many Independents reject Trumps witch hunt claims. The R’s know this and will lie along with the Lier in Chief to frantically claim otherwise. Let’s all work to the Nov result of throwing out all the liners on every ballot at all levels. Do one thing every day. After reading about the lying R who disted his opponent in a New York upstate election I sent the ex hip hopper a donation.
3
You just try electing a Democrat in some of the heavily gerrymandered districts -- just try!
3
What do I do if I am disgusted with "progressive" hysteria?
7
LISTEN UP!!!
November 6, 2018. That's the date on which 33 senate seats, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, and 14 governorship's will be up for re-election. Put it on your calendar now and be prepared to be an informed voter. If you are worried, concerned, angry, disappointed about the direction the government is going this is the most effective way to make a change, stop complaining and start planning. Remember the president is only one cog in the government machine, and you can make effective change through voting for your local and state representatives, this is the check that can balance this situation. Pass it on…. I was told to pass this on so this people is very important. Be prepared!
15
We have to take back the American flag from Trumpism. Every American should wear or display the flag not just the Republicans
2
"directing money to the right candidates"
...now can you see the problem?
3
Sadly, that's the name of the game in this country, thanks to Citizens United. C'mon Dems, it's time to put away the tea things and start hitting back.
I think part of the reason Trump has hurt our relationship with allies and sides with Putin is because Putin probably has the ability to rig elections. That was the Russian citizens’ concern this past March where Putin was “elected” into his fourth term where their law says they can only serve two. NPR had at least one show discussing this during Russia’s elections this year, back in March I believe.
There have been so many cyberattacks on U.S. citizens’ accounts (U.S. government employees, equifax, yahoo, etc), including private identifying information that it wouldn’t be hard for them to also hack into our elections or use our information to adjust votes in a way that is difficult to detect. However, our election/ballot system is very easy to hack into as it is.
I think Russian election meddling using social media, trolls, etc. is a smoke-screen. They are even more of a threat to our democracy and freedom than we realize.
5
@PBJ
I sort of regret having written my comment on this particular article, as the author is very effective, we do 100% all need to get out there and vote and I believe for the Democratic Party as well. It is coming up soon and we need to do everything we can to get Trump out of office before more harm is done.
However, at the same time, those with the power and ability to do so need to address this great threat to our democracy that I detailed above.
2
"And Trump won the presidency because of about 78,000 ballots in three states. A nation’s direction can hinge on a margin that small. Every vote counts."
Much more telling is that in the six states that Trump flipped votes were down by almost a million compared to 2012. It doesn't matter how many votes a candidate runs up in strongholds, as like Hillary did she failed to campaign in battleground states. The author is right, all the screaming won't matter if it isn't backed up by votes.
2
And never take it for granted that people with whom you interact , even in your own building, or whom you see walking your dogs or doing volunteer work, or waiting on you, vote. I remind everybody I interact with to vote, especially young people (I’m 62).
6
It sure hurts to see the way our country is showing its vast ethical diversity resulting from the words and deeds of such a morally vulnerable President.
If there can be a silver lining on this debacle it may be that, finally, those Americans who year after year align with Trump and the Republican party despite its consistent contempt for the working class are discovering the foolish irony of maintaining such support.
This failed presidency may be best remembered as the catalyst for a slow-motion revolt among those who could always be counted upon to vote against their own interests.
2
I fear that the tone of this (even though I agree with it) will be evidence to the right that the media is "out to get Trump"; it is beside the point that he has earned this anger.
Voting IS the most important counter America has to Trump. The urgent question is: what if Russia has spent the past two years perfecting their reach into our electoral process and the actual outcome is changed? Would we ever know? Then, no one on any losing side will accept the outcome and our democracy is doomed. And Congress does NOTHING to ensure the validity of our choices at the polls. Why?
2
THANK YOU! Mr. Bruni, you have eloquently and forcefully put into words my own belief that the November 2018 mid-term election is the most powerful tool we have to curb trump's appalling behavior. I just hope that disillusioned non-voters, disgusted and horrified by trump, will hear your message and be inspired to VOTE for sanity in November. Every vote does count! As you say, "just ask Hillary."
2
Thank you for this article. Far too much time is wasted in ineffective fury at his latest outrage. Best to channel that fury into getting rid of him and his cronies.
8
Even if not happy with the choices available, our system is not going to change any time soon, and any fool who thinks we need to make a statement such as not voting to force such changes is going to be in for decades of disappointments. Failing to vote for Hillary has already changed the Supreme and federal Courts for at least two generations. If you think voter suppression was bad before,just you wait. We have a system, imperfect as it is, but trying to change it now will only make it much worse.
6
Change starts somewhere. Would you have said, no, can’t support the civil rights movement b/c we already have a system and it would be too hard to change things? Logic like yours always mystifies me.
If Democrats, by some stroke of luck, despite their general incompetence, win one or both Houses, the Republicans in control right now may very well declare it rigged and hold off on formally recognizing the validity of the election. And Putin will be coming most likely right AFTER the mid-terms, for a victory lap as Trump hosts him at his toy military parade.
With gerrymandering, voter suppression laws, and Russian interference, Democrats must turn out like they never have before. But perhaps young Dems haven't turned out because of the national party's GOP-lite strategy.
2
The key to saving America through voting is African-American women and all Millennials. IF those two groups come out in full force, we will stop Trump. So put your efforts into getting those two groups to the polls. I almost feel like going to Atlanta or Baltimore or Chicago where I could bring water and sandwiches to all those black women who must stand in line for long hours.
I live in a small town and if there is ever a wait to vote, it's no more than five minutes. I so admire ALL who live in places where their votes are being actively suppressed by Republicans, where polling places are limited and one must miss work and stand in line for hours.
So please, Democrats, somehow you have got to get black women and young people to the polls. They are the key to stopping Trump.
2
Broken record alert! Finally. Yes. Please focus on strategic counties where there is a chance to swing the vote. Too much time is wasted on ranting and railing against Trump. Resistance doesn't get voters off their butts and into the booths. A positive message and charismatic yet informed candidates would be good, too.
Also. There is a lot of room in the middle. Dems are leaning far too left at the moment. Pragmatic common sense approach. Ditch identity politics. It raises money for special interests, but doesn't shift the moderates toward them. So. Yes. Need something to vote FOR!
2
What becomes of a country when a little less than half it’s population (who in spite of being a minority now have something close to absolute power) become members of a cult? What happens is that the country becomes fragile enough to break in two: The cult of slavery caused the civil war. The cult of Trump may cause a breakdown in civil order if Trump and the GOP are voted out of office. I desperately want them to be. But we need to keep in mind that Trump supporters are armed to the teeth, whipped into a perpetual rage by right-wing media, and led by a leader who will not admit defeat in anything and will not go quietly out of office, and will be helped at every stage by Russia. That’s a recipe for disaster, even if we are lucky enough to see Trump and his worshippers voted out. Thinking about what to do in the event of a Trump defeat is as important as figuring out how to defeat him.
4
Some democrats, especially older ones, are turned off by hyperbole, hysteria, and especially accosting officials or political opponents in public. Democrats have to thread the needle between being passionate and being trusted to rule for all Americans.
4
This older Democrat is tired of the "going high" strategy of establishment Democrats. It would be one thing if the "going high" strategy worked...but it doesn't. I'm all for some "in your face" strategies.
4
Be informed- I don’t mean social media informed, Fox informed, talking heads informed. I mean read some history - why would the US defend Montenegro? Because NATO came to the ZuS after 9/11! Why is it important that Trump’s meetings are not secret? Because we need to know what secrets he’s divulged. Hi gut reactions are to lash out at people close to him and be warm and fuzzy with those at arms length. Pompeo is a fool to think he can contain Trump.
2
Bruni should challenge the corporate social media to make voting and registering to vote a huge deal. Are there "I voted" emojis? Start a trend of adding to all signatures: Registered and voting. Does Facebook, Amazon, Apple make registering easier? Do they have automatic links for information to register?
2
TV and radio ads in all states need to tell the unregistered to go online to register or go to Motor Vehicles to register to vote. They must not wait! Many eligible voters just don't know what to do to get registered and dump Trump.
3
"But roughly 40 percent of Americans who were eligible to vote didn’t. "
And therein lies the problem, Frank. Yes, Russia's influence campaigns helped elect Trump, too. But if 40 percent of the electorate can't be bothered to vote, Trump is what we get.
Republicans vote strongly in the midterms like lemmings. But Democrats don't. Getting the vote out is literally existential for America this fall, and even more important, if possible, in 2020. We must rid ourselves of the scourge of Trumpism. It's a simple proposition, really: if Trump remains, America doesn't.
The problem is that the people who decline to vote are largely disinterested in politics. It's this apathy that's killing the country. We can try and try to convince them to register and actually vote, and it's like talking to a rock. Why aren't they motivated? At some level, they know that if they don't vote, they get the government that someone else wants. But they evidently don't care, perhaps because government doesn't apply to them in their daily lives.
See, that is the real problem - our candidates have forgotten that all politics is local. Voters only pay attention to things that affect them and their families directly. Do Michael Cohen's tapes do that? Or Trump's subservience to Putin? Or Hillary's email server? Not in the least. Losing the social safety net programs or their jobs would.
The media needs to focus on the real issues and leave the clickbait nonsense alone. Yes, even the NY Times needs to.
2
Thank you for one of the finest columns you've ever written Mr. Bruni. What you did today was to remind us how powerful as a people we are if we actually get up and make a short visit to the ballot box. As Americans we are empowered by our ability to vote. There is no simpler way to accomplish change.
So indeed let's Vote! And make "Trumpism" "Trumpwasm".
1
Voting for Democrats is the answer. What's it going to take for the Republican Party to wake up from its coma?
That selfie Trump tweets of Putin and him laughing up a storm in the white house this fall, just before our midterm elections?
The submissive performance of Trump beside Putin in Helsinki has brought compromising elements:
Out of nowhere comes a notion agreed to by Trump that he deliver a U.S. diplomat to Russia for 'interrogation?'
As he sided with Putin against our intelligence agencies!
And contradicted his "retractions." He acts obligated to Putin. Trump’s advisers made overtures about lifting sanctions. And Republican platforms were changed during the campaign to pro-Russia.
There's rumbling as to an issue with Ukraine that interests Putin. And an investigation suggests Republicans were *funded* by Russian money from the NRA.
Prosecutor Mueller has many indictments, guilty pleas, and criminal proceedings. This all should guide voters to abandon Republicans.
4
We need every displaced Puerto Rican registered to vote. If that were done FL would be flipped Blue and make a huge dent, physically and emotionally in the national psyche.
2
We all better pray that the Democratic primaries won't be pitting far left socialists against incumbent Republicans. If this happens, voters will allow Republicans to remain fully in control.
3
SO much more needed than voting. Vote, volunteer, and contribute the max allowable ($5400 for both primary & general) to candidates specifically selected to get Republicans -- whose leaders will do nothing whatsoever about Trump - out of the majority control in the House and Senate. This is hard because every single Republican member -- no matter how good -- necessarily contributes to Republic control, which is currently the control of WH, Senate, House, and Supreme Court. The worst is possible - democracies like ours have become totalitarian with sttrong-man dictators whom Trump openly admires. It can happen.
1
Deeply disturbing that so few young people bother to vote. No wonder the world is feeling like such a perilous place right now. If you can't bother to get off your heinie once every FOUR YEARS and go put a cross on a piece of paper, there really is no hope for humanity. I sincerely hope the young people of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High are inspiring some more of their generation to get involved and have their say in the future of the country. The stakes are just so unbelievably high.
7
Working towards this goal I have recently donated money to the League of Women Voters which is non-partisan. What do other readers think of this ??
1
I see the upcoming midterms as a very clear litmus test. Either rationality will prevail and voters will turn away from the perverted clown show that is the Trump administration, or they will not. If a majority of participating voters support this madness than the rest of us have already lost out to the cult which is consuming this country.
2
Absolutely vote. Should always do so anyway.
5
Be prepared for personal attacks. I wear an "Impeach 45" shirt everywhere. But, then, I know my way around a bar fight.
1
I feel the Democrats failed me. No way could I put Bill Clinton back in the White House and celebrate his family - and that was before MeToo hit the fan. Hillary completely disgusted me and the idea that it was 'her turn' went against everything that a democracy stands for. The DNC with Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the patronizing of Bernie Sanders was equally distastful. Add to that the Weiners - Carlos Danger and his wife were the darlings of the Clintons. What sort of character judgement is demonstrated there by a future President? Please. Can we have a younger, less odious candidate - and then the Republicans will have a race on their hands. Right now, it seems we have a pathetic, very left slate.
3
In order to put a halter on this eccentric egomaniac the best first sterp is to deny him control over Congress. Here in the NY 19, John Faso is a bland, Rerpublican centriost. But patriotic Republicasns must now join with Democrats and Independents to unseat him. The issue is stark and simole: Mr. Trump is afar too capable of leading us into a war or extreme economic dislocation. Remember what happened when the Nation gave the younger Bush a free hand, and we got Iraq? How many Amerrican lives lost and a trilllion spent, a country still a wounded cripple all these years later, For the sake of God and man we must puty a halter on this wilding before he kicks down the stable.
1
It is hysterical columns such as this one that repulse any but your most devoted followers. Maybe, we are finally getting a reset button with Russia. President Trump has been far tougher on Russia than Obama ever was by expelling more ambassadors and by putting the missiles back in Europe that Obama withdrew. It was during Obama’s presidency that election campaigns were hacked and Crimea was stolen. Children in cages occurred during Obama’s presidency. President Trump is enforcing the immigration laws we already have. Obama also requested that NATO countries pay up just as President Trump is doing now. The big difference between then and now is President Trump’s willingness to fight for American interests. That is the secret sauce that keeps his popularity growing.
4
I know of multiple people, young and old, who would not have cared one way or another about the President, but are now determined to go vote Republican in November because of the truly insane reaction to Him and His policies by the democrat minority, including the coastal elitist papers like the NYT. The left has finally showed its true colors: those of lack of respect for law, for due process, for common sense and decency, and fairness. By any (if not accounts) this is the Great Presidency so far. Give the President his due credit.
5
is there some reason you're capitalizing "he" and "him" in reference to President Trump? Don't we usually reserve that particular obeisance for references to God? I think we on the left had better vote. The cult on the right is getting scary.
4
@Yulia Berkovitz Democrats' lack respect for law? Are you serious? That is a claim so false and so misguided that it should make anyone gag. What laws have Dems disregarded? The behavior of the GOP and its leader have been repeatedly without respect for law.
2
"There’s a far side to this American disgrace, a way to contain the damage, and it’s both utterly straightforward and entirely effective. It’s called voting."
I believe Hillary got 3 million more votes than President Trump. Sounds like you have the numbers on your side. And, early on, Democrats were promised a Blue wave in November. However, if that promise came from the same people that said, with biblical certitude, Hillary was going to win, I can appreciate your concern.
I'm begining to see a pattern.
1. Promise Big.
2. Come Up Short.
3. Blame Others.
It's a good strategy, if it works. And why wouldn't it? Democrats are on their 3rd or 4th slogan in 18 months. "We, the people." It fits on a t-shirt. There won't be any difficult questions to answer. Like, how do we pay for gauranteed income for everyone. And, no need to define "everyone".
Mueller has all the evidence Trump colluded with the Russians. If Mueller comes up short, blame everybody else. Hillary has this part down. Rosenstein is not going to turn over any documents to Congress. If Trump orders Rosenstein, than Trump is obstructing justice. I don't understand that one.
I can see why Obama doesn't fit into this formula. He can promise really big. But, if the smartest man ever elected President can't fix this, especially against the average low brow, MAGA hat wearing Neanderthal, who do you blame?
1
Excellent column Frank. I am glad that you mentioned reaching out to the younger voter. Not casting blame, but if they turned out at the polls at the same rate as the geezers, Trump would not be in office. Democrats’ problem has always been turnout especially during midterms. The Democrats need to find a way to motivate their base. Am I naive to think that we need to message quite simply that we are being ruled by a minority because of the EC and make up of the Senate and it must be overcome by VOTING? The Dems have been horrible at messaging and while it is distasteful, motivating with fear works and we are terrible at it. Studies have been published that the Democtats’ brains do not respond to fear like Republicans do. But if I was 25 and paying attention, repeal of Roe v Wade, ACA repeal, fewer restrictions on the guns/NRA, massive student loan debt and gay marriage etc would motivate me! I often wonder how many Republicans who fear and loathe Pelosi could articulate what exactly she has done to make their lives so bad. The RNC has done a masterful job of turning her into the Antichrist while Democratic voters barely know who the real Antichrist is: Mitch McConnell. Dems need to boogeyman the heck out of the GOP, its Leadership and the Freedom Caucus and SCOTUS. Forget Trump. Everyone knows he’s a dork who couldn’t legislate his way out of a paper bag. The GOP is the true danger!
Bottom line: if you don’t want to live in the 1950’s: VOTE!
2
Excellent column Frank. I am glad that you mentioned reaching out to the younger voter. Not casting blame, but if they turned out at the polls at the same rate as the geezers, Trump would not be in office. Democrats’ problem has always been turnout especially during midterms. The Democrats need to find a way to motivate their base. Am I naive to think that we need to message quite simply that we are being ruled by a minority because of the EC and make up of the Senate and it must be overcome by VOTING? The Dems have been horrible at messaging and while it is distasteful, motivating with fear works and we are terrible at it. Studies have been published that the Democtats’ brains do not respond to fear like Republicans do. But if I was 25 and paying attention, repeal of Roe v Wade, ACA repeal, fewer restrictions on the guns/NRA, massive student loan debt and gay marriage etc would motivate me! I often wonder how many Republicans who fear and loathe Pelosi could articulate what exactly she has done to make their lives so bad. The RNC has done a masterful job of turning her into the Antichrist while Democratic voters barely know who the real Antichrist is: Mitch McConnell. Dems need to boogeyman the heck out of the GOP, its Leadership and the Freedom Caucus and SCOTUS. Forget Trump. Everyone knows he’s a dork who couldn’t legislate his way out of a paper bag. The GOP is the true danger!
Bottom line: if you don’t want to live in the 1950’s: VOTE!
2
Bravo. I have stopped trying to "understand" this cult of aging farmers, Bud drinkers and Eli Mannings who shout Trump as a hike. I will simply out vote them.
2
I am an NRA life member and life-long member. I loathe the Democratiic party. Nonetheless, I voted for Hillary last time and will vote straight Democratic until Trump and his flunkies are gone from government. I am not alone.
5
For those who still need it, a reminder of why not voting for every Democrat this year - regardless of usual party affiliation - is no longer a rational choice.
EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF FASCISM
1. Powerful and continuing nationalism
2. Disdain for human rights
3. Identification of enemies as a unifying cause
4. Rampant sexism
5. Controlled mass media
6. Obsession with national security
7. Religion and government intertwined
8. Corporate power protected
9. Labor power suppressed
10. Disdain for intellectuals (elites) and the arts
11. Obsession with crime and punishment
12. Rampant cronyism and corruption
Vote D for Decency.
7
Actually, you folks are terrible at venting. There is a craft of insult, and outrage can be creative. But instead you all say the same sentences in the same order, over and over, for years on end. 'This is not who we are as Americans.' Anyone who has ever said that is not particularly good at venting.
2
"And Trump won the presidency because of about 78,000 ballots in three states. A nation’s direction can hinge on a margin that small. Every vote counts."
You mean every vote in a swing state counts. if you live in a solid red or solid blue state, especially those that have been gerrymandered for congressional or local elections, your vote is basically meaningless.
1
I doubt that 40 percent of eligible voters idly sat by and refused to vote. I believe a large percentage of the 40% were engaged in intense psychological manipulation from social media that they felt they had zero choices. With the Cambridge Analytica reveal coupled with all the conspiracy theories, I truly believe the population that could not be classified either conservative or liberal were bombarded with misinformation. Additionally, the “watching the polls, have poll watchers” evoked a level of intimidation. Campaign 2016 was the largest manipulative warfare I have ever witnessed. Our democracy is being ripped to shreds daily and although social media leaders are putting internal controls in place to mitigate the impact of misinformation in future elections, it’s still isn’t enough. Until we eliminate propoganda from our news agencies and elect people who love America not a party, we will continue to have issues.
5
Putting aside the obvious brake on Trump's circus show, from a constitutional standpoint, our country needs to restore the role of Congress, both as a legislative branch, and also as a check on the Executive and Judicial branches. Too much policy today is being dictated from the Oval Office and the bench. Congress is designed to solve problem through the legislative process. For the last decade or more, this branch of government has sat on its hands and allowed problems from health care to climate control go unattended. Compared to other industrialized nations our country presently is a wreck---sadly, we have the money to fix health care, to fix an aging infrastructure, to fix child care, to fix gun violence---instead we see the same tired old faces announcing arcane procedures to stop the legislative process, endless recesses, and endless investigations of Hillary Clinton. If the democrats do gain control, I hope, they make every attempt to find strategies, with their Republican counterparts, to restore Congress to it's rightful legislative role.
1
Those who do not vote, especially those who do not vote because of a spite need to understand that democracy relies on voting. Those who stayed home in 2016 because their candidate did not win the nomination should particularly be fired up this time around.
Voting matters! Especially in 2018. We need to put more Democrats in the Senate and the House.
4
Nice to identify an effective mechanism and to focus energy on an activity- but how deflating is to know that Reason and Morality has an engaged opposition who happen to be our barbers, cousins and neighbors.
1
@John Quixote
Your insight is profound and deserves more than just my recommendation. Evil is most dangerous when it appears in a banal, and indeed, benign form. That is deflating.
1
I totally agree with your conclusion. As regards those who charge "The Resistance" with contributing to the "Cult of 45", that charge excuses 45's moral, ethical, and legal transgressions. It's like the Civil Rights' creed, "Either you are part of the solution or part of the problem." John of Patmos wrote that luke warm believers would be excess spray spewed out by God. The Resistance is all about using the courts to correct bad policy, to register voters, to protest for human rights and against violations of human rights, and to contact and converse with those in power. "The Resistance" seeks to "blunt 45's attack on our democracy, (and so) we have to use our democracy. We can restore faith in it by showing faith in it."
2
Want to save the Republican Party? Vote Democratic in this election. We desperately need a two party system. Unfortunately, far Right Republicans are no longer the Republican Party that we need. I’m a registered Democrat and have been since 1965, but I campaigned for Barry Goldwater in 63. I switched parties in 65 and campaigned and flew with Robert Kennedy when he announced his candidacy for President in Binghamton NY, right before his assignation. Back then, we were a two party system and it worked. No longer, so Frank is absolutely right when he says we should all vote Democratic this time and probably in 2020 even more so.
4
In the past week, I have gone from extremely worried to frankly scared. I have gone from thinking that fleeing to Canada was a safe option to thinking that nowhere is safe. If we don’t turn Congress around in November, I’m afraid that we will be never be able to turn it around again. I’m not convinced that our votes are safe from tampering, but vote I will! Please, for the love of country, VOTE!
3
Powerful stuff. There is no "persuading" Trump followers to change their minds. The rest of us must put all our resolve and resources toward getting out the vote for Democrats opposing him and his adherents and enablers. Across the ballot: national, state, and local. Republicans as a party have surrendered any right to be even considered for elected office.
2
And don't forget, this is not just about voting for members of Congress. One of the reasons we're in this mess is because of Republican domination of local and state politics.
The gerrymandering we're all so up in arms about doesn't happen at the federal level, it happens at the state level. The next redistricting takes place in 2020, and unless Democrats gain control at the state level the Republican advantage will be set for another 10 years after that.
Republican governors are the local purveyors of the national Republican agenda.There are currently 39 Republican governors, 11 of whom are term limited in 2018, and 26 of whom are in states holding gubernatorial elections in 2018.
There are currently 32 states controlled by Republican legislatures. In 2018, 87 state legislative chambers will be holding elections for 6,070 legislative seats. That's not a typo... to repeat, of the 7,383 state legislative seats, 6,070 are up for election in 2018.
By all means, work and vote to gain control of one or both houses of Congress. But all politics remains local, and that is where we'll begin to make a real difference for the future of this country, by taking back control of our local and state legislatures, the political breeding ground for the national Republican party.
8
In the 1960's I helped secure the 18 year old vote. Vietnam War was the pressing issue of the day. At 17 years old I testified before the Florida Legislature. We got the vote a bit later. After that was over voting dropped steadily until now.
Participation before and after elections is next to nothing. In the Trump vs Clinton race most people did not vote for Trump and not for Hillary either.
Politics has become noise on TV without the public involved. On TV is where the effect of money is most felt.
I pay attention to this. In the Gore versus W Bush race I was a Florida poll worker. The fact that so few voted then is what allowed the Courts into the issue and pick Bush.
You could count the young people who voted in 2000, in my precinct, on my fingers.
Voting is the last act ....the least one can do. Social media and online things like these comments are not very helpful. You have to show up and participate and then vote.
I can currently smell the provocateurs and trolls when I read the comments all over..the next election is being attacked very obviously. We really do not need the Russians. We do a very good job of ruining our democracy ourselves.
Watch out everyone..Frank Bruni is correct. Vote! Oh and vote against any Republican running for anything. Vote for Democratic dirt if you have to. It is not that Democrats are so good, the Republicans now are a party of total and complete insanity.
Americans are good people but not politically aware. Better get aware.
12
In addition to organizing at the grassroots, we need mega donors to be purchasing continuous advertising that tries to cut through the republican wall of denial about the consequences of Trump's policies The opposition has demonstrated the power of continuous messaging to alter people's opinions. I don't see this on the democratic side and thus nothing contradicts the overpowering strength of the right wing media.
1
@Bill Kappel -- There is a reason you don't see organized, ongoing, continual messaging from the Democrats. They are not organized and have no consistent message. Their entire mid-term strategy is simply anti-Trump. I think this is not sufficient, but it seems to be the best they can do. It is the reason I and so many others became independents when we left the Republican party. I will not vote for open borders, far left candidates, no matter what. I will simply sit this one out if that is my only option.
2
I agree with everything that Frank says here. We all need to consider what it would be like if the Republicans maintain control of both houses; there would be no stopping Trump. On the other hand, the message needs to be constructive. We want to promote candidates who are not afraid to defend America, to promote our democratic values, to speak up for honesty, respect for other people, and to keep families together (rather than put some members in cages).
We also need younger voices with positive messages. Voters are not going to be inspired by Pelosi and Schumer.
And four-letter words by the likes of DeNiro will only animate his base even more. And talk of impeachment at this time would be a tactical error.
Campaigning by Barack and Michelle, YES; Bill and Hillary, NO. There should be a call for younger versions of Barack as well.
To those who are saying that they are tired of the coverage, and of the need to give Trump some slack, I say this: you are doing Trump a big favor! Not voting means that he wins and America loses. That might have been an exaggeration in previous elections, but not this one.
I'm an American living in Brazil. Trump says that the world is not laughing at America anymore. Here they are not laughing at America, but shaking their heads at Trump, absolutely astonished at how he can get away with it all.
Frank's message needs to be kept up until election day.
5
Agreed. And talk about killing ICE is a death knell to Democrats. Our candidates need to focus on the message of income equality, clean air and water, and Medicare for all. Forget about yammering about how awful trump is. We already know that.
4
I’m not sure campaigning by the Obamas will be beneficial. Many view their cash grabs post-office - $400k speeches to the well-heeled when they are already wealthy - as shameful.
2
@Vivien Hessel
While I agree with your preferred issues, these also would be tactical errors as such very liberal positions will turn off less liberal voters who would be necessary to turn things around in Congress. Let's get the Republicans who cower from Trump out, then we can talk about how to change policy.
My thoughts on Trump have changed. Yes, he is a disaster on the domestic front, raising my taxes, loosening regulations on important health issues, denying American citizens proper health care, and so on. But there is a bigger picture. Donald Trump is the greatest statesman the United States has ever had, to my knowledge. He is bringing peace by speaking intelligently to leaders of Russia, North Korea and other countries. Trump understands what none of his predecessors have been able to grasp. And that is the art of meeting people in the middle and finding common ground. Our planet will be much better for this. I would suggest that due to this rare talent that he has that we as a nation hold on to it. We must make hime President-For-Life. There can be no more elections. Anyone else that comes after him will mess it all up and put us back where we were. We can't allow that to happen. We need to have a process in place whereby when Mr. Trump is no longer able to hold his office due to health, that the office he holds is passed on to his son or daughter, keeping the legacy alive. Second, congress must immediately stop criticizing Mr. Trump and begin to follow his orders. If they can't do that they should find another line of work and let someone else do the job. Third, congress should be appointed by Mr. Trump. He knows best who is fit for the job. We don't need elections to fill those seats.
Lets join together to make it happen. Trump-For-Life!
3
oh, now I get it. you are channeling Jonathan swift and his modest proposal. ha ha ha, I guess
1
Let's first agree on key issues. Like the racism and denial that is weakening society and faith.
Racism blocks or assigns opportunities and freedoms by race, leaving behind “the spoils of injustice, anarchy, discontent,” James Baldwin scribed, “this awful thing to live with.” Strange that an active continuum of intentional unfair treatment and resistance that includes death, denigration and double standards in public and private life—“this awful thing”--sustains its actions and consequences by denying its harm.
History parallels racist denial. Enslaved Africans had to be civilized; those at the end of the lynch rope received expedited justice. Those admitted under affirmative action lowered standards. As in the examples above, racist denial always has a belief/myth and a palatable angst.
The biggest denial of racism is the political economy. For 50 years of recessions/bubbles/bank failures/offshoring/hyperinflation, black workers have earned 70% (women, 80%) of white workers and black workers experienced double (2X) the national unemployment number. These constants--the costs of racism--are fixed!
Eliminate the cost of racism. Quit beefing over swimming pools and kids with a righteous hustle.The added productivity and wages will add new strengths and opportunities. Let's all agree!
4
Indeed I will vote, but the powerful, old-line Democrats need to think about stepping aside and allowing younger citizens, whose lives and families will be impacted by current decision-making decades into the future, to replace them. The party needs new blood, new energy.
31
@David M, the infantile US political system offers voters only a choice between tentative governance and abject criminal exploitation.
This is a "all hands on deck" election. We must reverse the trend line or reversal will become impossible. I have voted in every election since I was 18 and this will be the first time I will donate money, and my time, to help defeat any and all Republicans. That's how scared I am.
35
Not “scared.” Use “aware.” That’s how aware you are! It’s more persuasive.
2
Big turnout in reliably blue districts is not going to win the House. That goal depends on converting swing voters in red and purple districts, the kind of district Conor Lamb ran and won in.
Bruni does us no favors by failing to remind us of this caveat. You want to help? Help with the turnout effort in these districts. And keep your yap shut between now and November 6. Let the local candidates do the talking. The wrong kind of talk can complicate their efforts. They know what they are doing. You don’t.
10
Beyond that, the Democratic Party needs to mount an emergency task force of hundreds of lawyers and IT people to work with individual states and the Justice Department, in a concerted effort to blunt the expected election hacking by Russia.
13
This is admirable, but should have given equal weight to the Russian cyber-attacks now in train. While $120 million was granted to the State Department to fight Russian "meddling", Trump's capitulation to Putin, and GOP congressional apologists flying to Moscow to make nice, reveal the reality.
The Russians are fighting this war in a number of ways. One is the familiar schtick of targeting voters through psyops/bottery on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Google and beyond. But they are doing it directly too. As Alina Polyakova of the Brookings Institute noted back in March, widely used electronic voting machines in the United States have software with hackable loopholes. Some rely on software that’s 20 years old and thus not fit for purpose. Earlier this year, she goes on, intelligence services confirmed that Russian hackers had infiltrated election systems in Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, California, Florida and Wisconsin, and accessed voter registration rolls. In effect, Russia has planted “cyberbombs” that they can detonate when the time works for them.
Both the United States and Europe are unprepared for these increasingly sophisticated attacks harnessing machine learning, and extending their scope to energy systems and other infrastructure. As Polyakova notes, what is needed is a strategy of deterrence, public statements by leaders, clear repercussions for the attackers. Trump instead enables.
Voter turnout is key. Equally so, fighting these attacks.
17
Thank you for writing this article. I have written letter after letter to no avail. VOTING is the only remedy. Everyone in my family 18 and over is champing at the bit.
10
Well ... sadly Mr. Bruni's position is that no minds will be changed among Trump voters, so there is no reason to do anything except motivate "the Democratic base" to vote, work ardently to turn out that base.
And I'll accept that broadly this assessment may be right. But look at those "79% ... 85%" numbers ... that means 21% and 15% don't ... and if that actually predicts a vote, or even just not voting, the result would be an electoral wipeout of the Republicans.
The problem for all Democrats is that Trump himself isn't running in this midterm election. Democrats want this election to be a referendum on Trump, but that won't happen until 2020 ... if he makes it that long and decides to run again. (My guess is that Trump is the ultimate 1-term president, all his bluster aside.)
Many swing voters who would not vote for Trump again may vote for a Republican representative, even one closely allied to Trump, depending on local conditions and candidates.
The Democrats must remember "all politics is local." The Democrats need good candidates, in their districts, to prevail.
Pure "get out the vote" has failed Democrats over and over again when they have run a candidate who is mediocre or vulnerable ... or worse.
5
Frank Bruni characteristically personalizes our national crisis by focusing primarily on Mr. Trump, side stepping the Republican Party's contributions to weakening American democratic structures. But for all his flamboyant abuses and failures, Trump is more a result than a cause. He is doing a lot of damage, certainly, but powerful Republicans have been handing him the tools and helping him use them; he's been accepted, if not embraced, by McConnell and Ryan as a means to their ends of more tax cuts, deregulation and right-leaning courts. Frank waits till his 18th paragraph to acknowledge the Republicans' decades-long gerrymandering and voter suppression projects. That work, though, has been key to undermining democratic values and institutions. I agree with Frank that diminishing Trump's influence is important, but a blue wave will be even more important for blunting the impact of Republican voter suppression efforts.
10
Regarding that survey: you have to give a lot more details about how it was conducted. Were those card carrying, fee-paying Republicans? Or was the survey just sent out by email asking to identify as R or D? In the latter case, the numbers are meaningless, since only those approving Trump will answer, many other Republicans will be ashamed and not self-identify.
How traditional prior R voters feel is what we really need to know. That will require a much bigger survey and random sampling to get reliable numbers.
1
We did NOT get it wrong in 2016. President Clinton won, and Joe "It is over" Biden just let the s'Electoral College waive any duty it had to defend democracy from the Kochs et al. anyway.
But of course we will vote. The media can help by showing podiums where sane candidates are ACTUALLY talking instead of empty "covfefe" podiums. When "covfefe" DOES hold a Kl...voter rally, show it, but mute the speaker and face and zoom the cameras to clearly show EACH AND EVERY rallyist's face, and name any known to them.
Employers need to know which bigots to fire. The media has a duty to name their names.
1
There are basically 3 types of players in the electorate:
1. Genuinely informed voters who read legitimate sources for their information, such as the NYT. Regardless of party, these folks turn out to vote an informed conscience, and will do so in the 2018 midterms.
2A. A generation of non-readers who get 100% of their information from the FOX propaganda machine. These folks have not read a book since high school, and will be source of misinformed insanity in our populace until they simply die out.
2B. A more dangerous group, the "educated" suburbanite who really is only highly educated in their degree/work domain. This group is remarkably ignorant of actual data regarding governmental policy issues. They are also easily swayed by jingoistic, simplistic, racists solutions from the FOX, GOP, Trump Treasonous Triangle. Ego and misinformation will prevent these folks from admitting their mistake in 2016.
3. Young and middle-age working people of every description who don't vote. These are the sons and daughters of the baby boomer generation, so frazzled by work, life, and media overload, they don't pay attention to news at all. In my experience, these potential voters are remarkably unaware of the Trump/GOP attack on our democracy, and are very likely NOT to vote again in 2018.
It is critical that players from Group 1 sway Group 3 face-to-face!
12
The vast majority of people reading Frank Bruni's column will vote. Do all you can to convince those you know who may not to do so. Take them to the polls if you can.
5
Even Republicans?
We also need to keep reminding our family and friends not to get their news from Facebook, Tweeter, or youtube.
2
I'm just still elated we didn't 'get' Hillary. Trump can't have been worse. Four more years of Obama and a Left-wing supreme court. The Republic dodged a bullet.
5
Would Hillary have piled TRILLIONS more debt on the country to give the obscenely rich most of the benefit? Would she allow coal companies to resume shoveling toxic mining tailings into streams? Remove protections for threatened species? Destabilize NATO and the G7? Actively harm hundreds of thousands of workers with a trade war to "bring back" a few thousand manufacturing jobs?
If Trump is not in the pay of Putin, that just means Vlad is getting it for free!
5
@Clearheaded So Vlad is getting a NATO spending more, a Ukraine being sold weapons instead of air-dropped MRE, a President objecting to their gas line to western Europe and resurgent U.S. LNG supply to Europe, increased US defense budget and tougher sanctions? pffft.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have my vote.
1
The Survey Monkey poll question was simplistic, as such polls tend to be. It's worth considering that many people answering it didn't see the press conference at all, and that many others who did approved of Trump's performance because for them, knee-jerk approval is what they give Trump no matter what the question. In other words, the numbers are likely un-indicative. If these voters were given any chance to deliberate at more length, and the questions didn't treat them all as idiots, polls like this wouldn't terrify the gutless GOP quite so much, and they'd also show the feckless Democrats how to talk to voters who aren't as pro-Trumps it seems.
The takeaways here:
1. The Red States aren't all that red when people are permitted to think.
2. Trump isn't all that strong.
3. The Republicans are indeed all that gutless.
4. If the Democrats stop the pearl-clutching and despair they can take this country back from Trumpism.
8
I'll drive you to the polls, if that helps.
1
Is it possible to get a list of all the "Fox News" advertisers? I would like to boycott them too.
3
"....we have to use our democracy. We can restore faith in it by showing faith in it."
Then earn some faith. Fix your primaries, which are still a mess. Find some better candidates, not just picking the ones who can self-finance. Lose the corrupt - Menendez, really? In fact, don't even try to weight the scale. Let the voters choose - you know, democratically. Oh, you're afraid that you would get the likes of Trump if the voters actually got to choose? Guess what, your party was all in for Clinton and nobody else ever since '08. And lo and behold, you got Trump.
1
We didn’t get it wrong in 2016. Hillary is a disaster and would have been far worse. The Democrats need to find a real viable candidate other than Communist Bernie(who is great, but is out there), Not-too-Bright Camilla (don’t cry racism before watching som of her Senate Hearings on YouTub) and Warren (who is bright and decent, but unelectable).
GREAT Advice.
Most useful, productive column that I've read in a very long time.
Here's hoping that your other readers help distribute it (or its suggestions) to the many millions who don't read the NYT and other legitimate fact based media.
Better still, that we ALL take and ACT on Frank Bruni's recommendations.
Our Democracy really does hang in the balance.
----
PS one of my favorite columns ever, is film maker, Ethan Coen's (NYT Op Ed) "Election Thank-you's". Google it or find on NYT website. It's still relevant.
1
Mr Bruni - You plea for a big turnout of voters is laudable, but you miss a factor and a plea of very probably at LEAST as important as registering to vote and then voting.
What is missing is a plea to register for a PARTY and vote in the primaries.
Increasingly over recent decades there has been a trend of people, claiming ‘disgust’, to declare oneself “Independent” of the sources of their disgust.
But what they are really doing is abdicating their responsibility in our system, guaranteeing us choices set by those they themselves see as the MOST ‘disgusting’ elements in November.
And this abdication is done with a self-congratulatory sense of being ‘free’ from ‘contagion’.
After all, what can be more American than “Independence”?
“Independent” is, in fact, a prideful, irresponsible self-appellation. It is what leaves up with (in this case) “90% of Republicans” polled as favoring the “Trump-Putin ticket”, or whatever, when, if they’d have registered, these extreme numbers would dissipate.
This is NOT a ’superior’ attitude. And this goes, of course, equally for ‘Dem-leaning’ “Independents”. Your primary non-vote IS a vote for people you don’t want on a November ballot!
BAD citizen! Bad! Registering with a Party will NOT stain your conscious. No would know or care. And you would NOT be bound to vote for one column in November.
This columnist, and newspaper, and industry, has a deep responsibility to repeatedly advocate for Party registration!
It’s a big deal!
2
Yes, vote! But until our elections are meddle-proof - to what end?
1
Paula, we used to have our very own election meddling in the form of literacy tests and poll taxes.
Wherever the meddling may come from, on Election Day you’ve got to grit your teeth, pull the lever, and fervently hope your vote is counted.
1
Ha ha America, democracy doesn't look like all that its hyped up by Americans to be, does it? The truth hurts, but the fact is that Americans are by and large the least intellectually curious, the laziest, the least educated, and yet the most self-satisfied in the Western world. Why? Because they have been fed on a staff diet of self-promoting, uncritical propaganda and are full of it. What other nation has attacked over 19 poor countries since WWII simply because those countries couldn't defend themselves? And then to complain and whine when poorer countries start a nuclear program ... The very height of hypocrisy! For shame.
5
Freedom dies when families are attacked. Here is a get out the vote call we should implement ASAP:
Thank you for taking my call. I am not asking for money. I want to discuss an urgent issue, the protection of our families.
Trump has shown that in his pursuit of money, power and praise:
He allows 5,000 US citizens in Puerto Rico to die while he says “we’re getting very good marks” and gives bogus reconstruction contracts to his cronies.
He rips children from their mothers who are seeking asylum from death, torture and slavery and puts children in cages built by his cronies without even bothering to keep track of who belongs to who.
If Trump can do this, do you believe he will protect your family?
Response .......
[OPTIONAL — If they feel exempt or don’t understand how they will be hurt, discuss attacks on health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, public schools, subsidy for school meals, reproductive health, cuts required to reduce tax bill deficits, etc. ]
If we want to protect our families, the most powerful thing we can do is register and vote Democratic in the November election. Will you join me and get your friends and relatives to join as well?
Response .......
Thank You for your time
10
Never missed an election. Won't start now.
2
How about protecting the vote?
2
Your points are all well taken, but please, do not dignify Survey Monkey polls with any credibility. Five Thirty Eight grades Survey Monkey polls as D-minus. Their respondents are self-selected; if they get anything right it's purely by accident.
1
It depends how the population they survey was selected. That step is crucial. In this particular survey, there was most likely bias towards Trump supporters. Real Republicans were probably too ashamed to respond.
What is it 90% of Republican approve of the sickest human to ever occupy the White House. It works out to 4 in 10 of the adults around you don't care that Trump is a lapdog to Putin. And those mindless people will vote and we will continue into the abyss.
I rate Donald Trump's election to be the fifth worst thing to ever happen to this country. And it has the potential to be number one.
3
I will use a quote from Timothy Egan's OpEd to make a point in reference to Frank Bruni's piece:
“They say that we can and should become the friends and even the partners of the Axis powers,” he [referring to FDR] said. “Some of them even suggest that we should imitate the methods of dictatorships. Americans never can and never will do that.”
FDR was right. But, his quote doesn't now refers to the present day 'Axis Powers' such as Putin, Erdoğan, Kim Jong-un and Xi Jingpin.
No, our present day dictators that are oppressing most Americans today are the global elite, closely followed by the PC fascist on the left.
The post-WW II golden economic age started cracking up in the 1980's when Western businesses began outsourcing manufacturing to 3rd world countries. This was then followed by services such as call centers and IT. Meanwhile, our elected leaders have done nothing to counter this ongoing economic hollowing out. America is now a hybrid nation of 1st world urban centers and 3rd world exurbs and rural areas. The downtrodden out there are restive, and Trump is a mere expression of that anger.
Yet, the Dems are not offering solutions - just PC scoldings, identity politics, social engineering and Marxist nonsense that has proven to be a failure.
We need can-do leaders across this nation - not just in a President, but in Congress and state houses. We need a New Deal for the 21st Century. The Dems in 2018 are in no way poised to deliver us that.
So, Frank, who will?
3
@Common Sense
I'd argue that Donald Trump is the most seasoned practitioner of identity politics in the USA today. It has been his stock in trade for many years, and he's only gotten more dedicated to it since he's been president. His politics, such as they are, have inflamed resentment and fear while offering no practical solutions to the problems of those he claims to speak for. Right now, his actions are threatening to undermine what little economic stability the working and middle classes have managed to cobble together. It's a fact Trump acknowledged at one point while he was out selling his trade war with China. The farmers, he claimed, could handle taking a hit for the vague future benefit he was promising. Easy to say when the costs won't be coming out of your own pocket. Trump's tariffs are causing factories to lay off workers and move production overseas, and he blames the Democrats or our NATO allies, or somebody, anybody, other than himself and his misguided policies. That's identity politics in boldface.
3
Right on Frank. I'm extremely Liberal but have begun to despise fellow liberals who even let things come to this.
I have a saying - Just as "Portlandia" had a skit that said "Put a Bird On It!" - (i.e. and that will "make it better"), Liberals have a feel good tendency to "Put a 'Resist' Bumper Sticker On It!!!" or "Put a Pink Hat On It!!!" thinking this will change anything. It doesn't.
Just save it and Vote.
4
Nice article but please spare me the gratuitous "and Democrats have problems galore" baloney. This is not the time to be giving any leeway for the illiterati to use the "they're both bad" excuse to justify sitting out this election.
2
Hey Mr. Bruni. How about an article on where to make political contributions this year?
I am from MN and am
considering the governor, senate and MN 2nd Dist. Angie Craig v Jason Lewis?
Frank, how about a bit of a disclaimer for that NYT urge to elect democrats:
WARNING: The democrat party slogan "For the People" is meant to confuse voters as to who and what they are voting for. Socialist and anti-ICE democrats may be hidden under this banner and you may experience higher taxes, reduced border security and a loss of religious freedom. Voters should consult their bank accounts before making any candidate selection.
1
A line from Aliens comes to mind ...
"It won't make any difference."
And yet I'm a sucker for lost causes.
1
When a purportedly democratic public is too stupid to insist that a six times bankrupt who claims to be a multi-billionaire prove it with tax returns before handing their lives over to a compulsive liar and litigious crook, it is doomed to sink into a hopeless morass of corruption like Venezuela.
19
Frank Bruni has this exactly right. Posting on Facebook can be cathartic, but it's time to get out the vote through traditional and also innovative modern methods, many of which he mentions. My experience is that it is a waste of time and energy to argue with the Trump supporters; they are a lost cause, unfortunately. We need to get out the vote among registered Democrats and independents. During the last Obama presidential campaign, I was among many who volunteered in Florida's most Republican county to man a phone bank to call all registered Democrats to remond them to vote and to ask if they needed transportation to do so. It was an efficient, simple, elegant, concept and operation. The motivating insight was that the fixable part of the problem was voter turnout among those who agreed with is but who might have given up on the process. Count me among those who believe that Frank Bruni has his finger on the button that will get us out of this national nightmare.
4
I will vote as many times as I am able, Mr. Bruni. (That would be once but I had to send a chill up Kris Kobach's spine for fun...)
I now live in a safe district but am already working in an adjacent district. I am not much for phone banks or canvassing but I have decided to arm those who do by feeding them. I am cooking each week, providing (I believe) interesting and nutritious meals for those in the infantry. I follow Napoleon's statement that an army advances on its stomach. (He supported that belief with a Fr12,000 prize in 1795 offered to the first person to perfect a method for long term food storage, leading directly to modern canning methods.)
4
My son was 16 when Trump was elected. He is now 18 and a registered Democrat. I think there are millions of kids like him around the country who will be voting for the first time in 2018 and 2020.
My son is unimpressed with Dems in general ( Diane Feinstein is hardly inspiring) but absolutely appalled by Trump and the GOP. I think the youth and first time voter turnout will be a critical advantage for the Dems.
It is also important to remind people that Trump endorsed Roy Moore .
7
If you care about other human beings, animals, plants and democracy you have to vote to contain the nightmare that is Trump. If you care only about your pocketbook you have yourselves to blame when your grandchildren can’t breathe the air or eat decent food. The only road forward for the planet is to vote against the Republicans who have enabled the Trump agenda and put our lives and morals in jeopardy. I am supporting candidates in swing and red states that share the values of human dignity. I know my friends are doing the same. I hope and pray it works.
4
Register and vote. It is that easy. Last Presidential election voting has light. I live and vote in NY - when I went to vote in the last Presidential election, the only people who were at the polling area - at midday, mind you - were the election workers and myself. We all knew Clinton was carrying NY, but it was still a miserable showing. In fact voting was light throughout the country. Perhaps that’s why we have a President DT. Mid-term elections are this November. It only takes less than half an hour. Vote.
2
Where to start in fixing the broken politics of America. The task would seem insurmountable.
A critical first step? Take a page from Australia and have an independent national election management commission that operates by clear rules to manage electoral boundaries. IE get rid of the gerrymanders and state based fiddling.
Campaign donations reform. Money buys influence and US political funding is an open invitation to buy influence and distort voter will. Religious right, NRA, Superpacs, K Street.. the special interest threats are out of sight and out of control.
Deport Rupert Murdoch - errr anywhere but back to Australia. Toxic Fox News and anything much to do US media needs spotlight and a hot blowtorch. The days of Walter Cronkite are a distant memory and in his place we have the execrable Hannity and Fox and Friends?
I fear there is way too more to be done than can ever be done to fix what is broken. Trump as POTUS has brought together a perfect storm leading America to a far right lurch. Trump is a clear marker for the end of the American Century as a global leader and influencer for good.
Poor fellow my country someone once said.
3
What was it Joseph Stalin said about voting?
Something about, "Hey -- allow ME to count them.
No. Seriously."
Give us machines we can trust. Nah, strike that. Give US a Paper Trail, with BOTH sides counting the Votes. This is too critical to rely on -- yet again -- to rely on 'Faith Based Voting.'
Say NO to faith-based voting.
Let The People decide.
This is OUR Country.
5
We must break all modern day turnout records, far surpassing the turnouts for Obama, to overcome, all the obstacles, known and unknown, put in our path by the Republican Party (and Russia) to suppress and undermine our DEMOCRATIC VOTE.
7
You say, "nor am I romanticizing the Democratic Party, which has problems galore." Galore? That's a lot. Then it's time to discuss these problems---in addition to telling the truth about Trump.
We deserve better than a party that's just anti Trump, or a party who won't befriend Putin or put out daily lies. Thanks a lot. What ELSE will you do for us?
Almost anyone can be better than Trump now. Our columnists have to push the Dems to higher standards too, so we can get some true representation for our taxation.
Bruni has the verbal weapons to do it, if he wants to.
2
If the Russians can hack the voting machines, voting ain't gonna save us. Would somebody remind me again why these machine haven't been banned in the US, as they have been all over Europe.
7
All those paragraphs to say,”vote,register others to vote, get registered voters to the polls. But it needs to be said.
2
Russia and Trump have been using our democracy against us. Its time for the American people to use democracy against THEM. Speak up and vote!
3
Frank, I will get out and vote Red in November and Trump in 2020.
Please let us know why.
1
Before going to the polls to vote, make sure that you are still registered. Not registered - not voting
5
I did vote...and will again.
1
As the 2018 mid - term elections loom, recapture of at least one house of Congress is more and more critical if the saner majority of the nation is to have some braking power over the runaway catastrophe that is Trump's Washington. But how can we ensure that, come November, as many “flippable” districts as possible are actually flipped against Republicans?
Why shouldn't Democrats turn the tables on Trump and his Republican apologists using the same tactics the Russians used to interfere with our elections in 2016?
Why don't we use social media in a legal manner--by encouraging millions of patriotic, legitimate U. S. citizens (including right-minded Republicans) to bombard selected vulnerable electoral districts across the nation with factual anti-Trump, pro-Democracy Twitter and Facebook propaganda, in the same way that Russian intelligence operatives, directed by Trump's buddy Putin, used those platforms to help get Trump elected and defeat Hillary?
Such a campaign would require some initial input from politically savvy experts knowledgeable about which voting districts to target. Such expertise was obviously available in the 2016 campaign through Cambridge Analytica, using Facebook data and illegally made available to the Russian GRU hackers in 2016. But surely there must be many smart politicos out there who would be willing to lend their expertise to fight back at our illegitimate and traitorous president and his
Thank you, Frank Bruni, for this message! People in the U.S. have taken voting for granted. In 2016, for the presidential election we had one of the lowest voter turn outs! Many wouldn't vote because they didn't "like" either candidate and then.....we ended up with a disaster in the White House that has cost our nation, our environment and our freedoms!
PLEASE VOTE, bring your family, friends and neighbors with you! YOUR Freedoms, Rights and Democracy depend on YOUR VOTE!
3
Mr Bruni - agreed. Vote. It is embarrassing to note how many voters stay home.
However - Democrats did vote. Hillary did win. The election result was hacked. Did you see the polling going in? Did you notice how few votes had to be flipped in key states?
Why -why - why - can't the media grapple with the truth and call out the crime that was committed? If it is not called out - if it is not prosecuted - then no future election - no future result - can be trusted.
Wake up! Tell it like it is!
4
There are Americas now. One must win if there is to be an America: democratic, land of the free, As The Framers Intended! Trump's America is Un American. It must be buried. At the voting booth!
Suitably Disgusted at 81, I am, as well, disgusted that we, the People, are
subjected to spending our crucial and valuable lives fully occupied in a fruitless effort of trying to eliminate from our National "Presidency"...a man
whose Sole Purpose is to be the 100%, N/E/S/W Center of our Attention.
Meanwhile, he is, Chronically, Enjoying that Occupation. Our CEO is
Our COA. Meanwhile, he is a Certifiable Sociopathic Personality Disorder.
We, the People, are in a Sick Situation....Our "President" is in Need of
Treatment!
3
Wow you actually believe that voting in America means anything after whats been going on.
Voter purging, gerrymandering, pUtin election hacking. Congress not passing a bill to spend more on fixing our antiquated voting system.
The Russians and the Rep party have figured out how to rig the system.
They will be laughing at us in Nov when the map goes RED.
Libs ( including myself ) are too honest.
I HOPE I'M WRONG!
2
No more third party candidates. No matter what.
3
This may be the most important column you have ever printed. Reprint it again and again and again. People need to see this every week. Don't expect one-trial learning.
4
I have and will always vote straight DEM. I used to vote the person not the party. Not anymore, the GOP is a disaster for America. All they care about is guns and abortion and have sold their soul to get a tax cut for big business and a conservative on the supreme Court.
11
It's not like us democrats aren't swept up in the cult of personality. I just read on NYT that Bernie Sanders is taking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Kansas.
Some crib notes for Bernie: It's the Sunflower State. The geographical center of the lower 48 is Lebanon, Kansas. It's not Nebraska. Most of the hispanic immigrants are probably from Mexico not Puerto Rico. Manhattan, Kansas is jokingly called the "Little Apple" according to wikipedia. Wheat is the cash crop, not corn. Except if the farmer has water rights for pivot irrigation and ethanol prices are high.
The Dems should pick a few serious issues and run with them. Highlight health care -- it's a winner. Downplay immigration -- it's a loser. The GOP debt, yes. Transgender bathrooms, no. Pound them on assault weapons. Remind the voters that our former place atop the world has been replaced by Trump's New World Order.
There's a good bumper sticker in there somewhere.
4
What 'getting out the vote' really means is regaining control until the TrumpCult finds its way back to what is true and fair.
First, find every registered Democrat in the USA and drag their sorry butts to the polls in Nov. It will be hard to overcome our infested system, but a significant turn out could bring a veto-proof majority. With that majority, move quickly to cut off the supply of bile feeding this madness by:
1) Reinstating the 1949 FCC Fairness Doctrine and its rule that "any view expressed on a matter of national importance on any television/radio station is required by law to provide equal time to the opposing view". As before, if a network didn’t do this, they would lose their license to broadcast. FOX would collapse as Sean Hannity would have to be followed by Elizabeth Warren.
2) Pull a McConnell - pack the Supreme Court. Add 2 judges to overturn Citizens United, make gerrymandering unconstitutional, restore the voting rights act, and reaffirm the separation of church and state.
3) Pull an FDR –make meaningful job creation #1 using increased tax revenue of the 1% for a vast rebuilding of infrastructure and renewable energy. Retrain those globalization left behind to assure the American Dream for the 21st Century.
Would there be a vicious/violent howl? You betcha, but without the daily hatred from Fox, and with a government standing with the American people and not the Oligarchs, the anger will fade and We as a People might truly be Great Again.
4
Yes!
So simple! So powerful!
1
Trump is not the only one attacking democracy.
Paul Ryan is attacking democracy.
Mitch McConnell is attacking democracy.
Every Republican in Congress, both in the House and in the Senate, is attacking democracy.
Vladimir Putin's attacks on democracy would be a joke, if not for Republicans aiding and abetting Putin. They are all traitors.
805 of Republican voters are indeed a cult. And they will take us over the cliff if we don't shut them down. Permanently.
Don't just vote. Get everyone you can to vote. Yes, your and their lives depend on it. There is no hyperbole in this statement. Literally, none.
4
I'm with you. I'm tired of feeling helpless...
3
Forty percent of those who could vote in the last election did not bother to vote. Many of them were poor and felt alienated by the American government. I had to leave America fifty years ago because I could not buy health insurance there. Americans should have an open mind about socialism. I believe that Bernie Sanders represents the only real hope for significant reform in America.
3
We need people with vision and higher purpose values to run for office. Democrats need to go back to their Four Freedoms. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear. These are values that ALL Americans can get behind and support. Their new slogan, A Better Deal, just doesn't cut it. It is a faint tepid echo of the Four Freedoms.
Wake up Americans, Blue Wave from now on!
@Joe Parrott, I am totally disgusted with people who seek public offices for some alleged "higher purpose" that turns out to be some kind of religious crusade.
No one can dispute what Frank puts forth here. It's a testament to the American Exceptionalism that never was, as this societal ill is anything but new, as Frank very well knows.
BUT, to assume that voting in a system flawed from the outset, and now compromised for more than one reason is our redemption is shortsighted to the point of humor. When the choices are reduced in many's eyes to "the lesser of two evils," an assumption I heard around me in my first eligible election almost 40 yrs ago, that's a signal the system is hopelessly compromised, and is in need of sweeping change. Not just faces---the system itself, and for ALL the reasons that have led up to where we are now, that don't need be listed here.
We're too comfortable to even DO anything about the blatant authoritarianism sweeping the nation. That started in Congress long before the current Executive Freak Show, and "voting" has only made that worse in a society that measures strength in hardware, and not collective IQ.
Too comfortable and too afraid of the "R" word, we are. Forcing a hand when the Constitution is but a mangled memory has always been unimaginable to me in a nation-system where I always assumed, by now, the heart of it would prevail, and we wouldn't be petrified of amending it. Probably better give myself some help imagining it. Voting hasn't been the answer in 40 yrs. Until the old is swept away, it's hopeless naive to think it will be now.
1
@kstew, there is no rational excuse whatsoever to distort the apportionment of the electoral power to elect the only national official in the entire US political system.
I don't want to rain on your clarion call to get out there and vote in 2018 and 2020.
But besides being depressed over the election of the Deplorable Trump, I also feel deflated that 3 million more of us voted for Hillary than for Trump Yet the Electoral College (biased toward low-population states and political party control) handed the election to the most unqualified man ever to run for president who was not elected by popular vote.
We must clean up our voting system by eliminating all the various way the Republicans have stacked the deck and rigged the system so their candidate wins--gerrymandering, voter id, breakdowns in voting precincts populated by people with demographics likely to vote Democratic rather than GOP. And, unlike the GOP, Dems must do it without help from Putin.
Okay, so we probably won't be able to get rid of the Electoral College. Nor easily get rid of Citizens United and our horrendous un-transparent campaign finance "laws" that give the rich, the corrupt, and the biggest financial fraudsters and polluters the opportunity to vote 2X--first with their vote then with their money, thereby giving the edge to the most corrupt and lackey candidates.
But I figure it this way. It is much like being a minority person (woman, black, Latino, gay, young) at work, where you have to work twice as hard to get noticed.
Therefore, we must swamp the voting precincts in 2018 and 2020 and if we can get double the number of Dems voting, we just might win.
7
@PB, I agree that eliminating the Electoral College will be extremely difficult, but something MUST be done to at least minimize its deleterious impact on our election process.
This effete, antiquated institution has long outlived its original purpose and, as witnessed in our last election, is now working toward our detriment.
1
Mr Bruni - you forget that you’re also very good at assuming that only democrat voters read the NYT which is simply wrong. Not everyone feels the same way as you or the comparatively small number of people that comment here. There are millions out there who are indifferent to your view and happy to quietly vote republican each time because they disagree with “liberal” views - particularly those that gradually chip away at traditional family values. These feelings have nothing to do with the behavior of the president and Trump or anyone else will not change their vote.
4
My 2020 presidential vote, and that of 3 million or so other Californians, will mean nothing thanks to the Electoral College.
2
In California, the state will likely vote Democrat. Therefore all Democrat votes there will count, and all Republican votes will not. That is how the Electoral College works.
Of course this is not likely what you mean. I expect that you mean the Electoral College also allows for the possibility that someone receiving fewer total votes countrywide may not win. (This paper’s readership leans left, of course, and we have collectively whined ad nauseam about how Hillary lost to Trump.)
So, yes, there are 2 ways in which individual votes aren’t the way that our country tallies, as we determine the elected winner.
Please also recognize that because of its huge population (and its corresponding huge number of electoral votes), coupled with its near guarantee of voting Democrat, several states (or many, depending on which ones), must go Republican to counteract California’s outsize role. Which is also potentially viewed as unfair. (Why should voters in California decide everything for the whole country, etc.?)
That does not mean that the rules aren’t fair. Learn the rules, and if we want to win, we need to strategize accordingly.
3
@Doctor....yes, Bob, read up on the inception of the electoral college---by all means. You'll learn in a hurry just how "fair" it is. Pay special attention to WHY it's there at all....
Just what the good Doctor ordered. Amazing....
Let us not forget that there is no IQ test required to become a registered voter. And half the population has an IQ below 100. By one recent estimate 40 million adult citizens of the US have an IQ below 85.
You can argue about who the low IQ voters support, but if we get more people voting, the increase is likely to come from this group. That's democracy, whether you like it or not.
This whole Don and Vlad thing reminds me of spy hysteria in wartime where people see spies everywhere and everyone is expected to believe other people's suspicions as a way of affirming their own patriotism and membership in the group; it you don't, your not in the group and open to suspicion yourself. Today, belief that Donald Trump is in Vladimir Putin's pocket works like that for Democrats. It's taken as 'given', no evidence needed; anything Mr. Trump says to disprove it is obviously a lie, case closed--a kind of leftist shibboleth. This helps increase group cohesion and divert attention from the evidence that the Dems have no commonsense constructive program going forward to set before the voters. To put it in Hollywood terms, never mind about that, focus on the sound and light show provided up there on the screen, pay no mind to the man behind the curtain. And that's all very entertaining, but in the days leading up to the election the voters will toss all that aside and use their experience and their brains to decide for themselves what's real and what's not, and that could be bad news for the Hollywood flim-flam folks. The Dems have a habit of underestimating the seriousness of the voters.
2
I just made a small donation to the campaign of one of the Democrat candidates running in my state. If you want big money out of our politics little guys like us must step up to the plate.
5
Point of clarification: when Mr. Bruni says vote for the right candidates, he does not mean right wing candidates!
All kidding aside - in this election, the right candidates are democrats - of all stripes, centrist and progressive. No pickiness allowed this year: the only way to strip Trump of his Erdogan aspirations is to get his rubberstamping taxcut-drunk GOP Congress out!
5
better yet, stop donating to charities that support Trump supporters in the Rust belt. They made their beds, now they can call Trump Tower for handouts.
3
OK, got it. Voting.
And since they are clearly stealing that, what do we do?
4
This is the way to do it, NYT, be persistent about getting the message out. Voting is our only option. A full third of Americans believe in conspiracy theories and bizarre myths such as Putin is a great defender of Christianity. A healthy democracy breeds truth, so it is imperative that we vote to set things towards a better path for all our citizens.
3
A modest proposal: California has millions of Democratic votes to spare. Let’s relocate a few hundred thousand remote workers to Montana/Wyoming/North Dakota whenever there is a Senate election coming up. Rather than splitting California into several states, let’s stage a few hostile takeovers.
2
With housing costs through the roof and tech telling everyone about telecommuting - they should be at the forefront of expanding their workforce to red states like Wyoming or Idaho who have lots of space and couldn use a few more blue voters.
Thank you, thank you. I've been saying that to my friends for months. Don't vent all your anger and anxiety in clever FB posts that make you think you're doing something! I agree with another commenter who suggests the NYT runs this column again in a couple of weeks. With those links.
7
If you vote a straight Democrat ticket you can start the eradication of the GOP in November; it is not the time to make a subtle distinction or theoretical fight ...it is only the time to make a strategic vote: Vote Democrat, all the way.Godspeed America
2
The media can play a gigantic role in the mid-terms, by highlighting obstacles to minority votes such as the roadblocks that prevented blacks voting in 2000, and by helping voters get IDs in districts where they are required for voting.
It's the media's turn to gain revenge on the media bully.
9
Exactly right Frank. No excuses- be focused and vote to win- not on some foolish symbolic protest. Save your symbolism when trump is put into a cage.
1
I am a NZ/Australian living in Sydney, and have just got back from a 3 week road trip around Alabama and Tennesse. Trump is becoming unstoppable. Like the writer of this piece noted, for Republicans to oppose Trump is political suicide. All the election ads for Republicans focus on whether they opposed him in the past . . and how "Pro" they are . . Pro Gun, Pro Life and Pro Trump.
The people themselves were great and very friendly (I am White Anglo Saxon by the way) but alot of the towns i went to were hollowed out, shut down, ghosts of their former selves. Derelict downtowns . . maybe a couple of gas stations but that was it. No end of Baptists churches though. God knows what they do about health care, but Obama care is seen as some socialist assault on The Land of the Free. I assume they think the rest of the Western world live in chains.
3
I could not agree more.
1
"We got it wrong." Who is "we" Frank? It's precisely this patronizing attitude that will see Trump with us for the full two terms. Enjoy it.
3
Voting is critical but will our votes count? My greatest fear is that the polls will predict a Democratic wave and turnout is strong but somehow Republicans win a majority of districts. We have seen How McConnell and Ryan and the rest of the Republicans tolerate treason and corruption and lots more to hold on to power. They will do nothing if the results of the election point to Russian interference or suspicion of hacking by the right wing companies like Diebold who control the voting software. Then we have a constitutional crisis. We Democrats will be powerless to do anything except take to the streets. This is no way to run a democracy but in these awful times we may need to do so to keep our democracy.
2
As an American living in Europe, and a registered voter in Oregon's 2 District, I will be doing whatever I can to help elect the Democratic candidate, Jamie McLeod-Skinner. In every GOP held seat, a challenge must be made. Of course, finite resources mean we must target our money for our best shots, but no Republican should feel comfortable. Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Texas and more are all states that can be turned Blue (demographics). Let us begin the disciplined, methodical work of registering new voters, educating swing voters, and getting out the vote.
4
Excellent idea, Frank, who’d have ever thought. Next, letter to God: Next time plant the apple tree outside the garden. There, everything’s fixed now.
Our upcoming elections need to be a revolution - a legal revolution - to remove all elected officials, especially in Congress, who are unwilling to stand up against the misdeeds committed by that man in The White House. The US was born in revolution and it apparently needs to be saved by one. Our constitution allows it and I believe our founding fathers would expect it of us if they were here to see this this dangerous leadership travesty.
3
Trump’s True Believers are certainly a cult. And so far as their core values go—anger, bitterness, ignorance, discrimination—what better role model than Trump? Bernie Sanders also channeled voter anger, but it was anger for the disenfranchised, against big money business-as-usual politics. Both parties have their flaws, many of them shared. Can anyone really look at the last three years in American politics and dispute that the Republican Party thrives on anger and fear? It’s how they get out their voters. The Democratic Party wins or loses elections based on the case they make for hope and change. Failure to move your base is fatal. Hillary Clinton was unelectable on that score. So we learn. Volunteer, protest and vote. Got your representative and senators on speed dial yet???
1
While I agree, we ought also to do something about voter suppression, and vote count hacking.
Let's demand paper ballots!
5
"We can’t count on Robert Mueller, the special counsel, because we don’t know what he’ll ultimately report or whether, after the perfervid campaign to discredit him, it will stick to Trump. But elections do stick. Ask Hillary Clinton."
To me that is the most important part of Mr. Bruni's column. We should not forget that Mueller is himself a Republican and we cannot know what he really thinks on the subject of Trump.
But my concerns, whether right or wrong, must give way to making sure that people vote, preferably Democratic but, in any case, vote!!!
3
Be afraid, be very afraid of poll numbers. Remember how far Hillary was ahead? Better yet ignore the polls and vote and help get out the vote especially the 40% who did not vote in 2016.
2
My Uncle Robert, so the family story goes, built a small rowboat to undertake a river adventure sometime around the year 1900.
He launched it into the Christina River, in the vicinity of Seventh and Church streets, Wilmington.
It’s just as likely he launched it further east down Seventh into either the Christina or the Brandywine.
For sure, one thing led to another and he found himself in the wider part of the mouth of the Delaware River.
In time, he managed to row himself to the tip end of the beach along the town of Cape May.
So his story ended well, because he snagged the last resort.
This November 2016 voting day needs to be the day we pull our”Cape May.”
And our last resort - a Democratic Blue Wave win - means our country doesn’t float into the wide Atlantic in a socio-political rowboat.
3
Here's a thought.
And it's not comforting.
Why would Trump bow to Putin as he did this week?
Make himself a fool and foil.
Cause such an uproar, even among his party.
To pay Putin back for 2016?
Or, more ominously, to pay him in advance for "services to be rendered" this November?
Services to help Trump keep Congress.
If the lights are "blinking red" according to DNI Coats and if we wonder why Republicans refuse to join in a pact with Democrats to reveal any sign of election hacking this November… then we can conclude the Russians have a plan for our midterms.
Will the election boards in the approximately 3000 counties in the US be able to detect a hack attempt?
We really only need to monitor the most competitive districts and the counties within them.
Maybe there will be an obvious slip up and any outside interference will be manifest, causing a huge scandal.
(the Russians aren't that competent - Mueller's indictment figured them out)
Anyway, it's code red but we'll be watching.
3
I am a retired college instructor from NY. I have been horrified by the actions of trump & co. He is a total disgrace to America and the office of the president.
I have volunteered my services to the Democratic party and will participate in a voter registration campaign next Wednesday and also attend a voter engagement workshop as well.
I will do all I can to get rid of the monster in the White House. Thank you.
2
Please, I beg all media outlets to stop using the President’s name. Please refer to him as the president or better yet, the Administration. Focus on the story, the issue, the damage being done and then connect lawmakers who are allowing it to continue. Please. Please. Please.
2
But for the fact that I'm already here, I wouldn't want to join this team, er, country. Trump will keep away immigrants just by being obnoxious.
1
I've done my share of canvasing. Not in 2018, Not me. When I canvassed there were open minds. I worked hard to get a moderate Democrat elected as mayor of Phoenix. And I told my supervisor that I would canvas to get rid of Sheriff Joe, but only in poor, ethnic neighborhoods where I could register some unregistered voters. I went door to door to beat a reactionary city councilman until the third homeowner in a row told me that, reactionary or not, he had always been there for the neighbors. I could see no sense in sweating in 105 degree weather for a futile cause.
As for this year, it has been a long time since I met anyone interested in listening to me about politics. Everyone has their own peculiar ideas, from the New York Times to the guy down the street. If you knock on a door and then listen all the time, you aren't canvassing. You're being canvassed. In all my life I have never seen so many certain people who know less about politics and think they know more. There aren't many doors with reasonable people behind them. If you want to knock on the doors of a bunch of people who have made up their minds based on misinformation, good luck to you.
When my ballot comes in the mail, I'll take the next five minutes filing the boxes for moderate Democrats who I hope are less stupid than their opponents. That's all I can do for the cause. The doors are waiting for somebody with more energy and more hope to knock on them.
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@michjas...there is no collective will putting country first. People are too self-absorbed now, stricken with I, Me Syndrome. Single-issue voting---when people actually vote---is a vote for personal pocketbooks, country be damned. The larger scheme is dismissed due to devolved ignorance and vision. Education, when it was actually discussed decades ago, is where the collective will was to be placed, and we were warned ad nauseam of the consequences, were it not.
And, here we are...
2
Mr. Trump is single-handedly damaging the national security interests of the U.S. by giving Russia the upper-hand in Syria. How is this mess going to be cleaned up? I don't know, but first we need to vote this fall and make our voices heard.
I shudder to think about what other demands Putin will raise at the White House this fall. Will Mr. Trump assume the role of "Putin's poodle" and roll over for another belly rub?
2
One has only to reflect on the miles of crosses at Colleville-su-mer and
St. Lo for ones duty to vote be reinforced. To behave otherwise is to throw away the gift the men beneath those crosses gave us.
However, given the specter of gerrymandering, voter suppression, corporations purchasing congressmen via Citizens United, and the archaic
Electoral College, one can appreciate younger generations feelings that
voting is for suckers.
Voting for all democrats is not enough to save the world from entering a new dark age. Americans must ACTIVALY SUPPORT and GIVE MONEY TO democratic candidates to counteract the millions the super rich give to the republicans.
1
TIme to focus. Scattergun anger is only numbing everyone to Trump’s continuing depredations. Do three things:
1) Follow the money. Support NY Attorney General, Barbara Underwood’s legal moves against Trump Foundation & publish Trump’s tax returns - his kryptonite. Worked on Capone.
2) Block/dismantle boundary gerrymandering.
3) VOTE, VOTE, VOTE.
1
If there is a doubt about your vote being purged, check on your registration NOW. There is no reason to wait until election day to see if your paperwork is in order. Yes, the R's are making it unnecessarily and illegally hard, but your effort can overcome their shenanigans.
Also, for all those who say those who voted for Corrupt Donnie need to be flipped, keep in mind, he had fewer votes in 2016. While there are a few who say they regret voting for him, I have yet to speak to anyone, nor read anywhere of anyone who didn't vote for him who says they would now vote for him.
1
“To blunt Trump’s attack on our democracy, we have to use our democracy. We can restore faith in it by showing faith in it.”
Yes, Mr. Bruni!
Vote.
In every election, at every level.
Exercise your citizen's right that so many fought for.
Vote.
2
Yes vote for our lives if we still can; because soon there will be an act of complete surrender, by inviting Putin into the oval. There has been a bloodless invasion of the USA by one man. He has taken over by cutting of the head of the leader.
1
Great column! I just followed the link in the article to the DCCC and donated $15 and signed up to canvass for the Democratic Candidate in New Jersey's 12th House District.
1
Frank, you are correct, we must vote. But what if we vote using a system that can be hacked, how can we know that our vote was correctly recorded?
As an expat, I will send a paper ballot from Sweden to Rochester, New York, an object that can be seen and recorded. Here in Sweden, in the national election in September we will all vote by using paper ballots. No hacking there.
Please, talk with your editors and give us a review of the various systems that we can expect to be used in November. Give us analyses by experts in the field.
And if we learn that non-paper systems will be used, systems that can be manipulated, then what?
If the Russians see it in their interest for Trump to continue to have a Congress dominated by spineless sycophants they will do all they can to guarantee that, with or without collusion.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Citizen US SE
1
@Larry Lundgren All NYS registered voters now cast paper ballots. Those who vote at their precinct feed the paper ballots into an optical scanner that tallies the votes in that precinct. As a former poll watcher I am pretty sure those computational devices are still not linked to each other or the internet. After the polls close the results are printed out by the machine on paper tape at the precinct and phoned in to the county board of elections. Over the next several days the machines are collected and returned to the BOE warehouse where they are again cued to print out the results which are compared to the verbally reported results with corrections made as needed. The paper ballots can be removed from the machine and recounted manually if for some reason that is deemed desirable. There is also an elaborate paper system used to be sure that the number of votes registered by the machine equals the number of people who signed in to vote at the precinct. All of these steps are taken with at least one Republican and one Democrat acting together. I am not saying the system is fool proof - nothing is - but it would be difficult to game.
1
@carol goldstein thanks very much for that information. I will be checking with Monroe County Voter Registration to ask if I should have received any reminder. Usually I get my ballot automatically at an appropriate time. I will ask if they have printed information about the system as you describe it.
The last time I voted in Rochester was by using the machine where you move a lever and I always assumed a mechanicall record of the vote was made.
All the more reason for the Times do provide a national report.
Very nice of you to take the time to provide the details.
Larry
@Larry Lundgren Those lever machines were pretty good. I observed many recounts on them over 3 decades. But occasionally there would be an obvious undercount due to a malfunctioning lever. One I remember was a Westchester Supreme Court contest where each voter was to vote for up to three candidates. Voters overwhelmingly vote along party lines in these situations so when one of the machines showed a vote total for one of the three Democratic candidates that was several times fewer than for each of the other Democrats it was clear that lever had malfunctioned. Luckily she won anyway so there was no harm done. (I know it is confusing but in NYS the Supreme Courts are not our highest court hence 3 SC judges to be elected in one year in one populous county.)
Don’t discount the fact that the Republicans have fully teamed with a foreign super power in their fight against democrats for control of our country. Effort to bolster the democratic vote is an effort to fight off this Russian-Republican alliance.
1
What about the GOP's attack on our democracy? Trump's only the symptom of a larger recoiling from democratic practice on the part of the GOP, who recognize a demographic crisis they are facing, as the party of older, wealthier, Christianist white people who aspire to be and pander to the top 1%.
Their response to the narrowcasting of their voting bloc has been to attack the voting process itself. This has been underway for many years before Trump/Putin came to power. That the GOP is supine before Trump is a shame they'll have to live with (or die with) as a political party, but they blazed the trail that made Trump possible.
2
Trump has to be neutered or removed, and the party that allowed him to take power has to be electorally crushed, so that it takes a generation to recover. The present generation of GOP leaders, standing there mute while Trump wreaks destruction and spews bile in all directions, are traitors by omission. They know exactly what he is and are fully responsible for the damage he does.
2
Preaching to the choir. Democrats need inspirational leadership. Make Americans dream of a better USA. This is the only way to defeat Trump.
1
Since Trump assumed office in January 2017, the Democratic party should have been airing multi-channel and social media advertisements, including in Spanish, comprising video updates and infographics of Trump's growing list of lies and insulting behavior. The same ads would highlight the ineffective Republican-controlled Congress portraying them as Trump enablers who care more about party than country. Keeping the message in the forefront in the media exposing Trump the con artist, racist, and xenophobe would get more people out to vote in 2018 and 2020 to oust the GOP buffoons in the executive and legislative branches.
1
Whatever American voters do in November, don't be tempted to register a protest vote by supporting independents and minor parties. In Australia we have the luxury of preferential voting. You can give your first preference to the Catlovers Party by way of protest, then give your second preference to a major party with a real chance of election. With first past the post voting, a protest vote to a loser is a vote wasted.
2
My disgust for Trump AND his Congress is visceral. Admittedly, however, is the fact that I am frightened. I am scared that this country will not do enough to block ongoing, egregious Russian interference. I am frightened that the bigots in my community - and family - will be louder and more forceful than we. I am frightened that - and I say this as a Catholic - the hypocritical Christian Right will take away my freedom of choice and my nephew's marriage to a wonderful man. But, I am a grown woman who has seen to much these past 18 or so months. And I am determined to not succumb to "flight" and instead "fight" with every ounce of energy I have. And to my fellow Californians, I say we have among the worst of the worst...Devin Nunes. Let us not become complacent as we have in the past and not take for granted that our state is Bright Blue. If we do not roll up our sleeves and get crackin', our Blue state can bleed Red. Our opponents can be vicious if allowed. Yes, Mr. Bruni, I have our Democracy and our Democrats' back... Never fear...
3
The extreme support for Trump among his followers despite clear evidence of immoral, even anti-American behavior on his part is evidence his support has reached cult status. The way for Democrats to overcome this is not for them to double down on their same old positions. They are only preaching to their choir. The solution must be directed to the Trump supporters. They can be deprogrammed, especially the ones who were on the fence before the election who decided to vote for Trump. They have human brains. If presented with clear evidence as to how they were tricked, many, not all, will yield to the force of their own sense of reason, enough to sway upcoming elections, 10-15% would do it.
They were tricked by the techniques of propaganda deception which are based on the lie and emerge from the philosophy of the end justifies the means. There are over a dozen. Unfortunately, most media people and people in general are shamefully ignorant of these techniques. Fortunately, the knowledge is there for anyone to find.
If the media were to identify a specific technique each and every time Trump uses one, some of his followers would begin to reject him. One of his favorites is "Demonization". He uses it against Obama, Clinton, and others. He used "Deflection" when he said just before the summit that Germany is totally controlled by Russia. This was to deflect thinking from what people say about him that he is under the control of Putin.
Learn the techniques. Push the media too.
1
You get people out to vote by promising something positive, not the absence of a negative. The Democratic leadership is hoping to coast to victory on a massive distaste for Trump, just as they were hoping to coast to victory in 2016 on identity politics. Ironically, in politics, the time to make grand promises is when you are out of power, when you don't have to put your money where your mouth is, but the supine Democrats can't even manage that gesture. Meanwhile those young people who didn't vote are saddled with student debt, health care remains a morass, affordable housing is becoming a universal issue, and wages are stagnant or falling despite record employment. Addressing any of these problems would require putting a tiny ding in the wallets of the Dem's donor-class, so we never hear a word about them from the two schoolmarms Chuck and Nancy; they, despite their protests, like things just the way they are, sucking in cash and being required to do nothing.
2
What this article left out is the need for the Democrats to make clear by word and deed that they are not the open borders party and that they have economic interests of the working and middle classes foremost in mind. As much as I detest Trump and most all that he stands for, I will not vote in favor of illegal immigration.
2
Talk about preaching to the choir...great idea, now find the audience who need to be reminded to vote.
1
I discern a sincerity here that is valuable, but I do not share the vision. The cult-like thinking you speak of strikes me as being mirrored in those who have joined the hate cult, the self-righteous cut, the cult of superiority and condescension. No doubt there are non-critical, thoughtless followers of Trump; one is naïve to believe that the Democrats do not have such people among them. I thought Obama ran a cultish following. We will not make headway until the Democrats face the fact that many Trump followers are rational, patriotic, decent people. Feverish cult-like self-righteous hatred is easily dismissed, rejected, attacked, or ignored. Quite rightly its proponents are not worth one's time.
As a foreigner, I am quite disgusted with Donald Trump but won't get a chance to vote him out. I hope Americans will do the right thing when the time comes.
1
If voting didn't matter, Trump's pals wouldn't spend so much money and effort trying to discourage people who might oppose them from doing it.
2
"They [the Republicans] bear less and less resemblance to the followers of a coherent ideology and more and more to the members of a cult."
The above assertion by Bruni is exactly why this midterm and 2020 will be hotly contested and very close elections - its called partisan hatred. And it is becoming visceral, as Frank alludes to.
This all started with Clinton and Monica; devolved with Bush v Gore and then Iraq; became vicious with Obama and the bailout, ACA and the numerous illegal executive orders; and now has reached toxic levels with everything and anything that Trump does.
Yet, Bruni is going at this in the wrong way.
Our American System is broken and likely past re-establishing unity. It is time for a dissolution of these United States, be it through succession or through revolution.