The Postal Service

How far can you push people before they react?

It's astounding to me how the minority rules, how the news reports, and nothing happens. This is what we studied in school. Nazi Germany, yes, Nazi Germany, and totalitarian regimes. Hell, it's happening in Belarus as I write this, people are mad as hell and they're not going to take it anymore.

Well, they said this in Hong Kong and then Xi cracked down. And despite some naysaying by western countries, he's getting away with it. But the last time I checked the United States was a democracy, not a dictatorship.

I have no faith in the Democrats. Certainly not in Biden or Kamala, because they're playing within the system and the system is broken. Come on, Trump breaks the law, admits his behavior in Ukraine and he's impeached and...not convicted. Trump is on the side of the economy as opposed to the people and... The Donald always gets away with it. The Democrats say their hands are tied. But the public's are not.

We are waiting for a trigger event. Just like the killing of George Floyd with Black Lives Matter. Maybe we'll have to wait for the election, but it could happen before that. That's the history of the world, discontent is festering and then a seemingly irrelevant event starts a conflagration.

This is not about Trump defenders. This is not about Fox News. The truth is, every single poll says there are more Democrats than Republicans. According to the Center for the Digital Future, Anderson Cooper is the most trusted source on cable for COVID-19 information. He gets 47%, Laura Ingraham gets 10%. Sean Hannity gets 17%. Tucker Carlson gets 17%. Meanwhile, Chris Cuomo gets 39% and Rachel Maddow gets 35%. In other words, the public knows the score, despite the bloviators on the right.

And people are scared. 26% of the public will not leave the house whatsoever before there is a vaccine. 45% won't take a trip on a plane or a train. 42% won't go to a movie or play. 33% won't use a ride hailing service. Yes, if you follow the business news, Uber and Lyft have reported their numbers and investors are panicked and...come on, this is not a business story, this is a COVID-19 STORY!

In other words, most Americans are winning but they're losing. After decades of false equivalences, after years of working the refs: https://nyti.ms/3fYcNhl, it looks like the right has more support than it does. So, you feel alone, but you're not. What will it take to get you to take action?

You can vote. But that hasn't worked for you in eons. Oh sure, the Democrats are better than the Republicans, but even the vaunted Obama didn't speak to issues of income inequality. There's no hope. Obama promised it, didn't deliver it, and the only people believing in Biden and Harris have something to lose, when the truth is most people do not. When you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose.

And now we have the post office situation. Just like with Ukraine, Trump admits its. He's hobbling the post office in order to hobble the mail-in vote, even though he just registered for an absentee ballot.

The average citizen knows the score. Now the news is getting down to their level. Vice broke the story of the removal of sorting machines:

"The Post Office Is Deactivating Mail Sorting Machines Ahead of the Election": https://bit.ly/2Y10V8k

And now TMZ is on about the removal of mailboxes in Manhattan today:

USPS Mailboxes Removed In NYC... As Trump's War Rages On": https://bit.ly/2PVoFGi

And they're removing mailboxes in Oregon and Montana too. Hell, Senator Jon Tester wants answers: https://bit.ly/2CteFRz, will he get them?

Government denials, government explanations, do not matter. Because Trump and his cronies have lost all credibility. Even if there are legitimate excuses, they won't be accepted.

But, it's now come down from the media giants to the hoi polloi. Their fire is being stoked.

As for the media giants...they've been no help in this crisis. They just report, that's all they see as their role. Meanwhile, nothing happens. We're supposed to believe in the election, which already seems unfair, never mind Trump putting his hand on the scale and admitting he's unsure whether he'll accept the results.

This is all hiding in plain sight. Trump says what he's going to do and then he does it. How long do you expect this to continue?

So, there's a disconnect between the press and the public, between the government and the public, between the police and the public. You can't rely on institutions to solve your problems. You pay your taxes, but the corporations get relief, not you. Meanwhile, you're about to be kicked out of your apartment. You've got no money in the bank, and after years of being told it's your fault, you know nothing could be further from the truth.

It's not like the U.S. is in uncharted waters, it's not like this has never happened before, it just hasn't happened in the U.S. We've been told forever that we're better, that we're superior, that it can't happen here, meanwhile it is. Trump's niece can write a book, insider Bolton too, and it makes no difference. If you're expecting change, you've got another think coming.

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just saying the level of discontent in America is gigantic. And the pot is about to boil over. Trump is pushing it to the limit, taking away our freedoms, and he's getting away with it. Those who believe in the rule of law are doing nothing, but those whom the rule of law is supposed to protect are fed up.

Come on. It took three and a half years of Trump until the killing of George Floyd caused international protests. Yes, not only here in the U.S., but around the world. And protests were even in rural areas. The level of discontent is just that high. This is not the sixties, this is the sixties on steroids!

So everything is calm, and then one day...POOF!

Hitler had defenders. The authoritarian always has defenders. But too often the majority is somnambulant. People awake too late. But in the information age, where everybody knows what is going on, where the president even tells us, things are different.

Come on, you read the news and you wince. You tell your spouse. Maybe a friend. And then it's business as usual. Yesterday's headline is replaced by today's. But there is attrition. There does come a point when one more piece of straw, however light, breaks the camel's back.

But let's just say we have the election, that people don't rise up before that. Well, no matter who wins in November there will be riots in the street. Never forget, the right has all the guns.

The bills are coming due. For the lack of diligence for decades. We were all hit in the face when we learned there was no preparation for the coronavirus. And instead of rebuilding infrastructure, Trump is tearing it down. Meanwhile, governors are afraid of him, and reopened their states way too early, even Newsom in California, he lacked the cojones to do the right thing. And now Covid is even rampant in the hinterlands.

Yes, a storm is brewing. I'm not being an alarmist. One event, which looks little on the surface, is gonna set our whole country on fire, just you wait.


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Today's America

The only person with universal mindshare is Donald Trump. However, as he tweets incessantly and lets Covid-19 run rampant some have tuned him out. But just as he's sliding, he makes news with his statements re the Postal Service.

If you're not making news, you're not top of mind, you might as well not exist. It's not "What have you done for me lately?," it's more like "What did you do for me this morning?"

Everybody has a voice. That does not mean every voice will be heard.

The internet makes people feel powerful.

The pre-internet powerful are not as powerful as they think. Twenty-plus years of the internet have resulted in the hoi polloi believing the stars, those in the news, are no different from them. Everybody's reachable online. Hold your head too high and you'll be brought right down.

People want to participate. This is the failure of Quibi. Passivity is for old folks, or for long form when you're worn out.

Physical sports just don't mean as much to the younger generation as they do to the older generation. Physical sports require physical skills, you're limited by biology and they're slow whereas online sports are very fast and anybody can triumph if they put in enough practice time. This is a sea change, it's not only about baseball. Other than the NBA, which is intertwined with the culture, every other sport is at risk.

You make up your own truth.

People are either suspicious or gullible, you decide which tribe you're a member of, either you believe nothing or everything.

It's a software world. Hardware is fungible. Apple is the equivalent of Louis Vuitton, expensive, aspirational products for the elite and the wannabes. Everybody else, the masses, is satisfied with their PC and Android.

Privacy is not as big a deal as decision-makers believe it is, but it is rising in importance in the consciousness of the younger generation, which has been used to coughing up all its info all the time, and in a world where there's a camera on every street corner and cookies follow you around the internet is there really any privacy left?

Masses may believe untruths. Whether it be QAnon or the ability to rekindle manufacturing in America.

There's much more dissension and unrest on the street than institutions realize. Never forget, the internet has transformed almost every entity other than the government, which is light years behind. People cannot understand how there is gridlock in Washington when updates are downloading to their smartphones seemingly daily.

Everyone believes they're entitled to a family even though oftentimes economics prevent them from supporting that family.

If you stick your head out it will be chopped off, whether you're right or wrong, it doesn't matter.

Is run by TV and social media. TV wins because it's about story and there's so much money that creators have multiple opportunities, but if you believe everybody will sign up for every service, you're dreaming. Bundling is in your future. Not the cable of yore, but something more akin to Amazon Prime or the new Apple subscription bundle.

The only people unconcerned with opportunity are those who have it. While the wealthy and connected are fighting over the loaf, the rest of the country is fighting over crumbs, and when you go to bed hungry you're unhappy.

The younger generation is concerned about climate change, all the things the boomers have put on the back burner. They're already sacrificing, economically, unlike the boomers they're willing to sacrifice for the good of the country, for the good of all.

No one has faith in anybody but themselves.

People pay the fees, on tickets, on hotel rooms, but disaffection is brewing.

Everybody hates the airlines.

It's about the money. Anybody who prices one cent cheaper than someone else wins.

Comparison shopping rules. Every store is right next to another online. It's all about price and trust.

Little will be different when Covid-19 recedes. We learned this after 9/11, the only thing that changed was it was harder to get on an airplane and into an office building. People will congregate, people will shake hands, and a limited number of movie theatres will open for event films.

Direct to video will be supplanted by direct to streaming service, whether it be Netflix or Disney or... VOD releases, where you have to pay for one film, just don't feel enough like an event.

The only thing we have in common is our language. And our bodily needs. There is no cohesiveness, the internet blew it apart. Old school players think we live in a vertical world but the truth is it's horizontal.

You express your identity via brands, they're more trustworthy than people, certainly politicians, oftentimes entertainers.

Even though the country has shrunk, people have less of an idea what is happening other than where they live. Travel is expensive and the Great American Road Trip went the way of the Great American Novel. Now, you fly.

Luddites control mainstream media. They're anti-computers, anti-screen time, they're living in future shock and they believe technology is bad, meanwhile the younger generation ignores them. The generation gap is as wide as it was in the sixties.

Technology...you either get it or you don't. Either you can troubleshoot a problem or you can't. Either you know how to work the remote or you don't. This is a huge dividing line, more than internet access itself in underserved communities. D.C. can't be concerned with hackers because the elected don't understand technology.

Nothing is secure, everything can be broken. But this does not mean you should not employ security tools. The harder it is to hack, the less interested the hackers are.

Celebrity gossip has been debased, it's entertainment for the lower classes, the educated truly don't care what minor celebrities they're mostly unaware of are doing.

If you're rich you show it. No one can hold back.

Social media stars are fungible. We need them, we just don't need any specific one.

Virality is hard to achieve and can only go so far.

Is divided between those who will sacrifice for the future and those who won't. Those who graduate from college and those who don't. If you're not willing to forgo momentary pleasures, your future is forever hobbled.


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Today's Music Business

Stars are smaller than ever before. You might be number one on Spotify, you might generate a lot of ink in traditional media, but tons of people still might not know your name and those who do often only know your single, your album is for hard core fans.

There is no unity. You are on your own. Fight for recognition in your scene. That may be all you ever get.

If you're not in the Spotify Top 50, if you're not hip-hop or pop, you make your career on the road. Start practicing. Play wherever you can. All the criteria irrelevant in the pop world are incredibly relevant in the rest of the world. You MUST have a good voice. If you write great lyrics but your voice is a croak, hire somebody else to sing them. Roger Daltrey sang Pete Townshend's words and Neil Peart, the drummer for Rush, wrote the lyrics. Auto-Tune, all the studio tricks, are irrelevant on the road. As for hard drives...the more real, the more honest your sound, the more people will relate to it. On the Top Forty, sheen is the goal. On the road, it's edge, mistakes are cool, you want to show your humanity.

Every genre plays today. It's not so much a long tail as a small head of hip-hop/pop and then everything else.

Only your hard core fans are interested in the album. Sure, if you're in the Spotify Top 50, new fans might clamor for more and check out the rest of the album, but the truth is the acts on that chart are the most innovative, the ones who will release singles and three albums a year.

Are you satiating your fanbase or looking for something more? You can do good business giving people what they want. But oftentimes your business doesn't grow. Sure, your fans are your greatest ambassadors, but if your music is niche, it will probably stay that way unless you switch it up.

We live in a mash-up culture. I.e. you can mix anything with anything. You can rap in country and you can sample rock in hip-hop. Broaden your horizons.

You need a manager. But if you're starting out and are employing an amateur, DON'T SIGN ANY PAPER!

Agents only want you if they think they can find you gigs. But, despite all the hoopla about arena-level acts, most gigs are not booked for stars, but journeymen and up-and-comers. Agents need acts. Agents will leverage their power, especially with their other clients/roster, to build you.

You can be outrageous on stage, but you'd better not be that way in business. The music business is mature. When it comes to business, people expect you to be organized, with a team that can deliver. Don't show up, break a contract and you're out.

Credibility is the key to a long career. In other words, be wary of taking the short money at the cost of the long. Selling out may not matter if you're in the Spotify Top 50, but it damn does if you're not. Your fans are not momentary, but for life. They believe in you. If suddenly you prefer the corporation, if people get wind they're paying more or losing access because the man comes first, you're toast.

Ticket fees are here to stay. StubHub went all-in and sales went down.

Someone always bitches, isn't that what the internet has proven? Your tickets will always be too expensive, the fees will be too high for a certain class of people and they'll complain online. But if you don't amplify their anger, it will dissipate. Anger wants an audience, without it it dies.

Production is irrelevant unless you're selling arenas, where the belief is the audience expects it. But in smaller shows, the lack of production puts the focus on music, makes you more authentic.

More people can play, fewer can climb up the food chain.

Your first job is cutting through the noise. That's a very slow process. If you're not in it for the long haul, give up now. The Spotify Top 50 phenoms may make it their teens, you probably won't make it until your thirties, if at all.

You need a hit. Every band should focus on creating that one indelible track that not only excites the base, but anybody who hears it. Who knew Portugal. The Man before "Feel It Still." I don't care how well you play, how cohesive your album, without a hit, forget it. Don't confuse this with Tom Petty's the A&R man didn't hear a single. You're not playing for the radio, you're not adjusting your sound for anybody else, forget the radio, you're speaking to the online audience, i.e. everybody, your music is available to all, you want to create something that people can talk about and share.

Artists know when they do something great. If you don't think it's great, it's not. You've got to write crap before you can write well. You'll look back at what you wrote in the past and wince. The key is to exercise the muscle, to the point where if you get inspired, you can lay it down.

Plenty of people will charge for advice, say they can help you, but the truth is you've got to help yourself.

Crossing over is nearly impossible. You're in your genre, accept it.

Forget the traditional markers. Chart position, awards. Only you know how well your business is doing. You want to grow active fans, who sustain you. They don't care about chart numbers, etc., they only care about you.

Touring numbers, not streams. It all comes down to the gross, and you can gauge how fervent your audience is by merch sales, how many bucks per head.

Don't worry if you don't get it, it's not for you. The Spotify Top 50 is a sideshow, bigger than other shows, but there is no Big Top in the music business anymore.

Gain strength and then negotiate, the hotter you are, the better the terms.

You want to own as much as you can. The songs, the recordings...

Money breaks up bands. Figure it out early or people will get angry.

Money makes Top Forty records. That is the labels pay beaucoup bucks recording these tracks and ensuring they're played on the radio. It's a closed system, and unless you sign with a major you're out.

The young audience is digital-savvy. It follows trends. If you're young, or kids are your audience, you want to be where they are, this week TikTok, as opposed to terrestrial radio.

Successful acts communicate with their fans on a constant basis. Mystery is history. If you're not willing to post on social media, don't complain that you didn't make it.

In the miasma of music, with so much stuff available, the old middle level acts have been dragged down in most cases. They were supported by label money and scarcity. Their revenue is not going down because streaming is the devil, but because with everything available their music is less desirable.

If you're not breaking ground, don't start. It's too hard to get ahead today. You want to be great and you want to be innovative, otherwise you'll have no longevity.


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Maria Konnikova-This Week's Podcast

Maria Konnikova is the author of the new bestseller "The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win." A Ph.D. psychologist/staff writer at "The New Yorker," Konnikova decides to tackle poker, a game she doesn't even know how to play, because it's a metaphor for life and she wants to investigate luck. Listen to gain insight into poker as well as game theory and the ins and outs of the poker circuit. I've never played poker and I loved "The Biggest Bluff." I believe you'll love what Maria Konnikova has to say in this podcast.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast/id1316200737

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WhRvhOUq8kuLJSK47P6wa

https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=76929055


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Re-Kamala Harris

Great points about the Dems but I do feel that Kamala is a strong choice. She can provide enthusiasm, backbone and can be a bad cop to Joe's good cop persona. Kamala takes no shit while exuding charisma and if the Dems are smart they'll turn her loose on this campaign. She will also blunt the farcical, Repub-supported Kanye campaign that could affect swing states. That her presidential campaign didn't go well in a crowded field doesn't mean she can't be a strong #2 and potentially a great President. I'm a Badger who attended Wisconsin and from LA I'm working remotely for the Biden campaign in Wisconsin because that state can't see a repeat of 2016. Our challenge remains getting younger people to vote, and I believe the Dems are now thinking more strongly along your lines.
Bruce Ravid
Go Deep Music

___________________________________________

See this w Josh Dubin and our friend Flom??? I'm no Trump fan either but this record is HORRIBLE and EVIL...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8zh1fIaneY
Leigh Lust

___________________________________________

"(democrats) have nothing in their arsenal but hatred for Trump.

Or was it hatred for Bernie? I am still convinced The aging and tepid Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer were more fearful of a Sanders presidency than a Trump one. So they coalesced around Biden, the undisputed loser on the debate stage, who taps his supposed debate nemesis Kamala Harris as VP pick.

Their blatantly transparent political theater works on NYT-loyalists over 65, but that's about it. The whole story about how Bernie didn't turn out the vote is such a load of shit.

Now here we sit, as you put it 5 months into the pandemic with zero plan. And the feckless Pelosi who can barely formulate a sentence let alone rebuttal is the archetypal democrat that's going to undo the Republican establishment? Hell no. If Trump's covid response wasn't so awful, the dems would be utterly crushed come November, and that's it they even let it happen.

This is a sad sad state. Boomer retirees in their comfort zone voting for the same rank and file democrats who blew it in 2000 and 2016. Same talk tracks about how progress is slow and the country is slowly moving left. What a joke!

And if folks think Harris is gonna turn out the Black vote.... one dig into her prosecutorial record from a well designed smear campaign could destroy those optics with actual facts.

Here we go again!

Dylan Muhlberg

___________________________________________

I am excited by Harris. I think you are wrong. You are what is wrong with the party. Instead of getting onboard for the betterment of this country, you are going to use your platform to sew division. Shame on you! Stand with us.
Ann Boreson

___________________________________________

They picked a cop. Two months of cops beating people for requesting basic rights, and they picked a cop...

Aaron Harris

___________________________________________

You hit the proverbial nail on the head with your assessment here. Biden and the spineless dems chose Kamala strictly because she is a woman of color who is also a moderate. They are to afraid to put a true progressive on the ballot. They are banking on getting the progressive vote based on the desire to get Trump and his cronies out not because there platform will inspire the progressives. Basically it is politics as usual. And this is how we got here in the first place. By the dems screwing Bernie out of his delegates believing Trump could never get elected. I for one am sick of it.

David Yohn.

___________________________________________

We know you don't get it Bob. You've demonstrated your cluelessness and dismissal of black voters, the base of the Democratic party over and over in your screeds like this where you just repeat the smears of Biden as cognitively challenged. Snap out of it!

Person. Man. Woman. Camera. TV.

You know they only give those tests to people who are suspected of being in cognitive decline, right?

Trump's equally sociopathic & addled, racist supporters applaud his drinking water gingerly from a glass, but you'd rather repeat the baseless smear about Biden. Meanwhile Trump wouldn't dream of getting on a bike as Biden did recently, whizzing by the camera for the world to see.

Try listening to black people more and get out of the white privileged shallow end of the political pool. And maybe consider that your opinions as a privileged older white man isn't the conventional wisdom you believe it to be.

Your inept political punditry is tiresome and boorish at this point.

Stick to music. Politics just isn't your wheelhouse.


Martin Ferrini

___________________________________________

I'm sure your inbox is FLOODED, to me the main issue is this.

THE LEFT ARE NEVER FULLY SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING.

That's it. All the GOP has to say is pro-gun, pro-lfe, limited government, anti-socialism and they got ya VOTE.

The left wants to deconstruct every candidate and find a way to NOT like them.

AOC is a rockstar, yet people are annoyed with someone who's actually doing their job.

You saw the democratic primary, you saw the circus, yet in less than a week it was all over.

I was all for Warren, but I knew it was going to be difficult. However, if she can be a lion in the senate I'll take it.

Biden/Harris just need to stick to the script and power ahead. They have enough arguments to debate against their opponent.

Also, everyone who is saying that college football needs to be saved and start next month. You should've thought about that in March when sports went on hiatus. When you don't have a national effort to battle a global pandemic, situations like this happen.

-Dan Rosenberg

___________________________________________

You don't get it because you're not a person of color, let alone, a woman of color.

This shows how far we still need to go as a country, when even liberals downplay a woman of color being picked as a Vice Presidential nominee.

Biden shows strength with this pick by selecting someone who was critical of him. And only an idiot would try to get in the way of Trump defeating himself.

What is Trump winning?
The midterms were a disaster, his poll numbers are brutally low, and his campaign is in disarray. You are stuck in the past. This is not 2016.

Duff Rice

___________________________________________

Here is a similar opinion from The Week:

https://theweek.com/articles/930648/kamala-harris-once-future-queen-democratic-party

I feel a little better about things, but I'm still scared.

Carl Nelson
Ellicott City, MD

___________________________________________

I'm not a historian of presidential elections but I've been watching closely since 1980. In that time it appears as though the VP choice hurt the top of the ticket only once (Palin) and likely only helped once (Pence) maybe twice (Cheney) and the rest of the time was a nothingburger, and seems to have only impacted the R side of the ballot box. Kaine had no impact on Clinton, Biden's impact on Obama was likely negligible, Edwards didn't impact Kerry, nor Lieberman for Gore, nor Gore for Clinton, or Bentsen for Dukakis, and Mondale was never going to beat Reagan and Geraldine Ferraro may not have been hugely helpful but she didn't sink that campaign. Given that Trump seems to have both the racist and the misogynist votes mostly locked up, I don't see how Harris hurts. She's young, energetic, incredibly smart and articulate, and proves that Joe doesn't demand the same type of personal loyalty that Trump requires. I'm all in for Joe and Kamala - and having mostly to do with the fact that they aren't Trump and Pence. It's pretty easy to vote for cold pizza for breakfast when the alternative is a pile of excrement.

Gabriel Field

___________________________________________

You're wrong this time, Bob. She didn't excoriate him, she debated him. His decision was anything but sudden! Bernie's a great conversation starter but I'd quake to think that he was making decisions for the country. Biden wasn't shoved down our throats; he was embraced by a populace sick of fury and bullying. Try to relax your mind a little and see this as a great opportunity for the nation to heal.

Paula Franceschi

___________________________________________

I love you Bob, but you sure stirred the hornet's nest here! I'm a little shocked you're not acknowledging the excitement being shown on all social media sites because of Biden's pick of Kamala. Nobody gets 100% of what they want in any candidate, but 2020 is what it is and it's not just Biden vs Trump, but America vs Trump.
That's the choice, and we'll need everybody on board to get it right. Or else.
Trump dismantling the USPS and the potential for foreign tampering is what's got me freaked!

Robby Scharf

___________________________________________

WTF are you talking about? Maybe you're getting senile? Trump did not kill Hillary in the '16 debates. He was creepy and nonsensical.

Harris is a qualified, strong, Black, Southeast-Asian woman. This is a big deal. For you to minimize it feels misogynistic and racist. ALL politicians come with a history. Hers is not disqualifying; it's filled with accomplishments that some may disagree with, but, they make her MORE capable of filling the job, not less.

You're extremely off-base on this one, Bob.
~Jenny Israel

___________________________________________

Kamala is cool.
She was the right pick for Joe.
She will help him big time, running, winning and rebuilding to move forward
again over time.
Joe is a crucial stop gap placeholder, a pivotal bridge to the future.
Not Dead Yett!!
First things first.
It can work!

"The Ambition of Kamala Harris Will Serve America Well | The Nation"

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/kamala-harris-ambition/

Don Mizell

___________________________________________

I don't disagree that the DNC are still playing the Olde Game. But I wonder: Who would've satisfied both the criterion of being exciting for "members of Generation Z and the aging millennials" and the requirement for being "ready to step in as President" (not to mention the age requirement)? We're at that awkward adolescent phase where, like a 17 year old, the emerging polity is demanding to be in power but aren't quite ready for all that comes with that. AOC, for example, is perfect where she is. Let her become senator later this decade and run for Pres or VP after that, sure. But not today.

I know this frustrates the Barts and Lisas, but they need to bake just a wee bit more before taking over. Not a lot, just a little.

-- Lance Ellisor

___________________________________________

Reagan picked H Bush after Bush called Reagan's economic plan "voodoo economics".

John Kennedy picked LBJ as his VP, even as LBJ ran to try and stop Kennedy's nomination AT the convention.

I don't think this is why people hate Democrats.

When Trump holds his grudges, it's just another toxic example of why people can't tolerate him.

Who were you expecting him to choose that wouldn't have brought baggage with them?

This is not an election about Biden/Harris. It's always a referendum on the incumbent and hopefully everyone who can't tolerate Trump will contribute in whatever they can($$, postcards, phone calls...)
Most importantly, help anyone and everyone they know who needs help to vote, be it explaining how to get and send absentee ballots back in time to count, or young adults taking over as poll watchers, who tend to skew 60+, so that the lines aren't too insane at the polls or whomever feels secure, to drive people to the polls.

Period. At this point, everything else is noise.

Annie Roboff

___________________________________________

Wow, Bob! Spot on. We are heading down the road to DLC 3.0. Biden/Harris will say they are for the people but will be 100% corporate friendly. Sadly, Harris can hardly be trusted. Talk about triangulation. She seems to be willing to flip-flop her position on issues if she thinks it will help her reach the next rung on her ladder to the presidency (e.g. for Medicare for All / against Medicare for All). I'm sure one of the main reasons she was chosen for his VP spot is to try and reach out to some of the younger voters that Biden can only hope to reach through fear tactics without her. Unfortunately for Harris, once her DA history is more widely exposed, it will be difficult to motivate these voters to cast a ballot. Once again, the DNC is asking people to vote against, not vote for, someone.

If Biden mistakenly agrees to debate Trump (you are right about the potential outcome of that), I would advise him to come down with a "sudden illness" at the (literal) last minute and have Harris fill in for him. One good thing I can say about Kamala, is that she should be able to tear Trump apart in a debate. We really need to get this wanna-be fascist dictator out of office. I just fear that the DNC has made another bad choice for their Prez/VP team. They never learn from their mistakes.

Cheers,
Bill Lackemacher IV

___________________________________________

I debated even replying to you but in the end decided, yes. Your take on Kamala Harris is an EPIC FAIL. Not an exciting ticket? Are you kidding me? This is the most exciting ticket since 2008! You have really misread this one. As for not understanding why Joe chose her when she knocked him down during the debate...then you don't understand politics. Joe Biden is a seasoned politician. He's done things he's regretted because....politics. Kamala did the same. Or is it different because she's a woman? One transgression does not knock you out like Trump....that's what childish babies do. Kamala Harris has that electric "it"...you know, the stuff rock stars are made of! You'll see she's gonna light this thing on fire.....she not only has the smarts, the looks, but the shear power to carry this ticket and eviscerate both Trump & Pence. Have you not seen her with Barr and the groping judge??? Come on, Bob... For the first time in this pandemic I feel like it just might be ok.....

Christina D

___________________________________________

Who should he have picked then? Just because she didn't break out from the huge pack of Democratic candidates, doesn't mean she can't garner excitement now. For the record I was all in with Warren.

Your first line is bizarre. What a pussy Biden would be if he can't pick someone who criticized him! He should pick some kiss-ass sycophant like Pence?
People don't like Democrats because they think they are pussies. And also because they (the people) are rich, dumb, misinformed and/or racists.

Keep up the pessimism though!

Ryan M

___________________________________________

I am disappointed in the choice on a number of levels. He had opportunity to say, "I know a promised a woman but we need a unity Presidency to bring our country back together and I am choosing Mitt Romney and committing to be a one term President". He already had California. Trump has galvanized the black and brown vote against him and although black and brown people are diverse and are not monolithic, they will come out and vote against this President. That having been said, I am sending off $1,000.00 bucks today to Biden. I will knock on doors for them and have a yard sign and work the polling places. Stop the Democratic hand wringing machine. Both Biden and Harris are good public service oriented people and I am unafraid regarding his alleged mental issues (how can Trump, with all the clearly wrong and stupid things he says, ever criticize Biden) and Harris would be a fine President as well as VP. My first choice, or even my 3rd? No. WHO CARES! Go Biden Harris! It is time to shut up, stop self defeating analysis of our unhappiness and band together as Americans to defeat our current President.

BIDEN/HARRIS 2020. I AM ALL FUCKING IN! You should be too.

Michael A. Becker

___________________________________________

Bad take. You should have slept on it before hitting the keyboard.

For one, Hillary didn't lose the debates -- she won all 3 of them. But debates don't matter.

Would you have written anything different if Biden had picked someone else for veep? Doubt it.

If you're so desperate for Biden to win, stop throwing tantrums. No one likes to watch them.

David Rubien

___________________________________________

Bob -- It's simple. This is not a time for idealism. It is a time for WINNING. Harris shores up the ticket among women and people color, she doesn't alienate the suburbans with socialist ideas, and she helps unseat Trump. That is ALL that matters now -- prevent Trump from further damaging our nation and our people. Save the idealism and progressive ideas for 2024. She is the best addition to the ticket for winning now and sending Trump packing.

Andy Kantor

___________________________________________

Ridiculous.

If anything him being able to work with someone that challenged him vs how trump acts like an infant with anyone that does forever is the opposite of what you said.

You're off here.

Glenn Frese

___________________________________________

I couldn't read beyond this... "One thing about Trump, you cross him and you're toast." How is that a good thing? You are so far on the wrong side of history on this entire post that I doubt you can ever come back. The PGA and Homer Simpson? Gimme a break. You've been inside for too long. Take a walk.

Ray Laskowitz

___________________________________________

Whose side are you on anyway?

Job One is getting this monster out of the White House. Your comments are not helpful. Planting seeds of doubt in the minds of your readers can only contribute in a negative way on who shows up to vote and who doesn't. Let's go back to music and books and cinema, or simply stick to eviscerating Trump.

Wally Wilson
Nashville TN

___________________________________________

I think you forgot to mention that the 'win at any costs', 'mob rule' is nation-suicide.

Pete Phillips

___________________________________________

I am usually with you, but not on this one. We need to work hard to end the Trump regime, before it kills more institutions and takes away more of our liberty. Not to mention before it kills more citizens. Kamala Harris was the best female leader to work with Biden to seize our country back from the ethnonationalist populists who are trying to destroy our government and replace it with something out of a George Orwell novel. Kamala Harris is not a savior but she is a willing and gifted leader who can aide Biden's efforts to win back our country and be able enough to govern if something happens to Biden as POTUS.

I wish that you would apply your wisdom and vision to provide details of your view of how Kamala Harris can help restore sanity in government. We need to all shore up our strengths for the next onslaught from the far right in order to stop the Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Tucker Carlson set from bringing another fascist leader (Carlson?) to prominence in time for the 2024 election cycle.

Please Bob...be a voice for a real solution rather than just a grumpy old man with nothing good to say.

Thank you for your beautiful work.

John Green

___________________________________________

I'm a Bernie supporter now fully behind the Democratic ticket. Because I'll take a neoliberal over a NeoFascist any day. You want to criticize Biden or his VP choice? I don't want to hear it. I'm from SF, I now all about Kamala. She makes the ticket stronger. Now is the time to close ranks and unify behind Biden, because what we have is nothing less than an existential threat to our Republic and the planet. Your divisive rant only serves the enemy. No bitching till January. Then, after Trump has been ousted, we can hold the Biden administration's feet to the fire. Till then: Biden/Harris 2020 to victory over fascism. Beat Trump!
I've unsubscribed from your newsletter. You lost me with this explosive diarrhea of a rant.

Bob Sarles

___________________________________________

I'm excited about kamala Harris. Since the get go. She'll be fine. It's the first logical thing that's happened this year.

Tim Lefebvre

___________________________________________

Morikawa hit the green in 1 shot for the eagle attempt/make. Please don't talk Sports, we give you politics but you're not getting Sports. Please talk Music, your bailiwick. We miss that Bob. Cheers.

Scott Roback

___________________________________________

Please unsubscribe me from these newsletters. Thank you.

Seven Seas

___________________________________________

Did we miss your suggestions for what the Democrats ought to do, or enthusiasm for uniting on doing anything we can to remove Trump?

Justin Gressley

___________________________________________

What all of us need is to become better human beings. Take responsibility for what we bring to the table - from the inside out. Top to bottom.

Michael D. Taylor

___________________________________________

Thank you Bob.

Devlin Murphy

___________________________________________

Does Biden know his VP candidate is a half black, half Indian woman who comes from a family of slave owners? You gotta love the hypocrisy of the left. Anyone who thinks these two can improve the country is more senile than Sleepy Joe.

Peter Boyles

___________________________________________

Privileged white bro thinks Kamila isn't Black enough

Michael Olsen

___________________________________________

Once again, you're absolutely right. Fuck.

Coleman Sisson

___________________________________________

Bob, you're on the money again. Here's the next step, well outlined:
https://theintercept.com/2020/08/11/trump-november-2020-election/ stop

Jonathan Robinson

___________________________________________

Watch some of her Senate hearing questioning. She's quick and doesn't seem to take any shit. Biden is squishy. Harris isn't. I think she's Bidens henchwoman.

Murray Cohen

___________________________________________

"The writers are afraid they'll end up eating sprouts on paper plates. With smoothies instead of martinis."


Love that image... and you're right!!! reminded me of going to The University For Man potlucks on Thursday evenings, followed by the coffee house music that was so bad.

Tom Ayres

___________________________________________

Who should he have picked, in your opinion? And why?

Keenan Moran

___________________________________________

Spot on!

Michael Leon

___________________________________________

There's nothing "to get". She's black and she's a woman, as you said. That's why she was selected. How many candidates checked both of those boxes? Can you imagine how many ADDITIONAL riots there would've been had Biden selected another crusty old white dude?! Politics is now political.

But it doesn't matter at all. Whoever gets in will do whatever they think will get them re-elected. Doing what's best for the majority never crosses their minds. Same shit in Canada.


Tim W
in Calgar

___________________________________________

Bob you always surprise me with your opinions, I would've thought you'd love the Kamala Harris pick. I think you probably wanted Warren or someone else on the "Left" of the party. Your right about Obama, people on both sides of the political divide were intrigued by him. No one and I mean no one is intrigued by Biden, he does get the nice guy vote but is that enough?? I know you were ready for Bernie but Bob you're on the far left of the party, the rest of the country I don't think so. I could be wrong but just how I feel as a Canadian looking south. Now Canada, Bernie could've been elected here but we lean more socialist here. Heck I've voted NDP(socialist) for the last 25 years and I lean right at times.
My sister and her husband who live in Boston and just escaped to Nova Scotia, are hard core Trump supporters. From my discussions with them Trump's base will stick with him. Independents, moderate Republicans I'm not sure. There is a real "Trump" fatigue and I think a lot of the "middle" will vote for Biden just to have some normalcy again.
I agree with you in how both parties have left most of the middleclass to sink into the abyss.

Doug Gillis

PS: Berne and Trump now that would've been something to see!!

___________________________________________

What don't you get. Bob? Dude, it was A DEBATE. That's what you do in debate. You were a lawyer once. You have disagreements with a peer, you work it out, you move forward and your relationship is stronger for it. A marriage is the same way. Hell, ANY meaningful relationship either personal or business is this way. Yea, "one thing about Trump, you cross him and you're toast" Huh? Any way to be a public servant? Or even a mature adult? Great choice. The political game is about checking boxes. He picked a women of color. Check. He picked someone with a strong background in Law&Order. Shoving a major talking point right in Trump's face. Check. She's not far left. Check And she's bad-ass who will destroy Pence in their one debate. Check. And ready to step in on day one. All of it. Now, let's move forward and end this exhausting 3+ years from the orange wrecking ball. #vote

Gary Spivack
v
His shot on 16 put him on the green in one. He made the putt for an eagle 2. Every one of the guys on the leaderboard went for the reachable par 4 green in one. Morikawa hit the perfect shot. One other note- that was practically his home course from his days at Cal.
On Biden- I would lay low and allow Trump to carry on like the ass that he is. I don't trust polls but I do think Americans are getting sick of Trump's ignorance.

Richard King

___________________________________________

Now I feel Terrible again lol

Nate Eisenberg

___________________________________________

..but she's not black.

And it doesn't even matter... Come Nov 3 Biden Harris will not be the ticket, anyway.

Word.

Nicholas Petti

___________________________________________

" I don't get it." As sycophants would say, " Right on, Bob." I am in complete agreement; you don't get it.

Jim Anderson

___________________________________________

there is president

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_of_Rivals

Grant Peeples

___________________________________________

I don't get it.

How do your words help anything, Bob?
I was a big Bernie supporter and was initially disappointed by Biden.
I was a Rice fan and initially disappointed by Harris.
And so the fuck what? Waa waa waa. I know what the alternative is and that is too scary a prospect.
I am only interested in hearing what can be done to insure the win of the ticket we have. Biden and Harris is who we have. Let's focus on the positive. Let's focus on how we will mobilize everyone to vote.

You betray yourself as you speak of Trump. Trump never apologizes for who he is and his failings. Why must you remind us of what you think are Biden's and Harris' failings? What is the point?

Please be part of the solution. Your voice matters.

Respectfully,

Julie Levine

___________________________________________

Regarding your treatise about Kamala Harris, I believe it's verbose, pompous, or supercilious. Your writings remind me of the balloonist who is forced to land in an unknown field. Standing in the carriage he hails a cyclist on a nearby road. The balloonist yells, "Young man, can you tell me where I am?" The cyclist replies, "Your standing in a balloon carriage in the middle of a field." The balloonist replies, "Young man, you must be an accountant. The information you have provided is technically correct but absolutely worthless."

You should know people vote with their emotions, not their head. On voting day people will ask one simple question, "Will I be better off with Candidate A versus Candidate B as President for the next four years." If President Chump hasn't settled that question already for the majority of voting Americans, then we're in deep do-do.

"Concision is the sister of talent." - Anton Chekov

Best regards,

Jerry Klein

___________________________________________

Thank you Bob for standing up for reason. That's something that used to matter.

R Lowenstein

___________________________________________

I was rooting for Susan Rice,,, because she seemed : Smart, Humble and Tough..
But when Kamala's name got pulled out of the hat, it felt right...to me. Watching Biden is like watching Weekend at Bernies... SCARY . I get the feeling that hes being super coached and then the coaches all hold their breath when he speaks.
But what do I know.
I believe Trump is everything Sara Kendzlor and so many others have said. He's not bad.. He's dangerous. I'm amazed I have intelligent friends that back Trump.
So, I know nothing.
Why is the stock market hitting new highs? Biggest bubble ever or everything I learned is incorrect.
Will Trump win? Will Trump get demolished? I don't know.
Will he cheat? Of course.

It's amazing, The older I get (I'm 61) the more I realize how little I know.

Brian Lukow

___________________________________________

Finally some good news! I'm excited! I feel hopeful for the first time in the longest time!

Lisa Battista

___________________________________________

Getting it is relatively easy, it shows Joe favors what is best for the campaign and not a moron who lives for the feud like Dolt45. I feel like you should understand this.

Paul Engebretson

___________________________________________

Four years ago when Hillary was running the messaging was that it was time for change because rich, old white men had ruined this country. And this year it came down to Sanders (not really) and Biden. This is why people distrust not only Democrats but politicians in general. They say whatever it takes to get in the spotlight continue saying whatever it takes to stay there as long as they can. They're like musicians, only they're completely void of any talent. When Biden got in trouble last spring regarding his comments about blacks and who they should vote for, I turned to my wife and said, "His next move will be choosing a black female as a running mate." I don't know enough about Kamala Harris to have an informed opinion, but this decision couldn't be any less surprising. It's a predictable, safe move by a guy who threatens to shake up nothing.

Neil Johnson

___________________________________________

Really worthless unproductive drivel. We are less than 90 days out and you are still pining for Bernie or Warren or AOC. They're all great but they aren't the candidates. You want holier than thou purity? You want people to stay home, to be unenthusiastic? You'll get Trump. Why not stop looking in the rear view mirror and feeding your ego and be part of the solution to defeat Trump instead of whining from the sideline? An irrelevant egotistical unhelpful rant. Grow up and get real man.

Mitch Tenzer

___________________________________________

Lincoln did this, read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "Team of Rivals" .
Obama hired Hilary for his Secretary of State.
Pick the best person for the job. Hire smart. Ego aside.
I believe it takes strength to put aside your ego.

Kathryn Russ

___________________________________________

Well said Bob. Thank you!

Josh Ocean

___________________________________________

Lisa will vote for Kamala, Bart won't vote. So much for catering to Gen Z.

asegal7744

___________________________________________

I think you do get it, Bob.
If Generation Z and the aging millennials had come out during the primaries, Bernie would be at the top of the ticket and it wouldn't matter who the VP pick was.
I'm a 70 y.o. non-Berner grandma. But I voted for him to support the kids. Too bad they didn't show up at the polls.
Its their future, not mine. Why couldn't they be bothered to show when for once we had a candidate's that addressed their concerns and instilled such passion?
That's what I don't get.

Randi Swindel

___________________________________________

Just shut up, Bob.

Your insights into the biz, as it were, are money, sho nuff; but you're just another hand wringing paralytic parasite when it comes to National Politics.

There's no way, ever, of predicting the quality of performance delivered by National candidates, and this Democratic pairing sho' do beat the shithead currently stinking up the show.

Get on board, dude, or get the fuck out of the way and shut the fuck up.

ash7700

___________________________________________

You mentioned Rachel Maddow. Did you see her show last night? Kamal Harris was a disappointing choice to me at first, but I got high watching that show. There is another way to look at it. The enthusiasm from those key people she had on was genuine and contagious.

Jeffrey Ainis

___________________________________________

Wow, Bob. Bitter much?

Bob Davis

___________________________________________

Hey Bob. Keep up these diatribes and maybe we'll have more children locked in cages, continued pandering to white supremacy and neo Nazis, another 150,000 COVID related deaths, the gutting of healthcare and the environment, as well as tax breaks for huge corporations and the 1%. Please reconsider your, at best, lukewarm support of the Democratic ticket.

Sincerely,
Ritchie Gold

___________________________________________

I wholeheartedly agree with you. Thank you for always speaking the truth!

Lucy Volpe

___________________________________________

JFC Bob, way to piss on the parade.

BTW - what debates were you watching in 2016? Trump was utterly embarrassing in all of his debates with HRC. She came out of each of them looking good and with high marks from the "pundit class", she didn't lose because of the debates. The fact that Trump won was in spite of his shitty debate performances and his incoherent ramblings. The man speaks at a 4th grade level and cannot even describe any actual policies that he would enact in a 2nd term (to Hannity no less) and you think he is an intimidating debater? You keep promoting the "senile Biden" trope with no evidence. I don't get it. I'm not 100% thrilled with Biden, but I am 100% sure he will be 100% better than Trump at just about anything relating to governing this country and guiding it in a better direction.

-W.Ingersoll

___________________________________________

I hate that you are so correct.

Frank Russell

___________________________________________

Dear sir. You have lost my confidence and support. I hope you 'get it' as your readership declines.

bentoncole

___________________________________________

You definitely don't get it, do you? The very fact that Kamala excoriated Biden in the debates and he still picked her is exactly what you, me, and every other white person in this country needs to learn from. We need to listen to and process with humility the anger and frustration of people of color (and women as well) and begin the reconciliation and metamorphosis. That he picked her after she nailed him to the wall is right for so many reasons. It's exactly what we (as white people, and especially men) need to be doing right now. Listening. The sooner you, and everyone else embraces it the better. It will be what wins the election, not loses it.


Tom Krueger

___________________________________________

Who do you think would have been a better VP choice?

Ari Abramowitz

___________________________________________

But Gen Z and the aging Millennials all just got fired from their jobs and they can't get a new one and they can't go out and Party like their used to doing. So they have plenty of reason to Vote Trump out of office. Yeah it's unfortunate we don't have a superstar on the ticket but wouldn't it be good to go back to some type of normalcy. Look at where America is today. Not 7 months ago because we're not there anymore. Maybe the oldsters who voted for Trump will vote him out if their still alive because he has made it clear he's fine with them all dying. 6 months ago you said if Trump can't get the economy back he's toast. Is the economy back? Nope. Will it be back by Nov. 3rd? Nope. I'm happy to hear you will vote for Biden/ Harris which will help end this nightmare. Best, Marcus Linial

___________________________________________

Nice one. Very insightful.

Robert Hamel

___________________________________________

Everybody in my online and irl world are exited as hell about Kamala. I couldn't even finish this one.
You're wrong.

Christian Lane

___________________________________________

Bernie bro get over it.

John Milo

___________________________________________

Actually Bob, your reaction and that of other liberals and Democrats is exactly why Democrats lose to Republicans over and over. When crunch time comes they turn on each other rather than rally around each other.

Notice how during the 2016 primaries most of the Republican establishment attacked Donald Trump and vowed never to support him, yet once he was the nominee they stopped attacking him and became loyal supporters.

Bill Clinton long ago nailed the problem with Democrats and the reason they lose to Republicans over and over, when he said that when it comes to their candidates and elections Democrats always want to fall in love, while Republicans always fall in line.

And so once again, Democrats are going to risk the very real possibility of losing this election and allowing the worst president in history to cakewalk back into office for another 4 years of madness, corruption and chaos, all because they couldn't feel "excited" enough about their candidate to actually go out and vote dutifully the way Republicans always do every single election.

Zach Ziskin

___________________________________________

You made a slight mistake referring to Collin Morikawa's great eagle as his second shot to the green.
Actually he made a fantastic shot driving the green on the par 4 sixteenth and sinking the putt for the eagle.
Also I was recently made aware by the local news in Montreal that Kamala Harris received her High School Education at Westmount High in the city.
This would probably give her another first for receiving her total high school education outside the US.
All the best
Terry Flood

___________________________________________

Bob — you're fueling the fire. Part of the reason that we're in this situation is because people vote on feelings, not policy. Not a single point in this entire missive is about the policy leanings of the Biden/Harris ticket, which I do believe would appease a vast majority of Americans.

Behind the scenes, Joe has made a number of concessions to the more progressive arm of the party (which seems to grow louder by the day), an effort led by none other than: Bernie Sanders.

There's levels to this game, and you of all people know that. But at the end of the day, ANYTHING that gives people second thoughts is a point for the other team. Occam's Razor Bob— let's not make this tougher than it needs to be.

-Alex McClelland

___________________________________________

You mentioned nyt opinion pieces. This was a pretty good one by Friedman laying out the political problem in America. Can truth exist outside of politics? Not in this country.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/opinion/trump-beirut-politics.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

Mick Fury

___________________________________________

Lyndon Johnson hated Kennedy but Kennedy chose him anyway. Some lasting good resulted

Colleen Fahey

___________________________________________

I can't believe you believe this shit - even Zappa called politics the entertainment division of the industrial military complex

You should have worked with our crew of hackers and ex-NSA guys...

You'd learn what good 'ol George Carlin states is so true - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oBo8CJxatQ

You're pwned... in the worst way. Via your mind.

"Damn, what a gullible breed"
~~~ K - Men in Black

ajawam2

___________________________________________

Ugh.

Phil Rizzo

___________________________________________

It's up to people like you to make Kamala Harris exciting. You have a platform and a pulpit, use it better than this whining… we have come so far that a BIPOC woman, daughter of immigrants would even be considered for the ticket, much less the VP pick.
Be the Sean Hannity of the left and make it happen, please!

Ellen Lampert-Greaux

___________________________________________

Lefsetz,

For once, I'm tired of your kvetching. Nothings ever good enough, and the damn glass is always (less than) half empty for you. Sheesh!

Yesterday, most progressive and moderate Dems were thrilled to tears with Biden's announcement of Harris as his running mate. They will be a kick-ass, hard to beat team in November, regardless of what nonsense Trump and the GOP throw at them.

You see, Trump wants mindless yes-men who won't challenge him...like all insecure bullies. Biden, on the other hand, respects intelligence and free thinking, even if it challenges him directly. He has the capacity to harness that intelligence and use it to grow...something Trump isn't remotely interested in or capable of.

So, taking in Harris, even though she challenged and criticized him in the primaries, is a GOOD and ADMIRABLE thing. The enemy of your enemy can be your best friend.

So, please stay on the sunny side of the street, man. Trump WILL be defeated. If he cheats to win, there will be civil revolution in the streets, mark my words.

David Dennard
Dallas, TX

___________________________________________

Here's what you're missing Bob. Biden's VP is likely to be the next president after him. The country is still on the whole centrist and maybe even center right given all the libertarians. Can you imagine independents voting for Warren (Hillary 2.0) as VP? Not a chance. Same for anyone from the Bernie mold. The best chance the Dems have of actually slipping in much of the far left agenda is under the Trojan horse of Biden-Harris. Besides, Harris is law and order, like it or not. And there are millions of trump corruptions to investigate come January. Expect a few of the trumps or Jared to literally go to jail when all is done. Harris will also tear potus a new daily asshole, which will fire up the dem base.

Robert Falgiano

___________________________________________

Bob,
Stick to the music business, that's your strength.
John Resnick
Naples, Florida

___________________________________________

Every Republican Trump ass kisser now like Cruz, Graham etc. slammed Trump in the primary lead up to the 2016 nomination. Trump called Cruz's wife ugly and his father an assassin (Kennedy). Now they "love" each other. This is a political phenom not a Dem one!

Michael Fremer

___________________________________________

Bob,

Please - just write about music.

I signed up for your newsletter because I value your opinions on WAP, TikTok, your wonderful obits for Peter Green, Tommy Li Puma, and Emmit Rhodes - anything but politics.

It's not that I don't agree with your politics (my neighborhood was the one where residents voted to remove Trump's name from their apartment buildings). In 2016, my son was in 5th grade, and kids in his class were so upset with the election results that the teacher wrote on the blackboard "it's only four years."

Political news is everywhere 24/7 and I need a break.

Thanks for your time,

Stuart Taubel

___________________________________________

You're baffling and increasingly I believe you are a racist and possibly a sexist!

Kirk Bonin

___________________________________________

Long time reading your letter, first time replyIng. I have to pushback a little here. Before the pick, I believed that Harris was the wrong move as well. And then I saw Black Twitter, Black FB (yes, thats a thing) and the woke whites lose their minds the second Harris was announced. She's a soro (AKAs) and from an HBCU (Howard) which means Biden will wake up election day penciling in 99% of the black female votes and 60%+ of the black vote altogether. And with her on the ticket, Trump will be hard pressed to make a dent in either number. Biden HAD to excite the black vote to win. He did with this pick.

The VP role has historically been the attack dog role. I have a hard time believing that Harris won't gleefully rip into Trump on a daily basis allowing Biden to play elder statesmen which will play well in the suburbs where EVERYONE is sick of Trump scaring them to death.

As always I appreciate your candor and your insight but from where Im sitting, Harris is the perfect pick for Biden.

Sam Fisher

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Just a small correction for you Bob. Morikawa actually landed on the 16th green in one and sank his putt for the eagle.

Greg Stroh

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She was the right pick and will help win this thing. One of the dumbest narratives you EVER wrote. See you on election day!

Jimmy

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You don't.

nymixer

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You had Warren winning the nomination, remember? Was that squishy?

Skip Roads

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Good missive Bob.

I especially like the end:

" Yes, Lisa and Bart are the next generation, members of Generation Z and the aging millennials. And who is on the ticket for them? NOBODY!"


Funny you should reference The Simpsons it's my 13 year olds favorite show. He's watched like 10 seasons of it.

I'm raising two Gen Z'ers or how I like to call them 'Zoomers' (you heard it here first) and they think Millenials are a joke (is that a micro aggression?) Because nobody likes a crybaby. And my boys think Millennials are crybabies.


Millennials are mini-Boomers with their were-the-wokest-generation-gonna-change-the world-dontcha-know schtick. Zoomers are already more conservative even at their tender age. But we're stuck with Millenials for a long time to come. I think it's instructive that the only Boomer to have won the presidency is Bill Clinton. And even in this election we're getting Biden (not a Boomer) and Trump (a mutant Boomer). Boomers are seen as insufferable in the same way my Zoomers see the Millenials.

Richard Ortega

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Yes, Bob.

" If the DNC were smart, and it is not, it would unleash Kamala, have her make news every day".

Correct. She would be landing some punches. Just go back and watch her strike Barr and Kavanaugh dumb as they desperately look around for a lifeline. If Biden didn't choose her for those skills..then what?

Robert Bond

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I don't agree with you, Bob. You want strong smart people around you, people in many cases smarter than you — that's how things get done, the best decisions made, the way we learn.

Trump won't do that. His own insecurity and vanity mean he's only going to surround himself with brown-nosers and yes-men. We see the result.

This was a great pick. Kamala is a very smart woman with a prosecutor's mind. Biden did not let her past comments about him, in the heat of a campaign, be a determining factor.

I like that.

Jim Charne

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Don't be such a Debbie Downer, Bob. We're in a fight for our lives to get rid of Trump and his corrupt, racist regime and the people have spoken and it's Biden/Harris. Bernie Sanders even gave that an enthusiastic endorsement. So, please try to find the silver lining and do what you can to help send the Trumps to the dustbin of history with the biggest election shellacking since 1980.

Thx,
Danny Mager

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A-FUCKING-MEN!

Will Ward

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You are absolutely correct - you don't get it (yet).

Virtually everyone I know is ecstatic about Kamala!

She's gonna be # 47.

I predict you'll eventually "get it."

Mark Towns

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You are so wrong on this. Amazing your political instincts have been so off from day one on the Democratic race considering how keen your musical insights are.

Black women drive Biden to the nomination. Harris is a hard charging attack dog who will go all in prosecuting the case against Trump ... who actually donated to her campaigns in Ca. She graduated from Howard, built herself up. Picking someone who criticized him helps Biden further show contrast with a fragile Trump.

You have misjudged the appeal and strength of the Bernie-Warren wing from early on. That's not only not where the country is, it's not even where the Dem party is. People want calm. People want governing competence. People want normalcy. This ticket provides it. Politically there's only a tiny slice wanting a "revolution" at this point.

Craig Davis

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I'm excited for Kamala Harris. Not because she's black. Not because she's a woman. Because not only will she shred Mike Pence, but she will punch up at Trump effectively.

Biden watched Obama make Hillary Secretary of State. He's not of the revenge politics culture. If all we are as a country is about revenge, it's not really going to matter who gets elected.

Micahel Alex

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You're wrong. Choosing Kamala shows Joe to be strong and forgiving. If not quite Lincolnesque, at least it's definitely un-Trumpian.

Hank Stone

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Dude.
Your relevance has evaporated from the droplets that remained after a column about songs with the word "club" in it. Everyone has the right to free expression, but wow. Get a new hobby. I hear knitting is trendy.

Tracey Minkin

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Who ever does. It doesn't matter good for her and good for the country. There would be issues with anyone he picked. I would vote for my dog as VP if he was picked. Let's just focus on getting Donald Dick out and not feeding on the right side of history.

Adam Bauer

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To negative, Bob. If hatred for Trump is all the democrats have — that's PLENTY. That's all we need.

Lizzz Kritzer

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Sorry Bob, you really don't get it. Run the numbers . 90% of your readership despise Trump & can't wait until November 3rd when we can all take in in a breath of fresh air after this shitstorm is behind us.

Steve Longo

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Yeah Bob. I got it. I guess the 20,000 odd thousand folks who showed up at her Presidential candidate announcement were just out for a long walk.

Jan Burden

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Take me off your list. Immediately.

Gregory Matthews

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False hope? You are spot on about all the msnbc, cnn screen time given to Trump's wrongs. I'd watch those nightly and get excited at times thinking whatever new allegations being covered would disrupt Trump but nothing.

Something new the next day and anything else was water under the bridge.

My hope is Biden to win and Cuomo in office in 24'...

Steve Anderko in Syracuse

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Stick with music Bob. I know tRump is your pick. Your rhetoric is hateful. Go spin some vinyl while we all demonstrate. And stick with the love of your car. Something you're qualified to rave about. Remember trump wants the oldsters dead and off Medicare. Including you.
Nancy New England

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Biden embraced the person who hit him the hardest. He chose his most formidable opponent, not as the object of twitter name-calling & paper tiger threats like the coward Trump; but as his running mate.
That's strength, not weakness. That's grace. That's what a leader does.

Come on.

Peter Zizzo

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You sure don't get it.

Sherry Snyder

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None of this matters because it's plainly obvious to anyone paying attention there will not be an "election."

-there will be voting chaos/confusion/hacking (especially in swing states)
-Trump will use some sort of internal calculation to say he won
-Attorney general and Supreme Court will say he won

Game over.

Neither Biden or Harris matters.

All that matters is what people are going to do when that scenario plays out.

Nick Lawson

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Pandering at its best. That's why Ms. Harris was chosen. You know that's the only reason. All politicians are good at it, not just the Democrats. The difference is that the MSM calls out republicans that do it, while applauding democrats who do.

Craig Nickman

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Sometimes I wish you'd get tired of bloviating, or stick to music, or STFU, or just jack off more and get tired of pontificating on every thing that comes to your mind.

Or get on some anti-depression meds.

Right or wrong about any of this, did you have to rush to be the first to piss on the campfire? Holy fuck, the world IS stressed like crazy, and people ARE depressed and anxious and in need of something hopeful to hang on to.

Seriously. Please consider whether or not you have something essential to add, if you can only be so negative. You don't have to prove anything to anyone, especially at the cost of some hope, when hope is in such short supply.

Now I've got to go do something to try and feel good about today. Thanks for that.

Bill McKinley
Madrid, Spain

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What don't you get Bob?

For him, she'll bring in the cash. Already raised about 5mil for Biden. Maybe he would pick Warren, but she is white.

And for her, after sleeping with Willie Brown, what's the big deal about Joe Biden smelling your hair?

David Faiman

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As I read this, I kept waiting for you to offer several alternative choices in your contradictory essay. Then I got to the end!

2020 is unlike ANY election year.

I'm excited by Biden's choice of Harris. I'm not alone!

GO BLUE!

Greg Brodsky

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Bob - you're too sane, too logical, too bright and not rich enough….but boy you'd make a pretty good fist as POTUS. But just make sure your VP is a good choice. That could be very important.
Alex Cooper
p.s. the UK in just as much of a mess….but POTUS is far far more important

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Dear Bob,
I don't get it.
I subscribed years ago because you wrote about music and the music business.
I miss that.
Perhaps when, and if, you decide to return to the topic of music and lay off the politics, I'll subscribe again.
Until then....
Stacey Taylor

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Wow the Russian bots really got to ya bob...

Luke Joerger

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100% with you on this. I wanted Warren, it just made more sense. But you know what, I knew it was coming. When she dropped out suddenly, I turned to my partner and said she'd cut a deal with Joe. It is what it is now, I'm going to vote for these two centrist like my life depends on it, cause as a person of color, it does.

Best,
L.A. Gonzalez

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Who would you have picked? Other than Batman.

McGowan Southworth

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If we are going to speak "direct truths", here's one of mine!!! ... Donald Trump became President of the United States of America because he once appeared on a television series called "Celebrity Apprentice", that worked very hard not to make people rich!!.. PS. I think the best possible thing Joe Biden could have done for himself right now was to bring in the beautiful, super talented, and in certain quarters very much beloved Kampala Harris

Joanne Crabtree

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Spot on Bob.

Trump is likely relieved Kamala now won't be the Bill Barr replacement coming after him.

Republicans are going to make up some more Ukraine Biden nonsense in the last few weeks before the election and then it could be really close.

Unless Trump continues his swift descent further into madness……and Biden keeps a low profile which worked for Boris here in the UK.

If Trump gets 4 more years, he, Moscow Mitch and Barr with Putin's help will get rid of any chance of future fair elections.

AOC was the one for me and would have energised the youth vote.

Regards

Robin Hill

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Incredible analysis- thank you
for clearly simplifying the underbelly (yellow) of the DNC.

- bob cozzi

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The best thing for the Democrats is that they lose and then get someone exciting on the ticket next time like AOC.
The best thing for the Republicans is that they lose big and some of their younger people take over and reinvent the Republican party.

In the meantime, the country suffers from a lack of leadership from both sides.

Regards,
Dave Machanick

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You sure have a funny way of hoping and praying Joe wins..Glad you're not against him.

Harold Love
Pittsburgh, PA

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How is Kamala Harris Black? Her mom is an East Indian Doctor. Her Dad is a Mixed Race Jamaican. Kamala is correctly pronounced Kamela, which means Lotus flower. She was raised in a privileged environment. This is why many African Americans who've had it tough for generations will not relate to her.

Clarence Jey

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Harris is way more than 'nothing.' She has serious skills and will decimate Mother's Boy and Trump.

This is the winning ticket in 2020.

Fuzzbee Morse

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Anyone could've predicted this, Politico told us a week ago haha. So not sure what don't you understand? She covered up for the Catholic Church Sex Abusers in the SF Archdioceses and now The Vatican is rewarding her for her duties to run alongside Jesuit Catholic Joe Biden against the Jesuit taught and controlled Trump. It's all political theater. You're still falling for the bait Bob!

https://theintercept.com/2019/06/09/kamala-harris-san-francisco-catholic-church-child-abuse/

Mark Foley

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One consideration regarding Joe choosing Kamala................ "since she was hard on Biden during the primaries, his invitation to her indicates his willingness to accept criticism and continue to work with those who are not yes-men, a significant contrast to Trump".

David Hartwell

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You must be blind and deaf ~

Didn't you see Pamala Harris rip Bill Barr and new one ~ Do you honestly think Harris would lose a VP debate against #45s religious zeloit Pence ~ She's just what VP Joe Biden needs ~

If this was a perfect world Bernie would have won Democratic nomination but this isn't a perfect world and the Democrats think in this fight that they stand a better chance winning staying main stream with Biden ~ So I'm looking for the lesser of two evils and it isn't #45 ~ I certainly don't want to see #45 run out the statues of limitations on the crimes he has committed ~ I want to get #45 where it hurts ~ His money ~ I know he'll never go to jail ~

I'm also hoping that my fantasy will comes true that Biden will win and in his first year he will have a stroke and that Pamala Harris will instal AOC as her choice for VP ~ I know good luck on that one ~

I just really hope that the liberals show up on election day and don't feel defeated by thinking that they didn't get the candidate they wanted ~ I'm thinking that why Clinton lost the election ~

Rock Singer

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This election is about galvanizing the black vote... and Kamala Harris by her nature ain't gonna be able to get it done. Hope I'm wrong. Don't think so, though.

Michael Fisher

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this is simple...

it's these two, or quite possibly the end of the American Way of Life as we knew it
at the worst, the vote repudiates what's happened -- and they are the byproduct.
who cares?
we can parse the hairs, or make a ponytail & accept it's gonna get us to a better place.
we NEED a better place.

Holly Gleason

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The problem in the US is this 2 horse race … to think that Trump / Pence vs Biden / Harris is the best options we have decide between is a fucking joke

Give me Gabbard / Yang ticket running on an independent ticket and thats something to get excited about ..

Wade Cawood

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As a white guy, Bob, I think you're a bit out of touch with the importance of today. I'm white, too, but seriously. You're just as dial-up as you claim Biden to be.

themelodies

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You're wrong brudda.

Kamala does excite.
And she has charisma AND she brings in more than just Black voters. She's the excitement that the Democratic ticket was missing with just Vanilla Joe.

The lack of "votes" for Kamala in the primary were never about a lack of excitement about her - Democratic voters were being practical and knew that a Black woman at the top of the ticket couldn't beat racist/sexist Trump in racist/sexist America. And voters knew that because they saw what white America did to a qualified white woman who dared to leave the kitchen and run.

But a Black woman on the ticket that's semi-figure head fronted by a white man running against Trump? That's the ticket (no pun). Trump has no idea how to attack old white men. Trojan horse shit. Trust. Just watch the donations and the VP debate and the news cycle and then watch Nov 3rd/that week (because results ain't coming in on the night of). Trump is a wrap.

Kozza

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We've been watching this current Democratic Party cannibalize themselves all year. Kamala and Biden apparently, as far as the polls are concerned, will get the black vote. That's far from true, they killed Bernie the last time around. This time he didn't even get a fair shake. The social programs FDR put into place nearly a century ago have been bastardized and castrated ever since they were put into place. Both parties are at fault there too. What makes a vibrant and exciting culture, is it the economy? Is it the companies that lead us into and out of the pit of despair, because there hasn't been one of those in my 30 year memory of this world.

We sit at an impasse, trusting nothing and knowing no one cares about the common man. We have been told all of our live that common sense will win. At this point it's rare to even experience common decency. Honestly if you're decent you're probably doing better than the rest. As a hopeless optimist this year has been nothing but a marathon through a minefield. Anyone who studies history knows that this is just a wheel that keeps turning with the have nots getting crushed beneath the wheel of time at every generational turn.


Four more years of Trump was never what we wanted let alone the first four. Yet this is what is offered? Creepy Joe who nibbles the fingers of the woman announcing him at his own pep rally? This story is already written, we just get to watch it play out in real time and pretend like we haven't seen it before. Us Vs Them. That's all it is now.

When you get the chance to talk to people on the streets and hear what they're going through you realize that we're more the same than we are different but that won't sell papers. If it bleeds it leads. We're all bleeding and there isn't a clear pathway out.

The good die young and assholes live forever. And maybe that isn't even true maybe the good die young enough to not disappoint.

Yet here we are, trudging through the swamp, pretending that we're all going to be okay. At the end of the day if we've end up with a roof
Over our heads and food on the table we're all going to consider that a win in 2020. As I toasted in the new year I proposed to me future wife and said " this is going to be our year" it's been anything but. So good luck Joe, good luck Kamala, you're going to need it.

Jesse Bumstead

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This is where you and I as 60-something white jews have a blind spot. Whatever her weaknesses, she is female, black, Asian, and (like every Hispanic, Native American, Asian or like my voting 18 year ld granddaughter who Is 25% Polish, 12.5% Irish, 12.5% German, 50% African American, educated in public schools in West Virginia, private & public schools In Minnesota including the Oprah funded academic for underperforming black students where she was recruited as an academic example, earned a $52,000 full scholarship to Benilde St.Margarets, the most exclusive Catholic academy and in Minneapolis which she quit after two years because "the rich kids from the Western mostly white suburbs were "fake social climbers" and so she just graduated Class of 2020 from public HS in the very diverse middle class suburb of New Hope and , as an already successful teen model for Target's juniors clothing line, she is off to Horst Rechelbacher founded Aveda Institute.

She also spent the 2013 academic year living in Darmstadt Germany takimg classes in German, not English and did ok. Her ambition at present is to probably eventually get an undergrad degree in Communication and enroll in the USC School of Journalism where she sees herself being the next Robin Meade. ( who was born and raised less than 100 miles from Akighla's (and my) Wheeling WV birthplace). She is a great Gen Z example. You tell me... as a first-time Presidential voter in Minnesota this year is she predomInantly female, black, Polish, Irish, German, and some small slice jewish, or southern, mid-western etc. Will she vote Biden-Harris like her white Polish Irish German mother, or her Polish Jewish Grandfather and living great grandmother?

No doubt. But also because Biden reminds her of Papap (me) and Kamala her own reflection in the mirror each day.

As i see it, for whatever issues she will bring out the female, BLM, Hispanic, Asian and native votes that my choice (pandemic expert Rice) likely would not. With the number #1 issue being beat Trump that is also going to rest on many factors including gerrymandering still in place, scads of various voter suppression attempts by Republicans at all levels of power, improper or late mailed absentee ballots, a manipulated USPS already running slow, the weather on election day and final outcome tied to an obsolete body known as the Electoral College.

I think you gotta go with who can turn out the most bodies to complete, mail in, or show up with a counted vote demographically, because it is the turnout and official tabulation matter.

The above point if view is mine... that of a Polish Jewish white American born Boomer constitutionalist.

I love all that you write but maybe in this case you are just a typical white jewish male liberal from
New York? Not meaning to be offensive in any personal way. Just assessing the data as you often do with other issues

Zannman
Minneapolis

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I'll just say this about political honest and integrity.

The only thing honest in this election will be Biden admitting his frailty in office when CBS interviewed him about his future VP pick. He told them it was going to be someone who would likely end up running the country. He even claimed to be old but wants someone who is on the same page, because you never know about his health (or some "I'm old" bullshit) and the would be POTUS.

Yet, that doesn't discount all of Biden's gaffes, inappropriate touching, blatant racism and appropriation of the Obama administration.

Kamala's integrity is what I would question, she torched Biden in the debates, calling him a racist, by saying that she wouldn't call him racist...yet she jumps on his ticket???

WTF?

Oh ya, she would sell out her own mother for power, especially the potential POTUS. This is the same woman who rose to power with the help of Willie Brown...who just happened to be banging her...while HE was married.

Oh ya, Willie also said she should decline the VP position and go for Attorney General.

Like 2016, this election is nothing more than better bad choices.

Steve King
(Radii dude in the Midwest)

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We have got to get out of the east coast mindset and liberal vocal cords. Look at the optics literally. Biden and Harris look good. Both thin and attractive people, of course she is the better half. Jimmy Iovine would sign this act!

FACTS: She has a million dollar face and smile and a billion dollar voice. The kind of voice that when you hear speak/sing rings not just in her home market but across the entire country. Sure the far left doctrine is great music for the people kinda like Jazz but it's not good music for the party! Think about it. Bush had the voice, Barack had the voice, Trump has the voice (of an arrogant Movie star billionaire flamboyant New Yorker), and Biden and Harris have the voice. It's a great duet for cinema, Broadway, TV and Instagram!!!! Can't have a blue voice when red states make up the tour routing!

And despite her conservative centrist appeal the Republicans will brand her a radical leftist. Despite her husbands success and their strong ties to Silicon Valley they will brand her a socialist.

I think it's a good move. He had to pick a black woman and of all the choices she is the best qualified to be president!! Sure, I don't agree with some of her policies but this is about more than politics it's about the music. How does it make you feel? Does it reflects the future of the country? YES. At the same time it was a very safe for all ages and demos? YES! Is it Conventional record label wisdom? YES! Is it good for the party? YES! He's avoiding mistakes here and will pack stadiums on this new record's look, feel and sound .... watch and see!

Jeremiah Younossi

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What exactly do you think you've accomplished by sending this email to everybody with your opinion? Sometimes it's best not to write a whole bunch of paragraphs because many times people won't read it. So here we go. What exactly have you done over your lifetime to benefit the country or your fellow man or woman? You're very good at putting criticism out there and constantly pontificating your talking points. I will face the fact that at times I think you have your finger on the pulse. There are other times when it sounds like you don't have a freaking clue as to what is really going on up there. This email made my freaking blood boil
Peace, Jason Miles

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Totally agree - I cant believe how poorly Joe Biden is running his campaign that is up 10% on the incumbent President. You do know that the point of politics is to win, right?!?

The big thing you're missing in the country is exhaustion. The people are tired of the constant "news" from Trump. They're sapped from the incompetence, vitriol, and noise coming from Trump, and just want someone who knows what they're doing. So Biden's lack of excitement is a feature, not a bug. And if you think that a not-Trump, safe choice won't get out the vote, I invite you to look back at the Michigan Democratic primary results in 2020 vs. 2016. In 2020, Bernie got about 22k fewer votes than he did in 2016; meanwhile, Biden got 257k more than Hillary did four years ago.

You're operating under the same script as 2016, yet 2016 was largely a fluke! Eight years of Democratic rule, Hillary's unpopularity, a roguish outsider, and a dash of Comey/Russia all made the conditions ripe for Trump. But it's 2020, the people have given Trump a chance and he failed miserably. He'll get voted out hard in November.

Ryan

Btw, why do Bernie types never acknowledge that when it became a one-on-one battle, the voters chose Biden decisively? That wasn't the DNC, that was Democratic voters choosing who they want to represent them.

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I am an "aging millennial." I'm 28, black, and a member of the LGBTQ community. The oldest Gen Z is 25. I also live in the swing state of Wisconsin. You could say I was going to vote blue all along. However, the Harris pick has excited me tremendously to get involved actively in a way that I wouldn't have if someone else was the VP nominee.

I completely disagree that she doesn't represent or relate to the downtrodden. Just weeks ago she supported and pushed for a $2,000 a month stimulus during coronavirus while Trump calls a $400 unemployment benefit "a win?" And that's a cut from the $600 benefit that was left to expire.

Kamala, especially to black folks, is someone we aspire to be. A product of two immigrant parents (black and Indian) who works her way through college becomes Attorney General in Cali and a U.S. Senator. That's the story of hip hop, pop, and culture that drives our world. Rags to riches always sells. Especially against Donald "Gold Toliet" Trump.

Do not underestimate the deep networks of HBCU's who can mobilize in a profound way.

Do not underestimate the power of Cardi, Meg, Ariana, and Taylor and what they mean to their audiences. They will promote this campaign on social media more often than not. If that increases turnout by 1-5k votes in a swing state that could make a difference. Don't give me the bull about "artists had social media in 2016." Hillary brought out Beyonce and Jay Z, celebrities of the Michael Jackson "mystery ilk," with no active social media presence past product hawking or deep connection to their audience. Taylor Swift wraps fucking gifts and mails them out to her fan base. Ariana started her career doing live streams and still DM's her fans to this day.

Trump can play his games and he will. However, this announcement will increase black turnout where it matters in Wisconsin and other states with people who felt completely abandoned last cycle. No shade but Tim Kaine!

Troy McDonald

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Bob, gotta say I think nailed so much here except you left out two really important things.

First— people are tired of being terrorized and are starving for a return to the mirage of "everything is ok" and Joe as feeble as he may appear, has that return to normal bullshit brand on lock down. It's not about voting for Joe it's about voting against the lawlessness and daily drama. That's why despite the excitement and vigor of Bernie in the end he lost. People broke against the drama and conflict he would surely bring (naively and against their interests). I would not underestimate the motivation of those people who feel victimized by the ?? and feel entirely motivated to do something to make the daily drama stop.

Second thing you left out is that this primary unlike most has generated awareness about a group of politicians who they considered at least for a time, could be Batman. I spent decades wondering what force would wake people up to the political process and get them motivated for change and it was Obama for a minute but more so it was Trump. We can thank him for #metoo, for BLM, and for the grassroots energy behind green new deal. People finally have an opinion and are finding a voice.

And while they went for the least risky, the brand equity built up by Bernie and Elizabeth, by Beto and Pete, by Castro and Amy—none of whom are Batman enough to be THE Person (though Bernie was damn close) but all of whom showed a level of trustworthiness and decency-if taken together as part of the coup could give Joe the opportunity to run an avengers narrative as the clock winds down. That gets people excited. Weather or not the DNC is smart enough to play those cards of course remains to be seen but it is a Batman scenario and at this point any scenario where good people are on the way is one most people will wait in line for on Election Day.
Thanks,

Jason Damata

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A vice-presidential selection can't win the election but it can lose the election. Harris has a lot of pluses at a moment In our history where this choice seems to matter more than usual. Biden was able to overlook the debate hose job because he's a professional. Maybe that disappoints you, but after 3+ years of narcissistic leadership I find Biden's approach reassuring.

But your right, it comes down to Trump versus Biden. The big difference this time is that Trump has a record to defend. We know who he is as a leader and as a man. Maybe you think Trump Is exciting. As for me, I've had all the excitement I can take.

George Laugelli

___________________________________________

I love ya, Bob, but I think you got it wrong on this one.

I didn't want Biden to pick Kamala for VP either. I thought she'd make a fine Attorney General, even though I didn't always agree with her when she had the job in CA, but after the idiots that have been in there for the last 3 1/2 years... But pick her he did and I have no problem getting behind them, and I don't think the rest of the country will have a problem there either.

She'll eat Pence for lunch in the debates. She'll help Joe with a prosecutorial approach to debating Trump. She's younger, attractive, telegenic, feisty and will campaign energetically. She listens to people and is great with empathy. She didn't raise as much money in the primaries because there were so many people in the race and most of the early donors were feelin' the Bern or excited by Warren. Now that it's heading down the home stretch, more voters will get interested. Sure, Joe's a little dodgy sometimes, but so is Trump. Joe's got some fight in him and I think he'll do fine using Trump against Trump.

The biggest thing to worry about is Trump's willingness to burn it all down to get his way. He's like the Joker. He's openly putting his thumb on the scales of the election, sowing doubt in case his plan to handicap the postal service, disenfranchise voters and throw up every roadblock to the polls for liberals that the GOP can conceive doesn't work out. Once he has to accept he's lost and will have to leave, watch out! There's no telling how far he will go to burn it down.

Anyway… still a fan, but as much as the Democrats have a talent for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, I think Joe's done fine with picking Harris. Come in off the ledge…

Charlie Imes

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I view myself as an independent in this race, one who believes that our current system of choosing candidates is not giving us the best candidates. For what it is worth, I am a never-Trumper Republican, who hardly recognizes the party I joined many years ago these days. Anyway, you are ignoring the history of politics a bit - the biggest critic of Reagan before he was selected to be the Republican nominee in 1980 was none other than George Bush - remember his description of supply-side economics as "voodoo" economics? And of course, Bush was an extremely loyal VP for 8 years. Why did Reagan choose him? And why did JFK choose LBJ, his biggest rival for the nomination in 1960? Because those nominations gave those candidates the best chance to win - which is why most candidates make the selection, not because they are thinking about succession -although in this case, there is an argument that Biden's VP will be the next president, and long before the next election. Harris really wants to be President of the US.

Biden painted himself into a box when he announced at the last debate that he would choose a woman as his VP - this was a smart move at the time, actually, and one that completely took Sanders by surprise, but no one predicted the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. This moved the bar from being a search for a woman to being a search for a black woman. African-Americans, more than any other group, propelled Biden to the nomination, and they just were not going to accept anyone but a black woman. But - most of the candidates were deeply flawed, and possible the baggage would have cost Biden a state or two. Karen Bass' candidacy was DOA due to her remarks on Castro, for example, and Susan Rice would have revived the whole issue of Benghazi. Harris has the fewest flaws and fewest obvious downsides of any black woman.

But - she did poorly in most of the debates, and has a long way to go to match up with Pence, who destroyed Tim Kaine four years ago. Pence is, as a debater, quite underrated. We see him being a suck-up to Trump, but that's the role. If you read Bolton's "The Room Where It Happened" - Pence is the only figure who consistently comes out well. (I mean, besides Bolton himself.)

The selection of Harris was wired pretty much for the last two months. Biden actually played it pretty smart, continually getting publicity through the process, but looking back - it was an inevitable choice.

As an aside, Willie Brown (former mayor of SF, long time Speaker of the CA Assembly, and now pundit) advised her to turn the VP selection down and to hold out for the AG role.

Thomas Ream

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Geez Bob. If I was easily swayed, after reading your letter I might just
decide to stay home in November.

Fortunately I'm not and on this one, I think you are dead wrong. I hope,
in your depressed state (and I sympathize) you haven't convinced anyone
to stay home.

I have friends and acquaintances in the music business across the
country and most everything I hear from them is either cheering or
something along the lines of "not my first pick but she'll be good for
the country and a good complement to Biden on the ticket." Neither Biden
nor Harris were my first pick but the more I think about it, Biden may
be exactly what the country needs right now and Harris may be perfect as
his vice-president. Harris is great at standing up to and calling out
bullying, has a lot of deep perspective on a lot of issues, brings both
a Black American and Asian American diversity to the ticket and is oh so
smart. Political historian Heather Cox Richardson (a rock star if ever
there was one outside of music) interrupted her live FB broadcast
yesterday to announce the pick and briefly discuss what a
vice-presidential nominee brings to a ticket (13 minutes in) and then at
about 16 minutes notes that in all her years of deeply observing and
studying the political process Kamala Harris is one of the 3 smartest
people she has ever seen and that it will be comforting to have that
kind of brain so close to the White House.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=594593214755224

Bob, you are mistaking popularity for leadership and are making it sound
like Biden and Harris are puppets of the DNC. In truth, both of them are
very shrewd politicians who will be tasked with trying to rebuild this
country if we can make it past election day. How about doing your part
to make sure we do?

Mary Lou Troy
a long time reader

___________________________________________

My phone was blowing up last night as people across the country are excited about Senator Kamala Harris being the choice for Vice President to run with Joe Biden. Why? Because in 232 years there has never been a woman elected as Vice President, only once before has one been nominated. With parents from India and Jamaica, it is a big deal that not only is she the first African American woman but the first South Asian to be nominated. Kamala was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and didn't get into Harvard on some legacy path, she attended Howard and worked her way through UC Hastings for her law degree. In that way she is very similar to Biden who was raised in a working class family and knows the struggles of having a father who lost his job and couldn't pay the bills.

Why did Biden choose her after she hit him so hard in the debates? Kamala challenges Joe Biden and he appreciated that different voice. You could see it in his face that night, he actually was impressed that she hit him so hard and he had a look on his face like "Damn I knew she was smart but I didn't know she could land a punch like that, good for her". Donald Trump would have gotten rid of that person. Biden admired that Kamala brought the fight and hit him hard. He actually appreciated what she said. That shows courage and humility, we need more of that.

In regard to policy Harris ran the largest Attorney General's office in the country with over 1,000 prosecutors under her so she knows how to be an executive. As a Senator she understands legislation. Her stand on drugs is one thing I have been most impressed with. Here is what she has said:

"We need a national drug policy that finally treats substance abuse not as a crime to be punished, but as a disease to be treated. We need to build on reforms instead of reviving mandatory minimums or boosting bottom lines for private prisons. We need this administration to understand that if they care about the opioid crisis in rural America, as they say they do, they have also got to care about the drug-addicted young man in Chicago or East LA. And while I don't believe in legalizing all drugs, as a career prosecutor I just don't but I will tell you this, we need to do the smart thing and the right thing and finally decriminalize marijuana."

That is not just a stand of the intellect, that shows her heart and the fact that she's willing to look at an issue from a different perspective.

Thank you,

Joe Fletcher

___________________________________________

She was tough on Biden in the leadership debates, but everyone is tough on everyone else in the leadership debates. They're fighting to become the candidate, so I'm not sure why that would stick with you.

In fact, I would bet that Biden made her the offer during that entire process when it became clear that he was the front runner, so she'd drop out of the race when she did.

One of the most puzzling things about Trump is that he is so obviously incompetent and flawed, and he doesn't hide his fascist tendencies, yet, he's managed to seize the imagination of millions of Americans who see him as the opposite. Or who don't get that the strong man who they think he is, cutting down liberals and limiting freedoms, won't exempt them when he gets all the legislation in place. It's stunning.

I wish the Dems had chosen a candidate with the same abilities on the debate stage. Biden isn't a fiery public speaker and he is gaff prone when he speaks extemporaneously. He was that way when he was vice president.

Harris is charismatic. She has energy, and is a fantastic public speaker. They both have buckets of experience in government.
Both know how to work across the floor.

For Dems yearning for a sea change a la Bernie, this isn't going to be it.
At least not on the surface.

Biden has the anti-Trump Republicans on his team. And that's partly why this ticket works.
And he'll be beholden to them.

So you can debate it all you want.. but now he's the presumptive candidate and she's his running mate.
You all need to vote. It's going to take the next administration four years just to put the legislation right that Trump has undone.
He's undone so many things like environmental protections and basic rights that were put in place in the Obama era..

Vote. Get everyone else you know out to vote.
Then hold the administration's feet to the fire.

One of my neighbours was talking to a friend of hers who lives in Brooklyn and was vacillating on whether she'd even vote because she doesn't really like Biden. He doesn't excite her. This makes me nuts.

Trump isn't just ruining the U.S., he's a threat to the entire world.

No one has the luxury of sitting at home.

The election isn't about what excites you in terms of the people running it.

It's about the soul of your country.

Vote.

Karen Gordon

___________________________________________

I think Kamala is a good choice, because she's tough, has experience running a department in the most populated state in the country, with the biggest economy, and because, looking at her history, she has always been a winner, except, of course, in the presidential primary.

But I disagree with your assessment that Biden is being spineless in picking someone who trashed his history in the primary debates, and I think there is a big difference between what she did and what Trump does: an important difference.

Kamala "excoriated" Biden on stuff he had done; on his record. She held his feet to the fire on the times he was too conservative, or favored a more center-right position rather than a progressive one. This is a good thing, and it's, basically, what every primary race is about: land blows without knocking the candidate out, and she did that. Biden took the punches, and wound up winning, so it seems to me the system worked in that case.

What Trump does is personally attack people, dig in on something about their physicality, or their presentation and then taunts them like a playground bully. She did not do that. She was all about policy and record.

I am more optimistic about Joe in the debates, should they happen. If Biden concentrates on the lies Trump has told - and there are thousands, and keeps refuting every over-the-top claim Trump makes, he has the chance of getting Trump flustered, and that's his main job: to throw Trump off his game. A lot of forces are aligned to help with that, the Lincoln Project being one of them. Hopefully Joe won't go back to those silly threats about punching him out. I certainly share the fear that Trump could pull it out at the last minute, or that Barr may have cooked up some kind of October Surprise scam with someone in Ukraine lying for him and Trump, but I don't see much downside in Kamala, and mostly upside.

Of course, the far-left Bernie Bro's will find fault in anyone who does not scream radical change. They can't understand that the radical change already happened. It was Trump. And that needs to be removed before ANY other agenda has a chance of getting a foothold.

Thanks,
Gary Stockdale

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To Blogger Bob Lefsets & All of the others out there who just couldn't wait to throw a huge naysaying pontificating wet blanket on much of the national excitement about the announcement of Kamala Harris for VP:

Bob,

I know you pride yourself on being honest as a writer.

Well so do I.

I have to be honest. You have me infuriated!

I cheer & I'm with you on a lot of issues & opinions Bob, but you're WRONG on this one!

Scary WRONG & WRONG with potential effects!

You wrote: "There is absolutely nothing exciting on the Democratic ticket, and no matter how many articles are written, no matter how many headlines appear about Harris, that's not gonna change"

Maybe you should read the social media walls of voting musicians… & activists… & leaders & voters around the country!

I did. They've been cheering & whooping & popping corks since yesterday's announcement! People of all ages of all backgrounds.

Yes there are some like you who aren't excited. But many many ARE!

Informed, active people!

The VAST MAJORITY of them are EXCITED & ENERGIZED AS HELL about Kamala!

AND their cheers are LEADING & GETTING OUT THE VOTE of tens of THOUSANDS of Americans who trust their voices.

We're even doing a virtual "Sing! Vote! Sing!" zoom concert to Get Out the Vote & keep the energy going.

How many other women, or public officials or AMERICANS for that matter, would have the ovaries to actually scream from a podium that Trump & Barr are predators & liars & cheats in the manner & with the raw disgust that she did?

Thousands of Americans envisioned themselves in her shoes putting those pigs in their places.

Americans don't forget that stuff!

Why am I infuriated?

Because the LAST thing we need right now when we have absolutely EVERYTHING to lose as a democracy, when we have so very much tragically at stake...

Are people with a HUGE public platforms throwing a heavy wet blanket out there, telling those who aren't informed that she's a huge limp ball of nothing!

THAT doesn't get out the vote!

That often results in people sitting on their asses saying "Well we're screwed no matter what so why bother! I'm not fighting for THEM!"

Ok, she's not your favorite, but it's another thing to spread to Americans who may not be tapped in, who follow people like you, that the Democratic ticket sucks!

Do you realize how letters like yours can help tip the vote???

Sometimes people like us are wrong.

I wish like hell you would realize how wrong you are to write stuff like this!

Some of us are working, volunteering concerts around the country, dedicating hours & days and months of our lives to dig us out of this hell hole.

Don't be part of FUCKING IT ALL UP on us!

VERY PISSED ACTIVIST & MUSICIAN,
Annie Wenz

___________________________________________

I get that the thrust of this is "This isn't exciting", and I can see that.

But is it "exciting" to buy a vape pen to start the process of weaning off of cigarettes to quit once and for all after 30 years?

Is it "exciting" to lurch onto a treadmill to lose pound #1 out the 130 overweight you are?

No. Starting to tackle a big, shitty problem, that will take you a loooong time to get right, sucks.

We're on the edge of the cliff of authoritarianism, and before anything else, we need to back the fuck off.

Biden and Harris were not my first choices. I'm a millennial. I liked Warren most, Sanders of course... and it's still my opinion that someone bolder / "riskier" would be the best antidote to Trump...

...but maybe not.

Maybe the answer to something this insane is something boring.

Biden deserves plenty of shit, but I believe he's a fundamentally good man, whose personal anguish has a potential to resonate with lots of people at this moment.

Harris is certainly no AOC, but her selection is nonetheless historic. Representation matters, and for women, black women, indian women, they will (finally) be represented in the White House.

And as far as experience, I don't know how you can complain... Biden's got literally 40 years in the biz, and Kamala is a prosecutor / attorney general / senator.

Light on experience, they ain't.

Sure, that is precisely why some (rightfully) call them "establishment". They are, that's a legit criticism. I wish so many voters didn't feel like they had to "play it safe", but of course, I understand their fear.

If we can survive, we have a chance to get things right... if we fight for it after Nov. 3rd.

But I do not think we will survive a 2nd Trump term, and I think collectively, perhaps unconsciously, we realize that.

-Kristian Habenicht

___________________________________________

I said essentially these same words to several people earlier today and got universally derided - because anything less than a full endorsement of anyone running against Trump is tantamount to a full endorsement of Trump.

Which is one of the biggest problems we have in America right now. We live in a world of yellows and browns, but are being forced to view everything as black or white. We have no middle ground. We've lost our balance.

Anyone that even pretends to care about politics has known Kamala Harris was Biden's most logical Vice Presidential pick for months. Not because she's exciting, but because she makes sense strategically. But does strategy even matter anymore?

Democrats are dotting their Is and crossing their Ts with Harris, while Trump eviscerates the English language and ignores the rules of grammar on a daily basis. The Democrats are playing with a Cold War rule book, and Trump is making up the rules as he goes along, embracing the chaos that keeps the world off-balance and manipulating it to his advantage.

Trump didn't have a strategy when he won in 2016 - hell, I still don't believe he even wanted to become President. He didn't win because of strategy, he won because people didn't want to vote for Hillary.

It was really that simple. As you said, the lot of Americans just aren't capable of seeing the world beyond their six inch stare. Let alone comprehending strategy, applying logic or acknowledging a bigger picture or greater purpose.

On one side we have people who think Covid is fake. On the other side we have people so genuinely afraid for their lives they haven't left their homes in five months. At the top we have a President who doesn't acknowledge science and can't pronounce Yosemite, and at the bottom we have people making more money on unemployment and federal aid than they've ever made before in their lives.

I'd pay to see a debate between Trump and Kamala, but we know that will never happen. Instead we have ten weeks of cyber bullying, fourth grade name-calling, and USPS conspiracy theories to look forward to.

About a month ago, I was told by a few people with government ties that there will be a vaccine in time for the election. Lo and behold, Russia announced earlier today that they have one - so we can't be far behind. Whether it works or not is another story, but most Americans can't read, let alone follow along with a plot as diabolically confusing and politically divisive as a pandemic.

In 2020, strategy is about as meaningful as a farewell tour. Sadly, our country's ongoing farewell tour is about the only thing we can count on this fall.

-Paul Gargano

___________________________________________

Bold, brave, and truthful, Bob. Kudos to you!
I can't wait to read the mailbag on this one. I have a feeling we may find out that hate mail isn't just a right wing phenomenon!
I'm praying for us all that Joe wins, also. But this definitely isn't a great x factor to get the unmotivated out to the polls.
Greg Malecki

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