You write so well. Thank you for your positive thoughts. President Biden is exactly what a president should be. Smart, experienced and tough, while also being empathetic. Quite the contrast with a malignant narcissist.
Biden, in the past year, has so inspired me with his actions and public statements. More and more it seems to me he is reflecting the values and statesmanship I associate with the public record of Abraham Lincoln and FDR. Thank you for your excellent writing.
Biden was the man made for these times! I keep saying it here, but we need to continually remind ourselves how fortunate we are to have him. As for what is happening in Georgia and on the hill, I have the vision of my late wife’s grandmother wagging her finger sternly and saying in her fine Trinidadian accent, “As much as you like...but NEVER as long as you like.”
We are so fortunate to have President Biden as our county and global leader and healer. And, as a President who wants to work with, and represent all Americans--inclusive, diverse. I think he is now realizing and living his calling and purpose in life.
Justice, justice you shall pursue. From Deuteronomy. That was my first thought when I saw Sidney Powell plead guilty and agree to cooperate in the Georgia election subversion case. Our justice system is working. A person who knew she had committed a crime came forward and admitted it. Whether she did this out of commitment to democracy and truth, or to get a lesser sentence we don't know. However, in the end she admitted to her crime, something the former president has never done. As I was thinking late last night and early this morning of how I wanted to respond when @StevenBeschloss posted about this situation, I heard little tidbits that Ken Cheseboro, another lawyer representing the former president and pushing his lies was possibly going to plead guilty as well. So, I held my thoughts and waited to see what happened. I saw it live on tv during lunch today. However, Cheseboro went a little further than Powell. He admitted to the conspiracy. Thus, his cooperation could be even more damaging to the former president. The same hold true for Cheseboro as it did with Powell. We don't know if he admitted his guilt because he wanted to finally stand for democracy and truth, or if he was thinking that his admission could get him a lesser sentence. However, putting all of that aside, the pleas of Powell and Cheseboro will help the Justice Department pursue their case. Notably silent throughout all of these happenings is the former president himself. He was quite outspoken and critical when his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen flipped and told what he knew. Though Michael Cohen has his own crimes with which he has to live, his coming forward, and taking the punishment for his crimes, led to the American Justice System vigorously pursuing what crimes the former president may have committed in his business life and in his presidential life. I have to wonder why the former president is being quiet now about these latest guilty pleas. He was never a person to listen to the advice of his attorneys and keep quiet. Perhaps that advice is becoming more meaningful to him now. Still, the former president has been charged with crimes; but under our system he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We have to wait and see how that plays out. Also today there is an additional development on the Jordan trying to become Speaker front. He has now lost for a 3rd time; and each time he seems to be losing more support. The House of Representatives is being really dysfunctional. They are there to serve the American people, which they aren't doing. We are getting close to another deadline for a government shutdown. Also very important is that with the House not functioning, Biden's request for aid to Ukraine and Israel, 2 democracies that are important to the world order and to our security, is not being addressed. We are not in a good place on this cloudy, on and off rainy Friday afternoon.
Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss
Thank you Steve for your brilliant piece today. Your statesmanship and leadership in articulating the important news of the day is like a breath of fresh air. I appreciate your knowledge and tact in reporting about both domestic and foreign issues touching the US currently, and also for your ability to restrain from using coarse language which seems to be proliferating these days.
I tried to elaborate on what you said in order to include one of my favorite bad word newsletters on Substack. I ended up erasing it because Steve stands by himself in his way of expressing current events. And so does the bad word guy. Steve Beschloss could govern though. The other gentleman would not want the position.
I wanted to respond to you about my issues with respect to some of the other substacks to which I’ve subscribed. Alas, my thoughts would be inappropriate in such a public space. But I do agree that Steven Beschloss and one other of my favorite political analyst stand out amongst my substack subscriptions. I suspect we’re on the same page.
Oct 20, 2023·edited Oct 20, 2023Liked by Steven Beschloss
The changes are so swift as to be beyond dizzying. Jordan loses by 25 this morning. Chesebro pleads guilty. Pretty much anything that arrives from Substack in the AM (PST) is outdated by the time one gets to it.
"because Jordan and his extremist Republicans have unleashed chaos and conflict as the desired outcome of their tragic hostility to government and governing." Pretty much the same aim as Hamas.
Brilliant piece. And I hope you are correct in terms of “gravity,” both in the sense of coming back down to earth and in the sense of this (keeping democracy) being very serious/grave business.
Great comments as usual. I do think we should stress Iran more since I perceive its theocratic, totalitarian leadership based on the hatred toward anything Israeli is the core of everything that is happening in the Middle East. They should be isolated along with Russia and I believe that if we threatened China with the same type of isolation, they would quickly cave because China has much more to lose than anyone else if they continue to side with the hate in the world today.
Iran is weak because of the internal strife among its people, especially young people, who are mostly sectarian, and only want their freedom to worship and live more as they please, not under the thumb of culture policing. I earnestly believe that if force was taken against the leadership in Iran, it would fold fast. Where is our CIA and the other change agents of our allies? Fifty years ago, things would have changed (not saying this was always right, but the alternative today is too obvious). Just sayin', and I am always an optimist.
Last night he as always showed that the last occupant of the Oval Office is stunningly unfit to be President - the person who represents out country, our democracy; the person who believes in diplomacy first, war second. The criminal who couldn’t bear to lose had NO IDEA HOW TO BE PRESIDENT. He never has and never will even after occupying that office for 4 years.
You write so well. Thank you for your positive thoughts. President Biden is exactly what a president should be. Smart, experienced and tough, while also being empathetic. Quite the contrast with a malignant narcissist.
Thank you.
Biden, in the past year, has so inspired me with his actions and public statements. More and more it seems to me he is reflecting the values and statesmanship I associate with the public record of Abraham Lincoln and FDR. Thank you for your excellent writing.
Thank you.
Bravo for Biden! Finally, I see our President coming out of Obama's shadow and showing he is a true global leader.
Biden was the man made for these times! I keep saying it here, but we need to continually remind ourselves how fortunate we are to have him. As for what is happening in Georgia and on the hill, I have the vision of my late wife’s grandmother wagging her finger sternly and saying in her fine Trinidadian accent, “As much as you like...but NEVER as long as you like.”
We are so fortunate to have President Biden as our county and global leader and healer. And, as a President who wants to work with, and represent all Americans--inclusive, diverse. I think he is now realizing and living his calling and purpose in life.
Justice, justice you shall pursue. From Deuteronomy. That was my first thought when I saw Sidney Powell plead guilty and agree to cooperate in the Georgia election subversion case. Our justice system is working. A person who knew she had committed a crime came forward and admitted it. Whether she did this out of commitment to democracy and truth, or to get a lesser sentence we don't know. However, in the end she admitted to her crime, something the former president has never done. As I was thinking late last night and early this morning of how I wanted to respond when @StevenBeschloss posted about this situation, I heard little tidbits that Ken Cheseboro, another lawyer representing the former president and pushing his lies was possibly going to plead guilty as well. So, I held my thoughts and waited to see what happened. I saw it live on tv during lunch today. However, Cheseboro went a little further than Powell. He admitted to the conspiracy. Thus, his cooperation could be even more damaging to the former president. The same hold true for Cheseboro as it did with Powell. We don't know if he admitted his guilt because he wanted to finally stand for democracy and truth, or if he was thinking that his admission could get him a lesser sentence. However, putting all of that aside, the pleas of Powell and Cheseboro will help the Justice Department pursue their case. Notably silent throughout all of these happenings is the former president himself. He was quite outspoken and critical when his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen flipped and told what he knew. Though Michael Cohen has his own crimes with which he has to live, his coming forward, and taking the punishment for his crimes, led to the American Justice System vigorously pursuing what crimes the former president may have committed in his business life and in his presidential life. I have to wonder why the former president is being quiet now about these latest guilty pleas. He was never a person to listen to the advice of his attorneys and keep quiet. Perhaps that advice is becoming more meaningful to him now. Still, the former president has been charged with crimes; but under our system he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We have to wait and see how that plays out. Also today there is an additional development on the Jordan trying to become Speaker front. He has now lost for a 3rd time; and each time he seems to be losing more support. The House of Representatives is being really dysfunctional. They are there to serve the American people, which they aren't doing. We are getting close to another deadline for a government shutdown. Also very important is that with the House not functioning, Biden's request for aid to Ukraine and Israel, 2 democracies that are important to the world order and to our security, is not being addressed. We are not in a good place on this cloudy, on and off rainy Friday afternoon.
Amen! Brilliant. Thoughtful. Insightful. Hopeful. Important points which need to be said and are said eloquently.
Thanks!
When it rains,it pours. Right now in trump land, it has started to sprinkle. Gives one hope the sun will shine again.
Thank you Steve for your brilliant piece today. Your statesmanship and leadership in articulating the important news of the day is like a breath of fresh air. I appreciate your knowledge and tact in reporting about both domestic and foreign issues touching the US currently, and also for your ability to restrain from using coarse language which seems to be proliferating these days.
Thank you kindly, Carole.
I tried to elaborate on what you said in order to include one of my favorite bad word newsletters on Substack. I ended up erasing it because Steve stands by himself in his way of expressing current events. And so does the bad word guy. Steve Beschloss could govern though. The other gentleman would not want the position.
I wanted to respond to you about my issues with respect to some of the other substacks to which I’ve subscribed. Alas, my thoughts would be inappropriate in such a public space. But I do agree that Steven Beschloss and one other of my favorite political analyst stand out amongst my substack subscriptions. I suspect we’re on the same page.
The changes are so swift as to be beyond dizzying. Jordan loses by 25 this morning. Chesebro pleads guilty. Pretty much anything that arrives from Substack in the AM (PST) is outdated by the time one gets to it.
"because Jordan and his extremist Republicans have unleashed chaos and conflict as the desired outcome of their tragic hostility to government and governing." Pretty much the same aim as Hamas.
Brilliant piece. And I hope you are correct in terms of “gravity,” both in the sense of coming back down to earth and in the sense of this (keeping democracy) being very serious/grave business.
Thanks, Karen.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Great comments as usual. I do think we should stress Iran more since I perceive its theocratic, totalitarian leadership based on the hatred toward anything Israeli is the core of everything that is happening in the Middle East. They should be isolated along with Russia and I believe that if we threatened China with the same type of isolation, they would quickly cave because China has much more to lose than anyone else if they continue to side with the hate in the world today.
Iran is weak because of the internal strife among its people, especially young people, who are mostly sectarian, and only want their freedom to worship and live more as they please, not under the thumb of culture policing. I earnestly believe that if force was taken against the leadership in Iran, it would fold fast. Where is our CIA and the other change agents of our allies? Fifty years ago, things would have changed (not saying this was always right, but the alternative today is too obvious). Just sayin', and I am always an optimist.
Cultural Policing. Where the red states are heading or have actually got to.
Not counting any chickens yet. 🍗
Fair enough!
Everything here, Steven.
Last night he as always showed that the last occupant of the Oval Office is stunningly unfit to be President - the person who represents out country, our democracy; the person who believes in diplomacy first, war second. The criminal who couldn’t bear to lose had NO IDEA HOW TO BE PRESIDENT. He never has and never will even after occupying that office for 4 years.