In Axios, Generals come to Harris’ defense on Afghanistan. A bit:
“Without involving the Afghan government, [Trump] and his Administration negotiated a deal with the Taliban that freed 5,000 Taliban fighters,” the retired military officials wrote in a National Security Leaders for America letter first obtained by Axios.
The group accused Trump of leaving Biden and Harris with no plans to execute a withdrawal and little time to do so.
“This chaotic approach severely hindered the Biden-Harris Administration’s ability to execute the most orderly withdrawal possible and put our service members and our allies at risk,” they wrote.
Trump “continually disrespects those who serve in uniform, including wounded warriors, prisoners of war, and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” they added.
Will Bunch, Trump’s real Project 2025 was written for him in Moscow by Vladimir Putin’s men. The recently revealed payments from Moscow to right-wing influencers was just the tip of the iceberg.
Heather Cox Richardson’s latest on Trump’s continued deterioration is a must read.
See also today’s Morning Memo at TPM. Trump has been laying the ground work for “stop the steal” 2.0, already claiming cheating and “skullduggery” will cost him a victory. And he’s promising to punish the “cheaters.” He’s putting more effort into preparing for another coup attempt than he is in get out the vote preparation.
If I run into anything else juicy I’ll add it here.
Update — here’s another one, Is the Press “Sanewashing” Trump by Jon Allsop in the Columbia Journalism Review.
Update: James Earl Jones, 1931-2024
When your POTUS any death of any American Service member that happened during combat on your watch is ultimately your responsibility, it's part of the job. In reality however the President doesn't plan or oversee the operations he just signs off on the orders for them. The deaths are more a reflection of the effectiveness off our enemy or the ineptness of military leadership. Both sides of the political spectrum do politicize service member deaths though we all know the GOP does it far more often and often with reckless brutality. I hope this issue comes up at the debate and they let Stump wallow in the mud about how it's all Joe and Kamala's fault. I would hope that Harris would reply that yes service members deaths fall on the shoulders of the commander in chief but that it is a desecration of their memory and an insult to the families to use that blame to score points during a political campaign. She should say it is just as wrong for you (Stump) to use the 13 deaths at Abbey Gate to score cheap political points as would be for me to use the 65 service members who were killed during your (Stump's) presidency. She should add that while yes the commander in chief is ultimately responsible for the safety of our troops the service members killed during this administration and yours (Stump's) were killed by our enemies and their memories should be cherished not used in a campaign ad. She should add that assigning the entire blame to the President lets those enemies off the hook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0cszR0myak
I bought popcorn. No, I'm not making light of the importance of the debate but I do believe that when voters understand the choice, they won't elect Trump. I'm going into this giving Kamala the vibe so many of us feel. "You go, girl!"
Not many people will tune in to the debate to make up their minds. MOST of the viewers who will tune in knowing who they favor. But the debate is critically important because a LOT of voters, including persuadable voters, will check the highlights of the debate on Wednesday looking at their phone while on their lunch break. Yeah, the Trump camp will post ONLY the moments they think make Trump look good. Our side will highlight Haris' best moments. But the view of liberals will seep through the noise. Persuadable voters will deliberately look to see what both sides think were the moment(s) that proved their candidate.
Just my opinion but I think it will be important to post highlights on social media, and encourage others to spread short clips that show the difference between the two candidates. Don't obsess about the most recent poll. We are within reach – we just have to pull together in the home stretch.
There's an expression from the 70s used by a lot of liberals but in my experience powerfully in Civil Rights – "Keep the Faith!" It sums up the belief that justice and equity will eventually prevail.
Just a few hours from now the bacon will hit the windmill. Will it be the best TV idea since sliced bacon? Not a hope. For many of us we understand that the DonOLD needs put out to pasture. Like that green thing in the back of the refrigerator it has not aged well. Whatever it was no one is going to pare away the green stuff to expose what it once was and to identify it, much less have the nerve to serve it up to anyone they care about.
His only chance it to make Kamala less appetizing. Both will be wrapped perfectly and made up to mask up for the camera. Not a chance of any Rudy runs to entertain us. Just semi-solo rhetoric without canned laughter, applause, chants. or someone with coughing spasm. Like the frozen chosen church service, void of even a half-hearted AMEN.
In this sterile environment a little background music might help. I suggest the soundtrack from Jaws to see if the DonOLD can handle the stress. DonOLD will bring his normal cacophony of background sounds from his interpretation of One Few Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It will be faint with his mike off but incessant.
There will be more. I can't spoil everything. Get ready to seize the boredom. It will be too overwhelming for most but hang in there as long as you can.
Pop carefully. Those bags emit hot steam.
I'm not watching the debate tonight. I almost never watch debates or townhalls or conventions so nothing has changed for me. I've recorded last nights cubs game against the dodgers so I have better things to do. I hope Harris mops the floor with Stump but here is my prediction: Stump will be his normal brutish self, spewing lies, adolescent name calling etc. Kamala will be over prepared tell the truth and will come off as stiff (to the bobble-head programmers) because she isn't Stump. Afterwards our glorious corporate media will grind for hours maybe days about how Kamala missed her opportunity to introduce herself to the American people (90% of whom won't watch the debate). The only question for me is how many cowardly democrats who are only concerned about their own re-election will ask for a new candidate once again, I'm looking at you Nancy!
I guess Stump just doesn't want to use "kid rock" for his cult gatherings. Now the White Stripes have added their name to the long list of A-listers who have threatened and or taken legal action against Diaper Don for using their music at his slobber fests! Go get him!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musicians_who_oppose_Donald_Trump%27s_use_of_their_music
Kamala needs to be “hope and change” for real this time. Independents, the apathetic without any football to watch, and roll-the-dice burn-it-all-down types, need to know that Trump doesn’t give a shit about them, as proven by past results.
What was odd about the Biden debate, was that as I flipped to that channel with my anti-commercials mute on, I instantly got the feeling it was going badly. Trump looked angry-strong and Biden halting-weak. I hope they got that optics part figured out, for all the numb nuts out there, of which there are many.
I'm hoping that Harris can somehow capture some of Stump's unconventionality and still remain tied to reality. I think that is a part Stumps appeal (besides the racism and hate) he doesn't act like a politician and that appeals to many voters on both sides. I hope Kamala isn't over prepared, she needs to keep it simple and let her personality shime through. Though I'm not sure it really matters the bar is so low for Stump that Kamala really can't win as far as the for profit tabloid centric news industry is concerned. They need to keep Stump viable for 56 more days! I'm watching my cubbies, I'll read maha's take on it later, maybe tomorrow!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXhE71RCGfY