"To me, it is something that I only vaguely recall from when I was much younger, of the feeling of the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War and early environmental and equal rights for women movements." I agree. I was part of the last three movements, myself. I hope the "Trump grip on the GOP" is quelled this year. We're still working on the environment and equal rights. I'm writing my postcards for Activate America and letters for Vote Forward. I fear the fraud of people like Elon Musk and others who have been installed as election officials in some states. This is going to take a concerted effort by all majority of Americans who are ready for a joyful America!
This is the best, and so far my favorite, piece I have seen on our current moment.
I’m 63 years old and lived through the excitement of Clinton’s generational change, the hope of Obama, which gave way to Trump and the feeling that everything I thought and believed about my country and my fellow Americans was a naive dream. Then the relief of Biden’s victory and surprise at how good he was at the job. And then the realization just a few weeks ago that we couldn’t pin our hopes on an 81 year old man (who has already done enough for us).
When President Biden stepped aside I felt hopeful again, but tempered with caution. I thought I had seen it all, but today really does feel different. I so want to believe.
I feel like you read my mind. I haven’t wanted to even speak about how excited I am about this ticket for fear of jinxing it but I keep getting goosebumps again and again. I literally choked up watching the speeches and rallies and while I am always interested in politics I don’t recall ever being *emotional* about a candidate. I’m just a year young than both of them and I feel like the evangelical right has been lecturing to me my whole life. *Finally* things are turning.
Every time I say I’m excited or hopeful about this campaign, I knock on wood. And I don’t dare say “win” out loud! We Dems are a superstitious lot but we’ve been burned so many times!
An excellent articulation of the forces at play. Thank you for your contributions to the upwelling of hope for a more equitable and joyful national future.
The whole lot of you have blinders. The US empire did not change with Harris. She was just VP right now with Israel committing a genocide in front of your eyes, and you do not give a shit. She is just as much an AIPAC-corrupted politician as the rest of congress who shamefully gave a standing ovation to a war criminal. She will not change anything about your warmongering country and your troops will be fighting Israel's war for it, but keep clapping for people who want to start WW3 against Russia and China, and the whole Global South. Shameful.
OMG, OMG. I just came online to write a Substack that's been gestating in my head. I woke up with the title, from Emily Dickinson: "'Hope' is the thing with feathers." The first thing I saw was your title "This Is Not Just a Campaign, It's a Movement." Which is sort of what I've been thinking but in different words. I came, I saw, I read. I'm not delusional, it really is happening, we're going to work like hell and we've got this. Now I've got to go write the thing . . .
There is an enormous network of strong, effective grassroots organizations working to defeat Donald Trump in this election, alongside the party aparatus. It is the secret sauce. 100s of 1000s of donors, organizers, texters, postcarders, canvassers, up and down ballots, voter registration volunteers, etc etc. No one is really tracking it, but I know it's enormous. That is part of the story. Not just enthusiasm, but an infrastructure to absorb it!
This is so true. I'm surprised that no one has seen fit to write a story about this. I'm pretty sure historians will see it as important. But I suppose if you are guided by the "both sides" narrative, you will miss lots of important stories.
This is sane America exploding at the unbelievable period in history we have just lived through. It seemed as if we couldn't break through it we have. Yes it's a movement!!!
I've been on vacation without news or internet so this is the first day I have read Substacks. I love this writing. Thank you, David.
"To me, it is something that I only vaguely recall from when I was much younger, of the feeling of the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War and early environmental and equal rights for women movements." I agree. I was part of the last three movements, myself. I hope the "Trump grip on the GOP" is quelled this year. We're still working on the environment and equal rights. I'm writing my postcards for Activate America and letters for Vote Forward. I fear the fraud of people like Elon Musk and others who have been installed as election officials in some states. This is going to take a concerted effort by all majority of Americans who are ready for a joyful America!
This is the best, and so far my favorite, piece I have seen on our current moment.
I’m 63 years old and lived through the excitement of Clinton’s generational change, the hope of Obama, which gave way to Trump and the feeling that everything I thought and believed about my country and my fellow Americans was a naive dream. Then the relief of Biden’s victory and surprise at how good he was at the job. And then the realization just a few weeks ago that we couldn’t pin our hopes on an 81 year old man (who has already done enough for us).
When President Biden stepped aside I felt hopeful again, but tempered with caution. I thought I had seen it all, but today really does feel different. I so want to believe.
I feel like you read my mind. I haven’t wanted to even speak about how excited I am about this ticket for fear of jinxing it but I keep getting goosebumps again and again. I literally choked up watching the speeches and rallies and while I am always interested in politics I don’t recall ever being *emotional* about a candidate. I’m just a year young than both of them and I feel like the evangelical right has been lecturing to me my whole life. *Finally* things are turning.
Every time I say I’m excited or hopeful about this campaign, I knock on wood. And I don’t dare say “win” out loud! We Dems are a superstitious lot but we’ve been burned so many times!
Thank you for my morning jolt of hope!
All hail! You put a name on it, David, and I don't think you exaggerate when you call the exuberance a movement. …
But. Hardly is it in motion when here comes JDminiMe wasting not a moment before swiftboating Tim Walz, assisted all too shamefully by the nyTimes and yet more by the WaPo. Gift link—TY, tpm: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/times-and-wapo-jump-on-board-trump-camp-swift-boating-of-walz/sharetoken/d505239e-c789-491c-a407-5b1f11c2eac5
Can the campaign devise a way to keep this disgraceful smear from having the same effect as the original swiftboating?
Beautifully written, and what many of us know in our hearts and minds. Thank you.
An excellent articulation of the forces at play. Thank you for your contributions to the upwelling of hope for a more equitable and joyful national future.
The whole lot of you have blinders. The US empire did not change with Harris. She was just VP right now with Israel committing a genocide in front of your eyes, and you do not give a shit. She is just as much an AIPAC-corrupted politician as the rest of congress who shamefully gave a standing ovation to a war criminal. She will not change anything about your warmongering country and your troops will be fighting Israel's war for it, but keep clapping for people who want to start WW3 against Russia and China, and the whole Global South. Shameful.
Thank you for this - it explains exactly what I am feeling and exactly what is happening. It’s glorious.
OMG, OMG. I just came online to write a Substack that's been gestating in my head. I woke up with the title, from Emily Dickinson: "'Hope' is the thing with feathers." The first thing I saw was your title "This Is Not Just a Campaign, It's a Movement." Which is sort of what I've been thinking but in different words. I came, I saw, I read. I'm not delusional, it really is happening, we're going to work like hell and we've got this. Now I've got to go write the thing . . .
Finally, at last…..we are the people we’ve been waiting for!
🥰
There is an enormous network of strong, effective grassroots organizations working to defeat Donald Trump in this election, alongside the party aparatus. It is the secret sauce. 100s of 1000s of donors, organizers, texters, postcarders, canvassers, up and down ballots, voter registration volunteers, etc etc. No one is really tracking it, but I know it's enormous. That is part of the story. Not just enthusiasm, but an infrastructure to absorb it!
Yes indeed! Those outside organizations have been pushing the party regulars hard since 2017, and thank heavens for it.
This is so true. I'm surprised that no one has seen fit to write a story about this. I'm pretty sure historians will see it as important. But I suppose if you are guided by the "both sides" narrative, you will miss lots of important stories.
This is sane America exploding at the unbelievable period in history we have just lived through. It seemed as if we couldn't break through it we have. Yes it's a movement!!!