Immediately following the re-election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, TheRighting’s readers flooded my inbox. Most of the emails were cancellations to the free newsletter. Others visited the donations page unprompted and generously contributed to the support and ongoing operation of TheRighting. And more than a dozen of you wrote in and expressed heart-felt feelings about the direction of the country and the need to take a break from the news. Here are some of the correspondence I received.
TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE OTHER SIDE
I read with concern that some people were cancelling subscriptions. How are we going to understand the Trump phenomena if we ignore what got him to the White House again?The right wing multimedia was a major contributor to his success across demographics. It cancelled out Trump’s amoral behavior and hateful rhetoric that was often incoherent. MAGA is here for the long term and we must understand it to better figure out how to combat it.
Howard Sholkin
NOW AMERICAN POWER IS ON THE DARK SIDE
I am, like so many of your readers, torn between holding my breath and ignoring the news for four years, and cringing as I watch the march of folly in all its raving detail. I can’t get past the fact that over 70 million people voted for a known fraud and criminal. This indicates they have lost faith in our justice system and rule of law. Decency has taken the last train for the coast. I feel like I’m watching a great ship slowly sink. There remains hope that American democracy will survive, but this hope is attenuated by the ubiquity and power of the right-wing media that you so helpfully observe. It took American power to pull the world out of the last right-wing madness in the 1940s, but now American power is on the dark side. George Orwell would feel vindicated, yet horrified.
Hunter Banes
I’M STILL READING
Truth is all we have inside a Trump stream of bad-ness and sad-ness
Matthew Weaver
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
I’m sure I’ll be back (after unsubscribing to TheRighting) when my blood pressure goes back to normal.
Grace Howard
SHE’S BACK
While I had to take a break from all media for a few days, including your righteous summaries, I’m back. And I agree with Steve Stroh’s comment in his letter to you that you’re “one of my key “intel” sources, a “light” overview of what’s happening out there in the Right Wing Universe, without getting sucked down the whirlpool into total despair.”
I’ll keep reading, Howard. Please do keep Righting.
Paula Schaap
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
I enjoy your column almost every day and depend on it to balance my impressions about liberal and conservative politics. Today’s nastiness pervading in American politics is hard to stomach, but we, as concerned citizens, need to know.
Here’s my take on the election: This election points out that our progressive liberal society got its nose rubbed into what is today’s reality. We are a minority bi-coastal community living on the fringe of a conservative nation that glorifies myths they call the past and wants no part of the future.
James White
A NEWS JUNKIE RETURNS
I was also adamant about abandoning my news junkie habit. That lasted one day. Andy Horowitz gave us all permission to go “fetal position” for a day, a week…but then said we have to fight. Because backing out is exactly what fascists want us to do. I plan to volunteer at a local migrant worker non-profit. And I’m in a blue state!!! C’mon, people…stand up!
And thank you, Howard
Kitty Nicholason
MONITORING WHERE OUR COUNTRY STANDS TODAY
I can’t think of a more effective way to cover the increasingly disturbing direction of the radical right, then what TheRighting provides me daily. Summarizing the numerous news outlets that spew ridiculous conspiracies and misinformation allows all of us to monitor where our country stands today. This becomes even more critical as we adjust to the Trump post-election world. Please keep up the good work.
Brad Eno
NUMB BUT NOT DONE
Thanks Howard for The Righting. I’m still numb but not done. I have grandchildren. There’s still reason to fight. Have a well-deserved rest. Come back fighting.
Gail Kouril
