We underestimate the Democrats and their leaders. Over the past three years they have done quite well negotiating a difficult terrain. They engineered a major election victory in 2018. The decision to impeach Trump was impeccably timed. The hearings, presided over by Adam Schiff, were well conceived and executed. And their ranks have remained united through it all. All of which makes me think that progressive and left activists could learn a lesson or two from them. I know from my earlier experience that to think that you have a monopoly, or near monopoly, of knowledge never ends well.

They were different conditions and times, but when I was in the Communist Party we made some of the same arguments in defending the Soviet Union and the other socialist countries as the authors do here in their defense of the anti-imperialists governments in Latin America. It didn’t work out so well for us or them back then. Our approach was defensive. Our sense of solidarity lacked nuance and complexity. And space for critical judgement was nearly non-existent. I’m not familiar with the conversation that the authors cite so I can’t comment on the particulars, but I do believe that the subject of internationalist solidarity in this century requires some fresh thinking.

A superb summation of the impeachment hearings.

Listening to Sondland elucidating Trump’s role at the top of the bribery-extortion food chain reminds me of the folk wisdom that has held up well across time: if it smells like s..t, it likely is.

I continue to think that Elizabeth Warren is an impressive candidate. She has, I believe, a combination of qualities — compassion, intelligence, bold ideas, sense of partisanship, storytelling ability, modest background and sense of modesty, and ability to inspire and unite — that would make her an outstanding president.