Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

[Limey]

I think even more will say Good for them.

I am waiting for the "death tax is evil" brigade to come stomping through here.  But there's a big difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion - mostly because one is prudent financial planning and the other is a serious felony.  The Trumps engaged in the latter.

Also, one of the reasons for having an estate tax, is to avoid the creation of dynastic wealth.  It, in essence, is a capital gains tax applied to assets being transferred through an estate so that such wealth cannot be transferred from person to person within a family ad infinitum with nary a cent of tax paid on it.  Now, we can argue about the amount of tax to charge, but arguing against it is to enshrine wealth among the few to the exclusion of the many.

Otherwise, welcome to feudal America.

[moriartp]

I'd love to know what amount the average voter thinks the estate tax kicks in at.

[chuck]

I'd love to know what amount the average voter thinks the estate tax kicks in at.

I would, too. I wonder if they know that it has risen exponentially over the last ten years. Hopefully all those family farms are safe now.

[jbm]

Even now, I think they see this whole spectacle as a win-win scenario.  If Kavanaugh gets confirmed (and make no mistake, I think he will), they win, and they've gotten to drag the Democrats through the mud while doing it. If Kavanaugh doesn't get confirmed, they get to rile up their base by continued demonization of the Democrats, weaponizing the fear of the possibility of a Dem-controlled Senate that (in their minds) will obstruct the SCOTUS pick until 2020, and promising to exact revenge against the next Democrat that occupies the White House (which Lindsey Graham all but did on Thursday)... and it'll probably work, which is a win.  In reality, they know that if Kavanaugh gets torpedoed, Trump will just pick another conservative justice and the Senate - even a Dem-controlled Senate - will probably confirm him/her, which is still a win.  OR they might just nominate another risk/reward candidate and keep the circus going while spitting more venom across the aisle.  I really don't think the GOP is that stupid/crazy, but the last few years serve as significant evidence to the contrary.

I still can't the question "Why the fuck do they stick with him; isn't there someone without his baggage?" out of my head.   I assume there is and it's hard for me to digest that this entire spectacle is good for the GOP, but I increasingly misread this country.  Anyways, as the events of the last few days have unfolded, I keep returning to the idea expressed in the bolded part of Waldo's post. 

I figure Trump mocking Dr. Ford, and Trump ensuring that the FBI investigation is cursory at best are intended to raise the temperature for the holdouts and make it harder, rather than easier for them to vote yes.  Furthermore, the statement from the prick Graham that Trump should renominate him if he fails seems like a tell to me.  Basically that the GOP would prefer that he fails as it gives them an issue for their base.

As I said, I often misread this country, but this strategy seems like it is playing with fire.

[Limey]

I would, too. I wonder if they know that it has risen exponentially over the last ten years. Hopefully all those family farms are safe now.

When this was last being hotly debated in Congress, Democrats called the bluff of Republicans who wanted to abolish the estate tax outright; they offered an amendment to increase the threshold to $100 million.  Republicans voted it down.

It's not about family farms (it never was).  It's about the Trump's and Koch's of the world who want to pass on their inherited wealth to their ever more useless offspring.

[Limey]

I still can't the question "Why the fuck do they stick with him; isn't there someone without his baggage?" out of my head.   I assume there is and it's hard for me to digest that this entire spectacle is good for the GOP, but I increasingly misread this country.  Anyways, as the events of the last few days have unfolded, I keep returning to the idea expressed in the bolded part of Waldo's post. 

I figure Trump mocking Dr. Ford, and Trump ensuring that the FBI investigation is cursory at best are intended to raise the temperature for the holdouts and make it harder, rather than easier for them to vote yes.  Furthermore, the statement from the prick Graham that Trump should renominate him if he fails seems like a tell to me.  Basically that the GOP would prefer that he fails as it gives them an issue for their base.

As I said, I often misread this country, but this strategy seems like it is playing with fire.

At least one Republican strategist has suggested withdrawing Kavanaugh and leaving the seat open through the mid terms.  Then, if Democrats take the Senate, he can leave the seat open until after 2020 and use it as a wedge issue to drive voters to the polls.  There's a lot of sense to the logic, but it is a horrendous way to govern: refusing to do the blocking and tackling of your job in order to preserve your job, country be damned.

In the meantime, this all really puts a lot of pressure on red state democrats, namely Manchin and Heitkamp.  If they vote against Kavanaugh, they risk upsetting moderates (although I think that moderates are probably against Kavanaugh anyway, according to recent polling); if they vote to confirm, they will turn off the base which will mean, amongst other things, a lack of volunteers to help get out the vote.

[Bench]

In the meantime, this all really puts a lot of pressure on red state democrats, namely Manchin and Heitkamp.  If they vote against Kavanaugh, they risk upsetting moderates (although I think that moderates are probably against Kavanaugh anyway, according to recent polling); if they vote to confirm, they will turn off the base which will mean, amongst other things, a lack of volunteers to help get out the vote.

I simply cannot understand the logic that somebody in WV or ND would have voted for Manchin or Heitkamp, but won't because they didn't vote to confirm this wildly unpopular and loathsome person.  I can absolutely see people that would have voted for Manchin or Heitkamp being turned off by them voting to confirm him.

[chuck]

I simply cannot understand the logic that somebody in WV or ND would have voted for Manchin or Heitkamp, but won't because they didn't vote to confirm this wildly unpopular and loathsome person.  I can absolutely see people that would have voted for Manchin or Heitkamp being turned off by them voting to confirm him.

It's an easy play. You say, Look, there is a long list of men and women that the president could nominate that I would vote to confirm more or less immediately, but I have serious concerns about this individual's truthfulness, character, and temperament. I don't know what happened at those parties and I am not basing my decision on that component of the testimony.

I would think that such an approach would be a net positive for senators in difficult areas.

I do understand their not wanting to tip their hand until the last minute because they will inevitably suffer a deluge of attacks from Trump's twitter and Russian bots, and nothing helpful will come from that sort of attention. But if you get those two Democrats and two or three Republicans, they can give each other enough cover I think to where they can withstand the fury until the next scandal appears and shifts public attention, which shouldn't take more than a couple of hours.

[Limey]

I do understand their not wanting to tip their hand until the last minute because they will inevitably suffer a deluge of attacks from Trump's twitter and Russian bots, and nothing helpful will come from that sort of attention. But if you get those two Democrats and two or three Republicans, they can give each other enough cover I think to where they can withstand the fury until the next scandal appears and shifts public attention, which shouldn't take more than a couple of hours.

This is where Jeff Flake is the pivot; he needs to broker the deal with the potential Republican refuseniks.

The scary thing to me is that Manchin or Heitkamp will blink, and lose re-election because of a base backlash; all of which will serve to enhance the Republican senate majority.

[Limey]

I simply cannot understand the logic that somebody in WV or ND would have voted for Manchin or Heitkamp, but won't because they didn't vote to confirm this wildly unpopular and loathsome person.  I can absolutely see people that would have voted for Manchin or Heitkamp being turned off by them voting to confirm him.

They are both in significant fear of losing their seats, and that may drive them to make a desperate, bad choice.

[Limey]

It's an easy play. You say, Look, there is a long list of men and women that the president could nominate that I would vote to confirm more or less immediately, but I have serious concerns about this individual's truthfulness, character, and temperament. I don't know what happened at those parties and I am not basing my decision on that component of the testimony.

I believe both Manchin and Heitkamp voted to confirm Gorsuch, so they can also point to that vote and say "give me any other right wing nominee - who is potty trained - and I'll confirm them in a heartbeat."

[chuck]

I believe both Manchin and Heitkamp voted to confirm Gorsuch, so they can also point to that vote and say "give me any other right wing nominee - who is potty trained - and I'll confirm them in a heartbeat."

That's what I mean. It should be an easy play for these people. There is no one who is leaning towards voting for them but will switch at the last moment because they decided against a serial liar, rapist, drunk, entitled dickface. There are many, many people who will abandon them if they do vote to confirm this motherfucker.

[Limey]

That's what I mean. It should be an easy play for these people. There is no one who is leaning towards voting for them but will switch at the last moment because they decided against a serial liar, rapist, drunk, entitled dickface. There are many, many people who will abandon them if they do vote to confirm this motherfucker.

My worry is that it's been opposite day every day for nearly two years now.  At some point the streak of the most ridiculous and insane thing possible actually happening has to end.

[Limey]

Flake and Collins reportedly are happy with the FBI report.

That's that then.

[Bench]

Flake and Collins reportedly are happy with the FBI report.

That's that then.

An utterly shameful moment for the country and the court.

[Limey]

An utterly shameful moment for the country and the court.

It's going to get more shameful as time goes on.  Especially when Avenatti starts dropping lawsuits and filing criminal complaints.

[Limey]

An utterly shameful moment for the country and the court.

There are sizeable demonstrations in Washington against this confirmation.  As the votes are scheduled for tomorrow and over the weekend, I expect they will get larger and more unruly.

One truism of politics:  when people show up a politician's office, it makes a difference.  It's easy to play politics in a vacuum; but when confronted with the unwashed masses...not so much.

[Navin R Johnson]

The only chance of blocking this seat is impeachment.  Seat him and then if something undefinable turns up, bye

[Limey]

The only chance of blocking this seat is impeachment.  Seat him and then if something undefinable turns up, bye

Impeachment will require a senate majority for democrats, which also means that democrats get to decide who replaces him.  Both will be heavily lifts without a super-majority in the senate, so we shouldn't hold our breaths.

Of course, Ford or any other accuser has the option to file a criminal complaint in Maryland at any time.  I doubt Kavanaugh would be allowed to stay on the Supreme Court as a convicted sex pest; it's within 500 ft of a Chuckie Cheese, I believe.

[Navin R Johnson]

SHOCKING

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/10/1/17923178/washington-times-seth-rich-aaron-rich-trump-fox-news

The Seth Rich story is a bunch of shit. But people/rubes like Mr Happy ate that shit up.  The folks who decry FAKE NEWS, absolutely devour it! They love it.

[jbm]

They only retracted the story because Hillary threatened to kill the editor's parents and enslave his children.  This "fact" will ease the pain of the believers.

[Waldo]

Flake and Collins reportedly are happy with the FBI report.

That's that then.

In my mind, there was never any outcome besides this one.  Sorry for any of you that got your hopes up.

[Limey]

Heitkamp announced she's a no on Kavanaugh.  On the Democratic side of the aisle, that just leaves Joe Manchin as undecided.  The cloture vote is in about an hour, and he has said that he won't know until the vote is opened.  What a spineless piece of shit.  He is waiting to see if any Republicans break ranks and, if they do, will use that cover the vote against; otherwise I'm sure he's gong to vote "Aye".

FTR, Flake, Collins and Murkowski are also unannounced (but maybe not undecided).  Protests have been large and unruly (as they should be).  Yesterday, over 100 protesters, mostly women, were arrested in the Capitol and, today, a crowd had an early morning kegger outside McConnell's residence, chanting "I Like Beer!" and "Chug! Chug! Chug!"

Meanwhile, assuming today's vote goes Kavanaugh's way, the actual vote will be this weekend.  Problem is, one of the Republicans has to walk his daughter down the aisle on Saturday and so won't be present for a Saturday vote.  That would mean that a single Republican "Nay" (along with all Democrats - that includes you, Manchin!) would sink the nomination.  I think there's a timing issue such that they're now talking about having the vote in the wee hours of Sunday morning so that the absentee Republican can be back to cast his vote.

[Jacksonian]

Heitkamp announced she's a no on Kavanaugh. 

She knows she's going to lose her seat so she's free to vote as she wants.

If Manchin votes yes then he's signalling a real attempt to keep his seat when his term expires.

[Limey]

 Just on that last point (above), the machinations required to confirm Kavanaugh have been extreme.  But even Gorsuch, who we (now) remember as being smooth, was the product of the obstruction of Obama's nominee for almost a year and then the nuking of the filibuster for SCOTUS nominees.  They are both the product of crippled and craven politics.

McConnell is the person most responsible for the current ultra-partisan state of politics.  The Senate is supposed to be the grown ups, but he announced to his colleagues - at the exact moment as Obama was giving his victory speech in Grant Park - that they would simply obstruct everything that Obama proposed; good, bad or indifferent.  McConnell has also said that obstructing Obama's SCOTUS nominee is his proudest moment in politics.

Seriously; fuck Mitch McConnell.

[moriartp]

She knows she's going to lose her seat so she's free to vote as she wants.

If Manchin votes yes then he's signalling a real attempt to keep his seat when his term expires.

Yep.

[Limey]

She knows she's going to lose her seat so she's free to vote as she wants.

If Manchin votes yes then he's signalling a real attempt to keep his seat when his term expires.

Yep, polling on Heitkamp has her getting crushed.

Manchin, on the other hand, is up by 10 in recent polling.  He has some wiggle room.

[Limey]

Reports are that Collins will vote to proceed on Kavanaugh, but not announce her actual vote until later today when she gives a floor speech at 3pm.  Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but such parsing wouldn't be necessary if she was a simple "Aye".  Voting for cloture gives her the platform of a floor speech that should would not other wise have...

[Limey]

Kavanaugh clears the cloture hurdle, notable votes being Manchin a "Yes" and Murkowski a :"No".

If Murkowski's vote indicates she's also "No" on the confirmation vote, and Collins goes that way too, then Manchin is out there all alone as the pivot vote.  I hope he feels very uncomfortable about that.

[Navin R Johnson]

They only retracted the story because Hillary threatened to kill the editor's parents and enslave his children.  This "fact" will ease the pain of the believers.

LOL.  There are absolutely people out there who'd believe that.  There is a whole slice of this country that is basically the Onion, in real life.

[BudGirl]

LOL.  There are absolutely people out there who'd believe that.  There is a whole slice of this country that is basically the Onion, in real life.

and they vote.

[jbm]

Just on that last point (above), the machinations required to confirm Kavanaugh have been extreme.  But even Gorsuch, who we (now) remember as being smooth, was the product of the obstruction of Obama's nominee for almost a year and then the nuking of the filibuster for SCOTUS nominees.  They are both the product of crippled and craven politics.

McConnell is the person most responsible for the current ultra-partisan state of politics.  The Senate is supposed to be the grown ups, but he announced to his colleagues - at the exact moment as Obama was giving his victory speech in Grant Park - that they would simply obstruct everything that Obama proposed; good, bad or indifferent.  McConnell has also said that obstructing Obama's SCOTUS nominee is his proudest moment in politics.

Seriously; fuck Mitch McConnell.

Along this line, a discussion on how Democrats seem to be losing the long game where Republicans obliterate norms and Democrats follow them and listen to the "both sides" concern trolls:

https://www.vox.com/2018/5/1/17258866/democratic-party-republicans-trump-election

This might have already been posted before in other forms.  It's sad that things are this way, but it really is true to if they play dirty and you don't, you're the chump.

[Limey]

Murkowski (sort of) confirms she's a "No" on Kavanaugh. 

Flake says he's a "Yes", barring anything major happening between now and the vote (I suspect he'll be taking the stairs until it's over).

That brings it down to Manchin and Collins, who have promised to issue statements / make speeches which may or may not confirm their decision.

I'm hoping that Murkowski's move will give them cover / fortitude to vote "No".

[Lefty]

LOL.  There are absolutely people out there who'd believe that.  There is a whole slice of this country that is basically the Onion, in real life.

This was 20! years ago:

WASHINGTON, DC—Calling the unregulated flow of information "the single greatest threat to the emotional comfort and well-being of the American people," Congress passed the long-discussed Freedom From Information Act Monday.

The legislation—a response to widespread public demand to know less about the realities of the world around it—guarantees citizens protection from unpleasant information and imposes tough new restrictions on facts that federal authorities deem potentially damaging to the public's overall peace of mind.

https://politics.theonion.com/congress-passes-freedom-from-information-act-1819564667

[Jacksonian]

Murkowski (sort of) confirms she's a "No" on Kavanaugh. 

Flake says he's a "Yes", barring anything major happening between now and the vote (I suspect he'll be taking the stairs until it's over).

That brings it down to Manchin and Collins, who have promised to issue statements / make speeches which may or may not confirm their decision.

I'm hoping that Murkowski's move will give them cover / fortitude to vote "No".

I'm surprised Doug Jones isn't more of a question mark.

[moriartp]

I'm surprised Doug Jones isn't more of a question mark.

That seat is gone, gone, gone in 2020. He's better off staying in Democrats' good graces to get himself some kind of appointment in the next administration.

[Limey]

Collins is a yes on Kavanaugh.  Game over, unless Flake gets turned again.   Of course, Manchin is going to slime his way to hiding behind Collins, so even Flake might not be enough. 

Washington is going to drown in pussy hats tomorrow. 

[chuck]

It's already drowning in pussies so why not.

[Limey]

It's already drowning in pussies so why not.

Fucking Manchin. 

You know him and Collins planned this to give each other cover.  Trouble is, you can’t punish Manchin at the ballot box because it just hands a Senate seat to the Republicans. 

[moriartp]

Fucking Manchin. 

You know him and Collins planned this to give each other cover.  Trouble is, you can’t punish Manchin at the ballot box because it just hands a Senate seat to the Republicans.

With Collins voting yes, I'm fine with him taking the chickenshit route to keep his seat. It is insane that the Dems have a WV seat at all. Fuck him, agreed, but the alternative is worse.

[Limey]

With Collins voting yes, I'm fine with him taking the chickenshit route to keep his seat. It is insane that the Dems have a WV seat at all. Fuck him, agreed, but the alternative is worse.

My point is that I bet Manchin and Collins worked it together, to split the heat, because  ache could point to the other to say their choice is irrelevant (Pence would split the tie). 

[Mr. Happy]

My point is that I bet Manchin and Collins worked it together, to split the heat, because  ache could point to the other to say their choice is irrelevant (Pence would split the tie).

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

[WVastro]

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

Are you upset your Indians lost today? Tough shit.

[Tom Servo]

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

A not joke?  Really?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lefty]

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

Go Team!

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

[Mr. Happy]

Are you upset your Indians lost today? Tough shit.

Geaux Astros.

[austro]

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

I'm curious: leaving aside the fact that you love that the pick pisses us off, do you genuinely believe that Kavanaugh is fit to sit on the Supreme Court?

[MRaup]

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

Congrats on being a racist rapist enabler. The women in your life must be so proud.

[BudGirl]

Tough shit, boys. Better luck next time. Not.

How many woman did you assault when you were high?

[chuck]

How many woman did you assault when you were high?

Enough to get disbarred. In Louisiana.

[Lefty]

Enough to get disbarred. In Louisiana.

Ouch.

[chuck]

Ouch.

TWSS

[Navin R Johnson]

Welp. This thread escalated quickly.  So Happy who rails on Hillary, is a disbarred drunk with a history of sexual assault?

[Mr. Happy]

Welp. This thread escalated quickly.  So Happy who rails on Hillary, is a disbarred drunk with a history of sexual assault?

First of all, do your research. It's on the internet. I was not disbarred. I was never even threatened withh that. I am a recovering drug addict (I've been very honest about that here, and it's given me the opportunity to work with and help a few OWA folks who privately self-admitted a substance abuse problem-that's why I am public about it-to help others), and I was suspended for three years in large part because of that. The suspension ended in 2009. I have been eligible for reinstatement since then. Given that I was living in California in 2009, and I have no plans to ever practice law again or go back to Louisiana, I've never sought reinstatement. But I've been eligible to do so for almost ten years, folks.

Even when joking, the sexual assault comments crossed the line between humor and mean-spiritedness. I can understand Judge (soon to be Justice) Kavanaugh's anger when confronted with such baseless allegations. I am, and at all times have always been, a Southern gentleman, particularly with women. I deeply resent even your rude and snide, baseless comments about sexual assault.

I take on you sorry bastards because you're living in an echo chamber that bears no resenblance to reality. I get PM's from people indicating that I'm not alone in my beliefs, but others are too scared to take on your rude, snide gauntlet. Well, I'm not. Even at 58, I can still whip most of your asses. Now, go back to PMSNBC or whereever else you get your "news."

The thing that strikes me as funny is that as intelligent as most of you people are (Navin notwithstanding-you're an idiot), not one of you has demonstrated one iota of understanding why President Trump won. There's a significant percentage of people in this country who think differently than you, and these people vote.

President Trump has accomplished a lot in less than two years. All-time stock market highs. Record low unemployment. Got rid of NAFTA. Standing up to China. Progress with North Korea (President Trump arranged for the bodies of Korean Conflict veterans, something your hero, President Obama, or the rapist in chief, or even the sorry-ass Bushes didn't and couldn't do). I believe that he'll be reelected in 2020.

Finally, I want to thank you libtards for so vociferously challenging Judge Kavanaugh so close to the mid-term elections because it's energized the base. I believe that the Republicans will retain both the House and the Senate, while you geniuses remain stuck with Chuckie Schmucky Schumer, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Pocohantas and, last but certainly not least, Comrade Feinstein. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[Mr. Happy]

I'm curious: leaving aside the fact that you love that the pick pisses us off, do you genuinely believe that Kavanaugh is fit to sit on the Supreme Court?

Without question, Judge Kavanaugh is fit to serve on the Supreme Court. The ABA agreed with me about that.

[Mr. Happy]

Congrats on being a racist rapist enabler. The women in your life must be so proud.

Fuck off, Mark. I'm neither a racist nor a rapist enabler. In fact, my wife is proud of me, and she backs Judge Kavanaugh despite herself having been the victim of sexual assault. Decades old charges where the complainant is fuzzy on the facts are just flimsy charges. And none of your so-called victims alleged that Judge Kavanaugh actually raped them.

Alright you hypocritical libtard apologists, I maintain that anyone who voted for President Clinton after clear actual rape allegations against him is a rapist enabler. Welcome to the club.

[Mr. Happy]

How many woman did you assault when you were high?

Zero, even when I wasn't high.

[Mr. Happy]

Enough to get disbarred. In Louisiana.

Wrong. Fuck off, you little weasel.

[Limey]

Without question, Judge Kavanaugh is fit to serve on the Supreme Court. The ABA agreed with me about that.

No, you had the same opinion as the ABA.  The difference is, the ABA withdrew their support after Kavanaugh’s unhinged, partisan performance in front of congress.  As did his law school.  As did hundreds of judges. 

[MRaup]

Fuck off, Mark. I'm neither a racist nor a rapist enabler. In fact, my wife is proud of me, and she backs Judge Kavanaugh despite herself having been the victim of sexual assault. Decades old charges where the complainant is fuzzy on the facts are just flimsy charges. And none of your so-called victims alleged that Judge Kavanaugh actually raped them.

Alright you hypocritical libtard apologists, I maintain that anyone who voted for President Clinton after clear actual rape allegations against him is a rapist enabler. Welcome to the club.

Your hypocritical logos knows no bounds.

Just because other people don't agree with this thread doesn't make you any less crazy.

Your continued support of the criminal in chief and his old racist white bully politics is fucking disgusting, and if you had a single drop of true compassion in your personality, maybe you would see past the glaring, enormous double standards you project and echo from White Racist News Network. But you'll keep on screaming libtard instead, and keep on laughing while the total embarrassment of a president calls people names, throws temper tantrums, and generally sets the country back 50 years in race relations.

[hostros7]

First of all, do your research. It's on the internet. I was not disbarred. I was never even threatened withh that. I am a recovering drug addict (I've been very honest about that here, and it's given me the opportunity to work with and help a few OWA folks who privately self-admitted a substance abuse problem-that's why I am public about it-to help others), and I was suspended for three years in large part because of that. The suspension ended in 2009. I have been eligible for reinstatement since then. Given that I was living in California in 2009, and I have no plans to ever practice law again or go back to Louisiana, I've never sought reinstatement. But I've been eligible to do so for almost ten years, folks.

First of all, my only knowledge of you comes from what you have posted on this site over the last two decades. One fact is entirely clear based on that history: you are a loser. And, I honestly only mean that as a statement of fact and not in a pejorative way. You played college baseball and had enough intelligence, luck, connections, strong work ethic--or some combination of the four--to be accepted to Georgetown Law School. Those facts alone indicate that your life was off to an auspicious start. Your addiction and other personal issues derailed you. You were a negligent father and a shitty husband. You now seem to be relatively economically disenfranchised, a key symptom of many of those who support Trump, and something that our leadership and government needs to address for all demographics that are struggling to pay bills as the wealth gap continues to widen. And I applaud you for overcoming your struggle with addiction. However, rather than to use your struggles as a lens to view the world through, making you a more empathetic person, you have chosen to be bitter and angry, to revel in "owning libs," which I swear will never do anything to improve your own personal economic or social circumstances, and to be divisive on this board and, I'm sure, in your community.

The truth is, if you weren't white, you would be dead or in jail. The time you were standing on your wife or ex-wife's front yard with a baseball bat when the police showed up while she and your kids cowered inside? That doesn't end well for people who weren't born with the inherent privileges you were. It's ironic that I've read indirectly racist comments from you about young black men who lost their lives during encounters with police. Sure, maybe they were selling a loosie or standing on a corner, but how could you become so callous and out of touch given what you went through and all the second chances that you've had?

Anyways, I'm not here to try to win some message board chat; honestly, your posts in this thread only make me feel sad for you... and I'm not part of the "echo chamber" you think that you're enlightening with your right wing takes. And, I'm sorry that your addiction and personal demons derailed your life and career. My only point is that nothing Trump has ever done or will ever purport to do (or lie about doing) is ever going to make your life better. You aren't winning. You already lost many years ago, and I hope that you'll take that knowledge and use it to make your personal life as fulfilling and happy as it can be and to try to live with some empathy and compassion for others who are also struggling in varying and complicated ways that we can never truly understand as outsiders.

Even when joking, the sexual assault comments crossed the line between humor and mean-spiritedness. I can understand Judge (soon to be Justice) Kavanaugh's anger when confronted with such baseless allegations. I am, and at all times have always been, a Southern gentleman, particularly with women. I deeply resent even your rude and snide, baseless comments about sexual assault.

I take on you sorry bastards because you're living in an echo chamber that bears no resenblance to reality. I get PM's from people indicating that I'm not alone in my beliefs, but others are too scared to take on your rude, snide gauntlet. Well, I'm not. Even at 58, I can still whip most of your asses. Now, go back to PMSNBC or whereever else you get your "news."

Also, the juxtaposition of "all times have always been a southern gentlemen, particularly with women" and an overtly ugly misogynist comment like "PMSNBC" only really highlights the disconnect between who you THINK you are and who YOU REALLY ARE. Embrace the reality of it, stop projecting blame onto a society and economy that has largely left you behind, and try to be a better person during your remaining days.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Gee. I hope all of you guys can still be friends.

[chuck]

You played college baseball and had enough intelligence, luck, connections, strong work ethic--or some combination of the four--to be accepted to Georgetown Law School.

I am sad to say that you are extending him a line of credit for which he does not qualify. He attended law school at LSU. At some point thereafter he found his way to Georgetown where he received some sort of estate planning certificate.

[Mr. Happy]

I am sad to say that you are extending him a line of credit for which he does not qualify. He attended law school at LSU. At some point thereafter he found his way to Georgetown where he received some sort of estate planning certificate.

It was an advanced law degree, an LL.M.

[AstroNut]

Great day and great addition to the line up of nine....Congrats Justice Kavanaugh !!!!

And congrats Mr. Happy on your courage here at OWA, in this intolerable bastion of liberal thought.

Usually come here for only good Astro insight...

Let's Go Astros !

[Fynn]

Great day and great addition to the line up of nine....Congrats Justice Kavanaugh !!!!

And congrats Mr. Happy on your courage here at OWA, in this intolerable bastion of liberal thought.

Usually come here for only good Astro insight...

Let's Go Astros !

Enough of that.  Back to the echo chamber.

[chuck]

It was an advanced law degree, an LL.M.

I must have misremembered the academic credentials I noted when I was perusing the Louisiana Supreme Court's rejection of your petition for reinstatement.

[Nate Colbert]

I must have misremembered the academic credentials I noted when I was perusing the Louisiana Supreme Court's rejection of your petition for reinstatement.

Might be interesting reading. Got a link?

[BudGirl]

Great day and great addition to the line up of nine....Congrats Justice Kavanaugh !!!!

And congrats Mr. Happy on your courage here at OWA, in this intolerable bastion of liberal thought.

Usually come here for only good Astro insight...

Let's Go Astros !

Yeah, he's a hero.  He was helped but doesn't think anyone else should be.  Kind of like last one in shut the door.  I see no reason to even try and be respectful towards him when he tries to offend with weak slang terms.  They just show him and you all to be parrots.

And the allegations against your perfect judge are not baseless as they were never truly investigated. 

BTW, you future Russians are welcome to start your own echo chamber.

[chuck]

Might be interesting reading. Got a link?

Much like Hap himself the LA SC mistrusts foreigners and will not allow me to access the site. I don't feel like dealing with a VPN so I'm going to guess that this is what I was talking about. If not, just search the site (or google) and you'll be presented with full compliment of relevant matters that have been heard.

https://www.lasc.org/opinions/2009/09B0405.pc.pdf

[Nate Colbert]

The point has been made by other commentators previously but the whole concept of "economic concerns" driving Trump voters is utterly bogus. It boils down to this: they're simply racist, bigoted shits (particularly the well-educated types like Mr. Happy who, whatever their economic circumstances once were, enjoy a lifestyle that most Americans would die for):

Both in the Republican primaries and in the general election, white voters’ attitudes about African Americans, Muslims and immigration were more closely associated with how they voted than were any strictly economic concerns. In fact, racial attitudes were the prism through which voters thought about economic outcomes — something we call “racialized economics.” For example, after Obama became president, attitudes toward blacks suddenly became linked with people’s views on the economy: the less favorable their view of blacks, the less favorable their view of the economy. Scholars who did extensive interviews with whites in Youngstown, Ohio, and rural Louisiana reported many racially loaded statements about economic circumstances. One Youngstown factory worker said people who received government assistance had “gold chains and a Cadillac, when I can barely afford a Cavalier.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/myths-about-the-2016-presidential-election/2018/10/05/4e07a22a-c808-11e8-b2b5-79270f9cce17_story.html?utm_term=.4d00bcfa84f0

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It boils down to this: they're simply racist, bigoted shits (particularly the well-educated types...

When all logic grows cold and all thinking gets done,
You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor of Simpleton

[Navin R Johnson]

My favorite theme in this thread is the echo chamber, from folks who spend all their time watching Fox News and posting lame memes on Facebook and nodding their heads to Rush and Ingram and their ilk.  I’d challenge any of you to go spend a day at D caucas and an R one. One looks like current America the other what y’all pretend it is. MAGA. By supporting a guy who is a carnival barker. You folks supporting this fraud are going down as 21st century Alexander Stephens. 

As much grief as I give. I’d still sit down with any of y’all and have a beer and talk Astros. I’m just flabbergasted at the lack of empathy on certain issues. Especially from folks who have been on the receiving end their whole life.

[Nate Colbert]

When all logic grows cold and all thinking gets done,
You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor of Simpleton

Simpleton? Isn't that where all the Hillary conspiracy believers such as yourself reside?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Simpleton? Isn't that where all the Hillary conspiracy believers such as yourself reside?

No, your geography is all fucked up. I believe that Hillary rode her husband coat tails, that's not a conspiacy. I believe that Hillary victim shamed Bill's accusers, that not  conspiracy. I don't believe she had shit to do with Benghazi. I think she might have screwed Bernie Sanders but it's just a hunch not a belief. I don't even believe what those guys were saying about you that one time.

[Nate Colbert]

I don't even believe what those guys were saying about you that one time.

Oh, that one you shoulda believed. They did hire me to kill that guy.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Oh, that one you shoulda believed. They did hire me to kill that guy.

I'm talking about that other time, not the one time.

[WVastro]

I spent way too much time writing something that ultimately would have been “tldnr”. So here’s a summary:

Holy crap. Accusations of racism and domestic abuse on a sports forum about a memeber that most of us know very little about feels like a cheap shot and ultimately extremely unproductive. You can’t cry “you’re an extremist!” and then be guilty of the same thing. I’m not friends with anyone here on Facebook so I might not know 90% of the story but that brings me back to my original point - wrong forum. None of this makes anyone look good imo.

That being said...

Mr. Happy, personally, I whole heartedly disagree with you on pretty much everything you post on this thread. I feel like I started this current shitshow with my dig at you about your Indians fandom (2-0 btw! Tough shit!) but that wasn’t personal. If I could ask one thing... please speak from the heart and explain your positions. Basically, if it fits on a bumper sticker I’m not going to listen. If you lead with, or your main point is “libtards” I’m not going to listen. If your only reaction to a major political event is “haha! I win you lose” then nobody is going to listen. If your response to something you don’t agree with is making fun of the extremely normal and and evolutionarily required menstrual cycle (PMSNBC) then again, I won’t listen and you are clearly in the minority in attitude and basic human decorum.

Are you listening to this? Because I’m trying to talk to you, isn’t that what you want from the “other team”? (Don’t get me started on the team dynamics of current politics)

If you don’t care then so be it, I’d rather hear from someone like Limey who consistently presents well thought out and mostly thouroughly vetted summaries of the daily political machinations. I might even occasionally disagree with some of his posts, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t give two fucks.  Please present your sources! Explain why you think what you think with that context and I think this thread could be far more interesting. Otherwise why are you here?

Sphinx: you’re obviously a bright fella. You’re input would be welcome if you have the interest. It might actually help some of the “team democrat” folks here. I think the key is that we all keep away from the instinct of getting mad when someone challenges our “team”. Make no mistake, we are all getting played by making us choose a team. Especially us sports fans. We love choosing a team and sticking with it through 100 loss seasons and 100 win seasons. Very applicable.

For the record, wtf on Kavanaugh. The guy already has a lifetime court appointment. Nobody was trying to “ruin his life”. His life is already going to be just fine. This was about selecting someone who should be in the top .01% of their profession. If there are major concerns regarding honesty or criminality or temperament then we can wait more than one week before pushing through a confirmation. If there’s too much smoke then move on. Surely there has to be at least one other candidate that can pass the smell test and still deliver what is expected. His life was never going to be ruined. Give me a break. As soon as the next news cycle hits and whatever the next shitshow is that we all get to witness, BK would have been forgotten within days. Who even remembers the last political boogeyman?

Meanwhile, a lady who really had nothing to gain gets to deal with death threats to her own self and her family. I genuinely hope the never ending shit news cycle buries her current situation and she can carry in with her life.

‘Murica!

This still ended up tldr...

[chuck]

Accusations of racism and domestic abuse on a sports forum about a memeber that most of us know very little about feels like a cheap shot and ultimately extremely unproductive.

You might consider that a lot of us have been watching him act like a lunatic here for 20 years.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

As much grief as I give. I’d still sit down with any of y’all and have a beer and talk Astros. I’m just flabbergasted at the lack of empathy on certain issues. Especially from folks who have been on the receiving end their whole life.

Me too, regarding shit given and beer.  I admit I'm kind of fucked up, hell,  I'm a pacifist and an anarchist, but I don't really think Democrats are a bunch of namby pamby idealistic bleeding heart milk toast cream puff Pollyannas just waiting to be taken advantage, anymore than I think Republicans are stupid cold hearted cruel racist fear mongering women hating war hawk bastards waiting to destroy everyone but old white guys. It's all somewhere in between and it's woven in the fabric of this great country. We're all equally fucked and will remain so until people are willing to exercise give and take politics instead of tribal politics. All this whining and hand wringing may bring comfort to some but it solves nothing. We must all learn to love again. We must be willing to meet half way. Compromise is not a weakness. Yes people, love is the answer.

[Nate Colbert]

Yes people, love is the answer.

I might agree with you but you've got a funny way of showing love.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I might agree with you but you've got a funny way of showing love.

Yeah, I know. I just can't help my need to fuck with shit sometimes. But, if I didn't care about whom I'm fuckin' with I wouldn't bother in the first place.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Sphinx: you’re obviously a bright fella.

Hahaha. I'm a fella, and what my dad calls an educated idiot.

[WVastro]

You might consider that a lot of us have been watching him act like a lunatic here for 20 years.

Well. I’ve been on the forum for at least 16 years (didn’t keep track and mostly lurking for most of that time) and I ignored anything non-baseball for a good chunk of it. So yeah, I have little context. This thread has been fascinating to me though. The biggest “concern” I hear from people I disagree with is that I just don’t understand them and am out of touch. So, I want to listen. Please provide something of substance.

 I’ve been waiting and the substance is lacking so far.

[WVastro]

Me too, regarding shit given and beer.  I admit I'm kind of fucked up, hell,  I'm a pacifist and an anarchist, but I don't really think Democrats are a bunch of namby pamby idealistic bleeding heart milk toast cream puff Pollyannas just waiting to be taken advantage, anymore than I think Republicans are stupid cold hearted cruel racist fear mongering women hating war hawk bastards waiting to destroy everyone but old white guys. It's all somewhere in between and it's woven in the fabric of this great country. We're all equally fucked and will remain so until people are willing to exercise give and take politics instead of tribal politics. All this whining and hand wringing may bring comfort to some but it solves nothing. We must all learn to love again. We must be willing to meet half way. Compromise is not a weakness. Yes people, love is the answer.

This is constructive! Thank you. I’m totally fucked and so are you. Where do we go from here?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

This is constructive! Thank you. I’m totally fucked and so are you. Where do we go from here?

Politicians work together. It's 2018. The party of progress develops an app that can register people from a smart phone, and take their picture, then you tell the other guys who like the old ways best, that they can have their coveted voter IDs if they promise to never build that goddamn wall.

Now I know I'm over simplifying things and it's really just a pipe dream. But there's no effort, from either side. The gap is too far and there's too much damage. I blame most of the gap of on Trump, but not all, the shit has been stewing since Kennedy got shot by that one guy that one other time. There, how's that for a conspiracy.

[chuck]

Politicians work together. It's 2018.

I'm not sure I could come up with a more diametrically opposed pair of sentences.

[Navin R Johnson]

Let me guess, Happy and all his fake DM/inbox crowd are all huge “personal responsibility” and  limited government phonies 

[Aussie Astro]

No one is actually addressing the point Mr Hap made though, why is it that neither of the main parties can put up a candidate that is able to beat a guy who is not even a politician?  You can drag out all the bumper sticker explanations with all the ‘isims’ you like, but I don’t think they explain it.  When nearly half the voters in the country take him over whatever else was on offer, I don’t think you can just say it is just the lunatic fringe.

I may have made this observation before, but there appears to be very little objectivity in US politics (or this thread).  I am not too savvy on how your political systems work but I know a partisan shit show when I see one.  In 2018, you are either a smelly transgender hippy who is really a disguised communist or an evil old white guy that wants to revert to days of slavery and keep the women folk under control and in the kitchen.  No middle ground, choose which camp you are in.  If I am in one of these camps and you say something that doesn’t align to how I think, then fuck you, you are in the other camp and don’t even try to explain anything to me, I’m not listening.

In baseball discussions, folks seem to be somewhat skeptical, suspicious and cynical, not so much in this thread.  So, back to original question how did Trump get elected?

[Mr. Happy]

Let me guess, Happy and all his fake DM/inbox crowd are all huge “personal responsibility” and  limited government phonies 

Nothing fake about a couple of supporters, neither of whom said much about their politics.

First of all, my only knowledge of you comes from what you have posted on this site over the last two decades. One fact is entirely clear based on that history: you are a loser. And, I honestly only mean that as a statement of fact and not in a pejorative way. You played college baseball and had enough intelligence, luck, connections, strong work ethic--or some combination of the four--to be accepted to Georgetown Law School. Those facts alone indicate that your life was off to an auspicious start. Your addiction and other personal issues derailed you. You were a negligent father and a shitty husband. You now seem to be relatively economically disenfranchised, a key symptom of many of those who support Trump, and something that our leadership and government needs to address for all demographics that are struggling to pay bills as the wealth gap continues to widen. And I applaud you for overcoming your struggle with addiction. However, rather than to use your struggles as a lens to view the world through, making you a more empathetic person, you have chosen to be bitter and angry, to revel in "owning libs," which I swear will never do anything to improve your own personal economic or social circumstances, and to be divisive on this board and, I'm sure, in your community.

The truth is, if you weren't white, you would be dead or in jail. The time you were standing on your wife or ex-wife's front yard with a baseball bat when the police showed up while she and your kids cowered inside? That doesn't end well for people who weren't born with the inherent privileges you were. It's ironic that I've read indirectly racist comments from you about young black men who lost their lives during encounters with police. Sure, maybe they were selling a loosie or standing on a corner, but how could you become so callous and out of touch given what you went through and all the second chances that you've had?

Anyways, I'm not here to try to win some message board chat; honestly, your posts in this thread only make me feel sad for you... and I'm not part of the "echo chamber" you think that you're enlightening with your right wing takes. And, I'm sorry that your addiction and personal demons derailed your life and career. My only point is that nothing Trump has ever done or will ever purport to do (or lie about doing) is ever going to make your life better. You aren't winning. You already lost many years ago, and I hope that you'll take that knowledge and use it to make your personal life as fulfilling and happy as it can be and to try to live with some empathy and compassion for others who are also struggling in varying and complicated ways that we can never truly understand as outsiders.


Also, the juxtaposition of "all times have always been a southern gentlemen, particularly with women" and an overtly ugly misogynist comment like "PMSNBC" only really highlights the disconnect between who you THINK you are and who YOU REALLY ARE. Embrace the reality of it, stop projecting blame onto a society and economy that has largely left you behind, and try to be a better person during your remaining days.

Thanks for the analysis. You have been reading. Correction about the bat story. The reason why I violated the restraining order that evening was because my ex refused to let me tell the boys goodnight over the phone. I had just received a Louisville Slugger bat with my name on it as a gift from a law  school classmate. I wanted to show it to the boys. There was never at any time any direct, indirect, overt or covert threats of any harm whatsoever. When the ADA saw the bat, he immediately dropped the felony charges, and to get it over with that day, so that I could return to California, I pled guilty to a count of disturbing the peace and one count of telephone harassment, both of which are misdemeanors. I got probation, which they commuted after one year.

I will take what you say, which was sad sincerely and in a polite way (which I deeply appreciate), under advisement. You may well be right about a couple of things.

[Mr. Happy]

Gee. I hope all of you guys can still be friends.

Absotively, posilutely, Andy! I would jump in a foxhole immediately with Limey, Chuck, Navin or any of your glorious bastards, even though we disagree on most things. Even you, Sphinx!

[Tom Servo]

This could be a good metaphor for the "moving on, nothing to see here" shitshow of the Kavanaugh confirmation.

https://twitter.com/KamVTV/status/1048409672137363456

[Limey]

As of today, two thirds of the men on the Supreme Court have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct by highly respected, successful, professional women.  Happy Monday.

[HudsonHawk]

As of today, two thirds of the men on the Supreme Court have been credibly accused of sexual misconduct by highly respected, successful, professional women.  Happy Monday.

John Jay probably did bad things too.

[Bench]

John Jay probably did bad things too.

At least Jay never got stuck in a bath tub.

[Limey]

In completely unexpected and in no way predictable news, Joe Manchin got attacked by Trump Jr. after he helped put daddy's enforcer on the Supreme Court while, at the same time, Manchin is losing support and enthusiasm among his Democratic base.

That dumb fucking coward is going to gift his seat to the Republicans after gifting them control of the court for a generation.  Was he really that stupid to think that they'd leave him alone after blasting off both feet?

[TeeJoe]

I really only read 2 forums online with any regularity.  This forum is skewed liberal and demonizes the conservatives.

The other forum is conservative and demonizes liberals. 

I read both "echo chambers" in that sometimes I get some good commentary about a political position.  I skip over the name calling, characterizations, etc.

For me this quote sums up a root of the issue (It's not as simplistic as the quote but it's a start)
"The problem with Washington is that we've become Democrats and Republicans instead of Americans. Everything is aimed at enhancing political position instead of strengthening America."

[WVastro]

In completely unexpected and in no way predictable news, Joe Manchin got attacked by Trump Jr. after he helped put daddy's enforcer on the Supreme Court while, at the same time, Manchin is losing support and enthusiasm among his Democratic base.

That dumb fucking coward is going to gift his seat to the Republicans after gifting them control of the court for a generation.  Was he really that stupid to think that they'd leave him alone after blasting off both feet?

Manchin is a coward and as corrupt as they come. I could care less which letter comes before whoever holds the seat here in WV. It’s the same “good ‘ol boy” club regardless.

[Limey]

Manchin is a coward and as corrupt as they come. I could care less which letter comes before whoever holds the seat here in WV. It’s the same “good ‘ol boy” club regardless.

There's talk that he might switch parties after the election.  I don't know if that's real, or just an old fashioned dirty trick to dampen Democratic turnout.  Either way, he brings this on himself; he works hard to keep his job rather than doing his job.

[TeeJoe]

And...the right wing and left wing belong to the same bird.

MLK stated that if we can't learn to live together as brothers then we will perish together as fools.

[MRaup]

And...the right wing and left wing belong to the same bird.

MLK stated that if we can't learn to live together as brothers then we will perish together as fools.

This is 100 percent truth. I tend to lean a little liberal, but the money grubbing whoring and absolute disinterest in anything that doesn't involve personal gain from almost every current politician is fucking disgusting, and is just soul crushing from a human being that cares about the lives of other human beings.

[Jacksonian]

This is 100 percent truth. I tend to lean a little liberal, but the money grubbing whoring and absolute disinterest in anything that doesn't involve personal gain from almost every current politician is fucking disgusting, and is just soul crushing from a human being that cares about the lives of other human beings.

So what species are Joe West and Angel Hernandez then?

[MRaup]

So what species are Joe West and Angel Hernandez then?

Joe West is some form of bullfrog.

Angel Hernandez is only a small part human, and that part is known as "the asshole".

[Lefty]

Joe West is some form of bullfrog.

Angel Hernandez is only a small part human, and that part is known as "the asshole".

Baboon ass.

[Limey]

So what species are Joe West and Angel Hernandez then?

Joe West puts the "cunt" in "country".

[Limey]

I never though (or hoped) that I'd live to see the day that someone talked more nonsense in the Oval Office than Trump.  And then it happened today.  With Trump watching.  Jeez.

[WVastro]

I never though (or hoped) that I'd live to see the day that someone talked more nonsense in the Oval Office than Trump.  And then it happened today.  With Trump watching.  Jeez.

That’s just straight up mental illness. Sad to see regardless of who’s involved or what you think of his music. I hope he can get the help he needs without a media circus analyzing him. And for Trump to use him as a political prop...? This is one news story I’d be fine with if it disappeared tomorrow.

[Navin R Johnson]

What an absolute embarrassment.  But remember that time Obama put his feet up on the desk.  Yet not a peep from the people who were mad at that,,,,weird.

[Limey]

What an absolute embarrassment.  But remember that time Obama put his feet up on the desk.  Yet not a peep from the people who were mad at that,,,,weird.

Plus, the obvious hypocrisy of telling LeBron to shut up and dribble, and Taylor Swift to stay in her lane, but no one on the right is telling Kanye to STFU and go back to making records and shoes.

And, in respect of the Obamas, remember when the right had a terminal case of the vapors over the First Lady's exposed...shoulders?

[Limey]

So, U.S. resident, Washington Post journalist and outspoken critic of the new Saudi regime, Jamal Khashoggi, appears to have been lured to the Saudi embassy in Turkey, tortured, murdered, dismembered and disappeared.  Trump - shadowed by security clearance dropout Jared Kushner - has been trying to avoid doing the right thing about this because the Saudis are going to buy $110 billion in weapons from us and he doesn't want to lose such a valuable customer.

Setting aside the gaping wide window into Trump's amoral soul, here's a few things to note:

- Trump and, notably, Kushner have been cosying up to the new Saudi regime while it has been systematically arresting and/or disappearing opponents and critics alike;
- Kushner has taken multiple meetings with the new regime;
- Completely coincidentally, Saudis pumped $100 million into Kushner's failing real estate business;
- Saudi delegations have made a habit of staying in, and spending lavishly at, Trump's hotel in Washington;
- Trump's Manhattan hotel has been on a losing streak for a few years, but has been guaranteed a profitable 2018 by dint of the stay of a large Saudi contingent there earlier this year;
- The $110 billion arms deal is unlikely to be anywhere near that amount when it's all said and done; and
- The Saudis have little choice in weapons suppliers - they're not like hotel bathroom fittings that you can swap out on a whim, there is the whole issue of compatibility, parts, maintenance and training.

The Senate (both sides) sent a letter to Trump demanding action against Saudi Arabia, specifically written in the manner necessary to compel action under the Magnitsky Act - named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian dissenter who was arrested and subsequently died in Russian custody.  Trump is squealing now because, clearly, he doesn't want to do it.

Yet again, we have a situation Trump is flailing and failing to do his job because of personal greed.  The mid-terms are so important because we need a check on this rampant corruption.


[Correction: Saudi investment in Kushner Cos was only $100 million, not billion]

[BudGirl]

So, U.S. resident, Washington Post journalist and outspoken critic of the new Saudi regime, Jamal Khashoggi, appears to have been lured to the Saudi embassy in Turkey, tortured, murdered, dismembered and disappeared.  Trump - shadowed by security clearance dropout Jared Kushner - has been trying to avoid doing the right thing about this because the Saudis are going to buy $110 billion in weapons from us and he doesn't want to lose such a valuable customer.

Setting aside the gaping wide window into Trump's amoral soul, here's a few things to note:

- Trump and, notably, Kushner have been cosying up to the new Saudi regime while it has been systematically arresting and/or disappearing opponents and critics alike;
- Kushner has taken multiple meetings with the new regime;
- Completely coincidentally, Saudis pumped $100 billion into Kushner's failing real estate business;
- Saudi delegations have made a habit of staying in, and spending lavishly at, Trump's hotel in Washington;
- Trump's Manhattan hotel has been on a losing streak for a few years, but has been guaranteed a profitable 2018 by dint of the stay of a large Saudi contingent there earlier this year;
- The $110 billion arms deal is unlikely to be anywhere near that amount when it's all said and done; and
- The Saudis have little choice in weapons suppliers - they're not like hotel bathroom fittings that you can swap out on a whim, there is the whole issue of compatibility, parts, maintenance and training.

The Senate (both sides) sent a letter to Trump demanding action against Saudi Arabia, specifically written in the manner necessary to compel action under the Magnitsky Act - named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian dissenter who was arrested and subsequently died in Russian custody.  Trump is squealing now because, clearly, he doesn't want to do it.

Yet again, we have a situation Trump is flailing and failing to do his job because of personal greed.  The mid-terms are so important because we need a check on this rampant corruption.

Jack Ryan is going to be busy for years!!!

[Limey]

This exchange between a State Department official - "Mr. Palladino" and a reporter is hilarious (because it's fantastic when it finally dawns on Palladino that he's walked right into the reporter's trap) but also galling because it makes it so obvious about how completely the Trump administration is failing.  The ambassadorships are not unoccupied because of Democratic obstruction, Trump hasn't bothered to even nominate candidates.  We do not have ambassadors in South Korea, Saudi Arabia or Turkey, to name but three current vacancies.

Enjoy:

QUESTION: And then in terms of your high-level diplomatic talks, other than the calls you – other than the calls that you’ve read out here, presumably you have people on the ground in both Ankara, Istanbul – in Ankara, Istanbul, and Riyadh all pushing this, right?

MR PALLADINO: Our embassies overseas, absolutely.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR PALLADINO: Our diplomatic mission overseas.

QUESTION: Who again – what’s the name of the ambassador in Turkey right now?

MR PALLADINO: I don’t have that in front of me right now and I – Matt --

QUESTION: What’s the name of the ambassador in Saudi Arabia right now?

MR PALLADINO: I see what you’re getting at. Okay. We are confident in our diplomatic --

QUESTION: The answer is that you don’t have an ambassador in either place, right?

MR PALLADINO: We --

QUESTION: And in fact, the charge in Riyadh has now been nominated to be the ambassador to Yemen. So just is it correct that you do not have ambassadors in place in either Ankara or Riyadh?

MR PALLADINO: But we have diplomatic staff, senior diplomatic officials --

QUESTION: I’m sure you do.

[Bench]

So, U.S. resident, Washington Post journalist and outspoken critic of the new Saudi regime, Jamal Khashoggi, appears to have been lured to the Saudi embassy in Turkey, tortured, murdered, dismembered and disappeared.  Trump - shadowed by security clearance dropout Jared Kushner - has been trying to avoid doing the right thing about this because the Saudis are going to buy $110 billion in weapons from us and he doesn't want to lose such a valuable customer.

Setting aside the gaping wide window into Trump's amoral soul, here's a few things to note:

- Trump and, notably, Kushner have been cosying up to the new Saudi regime while it has been systematically arresting and/or disappearing opponents and critics alike;
- Kushner has taken multiple meetings with the new regime;
- Completely coincidentally, Saudis pumped $100 million into Kushner's failing real estate business;
- Saudi delegations have made a habit of staying in, and spending lavishly at, Trump's hotel in Washington;
- Trump's Manhattan hotel has been on a losing streak for a few years, but has been guaranteed a profitable 2018 by dint of the stay of a large Saudi contingent there earlier this year;
- The $110 billion arms deal is unlikely to be anywhere near that amount when it's all said and done; and
- The Saudis have little choice in weapons suppliers - they're not like hotel bathroom fittings that you can swap out on a whim, there is the whole issue of compatibility, parts, maintenance and training.

The Senate (both sides) sent a letter to Trump demanding action against Saudi Arabia, specifically written in the manner necessary to compel action under the Magnitsky Act - named after Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian dissenter who was arrested and subsequently died in Russian custody.  Trump is squealing now because, clearly, he doesn't want to do it.

Yet again, we have a situation Trump is flailing and failing to do his job because of personal greed.  The mid-terms are so important because we need a check on this rampant corruption.


[Correction: Saudi investment in Kushner Cos was only $100 million, not billion]

This is one of the most astonishing stories of our time.  The Saudis murdered an American journalist in a foreign country and nobody will hold them to task.  Combine that with Trump's lavish praise of autocrats in the Philippines, Turkey, Russia, and WSJ's endorsement of the Brazilian candidate, there is a growing trend of ennobling autocracy throughout the world, which used to be anathema to our democratic -- or in terms the right should understand "western" -- values.   

Not to mention supporting the Saudis in a genocidal war in Yemen.

[Limey]

This is one of the most astonishing stories of our time.  The Saudis murdered an American journalist in a foreign country and nobody will hold them to task.  Combine that with Trump's lavish praise of autocrats in the Philippines, Turkey, Russia, and WSJ's endorsement of the Brazilian candidate, there is a growing trend of ennobling autocracy throughout the world, which used to be anathema to our democratic -- or in terms the right should understand "western" -- values.   

Not to mention supporting the Saudis in a genocidal war in Yemen.

...while stacking the courts with "yes men" (and only men), attacking the independent press, demanding parades in your honor and elevating unqualified family members to positions of power.

Another funny-if-it-wasn't-so-scary thing this week was Trump suggesting that Ivanka is the most qualified candidate to be U.N. Ambassador, but he can't put her up for the job because it would be illegal under nepotism laws.  Presumably he discussed this whole nepotism thing with Ivanka and Jared when he walked a few feet down the corridor to their offices in the White House.

As for the Saudi war in Yemen, do you want those Yemeni killed by Russian weapons?  Or Chinese?  I think not!

[Limey]

Meanwhile, ethical businesses and governments around the world are bailing on Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ego summit due to take place in Raiyadh in a couple of weeks.  Some, like grinning beardo Richard Branson, have cancelled investments and future collaboration.  In Branson's case, it was a $1 billion from Saudis in his Virgin Space project.

[BudGirl]

Com'on Ted

[chuck]

Com'on Ted

FTC. Sorta has a ring to it.

[Limey]

FTC. Sorta has a ring to it.

Haha.  That’s awesome. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Com'on Ted

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Com'on Ted

Fake news. It's only 650 miles from Fort Worth to a White Castle in St. Louis.

[MRaup]

Fake news. It's only 650 miles from Fort Worth to a White Castle in St. Louis.

That is a lot of places I have zero interest in going to in one sentence.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

That is a lot of places I have zero interest in going to in one sentence.

It's only 460 miles from Texarkana to White Castle in Clarksville Tennesee.

[chuck]

Given the senator's familiarity with the chain I am surprised to discover that there are no White Castle restaurants in Iowa.

[Waldo]

Com'on Ted

John Oliver tracked the guy down

[Limey]

Lots of stories right now from around the country about voter suppression.  The two most outrageous examples are:

North Dakota:  a new law - that took effect after the primaries so this is the first time it's been a thing at the polls - requires a street address on the voter's ID.  Well, in rural areas - and particularly on native American reservations - people often don't have a street address but a P.O. Box.  The new law means that IDs with P.O. Boxes only, are invalid.  Native Americans vote for Democrats in ND at about a 75% clip.

Georgia: this one's well known, but it's so bare-faced it's almost beyond comprehension.  Brian Kemp, the Secretary of State, has been systematically purging voter rolls and boxing new applications.  The latter at a rate of 3-1 POC vs. whites, in a state that is 70% white.  He has also purges over 1 million voter registrations since taking officer, including nearly 700,000 just last year.  Oh, Brian Kemp is also the Republican candidate for Governor - a race that went to the Republican in 2014 by less than 200,000 votes.  He's the ref in his own game, and he's also now eliminating people on the oppositions roster.


But let's not forget that up and down the country, Voter ID and roll purges are being used to tip the already tipped playing field even further in Republicans' favor.  The good news is that these actions seem to be garnering a reaction that may be big enough to overwhelm the scale-thumbing going on.  In ND, for example, Native American tribes are using their sovereign status to issue new IDs with a street address, and they literally burned their machine up doing it, such is the demand.  People don't want to lose their vote, and they're working hard to make sure they don't get disenfranchised.

The irony here may well be that telling people who might not have voted that they can't vote, is more likely to make them more likely to vote.

[MusicMan]

Given the senator's familiarity with the chain I am surprised to discover that there are no White Castle restaurants in Iowa.

I’m shocked Steve King hasn’t built a white castle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Craig]

Lots of stories right now from around the country about voter suppression.  The two most outrageous examples are:

North Dakota:  a new law - that took effect after the primaries so this is the first time it's been a thing at the polls - requires a street address on the voter's ID.  Well, in rural areas - and particularly on native American reservations - people often don't have a street address but a P.O. Box.  The new law means that IDs with P.O. Boxes only, are invalid.  Native Americans vote for Democrats in ND at about a 75% clip.

Georgia: this one's well known, but it's so bare-faced it's almost beyond comprehension.  Brian Kemp, the Secretary of State, has been systematically purging voter rolls and boxing new applications.  The latter at a rate of 3-1 POC vs. whites, in a state that is 70% white.  He has also purges over 1 million voter registrations since taking officer, including nearly 700,000 just last year.  Oh, Brian Kemp is also the Republican candidate for Governor - a race that went to the Republican in 2014 by less than 200,000 votes.  He's the ref in his own game, and he's also now eliminating people on the oppositions roster.


But let's not forget that up and down the country, Voter ID and roll purges are being used to tip the already tipped playing field even further in Republicans' favor.  The good news is that these actions seem to be garnering a reaction that may be big enough to overwhelm the scale-thumbing going on.  In ND, for example, Native American tribes are using their sovereign status to issue new IDs with a street address, and they literally burned their machine up doing it, such is the demand.  People don't want to lose their vote, and they're working hard to make sure they don't get disenfranchised.

The irony here may well be that telling people who might not have voted that they can't vote, is more likely to make them more likely to vote.

It's prime ratfucking season. They always come out in October after voter registration has closed. And they're especially emboldened this year since one of their own just got sworn onto the Supreme Court.

[Limey]

It's prime ratfucking season. They always come out in October after voter registration has closed. And they're especially emboldened this year since one of their own just got sworn onto the Supreme Court.

Yeah.  Challenges to stop voter suppression laws are going to die 5-4 at the Supreme Court for a good long while.  Although, to be fair, North Dakota's new law was upheld 6-2, pre-Kavanaugh, because it was amended to have the fig leaf of a 6 week window to provide the street address that people don't have.

The real ratfucking was in 2015, when SCOTUS ruled (5-4) to invalidate the pre-approval requirements for southern states.  The next fucking day - literally - multiple states enacted voter ID laws that had been previously denied or were under review by the DOJ.  The court's view was that the pre-approval requirement was getting a bit long in the tooth and needed updating, so they just klilled that part and suggested Congress look at it.  That's like saying that stop signs aren't the best way to regulate traffic through an intersection, so let's just rip them all down until we can put in place a better system.  Nothing bad would happen in the meantime, right?

[Limey]

OMG...this!

[MusicMan]

OMG...this!

Where’s Hoover?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Craig]

Where’s Hoover?

It's his turn under the table.

[Limey]

It's his turn under the table.

Well, with a name like that...

[Bench]

I’m shocked Steve King hasn’t built a white castle.

A singeing burn.

[Ty in Tampa]

OMG...this!

Fixed

[BudGirl]

The comments on that are outstanding!!

[Limey]

Fixed

Excellent, and totally merited.

[MusicMan]

Not cool to leave Abe in place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chuck]

Not cool to leave Abe in place.

Someone actually corrected that, replacing Honest Abe with Barfin' Bart.

[Ty in Tampa]

Not cool to leave Abe in place.

He had his say.

[Tom Servo]

He had his say.

Nice

[Limey]

The irony here may well be that telling people who might not have voted that they can't vote, is more likely to make them more likely to vote.

FWIW, the first day of early voting in Georgia saw a 300% increase in voter turnout vs. the first day in 2014.  Maybe everyone just wants to get in early causing a spike that will tail off as voting season progresses.  Maybe it's an indicator of an electorate energized to vote.  Maybe it's Republicans driving the numbers up; maybe it's Democrats...

[Waldo]

Not cool to leave Abe in place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Abe was kind of a dick

[Tom Servo]

FWIW, the first day of early voting in Georgia saw a 300% increase in voter turnout vs. the first day in 2014.  Maybe everyone just wants to get in early causing a spike that will tail off as voting season progresses.  Maybe it's an indicator of an electorate energized to vote.  Maybe it's Republicans driving the numbers up; maybe it's Democrats...

I live in Georgia, and I voted yesterday.  There was a group of elderly white people in front of me, and it was clear, based on their conversations, they were voting Democrat.  One guy had a Stacey Abrams sticker on his shirt, but was asked to remove it (as there can be no "campaigning" within 150 ft or so of the station).  I was kind of surprised by them being obvious Democrats, as I live in a very conservative town.  We'll see how it goes, though.

On a side note, I was wearing my Altuve shirt, and had several people tell me they hoped the Astros win it all.  They all said they really like the team, even though they are Braves fans. 

[Limey]

I live in Georgia, and I voted yesterday.  There was a group of elderly white people in front of me, and it was clear, based on their conversations, they were voting Democrat.  One guy had a Stacey Abrams sticker on his shirt, but was asked to remove it (as there can be no "campaigning" within 150 ft or so of the station).  I was kind of surprised by them being obvious Democrats, as I live in a very conservative town.  We'll see how it goes, though.

On a side note, I was wearing my Altuve shirt, and had several people tell me they hoped the Astros win it all.  They all said they really like the team, even though they are Braves fans.

Typically, high turnout favors Democrats.  Here's hoping...

[Tom Servo]

Here's an interesting twitter thread speculating on the possibility that Nikki Haley's surprise resignation might be because of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.  The article linked on twitter requires a subscription, but he summarizes in the thread.

https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1052713542913323009

[Limey]

Early voter turnout in Georgia continues to be high.  Day 2 was higher than Day 1.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Texas counties have been inundated with new voter registrations in the final days of the registration window.  Beto wins by turning out new voters.  It appears that may be happening.

The ND Native American voter suppression effort seems to be at DEFCON 1.  The tribal councils will issue - as is their sovereign right - a letter affirming a street address to anyone showing up at polling stations on reservations without an ID that complies with the new, suppressive regulations.  The state government is equivocating on whether they will accept them, but I'm sure it will be a legal fight if they don't (and the election is close).  It may go all the way to the Supreme Court.  Ah.  Fuck.

[BudGirl]

Early voter turnout in Georgia continues to be high.  Day 2 was higher than Day 1.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Texas counties have been inundated with new voter registrations in the final days of the registration window.  Beto wins by turning out new voters.  It appears that may be happening.

The ND Native American voter suppression effort seems to be at DEFCON 1.  The tribal councils will issue - as is their sovereign right - a letter affirming a street address to anyone showing up at polling stations on reservations without an ID that complies with the new, suppressive regulations.  The state government is equivocating on whether they will accept them, but I'm sure it will be a legal fight if they don't (and the election is close).  It may go all the way to the Supreme Court.  Ah.  Fuck.

Don't count the Beto chicken until the egg hatches.

[Limey]

Don't count the Beto chicken until the egg hatches.

Not at all.  He's still notably behind in the polls of "likely voters".  To win, he'll need to turn out the "unlikely voters".  In droves.

The fact that Texas is one of only 13 states without online voter registration, and yet tens of thousands of people are registering to vote, suggests that they will follow through on the entire process and show up at the ballot box.  It's a good sign, but it's also anecdotal and I have no idea how widespread the new voter surge is or, of course, if they're going to vote for O'Rourke or Cruz.

[Limey]

Every vote counts.  This is clearly understood by Kemp's thumb-on-the-scale crew in Georgia, where 40 black seniors were ordered off a bus taking them to vote early.

Government officials in an east Georgia county told about 40 African-American senior citizens to get off a bus taking them to vote Monday, leading to complaints of voter suppression.

The bus, run by the group Black Voters Matter, was preparing to depart from a senior center operated by Jefferson County when the center’s director said they needed to disembark, said LaTosha Brown, a co-founder of Black Voters Matter.

A county clerk had called the senior center raising concerns about allowing the bus to take residents from the senior center in the city of Louisville, south of Augusta.

[Tom Servo]

From Twitter:

This is a real radio ad currently running in Arkansas in support of Republican Congressman French Hill on radio stations targeted to the African American community.  I don't even have words to describe it.

https://twitter.com/notlarrysabato/status/1053023848772378625

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

From Twitter:

I wonder how well that works. Pretty crazy even for Arkansas.

[Limey]

From Twitter:

Holy fucking shit!

[Limey]

Early voter turnout in Georgia continues to be high.  Day 2 was higher than Day 1.

...and Day 3 was higher than either of the two previous days.  In fact, each of the first three days of early voting in GA has seen more votes cast than the first three days of early voting in 2014 combined.

Absentee ballots in VA are up 240%, with the increase being higher in the more closely contested congressional districts.

People are voting; that is empirically a good thing.  Moreover, high turnouts tend to favor Democrats because the Republican base is a more reliable voting bloc.  This is all going to be very interesting because the thing that can defeat - or, at least, lay bare - voter suppression and election fraud, is high turnout.

[Navin R Johnson]

From Twitter:

How is anyone surprised at this point?

Suppress votes at ALL costs.  Support a fucking piece of shit crook Donald Trump at ALL cost.  These right wing kooks have gone off the rails.

[Nate Colbert]

From Twitter:

One of the funders of the organization behind that ad is apparently Charles B. Johnson, principal owner of the SF Giants.

https://thinkprogress.org/san-francisco-giants-owner-bankrolling-racist-pac-5e1292058573/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5bca4cee04d3017a8d167fbd&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

[jbm]

So, is that fucker really going to fill up the Toyota Center with his braying hate-fueled bullshit, or will the place be half-full?

I seriously don't get it, maybe one of Mr. Happy's "silent majority" can chime in when they get back from the rally.  I get that you hate the "other side" with a burning hot passion, but do you really believe the stuff he says?  And, would you invite him into your living room?

[HudsonHawk]

So, is that fucker really going to fill up the Toyota Center with his braying hate-fueled bullshit, or will the place be half-full?

I read where something like 75,000 "tickets" were sold.  Of course, the place only holds like 30,000, so less than half the people with tickets will actually get in.  You were purchasing a chance to get in.  They were lined up starting last night on the first come/first in basis.

In short, the place will be packed, with YUGE crowds outside, something that I'm sure will be mentioned by Trump and his little buddy.

[Limey]

While this one likely gets on TV, even Fox News has given up carrying Trump’s rallies live.  He rambles on for an hour or more, spouting the same old crap, reliving his “historic” election, ragging on “Pocahontas “, etc etc.  he might...MIGHT...even find time to say something nice about Cruz or even let him speak.

However, if Trump is getting fueled by a full house of baying acolytes, there’s no way he’s yielding the stage to anyone.  The more they cheer, the more ridiculous and outrageous he gets.  He’s a fucking child. 

PS:  Early voting started today. 

[BudGirl]

PS:  Early voting started today. 

Apparently lines at some places, not sure what that means here in Texas.

And I fully expect that rally to mess with traffic.  Assholes.

[HudsonHawk]

We’re watching the news as Trump gets off the plane, and Cruz is there to kiss his ass. My wife just asked “is Cruz’s wife there too?”

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Apparently lines at some places, not sure what that means here in Texas.

And I fully expect that rally to mess with traffic.  Assholes.

Very long lines in San Antonio. 

[BudGirl]

We’re watching the news as Trump gets off the plane, and Cruz is there to kiss his ass. My wife just asked “is Cruz’s wife there too?”

Totally fucker up my commute home.  I hate that.

[Waldo]

Apparently lines at some places, not sure what that means here in Texas.

And I fully expect that rally to mess with traffic.  Assholes.

In the span of a year, downtown Houston got downgraded from a World Series parade to a Donald Trump circlejerk.

Womp womp.

[Limey]

First day of early voting up over 300% of 2014 and 2010.  It’s actually just a couple o’ thousand votes short of 2016. 

Georgia early voting continues to run at 300% higher than 2014 through the first week.   

[BudGirl]

The results will be interesting.  Either a huge amount of change or a lot more of what is going on now.  I can't decide what I think is happening here in Texas.

[Limey]

The results will be interesting.  Either a huge amount of change or a lot more of what is going on now.  I can't decide what I think is happening here in Texas.

Polls have shown voter enthusiasm to be high on both sides, but slightly higher for those voting Democratic.

Republicans are much more reliable voters, so it will come down to whether Democrats show up - which would be a new thing for a mid-term - and whether all this nonsense has caused non-voters actually to become voters which, because Republicans are voters already, will mean disproportionately more votes for Democrats from that pool. 

Basically we won’t know shit until the dust has settled on Nov 7. 

[Limey]

Bombs sent to all the people who get demonized by Trump and Fox News (and Brett Kavanaugh):  Obama, Clintons, Maxine Waters, Soros, CNN.  It’s like the script for Hannity’s show. 

Trump denounced it, but didn’t call it terrorism or call out right-wing nut jobs in general.  I’m sure we’ll see him tonight, basking in the heat from a rally crowd screaming “Lock her up!”, while mouth breathing.

[Limey]

This form Twitter:

“We just saw possible attempted assassinations of two former U.S. Presidents, a former Secretary of State, a former Attorney General, and multiple current members of Congress, but Trump is not going to let that national emergency get in the way of his opportunity to deliver yet another deranged rally speech tonight.”

That really puts a sharp perspective on this. 

[BudGirl]

This form Twitter:

“We just saw possible attempted assassinations of two former U.S. Presidents, a former Secretary of State, a former Attorney General, and multiple current members of Congress, but Trump is not going to let that national emergency get in the way of his opportunity to deliver yet another deranged rally speech tonight.”

That really puts a sharp perspective on this. 

Are you really surprised?  Why lock her up when can save the nation a lot of money by blowing her up?  They are nuts.

[austro]

Are you really surprised?  Why lock her up when can save the nation a lot of money by blowing her up?  They are nuts.

But the Democrats are the mobs, don't you know.

[Nate Colbert]

Kick Stan's anti-semitic ass back to Oklahoma. Dude should not be anywhere near voting machines.

http://re-elect.stanstanart.com/

"Make NO mistake, George Soros wants to control Harris County Elections and Stan Stanart is in his way.  If Harris County, larger in population than 26 states, allows socialists like Soros to control our elections, then Texas is next." 

[Limey]

And now Biden and de Niro get bombs in the mail.  It’s as if someone was out there constantly rattling off an enemies list and this guy (you know it’s a white male, right?) was listening. 

If you demonize and dehumanize your political opponents, call the enemies of the people, it makes it easier for someone to see them as a legitimate target. 

[BudGirl]

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire

[jbm]

I'm beyond blaming Trump for this shit.  He's just a tool who will do anything for adulation.  I blame all the people who uncritically support him, that hypocritically chant "lock her up," who willingly accept one-sided reporting as facts and who are willing to let the country fall apart because it gets a rise out of someone they don't like or someone who may have slighted them in the past.  I know too many of these people.  It's like a game to them and I'm not sure they realize there are consequences to their actions.

The actions of these people, who at one time knew what decency was, are the real scourge on America.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire

Doesn't make it any less true but he was referring to Christians, more specifically to Catholics.

[BudGirl]

The actions of these people, who at one time knew what decency was, are the real scourge on America.

What really is sad is to realize that describes a large portion of one's family.

[chuck]

What really is sad is to realize that describes a large portion of one's family.

Sure makes my Thanksgivings a hell of a lot simpler anymore.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

If there was a shadow government running things, they would definitely have a goon squad.

[Lefty]

If there was a shadow government running things, they would definitely have a goon squad.

I would also assume that they hired smarter people than this.

[Limey]

Ever petty, Chuck Grassley has referred Avenatti and his client, Julie Swetnick, to the DOJ for prosecution on the grounds of attempting to obstruct the Judicial Committee.  Ignoring the fact that Grandpa Simpson should’ve let this sleeping dog lie, what a ridiculous idea - just ahead of the midterms - to put Kavanaugh in the press again and give Avenatti a platform. 

Of course, Avenatti is all over it already, lampooning Grassley for suddenly being interested again in investigations, and also that he welcomes to opportunity to delve into this subject.  Avenatti called it “Christmas in October!”  Pass the eggnog.

[Limey]

Ok.  Who had “arrested in the parking lot of an AutoZone in Florida” for the bombing suspect?

[Limey]

Bombing suspect is a MAGA-hat wearing, Trump rally-attending, registered Republican, right wing conspiracy theorist. 

Shocking. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Bombing suspect is a MAGA-hat wearing, Trump rally-attending, registered Republican, right wing conspiracy theorist. 

Shocking.

He's not a Deep State dupe after all.

[Limey]

He's not a Deep State dupe after all.

I have seen the nom de plume ‘MAGA Bomber”.  This absolutely has to stick. 

[austro]

I believe that I saw that Williamson County (North Austin/Round Rock/Georgetown) has seen 22% of registered voters vote in the first four days of early voting. If this keeps up, we'll at least get a clearer understanding of how many people are on each side of the divide.

[Navin R Johnson]

I’m guessing this MAGABomber’s van looks eerily similar to some folks Facebook posts.

https://m.imgur.com/9kZplxg?r

This is what you get when 48% of the country elects the most partisan piece of shit, BY FAR, to the highest office, who is basically a combo of Alex Jones and Sean Hannity.  But much dumber and an over the top narcissist.

The POTUS is a birther that constantly spreads easily refutable nonsense.  Yet some people keep cheering him on!  Remember the days of the GOP being for responsibility?  Like most things they preach, it was 1000000%  bullshit

There were assassination attempts on US Presidents and Trump is out campaigning and blaming THE MEDIA.   Incredible times. Sad!

[Limey]

There were assassination attempts on US Presidents and Trump is out campaigning and blaming THE MEDIA.   Incredible times. Sad!

And now he's off to Pittsburgh, where he's mostly not welcome, to throw paper towels at commiserate with the victims and survivors of the synagogue massacre.  You know, the ones who he blamed for getting shot because they don't post armed guards.  Outside their church.  In America.

[Limey]

In other news, Trump wants to wipe-out the constitutional right to citizenship to those born here.  He believes he can do this by executive order.

That's an interesting precedent to set...

[Limey]

The Houston ballot is insanely long.  I am a big believer in citizen engagement in such things, so I have worked through the whole damn thing.  My last (first) vote in 2016 was a mixed ballot spanning at least 3 parties but, this time, I am of a mind to vote more in opposition of Republicans writ large by pushing the button for their Democratic opponent.

The Republican Party has embraced Trump fully, and far too many of its elected officials have abdicated all responsibility for governance in fealty to their Dear Leader.  Any candidate identifying as Republican, therefore, is tarred very heavily with that brush in my book and, as hard as I try, I cannot fault myself for that generalization.  This is a moment to make a statement against what the Republican Party has become, and punishing all of its candidates at the ballot box is the best (only?) way to do that.

The big races I'm cool on, but it's the myriad of judges that concern me.  I know little about any of them, but I do not want to throw the baby out with the bathwater in a role where experience and knowledge trumps (get it) party perhaps more with judges than any other elected position.  So, with that in mind, and knowing that practicing Houston attorneys are engaged in this thread:  which Republican judges merit consideration for my vote over their Democratic rival?

[moriartp]

The Chronicle endorsements are a pretty good guide on judges, at least the ones I'm personally familiar with. Certainly not perfect but way way better than going by party alone. I'd say if they rate a judicial candidate four or five stars, not that there are many, you can feel comfortable voting for that candidate regardless of party.

[Bench]

The big races I'm cool on, but it's the myriad of judges that concern me.  I know little about any of them, but I do not want to throw the baby out with the bathwater in a role where experience and knowledge trumps (get it) party perhaps more with judges than any other elected position.  So, with that in mind, and knowing that practicing Houston attorneys are engaged in this thread:  which Republican judges merit consideration for my vote over their Democratic rival?

The Chronicle's endorsements are very good.  They endorsed all the Republican incumbents and Democrats for all the open seats (which is result of the local GOP primary system ferreting out the qualified middle of the road judges). They trend a bit too heavy in favor of incumbency, but I guess that's a fair consideration. The stand-out Republican civil judges (I won't speak to the criminal judges) are Randy Wilson (the 157th) and Wesley Ward (the 234th).  Ward's opponent, Lauren Reeder, is incredibly impressive and I wish I could vote for both of them.  I echo the chron's endorsement of Republican Clyde Leuchtag over the Democratic incumbent in County Civil Court of Law No. 1.  I don't plan on following the Chron's incumbency based recommendation for the 113th Civil District Court or the 14th Court of Appeals, Place 8.

[Limey]

Thank to you both.

[Navin R Johnson]

Judges being voted on,  by folks who know nothing about them, seems absurd. 

How is the average citizen supposed to know/understand who is and who isn’t a fair local judge.

I don’t know the answer, but there has to be a better way to put people on the bench. I’d be curious what Texas lawyers think.

I also wonder how many folks realize a judge doesn’t need a law degree, which is equally dumbfounding to me.

[geezerdonk]

JPs don't need a degree. All other state judges must be a member in good standing of the State Bar which, except in very rare circumstances, requires a degree from an accredited law school. Don't know about municipal judges.

[moriartp]

I don’t know the answer, but there has to be a better way to put people on the bench. I’d be curious what Texas lawyers think.

Still a year away from being a lawyer, but I'd be fine with Texas adopting the Missouri Plan.

[Limey]

I saw Trump's "caravan" ad during SNF last night.  OMFG!  CNN refused to air the "long form" version, that included the false claim that Democrats let in an oft-deported man who later went on to kill a cop (he was let back in for the last time under the Bush administration), but it's still a shocking and shockingly racist piece of shit.

Basically, this one man killed a cop, so therefore the caravan will kill you all.  Vote Republican.

[Bench]

Judges being voted on,  by folks who know nothing about them, seems absurd. 

How is the average citizen supposed to know/understand who is and who isn’t a fair local judge.

I don’t know the answer, but there has to be a better way to put people on the bench. I’d be curious what Texas lawyers think.

I also wonder how many folks realize a judge doesn’t need a law degree, which is equally dumbfounding to me.

The chron has the responsibility to report about these candidates and does a decent job of it.

I agree judicial elections are not ideal, but are certainly better than giving the governor authority to appoint whomever he/she wants. The Missouri Plan is the best developed alternative but only fifteen or so states use that type of mechanism. Another 20 or so states do nonpartisan elections. A couple of states have a legislative committee select all judges. 

[Limey]

Meanwhile, a Federal judge just slapped back Trump's lawyers and reaffirmed that the suit against him for violating the Emoluments Clause can go ahead.  The next phase is discovery, which is quite likely terrifying for TrumpWorld.

Trump's lawyers argued here, as they have elsewhere, that Trump is too busy being president to be able to respond to lawsuits.  Hilariously though, Judge Messitte pointed out that Trump seems to both threaten and encourage litigation, so he can't be that busy.

Messitte noted Trump’s threats to sue author Michael Wolff and former adviser Stephen K. Bannon, and Trump’s taunting of former CIA director John Brennan in August. After Trump revoked Brennan’s security clearance, Trump wrote on Twitter: “I hope John Brennan, the worst CIA Director in our country’s history, brings a lawsuit.”

“It bears noting that the President himself seems to have had little reluctance to pursue personal litigation despite the supposed distractions it imposes on his office,” Messitte wrote.

The wheels are turning too slowly, but they are turning.

[Bench]

Roger Angell on the vote following the most important vote of his lifetime:

In a New Yorker piece posted the week before the 2016 election, I wrote that my first Presidential vote was for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1944, when I was a young Air Force sergeant stationed in the Central Pacific. I went on to say that, seventy-two years later, defeating Trump made that immediate election the most important of my life. Alarmed as I was, I had no idea, of course, of the depths of the disaster that would befall us, taking away our leadership and moral standing in the world.

[Limey]

Whatever happens today, happens.  Just remember, from tomorrow onwards, Mueller could drop his report at any time.  Trump insiders are most concerned about what it means for Roger Stone and Uday Don Jr.

[Limey]

To help you through the day.

[Limey]

Firefighters at the polling place across the street from me are a little overzealous, and don't seem to understand the reason why there's a sign delineating 100 ft from the polling place.  They aren't even letting people get out of their cars before they engage.

[Limey]

I’m too old for this shit. 

[BudGirl]

I'm ill.

[Limey]

I'm ill.

Sucks.

I will enjoy the schaudenfraude when Cruz casts the deciding vote to cut Social Security and Medicare, and to kill Obamacare.

[austro]

I will enjoy the schaudenfraude when Cruz casts the deciding vote to cut Social Security and Medicare, and to kill Obamacare.

How will that happen if the Republicans don't hold the House?

[Limey]

How will that happen if the Republicans don't hold the House?

The will do what the House Republicans have done dozens of times since 2010; hold symbolic votes safe in the knowledge that their terrible bills won’t ever see Trump’s desk. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Beto did a great job and came closer than anyone else for a long time. I believe if he would have gone on record saying he was against tax payer funding of abortions, but still of course, pro-choice, he might have won.

[Jacksonian]

Beto did a great job and came closer than anyone else for a long time. I believe if he would have gone on record saying he was against tax payer funding of abortions, but still of course, pro-choice, he might have won.

Every independent I know who voted for Beto was actually voting against Cruz because he's so unlikable.  The issues weren't all that important to them.

[Nate Colbert]

Fletcher kicked her ass.

And kicked more ass tonight.

[Nate Colbert]

Interesting outcome in Oklahoma 5th CD (that's OKC).

[BudGirl]

Sucks.

I will enjoy the schaudenfraude when Cruz casts the deciding vote to cut Social Security and Medicare, and to kill Obamacare.

I do not look forward to reaping what idiots have sowed.  If only I didn't have to lie way the costs of their decisions.

[Navin R Johnson]

I look forward to that crook Trumps tax returns getting released.   And there being actual oversight into his family and cabinets grifting....you know, that draining the swamp thing, that trump lied about, that is now actually going to happen.

[Navin R Johnson]

Q1 2019 ought to be an interesting note in American history.

[Limey]

Despite what Trump says, that was a seismic shift; the swing was bigger than the Tea Party wave in 2010 (Democrat’s retained the Senate then, too). 

Last night, Democrats:
Flipped the House - knocking off some prominent Republicans
Flipped 7 state governorships - including Walker in Wisconsin and frikkin Kansas
Flipped 333 state legislature seats countrywide

It wasn’t ideal, and it won’t have the same breathless narrative as the Tea Party, but it was still a “shellacking”.  There will now be serious people in charge of House committees, including Intelligence, Judiciary and Ways & Means.  The latter already stating that they will subpoena Trump’s tax returns from the IRS*.

* I say this not out of animosity (although that’s definitely there) but because we need to know if, and by who, Trump is being influenced. 

One important inside baseball stat:  Independents broke for Democrats 54-42, the first time that they have favored Democrats since 2008.  Trump held his base and turned off everyone else. 

[Limey]

Notable for 2020, 1.4 million former felons in Florida have had their voting rights restored.

[moriartp]

In local news, it was a Dem rout in Harris County. Not even Ed Emmett survived.

[Limey]

In local news, it was a Dem rout in Harris County. Not even Ed Emmett survived.

There's a strong element of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but that was some dank bathwater.

[Limey]

Payback's a bitch.

House Republicans changed the rules in 2015 to allow many of their committee chairmen to issue subpoenas without consulting the minority party, overriding Democrats objections that likened the tactic to something out of the McCarthy era.

Now the weapon that the GOP wielded dozens of times against President Barack Obama’s agencies could allow Democrats to bombard President Donald Trump’s most controversial appointees with demands for information. And many Democrats are itching to use it.

“The Republicans have set the standard and, by God, we’re going to emulate that standard,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told POLITICO.

[homer]

Despite what Trump says, that was a seismic shift; the swing was bigger than the Tea Party wave in 2010 (Democrat’s retained the Senate then, too). 

Last night, Democrats:
Flipped the House - knocking off some prominent Republicans
Flipped 7 state governorships - including Walker in Wisconsin and frikkin Kansas
Flipped 333 state legislature seats countrywide

You should probably check your math.

[Limey]

You should probably check your math.

What part?

[Navin R Johnson]

Payback's a bitch.

Womp womp

[Limey]

Trump is currently explaining to the press corps how Congress works - at about a 3rd grade level.

[HudsonHawk]

Sessions out as AG.

Surprised Trump didn't roust him out of bed at about midnight, chew his ass out, and fire him over the phone.

[Limey]

Sessions out as AG.

Surprised Trump didn't roust him out of bed at about midnight, chew his ass out, and fire him over the phone.

That would take work.  He normally tweet-fires people from the crapper.

[Limey]

Interesting side note:  if the DOJ now moves to fire Mueller, House Democrats can hire him as their Special Prosecutor to continue his work.

[Limey]

Other interesting side note:  Mueller has made significant use of sealed indictments to avoid tipping his hand to subjects and targets alike.  If the DOJ now moves to shut him down, I think he's going to throw off indictments like Sonic the Hedgehog throwing off rings after hitting a spike.

[Limey]

Dems just flipped the CA 49th, there will be literally only a handful of Republicans elected to national office after this is all said and done.  In addition, Tester kept his seat in Montana, so the Senate bleeding is fire-walled at 3 and may be only 2 if the FL recount changes anything (which is unlikely).

[Nate Colbert]

And the Wednesday afternoon massacre begins...

[Limey]

And the Wednesday afternoon massacre begins...

It's going to be a long two months until the new Congress is sworn in.

[Limey]

In local news, it was a Dem rout in Harris County. Not even Ed Emmett survived.

One judge shows how not to react.

After losing his bench in a Democratic sweep, Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Glenn Devlin released nearly all of the youthful defendants that appeared in front him on Wednesday morning, simply asking the kids whether they planned to kill anyone before letting them go.

"He was releasing everybody," said public defender Steven Halpert, who watched the string of surprising releases. "Apparently he was saying that's what the voters wanted."

I'm not sure if he's a Juvenile Court judge, or a juvenile Court judge.

[Limey]

Meanwhile, another mass shooting.  This one in a bar in CA frequented by students.  12 dead, including the shooter and including a law enforcement officer who ran into the bar when he heard the shooting.

[HudsonHawk]

One judge shows how not to react.

I'm not sure if he's a Juvenile Court judge, or a juvenile Court judge.

Something that's not getting much attention.  All 38 Judicial Districts in Harris County went Democrat.  Half, 19 of them, are African-American women.  Couple that with the unexpected win of Hidalgo, the Dem pickups in the Texas State House and Senate, and the booting of long-time good old boys Culberson and Sessions, and Texas just got really, really purple.  Beto may not have won *his* race, but he certainly affected the down-ticket races in the Dems' favor.

[jbm]

Something that's not getting much attention.  All 38 Judicial Districts in Harris County went Democrat.  Half, 19 of them, are African-American women.  Couple that with the unexpected win of Hidalgo, the Dem pickups in the Texas State House and Senate, and the booting of long-time good old boys Culberson and Sessions, and Texas just got really, really purple.  Beto may not have won *his* race, but he certainly affected the down-ticket races in the Dems' favor.

Agree with the basic point, but not sure I’d call it purple yet. Maybe, the potential to be purple.

The Dem surge looks like it will prevent the crazy right from dominating the upcoming Texas legislative session.  That’s a good thing for all Texans, IMO.

[Limey]

Something that's not getting much attention.  All 38 Judicial Districts in Harris County went Democrat.  Half, 19 of them, are African-American women.  Couple that with the unexpected win of Hidalgo, the Dem pickups in the Texas State House and Senate, and the booting of long-time good old boys Culberson and Sessions, and Texas just got really, really purple.  Beto may not have won *his* race, but he certainly affected the down-ticket races in the Dems' favor.

The State Senate was 21-10 in favor of Republicans and the State House was 95-55.  Democrats flipped 2 senate seats and 12...TWELVE...house seats, shrinking the Republican majorities to 19-13 and 81-67 respectively.  A lot of this was down to Beto's campaign energizing liberals and driving new voters to the polls and also to straight ticket voters looking to punish the Republican Party and/or flip the bird to Trump.  There may have been a heavy overlap in the Venn diagram of those voting blocs.

Dallas County, Pete Sessions' former district, similarly washed out all Republican judges.

Don't let TrumpWorld gaslight you; Tuesday was a huge night for Democrats.  It was the biggest swing to the Democratic Party since the election immediately post-Nixon.  It was a bigger swing in the popular vote than the Tea Party revolution - the loss of Republican-held House seats being staunched by gerrymandering.

Democratic successes in the states - flipping Governorships, taking majorities, taking super-majorities, taking complete control of all three branches, removing Republican trifectas and erasing their super-majorities - means that the 2020 redistricting will be less partisan.  Success in taking State AG roles means that the 2020 elections in those states will be less fraught with the nonsense we've seen in Georgia.  Anti-suppression propositions passed up and down the country, meaning that it will be easier for the voters to vote in those states.

The US is a majority liberal country.  Only once in the last 30 years has a Republican candidate for President won the popular vote - and that was W. riding his post 9/11 wave in 2004.  Republicans maintain power by rigging the system with gerrymandering and voter suppression.  Texas is huge in Presidential politics because, if Texas goes Democrat, it will herald the end of the ability of any Republican to win the electoral college.

[jbm]

And of course, what happened to the fucking “caravan”?  There are so many stupid dipshits in this country, happy as hell to be played by politicians.

[Bench]

Something that's not getting much attention.  All 38 Judicial Districts in Harris County went Democrat.  Half, 19 of them, are African-American women.  Couple that with the unexpected win of Hidalgo, the Dem pickups in the Texas State House and Senate, and the booting of long-time good old boys Culberson and Sessions, and Texas just got really, really purple.  Beto may not have won *his* race, but he certainly affected the down-ticket races in the Dems' favor.

It was the best election night for Texas democrats since before 1994. In addition to all the victories you cited (especially the 12 state house pick-ups), Democrats won all the appellate judge spots in Houston (the area includes 10 surrounding counties), Dallas and Austin. Dems won the Fort Bend County district attorney and county judge races.  Beto's coattails were long.

[Limey]

The Dem surge looks like it will prevent the crazy right from dominating the upcoming Texas legislative session.  That’s a good thing for all Texans, IMO.

As is true nationally, it's also true in Texas: as Republicans lose seats, they are boiling down to concentrated crazy.  Democrats are taking away moderate seats and will (hopefully) keep chipping away, but they're chipping away from the center and so as it progresses it's going to be only the far-right Republicans who will be left.  Unless and until Democrats can undo gerrymandering, this is going to be the case.

[Limey]

The Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead list:

Paul Ryan (retired)
Darrell Issa (retired, and seat flipped)
Orin Hatch (retired)
Trey Gowdy (retired)
Ted Poe (retired)
Bob Goodlatte (retired)
Dean Heller (lost)
Scott Walker (lost)
Kris Kobach (lost)

On life-support:
Dana Rohrebacher

On the bubble:
Brian Kemp
Rick Scott
Ron DeSantis

[Limey]

Meanwhile, in "Florida is still too fucking stupid to vote" news, they have issues with 24,000 ballots from heavily-Democratic Broward county where votes were marked for Governor but not Senator.  Also, any recount is going to be done using a Sinclair ZX81.

[Navin R Johnson]

And of course, what happened to the fucking “caravan”?  There are so many stupid dipshits in this country, happy as hell to be played by politicians.

Trump knows his base is comprised of a bunch of rubes, he can sell them anything and they will buy it.

[Ron Brand]

In the Texas Statehouse, where the House is now split 83-67, there is some noise that the Ds intend to vote together for a Speaker candidate, meaning they’d only need nine Rs to vote with them to elect a new Speaker. There is further noise leaking that they intend to support one of the already-nominated candidates, but how hard would it be to find one with 8 or 9 friends who’d like some nice Committee chairmanships? That’d make life with the other two legislative branches pretty interesting.

[Limey]

Democratic gain continue as close races get decided.  As is normal in a wave election, the close races tend to fall more on the side with momentum, and Democratic House flips are now projected at 37 (currently sitting at 31).  Also, the flips in state legislatures are pushing towards 400. 

In the AZ senate race, Democrat Kirsten Sinema has taken the lead and, based on the source of the remaining uncounted ballots, is likely only going to extend that lead.  And the FL races for Senator and Governor are all crazy with ballot confusion and slow counting.  Machine recounts are going to happen in both and the probably hand counts.  As more ballots are tallied, the race tightens.  This ain’t over yet*.  Republican senate flips may yet be capped at 2 which, given the historically tough map faced by Democrats, would be remarkable. 

* In future elections, 1.4 million - mostly minority - former felons will have their voting rights back.  Florida is unlikely to be close going forward. 

ETA:  FL Governor race margin is 0.4% in DeSantis' favor while the Senate race is 0.2% in Scott's favor.  Scott has launched a lawsuit against Broward county, claiming that the Bush-appointed Supervisor of Elections is making up ballots for his opponent.  Trump and "Profile in Courage" Marco Rubio jumped in on Twitter to echo Scott's, so far, baseless claims.

The ballots being counted are absentee and provisional, so this is nothing unusual.  What is different is that the race is so close that they - for once - matter.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

* In future elections, 1.4 million - mostly minority - former felons will have their voting rights back.  Florida is unlikely to be close going forward. 

Are you implying that ex-cons are most likely to vote Democrat?

[BudGirl]

Are you implying that ex-cons are most likely to vote Democrat?

I find it awesome that he thinks they will vote at all.  Maybe they will but look how hard it is to get anyone to vote.

[Limey]

Are you implying that ex-cons are most likely to vote Democrat?

Minorities make up a disproportionate share of the prison population; African-Americans make up 50% of the current Florida population.  African-Americans skew heavily towards Democrats in elections (Trump's approval rating among this demographic currently sits at 8%).  So, yes, I am extrapolating from that and positing that those 1.4 million ex-felons will lean Democratic.

Look at it this way: turnout of eligible Florida voters in this midterm was 53%.  Being generous, say 50% of those newly restored voters turnout (I suspect it might be higher as they have been fighting for this for...well...ever), that's 700,000 new voters in the pool.  Of those 700,000, say 50% - 350,000 - are African-Americans and they vote 90/10 for Democratic candidates.  That's 315,000 "found" votes for Democrats.

Trump won Florida by just over 100,000; DeSantis currently leads Gillum by 36,000; Scott's lead is half of that.

Even if my logic is wonky, Republican margins in 2018 are wafer thin and evaporating as the vote count moves to its completion.  It's just impossible to imagine that 1.4 million former felons are going to break Republican, and even a small break the other way wipes out Republican margins.

[moriartp]

Are you implying that ex-cons are most likely to vote Democrat?

Yes.

[Limey]

I find it awesome that he thinks they will vote at all.  Maybe they will but look how hard it is to get anyone to vote.

They have been campaigning to get their voting rights back forever.  I think they will show up.

Even so, it doesn't take many.  Scott is leading by < 20,000 votes, and that number has been shrinking.

[BudGirl]

They have been campaigning to get their voting rights back forever.  I think they will show up.

Even so, it doesn't take many.  Scott is leading by < 20,000 votes, and that number has been shrinking.

I hope they do.  If you've paid your debt to society, your rights should be there when done.

[Limey]

If, as above, Florida moves out of the "battleground" camp and into the lean Democratic camp, and Texas moves from Republican to battleground, Republicans will be demographically fucked for statewide elections for generations to come.

New York (29), California (55), Texas (38) and Florida (29) would give Democratic presidential candidates a base of 151 electoral college votes towards the 267 winning post.  They will also crush the popular vote, leaving Republicans with nowhere to go even with a reform of the system.

Taking the state legislatures and governorships will allow the continued undoing of gerrymandering and voter suppression.  As this process moves forward, Republicans will become irrelevant in politics, unless they reform their hard line positions to appeal to more than just the 35% base.

[Limey]

I hope they do.  If you've paid your debt to society, your rights should be there when done.

Exactly.  The likes of then-Gov. Scott had been holding this back (actually, he made it harder).  They asked the people of Florida, and they returned a resounding result: 2-1 in favor of restoring voting rights to those who had completed their sentences.

[Limey]

Two days after appointing him to be the top law enforcement officer in the United States, Trump claims not to know walking constitutional crisis Mike Whitaker:

Well, Matt Whitaker -- I don't know Matt Whitaker. Matt Whitaker worked for Jeff Sessions, and he was always extremely highly thought of, and he still is. But I didn't know Matt Whitaker. He worked for Attorney General Sessions.

Yeah.  Blame the guy who just left.

Also, apart from being nonsense, it's also bullshit.  Whitaker has been a frequent visitor to the Oval Office and has spoken with Trump on the phone...about replacing Sessions.

[BudGirl]

Two days after appointing him to be the top law enforcement officer in the United States, Trump claims not to know walking constitutional crisis Mike Whitaker:

Yeah.  Blame the guy who just left.

Also, apart from being nonsense, it';s also bullshit.  Whitaker has been a frequent visitor to the Oval Office and has spoken with Trump on the phone...about replacing Sessions.

How many times was he on CNN criticizing the investigation?   Whitaker lobbying the best way for the job, he got good ratings on tv.

[Limey]

How many times was he on CNN criticizing the investigation?   Whitaker lobbying the best way for the job, he got good ratings on tv.

...and said the things Trump wanted to hear.  See Kavanaugh, Brett.

[Limey]

Apropos nothing, the ratings for the "Today" show's third hour, until recently hosted by Megyn Kelly, have gone up since she was taken off the air.

[Bench]

Are you implying that ex-cons are most likely to vote Democrat?

In 2008 an ex-con plumber named Rocco used to hang out at Griff's and we would shoot the shit as one does at a bar. He recounted to a group of us how he was getting his driver's license renewed and the DMV lady asked him if he wanted to be registered to vote. He replied that he was a convicted felon and couldn't vote, but she explained that under the law at the time his conviction and sentence was remote enough that he was now able to register. He was overcome with emotion and said that he hadn't felt more like a human and a part of society since before he was incarcerated. He was literally weeping as he told us this story, and I'll confess to getting a little teary eyed as well at how genuinely heartfelt and grateful he was.

Then someone asked who he was going to vote for and Rocco responded "I sure as shit ain't voting for the n*****."

[Limey]

In 2008 an ex-con plumber named Rocco used to hang out at Griff's and we would shoot the shit as one does at a bar. He recounted to a group of us how he was getting his driver's license renewed and the DMV lady asked him if he wanted to be registered to vote. He replied that he was a convicted felon and couldn't vote, but she explained that under the law at the time his conviction and sentence was remote enough that he was now able to register. He was overcome with emotion and said that he hadn't felt more like a human and a part of society since before he was incarcerated. He was literally weeping as he told us this story, and I'll confess to getting a little teary eyed as well at how genuinely heartfelt and grateful he was.

Then someone asked who he was going to vote for and Rocco responded "I sure as shit ain't voting for the n*****."

That's fucking hilarious!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

In 2008 an ex-con plumber named Rocco used to hang out at Griff's and we would shoot the shit as one does at a bar. He recounted to a group of us how he was getting his driver's license renewed and the DMV lady asked him if he wanted to be registered to vote. He replied that he was a convicted felon and couldn't vote, but she explained that under the law at the time his conviction and sentence was remote enough that he was now able to register. He was overcome with emotion and said that he hadn't felt more like a human and a part of society since before he was incarcerated. He was literally weeping as he told us this story, and I'll confess to getting a little teary eyed as well at how genuinely heartfelt and grateful he was.

Then someone asked who he was going to vote for and Rocco responded "I sure as shit ain't voting for the n*****."

That’s a great story. Those poor ex-cons aren’t know for making good choices.

[Limey]

That’s a great story. Those poor ex-cons aren’t know for making good choices.

Presumably, if you've been in jail, you've made at least one bad choice...

[MRaup]

Presumably, if you've been in jail, you've made at least one bad choice...

Yeah, you've had to work with a lawyer at some point.

[Limey]

Yeah, you've had to work with a lawyer at some point.

...or in the White House. 

[Nate Colbert]

Texas Tribune

"Before Trump's visit, Cruz's internal numbers had him leading by double digits statewide. In the days after, his lead dropped to 5 points."

#Trump2020

[jbm]

Texas Tribune

"Before Trump's visit, Cruz's internal numbers had him leading by double digits statewide. In the days after, his lead dropped to 5 points."

#Trump2020

I’ve been contemplating the O’Rourke autopsy since the election. Just tapping on the rural counties shows that he got smashed there, 80+% for Cruz in many counties. The ass whipping in rural counties seemed to be the difference. If he could have just got 30% there, he might have won. I’d have to see Clinton’s % in those counties and compare the turnout.

All this to say that I question the idea that Trump hurt Cruz and the idea that Beto should have tried to appeal to dissatisfied Republicans.  Texas is still a ways away for the Dems, IMO.

[Navin R Johnson]

Texas is still +7~ R.  Probably more when you factor in what a bunch of douchebags line the top of their ticket. Dan Goeb, Sid Miller, Rafael Cruz and that crook Paxton...  if they ran actual decent Republicans they’d be +15.  But the people that vote republican don’t want decent people, decent folks get primaried.  The Texas GOP primary voter demands the most far right lunatic candidate.  The Jade Helm believing, Obama is gonna steal your guns, Beto is a socialist and the caravan is gonna rape your aunt kinda stupid voters.  It will catch up to them at some point, probably around 2024

[austro]

It will catch up to them at some point, probably around 2024.

If we're still allowed to vote by then.

[Limey]

Trump cancelled his attendance at the memorial for those who served and died in WW1, due to rain. 

Every day, a new horror. 

[Limey]

Matt Whitaker and the intriguing case of World Patent Marketing.

Your new Acting Attorney General... for the United States... Matt Whitaker, was on the advisory board to WPM, a company that was wound up by the FTC because it was a complete and utter fraud.  WPM was fined $26 million...yeah, that big of a fraud.  So that puts Whitaker at least fraud adjacent (unlike his boss who was running a fraud university).  End of story, though, right?  Nope.

However, in addition to the FTC investigation, WPM - who defrauded veterans of their entire life savings - is also under an active investigation by the FBI.  It turns out that WPM was committing crimes in addition to the run-of-the-mill fraud racket.  They threatened - legally and physically - their clients to scare them off from making formal complaints about the company's fraudulent practices.  They would sent out threatening letters and also sent out a broadcast communique explaining that they retained, as security for their office, former Israeli special forces badasses who would eject anyone from the premises who was there to complain.

OK.  But what has this to do with Whitaker; he was only on the advisory board, right?  True.  But he was also on promotional videos, and promotional flyers, lending his credibility as a former US Attorney to prop up WPM's dubious bona fides.  Oh, and he also wrote one of the threatening letters to a customer, telling them to back off or he would bring down a world of civil and criminal legal hurt on them.

The FBI has refused to say whether Whitaker is a subject, or even target, in this investigation.  What is known is that he has ignored a subpoena and also refused to return his earnings from WPM despite being instructed to do so by the FTC.  It's almost as if he was expecting to be put in a position where he could shut all this down and make his own legal peril go away...

[chuck]

Sounds like an outSTANding addition to the cabinet.

Sit that guy next to Wilbur at the next meeting and see what they can cook up together.

[Waldo]

I’ve been contemplating the O’Rourke autopsy since the election. Just tapping on the rural counties shows that he got smashed there, 80+% for Cruz in many counties. The ass whipping in rural counties seemed to be the difference. If he could have just got 30% there, he might have won. I’d have to see Clinton’s % in those counties and compare the turnout.

All this to say that I question the idea that Trump hurt Cruz and the idea that Beto should have tried to appeal to dissatisfied Republicans.  Texas is still a ways away for the Dems, IMO.

2016 presidential election: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Texas_Presidential_Election_Results_2016.svg/350px-Texas_Presidential_Election_Results_2016.svg.png

2018 senate election: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Results_of_the_2018_Senate_election_in_Texas.png/350px-Results_of_the_2018_Senate_election_in_Texas.png

Tarrant, Williamson, Hays, Brewster, Nueces, and Jefferson counties all went for Trump in 2016.  Beto flipped all of them, but dropped Kenedy County (population: 417).

In counties with <10k votes cast (i.e. many of those dark red counties in north/northwest/hill country/panhandle Texas), Cruz won by a total of 75% to 24% compared to Trump's 74% to 23%.  That tells me that there weren't many, if any, potential swing voters for Beto to begin with.

The biggest difference is in counties that cast >10k votes.  Trump won those counties by a total of 51% to 45% in 2016.  This year Beto won those counties 50% to 49%.

[jbm]

Thanks.  Looks like the 254 strategy might have not been so efficient.  If he goes again, he should just drive through those small towns, unless there is some good BBQ or cool looking courthouses.

[BudGirl]

Thanks.  Looks like the 254 strategy might have not been so efficient.  If he goes again, he should just drive through those small towns, unless there is some good BBQ or cool looking courthouses.

Only time will tell.  Beto put in a lot of work and made people talk.  We haven't been talking for a long time in Texas.    But, he made the race closer than they have felt in decades.  I felt like for the first time my vote might have mattered. 

Give Trump four more years of fucking with farmers and they'll not care so much about God in school because they'll be wanting to feed their cows and water their plants.  And personally, I don't think farmers should accept subsidies, after all that is just an entitlement and they don't think people should get help.  They need to get a job and pay their taxes (unlike someone we all know_.

[Limey]

I’ve been contemplating the O’Rourke autopsy since the election. Just tapping on the rural counties shows that he got smashed there, 80+% for Cruz in many counties. The ass whipping in rural counties seemed to be the difference. If he could have just got 30% there, he might have won. I’d have to see Clinton’s % in those counties and compare the turnout.

All this to say that I question the idea that Trump hurt Cruz and the idea that Beto should have tried to appeal to dissatisfied Republicans.  Texas is still a ways away for the Dems, IMO.

The problem is that kids from rural counties leave for college and mostly don't return.  This means that cities continue to get more liberal and rural counties continue to get more conservative.  Fair redistricting is the solution, but that isn't coming to Texas any time soon.

Of course, Beto was running for Senate, where districts are irrelevant, so he still lost statewide.  Trying to appeal to dyed-in-the-wool conservatives in rural counties is a fool's errand; his time is/was better spent courting liberals - wherever they may be - to actually show up to vote.  In that regard, the minority vote was up, the female vote was up and the youth vote was way up.  This effort is credited with the blue wave that washed over the state's congress and courts, but it wasn't enough to get past Ted fucking Cruz.

John Cornyn is up in 2020, where turnout should be even higher as it's a Presidential election year.  He's less unlikable than Cruz (not hard) but he's going to have some headwinds.  If the Democrats can run a decent candidate - maybe Wendy Davis with some actual resources behind her - then he's in big trouble.  If there's a charismatic Democrat running for the White House, he's probably fucked.

Biden - O'Rourke 2020!

[Limey]

Thanks.  Looks like the 254 strategy might have not been so efficient.  If he goes again, he should just drive through those small towns, unless there is some good BBQ or cool looking courthouses.

Gas up; move on.

[Limey]

FYI, if you want to see something uplifting this morning, check out Sharice Davids' election ad.  Davids is the female, gay, Native American former MMA fighter who came out of nowhere to win a House seat in frikkin' Kansas.

With the raft of female, LGBTQ, minority candidates who won this month, it's really just time to put good people on the ballot and let the voters figure it out.  When given a legitimate choice, they often make the right one.

[Bench]

Every day, a new horror.

I know that crazy is the new normal, but it is objectively insane that the president of the united states is making public groundless accusations of forged votes and election fraud. Especially in an election that his guys will probably win anyway.

Also, calling ballots "massively infected" is such an weird choice of words.

[moriartp]

The county-by-county tour was a big part of building Beto's publicity. It probably helped him more than it hurt—how many votes do we really think he lost by spending time outside urban areas? And more importantly, writing off/abandoning your constituents is a terrible thing to do regardless of electoral outcomes. Get out there, keep making the case, and let the other guy get caught taking those votes for granted. You never know what might happen over the long run.

[Bench]

The county-by-county tour was a big part of building Beto's publicity. It probably helped him more than it hurt—how many votes do we really think he lost by spending time outside urban areas? And more importantly, writing off/abandoning your constituents is a terrible thing to do regardless of electoral outcomes. Get out there, keep making the case, and let the other guy get caught taking those votes for granted. You never know what might happen over the long run.

The tour was definitely part of his popular appeal. I doubt it cost him anything.

Here's a breakdown courtesy of Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune (summarizing a lot which as already been posted:

Texas' 191 rural counties contributed 11% of the #txsen vote; non-rural counties made up the remaining 89%. In rural counties, @TedCruz defeated @BetoORourke 75% to 24%. In non-rural counties, O'Rourke beat Cruz 51-48.

For comparison:
- 2016 (President): Vote was 12% rural counties/88% non-rural counties. Trump won rural counties 75%-23% and won non-rural counties 49%-46%.
- 2014 (Governor): Vote was 13% rural cos./87% non-rural cos. Abbott won rural cos. 76%-23% and won non-rural cos. 57%-41%.

[Limey]

Election update:

Florida

Despite Trump's and Scott's baseless accusations of fraud, the Florida count continues at its customary glacial pace.  Both the Senate and Governor's races are into a recount, with the Democrat in each case expected to gain ground as they continue to catch up with the mountainous backlog of absentee ballots from liberal-leaning Broward and West Palm.  (Spoiler alert, old people vote by mail).

The Senate race is down to less than 0.2%, which means a hand recount.  The Governor's race is down to 0.4%, which triggers a machine recount which, if it closes to within 0.25%, triggers a hand recount.  There's also a state office race that's going to a recount, so expect this clusterfuck to continue for a few weeks yet.

Georgia

Abrams continues to fight to have all votes counted and refuses to concede.  Kemp got his office to issue a statement saying he'd won, but no one believed them.  If they can get the gap down to less than 0.5%, there'll be a runoff election in December.  That would be an interesting affair...

Kemp is believed to have lost votes to a libertarian candidate, and those who voted libertarian may turn out for Kemp in a two-horse race.  Possibly.  It's also possible that they do not show up because they voted libertarian in protest at Kemp/Trump.  On the other side, Abrams - operating without the distraction of other races going on around the country - may get a boost from the fact that she could actually fucking win, and because Democratic turnout was lagging until Obama and Oprah showed up in the state late in the race.  You can bet your ass that the get-out-the-vote effort in a runoff will be immense.

Arizona

Sinema has hit the front and continues to stretch her lead incrementally.  The count will take a while but, the remaining outstanding votes are in counties that are expected to lean liberal. 

Mississippi

This one's going to a runoff later this month between the female, white incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and her black, male Democratic opponent Mike Espy.  Hyde-Smith was expected to prevail, but at the weekend, this happened:

"If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row"- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith says in Tupelo, MS after Colin Hutchinson, cattle rancher, praises her.

It is Mississippi, but still, that has to turn off a few people, right?

[jbm]

The county-by-county tour was a big part of building Beto's publicity. It probably helped him more than it hurt—how many votes do we really think he lost by spending time outside urban areas? And more importantly, writing off/abandoning your constituents is a terrible thing to do regardless of electoral outcomes. Get out there, keep making the case, and let the other guy get caught taking those votes for granted. You never know what might happen over the long run.

It may have helped get him publicity, and sure, a Senator represents everyone and should listen to everyone, but every second you spend trying to convince the rural crowd to vote for you (they won't at this moment in time, especially after the ads come out) is a second you could be recruiting someone who will actually vote for you.  I say this as someone who respects these peoples' opinions, but you can't talk them or implore them out of their worldview.  They'll have to come out on their own volition, if they ever will at all.

[Limey]

It may have helped get him publicity, and sure, a Senator represents everyone and should listen to everyone, but every second you spend trying to convince the rural crowd to vote for you (they won't at this moment in time, especially after the ads come out) is a second you could be recruiting someone who will actually vote for you.  I say this as someone who respects these peoples' opinions, but you can't talk them or implore them out of their worldview.  They'll have to come out on their own volition, if they ever will at all.

In my (limited) experience, Democrats have done well when they - as a party - compete everywhere.  When they withdraw to their liberal strongholds, they lose.

[Limey]

Election update:

Oh yeah: Dana Rohrebacher fucking lost.

[BudGirl]

It may have helped get him publicity, and sure, a Senator represents everyone and should listen to everyone, but every second you spend trying to convince the rural crowd to vote for you (they won't at this moment in time, especially after the ads come out) is a second you could be recruiting someone who will actually vote for you.  I say this as someone who respects these peoples' opinions, but you can't talk them or implore them out of their worldview.  They'll have to come out on their own volition, if they ever will at all.

This was one thing people complained about in 2016 that no one went to see them and hear them.  So they voted Republican.  Beto learned that lesson.  Regardless of the fact that many people still didn't change their vote, it honestly, gave courage to a lot of other people to talk about Beto.  He totally got word of mouth on his side.  It's hard to argue against someone going everywhere in Texas versus someone going every in Iowa.

[Limey]

This was one thing people complained about in 2016 that no one went to see them and hear them.  So they voted Republican.  Beto learned that lesson.  Regardless of the fact that many people still didn't change their vote, it honestly, gave courage to a lot of other people to talk about Beto.  He totally got word of mouth on his side.  It's hard to argue against someone going everywhere in Texas versus someone going every in Iowa.

Beto did far better against Cruz than other statewide Democratic candidates did against their Republican opponents.  Some of that has to be down to the charisma gap, but I think a lot of it was down to the strategy to go everywhere, while Cruz held fund-raisers in BBQ joints in conservative strongholds.

Beto is the closest thing we've seen to Obama, since Obama.

[jbm]

This was one thing people complained about in 2016 that no one went to see them and hear them.  So they voted Republican.  Beto learned that lesson.  Regardless of the fact that many people still didn't change their vote, it honestly, gave courage to a lot of other people to talk about Beto.  He totally got word of mouth on his side.  It's hard to argue against someone going everywhere in Texas versus someone going every in Iowa.

I hear what y'all are saying and I'm definitely not in the "Screw those hicks, they'll never vote for you" crowd; I'm just in the "it's a waste of time, they'll never vote for you" crowd.  It's simply tribalism in America politics at the moment. 

My position on this is a result of two years of reading/hearing that Democrats have ignored the rural, working class voter (or the corollary that there really isn't a cultural component to the Trump base) and then frequently interacting with that base.  Beto listened to them and engaged them with honesty and nuance, basically the way one should treat adults.  However, as soon as bullshit ads come out about veterans/flags, Pelosi, caravans and oil, they all retreated to their corner and Beto became just another librul.

Bottom line: Beto gave a good faith effort.  If he runs again, there's no need to go back to that well.

[BudGirl]

I respectfully disagree.  IMO, you shouldn't ignore a group  of people in this country.  Yeah, they aren't in urban areas, but to ignore them is as bad as ignoring any other group.  Maybe I still have Beto afterglow (which I fully acknowledge) but I think that was the right move and may bring accountability to the one that won.

[moriartp]

Continuing to reach out to people even when you know they won't vote for you also shows authenticity. It shows you don't turn your back on people. That plays well everywhere, so things like the rural county tour can help you in the cities & suburbs as well.

[Limey]

The Texas Tribune weighs in on Beto's campaign.

One interesting tidbit: the NFL protest question that Beto answered so eloquently and became a national star as a result, was planted by Cruz' campaign.  While Beto was being lauded around the country for his heartfelt, patriotic response, it was deemed a red line that conservatives - who hate the NFL protests - would never cross.

[Waldo]

Looks like the 254 strategy might have not been so efficient.

Maybe not.  But maybe Beto doesn't flip Hays, Williamson, or Jefferson counties without that strategy.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Continuing to reach out to people even when you know they won't vote for you also shows authenticity. It shows you don't turn your back on people. That plays well everywhere, so things like the rural county tour can help you in the cities & suburbs as well.

I agree.

It often irks me that only in the media outlets most associated with the left do you find column after column exhorting people to get out of their echo chambers and engage the other side honestly, but not doing so only exacerbates and reinforces the divide.  The 254 strategy didn't win the whole enchilada this round but keep going back to that well each time and maybe some entrenched Republican's sons or daughters vote for you some day.

There's no religious diversity in one-church towns.

[Tom Servo]

Here's a pretty long, but fascinating, twitter thread by David Neiwert (author of Alt-America, The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump) about the Rise of Authoritarianism in the US and the psychology behind it. 

https://twitter.com/DavidNeiwert/status/1062018162500153344

[jbm]

Maybe not.  But maybe Beto doesn't flip Hays, Williamson, or Jefferson counties without that strategy.

To be fair, all of those are relatively large counties, with populations that profile well for Beto, the exact places he should work the hardest.  Hitting Scurry and Panola County is what I'm talking about.

Along those lines, I have a question for Sphinx: You live in Comal County, correct?  I'm always a bit surprised by the relative conservative bent of that county, given all the growth that's occurred.  It's vote is significantly more red than than the rest of the 35 corridor and more red than it's eastern neighbors.  Who is moving into that county?  Do y'all just get all of the Republicans from California?

[Tom Servo]

And more from twitter:

https://twitter.com/RobDownenChron/status/1062066362040967168

Houston Police are apparently searching the law office of Jared Woodfill, the former chairman of the Harris County Republican Party.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Along those lines, I have a question for Sphinx: You live in Comal County, correct?  I'm always a bit surprised by the relative conservative bent of that county, given all the growth that's occurred.  It's vote is significantly more red than than the rest of the 35 corridor and more red than it's eastern neighbors.  Who is moving into that county?  Do y'all just get all of the Republicans from California?

My place is in Guadalupe County but with a New Braunfels zip code. I have no data but I get the feeling that there are a whole lot of the "Family Values" conservative types. The county has traditionally been populated since before statehood by Mexican-Americans (Tejanos) and since about the time of statehood by German-Americans families. There are also a lot of retired folks in New Braunfels, military and private sector both, especially around the Gruene neighborhood (saw mostly Cruz signs there, like 4 to 1 over Beto). I saw The Mavericks at jam packed Gruene Hall weekend before last and felt as if  half the crowd was older than I am, and I'm 62. There are not a lot of black families in New Braunfels and they are mostly college educated middle class who moved out of San Antonio or from more rural areas of Texas. There are very few recent immigrants from Central America or Mexico. Very few Middle Easterners and very few Asians (we finally got a Pho house just last Spring!). There are a lot of shitkickers but you are more likely to see a rebel flag in Seguin than you are in New Braunfels.

[mrpink]

There are also a lot of retired folks in New Braunfels, military and private sector both, especially around the Gruene neighborhood (saw mostly Cruz signs there, like 4 to 1 over Beto). I saw The Mavericks at jam packed Gruene Hall weekend before last and felt as if  half the crowd was older than I am, and I'm 62. There are not a lot of black families in New Braunfels and they are mostly college educated middle class who moved out of San Antonio or from more rural areas of Texas. There are very few recent immigrants from Central America or Mexico.

I’ve lived near downtown for 10 years and there were just as many Beto signs as Cruz signs up, but that may be because Cruz’s campaign manager doesn’t think they matter.  Also, there are just as many recent immigrants here as anywhere else in Texas.
There is a lot of growth from out of state, but I think more people come from Harris county than anywhere else.

[jbm]

Thanks for the replies. It’s just so different from a Bexar and Hayes:

Bexar - 59% Beto, 40% Cruz
Hayes - 57% Beto, 42% Cruz
Comal - 27% Beto, 72% Cruz

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Also, there are just as many recent immigrants here as anywhere else in Texas.

I don't think there are. Not to the extent of Houston, Austin, DFW, or San Antonio. But that just my observation. I could be wrong. If you know a mercado or carnecia in town besides the one by Big Lots, please let me know.

[mrpink]

Thanks for the replies. It’s just so different from a Bexar and Hayes:

Bexar - 59% Beto, 40% Cruz
Hayes - 57% Beto, 42% Cruz
Comal - 27% Beto, 72% Cruz

I think Bexar can be explained because of San Antonio.
I heard Karl Rove say there was a huge O’Rourke campaign at Texas State which would partially explain Hays and Williamson counties.

[mrpink]

I don't think there are. Not to the extent of Houston, Austin, DFW, or San Antonio. But that just my observation. I could be wrong. If you know a mercado or carnecia in town besides the one by Big Lots, please let me know.

I’m sure you’re right with regards to sheer numbers. The ratio seems about the same to me but who really knows.

There’s a panaderia on San Antonio St, south of Walnut. The best part of that place is that it opens up about 4AM. That’s really all I know.

[Limey]

Recapping the week since the mid-terms, in which Republicans got slaughtered in the House, trounced for state offices up and down the country and may end up with a Senate net gain of +1 against the easiest field (for them) in a century, we have seen Trump:

* Fire his AG and appoint a literal stooge who, himself, is caught up in a serious FBI criminal investigation
* Blame Californians for the death and destruction wrought upon them by wildfires
* Fly to France for the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, only to:
        - skip a service honoring the sacrifice of 2,400 US Marines because of rain
        - skip the parade along the Champs Elysee which was lead by all the other attendant world leaders
        - arrive late at the subsequent function
        - pick a fight with French president Macron (still ongoing)
* Decline to visit Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day (when he had literally nothing on his schedule)
* Have his pants pulled down by his new love: Kim Jong Un, who has continued building nukes all along
* Signal boost unfounded (and disproved) conspiracy theories about election fraud in Florida
* Fail to mention the caravan

It's going to be a long two months until the new congress is sworn in...

[Limey]

In Maine's 2nd Congressional District, Republican Bruce Poliquin is leading Democrat Jared Golden with all votes in.  So, Poliquin's the winner, right?  Nope.  Poliquin doesn't have 50% of the vote so, like in many states, he doesn't get the win straight away.  Unlike other states, that would have a runoff between the two most popular candidates, Maine uses a "ranked choice" system (also called "instant runoff"), where voters declare their second choice candidate on the original ballot, in case their first choice is eliminated and a runoff is needed.

Given that the reason neither major party candidate got to 50% was because of an ultra-liberal third party candidate siphoning off about 8% of the vote, most expect that much - if not all - of that 8% will switch to Golden and propel him past 50% and past his Republican opponent.  The ranked choice recount is due to start tomorrow.  But maybe not...

Because he's expecting to lose the instant runoff, Poliquin - who was totally fine with the process right up until the moment when the blue wave rose above his head - has filed suit claiming that the process is unconstitutional.  Yep, my irony meter is broken now too.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

It's going to be a long two months until the new congress is sworn in...

Is that two months contingent on Florida being finished counting votes?

[Limey]

Is that two months contingent on Florida being finished counting votes?

IMHO, the FL Governor's race is more important than the Senate race.  While you never want to give up on a race as close as Nelson's, the difference of one more or less seat in the Senate is somewhat moot in the big picture (although it would be one less seat required to flip the Senate in 2020).  However, Gillum would have the opportunity to fix a lot of what's wrong with Florida elections if he were elected, while Desantis is almost certain to make voting as hard as possible with Dr Evil to his Mini Me on the ballot in 2020.

Unfortunately, Gillum is less likely than Nelson to make a comeback through the recount, so it may be a wasted effort in all cases.  And then there will be the grotesque victory lap by you-know-who...

[Limey]

In case you thought Melania was a sympathetic figure in all of this, the Office of the First Lady has just officially called for the firing of one of  John Bolton's top aides because of a dispute of flight seating arrangements on her recent trip to Africa.

[Limey]

In case you thought Melania was a sympathetic figure in all of this, the Office of the First Lady has just officially called for the firing of one of  John Bolton's top aides because of a dispute of flight seating arrangements on her recent trip to Africa.

And, two hours after attending an official White House event with no issues apparent, Mira Ricardel - the Bolton aide in question - was escorted from the White House by security.

[jbm]

And, two hours after attending an official White House event with no issues apparent, Mira Ricardel - the Bolton aide in question - was escorted from the White House by security.

Den of snakes.  No sympathy here.

[Limey]

Den of snakes.  No sympathy here.

Agreed.  It's like when Rick Gates was testifying against Manafort; even though he was on "our side", it was important to remember that he's a steaming pile of walking excrement*.  Anyone still in this White House after a couple of weeks, let alone a couple of years, is as undeserving of sympathy as any of the inner circle.

* One member of the jury felt very strongly this way, apparently, because that one person hung the verdicts on all the charges against Manafort where Gates was the principle purveyor of evidence.

In related news, Kelly and Nielsen are expected to be gone soon, leaving no one in charge of anything in America anywhere.

ETA:  Ricardel is Croatian and Trump is Slovenian - both countries part of the former Yugoslavia, whose break up went very well, if I recall correctly.  Eh?  Oh.

[Limey]

It is becoming more and more clear that Trump's disappearing act over the last week has as much to do with the results of the mid-terms as it does with rain being kryptonite to his hair.  He's basically withdrawing into a cocoon of anger and frustration.

Give yourself a slap on the back, everybody.

[Limey]

Democrats officially flipped another House seat today, bringing the total of flipped seats to 33, with 8 still to be called.  If they run the table, they can get to a flip of 41, but 38 or 39 is the likely total.  That's still a huge tally given the gerrymandering that took place after the Tea Party wave of 2010.

Speaking of which, that "shellacking" handed out to Obama in 2010 was the result of a 6.6% swing to Republicans.  The swing to Democrats in 2018 is 7.1% and growing (because they're still counting mail-in ballots in California...as usual).

[homer]

Democrats officially flipped another House seat today, bringing the total of flipped seats to 33, with 8 still to be called.  If they run the table, they can get to a flip of 41, but 38 or 39 is the likely total.  That's still a huge tally given the gerrymandering that took place after the Tea Party wave of 2010.

Speaking of which, that "shellacking" handed out to Obama in 2010 was the result of a 6.6% swing to Republicans.  The swing to Democrats in 2018 is 7.1% and growing (because they're still counting mail-in ballots in California...as usual).

6.6% and 7.1% of what?

[Limey]

6.6% and 7.1% of what?

Of the total House vote.  I.e., in 2010 Republicans got 6.6% more of the overall vote than Democrats; in 2018 Democrats got 7.1% more of the overall vote than Republicans.

[homer]

Of the total House vote.

I'm trying to decide if this is gaslighting or just hyperbole that muddies the waters of the discussion.

[Limey]

I'm trying to decide if this is gaslighting or just hyperbole that muddies the waters of the discussion.

It’s just facts and data. 

[HudsonHawk]

So I'm in Washington, DC right now, and have a tour of the White House and the Capitol tomorrow. I doubt I'll have the opportunity to kick somebody in the nuts, but if I do...

[Limey]

So I'm in Washington, DC right now, and have a tour of the White House and the Capitol tomorrow. I doubt I'll have the opportunity to kick somebody in the nuts, but if I do...

McConnel.  He’s more the architect of the shit show in Washington than any other person. 

[Limey]

Democratic House flips now total 34, with 8 races still as yet undecided.  Even if you want to dispute the percentages, it's impossible to ignore the swing in seats, including wins in places like Kansas, Arizona, Iowa and Texas.  This is the biggest number of seats flipped by Democrats since the first election after Nixon resigned.

Also, during the Obama years, Democrats were cleaned out of state legislatures and governorships.  They lost over 1,000 seats in state legislatures and lost countless governor's mansions to Republicans.  Well, in this one mid-term, they got back 400 of those state seats and took back 7 governorships.  The split of governorships is now 23 Dem to 25 Rep.

This success in the state races doesn't get well reported anywhere (and likely not at all on Fox), but it's a big fucking deal.  These state Democrats will be able to control, or at least influence, things like redistricting and how elections are run(registration, early voting, allocation of polling stations etc.) all with a view to making it easier for eligible voters to vote.  That will be important in 2020...

The undecided House seats include Mia Love's, which just got a little more interesting.  Despite Trump proclaiming her a loser last week, the latest vote count shows that her deficit has shortened to ~800 votes.  I am waiting for the outrage on the right over all these "found" votes being filled out in a back room somewhere...

[Limey]

Bigger shit show right now:  US or UK politics?

After the unveiling of the no exit Brexit deal, ministers are resigning in protest and there may well be a vote of no confidence in the government that. if lost, would likely trigger a general election (they can do that, you know).  In any such election whether to have or not have a second Brexit referendum is going to be a big factor.

Meanwhile, there's no guarantee that the EU will even agree to the Brexit deal as proposed, so all this churn could be about nothing, and a hard Brexit may still fall.

[Limey]

In Maine's 2nd Congressional District, Republican Bruce Poliquin is leading Democrat Jared Golden with all votes in.  So, Poliquin's the winner, right?  Nope.  Poliquin doesn't have 50% of the vote so, like in many states, he doesn't get the win straight away.  Unlike other states, that would have a runoff between the two most popular candidates, Maine uses a "ranked choice" system (also called "instant runoff"), where voters declare their second choice candidate on the original ballot, in case their first choice is eliminated and a runoff is needed.

Given that the reason neither major party candidate got to 50% was because of an ultra-liberal third party candidate siphoning off about 8% of the vote, most expect that much - if not all - of that 8% will switch to Golden and propel him past 50% and past his Republican opponent.  The ranked choice recount is due to start tomorrow.  But maybe not...

Because he's expecting to lose the instant runoff, Poliquin - who was totally fine with the process right up until the moment when the blue wave rose above his head - has filed suit claiming that the process is unconstitutional.  Yep, my irony meter is broken now too.

A judge ruled against Poliquin, the ranked choice votes counted and Golden won.  Another flip for Democrats, bringing the total to 35, with 7 remaining.

House Republicans are now extinct north east of New York, and they hold only Susan Collins' Senate seat in Maine (up for re-election in 2020).  In New York (state) itself, Republicans hold 4 of 27 seats with 2 yet to be decided.  They have only 1 of 12 house seats in New Jersey ans 1 of 8 in Maryland.  The entire north east is a Republican desert, as is the west coast - they will likely have only 8 or 9 of California's 53 seats, 1 of 5 in Oregon and 3 of 10 in Washington.  Other than the blue dot of Illinois, Republicans run riot in the flyover states and the south.

I would hate to see the population split between states represented by Democratic Senators vs. those represented by Republicans, because it would piss me off.

[Bench]

A judge ruled against Poliquin, the ranked choice votes counted and Golden won.  Another flip for Democrats, bringing the total to 35, with 7 remaining.

House Republicans are now extinct north east of New York, and they hold only Susan Collins' Senate seat in Maine (up for re-election in 2020).  In New York (state) itself, Republicans hold 4 of 27 seats with 2 yet to be decided.  They have only 1 of 12 house seats in New Jersey ans 1 of 8 in Maryland.  The entire north east is a Republican desert, as is the west coast - they will likely have only 8 or 9 of California's 53 seats, 1 of 5 in Oregon and 3 of 10 in Washington.  Other than the blue dot of Illinois, Republicans run riot in the flyover states and the south.

I would hate to see the population split between states represented by Democratic Senators vs. those represented by Republicans, because it would piss me off.

Gerrymandering preserved a great deal of GOP power. Especially in Ohio:

The Democrats actually collected more total votes in the 116 Ohio House and Senate elections across the state, cleveland.com found in tabulating the unofficial returns….
But the Republicans scored their wins for 62 percent of the seats while collecting just under 50 percent of the total vote.
This is a lot like what happened in Ohio's 16 congressional districts, where Republicans won 75 percent of the seats with just 52 percent of the overall vote.

Fortunately, the good people of Ohio have overwhelmingly voted to prevent that from happening in the future:

Ohioans in 2015 voted to reform the way Statehouse districts will be drawn, beginning in 2021. Then, earlier this year, Ohio voters did the same for congressional districts going forward. The votes for change were not close, passing each time with more than 70 percent support.

The separate reforms carry their own set of rules, but the gist is the same - a new set of 10-year maps cannot be approved without buy-in from both major political parties.

[jbm]

So, in bemoaning the idea that Texas isn't progressing towards fixing gerrymandering, I came across an article in the Texas Tribune and it seems as though Texans interested in a level playing field are fucked.  Apparently, creating a fair districts requires a constitutional amendment, which requires a 2/3 consent of those elected in the crooked districts.

Implementing an independent citizens commission would require putting a constitutional amendment before Texas voters — a move that needs the support of more than two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature.

[Limey]

Fortunately, the good people of Ohio have overwhelmingly voted to prevent that from happening in the future

There were a number of ballot measures promoting voting rights around the country.  In addition to Florida's "Amendment 4",  Maryland, Michigan and Nevada voted to allow same-day registration.  At the same time, though, Arkansas and North Carolina voted in favor of voter ID laws and North Dakota tied a set of braces to that belt by approving a measure that says only US citizens can vote.  North Dakota has 750,000 people, two Senators, one House Rep. and time to waste, it seems.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

There were a number of ballot measures promoting voting rights around the country.  In addition to Florida's "Amendment 4",  Maryland, Michigan and Nevada voted to allow same-day registration.  At the same time, though, Arkansas and North Carolina voted in favor of voter ID laws and North Dakota tied a set of braces to that belt by approving a measure that says only US citizens can vote.  North Dakota has 750,000 people, two Senators, one House Rep. and time to waste, it seems.

NC also approved a measure to guarantee a constitutional right to hunt and fish. It's government by twelve-year-olds over here.

[jbm]

NC also approved a measure to guarantee a constitutional right to hunt and fish. It's government by twelve-year-olds over here.

Good thing they did, cause after sneaking the caravan in, preventing those things was next up on Nancy's list.

[homer]

North Dakota tied a set of braces to that belt by approving a measure that says only US citizens can vote.  North Dakota has 750,000 people, two Senators, one House Rep. and time to waste, it seems.

I am not sure what point you are trying to make.

[HudsonHawk]

I am not sure what point you are trying to make.

Probably pointing out that it's already the law, and the political grandstanding by passing a law that basically says "we really mean it", as simply a way to spread fear among the rubes is a complete waste of time and government resources. Either that or they are really stupid up there.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Probably pointing out that it's already the law, and the political grandstanding by passing a law that basically says "we really mean it", as simply a way to spread fear among the rubes is a complete waste of time and government resources. Either that or they are really stupid up there.

It think they see it as a pro-active measure to ensure when the challenge comes, non-US citizens can't vote in ND in the future. Just another result of the divisiveness, fear, reaction, and paranoia, that is American politics. Because we are really stupid everywhere. I'm just glad Trump hasn't nuked anyone yet--I think he's a year overdue if you go back 2 years on this thread.

[Limey]

I am not sure what point you are trying to make.

Only US citizens can vote.  Having a ballot measure simply to reiterate the existing law is ridiculous on its face and smacks of a fake issue to drive voting behavior. 

[Bench]

And now Broward County's recounts won't count, because they submitted the recount 2 minutes after the deadline. Ah, Florida. You are such a fucked up state.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

And now Broward County's recounts won't count, because they submitted the recount 2 minutes after the deadline. Ah, Florida. You are such a fucked up state.

Flori-duh!

[Craig]

At the same time, though, Arkansas and North Carolina voted in favor of voter ID laws

Arkansas already had a Voter ID law, but the conservatives just wanted to show how super-serious they are by putting it in the Constitution too. So that meant I had to show my ID to vote against showing my ID.

[HudsonHawk]

It think they see it as a pro-active measure to ensure when the challenge comes, non-US citizens can't vote in ND in the future. Just another result of the divisiveness, fear, reaction, and paranoia, that is American politics. Because we are really stupid everywhere. I'm just glad Trump hasn't nuked anyone yet--I think he's a year overdue if you go back 2 years on this thread.

Again...the law already exists.  It’s like introducing a new law that makes murder illegal. This was simply an attempt to scare the people who aren’t very bright.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

This was simply an attempt to scare the people who aren’t very bright.

Again, this is politics in 2018, the whole country is not very bright.

[Limey]

And now Broward County's recounts won't count, because they submitted the recount 2 minutes after the deadline. Ah, Florida. You are such a fucked up state.

Broward Co. is Florida’s Florida. 

[Limey]

The slow-moving wave continues.  Democrats now +36 in the House, 6 races left to call. 

[Limey]

The slow-moving wave continues.  Democrats now +36 in the House, 6 races left to call.

Senate update:  Republicans are +1 with 2 races left, Florida and Mississippi.

Florida first:  the hand recount is now underway, after Broward Co. screwed the pooch on the machine recount that meant the original machine count stood.  Conspiracy theorists pounced on this because the machine recount found a couple-of-hundred extra votes for Scott.  Regardless, Nelson's campaign claim that the weird shortfall in total votes for the Senate race vs. the Governor's race means there was a machine error.

The alternative explanation (and the more likely one, IMHO) is that Florida still can't put together a coherent ballot paper.  The Senate race was at the bottom of the page, under a long vertical column of instructions that no one read and so was likely skipped by inattentive voters (i.e. Floridians).  This was against the guidelines for ballot layout that came out after the last time Broward Co. fucked up an election - or the last time it became a national issue, at least - in 2000, where doing this exact thing was noted as a thing not to do.  If Nelson's right, he'll win the hand recount; if he's wrong, Scott will win.

Now to Mississippi: why is this still even a thing?  It's Missi-fucking-sippi!  Trump won the state by 18 points!  Well, a plethora of third-party candidates meant that neither Hyde-Smith (R) - defending the seat to which she was appointed - or Espy (D) got to 50%, so there's a runoff.  How's that going?  For Hyde-Smith, not so well.  She was caught on tape last week joking about attending a public hanging...in Mississippi.  She issued a statement and then hid behind it in an embarrassing press event where she referred reporters to the statement maybe a dozen times in a row.

Bad right?  But bad enough to derail a Republican in R+18 Mississippi?  How about layering on a joke about not letting "some people" vote?  Yeah, she did that yesterday.  So she's checked lynching and Jim Crow on her Mississippi racist bingo card, so what's next?  Killing some civil rights protesters and giving the FBI the runaround when they show up to investigate?  The RNC has jumped in with an ad buy featuring, of course, George Soros, and Trump is talking about holding a campaign rally there, because neither of those things stink of racism.

This is an interesting litmus test for Mississippi: is it still racist as fuck, or will they do an Alabama and turn away a clearly horrible person regardless of her political tribe? The special election in Nov 27, there is a debate scheduled for Nov 20.  Pass the popcorn.

And here's a last, tantalizing, thought:  Republicans are currently +1 in the Senate with these two racers left.  If - and it's a big if - both outstanding races go to the Democrats, they will have gained a seat in the Senate against the worst electoral map in a century.  Will that have people accepting the blue wave?  It would mean the Senate would be poised at 51-49.  The one over the 50 being Susan Collins - the sole Republican representative from New England in either chamber - who is up for re-election in 2020...

[Limey]

Mueller finally made a mistake and let something slip.  He has a sealed indictment against Julian Assange.   Good.

Hopefully, he also has sealed indictments against Stone, Corsi, Uday, Jarvanka, Farage et al.  That could be what Whitaker told Trump this week which sent him off the deep end, because firing Mueller won't expunge those indictments, it probably speeds their change of status from sealed to unsealed.

[Limey]

Florida update:  Broward Co. - which took three days and still failed to meet the deadline for a machine recount - somehow finished its hand recount overnight, and Nelson didn't pick up any votes.  The no new votes thing isn't weird (see above), but getting the count done so quickly, is.

Anyway, looks like both the Governor's and Senate races will be called for the Republicans.

[Nate Colbert]

Commenting on McConnell's mind-blowingly cynical op-ed calling for bipartisanship on the part of Dems...

David Simon @AoDespair Nov 13
Upon a just and living god having this read to him by a heavenly host, a dirigible-sized Merrick Garland should float over the Senate side of the Capitol, open its lower flap and, as you stare up its rubbered ass in abject wonder, cover you and all your works in human excrement.

[Limey]

All congressional districts in Orange County, CA are represented by Democrats.  Orange County!!

[Limey]

Trump had an eventful weekend, even by his standards.

He recorded an interview with Fox News that aired over the weekend in which he:
- gave himself an "A+" grade because it's the highest (basically, he said he's gone to 11);
- attacked a decorated and storied Navy SEAL for being a "Hillary backer" (he wasn't),
- admitted that not going to the Arlington National Cemetery was a mistake, but said that he went the prior year (he didn't) and
- claimed all the news about him was fake, and said that people make up sources and then just say "sources said..." (apparently with a straight face and no fingers crossed).

He also went to California where he continued to blame the victims for not raking the forest floors like they do in Finland (the Prime Minister of Finland explained this to him, he said), apparently not being aware that:
- the Prime Minister of Finland has no idea what Trump's talking about;
- Finland is an arctic country that's under snow for much of the year so absolutely nothing at all like the drought-parched land of California (and the Finns came out to mock our President as a result); and
- the lands that burned had either burned recently (Camp fire) so weren't strewn with tinder, or scrub land (Woolsey fire) which is not, you know, a forest.

Every day, a new low.

[jbm]

Don't forget him calling Schiff "Little Adam Schitt." 

The Trump crowd likely went wild.

[Limey]

Don't forget him calling Schiff "Little Adam Schitt." 

The Trump crowd likely went wild.

...and defending Melania's* decision to fire the deputy national security adviser.

* Melania, who is trying to stamp out cyber-bullying, ironically.

There's just so much to keep up with.  Right now he is on Twitter, attacking McRaven (again), saying the hunt for bin Laden took too long and that the people doing it were fools, seemingly unaware that the hunt was carried out by the CIA and McRaven was brought in only to execute the Abbatabad raid, which he did with aplomb.

[Limey]

The reality of the CA wildfires, that is getting lost in the Trump bullshitstorm, is a story well worth reading  if your heart can take the breaking it will suffer.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

He also went to California where he continued to blame the victims for not raking the forest floors

They should also build a really high wall around all the forests to keep the wind out.

[jbm]

These fires are such a tragic scenario and so foreign to my life experience.  I immediately think about cities/homes having a bunker or safe buildings, similar to tornado threatened areas, but since I've never heard of such a thing, it must be more complicated than I envision.

[Limey]

These fires are such a tragic scenario and so foreign to my life experience.  I immediately think about cities/homes having a bunker or safe buildings, similar to tornado threatened areas, but since I've never heard of such a thing, it must be more complicated than I envision.

Seems to me that one of these storm shelters could be adapted to be a fire shelter. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

These fires are such a tragic scenario and so foreign to my life experience.  I immediately think about cities/homes having a bunker or safe buildings, similar to tornado threatened areas, but since I've never heard of such a thing, it must be more complicated than I envision.

It is much more complicated than a storm shelter due to the oxygen consuming nature of fire among other factors. Many people have lost their lives after seeking refuge from a fire in storm shelters when they oxygen was sucked out of the air in the bunker.

[jbm]

It is much more complicated than a storm shelter due to the oxygen consuming nature of fire among other factors. Many people have lost their lives after seeking refuge from a fire in storm shelters when they oxygen was sucked out of the air in the bunker.

That was my initial concern, but a fire bunker would be designed for that.

[Limey]

It is much more complicated than a storm shelter due to the oxygen consuming nature of fire among other factors. Many people have lost their lives after seeking refuge from a fire in storm shelters when they oxygen was sucked out of the air in the bunker.

That's how flame-throwers are used, not to burn (although that happens), but to incapacitate your enemy by consuming all the breathable oxygen.

An in-ground shelter would be ok with the heat as the surrounding dirt will insulate the occupants, so only the lid would need to be fireproofed.  Make it airtight, include some form of compressed air breathing apparatus, and it should be survivable for a while.  The in-garage shelters work well -for fire or wind - because no one has to go outside.

[Limey]

The good thing about Democrats having control of the House is that they will be able to go after things like the rampant use of personal email accounts to conduct government business by Trump administration officials, especially those who fall into the crossover of the Venn between government employees and family members (Kushner has been busted doing this too).

All such things - which are serious infractions but have been rendered comical by Republican overreach - can be properly and appropriately investigated, so that we no longer have the spectacle of the story breaking, thew White House lying about it, and the issue dying on the vine because Congress can't be arsed to look into it.

[jbm]

They should just assign the Ivanka e-mail case to the House Republican minority, and give them a due date.  This will give them something to chew on during their downtime.  At the due date, see what they have found and make them present it in front of the class. 

They won't get bored or tired doing this project because the Trump base, being all into this issue, will run "lock her up" features 24/7 on Fox news. 

[Limey]

This statement from the White House, about the Khashoggi murder, is: (1) clearly written or heavily edited by Donald Trump; and (b) is a complete mess stylistically, grammatically and factually.

[Limey]

Now to Mississippi: why is this still even a thing?  It's Missi-fucking-sippi!  Trump won the state by 18 points!  Well, a plethora of third-party candidates meant that neither Hyde-Smith (R) - defending the seat to which she was appointed - or Espy (D) got to 50%, so there's a runoff.  How's that going?  For Hyde-Smith, not so well.  She was caught on tape last week joking about attending a public hanging...in Mississippi.  She issued a statement and then hid behind it in an embarrassing press event where she referred reporters to the statement maybe a dozen times in a row.

Bad right?  But bad enough to derail a Republican in R+18 Mississippi?  How about layering on a joke about not letting "some people" vote?  Yeah, she did that yesterday.  So she's checked lynching and Jim Crow on her Mississippi racist bingo card, so what's next?  Killing some civil rights protesters and giving the FBI the runaround when they show up to investigate?  The RNC has jumped in with an ad buy featuring, of course, George Soros, and Trump is talking about holding a campaign rally there, because neither of those things stink of racism.

This is an interesting litmus test for Mississippi: is it still racist as fuck, or will they do an Alabama and turn away a clearly horrible person regardless of her political tribe? The special election in Nov 27, there is a debate scheduled for Nov 20.  Pass the popcorn.

I'll tell you what's next:  a self-posted photo from 2014 of Hyde-Smith wearing a confederate hat.

We know what she is; Mississippians...what are you?

[jbm]

This statement from the White House, about the Khashoggi murder, is: (1) clearly written or heavily edited by Donald Trump; and (b) is a complete mess stylistically, grammatically and factually.

He's so full of shit with his facts.  You know he or his family is benefiting financially from SA.  When Dems investigate, this is the kind of shit that goes day 1.  E-mail stuff is number 137.

Also, there is a story about  Whittaker receiving 1.2 mil in the last year or so from some group with an Orwellian name: Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT).  We know he is corrupt.  preventing this is one of the primary reasons the constitution requires confirmation by the senate.

They are all fucking corrupt.  The most corrupt administration in my lifetime for sure.  Draining the swamp.  Motherfuckers should all be in jail. 

[Limey]

Also, there is a story about  Whittaker receiving 1.2 mil in the last year or so from some group with an Orwellian name: Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT).

He was the only employee.  How does he - an unknown, former main street lawyer* - generate that kind of revenue for himself?

* Yes, he served as the US Attorney for Utah, but he was unqualified for that job too when elevated to it.  He also sucked at it, and just drifted around for nearly a decade before being plucked from obscurity to be Sessions' CoS at the DoJ.

[Bench]

He was the only employee.  How does he - an unknown, former main street lawyer* - generate that kind of revenue for himself?

* Yes, he served as the US Attorney for Utah, but he was unqualified for that job too when elevated to it.  He also sucked at it, and just drifted around for nearly a decade before being plucked from obscurity to be Sessions' CoS at the DoJ.

And why hasn't the DOJ provided a copy of his financial disclosures?

[Limey]

And why hasn't the DOJ provided a copy of his financial disclosures?

It’s out now, but it’s been revised 7 times (he’s only been acting AG about 7 days).  FOIA requests have been made for all versions of the disclosure and there’s no reason not to grant them.  That might be telling...

[Waldo]

We know what she is; Mississippians...what are you?

Something tells me you're not going to like the answer.

[Limey]

Something tells me you're not going to like the answer.

As Bill Maher opines:  Not every Republican is racist; but all racists are Republicans.  This runoff will come down to those non-racist Republicans and independents who cannot stand with Hyde-Smith who is so racist that she is racist without even realizing it.

Doug Jones showed that there are Republican voters who'll put morality over tribe to at least not show up to vote for an undesirable candidate.  Outside of her racist labia-stepping, Hyde-Smith has done nothing to demonstrate that she's an able politician, or anything better than a party-flunky who was appointed to a seat that she expected not to have to fight to keep.  All Republicans should be insulted by that.

If that moderate group breaks for Espy or, at least, doesn't show up for Hyde-Smith, he'll win; if they go with tribe over fitness-for-office, he'll lose.

[Limey]

The undecided House seats include Mia Love's, which just got a little more interesting.  Despite Trump proclaiming her a loser last week, the latest vote count shows that her deficit has shortened to ~800 votes.  I am waiting for the outrage on the right over all these "found" votes being filled out in a back room somewhere...

I guess they didn't find enough extra votes for Love, who has lost her re-election bid.  That's another House seat flipped to the Democrats, bringing the net gain to 38, where it will likely end up (3 races remain undecided).  The blue wave took a while to fully materialize, but it's undeniable and Republicans who celebrated early now look pretty foolish.

The House vote margin is pushing +8% for Democrats and may end up at +9% by the time they're done counting all the absentee ballots in California.  60 million people voted for Democratic candidates for the House, which compares to 45 million who voted for Republican House candidates in the 2010 "Tea Party Revolution" (which resulted in a 6.6% vote margin for Republicans).

[Bench]

I guess they didn't find enough extra votes for Love, who has lost her re-election bid.  That's another House seat flipped to the Democrats, bringing the net gain to 38, where it will likely end up (3 races remain undecided).  The blue wave took a while to fully materialize, but it's undeniable and Republicans who celebrated early now look pretty foolish.

The House vote margin is pushing +8% for Democrats and may end up at +9% by the time they're done counting all the absentee ballots in California.  60 million people voted for Democratic candidates for the House, which compares to 45 million who voted for Republican House candidates in the 2010 "Tea Party Revolution" (which resulted in a 6.6% vote margin for Republicans).

CA-21 is still very much in play despite it being "called" for the Republican incumbent after election day.

[Nate Colbert]

That's another House seat flipped to the Democrats, bringing the net gain to 38, where it will likely end up

The net gain is currently at 39 with the possibility of 40 if CA-21 flips.

[Limey]

The net gain is currently at 39 with the possibility of 40 if CA-21 flips.

Ah.  I'm looking at a table of races "called", not races decided.  40 has a nice ring to it.

[Limey]

Re: Kavanaugh

A Federal judge has dismissed a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after only 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape and incest*.  This case will now likely be appealed to the Supreme Court, where Kavanaugh, not Kennedy (or Garland) will be the deciding vote.  This is how Roe will die, not with a hammer blow, but by a thousand cuts.

* These exceptions have always been a fig leaf hiding a pile of bullshit.  It is so hard to prove rape, because it's almost always literally a he said/she said as to whether sex was consensual.  It's so hard to prove incest, because the victim is the ward of the attacker, and not able to control her own destiny.  That makes it very hard for the impregnated victims of rape and incest to prove the exception at all, let alone with the 20-week clock ticking.

I would be more sympathetic to anti-abortion crusaders if they worked as hard to duct tape the baby to the father as they do the mother.  By forcing only one party to be responsible, such laws smack of slut-shaming and punishment - of the female only - for the sin** of sex.

** Sex isn't a crime when between consenting adults.  In fact, only 2 of the Ten Commandments are against the law while some are actively protected by the Constitution (Commandments 2 thru 5, to be precise).

I do not like abortions (pro-choicers are just that, pro-choice, not pro-abortion).  States like Mississippi (and Texas) do their best to remove any chance that kids have to learn about safe sex practices and deny them access to contraception.  Kids have sex anyway, and unwanted pregnancies result - the statistics on this are incredibly well developed and undeniable.  If you don't give people what they need to be able to make safe choices, then you morally cannot punish them*** for the consequences.

*** By "them" I mean "her"; "he" gets to walk away.

[BudGirl]

Re: Kavanaugh

A Federal judge has dismissed a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after only 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape and incest*.  This case will now likely be appealed to the Supreme Court, where Kavanaugh, not Kennedy (or Garland) will be the deciding vote.  This is how Roe will die, not with a hammer blow, but by a thousand cuts.

* These exceptions have always been a fig leaf hiding a pile of bullshit.  It is so hard to prove rape, because it's almost always literally a he said/she said as to whether sex was consensual.  It's so hard to prove incest, because the victim is the ward of the attacker, and not able to control her own destiny.  That makes it very hard for the impregnated victims of rape and incest to prove the exception at all, let alone with the 20-week clock ticking.

I would be more sympathetic to anti-abortion crusaders if they worked as hard to duct tape the baby to the father as they do the mother.  By forcing only one party to be responsible, such laws smack of slut-shaming and punishment - of the female only - for the sin** of sex.

** Sex isn't a crime when between consenting adults.  In fact, only 2 of the Ten Commandments are against the law while some are actively protected by the Constitution (Commandments 2 thru 5, to be precise).

I do not like abortions (pro-choicers are just that, pro-choice, not pro-abortion).  States like Mississippi (and Texas) do their best to remove any chance that kids have to learn about safe sex practices and deny them access to contraception.  Kids have sex anyway, and unwanted pregnancies result - the statistics on this are incredibly well developed and undeniable.  If you don't give people what they need to be able to make safe choices, then you morally cannot punish them*** for the consequences.

*** By "them" I mean "her"; "he" gets to walk away.

I swear I had almost the exact same type of conversation this morning.  Regardless of consensual or non-consensual it is always the woman's fault.  She is the only one responsible for the consequences.  And yet, there are people that want to take away her say in the decisions to be made.  (And the conversation started in regard to paternity leave.)

[homer]

Re: Kavanaugh

A Federal judge has dismissed a Mississippi law that would ban abortions after only 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape and incest*.  This case will now likely be appealed to the Supreme Court, where Kavanaugh, not Kennedy (or Garland) will be the deciding vote.  This is how Roe will die, not with a hammer blow, but by a thousand cuts.

* These exceptions have always been a fig leaf hiding a pile of bullshit.  It is so hard to prove rape, because it's almost always literally a he said/she said as to whether sex was consensual.  It's so hard to prove incest, because the victim is the ward of the attacker, and not able to control her own destiny.  That makes it very hard for the impregnated victims of rape and incest to prove the exception at all, let alone with the 20-week clock ticking.

I would be more sympathetic to anti-abortion crusaders if they worked as hard to duct tape the baby to the father as they do the mother.  By forcing only one party to be responsible, such laws smack of slut-shaming and punishment - of the female only - for the sin** of sex.

** Sex isn't a crime when between consenting adults.  In fact, only 2 of the Ten Commandments are against the law while some are actively protected by the Constitution (Commandments 2 thru 5, to be precise).

I do not like abortions (pro-choicers are just that, pro-choice, not pro-abortion).  States like Mississippi (and Texas) do their best to remove any chance that kids have to learn about safe sex practices and deny them access to contraception.  Kids have sex anyway, and unwanted pregnancies result - the statistics on this are incredibly well developed and undeniable.  If you don't give people what they need to be able to make safe choices, then you morally cannot punish them*** for the consequences.

*** By "them" I mean "her"; "he" gets to walk away.

The amount of ignorance you present as fact makes it hard to draw any distinction between you and Mr. Happy.

[Limey]

The amount of ignorance you present as fact makes it hard to draw any distinction between you and Mr. Happy.

I would like to debate you on this (or anything else), but as usual, you lob an accusation without establishing the grounds on which it's based.

I mean, you could post a link to a Kaiser Family Foundation study that show that, while teen are still as horny as the cast of "American Pie", teen pregnancy rates are dropping countrywide.  However, they are dropping notably more slowly in the "south central states" which - per the handy graphic - include Texas and Mississippi.  But that wouldn't help your fact-free rebuttal at all.  Neither would posting an article that 83% of Texas schools teach abstinence-only sex education, or one from Mississippi that says it's abstinence-only sex education law has been extended for another 5 years.

I mean, that takes time.  It's why I didn't do it in the original post.

[Limey]

I swear I had almost the exact same type of conversation this morning.  Regardless of consensual or non-consensual it is always the woman's fault.  She is the only one responsible for the consequences.  And yet, there are people that want to take away her say in the decisions to be made.  (And the conversation started in regard to paternity leave.)

It's like the old trope of when a man says that he has to go home to "baby sit" his kids.  Ummm... that's parenting.  We still treat the job of raising children as women's work when it should be equally charged to both parents (and the father has some catching up to do on day #1 outside the womb) and they, as responsible parents, can divvy it up as they see fit and as their own circumstances dictate.

If we do that, then things like paternity leave make more sense, while denying women promotions because they might have a baby don't.

[homer]

I would like to debate you on this (or anything else), but as usual, you lob an accusation without establishing the grounds on which it's based.

I mean, you could post a link to a Kaiser Family Foundation study that show that, while teen are still as horny as the cast of "American Pie", teen pregnancy rates are dropping countrywide.  However, they are dropping notably more slowly in the "south central states" which - per the handy graphic - include Texas and Mississippi.  But that wouldn't help your fact-free rebuttal at all.  Neither would posting an article that 83% of Texas schools teach abstinence-only sex education, or one from Mississippi that says it's abstinence-only sex education law has been extended for another 5 years.

I mean, that takes time.  It's why I didn't do it in the original post.

What do you think "abstinence-only" means?

Also, what about the other at least ten assertions you made?

[Mr. Happy]

The amount of ignorance you present as fact makes it hard to draw any distinction between you and Mr. Happy.

Wait a minute. Just because my views differ from your views doesn't make my views ignorant, just different. You liberals are very disrespectful and intolerant of views that differ from what you think is the truth.

[Limey]

What do you think "abstinence-only" means?

Also, what about the other at least ten assertions you made?

Why don’t you offer a comment instead of lobbing nebulous questions?

[chuck]

Wait a minute. Just because my views differ from your views doesn't make my views ignorant, just different. You liberals are very disrespectful and intolerant of views that differ from what you think is the truth.

This is great.

[Waldo]

Wait a minute. Just because my views differ from your views doesn't make my views ignorant, just different. You liberals are very disrespectful and intolerant of views that differ from what you think is the truth.

Ssssssssssswing and a misssssssssssss

[Limey]

Roger Stone and Jerome Corsi are duetting for Mueller. 

Not one of these fucks will stand in front of Trump.  It’s hilarious. 

[Mr. Happy]

Ssssssssssswing and a misssssssssssss

In what way?

[chuck]

Strike two!

[Navin R Johnson]

In what way?

You root for the biggest liar in US history.  Politicians always lie, but the current idiot is the fucking champion of dishonesty and phonies lie you won’t say shit. Sad!

[Waldo]

Strike two!

Nobody tell him, see if he figures it out on his own.

[chuck]

Hap steps out of the box, squints down the line to the third base coach. Raup claps twice, briskly, encouragingly. Hap glances down, worries his velcro and steps back in.

chuck drags his fingertips quickly through the dirt, pounds the mitt, narrows his knees and flashes through the signs. Waldo gives a curt shake of the head but stays on the rubber. chuck leans forward onto his knees, glances into the dugout.

Count is oh and two, two outs, nobody on.

[geezerdonk]

In order to be morally and intellectually superior, there must be someone to be morally and intellectually superior to. That is the function you serve, Mr. H. You are the untermensch to their ubermensch.

[Limey]

Word is that Stone has reached a plea agreement with Mueller, but Corsi is telling anyone who'll listen that he's rejected the offer he was given.

I suspect, if the latter is true, (the offer, not Corsi's blabbing which is ongoing and incessant) Corsi's just trying to negotiate a better deal.  However, Mueller has an avalanche of evidence against him for perjury, so it's hard to see why he would cave to media pressure, especially when Corsi has been unable to generate any.  On the flip side, an indictment of Corsi would be an interesting read...

[Limey]

I'll tell you what's next:  a self-posted photo from 2014 of Hyde-Smith wearing a confederate hat.

We know what she is; Mississippians...what are you?

The confederate hat story got worse, because it was at the Jefferson Davis museum, and Hyde-Smith captioned the photo of her in a confederate hat, holding a civil war musket, as "Mississippi history at its best!".

She also went to a private school that was created for whites only after integration of state schools in the 70s.  Not her choice, of course, and we don't know if she would have chosen differently if she could have, but it suggests that - at best - she didn't get much of a progressive education.

The runoff election is today.

[Limey]

Manafort is going to be sentenced for his crimes because he's been caught lying (a lot, I believe) to Mueller's team after he reached his plea agreement.  As a result, Mueller has asked the judge to go ahead and sentence Manafort, which is what happens once a cooperating witness has finished being of use to prosecutors.

Mueller is not only not going to make a sentence recommendation - as he would, for leniency, if Manafort had cooperated fully - he is going to write up everything he knows of Manafort's criminal activity and give it to the judge.  Now, I don't know if he'll be sentenced for only the 8 counts on which he was convicted, or all counts including those to which he plead guilty.  I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Further, it's been speculated that Mueller might use his submission to the judge to speak to Trump's involvement in the Russian election interference.  This is a document that would (a) be public record and (2) unable to be suppressed by Trump or his stooge in the DOJ, so it is an opportunity for him to get his findings out to the public unfiltered.  Even if he doesn't use it to out any Trumps, it is expected to lay out - in glorious Mueller detail - everything that Manafort did.  It would also, like Manafort's property forfeitures, survive any presidential pardon.

Given that reports are now surfacing that Manafort was meeting with Assange in the run up to him taking over as Trump's campaign chair - a job he'd been begging to get for months - it may well include proof of actual collusion.

Buy stocks in popcorn*.

* They're cheap, the stock market has been tanking and is currently below where it finished in 2017.

[jbm]

Based on all the detail they had on the Russians via whatever methods they have, I don't doubt that they know everything about all dealings with Assange.

[Limey]

When answering questions about his tariffs - that have cost GM $1bn as the firm announces plant closures and layoffs - Trump confused them with interest rates.  He was corrected by the reporter, Trump noted the correction, apologized for his error and then went right back to confusing tariffs with interest rates.

He also thinks the federal coffers are filling up with billions of dollars from China because of the tariffs.

How can anyone be this stupid?

[TeeJoe]

He also thinks the federal coffers are filling up with billions of dollars from China because of the tariffs.

How can anyone be this stupid?

Simple side effect of too much covfefe. 

[Limey]

The net gain is currently at 39 with the possibility of 40 if CA-21 flips.

The 40th seat flip (net, i.e. 41 flipped, 1 lost) appears to be in reach.  The Democrats margin of victory in the overall vote count for House seats is the largest in history.  This is a truly significant electoral repudiation of the Republican party, but it happened so slowly (thanks, California) that it became old news before it was news.

[Limey]

Mexico wants to know what the fuck we were doing lobbing tear gas into their country.  They have a point.  Tear gas is deemed a chemical weapon and thus banned from use in international conflicts; it is only legal to be used on home soil.  Firing tear gas at Mexico, regardless of the motivation and target, could be a war crime.

[Navin R Johnson]

Wikileaks is offering a million dollar bet with the Guardian over the claim that Manafort met with Assange.  Of course they denied any Assange Stone back channels until they were proved to be lying about that.   Russian government probably just wants to know the Guardian's source, so they can murder that person too.

[Limey]

Wikileaks is offering a million dollar bet with the Guardian over the claim that Manafort met with Assange.  Of course they denied any Assange Stone back channels until they were proved to be lying about that.   Russian government probably just wants to know the Guardian's source, so they can murder that person too.

If they win, how will they collect?

[Bench]

If they win, how will they collect?

Bitcoin.

[Limey]

Watching “The Vietnam War”, and MSNBC”s “Betrayall” and “Bagman”, I am constantly struck by the parallels between Nixon and Trump.  The former was way smarter than the latter, but both were crooks, both colluded with a foreign power to help them win the presidency, both used foreigners as ubiquitous bogeymen and both relied on stoking white resentment to achieve and maintain power. 

The Vietnam war split the country and had Americans fighting - and killing - each other on home soil.  I truly fear that, before Trump is gone from office, we will see such things again.  It’s what he wants. 

[The Spleen]

In other news, fuck Mississippi.

[Limey]

Manafort is going to be sentenced for his crimes because he's been caught lying (a lot, I believe) to Mueller's team after he reached his plea agreement.  As a result, Mueller has asked the judge to go ahead and sentence Manafort, which is what happens once a cooperating witness has finished being of use to prosecutors.

Turns out that lying snake Paul Manafort continued to be a lying snake while purporting to cooperate with the Russia investigation.  He was feeding information on the investigation back to Trump's lawyers, presumably as part of a campaign to earn a presidential pardon.  Mueller's team found out about it and, understandably, were a little miffed.

Hence the end of the cooperation agreement and Team Mueller's work to load the book catapult and point it at Manafort.

[jbm]

All the current and future Trump jailbirds (and the Republican enablers) can take solace knowing that they did these things for a noble cause.

[Limey]

In other news, fuck Mississippi.

They continue to fuck themselves.  As if the poor white folk who vote solidly Republican have benefited from any Republican policy over the last, say, 20 years (likely more).  Do you think any major employer is going to move to Mississippi now?

Results like this perpetuate and exacerbate the urban vs. rural divide in this country, as young people with college educations - who break hard for progressives - leave rural states looking for work and avocado toast, leaving behind predominantly older, non-college educated folks who break hard for conservatives.  As Trump said: "I love the poorly educated."

This will also perpetuate a stalemate in the Senate as the red states will keep getting redder as their progressives leave for New York and California where they just help to run up the score.  As Bill Maher regularly frets: the Dakotas have a population of 1.6 million and get four Senators while California has 40 million and gets two.  As the rural states empty out of progressives, they will concentrate down to a tiny but solidly conservative voting bloc that will return enough Republican Senators that Democrats will never get a filibuster-proof majority.  And vice versa, or course, but the ratio of voters to Senators will be crazily out of whack.

The Senate isn't supposed to be proportional representation, but the disproportionality is so off the charts already - and worsening - that something needs to be done.  When the Senate was conceived, the ratio of voters from the smallest to the largest population was 10 to 1; now it's 72 to 1.  Republicans have gerrymandered the House so that they win far more seats than they should and the Senate is now self-gerrymandering as progressives choose to leave the red states.

Democrats can boost their position in the Senate by pushing through statehood to DC and even Puerto Rico - which would give them 4 Senate seats that they don't have to fight for.  But that's just deepening the divide and simply thumbing the scale rather than fixing the system.  It's also only achievable behind a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, which will likely never again happen under the current format (at least until minority population growth in states like Texas and Florida turns them purple).

Changing the make-up of the Senate would require a constitutional amendment or two*, which won't happen.  Granting statehood for DC and PR is the right thing to do, regardless of party politics, IMHO, but that's a hard slog and likely only going to happen after time and demographics have change the color of the few red states that have big cities desirable to young folk.  What it really needs is for everyone to get to at least the same "baseline of facts", as Obama discussed last night at Rice University.  At least, then, the decisions made by voters would be based on facts that the candidates cannot twist or deny.

* I have seen a suggestion - not just from Grandpa Simpson - that we eliminate some states.  Using a formula that requires any contiguous states, both of which are smaller in population than the 38th most populous state, would have to merge.  If applied right now, this would merge Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota; Montana and Idaho; and Vermont and New Hampshire; for a net reduction of 4 states (conveniently allowing room for DC and PR to come in and keep the Senate at 100 seats). The number 38 being picked as the threshold because it's the number of states it would currently take to ratify such an amendment, but...you know....good fucking luck on that.

[Limey]

Turns out that lying snake Paul Manafort continued to be a lying snake while purporting to cooperate with the Russia investigation.  He was feeding information on the investigation back to Trump's lawyers, presumably as part of a campaign to earn a presidential pardon.  Mueller's team found out about it and, understandably, were a little miffed.

Hence the end of the cooperation agreement and Team Mueller's work to load the book catapult and point it at Manafort.

It's been speculated that Manafort's flip might have been planned with Team Trump.  Once he was convicted of 8 counts in a federal court in Virginia, he was going to need a pardon to stay out of jail.  So why not plead to everything else and get an inside look at what Mueller has, report it back to Team Trump, and then get a pardon?  Well the reporting back part was done and Trump, today, when asked about a pardon, said it hadn't been discussed but was on the table.

Did Mueller just get played?

Meanwhile, the Senate looks set to pass a resolution that chops Trump off at the knees over assisting the Saudi war in Yemen.  This will be an interesting standoff.

Pelosi is going to be the Democrats' nominee for House Speaker.  She has said that she won't hold the job for too long - we'll see if she's good on that - but right now a skilled and experienced politician, 3rd in line to the presidency, has some comfort to it.  If Trump goes, it's quite likely that Pence goes with him...

[Bench]

It's been speculated that Manafort's flip might have been planned with Team Trump.  Once he was convicted of 8 counts in a federal court in Virginia, he was going to need a pardon to stay out of jail.  So why not plead to everything else and get an inside look at what Mueller has, report it back to Team Trump, and then get a pardon?  Well the reporting back part was done and Trump, today, when asked about a pardon, said it hadn't been discussed but was on the table.

Did Mueller just get played?

Alternatively, Mueller went along so Manafort would feed Trump bad info about the investigation, which Trump provided back to Mueller in his written statement.  Notice that Mueller didn't announce he was done with Manafort until after receiving Trump's written response to questions. 

[jbm]

Alternatively, Mueller went along so Manafort would feed Trump bad info about the investigation, which Trump provided back to Mueller in his written statement.  Notice that Mueller didn't announce he was done with Manafort until after receiving Trump's written response to questions.

Yeah, I doubt these guys are outsmarting Mueller.  There might be some clever ones in the background, but all the visible ones appear to be morons

[HudsonHawk]

Alternatively, Mueller went along so Manafort would feed Trump bad info about the investigation, which Trump provided back to Mueller in his written statement.  Notice that Mueller didn't announce he was done with Manafort until after receiving Trump's written response to questions.

I believe that's called the "long con".  One side is smart enough to pull it off.

[Navin R Johnson]

It's been speculated that Manafort's flip might have been planned with Team Trump.  Once he was convicted of 8 counts in a federal court in Virginia, he was going to need a pardon to stay out of jail.  So why not plead to everything else and get an inside look at what Mueller has, report it back to Team Trump, and then get a pardon? Well the reporting back part was done and Trump, today, when asked about a pardon, said it hadn't been discussed but was on the table.

Did Mueller just get played?

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/fox-news-legal-analyst-stunned-at-how-mueller-made-it-impossible-for-trump-to-save-manafort/

Fox News legal analyst stunned at how Mueller made it impossible for Trump to save Manafort

On Tuesday, Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano revealed to host Shep Smith that Special Counsel Robert Mueller acted strategically to block President Donald Trump from pardoning Paul Manafort.

It is unclear exactly what he lied about, but Napolitano explained that Mueller designed the plea agreement in such a way that it is “pardon proof.”

“The guilty plea is 175 pages long. In my career, I have never seen one like this. It was so carefully crafted by Bob Mueller and signed by Paul Manafort, that at the time he pleaded guilty to the charges he was indicted for — which was basically bank fraud, money laundering, and some form of commercial bribery of foreign officials in federal court. He also pleaded guilty to uncharged state crimes in New Jersey, in Virginia and in California.”


He added, “Why did they do that? To make it pardon proof so if President Trump, which he can do, does pardon him for the federal crimes the state prosecutors in those states already have his guilty plea.”

Womp Womp

[Limey]

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/fox-news-legal-analyst-stunned-at-how-mueller-made-it-impossible-for-trump-to-save-manafort/

Womp Womp

So Manafort et al are just as dumb as they appear.  That makes me feel better this morning.

I think the big problem with the Special Counsel's investigation is that the targets continue to commit crimes even while under investigation, so every day they have to start a new file.  I mean, dangling a pardon in return for intel about the investigation is obstruction of justice 101.

[Limey]

Meanwhile, Cohen was back in court this morning, pleading guilty to a charge of lying to congress.  It seems he lied when asked whether Trump was pursuing a Moscow development and Cohen said "no".  It turns out Cohen was still working on it as late as June 2016 even though he (and Trump) had claimed it was dead in January 2016 - before the Iowa caucuses.

I'm not sure whether a campaign lie by Trump is a big deal (or a deal of any size at this point), but it does add weight to any demand for congress (and us) to see his tax returns.  Not that congress needs such justification legally, as the "committee access" provision authorizes congress to obtain the tax records of any taxpayer it sees fit without such taxpayer's consent.  All it takes is for the chairman of the House Ways and Means committee to send the request to the Treasury Secretary, and that's it!

Of course, that wouldn't be it, because Trump would mobilize his zombie hoards to oppose the release.  As far as I know, there is no legal way to block the release to congress because the 1924 law was specifically written that way.  Still, with all the skeletons in those tax returns, along with the truth about his wealth and about his efforts to avoid - and maybe evade - taxes, Trump will expect his Trumpanzees to go to the mattresses for him on this.

However, the access provision was added specifically because prior to its enactment, the power to release tax returns to congress rested solely with the President.  Because congress is a co-equal branch of government, the provision enabled it to get tax returns without anyone else's approval - especially not the president's.  Would Trump be able to take this fight all the way to the Supreme Court?  Would he get a favorable outcome?  How much damage would a favorable ruling do to the process of government?  Buckle up, kiddos!

ETA:  Corrected the date of Cohen's Moscow Tower activity to June 2016.  The August 2017 date was when he made the false statements to congress.

[Limey]

As the dust settles on the new Cohen pleading, it seems that this is a big fucking deal.  It confirms that Trump was pursuing Trump Tower Moscow deep into the campaign (and possibly into his term in office - there are conflicting timelines on this part), contemporaneously with Russia's election-interference campaign.  But, it also connects TrumpWorld to the Kremlin because Cohen was in discussions with - and had a plane ticket to go and meet - high up officials in the Russian government.

It also brings back into play the sordid details about the Trump Tower Moscow, such that it was to be financed by a Russian government-controlled bank that has been sanctioned (so off-limits to US persons), as well as new reporting that Trump planned to give Putin the $50 million penthouse.  So many crimes here that have nothing to do with collusion yet add weight to the accusations of collusion.

It also throws Don Jr. under the slow-moving Mueller freight train, because Uday testified to congress the same, now-debunked lie that there was no deal and what there was had died before the primaries began.  Adam Schiff - to whom Jr told his lies - has already said that his committee will compare notes with Mueller to figure out who (how many) of TrumpWorld members similarly lied to congress.  Cohen's conviction for this crime just adds to the peril faced by these folks because it shows his willingness to prosecute this crime.

It quite likely just pissed all over Trump's written response to Mueller's questions because, if Trump maintained the lie about the Moscow deal, he's just lied to Mueller.  In writing.  The timing of this coming immediately behind receipt of Trump's written answers could be a coincidence...

Meanwhile, the same day as Cohen's plea dropped, Deutsche Bank - the oft-busted laundromat for Russian money and coincidentally the only major bank who would keep lending to Trump despite him burning them (and everyone else) with multiple bankruptcies - was raided.  As was the office of the Chicago official who handled the Trump Organisation's Illinois taxes.

This feels really big*.  It feels like the beginning of the end*.

* TWSS

[Navin R Johnson]

It’s almost impossible to unpack everything that happened yesterday.  And that’s if turns out the Deutsche Bank raid (who was lending trump money) and the late law firm who represented Trump for 15 years who was also raided by the feds, just happened to be wild coincidences and had nothing to do with Trump. 

Now Trump is finally admitting (to what anyone with a lick of sense already knew aka non Trumpkins) that he did in fact have dealings with Russia during the campaign.  He had the dealings, with a bank that is a
Sanctioned by the US government and illegal for US citizens to do business with AND while the Russian government was busy stealing data from US politicians and conducting a campaign to effect our election. 

WITCH HUNT

Really, what level of stupid do you have to be to think this is a witch hunt, sadly about 40% of Americans fall into that category.

[Limey]

Now Trump is finally admitting (to what anyone with a lick of sense already knew aka non Trumpkins) that he did in fact have dealings with Russia during the campaign.

Remember back - two years ago, I think - when there were no dealings with Russia and no one from TrumpWorld had ever spoken to a Russian?  Those were the days.  Now, everyone's had dealings with Russians - all lied about it, some under oath - and the biggest deal of Trump's life was with an adversarial government, ongoing during the campaign (at least) and it's ok because it never got consummated.

The pile of circumstantial evidence that is publicly available would reach the moon.  What we're starting to get a glimpse of is the direct evidence that Mueller has compiled.  The next big reveal is expected to be Manafort's sentencing, where Mueller has stated that he will reveal the full detail of all the crimes committed by Manafort.  Expect "Individual 1' to have another bad day that day.

[jbm]

This feels really big*.  It feels like the beginning of the end*.

* TWSS

It likely is, but as NJ points out, it's stuff every thinking person already assumed was happening.  To me, the legal stuff isn't nearly as important as the narrative.  Trump is losing the narrative, and now it's up to the Democrats to make the story concise and understandable.  Televised hearings will go a long way in this regard.  Forget that he is a crook and a terrible human being, focus on national security.  Once it sinks in that "Our president makes national security decisions solely based on his financial gain," he will be all but done.  This rings like "treason" to most people, even without explicitly stating it.

I'm curious to the endgame though.  The healthiest endgame is that Trump doesn't fire Mueller and doesn't go pardon happy.  In this extremely unlikely scenario, the Democrats should focus on shining a light on Trump's national security corruption AND on the Republican collaboration.  Just do it all the way to the election and let the country heal itself through the ballot box.  This is the non-impeachment route.

However, the more likely scenario is that Trump will initiate a crisis by firing Mueller and issuing pardons, or the country will realize just how dangerous it is to have a President beholden to enemies.  This becomes the impeachment route and it's harder for the Democrats to navigate.  IMO, they must ensure that the burden is put squarely on the Republicans to clean up their mess and remove the danger they inserted in the White House.  We can't have a scenario where the Republicans and Trump supporters are able to avoid responsibility for their deeds.

[Limey]

Interestingly, re: Mueller, Whitaker wasn't involved in the decision-making process around the Cohen plea.  He was informed of it, as a courtesy, before it happened.

I agree that Trump will try to burn the world - and will have to be forcibly removed form the White House - that's why the deliberate ring-fencing of Trump by Mueller has been so important.  Once he starts crabbing towards the middle, it'll go really fast.  There will be dead-enders, of course, who just won't believe it no matter what, but that's not the audience.  Neither is Fox News.  They just have to have the ducks lined up so that it's easy for the 60+% of non-die hards to follow along.

[HudsonHawk]

It likely is, but as NJ points out, it's stuff every thinking person already assumed was happening.  To me, the legal stuff isn't nearly as important as the narrative.  Trump is losing the narrative, and now it's up to the Democrats to make the story concise and understandable.  Televised hearings will go a long way in this regard.  Forget that he is a crook and a terrible human being, focus on national security.  Once it sinks in that "Our president makes national security decisions solely based on his financial gain," he will be all but done.  This rings like "treason" to most people, even without explicitly stating it.

Just who do you think such hearings will move?  Trump supports simply don't care what he did.  Nothing...I mean NOTHING...from tax fraud, to obstruction, to sexual assault, to treason, to mass murder...he did or could ever do will affect Republicans and evangelicals.  They have sold their souls for political power and will stop at absolutely nothing to hang on to it. 

[BudGirl]

Just who do you think such hearings will move?  Trump supports simply don't care what he did.  Nothing...I mean NOTHING...from tax fraud, to obstruction, to sexual assault, to treason, to mass murder...he did or could ever do will affect Republicans and evangelicals.  They have sold their souls for political power and will stop at absolutely nothing to hang on to it. 

+1

I think they could all declare bankruptcy and they'd still believe him.

[jbm]

Just who do you think such hearings will move?  Trump supports simply don't care what he did.  Nothing...I mean NOTHING...from tax fraud, to obstruction, to sexual assault, to treason, to mass murder...he did or could ever do will affect Republicans and evangelicals.  They have sold their souls for political power and will stop at absolutely nothing to hang on to it.

I agree with all that except treason.  Treason over elections, I agree but treason in the sense that he can get away with selling American interests for his own coin, I don't agree.  That is the story the Democrats must tell.  It will change the required amount of minds.

[HudsonHawk]

I agree with all that except treason.  Treason over elections, I agree but treason in the sense that he can get away with selling American interests for his own coin, I don't agree.  That is the story the Democrats must tell.  It will change the required amount of minds.

I just don't agree.  Trump could sell all US interests to Russia or North Korea, open the gates to their armies, and Republicans will still support him.  They will convince themselves that their eyes are giving them fake news, or that they somehow deserve the oppression because Apostle Trump has spoken.  They simply will not turn on him for any reason whatsoever. 

[jbm]

You might be right.  I've had faith throughout this ordeal that we haven't devolved that much as a country, but I've been proven wrong at every turn.  However, there are still more turns ahead.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I just don't agree.  Trump could sell all US interests to Russia or North Korea, open the gates to their armies, and Republicans will still support him.  They will convince themselves that their eyes are giving them fake news, or that they somehow deserve the oppression because Apostle Trump has spoken.  They simply will not turn on him for any reason whatsoever.

Do you think he would still get support from the Republicans if he hanged an opiate addicted black nun on the white house lawn while simultaneously raping a blind twelve year old gender dysphoric youth in the oval office during which he would be raising his right hand in a Nazi salute and flipping the bird with his left? Just trying to gauge how far is too far.

[moriartp]

Do you think he would still get support from the Republicans if he hanged an opiate addicted black nun on the white house lawn while simultaneously raping a blind twelve year old gender dysphoric youth in the oval office during which he would be raising his right hand in a Nazi salute and flipping the bird with his left? Just trying to gauge how far is too far.

"I don't agree with the President on everything, and I wish he'd tone down his rhetoric, but..."

[HudsonHawk]

Do you think he would still get support from the Republicans if he hanged an opiate addicted black nun on the white house lawn while simultaneously raping a blind twelve year old gender dysphoric youth in the oval office during which he would be raising his right hand in a Nazi salute and flipping the bird with his left? Just trying to gauge how far is too far.

Does that fall into the category of "anything"?  Then yes, he will still get support.  Trump is a god to Republicans.  I'm not sure why this is so hard for normal people to understand.

[HudsonHawk]

On a side note...Trump has said he's cancelling his meeting with Putin at the G20 Summit.  Putin has apparently rejected the cancellation and summoned Trump to meet with him anyway.  We'll see.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

What if Trump decided he wanted Putin to bust a load of jizz upon his head as he played banjo with Johnny Cash's and Elvis's desiccated corpses on national TV, while wearing only a stylish sun dress made of human ears from everyone in states with populations less than the city of Portland Oregon--who had cut off their own damn ears and sent them by UPS to the White House where they were delicately hand stitched together by Paul Ryan into fashionably new presidential garments? Still not too far?

[moriartp]

What if Trump decided he wanted Putin to bust a load of jizz upon his head as he played banjo with Johnny Cash's and Elvis's desiccated corpses on national TV, while wearing only a stylish sun dress made of human ears from everyone in states with populations less than the city of Portland Oregon--who had cut off their own damn ears and sent them by UPS to the White House where they were delicately hand stitched together by Paul Ryan into fashionably new presidential garments? Still not too far?

Johnny Cash and Elvis were Antifa

Jizz is the antidote to soy, Putin's is especially high-T

lol hey lib does my ear hole trigger you

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Okay I know it's much more unlikely but what if Trump said that he finally realized that he was wrong about everything and that Obama was right about everything and from now on he would only do as Obama advised? You can't tell me that would go over well with the Republicans.

[Limey]

On a side note...Trump has said he's cancelling his meeting with Putin at the G20 Summit.  Putin has apparently rejected the cancellation and summoned Trump to meet with him anyway.  We'll see.

The Russians said that Putin's itinerary still included an "impromptu" (their word) meeting with Trump.  Doesn't the meeting being scheduled make it impossible to be impromptu?  Regardless, the Russians seemed to be mocking Trump when they talked about the on again / off again meeting.

Was the provocation organized by Kiev in this region the real reason for cancellation?  Publicly, we heard just such an explanation, we took note of it. Is this a reality?

Anyway, who in the world ever thought that, when Trump tweeted out that he was cancelling his meeting, that he was ever in a million years going to not have the meeting?  Just add this one to the long list of meetings that TrumpWorld never had with Russians.

[Limey]

Okay I know it's much more unlikely but what if Trump said that he finally realized that he was wrong about everything and that Obama was right about everything and from now on he would only do as Obama advised? You can't tell me that would go over well with the Republicans.

Obama was never a true Democrat, more of a Republican in black face disguise.  He never tried to take our guns and healthcare away like Hillary did.

[Limey]

Meanwhile, back in Washington, Wilbur Ross.  Yeah, the Commerce Secretary...in Washington...during the G20 summit.

Acting AG Matt Whitaker may have lied to the FTC about what he did for WPM.  This is on top of him potentially having Violated the Hatch Act by running a daycare while a US Attorney and, you know, being completely unqualified for the job.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, who will become the chairman of House Natural Resources Committee next year, called on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to resign over those horrible red Christmas trees.  Ryan Zinke tweeted that Grijalva is a drunk and a fraud.

Speaking of awkward upcoming meetings, Devin Nunes is staying on as the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee.  I'm sure Adam Schiff is going to enjoy that.

[austro]

Speaking of awkward upcoming meetings, Devin Nunes is staying on as the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee.  I'm sure Adam Schiff is going to enjoy that.

"Devin, would you go get us some coffee?"

[chuck]

Trump is a god to Republicans.

He is to the plutocrat wing of the party, and he is to the bigoted dickface wing of the party. But there is a huge group of religious lunatics who have somehow convinced themselves that their god is working through Trump. I am not making this up. An amoral abortion factory is by some mysterious means the chosen messenger of the the focus of their delusional fever dreams and is here to save babies unless of course they are Hispanic and already born in which case fuck them and where'd I put that tear gas?

There is surely significant overlap between the bigoted dickface group and the religious lunatic group in the Venn diagram of the purely contemptible, but I am generous enough to recognize that not every bigot is necessarily religious.

[Navin R Johnson]

Not that anyone who isn’t a complete dumbass needed it, but the evangelical support of DONALD TRUMP, is the last bit of evidence anyone should need to realize the evangelical crowd is a bunch of fucking shitass lying hypocrites. 

[Limey]

Not that anyone who isn’t a complete dumbass needed it, but the evangelical support of DONALD TRUMP, is the last bit of evidence anyone should need to realize the evangelical crowd is a bunch of fucking shitass lying hypocrites.

They’re done forever.  Any time an evangelical starts waiving around their moral superiority underwear, they will be slapped into the quantum realm with their support for Trump. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

They’re done forever.  Any time an evangelical starts waiving around their moral superiority underwear, they will be slapped into the quantum realm with their support for Trump.

I know what the dictionary says but that is your definition of evangelical?  Does it include anyone of the Christian faith? Can you be a Jewish, Buddhist. Hindu, Muslim, agnostic, or atheist evangelical? Can you be a black evangelical or is it a white phenomena? I understand what chuck means when he refers to "religious lunatics" but are you and Navin saying that "evangelicals" equal "religious lunatics" also is there any overlap in the Venn with the Democratic Christians for Democracy, the evangelicals, and the bigoted dickface group?

[Limey]

I know what the dictionary says but that is your definition of evangelical?  Does it include anyone of the Christian faith? Can you be a Jewish, Buddhist. Hindu, Muslim, agnostic, or atheist evangelical? Can you be a black evangelical or is it a white phenomena? I understand what chuck means when he refers to "religious lunatics" but are you and Navin saying that "evangelicals" equal "religious lunatics" also is there any overlap in the Venn with the Democratic Christians for Democracy, the evangelicals, and the bigoted dickface group?

You’re right, the term “evangelical” is too broad.  I’m referring to the Christians who vote Republican - even though Republicans oppose pretty much everything in the New Testament - because they think they have shared values.  That group has, at best, sat on its hands about Trump yet would vote for him again. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

You’re right, the term “evangelical” is too broad.  I’m referring to the Christians who vote Republican - even though Republicans oppose pretty much everything in the New Testament - because they think they have shared values.  That group has, at best, sat on its hands about Trump yet would vote for him again.

Thanks.

[BudGirl]

You’re right, the term “evangelical” is too broad.  I’m referring to the Christians who vote Republican - even though Republicans oppose pretty much everything in the New Testament - because they think they have shared values.  That group has, at best, sat on its hands about Trump yet would vote for him again. 

They think Republicans are pro-life.  And that pro-life only has to do with abortions. 

[hostros7]

You’re right, the term “evangelical” is too broad.  I’m referring to the Christians who vote Republican - even though Republicans oppose pretty much everything in the New Testament - because they think they have shared values.  That group has, at best, sat on its hands about Trump yet would vote for him again.

The book What’s the Matter with Kansas is an interesting study and discussion of the origins of this political phenomenon and shift, although the Trump and his zealots are an extreme manifestation of what is covered in the book.


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[Limey]

The book What’s the Matter with Kansas is an interesting study and discussion of the origins of this political phenomenon and shift, although the Trump and his zealots are an extreme manifestation of what is covered in the book.


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The Trumpanzees are extreme everything, and “manifestation” is the best word for them. 

[Limey]

Over the weekend, the Kremlin confirmed Cohen’s statements about contact between Kremlin officials and the Trump organization during the campaign.  Donnie is a blown asset now so they’re burning him in such a way to do maximum damage to the US.  That was their goal all along but, like most of us, they never really thought he’d win so the last two years have been lagniappe. 

Today, Mattis confirmed the Russians interfered with the mid-terms too.  Fuck those guys. 

[chuck]

Well, here's some good news - turns out the Republicans were right all along, there IS serious voter fraud happening in the country! Of course, like literally every other example of organized voter fraud over the last who knows how many decades, it was perpetrated by and for the benefit of Republicans. This time they deployed to African American neighborhoods and set about stealing absentee ballots from elderly black voters.

What do them New York boys call that? Chutzpah?

At the same time, prominent Republicans are criss-crossing the republic expressing shock and outrage that certain states have the temerity to endeavor to count each and every vote correctly cast.

I doubt I have to spend too much time convincing anyone that I am not a huge admirer of the recently deceased President Bush, nor do I in any way celebrate his political legacy. But I don't have to squint too terribly hard to perceive stunning differences between the Republican party he led and the party of today.

[Limey]

Meanwhile, flouting the apparently single use Garland Rule, electorally rebuked Republicans in the Michigan and Wisconsin state legislatures are busy in the lame duck session, rigging state laws to take power away from newly elected Democratic governors and AGs in both states and shifting it to themselves. 

If you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying.

[BudGirl]

Whatever happened to one party letting the other fuck-up and then getting their turn after that?

[Limey]

A tale of two titties, both caught in a wringer.  Manafort stonewalled, got convicted, tried to spin to save his skin, tampered with witnesses, continued to lie and so remains jail where he will likely end his days.  Flynn cooperated hard, early and often, and is likely to walk. 

This is a Shane Reynolds, squeeze bunt level of obvious signal. 

[Lefty]

The Donald is promising a Rudy-led rebuttal to the Mueller Report (the "Witch Hunt Report" in his words).  It's up to 87 pages already, I'm sure it will be fascinating reading.

[Limey]

The Donald is promising a Rudy-led rebuttal to the Mueller Report (the "Witch Hunt Report" in his words).  It's up to 87 pages already, I'm sure it will be fascinating reading.

87 pages of rebuttal to a report they haven’t seen yet.  I’m sure it’s all well grounded in truth. 

Meanwhile, Trump having a spat on Twitter, calling Tillerson “dumb as a rock” and that he “couldn’t wait to get rid of him,” seemingly missing the point that he promised to hire the best people, and hired Rex Tillerson. 

Trump turns friends into enemies on a whim, and at his own very great peril.

[Lefty]

Interesting quotes from Tillerson in the Chron:  https://www.chron.com/business/article/Rex-Tillerson-13448868.php

[Limey]

Interesting quotes from Tillerson in the Chron:  https://www.chron.com/business/article/Rex-Tillerson-13448868.php

Abiding by the law is hard. 

[chuck]

The Donald is promising a Rudy-led rebuttal to the Mueller Report (the "Witch Hunt Report" in his words).  It's up to 87 pages already, I'm sure it will be fascinating reading.

This fucking cumstain can't fill out 280 characters coherently. The fuck is he writing that's 79 pages? This page intentionally left blank?

[chuck]

87. Even better.

[chuck]

By the way, my new favorite thing: perjury trap.

[WVastro]

At what point does Rudy start getting implicated in this shit show? I remember him suggesting implications of “the emails!!!!!omg!!!” Just two days before they were officially “leaked” by who we now know were Russian operatives. He knew what was coming.

Seriously wtf kind of swamp was drained?

[Navin R Johnson]

Lock him up! Lock him up!

[Limey]

We are in the endgame now.

[Limey]

Here’s a good digest, by The Atlantic, on the three court filings that dropped yesterday. 

Given the mounting pile of evidence in the public realm, let alone what Congress has seen in private, there is a growing swell among House Democrats that impeachment proceedings are inevitable.  We’re certainly way past the point at which House Republicans have impeached previous presidents.

Impeachment, or the threat thereof, was one of the issues on which Republicans campaigned heavily.  Voters considered that, and then voted for Democrats in record numbers - the level of total votes for House Democrats is a record in both pure numbers and margin.  They have the mandate; will they now exercise it?

[Limey]

The rats are jumping ship.  Kelly is leaving and his touted replacement, Pence’s COS Nick Ayers, quit the administration instead.  On Twitter, so it is official.  Then a whole host of names was floated, all of whom responded with variations of “Fuck no!”

No one in their right mind will take this job knowing that subpoenas are coming. 

[jbm]

Here’s a good digest, by The Atlantic, on the three court filings that dropped yesterday. 

Given the mounting pile of evidence in the public realm, let alone what Congress has seen in private, there is a growing swell among House Democrats that impeachment proceedings are inevitable.  We’re certainly way past the point at which House Republicans have impeached previous presidents.

Impeachment, or the threat thereof, was one of the issues on which Republicans campaigned heavily.  Voters considered that, and then voted for Democrats in record numbers - the level of total votes for House Democrats is a record in both pure numbers and margin.  They have the mandate; will they now exercise it?

I really don't see the point of impeachment at this moment for the Dems.  Just let him rot in public view and become the shameful nominee of the Republican party.  Impeaching him without the Republicans on board is bad politics: the crazies will be riled up and you'll likely just face a stronger candidate.

[Limey]

I really don't see the point of impeachment at this moment for the Dems.  Just let him rot in public view and become the shameful nominee of the Republican party.  Impeaching him without the Republicans on board is bad politics: the crazies will be riled up and you'll likely just face a stronger candidate.

Not impeaching him, like not locking up bankers after 2008, makes it ok for someone to do it again.  It’s one of the reasons we put people injail(or to death), to show to others thinking about it that it’s not worth it.

It doesn’t matter that Republicans won’t convict; they’ll end up wearing that.  Impeachment in the House will lay bare all Trump’s crimes, which is a goal unto itself. 

[moriartp]

Not impeaching him, like not locking up bankers after 2008, makes it ok for someone to do it again.  It’s one of the reasons we put people injail(or to death), to show to others thinking about it that it’s not worth it.

It doesn’t matter that Republicans won’t convict; they’ll end up wearing that.  Impeachment in the House will lay bare all Trump’s crimes, which is a goal unto itself. 

This is just so, so wrong. Impeachment is political suicide for Democrats. I get that it's the right thing to do in the abstract, but it's also the biggest gift they could hand the GOP for 2020. Democratic candidates for House, Senate, and POTUS need to be able to make a positive case for their own policies. In particular, they need to keep the conversation on health care. Do you honestly think anyone will be able to break through with a positive message on health policy while everyone is screaming "IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT" on the airwaves 24/7? It's nonsense.

You have to offer an alternative to the circus. Offer a return to normalcy. Offer people a chance to go a day without being bombarded by the latest absurdity from Washington. Impeachment would do exactly the opposite.

[jbm]

Not impeaching him, like not locking up bankers after 2008, makes it ok for someone to do it again.  It’s one of the reasons we put people injail(or to death), to show to others thinking about it that it’s not worth it.

He'll be locked up, after he is voted out of office.

[homer]

Not impeaching him, like not locking up bankers after 2008, makes it ok for someone to do it again.  It’s one of the reasons we put people injail(or to death), to show to others thinking about it that it’s not worth it.

It doesn’t matter that Republicans won’t convict; they’ll end up wearing that.  Impeachment in the House will lay bare all Trump’s crimes, which is a goal unto itself. 

What, exactly, do you think the Democrats should impeach on?

[Waldo]

This is just so, so wrong. Impeachment is political suicide for Democrats. I get that it's the right thing to do in the abstract, but it's also the biggest gift they could hand the GOP for 2020. Democratic candidates for House, Senate, and POTUS need to be able to make a positive case for their own policies. In particular, they need to keep the conversation on health care. Do you honestly think anyone will be able to break through with a positive message on health policy while everyone is screaming "IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT" on the airwaves 24/7? It's nonsense.

You have to offer an alternative to the circus. Offer a return to normalcy. Offer people a chance to go a day without being bombarded by the latest absurdity from Washington. Impeachment would do exactly the opposite.

Bingo.  Impeachment is a no-go in the current political climate.

[chuck]

Not impeaching him, like not locking up bankers after 2008, makes it ok for someone to do it again.

As others have indicated, impeachment is politically untenable and unwise. Indictment, on the other hand, is not a political act and should be free of political considerations. I'll leave it to the sagacious members of the nation's judiciary to decide whether a sitting president can be indicted (he can), but even in the unlikely event that Trump completes this term, he will surely be indicted immediately upon his departure from office. There are reportedly several RICO-type sealed indictments awaiting him already, and there is literally no end of criminal activity to which he will be made to answer.

Anyone who studies this sorry episode and determines that what Trump has done is safe to do again will discover himself a lamentably poor student of history.

[Bench]

What, exactly, do you think the Democrats should impeach on?

High crimes and misdemeanors.

[TeeJoe]

This is just so, so wrong. Impeachment is political suicide for Democrats. I get that it's the right thing to do in the abstract, but it's also the biggest gift they could hand the GOP for 2020. Democratic candidates for House, Senate, and POTUS need to be able to make a positive case for their own policies. In particular, they need to keep the conversation on health care. Do you honestly think anyone will be able to break through with a positive message on health policy while everyone is screaming "IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT IMPEACHMENT" on the airwaves 24/7? It's nonsense.

You have to offer an alternative to the circus. Offer a return to normalcy. Offer people a chance to go a day without being bombarded by the latest absurdity from Washington. Impeachment would do exactly the opposite.

Maybe my worldview is too simplistic, but if there were impeachable crimes committed then impeachment should follow.  Although, as an Independent I’m not looking at this from the standpoint of what’s best for a Democrat or Republican.  IMO, if crimes were committed then what is best for the country should precede what is best for a political party that serves the country.  I see too much harm coming from allowing a potentially criminally guilty President to continue to direct the affairs of the nation, no matter the optics that happen to any of the political party’s.  I agree with Limey, following suit with impeachment hearings would allow truth to be aired and that is important.

[Bench]

Maybe my worldview is too simplistic, but if there were impeachable crimes committed then impeachment should follow.  Although, as an Independent I’m not looking at this from the standpoint of what’s best for a Democrat or Republican.  IMO, if crimes were committed then what is best for the country should precede what is best for a political party that serves the country.  I see too much harm coming from allowing a potentially criminally guilty President to continue to direct the affairs of the nation, no matter the optics that happen to any of the political party’s.  I agree with Limey, following suit with impeachment hearings would allow truth to be aired and that is important.

I agree it's the obsession with the horse race and partisanship rather than actual values that got us here in the first place.  The legislature (not just Democrats) has a constitutional obligation to pursue impeachment if the facts so indicate.

[moriartp]

Maybe my worldview is too simplistic, but if there were impeachable crimes committed then impeachment should follow.  Although, as an Independent I’m not looking at this from the standpoint of what’s best for a Democrat or Republican.  IMO, if crimes were committed then what is best for the country should precede what is best for a political party that serves the country.  I see too much harm coming from allowing a potentially criminally guilty President to continue to direct the affairs of the nation, no matter the optics that happen to any of the political party’s.  I agree with Limey, following suit with impeachment hearings would allow truth to be aired and that is important.

I hear you. To me, the political concern and the concern for the greater good of the country are aligned. The only realistic way Trump gets ejected from office is if the voters oust him themselves, and I think impeachment significantly reduces the chances that happens. I also think impeaching him lessens the chance he resigns, knowing how he hates to "lose."

Believe me, I'd be all for impeachment if there were a chance he'd end up being removed.

[jbm]

I know y'all all know this, but you seem to be ignoring it.  Impeachment is political, so there is no defined threshold for the facts to support.  The threshold is whatever the house decides. 

For Republicans looking at Clinton, it was the absolute sacredness of grand jury testimony, about things unrelated to national affairs. Saw clips just the other day: Lindsay Graham and Bob Barr telling me how sacred testimony and the rule of law is.  Given their threshold, I assume campaign finance felonies would have been more than enough for them.  However, I hope Democrats raise the bar higher than that.

Bottom line, you only have to advance an argument and have a willing house majority to impeach, but it won't do the country any good if the Republicans don't step up.

[Waldo]

Maybe my worldview is too simplistic, but if there were impeachable crimes committed then impeachment should follow.  Although, as an Independent I’m not looking at this from the standpoint of what’s best for a Democrat or Republican.  IMO, if crimes were committed then what is best for the country should precede what is best for a political party that serves the country.

In a normal political climate you would be correct.  But right now, down is up.  Short of some seriously fucked up repugnant shit coming out of this investigation (I'm talking 100,000x worse than anything we've heard so far), there is zero chance of the Senate voting to convict.  Knowing that, why even go through the circus of impeachment in the House?  You could say that it would be symbolic, but the only thing it will do is further galvanize Republican voters and put a really bad taste in the mouth of independents.  The wedge currently driven between everyone gets larger.  That may be bad for the Democrats, but it's also bad for the country.

As backwards as it may seem, the Democrats need to play the next two years very carefully.  They already lost on Kavanaugh, and impeachment is another guaranteed loss waiting to happen as soon as someone starts drawing up the articles.

If you believe Trump is bad for the country, you need to look for the best way to remove him from office.  Impeachment is not that.  If Trump is guilty of crimes, let the criminal proceedings determine his fate, even if that means he survives until the 2020 election at which point he can get voted out.  If he's not guilty of crimes, the Dems can still hammer the shit out of Trump based on what we already know and he can still be voted out in 2020. 

[Limey]

What, exactly, do you think the Democrats should impeach on?

Any and all crimes of which he is accused following the completion of the Mueller investigation, including the two felonies in which he has already been implicated. 

[Limey]

Just for the record, the following are all currently under criminal investigation:

The Trump Campaign
The Trump Transition
The Trump Inauguration
The Trump Administration
The Trump Organisation
The Trump Foundation

Basically, the Trumps are a crime family and they have law enforcement all up in all of their business.

[Navin R Johnson]

The Trump family is every bit as 10 times as crooked as the Clinton's.  And clearly much much dumber. 

[Limey]

The Trump family is every bit as 10 times as crooked as the Clinton's.  And clearly much much dumber.

The documentary about this saga - which will be a saga, i.e. multiple movies - would be called "Icarus" if that hadn't already been used.  However, in this case, I'm sure that the decision for him to run was being made somewhere far to the east of Trump Tower.  He's dumb, but he's not so dumb as not to know that poking your head this far above the trench is going to get it blown off*.

* And in the next thought, I think he is this dumb...and arrogant.  Then I switch back.  Hurry up and make the fucking movie already!

[Lefty]

Just for the record, the following are all currently under criminal investigation:

The Trump Campaign
The Trump Transition
The Trump Inauguration
The Trump Administration
The Trump Organisation
The Trump Foundation

Basically, the Trumps are a crime family and they have law enforcement all up in all of their business.

What chapter of bankruptcy can he declare to weasel his way out of *this*?

[chuck]

I certainly hope that at some point down the line judges take into consideration that if the Trumps all get put in the same correctional facility, that would make it a whole lot easier on Tiffany around those important and sentimental days that the entire family celebrates, like Vito Genovese’s birthday.

[Limey]

What chapter of bankruptcy can he declare to weasel his way out of *this*?

Sixty-nine, dude!

[Limey]

Just for the record, the following are all currently under criminal investigation:

The Trump Campaign
The Trump Transition
The Trump Inauguration
The Trump Administration
The Trump Organisation
The Trump Foundation

Basically, the Trumps are a crime family and they have law enforcement all up in all of their business.

Here's the thing with the inauguration, the committee raised an unbelievable amount - over $100 million - which is more than double Obama's committee's previous record-breaking haul of $43 million in 2008.  Obama's committee spent the money lavishly on a star-studded inauguration celebration, and gave the excess to charity.  Trump's inauguration was headlined by 3 Doors Down and some baton twirlers, the accounts have never been audited by anyone outside the committee, and where all that money went - assuming they didn't pay a 90's never-really-was band $50 million for an hour's work - has never been disclosed.

Now it seems, in addition to being awash with illegal foreign contributions from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Russia (du'uh), some of the money at least was channeled into the Trump coffers in what has become SOP for the transfer of "Other People's Money" into Trump's skyrocket.  The inauguration committee booked rooms, facilities and services at the Trump Hotel at what a committee staffer feared was at significantly inflated prices that would not survive an audit.  Ivanka was in charge of this element of the scheme; lucky for her that there hasn't been a proper audit...until now.  Oops.

[Limey]

I certainly hope that at some point down the line judges take into consideration that if the Trumps all get put in the same correctional facility, that would make it a whole lot easier on Tiffany around those important and sentimental days that the entire family celebrates, like Vito Genovese’s birthday.

Tiffany and Melania are going to go on a tour of every Trump property, and piss on the beds.

[Limey]

17 separate investigations into TrumpWorld.  Seventeen!  And this is before the Democratically-controlled House sits in January and starts firing subpoenas at the White House like confetti out of a canon.

On Sunday, Giuliani did his now customary shit-flinging act designed to cover up a nugget of information they want to seed before it comes out from another source.  This week's nugget was that the Trump Tower Moscow project - that Trump swore was never a thing, and if it was (it was) it ended before the campaign started and then again before his nomination - was active up to November 2016.  This means that they are now admitting that Trump was trying to get a real estate deal done with the Russians during the time that his campaign changed the party platform to be more pro-Russia (re Ukraine), while his campaign / family took multiple meetings with multiple Russians, and all while he and his campaign were being warned by the FBI, the press and even Hillary fucking Clinton ("you're the puppet") that the Russians were interfering in the election on his behalf.

New polls show that 62% of the public think Trump is lying about his Russian ties.  That's a strong platform for the Democrats to pursue investigations into Trump.

[Limey]

The stock market is rallying a little today, but has still sloughed off about 6% just this month.  It's one of the worse sell-offs in history, behind only the Great Depression, the '08 crash, the '87 crash and Pearl Harbor.  Prior to today's rally, the S&P 500 was lower than it had been immediately before to the passage of Trump's big tax giveaway.  Think about that.

Think about this too: reports say that investor confidence is at the lowest it's been in 10 years.  That means it's lower today than at any time during the Obama presidency.  They must be tired of winning.

Now, I don't believe that the blame for what happens on Wall Street sits at the feet of the president; there's little a president can do to influence directly a stock market one way or the other.  However, as this president has taken victory lap after victory lap about the market's performance - mostly while lying about such performance - means that he has to wear this at least a little bit.  Of course he won't, but he should be made to.

[Limey]

Today, the NY AG dissolved the Trump Foundation, and will control the distribution of it's remaining assets.

Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more. This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests.

The investigation into the foundation - whose board members are Don Sr., Don Jr., Eric and Ivanka Trump - is ongoing.  NY is seeking millions in restitution and penalties.

[jbm]

Wait, what happens to all the money the foundation gives to those in need?

[MusicMan]

Wait, what happens to all the money the foundation gives to those in need?

Converted to bail bonds.


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[Limey]

Wait, what happens to all the money the foundation gives to those in need?

Donald will have to pay his bills with his own money.

The largest donation in the foundation’s history — a $264,231 gift to the Central Park Conservancy in 1989 — appeared to benefit Trump’s business: it paid to restore a fountain outside Trump’s Plaza Hotel. The smallest, a $7 foundation gift to the Boy Scouts that same year, appeared to benefit Trump’s family. It matched the amount required to enroll a boy in the Scouts the year that his son Donald Trump Jr. was 11.

[Limey]

Holy shit moments at the Flynn sentencing.  Despite the fact that Flynn has been charged with some very serious and egregious crimes, the FBI is recommending a very lenient sentence - including zero jail time.  The judge wasn't impressed and, basically, grabbed the biggest book he could find, hoisted it ready to throw, and asked Flynn if he really wanted to be sentenced today, or if he wanted to go back and do some more good deeds with the FBI before judgement is passed.

Judge Emmet Sullivan, in charge of sentencing Flynn, spent around 15 minutes lambasting Trump’s former national security adviser, telling Flynn that “arguably, you sold your country out” and expressing “disgust” and “disdain”, at his offences.

“You were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the president of the United States.  Arguably this undermines everything this flag over here stands for.”

Flynn's lawyers have now asked for a delay in the sentencing of their client.  Seems like a smart move.

[Tom Servo]

Lock him up!  Lock him up!


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[austro]

Lock him up!  Lock him up!

That's actually one of the most amazing aspects of this thing. At the very moment that he was performing actual traitorous acts, he was up there spouting "lock her up".

[Limey]

That's actually one of the most amazing aspects of this thing. At the very moment that he was performing actual traitorous acts, he was up there spouting "lock her up".

"If I'd done one tenth of the things Hillary Clinton has done, I'd be in jail right now!"

[Limey]

Credit where credit's due, incompetence or just political kabuki?

The Trump administration is advancing regulations that will ban bump stocks, including making possession of one illegal, as of March 2019.  This is an approach -using executive branch regulations - that was dismissed by White House lawyers under both the Obama and Trump administrations as one that will not survive a court challenge.  Such a regulation will need Congressional legislative action, they believe.

Trump is doing it anyway, which means either: (a) he's committed to this cause, (2) he doesn't understand how government works so is doing it anyway; or (iii) he's posturing knowing that this won't happen.

It will be interesting to see if the NRA will go to bat for bump stocks, so this might turn out to be a genius move if they shy away from that fight.  They're quite busy right now shredding any records of the money that Maria Butina funneled their way from Russia.

[jbm]

Judge Emmet Sullivan, in charge of sentencing Flynn, spent around 15 minutes lambasting Trump’s former national security adviser, telling Flynn that “arguably, you sold your country out” and expressing “disgust” and “disdain”, at his offences.

“You were an unregistered agent of a foreign country while serving as the National Security Adviser to the president of the United States.  Arguably this undermines everything this flag over here stands for.”

Apparently, he also asked if they could try him for treason.  Seriously, kudos to this judge.  Getting paid by a foreign government, and acting as mole within that government to change policy sounds awfully treasonous to me.  Nice to know that there are still people in authority that see things clearly.

[Limey]

Apparently, he also asked if they could try him for treason.  Seriously, kudos to this judge.  Getting paid by a foreign government, and acting as mole within that government to change policy sounds awfully treasonous to me.  Nice to know that there are still people in authority that see things clearly.

Flynn is suspected of counselling Trump to lay off Syria at the behest of Erdogan.  By "behest", I mean, "here's money, now go tell them what I want".  There's no telling how many Syrians died during the months of inaction by Trump's administration at Flynn's recommendation.

Flynn may have served his country faithfully as a military man, but his post-military career is a horror show of crime, corruption, treason and death. 

[austro]

Flynn may have served his country faithfully as a military man, but his post-military career is a horror show of crime, corruption, treason and death. 

May have. His decision-making abilities are so obviously flawed that one wonders how many service people he unnecessarily endangered during his military stint.

[jbm]

May have. His decision-making abilities are so obviously flawed that one wonders how many service people he unnecessarily endangered during his military stint.

I tend to agree but I did see a colleague of his recently interviewed.  He wondered what the fuck happened to Flynn.  Said years ago, he was a principled and disciplined military man.

I had read that a demotion by Obama may have started his downward slide (pride thing), but he sure acts like a man with serious financial troubles. 

[Limey]

I had read that a demotion by Obama may have started his downward slide (pride thing), but he sure acts like a man with serious financial troubles.

The still unanswered question (at least, publicly), is why did Flynn lie?  He lied even when he knew they knew he was lying.  It's just baffling.  The Turks weren't paying him enough to throw his whole world into a burning dumpster.

Also still unanswered:  why did Pence, Priebus and McGahn - all of whom were told that Flynn was double-dealing for the Turks while serving as NSA - do fuck-all about it?  They coasted with Flynn in the inner circle for a month.  A month!

[jbm]

I tend to agree but I did see a colleague of his recently interviewed.  He wondered what the fuck happened to Flynn.  Said years ago, he was a principled and disciplined military man.

I had read that a demotion by Obama may have started his downward slide (pride thing), but he sure acts like a man with serious financial troubles.

After posting this, I see this article in Wapo

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/politics/michael-flynn-partisan-warrior/?utm_term=.1d3814df0435

Basically, it sounds like my money angle is off base.  There is no real conclusion in the article, just that he either tuned into a whackjob, or started to reveal himself as who he always was: a whackjob.  Kind of like that character in Dr. Strangelove.  Interestingly, his military superiors realized he was a fucking lunatic and presumably limited his access and responsibilities, but you know who elevated him into a position where he had access to the most closely held secrets.

[jbm]

The still unanswered question (at least, publicly), is why did Flynn lie?  He lied even when he knew they knew he was lying.  It's just baffling.  The Turks weren't paying him enough to throw his whole world into a burning dumpster.

Also still unanswered:  why did Pence, Priebus and McGahn - all of whom were told that Flynn was double-dealing for the Turks while serving as NSA - do fuck-all about it?  They coasted with Flynn in the inner circle for a month.  A month!

First question:
I suspect he lied because he is an idiot who thought that the intelligence officers didn't have the hard evidence against him and that they were just bluffing.  In other words, he really didn't think they could prove he was lying.  Basically, he gambled and lost.

Second question:
This is harder to explain.  Might be that they were inclined to do something, but the boss said no.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

but you know who elevated him into a position where he had access to the most closely held secrets.

And this after the outgoing president explicitly warned him off employing Flynn.

[austro]

And this after the outgoing president explicitly warned him off employing Flynn.

That's just like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Trump is far too shallow to think anything more nuanced than "Obama bad".

[MusicMan]

That's just like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Trump is far too shallow to think anything more nuanced than "Obama bad".

In the words of Peter Quill: “b-b-b-bingo!”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Limey]

First question:
I suspect he lied because he is an idiot who thought that the intelligence officers didn't have the hard evidence against him and that they were just bluffing.  In other words, he really didn't think they could prove he was lying.  Basically, he gambled and lost.

I agree with the last part (gambled and lost).  He tried that again in court yesterday, and lost.  I don't think he's stupid though; maybe his judgment is clouded by indignation/rage/money.

Second question:
This is harder to explain.  Might be that they were inclined to do something, but the boss said no.

I suspect it's more that they'd all, separately, made a Devil's bargain to ride the Trump train to pursue their own agendas.  No one wanted to be the one to tell Trump about his man, so they all looked the other way waiting for someone else to say something.  #TheBestPeople

[chuck]

One amusing side note to the show yesterday was how so many of the great legal minds of the rwnj universe had talked themselves into believing that Flynn's judge was and is hostile to governmental overreach and thus was nearly certain to dismiss angrily these specious charges.

Welp.

[Limey]

One amusing side note to the show yesterday was how so many of the great legal minds of the rwnj universe had talked themselves into believing that Flynn's judge was and is hostile to governmental overreach and thus was nearly certain to dismiss angrily these specious charges.

Welp.

The job done by the judge, intentionally or not, to pants the entire "Flynn was railroaded" theory was perfect.  Of course, that didn't stop Sarah Sanders - three hours later - from clinging desperately to that same theory.  I'm sure Hannity et al switched immediately to attack Judge Sullivan - appointed to different positions by Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton - as a librul activist judge who is in cahoots with Mueller and George Soros.

[chuck]

The job done by the judge, intentionally or not, to pants the entire "Flynn was railroaded" theory was perfect.  Of course, that didn't stop Sarah Sanders - three hours later - from clinging desperately to that same theory.  I'm sure Hannity et al switched immediately to attack Judge Sullivan - appointed to different positions by Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton - as a librul activist judge who is in cahoots with Mueller and George Soros.

The judge's approach was outSTANding.

I can't wait to see what these people say when we inevitably hear the tape of Trump demanding his vig from Flynn's take for kidnapping that Gulen guy.

[austro]

The job done by the judge, intentionally or not, to pants the entire "Flynn was railroaded" theory was perfect.  Of course, that didn't stop Sarah Sanders - three hours later - from clinging desperately to that same theory.  I'm sure Hannity et al switched immediately to attack Judge Sullivan - appointed to different positions by Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton - as a librul activist judge who is in cahoots with Mueller and George Soros.

Can you imagine the incandescence at Fox News if this were Obama's NSA chief?

[Limey]

Can you imagine the incandescence at Fox News if this were Obama's NSA chief?

They impeached Clinton for lying to the Feds about a blowjob while investigating his property deals (which were smelly but ultimately went without action).  We are so past that point with Trump’s administration that it simply defies comparison. 

[Limey]

I can't wait to see what these people say when we inevitably hear the tape of Trump demanding his vig from Flynn's take for kidnapping that Gulen guy.

You can see from how Trump has blended his business, charity, campaign and inauguration committee into one giant pot of money for him to play with, and that he deems other people's money his birthright to take.  I have no doubt that anyone as close to him as Flynn who was getting paid had to kick up to the boss.

He models himself on gangsters - creating a strange, crying, entitled, idiot, trust fund baby, wanna be gangster hybrid - so it stands to reason that he would adhere to the simplest of mob cash flow models.  Of course, he's so dumb that he probably took the money by check (it's how he wanted to pay Stormy, after all, before a startled Cohen corrected him).

[Limey]

One day after a judge tells Trump's former NSA to get the fuck outta his courtroom because his relationship with Turkey is potentially treasonous (FTR, prosecutors had to go check the statute to ensure that it doesn't rise to that level), Trump announces - in the face of things like facts, reality and his own administration's position - that ISIS is defeated in Syria and our troops will be withdrawn.

Seriously.  How the fuck do Republicans still enable this traitor?