;)
Tuesday
Jan032023
January 4, 2023
Late Morning/Afternoon Update:
Dan Horn & Scott Wartman of the Cincinnati Enquirer: "President Joe Biden came to Greater Cincinnati Wednesday to tout a long-awaited Brent Spence Bridge project that he said proves Americans can still get things done if they work together. Speaking in Covington, not far from the 60-year-old bridge that had for years been a symbol of partisan gridlock, Biden praised Republicans and Democrats in Ohio, Kentucky and Washington for setting aside their differences to fix one of the nation's most vital pieces of infrastructure.... The president was joined by several Republicans and Democrats who were instrumental in passing the new, $550 billion federal infrastructure law that will help pay for the Brent Spence Bridge project. He singled out Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and frequent political foe, for his help in gathering enough GOP support to pass the law.... For Biden, the visit was something of a victory lap. He vowed during a town hall here in July 2021 to 'fix that damn bridge,' despite several failed attempts by his Democratic and Republican predecessors to muster bipartisan support for the project."
From the New York Times' liveblog of developments in the Race to Defeat My Kevin: ~~~
~~~ Stephanie Lai: "Victoria Spartz, Republican of Indiana, voted present, leaving McCarthy with one less vote than yesterday. She previously voted for McCarthy three times.... The 20 dissenters who voted for Jim Jordan in the third vote yesterday have all voted for Byron Donalds in the fourth vote." ~~~
~~~ Michael Gold: "... George Santos has spent most of the vote in the Republican cloakroom, away from cameras and reporters. He came out briefly to vote for McCarthy." MB: He's in the cloakroam now. But how much longer till we're singing this? ~~~
~~~ Oh, Lordie. Maggie Astor: "We're heading for a fifth vote...." ~~~
~~~ MB: The outcome of the fifth vote looks just like the fourth: 212 for Jeffries, 201 for My Kevin, 20 for Donalds & 1 voting present.
After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to [the speaker's] office. How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter? -- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), letter to the Architect of the Capitol
~~~ Marie: Moving right along on this demonstration of the definition of insanity, the House takes its sixth vote, with no particular reason to expect a change. ~~~
~~~ Stephanie Lai: "Representative Kat Cammack, Republican of Florida, nominated McCarthy but was repeatedly disrupted by Democrats who took offense to her speech, which accused them of lacking sportsmanship and bringing alcohol and popcorn to the vote series." ~~~
~~~ Michael Gold: "At one point, Kat Cammack rhetorically asked Republicans, 'Are we the party of Reagan?' A chorus of Democrats called back, 'No.'"
I have to give props to the Democrats. They find ways to work together. -- Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Outer Space) ~~~
~~~ Marie: The matinee is over. But don't worry; there will be an evening show. The House is to reconvene at 8 pm Wednesday. ~~~
~~~ Catie Edmondson: "In a sign of McCarthy's determination to appease his critics, his political action committee cut a deal with the Club for Growth, a conservative anti-tax group that has opposed McCarthy's bid for speaker, agreeing not to spend money to support candidates in open primaries in safe Republican seats.... It was unclear if the pledge would be enough to win over any of the rebels."
~~~ Marie: After convening, a pro-McCarthy Republican immediately called for adjournment, so McCarthy would not be embarrassed by a 7th loser result. The final vote on the motion was close, with 4 Republicans voting with all Democrats against adjournment, and the while thing ended in a shouting match as Democrats urged the clerk to allow a few stragglers to vote. The majority vote switched from nay to yea about a half-minute after time ran out. Don't worry, they'll be back tomorrow, folks.
~~~ Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "Representative Kevin McCarthy of California grasped on Wednesday for the votes he needs to become speaker after failing three times to win the post, as Republicans began their second day in control of the House without a leader and deadlocked about how to move forward amid a hard-right rebellion.... 'Some really good conversations took place last night, and it's now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN,' [Donald] Trump wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. He beseeched Republicans not to 'TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.'" ~~~
~~~ The Washington Post's live updates of the House hoohah are here. NBC News live updates are here.
There is so much unnecessary turmoil in the Republican Party, in large part do to people like the Old Broken Crow, Mitch McConnell. -- Donald Trump, in a Liars Social post Tuesday (yes, he really wrote "do to" & he really blamed Mitch for the Woes of Kevin) ~~~
~~~ Marie: Sorry, Donald, looks as if there are 20-some GOP deadenders, most of whom were in your fake election-denial caucus, who are no longer sufficiently askeert of you. And that doesn't count the GOP senators who paid no attention to you & re-elected Mitch as their leader.
While House Republicans fight to the death in Washington, D.C., President Joe & the Turtle will be honeymooning in Kentucky, inaugurating repair of a notoriously-dilapidated but key bridge between Kentucky & Ohio. ~~~
Michael Shear of the New York Times: "President Biden is heading to Kentucky on Wednesday for a celebration of bipartisan achievement, even as House Republicans descend into a chaotic debate over who can best wage partisan warfare against his administration. For Mr. Biden, the contrast is convenient. The president will join Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican minority leader, and an improbable mix of political rivals to highlight new funding for the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Covington, Ky., to Cincinnati. The appearance is an effort by the White House to begin 2023 by focusing voter attention on instances of bipartisan agreement during Mr. Biden's first two years in office."
BTW, as long as there's no speaker of the House, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is second-in-line to the presidency, after Vice President Harris.
Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: In both Ohio & Pennsylvania, Republican & Democratic state House members compromised to jointly elect new leaders.
~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday Was an Historic Day on Capitol Hill. Let's Start with Some Good History:
Liz Goodwin of the Washington Post: "Sen. Patty Murray(D-Wash.) was elected Senate president pro tempore Tuesday, becoming the first woman to hold the job since its inception and putting her third in the line of presidential succession. Murray, who was elected to the Senate in 1992 as a self-proclaimed 'mom in tennis shoes,' was selected for the role after Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) declined to seek it. In recent years, the job has gone to the senior-most member of the majority party, which is the 89-year-old Feinstein. Murray, 72, is the second in line."
Nicholas Fandos of the New York Times: "House Democrats formally elevated Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be their leader on Tuesday, uniting around a liberal lawyer and disciplined political tactician as the face of their opposition to the new Republican majority.... He is the first Black politician to lead either party in Congress. And, at 52, he represents a generational change for House Democrats after two decades under Representative Nancy Pelosi.... He ended up receiving more support in the first three rounds of voting for speaker than the main Republican candidate, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California -- but not the majority needed to win.... 'He does not traffic in extremism. He does not grovel to or make excuses for a twice-impeached, so-called former president,' Representative Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 Democrat, said of Mr. Jeffries in a nominating speech on the House floor. 'He does not bend a knee to anyone who would seek to undermine our democracy because, Madam Clerk, that's not what leaders do.'"
Wherein My Kevin Learned the Perils of Negotiating with Terrorists:
Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "Republicans were deadlocked on Tuesday over who would lead their new majority after Representative Kevin McCarthy of California lost three votes for the top job, as hard-right lawmakers in open revolt dealt their party leader a humiliating setback and prompted a historic struggle on the House floor. The mutiny, waged by ultraconservative lawmakers who for weeks have held fast to their vow to oppose Mr. McCarthy, paralyzed the House on the first day of Republican rule, delaying the swearing in of hundreds of members of Congress, putting off any legislative work and exposing deep divisions that threaten to make the party's House majority ungovernable." ~~~
~~~ The New York Times is liveblogging developments in the upcoming vote for House speaker. It is not looking good for My Kevin & for Republican House members in general. The liveblog includes a livefeed of the House floor. Also, a photo of Kevin's stuff, boxed up & left out in the hall. CNN's liveblog is here. The Washington Post's liveblog is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~
~~~ Update: The clerk is only on the letter "C" in the rollcall, & McCarthy already has lost six votes, two more than he could have lost to gain the speakership. ~~~
~~~ Catie Edmondson: "The failed vote on Tuesday showed publicly for the first time the extent of the opposition Mr. McCarthy is facing in his quest for the speaker's gavel. Nineteen Republicans voted against Mr. McCarthy, instead throwing their support behind other conservative lawmakers."
~~~ The clerk reported Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) received 212 votes, Kevin McCarthy received 203 votes.
~~~ Elaine Cochrane: Second Ballot: "All 434 lawmakers have now had their votes recorded. The tally remains the same for Kevin McCarthy: 19 members of his party against him, and Democrats united for Hakeem Jeffries. It appears we are in the exact same scenario as the first ballot, just with the anti-McCarthy votes consolidating for Jim Jordan, who himself is supporting McCarthy." Democrats gave Jeffries a standing O. ~~~
~~~ Nicholas Fandos: "House Democrats formally elevated Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York to be their leader on Tuesday, uniting around a liberal lawyer and disciplined political tactician as the face of their opposition to the new Republican majority." ~~~
~~~ In the third roll call that failed to produce a speaker, Jeffries got 212 votes, My Kevin got 202, & Jungle Gym Jordan 20. The House has adjourned for the day & will reconvene at noon tomorrow when who knows what-all they will do. ~~~
~~~ There's No There There. Erin Doherty of Axios: "The House is in limbo until it elects a speaker. Members of the 118th Congress can't be sworn in, the House can't set rules to govern itself and it can't consider legislation or create committee assignments." ~~~
~~~ Amy Gardner of the Washington Post: "All but two of the 20 Republican House members who voted against Kevin McCarthy for speaker in Tuesday's third ballot round are election deniers who embraced ... Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.... The tally reflects the degree to which election deniers dominate the House Republican caucus, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 222-person conference. A significant majority of McCarthy's 202 votes -- 157 -- came from election deniers. McCarthy (R-Calif.) himself embraced false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. So did Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who received votes from the 20 defectors on the third ballot."
Maybe Jungle Gym is reluctant to play a starring role in the House right now because he soon will be playing another starring role, this one in a George-Clooney-produced HBO documentary about an Ohio State sports doctor who allegedly abused about 300 wrestlers at the school. Allegedly, "Jordan, an Ohio State assistant wrestling coach for part of [the doctor's] time at the university, knowingly ignored [the] abuse."
Fuzzy GOP Math. Marie: According to an on-air report, one of the possible "solutions" to ending the statement that Kevin & his gang came up with last night was to get those 20 Republicans who opposed him to simply vote "present." That, the plan went, would spare Republicans who objected to McCarthy from having to vote for him, and it would reduce the total number of members present to, say, 414 (from 434), making those voting for Kevin a technical majority. Uh, really? First, 203 -- the highest number of votes McCarthy got yesterday -- is not more than 50 percent of 414. Second, 212 -- the number of votes Democrat Hakeem Jeffries got in all three roll calls yesterday -- is more than 50 percent of 414. So by running this brilliant plan, Jeffries would become speaker. Which is okay with me. Let's not tell My Kevin. (There is a sweet spot. If Kevin could get 11 of the 20 who voted against him to switch their votes to Kevin, that would leave the total of those voting would be 425. It also would give Kevin 413 votes, or one more than 50 percent AND one more than the votes for Jeffries.)
Mr. Santos Goes to Washington. Annie Karni & Michael Gold of the New York Times: "Hounded by reporters whom he labored to avoid and shunned by members of his own party, George Santos, Republican representative-elect of New York, spent his first day in Congress as an outcast.... Dozens of reporters waited for him outside his new office in the Longworth Building, peppering him with questions about whether he owed his constituents answers about the fantasy persona he created in order to win his seat, and whether he had any response to the investigations that those fabrications have produced.... He strode right past his office, before doubling back and closing the door behind him. He answered no questions.... [He lost his way in the hallways at least two more times. Once the House convened at noon,] he sat alone in the back of the chamber, staring at his phone, even as a group of New York Republicans mingled not far from him." ~~~
~~~ Marie: On Tuesday, Santos issued a press release with the lede "U.S. Representative George Santos was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House on January 3rd, 2023." That of course is not true. Kevin McCarthy did not become speaker on Tuesday, and neither he nor anyone else swore in Santos -- or any other rep. But Santos' First Big D.C. Lie has been scrubbed from his Website. However, I took a look at Santo's site, and as of late Tuesday, there's still a lovely Freudian slip on Santos' "About" page: "George perused a long path to success...." And that is true. George did peruse a long path to success. After perusing various successful career paths, it's safe to assume George picked out one such path for himself and plugged it into his fake résumé. No one told him he actually had to pursue a successful career path if he wanted to claim it.
And You Thought Republicans Had No Principles. Jacob Knutson of Axios: "The incoming Republican majority in the House of Representatives removed metal detectors outside of the chamber floor on Tuesday, just three days before the second anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6 riot.... The magnetometers were installed outside the House chamber in January 2021 to beef up security after the attack, but some Republicans have vocally opposed the increased security checks.... A rules package for the new Congress removes 'Democrat fines for failure of Members to comply with unscientific mask mandates and security screenings before entering the House floor,' Republicans on the House Rules Committee said."
Scott Bauer of the AP: "The former chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Republican Sen. Ron Johnson spoke to him weeks before Joe Biden assumed the presidency about having the state's GOP-controlled Legislature, rather than voters, choose Wisconsin's presidential electors, according to newly released documents from closed-door testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee. Johnson, in a statement Tuesday, said he had no recollection of the conversation with Andrew Hitt and accused the committee investigating the 2021 Capitol insurrection of attempting to 'smear' him by selectively releasing text messages." Read on: Hitt & another Wisconsin GOP leader had quite a bit of discussion about something Johnson can't recall.
Josh Gerstein & Alice Ollstein of Politico: "The Justice Department has cleared the U.S. Postal Service to deliver abortion drugs to states that have strict limits on terminating pregnancy, and has offered limited assurances that a federal law addressing the issue won't be used to prosecute people criminally over such mailings. A legal opinion, from Justice's Office of Legal Counsel, concludes that a nearly 150-year-old statute aimed at fighting 'vice' through the mail is not enforceable against mailings of abortion drugs as long as the sender does not know that the drugs will be used illegally." ~~~
~~~ Pam Bellock of the New York Times: "For the first time, retail pharmacies, from corner drugstores to major chains like CVS and Walgreens, will be allowed to offer abortion pills in the United States under a regulatory change made Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration. The action could significantly expand access to abortion through medication. Until now, mifepristone -- the first pill used in the two-drug medication abortion regimen -- could be dispensed only by a few mail-orde pharmacies or by specially certified doctors or clinics. Under the new F.D.A. rules, patients will still need a prescription from a certified health care provider, but any pharmacy that agrees to accept those prescriptions and abide by certain other criteria can dispense the pills in its stores and by mail order."
Beyond the Beltway
Colorado, etc. Democrats Can Be Cruel & Stupid, Too. Joe Anuta of Politico: "Colorado Gov. Jared Polis [D] plans to send migrants to major cities including New York, Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday, warning that the nation's largest city is already struggling to deal an influx of people sent from Texas and other Republican-led states. The impending move by Polis is unusual because Colorado is not a border state and both leaders are Democrats facing severe challenges over what they say is a national crisis around immigration.... Polis' office did not immediately respond." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Marie: Note Linda in Denver's objections in today's Comments. As she writes, the story has been updated. But whatever the intentions, the bottom line remains that Colorado is "helping" scoot these immigrants out of their state. While it may be the people really want to go to New York or Chicago because they have friends or relatives there, it seems just as likely that the people say they want to go to those cities because they've heard of them. At best, I am agnostic about a "plan" that seems to center on shuffling immigrants around the country in a fairly chaotic manner.
Maryland. Dan Morse of the Washington Post: "... the [trial] of Sophia Negroponte, the daughter of former U.S. director of national intelligence John Negroponte..., in the killing of Yousuf Rasmussen, 24, concluded Tuesday when jurors found her guilty of second-degree murder -- punishable by up to 40 years in prison.... John Negroponte was appointed in 2005 as the nation's first director of national intelligence by President George W. Bush.... The Negropontes came up several times during the trial -- in particular how they adopted Sophia from an orphanage in Honduras after serving there. Her mother, Diana Negroponte, testified in the trial."
Ohio. Reid Wilson of Pluribus News: "A coalition of Republicans joined with Democrats to pick a new speaker of the state House on Tuesday, bucking a majority of Republicans who voted last month for a different candidate. The Republican and Democratic coalition voted Tuesday to tap state Rep. Jason Stephens (R) to succeed Speaker Robert Cupp (R), who did not seek re-election last year. Stephens took 54 votes, beating state Rep. Derek Merrin (R) by an 11-vote margin. Republicans voting last month had picked Merrin as their speaker nominee in a closed-door session. Merrin ... had support from conservative organizations in the state.... Ratings in 2021 from the American Conservative Union, a group that evaluates state legislators based on their votes on conservative legislation, showed Stephens and Merrin received identical scores."
Way Beyond
Ukraine, et al. The New York Times' live updates of developments Wednesday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here. The Guardian's live updates for Wednesday are here. The Guardian's summary report is here. ~~~
~~~ The Washington Post's live briefing for Wednesday is here: "The fallout from a deadly attack in the occupied city of Makiivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region has led to finger-pointing by Russian officials. The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack was a result of illicit cellphone use among its soldiers, in what some observers see as an attempt to shift culpability from Moscow.... Russia's Defense Ministry increased its number for the Makiivka attack's death toll to 89, a rare acknowledgment of a significant loss, although Ukraine claims as many as 400 Russians were killed.... The United States has had direct conversations with Russian officials about Paul Whelan, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a news briefing Tuesday."
Europe. Stanley Reed of the New York Times: "European natural gas prices, which soared last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have now fallen well below their levels before the start of the war, reflecting the continent's success rounding up alternatives to Russian gas, widespread conservation efforts and a relatively mild winter. But the news comes as Europe's economy is slowing -- half of the European Union is expected to be in recession next year, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said Sunday -- and the slumping gas price also signals diminished demand for energy." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
News Ledes
Washington Post: "A dangerous storm system is slamming California, with meteorologists at the National Weather Service warning of imminent 'widespread flooding, impassible roads, mudslides/landslides [and] rapid rises in rivers/creeks.' The system, which prompted the Weather Service to take the unusual step of urging residents to have 'go bags' at the ready and prepare insurance documentation in advance, is set to unleash its harshest conditions Wednesday night into early Thursday. Virtually the entirety of Northern and Central California is under flood watches and high-wind warnings, with damaging gusts to 60 mph possible. Strong to severe thunderstorms could be in the offing as well, in addition to 2 to 4 inches of rain in the lowlands and more in the mountains."
New York Times: "A pounding stretch of rain, wind and snow continued its destructive path east through the Midwestern and Southern states on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and snow to much of the central United States and tornadoes to the South after drenching California over the weekend. As it moved further east, the so-called multi-hazard storm was expected to dump a mixture of snow and freezing rain in northern New England by Thursday, forecasters said...."
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Welcome to Day Two of Morons in Charge!
So today the House of Representatives gets back to wor…what? There is no House of Representatives? Oh yeah. No one can be sworn in, no oaths of office administered, cuz Morons are in Charge! Not that the current crop of terrorist R’s believes in that oath anyway, unless the word is followed by “keepers” the leaders of which, their besties in treason, are most definitely keeping. In PRISON.
But never mind. No business can be conducted, laws passed, country protected, stuff like that, because…Morons are in Charge.
My Kevin sez he’s gonna tire out those Freeeedom Cock-us terrorists and become speaky-thingie, but he clearly hasn’t been paying attention. These assholes don’t care about Congress or oaths or laws or governing. They care about fucking with you. They care about chaos, owning the libs, stealing elections, and showing who’s in charge:
Morons.
Day two, comin’ right up.
Excuse No. 278
Back in the old days (WWI), when militaristic aggressors got their asses kicked, they blamed others (communists, Jews, pacifists) for “stabbing them in the back”.
But now Putin is blaming his latest ass kicking on…wait for it…
Illicit cellphone use.
Yup. I always knew that illicit cellphone use idea would get you in trouble.
Okay, I get the techno part, but really…these repeated complaints from Putin that Ukraine is fighting back is getting wicked tiresome. It’s like the crooks in “Home Alone”, who break into a house to rob the owners blind whining when the titular home alone kid arranges to hit them in the head with a full gallon can of paint. “Hey! You can’t do that to us. We’re here to screw you and steal your shit. You’re not supposed to fight back!”
Maybe those crooks shouldn’t have engaged in illicit cellphone use.
Glancing at my new 2023 calendar, noticed that Jan 6 is a holiday
of some sorts.
Thought it might be Insurrection Day. No, it's Epiphany. As in, I
just had an epiphany that our country is fast becoming one of those
3rd or 4th world countries before our very eyes and ears.
Looks like the Democrats are making a whole new batch of popcorn for today's show of shows known as the theater of the absurd. John Cassidy of the New Yorker sums up today's party of Dummkopfs pretty well:
" Over the past few decades, the G.O.P. has gone from being a ruthless and disciplined party of limited government and trickle-down economics to a party of anti-government protest to, now, a party of performative verbiage—in which the likes of Gaetz and Boebert (and, of course, Trump) are far more interested in boosting their follower count, raising money, and appearing on “The Sean Hannity Show” or Newsmax than they are in governance."
And here I've been complaining for years about the Republicans' minority government. Looks like they're suffering from a case of it, too.
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-01-03/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-of-the-house-election-republicans
re: Colorado, etc. Democrats Can Be Cruel & Stupid, Too.
This headline on my favorite news discussion site makes me sad. Both siderism from us? The real story is much more complicated. Remember last week there was a horrendous storm, Southwest airlines had a meltdown, nearly 70% of the migrants that have ended up here really are headed somewhere else. Polis and the Denver mayor have been bending over backwards to find more shelter and transportation options for those in need. The Politico article linked above has been updated to reflect more complete information on the topic. We all know that the plight of immigrants is dire, but at least here they are not being used as political pawns but are treated as human beings.
Thanks for the clarification, Linda.
Was about to call my friend in Denver and ask what in hell was wrong with him---and a few million others....
Now I can go back to my comfort zone, knowing the problem was largely a winter storm meeting a miserly airline.
Fourth round a loss for Kevin already.
A good walk ruined.
Linda in Denver mentions the ever present specter of Both Siderism. This macabre parcel of stridently intellectual dishonesty seems to have a half life that plutonium-244 could only envy.
So yesterday, walking with Rocket, I listened to a podcast called Philosophy and Theory, an episode dealing with Richard Hofstadter’s famous essay on the Paranoid Style in American Politics, something many of us out here have read at one time or another. Thinking this might be a way for the host to connect Hofstadter’s observations with our current situation, I tuned in, curious as to how that might turn out.
Christ.
The host begins by taking great pains, and at some length, to point out that it’s not only right-wingers who trade in paranoid conspiracy theories, no. Lefties do it too! There’s no differentiation between men and women or people of different races. Everyone is subject to this sort of paranoid thinking.
So okay, at a very basic level the idea that humans, as a species, no matter gender, race, sexual orientation, political persuasion, or opinions on New England clam chowdah (as opposed to the horrible kind with ketchup in it), are hardly immune to paranoid delusions. Fine. Okay. I agree. Great.
But here’s the thing. The original title of Hofstadter’s essay was something like the Paranoid Style and the American Right-Wing. Indeed, the origin of the essay had to do with the Goldwater movement. So why open your podcast with a lengthy disclaimer about how it’s not just those on the right who truck in political paranoia and spread dangerous conspiracy theories, EVERYONE does it?
No. No! There exists the possibility that anyone, at some point, could entertain whacko ideas, but everyone does not do it in such a universal and quotidian fashion, as if it’s an automatic body function like breathing.
Weaponized paranoia and baseless conspiracy fantasies are essential to right-wing politics, not just here, but increasingly around the world. Just think about it. The Freeeedom Cock-us would not exist without paranoid conspiracy theories. Trump would be nothing but a washed up, ex-reality show fraud. Fox would have nothing to do but weather reports. There is no comparable left-wing movement, pundit, politician, or garden variety voter who relies so entirely on similarly deranged bullshit to explain the world to them and to enrage and energize their base, providing them with the rationale for treating the objects of their paranoia with the worst sort of hateful, inhuman attacks.
Gotta tell ya, kids, I was this close 🤏 to shutting the thing off, like when you think “Well, sure. I’ll try that movie” only to decide ten minutes in that you are unprepared to cast the next hour and a half into the void, never to be available again this side of the grass. But I didn’t.
The remainder of the show was pretty decent, and it was clear that the writer/podcaster was no Times-style both sider, and definitely no Fox hack. But it got me thinking (for about the millionth time) about how crazily successful the right has been at scaring so many people into cutting them breaks they never deserve.
And even though the rest of the show was not bad, Rocket kept turning around wondering why daddy was letting loose with the expletives (not) deleted for the first five minutes of our walk.
Christ. Again!
Gee…House morons should listen to Fatty when he talks about “embarrassing defeat”. He knows all about that subject.
And if Fatty wanted His Kevin to hit his thumb, regularly, with the gavel, he should have been working the phones and calling in favors. But no…he did what he always does. Sits on his fat ass to see how the wind is blowing before stepping in to claim that he was the only one who could fix it.
“Do to” his narcissism no doubt, and fear of looking like a loser. Again.
“Do too”…wow.
To hell with Hollywood! Capitol Hill is providing popcorn worthy drama, comedy, and tragedy for all the world to see.
But it's a C list movie with a bunch of D list stars.
Since Speakers (and their absence) are again stealing the headlines, this reminder--I think I mentioned him before-- of one my my favorites from way back in the day when Republicans still knew who they were:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Brackett_Reed
@Akhilleus: I know what you mean by us all buying into the narrative that keeps being fed to us. A couple of days ago there was an article on RC about the Supreme Court Justices that described them as "nine of the most reclusive and powerful people in the nation". I got hung up on the word "reclusive" and was asked myself "are they really reclusive?" I frequently see articles about the Justices at some public event. Usually it's because one of the Confederate Justices is whining about people criticizing their third grade level arguements on why they are undermining Democracy, again, or taking away people's rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But seeing the word reclusive I starting thinking about the reports about Kavanaugh going to the Federalist Society Ball last month to hang with his homies. Or the unsurprising reports about the network of dinner parties the right has been having with the Confederate Justices for years to influence them and to work out their media strategies before their awful rulings fall on all of us. Or reports about all the people donating to the Supreme Court Historical Society to get face time with the Justices. Then I remembered that an under emphasized detail about Scalia's death was the fact that he was at a hunting fraternity retreat when he died. When I think of reclusive I think of Howard Hughes locking himself in a room for months eating candy bars and peeing in bottles, not going to cocktail parties, giving public speeches, going on group hunting retreats, or having dinner parties with the rich and influential. The idea that the Supreme Court Justices are reclusive felt right until I started thinking about the reality and then the narrative fell apart. We've lately seen how reclusive Ginni Thomas, best friend of a SC Justice, has been while texting everyone and their mother to try to overthrow the government with her husband trying to help her cover it up. Though I'm sure the impression of access to Supreme Court Justices as being reclusive will persist because the truth of all the people who have been getting access to them is scary as hell.
@RAS
Good point.
Maybe "exclusive" would be a better word. The SCOTUS conservatives constitute a country club that doesn't like the country they live in.
Does anyone remember the definition of insanity? Seems to apply to the Brats of congress.
?????
How can Santos vote for the Speaker when he hasn't been sworn into the House? Why should his vote count?
Or should I not view the cloakroom as limbo?
@Ken Winkes: No members of the House have been sworn in, whether this is their first term or their tenth. They are all "representatives-elect." There are currently no House members. Not one. The House of Representatives, for all intents & purposes, does not exist. That's why the clerk has to conduct the proceedings: there are no elected officials to do it.
But all of the reps-elect can vote for speaker. Them's the rules.
Marie,
Thanks. You and my Spokane sister, whose birthday it is and who just told me the same thing, are equally smart and helpful.
Sometimes I do need help.
RAS: yes, yes yes. No way they are reclusive. I thought they did keep to themselves quite a bit and allowed no cameras in the courtrooms for years and years, but I started reading about Scalia attending parties, dinners, and shooting events, one of which apparently killed him, and I realized that they are NOT reclusive-- that was a dumb adjective to use. I like Ken's "exclusive" because these events we now know about are all about private access, just like any country club. It has, along with the Terrapin's refusal to consider Merrick Garland (maybe a much better fit for him?) and the appointments built on lies by the candidates for the court, ruined any respect I might have had for them my whole life. I know that is not likely to improve. I fully expect they will wreck everything else they can get their dirty little paws on, three women excepted.
What I can never forgive is, for example, their supposed "leader" who is a coward, and the liar with the election overturner wife, among the rest. These are people who represented themselves as the cream of the crop and we now know they are feet-of-clay monsters. BUT they are part of the wretched refuse of the larger GQP gargoyles-- aren't we lucky?
Sadly, after listening to Jim Himes (is that his name??) talk as if he thinks this is a big ole chess game (picking the Speaker--) for that party, and he has bought in to it and thinks eventually the good will win out. Zap. Zip. Zonk. The Democrats should just go back to their offices and refuse to take part in the charade. Pass out the bananas to the republic...
Malcolm Nance put forward the idea of Liz Cheney for speaker with D support, as an R who won’t blow up the country. I can’t say yes to her, as I think she scrubbed the Christianist Nationalism from the report, but maybe Adam Kinzinger?
Everyone was saying it was going to be mess with a small majority and no strong GOP leadership. It's being proven even before the show begins.
Getting anything important done is going to be damn near impossible as this crew doesn't care about consequences. Outsiders tried to take down the government and failed but insiders just might succeed.
Followup on power station vandalism in WA State.
https://www.kron4.com/top-stories/ap-top-headlines/ap-2-arrested-in-power-substation-vandalism-in-washington-state/
The blurred line between crooks and terrorists...