Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

This blog will pay for itself.

We do not need to pander to people who do not like what we stand for.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

You are here: Home / Politics / Politicans / Best President Ever / Thursday Morning Open Thread: Stay Proud

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Stay Proud

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Only Tim Kaine, harmonica enthusiast, would consider this song liable to inspire people. I chose to find Kaine’s choice endearing, because there’s a lot of ‘basic‘ in my genome too.

For Obama-maniacs, NYMag devoted most of its Oct.3-16 issue to “Hope, And What Came After“:

All presidencies are historic. But no president since at least LBJ, and probably FDR, has arrived in Washington at a moment of greater historic urgency than Barack Obama. The man who took that oath of office seemed cut from American folklore — a neophyte politician elected senator only four years before, a prodigious and preacherly orator from the “Land of Lincoln” and the South Side of Chicago of the Great Migration. An embodiment not just of the American Dream as it had been imagined by the Greatest Generation of his own maternal grandparents but of a new version, too, one that might be embraced by his daughters — global, utopian-ish, post-boomer, “post-racial.”

More than “hope,” Obama’s candidacy promised “one America.” It is the deep irony of his presidency, and for Obama himself probably the tragedy, that the past eight years saw the country fiercely divided against itself. The president still managed to get a ridiculous amount done, advancing an unusually progressive agenda. But however Americans end up remembering the Obama years decades from now, one thing we can say for sure is that it did not feel, at the time, like an unmitigated liberal triumph. It felt like a cold civil war….

As an online supplement, they’ve posted Jon Chait’s “Five Days That Shaped a Presidency“:

On August 25, after a short trip to Baton Rouge to assess flooding in Louisiana and before what will likely be his last visit to China on Air Force One, Barack Obama sat down at the White House to reflect on the past eight years. He led America through a period of dramatic, convulsive change — an era that New York Magazine explores this week in its cover story. Before his conversation with Jonathan Chait, he chose five moments that, he believes, will have outsized historical impact…

… which I’m not even going to try to extract, but trust me, you’ll want to bookmark this and read it later.

Apart from ongoing GOTV efforts, what’s on the agenda for the day?

Goal Thermometer

Reader Interactions

89Comments

  1. 1.

    Mustang Bobby

    Hunkered down under a tropical storm warning in Miami-Dade County and worried for the folks up the coast from West Palm Beach to Jacksonville who are under a hurricane warning. The local TV people are blathering on about long lines at gas stations and stores as the people who waited until the last minute to stock up.

    We’re expecting the first bands to pass through later this morning. I’m in the southern part of the county where the effects should be lesser than up north. I’m stocked up with enough water, canned soup, granola bars, and batteries to make it through the weekend.

  8. 8.

    Mustang Bobby

    Joe of the Morning: Donnie Deutsch is telling us in all seriousness that Hurricane Matthew could help Donald Trump.

    Dear sir: Go fuck yourself with a garden rake.

  9. 9.

    Cermet

    Hope you weather the storm, and Florida suffers as little as possible; but at least being white, they will get massive and very rapid aid.
    As these people vote come Nov 8, hope they recall what having a functioning government really means.
    The writer made a really good point that this country, thanks to the moron white males, especially, has been plunged into a cold civil war that is being as fiercely waged now as ever.

  10. 10.

    Kay

    We had good turnout for a Clinton volunteer event here- 40 people- which doesn’t sound like a lot but is a lot :)

  14. 14.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Mustang Bobby: I said that about Joe of the Morning when he said that Hillary couldn’t bring up Trump’s comments about women because of Clenis. Now they’re on to bashing Bill for his comments about Obamacare.

  16. 16.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @OzarkHillbilly: What Donnie was saying is that Trump could have his 575 fly down to Miami on Friday and emote. The problem is that the hurricane may not hit until Friday and Trump doesn’t emote.

    Joe of the Morning just said one thing correct. Obama is a transformative President.

  17. 17.

    Mustang Bobby

    Looking at the radar via Weather Underground, the first outer bands are halfway between Miami and Bimini (25 miles off shore) so we’re expecting it to come through before noon.

    I live next to one of the canals managed by the South Florida Water Management District. Normally you can’t see any water movement even as they raise or lower the level. Yesterday afternoon I saw that the water level was down and I could see it slowly flowing out to sea in anticipation of the 3 to 5 inches of rain they’re expecting.

  20. 20.

    Immanentize

    @Mustang Bobby: Good luck. When I lived on Miami beach, we had a parking garage all scoped out to put our cars when hurricanes hit, Are you in Dadeland? In any case stay safe!

  22. 22.

    Joyce H

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    What Donnie was saying is that Trump could have his 575 fly down to Miami on Friday and emote.

    *Boggle!*

    Has this guy been watching the same election that we’ve been watching?! Trump doesn’t DO Empathy! When he tries, he only makes things worse. His ‘PTSD is for weaklings’ gaffe was him trying to show empathy, fercryinoutloud!

  29. 29.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    Donnie stepped in it by telling the truth that the press has been carrying Trump. Joe jumped down his throat.

  30. 30.

    Immanentize

    @Mustang Bobby: I was just going to ask about Andrew. Were you there then? Well this looks like Matt will go north. But it will still be wet and blowy! Surf’s up!!

  31. 31.

    Schlemazel

    I’m particularly concerned as the last track I saw had a high potential for it hitting near Brevard County (the bump that sticks out, home the Kennedy Space Center). When we lived there I had several people tell me that there was no way a hurricane would ever hit there because of some magic from the gulf currents. It is thinking like that that could get a lot of people killed.

  32. 32.

    Mustang Bobby

    @Immanentize: No, I missed Andrew. But I was here for Katrina and Wilma in 2005; in fact, the eye of Wilma passed over my house when I was living in Coral Gables. Made it through without much damage; I lost a kumquat tree to Katrina and considered myself extremely lucky considering what it did later.

  33. 33.

    Matt McIrvin

    “Dramatic, convulsive change” is not really what the last eight years felt like to me at all. The great convulsions happened before Obama got into office; he was just trying to control the damage and move forward a little bit where he could. And there was dramatic, convulsive reaction.

  36. 36.

    Kay

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    It is.
    They got a good photo in the local paper which really matters more than any campaign ad- everyone reads the local paper. There’s some kind of problem with absentee ballots. They’re not going out. I read they were a million behind. They went to offering everyone an absentee so maybe they didn’t anticipate demand.

  39. 39.

    Phylllis

    @Mustang Bobby: Calm before the storm here for us. We’re ‘in the cone’ for heavy wind & up to five inches of rain Friday night thru Saturday. Biggest concern at this point is taking care of any folks who are sheltering at the high school here in tinytown. We’re on a major secondary evacuation route headed west from Charleston/Beaufort, and traffic was very heavy yesterday. Which is a good thing, because it means folks are heeding the warnings.

    Fingers crossed that all stays well with you.

  40. 40.

    Mustang Bobby

    @Phylllis: Good luck and best wishes for you.

    Yesterday we were released from work at 3:00. I got in my car on the third level of the office parking garage at 3:05. It took me 25 minutes just to get out of the garage. Once I was on the road home — I live 17 miles from the office — traffic was basically stop and go the entire way. I finally pulled into the garage at 5:15… which is my usual time to get home when I leave the office at 4. I was averaging 8 mph, which means I was traveling at the same speed as the hurricane.

  41. 41.

    bystander

    @BillinGlendaleCA: The best was the collective reaction of the Joemitians when Rob Reiner advanced the theory that the main strength of Trump’s campaign has been his appeal to racists. Reiner was lucky to get away unharmed.

  47. 47.

    Mustang Bobby

    We just had our first little shower from the outer bands as the hurricane heads to the northwest. No wind so far. The sun is up and I can see that the water level in the canal is about two feet lower than normal.

    @debbie: I’m 1/4 mile from the shore and I’m not going anywhere, thanks.

  52. 52.

    Kay

    @Baud:

    Absentee ballots skew “older” so Republicans have always taken great pains to make them as hassle-free as possible. I’m sure it’s just increased demand. Our voters are a little paranoid. They were convinced in 2012 that Romney was getting preferential treatment on ballot order (candidates who are listed first get more votes). It wasn’t true. Ohio rotates the candidate who is listed first when the ballots are printed, which is the fair way to do it. They just happened to get ballots with Romney first- they’re printed in “runs” and numbered, so one candidate ends up first in specific precincts.

    People really, really want easier voting. Anything that makes it easier is wildly popular outside the “ballot security/voter fraud crowd”. They’re fringe.

    Democrats might want to highlight “easy” rather than “equitable”. Be GOOD at running elections. Efficient.

  56. 56.

    hovercraft

    @Mustang Bobby:
    That showed such class.
    Later he went o to say that Hillary’s Crimes” are institutional, whereas Trump’s “crimes” are against individuals, who can be thrown in his face.

  58. 58.

    Ben Cisco

    Wishing all the FL Juicers safe harbor from the storm.

    Just mailed my absentee ballot out, sticking another nail in what I hope will be Baby Gloves’ electoral coffin.

  59. 59.

    workworkwork

    Waiting for my hospital release and outpatient treatment instructions.

    First stop, though – get an electric razor. I haven’t shaved for the past eleven days and while I’m still in treatment I’m not allowed to use a blade.

    Walgreens Ho!

  61. 61.

    hovercraft

    @Mustang Bobby:
    Skelator would try to open them for him, and then be outraged, just outraged that the FAA is blocking them from providing vital aid and comfort for political reasons.

  62. 62.

    workworkwork

    @Kay: My wife and I have been mail-in voters out here in CO for several years now and haven’t had a problem.

    The other nice thing is they send out a booklet explaining each of the ballot issues, with both pro and con arguments. We’re going to cast our votes ASAP (hand-delivered to our local county building just down the street) and just ignore the shouting until after the 4th.

  64. 64.

    amk

    The Atlantic’s 3rd endorsement after Lincoln & Johnson.

    These concerns compel us, for the third time since the magazine’s founding, to endorse a candidate for president. Hillary Rodham Clinton has more than earned, through her service to the country as first lady, as a senator from New York, and as secretary of state, the right to be taken seriously as a White House contender. She has flaws (some legitimately troubling, some exaggerated by her opponents), but she is among the most prepared candidates ever to seek the presidency. We are confident that she understands the role of the United States in the world; we have no doubt that she will apply herself assiduously to the problems confronting this country; and she has demonstrated an aptitude for analysis and hard work.

    Donald Trump, on the other hand, has no record of public service and no qualifications for public office. His affect is that of an infomercial huckster; he traffics in conspiracy theories and racist invective; he is appallingly sexist; he is erratic, secretive, and xenophobic; he expresses admiration for authoritarian rulers, and evinces authoritarian tendencies himself. He is easily goaded, a poor quality for someone seeking control of America’s nuclear arsenal. He is an enemy of fact-based discourse; he is ignorant of, and indifferent to, the Constitution; he appears not to read.

  65. 65.

    workworkwork

    @satby: I’m not a doctor, but for several weeks prior I was overworked, over-scheduled and wasn’t getting much if any sleep. (I’m the primary caregiver for my wife who has M.S., full spinal fusion and a supra-pubic catheter, and I have paid work to do as well.)

    The week before, I got these flu-like symptoms and then on that Sunday my nose started bleeding and wasn’t stopping. A blood test at the doctor’s on Monday confirmed the platelet thing and I was admitted on Tuesday from the ER.

    Now that I’ve had some rest and care, the secondary symptoms (blood out of my whatever, as it were) are gone and I feel great. We talked about it and we’re going to move to IV infusion on an out-patient basis for the next couple of weeks and see how it goes.

  66. 66.

    ET

    I see that the Atlantic has made only the 3rd endorsement for president (the first was Lincoln the second LBJ:

    On Trump:

    Donald Trump, on the other hand, has no record of public service and no qualifications for public office. His affect is that of an infomercial huckster; he traffics in conspiracy theories and racist invective; he is appallingly sexist; he is erratic, secretive, and xenophobic; he expresses admiration for authoritarian rulers, and evinces authoritarian tendencies himself. He is easily goaded, a poor quality for someone seeking control of America’s nuclear arsenal. He is an enemy of fact-based discourse; he is ignorant of, and indifferent to, the Constitution; he appears not to read.

    Ouch

  67. 67.

    satby

    Good morning everyone! Today is catching up day, I’m running behind on Etsy orders. My goal is all of them mailed today.

    Ozark and Scott, thanks for the suggestions on my tiny kitchen yesterday. There’s original cabinet and woodwork details I hate to destroy taking out that exterior wall to add the space from the pantry and former porch to the kitchen, not that I think I could afford that anyway. But I’m still considering options.
    All in the future anyway…moving was my big expenditure this year.

  74. 74.

    satby

    @debit: Bubba the Boomerang pup is fine, but he’s unhappy that he’s being kept from his spirit father Hershey until Hershey’s ear and mouth heal fully. Bubba has been a good little guy, no accidents, no aggressive behavior, just a sweet and well mannered dog who gets along with the others and loves to play. I’m actually happy he’s back, he’s a joy.

  75. 75.

    Gin & Tonic

    @workworkwork: I caught some of your earlier reports when I was catching up on a few threads while killing time in an airport. My son had the same thing a number of years ago – ITP, or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura. “Idiopathic” means “we have no idea why.” His platelets were also effectively at zero, and he spent nine days in a major teaching hospital until they could get things halfway stabilized. The condition is potentially very dangerous, actually – if you fall and hit your head you could die from uncontrolled bleeding. It ended up taking several months before he was back to normal counts, and he was a young, vigorous, athletic man at the time. You will have to be patient.

  76. 76.

    amk

    southpaw @nycsouthpaw

    In depo for Trump Plaza bankruptcy case, Trump’s own lawyer testifies they often met with him in pairs because Trump lies so much.
    11:49 AM – 6 Oct 2016

  78. 78.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Kay:

    Anything that makes it easier is wildly popular outside the “ballot security/voter fraud crowd”. They’re fringe.

    They basically ran the Justice Department’s civil rights division during the George W. Bush years, so I assume that fringe is the mainstream of the Republican Party.

  79. 79.

    workworkwork

    @Gin & Tonic: So I understand. I’ve been here since the 27th and I convinced them to let me try the outpatient option. The staff is really great about sharing information with me about my treatments and outcomes. They’re going to be giving me a stack of notes before I go so I can educate myself while I’m on the outside.

    In the meantime, I’m better rested now than since about high school. Hell of a way to get a vacation, though.

    Kind of like getting Grave’s Disease to jump-start your diet. Sure, you’ll lose weight…

  80. 80.

    hovercraft

    @amk:
    Shocking, the people who believe he “tells it like it is” are lying to themselves. So I guess a match made in heaven. My only question is whether his family think his lying is just the Donald being Donald, or are they so used to it they just think it’s normal behavior. They all seem to lie just as much as he does, did they find liars to marry, or are their poor spouses just trapped in the web of liars. Lying scum.

  81. 81.

    Gin & Tonic

    @workworkwork: You say “outpatient”, so you mean rituximab infusion? That’ll be several hours each time, and will probably ruin your sleep pattern. Be particularly vigilant about headaches for the next month.

    Yeah, we learned more about blood during that episode than I really cared to.

  83. 83.

    SFAW

    @amk:

    In depo for Trump Plaza bankruptcy case, Trump’s own lawyer testifies they often met with him in pairs because Trump lies so much.

    Oh, come on — why would Trump lie?

    I mean, outside of being him not knowing the truth if it bit him in his flabby ass, that is.

  85. 85.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @hovercraft:
    ‘Tells it like it is’ means openly insulting minorities, and nothing else. His lies are either irrelevant or actually help that reputation. The people who compliment him that way already believe, as one example, that gangs of gun-wielding blacks and Hispanics roam major cities shooting whites for fun. Oh, and another, that the Muslim community is knowingly hiding the terrorists in their midst. They know they’d get mocked and shamed saying that in public, and are proud Trump does.

  86. 86.

    MomSense

    @workworkwork:

    Hope you keep feeling better and better! I like to bring audio books for outpatient IVs so I can block out all the sound – or the weird silence if no one is there. I highly recommend bringing some music or something to listen to during your treatments.

  87. 87.

    Matt McIrvin

    @OzarkHillbilly: Josh Marshall is speculating that Matthew could help Trump by physically devastating the most Democratic areas of Florida, and suppressing the vote there.

  88. 88.

    redshirt

    @Matt McIrvin: It makes sense. If your house is ruined and all your possessions gone, voting might seem like a minor concern.

    I can’t see a hurricane helping turnout, and it is hitting the Democratic stronghold of Florida. So yeah, I agree with Josh. This could make a difference.

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