Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

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

There are no moderate Republican – only extremists, and cowards.

RIP Zandar. We are still here fighting the stupid, now in your honor.

… looking like a winsome Bee Gee who has stumbled into teaching geography

Bark louder, little dog.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

It’s easier to kill a dangerous animal than a man who just happens to have different thoughts/values than one’s own.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. don’t touch it.”

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / McCain’s Own Goal

McCain’s Own Goal

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Walnuts has today’s dumbest unforced error and wins the Ted Cruz medal for negative political acumen. Attempting to fire up his base, he said the following:

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) suggested Monday that the Republican party’s months-long refusal to fill a vacant seat on the Supreme Court could extend into the next administration if Hillary Clinton is elected president.

“I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up,” McCain said on WPHT Philadelphia radio in an interview first flagged by CNN. “I promise you. This is where we need the majority.”

Realizing that was absolutely insane, his staff quickly walked back the remarks:

McCain’s office walked his remarks back hours later, saying he would vote for individual nominees based on their record and experience.

“Senator McCain believes you can only judge people by their record and Hillary Clinton has a clear record of supporting liberal judicial nominees,” communications director Rachael Dean told TPM in a statement. “That being said, Senator McCain will, of course, thoroughly examine the record of any Supreme Court nominee put before the Senate and vote for or against that individual based on their qualifications as he has done throughout his career.”

So now, he’s said something insane, alienating moderates, and said something sane, alienating the Trump voters who already hate him and have threatened to not support down ballot candidates who aren’t with Trump. Considering Arizona is possibly in play, this might be the end of Walnuts. He’s up 15, but you never know in a wave election.

Reader Interactions

164Comments

  1. 1.

    RoonieRoo

    I think he accidentally pulled the curtain back a bit too soon for what the plan is for the GOP.

  2. 2.

    Tom Levenson

    The US Senate Oath of Office:

    “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

    What part of “support and defend the Constitution” is covered by a blanket refusal to do one’s job? Senator John McCain’s picture is in the dictionary next to “disgrace.”

    Also “fuckwit”.

  4. 4.

    Elizabelle

    Yeah, I think this might be a wave election, and the press is going to be the last to figure it out.

  5. 5.

    NotMax

    Anyone in AZ know if McCain has come out for the record in opposition to the marijuana legalization question on the ballot?

    Off the cuff presumption is that he has remained mum about it thus far.

    It’s not going to be a wave election, sad to say. Outside of a large majority of electoral votes. HRC’s coattails are short.

  6. 6.

    MattF

    @Elizabelle: There’s ‘expertise’ bias– the things they’ve spent their time learning and the relationships they’ve cultivated aren’t going to change– because reasons.

  8. 8.

    OzarkHillbilly

    I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that a Republican not named Trump would openly admit that they would rather burn this country to the ground than govern responsibly if that meant a Dem could claim partial credit for anything good.

  12. 12.

    Gindy51

    Imagine how fast one of us would be shown the door in a job interview if we popped off saying we wouldn’t do the job.

  14. 14.

    Sawgrass Stan

    Well, there goes the last ghost of a shred of a memory of the molecule of grudging respect I once had for this cowardly sack of weasel.

  15. 15.

    The Moar You Know

    He told the truth. You’d think he’d be proud of that, instead of this feeble and futile attempt to “walk it back”. Wonder what he’s ashamed of?

    Sorry Grandpa Walnuts, we all knew what the plan was anyway. But thanks for confirming it.

    Darrell Issa is saying positive things about Obama.

    @MattF: He also refused to put his party affiliation on all the signs he’s plastered all over my damn town. Another guy ashamed of the truth for some reason.

    Sad thing is, he doesn’t have to lie. He’s in zero danger of losing his seat and the idiots here have always loved his schtick.

  16. 16.

    Sm*t Cl*de

    “I promise you that we will be united against any Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would put up,”
    McCain’s office walked his remarks back hours later

    Imagine my surprise when a solemn promise from McCain turns out to be no more than a mouthful of air.

  17. 17.

    NotMax

    @Tom Levenson

    Moot as the oath is unconstitutional on its face by dint of having the deference to god included as part of its wording by law. If, as with the presidential oath, that part were unofficially appended it would be a different kettle of fish.

  18. 18.

    cokane

    still crazy how much of a non-story this unprecedented blocking has been this election year. this should be a top fucking story

  22. 22.

    The Moar You Know

    Thanks to @germy in the last thread, this is too crazy not to carry over. Assange has been accused of sexually propositioning an 8 year old online, which may be why Ecuador cut off his internet access.

    @Pest Bog Mummy, Frakensteinbeck: Good God. Well, it’s never been easier for Ecuador to do the right thing. Escort Mr. Assange to the front door and tell him to GTFO.

  23. 23.

    NotMax

    @efgoldman

    Much less than you or I would prefer, I’d wager. Although there will no doubt be some R-favorable precincts where a Senate or House name on the ballot totals more votes than Trump, which would be magically delicious in its own way.

  26. 26.

    Frank Wilhoit

    They’re starting to worry about the Senate. I predicted long ago that we would know if that happened, because they would start promising to block any/all nominees.

    This is not going to be a wave election. The Republican governors will see to that. For example, if you think that any Democratic precinct in Milwaukee is going to get more than one voting machine, or that that single machine will work, then you have forgotten everything you ever knew about Scott Walker. Multiply by all the cities in Red states.

    Also, read this, from Thomas Ricks over at Foreign Policy. (Disable scripting if necessary.) Hands up everyone who thinks anyone will have the stones to actually do a third of these things.

  27. 27.

    Mary G

    @El Caganer: This quote from that story sums up McCain in a nutshell:

    On the grounds between the two brick colleges, the chitchat between the scion of four-star admirals and the son of a prizefighter turns to their academic travels; both colleges sponsor a trip abroad for young officers to network with military and political leaders in a distant corner of the globe.

    “I’m going to the Middle East,” Dramesi says. “Turkey, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iran.”

    “Why are you going to the Middle East?” McCain asks, dismissively.

    “It’s a place we’re probably going to have some problems,” Dramesi says.

    “Why? Where are you going to, John?”

    “Oh, I’m going to Rio.”

    “What the hell are you going to Rio for?”

    McCain, a married father of three, shrugs.

    “I got a better chance of getting laid.”

  28. 28.

    Knight of Nothing

    This is a huge gaffe, on par with Kevin McCarthy’s pronouncement that the Benghazi hearings were serving a political purpose. But honestly, with all the noise surrounding Trump, and more broadly this election and Republican insanity, will enough people notice for it to make any difference? Of that I am skeptical.

  29. 29.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    I was kind of hoping McCain had seen his internal numbers sliding and said this intentionally to insure the base coming out to vote for him.
    Also the Assange story — just ewwww. Trump and he should definitely hang out together, in a prison cell. They can tell each other how awesome they are and be WATBs.

  30. 30.

    ? Martin

    Actually, he’s only up 10 in the only poll taken in the last 2 weeks and that has him at 45% suggesting that 20% of the electorate is undecided. That’s a dangerous place for an incumbent to be.

    The +15 poll is from Oct 2-4 and a lot has changed on the ground since then, not the least of which was McCain unendorsing Trump and the GOP state chairman saying that would cost McCain re-election.

  31. 31.

    David ?▶️Hillary/Harley Quinn 2016▶️? Koch

    My favorite is how the media repeats the gop lie that a vacancy occurred during the 1956 election and wasn’t filled until the next year.

    what they don’t say is the vacancy occurred just weeks before the election at a time when congress was adjourning for their fall campaigns. obviously when congress is out of town during election season you can’t expect them to return for hearing, which is completely different from what happened with fat tony, who died 9 months before the election.

  32. 32.

    tamiasmin

    If Justice Ginsburg retired—and she’s said that she’s just doing one term at a time now—the Court would be back to a conservative majority. What incentive would Republicans have to approve any appointment? In fact they could dismantle the Supreme Court entirely by sitting on their hands for a generation or so. And at the same time, shut down those pesky federal appellate and district courts. Not so calamitous, really. We’ll still have dispute resolution by duel. And civil war.

  34. 34.

    Punchy

    Cant find exact link, but more fun in the GOP world: The KS State Senate leader (Wagle) has said that if the KS Supremes rule (as expected) that KS needs to up their $$ outlay for public schools, the KS Legy is going to treat their ruling as an “opinion” rather than a mandate. And yes, she openly admits she’d be initiating a Constitutional crisis, but doesn’t give a shit.

    For bonus insanity, she also said she’s going to tackle and fix KS’s extreme budget issues, but with MORE tax cuts, not tax increases. And certainly no roll-back of the state income tax reductions. And they’ll be re-elected because Jesus and AK-47s and abortions are so bigly better.

  35. 35.

    ChrisGrrr

    @RoonieRoo: They just… defy belief.

    Now, why would non-Republicans distrust a single one of their “elected” “public servants” over even the smallest matter?

  37. 37.

    hovercraft

    @Elizabelle:
    In their defense, Charlie Cook said that you don’t usually see the wave coming until about three to two weeks before the election. So there’s still a chance. Plus running around telling your hordes that the system is rigged may make a lot of them just stay home.

  39. 39.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Didn’t Lindsey Graham, Smithers to McCain’s Monty Burns, already say he was troubled by this abandonment of political norms, even as he went along with it?

  41. 41.

    NotoriousJRT

    With Republicans’ refusal to give Judge Garland a vote, they have shown that they don’t give a fig for democracy or the constitution or doing their jobs. Here is qualified candidate, a not-very ideological candidate, in fact, a nomination they wished for. But, oh no, we can’t let the black guy seat 3 judges. It is cowardly, mendacious, and generally despicable. So, McCain is saying nothing new. Fuck him and whatever aircraft, vehicle, or beast of burden he may ride in on.

  42. 42.

    Cacti

    Unfortunately, all McCain has to do to get reelected in Arizona is not drool on himself in public.

  43. 43.

    dogwood

    This whole outrage about McCain today is kinda baffling to me. The Republicans aren’t going to vote for any of Clinton’s nominees. That not some gaffe, it’s a fact. This election is going to make the republicans triple down on obstruction. They are a shrinking party in terms of numbers, but they are not shrinking significantly in terms of the power they wield.

  44. 44.

    Aleta

    Ted Cruz, desperate to compete for the Cruz medal, retweeted an article that said sex change operations will be mandatory if Hillary wins. The tweet was erased after awhile.

  45. 45.

    chopper

    @hovercraft:

    plus, telling your horde that they can’t trust their own political party doesn’t exactly get em all riled up to pull the lever for downticket goopers either.

  47. 47.

    Villago Delenda Est

    So, do you suppose, like Donald, John here is trying to actually lose this election? I mean, is it all that far fetched that he wants to yield his seat to Kirkpatrick and retire to one of his, what is the last count, 7 homes?

  48. 48.

    debbie

    @germy:

    This totally cracked me up last night.Trump’s already pretty pissed at Seth McFarland. I look forward to the inevitable Twitter storm.

  51. 51.

    NonyNony

    @Mnemosyne:

    I’m no Assange fan, but there’s something weird about that story that I can’t quite articulate. I’m going to wait for better information before I call in the hounds.

    Weird things about the story:

    * It’s not being reported anywhere except via PRNewswire releases that are being published on news aggregator sites.
    * It’s an allegation being made by the dating website, and all of the records link back to the dating website itself not a real criminal complaint
    * That report that is being linked to on Twitter is a report from the dating website to the UN – why is a dating website a UN Global Compact Member?

    It all smells a bit off. There’s literally no reporting done on it to suggest that a police report has even been filed. Not even someone checking with the Bahamas police to see if there’s an investigation ongoing.

    Now it is apparently true that Ecuador has shut off Assange’s internet access, but I have to wait for some more reporting to be done on this to believe that this is anything but a PR stunt at the moment.

  52. 52.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    Advance voting report from Gwinnett County, Georgia.

    So this afternoon I decided to drive over to Lawrenceville, the county seat, which is where the one place for early in-person voting in Gwinnett is open this week and next. First day, I expected maybe 20-30 people in line. But the lines snaked around the outside barricades. I drove slowly past and estimated a couple of hundred. Finally found a parking place, walked a pretty hefty distance to the end of the line. An election official came up within a few minutes and said the wait would be at least four hours. I opted to leave and do my voting another day.

    Later, I looked at the local paper to see if they had any reporting about voting lines and wait times. Oh yes, they did:

    By the time Gwinnett County’s Lawrenceville elections office opened for voting at 8 a.m. Monday, well over 100 people had joined the queue outside. By 8:30 a.m., the crowd had eclipsed 400, elections director Lynn Ledford estimated.
    The quiet, murmuring mass of soon-to-be voters snaked deep into the parking lot. Nearly 1,200 Gwinnettians had voted by late afternoon.

    “We were expecting a crowd,” Ledford said, “but we were not expecting this.”

    […]

    By the afternoon, waits were approaching four or five hours. Bottled water was being passed out to those in line.

    Totally unscientific, but it seemed to me from my drive-by and my few minutes in line that the great majority were African-American women. Later this week and two or three days next week (waiting for my assignments) I expect to be election-watching at that location and will have access to hard numbers.

    Based only on today and solely on unconfirmed guesstimates, I do believe that Georgia could turn from red to blue this year, at least at the Presidential level (we’re not going to get rid of Sen. Johnny Isakson).

  54. 54.

    p.a.

    @efgoldman: Don’t think Hilz will waste 2+ years meeting them half-way to a rightward moving line like BHO did. Don’t know if it will matter, but I think she’ll call out a do-nothing congress from day 1.

  55. 55.

    Sloane Ranger

    So if Assange no longer has access to the Internet, does that mean the end of the email leaks? If so media will have a sad. No more balance!

    Agree that it doesn’t look like a wave. From here in the UK it looks like non political junkies do not want to elect a Groper in Chief but buy the idea that Clinton is at least slightly shady, if not actually crooked. From what I read and hear I think a lot of people are going to vote Hilary for President but Repubs for Senate. I think they’re buying Ryan’s crap about the GOP acting as a check on potential unconstitutional actions by her.

    Completely OT can we call them the G(R)OP(E) Party from now on?

  56. 56.

    Corner Stone

    Mark Halperin on WADR just said that if “you give Trump the states he is behind in but needs to win, this race is still not over”.

  58. 58.

    Miss Bianca

    @Mnemosyne: I honestly don’t give a shit whether there’s something fishy about the story or not (except concern for the child involved, if it *is* true*) – if the result is that that little douchenozzle Assange has his access to the outside world sealed off. He’s richly earned it, however it’s come about.

  60. 60.

    dogwood

    @Villago Delenda Est:
    How would saying what he said hurt him in the election? Republicans love the Garland move and the rest of the country either doesn’t give a shit or doesn’t know a damn thing about it. The media has sold gridlock as both siderism for 8 years. His comment assures the base, and falls on deaf ears elsewhere.

  61. 61.

    debbie

    In Franklin County (Columbus, OH) 2,400 voted the first day. They were said to be snowbirds voting before they leave for sunnier spots. For all I know, they could have voted for Trump.

  62. 62.

    Patricia Kayden

    Walnuts has today’s dumbest unforced error

    Not sure if I agree that this is an error. If he’s 15 points up on his rival, he’ll win in a cakewalk. I’m trying to be optimistic about the Democrats flipping the Senate because if that doesn’t happen President Hillary Clinton is going to be obstructed into oblivion.

  63. 63.

    Mandalay

    @Pest Bog Mummy, Frakensteinbeck:

    Assange has been accused of sexually propositioning an 8 year old online

    I have no clue whether this story is true or not, but it is worth pointing out a few facts:
    – The UN (as a body) supports Julian Assange.
    – Assange is accused of making contact with the eight year old girl through a dating web site named toddandclare.com.
    – That website became a member of the UNGlobal Compact earlier this year, but was delisted by them last week.
    – That web site hates Assange like poison, which is possibly why they got delisted.
    It looks like a juicy story, but it’s a bit too early to assume that Assange is guilty and the web site owner is squeaky clean.

  65. 65.

    Prescott Cactus

    I’d have bet the house that Senator Walnuts would get voted out of office before Sheriff Joe. I would have been wrong.

    Kirkpatrick showed be miles ahead.

  67. 67.

    catclub

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I have more respect ( still not much ) for Graham as time passes. He has a great deal more self-awareness than most. He was the one who basically said ‘They are not making enough racist white people to get the GOP elected, anymore’.

    Less so for McCain.

  68. 68.

    Baud

    @Mandalay:

    it’s a bit too early to assume that Assange is guilty and the web site owner is squeaky clean.

    If the media followed those rules with respect to Hillary, we’d be winning this election 73-27.

  74. 74.

    Anoniminous

    @Corner Stone:

    And THAT is why Halperin gets the big bucks. Nobody else is able to figure out that Trump needs to win states to be elected president.

  76. 76.

    Corner Stone

    “That will help”…That will help who, Halperin? Who will it help if a big disclosure from the wiki dump comes out?

  79. 79.

    bystander

    It strikes me that being a pantswetter is probably more challenging than being a bedwetter. Or am I overthinking this?

  81. 81.

    Mandalay

    @Cacti:

    Unfortunately, all McCain has to do to get reelected in Arizona is not drool on himself in public.

    So probably a Dem gain in that case. Cool.

  83. 83.

    waysel

    @Tom Levenson: Wonder if Prez Hillary could make these clowns re-swear their oaths, publicly. I assume it’s not an annual event, and some have been there so long, perhaps they’ve forgotten quite what they have sworn to. Er somethin’.

  84. 84.

    catclub

    @Sm*t Cl*de:

    Imagine my surprise when a solemn promise from McCain turns out to be no more than a mouthful of air.

    Somebody got it right in 2008 against Obama, that McCain thinks like a pundit who needs a flashy opinion on everything, and with no time for thought.
    His ‘We’ll be in Iraq 100 years’ quip was like that. Not presidential material.

  86. 86.

    Mnemosyne

    @NonyNony:

    One wonders if it’s a pre-emptive strike to disguise the real reason why Ecuador cut him off. But, I am notoriously bad at calling this kind of stuff, so I’m going to lay low and see how the story develops.

  88. 88.

    Prescott Cactus

    @bystander: you sleep in bed for 8 hours, wear pants for the rest of the day.

    1/3 greater chance of being a pantswetter. . .

    ETA: I know I am over thinking this.

  92. 92.

    Exit 135

    He must be demented. I remember him and his buddies in the Senate’s mantra during Bush the Stupid’s administration: “The administrations nominee deserves an up or down vote.”

    I hope the people of Arizona give John an up or down vote to end his career.

  93. 93.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Elizabelle: Boy, do I ever hope you’re right Elizabelle. Fingers and toes crossed. Trump still has 21 days to piss off enough people to make it so.

  95. 95.

    Corner Stone

    I just wandered by Mark Halperin’s twit feed. This is an actual tweet:

    Most key ppl in race now in order 1 Chris Wallace 2 Putin 3 Assange 4 @KellyannePolls 5 D Trump 6 H Clinton 7 B Clinton 8 B Obama 9 Pence

  96. 96.

    Mnemosyne

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch:

    It sounds like Trump’s scaremongering is backfiring on him. I wouldn’t be surprised if people are getting worried about potential Election Day violence, so they’re making sure to vote early.

    I found out today that Los Angeles County is going to have 5 additional early voting locations for the two weekends before Election Day. Hopefully the turnout won’t be quite as high the day I go to the one in North Hollywood!

  101. 101.

    dogwood

    @Corner Stone:
    Sort of like his pre’08 book where he proclaimed that “Drudge rules our world,”. Halperin is weird because the books he writes with Heilmann really aren’t hackish. Game Change is well-sourced and honest in it’s assessment of the ’08 campaign.

  106. 106.

    r€nato

    I hate to be the turd in the punchbowl, but I’m going to be the turd in the punchbowl. McCain will win. Arizona voters have a bad habit of reflexively voting for the R when they know little to nothing about the candidates (or the other candidates, when faced with a GOP incumbent they may not be crazy about).

    All year long I’ve read an endless number of comments from Arizona voters that say “Anyone but McCain!!!!” They said this six years ago, too. Like 2010, McCain crushed his Tea Party opponent in the primary and those “anyone but McCain” voters were nowhere to be found in November. Sad!

  107. 107.

    Chyron HR

    Reminder that there are (alleged) adults who swear up and down that Clinton is going to spend the next 8 years playing footsie with the people who’ve been trying to destroy her for 25 years (both Republicans and the media) because “triangulators gonna triangulate”.

  108. 108.

    trollhattan

    @Sloane Ranger:
    If he has a phone he has internet. Running any kind of big operation though…perhaps not.

    I occasionally hear Assange interviewed and he’s always a colossal dick. Not the best front man I’ve encountered.

  109. 109.

    Corner Stone

    @Baud: Chris Wallace is the most key important person in this presidential race with three weeks to go.
    He is #1 in deciding how this will all go. The moderator for the third and final debate. He is the key.
    Thanks, Halperin.

  111. 111.

    trollhattan

    @r€nato:
    It’s really hard for a senator to be unseated and the longer they’ve served the more it seems the seat is safe. Gonna be hard finding the handle on McCain’s ejector.

  113. 113.

    Keith G

    @Mnemosyne:

    It sounds like Trump’s scaremongering is backfiring on him

    Yup. His antics make me feel, at this time, he will be lucky to get over 38% nationwide and more than 200 in the Electoral College.

  115. 115.

    trollhattan

    Heh, NYT nudged their election probability to 91% from 90% earlier in the day. Tick-toc, Donny!

  116. 116.

    burnspbesq

    @shomi:

    A simple precept which your diseased mind seemingly can’t process:

    “When someone tells you exactly what they’re going to do, believe them.

  117. 117.

    Keith G

    @Chyron HR: Unless the Ds win both houses, she will be doing a bit of just that, since A) That is how some things will get done B) That is always been part of her, and Bill’s M.O.

  118. 118.

    r€nato

    @trollhattan: and where THE FUCK are all the “term limits” voters? Because voters are full of shit on a regular basis. They want term limits for the other team’s long-timers. Not their own.

    This fucker is 80 goddamn years old; he will be 86 at the end of his term if he wins. He clearly doesn’t know what he would do with himself if he wasn’t a DC Somebody.

  119. 119.

    SFAW

    @burnspbesq:

    A simple precept which your diseased mind seemingly can’t process:

    He’s too busy trying to find his last Depends, so that he doesn’t “soil himself.”

    He’s raising projection to the level of Bad Art.

  121. 121.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Mnemosyne:

    It sounds like Trump’s scaremongering is backfiring on him. I wouldn’t be surprised if people are getting worried about potential Election Day violence, so they’re making sure to vote early.

    I hope so. I think so. Probably a fair number are simply worried about long lines (or weather) on Election Day, but I’m sure there are a good many who want to make sure their votes are locked in early, and some who fear possible violence on November 8th.

  122. 122.

    dogwood

    @WereBear:
    I don’t get this. How does she get “payback” with a republican House and at best a single vote majority in the Senate? It’s Republicans who will be going for payback starting Nov. 9.

  123. 123.

    Prescott Cactus

    @trollhattan:

    Gonna be hard finding the handle on McCain’s ejector.

    Next to his drool cup. Beside the box of Depends that has the big map that shows where his 7 or 8 homes are.

  124. 124.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Ah, but how many of them went home without casting a ballot?

    Well, I did. Perhaps a few who were at the end of the line, although I didn’t notice anybody else peeling off when I did. But my guess is that anyone who had been in line for, say, three hours, wouldn’t have given up at the prospect of one more. As for me, as I said, I’ll be there working/volunteering several times over the next couple of weeks and will have ample opportunities to vote during slow periods. Actually, I’m not even sure why I drove all that distance today except I kinda liked the idea of voting for Hillary on the first possible day I could.

  125. 125.

    Jeffro

    @Patricia Kayden:

    And we’ll soon see whether the mainstream media will go along with no votes on nominations during Democratic administrations.

    This kind of blatant stuff is pretty easy to call each & every R senator out on, too. “Senator Quisling, are you saying that if a Democratic senate majority were to refuse to hear, much less vote on, a Republican president’s judicial nominees for her entire term, you’d be okay with that?”

    C’mon, Obama: tell the country you’re pulling the Garland nom on election eve. But first, take an hour to lay out how historically unprecedented the Turtle-led obstructionism has been, and where it comes from.

  127. 127.

    Emma

    @dogwood: She makes appointments using the Andrew Jackson philosophy of presidenting. Let them take her to court. If they try impeachment, lay out loudly the parts of the Constitution they’re violating.

  129. 129.

    Matt McIrvin

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch: I’m curious now about what the early-voting scene is going to look like in my town. It starts on the 24th, and over most of the period it’s only during weekday business hours at City Hall. There’s one Thursday that they run late, and they’ll be opening a few other locations just for Saturday the 29th (no Sunday voting). I think they’re hoping for low demand.

  130. 130.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch: I voted this afternoon in Johns Creek. Took an hour, which is about 59 minutes longer than I expected. Gave me time to really think about voting for Jill Stein, though, so that was good.

    The crowd was far more diverse than I expected (we are not known for that in these parts). Plenty of teabagger lookign types, though, but I suppose I look like a republican to people who don’t know me.

    Feel the Jillmentum! (not really.)

  131. 131.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Well, I hope you’ll report to the rest of us on and after the 24th (not sure where you are located, although I expect you’ve said). In fact, I’d be most interested to see on-the-ground reports, and links to local reporting, from BJ commenters throughout the country.

  132. 132.

    germy

    I watched a bit of the ABC News with David Muir this evening. A brief clip of a drumpf supporter at a rally. The supporter said he would do everything he possibly could to prevent HRC. “If it means I have to be a patriot then I guess I’ll be a patriot.”

    I think he was threatening violence there.

  134. 134.

    gorram

    @shomi: Everyone walks away thinking the other set is being played. The one actual situation of BOTH SIDES DO IT, problem is, no dirty hippies are involved, just racists and people who rather not consider if they’re messing around with racists (YMMV, please substitute misogynists, homophobes, cissexists, dominionists, people who thought colonialism was great, etc etc etc).

  135. 135.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Forsyth County, or north Fulton? (I’m in Johns Creek at this very moment, as it happens. We must live fairly near each other.)

  136. 136.

    trollhattan

    Dude trolls Trump fans claiming to be a Postal employee ripping up Trump absentee ballots. Stupidest Man on Internet leads stampede to the bait.

    50:50 Trump brays about it Wednesday night.

    ETA scooped by Cole upstairs. Or was I?!?

  139. 139.

    Jeffro

    @germy:

    I watched a bit of the ABC News with David Muir this evening. A brief clip of a drumpf supporter at a rally. The supporter said he would do everything he possibly could to prevent HRC. “If it means I have to be a patriot then I guess I’ll be a patriot.”

    I think he was threatening violence there.

    I’ve seen the same clip…hope they play it Wednesday night and ask Trump about it. Better yet, corner that coward McCain and see if he can make the connection between his “any” comment today and this kind of mindless anger from the Trumpkins

  140. 140.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch:

    Forsyth County, or north Fulton? (I’m in Johns Creek at this very moment, as it happens. We must live fairly near each other.)

    Forsyth? FORSYTH????!1 I thought we were friends.

    I live near Johns Creek High School. Voted at the NE/Spruill Oaks library, then went across the street and hit a bucket of balls at River Pines. I also, uh, totally did some work earlier.

  141. 141.

    PhoenixRising

    Ann Kirkpatrick may want that desk moved to the other side of the office.

    McCain stepped on his own dick, then shot himself in the foot. First say the quiet part loud, in an effort to bring home the Trump supporters; then walk it back, thus prompting attacks from same.

    Between the Trumpeters and the 42% of AZ that fucking hates John McCain and/or Joe Arpaio, it’s looking a lot like HFA just dumped $2M in ads and they’re air dropping FLOTUS, Chelsea & Bernie on Maricopa County later this week for data-driven reasons.

    (Full disclosure: I’m taking a week off & knocking on doors in Maricopa County because that is where my efforts will do the most good. Se habla español. Tengo 5 primos en la regîon.)

  143. 143.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Ha! You know, for years and years I totally scorned the very idea of Forsyth County because of their awful history of racism. But things are changing. A few years ago I happened to stumble upon Sharon Forks Library, which really is a wonderful place. I’m there usually three or more afternoons a week, and one of the things I’ve noticed is that a plurality if not a majority of the clientele is south Asian/African-American. As a Caucasian woman, I am distinctly in the minority.

    I live in Gwinnett, but I’m sorry to say their public libraries don’t begin to measure up to those in Forsyth, and I’m willing to drop $60 a year in out-of-county fees to take advantage of all the privileges of using Sharon Forks. Anyhow, I meant no offence, but if you took my suggestion as an insult I would urge you to take another look at Forsyth — it isn’t what it was even a decade ago.

  144. 144.

    Mnemosyne

    @Les Bonnes Femmes:

    Well, they’ve cleaned Hollywood up quite a bit, so people only get stabbed there about once a month now.

    And just to be extra confusing, North Hollywood is actually a separate neighborhood that’s up in the San Fernando Valley.

  148. 148.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @trollhattan: Sack of very stupid barnyard waste Jon Husted is apparently going to investigate this.

    Even after the perpetrator got his lulz on the Twitter machine.

  151. 151.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch: I would join you but I have an early flight on the morning. Plus you have that restraining order against me.

    Is that your regular Tuesday night haunt? Two buck chuck and 90% dark chocolate?

    Hell, I might have seen you a few times without realizing it when my wife was in the hospital right behind it three times in the last year.

  152. 152.

    dww44

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch: Probably won’t get rid of Isakson but I am doing my part. He can run all those Democratic constituent TV testimonials that he wants, but it doesn’t alter the fact that he has voted NO on everything with his fellow Republicans in the Senate, has endorsed Trump like most other officials in the state, no mention of the nominee in his campaign ads. If ever a politician deserved to get thrown off that fence he’s been straddling, he’s at the top of my list. Also because he’s always portrayed himself as a nice moderate and reasonable politician but he doesn’t have the courage to behave like one .

  154. 154.

    Jeffro

    @r€nato:

    This fucker is 80 goddamn years old; he will be 86 at the end of his term if he wins. He clearly doesn’t know what he would do with himself if he wasn’t a DC Somebody.

    It’s amazing…it’s must be the World’s Greatest Thrill for Walnuts to spend every Sunday morning on eight different talking heads’ shows pontificating endlessly.

    We need to get more GOP officials into golf, or something…give them a reason to head off into the sunset and enjoy life at an earlier age.

  156. 156.

    JR in WV

    @Tom Levenson:

    To me it’s more the

    …I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God

    part that frosts me. The current office holders have violated that oath completely.

    The fact that Republicans are traitors to the nation in order to oppose the first African-American president was already obvious from Mitch McConnell’s remarks. That they plan to continue that treason is no surprise to me.

    But we agree that the oath is broken, and will be broken again, so that’s all good.

  157. 157.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @dww44:

    I heard an interview with him the other day on WABE’s local news show “A Closer Look.” The hosts asked him about continuing to support Trump in light of the pussy tape, and Isakson ran away so fast I could feel the breeze through my radio speakers. Feckless coward.

  158. 158.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Yeah, it’s basically my neighbourhood bar. I generally sit in the lounge area, in one of the booths on the left-hand side, with a glass of red wine in front of me and my iPad open. All the serving staff know me. Just ask if “Miss Judith” is around :-)

    ETA: Sorry about all your wife’s hospital visits, and I hope all is now well. And I lifted that restraining order, were you not notified?

  161. 161.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @p.a.:

    Don’t know if it will matter, but I think she’ll call out a do-nothing congress from day 1.

    I agree. She’ll take her inaugural oath muttering “NMFTG” under her breath.

  162. 162.

    JR in WV

    @efgoldman:

    I think if I was going to moderate a “debate” with Trump in it, I would insist on controlling his mike. If he goes over, or starts a treasonous false rant, just shut him off for the on-air feed.

    Would be very fitting to just shut him off at the end of his time, plus a few seconds, maybe 10 or 15%. Say your time is up, Mr Trump, 20 more seconds, then slam.

    And keep count of his overages to give Clinton the same extra time if she shows any sign of needing it – when Trump cries about her time, tell him, “We’re keeping track when you run over, and will always do our best to be sure both speakers have the same amount of time. While you complain about nothing, the debate is stopped. Are you through?”

    But of course these guys are in favor of the GOP and will not cut Hillary any slack at all. Trump probably won’t even get a warning, they’ll just let him rant on. If it does go that way, I hope it’s so bad everyone can see it’s obvious.

  163. 163.

    JR in WV

    @r€nato:

    McCain’s father and grandfather both died a few months (like 7) after they retired from being Admirals in the USN, and so McCain III thinks if he doesn’t retire, he won’t die.

    I think it doesn’t work that way. But who knows. I hope the voters retire him, he doesn’t really make much sense anymore, the past decade or so. His father and G-Father had military lives in the balance, and so when they thought they were not at full capacity, they quit.

    McCain III doesn’t care what he fuqs up in his dotage, will keep on fuqing up as long as he can push that vote button. At least Ted Kennedy and Bob C. Byrd had their wits about them til the bitter end.

    ETA: And note that McCain, with all the Admiralty gold in his family for swing, he never made flag rank, and retired as a Captain. They didn’t trust him as far as they could throw him, and rightfully so.

  164. 164.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Corner Stone:

    Mark Halperin on WADR just said that if “you give Trump the states he is behind in but needs to win, this race is still not over”.

    Okay, that is officially the single stupidest, most idiotic, imbecilic, dumbass thing I have ever read. Even for Halperin, it is beyond moronic.

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