• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Not all heroes wear capes.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

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

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Second rate reporter says what?

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / Open Thread: The Voters of Iowa, They’re Not Sending Their Best People

Open Thread: The Voters of Iowa, They’re Not Sending Their Best People

by Anne Laurie|  March 7, 201710:07 pm| 21 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Hail to the Hairpiece, Open Threads, Assholes, Just Shut the Fuck Up, Security Theatre

FacebookTweetEmail

Video of that contentious exchange earlier between @ChuckGrassley and @alfranken during Rosenstein hearing https://t.co/U7uMzv1fkL

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 7, 2017

Good for Senator Franken, and shame (as though they could feel any) on the Repubs. Per the Washington Post:

A tense moment erupted Tuesday between Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, leading Grassley to bang his gavel and abruptly end an argument over recent comments by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Grassley, the chairman of the committee, accused Franken of asking Sessions a “gotcha” question during his confirmation hearing in January. Franken insisted he did no such thing.

“It was not a gotcha question, sir,” Franken said.

“It was, from the standpoint — he didn’t know what you were asking about,” replied Grassley. Then, Grassley banged his gavel and called on Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Franken was not finished presenting his perspective…

The exchange was the most explosive at the closely watched confirmation hearing of Rod J. Rosenstein, President Trump’s nominee for deputy attorney general, and Rachel Brand, his pick for associate attorney general. If confirmed, Rosenstein would assume responsibility for any investigations involving the Trump campaign — including any ties between Trump and Russia — after Sessions recused himself from such matters last week…

A few minutes before Tuesday’s fiery exchange, tensions were already building as Franken questioned Rosenstein about Sessions and other matters.

“I think Senator Sessions should come back. I think he owes it to this committee to come back and explain himself,” said Franken, pointing his forefinger for emphasis…

Rosenstein soon interjected to say he did not know anything about investigations the Justice Department was undertaking beyond what he had read in press accounts. “I don’t know anything but what I’ve read in the newspapers at this point,” he said…

Of course, Steve “Pig Muck” King had to — as ever — defend his title as the Worst Person in Congress:

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa: 'Rogue intel' figures may have tapped Trump phones https://t.co/GZLzOqBYJa via @scj

— William Petroski (@WilliamPetroski) March 7, 2017

SIOUX CITY | Iowa 4th District Rep. Steve King on Monday defended President Trump’s startling assertion that the Obama administration tapped phones in Trump’s New York offices in the runup to the 2016 election, suggesting “rogue intel” officials may have eavesdropped on calls even if President Obama did not personally order the wiretapping…

King said the tweet indicates Trump was not referencing the former president specifically.

“To me, that says the Obama administration,” King said.

King said his assessment is that Trump’s assertion is apt.

“There is a string of evidence that supports it,” he said….

There’s a string of spittle hanging from Mark Levin’s flapping jaws, more like. I hear that as long as Rep. King pays sufficient obeisance to the CAFO agricorporations in his district, he’s got the seat for as long as he wants it — but is there any sense in sending some money to Kim Weaver’s 2018 campaign?

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Dog looking at pictures of puppies
Next Post: ATTN: People of Connecticut »

Reader Interactions

21Comments

  1. 1.

    Jerzy Russian

    March 7, 2017 at 10:14 pm

    Christ, what an asshole!

  2. 2.

    Patricia Kayden

    March 7, 2017 at 10:14 pm

    Good on Franken. May Democrats give as good as they get and put Republicans in the hot seat.

    PS. King never fails to bring the stupid. Racist pig.

  3. 3.

    Jeffro

    March 7, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    How much fun would it be for a happy-go-lucky type to move to* either King’s or Chaffetz’s district, establish residency, and then pummel the absolute shit out of either GOP wanker for an entire year? You KNOW the outside money would just pour in…I’d have a bake sale every Saturday.

    *This is assuming that an adequate candidate can’t already be found in either district of course. Who knows? But we ought to take a shot at it just as an object lesson to the brainless sewer rats that comprise the modern GOP House.

  4. 4.

    efgoldman

    March 7, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    That’s “Old Cantaloupe Calves” Steve King, right?
    THERE’s someone credible, alright.
    He was making shit up while Cheetoh Combover was just another person on teevee I never watched.

  5. 5.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 7, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    These people are not good people.

  6. 6.

    Anne Laurie

    March 7, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: So you recognized the title quote, right?

  7. 7.

    amk

    March 7, 2017 at 10:27 pm

    but they are their best peeps. fucking morons.

  8. 8.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 7, 2017 at 10:28 pm

    @Anne Laurie: I am going with a different aspect. Good/bad vs best/worst.

  9. 9.

    Jerzy Russian

    March 7, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    @Jerzy Russian:

    Christ, what an asshole!

    Referring, of course, to the Iowa senator and the Iowa congressman.

  10. 10.

    kindness

    March 7, 2017 at 10:37 pm

    I never want to read or hear the word ‘principled’ wrt any current Republicans in office. Principles are not malleable. Honor is not something that can be sold, borrowed or bought. The Republicans we have today should be ashamed of themselves. Look at what they are actively covering over just because they think they can.

  11. 11.

    efgoldman

    March 7, 2017 at 10:42 pm

    @kindness:

    The Republicans we have today should be ashamed of themselves.

    When they register with the party, they have a mandatory shame-ectomy; also an empathy-ectomy and a common-sense-ectomy.

  12. 12.

    amk

    March 7, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    @kindness: if murkkka ever again sets foot in another country preaching democracy, the peeps should bring out their rusty pitchforks.

  13. 13.

    randy khan

    March 7, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    Sessions is going to come back to that committee approximately never.

  14. 14.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    March 7, 2017 at 10:57 pm

    @randy khan: Since they approve his budget, he’ll be back.

  15. 15.

    Buskertype

    March 7, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    Idiots Out Walking Around

  16. 16.

    Villago Delenda Est

    March 7, 2017 at 11:04 pm

    @kindness: They are honorless curs. When they are finally cut down, no quarter should be shown. They deserve none.

  17. 17.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    March 7, 2017 at 11:16 pm

    “It was, from the standpoint — he didn’t know what you were asking about,” replied Grassley.

    Grassley’s defense defies belief…

    On the other hand, I suspect you could ask Sessions ‘What day of the week is it?’ or ‘And what did you have for breakfast?’ or ‘Did you or did you not have help tying your shoes this morning?’ and Jefferson might not be able to answer any of those either…

  18. 18.

    randy khan

    March 7, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    I bet the Republicans will accept a deputy so as to avoid awkward questions. So he’s probably safe until at least 2019.

  19. 19.

    stinger

    March 7, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    We HAVE the best people. We just don’t send them to Congress.

  20. 20.

    efgoldman

    March 7, 2017 at 11:34 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    They are honorless curs.

    What have you got against curs?

  21. 21.

    lumpkin

    March 8, 2017 at 12:55 am

    Jeepers, I thought Franken was a lot more articulate than that. I figured him to be part of the team of progressives who could effectively fight back against the gop.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • Hangö Kex on Late Night Open Thread: Same Bullsh*t, Different Decade (Apr 2, 2023 @ 4:43am)
  • Uncle Cosmo on Late Night Open Thread: Same Bullsh*t, Different Decade (Apr 2, 2023 @ 4:43am)
  • Brachiator on Late Night Open Thread: Same Bullsh*t, Different Decade (Apr 2, 2023 @ 4:36am)
  • TS on Late Night Open Thread: Same Bullsh*t, Different Decade (Apr 2, 2023 @ 4:28am)
  • Brachiator on Late Night Open Thread: Same Bullsh*t, Different Decade (Apr 2, 2023 @ 4:23am)

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Seattle Meetup coming up on April 4!

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
Classified Documents: A Primer
State & Local Elections Discussion

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice Events

5/14  The Apocalypse
5/20  Home Away from Home
5/29  We’re Back, Baby
7/21  Merging!

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!