.
Surprise! — his lawyers / enablers are less confident…
I too am “willing” to do the things that someone can easily and legally compel me to do https://t.co/9CuSV3Sjeq
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) January 24, 2018
WH statement on Trump’s comments tonight about speaking under oath to Mueller: “While Mr. Trump was speaking hurriedly before departing for Davos, he remains committed to continued complete cooperation with the OSC and is looking forward to speaking with Mr. Mueller.” – Ty Cobb
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 25, 2018
He’ll use the same excuse he used to not release his tax returns
— lvdjgarcia (@lvdjgarcia) January 24, 2018
Trump can probably survive perjury but his team of idiots can’t survive him deciding to tell the truth, thus putting *them* in the perjury trap
— Kilgore Trout (@KT_So_It_Goes) January 24, 2018
When your lawyer has to retract what you said ABOUT testifying, imagine how much fun it’s gonna be when Trump is ACTUALLY testifying. https://t.co/RIf6nmZQRm
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) January 25, 2018
We all remember how Crooked Hillary testified under oath and on television for nine hours, but we know you can do that for twice as long! @POTUS @realDonaldTrump #MAGA https://t.co/Xsj76L0FNr
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) January 25, 2018
Mueller subpoenas Bannon,
Nunes produces spin memo;Mueller interviews Sessions,
Johnson claims secret society in FBI;Mueller calls in the President,
then what does GOP do…— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 24, 2018
Trump ally: Mueller interview may be a 'perjury trap' https://t.co/jZIL2L6ywl
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 24, 2018
Kicker — count on the NYTimes Trump-fluffers to find the bright side:
More to come from Trump impromptu presser w reporters, where he complained at end that we only say Clinton was a “bad candidate. You never say I was a good candidate.”
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 24, 2018
ThresherK
FTFNYH. The H is for Haberman.
Baud
If Trump were a good candidate, he wouldn’t have needed the NYT’s help.
Quinerly
The whole impromptu presser is well worth a listen.
rikyrah
Good Morning Everyone ???
rikyrah
@Quinerly:
Morning to Poco and the tribe ??
Baud
@rikyrah: Good morning.
Quinerly
WSJ reporting John Kerry considering a 2020 run.
Baud
@Quinerly: I respect Kerry, but that would be a poor decision.
Chyron HR
What, “I can’t testify while I’m under investigation”?
Baud
Off topic, I’m impressed with the unity and message discipline that corporations have shown in selling the tax cut they received.
Baud
@Chyron HR:
“I can’t testify because I’m guilty.”
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
@Quinerly: running for the presidency – of which country?
Quinerly
@Baud: Would be an insane decision. In related news, Poco is awake….and basking in the glow of his BJ “photo spread.” He’s pretty full of himself this AM and it might take more than that cheese bribe to his PACK to keep him from running for the top of the ticket.
Quinerly
@rikyrah: Good morning from Poco and his campaign manager! Poco is digging his BJ “On the Road” press.
Poco/Baud2020?
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Drumpf said he said he was only “fighting back” against the charges of collusion when he fired Comey.
I’m sure Mueller will appreciate that.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: I’ve noticed that as well, “Makes it easier for us to fire our employees”.
@Baud: Agree, I don’t see him getting much traction.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch:
Wait, I thought the Republicans said “collusion” was A-OK? Now, I’m confused.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
/fixed
danielx
@rikyrah:
Good morning to you.
danielx
A bottomless pit of need.
Baud
Kay, for you.
http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/gov-unions-bargaining-common-good.html?AMP
Cermet
Morning everyone but really surprised that no BJ posters bothered to note, using a thread, that Ursula K. Le Guin passed, yesterday. I guess musicians are special people (also, apparently male) but someone who really addressed issues that woman faced in our society and was also a brilliant and successful writer isn’t important enough to get their interest here. She always noted how writers of SF or fantasy are always ignored for so-called ‘more serious’ writers. Guess it holds true here, as well.
Feebog
Being on the left coast I am never awake to comment on the early morning thread. But the knee is killing me tonight so I’m watching a little Morning Joe, hoping it will put me to sleep. So good morning everyone, and hopefully goodnight.
ThresherK
@danielx: Which one? Or both Trump.and Haberman?
Chet
To say you welcome an investigation and will “of course” testify under oath if necessary is standard politician stuff.
But we know Trump’s next move. He will pivot from this to the same statement with the qualifier “…as long as I’m sure that I’ll be treated fairly.” Then it will be back to calling it a witch hunt. When he’s eventually subpoenaed, he’ll complain about how mean it was since he was willing to testify all along.
TS
Morning Ho still trying to equate President Obama to trump – he just HAS to attack Obama and Clinton – will still be doing this long after trump is gone from the planet
Baud
@TS: If we’re lucky, in 2021, he’ll move on to attacking the next Dem president.
p.a.
The Party of Goldwater paraphrases itself: stupidity in defense of electoral victory is no vice.
danielx
Maybe I’ve missed it, but has Trump discussed the Stormy Daniels…thing publicly in any way?
Gretchen
@Cermet: it was all over bh yesterday.
Immanentize
@Cermet: many many people here wrote amazing paeans to that great novelist. Long heartfelt, well thought through comments. Some were moving and described how Ms. La Guin impacted their lives. Others got nerdy and discussed great themes that resonate today. I am sorry you missed all that.
And to add, my absolute least favorite genre of comment are scolding, “front page what I want!” Start your own blog for such purposes — it’s easy to do! And you can follow your personal interests without having to be all offended.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: …and Obama and Clinton.
kd bart
Maggie has to maintain that access. Her book depends on it.
clay
@kd bart: The title of her book should be “Access: The Inside Story of How One Reporter Got and Maintaned Access”.
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Yes, so many people to hate, so little time.
danielx
The idea has merit….
debbie
@Baud:
Have any of them shown any inclination to pass the benefits onto their employees?
Gvg
@Cermet: you are late and haven’t bothered to read the threads. It was in almost every thread yesterday.
debbie
JFC, I just heard an NPR interview with Senator Ron Johnson. What a loon, but his refusal to answer questions and instead babble on without end was ridiculous. NPR needs to make their interviewees sign a non-interruption agreement. Nothing was gained in that conversation.
Baud
@debbie: Yes. That’s how they are selling it.
debbie
@Baud:
Any actual changes yet, or is it still all just talk? I’m not sure it will ever get past talk.
Baud
@debbie: I don’t know if they’ve implemented it yet, but it’ll be hard to walk back announced raises and benefits.
Booger
@Cermet: look again.
Bobby Thomson
@Baud: bring on as many old white guys as possible to split that vote.
Bobby Thomson
@Baud: there is a PR firm working behind the scenes, possibly even with an NDA. Book it.
MomSense
It certainly is interesting to see how twitchy these Republicans are about the Russia investigation. From the extent of their feeakout, I’m thinking the Mueller reveal is going to be yuuge..
debbie
@Baud:
Oh, Baud! You give them far too much credit! ;)
rikyrah
@TS:
Dolt45 isn’t remotely on the same planet, let alone level as 44.
Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady)
Irony is dead.
Lapassionara
@debbie: My impression is that they have passed benefits onto employees by laying them off. More free time for former employees, less expense for company. Win win.
Now where is that sarcasm font?
Good morning, all
mai naem mobile
@debbie: I’ve seen Ron Johnson in a few hearings and he truly does not come across as the sharpest knife in the drawer. How WisConsin picked this moron over Feingold is a nmystery. One of the hearings was questioning HRC.
rikyrah
One of the panelist on MSNBC last night made the observation that yesterday was the first time that Dolt45 said ‘ No obstruction’. He’s been lying about ‘No collusion’ for awhile. Good catch by her.
Baud
@Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady): Wait till he finds out that’s not a real country.
Matt McIrvin
Can the President really be compelled to testify? Suppose he just keeps saying no, is somebody going to arrest him?
Peale
@Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady): thousands of positions left unfilled, but that one? At least he landed somewhere where he pretty much will be left to a staff two.
mai naem mobile
@MomSense: whatever our fantasies are about the Russia stuff, I think it’s in total going to be ten times bigger. Nobody works this hard to hide stuff if it isn’t really really awful.
WereBear
At this point I simply assume Republican = Criminal Mind
debbie
@mai naem mobile:
Yeah, he was deflecting a lot onto Clinton during the interview.
Matt McIrvin
@debbie: They give out bonuses or little pay hikes, or hire a few employees, and tout to the heavens that this was because of Trump’s wonderful tax reform. Pay no attention to the mass layoffs behind the curtain.
mai naem mobile
@Peale: do we even have am ambassador to Afghanistan yet? We don’t have one to Saudi Arabia. I don’t even think we have one for all the big European countries.
ThresherK
@clay: Mags should title it
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Matt McIrvin:
Yes, US v. Nixon.
mai naem mobile
@Matt McIrvin: I think that was resolved when they want after Bill Clinton .
zhena gogolia
@Immanentize:
There was no thread for Dorothy Malone either, but I don’t have a blog.
bystander
I was just watching Mitch Landrieu on Moanin’ Joe, and the thought struck me, could he be a good candidate for POTUS? Then, Joe starts talking about what an “attractive” candidate Landrieu is. Which really made me worry since I generally want to be more than arm’s length from any Scarborough Rule.
But is Landrieu possible? Some secret New Orleans pervasive corruption that taints everyone?
Baud
@bystander: Everyone except Hillary is going to be a candidate on the Dem side.
Mike in DC
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
And Jones v Clinton. Though Trump could fight a subpoena and maybe buy himself a year before SCOTUS rules against him.
bystander
@zhena gogolia: That would be quite a short thread.
I’m just sorry Dorothy didn’t live long enough to see a Poopeez ad.
bystander
@Baud: You were so right to claim your own field. Now work on that faint, indeterminate Southern accent.
Matt McIrvin
@mai naem mobile: Sure, they can compel him legally, but I’m wondering about this in the “power comes from the barrel of a gun” sense. Nobody actually had to arrest Bill Clinton. Is a US Marshal, say, going to be physically able to walk past the Secret Service and Trump Org bodyguards or whatever and put the President in handcuffs?
Nelle
@Peale: On the other hand, we in Kansas will be rid of him though really, for the last few months, he’s just been going through the motions. Now Kobach is itching to take his place and an independent, with the possibility of splitting the Democratic vote, just entered the race, giving Kobach a better chance.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mike in DC: I would think US v. Nixon would be more on point. Jones v. Clinton was a private civil suit and weren’t they just asking to be able to sue Clinton?
tobie
@Quinerly: @Baud: I know I’m in the minority here but I’d be very excited if Kerry would run. He’s brilliant, articulate, a solid liberal, and he’s the only politician I can think of who could repair our reputation abroad.
Baud
@bystander:
As the only leading candidate who thinks Hillary supporters are a constituency worth pursuing, I think I’ve got a good shot.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
@Matt McIrvin: he can be forced to appear in front of a grand jury via a subpoena. But once there, he does have the right to refuse to answer questions on the grounds that they may incriminate him (5th Amendment).
Chyron HR
@Baud:
Yes, but all but one of the prospective candidates will be denounced as the “Clinton wing of the party.”
One thing I wonder/fear: What happens if the junior senator from Vermont doesn’t run, and two Our Revolutionaries step up, both claiming to have inherited his divine will? Will the alleged left refuse to vote if EITHER of them doesn’t win the primary?
Baud
@tobie: He’s a solid guy, but I don’t see him as a compelling campaigner, especially now at his age and with his history.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Matt McIrvin: The Secret Service will obey any lawful court order.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
As many of you know, I’m currently in line to be Ambassador to Merry Christmas.
Baud
@Chyron HR: My nightmare scenario is that there are so many candidates that no one comes close to a majority and You Know Who is the top delegate winner with about 25%.
But very unlikely.
Baud
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: When I’m elected, would you be willing to serve as Ambassador to Happy Holidays.
Lurking Canadian
What is a “perjury trap”? Is that when the prosecutor asks a question he already knows the answer to, expecting the witness to lie?
Seems like an easy trap to avoid by the simple expedient of not lying after you’ve made a solemn vow to NOT LIE.
Of course, it’s Trump. The man has never kept a promise in his life; probably no reason to expect him to start now
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: It will be OK to say “Happy Holidays” again in the Baud adminsitration?
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Not only will it be ok to say, you’ll actually mean it.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: You have to win a majority(not a plurality) of the delegates.
tobie
@Baud: Well, you and he would definitely be competing for the same constituency! I don’t know if you’ve seen him in the past few years–I had the good fortune to see him a few years ago at the Paris climate summit and was struck at how energetic he was. I expected him to be statesmanlike and he didn’t disappoint.
debbie
@Matt McIrvin:
I know where I work, they’re crowing about the bonuses they had announced they were handing out back in December.
debbie
@zhena gogolia:
There can only be so many threads in a day. Not that any of them stick to the topic.
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Right. If no one had it in the first round, there would be multiple rounds of voting, which would not end well.
oldgold
Mueller’s perjury trap: “Mr. President, How tall are you and how much do you weigh?”
?BillinGlendaleCA
@debbie: All threads are open threads, that’s an unwritten rule here at Balloon Juice.
Baud
@oldgold: Ha!
Starfish
I feel like this reaction on a Haberman thread was perfect and underappreciated.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@tobie: Sec. Kerry would be 76 on election day and 77 upon taking the oath if he won. Isn’t that a tad bit old?
Bobby Thomson
@Matt McIrvin: also, too: “Mr. Marshall has his ruling. Now let him enforce it.” and “How many divisions does the Pope have?”
Peale
@?BillinGlendaleCA: yes. Oprah at 67 is looking youthful by comparison.
Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady)
@tobie: He’s old enough to be dead. Old white people need to get out of the way, and I say that as an old white person.
Immanentize
@tobie:
John Kerry will be 76 before 2020. He is 2 1/2 years older than Donald Trump.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Immanentize: At least he’s not a Boomer.
Eric S.
@debbie: My company, owners of several midwest utility companies are in the process of changing our rates so the money stays with our customers. I have no delusion this is being done for altruistic reasons. We are regulated monopolies with a guaranteed but called ROI.
bystander
@Lurking Canadian: It’s only a perjury trap when twitler provides the answers. When it’s posed to a profligate about his private affair with a consenting adult after the investigation into financial impropriety proved fruitless, it’s truthseeking.
tobie
@?BillinGlendaleCA: @Immanentize: I hadn’t looked up his actual age. In person he seems at least ten years younger than Biden and Sanders so I assumed he was junior to them.
@Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady): This is harsh. I’d love to have a dynamic, smart and experienced person of color and/or woman run for office but I don’t see anyone who fits that bill. Gillibrand strikes me as milquetoast and is a weathervane when it comes to her positions; Kamala Harris has potential but she’s not ready yet; she freezes during TV interviews and at the rallies I’ve heard her, she’s an uninspiring speaker; Booker feels a bit like someone trying to be Obama’s second coming. Can you think of someone? Honest question, I’m not trolling.
satby
You know, it’s so nice to be somewhere where Drumpf doesn’t dominate the news, and even if he did I wouldn’t understand it. Right now waiting another 90+ minutes before my plane to Bangkok takes off. Been a long 24 hours so far.
Chris
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
As with climate change, it’s multilayered:
1) Trump did not collude.
2) Trump may have colluded, but that’s not actually illegal, at least not the way he did it.
3) Trump may have colluded in ways that were actually illegal, but it’s okay because it was doing it to save the republic from Hillary Clinton.
4) Trump colluding illegally may not have been okay even if he was doing it to save the republic from Hillary Clinton, but HILLARY’S EMAILZ!!! so both sides do it and shut up that’s why.
Matt McIrvin
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: That’s a good point–taking the Fifth is probably what would keep this from turning into an armed standoff, if Trump thinks testimony would incriminate him.
More likely he’ll just blab everything because he has no self-control.
MattF
@Cermet: I’ve never noticed any great interest in SF/F here.
Immanentize
@?BillinGlendaleCA: point well taken!
Immanentize
@satby: I am eager to hear about your trip as I want to take my son somewhere mind blowing this summer.
Another Scott
@Chris: Even easier.
“I said dozens of times that there **is** no collusion! That’s true. Collusion has no legal sanction. There **was** and **is** a **conspiracy** with Putin, **money laundering**, **admitted on national television (Lester Holt) obstruction of justice**, **violation of the Emoluments Clause**, and a host of other things that I’ve done that are illegal and impeachment-worthy. But, right now, there **is no collusion**. Suck it libtards.” – Donnie.
:-/
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
@satby: Thanks for the report! Have a great time and be safe!
Cheers,
Scott.
sdhays
@danielx: Not after Trump gets his cut.
rikyrah
1) QUICK THREAD on Mueller Probe
The news that Rick Gates is cuttin’ a deal with Mueller is sendin’ shock-waves through the Trump admin today. Gates should have valuable evidence against Trump directly and will possibly flip Manafort in the bargain.https://t.co/7WI8ba5GTB
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) January 24, 2018
4) The reason is simple. Mueller is movin’ on Obstruction first because it is the quick kill-shot that knocks Trump off his throne and gets him out of office. Once Trump is a regular citizen, he’s more vulnerable to prosecution in other venues such as NY for his other crimes.
— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) January 24, 2018
Immanentize
@Another Scott: in class Tuesday, we were discussing conspiracy charges and I told them that no one is allowed to ever use the word “collusion” in the class because it has no normative meaning. “Criminal conspiracy” has really well defined meaning(s).
rikyrah
@satby:
Hey satby!!
Safe travels :)
rikyrah
@Nelle:
is it a REAL Independent, or just a disgruntled GOPer?
debbie
@?BillinGlendaleCA: @?BillinGlendaleCA:
Right, so I don’t get this complaint.
sdhays
@mai naem mobile: Sure we do. His name is Jared Kushner.
debbie
@Eric S.:
Good PR, but a big FU to their employees.
satby
@Immanentize: Hopefully, pictures soonish, though BillinCA need not worry I’ll give him any competition.
Another Scott
@tobie: It’s still very early.
Obama could write great speaches, but his delivery wasn’t perfect by any means and he got better over time. Kamala and the rest can as well.
I think we have time to let the process play out. We’ll have plenty of candidates to choose from and I don’t think we need to short-circuit it. Who knows, maybe MO’M and Terry Mac will run, also too.
All politicians that have held office for a significant period of time have baggage. What matters is how they overcome it.
Cheers,
Scott.
coin operated
There’s a part of me that soooo wants to see the Trump interview conducted by a POC and a woman tag team and taped for the record. You can already see the right wing going full racist when they find out who did the questioning…
debbie
@satby:
You are so lucky!
satby
@rikyrah: thanks! So far the scariest part was taking 294 to the airport during the freezing rain.
satby
@Another Scott: thanks!
@debbie: indeed I am. A last gift from my mom.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@satby: Sounds like you may have better subject matter than I do outside my cave. I worry.
tobie
@Another Scott: I agree there’s time, and right now there are so many more important issues to focus on like trying to preserve what remains of the social safety net than thinking about 2020. I’m just struck at how at odds I am with the current mood. I dislike populism, don’t believe in common sense or the wisdom of the common man, and really wished I lived in an age and a country where expertise was valued.
kd bart
@David Merry Christmas Koch: I’m holding out for Pledge Representative to the Social Committee.
Jeffro
@Quinerly: @Baud: @David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch:
ahem…
FRESH FACES, PLEASE DEMS! KTHXBAI !!
…that is all.
Jeffro
On another, more on-topic note (for once!) the prospect of Trumpov agreeing to, then ducking, then trying to set conditions, then trying to add “BUT HILAAAARY!” bullshit*, then being subpoenaed, and so on…every single time, it’s going to raise yet more questions and look less & less like the actions of an innocent man and look more & more like EVEN MORE OBSTRUCTION.
Please proceed, Republicans.
*We’ve already seen a bit of this from Trumpov’s impromptu comments: “Did Hillary testify under oath? Did she? Didshedidshedidshedidshe???” Never mind that…yes, asshole, she did. It’s going to be almost funny the eleventy gazillion ways the RWNJs try to argue “well, that didn’t count…” Almost.
Kay
It’s tough for the snowflakes when their free speech leads to other people exercising free speech and objecting to the fact that a far Right misogynist is running their publicly-funded schools, and chose to conceal his views from the public, who pay him. Oh, the “public shaming”! It’s tough when the public find out what you think. That should be concealed from them, so they can continue to pay him.
People in DC shouldn’t be allowed to know that a school board member thinks feminists should be raped. That’s important because if they knew that they would FIRE him, which is why he concealed it. But you should feel bad for him.
Kay
Just to give you an idea how far Right Manning’s buddies are, this county went 70% for Trump.
If we had a person on the school board who said feminists should be raped that person would have to resign or they would be removed. It’s generally unacceptable for school board members to advocate for violent crimes against women, because schools are 50% GIRLS. That he’s on a DC school board is so far from “representative” of the people who use those schools it’s ludicrous. He knew that. That’s why he hid it from them.
The Wikileaks crowd should be cheering. All their bullshit about “transparency”? It applies to them too.
tobie
@Kay: Oh the irony. Yet another anti-government hoodlum who lives on the public dime.
Bruce K
Often enough an attorney’s worst enemy is not the judge, or the opposing attorney, but his/her own client. I’ve seen it in my own workplace, and I would not be surprised at all if attorneys who have represented the cheeto have that opinion about their client.
Librarian
I believe that the lesson to be drawn from yesterday is that when Trump bullshits with reporters in an impromptu presser, nothing he says should be taken seriously.
Kay
@tobie:
I love that it’s in DC, too. Blue, blue, blue and also something like 80% AA in the public schools.
I guess this is what Manning meant by “infiltrating”. Misrepresent or actively hide your views in order to trick the public into hiring you, then whine when you’re caught. So unfair! Why can’t a secret rape supporter serve on a school board? What happened to his rights, huh? It’s like this is Soviet Russia or something.
Frankensteinbeck
@coin operated:
It’s quite possible Mueller will have Trump interviewed by a woman. Beyond random chance, Mueller is supposed to be canny and experienced. He surely knows that a hardcore Misogynist like Trump will automatically talk over any woman questioning him, wildly increasing the chance of self-incrimination.
Amaranthine RBG
Haberman was doing accurate reporting. It’s what journalism is
There are supposed to be words in newspapers that are not breathless editorials condemning Trump
Grow up people
SgrAstar
@Quinerly: Poco is one handsome chap! He looks like a perfect companion- fun, loyal, steadfast. Love your pics, Quinerly.
MattF
@Frankensteinbeck: Yes– but… walking through the door of an interview room will wildly increase the likelihood of self-incrimination. And I’m fairly sure he knows it. He may do it anyhow. We shall see.
Feebog
@tobie:
Regarding #102, there are plenty of potential candidates out there. Jay Inslee, Gov. of Washington, Chris Murphy, CN, Bill DiBlaiso, NY, Eric Garcetti, CA, Tammy Duckworth, IL. I personally want to see a younger person get the nomination. Time for a new generation of leadership.
Stan
@Matt McIrvin:
Oh please, New York city police department, don’t let us down again……..
J R in WV
@Cermet:
There was a pretty through discussion in threads. Sorry you didn’t bother to read them. How do you feel about pie?
Ruckus
@debbie:
Pass benefits to their employees.
Surly you jest.
Matt McIrvin
@Ruckus: Several have done so, in this sort of tokenistic way, but it’s pretty obvious what they’re doing.
MisterForkbeard
@Feebog: There are some good choices out there. I think Kamala Harris has the potential to make it work and overcome her deficiencies in the next couple years, and Gillibrand strikes me as the right sort of balance between principled and calculating – and she has good stage presence.
There are a lot of other good candidates too. Jay Inslee might be a good candidate, as might Chris Murphy. Booker will do well if he can stay away from the Financial sector.
No One You Know
@Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady): I disagree. Experience is a dear teacher…in the old sense of “dear.”
I maintain that a risk to democracy itself and possible Constitutional crisis thanks to decades of Republican ratfucking isn’t a time for loudly inexperienced hopefuls to burnish their resumes.
Elizabeth of England, when asked how she felt in 1602, muttered something my rusty Latin recalls as “Mortua, et non sepultura.”
If you want to be dead and not yet buried, well, you be you. I’ll be damned if I pass on a qualified candidate grooming a younger second just because “younger is better.” Wasn’t there a law against that, once?
No One You Know
@No One You Know: ETA: I’m still pissed over the anti-Pelosi and anti-Hillary lists from The Hill last year. I don’t agree that old women should shut up just because younger women…to say nothing of young men…find them “inconvenient.”