Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The current Supreme Court is a dangerous, rogue court.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

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

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

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

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

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

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

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

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

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

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

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

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

You are here: Home / Organizing & Resistance / Don't Agonize - Organize / More GOP Fvckery Open Thread: Mitch McConnell Makes A Move

More GOP Fvckery Open Thread: Mitch McConnell Makes A Move

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Per the Washington Post:

… The Senate will now recess for one week in August instead of four, said McConnell (R-Ky.). He made the announcement in a closed-door lunch with Republican senators, according to several people familiar with his comments who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

His decision has been widely anticipated in the Senate Republican Conference. Some GOP senators sent a letter to McConnell last month urging him to keep the chamber in session to vote on nominations and legislation, and Senate leaders have said the appetite to stay in town has grown in their ranks…

The additional workweeks in August mean that endangered Democratic senators on the ballot this year will face a dilemma: Stay in Washington and attend to Senate business during time they could otherwise use to campaign back home or remain in their states and face criticism that they are shirking their responsibilities in government.

The new schedule could also enable their Republican challengers — many of whom hail from the private sector or state government — to have the states to themselves during the late summer stretch…

Senate Republicans’s priority in the midterms is trying to keep control of the chamber. They hold a slim 51-to-49 advantage.

President Trump’s low approval ratings and the swirl of controversy around the White House have Republican strategists worried about the party’s standing headed toward the fall. With every House seat up, many Republicans have privately concluded their majority on one side of the Capitol may be all but gone.

A more favorable Senate map has given them greater confidence about holding on to the upper chamber of Congress…

Reader Interactions

216Comments

  1. 1.

    TenguPhule

    To spell it out: adding a couple weeks to the legislative calendar for 2018 suggests that he isn’t expecting to be in charge of it in 2019.

    So he plans to burn it all down and let the Democrats try and build from the ashes.

    Fuck the Turtle. Soup!

  2. 2.

    HumboldtBlue

    It’s going to be an interesting election night in California and a very interesting summer as well.

  3. 3.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    How many do they need for a quorum? What if Democrats just didn’t show up to make a quorum? Are there enough Democrats who don’t have any patience for this, “Well, yes, the Republicans are behaving badly, but we don’t want to do anything rash that might threaten the legendary comity of the Senate” shit to keep them from reaching a quorum?

  4. 4.

    dmsilev

    Is this really going to make much difference for Democratic incumbents? I mean, how much Senate campaigning is face to face events vs. teams of campaign workers, volunteers, and ads?

  5. 5.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    To spell it out further: he thinks the GOP is going to lose control of the Senate.

    Who knows? There are so many states– TN for them, MO for us, NV for them, WV for us– that I think are going to be won by razor thin margins. But we can make those fuckers fight every step of the way.

    I would hope Donnelly has a significant ad strategy built around the whole Carrier fraud, but again, what do I know?

  6. 6.

    Major Major Major Major

    To spell it out: adding a couple weeks to the legislative calendar for 2018 suggests that he isn’t expecting to be in charge of it in 2019.

    I’m not so sure. I read earlier that “Last year, McConnell proposed cutting two weeks of August recess, and the place freaked out. Democrats agreed to quickly move through dozens of nominations en bloc, and only one week of recess ended up being canceled.” Maybe he’s just expecting a repeat.

  8. 8.

    eclare

    @dmsilev: Probably depends on who is running as the Republican, if they now have a few weeks to spew vile BS in that state without a Democrat there to push back.

  9. 9.

    Luthe

    @dmsilev: I think it depends on the state. Californians wouldn’t expect DiFi to show up for anything less than a major rally in LA or something, but people in smaller states like Rhode Island or Wyoming probably have Senate candidates showing up at every VFW barbecue and small town parade.

    Also, those dollars aren’t going to raise themselves and big-ticket donors expect face-time at home if they are going to be parted from their money.

  10. 10.

    TenguPhule

    @dmsilev:

    Is this really going to make much difference for Democratic incumbents? I mean, how much Senate campaigning is face to face events vs. teams of campaign workers, volunteers, and ads?

    Hard to tell. Sometimes one town hall can make or break a campaign.

  12. 12.

    Kathleen

    @eclare:

    “they now have a few weeks to spew vile BS in that state without a Democrat there to push back.”

    Like Meet The Press on steroids.

  15. 15.

    Patricia Kayden

    I keep hearing from fellow liberals/progressives that Democrats won’t flip the Senate. In my opinion, given how awful Trump is, anything is possible. The ads by Virginia and Maryland Democratic candidates that I’ve been seeing have explicitly invoked Trump as a nemesis who must be defeated. Running against an extremely unpopular President makes sense to me — especially in purple states.

  16. 16.

    Brachiator

    This quiet move is interesting. From CNN

    Kelly Sadler, the White House communications aide who made a imprudent comment about Republican Sen. John McCain’s health, was quietly let go Tuesday nearly a month after making the insensitive remark.

    “Kelly Sadler is no longer employed within the Executive Office of the President,” wrote Raj Shah, the principal deputy press secretary, in an emailed statement.

    Trump is not totally immune from pressure.

  17. 17.

    Mandarama

    @eclare: Nashvillain here also doing everything I can for Phil. Hate MarshaMarshaMarsha! with heat of thousand suns.

  18. 18.

    FlyingToaster

    @Patricia Kayden: The problem is that statewide races in non-purple states are heavily tilted toward the incumbent party.

    Look at Massachusetts. Scotty Brown (Senator Centerfold) only won in a special election in January against a fairly unpopular Attorney General. As soon as a regular election rolled around, he lost. (Also in New Hampshire later, heh.)

    The Koch Bros have been taking out ads against Senator Warren for nearly a year. Which has not budged the needle one iota.

    What does work — and harks back to tea parties given by the Kennedys when he first ran for Senator — is serious local organizing. And that is where the work needs to be done right now, and every damn day from now on.

  19. 19.

    Platonailedit

    So, what happens if the dem senators find some collective backbone and say FU to mcturtle and go for campaigning anyway?

  20. 20.

    eemom

    @TenguPhule:

    Sometimes one town hall can make or break a campaign.

    One “macaca” by racist scumbag George Allen got Jim Webb elected in 2006.

  22. 22.

    JPL

    @Platonailedit: The republican would say that the democrat is not doing the important work of the country. Of course in the important work is destroying America as we know it.

  26. 26.

    dmsilev

    @Major Major Major Major: I’m still getting emails about “send us $$$ to help win the California primary!”. Like, how exactly are you going to spend that money in the next couple of hours in any way that would make any difference?

    Also, I don’t know how my phone number ended up with the local “vote no on pot shops” organization, but I’ll be very glad when they stop leaving voicemails.

  27. 27.

    jacy

    @Brachiator: nope. She got fired for talking smack about Mercedes Schlapp. She made a mean girl move and it failed. Had little to do with what she said about McCain.

  30. 30.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Platonailedit: So, what happens if the dem senators find some collective backbone and say FU to mcturtle and go for campaigning anyway?

    IANAParliamentarian, but my guess….

    @TenguPhule: 51 in the Senate. But they have a fucking special rule because of course they do.
    the Senate presumes that a quorum is present unless the contrary is shown by a roll call vote or quorum call.

    McConnell has fifty even without McCain, and the Dem who would have to stay behind to call for the roll call vote would get them a quorum with a huge majority. And that’s assuming that a presiding Pence doesn’t count for a quorum. If he does, they don’t even need that one Dem.

  32. 32.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Well, I was being a dick trying to tell people not to be such “debbie downers”, which included Kay, in the Sportsball thread. I got called out for it by them and others and I’m trying to make sincere amends.

  33. 33.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: He’s an insurgent. He recognizes no legitimacy but his own. When out of power he’ll do whatever is necessary using asymmetric, irregular, and/or unconventional means to achieve power. And once he achieves power he will do whatever he can to achieve his objectives in seizing power to consolidate his gains using any means necessary as he beliefs his actions are self justifying. And that the achievement of power justify his by any means necessary strategy. This is, by the way, the basic argument of the premier fascist theorist Sergio Panunzio, who delineate the fascist theories for the use of political violence and low intensity warfare. Before he crossed Mussolini who threw him into prison.

    I’ve always imagined he was stuck in the cell next to Gramsci and they tapped messages to each other through the adjoining wall. Because I’m a heartless romantic…//

  35. 35.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @Brachiator:

    “Kelly Sadler is no longer employed within the Executive Office of the President,” wrote Raj Shah, the principal deputy press secretary [. . .].

    That phrasing is so oddly specific that it makes me wonder if they found an out-of-the-way sinecure for her somewhere else in the administration.

  40. 40.

    PaulB

    I’m sorry, but the comment that McConnell doesn’t expect to be in charge next year is overly-optimistic crap. Democrats have more seats to protect, and more of them in states that Trump won, than Republicans. McConnell is just trying to make it harder for those Democrats protecting their seats to campaign. Nothing more.

  42. 42.

    Platonailedit

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Then it makes no sense for any of the dems (looking at you joe munchkin) to give the thugs any quorum, is there? Let the dems campaign on while we are here looking after your future, the rethugs are in DC (much hated word generally) destroying your future.

  48. 48.

    Elizabelle

    Good evening, peeps. Up for hanging out with you guys to see what California results come in tonight.

    What time (Eastern) are we likely to have results? Unless jungle primary has left too many animals to count quickly …

  49. 49.

    Adam L Silverman

    @HumboldtBlue: Just remember that a significant chunk of the Democratic votes are coming in absentee. So nobody freak if the vote in person numbers look low!

  51. 51.

    Elizabelle

    ETA: and whatever the results, we need to work on California to impose some meaningful standards for being on a ballot that will reduce a surplus of candidates running. Too much choice is too much.

    I am hoping all the whining about “Democrats on the ropes, we tell you!” is just to remind Republicans to get out and vote their little hearts out.

  53. 53.

    Bill Arnold

    @Aleta:

    They want to get every judicial appointment through that they can.

    This, and more generally, anything that the Senate can do on its own with a majority vote. (Mainly cabinet positions it appears, which would be secondary in priority to lifetime judicial appointments.)
    But also with the (surely intended!) side effect of differentially (more Democrats than Republicans) monkey-wrenching Senators’ re-election campaigning. It would be fun if a (real) memo (or recording) to that effect were leaked.

  54. 54.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.):
    https://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Rules_and_Procedure_vrd.htm

    Quorum

    Article I, section 5 of the Constitution requires that a quorum (51 senators) be present for the Senate to conduct business. Often, fewer than 51 senators are present on the floor, but the Senate presumes a quorum unless a roll call vote or quorum call suggests otherwise.

    Compulsory Attendance, June 25, 1798
    https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Compulsory_Attendance.htm

    Quorum Busting, October 1893
    https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Quorum_busting.htm

    Voting and Quorum Procedures in the Senate (pdf) (CRS)
    http://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/577d2a5e-2b47-4045-95fa-a76398e41461.pdf

    Technically, if McCain is out for cancer treatment, this only leaves McConnell with 50. Whether Schumer has a way to manipulate the rules to make the Senate inquorate and whether the Parliamentarian would allow it, and, even if the Parliamentarian allowed it McConnell would accept it verse ignoring it is another matter. My read on McConnell is he would just ignore it. Please see my comment # 33 for why.

  62. 62.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Major Major Major Major: Those were largely for political appointments at the cabinet and sub-cabinet level, not judges. Those didn’t really start cranking up till closer to December. Schumer has leverage to wrong foot McConnell, just as McConnell wrong footed Reid. The question is will he?

  64. 64.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: All Schumer or any Dem has to do is constantly call for quorum counts. That’ll completely bollocks things up right quick.

  66. 66.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    I don’t mind bad news being reported and discussed but the WASF reactions from the same characters day-in, day-out, every day does get on my nerves a little bit, I have to admit.

  70. 70.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Platonailedit:
    And Connor Lamb in a red district in PA. Nothing’s guaranteed but the political atmosphere is leaning in our favor this year. Just gotta keep fighting.

  71. 71.

    Adam L Silverman

    @lgerard: Bingo! Please see Ann Laurie on the mezzanine between the concession stand and guest relations to claim your prize!

  72. 72.

    Gvg

    @PaulB: the republican’s only have 51. The trends are leaning democratic. I don’t think it’s unlikely we can net 2 more. Unfortunately we can’t pick up enough to reach 67 and impeach because there are only 1/3 of the senate up each election, so people are kind of down about that.
    If we take the majority though we can prevent anymore really terrible legislation and do real investigations. Also protect Mueller better.
    I have optimistic moments when I hope investigations cause arrest and convictions of a few more republican’s and special elections continue to go democrat. I really think some of them are crooks. Illegal campaign money seems likely to me, pretty much since Citizens United. IMO it’s been inevitable since that stupid descission.

  73. 73.

    Mnemosyne

    @Elizabelle:

    Our polls don’t close until 8 pm Pacific time so, honestly, East Coasters may be better off going to bed early and checking for any results in the morning.

    @Adam L Silverman:

    My spouse contributed to the problem by dropping off his mail-in ballot today.

  74. 74.

    geg6

    @zhena gogolia:

    He didn’t do anything. He got testy over all the damn Eeyores around here moaning about how we are all screwed and nothing will ever get better ever again. FWIW, I agree.

    ETA: To be clear, I agree with Goku.

  75. 75.

    Elizabelle

    @debbie: Thanks for the heads up. WRT Kay: (1) love her and (2) she’s in Ohio, which has got to be demoralizing. I love her dispatches on what the GOP Powers that be there really think of Trump and current events.

    Hey, you’re in the Buckeye state too, no?

    My parents were born Hoosiers. Thank them, thank them, thank them again for getting out of there before us kids came along.

  76. 76.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @zhena gogolia:
    What debbie at 65 said. I like to keep friendly relations with all non-trolls around here. I don’t like hard feelings. Gotta keep my membership in good-standing.

  78. 78.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Steeplejack (tablet): They may have stashed her someplace out of the way on someone else’s comms staff. Or they’ve sent her to work for the reelection team like they did with Porter and some other misfit toys.

  82. 82.

    geg6

    @Elizabelle:

    I find I still read BJ as much as ever, but I don’t comment as much. Feeling too testy myself and I want to maintain good relations here for when this storm passes.

  83. 83.

    Elizabelle

    @Baud: I definitely look in on the non-Eeyore stuff, and like the folks here, for the most part.

    But: do I want to hear how screwed we are, first thing in the morning? And microfocus on Republican bad deeds? Eh, maybe not. We have to live our lives, and find joy within them.

  86. 86.

    Bobby Thomson

    Jesus Fucking Christ thousands of Democrats off the voting rolls in LA County due to a “printing error?” This is a home game.

  87. 87.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    the most important reporter in DC today

    Tim Furlong @ tfurlong
    Not exactly sure who these @Eagles “fans” are but I have counted exactly one item of clothing with an eagles logo on it at the White House
    I’ve asked 6 of the “fans” at the White House who was the @Eagles quarterback during the super bowl. Not ONE person knew. @ NBCPhiladelphia

  88. 88.

    Elizabelle

    @geg6: I have become a skimmer. Got to say, appreciate the intelligence here; learn a lot. It’s just that I don’t want to obsess over the idiocy and ugliness. Got to be careful not to give in to despair or demotivation.

  91. 91.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie: I get that impression too. But Schumer, like Leahy and DiFi and a number of the other older, more senior Dems are institutionalists, which makes it hard for them to do what McConnell has done. I’m not counting him out, but he has a lot of socialized behavior to overcome.

  93. 93.

    trollhattan

    @Adam L Silverman:
    There’s been a big CA push towards an all-mail ballot since ’16 and several countries, mine included, went there with this election. No idea whether it impacts the time required for certification, which is capped constitutionally.

  95. 95.

    Corner Stone

    It’s always enjoyable to watch what actually happened on a thread get BJ-washed. It’s like CW BJ style sets in and that becomes the narrative.

  96. 96.

    Elizabelle

    @Baud: Well, that’s good. And you certainly are a huge part of readership capture here. I would have fled ages ago without you keeping it light and funny, but it worries me when you despair about the press and its hatchet jobs.

    Did not read MoDo’s column (never do) WRT Obama over the weekend re “maybe I was too early.” Would I be pleasantly surprised?

    I think a huge problem is that the press was not ready, it was too early for them. They’re cynical jackasses who are wired for Republicans. They could not see the goodness and decency in Obama, and the utter rot he was up against.

    I would like them to leave the scene ASAP.

    I would like to flee to Europe.

  97. 97.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Nick Timiraos @ NickTimiraos
    Mnuchin didn’t attend this year’s briefing on the future solvency of Social Security and Medicare but did attend the White House event an hour later that was supposed to have been the Eagles visit.

    I wonder if he knows the difference between a Wentz and a Foles?

  98. 98.

    cthulhu

    @Elizabelle:

    ETA: and whatever the results, we need to work on California to impose some meaningful standards for being on a ballot that will reduce a surplus of candidates running. Too much choice is too much.

    Well, this is supposed to be what a political party does but we have some factional issues with the CA Democratic Party at the moment. And though I haven’t heard of any specific instances this time, it behooves the GOP to possibly fund extra Dem candidates on the DL.

  99. 99.

    Baud

    @Elizabelle: I dont worry about the press. They are who they have shown themselves to be. But I think we’ll forget that if we don’t remind ourselves of it. I do get upset that so many on our side continue to let the media drive our conversation.

  100. 100.

    debbie

    @Elizabelle:

    I am, and congrats on the escape!

    I read Kay differently from others. She uses sarcasm, snideness, smart aleckiness, and whatever else she needs to contend with what Trump and the GOP are doing to us all. And believe me, the Ohio GOP is hell on earth.

    Personally, I prefer bitterness and bile. But never think for one moment that she’s given up or given in. That woman is a fighter. If she needs her current tone to endure, then I am happy to get out of her way and let her proceed.

  102. 102.

    Lee

    I’m actually ok with this. Sen. Ted ‘Zodiac Killer’ Cruz might stay in DC and his opponent is a house member so he can campaign all day every day.

    I’m pretty sure the Republicans can’t afford to lose a single vote so he has to stay if they actually want to pass any legislation.

  103. 103.

    frosty

    @Elizabelle: Not weaning myself, but I was camping in a state park with no cell service last weekend, which eliminated obsessive refresh to see if there’s anything new. When I got home and read the post headlines the news was just awful. I may have to do it again.

  105. 105.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Corner Stone:
    You know what else is always enjoyable to watch? To be ignored by someone when you try to do a mea culpa.

  106. 106.

    jl

    @Baud:

    ” I want an apology. ”
    I apologize. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. So, you can cross me off the list, you little snot nosed punk.

    Edit: and if Baud 2020! wants to use that in the campaign, I want a royalty. Deranged attacks on Baud 2020! don’t grow on trees.

  107. 107.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I had a long conversation with our county registrar today and she said the one thing she and her staff have to prepare for is the new same-day registering and voting angle. While I was at elections at least six people were at a voting booth filling out a ballot (including one acquaintance who gave me a hug) and there were six others in line awaiting a same-day ballot.

    The early returns we will see tonight will be the absentee and mail-ins that were received and the final count, as always, will take a day or two, even for a low population county like Humboldt.

    Oddly, one issue rural counties have to deal with is how to get votes cast in very rural areas (there are at least three small towns that are 60-plus miles away from the county seat) to the registrars office. The Sheriff’s office uses deputies to transport the machines and ballots and local police departments are involved as well.

    I have said it many times here, Democrats on the national level need to make mail-in voting a key plank of the platform. In 2014 Oregon — all mail-in ballots — got more than 70% participation and that’s a regular occurrence, while in California I don’t think we broke 40%. The easier we make it to vote the more people who cast a ballot and the more people who cast a ballot the better it is for Democrats.

  108. 108.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Platonailedit:
    You know what’s really sad? Is that he had to have WH employees fill in for the Philly fans who didn’t show up.

  109. 109.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    All Schumer or any Dem has to do is constantly call for quorum counts. That’ll completely bollocks things up right quick.

    I seem to recall they have a work around for that in the rules or procedures.

  113. 113.

    jl

    I ordered a Chinese cookbook, and suddenly, BJ ads think I speak Chinese. Coincidence?
    I blame Baud 2020! and I want an apology.

    Edit: this is crazy. BJ ads only speak to me in Chinese. I guess it is more tolerable if I don’t understand them So, never mind. Alain doesn’t need to fix it.

  114. 114.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @jl:
    But now you have to apologize to Baud for calling them a snot-nosed punk. Infinite apologetic regress.

  115. 115.

    TenguPhule

    @debbie:

    You don’t think Schumer will stand up to McConnell? I think he’s aching for a real fight.

    Must be awfully well hidden then.

  118. 118.

    RobertDSC-Mac Mini

    I hate the Eagles for beating my Pats in the Super Bowl, but the way this thing went down with Benedict Donald is shitty to the extreme.

  120. 120.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Huh, early times, but it looks like Martha Roby (R-AL) might be in trouble in her primary, because she didn’t stand by their Gilded Heifer after the Access Hollywood tape. All I know about her is she’s the one who asked HRC if she spent the night alone during BENGHAZI!

  123. 123.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @Baud: Oh no argument from me. I’m sure that bugged the hell out of him and will for awhile; he still can’t accept the fact that less people voted for him.

  124. 124.

    jl

    I have to go. I’m going to work on the Blame Baud grassroots movement. Please sign up for the mass demonstrations of outraged citizens near you.

    @? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?: It’s an important plank in the Baud 2020! platform. Take it up with the low energy dumdum over there.

  126. 126.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    By an Urdu cookbook next time.

    And thus Baud lost the pedant vote in 2020 with an unforced error. Future historians would later note that this was the beginning of the end of the American Dream.

  127. 127.

    Jager

    @Luthe: Ted Kennedy once said, “you need to have a chair with your name on it in every parish in Massachusetts”.

  128. 128.

    TenguPhule

    @debbie:

    He hasn’t had an opportunity like this until now.

    I’m sorry but the dry ammunition meme didn’t fly the last time it came up either.

  129. 129.

    Ruckus

    @Elizabelle:
    I take a break every so often.
    If it starts getting acrimonious I find it easy to bail and find something else to do. Getting lost down the YTube rabbit hole can be a fun way, watching movies, etc.

  131. 131.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    He’s an insurgent. He recognizes no legitimacy but his own. When out of power he’ll do whatever is necessary using asymmetric, irregular, and/or unconventional means to achieve power. And once he achieves power he will do whatever he can to achieve his objectives in seizing power to consolidate his gains using any means necessary as he beliefs his actions are self justifying. And that the achievement of power justify his by any means necessary strategy.

    Donald, Paul or Mitch?

  132. 132.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?

    @debbie:

    Personally, I prefer bitterness and bile. But never think for one moment that she’s given up or given in. That woman is a fighter. If she needs her current tone to endure, then I am happy to get out of her way and let her proceed.

    I agree. I also happen to live in Ohio but I live in a (nominally) Democratic area. Notice I didn’t say liberal. I know its pretty bad here. My public school district had to put an emergency levy on the ballot since the state still hasn’t fixed our public school funding formula 15 years after the OSC ruled it unconstitutional. I’m hoping that Cordray will be able to win this November and redistricting reform will help towards flipping the statehouse.

  133. 133.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Baud: You’ll get nothing and like it. If we are turning Goku into a vicious jackal, we are doing the Devil’s work and should be proud.

  135. 135.

    Fair Economist

    @Adam L Silverman: The point of causing quorum trouble isn’t so much to block legislation as to cause delays because it’s hard keeping 50 old people constantly available. If one Senator has a dentist appointment and another has a child graduating, oops, there goes two hours. McConnell can do only so much with midnight votes because so many of his caucus are old – they can’t work to midnight every day.

  137. 137.

    eemom

    Oh ffs.

    Apology accepted, @? ?? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ? ?: Thanks. You are a nice young man.

    And I wasn’t actually even talking about you. I totally get the anti-Eeyore thing, as some put it, but to me at least Kay has never come across that way. There’s a difference between a general attitude of useless, whiny ass gloom and genuine horror at what’s going on. Debbie not-downer nails it about Kay:

    But never think for one moment that she’s given up or given in. That woman is a fighter. If she needs her current tone to endure, then I am happy to get out of her way and let her proceed.

    Now, to return to last night, the individual in question is a long time commenter who’s taken a sudden and bizarre turn toward assholedom in the last year or so, and I objected to seeing him turn his schtick on Kay, notwithstanding that he has some weird stalkeresque hatred for me personally.

    eta: Speak of the devil

  138. 138.

    Fair Economist

    @Baud:

    NSC Contractor Arrested at White House on Attempted Murder Warrant

    Only the best people.

  140. 140.

    Bobby Thomson

    @debbie:

    He hasn’t had an opportunity like this until now.

    Que? Doug Jones was sworn in on January 3.

  143. 143.

    zhena gogolia

    @debbie:

    Oh. I’ve kept my mouth shut about that, because everyone is dealing with this disaster in their own way, but I have to admit I’ve started scrolling past her comments. Which makes me sad.

  144. 144.

    Elizabelle

    @Ruckus: I just watched the first season of Bosch on Amazon prime, and really enjoyed it. Love Michael Connelly’s books, and it was fun to see how they incorporated some (but not all) of the plots and how they handled the lead character (who is no longer a Viet Nam vet — he’s now Desert Storm and post 9/11). Thought the actor who played the villain, Reynard, was superb.

    Interesting treatment of the Deputy Chief Irving character. He is now African American and way less of a dick (they gave that task to Captain Pounds). Connelly had described Irving as looking like Mr. Clean. He still does. For this century. Not the last.

  146. 146.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Richard M. Nixon @ dick_nixon
    Bob Menendez is that fellow who Tony Soprano has in a private room in Atlantic City. The scene ends with a girl coming over, Menendez stammering as Tony claps him on the back.

    I’m torn between hoping Menendez’s challenger pulls off a surprise upset, and not wanting Glenn Greenwald to get to gloat. Not really.

    McCormick down about 20 with almost half the vote in

  148. 148.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Elizabelle: I still read, but I comment less than I once did because I am more likely to lose my temper here than I once was. I don’t blame anyone for have moments of doubt and fear, but people who post little but negative thoughts wear me down. And then people talk about a pantless Baud and i throw in my mouth a bit.

  150. 150.

    Gretchen

    Kansas City blogger Blue Girl says McCaskill shouldn’t be worried. Her opponent Josh Hadley doesn’t appear to want the job very badly. He has done 6 events in 10 weeks, which is a light Saturday for Claire.

  152. 152.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Gretchen: I’m not always Claire McC’s biggest fan in the Senate, going back to when she bragged about shrinking the Stimulus package, but it can be a lot of fun to watch her campaign.

  153. 153.

    oldgold

    I believe Mitch is going to go down as a scoundrel and worse when the political history of this era is written. That expressed, the bastard understands timing and time.

  154. 154.

    J R in WV

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    @Platonailedit:
    You know what’s really sad? Is that he had to have WH employees fill in for the Philly fans who didn’t show up

    No, no!! That’s not sad, that’s hilarious!! Think about it!!!!

  157. 157.

    mad citizen

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: “I would hope Donnelly has a significant ad strategy built around the whole Carrier fraud, but again, what do I know?”

    I really doubt it. Only one I’ve seen is him driving a bus talking about I don’t work for either party, I work for the people of Indiana. Fuck it, Donnelly. Be a Democrat, you will win. Stop trying to appeal to the idiots, racists and rest of the republicans.

  158. 158.

    cain

    The difference between Trump and McConnell is that McConnell is when it comes to moving like a bitch, it’s against the nation. Dick.

  159. 159.

    Adam L Silverman

    @trollhattan: My understanding is you all have till 3 days after the election to turn in your absentee ballots. So that could, and I would expect should, delay things a bit.

  161. 161.

    SFAW

    @Mnemosyne:

    My spouse contributed to the problem by dropping off his mail-in ballot today.

    So you’re saying he sent it by G mail?

    I’ll show myself out.

  163. 163.

    sdhays

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I find it hard to criticize McCaskill generally (as opposed to disagreeing with her on this or that). She tends to maintain her moderate brand without tearing the rest of the party down while proving stubbornly difficult for Republicans to unseat in a state that is hostile to both Democrats and women in general. I really don’t think we could ask for better from Missouri.

  164. 164.

    cain

    @Adam L Silverman:

    @debbie: I get that impression too. But Schumer, like Leahy and DiFi and a number of the other older, more senior Dems are institutionalists, which makes it hard for them to do what McConnell has done. I’m not counting him out, but he has a lot of socialized behavior to overcome.

    Can we throw Obama into the Senate? God, why do we have such policy nerds as Dems? I mean that’s what they all are. You’re right that we need a Harry Reid (or someone even more aggressive) The republicans are playing a completely different game and hte Democrats are shell shocked that it isn’t the 80s anymore. We seriously need new blood who understands that it is now a blood sport and then bring these old timers in as policy wonks.

  165. 165.

    Bobby Thomson

    @debbie: then I understand your comment even less. That opportunity has been there ever since Schumer became majority leader. FFS, McConnell stole a Supreme Court seat.

    Schumer blows goats.

  166. 166.

    Jeffro

    @EBT:

    Modest 24 point flip for the Dems tonight!

    Wow.

    Y’all know…anti-Trumpov Rs refusing to publicly claim/support their party or turnout would explain both the high level of Trumpov support among still-Republican voters AND the big percentage swings towards the Ds.

    I think something’s happening out there, despite the Both Sides Gang’s best efforts to not report on it.

  167. 167.

    frosty fred

    @Adam L Silverman: Not exactly. They need to be postmarked election day or before, and then received within three days.

    ETA: within three days after election day.

  169. 169.

    Adam L Silverman

    @HumboldtBlue:

    I have said it many times here, Democrats on the national level need to make mail-in voting a key plank of the platform. In 2014 Oregon — all mail-in ballots — got more than 70% participation and that’s a regular occurrence, while in California I don’t think we broke 40%. The easier we make it to vote the more people who cast a ballot and the more people who cast a ballot the better it is for Democrats.

    100% agreement here.

  170. 170.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: They do. And then there’s a work around for the work around. This stuff can get very, very arcane. Unless your a Senate procedure junkie it is hard to keep track of.

  172. 172.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Elizabelle: we just finished season 1 of Bosch a couple of hours ago. Was very well done, but not lighthearted fare for those who need a break from…well, I guess we aren’t talking about that anymore!

  173. 173.

    Bobby Thomson

    @Jeffro: I really hope we aren’t being punked by Russian hackers, but it’s increasingly difficult to interpret actual election results any other way but that Republicans are getting loser stench on them.

  176. 176.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: I was speaking specifically of McConnell. The President is basically an organized crime boss. Ryan is basically a weasel. And I know that’s insulting to weasels.

  180. 180.

    J R in WV

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I think I’ve calmed down a little bit. I don’t curse people like I once did.

    I’m still full of vitriol about Trump, but the rest of us, those fighting him, we’re OK. Except for the Trolls, of course, but M^4 & cleek and their marvelous pie filter is great for that.

  181. 181.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Fair Economist:

    because it’s hard keeping 50 old people constantly available.

    Just the need for Hatch and Grassley to change their depends every hour or so will slow things down to a crawl!

    Also, EWWWW!

  182. 182.

    Adam L Silverman

    @EBT: Here you go:

  183. 183.

    Adam L Silverman

    @sdhays: And when you need her to hold the line, like she did when getting all up in Hatch’s face over the health insurance stuff, she’s reliable, tough, and doesn’t back down.

  184. 184.

    Adam L Silverman

    @cain: The newer blood is doing it’s thing. Harris and Duckworth and Gillebrand (despite the haters here) and Booker. And Tester and McCaskill on certain issues. And Warner and Merkley and several others too.

  190. 190.

    Yutsano

    @Gretchen: Is it just me or do I see only losing Donnelly but every other red state Dem wins? And the Republicans lose Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, and even one in Mississippi?

    EDIT: and Arizona and Colorado as well.

  192. 192.

    Sab

    @Adam L Silverman: I don’t agree about mail in ballots. Okay as an option but shouldn’t be the only option.

    In my misspent youth I was a baby lawyer. I did some divorce law in a conservative county. You would not believe what controlling assh*les some spouses are.

    Mail-in only ballots means that spouse gets two votes, or the other spouse gets a beating.

  195. 195.

    Geoduck

    Along with everything already discussed, having no recess also means that Trump can’t can Sessions and plug in a stop-gap replacement-toady who kills the Mueller investigation. McConnell of course doesn’t care about finding the truth or preserving the Republic, but again, that would be a massive setback in terms of keeping the GOP in power in Congress.

  197. 197.

    Kay

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    You know, Omnes, I was polite to you when I read your comment this morning and responded, but I regret that. I really had no idea how much trouble my comments were causing you. You’ve been incredibly rude to me twice now, which surprises me, because I;ve maybe had 5 interactions with you over 5 years. You can relax. I won’t comment anymore. That way you won;t have to find my comments, read them, and then say nasty things about me behind my back.

  200. 200.

    debbie

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Happy now?

    I don’t know why people just can’t skip complaining about others’ posts. You don’t like a post, you just skip it; if you really don’t like it, you either stop reading a person’s posts or you pie them. Why make a point of slamming someone ? What’s the point of being rude?

    ETA: Not to pick on you, if that even matters, but there are plenty of others doing the same thing, even more often. Just lay off each other already.

  202. 202.

    Kay

    @debbie:

    It’s fine. I don’t have to comment here. It’s not a big deal. I responded tonight because I regretted treating him decently when he was so fucking rude the first time. Correction- the second time. As I said, surprised me, because I have never been rude to him.

    That won’t happen again. Well, you’ll have to email me or something if it does because obviously I won’t know- but still :)

  205. 205.

    eemom

    @Kay:

    Kay, please don’t leave us. You know how the mob mentality works here. Nobody with any sense agrees with the Psycho of Madison City.

  206. 206.

    Fair Economist

    @Adam L Silverman: McCaskill does have a good sense about when she can go off the reservation and when she needs to toe the party line or sometimes even push it.

  207. 207.

    Platonailedit

    @Kay: Please don’t let the resident permanent assholes run you away. Your posts are too valuable and realistic to miss here.

  209. 209.

    Aimai

    @Kay: don’t let anyone run you off. Certainly not the bitch and moan contingent who will never do one tenth the actual political work you do.

  212. 212.

    Tenar Arha

    @Brachiator: FYI I think this was the end result of the power struggle between the two in the comms shop we heard about. IIRC Mercedes Schlapp called Kelly Sadler a “bitch” after those leaks meetings. Trump Aides Brutally Turn on Each Other in War on Leaks

    An Administration that leaks right from the top. A man who encourages his aides to fight. Who could have guessed that has casualties? /sarcasm

  213. 213.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Kay: I apologize for carrying my comments from one thread to another the other night. I should not have done that. That being said, my opinions of your opinions should not matter that much. It, however, is apparent that our ways of coping clash. I don’t want you to stop commenting here, so I will make an effort be more diplomatic in my interactions. I join everyone else in entreating you not to stop commenting.

  214. 214.

    schrodingers_cat

    @Kay: Please stay. I have railed against people who predict doom for Ds no matter what, but I don’t count you as one of those commenters. I appreciate the window to T voters that you provide, even if I don’t agree with you all the time. I also love the little stories you tell, you are a great story teller. In fact I would say don’t just comment, resume posting on the FP. You were one of my most favorite FPers.

  215. 215.

    Yarrow

    @Kay: Kay, please stay. Your insight and experience are invaluable. I really appreciate your stories of the nuts and bolts of how our democracy works. Your insight into how things are working is invaluable. I’ve learned a lot from your comments. Please reconsider. You can always ignore comments and commenters you don’t like and/or use the pie filter if necessary.

    We really appreciate you and value your observations. Please reconsider and continue commenting.

  216. 216.

    JDM

    “Also… “The Democrats are awful because they are preventing us from taking a month off work” is probably not an argument sympathetic to most Americans.”

    Hey, GOP. If you want to use that argument you’re going to have to move to France. :)

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