Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

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

Hot air and ill-informed banter

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

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

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

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

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

White supremacy is terrorism.

You are here: Home / Right to Vote / Vote Like Your Country Depends On It / Fucking Vote

Fucking Vote

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Pelosi is a smart politician but this is dumb:

Appearing on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that “up until today, I would’ve said, ‘If the election were held today, we would win.’ What now I’m saying is, ‘We will win, we will win,'” Pelosi announced.

My reaction to this isn’t superstition, either: there are a lot of people for whom voting is a major chore, because the Republicans want it that way. If these prospective voters think the House is in the bag, they’re not going to take hours out of their day to trudge to a far-off polling place, stand in line, and be miserably cold and/or wet.

We will win IF EVERYONE VOTES. Jesus, it’s so simple, but even the best Democrats could fuck up a god damned ham sandwich.

Also, my voting plan was executed two weeks ago when I voted absentee because I’ll be out of town next week.

Reader Interactions

172Comments

  2. 2.

    JMG

    What’s she supposed to say? We might not win? That’s sure a way to drive people to the polls. Get out there and waste your vote. Have you ever, ever, ever heard a Republican say anything but “we will win” prior to an election?

  3. 3.

    foucault swing voter mistermix

    @JMG: What she should say is exactly what I put in the post. We will win if everyone votes, pivoting immediately to how people can find their polling place. Democrats would have a majority in Congress, the Senate and Hillary would be in the White House today if they would have voted. It is the one major political problem Democrats have. Republicans do not have this problem.

  7. 7.

    gvg

    You may be right but a lot of us are also tired of Democrats who cringe. Kay has posted a lot about people want someone who will stand up for them. It’s kind of hard to give an impression of being willing to fight when we were a minority and had no actual power, plus the average voter is still so clueless they say democrats should have done something or done “this” and it would have worked (it wouldn’t because minority party).
    Getting the house is just the first problem. These elected congresspeople are going to have to actually fight legislatively and win perception battles. That means their leader does need to have some confidence and not always telegraph caution.
    She has a lot more real political experience than I do and has accomplished some very difficult legislation. I am an armchair quarterback. I am not sure she is right this time, but I don’t think we want to encourage our fellows to be too afraid.

  8. 8.

    Platonailedit

    “even the best Democrats could fuck up a god damned ham sandwich.”

    What the fuck are you blabbering about?

  10. 10.

    Elizabelle

    Not gonna Pelosi bash. I love Nancy Smash.

    And do you know a lot of Democrats who are smug about winning? I sure don’t. They don’t seem to be found in nature, at least not in Virginia.

  11. 11.

    FlipYrWhig

    ZOMG NORTHAM IS BLOWING IT AND DESERVES TO LOSE! ESTABLISHMENT ESTABLISHMENT ESTABLISHMENT!

    No wait that was last year.

  12. 12.

    bystander

    Moanin’ Joe report that Claire McCaskill is going full blue dog. The whole charade in Missouri is pathetic. I don’t regret donating to her and if I lived in Missouri I would vote for her. But sheesh.

  15. 15.

    donnah

    I love that Colbert had her on the show. I love her confidence and I’m happy to see her speaking out for Democrats. If you’ve watched Colbert, you know that he despises Trump and his viewing audience probably is mostly like-minded. So it’s likely that viewers would be inspired to vote, and most of them are Democrats.

    The message to vote is out there loud and clear. I voted early and am making sure my mom votes. Act locally to get friends and family to the polls.

  16. 16.

    tobie

    This new attack on Pelosi has been circulating among BernieBros. No wonder Mister Mix posts it here. It’s meaningless. Evidently being hopeful for a change is a political sin of unfathomable proportions.

    A propos Pelosi hate: in my rural county, the local chapter of the Progressive Caucus endorsed this candidate for Congress who’s now running vile ads targeting Pelosi for rebuke.

    I’ve drafted a resolution for the Democratic Club meeting tonight which contains the demand:

    (2) requests that the “Colvin for Congress” campaign refrain from gratuitous attacks on Rep. Nancy Pelosi, whose accomplishments include the passing of the Affordable Care Act, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the minimum wage increase of 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among many other legislative acts, which together made the 110th and 111th Congresses under Nancy Pelosi’s leadership the most productive in recent memory;

    I’m so done with Pelosi hate. I won’t stand for it any longer.

  17. 17.

    PaulWartenberg

    The Democrats as a party are still playing by the rules of Civility as though that works as a counter to Republican thuggery.

    Problem is, that civility comes across as cluelessness or even worse SURRENDER to the GOP on issues that are life and death for the rest of us.

    They don’t get it – or they don’t want to admit it in public – that the game of politics is so partisan they may as well unleash their Inner LBJ and nuke the GOP rat bastards from orbit.

  18. 18.

    cope

    Dave Barry put it pretty well when he once explained the difference between Democrats and Republicans. I’m probably a bit off but he said, “If your car was broken down on the side of the road, the Republicans would just drive by on their way to the ugly golf pants contest at the country club. The Democrats, however, would stop to help you but end up burning down your car.”

  19. 19.

    Chyron HR

    Remember, if you sit at home masturbating on election day it’s not because YOU failed at basic citizenship, it’s because neoliberal establishment shitlibs argle bargle.

  20. 20.

    FlipYrWhig

    In terms of psychology, is there any reason to think “We will win” produces the reaction “Oh, good, that’s one fewer thing to worry about, I’m staying in bed that day” rather than “Yeah, damn right, let’s do this”?

  21. 21.

    SFAW

    @gvg:

    but I don’t think we want to encourage our fellows to be too afraid.

    I do.

    I want them to be afraid of what will happen if they don’t fucking vote, and vote as if their own lives, and the lives of people they love, depend on it. I love Nancy, but she should have done what mistermix and Smedley said.

    And as far as the “cringe” thing: saying “I wish you hadn’t said that, here’s what you shoulda said” is not cringing; it’s putting forth a way to recover from a (potentially) damaging statement.

  23. 23.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @bystander: I picked up my mail from my po box yesterday. it was FULL of campaign flyers from Repubs telling me how Claire is inviting HORDES OF DISEASED RIDDEN IMMIGRANTS TO MISSOURI!!!!! One after another after another after another. It’s all they’ve got. Hawley is a pretty weak candidate. He might still beat Claire, this is Misery after all and the trump stench is everywhere, but the desperation is unmistakable.

  24. 24.

    AlienRadio

    Hello Juicers, breaking news from across the pond, depending on how well you know the brexit clusterfuck and the primary actors involved, you may know who aaron banks is. the brexit campaign already had it’s hand slapped when a young tory was found to have illegally laundered a small sum of cash to fund micro targeting operations that put the brexit campaing outside spending limits. this leads back to Cambridge Analytica, and Bannon. However a significant amount of funding for UKIP (Nigel Farage’s goose stepping party) and Brexit came From Arron Banks. and because money laundering is everywhere in this clusterfuck, I’ve been pretty certain that Banks had been Laundering Money from outside sources. That now looks like it’s under investigation. I’m wondering how the timing might relate to the impending moves in the Mueller Investigation, because all this is linked, and I imagine there’s been some aspect of keeping their powder dry here.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/01/arron-banks-referred-to-agency-over-suspected-offences-in-brexit-campaign

  25. 25.

    Platonailedit

    @cope:

    So dems, who are actually responsible for whatever little things of comfort in your life, are the bumbling idiots? Fuck dave whoever fuck he is.

    @Chyron HR: Yup.

  26. 26.

    tobie

    @bystander: Some links would help. The most recent wailing and moaning and bitchin about McCaskill I’ve seen have all clearly been ratfvcking operations designed by GOP to split Dems. Brett Baier asked Claire McCaskill on FOX if she would call Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders crazy. She said she would NOT describe her colleagues that way even if she had differences with them. She reserved the term “crazy” for activists who badger people at restaurants. I don’t agree with her on this, but I could see why someone–and especially a candidate in a red state–would criticize this particular kind of exercise of free speech.

  28. 28.

    Chyron HR

    @cope:

    And nobody has their finger on the pulse of the modern Democratic party better than someone who’s career spanned from 1980 to 2005.

  29. 29.

    The Midnight Lurker

    Don’t just vote, grab a buddy, grab a neighbor, grab anybody who gives a shit about this great nation and drag them to the polls (politely w/ civility). Organize a car or van pool for voters who are shut in. Prod, needle, cajole — do what you have to, but get the vote out!

    Take the hill.

  30. 30.

    Elizabelle

    @cope:

    The Democrats, however, would stop to help you but end up burning down your car.”

    I like Dave Barry, but fuck that shit. I am not going to bash Democrats. Can we get a better mid-morning thread? Because this one is off the rails already.

    Burning down your car: Covering pre-existing conditions, ending rescission, Lily Ledbetter Act, protecting Social Security and Medicare, believing in science and the benefits of an excellent publicly-funded education, calling for protection of voting rights, respect and treating voters like adults.

    There’s a longer list, but I am tired of this tired and inaccurate trope.

  35. 35.

    FlipYrWhig

    @OzarkHillbilly: I’m somewhat near the border between Virginia and North Carolina. I heard a truly weird radio ad for a North Carolina Supreme Court candidate (although the ad seemed to have been paid for by a different Republican politician?) that was like a Mad Libs: George Soros, Social Justice Warriors, etc. I can’t imagine that it would make *any* sense to people who weren’t steeped in Fox/Alex Jones sewage.

  36. 36.

    Platonailedit

    Hey cole. A few days back, you mentioned about replacing some FP’ers. I vote for mm, who I consider a misogynist troll.

  37. 37.

    SFAW

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Claire is inviting HORDES OF DISEASED RIDDEN IMMIGRANTS TO MISSOURI!!!!!

    Shouldn’t that be “to the Gulf Coast shores of Missouri!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” ?

  38. 38.

    tobie

    @FlipYrWhig: I swear…self-identified TrueProgressive (TM) lefties have become little wind-up dolls that GOP operatives know how to play to perfection. It takes next to nothing to rile them up against the Democratic Party, the establishment, and figures like Pelosi, McCaskill, and Hillary, three prominent middle-aged women. D’ya think someone’s got mommy problems?

  39. 39.

    JMG

    Once again thread stops for me. Please ignore Alain. This computer is very buggy in other ways, too.

  40. 40.

    satby

    @Baud: INORITE?!
    Jeezus, have either Hillary or Pelosi ever said anything in a way approved by the progressive betters on our side?

    A potential blue wave is it’s own motivation, and people unhappy with the way things are going aren’t sitting out this election whatever Pelosi says.
    Worry about the very real voter suppression going on, not this.

  43. 43.

    foucault swing voter mistermix

    @tobie:

    This new attack on Pelosi has been circulating among BernieBros.

    If you read the linked piece, it was from Dan Savage, who was a supporter of “whoever wins the primary” but basically supported Hillary.

  48. 48.

    Brooklyn Dodger

    @tobie: Thank you for this. I feel like memorizing that list. It’s helpful but also reminds me how pervasive is the subtext that these “damn women just can’t get the job done right.” No matter how many times they do.

  50. 50.

    Gelfling 545

    On the other hand, many people who aren’t regular voters like to feel they’re voting for a winner and may come out for that alone. Which way appeals to more voters? I have no idea.

  51. 51.

    bookdragon

    Um, did you watch the interview?

    Because that quote is one of those snippets like Obama saying “they didn’t build that” taken out of context. I don’t know who decided to put it out there or why, but the interview ended with strong admonition to vote and reminders that winning only happens if people vote.

    Frankly, I felt like her “we will win” was meant to encourage – to counter the nay-saying ‘why bother to vote, the system is rigged so we’re going to lose anyway’ meme that keeps cropping up lately.

  52. 52.

    SFAW

    @tobie:

    Give it a rest with the misogyny BS. One can love Nancy and still wish she hadn’t said something that the squishes might use as rationale for not trekking the many meters to the polls. Not every non-Rethug is as committed to electing Dems as the commenters here, some of them need to be coddled, unfortunately.

  53. 53.

    Kraux Pas

    Oh no! Someone articulated something less than perfectly. Let’s all yell about how much we hate each other now.

  55. 55.

    TS (the original)

    @waratah: I would love Beto to win – simply to prove that being positive, telling the truth and not lying in attacks on your opponent, can be a winning campaign.

  56. 56.

    JMG

    I have given considerable sums to Democratic candidates this cycle, since through luck I have it to give. I’ve already voted. And I will confess I am tired of the fretting/nagging approach to Democratic party politics. A little “we got this” is refreshing to me. PS: I have worked on campaigns, and my son has worked on some very high level ones. I know politics is like 95 percent nagging. Just get tired of it sometimes.

  57. 57.

    SFAW

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Dave Barry made a joke folks, a fucking joke.

    Blech.

    or, maybe

    “It ain’t a fucking joke because he said something demeaning about a Democrat and why isn’t he telling people that the Rethugs are trying to destroy the country, without doing the Both Sides! stuff that Brooks and others and argle bargle and splunge and AIIEEEEE!!!!!!!!!”
    [And please read this part as if it were ALL CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

  58. 58.

    Ceci7

    Gratuitous Pelosi bashing noted. If (a big if) fickle voters who would otherwise stand in line in the rain for hours to cast their ballot instead sit this election out because a woman politician expressed optimism about her party’s chances, it’s not Pelosi I’ll be upset with.

  60. 60.

    FlipYrWhig

    @bookdragon:

    to counter the nay-saying ‘why bother to vote, the system is rigged so we’re going to lose anyway’ meme that keeps cropping up lately.

    Now what high-profile progressive politician would validate among his supporters a demoralizing claim like that? :/

  61. 61.

    satby

    @SFAW: if you review the thread, you’ll notice a lot of us self-identified female commenters picked up on the misogyny pretty quickly. I’m not accusing Mix of it, but unfortunately he’s influenced a great deal by people who are. And his posts tend to reflect that on occasion.

  62. 62.

    tobie

    @SFAW:

    misogyny BS.

    I must have imagined all of the attacks I saw on Christina Ford Blasey just a few weeks ago. Thank you for educating me. I’ll be sure to remind myself whenever I have doubts that SFAW does not think sexism is a pervasive problem in American culture. You’ve revealed yourself today.

  64. 64.

    Kay

    I don’t know mistermix- she’s just very good at her job. It’s hard to second guess her. She’s like an olde timey ward captain or something :)

    Maybe we’ve been wrong all these years and our base responds more to winning than they do to fear of losing.

  65. 65.

    zhena gogolia

    @Platonailedit:

    So dems, who are actually responsible for whatever little things of comfort in your life, are the bumbling idiots? Fuck dave whoever fuck he is.

    Right on.

  67. 67.

    Kay

    Just as a practical matter, I think the voters who will hear what she said or even be vaguely aware of it are the base of the base, and we were all voting anyway.

  68. 68.

    tobie

    @Brooklyn Dodger: Given your moniker, I’m assuming you remember the Bronx politician Bella Abzug. I really wonder how people would respond to such a forceful woman, unapologetic about her opinions, her background, her religion, her vision, her urban district, etc. It makes me sad to think that a ‘brash and ballsy’ woman like her would be raked over the coals today.

  69. 69.

    Kraux Pas

    @tobie:

    I’ll be sure to remind myself whenever I have doubts that SFAW does not think sexism is a pervasive problem is American culture.

    I don’t think that’s what SFAW meant. There’s nothing inherently misogynistic about disagreeing with something such and such female politician says. And I think we all saw in ’16 that complacency about the outcome of the vote is a big potential problem.

    That said, I do think mistermix’s outrage about the statement is overstated and misplaced.Can we just not turn every disagreement into a federal case? The feds have more important things to worry about.

  71. 71.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kay: She’s like an olde timey ward captain or something :)

    Yup, I always Nancy D’Alessandro is old school, in the best way. The fact that she does what she does without all the tools and tricks and machines and historical conditions (and frankly, corruption) that fabled barn-burner and open-door dumper LBJ had makes her all the more impressive

    Is Dave Barry still writing? I haven’t seen his name in years

  73. 73.

    hueyplong

    Dave Barry is about a relevant as a Whip Inflation Now (WIN) pin.

    Our party of choice is the one opposed to Nazis and in favor of doing things for the “lower” 99.9%. That’s a strong list of worthy fights and plenty good enough. I am glad Pelosi says that party is going to win, and if that single comment on a late night show keeps someone home who is that susceptible to that kind of influence after these two years, that person would have seen a GOP yard sign on the way to the polls and turned around anyway.

  74. 74.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Platonailedit: So DEMs are perfect in all ways? And the greatest sin in the world is to laugh at our foibles? You are one humorless fuck. I feel sorry for the people in your life.

  75. 75.

    kindness

    I love me some Nancy. You may say you think Nancy was gloating and it will make people vote against Democrats. I’m going to suggest those people weren’t going to be voting for Democrats to begin with so don’t pee your pants over them. Nancy said some really good stuff too. She said Democrats would lead an inclusive government including Republican input. That’ll sure piss those right wing pundits off now, won’t it? Nancy was wonderful. Don’t be scared of your own shadow.

  78. 78.

    tobie

    @Kraux Pas: Do look at my first comment (#16). It was all substance about Nancy Pelosi’s accomplishments. I didn’t mention gender once there. Gender came up when the thread went from recent attacks on Pelosi to recent attacks on McCaskill. There’s a pattern there. It’s insidious. Women of a certain age, who have labored in the trenches of American politics and at times have had to make compromises to get generally left-leaning legislation passed are attacked mercilessly by the right for their effectiveness and by the left for their lack of ideological purity. I’m seeing this now in my own registered district and have decided I will not abide it in any forum.

  79. 79.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @OzarkHillbilly: per Wiki, looks like he retired as a columnist in ’04

    On October 31, 2004, Barry announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence of at least a year from his weekly column in order to spend more time with his family. In December 2005, Barry said in an interview with Editor and Publisher that he would not resume his weekly column, although he would continue such features as his yearly gift guide, his year-in-review feature, and his blog, as well as an occasional article or column.

    still writing books, though

  80. 80.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Platonailedit: I can’t. trump’s not done yet. You are over the edge. You’re about to blow an aneurysm over a self deprecating joke that was made years/decades ago. Go smoke a doobie.

  81. 81.

    Betty Cracker

    Good God, the tone policing is getting out of hand around here. It’s a political (and pets, etc.) blog. We’re allowed to disagree with something a Democrat says. We’re allowed to be discouraged sometimes, less than cheery, etc. FFS.

  82. 82.

    Kraux Pas

    @tobie: Well, I can’t speak to why bystander brought up McCaskill out of the blue. I can empathize with the sentiment, though. Going after D activists doesn’t seem productive to me. Bystander still donated to her and doesn’t regret it. I still plan to spend my weekend texting voters for her because I think a lot of good can come of the effort.

    Still, can we stick to the arguments posed and not insinuate motives? Are we Republicans here?

    ETA: I blame the political commentary class more than McCaskill on this. I don’t know why the incivility of left activists is deemed of equal or more importance than the greater incivility; not to mention outright fraud. abuse of power, and grifting; endemic among Republican politicians.

  84. 84.

    satby

    @Betty Cracker:

    We’re allowed to disagree with something a Democrat says.

    of course we are. Some of us are just noting that those disagreements consistently tend to be with women of a certain age who are in fact quite successful. And the same disagreements never seen to come up with men who say the same thing. The pattern has been noticed.

  85. 85.

    cope

    @OzarkHillbilly: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Try to inject a little levity into our grim times and what do you get? For what it’s worth, I voted a week and a half ago (straight D and all our local D recommendations on 12 amendments as well as judge recalls), strongly supported Dems since the sixties and even drove from western Illinois to march in DC against the Vietnam Nam war in the early 70s. What was it Sgt. Hulka told Francis to do?

  86. 86.

    SFAW

    @tobie:

    Please try to resist the urge to be a moron. I think it was pretty obvious I was referring to Pelosi’s statement, not the very obvious, very real misogyny that pervades most of RW politics and much/most of the MSM.

    Being unhappy that Nancy Pelosi said what she said, because of the (not unjustified) fear/concern that some squishy Dem voters will take that as a sign that “it’s in the bag, so if it’s raining/snowing/whatever, I can stay warm at home” is not misogyny. Or are you unable to separate the words spoken from the Speaker? I certainly can (if the speaker is not a RWA). But it’s certainly telling that you choose to portray it as such. Thanks for revealing who you are.

    The bestest part about this thread is that people on the same side/team, who all support the same things — most especially a Dem House takeover, and maybe a blue Senate — are now at each other’s throats, all because of worries (unfounded or not) that an off-hand statement may depress some Dem votes. “Depress,” not “suppress.”

  90. 90.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @cope: People are on edge, understandably so. shrug I never take myself so seriously I can’t laugh at myself.

  92. 92.

    Kay

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    But, it is true that public speaking and statements are NOT a strength for her, which I think is why she’s in the right job. There’s something weird and stilted about the way she puts words together. Sometimes I read what she says and it’s all garbled, like in the wrong order. But that isn’t her “real” job- her real job is wrangling Democratic lawmakers.

  95. 95.

    Kay

    I just wish we could get our voters to vote the whole ballot. I have seen this. Our “sporadic” voters will come out if you nag them to death and beg them, but when they do come out they vote the top race and stop. I don’t get this. My God, you were almost to the finish line! FILL IN the fucking blanks and then TURN the ballot over because there’s stuff on the other side. I cannot believe they’re losing interest midway thru a 5 minute job.

  96. 96.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    in other news, as Florida shapes up to be a close election, trump caps off a week of offending Jews (and all decent people paying attention) by finally getting Castro-hating Cubans to understand that base Republicans don’t draw fine distinctions within ethnic groups

    Sam Stein Retweeted Al Cardenas
    The former head of CPAC, a diehard conservative, offers his thoughts

    Al Cardenas @ AlCardenasFL_DC
    You are a despicable divider; the worse social poison to afflict our country in decades. This ad, and your full approval of it, will condemn you and your bigoted legacy forever in the annals of America’s history books

    I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I’m pretty sure Cardenas has not been among the never-trumpers

  97. 97.

    Betty Cracker

    @satby: Fair enough. I don’t have the same view, but that’s a valid topic of discussion. My point is that while there’s nothing wrong with positive affirmations, if we restrict this place to that, it’ll be deadly boring.

  98. 98.

    Platonailedit

    @satby:

    “those disagreements consistently tend to be with women of a certain age who are in fact quite successful. And the same disagreements never seen to come up with men who say the same thing. ”

    Bingo.

  99. 99.

    hells littlest angel

    Jesus, it’s so simple, but even the best Democrats could fuck up a god damned ham sandwich.

    And a grand jury will indict a baked potato.

  100. 100.

    Immanentize

    It is now my considered and firm belief that anyone who wants to tell everybody what Nancy Pelosi should have said should either be an elected democrat on the national scene or that person should eat my shit for one year.

    That is all.

    @Elizabelle: I stand with you (actually I’m sitting at my desk, but you get the intent.)

  101. 101.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kay: There’s something weird and stilted about the way she puts words together.

    yeah, she is not good off-the-cuff, and often stumbles in interviews. She can give a good speech, and most importantly, and obviously, is very good at her actual job, away from cameras

  102. 102.

    Immanentize

    @satby: It is not disagreement that annoys me. Disagreement is good! It is the mansplaining from folks who have put nothing on the line for their explanations of what should have been said by women that drives me crazy.

  103. 103.

    Betty Cracker

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Wow, that is a switch! Cardenas opposed Trump in the primary but came around to voting for him in the general. He’s been critical sometimes but nothing like that. As an immigrant himself, I guess he’s finally woken up to the danger Trump’s racist, xenophobic demagoguery poses to his own precious self. Typical Republican.

  104. 104.

    Gelfling 545

    Taking the temperature of this thread it occurs to me that we jackals are currently not handling the stress well. This, too, shall pass.

  107. 107.

    Mnemosyne

    @bookdragon:

    Um, did you watch the interview?

    Because that quote is one of those snippets like Obama saying “they didn’t build that” taken out of context.

    It’s almost like Politico has a long history of writing stories using out-of-context quotes from Democrats to get people like Mistermix all wound up and angry at Democrats when they should be angry at Politico for making shit up.

    It sure would be nice if “progressives” would learn to tame their knee-jerk hatred of establishment Democrats that places like Politico are able to exploit over and over and over again.

    I know we’re all on edge, but Jesus fuck, STOP TAKING THE RIGHT WING’S BAIT WHEN THEY SPOON-FEED IT TO YOU, YOU FUCKING MORONS.

  108. 108.

    WaterGirl

    @Gelfling 545: Definitely not a happy morning thread.

    It’s reminding me of my dogs, who do not like it when they see something distressing happening on their street. On their street! They occasionally work themselves into such a lather that they turn and start snarling at each other.

    I have to remind them that they have lost the plot and their “enemy” is out there on the street.

  110. 110.

    O. Felix Culpa

    Haven’t read all the comments yet, but this is utter bullshit. Nancy Pelosi speaks confidently (and I’m sure she has seen internal polling to back it up) which helps rally the troops. As a county party officer and campaign volunteer, I can tell you that a little positivity goes a long way, a lot further than “we’re all gonna die ZOMG!” We’re all hyper aware of what happened in 2016 and locally we’re balancing the message of “things are looking good (yay)” and “let’s not get complacent.” We’re knocking on doors and phone banking every day all day through November 6. No one is staying home because Nancy said something on Colbert.

  111. 111.

    Kay

    @Betty Cracker:

    The truth is, too, it’s all conjecture anyway. I don’t really know what makes voters all stalwart and stoic and either, IMO, does anyone else.

    Maybe they want to be on the winning side so it won’t make them complacent it will instead make them all cocky, just strutting down to the polling place to collect their prize. People generally like aligning with other people so maybe they’ll respond to that – “everyone is doing this, I will too”.

    But, ultimately, I don’t think they even hear what Nancy Pelosi says, so it doesn’t matter. They don’t follow it that closely.

  112. 112.

    chopper

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    i dunno, it seems odd that, days before a huge election where we absolutely must elect as many democrats as possible because the country is on the line, this guy tanzes himself in going “check out this hilarious quote about how the democrats are worthless and fuck everything up!”

  113. 113.

    J R in WV

    @AlienRadio:

    the brexit campaign already had it’s hand slapped when a young tory was found to have illegally laundered a small sum of cash to fund micro targeting operations that put the brexit campaing outside spending limits.

    Yes, I can’t see why any of the major parties feels any need to stand by a vote obviously corrupt. There is no legal or political reason not to call a second vote, especially now that many see that leaving the EU will be on the terms of the EU, and not on the terms PM May wishes to impose from England, which needs good terms badly while the EU ought just wash its hands of the whole situation.

    Now that it looks as if many will stand trial for their part in the corruption led by Russian money and disinformation, how much more difficult will Britain’s exit become for PM May and the rest of her loony toons government? A fascinating exercise in government stubborness bound to lead to misery and woe!!

  114. 114.

    Elizabelle

    Look, you guys can talk about tone policing all you like. Have at it.

    But it would be minty to have a fresh thread. Putting up angstbait like this one … develops angst. I truly do not see the point. I don’t believe in happy talk all the time — it is boring, and it’s not us — but I don’t like the opportunity provided to talk about what a hot mess Democrats are either. That’s not necessarily factual.

    Cheryl’s got a thread up about Russian and Finland and waterways. That is not something I am focused on, but good on her and others who do. David’s got a thread up about signing up for healthcare in North Dakota. Again, good. Not gonna be following that thread much either.

    There is more to readership capture than setting us against each other like … well … vicious jackals.

    Speaking very locally, I think it’s highly interesting that Project Veritas embedded an “enthusiastic volunteer” in Abigail Spanberger’s campaign. She’s gone, gone.

    Our side (I speak of Democrats) does not do that kind of junk. We are decent. Another reason I am glad to be one.

    Oh wait. That’s happy talk.

  115. 115.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @chopper: Have you ever heard the phrase. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”? There is just as much truth to it today as there was when ever DB cracked the joke about DEMs and GOP. And it’s still just a joke.

  118. 118.

    J R in WV

    @Platonailedit:

    You all forget the great joke by Will Rogers, great cowboy comedian and progressive hero. “I’m a member of no organized political party! I’m a Democrat!!!” That’s how long those jokes have been around, longer than I’ve been a Democrat, and I’ve been a Democrat since I turned old enough to vote, 21 back then.

  119. 119.

    O. Felix Culpa

    I’ll also add that we’ve already exceeded 2014 levels of turnout locally and that appears to be true in many places throughout the country. And we’re not stopping or resting on our laurels. Perhaps some people’s outlook would be improved if they actually, you know, worked to help get out the vote.

  120. 120.

    Elizabelle

    @OzarkHillbilly: Just no blech. Would take some jamon iberico, though! (And yeah, I can’t tell the difference beyond: this is ham, not lamb.)

    @Omnes Omnibus: All the more reason to get outside and canvass or stuff canvassing packets or … just get off the internet. It is not your friend, when you want to maintain positivity.

  121. 121.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Omnes Omnibus: I find myself checking out early in the AM more and more these days, especially when I hear fever dreams of how the GOP are unstoppable because they will do anything to win and nobody will enforce the laws ad nauseum.

  122. 122.

    Matt McIrvin

    @OzarkHillbilly: Dave Barry was a 1980s moderate Republican with a typical pox-on-both-your-houses attitude: the Rs are a bunch of idiots and greedheads but Walter Mondale wil ruin everything with his earnest meddling. The attitude just seems old-fashioned to me.

  123. 123.

    hells littlest angel

    I think Pelosi’s simple positive statement is a nice counter to all the “OMG WE’RE GOING TO LOSE!!!” fundraising emails I get every single fucking day.

    Also, I just love Nancy Pelosi.

  124. 124.

    Elizabelle

    @Omnes Omnibus: Also, I think it makes a big difference if you’re in a blue state or a purple state, vs. a red state where a lot of your fellow West Virginians by Gawd or Hoosiers or Kentuckians are primed to pull the level because Republican identity, man.

  127. 127.

    Mnemosyne

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    OT, but commenter eclare is looking for a labor lawyer in WI, stat, if you happen to know anyone you can refer her to. I think Adam has her contact information if you email him.

  129. 129.

    geg6

    @tobie:

    This. If I hear any more Nancy SMASH! bashing, I’m going to go full Hulk on whoever it is. She is one of the greatest Democratic House leaders the party has ever had in its history. Fuck anyone who doesn’t want her running the House Dems. Most of the rest of them couldn’t whip a caucus if their lives depended on it, if they even know what a caucus is. And Bernie Fucking Sanders has never passed a fucking thing. The day I listen to Bernie or any of his stupid fan club is the day I need to stop all political activity and check to see if I have Altzheimers or a stroke or something. Because my brain would have to be irrevocably damaged to listen to him or them.

  133. 133.

    Kraux Pas

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I am commenting less here because of the “we are going to die” feeling that seems to prevail here right now.

    Well, it is an inevitability. I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about though.

  134. 134.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @tobie: Thank you for fighting the good fight. I hate it when our alleged allies join in on Republican attacks, especially against our competent women leaders.

  136. 136.

    AlienRadio

    @J R in WV: The outcome of brexit being reversed I think is already baked in, as is the cost that it’s had, we’re in the final jockeying stages to see who can get clear before the fallout. Labour have a brexit supporting contingent amongst their constituents, but Labour have no power at the moment other than to show that they are the next party of government, and they would prefer to have an out that would not alienate that base of voters. I’m sure the power players behind the scenes who don’t stand to benefit from Brexit (e.g. most of them) have already come to a broad agreement that The tories are toast, and are trying to organise what price they are willing to pay the next Labour government for getting them out of this.

  137. 137.

    Kay

    Today at 11:10 a.m. in every time zone in which the protest is taking place, employees at nearly two thirds of Google’s global offices are walking out of their offices. We, the seven core organizers of today’s Google Walkout, represent thousands of Google employees in our call to demand change.

    Google workers may not know it, but this is a labor action – the same one people have been doing for 500 years :)

    They need a ratty the rat- pronto.

  138. 138.

    geg6

    @SFAW:

    Give it a rest with the misogyny BS.

    Hmmm, guessing you have XY chromosomes. Because if you think misogyny is BS, you can’t possibly be a woman. And if you think it only comes from the GOP, you are blind, deaf and dumb.

  139. 139.

    tobie

    @geg6: I hear ya, and I’m getting pretty mad that it’s considered “tone-policing” to ask whether the relentless attacks on Pelosi may be about something other than whatever it is that she said that’s supposed to be so bad. With that…I’ll go back to working my ass off to see more qualified women elected and/or re-elected. Thanks for the support. And thank you O Felix Culpa for #134.

  140. 140.

    chopper

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    DB’s quote basically says that the dems have good intentions but are in actuality way worse. which to be fair fits his shtick.

    just seems odd for someone to post that there particular message here, innit?

  141. 141.

    Kay

    John Harwood
    ‏
    Verified account

    @JohnJHarwood
    22m22 minutes ago
    More
    Dem Sen Sherrod Brown of OH, dismissing GOP warnings of “socialism” as modern capitalism keeps expanding income inequality: “i don’t really care about labels. the laws of economics haven’t worked for much of this country”

    I think Sherrod Brown is running in 2020. I had heard it around but I didn’t believe it but I think this round of interviews is a tell.

  142. 142.

    Matt McIrvin

    The talk here lately has been relatively optimistic, since Cole cheered up. You want some high-octane doom talk, go to the LGM comments.

  144. 144.

    Kay

    @Matt McIrvin:

    I don’t think it’s so much “optimism” that is the thing- it’s that if you can’t criticize Democrats among Republicans and you can’t criticize Democrats among Democrats, either, then you can’t criticize Democrats. That’s the end result. Democrats bitch so much at meetings and things because they’re safe there- they can say things they can’t say outside of a group of people who agree with them. It’s not intended to be a campaign ad, not for general consumption. It’s a safe place where they can tell what they think is the truth. Mistermix is relying upon the fact that you know him and he’s not opposed to Pelosi or Democrats- it’s an inside-the-tent thing and, I think, necessary. Although I don’t agree with him on this one, as I said.

  145. 145.

    O. Felix Culpa

    I think a lot of the negativity is fueled by the PTSD from 2016 and its aftermath, so I have understanding and compassion for that. In my experience, the best antidote is getting together with other people and helping to GOTV… And not spending too much time in the presence of gloom.

  146. 146.

    feebog

    Dems have a lot of things they could bitch about five days out from the mid-terms. Nancy Pelosi expressing optimism on a late night show isn’t one of them.

  147. 147.

    Kent

    I know I’m late to the thread here. But how is it that Dem politicians with resumes of actual meaningful accomplishments like Clinton and Pelosi and Warren get constantly torn down but people get all weak in the knees about Sanders who has basically accomplished little to nothing in Congress in his decades there. What could it possibly be? What do they have in common?

    I expect Republicans to demonize effective Dem politicians and women. But it enrages me to see Dems follow their lead. Pelosi is a total badass, up there with RGB in my book. Is anyone in the GOP wringing hands about GOP statements of confidence? I thought not.

  148. 148.

    WaterGirl

    @Kay: I have always wanted Sherrod Brown to run but you have always shot down my hopes, saying he has no interest. Oh how I hope this is a change of heart on his part.

    I can easily see him as the right person as the right time in 2020.

  149. 149.

    Fair Economist

    @geg6:

    This. If I hear any more Nancy SMASH! bashing, I’m going to go full Hulk on whoever it is. She is one of the greatest Democratic House leaders the party has ever had in its history.

    Amen! She passed the most amazing set of legislation through the House in 2009-10. If the Senate hadn’t been f**ked up by the filibuster, we would have a much better country (card check, cap’n’trade, etc.). As it is, we got insurance for 30 million people and a road forward to get it for the rest so she still delivered a big win.

  150. 150.

    TerryC

    @Matt McIrvin: “Dave Barry was a 1980s moderate Republican with a typical pox-on-both-your-houses attitude: the Rs are a bunch of idiots and greedheads but Walter Mondale wil ruin everything with his earnest meddling. The attitude just seems old-fashioned to me.”

    Don’t know his politics, but I know he is right about one important thing: Mixing coloscopy prep drink with vodka changes the entire experience into a positive one. I’ve have now followed his advice on that four times and it turns an unpleasant experience into a rather fun evening.

  151. 151.

    SFAW

    @geg6:

    Because if you think misogyny is BS, you can’t possibly be a woman. And if you think it only comes from the GOP, you are blind, deaf and dumb.

    Once again, for the context-impaired: I was only talking about the Pelosi statement, the criticism of it, and how it was being portrayed as misogyny by bringing in Warren et al. It’s been pretty fucking obvious that there’s a ton of misogyny out there, as the Hillary-hate revealed. But not every criticism of a strong woman is only/just because she’s a strong woman, nor does it always factor in. Was every criticism of Barney Frank an instance of gay-bashing?

  153. 153.

    SFAW

    @TerryC:

    Don’t know his politics, but I know he is right about one important thing: Mixing coloscopy prep drink with vodka changes the entire experience into a positive one.

    Normally I’d say “Too much information.” But, surprisingly, I find this advice useful.

  156. 156.

    WaterGirl

    I just watched the incredibly racist video that was just put out by the Trump campaign. Holy fuck, it has to be seen to be believed.

    I want to send that to every member of my extended family who helped put Trump in office, along with a note that says “I hope you are proud of the racist piece of shit you put in office”.

  157. 157.

    Mnemosyne

    @SFAW:

    But not every criticism of a strong woman is only/just because she’s a strong woman, nor does it always factor in.

    When you find out that the quote was pulled out of context by Politico and turned into a “story” designed to freak out a specific subset of Democrats susceptible to such freakouts, unacknowledged/subconscious misogyny is looking like a pretty damned likely explanation.

  159. 159.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @FlipYrWhig: Bangalore! Our peeps hear “We’re gonna win,” they think, I wanna be part of this, let’s run up the score & run the mutter-Fokkers right outa the stadium!

  161. 161.

    Citizen Alan

    @TerryC:

    I will say this about Dave Barry — he wrote something in the 1980’s that perfectly encapsulated the political divide of that time. From memory:

    The Democrats are the people who, if you’re on the side of the road with a flat tire, will stop to help you, but there’s a good chance that in the process of changing you’re tire, they’ll set the car on fire. The Republicans, OTOH, are the people who know exactly how to get your car running again but who would never consider stopping to help you because it’s probably your own fault the tire blew out and anyway, they’re running late for Ugly Pants Night at the country club.

  162. 162.

    JoyceH

    Toby Ziegler would demand that Pelosi go outside, turn around three times and spit. “Do you want to bring down the wrath of whatever from high atop the thing?”

  164. 164.

    ruemara

    @cope: Then Dave Barry is pretty dumb on politics. Because republicans would drive over and mock you, Democrats would work to fix your car, even if it’s not the best fix, then the Republicans would burn your car.

    @Citizen Alan: He seriously doesn’t know Republicans, because they don’t know how to do anything but burn the car and mock.

  166. 166.

    SFAW

    @Mnemosyne:

    When you find out that the quote was pulled out of context by Politico and turned into a “story” designed to freak out a specific subset of Democrats susceptible to such freakouts, unacknowledged/subconscious misogyny is looking like a pretty damned likely explanation.

    Well, had I the time to go through every linked story and link-once-removed story, I probably would have come to a similar conclusion — regarding Politico. But the purported misogyny related to a comment criticizing Pelosi for (apparently) declaring victory before the votes are counted, something which has been done by Dems far too often — especially considering the levels of Rethuglican/Russian fuckery regarding vote and voter suppression and tampering.

    In other words: anything which gives the squishes the slightest excuse to “coast” is probably better left unsaid. [For me, I would much rather hear someone say the equivalent of “We need to beat these fuckers into submission, so you better make sure you vote on Tuesday, and you make sure all your friends do, too.”]

  167. 167.

    jl

    I’m not happy with many things Nancy Pelosi says, and particularly how, IMHO, ineptly she says them.
    But I think mistermix missed the mark there.
    Research shows there is a good combination of cautious optimism (you just gotta get out to vote so we win!) and the joy of crushing the opposition (get out and vote so you can join us in sweeping our enemies before us, and relishing the tears of their political operatives!).
    I don’t see a problem spending a little time building confidence so people feel like they will be on winning side when they express themselves voting.

  168. 168.

    chopper

    @ruemara:

    right. the car caught on fire because the republican came back and cut the fuel line in order to sabotage the democrat’s work out of spite.

  169. 169.

    JustRuss

    @Kay:

    My point is that while there’s nothing wrong with positive affirmations, if we restrict this place to that, it’ll be deadly boring.

    I agree.

    Me too! No more positive affirmations! Who’s with me?!

  171. 171.

    L85NJGT

    Right. She should be wringing her hands. If the internal polling and early voting targets put the House outside the margin of error, then so be it. Voter enthusiasm isn’t a problem this cycle. The GOP is circling the wagons around a handful of very red Senate seats. That there is still a punchers chance of flipping the Senate with that map says it all.

    I think the only ones pushing this narrative are those vested in the idea the party needs an external savior in the form of St Wilmer the Idiot to save it.

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