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

Before Header

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

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

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

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

“But what about the lurkers?”

Second rate reporter says what?

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

T R E 4 5 O N

Peak wingnut was a lie.

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

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

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

In my day, never was longer.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

John Fetterman: Too Manly for Pennsylvania.  Paid for by the Oz for Senator campaign.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Infrastructure week. at last.

The words do not have to be perfect.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

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

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

The next time the wall wtreet journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Thursday Morning Open Thread: Jabba the Barr

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Jabba the Barr

by Anne Laurie|  May 23, 20194:57 am| 188 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republican Venality, Russiagate, All Too Normal

FacebookTweetEmail

(Nick Anderson via GoComics.com)
.

Adam Schiff called William Barr a "personal attorney" for President Donald Trump and said the attorney general should resignhttps://t.co/VpJY0DBVov

— POLITICO (@politico) May 22, 2019

… “I think Bill Barr has all the duplicity of Rudy Giuliani without all the good looks and general likability of Rudy Guliani,” Schiff said during the Center for American Progress 2019 Ideas Conference Wednesday. “The most dangerous thing, I think, that Bill Barr has done is basically say that a president under investigation can make the investigation go away if he thinks its unfair which, by the way, means the other 14 investigations firmed up through other offices he can also make go away.”

Earlier Wednesday, the House Intelligence Committee postponed a vote to potentially hold Barr in contempt of Congress, following his refusal to testify before the committee last week. Schiff, who chairs that committee, said in a statement explaining the postponement that the “Department of Justice has accepted our offer of a first step towards compliance with our subpoena, and this week will begin turning over to the Committee twelve categories of counterintelligence and foreign intelligence materials as part of an initial rolling production.”…

Schiff's deal marked one of the very few times the Trump administration has conceded to House Democrats https://t.co/mJ6dtPXzpb

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) May 23, 2019

It is one thing for Barr to have an expansive view of executive power; it’s another for him to say out loud that he took the job as AG because he felt it was under attack. https://t.co/njxOaC18CB

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) May 21, 2019

It’s not illegal if you do it out in the open theory being tested constantly now. https://t.co/dnSVxhtAZj

— Schooley (@Rschooley) May 23, 2019

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Election 2020 Open Thread: ‘The Cheesecake Factory Candidate’
Next Post: On the Road and In Your Backyard »

Reader Interactions

188Comments

  1. 1.

    Joey Maloney

    May 23, 2019 at 5:00 am

    Twitter believes the picture of Bill Barr eating at Trump’s corruption factory is “sensitive” and hid it from me. I assume he’s got marinara sauce all down his chin and lapels or something?

  2. 2.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 5:26 am

    @Joey Maloney

    The table d’hôte? Beluga caviar, borscht, beef Stroganoff and then blini for dessert.

    :)

  3. 3.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    May 23, 2019 at 5:37 am

    Gilbert Gottfried says “Trump is Hitler without the charm.”

  4. 4.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 5:40 am

    Blech.

  5. 5.

    Betty Cracker

    May 23, 2019 at 5:43 am

    The Post predicts Modi and his party will win reelection in a landslide in India. Nationalism/wingnuttery is still selling like hotcakes worldwide.

  6. 6.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 5:43 am

    Better production than foreseen, liked it much better than I expected to – The Hell of ’63, on Prime. Dutch with English subtitles.

    Interesting short video on the visual effects employed. Lurve the snow cloud wolves; whole lotta effort for what are nearly blink and you’ll miss ’em moments of movie magic.

  7. 7.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 5:58 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: ?
    I feelz ya.

  8. 8.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 6:05 am

    Woke at 4:30ish to a thunderstorm just starting with the memory I had left the car windows open a bit. So my first act was a mad dash through the rain to close them just in time.
    I hate jogging before coffee.

    Actually, I just hate jogging.

  9. 9.

    Raven

    May 23, 2019 at 6:07 am

    @NotMax: Gee, this makes me want to run right out and watch it!

    Chris Zegers said that he was so embarrassed by his performance in the film that he considered to stop acting. However, after being asked for Lotus (2011) and being satisfied with that performance, he reconsidered.

  10. 10.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 6:08 am

    Good Morning, Everyone ? ??

  11. 11.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:12 am

    @rikyrah:

    Good morning.

    @Betty Cracker:

    Yep. It’s not just USA.

  12. 12.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 6:14 am

    @Raven

    Gee, an actor insecure with his performance?

    Call Guinness!

    :)

  13. 13.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:15 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    And it’s another reminder that we have a lot of grueling work to do even after we defeat Trump in 2020.

  14. 14.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 6:20 am

    @Betty Cracker: @Baud: And just think, climate change is only going to make it worse. Much worse.

  15. 15.

    JPL

    May 23, 2019 at 6:27 am

    @Joey Maloney: I clicked on the tweet itself and then opened. It resembles the cartoon so you aren’t missing much.

  16. 16.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 6:30 am

    A couple of tweets:

    Methinks the Dems need some younger leadership.

    Dem leadership looks identical to GOP

    You’re right…. but it slips my mind who was that lady GOP House speaker?

    I am glad that there are some people who are on twitter just so they can slap the stupid.

  17. 17.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 6:31 am

    @rikyrah: Good morning ?
    And to all the morning crew.

  18. 18.

    Soprano2

    May 23, 2019 at 6:37 am

    I hate what they did in Jefferson City last week, but that doesn’t mean I wanted it hit by a major tornado. Good grief, this shitty, dangerous weather needs to stop! I just got a flash flooding alert on my phone!

  19. 19.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:38 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    I wonder what the overlap is between people who want Dems to have younger leadership and people who wanted Dems to lose Congress to teach them a lesson.

  20. 20.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:38 am

    @satby:

    Good morning.

  21. 21.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:42 am

    @satby:

    It’s the NYT, but I know you like Buttigieg.

    President Pete? One-on-One With Buttigieg

  22. 22.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 6:43 am

    @Soprano2: Tornado watch this AM in Washington Co, flood warnings on the Meramec, and rain. Than tomorrow we hit 90 for the first time this year.

    As far as the Jeff City tornado…. Did it hit the capitol building? Was it in session at the time? While all the DEMs headed for the storm shelter, were the Repubs saying it was a fake tornado and refusing to postpone their latest efforts to confront the dire threat of autonomous lady parts?

  23. 23.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 6:45 am

    @Baud: I saw a diagram illustrating that. It was a circle inside of another circle. Can’t recall which was which.

  24. 24.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:46 am

    This is an interesting read.

    Five things to know about Europe’s surprisingly dramatic parliamentary elections

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/05/23/things-know-about-european-parliament-elections/

  25. 25.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 6:50 am

    @Baud: Ross Dumbshit as one of the contributors? I like Pete, he’s my mayor for a few more months, but I’m not able to stomach Douthat’s take on anything. Even for Pete.
    Edited to add: appreciate the thought though.

  26. 26.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:51 am

    Maybe this will help us in places like North Carolina and Georgia.

    As Employment Rises, African American Transplants Ride Jobs Wave To The South

    https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/721958483/as-employment-rises-african-american-transplants-ride-jobs-wave-to-the-south

  27. 27.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:51 am

    @satby:

    You are wise.

  28. 28.

    montanareddog

    May 23, 2019 at 6:51 am

    @Betty Cracker: And your theory can be tested with a few more data points by the EU Parliamentary elections over the next few days.

    I expect your theory to be strengthened, sadly

  29. 29.

    JPL

    May 23, 2019 at 6:56 am

    @Baud: Even though the majority of people say they won’t vote to reelect him, I’m concerned about turnout. The crazies vote.

  30. 30.

    Betty Cracker

    May 23, 2019 at 6:56 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: I’m glad Pelosi is Speaker right now since we’ve got a lunatic in the White House to contain and oppose. Her experience and competence are indispensable at this moment. That said, the top three Democrats in the House are all nearly 80 years old. One needn’t be a “heighten the contradictions” moron to think the Dems need some new blood at the top.

  31. 31.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 6:58 am

    @JPL:

    I’m concerned about white people who say they won’t vote for him but who, when it’s time to do the deed, feel that subconscious panic that Republicans exploit so well.

  32. 32.

    Amir Khalid

    May 23, 2019 at 7:00 am

    @Joey Maloney:
    Twitter did the same woth me. Its filters presumably consider any image of Bill Barr potentially upsetting or offensive, which makes sense.

  33. 33.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    May 23, 2019 at 7:01 am

    @Baud: Unless they’re voter purged because the fact that they register in their new state is taken as “voter fraud” since the old state still has them on the books.

  34. 34.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 7:01 am

    @Betty Cracker: Yeah, but the argument is always directed at Pelosi. Just like in 2016 when it was only Hillary who was too old, but hardly anyone talked about that with Sanders or Trump.

  35. 35.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 7:03 am

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: Voter purges are awful, but they aren’t 100%.

  36. 36.

    Porky Pine

    May 23, 2019 at 7:10 am

    @NotMax: Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve added it to my watchlist. From the description, I infer that the film is based on the ‘Elfstedtentocht’ [sp?], the ‘Eleven-City Tour’ skating race in Friesland. Alas, because of climate change, the Dutch fear that the race may be a thing of the past, since winter temperatures no longer provide a long enough stretch of cold weather to ensure safe ice conditions.

  37. 37.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 7:11 am

    @Betty Cracker: Agreed, but I don’t think many of these people complaining understand that the way one reaches a leadership position is by demonstrating knowledge, competence, the ability to raise money, a certain amount of political ju jitsu, and…. longevity. They don’t pick their leaders by asking the Sorting Hat. So whenever somebody says DEMs need younger leadership, the question begs to be asked, “Who?”

  38. 38.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:11 am

    @Baud:

    Voter purges are awful, but they aren’t 100%.

    They don’t need to be. And there are certainly other ways to suppress the (expected) Dem vote, as we’ve seen.

  39. 39.

    debbie

    May 23, 2019 at 7:13 am

    @Baud:

    That’s your basic gender bias. It isn’t just in politics either.

  40. 40.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 7:14 am

    @Baud: they still aren’t calling the oldest old fart “old”, even though his entire shtick is shouty old man wagging his finger. A living stereotype of “old”.

  41. 41.

    debbie

    May 23, 2019 at 7:14 am

    I see a t-shirt here:

    “I think Bill Barr has all the duplicity of Rudy Giuliani without all the good looks and general likability of Rudy Guliani,” Schiff said during the Center for American Progress 2019 Ideas Conference Wednesday.

  42. 42.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 7:14 am

    @SFAW:

    I understand. I still think having more black families moving to swingy or purpley states seems a good thing, despite the obstacles.

  43. 43.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:15 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    the question begs to be asked, “Who?”

    Can we start with “not Steny Hoyer”? I’m still trying to figure out his value-add proposition. I guess Speaker Pelosi thinks he adds something, otherwise he’s (probably) be out. But nothing I see from him (disclaimer: I don’t follow him closely, so caveat lector) gives me the warm-and-fuzzies.

  44. 44.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 7:17 am

    @debbie: a double axel slam, perfectly landed. Judges award 10.

  45. 45.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:17 am

    @debbie:

    Yeah, that one’s a keeper. Between Schiff and Ted Lieu, they give good Tweet.

  46. 46.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 7:18 am

    @SFAW: He would be my first choice to go as well.

  47. 47.

    kd bart

    May 23, 2019 at 7:19 am

    @Baud: It’s not about accomplishing anything. It’s about maintaining constant outrage.

  48. 48.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:20 am

    @Baud:

    I still think having more black families moving to swingy or purpley states seems a good thing, despite the obstacles.

    Whatevs. I still think a better solution is for the elected members of the Party of Traitors to be swinging from the yardarms, but I’m an asshole that way.

    I know, I know — por que no los dos?

  49. 49.

    satby

    May 23, 2019 at 7:24 am

    @SFAW: he’s 79, so no.
    I don’t believe in term limits, that’s what elections are for; but it would be nice if elected representatives would agree to leave gracefully at some point in their mid-late 70s. And if we get some strong majorities back in both houses of Congress and capture the Presidency, I would hope some of these elders take seriously the need to mentor the younger members and then bow out. And unicorns… I’d like a unicorn.

  50. 50.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 7:31 am

    @satby: Unicorns may be an easier ask.

  51. 51.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:32 am

    @satby:
    I don’t have a problem with Hoyer being a Representative, and I think term limits are wrong, but I just would like him to be more than the “designated centrist” in the Dem leadership. [Frankly, I’d have a problem if Moulton were there, too, because of his sort-of-anti-left posturings.] I don’t think Schiff (for example) is the right person, but that’s because I want to see him continue to be the anti-Nunes. I’d like someone with Schiff-/Lieu-like cojones (figuratively speaking) in the role, and using that role to be (in part) an attack dog re: Party of Traitors whining/lying.

    ETA: Slight revision re: term limits: I’d be OK if any/all Rethug candidate or official were limited to “no office after July 4th, 2019.”

  52. 52.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 7:35 am

    @SFAW:Seeing as I am not a member of the HoR, and none of them now are or likely ever will be my Rep, I really don’t pay that much attention. Other than Pelosi and Schumer I have no idea who fills the rest of the DEM leadership in DC. It is safe to say, Hoyer is where he is because a majority of DEMs in the House voted to put him there. Why did they? Because Nancy wanted him? Because he’s good at raising money for others? Because he gives the best foot rubs ever?

    shrug I’ll never know.

  53. 53.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:38 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Seeing as I am not a member of the HoR

    Why the hell not? Is your current Representative a Dem? If not: start shaking hands and kissing babes, dagnabit!

  54. 54.

    Kristine

    May 23, 2019 at 7:40 am

    I think I read in an earlier thread that you wanted to know about those pop-up “You’re a Winner” ads showing up while on site. I got hit by several this morning. I’d open BJ, read a paragraph or two, and then Ta-Da!

    iPhone 5, latest iOS, on Safari. I cleared out cookies, caches, etc, but haven’t gone back to see if it worked. On the laptop now.

  55. 55.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 7:43 am

    @SFAW:

    Is your current Representative a Dem?

    Here in the heart of Ozarkistan? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…. gasp…. wheeze…. What’re you trying to do, kill me?

    If not: start shaking hands and kissing babes,

    Obviously, you’ve never seen the hands I’d have to shake or the babies I’d have to kiss.

  56. 56.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:45 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    babies

    Check your spelling against the original.

  57. 57.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 7:46 am

    @SFAW: Obviously you’ve never seen my face.

  58. 58.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 7:48 am

    Awe ?
    Something to make you smile ?

    https://twitter.com/dodo/status/1130896036837371904

  59. 59.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 7:49 am

    ???

    NBC News (@NBCNews) Tweeted:
    Sen. Chris Murphy warned that the Trump admin. is considering a move to bypass Congress and push through the sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia by declaring a national security emergency.

    The White House National Security Council declined to comment. https://t.co/syx1NF6Xd0 https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1131394582997028865?s=17

  60. 60.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:49 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Obviously you’ve never seen my face.

    No, but Mrs. Ozark has, and I would not impugn her judgment.

  61. 61.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    May 23, 2019 at 7:53 am

    @Kristine: At the recommendation of people here, I installed Ad Blocker on the phone. Once I got the settings right, that killer ad stopped and has t been back.

  62. 62.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 7:53 am

    Once again for the bleachers:
    The number of regular Democratic Party voters in those questionable
    States denied the franchise due to VOTER SUPPRESSION was AT LEAST 2-3 times the margin of Dolt45’s ‘ victory’ in those states.
    In? every ?one?

    https://twitter.com/ZerlinaMaxwell/status/1131315565136613376

  63. 63.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 7:54 am

    @SFAW

    shaking hands and kissing babies

    Or vice versa.

    :)

    @Porky Pine

    Yup, that’s the event. Give it a robust B+ overall. Was impressed by the discipline of the direction. Understand a few liberties were taken with the actual history, but that’s show biz.

  64. 64.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 7:55 am

    California agencies fought fires on federal land. Now Trump won’t pay in full

    As California prepares to enter wildfire season, the Trump administration is holding back millions of dollars in requested reimbursement to local fire agencies for battling wildfires on federal lands last year.

    After the most destructive and expensive season on record, California issued a $72m reimbursement request for local firefighting efforts on federal lands. Rather than reimburse the local agencies in full, the US forest service audited the agreement that made this exchange possible and is now withholding $9m.

    “A local fire department doesn’t budget to go help the US forest service,” said Brian Marshall, fire chief for the state office of emergency services. “You pay it up front, expecting reimbursement. If you don’t get the money, a fire chief’s job could be in jeopardy because then they’re operating in the red and the elected officials start asking the tough questions. And that’s unacceptable.”

    According to the forest service, the audit was prompted by a 2017 letter from the director of the state office of emergency services that criticized the forest service’s reimbursement practices. In a statement, the forest service claimed the money was being withheld because the agency did not receive “documentation that substantiate[s] actual expenses”. “Our intentions are to fully reimburse the state of California for all of their actual expenses,” the forest service said.

    But California and the forest service had been operating under agreements like this since 1961, Marshall said, and this was the first time the forest service had required extra documentation for bills that had already been submitted.

  65. 65.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 7:56 am

    Because that is who they are ??

    Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) Tweeted:
    Border Vigilante Was Accused of Running Child-Cancer Charity Scam https://t.co/5W07HFVSlZ via @thedailybeast https://twitter.com/MattMurph24/status/1131419720329179138?s=17

  66. 66.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 7:58 am

    @SFAW: She married me for my money, not my face.

  67. 67.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 7:59 am

    @NotMax:

    shaking hands and kissing babies

    I realize they spell things differently in Hawaiiiaiaiililiuokalanikamehameha, but that’s not what I wrote

  68. 68.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 8:00 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    She married me for my money, not my face.

    Good one.

    As I sometimes tell people, I’m independently poor

  69. 69.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:01 am

    @NotMax:

    Understand a few liberties were taken with the actual history, but that’s show biz.

    No! Say it ain’t so!

  70. 70.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 8:02 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Fucking assholes. I’d ask if there was NO petty/asshole thing they wouldn’t do, but I know the answer.

  71. 71.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    May 23, 2019 at 8:05 am

    I think Pelosi is working on developing the next generation of leaders. The leadership team includes Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn of course, but also Jeffries, Lujan, and Bustos. The committee chairs mostly look middle-aged, possibly late middle-aged, to me. And she put some of the more progressive new members on important committees.

  72. 72.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 8:08 am

    ???

    Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) Tweeted:
    When I see a Dem presidential hopeful taking the Black vote seriously instead of bending over backwards to win back white people who aren’t offended by Trump’s bigotry, I see a Dem who wants to win the nomination. https://twitter.com/ZerlinaMaxwell/status/1131275605234855936?s=17

  73. 73.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 8:10 am

    Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) Tweeted:
    A ten-year-old child died in government custody and a morally bankrupt administration hid it from the public for months. Let that sink in. https://t.co/qwrB2KpV0v https://twitter.com/JulianCastro/status/1131349254113562634?s=17

  74. 74.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:13 am

    A promise unfulfilled: water pipeline stops short for Sioux reservation

    Up until late last year, Ella Coleman, a diminutive, soft-spoken Oglala Sioux grandmother who lives in one of the hundreds of mobile homes on the semi-arid plains of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, lacked running water.

    Sometimes, she received water deliveries by truck. Other times, she drove to a community spigot, where she filled buckets and hauled them in her minivan. At home, she ladled water from the buckets for cooking and bathing.

    Finally, last fall, a not-for-profit, Running Strong for American Indian Youth, connected her home to the water pipeline. But this advance happened five years after the federal government had supposedly finished its $470m share of a pipeline project that many tribal leaders, bureaucrats and politicians promised as a solution to chronic water problems on this impoverished reservation in south-west South Dakota.

    Coleman’s struggle is emblematic of the mixed results from the Mni Wiconi pipeline, a name that incorporates a Lakota Sioux phrase often translated as “water is life”. The system’s 5,000 miles of underground pipes serve a 12,500-sq-mile area that encompasses one-sixth of South Dakota.

    Although the project can deliver up to 20m gallons of potable water daily to an estimated 52,000 people – about one-fourth of them white, and the rest Native American – it has been beset by overspending and incompletion. The unfinished parts happen to be at the tribal ends of the pipeline and have become another example of unfulfilled promises by the federal government to indigenous people.

    Despite 25 years of construction that cost nearly a half-billion dollars, only about half of the water delivered by the Mni Wiconi system to the Pine Ridge Reservation is derived from the Missouri River. The rest comes from the reservation’s own wells, which were incorporated in the project to save money.

    …………………….

    Meanwhile, the 15 predominantly white communities and scores of politically connected white ranchers who are served by the Mni Wiconi pipeline have reaped its full benefits. All the water flowing through Mni Wiconi pipes to those users is from the Missouri River, and their pipeline connections are funded by fees they pay to a not-for-profit, the West River/Lyman-Jones Rural Water System.

  75. 75.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 8:15 am

    Lansing — The powerful DeVos family of West Michigan is ending its longtime support of U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, the libertarian Republican who has repeatedly clashed with President Donald Trump.
    The family has not made any political contributions to Amash this cycle, and “they have no plans to do so,” said family spokesman Nick Wasmiller.

    If your family had a “family spokesperson” who would it be? :)

  76. 76.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 8:16 am

    @Kay:

    I would choose you, Kay.

    ETA: Samuel L. Jackson would be a close second.

  77. 77.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 8:18 am

    @Kay:

    If your family had a “family spokesperson” who would it be?

    Lee Papa

  78. 78.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 8:19 am

    Christina Patterson (@queenchristina_) Tweeted:
    Brilliant, forensic piece by @NickCohen4 on why @UKLabour is basically f****ed. Corbyn isn’t working – and Labour is being picked apart by its new enemies https://t.co/1qEWLVrjpy https://twitter.com/queenchristina_/status/1131485144961945600?s=17

  79. 79.

    SFAW

    May 23, 2019 at 8:20 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    When I wrote this

    I’d ask if there was NO petty/asshole thing they wouldn’t do, but I know the answer.

    I was not really asking for a “hold my beer” moment.

  80. 80.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 8:21 am

    @Baud:

    No! It has to be a family member. Very narrow field. Hiring one is cheating.

  81. 81.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 8:21 am

    @Kay

    Toss-up among Foster Brooks, Irwin Corey and Sophie Tucker.

    :)

  82. 82.

    Soprano2

    May 23, 2019 at 8:28 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: We’re getting pounded with heavy rain this morning. We’ve had an average of over 6″ in the last week, so the flooding is probably going to be bad. Three people were killed in Golden City by a tornado on the 8th anniversary of the Joplin tornado. As for the tornado hitting the Capitol while the lege was in session, and the Republicans claiming it was “fake news”, we couldn’t be that lucky, could we? Of course, you know they’d be replaced by people who are just as bad as the ones who are there now. I’m lucky, my rep is Crystal Quade, who’s the Minority Leader in the House. She’s a rising star in the MO Democratic party, for what that’s worth.

  83. 83.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 8:28 am

    @Kay

    It has to be a family member.

    No thanks, then. In that case I’m perfectly capable of saying “No comment” all on my lonesome.

    This family goes together like liver and ice cream.

    ;)

  84. 84.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 8:29 am

    @NotMax:

    I bet you already have one. Maybe two competing ones. My family of origin has one (not me) who sort of says the consensus and is diplomatic then another who is believes she is the spokesperson, but is more contentious so probably wouldn’t be chosen.

  85. 85.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 8:30 am

    Mr. Weeks ?? (@MrDane1982) Tweeted:
    Dear White people,
    Some of you are acting like impeachment will save us, it won’t, you know why, we still have 63% of white men and 53% of white women who voted for Trump and continue to support Republicans. Impeaching Trump won’t save us, white people voting Democratic saves us. https://twitter.com/MrDane1982/status/1131383415306162178?s=17

  86. 86.

    Gin & Tonic

    May 23, 2019 at 8:30 am

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Seems clear to me that David Cicilline of my neighboring district (RI-1) is being actively groomed for leadership. Not that I’d call him “young” at 57, but he’s younger than Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn. That he’s been openly gay for many years doesn’t hurt his cred with the youngs either.

  87. 87.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:31 am

    @Kay:

    If your family had a “family spokesperson” who would it be?

    Ervin Wannabuck.

    ETA or maybe Immal a-Djusted

  88. 88.

    Cheryl Rofer

    May 23, 2019 at 8:33 am

    Flop-sweat tweeting again this morning.

  89. 89.

    O. Felix Culpa

    May 23, 2019 at 8:33 am

    @Baud: If they are *allowed* to vote.

  90. 90.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    May 23, 2019 at 8:33 am

    @Gin & Tonic: Right. In Jeffries, Luhan, and Bustos (the three younger members of the leadership team), you have African American, Hispanic, and female too. So the nature of the Democratic coalition (and the country) is also being recognized.

  91. 91.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    May 23, 2019 at 8:34 am

    @Kay: If it has to be a family member, I have no idea. We’re all pretty much on our own these days.

  92. 92.

    moonbat

    May 23, 2019 at 8:36 am

    @Kay: I’d want Tormund Giantsbane to be my family spokesman.

  93. 93.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:37 am

    @SFAW: That is one you can’t hang around the trump admins neck as the Feds completed their $470 million “share” of it 5 years ago. There is a very telling line later in the article:

    “We couldn’t get the money if it was just going to serve whites,” acknowledged Larry Pressler, Republican of South Dakota, a former congressman and senator.

    The decision to fully fund the tribal portion stemmed from a federal mandate to protect a reservation’s water supply, a responsibility rooted in treaties from the 1800s.

    Breaking treaties with NA tribes is just how we roll.

  94. 94.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 8:40 am

    ???

    Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) Tweeted:
    Internal memo orders military to restrict information it shares with Congress
    https://t.co/Ckqq96tgB9 https://twitter.com/CREWcrew/status/1131530533199122433?s=17

  95. 95.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 8:40 am

    Donald J. Trump
    ‏Verified account
    @realDonaldTrump
    Follow Follow @realDonaldTrump
    More
    Rex Tillerson, a man who is “dumb as a rock” and totally ill prepared and ill equipped to be Secretary of State, made up a story (he got fired) that I was out-prepared by Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Hamburg, Germany. I don’t think Putin would agree. Look how the U.S. is doing!

    The problem is the inner circle criticisms of Trump are completely believable, based on what we observe. You know he doesn’t prepare for meetings. Do they have to keep his speeches under the records act? That rant he wrote yesterday in Sharpie with the misspelled words becomes part of the Trump archives? I hope so.

  96. 96.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 8:40 am

    @Kay:

    How do you know I’m not distantly related to you or Samuel L. Jackson?

  97. 97.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:41 am

    @Soprano2: Lucky you. Mine is some nameless (to me anyway) Repub snake.

  98. 98.

    MomSense

    May 23, 2019 at 8:42 am

    @rikyrah:

    Tactically it is idiotic to keep going after Pelosi and Democrats. Even if they do impeach trump, McConnell will exonerate him in the Senate. All the focus on Democrats means McConnell is getting away with his bullshit as usual.

    These angry progressives should be asking McConnell about trump’s obstruction and other high crimes every minute of every day.

    It’s the same kind of tactical failures progressive activists made consistently while Obama was president.

  99. 99.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:44 am

    @Kay: Ervin Wannabuck and Immal a-Djusted are my alter egos. Does that count?

  100. 100.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 8:45 am

    @MomSense:

    Agree. Completely.

  101. 101.

    Cermet

    May 23, 2019 at 8:46 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: Amazing how very few people connect the dots on this aspect of AGW, Thanks to doubt, destruction of local habitat and associated food shortages in the shorter run, AGW will help bring in right-wing loons being elected/installed into power. Wait till the heat makes truly vast regions of the world uninhabitable – then, I’m afraid, the center will not hold.

  102. 102.

    MomSense

    May 23, 2019 at 8:48 am

    @Kay:

    It would have to be my youngest kid. He’s able to be calm and diplomatic. My oldest would probably raise one eyebrow, tell everyone they are idiots, and walk away. My middle son would probably crack jokes and be infuriatingly sarcastic. I have a disqualifying eyeroll. I can’t stand willfully stupid.

  103. 103.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:49 am

    @Kay:

    That rant he wrote yesterday in Sharpie with the misspelled words becomes part of the Trump archives?

    He uses a sharpie? I thought it was crayons.

  104. 104.

    MomSense

    May 23, 2019 at 8:49 am

    @Baud:

    Baud 2020!

  105. 105.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 8:51 am

    @OzarkHillbilly

    Immal a-Djusted

    Must update the files. Under the impression that’s the name of what’s to be Baud!’s winter White House.

    ;)

  106. 106.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 8:53 am

    @Cermet: Nothing brings out the terror filled inner xenophobic like desperate people who don’t look or sound like everybody else one knows, knocking at the door.

  107. 107.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 8:53 am

    @MomSense:

    It’s hard. There’s always splits in the D party. I read that Biden is at 50% in Florida – his entire edge over the other candidates comes from voters over 50. They’re more influential not because they’re more centrist but because they vote at much higher rates.

  108. 108.

    japa21

    May 23, 2019 at 8:53 am

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: I believe I heard Pelosi say yesterday that 18 of the new representatives chair sub-committees, something unheard of in the past. They are working hard to develop new leadership.

  109. 109.

    MomSense

    May 23, 2019 at 8:55 am

    @Kay:

    Unless he eats it. Seriously the numbnuts eats and swallows his notes.

  110. 110.

    VOR

    May 23, 2019 at 9:01 am

    @Kay: And who picked Tillerson to be SecState, Donny? Someone needs to keep a tally of Trump appointees who he later disses as stupid or incompetent. Add in the ones who resigned under an ethical cloud like Pruitt and Zinke. The point needs to be made to the people not paying attention that Trump only picks the worst people.

  111. 111.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 9:02 am

    @MomSense:

    It would be my daughter. She has a calm center and she’s kind. My youngest could also pull it off, although he’s the youngest so they probably wouldn’t let him. He’s likeable enough, Hillary.
    Everyone would say “they’re so nice” which would not be true :)

  112. 112.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 9:02 am

    @Kay: @OzarkHillbilly:
    My son is creating an AI for me — of me — which can continue to make bad decisions long after I’m gone.

  113. 113.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    May 23, 2019 at 9:05 am

    @Immanentize: Your son has a wicked sense of humor.

  114. 114.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 9:07 am

    University of St Thomas kicked out of conference for winning too much

    The private Catholic liberal arts university has about 6,200 undergraduates, double the enrollment of the next-closest schools in the league. The Tommies have won 12 consecutive MIAC all-sports trophies on both the men’s and women’s side, based on conference finish in each event.

    The school’s powerhouse football team has enjoyed outsized success under head coach Glenn Caruso, winning six MIAC titles since 2010 and reaching the D-III national championship game in 2012 and 2015.

    “After extensive membership discussions, the University of St Thomas will be involuntarily removed from membership in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference,” the league said in a statement. “The MIAC Presidents’ Council cites athletic competitive parity in the conference as a primary concern. St Thomas will begin a multi-year transition immediately and meanwhile is eligible to compete as a full member of the MIAC through the end of spring 2021.”

    They’re taking notes from trump’s twitter feed: “We’re not losers, you’re the loser!!!”

  115. 115.

    Spanky

    May 23, 2019 at 9:07 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    It is safe to say, Hoyer is where he is because a majority of DEMs in the House voted to put him there. Why did they? Because Nancy wanted him? Because he’s good at raising money for others? Because he gives the best foot rubs ever?

    shrug I’ll never know.

    Having had Hoyer as my rep ever since he rode in over the comatose body of Gladys Spellman (1981. Yeesh), I will tell you that you actually gave the one visible reason. He brings the cash, and he spreads it around, er, liberally.

    And there’s no danger of him being primaried by anyone with a real shot at throwing him out, the Maryland Democratic machine being what it is. Everyone considering a continued career in politics around here knows they’d be cut dead should they try it.

    Now you know.

  116. 116.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 9:08 am

    @VOR:

    I read that that the entire Trump Family are going to the UK for the presidential visit. Gross. They don’t even try not to be horrible. Why don’t any of them have careers? Normal people can’t just leave their jobs/careers for three years and no one even notices. They’re by definition non-essential in whatever the fuck their “private sector” activities are.

  117. 117.

    Ladyraxterinok

    May 23, 2019 at 9:09 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: Part of Trump gang not supporting concept of federal lands/parks/monuments? Just don’t pay (reimburse)for up-keep/maintenance?

  118. 118.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 9:09 am

    @Immanentize: Once he’s finished, what’s he need you for?

  119. 119.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 9:12 am

    @Immanentize:

    Oh, that’s funny. When he gets older he’ll imitate you, in front of you, and laugh. I (apparently) told my kids they were “selfish” a lot, which sounds like me. They were! Someone had to tell them. They improved thanks to this very loving observation :)

  120. 120.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 9:13 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: I fear that is his deeper plan.

  121. 121.

    Bex

    May 23, 2019 at 9:14 am

    @Satby: I listened to the podcast and recommend it. Dumbshit is part of the commentary after (both sides, you know) but you can opt out of that if you want.

  122. 122.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 9:15 am

    @Spanky:

    He brings the cash, and he spreads it around, er, liberally.

    One should never underestimate the value of money in politics. It always factors in.

  123. 123.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 9:16 am

    @OzarkHillbilly

    Took a couple of classes there. Campus right out of the Gothic Moderne section of the central casting architectural book.

  124. 124.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 23, 2019 at 9:17 am

    @Betty Cracker: I had written a post about the elections which AL was going to front page, I sent it to her yesterday. This is the link to the post on my blog

  125. 125.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 9:19 am

    @Immanentize: Not until he graduates, somebody has to pay his tuition.

  126. 126.

    O. Felix Culpa

    May 23, 2019 at 9:19 am

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Lujan is on his way out of the House. He’s running for an unexpectedly open Senate seat (Udall is not re-upping), so he’ll either be in the Senate or unemployed in 2020. NM Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is also running in the Democratic primary for Senate. I don’t have any good indication yet of their relative statewide strength.

    You will be surprised to hear that the primary candidates on the Republican side are loons.

  127. 127.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 9:19 am

    @Immanentize

    “The A part is right on spec. Trouble is the I part keeps beta testing too high.”

    :)

  128. 128.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 23, 2019 at 9:21 am

    @Baud: NDA, won 45% of the vote. Military chest thumping after the ambush attack in Pulwama seems to have helped.

    ETA: Modi lies with impunity and it is strategic lies unlike you know who.

  129. 129.

    Kay

    May 23, 2019 at 9:35 am

    Dave Weigel
    ‏Verified account
    @daveweigel
    3m3 minutes ago
    More
    Prodded by @costareports on how he’d face Trump in a debate, Buttigieg is going in on Trump’s Vietnam-era deferment. “I have a pretty dim view of him using his privilege and faking a disability… if he were a conscientious objector, I’d admire that.”

    Biden had deferment(s) too. Just so you know!

  130. 130.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 9:39 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: I think the Immp has worked out how I can continue to teach and get paid as my AI — but all courses online.

  131. 131.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 9:40 am

    @OzarkHillbilly</a.
    @
    OzarkHillbilly
    From an article on avoiding the freshman 15:

    Grab a salad plate rather than a dinner plate — you’re likely to eat less while still feeling satisfied when you eat from a smaller plate.

    Next, fill half your plate with veggies — whether from the salad bar, hot bar or both. Fill a quarter of your plate with lean protein like grilled chicken or baked fish, and the last quarter of your plate with whole grains, like brown rice or whole wheat bread.

    Once you’ve made your plate, don’t go back for seconds (unless you’re grabbing veggies like carrots to munch on), and skip the dessert bar in lieu of hot tea and a piece of fruit to take back to your dorm.

    Yeah, right. Pull the other one.

  132. 132.

    MomSense

    May 23, 2019 at 9:41 am

    @Immanentize:

    So you’re the terminator prototype!

  133. 133.

    danielx

    May 23, 2019 at 9:42 am

    “I think Bill Barr has all the duplicity of Rudy Giuliani without all the good looks and general likability of Rudy Guliani,”

    Ooh, that has to sting.

  134. 134.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 9:43 am

    @Immanentize

    Why am I flashing on Westworld?

    :)

  135. 135.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 23, 2019 at 9:44 am

    Oh wow, Rahul Gandhi lost his seat in Amethi. A seat he has held since 2004. It has been a Gandhi stronghold since as far as I can remember.

  136. 136.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 9:45 am

    @NotMax: one of the great freedoms of going away to college is eating whatever you want, whenever you want it. In the Immp’s case, I would welcome 15 more pounds on his frame.

  137. 137.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 9:45 am

    @Kay:

    I don’t think people will care about Trump’s deferments. But what do I know?

  138. 138.

    Baud

    May 23, 2019 at 9:46 am

    @schrodingers_cat:

    That’s pretty incredible.

  139. 139.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 23, 2019 at 9:49 am

    @Baud: The opposition needed to unite and they didn’t so its going to be a landslide victory in spite of getting only 45% of the vote.

  140. 140.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 9:49 am

    @Immanentize

    Yup yup. Always had a fridge in the dorm room. I understand some colleges now rent them out.

  141. 141.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 9:51 am

    @rikyrah: From the article:

    The memo was shared widely inside the Pentagon but was sent to key lawmakers only after inquiries by The Post. It outlines a half-dozen guidelines, including requirements that military officials and political appointees evaluate whether the request “contains sufficient information to demonstrate a relationship to the legislative function.”

    It’s funny how this memo and Trumpov’s lawyers are parroting the same line with regard to “legislative function”, as if oversight isn’t part of Congress’ function. Just legislation.

    Fascist gonna fascist.

    @VOR: The Russians. That was part of the Mueller Report.

    @Immanentize: I gave my son my own special magic 8-ball for all of his bad decisions. All the pyramid sides say: No, don’t do that! :)

  142. 142.

    James E Powell

    May 23, 2019 at 9:53 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    Nationalism/wingnuttery is still selling like hotcakes worldwide.

    I think it might be because nobody else is selling anything else.

  143. 143.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 9:54 am

    @NotMax:
    That is what the Immp is flashing on as well…. The Yul Brenner version.

  144. 144.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 9:54 am

    @Immanentize: You are sooooooo screwed.

  145. 145.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 9:55 am

    @Leto: Do they make eight balls like that? Oh man, what a graduation gift!

  146. 146.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 9:56 am

    @Baud: A whole lot of vets don’t.

  147. 147.

    The Moar You Know

    May 23, 2019 at 9:58 am

    If your family had a “family spokesperson” who would it be? :)

    @Kay: I should preface this by saying I was the family black sheep for decades. And yet I’m pretty sure it would be me, and that choice would be unanimous.

  148. 148.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 9:59 am

    @Immanentize

    Did you order the coffee mug for him?

  149. 149.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 9:59 am

    @Immanentize: You know, I bet that they do as some type of good gag gift! I’m walking to the coffee shop here soon but I’ll check it out and report back. Grats on the Immps graduation! Are you guys doing anything special to celebrate?

  150. 150.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:01 am

    @NotMax:
    The “duh!” One — yes I did! I also got him a fancy ember mug which keeps his tea at a constant temp. Low and high tech together is his favorite pairing. Example — he has a super gaming computer set up, but insists on a mechanical keyboard. Click click click all night long.

  151. 151.

    James E Powell

    May 23, 2019 at 10:02 am

    @Baud:

    I don’t think people will care about Trump’s deferments. But what do I know?

    It was obvious that George W Bush used his family’s influence to stay out of Vietnam, but the press/media promoted & gave free air time to Republicans who mocked his combat veteran opponent, called him a traitor and a coward. So, no, the people who vote Republican do not care whether their favorite bigot served in the military.

  152. 152.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 23, 2019 at 10:02 am

    Shiv Sena, BJP’s ally retains the South Mumbai (my old home) seat.
    Pragya Singh, saffron clad terrorist who said Gandhi’s assassin was a patriot beats Digvijay Singh.
    Its terrible news all round.

  153. 153.

    James E Powell

    May 23, 2019 at 10:03 am

    @schrodingers_cat:

    The opposition needed to unite and they didn’t so its going to be a landslide victory in spite of getting only 45% of the vote.

    This is my 2020 nightmare, several times each week.

  154. 154.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:04 am

    @Leto: His grandpa and uncle are coming from Texas. My Mom is not (she just took a header and broke her glasses so we will be going to upstate NY to see her soon.). He wants no party, so maybe a nice dinner out. Or, if he is busy, I will have a barbq and he can run wild with his friends.

  155. 155.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:06 am

    @James E Powell:
    Our ‘left’ will never fully unite but I think marginally we already see a result like the post-Nader effects. If 9/11 hadn’t happened, Bush was already on his way to 1 term failure.

  156. 156.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 10:07 am

    @Immanentize: That sounds like a good time! Glad your mom is ok. Just do the BBQ and set him free with his friends. They’ll appreciate the food and later running wild :)

    As promised: Custom Magic 8-Ball. Relatively inexpensive, don’t know how fast they can ship. Enjoy!

  157. 157.

    The Moar You Know

    May 23, 2019 at 10:08 am

    Internal memo orders military to restrict information it shares with Congress

    @rikyrah: This made me laugh my ass off. Of all the things that won’t be obeyed, this is the top of the pile.

    If the military doesn’t talk to Congress, then the military can’t sell their awesome operations and get that sweet, sweet cash and we can’t do the service retirement -> contractor dance that keeps the entire defense industry neck-deep in money.

  158. 158.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 10:09 am

    Trump losses mount as cracks form in dam of secrecy
    Rachel Maddow looks at how Donald Trump has steadily lost ground in his fight to keep his finances, campaign, and administration opaque to oversight and investigation.

  159. 159.

    tobie

    May 23, 2019 at 10:10 am

    @Leto: Yeah, I’ve noticed that every time the Trump admin refuses to honor subpoenas or document requests, they say it’s because the request doesn’t have any legislative purpose. IANAL but I wonder if they’re preparing to challenge the constitutionality of the statute that gives the House the authority to request tax returns from the IRS on the grounds that it is too broad and that conditions need to be attached to such authority. No doubt Alito, Thomas, Kavanaugh and Gorsuch would line up behind some version of the argument.

  160. 160.

    The Moar You Know

    May 23, 2019 at 10:10 am

    If 9/11 hadn’t happened, Bush was already on his way to 1 term failure.

    @Immanentize: People forget that. If you’d asked me in early September 2001 if Bush would be re-elected, I’d have laughed in your face. He was done.

    And then he wasn’t.

  161. 161.

    tobie

    May 23, 2019 at 10:13 am

    @Immanentize: I hope your mother is recovering! What a pity she can’t be there for the graduation in person but it sounds like your son doesn’t want pomp and circumstance, just family love which he’ll get in spades. Enjoy the day.

  162. 162.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 10:14 am

    @Immanentize

    Cool.

    Recently purchased a duo of mugs (a href=”https://www.amazon.com/HTML-Coffee-Funny-Computer-Programming/dp/B00D61UHOY”>#1 – #2) as a gift for a techie couple. She’s a coffee maven, he’s a tea drinker.

  163. 163.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 10:15 am

    [email protected]Immanentize

    Cool.

    Recently purchased a duo of mugs (#1 – #2) as a gift for a techie couple. She’s a coffee maven, he’s a tea drinker.

  164. 164.

    The Moar You Know

    May 23, 2019 at 10:15 am

    He brings the cash, and he spreads it around, er, liberally.

    @Spanky: This is why Duncan Hunter kept getting reelected and why his kid might lose to a Palestinian in one of the most racist and xenophobic districts in the United States. The old man knew to how to spread the money around. Junior is too busy playing video games and drinking himself into blackouts to bother. That shit matters.

  165. 165.

    Gin & Tonic

    May 23, 2019 at 10:20 am

    More good news from here. Having just completed his Master’s, my son took the opportunity to propose marriage to his girlfriend yesterday, and she (unsurprisingly) accepted. Here’s hoping for years (decades?) of happiness, but more immediately, that this alleviates some concerns about her visa status – although, as schrodinger’s cat has pointed out many times, with this administration *nothing* is certain, even when it should be.

  166. 166.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 10:20 am

    Schumer: Trump bailed on meeting to throw Rose Garden tantrum
    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer talks with Rachel Maddow about how Donald Trump tried to cover for being ill prepared for an infrastructure meeting with Democratic leaders by putting on a temper tantrum spectacle for the media.

  167. 167.

    Chris Johnson

    May 23, 2019 at 10:21 am

    @rikyrah:

    Internal memo orders military to restrict information it shares with Congress

    That said, we know Trump and some of his cronies work directly with Russia, which threw the last Presidential election and doubtless has ambitions of what it intends to do with us.

    We don’t know how many Congresscritters are also working directly with Russia, we only know which ones Paul Ryan thought were working directly with Russia, plus we know his attitude about that, which speaks loudly about what sort of attitudes hold sway over there.

    I think it’s possible that some people (including in the military) are jockeying for position w.r.t eventually rebelling against the traitors. That would be a good sign, if it’s that. Well… a medium good sign? The military isn’t supposed to be a fourth branch of government. But some of our branches are badly compromised. If them pulling away and showing independence means they’d say ‘fuck you’ to an attempt by Trump at waging war for political reasons (or at the behest of Putin), I’d want them to be independent enough for that.

  168. 168.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 10:21 am

    Democrats pit GOP against American public opinion on Roe v Wade
    Senator Chuck Schumer talks with Rachel Maddow about exposing Republican senators who won’t admit to holding the unpopular position of opposing Roe v. Wade but who consistently vote for judges who are likely to overturn it.

  169. 169.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:21 am

    @tobie:
    I’m not so sure that those four are ready to completely go all in on an Imperial Presidency like that. The statue was passed by Congress and signed by a President! It demonstrates agreement between the two other branches. Really hard for the Courts to strike down such statutes. Not impossible, but really hard. And taxation is clearly part of the spending power which is expressly in the constitution as a Congressional power.

    I think the pro-Executive power right wing has a horrible dilemma:. They want to increase presidential power at the expense of the legislative branch, but the current president is such an obvious crook and danger to the Union that every act they might have taken when Obama was President will look like rank partisan hackery. And then, also, Trump may well not be president in 18 months, so all that power would go to his successor.

  170. 170.

    NotMax

    May 23, 2019 at 10:21 am

    @Leto

    Obligatory?

  171. 171.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 10:23 am

    @tobie: I can see that happening. What recent SCROTUS ruling was it where they reversed a 50 year precedent and Breyer wrote, basically, “I wonder what they will reverse next?” People see the immediate challenge being Roe (wholly understandable) but you have other potential challenges that nobody expects until they’re on SCROTUS’ doorstep. A law that’s been on the books for almost 100 years to help combat corruption in the executive/government overall? Nope, can’t have that.

    Also wrt that draft memo in the IRS, I’m still waiting for Trumpov to assert executive privilege on his returns. I’m surprised he hasn’t done that yet.

    Again, Rethugs are perfectly fine with authoritarian/totalitarian rule. This is their norm.

  172. 172.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 23, 2019 at 10:23 am

    @James E Powell: There is a difference though, there is no equivalent of the Democratic party in India. Rahul Gandhi has been an inept if a well meaning politician.

  173. 173.

    rikyrah

    May 23, 2019 at 10:25 am

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Awe…more congratulations!!

  174. 174.

    tobie

    May 23, 2019 at 10:27 am

    @Immanentize: I hope you’re right. You’ve got expertise. @Leto and I are cynics when it comes to this Supreme Court.

    As it’s graduation season, I thought I’d share an upbeat story about the first college graduation ceremony at an IL state prison:

    @LtGovStratton
    ??‍?THREAD: One week ago today, I spoke at an incredibly powerful and moving #graduation for 7 men in @ArtsPrison/@NEIU’s “University Without Walls.” Dr. Angela Davis was the keynote. @chancetherapper performed.

    The ceremony was at Stateville Correctional Center. #Classof2019

    Prison for inmates–YES!!!

  175. 175.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 10:30 am

    @NotMax: I appreciate at the 38-41 second marks, Jack Lemmon spinning the cello and continuing to play it… backwards.

    Acting! :)

    @Immanentize: I really want to believe that. Things making me doubt: the recent SCROTUS ruling I mentioned above (which isn’t a one off with this new court) and the lower federal court packing McConnell has done for the past two years of wholly incompetent Federalist Society approved hacks. But here’s hoping you’re right.

  176. 176.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:35 am

    Damn. There are two more threads up and I want all y’all’s help creating a custom Magic 8 Ball….

    LetO gets first panel:
    Don’t do that!

    I’m adding:
    Really!? NO

    Suggestions? Must be less than 30 characters

  177. 177.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:37 am

    @Leto:
    The lower court packing is bad, but not as bad as people suggest. It is mostly replacement of Republican judges (Reagan, Bush and bush) who retired with some left over Obama slots. Not permanently destructive like the Sup. CT

  178. 178.

    Immanentize

    May 23, 2019 at 10:40 am

    @Leto:

    executive privilege on his returns. I’m surprised he hasn’t done that yet.

    He can’t have this privilege WRT his returns before he was President, and another IRS practice since Nixon requires an audit of sitting Presidents. “I am not a crook….”

  179. 179.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 10:52 am

    @Gin & Tonic: Happiness for both.

  180. 180.

    Citizen Alan

    May 23, 2019 at 10:53 am

    @Immanentize:

    I remember that in the aftermath of Bush v. Gore, once I got over my initial outrage over the decision, I decided it might end up being a good thing. I predicted (correctly) that no one on SCOTUS would leave during Shrub’s first term. And I predicted (correctly) that Shrub and his administration would be utterly incompetent. I thought that after 4 years of incompetent mendacity, “Clinton fatigue” would fade and either Gore or someone else would win easily in 2004. That’s what made 9/11 trutherism so seductive. I never thought that Shrub et al were competent enough to pull off such a conspiracy, but I also never doubted that they would try if it gave them more political power.

    I flirted with anti-vaxxerism during the Bush regime for the same reason. At the time, Andrew Wakefield had not yet been debunked as a fraud. But more importantly, Shrub shut down a lot of FDA testing and put the drug manufacturers on a self-policing program, and it’s not like they wouldn’t be willing to poison children if it were profitable enough.

  181. 181.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 23, 2019 at 10:57 am

    @Immanentize: #1 Don’t fuck it up.
    #2 You’re gonna fuck it up.
    #3 You fucked it up.

  182. 182.

    glory b

    May 23, 2019 at 11:01 am

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: I heard somewhere that Pelosi is looing at Hakeem Jeffries to replace her when she steps down.

  183. 183.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 11:17 am

    @Immanentize: Finally at the coffee shop! I wouldn’t be as worried about the replacements if we didn’t have the Federalist Societies heavy handed/outsized influence. On top of that, recent confirmations like Wendy Vitter (who wouldn’t answer if Brown v Board was correctly decided) goes back to Kay’s point of they’re all the worst quality hires. And she’s not the only one. It’s a troubling pattern that we’ll get to see how they play out over the next 40-50 years (ffs… that is so sad).

    Regarding executive privilege: I know that presidential tax returns since Nixon are mandatory audits, but I expect him to simply claim EP as another stall tactic so the courts can take X amount of time to say, no, that’s incorrect. Stall/delay/obstruct. His professional MO since forever.

    @OzarkHillbilly: That’s a classic NCO mantra that I’ve used before. Perfect! :)

  184. 184.

    raven

    May 23, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    We went to this birthday gig last week and they have a live band with friends doing the singing. This year the theme was “One Hit Wonders” and it was mostly stuff way out of my wheel house/ I vaguely remember “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blonde but the crowd wen nuts and the ladies singing it did too!

    What’s Going on!

    Apparently it is a gay national anthem too!

  185. 185.

    Kristine

    May 23, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: Thanks–I’ll have to give that a shot.

    In other news, the Reply button doesn’t work in Safari/laptop. It hasn’t for a while. If it works/doesn’t work for other folks, I’d love to know.

    In other other news, the “You’re a Winner” ad returned even after clearing cache/cookies.

    That said, happy with whatever the website mavens come up with. The only thing I asked about was notification if someone responded to one of my comments, and that’s a no-go. Other than that, whatever works.

  186. 186.

    J R in WV

    May 23, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    @Leto:

    Also wrt that draft memo in the IRS, I’m still waiting for Trumpov to assert executive privilege on his returns. I’m surprised he hasn’t done that yet.

    I wondered about that, and puzzled at it until I realized it seems impossible, as Trump wasn’t President when all those forms were filed, he was just a cheezy real estate crook! So, no judge will uphold executive privilage for stuff Trump did prior to being inaugurated. Makes sense?

    ETA: I see I’m not the first to suggest that timing issue!

  187. 187.

    Brachiator

    May 23, 2019 at 1:20 pm

    Is that Ivanka as Lady Justice in the editorial cartoon?

  188. 188.

    Leto

    May 23, 2019 at 1:53 pm

    @J R in WV: Very late reply, but I did understand that. I’m simply surprised that he hasn’t pushed through on that regardless. Considering the amount of lawlessness his entire administration is undertaking, simply surprised that he hasn’t tried that. I think most of us here understand why that wouldn’t hold up, but that doesn’t mean he won’t give it the old bone-spur try!

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

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

2023 Pet Calendars

Pet Calendar Preview: A
Pet Calendar Preview: B

*Calendars can not be ordered until Cafe Press gets their calendar paper in.

Recent Comments

  • Ruckus on Saturday Evening Open Thread: A Start Is Made, in Memphis (Jan 29, 2023 @ 12:50am)
  • West of the Rockies on Saturday Evening Open Thread: A Start Is Made, in Memphis (Jan 29, 2023 @ 12:40am)
  • Ruckus on Saturday Evening Open Thread: A Start Is Made, in Memphis (Jan 29, 2023 @ 12:39am)
  • RaflW on Saturday Evening Open Thread: A Start Is Made, in Memphis (Jan 29, 2023 @ 12:24am)
  • YY_Sima Qian on War for Ukraine Day 338: Russia Unloads on Ukraine Again (Jan 29, 2023 @ 12:23am)

Balloon Juice Posts

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

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
Favorite Dogs & Cats
Classified Documents: A Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup

Front-pager Twitter

John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
ActualCitizensUnited

Shop Amazon via this link to support Balloon Juice   

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice Events

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

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

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

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

Email sent!