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You are here: Home / Economics / Free Markets Solve Everything / Repub Venality Open Thread: Rand Paul Stays True to His Principle

Repub Venality Open Thread: Rand Paul Stays True to His Principle

by Anne Laurie|  July 17, 201910:47 pm| 85 Comments

This post is in: Free Markets Solve Everything, Glibertarianism, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republican Venality, All Too Normal, Get Mad You Sons Of Bitches

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I am without words to describe what I would like to say about @RandPaul right now…. https://t.co/fugj3OdzUw

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) July 17, 2019

He has but the one: What’s in it for Rand Paul?

So let me get this straight: @RandPaul has no problem voting for billions in tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, but votes against providing health care for 9/11 first responders because he's worried about the debt.

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) July 17, 2019

Rand Paul *and* Mitch McConnell. WHY, Kentucky?

Shot, chaser pic.twitter.com/SjJS7NjuuT

— Grace Segers (@Grace_Segers) July 17, 2019

Why now?…

I’ll just note that if your secret back channel is being reported in Politico before it starts, then it’s not a secret back channel. https://t.co/dZFXpQgLk8

— Tamara Cofman Wittes (@tcwittes) July 17, 2019

Big Brothers outing. pic.twitter.com/hKLuru2KC4

— Schooley (@Rschooley) July 15, 2019

#StartImpeachmentHearingsNow

??Follow the money pic.twitter.com/gvEYY3wYyQ

— yvette (@LTgoldengurl) July 18, 2019

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Reader Interactions

85Comments

  1. 1.

    Nicole

    July 17, 2019 at 10:55 pm

    I’m sure it’s just because Jon Stewart didn’t yell at him for awhile first.

  2. 2.

    Mike in NC

    July 17, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    Stone cold losers!

  3. 3.

    rikyrah

    July 17, 2019 at 11:06 pm

    Paul is nothing but a punk azz bytch??

  4. 4.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 17, 2019 at 11:07 pm

    @Nicole: well, I understand St Stewart eviscerated Rand, so… that’ll show him

    at least Our Hipster Broder finally noticed there’s a difference between the two parties

    maybe

  5. 5.

    rikyrah

    July 17, 2019 at 11:08 pm

    Oh,
    And Paul wouldn’t have done it without the Turtle’s approval???

  6. 6.

    Ohio Mom

    July 17, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    As an expat New Yorker, I was astonished after 9/11 when everyone around me here in Ohio seemed to be claiming my hometown’s tragedy as their own. They’d never shown anything but antipathy to New York before.

    Well that act is clearly over, has been for a while actually.

  7. 7.

    Jay

    July 17, 2019 at 11:29 pm

    If 100,000 people stormed a governors mansion on the mainland it would be front page if 100,000 people stormed right up to a governors mansion on the mainland it would be front-page news everywhere. And the top story.— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 18, 2019

  8. 8.

    Timurid

    July 17, 2019 at 11:32 pm

    His neighbor should have taken a few more swings with that shovel before walking away…

  9. 9.

    Elizabelle

    July 17, 2019 at 11:38 pm

    WaPost by Paul Farhi: CNN has stepped in it again, but good. Exhibit 900 of why I don’t watch that network.

    Just a random group of ‘Republicans’? CNN doesn’t tell the whole story about a Trump-loving panel

    The seemingly random group of eight women were, in fact, members of an organized group dedicated to promoting Trump. The group calls itself the Trumpettes of America 2019 Palm Beach Team, although CNN and correspondent Randi Kaye didn’t mention anything about such a group. Nor did the anchors, including Anderson Cooper, who introduced Kaye’s report.

    The network simply identified the panelists individually, with their names appearing on screen next to the word “Republican.” Kaye also gave no hint that the women knew one another and had a common cause.

    As a result, the segment left the impression that CNN had assembled a panel reflecting a cross-section of opinion from Republican women about the crossfire between Trump and four freshmen Democratic congresswomen of color,

    …. The network also didn’t mention that the Trumpettes have been interviewed on CNN twice before, and that they came up reliably in support of Trump on those occasions, too.

    O’Briant and fellow Trumpette Peaches McGuire Coates appeared on CNN in September when they commented favorably on Republican Sen. Ted Cruz’s reelection campaign. In that segment, CNN identified them as members of a group called Texas Women for Trump Coalition.

    In January of last year, Kaye interviewed O’Briant, Miller and Coates for a piece that preceded Trump’s State of the Union speech. The interviews were pegged to headlines about his alleged affair with porn actress Stormy Daniels and revelations that he paid her to keep quiet about it. Their affiliation wasn’t mentioned then, either.

    … Neither Kaye nor CNN’s representatives responded to multiple requests for comment on Wednesday.

    CNN’s lack of disclosure about the Trumpette group is “a fraud on the viewer,” Edward Wasserman, dean of the University of California at Berkeley journalism school, said in an interview. He suggested that the network concealed the identity of the group to cover up the lack of news value in the interview and to provide “something that looks like balance” in the face of Trump’s criticism that CNN is anti-Trump.

    The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics advises journalists to provide proper context for news stories and to “Take special care not to misrepresent or oversimplify in promoting, previewing or summarizing a story.” It also says: “Identify sources clearly. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to judge the reliability and motivations of sources.”

    For shame. I hope CNN comes clean; also that they fire Randy Kaye’s ass.

  10. 10.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 17, 2019 at 11:38 pm

    Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen17 hours ago
    Trump’s premeditated racism is central to his 2020 strategy

    Adam Serwer ? @ AdamSerwer
    When writers of color said this in 2016, white reporters across the political spectrum got huffy and offended on behalf of diner interviewees everywhere. Now everyone basically accepts it as a given, including those who use crappy euphemisms to describe it

  11. 11.

    Chetan Murthy

    July 17, 2019 at 11:39 pm

    @Jay: In the replies I found this tweet. And thought to myself: -what-? What does this guy want? Independence? He clearly doesn’t want statehood.

    That's why #RickyRenuncia must be just the beginning. All politicians who support colonialism, or statehood (which is just joining the colonizer), plus those who think "the status isn't an issue" must be politically rejected.— Alberto Medina (@AlbertoMedinaPR) July 18, 2019

  12. 12.

    Redshift

    July 17, 2019 at 11:39 pm

    @Ohio Mom:

    Well that act is clearly over, has been for a while actually.

    They stood in solidarity with the idea of New York. The actual city and its actual people, not so much.

    Kind of the same way they love America while despising the majority of Americans.

  13. 13.

    patrick II

    July 17, 2019 at 11:51 pm

    Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me.

  14. 14.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 17, 2019 at 11:55 pm

    @Elizabelle: that whole mess

    “It’s a demonstration of how their ideology spills over, even though they’re American now — so to speak — they’re not acting American,” Kathleen Lieberman chimed in.

    “now… so to speak”. No record in this account of Kaye pushing back at all.

    Miller flipped the question stating, “Why are they not racist? How come they haven’t befriended one of their white, female, congresswoman colleagues?”
    “Because they won’t,” one of the Republicans said. “That’s a good point,” another added.
    “Because they don’t like white people,” Miller concluded. “They’re racist.”

    The… um…. you know… evidence that they don’t have any white friends? wouldn’t a reporter might could ask that?

    ETA: As obnoxious as Stewart became after he appointed himself the Bipartisan Celebrity Guardian of 9/11, TDS in its prime would have roasted those trash

  15. 15.

    The Dangerman

    July 17, 2019 at 11:55 pm

    Without my glasses on, when Trump gives his standard “thumbs up” sign at crotch level, my first thoughts are “damn, he’s finally let little Donnie loose and DAMN its…”

  16. 16.

    Jay

    July 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm

    @Chetan Murthy:

    There has been a movement for Puerto Rician Independence since it was made a US Colony.

    In the wake of fiscal/economic strip mining of Puerto Rico since the 1930’s and most recently, the Vampire Capitalism/Crony Capitalism from the mid-80’s on, the Hurricane, and the mining of aid monies, demands for Independence have grown.

    As the aftermath of the hurricane has shown many, even a broke, destitute Puerto Rico offers rich opportunities for US “looting”, and so, Puerto Rico will never be granted Statehood, so it’s a dead path.

  17. 17.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 12:04 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Those women are so appalling. Shame on CNN for giving them a forum, and disguising that they are an organized group, of sorts, some of whom are frequently interviewed. For “balance.”

    ETA: Newsweek link, with the Trumpettes in full idiocy. Randi Kaye does push back but, hey, she set up the segment.

    https://www.newsweek.com/trump-supporting-texas-women-squad-doesnt-like-white-people-racist-1449764

  18. 18.

    Mandalay

    July 18, 2019 at 12:07 am

    Trump has to be standing on something (Mick Mulvaney?) in that golf picture. Graham and Paul are certainly small men, but are they really that much shorter than their master?

  19. 19.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 12:16 am

    @The Dangerman: That’ll teach ya to wear your glasses.

  20. 20.

    trollhattan

    July 18, 2019 at 12:19 am

    Can we please fire Kentucky now?

    Just sayin’.

  21. 21.

    Omnes Omnibus

    July 18, 2019 at 12:20 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: I don’t know about that. Will he actually need the glasses after gouging his eyes out with a melon-baller?^

    *I may be going out on a bit of a limb here, but I presume that is the natural response to seeing what he thought he saw.

  22. 22.

    Villago Delenda Est

    July 18, 2019 at 12:22 am

    @Redshift: DING DING DING DING DING

  23. 23.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 12:26 am

    A good, long must read at LGM,

    http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2019/07/summer-vacation-in-an-age-of-concentration-camps-part-1

  24. 24.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 12:26 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Point taken, I was thinking as more of protective measure.

  25. 25.

    Ruckus

    July 18, 2019 at 12:29 am

    They are republicans.
    There is only one first. And in the case of republicans it isn’t country. It’s the jackass they see in the mirror every morning. Nothing else, no one else. It’s why they take everything personal, because everything is routed through me, Me, ME, FUCKING ME. Anyone who doesn’t look like them, hate like them, isn’t selfish like them, has an ounce of empathy for their fellow man – gets thrown in the trash because they blur that fucking vision in the mirror every morning. Anyone who has the smallest iota of humanity left makes them look like the shit stains they are.
    Refuckingpublicans.

  26. 26.

    TS (the original)

    July 18, 2019 at 12:29 am

    @Mandalay: They are standing down a slope – and trump smiling looks even more ghastly than trump scowling

  27. 27.

    Mai Naem mobile

    July 18, 2019 at 12:45 am

    I think Trumpov is freaking out because of the Epstein stuff. Epstein must have had tapes or something. Probably used it to get money from the Russians. The thing is seeing the clips from his Nazi Rally tonight, even if there’s an Epstein tape with Trumpov in the actual act of doing something his supporters would probably say that 14 year old kid wanted it.

  28. 28.

    NotMax

    July 18, 2019 at 12:45 am

    @Mandalay

    Where’s one of the storied Florida sinkholes when we need it?

  29. 29.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 12:46 am

    On the bright side, an informal poll method I use is cross spectrum Editorial Cartoons.

    19:25 new cartoons at The Week are ripping Trump and the Concentration Camps, 4:25 Epstein and Unequal Justice, one, the Democratic Party.

  30. 30.

    PJ

    July 18, 2019 at 12:47 am

    @Jay: If I recall correctly, every referendum in Puerto Rico regarding independence has failed (in the last referendum, which had low turnout, the vast majority apparently wanted statehood.) I understand that this is a complicated subject, and has been exacerbated by Trump treating Puerto Ricans as literal second class citizens, but what makes you think that there is a strong movement for independence? (BTW, way back in the dinosaur days of the 1990s, there was some discussion that the only way DC (extremely Democratic) would be admitted as a state was if Puerto Rico, presumably Republican, would be admitted at the same time, but why PR was assumed to be Republican was unclear to me.)

  31. 31.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    July 18, 2019 at 1:04 am

    No wonder his neighbors put him in the hospital.

  32. 32.

    eldorado

    July 18, 2019 at 1:08 am

    fortunately pelosi will be out front providing leadership via investigations and hearings singling out the future of the party for abuse.

  33. 33.

    RobertDSC-Mac Mini

    July 18, 2019 at 1:10 am

    I and a couple of friends play the online portion of Grand Theft Auto 5. We are peaceful players who don’t interfere with other people trying to do their jobs and make money.

    Today was different. A player with a username that was a clear supporter of Orange, down to the 45 clan tag, started a job in our server. So my teammates and I attacked him, stole the money from his job, and then killed his character several times before blowing up his vehicles.

    We then exited the server laughing. Fuck 45 and anyone who supports him.

  34. 34.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:13 am

    @eldorado: Sure, there’s no hearings going on at all, in any committee.

  35. 35.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 1:18 am

    @PJ:

    The Choices that have been on offer, are Statehood, Free Association, Current Status.

    Never Independence.

    Statehood always wins, by a large margin, on as much as 23% registered voter turnout.

    And if you think Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are voter repressed and jerrymandered, you ain’t seen nothin when it comes to Puerto Rico.

  36. 36.

    Steve in the ATL

    July 18, 2019 at 1:18 am

    @Jay:

    A good, long must read at LGM

    Are we playing Jeopardy? I’ll go with “what phrase hasn’t been uttered since 2008?”

  37. 37.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:21 am

    @Steve in the ATL: lol

  38. 38.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 1:22 am

    Ali Alexander, Jacob Wohl, and Laura Loomer have been working to get the story to Trump for months. Ali recently went to the White House social media summit, and is now taking credit for Trump mentioning it today. I have a whole thread on Ali stuff. https://t.co/0zG35xDLwZ— Onesecondname (@Onesecondname) July 17, 2019

    Now we know where the Omar CT Dolt45 threw out came from.

    Ali Alexander, Jacob Wohl, and Laura Loomer.

  39. 39.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 1:26 am

    @Steve in the ATL:

    It’s an article about not taking a long summer vacation with his family and instead, as a tenured National Security Researcher and Professor, going down to the border with his family and working with existing Orgs to try to do something.

    Glad you find that mock worthy.

  40. 40.

    plato

    July 18, 2019 at 1:30 am

    Didn’t robert reich and his ilk constantly kneecap Obama ‘from the left and hold his feet to the fire’ without actually trying to rally support and improve his legislative goals? Fuck him and his whining now, after having enabled the totus thug, the turtle thug and all other thugs.

    Also. Too. Fuck bj’s stackpathcdn crap.

  41. 41.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 1:31 am

    And the pro-impeachment count on the Democratic Party side goes to 95 plus one Independent.

    NEWS: The House killed Rep. Green's articles of impeachment — but 95 Democrats voted against sidelining the measure, a new high watermark.https://t.co/1I1Qva32A6— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) July 17, 2019

  42. 42.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:34 am

    @Jay: It’s probably a bit higher than 95, some voted against the measure because the contents of the articles. Then again, it’s not 218.

  43. 43.

    plato

    July 18, 2019 at 1:35 am

    Christian family fined after arguing taxes ‘against God’s will’

    A Christian family who refused to pay income tax because it went “against God’s will” have been ordered to pay more than A$2m (£1.1m $1.4m) to Australia’s tax office.

    Rembertus Cornelis Beerepoot and Fanny Alida Beerepoot, of Tasmania, had not paid income tax since 2011.

    Their farm was seized and sold by their local council in 2017 after they failed to pay seven years-worth of rates.

    Ms Beerepoot told the court: “We don’t own anything because we are [God’s].”

    The siblings represented themselves in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Wednesday, after they failed to pay some $930,000 in income tax and other charges in 2017, ABC News reports.

    In his judgement, Associate Justice Stephen Holt said that while he believed the Beerepoots’ beliefs to be genuinely held rather, he said there was no specific reference in the Bible to support their argument.

    “In my view, the Bible effectively said that civil matters and the law of God operate in two different spheres.”

    The siblings were ordered to pay similar sums – Ms Beerepoot A$1.17m and Mr Beereport A$1.16m – to cover “income tax, administrative penalties and general interest charges” and other costs, court documents show.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49017512

  44. 44.

    Aleta

    July 18, 2019 at 1:37 am

    @Jay: Thanks. Here’s her twitter. (Today she travelled to El Paso, quotes conversations she had with people along the way about child concentration camps.)

    Ex:
    Charli Carpenter @charlicarpenter

    At the ATL travel shop while buying gum:

    “Would you like to make a donation to the troops?”

    “Not today, all my donations right now are going to those child refugees we’ve got locked up in detention.”

    “God bless you honey, you know in 2020 we gon throw that fool out!”

  45. 45.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:41 am

    @plato: “Render unto Caesar…”

  46. 46.

    Martin

    July 18, 2019 at 1:44 am

    @plato:

    Rembertus Cornelis Beerepoot

    Shit, I named my kids wrong.

  47. 47.

    eldorado

    July 18, 2019 at 1:45 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: and what is pelosi out in front of the media (old or new) selling? hint. it’s not impeachment or hearings or the full scale emergency that trump is merely a symptom of.

  48. 48.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:49 am

    @eldorado: Nancy can count.

  49. 49.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 1:51 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    It’s up by 24 in less than a week.

    Overton Window.

    218 is what is needed when the Articles of Impeachment come back from the Justice Commitee.

  50. 50.

    plato

    July 18, 2019 at 1:51 am

    hoo cudda thunk?

    The UK will have to “face the consequences” if it opts to leave without a deal, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has said.

    Michel Barnier told BBC Panorama the thrice-rejected agreement negotiated by Theresa May was the “only way to leave the EU in an orderly manner”.

    He also insisted Mrs May and her ministers “never” told him during Brexit talks she might opt for no deal.

    In his first UK broadcast interview – conducted in May before the start of the Conservative leadership contest – Mr Barnier was asked what would happen if the UK “just tore up the membership card” for the EU.

    “The UK will have to face the consequences,” he replied.

  51. 51.

    eldorado

    July 18, 2019 at 1:52 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: like i said, no leadership.

  52. 52.

    Jay

    July 18, 2019 at 1:55 am

    @Aleta:

    Thanks, I’ll add it to my twitter.

  53. 53.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:56 am

    @Jay: That’s incorrect, you need 218* to refer it to Judiciary.

    * That was what happened in both the Nixon and Clinton impeachments, if you are aware of any pertinent rule changes…

  54. 54.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 1:58 am

    @eldorado: So she should publicly get out ahead of her caucus? Ah no.

  55. 55.

    Omnes Omnibus

    July 18, 2019 at 1:59 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Oh yippee, we have firebaggers again.

  56. 56.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 2:02 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Yup, chasing unicorns.

  57. 57.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 2:03 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: They be tiresome.

  58. 58.

    Aleta

    July 18, 2019 at 2:04 am

    @Jay: Here’s her past description of her work, research, teaching up through her first few years at UMass, I think. (Maybe not updated–goes at least to 2011.) https://people.umass.edu/charli/docs/statement.pdf
    Small piece of the intro:

    Norm-­building in the area of “human security” takes people-­centered global governance as its frame of reference, and is characterized by global policy-­making that cuts across several IR issue areas: human rights, international security, and sustainable development. I have been interested in how governance is emerging (and where it is not emerging) in this cluster of issue areas, particularly weapons norms and the laws of war. Over the next several years, I anticipate a continued research agenda on global security norm formation, enforcement and change.

    My contribution to the field so far has been twofold. First, I have contributed to the generation of empirical data on a number of understudied phenomena: gender-­based violence against civilian men and boys, children born as a result of wartime sexual violence, and emerging norm entrepreneurship in areas such as weapons and the protection of civilians. Much of my work has been driven by an interest in what is falling between the cracks as human security advocates mobilize to generate governance in the areas of war law and human rights. By exploring what is hidden or ignored, I have worked to expand our understanding of social conditions meriting human security policy-­‐‑ making.

  59. 59.

    Ruckus

    July 18, 2019 at 2:09 am

    @eldorado:
    We are democrats. We have minds, We are not soul less jackasses. And Nancy Pelosi is a leader, a very good one. But this is politics and not every one agrees with you. We have souls and morals and want him out but that’s not how this works. Impeachment will fail because after the house does all it’s business, it goes to the senate. And it will sit there unanswered or voted down if McConnell knows he has the votes. And if he doesn’t there will never be a vote called and Trump just won and won big. Being a leader means you have to asses the situation and do the best you can. You don’t have to like it, you don’t have to agree with it, but you do the best you can. She is, regardless that you have no balls to wait. And even if she had the votes and could start the impeachment process, it may be the wrong thing to do because it will make some of the burn it down assholes on the right even more pissed off. Make them do things that if you want you are a fucking moron. We are in a fight for our lives and we don’t have the power position. And it isn’t because of Nancy Pelosi. And if you can’t see that, that’s on you, not on the rest of us. We shouldn’t have to suffer because you have no idea how this works or how it doesn’t work. Grow up and learn how this works, and how it doesn’t work. This is a political process and politics is broken in this county. 70+ million people voted for the shit stain sitting in our house. Or at least that was the count.
    Just another aside. A leader does not always jump head first into the fire, or run screaming into the line of fire of a machine gun. That is a last resort, not a first response.

  60. 60.

    Gemina13

    July 18, 2019 at 2:13 am

    Lee and Paul both need to be defenestrated – Pazzi style.

  61. 61.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 2:15 am

    @Ruckus: Thank you, Ruckus. Very well said.

  62. 62.

    Heywood J.

    July 18, 2019 at 2:20 am

    @Elizabelle: CNN and its sponsors should be boycotted every bit as much as Fox.

  63. 63.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 2:23 am

    @Ruckus: Well said.

  64. 64.

    Aleta

    July 18, 2019 at 2:27 am

    @eldorado: The media isn’t giving a full picture of Pelosi. Or AOC. And they prefer to cover the tension, because they can headline it as “fighting.” They’ve made a picture of Pelosi doing very little. They’re after views and comments; they’re shallow that way.

  65. 65.

    Ruckus

    July 18, 2019 at 2:51 am

    @Elizabelle:
    @?BillinGlendaleCA:
    Thank you.
    Not my best work but I’m just about done. At this time we have all this “information” floating by, being rammed down our throats, shoveled one cow patty at a time. And it’s all full of bullshit and misinformation and people jump on a the bandwagon ready for who the fuck knows.
    I have no idea if this is the beginning of the end of this country or the formation of a better nation. Or neither. But one thing I do know that rushing this process will not work, and will make it worse, quite possibly far worse. I’m tired of those that want to burn it down so we can start it all over, and who the fuck is going to do that? I’m tired of fucking republicans who think that nirvana is right around the corner. It might actually be but it will always be out of reach, because we are humans and we are all flawed. Some are flawed far, far more than their share. Hell some are flawed far more than all of our shares put together. We all have our own issues, some that can be fixed and some that are just life. I got a reprieve about a month ago and really it made/makes little difference in my life. I’m trending old, I’m tired, I can’t retire yet. I’d like to sit on my ass and just enjoy life a bit. Life has told me to fuck myself and that I have no say at all. OK fine, I’ll play along, I’m looking for another 25, just to fuck with life.
    But then politics happens with people being actively stupid, and the information is readily available and that is just fucking untenable.

  66. 66.

    Heywood J.

    July 18, 2019 at 3:04 am

    The question of whether or not to impeach keeps getting discussed as if it’s the flick of a switch, a brief act culminating in a quick result. The process of investigation into whether or not there is even enough evidence to impeach will take months. Why not start that process now? The Mueller report pointed to a number of areas that can be more thoroughly investigated, with subpoenas and letters that cannot just be tossed aside and laughed at, and are bound to turn the tide. Already half the public wants this, and that will only increase once more evidence drops. There is no reason not to begin that investigative process soon, and after tonight’s antics, it should be clear that waiting for next year’s election to sort out the wrongdoing would be a mistake. He just gave you next year’s campaign with another handy three-word chant.

    @Ruckus:

    And even if she had the votes and could start the impeachment process, it may be the wrong thing to do because it will make some of the burn it down assholes on the right even more pissed off. Make them do things that if you want you are a fucking moron.

    Yeah, they’re already being goaded into violent racist rhetoric. That is only going to increase, regardless of whether or not impeachment proceeds. Either we have a government institution which has the power and the obligation to counter the corruption and criminality of these people, or we don’t. And hell, maybe we don’t after all. But that’s how it’s supposed to work.

    70+ million people voted for the shit stain sitting in our house. Or at least that was the count.

    No, the count was 62.9 million votes for the shit stain, and 65.8 million votes against. For every booger-eating base idiot he’s managed to rile up, he’s motivated another person against him and everything he stands for. They showed up last November. There was a “blue wave,” it was in all the papers and everything. This was a mandate for action, and in fact there are investigations taking place. So maybe the Democratic leadership just needs to do a better job of marketing their efforts, or learning how to stoke their own base as effectively as the shit stain does his.

    The noble integritude of the independent-minded jackass will make a fine epitaph. Because these fuckers are more than happy to cheat and bully their way through this, and bury you with your integrity. I really do hope that Pelosi is as smart and effective as you think she is, but at the very least, she needs to get on offense and drill home the message that this lawless administration will be held accountable. It’s not just Trump, but Barr should be impeached as well. Democratic politicians need to start publicly shaming their Republican “colleagues,” over and over and over again ’til the rube on the street can sing it in three-part harmony — or chant it back at a rally.

  67. 67.

    eldorado

    July 18, 2019 at 3:08 am

    i understand how this works. i’ve been on this blog as long as anyone and tut-tuting me about the art of possible isn’t as inspiring a message as you might think. pelosi screwed up here, big time.

  68. 68.

    Heywood J.

    July 18, 2019 at 3:11 am

    @eldorado: Well, she did clarify that it wasn’t Trump who was racist, you see, just the words in his tweets. So there’s that important distinction. It would take a heart of stone to not be electorally motivated by such nuanced reasoning. Talkin’ ’bout a resolution!

  69. 69.

    Amir Khalid

    July 18, 2019 at 3:16 am

    @plato:
    The EU has tired of making polite but futile requests that Britain start taking its own political process seriously, and is now exacting that Britain do so.

  70. 70.

    JWR

    July 18, 2019 at 3:18 am

    @Heywood J.:

    The process of investigation into whether or not there is even enough evidence to impeach will take months. Why not start that process now?

    Because, as Andrew Card told the media back in 2002,

    ”From a marketing point of view,” said Andrew H. Card Jr., the White House chief of staff who is coordinating the effort, ”you don’t introduce new products in August.”

    From where I sit, the Mueller hearings next week will be the opening salvo towards impeachment. I fully expect much more on this front in the coming months, but if Pelosi miscalculates about when to pull the trigger, it’s game over. Others on here have said much the same far more eloquently than I just have, but there you go.

  71. 71.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 3:19 am

    @Ruckus: It is enervating. I step away, a lot, because we are in a marathon.

    I think there are a lot of bad actors out there, and a lot of attention whores and click bait purveyors. I think a lot of people are nerved out, and scared.

    I am also sure that there is a lot going on behind the scenes, with Pelosi and all the House committees.

  72. 72.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 3:21 am

    @eldorado:

    the art of possible isn’t as inspiring a message as you might think

    It’s called reality.

  73. 73.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 3:24 am

    @JWR: Right now, Pelosi doesn’t have the 218 votes needed to send a referral to Judiciary. There may be 125 votes right now.

  74. 74.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 3:30 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: And those votes will increase. Patience, grasshoppers. (Not directed at you — I know you are one of the reality-based.)

    Lot can happen to put enormous pressure on Trump. The Epstein case has him rattled, and is just getting started. If you’re not a Republican, you have likely noticed a lot of the public corruption that is being unearthed, daily.

    I don’t think Trump can stonewall forever on not providing his tax returns. His ties to Russia, directly or indirectly, and shady financiers will come to light.

    Lot has to play out.

  75. 75.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 3:45 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Not directed at you — I know you are one of the reality-based.

    I’m also old enough to remember the Nixon impeachment. A wise man once said “it was 2 years and change from the break-in at Watergate to Nixon’s resignation”*.

    * He also said “Patience Grasshopper”.

  76. 76.

    JWR

    July 18, 2019 at 3:46 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Exactly. I just don’t get all the “Impeach. Right. NOW!” people. At some point I’ll be getting far more antsy than I am right now, but I’m all for a slow, very precise rollout on the Impeachment thing.

  77. 77.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 3:47 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: I think he also said “fuck ’em” ??

  78. 78.

    Elizabelle

    July 18, 2019 at 3:49 am

    @JWR: Yup. Ducks in a row, whites of their eyes, all that. Not just theatrics.

  79. 79.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    July 18, 2019 at 4:00 am

    @Elizabelle: Yeah, he said that alot.

  80. 80.

    Sloane Ranger

    July 18, 2019 at 4:29 am

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: In the spirit of absolute fairness, Anderson Cooper did ask how she knew the Congresswoman had no white friends immediately after the segment ended.

  81. 81.

    Mel

    July 18, 2019 at 4:36 am

    @The Dangerman: So relieved that I’m not the only person who experienced that stomach turning moment of confusion. So sorry that either one of us had to experience it!

    It did seem disturbingly possible upon first glance that the thumb was an entirely different part of his hideous skin suit.

    I need brain bleach and pictures of ducks and kittens, stat.

  82. 82.

    Heywood J.

    July 18, 2019 at 10:08 am

    @JWR: Agree with all of that. But it also seems that if the ball isn’t at least starting to roll by Labor Day, it may also be game over. The monsters are moving more quickly and with more aggression. Think about how things looked six months ago or a year ago versus where we are now.

    Another example: nobody knew who Ilhan Omar was a year ago. Six months in office and Fox and Trump have turned her into the 20th hijacker, with her married to her brother to top it all off. (Especially rich coming from a guy who is on video and audio multiple times “joking” about how he’d like to bang his daughter.) I fear for where she’ll be in another year. So I hope Pelosi has something ready to put in motion besides another meaningless resolution. It would be awful for us all to be looking back in July 2020, wishing that something more had been done.

    Impeach Barr now. Distribute lists of Fox and CNN sponsors, and put them on blast for boycott. Etc., etc. Fuck these people.

  83. 83.

    Lynno

    July 18, 2019 at 11:05 am

    Mercy. If Paul’s trip to Iran is as successful as his trip to Howard Univ, then Iran’s nuke will be completed before he gets back in the USA.

  84. 84.

    J R in WV

    July 18, 2019 at 3:04 pm

    @Sloane Ranger:

    In the spirit of absolute fairness, Anderson Cooper did ask how she knew the Congresswoman had no white friends immediately after the segment ended.

    She’s got one white friend right in in rural WV, we’ve contributed to her in her run last election and will again for her next run. Putting our money where our mouth is.

    Trumpettes indeed, I was using that as a slur for Trump supporters a while back, guess if they’re stupid enough to call themselves that, I’ll have to find a better slur. Damned fools is accurate but not pungent enough…

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