Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

The willow is too close to the house.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

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

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

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

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

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

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

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

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

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61Comments

  3. 3.

    joel hanes

    @Mike in DC:

    [Wearily]

    Speaker Pelose is the public face of the problem, not the problem itself.
    She has, at last report, maybe 150 votes for impeachment.
    It takes 218.

    Call your Representatives and Senators and demand impeachment and conviction.
    Especially if they have not yet publicly come out for impeachment.

    And if you’re from Massachusett’s First District, please call Rep. Neal and tell him that you’re getting pretty impatient with the pace of his committee.

  7. 7.

    Raoul

    She is frustrating.
    But every DC reporter (and, by now, several big city daily reporters from outside the fever swamp) should be regularly asking Repubican senators to comment on why they are not upset about this.
    Make em squirm. Repeatedly.

  8. 8.

    Chetan Murthy

    @joel hanes:

    And if you’re from Massachusett’s First District, please call Rep. Neal and tell him that you’re getting pretty impatient with the pace of his committee.

    I’m in Pelosi’s district, but I got so pissed-off I called his office a couple of times to complain. Also called Pelosi’s office for good measure. Quite sure it did nothing, but can’t hurt.

  9. 9.

    tomtofa

    Also march on the swing state Reps who oppose it
    Conor Lamb (Pa.)
    Josh Gottheimer (N.J.)
    Andy Kim (N.J.)
    Colin Allred (Texas)
    Mikie Sherrill (N.J.)
    etc.
    And the red state Dems
    (many)

    Pelosi could push harder, but she’s not that popular; she’s really not that popular in the reds. Tough dilemma. It could make the whole idea even more objectionable to the many independents who oppose it. If she pushes it through, T would use the Senate’s dismissal and the subsequent controversy from then until the election, smothering any any other issues or messages that try to arise.

    An ongoing, formal investigation, on the other hand, with frequent reminders of past law breaking and maybe some new things unearthed might be a nice way to spend the next year. Our candidate could mostly ignore it, instead promoting a vision of a better future, while T emotionally just couldn’t.

  11. 11.

    joel hanes

    I’ve had several good bosses, and several bad bosses.

    And I’ve been in situations where upper management was unhappy with the pace or direction or resultsz of my team’s work, because upper management did not understand the situation on the ground.

    The bad bosses were transparent both directions, allowing us to feel the heat and giving upper management the detailed situational stuff that enabled them to micromanage and jerk leashes. Careers and lives were damaged. And livers.

    The good bosses took the heat for the team, protected the team members while calmly, quietly redirecting and adjusting, and sometimes the good bosses suffered for it.

    Pelosi’s visibly taking the heat and protecting her people.
    I don’t know for a fact that she’s trying to bring them along behind the scenes, but it’s what I’d guess.

    I’m frustrated too, just as the engineering VP who was upset that we weren’t doing the impossible and achieving 99% or greater utilization of the expensive EDA tool licenses was frustrated. He was a good VP in many ways, but in this, he was wrong and destructive because he didn’t understand the situation and apparently could not be made to understand.

  14. 14.

    Mike in DC

    @joel hanes:
    That’s fair. The national security angle gives wavering centrist/red district Dems a way to justify voting for a formal impeachment inquiry. Push the number up by 5 a week while Nadler noodles around, until you get to 220 or so, then hold the formal vote to convert it all into a full impeachment proceeding. And Steny Hoyer needs to shut the hell up. They need to understand that the new information does, in fact, change the political calculus, because the motherfucker has no intention of playing by the rules in 2020, either, and the whole shebang is at stake. “Trust the process” only works if you fucking use the process when it’s absolutely called for.

  15. 15.

    piratedan

    @joel hanes: ty Joel, appreciate someone saying out loud what is the most likely cause of what is actually taking place. Pelosi is taking the heat because that’s what the leader does but she’s not gonna push for a vote until she has them in hand. I also would not rule out the possibility that there are a few Dems just as bought as the GOP is, although who they might be is open for speculation, my guess would be among those unconvinced of trusting the impeachment process for “reasons”.

    I get the frustration and animosity and as usual, the vast majority of the media framing is unsympathetic to Dems, as usual. They get asked the hard questions as to why and the GOP gets nary a question about how they can continue to support someone so obviously corrupt and unfit for office, its as if they never have any agency for all of the heinous shit that they do and its apparent the great unspoken that its always on Dems to clean up the mess while the GOP and the media get to criticize how its being done.

    It also doesn’t help that damn near all reporting is done within the GOP frame, regardless of whatever the fuck that it is. Christ, Dems can’t even have their own debate without the GOP talking points being the goddamn questions.

  16. 16.

    Ruckus

    @joel hanes:
    I been in different situations but same concept works. A bad boss screws everyone. A good boss is a bulkhead against the onslaught of bullshit that every job has, both directions. A bad boss does everything to screw his charges and in doing so screws upstairs as well and no one comes out looking good. I’m so lucky that I learned this the easy way from my dad, before I had to later on, the hard way.

  17. 17.

    TS (the original)

    @piratedan:

    It also doesn’t help that damn near all reporting is done within the GOP frame

    And how – current Wapo Headings

    Trump’s Ukraine call reveals a president convinced of his own invincibility – trump the invincible
    Ukrainian leaders feel trapped between warring Washington factions – both sides
    Democrats hate Trump’s plan for homelessness. But it’s their plan, too. – trump’s great plan
    Should U.S. troops put their lives on the line for Saudi Arabia? – must be some reason why young Americans are sent to die in SA
    Trump has done plenty to warrant impeachment. But the Ukraine allegations are over the top. – he’s just not that bad

    My suggestions

    The Ukraine call has to bring about impeachment
    Ukraine leaders are scared to speak the truth about trump
    Trump is attacking California – there are more homeless in New York
    US troops should not be going to SA
    About Ukraine – ITMFA

  18. 18.

    Ruckus

    I’m one of those people who think the timing is the biggest problem for NP. Go all in too early and without enough support and you don’t look good, you look stupid and screw the entire process.
    @Major Major Major Major:
    I agree.

    Speaker Pelose is the public face of the problem, not the problem itself.

    The old adage, timing is everything is only half right here. The other half is support. And it isn’t us that’s the support problem. It’s the people who half to vote on it, whose careers are on the line. That shouldn’t be the case but it always is. And always will be. Survival is a very strong instinct.

  19. 19.

    frosty

    @joel hanes: Absolutely! A good boss shields his team from management craziness, but also lets them know when it’s not craziness and tells them what they need to do to stay off the radar. I’ve been lucky enough to have a few of these.

  20. 20.

    joel hanes

    @Mike in DC:

    And Steny Hoyer needs to shut the hell up.

    So say we all.

    Also, one could wish that Schumer was a better leader.
    But you go to Constitutional crisis with the minority leader you have, not with the one you can imagine.

  23. 23.

    prostratedragon

    @joel hanes: I’ve been thinking for some time that this was true, but there has to be a way to increase the pressure without making it all about Pelosi. Put it in terms of the need for Congress to act with urgency, and for the public to support them by understanding the damage the man is doing by stealing the government.

  25. 25.

    hervevillechaizelounge

    It pains me to speak ill of Nancy but I’m starting to believe history is going to view her as the second coming of Neville Chamberlain.

    The democrats’ longtime appeasement strategy has led us to a terrible place.

  28. 28.

    Baud

    Interesting. The garden thread has been up since for about two hours but doesn’t appear on the main nonmobile website page. Poor rikyrah has insomnia and has been posting tweets there for a couple of hours.

    ETA: And just as I post this, it appears.

  30. 30.

    Rihilism

    I support Nancy Pelosi but god dammit the Democrats and Repubs FIRST duty is to protect the constitution! The Repubs don’t give a shit but this “political calculation” and “the votes aren’t there” bullshit from the house Democrats is just as dangerous from the standpoint that it gives Trump free reign and may ultimately lead to a significant number of Democratic voters staying home, especially in the red districts where they need every vote they can get. And I’m sorry, but this idea that congressional investigations alone without the threat of impeachment will keep the public riveted and will build support for impeachment assumes that people are paying attention and ignores what Trump and the MSM have been doing for the last three years which is playing both sides and muddying the waters. It also assumes that the other side is acting in good faith, reeks of “4th dimensional chess”, and hasn’t exactly gone too well so far.

    I plan on voting for anyone with a “D” after their name, but the Democrats desire to maintain and expand their majority at the expense of their constitutional duty may in fact lead to them lose that majority. What Trump has already admitted in leaks to the WSJ is already enough for impeachment regardless of what the whistleblower has to say. Fer christsakes, how many times can Trump shit on the constitution before the Democrats stop writing sternly written tweets and do something. Biden is not my first pick, but he’s already been politically damaged by having to respond to a discredited conspiracy which muddies the waters and makes low info voters ask “what’s the deal with Biden?” (Fuck You Ken Vogel and the MSM!). How many more Democratic contenders need to be damaged before the congressional Democrats act and if the Democrats lose their majority AND the presidency due to inaction, what the fuck are we supposed to do then?

  31. 31.

    Zinsky

    I had to Google the meaning of “ITMFA” but I couldn’t agree more. I plan to spend Sunday evening crafting letters to my House representative, my two Senators and Speaker Pelosi, asking what it is going to take to bring this monster to justice? He is making a mockery of the Constitution and each day the House delays impeaching this criminal deviant exposes this country to grave dangers. It is deeply irresponsible and they are not honoring their oath of office by allowing this criminal to pretend he is president one minute longer!

  32. 32.

    debbie

    @hervevillechaizelounge:

    It pains me to speak ill of Nancy but I’m starting to believe history is going to view her as the second coming of Neville Chamberlain.

    Are you fucking serious? Can you not take a step back and see there is a process of gathering facts and moving forward with those facts to impeach that pig?

    Goddamn, you all want to rush in there with your hate and your bad feelings about Trump. It would take no time for a competent prosecutor to lay your feelings to waste. And then what? Where would we be? We’d be nowhere and we would have given Trump additional ammunition to win a second term.

    It was the process that did Nixon in. He at least realized things were only going to get worse and worse. We’re now dealing with a guy that refuses to go down. The only way to win is to outlast and out-tough Trump.

  33. 33.

    trnc

    @joel hanes:

    Speaker Pelose is the public face of the problem, not the problem itself.

    She has, at last report, maybe 150 votes for impeachment.
    It takes 218.

    I understand this, and I’ve been arguing with people who are equating non-impeachment with not doing anything. House dems are investigating, holding hearings and often making a pretty good case in tv interviews.

    What I don’t get is why Pelosi, when asked about impeachment, doesn’t explicitly say something to the effect of, “We represent the people. The people should contact their reps and let them know how they feel.” That’s what congress should be pushing constituents to do anyway.

  34. 34.

    zhena gogolia

    Anyone who has watched Barry Berke’s questioning of Lewandowski (after reading Mueller Report, vol. 2, pp. 90-93) knows that the Democrats are preparing for impeachment.

  35. 35.

    trnc

    @zhena gogolia: That’s a good point.

    ETA: I watched Berke, but I haven’t watched the post hearing coverage. I hope dems are pounding on the fact that when Corey says it’s ok for him to lie to the media, he understands that he’s not just lying to the media – he’s lying to the country.

  38. 38.

    germy

    I know Kirsten Gillibrand isn’t too popular around here, but I loved seeing her beat Sweeney back in 2006. At first he ignored her, then he belittled her, refused to debate her, and then she beat him. He was/is a real piece of work, typical upstate NY shitty republican.

    Anyway, here’s what he’s been up to lately:

    https://dailygazette.com/article/2019/09/21/ex-congressman-sweeney-lobbying-for-russian-bank

    ALBANY — Former U.S. Rep. John E. Sweeney, who now spends much of his time in Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist, has signed on to help a large Russian state-owned bank work against further U.S. economic sanctions.

    The contract to represent Vnesheconombank State Development Corp. calls for Sweeney to be paid $62,500 a month — or $750,000 per year — for “provision of legal services that may include potential meetings with U.S. government officials regarding potential new sanctions legislation (not existing sanctions) that could affect the activities of VEC.RF.” The information was included in a Foreign Agents Registration Act filing with the Department of Justice.

    Sweeney, 64, of Clifton Park, a Republican, represented parts of the Capital Region in Congress from 1997 to 2006. He is just one of dozens of former members of Congress who now lobby the institutions of government, working on behalf of often deep-pocketed clients to influence legislation and policy.

  40. 40.

    TS (the original)

    @germy:

    He is just one of dozens of former members of Congress who now lobby the institutions of government, working on behalf of often deep-pocketed clients to influence legislation and policy.

    Reason 1,297,473 why trump and the GOP need to be gone from the WH and the Congress. Paid $700K to help the Russians avoid sanctions their actions invited.

  41. 41.

    TS (the original)

    @debbie:

    Does anyone know for a fact that they aren’t?

    Seems to me that up to now, they haven’t.

    They write letters and ask people to appear before committees & those people say no. Then nothing happens. Every legal avenue should now be addressed to get the House back in the business of holding the government accountable. No letters saying “provide this before …” it should be “provide this by tomorrow” or “appear before the committee tomorrow”. Hillary Clinton sat and answered questions for 9 hours, if anyone of trump’s minions appear, they lie and then go on national TV to laugh about it.

    If the dems are doing anything – I don’t see it.

  47. 47.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??

    I think far too many people see impeachment as this magic bullet that will make Trump disappear in a puff of smoke and the day will have been saved. It doesn’t work that way. The Lewandowski hearing only demonstrates to me that any formal impeachment hearings would go down that way, with R witnesses perhaps refusing to show up. What enforcement mechanism would House Dems have to counter that? The media would both sides the entire thing and Trump would crow about being “exonerated” by the Senate. Even impeachment relies on everyone respecting the rule of law. The GOP clearly do not, or more accurately, they don’t see Dems as legitimate and want to desperately protect themselves. Bottom line, we may screwed no matter what we do.

    No, I fear the only thing that people like Lewandowski and Trump will understand is what the Confederates came to find out when they tried to quit the country because they didn’t get their way

  48. 48.

    Rihilism

    @Cheryl Rofer: Thank You! Exactly! I’m more than happy to give some time to the house Democrats to gather evidence and build the case, but not unlimited time. The IG has said that this is an urgent matter, not something that can wait for 6 months of hearings in order gather support for impeachment. The Democrats need to do whatever it takes to fast track access to the whistle blower complaint which they have a legal right to. This is an extremely dangerous moment in our country and the Democrats need to use every power they have, including the power of the purse, to force this administration to relent and to hold Trump accountable. They need to do their duty and at least try to protect the constitution regardless of whether the senate convicts. If not, I fear that we will not only lose the congress but the presidency as well.

    They need to hit Trump and they need to hit him hard! I just watched Senator Chris Coones (a Biden surrogate) on Up with David Gura. When asked what he thought about the whole Ukraine story, he basically said it sounded a lot like the Hillary email issue and he hoped that the American public would not fall for it. WTF! Fucking milquetoast! Biden needs his surrogates hit back hard too!

  49. 49.

    WaterGirl

    @joel hanes: OT, but I put up a site update yesterday and I am hoping that people like you who actively participated in the thread from last Sunday will see it. And anyone else, too, of course!

    If you get a chance: Site News: A Quick Update

    We will now return to regularly scheduled programming.

  50. 50.

    WaterGirl

    @joel hanes:

    The bad bosses were transparent both directions, allowing us to feel the heat and giving upper management the detailed situational stuff that enabled them to micromanage and jerk leashes. Careers and lives were damaged.
    …
    The good bosses took the heat for the team, protected the team members while calmly, quietly redirecting and adjusting, and sometimes the good bosses suffered for it.
    …
    Pelosi’s visibly taking the heat and protecting her people.
    I don’t know for a fact that she’s trying to bring them along behind the scenes, but it’s what I’d guess.

    That is an excellent framing of the situation!

    edit: I see I am not the only person to think so! There’s a whole lot of love for your comment.

  52. 52.

    WaterGirl

    I am also in the Impeach the MotherFucker Already camp.

    This last blatant FUCK YOU to the constitution is the bridge too far of the mountains of bridges too far that we have experienced these past 3 years.

    The barbarians are at the gates, and it’s time to stand up for our 3 co-equal branches of government and democracy as we know it. If we don’t stand up in the face of this, we will never stand up for anything, and we will have lost impeachment – which is the only fucking tool that is left since we are apparently willing to live with a stupid memo that is not even a law, but which still ties both hands behind our backs – then we will have lost impeachment as a tool forever.

  53. 53.

    Citizen Alan

    @debbie:

    The thought that haunrs me is the idea that Nixon would have finished his 2nd term without incident if he had had the benefit of Fox News, CNN, and the rest of our worthless whore media. Woodward and Bernstein would have kept what they knew out of the papers so that they could write a book after he left office.

  54. 54.

    WaterGirl

    @Citizen Alan:

    The thought that haunrs me is the idea that Nixon would have finished his 2nd term without incident if he had had the benefit of Fox News, CNN, and the rest of our worthless whore media. Woodward and Bernstein would have kept what they knew out of the papers so that they could write a book after he left office.

    The sad truth about what you wrote there brings tears to my eyes.

  56. 56.

    debbie

    @Citizen Alan:

    Not even Fox could have countered Alexander Butterfield’s testimony. The testimony itself may not have been much, but it uncovered the tapes. Fox could not have made the country unhear what it heard on them.

    I see this whistleblower in a similar light. Everyone knows about that phone call. They cannot deny it; they can either demand the IG report be released or they can be part of the effort to make people forget that the leader of this country could be so craven as to subvert the world to his wishes.

    At the end of WWII, collaborators weren’t welcomed back into the fold.

  58. 58.

    joel hanes

    @WaterGirl:

    Thank you.

    BTW, you were in my mind when I wrote the comment last night about good bosses.
    I don’t know if you manage a team IRL, but you’d be good at it.

    Thanks for being the public face of the problem here, and taking the heat for the people grappling with APIs and code structures.

  59. 59.

    joel hanes

    @Starfish:

    Majority leader is not majority captain, nor even majority CEO.
    Pelosi does not have command authority.
    Representatives are not bound to follow her wishes.
    Nor does she have Jedi mind tricks.

    She’s the best cat-herder the Democrats have had in fifty years.

  60. 60.

    2liberal

    re: pelosi
    The democrats must have impeachment hearings well underway by the time early voting starts for 2020. If they do it now, it will be old news when the actual voting starts

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