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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

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He really is that stupid.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

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This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

There are times when telling just part of the truth is effectively a lie.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

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Books are my comfort food!

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You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2020 / Proud to Be A Democrat Open Thread: Stacey Abrams Knows Her Worth

Proud to Be A Democrat Open Thread: Stacey Abrams Knows Her Worth

by Anne Laurie|  February 1, 20205:12 pm| 167 Comments

This post is in: Election 2020, Excellent Links, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Right to Vote

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I enjoy @staceyabrams. She did not come to play. https://t.co/SlqA5Su74P

— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) January 31, 2020

Excellent piece by Stephen Robinson, at Wonkette — “Pick Another White Guy To Take Off Your Money Because Stacey Abrams Is Gonna Be President “:

… Abrams is equal parts badass and fascinating. Her ambition has always been coupled with practicality. This probably isn’t rare for black women. Many white men — be they billionaires or mayors — believe they can not only win the presidency but effect sweeping change without any practical experience. They snottily dismiss knowing what the fuck you’re doing as “DC experience.” Abrams is very different. She understands that someone in any public executive position, either as governor or president, won’t be very effective if they don’t understand the legislative process. That’s what Abrams set out to do. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2006 to 2017 and was minority leader for more than half that time. She’s already more qualified than several candidates in the Democratic primary. Sneering your nose at “Washington bureaucracy” won’t make it go away. If we’ve learned anything from the past few months, it’s that we need seasoned political operators to confront a united GOP machine. We can’t just plug some fresh-faced kid into the Matrix, upload the legislative kung-fu program, and send them off to face Agent Mitch McConnell. This is the real world. We’d get killed…

Abrams has had to contend with a lot of trifling racist nonsense in her career. Her campaign for Georgia governor was historic, but she wasn’t regarded as the Wright Brothers. She was constantly asked if a state with a 30 percent black population was ready for a black woman governor.

ABRAMS: I’m electable if I win. And I’m electable because I can win. I’m not solely an avatar for black women, but I’m a proud avatar of both of those things because it stands as an example of what’s possible.

Yes! America is supposedly a nation that does bold things. We can walk on the moon (we did in fact) but we publish countless “think pieces” wondering if we’re “ready” for leaders who aren’t white men. You don’t even need rockets and zero gravity training to elect black people or women of any shade. You just vote for them…

The work Abrams is doing right now at Fair Fight to promote voter access is invaluable — as she knows better than most. If she gets the right offer from a current presidential candidate, I’m sure promoting voting rights will be a big part of the equation. But in any case, I absolutely believe that if there *is* a 2040, Ms. Abrams will be in the top leadership of whatever government looks like by then!

the confidence Abrams exudes, compared to the box women/nonwhite electeds have been expected to exist in, is itself a radical act https://t.co/OEFVrSQ1fs

— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) January 31, 2020

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Reader Interactions

167Comments

  1. 1.

    MattF

    February 1, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    She was my fave before deciding not to run this year. Go Stacy! Sooner or later!

  2. 2.

    Lapassionara

    February 1, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    What a breath of fresh air!

  3. 3.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 5:21 pm

    OT, because it seems nobody here paid any attention.

    Donald Trump must be convicted and removed from office.Because he will always choose his own personal interest over our national interest. Because in America, right matters. Truth matters. If not, no Constitution can protect us.If not, we are lost. pic.twitter.com/USfx6v9KsT— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 24, 2020

  4. 4.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    Well, since the thread is “Proud to be a Democrat” —

    Excuse me, Mr. Schiff? You dropped this. Goddamn American hero. pic.twitter.com/zFJvYaX4VL— Jon Zal (@OfficialJonZal) January 30, 2020

  5. 5.

    BGinCHI

    February 1, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    1. Biden or Bernie the nominee, Abrams as VP.

    2. Serve one term, max, bow out for health reasons.

    3. Abrams as POTUS, time to get some shit done.

  6. 6.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    @BGinCHI:

    Bernie would never choose her.

  7. 7.

    pamelabrown53

    February 1, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    @BGinCHI:

    Short essay. If Biden wins the nomination would you want him to select Stacy Abrams or Kamala Harris?

    Support your choice; compare and contrast.

  8. 8.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    So sad she doesn’t know democracy is dead. She should read Twitter.

  9. 9.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    @zhena gogolia: I like it.

  10. 10.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:35 pm

    @pamelabrown53:

    Probably Kamala is a better fit.

  11. 11.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    @zhena gogolia: He also wouldn’t bow out after one term.

  12. 12.

    BGinCHI

    February 1, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    @pamelabrown53: I like both, but I’ll take Abrams. Her work has been fundamental and focused, without needing to be the star of the show.

    Harris would be terrific, too. Different in that her time in the Senate may have infected her with institutionalism.

    I’d much rather have these choices than dumbass Mike fucking Pence.

  13. 13.

    BGinCHI

    February 1, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Bernie will do what we say, or else.

  14. 14.

    Patricia Kayden

    February 1, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    Abrams would be a dang sight better than Orange Bigot so why not?  We need presidents who actually care about ordinary Americans instead of just the mega rich.

  15. 15.

    BGinCHI

    February 1, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    @Baud: He will if he’s dead.

  16. 16.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    @BGinCHI:

    It’s like you didn’t see even one of the Weekend with Bernie movies.

  17. 17.

    bmoak

    February 1, 2020 at 5:41 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    Nina Turner as Bernie’s VP!

  18. 18.

    Mike in DC

    February 1, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    @bmoak:

    Ack.

  19. 19.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    @bmoak: Because Mike Pence doesn’t hate Democrats enough.

  20. 20.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 1, 2020 at 5:44 pm

    @Baud: How do you mean? as a certified old fart, I think the jump from the state lege to a Presidential ticket is a big jump and I think that’s a valid concern, politically*, but what I recall from her campaign, Abrams is no liberal bomb thrower. My recollection is she talked a lot about reaching across the aisle.

    *one of my pet theories is that there is no job, not even VP, that really prepare anybody for the big chair, so resumes are not a top priority of mine, but picking Abrams would open a flood of “is she ready to be Commander in Chief” stories. I hate the reduction of the presidency to CiC, I hate the way “in Chief” gets tagged on to so many other roles/responsibilities of the POTUS (didn’t even, as Michelle Obot, like Mom-in-Chief), but it’s inevitable

  21. 21.

    JPL

    February 1, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    @BGinCHI: Harris for me.   I voted for Stacey for governor, but I do think she needs more experience in government.   Harris has been around.  Obama went from State Government to Senator first.   I do hope that she runs again for Governor which would giver her more exposure

    Let me add that Loeffler is proving to be an ass and now that Collins is challenging her, Stacey has a real chance

  22. 22.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 5:45 pm

    @Baud: Terry Kiser’s finest work.

  23. 23.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:47 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Kamala has run a large executive organization and has experience in Congress and dealing with Republicans at the national level. She also knew Biden’s son.

  24. 24.

    Mnemosyne

    February 1, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    I’ve said this before, but whatever political “It” is, Abrams has It. I’m still pissed that she got cheated out of the governor’s seat in GA — I even did postcards to voters for her. Her scope for moving up is unfortunately limited by being a Black woman living in the South. I really think she would be at least a lieutenant governor by now in a coastal state.

  25. 25.

    Amir Khalid

    February 1, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Off topic. I think I’ve done something I shouldn’t have. My Google search is now redirected to something called xscx.xyz. It’s not Google Search and I want to change it back. Any idea how to do that?

  26. 26.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    The curse of red state Democrats. People are not so keen on Pete these days, but he is clearly talented enough to rise above mayor in a non-polarized country.

  27. 27.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    @Amir Khalid: That doesn’t sound good.

  28. 28.

    Ruckus

    February 1, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    @MattF:

    She was my first choice as well. Then Harris. I’m not saying anything more about any candidate being my choice.

    But Abrams is smart, solid and realistic. And because she can make obvious and good but hard choices without hesitation, she is someone who can do the job of being president.

    I hope to be here and able to vote for her for president some day.

  29. 29.

    JWR

    February 1, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Sorry for the OT, but dang!

    NEW YORK (AP) — Guitarist Andy Gill, who supplied the scratching, seething sound that fueled the highly influential British punk band Gang of Four, died Saturday, according to a statement from the band. He was 64.

    Saw them once, and Gill immediately became my own personal God of Noise. That is all.

  30. 30.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    @Mnemosyne: Georgia is a coastal state.

  31. 31.

    Ruckus

    February 1, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    @pamelabrown53:

    I’d say Harris but that’s just a gut feeling, no real reasons one way or the other.

  32. 32.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    @JWR: Aw fuck.

  33. 33.

    PsiFighter37

    February 1, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    I admire the ambition, but she needs to hold higher office and prove herself first. Same thing goes for Mayor Pete, Tom Steyer, and any of the other inexperienced yahoos running currently.

  34. 34.

    hells littlest angel

    February 1, 2020 at 5:59 pm

    Note to self: stay alive for at least 21 more years, and keep voter registration active.

  35. 35.

    NotMax

    February 1, 2020 at 5:59 pm

    @BG in CHI

    The success rate for sitting vice-presidents being elected* to the presidency is not propitious.

    Leaving aside Adams and Jefferson (as they predate the 12th amendment which altered how v.p. is elected), the grand total is two: Martin Van Buren and G.H.W. Bush.

    *As opposed to being elected to the presidency after succession to that office while Veep, and also as opposed to becoming president after leaving office as vice-president (only one: Nixon). And yes, Gore gets his own footnote but the fact remains he did not take office as president.

    Also, as the time frame nowadays for running for president has stretched to nearly two years, not sure I’d be happy with any v.p. who is spending half their term in office campaigning for prez.

  36. 36.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    @Baud: I forgot she and Beau Biden were friends, and as I understand more than the usual “my good friend..” political way.

    Those are the reasons I hope for a Biden Harris ticket, too. I don’t know if she matches Abrams’ political talent, but I’ve always thought she was the most charismatic Dem in the primary. Just don’t ask me to define either “talent” or “charisma”, it’s just a gut reaction I have to both

  37. 37.

    glory b

    February 1, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    I’d rather be talking about Abrams than AOC.

    The fact that she wrote romance novels under a pseudonym for extra money makes me laugh.

  38. 38.

    Ruckus

    February 1, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    I think your computer may have caught a death bug. It might be time to wipe it completely and start over.

    I don’t remember enough about windows boxes to give specific instructions there.

  39. 39.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 6:03 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    IMHO she made some strategic mistakes that hurt her, but I also liked her the best in terms of someone to drink a beer with.

  40. 40.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I was a Harris supporter and I have moved on to Biden.  I think Harris would be a good choice from Biden’s POV, but I am not sure it is a move Harris would want to make.  I would certainly be happy with that ticket though.

  41. 41.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    @Baud:

    Oh, I didn’t even get to that part.

    He also won’t win.

    I’m going to have to stay away for a while from here if he wins Iowa.

  42. 42.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 1, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I agree, she’d be taking one for the team if she agreed to give up her Senate seat to serve with Biden. And I think I’m pretty much a Biden supporter now.

  43. 43.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    If Stacey Abrams became president right this minute, I would be dancing in the streets. And I can’t dance.

  44. 44.

    MomSense

    February 1, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

     

    That’s  the ticket I’m praying  for – in my secular way.

  45. 45.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I have a friend who is a Lieberman-type Democrat, but he adores Stacey Abrams. She will have broad appeal when people get to know her, IMO.

  46. 46.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    @Baud:

    OMG, was she on that trip to Norway?
    For those who don’t know the reference:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu7TWyfhYFA

  47. 47.

    NotMax

    February 1, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    @Amir Khalid

    In the Settings of your browser (Options in Firefox) you’ll find a listing to change/set your default search engine.

    If you mean what’s affected is the search function in Windows 10 itself (as opposed to your browser), that takes a slightly different procedure.

  48. 48.

    Redshift

    February 1, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Based on my experience doing tech support for my parents, the mildest thing it could be is that you clicked on something that installed a browser plugin. Check your browser plugins and if you see something funny looking, uninstall it.

    If not, it could also be malware. Download and install the free Malwarebytes (https://malwarebytes.com) and run a scan.

  49. 49.

    JPL

    February 1, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    @zhena gogolia: He might have the most delegates but Iowa is going to be split.   Stay at least through Nevada and South Carolina, because we need each other.

    The bullshit about dems trying to push him out is bullshit.   It was six people, not hundreds.   That concerns me because the republicans are already painting a picture that bernie was robbed.

  50. 50.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:16 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    haha, you funny.

  51. 51.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    In case I haven’t said it before, I worship Adam Schiff as a god now.

    Someone needs to put his entire impeachment performance (hearings plus trial) into one epic film and send it right to me, please. I have never seen such a performance in my life and don’t expect to again.

  52. 52.

    JPL

    February 1, 2020 at 6:19 pm

    @zhena gogolia: lol

  53. 53.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 1, 2020 at 6:19 pm

    OT: listening to the Stable Genius book, because I am apparently a masochistic moran who’s not depressed and angry enough. A lot of it I had heard before, but apparently he pulled the LBJ take-a-leak-with-the-door-open move on HR McMaster, who as I understand continues to move in the trump orbit

  54. 54.

    Amir Khalid

    February 1, 2020 at 6:20 pm

    @NotMax:

    It may be the latter. In Options, Google is already the search engine. But the search results page isn’t the Google one, but this xscx.xyz thing.

  55. 55.

    Another Scott

    February 1, 2020 at 6:20 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Answered you downstairs at #71 (in case it doesn’t scroll to the right place).

    HTH a little. Good luck.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  56. 56.

    Patricia Kayden

    February 1, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    Yeah, destroying democracy is exhausting!

    To be fair, shredding the Constitution, defiling the American presidency, and managing an organized-crime ring of 53 senators is hard work, so it’s nice to see him unwind by trolling the entire free world. pic.twitter.com/pntrA50GqA— Jon Zal (@OfficialJonZal) February 1, 2020

  57. 57.

    Ohio Mom

    February 1, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    Off topic: I just glanced out the window. It’s cloudy today but even so, it is still a tiny bit light out there. I’d say we gained about a half hour of sunlight since the year started. Yay!

  58. 58.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I bought it in order to support the authors after Dumb Putin attacked them, but I immediately gave it away because I can’t stand to read it. I hope my friend is “enjoying” it. I haven’t heard anything.

  59. 59.

    Amir Khalid

    February 1, 2020 at 6:24 pm

    @Redshift:

    I have taken action as per your recommendation, and the problem is now solved. Vielen Dank.

  60. 60.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    I’m glad. That kind of thing freaks me out.

  61. 61.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    This is funny.

    “…and that Frederick Douglass is doing some big big things on and off the field” https://t.co/T8QtAunHhr— Chris Meloni (@Chris_Meloni) February 1, 2020

  62. 62.

    Ohio Mom

    February 1, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    Zhena@ 51: I keep saying that watching Adam Schiff is like watching the Olympics or listening to an opera singer, or any other demonstration of extreme human talent.

    It’s breath-taking, record-breaking stuff (if there was a way to have records on presenting court cases).

  63. 63.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 6:28 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    Have you nominated him for the Profile in Courage Award yet?

  64. 64.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    @Ohio Mom:

    I have never seen anything like it. The preparation, the incisiveness, the command of the facts, the constant deployment of relevant quotations from history, the emotion that is so carefully expressed at just the right moments in the midst of a dispassionate presentation — it is phenomenal. And all in the service of saving the country.

  65. 65.

    Belafon

    February 1, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    @pamelabrown53: The reason to pick Abrams over Harris is that:

    1. She either needs to stay as a senator
    2. Or she should become AG.
  66. 66.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    @debbie:

    No, remind me how to do it, or I’ll just find it.

  67. 67.

    MattF

    February 1, 2020 at 6:32 pm

    @zhena gogolia: ‘And Douglass himself told me, sir, you know more about football than anybody.’

  68. 68.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 6:33 pm

    @Ohio Mom:

    Yes, I am psyched too! I can start taking walks after work now since sunset is nearing 6pm.

  69. 69.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    Here.

  70. 70.

    James E Powell

    February 1, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    picking Abrams would open a flood of “is she ready to be Commander in Chief” stories.

    A woman could be decorated combat infantry officer who works her way up to Chief of Staff of the Army and there would still be a flood of “is she ready to be Commander in Chief stories.”

  71. 71.

    Steeplejack

    February 1, 2020 at 6:40 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    Replied downstairs.

  72. 72.

    Geminid

    February 1, 2020 at 6:42 pm

  73. 73.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 6:42 pm

    OT in so many ways, but I remain just stunned when I hear a song I never heard before and it is so beautiful and meaningful and sparse. Tonight’s version of that type of epiphany:
    Something About What Happens When we Talk, by Lucinda Williams

    Thought I’d share it with you jackels.

  74. 74.

    JWR

    February 1, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    @pamelabrown53: Stacy Abrams or Kamala Harris? As a former supporter of Harris, (for pres, but she’s still my own fave as a Senator), I’d have to say Stacy. She exudes humanity.

  75. 75.

    sukabi

    February 1, 2020 at 6:45 pm

    @zhena gogolia: https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/profile-in-courage-award/submit-a-nomination

     

    Link to nomination form…

  76. 76.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    @Geminid: The first comment with a new nym or nym and email address goes into moderation.  I released it, but diid you intend for your comment to be blank?

  77. 77.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    @Belafon: She does not need to do either of those things.  The Dem. bench is deep for AG and Senator in California.  Harris would be a great VP.  I would love to see her break tie votes (and balls) in the Senate.  Please?

  78. 78.

    Geminid

    February 1, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Abrams could be a good vp candidate, but she is a methodical person, and has unfinished business in Georgia. Namely, taking Jack Kemp’s blow-dried scalp in 2022.

  79. 79.

    MattF

    February 1, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    @Immanentize: Williams has done some great things. Here’s an early overview.

  80. 80.

    MomSense

    February 1, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    @Immanentize:

    Really good.

  81. 81.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    @zhena gogolia: But Biden would!

  82. 82.

    TaMara (HFG)

    February 1, 2020 at 6:51 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I heard an interview with her the other day and it sure sounded like someone who’d be happy to be a VP pick. But maybe I was projecting because I’m still in mourning over her leaving the race.

  83. 83.

    Kent

    February 1, 2020 at 6:52 pm

    @NotMax:

    The success rate for sitting vice-presidents being elected* to the presidency is not propitious.

    Leaving aside Adams and Jefferson (as they predate the 12th amendment which altered how v.p. is elected), the grand total is two: Martin Van Buren and G.H.W. Bush.

    *As opposed to being elected to the presidency after succession to that office while Veep, and also as opposed to becoming president after leaving office as vice-president (only one: Nixon). And yes, Gore gets his own footnote but the fact remains he did not take office as president.

    Also, as the time frame nowadays for running for president has stretched to nearly two years, not sure I’d be happy with any v.p. who is spending half their term in office campaigning for prez.

    I’m not sure what any of this means.  Are you saying that Abram’s chances of winning the presidency would be DIMINISHED by serving for four years as Biden’s VP as opposed to staying in Georgia and running Fair Fight like she is doing now for the next 4 years?  I would strongly disagree.

    VPs have a very strong tendency of becoming presidents:  Fourteen VPs have become president.  In other words, 31% of all US presidents also served as VP at some point prior to becoming president.

    In the past 100 years, Truman, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Bush 41 all served as VP before becoming President.  If we are talking about Biden’s VP then we would add him to the list too.

    Those who ran and lost would be Nixon, Mondale, and Gore, although Gore is a special case.

  84. 84.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 6:54 pm

    @MattF: I love her stuff generally.  Saw her a few times when I lived in Texas, but that song I had never heard and it just blew me away.  I think I listened to it 10 times straight.  In the studio version, the way she sings “conversation with you is like a drug” is so drawn out and hard and addict like.

  85. 85.

    smintheus

    February 1, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    Are we ready for a president who’s not a traitor?

  86. 86.

    Kent

    February 1, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    @Ohio Mom:

    Zhena@ 51: I keep saying that watching Adam Schiff is like watching the Olympics or listening to an opera singer, or any other demonstration of extreme human talent.

    It’s breath-taking, record-breaking stuff (if there was a way to have records on presenting court cases).

    The last time I saw someone with as much command and gravitas as Schiff was peak Obama.

    I know it doesn’t seem to be a popular notion here, but I see him as the next Speaker of the House when Nancy finally decides to retire.  We need a Speaker who can speak truth to to power and command attention when negotiating with the Senate and Executive Branch.   Schiff strikes me as that person.

  87. 87.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    @Immanentize:

    Thanks. Lucinda’s been a long-time favorite.

  88. 88.

    Kathleen

    February 1, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Stabler!!!!! Love Chris Meloni and I’m on Team Elliot Stabler!

  89. 89.

    Kathleen

    February 1, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    @debbie: I did, debbie. Thanks for the heads up and the link.

  90. 90.

    Geminid

    February 1, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    @WaterGirl: I am a digital dinosaur, and somewhat amazed that my second try went through. Shazaam!

  91. 91.

    MomSense

    February 1, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    @Immanentize:

    Do you listen to Gillian Welch?  For me, she is the best songwriter right now.

  92. 92.

    MattF

    February 1, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    @Immanentize: There used to be regular conversations about music here— it was one of the reasons I decided to stick around. But not since DougJ went very part-time… and I miss it.

  93. 93.

    mrmoshpotato

    February 1, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    @smintheus: What year is it?  Oh yes, been ready since late July 2016.

  94. 94.

    Belafon

    February 1, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    @Immanentize: Harris was my first choice for president, and my choice for VP for Biden or Sanders. But I’ve seen others make those arguments, and those would be the only good reasons I could see her not chosen.

    Edited to add “good”.

  95. 95.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    February 1, 2020 at 7:02 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    It looks like you might have a variant of this. Description and proposed fix at the link.

  96. 96.

    Jeffro

    February 1, 2020 at 7:02 pm

    @JWR:

     

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Well, I know what I’ll be listening to this evening…damn…

  97. 97.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 7:02 pm

    @Geminid: You must have timed your second comment perfectly, just seconds after I released the first one.  It’s better to be lucky than good. :-)

  98. 98.

    mrmoshpotato

    February 1, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    @WaterGirl: OT – the arrow on the drop-down ad at the top gets in the way of navigation buttons.

  99. 99.

    MomSense

    February 1, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    @Kent:

    Gore is a special case because he won and the Republicans stole the election with an assist from SCOTUS.

  100. 100.

    Jeffro

    February 1, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    @Geminid: that would be an EXCELLENT campaign slogan…

     

    …”Stacey Abrams: Unfinished Business”

     

    Just throw. down. on Kemp

  101. 101.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    @MomSense:

    I know women like Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris are awesome talents because they can get me to sing along with even the religious stuff.

  102. 102.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Just sent you a screen shot. Thanks for letting me know how. Damn thing didn’t come with instructions.

  103. 103.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    @MomSense: Wasn’t she writing and singing late 90’s early naughties?  I have not heard anything by her in a decade (really since I left Texas)  I will check her out.  Thanks!

  104. 104.

    mrmoshpotato

    February 1, 2020 at 7:11 pm

    For the quilters who quilt among us.

    Rocky Mountain Quilt Museumhttps://t.co/QVVWth5KCE pic.twitter.com/S4HujvPgb5— Wiki Titles Singable to TMNT Themesong (@wiki_tmnt) February 1, 2020

  105. 105.

    MattF

    February 1, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    @debbie: Plus Alison Krauss. Famous number in ‘O Brother’.

  106. 106.

    MomSense

    February 1, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    @Immanentize:

    Check out Time’s a Revelator.  Her partner Dave Rawlings is an amazing guitarist.

  107. 107.

    joel hanes

    February 1, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    @Baud:

    [Sanders] wouldn’t bow out after one term

    Pretty significant chance that he would not survive his first term.

    It’s nature’s way of telling you …

  108. 108.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 7:15 pm

    @JWR: Saw Gang of Four four or five times, last time at Spit in Boston.  Mid 80’s.
    See the girl on the TV dressed in a bikini
    She doesn’t think so but she’s dressed for the H-bomb
    (For the H-bomb)

  109. 109.

    RedDirtGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 7:15 pm

    @MomSense: I’m a singer, of sorts, and love to do Gillian and Lucinda songs.

  110. 110.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 7:15 pm

    @MomSense: will do

  111. 111.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 7:15 pm

    @mrmoshpotato: Thanks.  What device/browser?

  112. 112.

    Geminid

    February 1, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    Also, Raphael Warnock, with Abrams’ encouragement, just announced a run for the Senate seat temporarily held by Kelly Loeflers. Warnock is Senior Pastor are Ebenezer Baptist Church. Abrams will work hard for him, as well as her Fair Fight operation.

  113. 113.

    the Conster

    February 1, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    Has anyone mentioned that Sanders would be replaced by a Republican?    Has he mentioned that as a critical part of his grand M4All smoke up your ass Plan, he’d need it to pass the Senate, so there goes the Senate?  Although who would miss him there, really.  No one can stand him.   They;re glad he’s never there.

  114. 114.

    The Lodger

    February 1, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    @Geminid: Jack Kemp died in 2009. You mean Brian Kemp, who used his position to cheat his way into the GA governorship in 2018. Most of the Senate just cleared Trump to do the exact same thing this year.

  115. 115.

    joel hanes

    February 1, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    Harris has more experience.

    Abrams has amazing political instincts, and is a better politician.

  116. 116.

    MattF

    February 1, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    @MomSense: Welch’s most recent album was 2011– ‘The Harrow and the Harvest’ and it’s pretty wonderful. I believe that she and Rawlings are married.

  117. 117.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    @debbie: Thanks for doing that.  It should be pretty hard for the ad guy to think it’s not a problem when you can’t see even 1/4 inch of anything on screen that isn’t the ad.

  118. 118.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 7:18 pm

    @joel hanes: One of the best songs of all time.

  119. 119.

    Baud

    February 1, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    @the Conster:

    Has anyone mentioned that Sanders would be replaced by a Republican?

    That hasn’t come up enough.  It comes up all the time with Warren.

  120. 120.

    Steeplejack

    February 1, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    @Kent:

    In the past 100 years, Truman, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Bush 41 all served as VP before becoming President.

    Four of those five were not “sitting vice presidents” when they were elected president, which was (part of) NotMax’s point.

  121. 121.

    TriassicSands

    February 1, 2020 at 7:20 pm

    @JPL:

     I do think she needs more experience in government.

    Her problem is that she has no good elective office opportunity to get that experience. O’Rourke and  Buttigieg had the same problem. They’re all from right wing Republican states. The best they can reliably hope for is US Representative and that isn’t seen as a viable last stepping stone to the presidency. Both probably figured they had more national appeal than home state potential. But both are still too young and inexperienced. Is running for president meaningful experience for being president? Or will it at least cause voters to think of a candidate as having the necessary experience?

    If someone doesn’t think Abrams is experienced enough to be president, then she shouldn’t be the VP of a president who could easily die or become incapacitated within four years (Biden and Sanders).

    Electorally, Abrams would make more sense as Sanders’ VP than Biden’s. Biden doesn’t need help with African Americans, but black or white Biden has to have a woman as his running mate. Any Democratic man does.

  122. 122.

    JPL

    February 1, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    @Geminid: He’s suppose to be a strong candidate but I’m concerned about name recognition outside of the Atlanta area

    Abrams is now known state wide and can easily win the most votes in a three way contest. Tough to break the 50 thresh hold GA requires, but possible.

  123. 123.

    Immanentize

    February 1, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    @MomSense: That was awesome.  More I shall seek.  It led me to her version of one of my favorite songs;
    The Weight.

  124. 124.

    Mnemosyne

    February 1, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    It’s not one of the “coastal elite” states, which is what I was going for. I may have been too subtle.

  125. 125.

    Geminid

    February 1, 2020 at 7:24 pm

    @The Lodger: Yeah, I scrambled Kemp’s name. Stage fright.

  126. 126.

    mrmoshpotato

    February 1, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    @WaterGirl: Android phone, Duckduckgo browser, only affects older posts with all 4 navigation buttons.

    No drop-down ad in Firefox.

  127. 127.

    Steeplejack

    February 1, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    It’s doing it on Chrome on my Android tablet and on the Samsung browser on my Android phone. Very annoying.

  128. 128.

    TriassicSands

    February 1, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    @TriassicSands:

    Her problem is that she has no good elective office opportunity to get that experience.

    Her best shot* is probably to run for governor again. Losing a second time, however, “legitimizes” her first loss. (Apparently, she still claims she won.)

    *Apart from avoiding the issue altogether and being named VP candidate.

  129. 129.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    February 1, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    @MomSense: I think you misspelled freak of nature awesome as “amazing” there. A wonderful experience to hear them live – as both the “band called Gillian Welch” (as she’s described it) and the Dave Rawlings Machine.

    They are such incredible songwriters, too. I heard an interview where she said “we’ve written songs every way 2 people could write together; I’ve started and he’s finished, or he’s started and I’ve finished; we’ve written them together at the same time.”

  130. 130.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    @debbie:

    Thank you!

  131. 131.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Yes, I think he would. I have a feeling he’d pick Harris, though. I think they like each other.

  132. 132.

    MomSense

    February 1, 2020 at 7:43 pm

    @Immanentize:

    I love that song.  The version with the Staples singers from The Last Waltz is amazing.

  133. 133.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 7:43 pm

    @Kathleen:

    I first saw him in a terrifying role on NYPD Blue, as Kim Delaney’s bad boyfriend. He’s a great actor. His tweets are pretty on point.

  134. 134.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 7:45 pm

    @The Lodger:

    Thank you for correcting my brain-sprain. “Jack Kemp was resurrected?”

  135. 135.

    bemused senior

    February 1, 2020 at 7:45 pm

    @WaterGirl: re the annoying ad… Bothersome on my Android/chrome as well, but I figured it out. Gently touch the descending half circle, and the ad retracts. Now you have access to the new, lovely tool bar. All buttons, refresh work. But when you use the right arrow to get to the next post you get a full page ad that you need to skip.

  136. 136.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    @Immanentize: @MomSense: If you guys resurrect caligula, I shall be very cross with you.

  137. 137.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    @debbie:

    Here’s my nomination:

    Adam Schiff has done heroic service to his country in chairing the impeachment hearings in the House Intelligence Committee and as House Manager of the impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump. His performance in both of these roles was nothing short of miraculous — he displayed keen intelligence, broad and deep knowledge of the facts and of the legal issues, and unerring moral insight and courage. During the impeachment trial he spoke eloquently, vividly, and forcefully for hours on end. He was threatened by our mob boss of a president in the middle of the trial, but never lost his composure or his steadfast determination. In the face of unbelievable bad faith and pusillanimity on the part of the president’s counsel and the Republican senators, he never lost his focus on the truth and on his valiant attempt (perhaps a failed one) to save our democracy.

  138. 138.

    MisterForkbeard

    February 1, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    @JWR: Honestly, Bernie would benefit most from Harris and Biden would probably benefit most from Abrams.

    Harris has organizational chops that Bernie lacks and would send a “unity” message that he really needs. It’d be good for both of them.

    Abrams would bring a lot of humanity and would benefit from Biden’s organization and networking opportunities.

  139. 139.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Haha, being aware of all internet traditions, I know what you’re talking about.

  140. 140.

    Steeplejack

    February 1, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    LOL. Stabler was pretty terrifying on SVU toward the end. He was loose-cannoning all over the place.

  141. 141.

    Steeplejack

    February 1, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    @bemused senior:

    Even with the ad “retracted,” it’s hard to press Refresh and the top arrow, at least on my Android phone.

    ETA: Also, sometimes the ad refuses to retract. Seeing that now on my cell phone.

  142. 142.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    February 1, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I guess I should skip the “Dancing in the Moonlight” clip I had lined up.

  143. 143.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Really? I stopped watching after a couple of seasons because the stories were too sad. I love Mariska Hargitay too.

  144. 144.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    @Steeplejack (phone): Please.

  145. 145.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    Boy, you put me to shame! I didn’t keep a copy of mine, but I said there could be no better profile in courage than a man who stands up to and faces down the authoritarian forces spreading around the world.

  146. 146.

    Steeplejack

    February 1, 2020 at 8:08 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    My memory is that the job was eating him up, his marriage was failing, he was having problems with his teenage daughter, etc., etc.

    IMDB tells me Meloni left the show in 2011. No wonder my memory is dim. That was season 12; they’re up to 21 now! I quit watching when even Benson started going a little nutty.

  147. 147.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    @debbie:

    Thanks for telling me about it.

  148. 148.

    zhena gogolia

    February 1, 2020 at 8:11 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Okay, I caught a little of his family problems.

  149. 149.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    I’m hoping lots of people here will nominate him.

  150. 150.

    Another Scott

    February 1, 2020 at 8:18 pm

    @Geminid:

    Thanks for the pointer. Warning – Politico:

    The special election is an all-party contest in November, with a January 2021 runoff if no candidate tops 50 percent. GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed to the seat by Gov. Brian Kemp and sworn in earlier this month.

    Abrams’ endorsement is a major boost for Warnock out of the starting gates. Democrats hope to consolidate support around a single candidate in the race, particularly after Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) launched his bid against Loeffler earlier this week, creating a major rift among Republicans.

    In a tweet, Abrams called Warnock “a true ally in our fight for justice.” She also plans to send out a fundraising email for him Thursday saying he has led on “issues of social justice, economic access and voting rights.”

    […]

    Warnock also received support on Twitter from Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a former presidential candidate, and Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) sent out fundraising emails on his behalf.

    I’m normally not a fan of first-time politicians having such an important position as Senator.

    But these are not normal times.

    ActBlue donation page (via Abrams tweet).

    Donated.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  151. 151.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    @mrmoshpotato: @Steeplejack:

    Thanks.

  152. 152.

    Another Scott

    February 1, 2020 at 8:23 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: But s/he loves you so much!!11

    Hehehe.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  153. 153.

    Omnes Omnibus

    February 1, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    @Another Scott: You say potato.  I say dangerously obsessive stalker.  Let’s call the whole thing off

  154. 154.

    NotMax

    February 1, 2020 at 8:31 pm

    @Steeplejack

    Thank you. Knew darn well someone would not read what was plainly there closely enough.

  155. 155.

    Kathleen

    February 1, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    @zhena gogolia: He was also in Oz, which I could never bring myself to watch. He is a wonderful actor. The Stabler Era L&O SVU episodes are my favorite.

  156. 156.

    Kathleen

    February 1, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Some of the stories are heart wrenching, especially the ones where children are caught up in the court system. The SVU franchise really gives voices to people we in society ignore or malign, the poor, prostitutes, poor children, trafficked children.

  157. 157.

    Kathleen

    February 1, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    @debbie: I did and acknowledged link in a previous thread.

  158. 158.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 1, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    I love Mariska Hargitay too.

    She’s a fellow Bruin, a few years after my time in Westwood.  You do know who her mother was.

  159. 159.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 1, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:
    Without looking… Mamie Van Doren

    Damn

  160. 160.

    Ruckus

    February 1, 2020 at 9:23 pm

    Had some YTube music on and saw another tube with Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters

    Worth looking at, for at least the first couple of minutes with Williams. He really isn’t politically correct, which is great.

  161. 161.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    @Kathleen:

    Boy, did he play against type!

  162. 162.

    debbie

    February 1, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    @Kathleen:

    Thanks!

  163. 163.

    J R in WV

    February 1, 2020 at 10:06 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: 

    picking Abrams would open a flood of “is she ready to be Commander in Chief” stories.

    Compared to whom, exactly? The current evil moron disfunctional sociopath?

    Or a real President, like the former CiC, President Obama, who also never served in the military but had common sense and intellect AND knew to trust the professionals for advice and then to make the hard choice himself…

  164. 164.

    J R in WV

    February 1, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    @debbie:

    Saw Lucinda live on Mountain Stage some years ago, she was a wonderful part of a great live show. Friends were also performing on that show, said she was good to hang with in the green room before going on stage. Amazing vocalist!

  165. 165.

    Inspectrix

    February 1, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Going to see Mountain Stage is on my to-do list.  While we’re talking about women who can sing and write songs, Patty Griffin got a Grammy this year. Good for her. As for Alison Kraus, she can get me to belt out “I went down to the river to pray…” like I’ve forgotten that I’m agnostic. Lucinda’s material can be a gut-punch. I recall an anecdote that one of her parents expressed remorse at how sad her childhood must have been when they first heard “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.”

    Stacey Abrams is great; I would feel a little sad if she were VP to Biden or someone else who only wanted to give the appearance of diversity without giving her a meaningful role in governing.

  166. 166.

    WaterGirl

    February 1, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    @Inspectrix:

    Stacey Abrams is great; I would feel a little sad if she were VP to Biden or someone else who only wanted to give the appearance of diversity without giving her a meaningful role in governing.

    Bernie would never pick her.  And Biden only said ‘yes’ to Barack after Barack agreed that Joe would always be “the last guy in the room” for big decisions.

    I don’t think we have to worry for even a minute that Stacey Abrams would allow herself to be put in a situation where she would hold a position that would not allow her a meaningful role in governing.

  167. 167.

    rikyrah

    February 2, 2020 at 1:51 am

    @zhena gogolia:

    He has served this country well. So well.

    Nothing to be ashamed of in the least.

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