Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Motown is Joe-Town!

Democracy cannot function without a free press.

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

You cannot love your country only when you win.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Hey hey, RFK, how many kids did you kill today?

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

T R E 4 5 O N

“But what about the lurkers?”

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

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

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

I really should read my own blog.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

You are here: Home / Politics / Biden Administration in Action / Monday Morning Open Thread: Moving Forward, Regardless of the Haters

Monday Morning Open Thread: Moving Forward, Regardless of the Haters

by | 94 Comments

This post is in: , , ,

… “Right now, in state after state, new laws are being written — not to protect the vote, but to deny it; not only to suppress the vote, but to subvert it; not to strengthen or protect our democracy, but because the former president lost,” the president said from the Capitol’s Statuary Hall Thursday.

“It’s wrong. It’s undemocratic. And frankly, it’s un-American,” Biden said in his speech, which neither called Trump out by name nor suggested any remedies to a Republican endeavor he has regularly described in apocalyptic terms…

Biden has revisited the theme of voting rights since taking office, but began a fresh push on the issue last month as his Build Back Better legislation stalled, one of several progressive priorities he wasn’t able to deliver in the past year. His speech on Thursday harked back to his rhetoric about Trump during the 2020 campaign, urging voters to see the election as a stark choice, not a referendum, something some Democrats says could help them in the midterms.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki later made clear Tuesday’s remarks would center on calling for passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, both stalled in the Senate because of GOP opposition and the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to overcome. To date, Biden has not had enough Democratic support to change Senate rules, which requires all 50 members of his party to band together…

Reader Interactions

94Comments

  1. 1.

    OzarkHillbilly

    Blech.

    eta, in the not blech file is the arrival of my new camera and a whole shitload of exotic wood from my eldest son’s friend who had a hoarder father who had a habit of buying tools and hardwoods that he neither needed nor had any plans for. Not sure where I’m gonna put it, but I’ll find a spot.

  5. 5.

    RSA

    “Just get vaccinated” is the pandemic equivalent of the “just vote” response to fascism

    I’m reminded of Nancy Reagan’s comparable “Just say no”, which had quite a different reception.

  6. 6.

    Kay

    I’m going to the state-wide Board of Elections educational event in Columbus Friday. It’s for Board of Elections members and employees and lawyers (and voting system contractors- lots and lots of contractors). It’s annual and I’ve attended in prior years. I’ll be interested to see the extent to which the Trump cult have infected (infiltrated) county Bds of Elections members and employees. I attended poll worker training the last cycle and there were lots and lots of conspiracy theory inspired questions by the GOP pollworker trainees. This is management, so we’ll see if it reaches up the ranks, and to what extent.

  7. 7.

    NotMax

    Taking on the Axis.

    Governor David Ige signed a supplemental proclamation that extends the emergency relief period for conditions created by the overpopulation of axis deer in Maui County.

    Weather conditions and unexpected delays in shipments of critical mitigation materials continue to delay the state’s effort to manage the axis deer population on Maui, according to the governor.

    The deer have been encroaching onto active runways at the Kahului Airport, creating unsafe conditions for aircraft landings and take-offs, according to state officials. Source

  8. 8.

    Betty Cracker

    Klobuchar has been an absolute warrior on voting rights. Didn’t see that coming. Good for her!

  22. 22.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @raven: Oh yeah. If you ever get a deep gouge from careless appliance delivery people or inattentive tenants, it will come in handy.

    eta: it should be from the same milling run which is the only sure way to know for sure it matches up size wise. Keep it in a dry location.

  25. 25.

    Kay

    @rikyrah:

    Ohio has equal numbers of R’s and D’s on each Bd of Election by statute (there’s also a provision for independents to serve, and they do) so it’s not “nonpartisan”, it’s “bipartisan”, which IMO works better than claiming “nonpartisan” and then people gaming that. It’s nice because I’ve been before, when maybe 20-30% of the GOP entertained conspiracy theories about elections. See if it’s spread to the people who actually run them.

  26. 26.

    JML

    @Betty Cracker: Finally, Amy K has taken on an issue and shown leadership for something that’s not clearly and broadly popular and where the outcome is still in doubt. If she’d done more of this years ago, she would have had a better time of it when she tried running for president. It’s about time.

    (I’ve never been all that wild about Amy K; know too many backroom stories from her former staff. But it’s good she’s using her popularity and standing for something that really matters)

  33. 33.

    satby

    I see from headlines on the Guardian UK site that Bernie is back to flapping his gums and dissing Democrats again. Must be an election year.

  35. 35.

    Another Scott

    Since we're bragging on spouses

    MY wife just finished an 3 DAY shift in the ER.

    When she got home, told her I forgot to pay our bills, so our water'd been turned off

    Now, she's outside digging a well

    I’m so proud of her. Think I'm gonna grab her an ice tea? pic.twitter.com/zHLwqv6kcB

    — T. Fisher King ? (@T_FisherKing) January 10, 2022

    Have a good day, everyone.

    (via eclecticbrotha)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  37. 37.

    Joe Falco

    I’m glad Biden and MVP Harris are coming to Atlanta. I’m more glad, to be honest, that I’m working remotely this week and won’t have to drive into Atlanta to the office.

  38. 38.

    Ken

    @raven: There is NO 30-30 ammo to be had.

    My god. If North Korea invades, how will the partisans screaming “Wolverines!!!” defeat them?

  39. 39.

    Kay

    @Betty Cracker:

    I wonder if it makes sense to set up a legal defense fund for the local officials now to use if they’re removed/accused of election crimes. Just have it if you need it- if it isn’t necessary dissolve it so it doesn’t turn into a grift. It would have to be (and should be) wholly apart from any D elected, including obviously the President. It might make people more willing to serve, lessen some of the “chilling effect” of the targeting of D workers we saw in GA. I’m just picking on Georgia because that was documented- obviously could also happen in OH or FL or even a blue state :)

  40. 40.

    Kay

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    This won’t be like that- it’s nuts and bolts election administration (or I should say shouldn’t be like that) – my question is “is it now?” I suspect so, based on how many questions about “voting machines hooked up to the internet” I heard at pollworker training last cycle. But I live in a really Trumpy county. I’m wondering if the big urban/suburban counties are seeing the same lurch Right. How many Trumpists have access to the actual operation.

  41. 41.

    NotMax

    @Ken

    Easy-peasy. Just set up a free all you can eat buffet.

    North Koreans will surrender their weapons faster than you can say kimchi.

    //

  42. 42.

    NotMax

    Please, please, please, can something be done so that it doesn’t take from 1 to 5 minutes for the page to self-refresh after clicking on Post Comment?

    It’s highly annoying.

  43. 43.

    Mousebumples

    @NotMax: not having the same issue. Would probably help WaterGirl, if you could specify device and browser

    Eta – page refreshed with my comment after 1-5 seconds for this one. Brave Browser, android phone.

  47. 47.

    Quinerly

    Good Morning!

    I was listening to MJ this AM (yes, l know but l like the show’s guests). They had a big discussion about the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I’m not as updated on everything as l have been in the past. (Traveling around out west for 3 months, now packing for the move.) Has anyone asked Tim Scott, Lisa M., Susan Collins, Mittens flat out why they are specifically opposed to it? Especially getting Tim Scott on the record. Do any of these 4 go on any of the Sunday shows? I guess I could Google. Just throwing this out. Now back to packing.

  48. 48.

    NotMax

    @Mousebumples

    Thing is that it is inconsistent. Happens maybe every 3rd time attempting to post a comment. And then maybe once or maybe several times thereafter; there’s no set pattern

    Windows 10, Firefox latest. Lag first manifested at the same time ads were shut down.

  49. 49.

    JPL

    @Joe Falco: I’m glad that they are going to lay a wreath near King’s crypt, and then plan on visiting Ebenezer Baptist Church.   Surely no one will criticize that.  I jest.

  50. 50.

    Betty Cracker

    @Kay: Great idea because that’s definitely coming.

    Dems have fewer billionaires than Repubs for obvious reasons, but I wish the ones we had would get behind ideas like this instead of vanity candidacies.

  51. 51.

    NotMax

    @NotMax

    Timed the delay for that last comment at 92 seconds. Time stamp reflects the clock time after delay, not the exact minute when Post Comment is invoked.

    Have encountered nothing remotely like it anyplace else. Refreshing other non-B-J tabs while waiting functions as per usual.

  52. 52.

    Suzanne

    @RSA: Yeah, I don’t think this is a fair take.

    Vaccination and voting are indeed necessary, but let’s not pretend for a moment that they are sufficient to handle the problems ahead.

  55. 55.

    Kay

    @Betty Cracker:

    I’m a control freak, but one could even advise them on reliable orgs and lawyers- people won’t know and we could easily end up with some crackpot low quality hire like Sydney whats-her-name, the Left version. We’re going to be duking this out on the local and state level. Plan beats no plan.

  57. 57.

    Kay

    Lachlan Markay
    @lachlan
    ·2h
    Newsy tidbit here: the group Look Ahead America, whose research was cited in multiple Kraken lawsuits, just had its 501c3 nonprofit status reinstated. That means AZ Senate candidate Jim Lamon will be able to write off the $2M he gave to the group a week before he entered the race

    So like this except not a grifterama packed with low quality hires/nepotism who are unemployable anywhere else. If we can’t beat them on quantity we can beat them on quality. Has to be super good.

  58. 58.

    NotMax

    @NotMax

    Will add it seems to be site wide when it happens. If while waiting for a comment to post I go to refresh a different B-J tab (without clicking Post Comment there) the same delay takes hold.

  60. 60.

    Betty Cracker

    @satby: In the interview, Sanders says Dems should hold votes on popular initiatives like Rx price reform, tax increases for the wealthy, etc., (which will fail) sort of as a branding exercise? It’s not a completely crazy notion if BBB is truly not doable, but of course the coot couldn’t resist the opportunity to frame the issue in terms that undermine Dems. It’s a reflex at this point. I wish he’d retire already but he never will.

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    @Quinerly

    He said he was heading in to the hospital for an expected several days. No other details I can recall. Had it been COVID related I presume he would have told us so.

  62. 62.

    Spanky

    Amir posted a note in the AM covid thread late last week that he would be spending a few days in hospital and would not be commenting. So there was nothing sudden, and probably still within some definition of “few”, although as the days pass I’m beginning to wonder myself.

  64. 64.

    Suzanne

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: We have sorta covered over our back door. We opened the insurance claim yesterday (online). Hoping to hear back in person from the insurance company today. We spent a bunch of time yesterday cleaning up the glass. Garbage pickup is today and I want to know if we can start disposing of items.

  65. 65.

    Steeplejack

    Re Amir Khalid:

    I was pruning my old Balloon Juice threads yesterday and confirmed that he posted last week on a late-night Monday thread: “I’m going to be admitted to hospital for a few days, so you all might not hear from me for a few days.” That was 3:16 p.m. Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur. Nothing since then.

  66. 66.

    Yarrow

    @Kay:  Seems like something that Mark Elias and his group Democracy Docket might be interested in. Or could at least they could offer advice. He seems to be the leading guy on voting rights, election laws, etc.

  69. 69.

    Kay

    @Yarrow:

    I worry a little about him. I get that he’s raising money so has to raise his profile but I want to be really careful. I don’t think the umbrella group should also be the litigator.  It also makes more sense to use an in-state expert on each states law because the challenges will be related to removal under state election codes or threats/accusations under state law.

    Frequent fliers. People who are in court all the time in that state. You won’t know the names, but either will the local D officials who will be challenged, so we have to direct them.

    I’m wary on this because I have watched the Green Party in Ohio very effectively grift off “election challenges” that were really operations to get lists of D small donors. NOT that Elias is doing that, but I want hardworking foot soldiers, not stars.

  70. 70.

    Nelle

    Absolutely off topic, but I do love the use of parallel structure in speeches and Biden (and his speechwriters) have it.  It will echo the cadence of a lot of preachers too.  I once had a composition student who used it without being aware of it (he was an enormous defensive tackle on the university team, a Black man).  In a conference, I asked him if there were preachers in his family.  He was surprised and said, “My grandpa, my uncle, my daddy, my brother.”  I told him he had the cadence down perfectly.  That structure sets up a rhythm and expectation and helps the speech to reach us on a body level, not just an intellectual one.

  71. 71.

    Tony Jay

    @satby:

    That’s the FTF Guardian for you. Since they became a tool of hedge-funders their business model revolves around providing a megaphone to whichever faction of the non-conservative option is most willing to spread bullshit and division.

    In the UK they provided a partisan platform for the Blairite-Bourbons to sabotage the Labour Party from the Right, in the US they do the same for Bitter Bern’s faction of the Teh Left.

    They don’t care about ideology, they just want to make sure the Right stays in power to boost their sales and keep their owners’ taxes low.

  72. 72.

    Yarrow

    @Kay:  Totally get your hesitancy. I don’t have much insight into what he’s doing. Might be worth a consult with them at least to see what they’re doing.

    Wasn’t former AG Holder doing something with voting rights? There can’t be only one group out there. But also, a bunch of small groups repeating the same actions might be inefficient as none of them has enough money to really do anything.

  75. 75.

    catclub

    @NotMax: The deer have been encroaching onto active runways at the Kahului Airport, creating unsafe conditions for aircraft landings and take-offs, according to state officials.

     

    The opening jet crash in Neal Stephenson’s new book is caused by wild pigs chased onto the runway of a small airport. What chased them onto the runway?  Meth addled giant alligator!

  76. 76.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @NotMax: Easy-peasy. Just set up a free all you can eat buffet.

    North Koreans will surrender their weapons faster than you can say kimchi.

    You snicker (or milkyway or 3musketeer) – but to a significant degree this is how Germany’s March 1918 offensive on the Western Front sputtered to a halt. The Reichsheer had been on scanty rations (though nothing like the borderline-starvation on the home front) since the British naval blockade had begun to bite. The Sturmtruppen burst through the front lines, the rest of the army followed to mop up whatever strongpoints held out, and eventually they overran the supply dumps in the Allied rear – and were stunned by the quantity and quality of food and drink they found there. Little surprise that troops gave themselves over en masse to gluttony and binge drinking – affording the Allied armies precious time to organize the defenses that stopped the German advance just short of Paris.

  78. 78.

    catclub

    @Another Scott: ​
     

    but we’re a big country and one-size-fits-all clearly won’t work.

    Ummmm…. Trump’s ‘the election was stolen from me’ message seems to work everywhere it needs to.

  80. 80.

    Ixnay

    @raven: I had to go look. Have about 500 rounds of 22lr and 25 of 30.30.  unable to find any 22 CCI shot shells. Ammo is tight even in the police departments atound here. Chris Rock effect?

  81. 81.

    NotMax

    @catclub

    Meth addled giant alligator!

    Look at that sucker go! Had no idea gators could do zero to sixty, much less in under ten seconds!

    :)

  83. 83.

    Middlelee

    @Tony Jay:   Whew!  Can you say more about this.  I thought I was getting real info from The Guardian.  Should I move to another paper to get a viewpoint other than the US bias?

  85. 85.

    catclub

    @Kay: Just have it if you need it- if it isn’t necessary dissolve it so it doesn’t turn into a grift.

     

    Just saw something relevant to grift!  Politicians are turning to NFT’s for fundraising. It would be nice if that signaled the end of NFT’s.

  86. 86.

    Kay

    @catclub:

    The Trumpy and GOP voting and elections orgs are larded all thru with grift and they’re not transparent or accountable. We can do better than that- we can have really high standards and use the high standards and quality to assure our small donors (who are, after all, not wealthy people) that we’re spending their money really well in the aggregate. It’s a shift in thinking, right? Large donors demand information on how their money is spent. We could treat our small donors the same way. I think we’d get fewer ridiculous results, where tons of small donor money chases high profile races that we aren’t going to win.

    I even thought about something like an Act Blue model, where they take a cut to operate as a payment clearinghouse, but the cut would go to the (not yet existing) excellent voting/elections org. Like an assessment. It can’t be an “assessment” because that’s illegal- it would be voluntary. If you’re giving 5 dollars to candidate X 50 cents goes to voting/elections orgs (but they would have to be really vetted and we kick them out if they’re grifty or low quality junk). Small D donors would like that, I bet. If they don’t they can opt out.

  88. 88.

    Tony Jay

    @Middlelee:

    I’ve been pretty clear on my seething contempt for the Guardian’s editorial bias for years. They trade on their past reputation as a crusading paper of the centre-left, but between cost-cutting and a severe swerve rightwards on the narratives they push they’ve (deliberately) morphed into a UK version of the New York Times.

    When they cover US politics its almost always through the prism of How The Democrats Have Failed To Be Progressive, handing Opinion podiums to the likes of Sirota and buying into every faux-Left trope about how Biden is a failure who is going to hand the next election to the GOP on a platter – which they would just love because then they get to sell more subscriptions to outraged Centrists.

    Which is ironic, because when it comes to UK politics the Guardian spearheaded a 5 year long festival of hate to convince the mushy middle that the entire British Left were raving neo-Nazis who would turn Britain into Venezuela and sign a new Axis with Hamas and Shining Path. The damage that did was enormous and still unfolding, but they don’t care, they sell more subscriptions with Flobalob in power.

    Whatever it takes to divide the Left from the Centre and keep the Right in power. Again, they want to be the British NYT, and they’re succeeding.

  90. 90.

    Tony Jay

    @Middlelee:

    I haven’t read the Indie in years  I’m afraid, so I don’t know. It is owned by a Russian oligarch who’s father was KGB, though, so there’s that to consider.

    Personally I don’t trust anything that comes out of the UK News Media where the US is concerned. They’ve all either followed the BBC into “Whatever pro-GOP gossip I scooped after buying drinks for the boys from NBC/CNN/Fox” lazy bilge or they’re deliberately kool kontrarian kidz like the Guardian.

    To be honest I get all my juicy info on US politics right here. 8-)

Comments are closed.