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

Before Header

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

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Come on, man.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

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

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

Consistently wrong since 2002

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

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

All hail the time of the bunny!

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

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / Calling Them Out

Calling Them Out

by Betty Cracker|  April 13, 20224:15 pm| 135 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Republican Stupidity

FacebookTweetEmail

Republicans are deliberately sabotaging the economy because they believe it will help them win the midterm elections. Jen Psaki called a particularly egregious offender out:

NEW: White House press sec. Jen Psaki says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s “unnecessary and redundant” inspections of trucks at border are “causing significant disruptions” to supply chains. https://t.co/yLTElwctJS pic.twitter.com/vA2DUiysdZ

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 13, 2022

Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii is sick of elected Republicans using public office to mainstream lurid smears dreamed up by their demented cult, so he called the motherfuckers out:

There is an online cult actively accusing Jews and democrats of being pedophiles and this cult gets elected members the Republican Party to launder their smears through the official proceedings of the United States Congress. There is no Democratic version of this.

— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) April 6, 2022

As discussed in the morning thread, Schatz also read the distinguished pecker-pulling fascist fist-pumper Josh Hawley of Missouri for filth on the Senate floor. Schatz was sick of Hawley brainlessly blocking DoD nominations and hypocritically criticizing the Biden admin’s action on Ukraine, so he called that motherfucker out:

Missed these fireworks earlier pic.twitter.com/tyv4aYPGgF

— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) April 8, 2022

Rep. Jamie Raskin understands that we’re in a global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism — and that some of his colleagues in Congress are on Putin’s side. He called the fascist “gentlelady” from Georgia out:

Raskin response Greene Heckling: The gentlelady said something about the Russian hoax… if she wants to continue to stand with Putin and his bloody invasion, she is free to do so and we understand there is a strong Trump/Putin axis in the gentlelady’s party.. pic.twitter.com/aZQMRe4FmJ

— Acyn (@Acyn) April 6, 2022

Senator Chris Murphy said he’s “sick and tired” of powerful Republican politicians bullying transgender kids, so he told those motherfuckers to stop it:

Last night I just had enough. I’m sick and tired of transgender kids getting bullied. So I went to the Senate floor to call out the adults who relentlessly and shamelessly target these kids.

I hope you’ll watch this. pic.twitter.com/COK6QSGZy4

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 8, 2022

More please, and thank you!

Open thread!

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « The Annual Breaking of the Circle of Trust
Next Post: To Answer Commenter Betty’s Question: I Know Rick Coplen, He’s Good People, and If I Still Lived In PA and Lived In His District I Would Both Vote For Him and Volunteer To Help Him! spy v. spy flyouts»

Reader Interactions

135Comments

  1. 1.

    sab

    April 13, 2022 at 4:19 pm

    I am old. By the time I was thirty more of my high school classmates had died of suicide than car accidents. And in retrospect most of those suicides were gay. Many were close friends, and I have always felt I failed them somehow.

  2. 2.

    cope

    April 13, 2022 at 4:22 pm

    It’s a couple of baby steps in the right direction for sure. Now they just have to standardize these push-backs across the Democratic Party. It’s something the GQP is very good at.

  3. 3.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    ?

  4. 4.

    Old School

    April 13, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    Every little bit helps. Hopefully, these clips will reach people who need to see them.

  5. 5.

    Cameron

    April 13, 2022 at 4:24 pm

    Not just Dems – the TX Ag Commissioner (a Republican wingnut, but I repeat myself) has jumped on Abbott, too.

  6. 6.

    satby

    April 13, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    Well, huh. I was told that Democrats weren’t being vocal enough. The Twitter haters are wrong about one thing: Twitter allows us to completely bypass the MSM squelching what the Democrats say and do.

    And for the Luddites not on Twitter: tweets not only get viewed and shared, but they help move the narrative more onto favorable ground. Which is why the NYT told it’s reporters to quit concentrating on Twitter, because they’re routinely reamed for the bias and lousy framing of stories.

  7. 7.

    Betty Cracker

    April 13, 2022 at 4:26 pm

    I read somewhere earlier that Mexican truckers are organizing a blockade of bridges leading to the U.S. to protest Abbott’s deliberate sabotage, which of course fucks up Mexico’s supply chain too. I bet Fox News won’t cover that trucker protest!

  8. 8.

    Alison Rose ???

    April 13, 2022 at 4:27 pm

    That video from Chris Murphy ???????

  9. 9.

    Brachiator

    April 13, 2022 at 4:27 pm

    @sab:

    It was a good thing that you were a friend. These losses are tragic, but perhaps we all should remember the past and try to create a better future.

  10. 10.

    gene108

    April 13, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    @cope:

    Now they just have to standardize these push-backs across the Democratic Party. It’s something the GQP is very good at.

    Party wide message discipline is probably the only thing Democrats really need to try and be more like Republicans on.

    Message discipline is a Republican superpower.

  11. 11.

    sab

    April 13, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    @Brachiator: Yes, but they are still dead, who should have had long happy lives.

  12. 12.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    April 13, 2022 at 4:29 pm

    I’ve been looking at lists of books that hysterical Rs want to ban from schools or even public libraries. I’m curious to know what books they’d approve of?  Chaucer? Balzac? Rabelais? (to echo The Music Man)

  13. 13.

    trollhattan

    April 13, 2022 at 4:29 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Read about that. They could really twist some heads if they were protesting vaccine mandates. “Mah Mexican brother-truckers have a point.”

  14. 14.

    Fair Economist

    April 13, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    Abbott’s economic sabotage would be a great opportunity for unified Democratic messaging. Every time food price inflation comes up, say “Americans are paying more at the grocery store because Republican Greg Abbott has broken the supply chain”. Over and over again.

  15. 15.

    trollhattan

    April 13, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    “Russian warship, have a second helping of fuck you!”

    A Russian cruiser which was famously defied by Ukrainian troops on a small island at the start of the war has been hit by Ukrainian rockets in the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian officials.
    The Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, received “very serious damage”, Odesa regional governor Maksym Marchenko said.
    “It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser Moskva today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island!” he said.
    On the first day of the invasion, the small garrison refused calls from the ship for it to surrender, telling the ship to “go to hell”.
    Earlier on Wednesday a fire was reported on the ship. Ukrainian presidential aide Oleksiy Arestovych said Russian rescuers were unable to reach the vessel.
    He said the ship could have as many as 510 crew members on board.
    –BBC

  16. 16.

    Skepticat

    April 13, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    Although I’m not their constituent, I’ve written each a brief note expressing support and gratitude for their statements and urging them to keep on keeping on. It is a shame we don’t have media to do that, but at least they’re speaking out, and I hope more Democrats will.

  17. 17.

    Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)

    April 13, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    Murphy and Schatz kick ass. The rest of the Democratic senators could learn a lot from them. Why try to appease people who will never deal with you in good faith? These guys get it, along with a few others. I wish more did.

  18. 18.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    April 13, 2022 at 4:32 pm

    Republicans are deliberately sabotaging the economy because they believe it will help them win the midterm elections

    I am getting more and more convinced that the Right just breaks shit for the sake of breaking shit and there is no cunning strategy behind it.  Look at Governor Abattoir there is who will win his reelection because he was a R behind his name, even though he broke the medical system, power grid, state national guard and now food supply chain for his state. Abbot could get the elections results and have more fun by streaming himself doing threesomes with hookers while on a cocaine binge over the internet but instead he does this miserable crap.

  19. 19.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    April 13, 2022 at 4:33 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    I hear that the author of Mein Kampf is popular in certain conservative circles. :)

  20. 20.

    Villago Delenda Est

    April 13, 2022 at 4:33 pm

    Margarine Traitor Grusome is writing checks with her mouth that her body can’t cash.

  21. 21.

    Cameron

    April 13, 2022 at 4:34 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Sounds like it’s playing hell with the produce departments all over TX; will have to get my sibs’ (I have 4 there) read on it.  Quite certain it won’t be Abbott-positive.

  22. 22.

    Skepticat

    April 13, 2022 at 4:35 pm

    @Fair Economist: ​
     

    … a great opportunity for unified Democratic messaging.

    We need more people—and I include and myself all jackals—to make more of and take advantage of those opportunities.

  23. 23.

    Ben Cisco

    April 13, 2022 at 4:36 pm

    Light ’em up!

  24. 24.

    O. Felix Culpa

    April 13, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    This is excellent. I’m glad that Democrats are Speaking Truth while not spewing hate, which is the GQP unifying message.

  25. 25.

    sab

    April 13, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Bible, but only King James version because that isn’t even modern English so it says whatever they think it said.

  26. 26.

    Matt McIrvin

    April 13, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    I have to admit the latest Republican turn toward hardcore homophobe/transphobe witch hunting is giving me very bad thoughts, sometimes thoughts that are eliminationist or authoritarian in themselves. Which is probably part of what these provocations are about.

  27. 27.

    trollhattan

    April 13, 2022 at 4:39 pm

    @Odie Hugh Manatee:

    Also: dog fancier, vegan. Killed the guy who killed Hitler.

  28. 28.

    delk

    April 13, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    The complete and total maga Texas Agriculture Chief called out Abbott to knock it the fuck off.

  29. 29.

    Brachiator

    April 13, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    @gene108:

    Message discipline is a Republican superpower.

    Lies, slander and wacky conspiracy theories are easy. It don’t take much talent or skill.

    The GOP can’t craft an agenda. They can’t do anything that requires thinking.

  30. 30.

    O. Felix Culpa

    April 13, 2022 at 4:43 pm

    @Brachiator: Truth.

  31. 31.

    sab

    April 13, 2022 at 4:43 pm

    @Brachiator: Going forward these kids are still out there and they have friends who should be more active than I was.  These kids need to know people do love them. Their friends need to let them know they care a lot. I assumed my gay friends knew I loved them. Apparently they had no idea.

  32. 32.

    Old School

    April 13, 2022 at 4:44 pm

    Not sure how big of a difference it’ll make, but a little progress:

    After heavy bipartisan backlash, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday ended a Texas DPS checkpoint for commercial trucks coming in from Nuveo León, Mexico, after striking a deal with Gov. Samuel Alejandro Garcia Sepulveda.
    …
    Abbott said he is working with other Mexican governors to end the checkpoints at other points of entry, but until those agreements are reached, Texas DPS will continue its secondary inspections.

  33. 33.

    Sure Lurkalot

    April 13, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Dangerous rhetoric incites stranger to accost kids of gay parents

    They know what they’re doing and incidents like these are bound to be more frequent.

  34. 34.

    Betty Cracker

    April 13, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    @Cameron: It’s not just affecting TX — Abbott is holding up produce bound for all over the U.S. and is thus directly responsible for scarcity and higher prices.

  35. 35.

    cain

    April 13, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.):

    Still chasing after the white male demographic. They should ask themselves, if they lose the democracy what would be status of their jobs in office?

    Every democratic person should to the best of their ability push back as vigorously as they can. People want to see our elected Democratic officials show moral courage against the GOP. They should not let the Squad or others speak  on their behalf.

  36. 36.

    lollipopguild

    April 13, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Balzac!  When I was a kid I thought she was saying ball sack. I had a dirty mind.

  37. 37.

    cain

    April 13, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques: It seems sex with men is the only thing that would kill him politically.

  38. 38.

    Betty

    April 13, 2022 at 4:49 pm

    A politics question for Adam if he reads this. The traitorous Congressman Scott Perry, who gets way too little coverage as a leader of the Freedon Caucus, is my Congressman in a deep red district. There are two Democrats in the primary, one is a lovely woman running on immigration reform and advocating for women and minorities, absolute losers in this district. The other one is a retired guy from the Army War College focused on education. I would like to know if Adam knows him and, if so, has any thoughts about him he would like to share. His name is Rick Coplen. I don’t want to put this in the Ukraine thread.

  39. 39.

    lollipopguild

    April 13, 2022 at 4:50 pm

    @Odie Hugh Manatee: Those circles currently prefer Putin. Putin has the advantage of being alive.

  40. 40.

    cain

    April 13, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    @Old School: Why does need to strike a deal with Mexican governors? He can just leave. There is no reason for them to be there. It’s not their damn jurisdiction.

  41. 41.

    sab

    April 13, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    @Old School: He will negotiate until December. Point is to fuck up prices now until the election.

    Why does Texas want to be governed by monsters?

  42. 42.

    Old School

    April 13, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    @cain: Abbott is trying to appear tough on immigration.  I assume he wants to shift blame to Mexican officials rather than appearing to give up.

  43. 43.

    Sister Golden Bear

    April 13, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    @sab: If it’s any consolation, sometimes knowing that someone loves you still isn’t enough in the midst of societal bigotry. I’ve seen it happen with people I thought were well-loved and well-supported. But it’s hard to swim in a sea of poison without swallowing some of it yourself.

    Regardless, thank you for trying to make difference going forward.

  44. 44.

    debbie

    April 13, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    Good to see this pushback on the Senate/House floor. So much more effective than sending out tweets.

  45. 45.

    Miss Bianca

    April 13, 2022 at 4:54 pm

    @Old School: Oh, nice that Abbott’s already figured out how he’s blaming this on Joe Biden. Fuckwad.

  46. 46.

    debbie

    April 13, 2022 at 4:58 pm

    @Fair Economist:

    If it’s Putin’s gas hikes, then it should be Abbott’s price increases.

  47. 47.

    Brachiator

    April 13, 2022 at 4:58 pm

    @sab: 

    Going forward these kids are still out there and they have friends who should be more active than I was. These kids need to know people do love them. Their friends need to let them know they care a lot. I assumed my gay friends knew I loved them. Apparently they had no idea.

    Things are not simple, especially when people take their own lives. I have had friends who struggled with depression. One thing I learned was that sometimes people have so much difficulty dealing with their pain that they cannot see how much others may care about them.

    We just have to do the best that we can. Over the past few decades, gay people and those who love them have tried to create a world in which people can be free to be who they are. Free to love and be loved.

    The work continues.

  48. 48.

    Ocotillo

    April 13, 2022 at 5:07 pm

    @Fair Economist:  The local news here (Texas) said if things stay this way, we could soon see $5.00 avocados.

  49. 49.

    Renie

    April 13, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    I read that the Russians put sanctions on almost 400 members of the House.  Will be interesting to see a list of who they did NOT sanction.

  50. 50.

    frosty

    April 13, 2022 at 5:10 pm

    @Betty: My condolences on your rep. He was mine too until PA got ungerrymandered and now I’ve got Schmuck. He’s based in Lancaster and hasn’t ever crossed the Suskie to our side of the river.

    We’ve had great candidates against Perry and I’ve knocked doors for a lot of them. I hope one of these does well.

  51. 51.

    Warblewarble

    April 13, 2022 at 5:13 pm

    Who are the U S politicians not sanctioned by putin?

  52. 52.

    misterpuff

    April 13, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    @Ocotillo: There goes the dream of a taco truck on every corner.

  53. 53.

    Old School

    April 13, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    @Renie:

    I read that the Russians put sanctions on almost 400 members of the House.  Will be interesting to see a list of who they did NOT sanction.

    Nobody.  Between today and earlier sanctions, all members of the House of Representatives are on the list.

  54. 54.

    delk

    April 13, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    Abbott just sent his first bus load of “illegal immigrants “ to DC.

  55. 55.

    The Truffle

    April 13, 2022 at 5:17 pm

    I need to get off Twitter. Everyone there is bellyaching over Hakeem Jeffries’ remarks about focusing on pocketbook issues. They think Democrats aren’t doing anything to push back on being called pedophiles.

  56. 56.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 5:19 pm

    It is the 103 anniversary of the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, a turning point in India’s freedom struggle. An event for which Britain has still to apologize

    *From the movie Gandhi.

    This twitter thread goes into the events of that fateful day.

    India won its independence less than 20 years after this incident.

  57. 57.

    debbie

    April 13, 2022 at 5:22 pm

    Not sure if this has already been shared, but the Brooklyn Public Library has started a program distributing e-cards so kids everywhere can take out banned books.

    More school districts are banning books from classrooms and school libraries. A recent survey from Pen America found that more than a thousand titles have been banned from various school districts since July, books like “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and the memoir Genderqueer by Maia Kobabe. But one library system has announced a program to challenge the tide of book bannings. NPR’s Andrew Limbong has more.

    ANDREW LIMBONG, BYLINE: Let’s say you’re a 14-year-old kid living in a school district that’s just banned the young adult memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson. You can email the Brooklyn Public Library system over in New York and explain to them the situation.

    NICK HIGGINS: We are offering them, basically, a free out-of-state e-card…

    LIMBONG: That’s Nick Higgins, chief librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library.

    HIGGINS: …Which gives them access to about half a million audiobooks and e-books in our system at Brooklyn Public Library unrestricted, totally for free.

    LIMBONG: This would normally cost 50 bucks, by the way. And it’s specifically for younger people, folks between the ages of 13 and 21. It’s part of a campaign the library is calling Books Unbanned. And the free e-card is just one part of it.

  58. 58.

    eachother

    April 13, 2022 at 5:23 pm

    Knowing the harm being done to children and doing it anyway.  The right to life does not include the right.  They reserve the right to wrong children who may know who they are or are trying to figure out who they are.  I hear it said, cruelty is the point.  This exceeds cruelty.  These are menacing, intimidating threats. Life threatening, violent assault against vulnerable American citizens.

  59. 59.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 5:24 pm

    @The Truffle:

    We’re weak because we set our own agenda.

  60. 60.

    stinger

    April 13, 2022 at 5:24 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Also: dog fancier, vegan. Killed the guy who killed Hitler.

    Made me laugh!

  61. 61.

    cain

    April 13, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    I think that was what made Gandhi go hardcore. I think before he was just trying to work out some equity – but after that it was “get the fuck out”

  62. 62.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 5:27 pm

    @cain: Yes before 1919 the INC (Indian National Congress) was happy with the Dominion status  like say Canada or Australia.

  63. 63.

    Betty Cracker

    April 13, 2022 at 5:28 pm

    @The Truffle: Haven’t seen that, but I don’t think they’re necessarily wrong; you can’t just ignore that shit.

  64. 64.

    Deputinize Eurasia from the Kuriles to St Petersburg

    April 13, 2022 at 5:37 pm

    @sab:

    Because your avarage Texas GOP voter is a monster.

  65. 65.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    April 13, 2022 at 5:37 pm

    @lollipopguild:

    A valid point…lol

  66. 66.

    JustRuss

    April 13, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    Kudos to Raskin for working in “Axis” when referring to Republicans Putin-lovers. They deserve that and much more.

  67. 67.

    SiubhanDuinne

    April 13, 2022 at 5:41 pm

    @lollipopguild:

    Balzac! When I was a kid I thought she was saying ball sack. I had a dirty mind.

    Honoré de Balzac = No hitting below the belt

  68. 68.

    Betty

    April 13, 2022 at 5:42 pm

    @frosty: I will probably support and vote for Coplen and hope for the best. Smucker is a perfect name for one of these guys.

  69. 69.

    Suzanne

    April 13, 2022 at 5:44 pm

    I checked in with Spawn the Elder a couple of days ago. He’s been doing really well — transitioning, good mental health care, and old-fashioned just-growing-the-fuck-out-of-terrible-adolescence have all been good for him. I asked if he was doing okay, with all of the anti-trans-kids laws and all of the coverage. He said he is doing fine, and he does not watch any of the media and I am increasingly convinced that he is absolutely doing the right thing. It’s probably terrible that I’m now encouraging him not to maintain awareness of what is going on in the world, but fuck it.

  70. 70.

    Brachiator

    April 13, 2022 at 5:44 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: 

    There is a 1 hr documentary about the event that appeared after the clip you posted. Do you know if it is any good?

  71. 71.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 5:44 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.): I’ve seen other Democratic Senators “bring the fire” on the Senate floor. More certainly should.

    I’m not sure they all could pull this off. For instance, I don’t think Mark Warner could bring himself to speak like Schatz did just now. Although if Warner did there would be a lot of shock value.

  72. 72.

    Sure Lurkalot

    April 13, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    @The Truffle:

    Please see the link at my earlier comment #33. It’s not a binary choice to a) focus on pocketbook issues vs b) push back against the crazy talk, because the crazy talk is being acted upon and against those most vulnerable.

    They are inciting violence with full intention. Democrats can discount it as crazy talk and talk around it but millions of people believe it and some will take it further. If you were the parent of a child accosted by stranger in the normal course of a day, I think you would want your representatives to address this increasing danger.

  73. 73.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 5:46 pm

    @Geminid:

    That guy from Colorado did it a while ago and people were taken aback.

  74. 74.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    @Brachiator: No idea haven’t seen it. There was a movie released in 2021 about the man who assassinated the Governor of Punjab who issued the order for the massacre. It got good reviews but I have yet to see it.

    Sardar Udham

  75. 75.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    @Baud: Mark Warner is my Senator and I like him. He sure is bland, though. It was fitting that when Kamala Harris was giving cooking lessons during the 2020 campaign, she instructed Warner in the art of making a grilled tuna sandwich. He probably used white bread.

  76. 76.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    @Geminid:

    I don’t see VA electing exciting Dems anytime soon.

  77. 77.

    Another Scott

    April 13, 2022 at 5:53 pm

    Guess who has a new book coming out! Come on, guess! You’ll never guess.!!

    What’s that??!

    Charlie Pierce at Esquire:

    Mitch McConnell Knew the Depths of Trump’s Plot to Steal the Election Weeks Before January 6

    Did any of these “Senate leaders” think to alert the FBI or the Capitol Police?

    “I’ve been calling folks in those states and they’re with us,” Trump is reported to have told the Senate GOP leaders in a private December 2020 phone call, according to a soon-to-be-released book by New York Times political reporters Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns, both CNN political analysts.

    Who guessed that??! I know nobody here did; I mean, it’s unpossible to believe that FTFNYT reporters would sit on such a revelation for a book deal.

    (via CharlesPPierce on Twitter)

    Grr…,
    Scott.

  78. 78.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot:

    It’s not a binary choice to a) focus on pocketbook issues vs b) push back against the crazy talk, because the crazy talk is being acted upon and against those most vulnerable.

     

    Do you happen to have Jefferies’ exact words? Did he portray it as a binary choice?

  79. 79.

    Uncle Cosmo

    April 13, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    It is the 103 anniversary of the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, a turning point in India’s freedom struggle…

    India won its independence less than 20 years after this incident.

    Jalianwala Bagh Massacre: 13 April 1919.

    Independence of India (and Pakistan): 15 August 1947, 28 years and 4 months later.

    You might want to have a chat with whoever did the math for this post.

  80. 80.

    Pauline

    April 13, 2022 at 6:00 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Yes, he is. As someone who grew up in the major port of entry for produce in AZ (Nogales), the shipments first go to  produce packing houses and then the produce is sent on to its destinations in the U.S. Those packing houses are one of the the major industries in Nogales.

  81. 81.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 6:00 pm

    @Uncle Cosmo: Good catch.  I did the arithmetic and made a mistake.

  82. 82.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 6:01 pm

    @The Truffle: I haven’t looked but I bet a lot of Democrats are standing up for Jeffries, especially among the Black Democrats I follow on Twitter. Some people are sincere in their criticism, but Jeffries is a target for people who resent the Democratic establishment and they’re going to tear Jeffries down because they want to tear Democratic leadership down.

  83. 83.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 6:02 pm

    We are dogs beaten by their previous owners. We learned our helplessness from Reagan. The celluloid parade float and well dang wow bye Jimmy Carter bye Walter Mondale and Newt Gingrich with his fascist, anti-sacred cognitive approach took over and everybody’s been primed we are Democrats! Demorats!!!! The ones, you know, who can’t stop the decay, failure, collapse of the country into deeper crisis. The Democrat Party!!! We are destructive and sick, pathetic and lying, radically liberal, bureaucraticly shallow and most of all traitors, if you get down to it.

    About Newt Gingrinch’s GOPAC memo and the generational changes it brought to American politics, I mean anti-sacred in the anthropological sense. You cannot have a spiritually minded symbolic consciousness if you use language that way on other people. We are Democrats! If there is an OODA loop (orient observe decide act) in the field of propaganda mind control we are already being manipulated. Thank you GOP compatriots! Maybe when Democrats and Republicans are dying together in a war someday, like on Omaha Beach, along with Independents, you will still be dicks.

    Reddit and Facebook are Skinner boxes where karma and likes and downvotes are positive and negative reinforcers applied by various state and non-state actors. We are screwed. On Reddit today, am I being downvoted by some dude in his parent’s basement, the Chinese Communist Party, FSB, Saudi Arabia, the Rosacrucians or the Coca Cola Company? We are supposed to be happy Twitter has an open API but I cannot find how anybody can make an argument on Twitter

    But Betty, then you put up these three videos!!! With these three, we are obviously winning. It’s old fashioned. Existential. FORTHWITH!!! They are beautiful to see.

    No kidding. That Senator Brian Schatz. You can see he is very high in midiChlorians. Wow. He smoothed and combed Hawley’s horse and then fed him a carrot. And then you put up Chris Murphy as your third choice, making an irrefutable argument for love. What a great morale boost!!! We don’t have to play language games. Although the GOP throws chaff and fictions to make it impossible to have criteria for meaningfulness to judge whether propositions agree with reality, there is another aspect of truth, which is how truth can have an existential sense of revealing a way of seeing through plain, artful communication. People need to try to have soul. I think it works to speak directly to things. I’m glad our party is foregrounding sharp. This is a good job on all three of their parts in my opinion.

  84. 84.

    sab

    April 13, 2022 at 6:04 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: I am not British but yikes!!

  85. 85.

    Brachiator

    April 13, 2022 at 6:12 pm

    @wetzel:

    We are dogs beaten by their previous owners. We learned our helplessness from Reagan.

    Bullshit. The only thing I learned from Reagan is that some hair dye might make you stupid.

  86. 86.

    Raven

    April 13, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    Who IS this dork?

  87. 87.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: * 30 years not 20. Sorry about the math error.

  88. 88.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    @Raven:

    You’ll need to be more specific.

  89. 89.

    Sure Lurkalot

    April 13, 2022 at 6:15 pm

    @Baud:

    New York Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a member of House Democratic leadership, said the best thing Democrats can do is ignore the attack and focus on the pocketbook issues that polls show Americans care about the most—and the big reason Democrats are in a bleak position heading into this fall’s midterm elections.

    “I don’t even really pay attention to anything she says because she has nothing rational to say. It seems to me to be a ridiculous allegation,” Jeffries told VICE News when asked about Greene’s remarks.

    “We’re focused right now on getting things done for everyday Americans: lowering costs, addressing gas prices, and inflation. They can continue to peddle lies and conspiracy theories,” he said.

  90. 90.

    Raven

    April 13, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    @Baud:

    We are destructive and sick, pathetic and lying, radically liberal, bureaucraticly shallow and most of all traitors,

  91. 91.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    @sab: This was immediately after India had aided the British war effort in the Great War. From Ypres to Galipoli and beyond Indian soldiers served in the British Indian Army and died far away from home. They are whitewashed in most of the Hollywood retellings of the history.

  92. 92.

    Raven

    April 13, 2022 at 6:18 pm

    The man suspected of shooting 10 people on a subway train in Brooklyn on Tuesday called in a tip to Crime Stoppers that led to his capture Wednesday, two law enforcement sources told CNN.

  93. 93.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot:

    Thanks.  I see nothing remarkable about the quoted statements.  I disagree with those who want to discuss it.

  94. 94.

    Betty Cracker

    April 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    @Raven: Maybe he hopes to collect the reward!

  95. 95.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    Bernie brigade wants to tear Jeffries down because he has the temerity to stand behind elected Dems challenged by the Green Tea party.

  96. 96.

    Raven

    April 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Maybe he didn’t want to get his ass blown away.

  97. 97.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    @Raven:

    I think he was paraphrasing the GOP line.

  98. 98.

    Kathleen

    April 13, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: Yup. How dare he create a PAC to protect incumbents.

  99. 99.

    Joe Falco

    April 13, 2022 at 6:24 pm

    You’re definitely telling on yourself when you won’t spell the Democratic Party correctly.

  100. 100.

    Ksmiami

    April 13, 2022 at 6:30 pm

    Demolish the GOP. The party of traitors and trash

  101. 101.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    @Ksmiami: ?

  102. 102.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    @Raven: The voluble commenter is from the Peach state. I read his densely packed screeds in hopes that he’ll give up some bass fishing secrets.

  103. 103.

    Sure Lurkalot

    April 13, 2022 at 6:31 pm

    @Baud: Please know I like Hakeem Jeffries, I would vote for him enthusiastically and be happy to have him as my representative.

    But am I misunderstanding what he said? He seemed quite clear that he doesn’t pay attention to the conspiracy theories because they’re “ridiculous allegations”.

    Maybe he can stay in the pocketbook issue lane and others can push back on the rhetoric but I don’t think it can be ignored. It’s dangerous.

  104. 104.

    Baud

    April 13, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot:

    He didn’t ignore it.  He called it ridiculous, lies, and conspiracy theories. He also said she wasn’t rational.  All true and appropriate responses.

    ETA: Absolutely nothing controversial about it.  Not worthy of discussion.

  105. 105.

    Queen of Lurkers

    April 13, 2022 at 6:39 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: Have you seen the movie Sardar Udham? Wasn’t that great a movie, but it made me read up on the history of the guy who took “revenge” against Gen. Dwyer.

  106. 106.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    @Raven:

    If only our vision included sharing, change, and opportunity, a real legacy of moral courage, reform leading to prosperity, a crusade, a movement, for children, for family, then we would be more competitive.

  107. 107.

    Raven

    April 13, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    @Geminid: Texas rig with a purple motor oil plastic worm from Zoom. Throw it a a bed and pop it off the bottom.

  108. 108.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot: Jeffries was one of three Representatives who served on the Democratic Caucus Communications Committee advising candidates on messaging for the 2018 midterms. Their guidance was to pound two issues hard: the “trillion dollar tax giveaway” to corporations and the wealthy; and the neccesity to protect the Affordable Care Act and its provisions vital to people’s very survival, such as the protections for people with preexisting conditions.

    House Democrats picked up 40 seats in 2018, and that may not have been a coincidence. This doesn’t neccesarily mean that Jeffries is right on this matter, but he does has a track record in this area.

  109. 109.

    Raven

    April 13, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    @wetzel: If a bullfrog had wings it wouldn’t bump its ass when it hopped.

  110. 110.

    Betty Cracker

    April 13, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot: FWIW, I agree. Dems don’t have to focus on the bullshit all the time, but when someone tees it up like that? Yeah, push back. Hard. Mention that this theme is from a deranged cult that believes in Jewish space lasers and the return of (very dead) JFK Jr.

  111. 111.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 6:51 pm

    @Raven: But what is your philosophy here? There must be more to the question.

  112. 112.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    @Geminid:

    The secret to bass fishing is four tootsie rolls followed by a boiled egg.

  113. 113.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 6:54 pm

    @Queen of Lurkers: I haven’t seen it. It is on my list.

  114. 114.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    @wetzel: Now you’re talking!   Cryptically, though.

  115. 115.

    Tokyokie

    April 13, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    I drink a lot of Topo Chico, a Mexican sparkling mineral water (although Coca-Cola bought it a few years ago). And when I say a lot, I mean probably about 3 liters a day of the stuff. But because of the guv’s actions, it has become scarce on grocery shelves in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. (Only the local grocery chain HEB had when the spousal unit looked for it today.) So I say, “¡Topo Chico, sí! ¡Matadero, no!”

  116. 116.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    @Raven: I hope to fish the Shenandoah River next week and I want bring my “A game.” So thank you for your pragmatic advice.

     

    @wetzel: And you too!

  117. 117.

    Ksmiami

    April 13, 2022 at 7:16 pm

    @Baud: Hit them fucking hard and then hit them again… I want Biden to stop saying he has friends in the GOP… the party needs to be stopped

  118. 118.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 7:20 pm

    @Geminid: After the boiled egg, he’ll come up and demand his tootsie roll. Then you hit him with a hammer.

  119. 119.

    prostratedragon

    April 13, 2022 at 7:23 pm

    @Sure Lurkalot:  From the quote it doesn’t sound like he necessarily was speaking to a choice of issues, but to a specific person’s remarks (invective). Was is MTG or someone? I could kind of see wanting to speak against anti-gay (etc.) rhetoric and violence without having to respond every time she in particular pops off, since part of what she’s doing is inciting people against a devil of her choosing so they don’t notice the one that’s actually stealing their bread.

  120. 120.

    Geminid

    April 13, 2022 at 7:23 pm

    @wetzel: “But what about the lurkers?”

  121. 121.

    gene108

    April 13, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    @cain:

    I think that was what made Gandhi go hardcore.

    Also, the Rowlatt Acts shocked the INC to push for total independence, because India had whole heartedly supported Britain during WW1, with the expectation of gaining Dominion status in return.

    1.3 million Indian soldiers served in WW1 for the British. India gifted £100 million to help fund the war effort, along with whatever rationing and taxation the Indian people had to endure, as a result of the war.

  122. 122.

    Tazj

    April 13, 2022 at 7:45 pm

    It seems as if Democrats have to repeatedly say “pocket book issues”, and “kitchen table!” In order to maintain some sort of legitimacy with the media and Real America. The media will say but Americans don’t care about whatever, they care about their POCKET BOOKS!!

    It seems to be assumed for no reason at all that Republicans care about Americans more when their only solution to everything is lower taxes for rich people and business owners.

    Anyway, I’m glad that Jen Psaki brought up the Texas governor and his antics at the press conference. I didn’t know about it and it’s something Democrats should bring up every day.

  123. 123.

    prostratedragon

    April 13, 2022 at 7:50 pm

    Now here’s something:

    Fox Pride denounces statements made regarding sexual orientation and gender identity on FOX News in the past week.

    This was the opening of a statement on FOX News employees Slack channel. Evidently Fox Pride is an organized club within the staff. More power to them, but I have to wonder how they feel about some of the other spewings of their employer.

    ETA: Whoops, forgot the link.

  124. 124.

    A Ghost to Most

    April 13, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    If the district in question includes Carlisle and surroundings, I would call it a lost cause. We ran screaming from that area, and wife’s relatives there, in 2009.

  125. 125.

    Ohio Mom

    April 13, 2022 at 8:15 pm

    @Tokyokie: Buy a Soda Stream and make your own sparkling water, you’ll save gobs of money.

  126. 126.

    Jeffro

    April 13, 2022 at 8:17 pm

    THIS.  All of this.

    This is what we’re asking for when we ask Dems to ‘throw punches’.

    Fire up the base.  Point out the scummy, lowlife Rs for what they are.  Call it out.

  127. 127.

    schrodingers_cat

    April 13, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    @Ohio Mom: What about the refills how expensive are the cartridges and how long do they last?

  128. 128.

    Ohio Mom

    April 13, 2022 at 8:36 pm

    @Raven: The version of the story I heard is that a fellow named Zack recognized the shooter and called over some police who were walking by.

    https://abc7ny.com/amp/zack-tahhan-nyc-subway-shooting-frank-james-brooklyn/11745173/

    (One day maybe I’ll learn how to embed links).

    Maybe both versions are true? The police were walking in that area because of the shooter’s called-in tip and Zack noticed him first? Of course the cops could give this concerned citizen at least partial credit but that’s not in their nature.

    In other ways too, NYC cops did not covered themselves in any glory here. Despite their huge budget and presence in the subway, they didn’t prevent this or stop it midway; critical security cameras were not working; right after the shooting they asked bystanders to call 911 because their communication devices were not working.

    Most of what the cops do in the subway is arrest teenagers who turnstile jump (that could have been me back in the day!) and terrorize homeless people.

    Anyway, Sunset Park, Brooklyn is one of the places Ohio Family will be visiting during our NYC trip in May. But we will be driving that day.

  129. 129.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 8:36 pm

    If you include the illegitimate electors and their state-by-state felonious conspiracies, the web of schemers, plotters, interlocutors, traitors, sycophants, enforcers and kingpins, bigwig GOP people soon to be under federal indictment  Raskin recently intimated would like exceed 1000. How wonderful this summer to have the public hearings. Nothing like court TV!!! Tune in next week for Kate Mcinhwatshername!!!! Gym Jordan in the witness stand!!!

    People are worrying too much. Normally we are messaging back and forth and it’s hard. This season, the GOP took it to the plane of action. They left the democratic ritual. So it stays on the plane of action as a criminal matter. The Jan 6. committee and the Dept. of Justice have the full force of law to investigate and, for the DOJ, to prosecute. There’s no ‘Hunter Biden’s laptop’ story on Facebook that’s going to matter when we start seeing the criminal conspiracy presented to the American people and the GOP’s panicked death rattle. They will change their name back to the Whigs by October.

  130. 130.

    Ohio Mom

    April 13, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: We exchange the Soda Stream cartridges at Target, they are about $30 each and according to their website, each cartridge makes about 60 liters. But that is for very fizzy shelter, you can stretch it further.

    Ohio Dad, the family mathematician says we were spending a lot more on seltzer, though we did end up buying a Brita water filter because our hard water made terrible tasting seltzer. So that cost has to be added in — which I don’t remember off the top of my head.

  131. 131.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    April 13, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    Moar voter fraud…

    Orlando Sentinel @orlandosentinel
    Two men from The Villages admit to casting multiple ballots in 2020 election

    According to the pre-trial intervention documents, the prosecution of Barnes, 64, and Ketcik, 63, will be deferred if they abide by a series of court-ordered requirements set by the office of Ocala-based State Attorney Bill Gladson. Court records show the men will avoid further punishment if they regularly meet with a supervising officer, complete 50 hours of community service and attend a 12-week adult civics class, among a handful of other requirements.
    In December, Ketcik, along with Joan Halstead and John Rider, who also reside in The Villages, was arrested on voter fraud charges for casting more than one vote during the 2020 election, according to police affidavits. Halstead, 71, and Rider, 61, are still awaiting trial. Both have pleaded not guilty. …

    State voter records show Barnes and Rider are not affiliated with a political party in Florida. Ketcik and Halstead are registered Republicans.

    I think I can guess….

     

  132. 132.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 8:50 pm

    @Geminid: Hey no fair. I’ve been a lurker here for twenty years! I’m good for twenty comments at Reddit a year. I used to comment at Kos and a place called Plastic. I would comment at SongTown occasionally, but that place is a henhouse.

  133. 133.

    Omnes Omnibus

    April 13, 2022 at 9:27 pm

    Wait, wasn’t I told just this morning that the Democrats don’t do this kind of thing?  It must have been some other blog.  That’s it.

  134. 134.

    wetzel

    April 13, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: As long as its for a good cause it’s okay.

  135. 135.

    Paul in KY

    April 14, 2022 at 11:02 am

    @Another Scott: When you’re unfavorably compared to Jefferson Davis…

    And he’s my senior Senator…

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - beckya57 - Copper Canyon, Mexico, April 2025 6
Image by beckya57 (6/19/25)

Recent Comments

  • YY_Sima Qian on Late Night Open Thread: Another Musk Rocket Goes Boom (Jun 20, 2025 @ 12:50am)
  • Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom on Late Night Open Thread: Another Musk Rocket Goes Boom (Jun 20, 2025 @ 12:50am)
  • Jackie on Late Night Open Thread: Another Musk Rocket Goes Boom (Jun 20, 2025 @ 12:49am)
  • Ten Bears on Late Night Open Thread: Another Musk Rocket Goes Boom (Jun 20, 2025 @ 12:48am)
  • Parfigliano on Late Night Open Thread: Another Musk Rocket Goes Boom (Jun 20, 2025 @ 12:46am)

Personality Crisis Podcast (Cole, DougJ, mistermix)

Balloon Juice Posts

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

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

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

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

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

Email sent!