Two items caught my attention on Twitter early this morning, and they’re sort of related. First, this truth bomb from Julia Ioffe:
I repeat: the only people who were fully prepared to cover the Trump presidency properly were people who knew how authoritarian regimes worked. The Washington press corps, which treats politics as something between a baseball game and a Broadway show, was woefully unprepared.
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) May 20, 2022
There’s no excuse for how long most MSM outlets kept to the baseball/Broadway model. And I’ll believe they’re treating the ongoing threat to democracy as seriously as it warrants when the danger penetrates the skulls of more of their viewers.
But this NBC News story is a good start:
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s top election official, faced an onslaught of threats after the 2020 presidential election for refusing to overturn results that showed Joe Biden had won the state. In those hectic weeks, she says she also received an especially disturbing piece of information: President Donald Trump suggested in a White House meeting that she should be arrested for treason and executed.
Benson, a Democrat, revealed the alleged remark for the first time in an interview with NBC News. She said she learned of it from a source familiar with Trump’s White House meeting.
The article doesn’t say when Benson learned of Trump’s remarks. I wonder if maybe someone saved that tidbit for a book, and Benson found out about it recently when asked to comment? Just speculating, but it doesn’t seem like something you’d keep under your hat.
Anyhoo, Benson is running for secretary of state again this year. Her Republican opponent is a Trump-endorsed delusional liar named Kristina Karamo, who claims the 2020 election was stolen and that Benson should go to jail. Karamo also has the endorsement of the Michigan GOP, so they’re cool with threatening to jail state officials for not stealing elections.
To NBC’s credit, the reporters call Trump’s lies about the 2020 election what they are — lies:
Since leaving office, Trump has continued to spread lies about the 2020 election despite audits in 39 states and more than 60 courts confirming the results. The messaging appears to be having an effect on the American public. NBC News’ most recent polling suggests that about 38 percent of voters across the country still believe the election was stolen.
The article also notes that Big Lie promoters who are running for key election posts “are on the ballot in 14 states, including the key battlegrounds of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada.”
More reporting like this, please.
Also, did y’all know that Madison Cawthorn lost his primary race? Bring on the “Dark MAGA!”
Open thread.
ETA: Breaking from The Post:
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, pressed Arizona lawmakers after the 2020 election to set aside Joe Biden’s popular-vote victory and choose “a clean slate of Electors,” according to emails obtained by The Washington Post…
The messages show that Thomas, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, was more deeply involved in the effort to overturn Biden’s win than has been previously reported. In sending the emails, Thomas played a role in the extraordinary scheme to keep Trump in office by substituting the will of legislatures for the will of voters.
Thomas’s actions also underline concerns about potential conflicts of interest that her husband has already faced — and may face in the future — in deciding cases related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Those questions intensified in March, when The Post and CBS News obtained text messages that Thomas sent in late 2020 to Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, pressing him to help reverse the election.
The coup-plotter’s husband should resign or be impeached.
Thank You, Adam!
Jerzy Russian
I prefer “spreading bullshit” to “spreading lies”, but baby steps.
CaseyL
With the installation of so many GOP traitors in election management among purple states like Michigan, and the possible election of a GOP traitor as Pennsylvania’s Governor (who will name another one as the Secretary of State), it would be really, really nice to see some pre-emptive action by the DoJ.
They did threaten Arizona during that clowncar “audit,” so there is precedent for the DoJ to stomp on this stuff.
I’m also worried that the Electoral Reform Act will pass, in order for the GOP to claim the Veep cannot refuse to certify elector slates just in time for AZ, MI, and PA to submit fraudulent slates in 2024.
debbie
I saw something on Twitter about how Putin had to keep reminding Trump to do things. My guess is his suggestion to execute the SoS was his own invention.
dmsilev
Ginni Thomas. Again.
And we’re supposed to feel sorry for Clarence because he bemoans the “politicization” of the Court?
TaMara
“The coup-plotter’s husband should resign or be impeached.”
Why not both?
Hello, everyone!
Suzanne
I cannot BELIEVE I had to go through an Election Day in my new home state without Balloon Juice. TERRIBLE.
Urza
“I prefer “spreading bullshit” to “spreading lies”, but baby steps”
Spreading Santorum?
Betty Cracker
‘@Suzanne — we’ll never be able to replace the unexpressed gloating over Cawthorn’s face-plant!
zhena gogolia
Oh, yeah, what we missed with the Cawthorn thing!!!
Scout211
Besides looking at the Tr*mp presidency as a fun game, it appears this disastrous abortion ruling coming from SCOTUS is just more fun and games, winners and losers, and let’s watch the action! type of reporting from the media.
It is really frustrating. Do their readers even care about that type of reporting? What about the real story of families losing their reproductive rights?
From the top of the page story on CNN right now https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/20/politics/clarence-thomas-john-roberts-supreme-court-roe-wade/index.html
“ Thomas’ remarks pulled back the curtain on the tensions inside. Perhaps they revealed long simmering sentiment for a chief who has wrenched relations over the years. Or perhaps they reflected the internal recriminations over who might be responsible for disclosing the draft opinion. Or perhaps they indicate that the apparent five-justice majority to overturn Roe is not so secure.
It is not unusual to hear Thomas deride the court’s traditional adherence to precedent, what’s known by the Latin phrase of stare decisis. “We use stare decisis as a mantra when we don’t want to think,” he insisted in an Atlanta speech in early May.
But Thomas’ sudden aim at Roberts’ leadership is new. In the Dallas appearance, his message to the chief justice came down to: The court was better before you arrived.”
Doug R
trump’s own lawyer when pressed in court was that “No reasonable person would believe this”.
How can we get traction on this.
Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony
‘@Betty Cracker; @Suzanne. I can only hope that Cawthorn is vindictive and has collected a lot of dirt on his fellow GOPers.
Kropacetic
If I had a choice of which of these GOP whackaloons had to go, I wouldn’t likely have chosen Cawthorn. He’s pissing inside the GOP tent with all the glee and self-awareness of any random 26 who had about ten too many drinks. I doubt his GOP-anointed replacement will be any better for the nation.
Now I’m just praying that a lame-duck Cawthorn during election season will fully commit to tearing down the GOP establishment. Also, too, more lingerie photos, cus why not?
Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony
‘@Scout211 They are safely ensconced in blue states and mostly straight males. They don’t think the decision will impact them.
Juliet
My kind of addictive tendencies had me checking the site every 30 min. Maybe not that often. Maybe more often. I just know it was a blur without bj to ground me!
JPL
Do we know whether it’s Ginni or Clarence, who reads qanon misinformation?
Maybe both.
Spanky
Cawthorne is still around for 7 more months, y’all. Can’t wait to see what bullshit he kicks over during his lameduckedness. My suspicion is he’ll go weirder than the coke orgies story, and I’m holding out hope that he’ll actually have evidence. He’s an arsonist loose in the House o’ GOP.
Shalimar
I tend to agree with Roberts that the Court will be viewed as more legitimate if they pretend it wasn’t their intent to gut the legislation they’re gutting, like in Shelby County or Citizens United. But Thomas has good reason to be frustrated too. Roberts agrees with him on almost everything, so you can see his point that 6-3 rulings that take us straight back to the dark ages might look more legitimate than 5-4 rulings where Roberts tries to lie his way to the same conclusion.
StringOnAStick
Cawthorn is threatening to unleash “Dark MAGA”, and given his connections to Dominionism, that’s likely not a good thing. However, his ability to screw up everything he’s ever been involved with and expose far too much (and not just his sexual hang ups), he’s likely to cause more hard to paper over trouble for MAGAland than felling us all like he fantasizes he can do. That young man is messed up and vengeful.
StringOnAStick
Also, please, please, PLEASE let the Jan 6 committee presentations truly be explosive and, most of all, EASY FOR OUR CRAPPY PRESS TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF! You know, sound bites that require no work from our lazy media betters, spoon fed with even more ease than a tRump press release. June is coming…
CaseyL
There is a LOT wrong with Cawthorne, and I shudder to think what his post-Congress life and career will be like. But if he throws more fireballs at the GOP, that would be fun to watch.
JPL
String on A stick, I just hope that the real Balloon Juice is back up by then. We will need the support of each other during the hearing.
Betty Cracker
‘@StringOnAStick: Agree 100% about the 1/6 hearings — hopefully someone who understands how to play the goddamn media will be involved. Sadly, there needs to be a “show runner.” They did a great job with the Capitol Hill cops’ testimony, IMO. It was a compelling multimedia package.
Tenar Arha
‘@Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony
Yeah, when they realize they can’t relocate if they’re trying to start a family or that there’s no family vacations in the US anymore without consulting local laws against abortion when their wives are pregnant, I wonder how chill they’ll be then. POS who don’t understand that if their spouses have wombs there’s no more liberty to live or travel everywhere for them, or their children or grandchildren
JWR
During those six (6!) long and endless days, when we were all forced to “do our own research”, I started seeing and reading more and more stories about election subterfuge and wondered if we were being primed for a “really big shew”, that “shew” being the prime-time J6 hearings plus public action at DOJ. Keeping my fingers crossed that we’re at the end of the beginning and not vice versa.
PS. Anyone else not seeing a highlight on selected text? Makes for difficult comment editing. (Complain, complain, complain. All we ever do is complain! /s)
Irishweaver
I have taken to calling the MSM treatment of politics a soap opera, with different episodes, cliff hangers, regular cast members, the whole bit!
Kropacetic
“PS. Anyone else not seeing a highlight on selected text? Makes for difficult comment editing. (Complain, complain, complain. All we ever do is complain! /s)”
I see highlighted text, though the highlighting is faint. Using Chrome on a Windows desktop.
Kelly
StringOnAStick vote count is looking good for Jamie McLeod-Skinner tho the Clackamas county slow count is aggravating. R’s appear to be nominating a “2020 Election was corrupt, Trump won” candidate.
NutmegAgain
Hay–This little sandbox is terrific! Thanks to all who pulled it together.
A little more on topic, As far as I remember the only vote fraud cases have been republican, correct? E.g., Virginia Governor’s race; Mark Meadows and the amazing trailer on a patch of dirt. I’m sure there are more.
MisterForkbeard
Well, the new temp home of Balloon Juice is just as fun as the original. Though harder to read :)
I’m also holding out hope for the 1/6 hearings, but the problem is that we already KNOW that they tried to overthrow the country. There’s not really anything more shocking than that, honestly.
Lapassionara
What a relief to see Betty Cracker’s memorable commentary, at long last! Thanks to all who helped make this temporary fix available.
Kelly
Currently about 3500 more D votes than R votes for CD 5 on the Oregon Sec of State website. A comforting sign we outnumber the assholes.
geg6
Apparently, TFG has been trying to get Oz to preemptively declare victory and Oz won’t do it. TFG is raging and about to dump him like he’s doing to Perdue. The funny thing is that Oz is, so far, ahead of McCormick. So Oz has no reason not to let the process play out.
I really, really, really hope Oz wins. Fetterman will make mincemeat out of him.
Mag
‘@Lapassionara I know what you mean. I kept going to her Twitter page, https://twitter.com/bettycrackerfl, for my fix.
Betty Cracker
Was reading Mark Stern’s tweets (legal analyst at Slate) about the latest Ginni Thomas email dump, and Stern makes the point that Clarence Thomas’s rulings on “independent state legislature doctrine” were basically just his wife’s nutso emails to AZ officials gussied up in legalese.
He’s right. They were both in on the coup plot. We knew that, but the conclusion is inescapable at this point. And yet, I’m 99% sure nothing will change, even though bone-deep, democracy-crushing corruption at the highest level has been uncovered.
Kropacetic
“Apparently, TFG has been trying to get Oz to preemptively declare victory and Oz won’t do it. TFG is raging and about to dump him like he’s doing to Perdue”
Influencing deplorable culture is all that matters to TFG, apart from padding his personal coffers. If you won’t accept his anti-democratic methods, you’re the enemy.
Betty Cracker
‘@geg6: Oh, I hadn’t heard Trump was getting impatient about it — haha! My impression is also that Oz would be a better match for Fetterman in the general (where “better” means easier to beat). Glad to hear it matches yours; you are infinitely more informed about the PA electorate than I am! :)
JWR
Kropacetic:
I can select text and see the highlight in an already posted comment, but not in the comment box, using either mouse or keyboard. Go figure. Also Chrome + Win10.
And thus ends my incessant complaining. ;)
Kropacetic
‘@JWR
Oh, yeah, I see it now.
Suzanne
It is interesting here in PA, not knowing if it’s Dr. Oz or McCormick who will win. I’m rooting for injuries. They’re both terrible.
Mastriano is a disaster.
I voted for Fetterman. I was maybe going to vote for Kenyatta, but I decided that I was a single-issue voter this time, and I hadn’t heard anything from Kenyatta on abortion rights. I don’t want to hear any safe-legal-rare bullshit, no quibbling over weeks. Just….this is essential to freedom and that’s the end of the story.
JWR
‘@Kropacetic
Yep, that behavior was what threw me off. But I’m cool. Not gonna complain. Nope, not gonna. Not gonna… dAMn iT! sOMEBoDY FIx ThE DAmN TEMp BlOg!
;)
Kropacetic
“I was maybe going to vote for Kenyatta, but I decided that I was a single-issue voter this time, and I hadn’t heard anything from Kenyatta on abortion rights. I don’t want to hear any safe-legal-rare bullshit, no quibbling over weeks. Just….this is essential to freedom and that’s the end of the story.”
For all of us. No one should think for a second that they aren’t going to butt further into our personal lives.
Unless the desired freedom is, apparently, to spread disease. That must be well-rooted in American history or whatever…
FelonyGovt
‘@Kropacetic
The freedom not to wear a mask and spread disease was an important value of the Founding Fathers. It’s right in the Constitution. Just ask the USSC
///
RaflW
Minnesota’s endorsed GOP candidate for governor has also called for jailing MN’s elected S.O.S. He’s semi-walked it back, but you can bet your sweet bippy he’ll circle back to that when he’s under pressure. Probably in a more coded way, but the message has been received by the party faithful.
Kropacetic
‘@FelonyGovt
Don’t be surprised when they even come after condoms. They’re on some shit right now.
eclare
Yay! Facsimile of the site is up! Big thank you to all involved, it sounds very frustrating.
featheredsprite
Hooray! It’s really nice to see you guys!
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
As much as it pains me to say this, I don’t think Roe or Jan 6th is on a lot of people’s minds right now and I’m not sure they’ll be swayed. If my personal experiences are anything to go by, plus the dire economic news I’ve been reading lately, a lot of people are more concerned with gas prices and rising prices for everything more broadly
We’ve already had a quarter of GDP contraction. One more, which is likely given the disappointing retail earnings reports out just this week, will mean we will officially enter a recession. Hell, even Walmart’s sales have missed. Fuel costs will likely go up further this fall, including diesel, which is used extensively in the transport of all goods, likely exacerbating inflation further
None of this is good news for Dems’ political hopes this fall, I’m afraid. The Fed has barely just begun it’s QT and interest rate hikes, as well. There’s potential we could end up with stagflation
I hope I’m wrong
Mousebumples
Not much to add, but since it seems first comments need to be approved, commenting on the new site.
Thanks, WG, for your efforts to get this setup!
Kropacetic
“If my personal experiences are anything to go by, plus the dire economic news I’ve been reading lately, a lot of people are more concerned with gas prices and rising prices for everything more broadly”
If people are wise, they’ll realize who is out there fighting to make life more affordable and work safer and more worthwhile for them. Yeah, I know, if…
Still, it may not require that much wisdom. Take this recent vote with the baby formula. Virtually every Republican voted against legislation to address this terrible situation. This is made for attack ads. I haven’t seen a single justification from Republicans in a media desperate to launder these deplorable impulses. Dems should demand answers and alternative solutions, solutions that Republicans should have provided yesterday.
The baby formula issue, if utilized properly by Dems, can put a real dent in Republican anti-regulation and pro-corporate-consolidation narratives. Yeah, I know, if…
FelonyGovt
‘@Goku
I disagree about Roe. Women realize what this means for us, and possibly for others’ rights down the road. Once the final USSC decision is released and the states start competing with each other to enact the most draconian bans, the anger will be stoked again and again.
Suzanne
OH I ALMOST FORGOT.
The rescheduled preliminary hearing for the dude who broke into my house (henceforth known as “Quality Individual” or “QI”) was this week. Mr. Suzanne went and testified. The defense attorney was a dickbag and was trying to get the QI off by saying that Mr. Suzanne knew the QI and thus it was sensible for the QI to ask for help (by smashing the window or something). Anyway, the judge did not agree and the judge found that there is enough evidence for a trial, and QI still cannot make bail, so he went back to jail. I am expecting him to take a plea bargain.
Betty Cracker
I’m hoping DeSantis is digging his own political grave with smack talk about Florida’s economy, which he wants to take credit for while slamming Biden for inflation, etc. As if we’re not all connected.
The other day, DeSantis informed us that if there’s a “Biden recession,” Florida will be ready. And I thought to myself, dude, people are hurting NOW.
Gas is through the roof now. Grocery prices are up now. Baby formula is in short supply now. Homeowners insurance is unaffordable now.
What does that even mean, we’ll “be ready”?
JoyceH
Hello, hello! It’s been so frustrating this past week, so much interesting news, and trying to go see what they’re saying about it on Balloon Juice!
When AC 360 covered the Cawthorne loss, the chyron said “The Burned Bridges of Madison Cawthorne”.
Old School
‘@Suzanne
Does Mr. Suzanne know QI?
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@Betty Cracker
Gov. DeathSentence knows that the party in power will be blamed
Kropacetic
‘@Goku
In Florida, Republicans are the party in power.
buggrit
How I have missed you all, my imaginary friends!
Rusty
The cruelty of the Trump administration is never ending. Taking children from parents at the border. Billionaire DeVos screwing students out of relief for loans given to flagrantly fraudulent for profit colleges, or being so aggressive with the rules that borrowers in non-profit positions never got the loan forgiveness to which they were entitled. The Washington Post found yet another one, saddling social security recipients with insane penalties imposed without due process and way above guidelines. The meanness and cruelty is breathtaking. These people have no souls. Sorry for the bare link.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/20/social-security-fraud-penalties/
debbie
‘@JPL
I picture them both in comfortable chairs in front of a crackling fire, she reading to him, he mindlessly drooling.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@Betty Cracker
The president’s party in power, that is
@Kropacetic
@FelonyGovt
Adam Silverman in his recentish post on Roe said that you can’t rely on people staying angry for months on end until November, IIRC
And I think a lot folks are going to be concerned with trying to keep their heads above water
Kropacetic
“Adam Silverman in his recentish post on Roe said that you can’t rely on people staying angry for months on end until November, IIRC”
Remind them to stay angry every day. It’s the one thing Republicans get right.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@Kropacetic
Adam’s been right about quite a lot. If he’s not confident of the Dem’s chances, why should we be? He recommended earlier this year that visible minorities should either leave the US or move to a Democratic-controlled state, warning of essentially pogroms. It seems we’re already seeing an increase in violence and violent rhetoric. Hell, the GOP establishment already endorses the white supremacist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory (or at least won’t openly speak out against it)
On a similar note, I’ve recently read that that many countries are still buying cheap Russian oil
Kropacetic
‘@Goku
So just do whatever you can about it and hope it’s enough. Model kindness. Join a political cause. Spread good vibes to allies. Lamenting our imminent doom isn’t going to get us anywhere.
debbie
‘@ Goku
If you don’t believe women will stay angry forever about Roe, I don’t know what to say to you. Even if Roe is saved, we will never forget or forgive.
Zzyzx
Just wanted to say hi is all :)
Elizabelle
Hello there.
I think this blog should be permanent, and should be the home of WaterGirl’s fundraising and action blogposts. They’ve kind of taken over Balloon Juice, as important as raising money to fight off a fascist/evangelical takeover is.
I think WaterGirl should get a promotion, to her own blog. Which we can always visit via links and announcements in the threads.
Being a normie; not following politics that much, but I think anyone who thinks women (and people who respect them) are not going to vote on Roe does not know many women.
Also think we should be calling this the Putin and Covid recession.
Jay S in WA
My guess is that R’s will be pushing and passing legislation that will be rubbing everyone’s nose in a Roe overturn. Ramming down our throats so to speak over the months up to election. They probably hope for some losses along the way to keep the anti crowd riled up. They may be the dog that caught the car, but they are going to do everything they can to rip the wheels off.
Once Roe is gone they will need a new flash point to keep momentum.
Kropacetic
“My guess is that R’s will be pushing and passing legislation that will be rubbing everyone’s nose in a Roe overturn”
No guess required. They’re already doing it and the ink hasn’t dried enough on the prospective decision to even issue it yet.
la caterina
Nice to see everyone!
WaterGirl
‘@Elizabelle
You are welcome to your opinion, of course, but I think your comment is kind of rude.
misterpuff
Not a big fan of this line in an NBC News story
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/trump-washes-hands-perdue-georgia-campaign-limps-final-stretch-rcna29714
“Trump has crusaded against Kemp after he refused to help him overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, which helped cost him re-election.”
Um, no. “which helped cost him re-election” He still would not have won re-election. Blatant lying of election results would have muddied the water, yes But reinstatement of Trump would have been a de facto coup. He’d already lost re-election. He wanted a do-over on Democracy.
“Dark MAGA” is the definition of MAGA. I’m pretty sure a reboot to a “kinder, Gentler” MAGA would be smothered in the crib. RINOs don’t ya know.
Is Ginni cloaked under the SCOTUS priviledge or if she goes down, does she pull down her hubby Frowny? Or could he divorce her and be cleansed in the eyes of the Court. I mean he can say he didn’t know but it doesn’t seem logical.
As you can see I’ve missed BJ. Hi fellow Jackals.
Omnes Omnibus
I am so glad that everything is picking up just where it left off. Looking forward to the regular site reappearing. In the meantime, I am not going to weigh in on the doom talk. Many of you are being kinder than I would be today, so I’ll let you handle it.
Kropacetic
‘@WaterGirl
I was thinking something along the same lines, though my reasoning was different. You have the domain and it’s named in a way that centers the political action piece.
These actions should still be cross-promoted on Balloon Juice in my eyes, but this would make a nice central hub for that.
WaterGirl
FYI, for anyone who is interested, the 4pm zoom has begun. If you need a link, please send me email.
lee
I’ve got a question for David Anderson or any other soccer person.
FIFA tweeted out that they selected 3 women for the first time to referee the men’s world cup.
I distinctly remember a tall german female referee working a game or two in the last men’s world cup. Pretty sure one of the game she did was a semi or quarter final.
Anyone else remember that?
RaflW
If there’s any decency in this world, indeed Thomas should resign. I can’t imagine he will (or at the very least, he won’t while there’s 50+1 votes for a Biden appointee).
Gotta agree with Mark Joseph Stern, too:
“@mjs_DC
The conflict of interest between Ginni and Clarence Thomas has never been greater. While Clarence was applying the ‘independent state legislature doctrine’ from the bench, Ginni was using the exact same theory to try to overturn the 2020 election. Just breathtaking corruption.”
JanieM
‘@WaterGirl — I have never understood why (some) people find it so hard to skip threads they’re not interested in, or for that matter to keep track of two or three at once. You’re doing great work, I for one would not like to see BJ splintered.
JPL
Debbie, One thing folks are forgetting about Roe, is that it affects those who are having a miscarriage. Women are going to die, and they won’t forget. imo
Elizabelle
I don’t find it rude, WaterGirl. I find it direct. I appreciate tremendously the creativity and work you have put into fundraising and organizing. It is desperately needed, and for many years ongoing.
That said, you should have some faith in us being able to handle more than one blog. BJ for political discussion; jackal-action for the hard work of fundraising and getting involved.
I think it would be a great benefit, and obviously we jackals could pay for the operating costs of jackal-action, which would be a subsidiary to the parent blog.
WaterGirl
‘@RaflW
Shocking levels of corruption everywhere you look.
Josie
‘@Elizabelle
I see no reason for your comment about WaterGirl’s fundraising and action posts. They are not taking over; they are just another facet of a very diverse blog. I have found that the activities she introduces are interesting and invigorating. They provide a way that each of us can make a difference in a frustrating political situation. Balloon Juice has improved quite a bit since she has become a front pager, in my opinion, but to each his own.
zhena gogolia
I don’t see a reply button, but I agree with Josie’s comment at 4:23 PM.
Has baud shown up yet?
Kropacetic
‘@Josie
Honestly, I love that Balloon Juice does this. I’m rarely financially equipped to give, but I see the success this blog has had fundraising and it fills me with pride.
Honestly, we should be agitating for more left-ish spaces to do this. Be active. I don’t believe we are doomed, but shit is dire.
Kropacetic
‘@ETA myself
FTR, I gave for the first time through a BJ initiative to Voces a couple weeks ago.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@debbie
@kropacetic
I’m not saying women won’t be angry or that it won’t make some kind of difference. I’m just not confident it will in time for the midterms this fall, especially if the economy is slowing down
mrmoshpotato
“Deplorable” doesn’t even come close.
Kropacetic
‘@Goku
I’m saying do your best to make sure that doesn’t matter. Be the change, bruh.
debbie
‘@ zhena gogolia
Isn’t he still on vacation?
debbie
‘@ Goku
No comment. I’ll leave you and your storm clouds to yourselves.
CarolPW
I think splitting off the fundraising aspect of the site is a very bad idea, and the individual action part is already pretty much off-site in a separate group. If the past several days have not shown us that we are very much a community, why would we want to then split up? We all know of other commenters who have blogs – so why weren’t we all there?
BJ raises a lot of money because of the sense of community, and the value the community sees in giving as one can is obvious from the number of angel donors, the people putting up their work for bid, and all who donate and bid. Makes me proud to be part of the community, and I see no reason to hide it because someone doesn’t seem to be able to hit the next post fly-out button. It’s the same reasoning that demanded a general Sunday morning post in addition to the gardening one, and I agree strongly with Satby that it was a big mistake. Might as well have threaded comments.
JPL
Tuesday is primary day and I decided not to vote. Although I normally vote in primaries, I plan on voting for Stacey and the other democrats and still will in November. In GA you can crossover and vote in primary. If Raffensperger is in a runoff, I’ll vote then. Jody Hice would overturn the election. Raffensperger is a right winger, but he would not cheat. In order to vote in a runoff, you have to either voted for that party in the primary, or not vote.
Kropacetic
‘@Goku
To be real, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve went into a depressive spiral after 2016. I stopped paying bills, much involving self-care, stopped seeking lucrative work, frequently considered decamping to the woods sovereign-citizen style. It may have reached its depths when the 2020 primary was narrowed down definitely to Bernie and Biden.
I’m only recently coming out of this. This spiral created a whole lot of self-inflicted problems to solve. Yet I found a new job, I’m around kinder people in my real life, I’ve learned to step away from political discussions that bring me down.
And things can get better. Biden is not his 80s and 90s self that I feared; turns out, with rare exception, he’s a real mensch. Republicans are beyond stepping on their own dicks. They are creating opportunities. We need to exploit them. NOW.
There’s this perennial notion that “this election is the most important election ever.” But how can that be true if all the prior elections were too? I’ll suggest that it’s always true. “This” election, whenever it may be is about the future. All those other elections were about the past. Fight. WIN! Or cry in a corner if that’s truly what you prefer.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@debbie
I’m sorry
Kropacetic
Also, you say “sorry” a lot. You’re cool, I doubt anyone here has a major problem with you. Don’t be sorry for expressing your feelings any more than I’m sorry I muffed a few commas in that long post with no edit button.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@kropaceptic
I appreciate that. I’ll never stop voting and donating, that’s for sure.
Suzanne
‘@Old School
No, Mr. Suzanne had never met the QI before he ran into our house. But he is (was?) our neighbor, living in an apartment over the stores that back on our house. The defense attorney was trying to establish any kind of connection, even a neighborly smile. His tactic was to admit that the event happened but that the QI intended no harm, was having a psychotic break, and was looking for someone he knew for help.
Gin & Tonic
‘@Goku Stop fucking apologizing all the time. Say what you want to say and stand by it.
Kropacetic
Fair. That’s good. But if that isn’t enough to treat your existential despair, take a moment every time a problem presents itself to ask “what can I do about it?” Find a reasonable answer to that question and do it. It’s empowering.
And if you find any facet of my or anyone else’s advice helpful but have a hard time acting on it consistently, don’t give up. Changing your mind is easier than changing your heart*. Work at it. The depression I just described lasted for years and it wasn’t the first. You could say it’s been my whole life. I’ve acted on it in less-than-respectable ways.
But I know I want to help people. I find opportunities whenever I can. I’m around others now who lift me up but don’t outright gas me.
Also, if you continue having trouble getting there, I’ve found the occasional bout of therapy to be helpful too.
Kropacetic
‘@ETA myself again
The asterisk was for “*did I really just quote Disney at you twice in the last half hour? LAWD….”
eclare
WG, I agree with others who think splitting off the fundraising/action posts on Balloon Juice would be a bad idea.
RaflW
‘@betty
“bone-deep, democracy-crushing corruption at the highest level has been uncovered”
I realize I’m not a member of the WG organized social media team, but is theThomas corruption a fit for @Actual_Citizens?
JWR
‘@WaterGirl: “You are welcome to your opinion, of course,”
Agreed, but I don’t think @Elizabelle intended any harm. I think it was just a clumsily worded way to praise your work. (Or so I would think.) IMHO, you’re too much a part of the balloon-juice community, and moving, or even cross-posting to a much smaller platform could maybe be taken as an insult. ;)
That said, would it be possible to keep this place around as a regular backup meeting place, just in case, or would that be too pricey? But you know how disturbed everyone was by the recent b-j outage, and if it happens again, well, this being a family blog and all, I’d rather not go there. ;)
RaflW
‘@kropacetic
“I don’t believe we are doomed, but shit is dire.”
I agree. We’re on a knife’s edge, and that’s really a painful place to be. I think the right in this country has lost it’s collective mind. But sometimes a country takes a dark turn and we very well might.
But they’re tipping over the edge so fast now that it *could* really blow back. Yeah. I know. That’s been said a lot.
I am NOT saying they should push farther. I’m saying they likely can’t help themselves from bum rushing everything. Seeing OK announce that women can’t even leave the state for repro care, well that sort of thing has to be BLASTED from the rooftops. All summer and fall.
I don’t think the official party apparatuses will. Not sufficiently. So we – many of us, not just Jackals – have to do that work, and fund the people who will say it. Over and over.
“Republicans will take your contraceptives. Republicans say sex is only OK inside ‘the confines of marriage'”*
*Yes a MI elected Repubican said this. This week. She said there’s no need for abortion because sex is only OK inside the =confines of marriage=. Who speaks like that in 2022? USE IT. Fight.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
‘@kropacetic
Thank you : )
debbie
I’m posting this here and in the new thread because it’s worth watching.
https://twitter.com/senpolehanki/status/1526910745207709696?s=21&t=j7IuRpwwU8pZBpHrieigTw
Kropacetic
‘@Goku
Of course. Honestly that little emoji made me smile, may be the first time that it ever happened.
There was that one eggplant…
JanieM
‘@RaflW: “Republicans say sex is only OK inside ‘the confines of marriage” — and they are coming for same-sex marriage too. Just for example, it’s still in the R platform in Maine that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
Suzanne
‘@RaflW
So many things have changed since 1973 that anti-choice people don’t really grasp. One is that it is far more socially acceptable for couples to be married without having kids. Another is assortative mating: marriage is increasingly the purview of educated people with earning potential marrying one another (and at older ages), not tradwives and tradhusbands. The opposition to abortion rights is really trying to undo all of that.
What I predict is that there will be no further decrease in the abortion rate. People will just, silently, do what they’re already doing. There will be no restoration of social status for tradfamilies, which is really what they want.
From the privacy of the voting booth, this might work in our favor, but lots of people who have or pay for abortions don’t ever talk about it.
I will note that this is going to backfire mightily. There is now even less incentive to take any sort of chance with a low-status man. Fewer hookups, fewer shotgun marriages.
Kropacetic
‘@Suzanne
Why is the term “backlash” never applied when we show up and defeat Republicans? Curious, that…
Wag
It’s nice to be close to home.
dnfree
‘@WaterGirl
@Elizabelle
I think it would be a big mistake to remove the fundraising and organizing efforts from Balloon-Juice. I know I’m late to this thread, but this is an important topic. There are a lot of aspects to Balloon-Juice that make it valuable to different people. There are some posts I just glance through, like the pet ones, that are key interests to other people. Don’t suggest kicking off one of the key features just because it isn’t your favorite.
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
I am very late to this thread, but just want to say
1) THANK YOU Water Girl for getting this substitute blog going. As everyone else has said, not having BJ blasted a huge hole in my life.
2) I want to add a vote to NOT remove the fundraising and organizing efforts from BJ. I think it is important to keep everything together. What if you are not originally interested in contributing to the fundraising or organizing, but would become persuaded after a while by seeing what was going on ?
O. Felix Culpa
I’ll chime in to say that I’d prefer fewer fundraising posts. Some is fine, even laudable, but sometimes it feels like
being stuck in an NPR beg-athon: a worthy cause, to be sure, but I came here for the content. And please skip the “you can just scroll past” comments, which ignore the crowding out of content that sometimes happens and sounds an awful lot like McArgleBargle in AL’s post. I speak as a former professional fundraiser and political organizer. I support activism AND I come to BJ for the thought-pieces, information, and snark. So some–but somewhat less–fundraising would be lovely, IMO.
WaterGirl
‘@RaflW
The answer to whether the Justice Thomas corruption is a good fit for the @Actual_Citizens social media initiative is a resounding YES!
One of our 6 focus areas is Republican corruption. It’s everywhere! More on that when the Balloon Juice site is back up.