Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Nothing worth doing is easy.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

The revolution will be supervised.

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

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

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

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

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

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

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

You are here: Home / Balloon Juice / Thursday Morning Open Thread: Celebrate Our Wins

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Celebrate Our Wins

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  3. 3.

    WereBear

    As someone once said, “Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”

    When I see the damage wrought under the cloak of godliness, it’s amazing that all the things mentioned in the tweets are STILL A THING. When we have more than enough science to settle the question.

  4. 4.

    japa21

    Love me some Joe. He’s not going to let the GQP set the terms, despite the help the NYT gives them.

  7. 7.

    Betty Cracker

    Biden: “In Florida, going after Mickey Mouse, for God’s sake!”

    I approve of Biden’s ridicule of this state’s puffed up pustule of a governor.

  9. 9.

    germy shoemanglelr

    Quick question Barry: why were you so confident that there would be no footage found of you giving a reconnaissance tour on the 5th of January? Is it because your friends at the capital police were going to delete it for you but they missed a backup? I say that because I noticed

    — Րυɱ૦Ր Һคς ɿ੮ (@BrandiLynn4Ever) June 15, 2022

  10. 10.

    debbie

    What with new info about Ginnie Thomas, etc., has anyone heard there will be additional hearings?

  12. 12.

    germy shoemangler

    @debbie:

    I’d be surprised if Liz Cheney wanted to focus on Ginni Thomas. Aren’t the Bushes her friends?

  18. 18.

    germy shoemangler

    Loudermilk also said on May 12 last year, “No Republican Member of Congress led any kind of ‘reconnaissance’ tours through the Capitol, proven by security footage captured by the U.S. Capitol Police.” https://t.co/hkYfO7kdc0— Schooley (@Rschooley) June 15, 2022

  21. 21.

    artem1s

    @debbie: AOT,K – The whole administration – especially Turd Blossom – he was the one to come up with the idea of the states re-certifying the elections to get an EC win. Every single thing TFG did was part of the GOP, JEB campaign playbook. That low energy slob never invented anything himself – he just dug the W administration hole deeper.https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a40278024/january-6-committee-benjamin-ginsberg-florida-recount-2000/​

  22. 22.

    Gin & Tonic

    Macron, Scholz and Draghi visiting Kyiv. And a seemingly unequivocal statement from France:

    A French diplomatic source in Kyiv just now:´We are in favour of a total victory with the restoring of the territorial integrity of all territory conquered by Russia, including Crimea’— Sophie Pedder (@PedderSophie) June 16, 2022

  23. 23.

    Matt McIrvin

    @debbie: Roger Stone was George W. Bush’s good buddy. This was all just an elaboration of all the stuff they pulled ultimately successfully in Florida in 2000. Trump thought he was going to win because he had the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court put Bush over the top. Now the 2000 election was legitimately closer, but really it’s just a matter of degree.

  24. 24.

    germy shoemangler

    Listen, the Thomases are a team. When I was a Heritage intern as a young conservative, Ginni brought in Clarence to visit with the interns. The idea that there’s some wall of separation btw their respective, uh, professional activities is willful naivety

    — Matthew Sitman (@MatthewSitman) March 26, 2022

    The fact that Ginny Thomas has for yrs. been running & maintaining an email listserv made up of her husband's former law clerks might also suggest that the wall of separation b/w her private polit. activities & his professional duties is a tad bit porous.https://t.co/HUNSoOLyzq

    — JabbaNoBadda (@JabbaNoBadda) March 26, 2022

  26. 26.

    JPL

    OT, but what is really an OT

    Geez I run a few errands and return to the news that Herschel has more children.   Although he only speaks about his one son, he has 3 sons and 1 girl.   He’s tied at this point with Warnock.

  28. 28.

    Betty Cracker

    The Jan. 6th committee might have to avoid the Ginni Thomas issue to keep Cheney and maybe Kinzinger on board — I don’t pretend to know what they’re going to cover or what dynamics are playing out behind the scenes. But I sure as hell hope elected Democrats who are not on the committee make it an issue.

    Last night’s NYT and WaPo revelations suggest Ginni Thomas was funneling information about the court’s internal debates to a fucking coup plotter! And Thomas corruptly failed to recuse when he ruled on a relevant case. He is too shameless to resign, but I hope we have high profile Dems out there demanding his resignation nonetheless.  

  29. 29.

    J R in WV

    @O. Felix Culpa: ​
     

    Hopefully Scholz gets shaken loose from whatever’s been holding him back too.

    Perhaps TFG isn’t the only world leader being owned and operated by Putin’s GRU?

    What a conspiracy this is, beats Tom Clancy hands down. Nothing fiction comes up with can exceed the bizarre events of reality just now!

  31. 31.

    Ken

    @O. Felix Culpa: My cynical side says Deutsche Bank is behind Scholz’s reservations. But the side that likes a good joke is thinking back to that tweet from a German, a couple months ago; something like “Let’s make sure we’re absolutely clear on this – the world wants Germany to build up a huge army and attack Russia?”

  32. 32.

    JPL

    @germy shoemangler: A democratic PAC should step forward with an ad now.   Warnock can’t do it, but an outsider could.  Maybe show all of Herschel’s insights to being a good father, and then ask how many children does Herschel really have.

    I’m sure they are busy paying off others as I type.

  33. 33.

    debbie

    @artem1s:  @Matt McIrvin:

    Thanks to you both. My annoying tendency to block out things I hate to know wins out again

     

    ETA: Is this the kind of thing they’re writing legislation to prevent in the future?

  34. 34.

    germy shoemangler

    @Betty Cracker:  The Jan. 6th committee might have to avoid the Ginni Thomas issue to keep Cheney and maybe Kinzinger on board — I don’t pretend to know what they’re going to cover or what dynamics are playing out behind the scenes.

    The latest news I saw is that the committee members are debating whether to mention her activities or not:

    Another “sources say” article, but who knows?

    Members of the House Select Committee investigating January 6 are discussing whether to call Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, to come before the panel, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
    While some members have raised the possibility of inviting Thomas to voluntarily appear before the committee or even compelling her testimony by issuing a subpoena, there is little indication the idea has picked up serious traction so far, the sources added.

    https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/25/politics/house-january-6-committee-ginni-thomas/index.html

  36. 36.

    O. Felix Culpa

    My Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver,  interviewed by Rachel on the Otero County Commissioners (including insurrectionist and Cowboy for Trump Couy Griffin) refusing to certify the primary elections because they “feel” the Dominion voting machines are rigged:

    https://twitter.com/NMSOSMaggie/status/1537258893608464387

    FYI, Maggie is up for reelection this year. She’s whipsmart and capable and has done everything in her power to expand voting access. Here’s her website if you have a few coins to throw her way.

  37. 37.

    Mike in NC

    Biden signs ‘Advancing Equality for LGBTQI+ Individuals’ executive order

    This will be the centerpiece of Ron DeSatan’s 2024 campaign to make America look like Alabama in 1950: waging war on everybody who isn’t white and straight.

  38. 38.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @J R in WV:

    Nothing fiction comes up with can exceed the bizarre events of reality just now!

    No kidding. I’m not in favor of scary bad fiction escaping the covers of a book and entering real life. I have wondered about Scholz’s motivations. Obviously Germany’s regrettable dependence on Russian gas is a factor, but I don’t think it’s a sufficient explanation for his behavior, especially when a majority of Germans support aid to Ukraine.

  39. 39.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Ken:

    Heh. Deutsche Bank is evil. Maybe they’re playing a role. Who knows?

    I saw that joke early on too, and it reflects an unexpected shift in world events. Unfortunately it doesn’t explain why Scholz is blocking other countries from sending their German-sourced military equipment to Ukraine. The guy needs a swift kick.

  41. 41.

    debbie

    Thread, speaking of never again:

    There are, in essence, early-stage pogroms occurring regularly now at queer events. It is being encouraged and amplified by some of the most powerful voices with the largest megaphones.

    We really have to see this for what it is: the first stage in something much worse.
    — Elad Nehorai (@EladNehorai) June 15, 2022

  42. 42.

    sdhays

    @Betty Cracker: Ginni Thomas was funneling information about the court’s internal debates to a fucking coup plotter

    We keep being told that leaking at the Supreme Court is the worst thing evah to happen to that institution, so I assume we’ll see a similar flood of commentary over how Ginni Thomas has destroyed the Supreme Court and there must be consequences!

  43. 43.

    sdhays

    @O. Felix Culpa: Kamil Galeev had an interesting point the other day that Germany has been closer to Russia for a longer time than is generally understood. West Germany was a conduit for (then) powerful IBM computers to the Soviet Union in the 80’s, getting around US sanctions. Apparently, the Defense Dept. and the Commerce Dept. had words over this.

  44. 44.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @debbie:

    Good thread. Many in the LGBTQ+ community are questioning whether to attend Pride events this year, given the threats of violence.

  45. 45.

    debbie

    Fox poll proving the GOP doesn’t even listen to their own supporters anymore:

    NEW POLL: Since 2019, support for gun safety has increased among all groups, including: women (+26), gun owning households (+24), and Republicans (+20).

    Gun safety voters are the new swing voters going into November. pic.twitter.com/lIMpoMGkyz
    — Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) June 16, 2022

    Check the screen grab. It shows 82% support raising the age for assault weapons to 21.

  47. 47.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @debbie:

    It only takes one bad guy (and it’s usually a guy) with a gun, resulting in many dead and wounded, even if the cops or other security are inclined to respond. Which apparently is neither their duty nor guaranteed.

  48. 48.

    Cameron

    I think Clarence Thomas should be offered the choice between resigning or being impeached.  He has to go.  And his departure might be an improving lesson for some of the other toads squatting on the court.

  50. 50.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @debbie:

    Perhaps cis het allies should turn out in force and parade instead. That would be a great way to show that they can’t intimidate us. There are other ways to fight intimidation besides vulnerable individuals and groups making themselves a target for the haters.

  51. 51.

    Geminid

    @debbie: Virginia Democrats made good use of the gun safety issue in the 2017 and 2019 elections. Once they won a majority in the General Assembly they passed six gun control laws in 2020.

    I think gun safety will be a good issue for us in 2023. There is a new district map, a more neutral one than the one Republicans put in place in 2011. It will give more strength to growing suburban districts where gun safety is a big concern.

    I think gun safety is a good issue in suburbs nationwide, and these areas are where many elections are decided.

  53. 53.

    rikyrah

     

    What did Clarence know and when did he know it??

    Lindy Li (@lindyli) tweeted at 2:14 AM on Thu, Jun 16, 2022:
    Lead insurrectionist John Eastman clerked for Clarence Thomas

    Lead insurrectionist Ginni Thomas is married to Clarence

    Clarence was the ONLY Justice to vote to prevent Jan 6 investigators from accessing Trump docs

    Clarence is corrupt beyond repair. Long past time for him to go
    (https://twitter.com/lindyli/status/1537332897601945600?t=qoja5PZ2iGMxY0hC_A4zaA&s=03)

  54. 54.

    O. Felix Culpa

    Right-Wing Groups Target Pride Events Amid Rising Anti-LGBTQ Rhetoric

    Sister Golden Bear has written about the attacks on the Drag Queen Story Hour. It’s part of a larger pattern:

    At least 11 different LGBTQ Pride events across the United States have been disrupted by right-wing protesters or delayed due to threats of violence in the past two months, according to research by TIME and the progressive media watchdog group Media Matters. Those numbers reflect a “step up in aggressive activity targeting LGBTQ people,” compared to recent history, according to Peter Montgomery, a senior fellow with Right Wing Watch, a project by the progressive group People For the American Way.

    [snip]

    One reason for this uptick is that anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, for a time largely relegated to rightwing groups, is now widely used among mainstream conservatives, says Lawrence Rosenthal, the chair of the Berkeley Center for Right-Wing Studies. “There is a legitimacy to it now,” he says. “That point of view is now more or less the formal point of view of the Republican Party.”

    In the past two years, conservative state lawmakers have introduced a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation, including roughly 240 anti-LGBTQ bills in 2022 alone, per NBC News. Prominent Republican lawmakers have also repeatedly argued that educating children about LGBTQ issues is “inappropriate,” and some have equated it with “pedophilia.” In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s press secretary tweeted that opponents of Florida’s new ban on LGBTQ classroom instruction in primary school are likely “groomers.” On June 8, DeSantis suggested he may direct the state’s family services agency to investigate parents who take their children to drag shows, after a Dallas drag event for children on June 4 went viral. (Protesters also showed up at that event.)

    There’s a straight line between lawmakers’ language linking the LGBTQ community to child abuse to an uptick in threats at Pride events, says Montgomery of Right Wing Watch. A lot of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is being used as a tool for accessing political power, he adds, in an effort “to use fear as an organizing strategy.”

    Another reason for an uptick in threats at Pride events is “escalating anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and misinformation going unchecked online and in the media,” argues Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of the LGBTQ media monitoring organization GLAAD, in a statement to TIME. “News networks like Fox News and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter need to take urgent action and enforce their own guidelines and policies against such rhetoric.”

  58. 58.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Cameron: Short of CT’s death, there is no way in hell the GOP would allow Biden to replace Clarence Thomas, and it can’t be done without some GOP.

    Also, he’s relevant. I suspect he’s enjoying it.

  62. 62.

    Betty Cracker

    @OzarkHillbilly: I wonder how much Thomas would enjoy impeachment hearings about his wife sharing court business with coup plotters and his failure to recuse himself from decisions where her communication with said coup plotters was an issue? Let’s find out!

  65. 65.

    piratedan

    @O. Felix Culpa: IIRC one of the county Commissioners is scheduled for a hearing in DC because he was involved in assaulting the Capitol on Jan 6th.  It does cause one to speculate don’t it.

  66. 66.

    sdhays

    @O. Felix Culpa: … they “feel” Dominion voting machines are rigged …

    Not that it matters to these jackasses since the real problem is that they don’t want to believe Tramp is a LOSER, but it still pisses me off how cavalierly concerns about the security and accuracy of votes were waved away when the country went on an expensive binge of switching to unverifiable voting machines. Most of the issues have been addressed in most jurisdictions (at considerable added expense), but it’s just so stupid that so much was invested in equipment that could only cause problems – and it was obvious that they would.

  67. 67.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @germy shoemangler: Thanks for sharing.

    As far as celebrating our wins… this is bittersweet for me.

    I’m thankful that Biden signed it. But I also remember how TFG’s rolled back similar LGBTQ+ protection-related EOs from the Obama administration. EOs are good, but we really need laws. And no I’m not blaming Biden, and given the current SCOTUS, I don’t have a lot of faith that they wouldn’t be overturned.

    But if your rights can be kicked around like a political football between administrations, or the courts, or repealed by voter (Prop Hate anyone) are they truly rights?

    Yes, I’ve been really salty lately, but this shit is exhausting. There’s been at least 320 anti-trans bills introduced this year alone by Republicans, and the rhetoric is escalating significantly.

    Quite an experience to live in fear, isn’t it?

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