Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

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

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

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

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

We will not go back.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Nothing worth doing is easy.

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Monday Morning Open Thread: Shana Tova 5783

Monday Morning Open Thread: Shana Tova 5783

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To those who observe, may your name be written in the Book of Life…


Oh, now #MoscowMitch loves ‘bipartisanship’! (I believe the quote is from a Batman movie, where the Joker talks about ‘being born in the darkness, molded by it’… )

Reader Interactions

127Comments

  1. 1.

    There go two miscreants

    I’m not at all concerned about underperforming, Dump-aligned candidates! In fact, I welcome them!

  7. 7.

    MomSense

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Enjoy!!

    It was a thoroughly wonderful and exhausting wedding week. The ceremony was beautiful and the party after was fantastic.  We even managed to facilitate buying lobsters off the boat for the 85 year old grandma from Korea.  I think the kids promised her lobsters and she collected.

  14. 14.

    Betty Cracker

    @eclare: It was SO good! I did go with the 50/50 radicchio/iceberg blend you suggested, and I’m glad I did because 100% radicchio would have been too bitter.  We don’t mind bitter greens, but fish tacos have a delicate flavor, and a bitter slaw would have overwhelmed them.

    I was also happy I managed not to over-fry the fish. For some reason, I’ve had trouble adjusting my oil temperature lately, but I was careful this time, and it turned out great. :)

  18. 18.

    Betty Cracker

    @lowtechcyclist: Don’t know — relatively few is my guess — but the stunt planes issue has gotten tons of coverage outside the con-media bubble, and that’s a good thing. It was cynical, cruel, wasteful and easy to understand as such. It remains to be seen if enough voters will give a shit in November.

  22. 22.

    Geminid

    @lowtechcyclist: Some Floridians will see the Buttegieg clip. And the prickly DeSantis probably won’t refrain ffom responding, which should give Buttigieg’s comments more “legs.”

  23. 23.

    Betty Cracker

    What do y’all think about former GOP Rep. Riggleman’s comments about 1/6 on 60 Minutes? I didn’t see the interview but read an account of it at CBS News here.

    Riggleman has military intel experience and served as tech advisor to the 1/6 committee until leaving Congress in April. He said Mark Meadow’s texts were a “roadmap to a coup” and found that there was a 9-second call placed from the White House to a rioter minutes after Trump’s shameful “we love you, you’re very special” tweet video to the rioters, calling that an “a-ha moment.”

    According to CNN, the rioter in question claims not to remember a call and says he didn’t know anyone at the Trump White House. Current 1/6 committee members are downplaying Riggleman’s revelations:

    “One of the things that has given our committee credibility is we’ve been very careful about what we say; not to overstate matters, not to understate matters. And without the advantage of the additional information we’ve gathered since he left the committee, it poses real risk to be suggesting things,” Schiff told Tapper.

    Riggleman is peddling a book, so his angle is clear. The committee is set to hold a hearing Wednesday at 1 PM. I hope the hurricane doesn’t knock out my power so I can watch it!

  25. 25.

    Geminid

    @Betty Cracker: Fifth Virginia CD Republicans made sure they would oust Riggleman by going the caucus/convention route. The loathsome Bob No-Good easily beat him in the convention held at Liberty University (No-Good’s employer). But I don’t think the charisma-free Riggleman would have won a primary either.

    So Riggleman will sell some books and get a few more appearances on the national stage. Then he’ll go back to appearing as the local radio radio station’s “national security expert Denver Riggleman.” And sell more vodka from his Nelson County distillery, and books too.

  28. 28.

    dmsilev

    @Anonymous At Work: Yeah, her antics have managed to piss off the core of her support and of course Republicans were never going to like her regardless. It’s hard to understand what she’s been thinking, beyond “high on her own supply”.

  30. 30.

    Another Scott

    Wife: Trying to remember the name of my childhood cat that was shy

    Me: Bourbon? Tequila? Everclear?

    Wife: Shut up not ALL of our cats were named after alcohol. This one was ….Tipsy.

    Me: …..

    Wife: Well, ok, fair.

    — ResponsibleDispatchHat (@Popehat) September 26, 2022

    rofl.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  33. 33.

    Soprano2

    @Betty Cracker: My bet is that the main thing making people there mad is that he couldn’t even be bothered to remove immigrants who are in Florida, but instead had to go to Texas for them! Sad, but true. And the “excuse” that they were going to come to Florida is super-dumb, because most people know that there are ways to get to Florida from Massachusetts! LOL

  36. 36.

    John S.

    @Betty Cracker:

    Speaking of the 1/6 committee, USA Today published an Op-Ed from Mick Mulvaney on why the 1/6 committee has a credibility problem.

    One can only point and laugh because Mick Mulvaney is the poster child for “credibility problem” being published in a “newspaper” that also has a credibility problem. It’s meta on so many levels.

  39. 39.

    Sanjeevs

    The brand new very right wing U.K. government introduced a budget on Friday with a huge top level tax giveaway.

    Now they have a currency crisis, interest rates look set to rise and five year U.K. government bonds are trading below those of Greece.

  41. 41.

    rikyrah

     Dr. Yadira Caraveo for CO-08 (@Needle_of_Arya) tweeted at 4:22 AM on Sun, Sep 25, 2022:
    Both America and Europe are part of a larger historical paradigm, one approached from two different sides, that social welfare policies are popular in supermajority-white democracies so long as whites don’t have to share its benefits with non-white minorities.

     Dr. Yadira Caraveo for CO-08 (@Needle_of_Arya) tweeted at 4:22 AM on Sun, Sep 25, 2022:
    FDR’s New Deal arose in a multiracial society, and was passed into law provided that Black people were excluded.

    West European societies passed generous social welfare laws at a time when their racial demographics were supermajority-white.

     Dr. Yadira Caraveo for CO-08 (@Needle_of_Arya) tweeted at 4:22 AM on Sun, Sep 25, 2022:
    America experienced a golden age of sorts, 1933-81, in which social welfare programs were expanded for white people and continued a decades-long program of wealth-building since 1862’s Homestead Act.

    Europe’s social welfare prpgrams continued unabated until the 21st century.
    (twitter.com/Needle_of_Arya/status/1573966175741935616?s=02)

  42. 42.

    Baud

    @Sanjeevs:

    Seems a little early to trash the economy in the hopes that all the blame falls on the Labour government.  Of course, maybe they’ll call elections early.

  43. 43.

    Betty Cracker

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: Brutal poll numbers! A lot of folks seem convinced she’s going to make out like a bandit in the private sector once AZ Dems kick her ass to the curb in 2024 (hard to see how that doesn’t happen). I don’t see it.

    Lobbyists are hired for their relationship skills and ability to schmooze/bamboozle the media, abilities Sinema ostentatiously lacks. She might stick a feed straw in the slush fund of a sleazy rat-boink outfit like No Labels, but honestly, how lucrative can that be?

    It’s weird, but the only explanation that makes sense to me is that she honestly believes her “maverick” shtick will return her to the Senate as the heir to McCain. It’s delusional.

  44. 44.

    Jeffro

    I really should learn more about the world’s various religions.  I know about 2% of the basics of non-Christian religions, and only remember about 10% of what I learned in Sunday school way back when.

    (Just to be a literate citizen, mind you – I’m not shopping around for a faith, I’m very happy and comfortable in my atheism. =)

    Glad to see President Biden is focusing on ‘the’ issue here – Dobbs.  Let ‘em have it, Dark Brandon!

  45. 45.

    Geminid

    @Betty Cracker: Senator is a prestige job. Sinema will land on her feet somewhere even if it’s not a lobbying firm. Al Gore made a lot of money in the financial sector after he retired from politics. Sinema may not be as talented but she’s talented enough to land a job with a hedge fund like Black Rock.

  47. 47.

    Ken

    I appreciate that every single conservative has decided not to bother anymore and it’s mask off season

    I assume this refers to their political stance, not to COVID?  Because it works for both.

  49. 49.

    Geminid

    @John S.: I’ve read that about Sinema’s wealth, and I’ve also read that it isn’t true. I guess her financial disclosure statements would tell the tale.

  53. 53.

    catclub

    @Jeffro: ​
     

    He quoted from Leviticus, saying, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Hillel then concluded: “That which is hateful unto you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole of the Torah; the rest is commentary.

    I always think the ‘Commentary’ part is the right wing Jewish magazine.

  54. 54.

    Ken

    @Sanjeevs: “Conservatism cannot fail; it can only be failed.” And the last few UK PMs have been demonstrating how badly it can be failed, not that other nations are doing any better.

  56. 56.

    Layer8Problem

    @Betty Cracker:  “. . . sleazy rat-boink outfit like No Labels . . .”

    Delicately put, but they’re a delicate, sensitive organization and would get the vapors if a harder term were used, because incivility.

  57. 57.

    Geminid

    @catclub: If I ever make it to Israel (which is kind of doubtful) I’d like to visit Hillel’s grave. Its in an old town that overlooks Lake Kinneret, aka the Sea of Galilee.

    I remember talking with debbie about this. I sure hope she is ok.

  59. 59.

    Betty Cracker

    @Geminid: You could be right. I have no idea what a hedge fund would hire Sinema to do, but admittedly it’s not an industry I know all that well. Gore was/is a widely respected figure who has a lot of credibility on major issues like climate change. I’m not sure what Sinema brings to the table, but it’s true that just about every pol manages to get wealthy in our corrupt AF, celebrity-addled system, so maybe she’ll be able to spin her pig’s ear of a career into a silk purse too

    @Soprano2: That I could see. She can be the new Mark Penn.

  62. 62.

    Geminid

    @Betty Cracker: I still like my idea of Sinema starting a line of women’s workout apparel. There’s a lot of money to be made in that sector, and she could surely get the financial backing.

    “Maverick Sportswear: Tough enough for a triathalon. And stylish enough for Starbucks!”

  63. 63.

    gwangung

    @Geminid: I’d be very surprised if she DIDN’T gain wealth. Even Bernie was able to do so; it’s not that difficult.

    I imagine doing the paid speech and consultancies with big Pharma would be possible…

  69. 69.

    Geminid

    @gwangung: I expect Sinema increased her wealth some, but maybe not to $11 million dollars.

    As for her future career, I’ve never seen an ex-Senator who wanted to not make good money. It’s a prestigious job, and there are a lot of different institutions that want the association.

  71. 71.

    Geminid

    @eclare: I think Suzanne also characterized Sinema as a social climber. Now Sinema’s made her climb into the elite, and she’ll stay there, notwithstanding the grumblings of many Democrats.

    Suzanne had a bird’s eye view of Sinema throughout her career as Arizona legislator, then Congresswoman, and then Senator.

  72. 72.

    Hoodie

    @Geminid: Yeah, but I don’t see her landing anything remotely equivalent to what Al Gore did.  Gore is from an established Democratic Party family and did not alienate his party by pulling the stupid stunts that Sinema has engaged in, and thus retains a lot of influence among Democratic Party donors and elected officials.  He is also famous for his advocacy regarding climate change.   Sinema is despised by a lot of Dems, has no particular issues she’s identified with, and doesn’t seem to have any particular pull in the wingnut universe.  She might get something in the grifting media/scam circus that overlaps with the current GOP, but a major hedge fund would probably be a stretch.

  75. 75.

    Nelle

    @John S.: i see that over and over on “public service” high profile jobs.  What is the explanation for all these millionaires?  A one term Congresswoman from Iowa (Abby Finkenaer,  D) took office with assets of about 11,000, served one term, lost,  and then spent two years to run against Grassley (she lost in the primary to Mike Franken).  By then she had a couple of million (3 or 4 years after having assets of 11,000).

  76. 76.

    TS

    @rikyrah:

    Greg Sargent is not holding back – from your link

    In a useful piece NBC News’s Marc Caputo reports that the outfit contracted to ship migrants — Vertol Systems Company Inc. — has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to super PACs backing Florida GOP candidates. One funded Matt Gaetz, a right-wing media troll who moonlights as a congressman.

  77. 77.

    Hoodie

    @Nelle: There is a whole universe of “deals” out there that are only accessible to selected social circles.  I have an acquaintance whose high school buddy runs a fairly large hedge fund and has cut him in on very lucrative deals to which the acquaintance would normally have no access.  Sometimes it’s by lowering the minimum investment threshold or some creative financing.  Some of these things make 20% or greater returns, so you can get rich pretty quickly.

  79. 79.

    Geminid

    @Hoodie: Sinema could land a situation that paid very well even without Gore’s qualifications or success. There is a ton of money in that sector. She might make only a fraction of what Gore made, but a lot of hedge funds would like to have an ex-Senator for a partner, and while we might see Sinema as damaged goods they look at things differently.

  80. 80.

    Another Scott

    @Nelle: It used to be that politicians would buy up land where they knew (before the public) that would be the location for highway interchanges, etc.  Now it seems like speakers fees and “books” are the way most of them build their fortunes.  But of course, inside information is still very valuable…

    Sinema seems to think that her hard-core bipartisan image is the path forward. Mark Warner tried that path too but toned it way down after almost losing reelection.

    We’ll see.

    My $0.02.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  81. 81.

    Nelle

    @Baud: For Finkenauer?  No.  In papers and Iowa online sites before the primary.  I’m off to doctor right now, so not going to chase it down.  She did marry, so maybe she married rich?

  82. 82.

    Betty Cracker

    @TS: Hoping this blows up in DeSantis’s face in spectacular fashion. IMO, Caputo is a terrible hack, but if he’s contributing something useful to the conversation, it could mean all the Beltway hacks smell blood and may pause their relentless DeSantis-fluffing to tear down their creation instead of building him up to waltz into the 2024 campaign.

  85. 85.

    geg6

    @NotMax:

    You know, I love pumpkin pie and I have a soft spot for the pumpkin drop cookies and pumpkin/pudding cakes the local Giant Eagle sells.  But I will never understand this obsession to put pumpkin pie spice into everything.

  87. 87.

    Hoodie

    @Geminid: Doubts about the palatability of that, although a sweet/savory thing might work.  However, I had some apple pie spiced bacon the other day and it definitely didn’t work.

  88. 88.

    Another Scott

    Our investigative team has discovered the precise location [of] an asteroid [that] will strike Earth next week. Details coming Spring 2023 to bookstores near you.

    — New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) September 26, 2022

    It’s funny ’cause it’s true!

    :-/

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  90. 90.

    Betty Cracker

    In case anyone has forgotten what a ridiculous both-sides trash bag Sinema is, here’s an excerpt of her speech at the McConnell Center today:

    Despite our apparent differences, Sen. McConnell and I have forged a friendship, one that is rooted in our commonalities, including our pragmatic approach to legislating, our respect for the Senate as an institution.

    In Washington, our politics have become increasingly radicalized, spiraling steadily downward into bitter and tribal extremism. Some political leaders on both sides of the aisle have let the loudest and more extreme voices in each party dominate the discourse.

    For too long, political games in Washington — on both sides of the aisle — stopped progress from protecting our communities and keeping families safe and secure. So common sense proposals were tossed to the side by partisan lawmakers who chose politics.

    Just go straight to hell, lady.

  95. 95.

    eclare

    @Geminid:   Google pumpkin spice Spam.  It is a real thing.  On my phone so can’t link.

    ETA>  NotMax beat me.  I think Spam is really popular in HI.

  97. 97.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Betty Cracker:

    CSPAN @cspan 38m

    @SenatorSinema on Senate filibuster: “Not only am I committed to the 60 vote threshold, I have an incredibly unpopular view, I actually think we should restore the 60-vote threshold for the areas in which it has been eliminated already.”

    Sinema: I’m smartererer than James Madison!

  101. 101.

    rikyrah

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

     

    CSPAN @cspan 38m

    @SenatorSinema on Senate filibuster: “Not only am I committed to the 60 vote threshold, I have an incredibly unpopular view, I actually think we should restore the 60-vote threshold for the areas in which it has been eliminated already.”

     

    That trifling trick gotta go!

  106. 106.

    Baud

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: She’s said that before.  At least she didn’t refuse to vote on Jackson and other judges.

    If we eliminate the filibuster, we may come to regret it when the GOP controls everything, but the way it operates now , it is indefensible on democratic principles.  It reminds me of caucuses.

  108. 108.

    Geminid

    @Baud: I don’t see the filibuter being eliminated entirely in the next Congress. There could be some more “carve outs,” though.

  109. 109.

    Baud

    @Geminid:

    Agree. I don’t think they will have the votes for a full elimination. They must do voting rights and abortion though, and I think they will (assuming we have the numbers in the Senate and control the House).

  111. 111.

    Betty Cracker

    @Baud: I don’t think there’s any question anymore that the filibuster protects Repubs and hurts Dems. It shields the shitweasels from blowback for their terrible policies and keeps Dems from fulfilling popular campaign promises.

    The worst criticism I’ve heard of a filibuster-free Senate is that it would subject Americans to policy whiplash — e.g., abortion bans when the GOP controls the chamber, reproductive rights when Dems do, etc.

    Good. Let the American people see exactly who wants to do what with unmistakable clarity.

  112. 112.

    eclare

    @Baud:   I am sure we would regret eliminating the filibuster when R’s control everything, but at least then there would be a clear cause and effect of elections.  None of this “both sides” can’t agree on SS.  Nope.  Fifty one R’s voted to eliminate it.

    ETA>  What Betty said.

  113. 113.

    Geminid

    @JML: I remember reading that former Senator Coleman, Bernie Sanders, and Chuck Schumer all attended the same Brooklyn high school.

  115. 115.

    Soprano2

    @Baud: I agree with Josh Marshall, I don’t know why every Democrat isn’t explicitly running on this idea. Joe Biden keeps mentioning it, but many candidates aren’t emphasizing it. They should be.

  116. 116.

    Geminid

    @Soprano2: I don’t think any of incumbents Kelly, Cortez-Masto, Warnock or Hassan are emphasizing the filibuster issue. That may be because they need Independent voters to win in their purple states.

  117. 117.

    James E Powell

    @lowtechcyclist:

    But how many Floridians will see it?

    And how many will react the way we expect.

    I like how he talks & I want him to keep doing it, but his TAM is pretty small & mostly ours to begin with.

  118. 118.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Geminid: honestly, I think people who care about the filibuster and voting rights are already engaged. Abortion moves people, I wish voting rights did.

    Along those lines:

    A new survey from Data for Progress and Priorities USA of 1,513 likely voters in eight swing states, reveals Democratic messages on Social Security, healthcare, and taxes are seen as the most convincing reasons to vote for Democrats over Republicans in the midterm elections.

  119. 119.

    James E Powell

    @Betty Cracker:

    It’s weird, but the only explanation that makes sense to me is that she honestly believes her “maverick” shtick will return her to the Senate as the heir to McCain. It’s delusional.

    I am eager to be rid of Sinema, but I can’t rule out the idiocy of AZ voters.

    My personal take is that her election was an anomaly. The wing-nut she beat was just odious enough to turn off some suburbanites.

  120. 120.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Dan Pfeiffer @danpfeiffer. 2h

    Sinema thinks McConnell is helping her cut an ad for the general when he is really helping her opponent cut one for the primary

    @James E Powell:

    The wing-nut she beat was just odious enough to turn off some suburbanites.

    Yeah, McSally was a bad candidate, and probably would’ve won in a trump-free 2018

  121. 121.

    James E Powell

    @Betty Cracker:

    Good. Let the American people see exactly who wants to do what with unmistakable clarity.

    This. 100% this. It’s a way for senators – ours & theirs – to be two-faced on important policy matters. End it.

  124. 124.

    Paul in KY

    @Geminid: If I was ever to find myself in Israel (and I can’t imagine it ever happening) Rabbi Hillel’s grave would be a place I would want to visit.

  127. 127.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    purple monkey christianity bad! dishwasher

    ETA: wrong thread! and just as well to leave it down here

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