Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

I didn’t have alien invasion on my 2023 BINGO card.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

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

After roe, women are no longer free.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

“And when the Committee says to “report your income,” that could mean anything!

No Justins, No Peace

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

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

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Let there be snark.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Excellent Links / Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Democratic Profiles

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Democratic Profiles

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Some nice stories to share on a wind-down evening…

======

The NYTimes — how to phrase this? — finds Rep. Jeffries… unsettling. But IMO the bio here is worth ignoring the attempts at spin:

… Asked in an interview in his spacious new Capitol office to describe his political brand, Mr. Jeffries, 52, replied, “Reasonable, common-sense, tough, get-stuff-done Democrat.” He said his upbringing and career choices formed the foundation for his center-left political identity, heightened sensitivity to racial and pocketbook issues and exceedingly deliberative approach.

“The Brooklyn identity is you’ve got to make uneven, unequal pieces fit in the puzzle: the Latino, the Orthodox Jewish, the Black, the Caribbean,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “Very few cities have that kind of makeup. No one has mastered it better than Hakeem.”…

For now, he has managed to win plaudits within his own party and the grudging respect of some Republicans. But the real tests lie ahead as he tries to fend off Republican attempts to undo his party’s policies and unite his fractious caucus to win back the House.

Mr. Jeffries came of age in the 1970s and ’80s, when central Brooklyn was becoming one of the most important Black urban centers in the country. This was the area that sent the first Black woman, Shirley Chisholm, to Congress just before Mr. Jeffries was born: a dense hotbed for experiments in Black empowerment and education; a cradle for hip-hop culture and political power; and eventually a center of the drug trade…

The Jeffries family attended Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where Mr. Jeffries donned white gloves each Sunday as an usher. As a hub of the Black community, it also provided some of his earliest political education.

Mr. Jeffries listened to sermons by Dr. Sandy F. Ray, a close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., and heard visiting politicians. The pastor at Cornerstone, the Rev. Harry S. Wright, was the brother of Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. Friends say he influenced the future congressman’s speaking style with heavy use of repetition, alliteration and demonstrative hand movement…

Allies saw early signs of something else, though — an ability to balance competing and sometimes outright hostile interests to forge alliances. Supporters and local newspapers began using a moniker to liken him to another young Black politician born on the same day: the “Barack of Brooklyn.”…

======

I’m not a Californian, so I can afford to be agnostic about that Senate campaign right now; seems like any of the three Democratic candidates would make a fine Senator:

… I spoke to Porter in her Orange County campaign office the week after the free-for-all hellscape of a hearing. She told me that she employed the whiteboard judiciously, depending on the subject of the hearing “and what kind of message I want to get across in that moment to the witness.” She acknowledged that it had become somewhat of a calling card: “There are definitely people like, ‘Sign my whiteboard.’ I mean, there are definitely people who, they’re captivated by it. They’re like, ‘You’re the whiteboard lady!’” Porter told me. “I think that’s a sign you’re connecting with people. So I try to be thoughtful about when to use it.”

Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, told me that, as a former law professor, Porter—who specialized in bankruptcy law—is “uniquely suited to teaching bureaucrats in the country a lesson about how power works.” He continued: “That’s the effectiveness of her whiteboard. Has whiteboard, will travel.”…

As she embarks on a high-profile and likely high-cost run for the California Senate seat soon to be vacated by retiring Senator Dianne Feinstein, Porter’s whiteboard is a distinguishing feature, an embodiment of her belief that the powerful should be accountable to the powerless in one clear symbol. Porter was the first Democrat to launch her Senate campaign in January, anticipating (and perhaps precipitating) Feinstein’s retirement announcement. She was quickly followed into the race by fellow Representatives Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee, two established and respected lawmakers with longer résumés…

Former Iowa Representative Cindy Axne, who served with Porter on the Financial Services Committee, joked that she had acted as Porter’s Vanna White during one hearing, by holding her whiteboard—and as such, she can confirm the prop is not merely a stunt. “Katie’s a workhorse. If she’s also able to hold a whiteboard, and get more people engaged at the same time, well, good for her,” Axne told me. “If she was just a showboat, I would be telling you, because there’s plenty of just-showboats out there. That’s not Katie. She’s getting the work done.”

But the work of Congress will jostle against the work of campaigning against formidable opponents in California. Porter and her supporters will learn whether the whiteboard is big enough for those high-profile committee hearings at the Capitol, and the intensive campaigning that a highly competitive Senate run in the nation’s most populous state will require…

Reader Interactions

108Comments

  1. 1.

    bbleh

    … and the intensive campaigning that a highly competitive Senate run in the nation’s most populous state will require …

    Not to mention the intensive fundraising.  I have no insight into how they compare in that regard, but nobody should think that being smart, hard-working, personable, and reasonably famous is enough.

  2. 2.

    lowtechcyclist

    But the work of Congress will jostle against the work of campaigning against formidable opponents in California. Porter and her supporters will learn whether the whiteboard is big enough for those high-profile committee hearings at the Capitol, and the intensive campaigning that a highly competitive Senate run in the nation’s most populous state will require…

    And Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee aren’t facing exactly the same challenge?  They make it sound like this is a particular burden on Porter, when actually this part of the field is level.

  4. 4.

    lowtechcyclist

    @bbleh:

    Not to mention the intensive fundraising.

    They’re all three going to raise a shit-ton of money to run against each other, and that part depresses me.  What a waste, when I’d be happy to see any one of them in the Senate.

    For someone like Porter, though, I’d expect her to raise enough money via ActBlue that she wouldn’t need to spend her afternoons dialing up potential contributors.

  6. 6.

    bbleh

    @lowtechcyclist: thus the term “money primary.” It may be that one (maybe even two? but I doubt it) see the writing on the wall (or are firmly informed about it by bundlers and donor reps) and decide that perhaps making alliances is a better course of action.  And yeah small-donor fundraising is bigger than it used to be, but in a state as large, wealthy, and expensive as Cal, I think it might not be sufficient on its own.

  7. 7.

    Alison Rose

    The fun part of the Senate campaign here is gonna be watching some lame ass Republicans gleefully throw themselves to the wolves. I don’t know how they expect to win statewide elections when registered Dems outnumber GOPers by 2 to 1, and a majority of independents lean left.

    Also, I’m crap at guessing age no matter how old someone is, but I’d never put Jeffries at 52. Man is aging well.

  8. 8.

    SuzieC

    Hive mind:  who would make the most effective CA Dem Senator?  I am getting bombarded by fund raising emails from all three.

  9. 9.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    spacious new Capitol office

    How dare the legislative leader of the oldest political party in the world have a large office.

  10. 10.

    Another Scott

    @SuzieC: I’m glad I don’t have to choose.

    Each of the three would be a fine senator.

    Each of the three would vote for Democratic leadership.

    Each of the three would vote for sensible judges and justices.

    It’s early.  I don’t think it’s necessary to make a choice yet, but if you like one of them over the others then E.M.I.L.Y.

    My $0.02.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  11. 11.

    Alison Rose

    @SuzieC: I don’t know if there’s a way to really judge that. All three are strong politicians who know their shit. Porter is obviously younger than Schiff and Lee, and thus has less experience, but I don’t think that’s a notable mark against her or anything. Schiff is probably the most well-versed in how the machine works, but it’s not like the other two are naive.

    Lee will probably raise less money than Porter or Schiff, so if you want your dollars to carry more weight, that might be your choice.

  12. 12.

    dmsilev

    @SuzieC: My plan is to give no money at all in the primaries. It’s an infinite cash sink, and any of the three would do a good job. Once the primary gets close, I’ll figure out who to vote for.

  13. 13.

    Edmund dantes

    @SuzieC: any of them should be fine. I don’t think there are any hidden types that would cast worrisome votes on civil liberties or other things.

  14. 14.

    The Moar You Know

    Here’s my problem with Porter:

    Barbara Lee is from a D+40 (not a misprint) district.

    Adam Schiff is from a D+30 district.

    Porter is from a +3 district.  I don’t want that lost.

  15. 15.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    I attended Adam Schiff’s launch event in San Francisco.  In a crowded room full of committed Democrats (capital D) his speech touched on his work on the 1/6 committee and he brought up Liz Cheney.  He got the room to applaud her.  Here at BJ we mostly (I think) regard her with respect for that work, but I was impressed with his praise for her in that room.

    I agree, any of the three current candidates is fine with me but I lean toward Adam Schiff.

  17. 17.

    HumboldtBlue

    I was a bit surprised to see *Barbara Lee join the race, but she’s got deep roots and connections, but I sense Schiff has the edge and I have already stated I’m most likely going to back him because I want Porter in that Orange County seat.

    *I learned last night that the name Barbara has its ancient roots in Sanskrit and Greek and is the female description for barbarian.

  18. 18.

    FastEdD

    As a proud CA person, I’m rather agnostic myself. It is my impression that Schiff and Porter have a huge campaign War Chest, Barbara Lee not so much. Yes, Porter’s district (which use to be mine) is close, but she already has a successor (Dave Min) on the ground running to replace her, and she endorses him. It is entirely possible that the top two “jungle” primary system would give us a choice between two dems in the general and that Senate seat should be safe.

  19. 19.

    karen marie

    The NYTimes — how to phrase this? — finds Rep. Jeffries… unsettling.

    Shouldn’t that be “Nicholas Fandos  — how to phrase this? — finds Rep. Jeffries… unsettling“?

    I did not read his story, so maybe I’m missing other context.

  21. 21.

    Steeplejack

    I don’t vote in California, so my opinion can be safely ignored. Any of the three would be fine, I guess, although I am sensitive to the need to hold Porter’s only slightly Democratic district. If she’s not there, who is? And she’s only in her third term, and I don’t know much about her record beyond the whiteboard shtick (which is very effective).

    I will let my ageist freak flag fly and say that I think Barbara Lee is too old, if we are serious about blunting the gerontocracy. She would be 78 if elected, and one term takes her to 84. There are older senators, true, and she hasn’t showed any signs of decrepitude, but still. And I haven’t seen anyone articulate why she would want to trade her tremendous clout and seniority in the House to become a junior senator (policy reasons, not personal ones).

    Adam Schiff will be a spring chicken of 64 if elected, and his policy chops have been pretty well demonstrated. But if he’s too patriarchal or not diverse enough, so be it.

  22. 22.

    Mendo

    I live in Barbara Lee’s district and have been delighted with her politics over the years. But she’ll be 78 by election day 2024, and I don’t want to have to deal with another potential Feinstein situation after a single term. Especially when there are two strong alternatives.

  25. 25.

    HumboldtBlue

    Oh, and episode 4 AND 5 of Ted Lasso are available tonight. So I know what I’ll be doing.

  26. 26.

    SuzieC

    Thanks, everyone.  The argument that we need to keep porter’s district weighs with me.  And the arguments that Lee is too old.  Not ageist; she is what, 78?  I am 71 and feeble.  So it is Schiff.  I think he will make a superb Senator.

  28. 28.

    laura

    I’m ride or die Barbara Lee in the primary because she has paid dues that more high profile Dems avoided – the willingness to proudly object to the war in Iraq secure in the knowledge that this was the right policy position to take and to hold has earned my deepest respect. If she doesn’t emerge as a candidate after the primary, I’ll gladly work like a rented mule to get Adam Schiff elected. He, too, has a body of legislative work to show for his time in office, and he has the temperment to do the long haul work a senator should be expected to do.

    Congresswoman Porter has shown me that she will happily act a fool for clicks and memes and social media. I am so done with show ponies when work horses get the goods. If Porter had a legislative record to run on like Lauren Underwood’s, I could support her candidacy, but she’s lite on the law passing, and heavy on the props and too cute by halfs. Hopefully she’ll stay in her current office and do more to help regain the House majority, and not waste a much needed Congressional district in 2024.

    Also, Alex Padilla is such a stellar Senator who was appointed, then elected to Vice President Harris’ senate seat that I had to give him a shout out.

  29. 29.

    Ohio Mom

    At first, it does seem like a money sink, the three of them, Schiff, Porter and Lee running against one another but putting together a primary campaign will be good training for the general election for whoever wins.

    Another Seder completed except for the cleanup. All the perishables are put away and the first load is in the dishwasher. The rest can wait for tomorrow morning. Such an exhausting holiday.

  30. 30.

    James E Powell

    I’m not a Californian, so I can afford to be agnostic about that Senate campaign right now; seems like any of the three Democratic candidates would make a fine Senator:

    I am a Californian and can’t make up my mind which way to go. I worry we are losing good house members and in Porter’s case, losing the district.

  31. 31.

    mrmoshpotato

    So has Anheuser-Busch “gone woke,” or whatever these racist, fascistic, misogynistic, LGBTQIA+-hating assholes call it?

    ETA – changed “phobic” to “hating”

  32. 32.

    Ruckus

    @SuzieC:

    My SoCal take on the 3 of them is that they are of course different individuals, have different styles, and will appeal to different groups.  Each of them are good choices for the job, different choices of course but this state won’t go wrong with any one of them.

    And at this point I have no idea which one I’ll vote for. I like how Jeffries carries himself, how Porter explains things – her whiteboard gets your attention and she has the chops behind the scenes, and Lee has some pretty great experience to bring to the table. It is going to be interesting.

  33. 33.

    Omnes Omnibus

    I am not a Californian, so I don’t want to get too drawn into picking my favorite from a distance. I objected when the blog seemed to be jumping into the WI judicial primary on behalf of one candidate. I will refrain from doing what I bitched about. Whoever gets picked will be a better senator than any Republican and that’s enough for me.

  34. 34.

    Ruckus

    @The Moar You Know:

    OC has and is changing. Sure the old money is rethug but that is somewhat changing, it wasn’t that long ago Porter would never have gotten elected. I do think your point has validity, I’m just not quite as strong about it as you seem to be. And I’d hate to be wrong in this.

  35. 35.

    cain

    @mrmoshpotato: ​
     
    Lol it’s all capitalism .. someone needs to tell these people that woke is what makes money. They do worship the dollar and capitalism, yes ?

  36. 36.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Ohio Mom: ​
      I tried to send chocolate covered macaroons to Valdivia and her mom for Passover and got a call from Manhattan Fruitier saying that they were sold out and could they send a seven-layer cake instead? Being a WASP myself, I had no idea so I said “sure.” It turns out that it was a raging success. Happy chance.

  41. 41.

    mvr

    @SuzieC: I would wait to give after the primary. It will likely be a 2Ds and you might be more effective using your money later. All three of the leading candidates would be fine.

    OTOH, there are lots of races that matter now. In my city it is the mayor vs a Pete Ricketts funded challenger w 10x the money that anyone has ever had in this race.

  42. 42.

    Brachiator

    I like all three candidates, but am leaning towards Porter. Relative youth is a factor.

  45. 45.

    NaijaGal

    @SuzieC: I live in California and I’m completely torn because all three are amazing in different ways. A good problem to have, I guess.

    On a different topic, since watching Janet Protasiewicz’s victory entrance and hearing the accompanying song yesterday, I’ve been singing “It’s bad bitch o’clock” nonstop, cracking my husband up. I can’t believe that I first heard that particular Lizzo song yesterday (and I like Lizzo)!

  51. 51.

    piratedan

    I understand the concerns about Porter being light on lifting and being more of a show pony with a schtick.  My only rebuttal to that critique (and its a very valid one) is that the Dems don’t have many pols that have ANY kind of media presence and anyone who is seen as a populist, fighting for families and talking tough to banks and oil companies in an easy to follow format that makes a point that is hard to refute is an absolute bonus.  She’s sound-bite friendly (perhaps too much so) in an environment that continually deprives Dems of national voices.

    Lee has earned it and would do a great job and she would be a solid vote for Dem policies.   Years of serving the 2nd largest city in the nation has prepared her to fully understand what our cities need to thrive and grow and the challenges that we face as we continue to deal with the schisms between urban and rural.  Schiff has also done all of the work necessary to prove worthy of the gig, if there’s any downside its that he’s a white dude, but his legal chops and earnestness would be welcome in the chasing down the GOP corruption and crafting of laws to protect those that the GOP chooses to disenfranchise.

    It’s nice to have such a great group of candidates.

  55. 55.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Quinerly:

    Despicable. What gets me about the complaints about the judge’s supposed conflict of interest is that they focus on his adult daughter. Like, what does her affiliation have to do with him? It’s not like it’s his spouse or something. It’s so stupid and weak. But then, being convincing is not the point, it’s to try to intimidate

  57. 57.

    Steeplejack

    @Alison Rose:

    The 239 weight number was from back when Whte House physician Ronny Jackson (now GQP representative from Texas) said that Trump was the healthiest person who had ever lived.

  58. 58.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Alison Rose:

    Dr Feel Good! Aka Ronny Jackson. Dude was the WH Physician for Obama and was a Rear Admiral in the Navy before retiring. Guy revealed himself to be a sleazy empty suit by going Trumpy to get a seat in the House

  59. 59.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Steeplejack:

    He’s a total POS:

    Tenure:

    Jackson attended the January 6 “Stop the Steal” rally at the White House Ellipse. During the January 6 attack, he was inside the Capitol when members of the Oath Keepers militia allegedly exchanged text messages about protecting Jackson who had “critical data.” Oathkeeper leader Stewart Rhodes replied, writing: “Give him my cell”. Rhodes was later charged with seditious conspiracy. That same day, during the certification of the 2020 election, Jackson objected to certifying Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes.

    On May 19, 2021, Jackson voted against legislation to establish the formation of a January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol. On May 2, 2022, the January 6 committee released a letter to Jackson requesting he meet with the committee; in response, Jackson released a statement calling the committee “illegitimate”.

    In late February 2021, Jackson and a dozen other Republican House members skipped votes and enlisted others to vote for them, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But he and the other members were actually attending the Conservative Political Action Conference, which was held at the same time as their absences. In response, the Campaign for Accountability, an ethics watchdog group, filed a complaint with the House Committee on Ethics and requested an investigation into Jackson and the other lawmakers.

    Jackson, along with all other Senate and House Republicans, voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

    In June 2021, Jackson was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against legislation to establish June 19, or Juneteenth, as a federal holiday.

    In November 2021, Jackson created a conspiracy theory that Democrats made up the Omicron variant of COVID-19 (he called it “MEV – the Midterm Election Variant”) as “a reason to push unsolicited nationwide mail-in ballots” and to “cheat” in the upcoming midterm elections.

    In May 2022, the Office of Congressional Ethics reported that there was “substantial reason” to believe that Jackson had used campaign funds for personal use, to pay for unlimited access for himself and his wife to the Amarillo Club, a private dining club in Amarillo, Texas. Jackson refused to cooperate with the Congressional investigation, and his campaign’s treasurer and accounting firm refused to provide documents to investigators.

    In December 2022, Jackson falsely claimed that Representative Katie Porter had asserted that “pedophilia is not a crime” but “an identity”, referring to a deceptively edited video of a congressional hearing.

    Jackson has endorsed Trump’s campaign in the 2024 presidential election.

  62. 62.

    Quinerly

    @Steeplejack:

    I would prefer to see it reported in other places than on sports sites, but I’m pretty sure they take height and weight when a person is booked. I think DNA now too.

  64. 64.

    Steeplejack

    @Quinerly:

    I know they do height; I don’t know about weight. And I have never read anywhere that they take DNA. That surely would have been mentioned about Trump, I would think.

  66. 66.

    eclare

    @Steeplejack:   I think one of the shows on MSNBC mentioned it and said it wasn’t taken as it pertains to the E. Jean Carroll case.

    The show implied that DNA is usually taken.  I understand that to be true nationwide for felonies.

  67. 67.

    Steeplejack

    @eclare:

    In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say that my personal low point on Balloon Juice was when I defended Ronny Jackson on the occasion of his ridiculous physical of Trump—the 6'1", 270 pounds occasion. I (weakly) argued that he had been pressured into it. I couldn’t believe that a flag officer in the medical corps would be so craven, based on my experience with similar officers (in a different branch of the service). Oops. Mea culpa.

  68. 68.

    Quinerly

    @Steeplejack:

    Lots of on line info on DNA collection upon arrest for a felony Varies from state to state. Honestly, I would think Trump’s DNA already would be on file from being President.

  69. 69.

    Shalimar

    @Quinerly: It has been a lot of years since I have been booked, but I’m pretty sure they asked me my weight, not put me on a scale.  Maybe they laughed at him when he said 240 and made him adjust it upwards.

  71. 71.

    eclare

    @Steeplejack:   So you think Obama had the same blinders, Admiral in the Navy, he is a good guy, mindset?  Never imagining how far the rot could go?

    How Flynn has not been brought back and thrown in Leavenworth is beyond me.

  72. 72.

    Quinerly

    @eclare:

    States have been building felony data base of DNA for years.

    His charges were felonies. I think I am flashing on the same thing you are…having heard on MSNBC that his DNA would already be somewhere just from having been Pres. Makes sense.

  73. 73.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Steeplejack:

    You would hope such people would be weeded out before making it that far, but I think it was Adam who said that to make flag officer level, you have to be something of a political animal. I guess he was either able to fool enough people when he needed to, or they were “good ole boys” just like him. Sort of like how abusers look out for eacher other

  74. 74.

    Steeplejack

    @eclare:

    I doubt that Obama ever thought about Jackson at all. He was just part of the wallpaper, on hand for emergencies. For “regular” medical care, I’m sure, Obama had the big brains at Walter Reed.

  76. 76.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @eclare:

    The first one. Obama probably relied on Jackson’s credentials, recommendations, and the judgement of those on his staff who vetted him

  78. 78.

    Quinerly

    Trump had height on his mind. I read that he mentioned how tall Baron is at least once in that long  rambling tirade last night at Mara Loco.

  79. 79.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Quinerly:

    Wait, they collect the DNA from Presidents and record it? I’m guessing this is for medical reasons

  83. 83.

    lgerard

    @Quinerly: ​
     

    I believe in NY DNA samples are only taken at the conviction stage unless it is part of an investigation and is court ordered.

  84. 84.

    Jay

    Went to Drag Queen Story hour at the Coquitlam library today.
    It was fun, counterprotest chants were great,
    Safe line for kids and parents was bomb proof,

    Got two Nazi’s arrested, (convicted sex offenders, too close to a school), (handed their conviction records out to about 50 cops, two who chose to do something),

    handed out fliers to a bunch of the assholes , showing one of their organizers in drag.

    Fun day.

  88. 88.

    Steeplejack

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    I don’t want to get into personal information, but I have a family member who was a flag officer in the Air Force medical corps. The whole process of promotion in the officer corps (line and medical) is somewhat political but also very rigorous. It’s not just a bunch of good ol’ boys looking out for one another.

    One theory is that “White House physician” was seen as a safe place to park Jackson where he couldn’t do much harm. As opposed to, say, being in command of all U.S. Army hospitals in Europe.

    But, yes, as in any organization, occasional bad apples do get through, like Michael Flynn and Ronny Jackson. Also that general in Afghanistan who was boning the journalist he was feeding classified information to.

  91. 91.

    eclare

    @Quinerly:   Impressive rabbit hole!

    How is your yard coming along?  Last we heard there were many projects under construction.

  93. 93.

    Quinerly

    @eclare:

    Thanks for  your interest!

    We had some weather and wind delays. 27 railroad ties in. 14 more to be delivered along with JoJo’s fake turf. I think Miguel can work Friday since he has the day off from his regular job. Hope to get a pallet of flagstones down and the rest of the railroad ties in by Mon. Turf down next weekend. We are putting it down like Miguel did with a crew years ago for professional sports teams as opposed to using a “system” for residential….hence the ties buried and sandwiched. JoJo is supposed to be working on getting a Nike endorsement to help pay for it. He has done nothing but siesta in the sun.

  95. 95.

    Amir Khalid

    @Steeplejack:

    that general in Afghanistan who was boning the journalist he was feeding classified information to.

    General Petraeus seems to have been rehabilitated of late as an occasional TV pundit on the war in Ukkraine.

  98. 98.

    Quinerly

    @eclare:

    Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up in New Mexico sourcing fake turf from a business called Just Sprinklers (that sells everything yard related but sprinklers) for a crippled dog from Espanola with guys helping me named Miguel and Bogart. I blame losing my mind during Covid Times.

  99. 99.

    HumboldtBlue

    @piratedan:

    Years of serving the 2nd largest city in the nation

    Umm… Lee is from Oakland. But your point stands, she’s an outstanding Rep. We are blessed with three outstanding candidates, and it’ll be interesting to watch it play out and how the dynamics of the primary change and shift.

    @Steeplejack:

    In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say that my personal low point on Balloon Juice

    Ha! We don’t have enough time to discuss my lowest points, there have been so fucking many.

    Elsewhere: Episode 4 of Ted Lasso is yet another brilliant 40 or so minutes, lots of plot lines to follow, and the writing and acting are ridiculously superb. What a fantastic show.

  102. 102.

    Quinerly

    @Steeplejack:

    Well, I’m the Googling fool tonight. Checked his well tended Wiki page out of curiosity. He is still married to his only wife, Holly. She is  retired Assistant Director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). She retired from CFPB when Trump came in.

  104. 104.

    Anyway

    @Steeplejack:

    But, yes, as in any organization, occasional bad apples do get through, like Michael Flynn and Ronny Jackson. Also that general in Afghanistan who was boning the journalist he was feeding classified information to.

    Gen Mattis of Theranos fame, another bad apple…slightly different category than the names above.

  105. 105.

    Geminid

    The careers of Hakeem Jeffries and Barbara Lee intersected in November, 2019 when the new Democratic House majority met to select leadership for the next Congress. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn were shoo-ins for the top three spots, but Joe Crowley lost his primary and his post as Caucus Chairman was open. The veteran Barbara Lee and Hakeem Jeffries, entering his 4th term, were the two candidates.

    While Jeffries and Lee were both members of the Progressive Caucus, the contest was framed by many as a test of strength between “progessive” and “establishmen” Democrats. Jeffries won the position in a secret ballot, 121 to 111.

    Some people on the left carried a grudge against Jeffries for this, and last November when Speaker Pelosi announced she would step back from leadership there was a flurry of anti-Jeffries attacks along the lines of “bloodless Wall Street leech,” etc. But his election as Minority Leader was unanimous.

  106. 106.

    evodevo

    @The Moar You Know: ​
      Yes..this. I love Katie, but I certainly don’t want to lose that district. I do the same calculation when a Dem Prez picks someone for the Cabinet from a district/state where replacing them might be unsuccessful…JUST DON’T!!! We’re on the edge as it is…

  107. 107.

    Geminid

    @evodevo: It looks like that horse is out of the barn. Porter could still bail on her Senate run and file for her old district, but this is very unlikely. It looks like Democrats will have to rely on either state legislator David Min or former Rep. Harley Rouda to hold the seat. The Republican who lost by 3 points last November is running again and will likely win one of the two general election spots.

  108. 108.

    Bhaall

    @The Moar You Know: Frak that is such a good point re: Porter is from OC.

    Schiff is currently my rep (Hollywood).

    So torn between the two (Schiff / Porter).  An embarrassment of riches.

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