Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Battle won, war still ongoing.

Republicans don’t trust women.

Putin dreamed of ending NATO, and now it’s Finnish-ed.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

I wonder if trump will be tried as an adult.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

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

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

You are here: Home / Politics / Republicans in Disarray! / Friday Evening Open Thread: McConnell Says He Is Not Dead Yet {*Bonk*}

Friday Evening Open Thread: McConnell Says He Is Not Dead Yet {*Bonk*}

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The Tantrum Caucus has decided they don’t need ol’ Saggy-Jowls hanging around, harshing their excellent and not-at-all-unreasonable mellows.

If #MoscowMitch really wants to punish these luzers, he’d give them exactly what they wanted, and enjoy the aftermath from a safe distance… but then, what would he do with his remaining days? Neither he nor his family wants to spend more time together, and his only avocation is also his vocation: collecting money from oligarchs to install kleptocrats.

Per Vox:

… McConnell’s return will bolster Republicans’ numbers in the 51-49 Senate, and sends a decisive message that he doesn’t intend to relinquish his seat or leadership role, at least not at this time.

“No, he’ll be back Monday,” a McConnell aide told the Daily Signal following a question about whether McConnell intends to retire before his term expires in 2027. McConnell also posted a statement on Thursday announcing that he’s “looking forward to returning.”…

Such speculation has put a spotlight on the lack of a clear successor to McConnell — as well as on the fractured nature of the Senate GOP conference and the Republican Party as a whole. Without McConnell’s pre-Trump style of conservatism leading the way, it’s not clear what type of politics the Senate GOP conference would go on to embrace.

“It would be a major shift. He’s the longest-serving Republican leader. There’s certainly a power vacuum that would open up,” says Jessica Taylor, a Senate expert at Cook Political Report…

Were he to retire, Senate Republicans would face a major question about leadership as well as the direction of the party. More Trumpy members have been elected in recent years as the Republican Party as a whole has also normalized positions like election denialism. McConnell, as a leader, has been more of an establishment figure who’s pushed back against such claims, clashing with Trump at times. Depending on who would potentially succeed him, it’s possible they would be interested in taking a different approach.

Taylor notes that McConnell has been an important tactician for Senate campaigns as well, and his influence would be missed there, too. In the latest cycle, McConnell cautioned Republicans against nominating problematic candidates in the primary who’d have a tougher time winning the general election. Those candidates, including former football player Herschel Walker in Georgia, wound up costing the GOP key battleground seats…

The Hill brings the shade:

… McConnell’s absence from the Capitol overlapped several major news events, including former President Trump’s announcement that he expected to be indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).

McConnell, who has rarely commented on Trump since their falling out after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, has not said anything publicly on Trump’s arraignment on 34 felony counts. 

Yeah, I bet Mitch shed big salty tears over Trump’s recent problems, seeing as they had such a close working relationship.

Reader Interactions

96Comments

  1. 1.

    gene108

    Senate leadership succession can’t be as comical as McCarthy’s nomination as Speaker?

    Then again, never say never.

  2. 2.

    bbleh

    I believe a requirement for Moscow Mitch to resume his duties should be that he must say “Kentuckians” in a way that anyone in the country can understand.

    @gene108: Being the Senate, I expect it will be both quieter and more fragmented, quieter because decorum doncha know (and also richer donors), and more fragmented because they ALL think they’re Presidential timber.

  4. 4.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    Off topic: What’s the deal with AB Inbev’s stock losing $5 billion in value? Does it mean anything or just noise? I assume it’s just noise but my father mentioned to me today about some AB salesman claiming he’ll be out of a job is something isn’t done

  5. 5.

    Scout211

    And now Republicans are declaring that they won’t allow a place holder for Senator Feinstein in the judiciary committee without a negotiation.

    Republicans have expressed more willingness to support a centrist candidate. Some have said a good fit would be Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the Arizona Democrat-turned-independent who has warm relationships with many in the GOP.

    Sheesh, they negotiate so well . . . 🙄

  7. 7.

    bbleh

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): is this the silly right-wing campaign against Bud Light because of their ad campaign involving Dylan Mulvaney, who is trans?  Or has something else happened?

    Right-wingers against Bud Light, what’s not to like?  Maybe it doesn’t have the gravitas of DeSantis vs. Disney, but I think it’s funnier.

  8. 8.

    craigie

    Were he to retire, …

    As opposed to what, living forever? Even the undead have to go sometime…

  10. 10.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Baud:

    So just some people trying to make hay and the market potentially overreacting? Makes sense

    Though, who knows about that salesman my father mentioned (who I assume was in an article he read). Apparently, he was saying sales of Bud were down. I guess only time will tell

  11. 11.

    Old School

    Taylor notes that McConnell has been an important tactician for Senate campaigns as well, and his influence would be missed there, too.

    Who will they not listen to if McConnell isn’t around?

  13. 13.

    Old School

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    Off topic: What’s the deal with AB Inbev’s stock losing $5 billion in value? Does it mean anything or just noise?

    Stock price goes up.  Stock price goes down.

    I think it’s down from around $65 per share to around $60 in the past couple of weeks.  It does sound more impressed if you combine all of the stock owners together.

  16. 16.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Renie:

    There’s a story about stock picking Taylor Larimore of Bogleheads mentions every once in awhile:

    In March of 2000, at the peak of a bull market, Mr. Bogle and Mr. Cramer were keynote speakers at the Miami Money Show. Mr. Bogle spoke first and warned about the stock “bubble” and urged his listeners to maintain a healthy allocation to bonds.

    Mr. Bogle was followed by Jim Cramer. Mel and I stood in the back of the auditorium as Mr. Cramer told everyone to write down the name of “10 stocks for who is going to make it in the New World.”

    So what happened?

    Alan Abelson in an April, 2004, column in Barron’s wrote: “His (Cramer’s) 10 dot-com bubble picks of 2000, ended up tanking by an average of -90%.” (underline mine)

    Not that I think InBev is the same as a dot-com stock. They’re way more stable and established, like Coca Cola. Warren Buffett, through Berkshire Hathaway, is invested in companies like Coke. It’s probably not going to go up over time like the total market would. Some companies stock prices are stagnant for lengthy periods, even going to zero. Of course, so are many nations’ stock markets for many decades. *cough* Italy *cough.

    All of that is to say, don’t be like Jim Cramer, be like John Bogle : )

  21. 21.

    Redshift

    We’ve got important business to tackle and big fights to win for Kentuckians and the American people.

    I’m reminded of something I read years ago during some other McConnell atrocity, a journalist or blogger writing about how there is actually a Mitch McConnell museum in Kentucky, and it’s all about elections and fights he’s won, with zip about anything he’s accomplished for his state.

  23. 23.

    West of the Rockies

    Seriously,  what is known about McConnell’s condition? Is he bedridden?  Is he having trouble speaking?  Is he showing signs of confusion?  I’ve known stroke patients who bounced back more quickly.

  24. 24.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Gin & Tonic:

    It’s a sign of the coming depression.

    I know you’re poking fun at my expense, but it’s just one company dude. Budweiser going bust is not going to cause the Second Great Depression

  25. 25.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Scout211: ​
     

    Pompeo drops out. Oh man, I was looking forward to that sh*t show.

    Guess Pompeo didn’t like the circumstances.

  27. 27.

    Gvg

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): quick google says their stock cratered by 2% on all that time, and the analyst first on google said they were due for a pull back but something something would rebound etc.

    basically it’s such a big company that small drops have huge numbers like 5 billions which make nice exciting sounding headlines and reporters cannot keep a job if they write dull stuff. Everything has to be made to sound exciting, preferably with some doom.

  33. 33.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @bbleh:

    I assume it’s the one involving Mulvaney. It’s likely just a fluctuation in InBev’s stock price, as others have suggested

  35. 35.

    AlaskaReader

    Anheuser-Busch share prices were 45 dollars six months ago.

    Single shares peaked at 66 and change on March 31.

    A two dollar a share pullback from that kind of short term gain isn’t abnormal for any stock with major market capitalization.

  36. 36.

    Danielx

    Maybe there’s worry about losing business to conservative beer. I’m too lazy to link, but sounds like another Faux-advertiser scam at 19.95 a six pack, which is about four bucks more than Old Rasputin (finestkind). Does come in a patriotic red white and blue can, does probably taste like panther piss.

  37. 37.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    We can only hope that the GOP would be further fractured without the influence of McConnell and his money. Then again, in 2022 Republicans didn’t listen to him and nominated weirdos anyway, losing key battleground states. I suppose there might not be a big difference in that department

  38. 38.

    JaySinWA

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): I’m not sure many people have said “Wow, I could have had a Bud Light”, but maybe just all publicity is good publicity.

    I doubt there is enough spite drinking, or the sales of cans to be demolished by “influencers” to bump up the sales. So maybe it’s like the cartoon with the dog being scolded. All the dog hears is its name. blah blah Bud Light Blah Blah.

  42. 42.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @gene108:

    Oh, I won’t. I suppose I just didn’t want “Go woke, go broke” to have any credence. Of course, right wingers will make shit up regardless of the truth. Reality has a well-known liberal bias after all

  44. 44.

    Jackie

    @West of the Rockies:   He (McConnell) was filmed walking through the Capitol today, casually dressed in jeans. Looked like he needed a haircut.

    Re McConnell retiring: My bet is not until TFG remains TFG after Nov ‘24. Or TFG is found guilty of espionage or some such  – automatically disqualifying him from holding federal office. McConnell will not willingly give TFG the chance to claim credit for getting rid of him. Once TFG loses the election, McConnell will be free to retire.

  45. 45.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    Please take good care of yourself. I had it before the vaccine and it was brutal. Even after the worst of it passed, it just seemed to drag on and on. The vaccine helped clear up some of the persistent ass-dragging feeling I had afterward.

    Spoil yourself now, while you can. The loss of taste really sucked.

  46. 46.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Yeah, I bet Mitch shed big salty tears over Trump’s recent problems, seeing as they had such a close working relationship.

    I always said with the possible exception of Melanie, no one would have been happier than McConnell if trump had had a full Elvis on one of gilded crappers, leaving him with Mike “Mortimer Snerd” Pence to play POTUS with Mitch’s hand working his mouth.

  47. 47.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    You think Pence would’ve had a better chance in 2020? He might have handled COVID better with no Trump

    Gotta say, I think it’s fitting that such a spineless toadie like Pence has likely destroyed his political career

  50. 50.

    Ken B

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Remember, Pence was available to be Trump’s running mate because he’d been such a disastrous governor that he was clearly going to lose his re-election campaign.

    So he’s really ruined his political prospects twice now. But this time he doesn’t seem to realize it, and no one cares enough to tell him.

  51. 51.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): ​
     

    Gotta say, I think it’s fitting that such a spineless toadie like Pence has likely destroyed his political career

    It was already destroyed in 2016, which was why he was available and willing to be TFG’s running mate. Nowhere to go but up.

    Or, come to think of it, sideways. Or down even further.

  53. 53.

    West of the Rockies

    @bbleh:

    But Pompeo is such a humble, gracious guy? //

    Yeah, real salt of the dearth kind of guy.  What a toad.

  58. 58.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Sam Stein @samstein. 44m
    NEW — Sinema outraised by Gallego.
    Among her donors
    More than $280,000 from employees of Blackstone
    $196,000 from employees of the Carlyle Group
    Anthony Scaramucci gave her $3,300
    No Labels gave $10,000

    Sinema raised $2.1M
    Gallego: $3.7M.

  61. 61.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Bud Lite has been the cheap beer of choice in queer bars for years thanks to Bud’s early and long-standing sponsorship of Pride and other LGBTQ events. Bud isn’t doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, they’ve decided that it’s more profitable to do so, than catering to the haters.

    The reichwingers have forgotten the hat when Adam Savage said “I reject your really and substitute my own” he was being snarky.

    The non-apology Bud issued was a polite corporate-speak version of “fuck your feelings.” Clear they ain’t worried.

  62. 62.

    Steeplejack

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    Haven’t read the comments, and I hope someone has spanked you hard, but . . .

    Five billion dollars is a big, scary number, which is the market value BUD has lost since April 1. But it’s only 4% of their market capitalization. If anything, it’s a buying opportunity, savvy investor Goku!

    I will note that a month or so ago everybody was laughing at Tesla, which was down to about $110 a share. Now? Back up to $185. Huh, imagine that.

    And get the fuck out of here with the bullshit anecdote from some unknown acquaintance of your father. That dude might be about to lose his job because he’s an idiot, not because of some fluctuation in the company’s stock price.

    You are an anxiety whack-a-mole. Inflation out of control?! Okay, maybe not. Beer company troubles about to cripple the economy?! Who can say? What the fuck is next? I’m sure you’ll let us know.

    Here’s a thought: why don’t you put all of that mental energy into something that could have an actual effect on your life—like, say, finding a new job, if you don’t like the crappy one your crappy union currently has you trapped in?

    Sorry for the flame on 🔥, but, Jesus, c’mon, man! You really should spend at least a little time worrying about why you spend all of your time worrying about gigantic, theoretical problems that won’t bite your Gen Z ass any time soon.

  63. 63.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Scout211: I am not saying she’s should take DiFis spot and I can’t stand Kyrsten Sinema but as far as I know she’s been voting with the Dems on judicial nominees. Hell, I think Manchin may have strayed a little on judicial nominees. If that’s what the GOP thinks is negotiating I think they’ll be sadly disappointed.

  67. 67.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): no Wall Streeter gives a shit about Bud and their support of LGBTQ or some LGBTQ friendly ad from them. I don’t follow the market on a day to day basis but I do remember hearing a blurb that the market was down a little today and IIRC during the week as well so the stock dropping could just be part of the general market dropping.

  68. 68.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Scout211: only Pompeo alone in his big head could see himself as POTUS. I can’t even see DeShithead as POTUS. Or Kristi Noem. Or Ted Cruz. Or Joshy Hawley. Or SuperManlyStareoffMan Mike Pence.

  74. 74.

    Geminid

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): There won’t be a primary. Sinema knew she would lose one and that’s why she turned Independent.

    It’s early for polling but some have been done on the Arizona Senate race. Phoenix-based OHPredictive, which describes itself as “a nonpartisan public opinion, market research firm” published one on February 16. They titled the report, “AZ Senate: Gallego Leads in All Head-to-Head Matches.” Aside from showing Gallego in the lead against 5 different Republicans, as well as in three-way races with Sinema in the mix, the poll measured “favorability”:

        In terms of favorability, Ruben Gallego is the only candidate to receive a positive net favorability rating from voters. Gallego, unlike many of his potential contenders, is most popular among voters 55+, college graduates, and parents….Gallego’s net favorability among Independents [+6] is the highest of any potential candidate tested.

    It’s an interesting poll, with “crosstabs” breaking down results by demographic groups.

    OHPredictive does a lot of polling in Arizona, so this will likely be the first of several in this race. I like that because comparing polls by the same outfit over time is a decent indicator of trend.

  75. 75.

    Jeffro

    Pompeo might not be the brightest bulb in the marquee, but he’s cunning…he knows what an utter shit show the 2024 GOP nomination process (and eventual presidential campaign) is going to look like.

  76. 76.

    Jeffro

    @Geminid:Aside from showing Gallego in the lead against 5 different Republicans, as well as in three-way races with Sinema in the mix

    stop right there and fast forward to next November!

    (please)

  78. 78.

    NotMax

    FYI.

    Tupperware may be potentially going out of business in 2023, but the colorful home goods brand is laughing all the way to the bank in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

    The Emmy-winning show’s fifth and final season premieres today on Prime Video, and the iconic kitchenware brand is celebrating the new episodes by reviving its vintage-inspired collaboration with the Prime Video original series — and select items are up to 60 percent off, too. Source

  80. 80.

    Geminid

     

     

    @Jeffro: These numbers may well tighten by Fall of next year. But it’s an encouraging poll considering that GLallego is less well known statewide than most of his opponents. His favorability among voters 55+ and parents is a good sign.

  84. 84.

    kalakal

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    Really just relax. Every GOP supporter could stop buying Bud and it wouldn’t even be a speed bump to the juggernaut that is InBev. They are a Global brand, the biggest booze maker on earth* with over 500 brands. If you see an alcoholic drink it’s either made by InBev or Diagio. Stocks go up, stocks go down. Today InBev went up, Diagio went down, haven’t heard the wingnuts whining about Diagio

    *Excepting Chinese internal brands

  89. 89.

    Soprano2

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): It’s a bunch of bullshit. Their stock price is higher today than it was in February. This Bud Light thing is temporary fit throwing, nothing more.  InBev sells so many products, that salesperson has nothing to worry about as long as he’s good at his job.

  90. 90.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Before Jack Smith was appointed, Merrick Garland:

    Seized John Eastman’s phone, Seized Jeffrey Clark’s phone, Seized Scott Perry’s emails,
    Seized Eastman’s emails, Seized Epshteyn’s phone, Seized Mike Lindell’s phone,
    Seized Mike Roman’s phone, Seized Scott Perry’s phone, Got Kash Patel’s testimony,
    Appointed Windom, Appointed Cooney, Subpoenaed the fraudulent electors,
    Subpoenaed 7 state’s election officials, Subpoenaed Sidney’s PAC
    Subpoenaed Rudy, Opened IG probe into Clark, Opened IG probe into DoJ response to 1/6
    Negotiated subpoena for Meadows, Battled the 11th circuit for classified docs
    Subpoenaed trump for classified docs, Subpoenaed trump for surveillance video
    Executed a search warrant on trump, Convicted Bannon of contempt,
    Indicted Navarro for contempt, Subpoenaed the speakers from 1/6,
    Subpoenaed the organizers of 1/6, Secured seditious conspiracy convictions
    Subpoenaed records for any member of congress involved in 1/6
    Subpoenaed info on Jenna Ellis, Secured testimony from Mark Short
    Secured testimony from Jacob Engel, Secured testimony from Philbin,
    Secured testimony from Cippollone, Subpoenaed info on trump’s PACs,
    Won privilege battles for Short, Engel, and the Pats,
    Negotiated for Pence’s subpoena, Seized the phone records of Meadows,
    Secured the 1/6 committee transcripts, Subpoenaed 7 secretaries of state

    There’s a lot more. This is just what I could remember off the top of my head. So please stop saying nothing happened before Jack Smith was appointed. END/

  93. 93.

    AlaskaReader

    This bears repeating,

    …Republican voters are every bit as corrupt and depraved as are the people they elect.

    Don’t be talking about any Republican as if they’re a viable or acceptable candidate, …Republicans don’t have any of those.

    There’s no justification for anything but contempt and condescension for Republicans.

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