Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

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

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

It could be worse. Vance could have said “post-menopausal sows.” Waiting for that audiotape to surface.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Maybe you would prefer that we take Joelle’s side in ALL CAPS?

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

Ron DeSantis, the grand wizard, oops, governor of FL.

with the Kraken taking a plea, the Cheese stands alone.

There is one struggling party in US right now, and it’s not the Democrats.

Elections aren’t won by handwringing, cowering, and/or bashing your own candidates.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

White supremacy is terrorism.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Even though I know this is a bad idea, I’m off to do it anyway!

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

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Another missed opportunity for Jamie Dimon to just shut the fuck up.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Open Thread: Biden Speaks on Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Supplemental Agreement

Open Thread: Biden Speaks on Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Supplemental Agreement

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No idea when this will finally start, but it seems significant.

Bonus Zander wondering if I’m going to share dinner with him last night:

Open Thread: Biden Speaks on Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Supplemental Agreement
I see you’re having breakfast for dinner. Care to share?

I’m off to walk the dogs so I don’t implode, work is not going the way I planned today. LOL

This is an open thread

Reader Interactions

106Comments

  1. 1.

    Alison Rose

    (Since this fits here, I’ll copy myself from down yonder)

    So this is interesting. Zelenskyy just posted a brief video about the Ukraine funding:

    I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! We’ve got positive news from the United States — the Senate has just voted to continue the support of our country and our warriors. This is a decision that we have worked very hard for, a decision that has been awaited not only by us, but by many other nations, particularly in Europe. The world is waiting for American leadership to remain steadfast and help protect lives and preserve freedom. This truly contributes to confidence and motivation. I thank Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell for their determination and morally strong choice. Democracy will surely prevail. I thank each of the seventy senators who voted in the affirmative. This was the first step, next step is the House of Representatives and the vote of congressmen there. We expect a positive decision. We hope for principled support. And we believe that America will continue to be a leader. Thank you to everyone who helps! Thank you to everyone who values life and freedom as much as Ukrainians do! Glory to Ukraine!

    I’m sure he knows the chances in the House are dim, but I like this shot across the bow. Like, “Hey, the world thinks the Senate is awesome. Do you wanna let them be better than you?” Unfortunately for many House GOPers, the answer is yes. But I like that he is highlighting who exactly is the problem here.

  6. 6.

    dmsilev

    I can’t imagine the Speaker willingly bringing that to the House for a vote. The Post’s coverage did say that Democrats are working on a discharge petition that would let them bypass the Speaker, but they would need several Republicans actively voting for it (some Ds are opposed because the package also contains money for Israel).

  7. 7.

    CaseyL

    Is that a bowl of cereal? Does Zander like cold cereal, or is it the milk he’s after?
    The entire House GOP, most of the Senate GOP, and 95% of GOP voters, are solidly behind the Trump-Putin ticket for 2024. They are a nightmare problem beyond the reach of elections.​

  8. 8.

    Baud

    @dmsilev:

    In theory, all the Dems could vote for discharge and some could vote against final passage. I’m not sure if the dissenters will be willing to draw that sort of line knowing the end result will be passage of the bill.

  9. 9.

    Geminid

    @dmsilev: House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner sounded fairly confident about the aid package when he was in Kiev Saturday. I think he and the other Republican Ukraine hawks have got a plan to help Democrats push it through. They have little reason to fear Johnson; he needs them more than they need him. Johnson will probably be relieved anyway.

    If some Democrats vote against the aid package that’s all the better for Republican hawks. When a primary challenger calls them out on this vote, they can respond, “Do you really expect this district’s Congressman to vote with the Squad !!?” I’m not the Squad, you’re the Squad!”

  12. 12.

    sab

    @Geminid: There is a website called Republicans for Ukraine that has a report card page. There are a lot of house members who have spoken out for Ukraine and have also voted that way. Maybe there is something in the works.

  13. 13.

    ArchTeryx

    Orange kitty is definitely being an orange. “You are having food. I like food too. I would like it if you share your food.”

    Offers cat some cereal. Cat sniffs it

    “Where is the actual food??”

  14. 14.

    Alison Rose

    @TaMara: My cat likes crunchy stuff. One time she nabbed a chunk of graham cracker that fell on the floor and now she craves them. Same with tortilla chips and pretzels. I know she shouldn’t eat that kind of stuff, but every once in a while I’ll give her a tiny piece.

  16. 16.

    ArchTeryx

    @Alison Rose: It always baffles me a little, because cats can’t taste sweets (like most carnivores). You give them something made mostly of carbs, it tastes like styrafoam would taste to us.

    And they crave it anyway! Nearest I can guess, they just want to share in what you’re having because you’re a colony mate and they need the reassurance they are in good standing with you.

    ETA: A lot of carby snacks cats crave are high in salt. Salt is extremely important to carnivores so they nearly always go after something containing a lot of salt in it, regardless of what the rest of the food tastes like.

  17. 17.

    rikyrah

    Get the ENTIRE PHUCK OUTTA HERE

    PHUCKING CLOWNS!

     

     

    The Recount (@therecount) posted at 11:44 AM on Tue, Feb 13, 2024:
    Reuters’ @jeffmason1: “Did [President Biden] watch Jon Stewart [on “The Daily Show”] last night?”

    WH Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre: “Sounds like you did, Jeff. Was it good?”

    Mason: “He was pretty critical of the president…” https://t.co/7PwwFGpfgx
    (https://x.com/therecount/status/1757460656343634240?t=Jm1MTaYeSLCnRR6r3g-LIw&s=03)

  19. 19.

    ArchTeryx

    @rikyrah: Fortunately, bubonic plague (Yersinia pestis) is normally easily curable with antibiotics. It’s a bacteria, not a virus, and is acutely vulnerable to most common antibiotics.

    It’s the viral diseases that really worry me. There is no quick and easy answer for a thing like COVID, even if the vaccine development cycle is FAR better than it was.

    Now, if antibiotic-resistant strains developed, that would be a HUGE worry, but Y. pestis, if I recall my microbiology classes correctly, doesn’t trade genes around nearly as readily as some bacteria, so developing antibiotic resistance is a lot harder for them.

  21. 21.

    rikyrah

    Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) posted at 9:30 PM on Mon, Feb 12, 2024:
    Khan: After Trump attacked us we received further threats. In 2016 we received a call from then Vice President Joe Biden inviting us to his home. He showed us the photos of his family one at a time while telling us we are his family too.

    Portia  McGonagal Same On  (@PortiaMcGonagal) posted at 10:45 AM on Tue, Feb 13, 2024:
    I know too many people have forgotten what was done to the Khans. Likewise the widow of LaDavid Johnson and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. Funny how Nik Nik Haley didn’t have anything to say about that.
    (https://x.com/PortiaMcGonagal/status/1757446022194933962?t=k4lOj_riWKfeEgAFnY6Zxw&s=03)

  25. 25.

    Tom Levenson

    @rikyrah: Plague is endemic in the west. As a kid spending summers in the mountains, we were really seriously warned not to go near an intact animal corpse.

    Plague’s no biggie if diagnosed properly; it’s still entirely treatable with antibiotics. And a case or few a year is only news because ARRRRGGGGH BLACK DEATH.

    Now, if a superbug appeared making friends w. urban rats and squirrels and the like, we might be going all 13 c. on y’all.

    ETA: what Sab and ArchTeryx said.

  26. 26.

    scav

    @rikyrah: I mean, amazing!  A person who doesn’t immediately meltdown totally at the merest hint of criticism and possibly even listens to opposing viewpoints!

  28. 28.

    Tom Levenson

    @Alison Rose: Flea from somebody. (Lots of mammals can carry fleas that can carry bubonic plague. Rats just get all the PR because they’re the most common urban vector. (Or were.)

    Not to toot my own horn or anything, but my next book starts with a couple of short chapters on the Great Plague in London 1665-1666.  Let Goodwoman Philips not go unmourned!

  31. 31.

    Geminid

    @Alison Rose: I spell it Kyiv almost all the time, but you are welcome. Kind of

    Ed.So what did you think about the rest of my comment? Aside from the spelling lapse. I thought it was quite cogent myself.

  39. 39.

    Mike in NC

    Pastor Johnson won’t allow a vote on this. Even if it did include border funding, he takes his marching orders from Fat Bastard.

  41. 41.

    japa21

    @Mike in NC:  I would like someone to ask him “What are you afraid of?”  In fact, Republicans should be asked all the time that question when they say they won’t vote for something.  Get it out there that the GOP is full of scared little cowards.

    And before somebody answers the question, I already know what he is afraid of, but I want the cowardly GOP meme out there.

  42. 42.

    Geminid

    @Mike in NC: It’s true that Johnson won’t allow a vote on this package if he can help it. But he does not have absolute control over what legislation gets to a floor vote.

  43. 43.

    Another Scott

    Earlier TheHill had a video window saying the House was in recess until 2 PM.

    Now it says they are in recess pending a call of the Chair. Maybe they’re all watching Biden’s address…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  44. 44.

    Lyrebird

    @rikyrah: When are they gonna bring the high school and college journalists to actually ask decent questions???  Not sure how these WH press folks escaped from elementary school.

     

     

    @Geminid: I’m in the choir, here, (ETA: as in “preaching to the choir”, already in agreement) but FWIW I do like how you spelled out the possible usefulness of left-wing defections.

    The Ukrainian president is about the least naive person on earth when it comes to MAGA perfidy, and when I read his effusive remarks during the visit, I figured he was doing everything possible to build towards a successful move like what you have laid out.

  45. 45.

    Hoppie

    @Geminid: Agree that we are witnessing a rather elaborate kabuki unfold so that everyone who wants or needs it has their butt covered.

    But who are we two against so many?

  46. 46.

    glc

    Off-topic, another Covid piece: “Every time you get infected [with COVID], it does harm to the body in some way.”  This is not news, at least not on this site, but it bears repeating.

    I figure the funding bill either will or will not be voted on in the House, and would pass if voted on. The Republicans’ unpredictability may turn out to be the only constant. We don’t really know with any certainty who will be speaker in, say, two weeks’ time. I’d prefer a greater dose of rationality in the process but they haven’t asked for my advice.

  47. 47.

    trollhattan

    @Tom Levenson: Plague AND hantavirus AND Lyme. The West has it all.

    Have camped in campgrounds following temp closures for plague, and most noticeable are the squirrel and chipmunk burrows having been dusted with insecticide.

    Knew someone who became VERY sick after a fishing trip to Colorado and she was diagnosed with an active plague case. She said it was no fun but proper diagnosis and treatment cleared it up. Guessing Lyme is harder to detect in the early, treatable phases.

  49. 49.

    ArchTeryx

    @Geminid: It’s pretty close. The only real alternative is a discharge petition. Very, very few of those succeed, because ANY member of the Speaker’s party that signs on to one guarantees themselves a dark-money funded primary challenger. Even retiring ones don’t like doing it, because they don’t want to burn their wingnut welfare bridges. In the era of negative partisanship and extreme polarization, the House may as well be a Parliament.

    But there are some issues with so much bipartisan support that a discharge petition might have a chance at succeeding. And since having your caucus go right over your head is an almost guaranteed deathblow for your Speakership, they often let the bill on the floor if a DP has a serious chance at success. Better to hop on the caboose then watch the train leave you in its dust.

  53. 53.

    CaseyL

    I had a kitty, very long ago, who would go absolutely nuts at the sight of a bag of corn chips.  I mean, she would Jump Into The Bag.  We figured it had to be the salt, because when we would give her a chip, she’d lick it to near-sogginess and then leave it there on the floor.

    Another kitty would go nuts for Greek Olives.  She’d mouth an olive, lick it, rub her face on it, roll her body all over it… and then walk off, leaving a flattened, chewed, fur-covered lump on the floor.  It was reliably hilarious.

  57. 57.

    Baud

    Besides the few pro-Ukraine Republicans, I wonder if there are others who really want to get that money for Israel (and Taiwan).

  58. 58.

    Geminid

    @ArchTeryx: Yes, discharge petitions are seldom seen in the House despite the rule allowing them. But last June, House Democrats had an active  petition to discharge debt ceiling legislation when McCarthy folded and agreed to to put a debt ceiling bill on the floor.

    I read a report this morning that this petition was still “ripe,” with 208 signatures already (some could be withdrawn). I think the underlying legislation was a vehicle that could be amended to suit the purpose.

    I don’t really know the ins and outs of House procedure in this area, but I think I may hear a lot about them this week.

  63. 63.

    topclimber

    @Baud: They almost passed Israeli aid a few weeks ago, using a 2/3rds requirement that was probably meant to embarrass Dems, who would have a divided stance vs. Moe and his fellow stooges in lockstep “YES.”

    (Ok, wokesters, I understand that Moe is perhaps not the accepted diminutive for Moses, which is who Johnson thinks he is. My mission will be to make it so! Who’s with me???!!!).

  65. 65.

    cain

    @JaySinWA: Yes, an ex girlfriend works there.  He was very pro-worker and he was active in the business and personally stopped stupid shit from happening because of ‘MBA’ mentality.

    It was the kind of business where someone who worked in the warehouse could rise to work on the business directly.

  66. 66.

    Baud

    @topclimber:

    Wasn’t that the same night they failed on the impeachment vote?

    It was a banner day for Johnson.

    Now that the Senate has passed its bill, I expect it’ll be harder to get Dems to cross over for a stand alone bill.

  70. 70.

    Alison Rose

    @cain: I use a mobile vet and she’s been extremely cautious with COVID the whole time. Before Briery’s checkups the last few years, the vet has asked if I’ve had any symptoms or a positive test. Not sure what would happen if someone said yes, but I’m glad she’s been very on the ball about it.

  72. 72.

    trollhattan

    With us always on the lookout for PG&E screwups, we sometimes forget about UP. Fix those tracks, dudes.

    A Union Pacific train carrying 118 tons of coal derailed Sunday due to a track defect and dumped its contents into and around Plumas County’s Feather River, according to railroad officials and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Fifteen rail cars chugging west on tracks parallel to the Middle Fork Feather River in Blairsden derailed, spilling the coal into the river.

    At least 14 rail cars tipped over or sustained damage, Fish and Wildlife officials said. At least one rail car fell into the water. “Several cars lost the total payload and some cars partially released,” the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services said in a report detailing the incident. There were no injuries or evacuations reported in the derailment, which happened near Highway 70 on the Feather River Scenic Byway and Camp Layman Road, wrote Meg Ronspies, a Union Pacific spokeswoman. The train was headed to Portola.

    The cost estimate to clean up the river is more than $150,000, according to the CalOES spill report. There could be potential “smothering effects” on organisms in the river, but its short-term impacts are not expected to affect the water, the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response said in a Facebook post. Ronspies wrote there were no “hazmat releases” and added that the incident remains under investigation.

    https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article285393502.html#storylink=cpy

    So happens the Feather flows to Lake Oroville, the water supply for the California State Water Project. Nothing to see here.

  74. 74.

    currants

    @sab:

    True. Hanta virus was a concern when I lived in NE AZ–though the warning was to avoid mouse-droppings and especially pee. (:-/

  75. 75.

    Alison Rose

    @trollhattan: Yikes. Not good. Although:

    The cost estimate to clean up the river is more than $150,000

    Maybe my view is skewed from everything seemingly costing millions, but that seems relatively low for such an event.

  77. 77.

    Geminid

    @Alison Rose: When I see the Senate working until 7am to vote on the aid package, and President Biden making such a forceful speech, I think this is more than a “Hail Mary” desperation pass. This legislation has a real chance.

    I also remember an interview with General Budanov a few months ago. A journalist asked Ukraine’s military intelligence chief about the troubled prospects for Ukraine aid, and he replied in his Budanov way, “I’m not worried about that.”

  79. 79.

    zhena gogolia

    @topclimber:
    Moe was the standard nickname for Moses or Moshe.

    Moses Harry Horwitz (June 19, 1897 – May 4, 1975), better known by his stage name Moe Howard, was an American comedian and actor.

  83. 83.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Geminid:

    I think there are easily enough votes to pass the bill if it gets to the floor.  I cannot predict what Johnson will do.  I don’t think he gives a shit about the bill and not much of one about Trump, but he’s a coward, an incompetent idiot, and an asshole.  It’s very hard to know what those will do, because you can’t guess how they see the situation through their Stupid Goggles.  He’s been following the playbook of ‘drag your feet until the last possible moment and then let more or less status quo crucial legislation pass’ so far.  I do think he would love a discharge petition, because it perfectly allows him to posture while not sticking his neck out in any way on either side of any issue.

  84. 84.

    Nelle

    Here in Iowa, I have all R congressfolk, none of whom I admire.  Yet my congressman, Zach Nunn, went to Ukraine and both senators, Ernst and Grassley, voted for Ukrainian aid.  I’m not naive enough to think my at least once a week calls make a difference, but I don’t think they hurt.  I encourage people to call and call.  They track that sort of thing.

  88. 88.

    Geminid

    @Frankensteinbeck: Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs conceded that the aid package would win a majority if it were put on the House floor. He said aid opponents like him had to work towards keeping it from passing. Biggs didn’t say, “Easy-peazy, Johnson will stop it,” because it might not be that easy.

    I got the impression that Biggs was not as confident as Rep. Turner, the Intelligence Committee chair. This is speculation of course, but I think that by Thursday we’ll know better what House Ukraine supporters have planned, and who has the stronger position, Biggs or Turner.

  95. 95.

    moonbat

    What a handsome kitty! Give him whatever he wants.

    Biden’s full court press here makes me think they are going to pull this one out. Our side knows how to count.

  96. 96.

    Geminid

    @Lyrebird: One thing I am curious to see is how much political blowback Republican Ukraine hawks like Cornyn receive over this vote. I saw some of the anti-Cornyn comments, and his vote certainly offended a lot of Isolationist, Anti-Globalist, Nativist, knuckledragging No-Knothings.

    These are not an inconsiderable portion of the Republican base, but– American voters generally base their decisions on domestic issues and not foreign ones. At least, when there are not a lot of American military or civilian casualties involved.

    So, the primaries will be interesting on this score. And Democrats might even flip a bonus seat or two if purple district incumbents lose primaries to more reactionary challengers because of this issue.

    But I find this stuff interesting in its own right, because I sometimes see the modern Republican Party as this sprawling, chaotic social science project.

  97. 97.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @sab: And it’s a minuscule worry if antibiotic treatment is started early. Yersinia pestis in the US Southwest has never had the opportunity to develop antibiotic resistance – IIRC even a long-in-the-tooth drug like streptomycin is still effective.

  98. 98.

    Lyrebird

    @Geminid: So, the primaries will be interesting on this score. And Democrats might even flip a bonus seat or two if purple district incumbents lose primaries to more reactionary challengers because of this issue.

    Hey, I can respect taking that scientific-observer perspective on the current state of the GOP, but I am not great at it…

    I suspect you have also seen some of the “McCarthy’s Revenge” type news, front paged on DKos right now, with primary challenges against the vacaters.

    These elections are gonna be interesting for sure!

    Gotta get back to my day job, for all that I like my seat in the peanut gallery

  99. 99.

    dirge

    @ArchTeryx: Salt is extremely important to carnivores so they nearly always go after something containing a lot of salt in it, regardless of what the rest of the food tastes like.

    Well, maybe that explains why our current cats are less interested in people food than our dear departed.  Having read a bunch of advice about being careful with salt, I’ll sometimes set aside a bit of chicken or whatever we’re having, to cook unseasoned.  Reception is hit or miss.

    Our previous cat just got a bit of what we ate, if she wanted, and she’d enthusiastically eat all sorts of things.  She led a long, healthy life, despite, apparently, getting too much sodium, and a little bit of a lot of things I’m now told are bad for cats.

    Anyone here have informed advice on what I really should and shouldn’t worry about giving our cats? Of course, people food amounts to less than 10% of their diet anyway, so I’m not hugely worried about a nibble of properly seasoned meat, but I’ve been going out of my way to avoid it.

  100. 100.

    NutmegAgain

    Nice looking cat!  Just a note, I have a third foster Newfie from rescue (the other 2 have found excellent homes.)  This fine fellow I really want to keep. He is enormous–I don’t have a current weight but I would put him at 135+/-. He’s a brown which is a first for me. But most importantly he has a fantastic Newfie temperament. He’s very calm, very sweet, has seriously good social/emotional intelligence. We got some snow today and he had a blast outside.

  101. 101.

    Origuy

    Speaking of new viruses, apparently there’s something called Alaskapox. It has been around for a while, but this is the first known death. Carried by rodents, it seems.

  103. 103.

    Geminid

    @Lyrebird: One of McCarthy’s targets is Bob Good. Good was my Congressman before redisticters moved Greene County into Abigail Spanberger’s district. That sure was a change for the better!

    Good has a strong primary challenger in state Senator John McGuire. It could be close race and the Cardinal News site is following it closely. It’s not a purple district and McGuire would be a stronger general election candidate I think, but I still want Good to lose because he makes my skin crawl. Just a nasty man.

  105. 105.

    frosty

    @sab: Knock me over with a feather! My useless Rep, Lloyd Smucker, isn’t completely useless. His votes are green across the board and he’s labeled “Excellent”. I guess I’d better call and thank him.

    My former Rep, Scott Traitor Perry, is completely the opposite.

  106. 106.

    Geminid

    @frosty: You ought to call Smucker’s office and tell them that if he can’t get aid to Ukraine passed you’ll never vote for him again!

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