Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

We will not go back.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

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

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

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

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

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

“woke” is the new caravan.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

You are here: Home / Politics / Biden Administration in Action / Sunday Morning Open Thread: Positive Messages, Positive Negatives

Sunday Morning Open Thread: Positive Messages, Positive Negatives

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J.D. Vance really wants to be Trump’s VP — nobody smart enough to fill out a ballot correctly is going to believe that Trump spoke ‘reverently’ about anything but money and/or authoritarianism:

======

Neither Christie, nor Mike Pence, nor Paul Ryan are honest arbiters, but they *are* plugged in to the Permanent GOP Party. If they’re suddenly denouncing Donald Trump… it doesn’t mean they’re good people, or seeing the light, but it does seem indicate that they’re no longer convinced Trump has a lock on the Presidency, or even the nomination.

Reader Interactions

222Comments

  1. 1.

    Suzanne

    BREAKING: Republicans are panicking because former VP Mike Pence, former Speaker Paul Ryan and Former Governor Chris Christie are abandoning the Trump campaign. This type of political abandonment is wholly unprecedented.

    I’m skeptical. Sorry. (I mean, I would like this to be true, but that doesn’t mean it is true.)

    I seriously doubt that Pence, Ryan, or Christie has an iota of influence in the GOP. Insert metaphor here about tits on a bull or something?

  5. 5.

    OzarkHillbilly

    So a bunch of has been GOP pols speaking out against trump is a sign of… Just exactly what is it a sign of?

    “Look at meeeeeeeee!”

  6. 6.

    ARoomWithAMoose

    I look forward to watching the GOP old timers try to wrest control of their national party apparatus back from the Trump organization.  They won’t get control back until the bustout is complete and the national party’s credit lines are maxed out and in default.

  7. 7.

    smith

    @Suzanne: Yeah, I think most MAGA types would say “Paul who?” if Fox were to cover this (they won’t). And they still want to hang Mike Pence. The best we can hope for is that our betters in various corporate newsrooms start to get a little uncomfortable with signs that the old Republican establishment is no longer all in for the Felon.

  8. 8.

    Suzanne

    @OzarkHillbilly: Yeah, exactly. It’s an attempt at brand positioning. They’re trying to carve out a space for themselves. But if the larger GOP isn’t ready to hear it — and I have no reason to think that they are — they’re going to blow up whatever shreds of credibility and influence they may have had.

    Which…. cool. #pleaseproceed and all that.

    The GOP evinces no signs of knowing how to quit TFFG at this point.

  9. 9.

    MomSense

    Well we had a big success yesterday.  After all the recliner leads came up empty, I had to go back to the cottage to get a few things I didn’t have room for and a twin adjustable bed came up on Facebook marketplace at a great price.  It was 10 minutes from the cottage and the couple was so nice.  She had been a nurse in the school system my kids went to and we knew a lot of the same people.
    Anyway the bed was in mint condition and we already had the mattress. Remote works easily and we had a good night!
    Set up the living room with an area rug and lamps etc and it is really pleasant.

    My sister and niece and nephew stopped by before the local little league championship game.  My great nephew’s team won!!  The ball field is a small replica of Fenway Park called Little Fenway which is super cool. My little great nephew was so excited about the green monster!

  10. 10.

    Ksmiami

    I’m on an extended trip stateside and internationally… hotels are full, restaurants are full, people are happy and spending. Biden did this. He deserves re-election. End of story.

  11. 11.

    RaflW

    @Suzanne: The point isn’t to convince MAGAts. Pence, Christie and Ryan signal “moderate” to our media scumlords (I know, barf n bullshit, but the Beltway has it’s tropes, and will not let ’em go!).

    And even more, these three signal moderate to a significant chunk of former Republican independents. 3% of Trump’s voters peel off and pick Mickey Mouse as a write in, stay home, or g-d love us, pick Biden, and TFG could end up with 200 EVs.

  13. 13.

    Suzanne

    @smith: Agree. Tom Nichols sucks about a lot of things, but he is a keen observer of the MAGA types. He said on Xhitter:

    I think a lot of people have a hard time internalizing the reality that the worse Trump is, the more his base enjoys the idea of returning him to power purely to scratch some resentful itch that they themselves can’t really even define

     
    This is really all it is. It’s just that the GOP kinda figured out that there aren’t enough rich people for them to win anything without Trump’s psychos.

  14. 14.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    I look at public statements from people like Christie as a development of Driftglass’ ‘Republican Detachment Disorder’.  When originally outlined it was (paraphrased somewhat):

    This whole “I never had anything to do with this madness during my career as a major candidate in the modern GOP” is cognitive dissonance we typically only see among right wingers who’ve spent their lives voting against their economic interests. They’d have you believe that the whole Trump Phenomenon suddenly appeared one day like a mushroom cloud over the offices of the RNC. People like Christie helped create this and enabled it and he’s now simply embarrassed that Trump is the id of the modern GOP is with a pack of like-minded people in Congress.

    What we’re seeing now are GQP pols like Christie are busily ejecting clouds of ink to obscure the fact that they’re stripping off and burning their lab coats, notebooks and mad scientist goggles, fervently hoping we don’t notice that their decades long careers in mainstreaming the worst impulses of the GOP base helped create this shambling monster now ravaging their castles with the pitchfork and torch-wielding villagers at the monster’s side.

    Back in 2015-16 when that was first outlined, it was more of “Trump is simply saying all the inside words outside” and how that tosses 2 generations of Lee Atwater Dog Whistle Politics.

    Now it’s simply “he’s a loser and how do we get the electoral anchor unwrapped from around our necks.”

    Heaven help me for for quoting James Carville after all these years but he’s worth quoting in response to the latest messaging from the RNC via clowns like Christie:

    As I’ve always said, when you’re opponent is drowning throw the SOB an anvil.

  16. 16.

    Tony Jay

    Just found out that Lady Jay has spent 46 years on this Earth thinking REO Speedwagon were called Oreo Speedwagon.

    “Like the biscuit!”

    In her defence, she’s got a broken toe and is on drugs.

    So. How is everyone?

  17. 17.

    RaflW

    @Ksmiami: Minneapolis St Paul Int’l was down to 4 to 6 transatlantic flights a day well after Covid restrictions were lifted. It was 90% Delta & partners, and 10% Icelandair (summer only).

    We now have Delta, Air France, KLM, Icelandair, Condor, Aer Lingus and Lufthansa jumping the pond. On a busy day, there’s 10+ nightly departures for Europe.

    A little of that is inbound, sure, but Americans are feeling good if they’re spending for European vacation trips.

  20. 20.

    Campionrules

    A bunch of theocratic, fascist punks met their well earned demise yesterday – so the weekend is off to a good start. One hope it continues that way

  22. 22.

    Suzanne

    @RaflW:

    And even more, these three signal moderate to a significant chunk of former Republican independents. 

    Sure. But, like….. that doesn’t mean the institutional GOP gives a shit. They’re all in on the felon.

    Pence, Ryan, Christie, etc…. they’re all in the wilderness. And, I mean, great. Love peeling off a layer or two. But I believe in revealed preferences, and right now, I don’t see any evidence that there’s a revealed preference in the GOP for anything other than Trump, and Trump is just an avatar for mediocre white men’s resentment at declining life prospects.

  23. 23.

    MomSense

    @Suzanne:

    We need to think of them like we are dealing with a cult of millions of narcissists.  They absolutely love it when we get angry.  Our anger is fuel for them.
    They are literally not worth our time, energy or thought and they won’t like hearing that.

  25. 25.

    TS

    @Suzanne:

    mediocre white men’s resentment at declining life prospects.

    Apart from white privilege, that mediocre white men had good life prospects in the 1950 60s was because of hard fighting by unions. When they decided to give up unions they  invited their bosses to treat them as they would, could and wished to.

  26. 26.

    smith

    @Suzanne: What mediocre men fear most is being laughed at, so that’s what we should continue to do — point and laugh. They think we’re smug and condescending. Well, yes we are, for good reason.

  28. 28.

    zhena gogolia

    @Ksmiami: Yeah, I see full restaurants around here, and we had to stand in line at Marshall’s. Where’s the depression?

  29. 29.

    TBone

    Medication abortion had a win in NC.  Very interesting details.  Hope the Supremacists Court doesn’t tear this down along with our admin. state agency regulatory authority.

    Under the ruling by U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles any health care provider — not just physicians — and pharmacists who are certified can prescribe abortion pills, patients can take mifepristone at home and they no longer have to make three-in person visits to a doctor.

    The rest of the article is very informative:

    https://crooksandliars.com/2024/06/federal-judge-strikes-down-north-carolina

  30. 30.

    zhena gogolia

    @Tony Jay: That is so cute!

    I relayed a witticism from Frasier to my husband the other day. “I went to bed with the prom queen and woke up with Carrie!” He looked at me blankly. Cue me trying to summarize the plot of Carrie in less than 5 minutes.

  32. 32.

    Kay

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus with a truly bold take:

    “My feeling about all of it is that political correctness, insofar as it equates to tolerance, is obviously fantastic,” she said. “And of course I reserve the right to boo anyone who says anything that offends me, while also respecting their right to free speech, right?” As far as what is holding back creativity, she sees the issue stemming from those who hold the power and money to greenlight what is being made. “But the bigger problem — and I think the true threat to art and the creation of art — is the consolidation of money and power,” she said.

  33. 33.

    Frankensteinbeck

    I disagree with a lot of people here.  Major – even formerly major – GOP figures saying the current Republican nominee for President is unfit?  This is nuts.  I don’t care why they’re doing it.  Tribalism, total war, the brand loyalty to not sinking the ship they’ve devoted their lives to, says that once he’s got the nomination the candidate must be supported as if he’s God.  This is a shift.  Like cockroaches, if these filth-covered, hairy shit-eaters are saying it, there is a whole crowd hiding in the walls thinking it.  Yes, this makes a difference.  How much I don’t know, but a 1% loss of voters for the GOP radically shifts the electoral math.

  35. 35.

    sab

    @zhena gogolia: That reminds me of the time my sister asked me if I had ever heard of a Swedish singer named Abba. My sister had met “her” sister through Chinese Art History circles. My sister had never heard of Abba before, but she liked their family.

  36. 36.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @zhena gogolia: This is just the flip side of the coin where people here complain that Dem political ads don’t really appeal to them and they should something something instead.  The people here aren’t really the targets of most Dem ads.  We are the people who will crawl over broken glass to vote.

  38. 38.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @zhena gogolia:

    OT: I saw your comment about Moltmann’s death last night. I studied under him for two semesters (systematic theology) back when the world was young. He was that rara avis of a great teacher and a good, kind man, a true mensch. I still think of him fondly. RIP, Herr Doktor Professor Moltmann.

  42. 42.

    moonbat

    What this type of non-endorsement does is peel off the wishy-washy tote bag Republicans who aren’t members of the cult and like to think of themselves as being “decent” people. They may have gone along for the political ride last time around, but what Christie, Pence, etc. are signalling is that it’s okay not to vote for TCFG and still think of yourself as a principled conservative. (Sure some of them, like Christie, hope for a brokered convention, but who cares?)
    We’ve seen it in states like Michigan, the Republican Party is splitting between MAGAt crazies and the establishment types who at least knew how to keep the money rolling in and pay the bills to keep the lights on.
    We don’t have to get ALL the Repubs to not vote for Trump, just make sure enough of them don’t in key states. This helps.​

  47. 47.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @Suzanne: I doubt you and I are members of the intended audience. This needs to get out to the swing state “normies.”

  49. 49.

    MomSense

    @Kay:

    Same as it ever was.  Pursuing the arts is expensive so artists have always been dependent on patrons.  I think it has been detrimental to the arts and we need to publicly fund arts education.
    Of course I tried to teach with a budget of zero and pushing a cart – it wasn’t possible and I couldn’t keep losing money no matter how rewarding the work.

  50. 50.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Tony Jay:

    Just found out that Lady Jay has spent 46 years on this Earth thinking REO Speedwagon were called Oreo Speedwagon. “Like the biscuit!”

    Lady Jay is way ahead of me. I had to Google REO Speedwagon, and fully expected to read about some kind of vehicle. “Like the Subaru!”

    Imagine my surprise.

  52. 52.

    MattF

    @Frankensteinbeck: It’s fair to note that there are many homeless conservatives out there, like David French, or the aforementioned Tom Nichols, but do they constitute the base of a new non-fascist conservative political party? I doubt it. Conservatism has a systemic ‘thug’ problem. It attracts thugs, and then the thugs take over.

  53. 53.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @moonbat:

    This helps.

    Agreed. I don’t care about the content of these shitbirds’ character, or about their sincerity, or about their complicity in creating the monster. (Well, I do, but not in this particular context.)

    The goal is to reelect Biden, retake the House, and hold the Senate, plus win as many down-ballot races as possible. That’s it.

    Statements by Pence etc. that they won’t vote for the felon creates a permission structure for other Republicans and crypto-Republicans to follow suit. Even a few percentage points shaved off can make the difference in our benighted Electoral College outcome, as we saw to our detriment in 2016 and our benefit in 2020. Let the GOP factions, such as they are, fight.

  55. 55.

    HinTN

    @TS:

    When they decided to give up unions they  invited their bosses to treat them as they would, could and wished to.

    Truth, BUT… Union leadership had become seriously corrupted by wealth and power when St Ronnie railed against them. Their time in the wilderness has brought them back to their purpose and to good effect.

    Funny how a circle goes around.

  57. 57.

    TBone

    “This ain’t it,” said the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania (AFTPA) on social media, posting a photo of Jay-Z—whose given name is Shawn Carter—with suburban Philadelphia multibillionaire Jeffrey Yass, a Republican megadonor with a history of using his money to push for school vouchers and the defeat of progressive political candidates.

    https://www.commondreams.org/news/jay-z-scholarship

    Bey, have a word with your hubby, please.  Or words!

  58. 58.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Geminid:

    not one cookie shall I give them!

    They are stupid, immoral scum seething with hate, who live for hurting the vulnerable, have succeeded greatly over their careers in doing so, and damaged our society in countless ways.  They are loathsome.  They are vile.  It is a disgusting commentary on our species that it can spawn these grotesques.

    And even for them, Trump is a bridge too far.

  59. 59.

    Jackie

    @RaflW:

    Americans are feeling good if they’re spending for European vacation trips.

    How many are flying to Europe to see Taylor Swift? Apparently it’s cheaper than buying tickets to her American concerts.

    Just kidding – sorta! Not kidding about flocks of Americans heading to Europe to see Swift.

  61. 61.

    TBone

    Hot damn, AP!  Positive coverage AND common sense!

    https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-election-france-451275981e578163c51b5a2562ae6694

    Every ode to the transatlantic partnership was a reminder that Trump could upend those relationships. Each reference to democracy stood a counterpoint to his rival’s efforts to overturn a presidential election. The myriad exhortations to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia created a contrast with Trump’s skepticism about providing U.S. assistance.

    https://digbysblog.net/2024/06/09/biden-remembers-the-past/

  63. 63.

    Geminid

    @Frankensteinbeck: Well, I was joking here,* making fun of the exaggerated need some people have to condemn on moral terms any and all Republican defectors. I make moral judgements too, but I don’t center them in my political analysis.

    * the “not one cookie ” trope is inspired by the late 1930s Army Cavalry Corps commander who responded to a push for mechanization with, “Not one horse shall I give up!”

  64. 64.

    3Sice

    @Tony Jay:

    Ransom E. Olds – like in Oldsmobile.

    The holding company sold off the truck line, and rebranded as Nuclear Corporation of America (Nucor). I guess that made sense at the time, like a prospectus today full of AI bull for selling consumer goods.

  68. 68.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Geminid:

    I make moral judgements too, but I don’t center them in my political analysis.

    Yep, pretty much.

    EDIT – Still, it’s always worth pointing out that Ryan and Pence are, to quote the Torah, shitweasels.

  69. 69.

    Suzanne

    @MattF:

    It’s fair to note that there are many homeless conservatives out there, like David French, or the aforementioned Tom Nichols, but do they constitute the base of a new non-fascist conservative political party? I doubt it. Conservatism has a systemic ‘thug’ problem. It attracts thugs, and then the thugs take over.

    Yeah, exactly. They’re thirsty for the biggest asshole they can find. After Trump, it’ll be some other terrible piece of shit.

    Peeling some of the Republicans off matters, and I’m not saying that it doesn’t. Our wins all happen at small margins now. What I am saying is that those anti-Trump ex-politicians do not have a great deal of influence on their party. Literally no one in the GOP power structure is wondering what Paul Ryan thinks about anything. So “Republicans are panicking”? Are they? Really?! I mean, maybe they should be panicking. But, like, if they were genuinely interested in keeping the anti-Trump people in the tent…. they would not move forward with nominating Trump.

  70. 70.

    jonas

    @OzarkHillbilly: The problem is, the ones speaking out against Trump aren’t GOP pols. They’re *former* GOP pols with nothing to lose by doing so. They’re still getting booked on morning programs, amirite? Call me when some sitting GOPers start moving against Trump. That may mean something. Until then, he has a complete lock on the nomination and the guaranteed vote of 40% the country.

  72. 72.

    Trivia Man

    @Tony Jay: Last night i was given a ticket to see Night Ranger. Their next tour leg is opening for REO Speedwagon. I only recognized one song (besides their cover of Roadhouse Blues) but it was a fun show. 90% oldsters, nearly everyone sang every word to every song, 100% white crowd)

  73. 73.

    gwangung

    Sure, this is not going to affect the Republican hardcore. But….Peeling off 1-5% could be HUGE in elections.

    This simply isn’t the sign of a confident party marching to victory in November….

  76. 76.

    Geminid

    @jonas: Trump may have a lock on 40% of the cointry, but that makes the other 10% they haven’t got locked up all the more important. In swing states, Trump can’t afford many defections at all among Republican-leaning Independents and that’s where these defectors can have an impact.

  78. 78.

    Miss Bianca

    @jonas: As far as I’m concerned, any cracks in the Republican — or ex-Republican – dam are a welcome development.

  86. 86.

    Baud

    The only message here is, wow, look how radical the Republican Party has become!

    But I guess we can do with, this doesn’t matter.

  89. 89.

    Eyeroller

    @Frankensteinbeck: ​There are a lot of “Independents” who nearly always vote Republican (most so-called Independents reliably vote one way or another) and if this type of anti-endorsement gives them permission to vote for Democrats, that’s a good thing.

  90. 90.

    Trivia Man

    @Baud: Im still trying to wrap my head around the source of Pence’s decision to do the right thing – we avoided a bloody revolution because Dan freaking Quayle was the voice of reason and constitutional lore?

    And yet, here we are.

  92. 92.

    japa21

    Remember this is the same Paul Ryan who said, “Sure, Trump is a racist asshole, but still better than HRC.”  Or words to that effect.

    Yet, he’ll tolerate the thought of Biden being in the WH.  The same Biden who has shown himself more to the left than HRC, humiliated him in the VP debate, and is old and decrepit.  But he doesn’t have the lady parts.

    As to the general subject, I don’t think anybody believes what these 3 say will cause any seismic change in the GOP.  But it can lead to a more general and bigger defeat of the party as whole.  As to what would arise from the smoldering ruins…anybody’s guess.

  93. 93.

    TBone

    @NotMax: my anecdotal evidence here in Dotardland confirms that many Evangelicthuglicans are embarrassed. If they’re planning to vote for Dotard, they’re no longer crowing about it or even giving any public indication.  Pwning the libs hasn’t worked out like they thought it would.

  94. 94.

    Jeffro

    the GOP base, the GOP’s billionaire funders, GOP elected officials…they ALL had the option to withhold support from trump, whether it was during Impeachment 1, J6, Impeachment II, the E. Jean Carroll verdict, the $500M fraud verdict, or the 34 felony convictions.

    could have picked any other figurehead for their blessed ‘movement’ and kept right on truckin’

    but they were too hopped up on hate and lies, and too lazy to do the work

    now they are going to be on a long slow slide of party infighting and yet ANOTHER losing election cycle.

    meanwhile…America gets 4 more years of President Biden and VP Harris…a couple hundred more federal judges…even more progress on climate change…more pro-worker policies and legislation…

    TOO BAD, SO SAD, GOP!

  95. 95.

    Layer8Problem

    Why are the Pences, Ryans, and Christies getting airplay?  I think the old Republican guard’s worried about something; what it is ain’t exactly clear.  I’d like to think they’re seeing bad internal polling and hearing unhappy stories and warnings from Republican friends closer to the political ground game.

    Yeah, it could be merely that these guys want their good old days back of decent DC and state capital cocktail parties with like-minded people who don’t frighten their current wives, political business meetings at high-end steakhouses with cigars and expensive alcohol, pricey discreet escort services catering to a select clientele, and at the most country club racist talk; and maybe so do the media outfits letting these stories out. But if this is just the prattle of grumpy has-beens annoyed that the wrong sort are now running their cherished conservative institutions why was it allowed to be put online?

  96. 96.

    Jeffro

    @Tony Jay:Lady Jay has spent 46 years on this Earth thinking REO Speedwagon were called Oreo Speedwagon.

    “…I don’t wanna sleep…IIIIIIIII just wanna keep on dunkin’ you…

    (dunking Oreos in milk, right?  no one just eats them straight, I hope)

  97. 97.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @zhena gogolia: It’s always a surprise when I find a cultural reference my wife and I don’t share. Yesterday we were at a funeral where they played “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” (there was a reason for this odd choice). My wife had never heard or heard of this song and so I was trying to bring her up to speed in a couple of sentences on the general story line of the song.

    In reference to the misheard lyrics discussion, as many times as I have heard that song, I never had any idea what the refrain was till I saw it in the program.

  100. 100.

    FastEdD

    REO is still a great band and tours relentlessly. Mostly newer members of course, but I admire them for keepin on keepin on. Their singer Kevin Cronin has a good heart and I’ve joked with him a couple of times. They are originally from Southern Illinois. But KC does wear dentures!

  101. 101.

    Jeffro

    @Geminid:Trump can’t afford many defections at all among Republican-leaning Independents and that’s where these defectors can have an impact.

    100% true.

    For every R who defects (or at least, doesn’t vote for trump/writes in Saint Ronnie/leaves the top line on the ballot blank) there will be at least 1 more R-leaner who does the same.

  102. 102.

    Glidwrith

    @jonas: You raise an interesting point: they are getting booked to speak. When thugs sober up enough to try to call back the monster, all of the newsies stop booking them. When was the last time Norm Orenstein was on air?

    Ryan, Christie and Pence are all being HEARD. The shows booked them, knowing what they would say. That means we’ve got a set of news owners looking to carve out a not-Shitgibbon space.

  107. 107.

    moonbat

    @Suzanne: At the same time, when was the last time we saw even former GOP power players dumping this heavily on the nominal candidate of their party?

    That old saw “Dems fall in love and Republicans fall in line” was coined because the GOP messaging machine was always firmly aligned behind their man. Republican decorum has been characterized  for a long time by Reagan’s the Eleventh Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.” A trait Dems have long envied and bemoaned. Not so now.

    Let the back stabbing and fracturing begin!

  108. 108.

    PAM Dirac

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    Statements by Pence etc. that they won’t vote for the felon creates a permission structure for other Republicans and crypto-Republicans to follow suit.

    I think it does more than that; it gives our media betters permission to start talking about what a unfit loser drumpf is. As long as the the charges of unfitness were Rs vs Ds the media could relatively easily pass it off as partisan bickering, nothing to see here. But it is becoming drumpf vs Ds, drumpf vs some Rs, drumpf vs high level military officials, etc. I also think that once that door is opened, it is going to be very hard to close it. Drumpf can still bring the resentment, but it is becoming more and more obvious that he can’t do a damn thing about it. I don’t know how large that loser stink will get, but I think it is going to have a non-trivial effect.

  110. 110.

    cmorenc

    @Suzanne:

    I seriously doubt that Pence, Ryan, or Christie has an iota of influence in the GOP. Insert metaphor here about tits on a bull or something?

    We don’t need the Pence’s, Ryans, Christies or Gen. Milley’s to convert voters firmly in the grip of the GOP/MAGA cult – instead we need their help to nudge less ideological folks who see their voting choice in more pragmatic terms into clearly seeing the fallacy of thinking a Trump presidency would be more benefit than risk to them.  It’s these less ideological, more purportedly pragmatic-minded voters who will decide this election, not the firmly committed partisans on either side.

  111. 111.

    Nukular Biskits

    I had no idea the band REO Speed Wagon was named after an actual vehicle.

    I DID know that the band Steely Dan was named after a steam-powered dildo.

  112. 112.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    Dence saying he won’t vote for Hair Furor makes him the newest member of the Never Trumper crowd.  Okay, probably the least committed, weakest member and he and the rest of em will vote straight GQP the rest of a ballot but still.

    Even I gotta admit that’s ground breaking.  It tells me GOP polling or whatever outreach methods they do are making them shit their collective pants.

    I don’t care if it sways voters, I’d be happy if it kept some at home while we GOTV harder.

  114. 114.

    Geminid

    @PAM Dirac: Also, those defectors might get under Trump’s thin skin. He’d do better to ignore them or dismiss them with a joke, but Trump’s more likely to rage at them.

    This is one reason I’m interested in his rally performance today, in Las Vegas. It will be his first big rally since his conviction. Not a press event, not an interview by a friendly reporter or town hall with a friendly moderator, but face to face with a crowd of enthusiasts. We may find out how Trump really feels about his situation.

  115. 115.

    PAM Dirac

    @comrade scotts agenda of rage:

    It tells me GOP polling or whatever outreach methods they do are making them shit their collective pants.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if it is based, at least in part, on first hand accounts of how badly drumpf has deteriorated.

  116. 116.

    Suzanne

    @jonas: Agree. I also think the ex-pols who are speaking out against Trump are nakedly self-interested. They have little career potential in a Trump-led GOP (and they know it) and their only hope of any revived political career is to try to carve out a big enough space for anti-Trump Republicans and hope that the mood shifts in their direction.

    I agree that peeling off any Republican voters is great.

    I just don’t think an accurate reading of the mood over there would be to say that they’re panicking. They’re not panicking. If they were panicking, they’d be looking for an out. The GOP thinks they can win with Trump. Nikki Haley fell in line, DeSantis fell in line. Any GOP pol who wants to have another job is currently kissing Trump’s ass. That’s not evidence of panic.

  119. 119.

    Jackie

    Has Doug been practicing Pence’s facial expressions of total adoration in the mirror?

    Is Bergum Pence 2.0?

    New York Times: “Mr. Burgum has squarely positioned himself as a prime contender, spending months supporting Mr. Trump on the campaign trail and in court, while risking his own political capital back home for a former president who prizes loyalty, demands fealty and considers any attempt to intrude on his spotlight a betrayal of both.”

    “Mr. Burgum has become perhaps the safest option on Mr. Trump’s list — and the biggest wild card.”

    “He is largely untested on a national stage and is not known for thrilling applause lines on the stump. Mr. Burgum has little in the way of a public profile, even among Mr. Trump’s attentive political base, and is not an ideological warrior like others under consideration.”

    I really don’t think it matters who TCFG crowns for his running subordinate; the people who vote for him are voting for him alone.

  120. 120.

    Suzanne

    @moonbat:

    Let the back stabbing and fracturing begin! 

    Oh fuck yes. Pour me a big, tall, sparkling glass of that sweet Republican disarray.

  121. 121.

    lowtechcyclist

    @zhena gogolia: ​
     

    IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT MAGA THINKS WE’RE NOT TRYING TO GET MAGA

    This. There’s 40-45% of the electorate that will vote for Trump no matter what. But not all Republicans are MAGAts, and when major GOP pols say they’re not going to vote for Trump, it helps make not voting for Trump seem like a reasonable choice to those non-MAGAts.

    And I don’t care in the least what motivated Pence, Ryan, and Christie to say they’re not going to vote for Trump, since none of them have a political future. But the more Republicans that say they won’t vote for Trump, the better. Repetition is good.

  122. 122.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @Layer8Problem:

    Why are the Pences, Ryans, and Christies getting airplay? I think the old Republican guard’s worried about something; what it is ain’t exactly clear.

    I wonder if part of it is that the GOP old guard was so deeply ensconced in the actual deep state (DOJ/FBI/CIA/DOD). With the response of Trump to the convictions and other losses in court, and how it’s playing with his cult, the old guard is realizing that MAGAts are pretty serious about going after the system that, at the end of the day, made the old guard rich and secure through generations.

  123. 123.

    PAM Dirac

    @Geminid:

    those defectors might get under Trump’s thin skin.

    Extremely high probability and your are right he will bring the rage and resentment, but he won’t be able to shut them up, or stop the steal, or stop his trials, or lock her up, etc, etc. All of which just reinforces what a loser he is.

  126. 126.

    John S.

    @TBone:

    It’s remarkable how many successful hip hop moguls are right wing assholes (looking at you Ice Cube).

    The only color that ever mattered in America is GREEN. 😕

  128. 128.

    lowtechcyclist

    @SiubhanDuinne: ​
     

    I had to Google REO Speedwagon, and fully expected to read about some kind of vehicle. “Like the Subaru!”

    Get behind the wheel and take it on the run, baby!

  130. 130.

    Another Scott

    @comrade scotts agenda of rage: Pence and Zombie-eyed Granny Starver and the rest speaking out on the TV box is another few grains of sand on the pile.  Just like Scott Rigell’s letter was in 2016.

    Sure, it helps. A little. They recognize the guy is a monster and a danger. But not actually enough to actually cause them to do the work to defeat him… Wake me up when they actually see the light and join us rather than just tut-tut from the sidelines.

    As many say, they don’t actually disagree with many/most of TCFFG’s policies, they just don’t like the way he goes about campaigning for and implementing those policies.

    The big media companies need “new” content all the time. This is their “new” content for a few hours. They’ll move on to something else in a few score of hours. It’s what they do.

    [/cynic]

    Meanwhile, …

    L O L G O P
    @LOLGOP
    1h

    The case that these are bribes is extremely strong. He wasn’t bribed for specific decisions but to stay on the court after he clearly threatened to retire. propublica.org/article/clare…

    A “Delicate Matter”: Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign

    Interviews and newly unearthed documents reveal that Thomas, facing financial strain, privately pushed for a higher salary and to allow Supreme Court justices to take speaking fees.

    propublica.org

    +1

    It doesn’t make it any better that there wasn’t an explicit quid-pro-quo on a specific case. He was given bribes by people with specific policy agendas to affect the outcome on SCOTUS rulings, and the rest of us do not have similar ways to affect this thinking and the outcomes. It’s clearly corrupt and everyone knows it – otherwise, why try to hide it??

    Eyes on the prizes.

    Forward!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  132. 132.

    karen marie

    @Glidwrith: As if the shitgibbon were the problem and not Republican policies.

    Pence, Christie and Ryan are desperately trying to right the ship to maintain a House majority and take the Senate to extend and expand tax cuts for their patrons. Unfortunately for them, their colleagues still in the House and Senate are all in on the felon.

  136. 136.

    Ella in New Mexico

    If they’re suddenly denouncing Donald Trump… it doesn’t mean they’re good people, or seeing the light, but it does seem indicate that they’re no longer convinced Trump has a lock on the Presidency, or even the nomination.

    Bingo!!

    Also, Albuquerque had the bestest Pride Day parade yesterday! No protesters (that I saw) or people threating to cut up Rainbow Flags.  Just smiley happy people celbrating ALL our rights to be exactly who we are. Love my city.

  137. 137.

    TBone

    Who knew ‘Scranton Joe’ found a way to break OPEC, earn $582 million in profits for the U.S. Treasury, stabilize oil prices and help the green market?

    https://crooksandliars.com/2024/06/it-turns-out-president-biden-genius-oil

    Friday night, Chris Hayes explained this underreported story that illustrates just how competent and good for the economy President Biden and his administration are.Hayes began by reminding viewers how powerfully damaging to the U.S. economy and our politics OPEC has been in the past.

  138. 138.

    John S.

    The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing people that he didn’t exist has the support of 40% of this country.

  139. 139.

    Jackie

    It will be interesting to see if this gambit takes hold:

    Politico: “The group, Won’t PAC Down, will raise and spend $20 million to $25 million… It’s also turning to Hollywood for help. Won’t PAC Down has hired millennial and Gen Z writers, directors and producers to help craft pro-Biden content that’s specifically engineered to sell an octogenarian candidate to typically disillusioned and hard-to-reach voters under 30.”

    And… I saw that TCFG did a 180 re “China’s” TikTok and no longer will ban them. Way to once again throw his GQPers in congress under the bus!😂

    (I’m well aware that mega $$ was thrown to him to cause this reversal.)

  140. 140.

    TBone

    @NotMax: 🤎🤎🤎

    I bought a big black and white poster for my mom and framed it.  Ella at the microphone proudly serenading Count Basie.  Mom immediately hung it in the most prominent place in our house.  Thank you for that memory!

  141. 141.

    NotMax

    @TBone

    Gas continues creeping up to the five buck mark again here.

    Ain’t gonna affect the chances of a Dem victory here one whit.

  144. 144.

    Baud

    @Jackie:

    Mr. Burgum has become perhaps the safest option on Mr. Trump’s list — and the biggest wild card.”

     
    Classic vapid NYT prose.

  146. 146.

    John S.

    @TBone:

    Unfortunately, here in WA it’s $4.40, but most of that additional cost has to do with our carbon tax.

    Which of course the Republicans (at the behest of their gas buddies) are looking to have repealed this year as a ballot initiative.

  147. 147.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Ella in New Mexico:

    I marched in ABQ Pride yesterday! Great fun,  despite the heat. Sorry I missed you.  ;-)

    ETA: There were about 3 protestors, on the corner of Central and Girard, but they were crowded and shouted out by supporters. So that was fun too.

  151. 151.

    Gvg

    @Suzanne: I thought the tweet indicated that they were probably following the trend of polling, not leading it. In other words, the pundits think it signals internal GOP polling that VOTERS are leaving Trump.

    it all guess work though.

  152. 152.

    opiejeanne

    @Juju: I’m sorry, but I can’t work out what that’s supposed to be

    “Chimpanzee in the red shoes”?

  153. 153.

    Bokonon

    Trump is now going around and taking credit for capping the price of insulin during his presidency.

    And the bonus?  Saying Biden ENDED it.

    I mean … that’s just in a category beyond shameless.

  154. 154.

    artem1s

    @Frankensteinbeck: ​ 

    I don’t care why they’re doing it. Tribalism, total war, the brand loyalty to not sinking the ship they’ve devoted their lives to, says that once he’s got the nomination the candidate must be supported as if he’s God.

    I agree it’s an important shift, but I think you should care about the why. I think the Young Turks and the remnants of the old GOP who are now outside the fold have a plan for the power vacuum. This is the equivalent of the German army high command coming to the conclusion that when the war ends, they want to be left alive when it come negotiation time on the surrender. And just like them, every attempt to unseat Hair Fuhrer has failed because none of them want to die in the attempt. They all want to be his successor. I believe the ‘why’ is because they have concluded he’s done. And they have a good idea of the ‘when’ and the ‘how’. Be afraid of Vance’s sudden about face about joining the boot-lickers at the NY trial. He’s probably their inside guy and chosen successor to rally the MAGAt troops when TCFG goes down. If they have some October surprise in their pocket, Vance is perfectly positioned to become the nominee if TCFG makes him his VP. He can get the MAGAt vote. He can get the GOP normie vote. He can get the independents and the libertarians. And he has access to the money that TCFG wants. Be afraid of the why. Be very afraid.

  155. 155.

    BellyCat

    @MattF:Conservatism has a systemic ‘thug’ problem. It attracts thugs, and then the thugs take over.

    Truth.  Apparently, thugs come in two very different types: “desirable” and “undesirable”.

    Summary of GOP lamentations by Christie, Pence, Ryan, etc: “But, but….only the wealthy, discrete thugs deserve membership in The Thug Club!”

    Not enough tiny violins to go around!

  156. 156.

    trollhattan

    Mike Frickin’ Pence? Huh, did not see that coming. I mean, the whole “Kill Pence” thing was totally overblown, am I right?

  157. 157.

    Chet Murthy

    @artem1s: Idunno, his wife is a mite dark for that to work, I suspect. If he were  Dem nobody would bat an eye.  But for a MAGAt ?  Idunno.

  158. 158.

    Layer8Problem

    @Suzanne: Ryan and Christie are smart enough to think strategically.  Pence has never shown any capacity for strategic thought.  As for career potential all three of them would do much better ass-kissing and organizing pro-Trump fund-raisers and rallies.  “The winning side would have paid you much better” and all that.  They know they’re never getting a governorship or a congressional seat again, but abject toadying would get them a better odor with the new guys and their backers, maybe resulting in a high-end wingnut welfare position, an ambassadorship, even a cabinet post in the “inevitable-bank-on-it” second administration.  They’re down with TFG’s actions, if not his delivery.  Saying these things they’re saying now buy them nothing.  I think they see something that’s keeping them from making the easy jump onto the bandwagon, something threatening their entire conservative ecosystem, perhaps simply PAM Dirac’s idea.

    And speaking of abject toadying, anybody heard from Lindsey Graham lately?

  159. 159.

    Jackie

    J.D. Vance was on Faux today assuring GQP viewers that he spent all day with TCFG on D-Day listening to how much TCFG admired and respected our American troops. I didn’t watch, so I have no idea how hard it was for Vance to keep his face sincere. Even MAGAts know/have heard TCFG refer to our troops as suckers and losers.

    Did anyone see TCFG give homage to our D-Day veterans Fri or Sat? I didn’t.

  160. 160.

    Trivia Man

    @Jackie: JD is my pick for VEEP

    Not quite TV handsome enough but hes TCFG’s is idea of an intellectual and very effective at ass kissing

  165. 165.

    Chet Murthy

    @lowtechcyclist: True words.  And I fuckin’ loved High Infidelity.  I mean I fuckin’ loved that album.  I can probably sing along with every song on it, even today.  But they’re just not that good a band.

  167. 167.

    Barbara

    @Suzanne: ​It gives a permission structure for wavering party loyalists to reject Trump without feeling disloyal to the party.​

  170. 170.

    Suzanne

    @Layer8Problem:

    As for career potential all three of them would do much better ass-kissing and organizing pro-Trump fund-raisers and rallies. 

    Nah. None of them have any credibility with Trump and his circle of weirdos and so they’re outside the Circle of Trust. There’s nothing for them until (if?) the Long MAGA recedes. So they’re trying a different tactic. They don’t genuinely have principles. They’re as shameless and craven as the rest of them.

  171. 171.

    Barbara

    @Jackie: ​I don’t suppose anyone asked why Trump can’t say publicly what Vance insisted he said privately. The fact that Trump needs a military service whisperer makes Vance’s claims self-refuting.

  172. 172.

    TBone

    I still think it’s gonna be Rick Scott.  Perfect vampire of the correct shade who loves to hollow out the public good by draining blood grifting and getting away with it.

  174. 174.

    Suzanne

    @Barbara: Sure. But, like, until last week, most polls showed Trump ahead. I don’t detect panic at this point.

    If in, say, a month, the media starts to report on major power brokers trying to find a new nominee, I will change my mind.

  175. 175.

    Ruckus

    @Suzanne:

    I’d bet you are correct on an unreasonable percentage of the republican voters. They want all the racist political crap possible and they have that. They have one of them to be leader full shit walking. An ignorant, racist, asshole, demigod. And if they can’t have the country they want they will change that want to burn it down. I’m just hoping that there are enough republicans left in this country that do not want to burn it down, that maybe, just a very unlikely maybe, who will actually rather vote for a democrat than burn it all to the ground. I’ve been voting in this country for 54 yrs, I’m not holding my breath.

  176. 176.

    Layer8Problem

    @MattF, @BellyCat:

    Gee whiz, enabling Republican thuggery and the consequences of one’s actions. It’s kinda like the big problem billionaires worry about, keeping their security teams loyal when the big bad things will happen and they’re all together in the well-appointed post-apocalypse bunkers. I think explosive collars are a notion they’ve explored.

  177. 177.

    Trivia Man

    @Chet Murthy: “The problem with playing a Gibson is you will eventually wind up sounding like REO Speedwagon”

    -some famous guitarist who played Fenders

  178. 178.

    Trivia Man

    @TBone: Good pick, a proven thief of public funds who doubtless has promised to share when he  loots social security. THAT is the jackpot they ALL are working towards.

  179. 179.

    Sure Lurkalot

    Can Burgum get below where JD Vance set the limbo bar?

    As a veteran, this smear from Joe Biden is particularly disgusting. On the anniversary of D-Day, I spent all day with Donald Trump. He spoke repeatedly, in public and in private, of his reverence for America’s greatest generation.

  180. 180.

    Barbara

    @Suzanne: ​I suspect that they don’t trust public polling anymore than we do. But I agree that words like “panic” are unjustified in this kind of reporting.

  181. 181.

    Ruckus

    @Suzanne:

    The GOP evinces no signs of knowing how to quit TFFG at this point.

    Some of them want out, most of them do not. Is it enough? I sure as hell hope so, or hell it will be. The problem is that they don’t have anyone with enough name to take at least some of them out of the cult of ignorance, racism and just pure hate, it’s up to the individuals who aren’t quite full on asshole. And there has to be at least 5 or 6 of those….

  182. 182.

    Eyeroller

    @opiejeanne: I had to work backwards from the band name “Black Oak Arkansas”
    It’s their biggest hit “Jim Dandy” which has lyrics “Jim Dandy to the rescue” which seems to be often misheard as “Chimp daddy to the red shoes”

    I never can remember this word and have to look it up, but the name for a misheard song or poem phrase is a “mondegreen.”

  183. 183.

    Melancholy Jaques

    @moonbat:

    What this type of non-endorsement does is peel off the wishy-washy tote bag Republicans

    It might also help solidify support from wishy-washy tote bag Democrats. We need to get our people energized.

  187. 187.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    @Sure Lurkalot: Quoting J.D. Vance,

    I spent all day with Donald Trump. He spoke repeatedly, in public and in private, of his reverence for America’s greatest generation.

    What a sacrifice, spending all day with Donald Trump. It brings tears to one’s eyes. /s

    Can anyone take a statement like that seriously? Donald Trump, reverent? “Reverence” is a quality completely absent from Trump. [ETA Trump’s supporters consider that a plus.]

    Maybe Vance just thinks his audience don’t know what the word means.

  188. 188.

    waspuppet

    If Trump were a Democrat, every Democrat would be asked every day whether there were discussions about providing an alternative at the convention, and if not why not.

    The Peter Bakers of the world will never ask questions like that of a Republican, but there are a few people on the TV news who might start. I strongly suggest they do.

  190. 190.

    hitchhiker

    @Jackie: Faux likes JD a lot, which is not the most important reason I can’t stand him.

    The most important reason is that he wrote a self-serving, mediocre book that became a “must-read” even in the eyes of some of my very literate friends.

    My own upbringing was at least as fraught as his, (at least as he described it in that ridiculous memoir), which is why I recognized all the places where he made himself the reluctant hero by throwing shade all around him.

    My friends who enjoyed functional families and communities were fooled, as, I guess, were the reviewers at the NYT.

  192. 192.

    Layer8Problem

    @Mr. Bemused Senior:  I’m seeing Vance and TFG on a couch with a big bowl of popcorn watching The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan, with tears in their eyes as Tom Hanks says his concluding line.

    No, just kidding, this is TFG, whose respect and veneration of that army’s sacrifice begins and ends with “suckers” and “losers”.

  195. 195.

    Juju.

    @TBone: The only reason I have heard of them is that I lived in Arkansas for one year in the very late 70s. I was only familiar with that one song and my older sister told me the name of the song, and she was also misinformed or yanking me around. To this day I really am not certain which is the case.

  196. 196.

    eversor

    @Layer8Problem:

    Or their lives.  People here have liberal blinders.  We worry about women, worry about trans, worry about minorities.  Yes.  We should.  And those groups are always targets.  They should always be first on the list of groups to protect.

    However if a purge is coming they aren’t the first on the list.  The first on the list are the insiders who weren’t loyal enough.  The GOP base hates their establishment more than us.

    This is evident even in DC Think Tankery.  AEI is the moderate conservative think tank.   It’s well respected.  And they host people up to Norm Ornstein who called out the GOP as being the problem now well over a decade ago.  They were once the sane, sober, beating heart of conservative thought.  But the Christian Heritage Foundation has now crushed it into the ground.  And just like The Federalist Society Heritage is Christian from the ground up and filled with fanatics who found working with the rich a great way to get us more Jesus.

    Their in their own civil war.  Most moderate Romney level Republicans I grew up with are now solid Democrats and are going to remain so and keep moving the Democratic party to the GOP side on economics.  Meritocracy!  Equality is not good wages for all it’s diversity at the top and the bottom.

  197. 197.

    J. Arthur Crank

    @SiubhanDuinne:   I called that musical group “REO Stationwagon” back when I was roughly half my current age.  I can’t think of any of their songs at the moment, but I might possibly be familiar with one if it were played back to me.

  198. 198.

    eversor

    @Ruckus:

    David French of all people flat out confessed that Christians put Trump in the White House.  And it is entirelly the Christian vote that keeps him in power.  But people here ignore what Christianity actually teaches that can’t be said at liberal brunches and insist we not only have to keep it, we can’t criticize it.   So we are getting what we fucking deserve.

    Goldwater of all damn people warned the GOP about “the preachers”.  This is what will always happen if Christianity isn’t just fringe thing.  It’s worse than fascism.  Shit it creates fascism.  See Hitler and Franco.  Defend Christianity and you will fucking get what you ordered sooner or later.

    French is a lot more brutal than I have been here.  But where he and I differ is his solution is to just give in to Christianity.  Prayer in schools, two genders, wives submit, and all that.  Where I come down is ditching it and forcing it into the fringes.

  199. 199.

    kalakal

    Fun fact.

    A good friend of the kalakals used to babysit Mike Pence occasionally. Their mothers were BFFs.

    She doesn’t remember him at all .

    Mike ‘forgettable’ Pence, failing to impress for decades

  200. 200.

    Ken

    @JPL: Trump likes him because he has money.

    Would anyone be surprised if it came out that Trump was literally selling the vice-presidency to whoever made the biggest donation to his legal defense fund campaign?

  204. 204.

    Absnormal Hiker

    @Tony Jay: Does Lady Jay also think that the Oldsmobile was called that because it was a car for old people?  Bot the REO speed wagon and the Oldsmobile were developed by R. E. Olds

  206. 206.

    JaySinWA

    @Ken:

    Would anyone be surprised if it came out that Trump was literally selling the vice-presidency to whoever made the biggest donation to his legal defense fund campaign?

    Hidden offshore banking account for the win here. Something he might think he can hang onto, come what may.

    ETA Of course that assumes the felon would honor the deal. So all bets are off.

  208. 208.

    Ruckus

    @waspuppet:

    Conservatives want a world that looks like what SFB is telling them they need. Completely racist, run by people with money because after racism (possibly before) money is the most important thing in their tiny minds – that and making sure that anyone with skin darker than the leave a comment box I’m typing in is never in a place of power or their neighborhood. But let’s face it, SFB has ruined conservatism, just like EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE ELSE ANYWHERE NEAR HIM. I mean it/he was never at all good in the first place but still, everything SFB gets near, breathes on or around, or that falls in his footsteps, he destroys. It is his guiding light – destruction.

  210. 210.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Someone I know thought Bad Moon Rising included a reference to a bathroom on the right.

    At the time, I think more people thought that than had the words right.

  211. 211.

    Ruckus

    @Juju:

    They would have to have some sort of brain function to have brain worms. I mean even brain worms have some taste and concept of nourishment.

  213. 213.

    trnc

    @lowtechcyclist: And I don’t care in the least what motivated Pence, Ryan, and Christie to say they’re not going to vote for Trump, since none of them have a political future. But the more Republicans that say they won’t vote for Trump, the better. Repetition is good.

    QFT. I also understand these guys don’t have any influence anymore, but I’ll still take it any day of the week vs McConnell’s promise to vote for the criminal just because he’s a fellow republican.

  214. 214.

    trnc

    @Another Scott: ​
     

    The case that these are bribes is extremely strong. He wasn’t bribed for specific decisions but to stay on the court after he clearly threatened to retire. propublica.org/article/clare…

    A “Delicate Matter”: Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign

    Interviews and newly unearthed documents reveal that Thomas, facing financial strain, privately pushed for a higher salary and to allow Supreme Court justices to take speaking fees.

    His salary since he started in 1991 has been the equivalent of over $300K in current dollars every year until the retirement threat in 2000. SCJs get a pension equal to their highest salary, so he didn’t have to plan ahead much for retirement compared to the little people.

    I’d start making some ads about the republican SCJ who couldn’t afford to live on those earnings.

  215. 215.

    wjca

    @TBone: I still think it’s gonna be Rick Scott.  Perfect vampire of the correct shade who loves to hollow out the public good by draining blood grifting and getting away with it.

    IF, but only if, his campaign manager can convince him that it’s the one and only way to win.  Because Scott is definitely not the “right shade” for Trump.  Who is, after all, a life-long, committed, racist.

  216. 216.

    wjca

    @trnc:  I also understand these guys don’t have any influence anymore,

    They don’t have any influence in the party power structure.  But with those voters who don’t pay much attention to politics?  A whole different audience there.  And arguably a more important one, when it comes to winning elections.

  217. 217.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    @wjca: Because Scott is definitely not the “right shade” for Trump. Who is, after all, a life-long, committed, racist.

    Perhaps you are confusing Rick and Tim Scott?

  218. 218.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: They’re called mondegreens, read all about ’em. IIRC there was an episode of Murphy Brown where caste ;^D members swapped some of their misheard embarrassments (e.g. The ants are our friends, They’re blowing in the wind...).

    Lest I be recused of whollier-than-thouness, I will admit to a rawthah humiliating foe-paw when I regaled classmates about a second-tier Chinese Communist functionary only to be deformed that the line in “Revolution #9” I thought I was quoting was about “if you go carrying pictures” not of Chen and Mao but of Chairman Mao… I spent a couple of weeks scrubbing that six-egg raw omlette off my cheekbones…

  219. 219.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Nukular Biskits: I DID know that the band Steely Dan was named after a steam-powered dildo.

    But did you know that in their ditty “The Fez” (as in, Ain’t never gonna do it without the fez on and Don’t make me do it without the fez on) the eponymous headgear is allegedly, um, “used for the prevention of disease only” – ? :^p

  220. 220.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Melancholy Jaques: Hot take: In “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” neither the devil nor Johnny play the fiddle exceptionally.

    Hotter take: In narrative songs, the story matters far more than the accompaniment.

    IOW you are cordially invited to fuck right off.

  221. 221.

    Chris T.

    @John S.:

    Unfortunately, here in WA it’s $4.40, but most of that additional cost has to do with our carbon tax.

    $4.199/gal for premium at the Costco here in Bellingham, vs $4.799 in California. (My Karma, when I had it, demanded 91 octane or better for the turbocharged engine, so that’s what I use for comparison. The remaining gasoline-powered vehicle can work with cheaper fuel but Toyota recommends at least 89 octane. It only gets filled up about 4x/year anyway, so we’re not that price-sensitive.)

    Driving on electricity is significantly less expensive, even when I use an Electrify America station (at $.50/kWh, yikes) for a quick recharge on a long trip like the one down into Seattle proper recently.

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