Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

The words do not have to be perfect.

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

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

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

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

The lights are all blinking red.

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

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

The arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend itself. it’s up to us.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Second rate reporter says what?

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

You are here: Home / Elections 2024 / Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Madam Vice-President, On the Road

Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Madam Vice-President, On the Road

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[Finger curls on monkey’s paw] Anyone but him!… Wait, not *her*!…

Reader Interactions

221Comments

  1. 1.

    different-church-lady

    Just getting off my three day news embargo, and relieved to see the French figured some shit out.

  2. 2.

    Scout211

    Thank you, AL.  Sweet, sweet roundup of MVP.  I love the Olympic basketball team pic.  I love her speech in Nevada.  I love all of it. 😊

    And Rep. Crockett, too!

  3. 3.

    Ishiyama

    Teamwork is what it takes! We all pull together in the same direction, victory will come.

  5. 5.

    TBone

    VP Harris’s speech in Las Vegas was broadcast on MSNBC directly before President Biden’s address to NATO.  Both were on 🔥

    It’s a good day.

  6. 6.

    NotMax

    If Wilt the Stilt missed a jump shot no one called for him to be kicked off the team.

    Just sayin’.

  9. 9.

    Mike in Pasadena

    Anne Laurie and Watergirl’s posts here have pulled me off the ledge more than a couple of times in the last 8 days. Thanks to both of you.

  10. 10.

    Suzanne

    I will note that I have a cold, hard, too-small heart and I only care about winning. But damn if the MVP doesn’t make me feel almost like Obama did.

  11. 11.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I heard most of MVP’s speech in Nevada, and it was excellent. She was on point. She gave a robust defence of reproductive rights, and tackled Project 2025 with extreme prejudice.

    I can’t predict when, or under what circumstances, she will become the FFPOTUS, but I will be right there with her. I liked her a lot as a candidate in 2019-20, was thrilled that Joe chose her as his VP, and have been enormously impressed with the way she’s grown in the job.

  12. 12.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I cannot, CAN NOT, express how enraged I am at the idea that someone would call MVP Kamala Harris a “DEI hire.” That’s an across-the-board insult, and an across-the-bow challenge.

  13. 13.

    BellyCat

    Serious question: What happens if the ticket flips to Harris/Biden?

    Good idea? Bad idea?

  16. 16.

    Captain C

    @SiubhanDuinne: Someone who uses that on MVP (or anyone, really) knows that they will get their lights punched out if they use the n-word that they obviously would prefer to.

  18. 18.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @BellyCat:

    Because it’s dumb to even consider it for obvious reasons and your parents should be embarrassed that you asked.

  19. 19.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Suzanne:

    Right? I stopped short of having a little Obama Shrine in my apartment back in 2008-09, but don’t think it wasn’t tempting! And I really love MVP Kamala, and have to monitor myself to make sure I’m not tipping over into cultish idolatry. (Not literally, but I expect you know what I mean.)

  23. 23.

    Steve in the ATL

    @SiubhanDuinne: I still have my Obama ‘08 hat.  Given to me by a black preacher here in Atlanta so it has extra power!

    Someone else gave me a red ATL hat but I can’t wear it because those MAGA assholes ruined red hats for everyone.

  24. 24.

    hueyplong

    @NotMax: “If Wilt the Stilt missed a jump shot no one called for him to be kicked off the team.”

    There weren’t any comments sections or cable pundit shows  back in those days.

  27. 27.

    Suzanne

    @Steve in the ATL: I have a KAMALA hat.

    A few years ago, I was in DC for a conference, and it happened to be the one-year anniversary of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, aka “the Blacksonian”. Vendors outside were selling red hats that read MAKE OBAMA PRESIDENT AGAIN. Hilarious. I wish I had bought one.

  28. 28.

    different-church-lady

    @Steve in the ATL: The recent “should the silhouette be changed from Jerry West to Kobe Bryant” conversation made my head hurt. IT’S A SILHOUETTE.

  31. 31.

    Suzanne

    @SiubhanDuinne: So Mr. Suzanne’s best friend got his lovely wife an Obama charm bracelet for her birthday in 2008. I told her, “that’s a chain you can believe in!”. I was inordinately proud of myself.

  34. 34.

    Captain C

    @Steve in the ATL: “A retired George Mikan would have done better!”  —  One of today’s dipshit reporters time-traveled back to 1962 to report on Wilt’s 100-point game, probably.

  35. 35.

    BellyCat

    @Geminid:  Sure,  I’ll go first.  Just keep in mind that this is a hypothetical argument presented for discussion (I am not advocating for a Harris/Biden ticket at this time).

    Pros:

    1. Kamala is profoundly capable and well-liked.

    2. Those “skairt” of Joe’s stamina, cognitive ability, etc (of which I am not) would be able to endorse a platform knowing Joe will still be present  to guide a “young pup”.

    3. Kamala will POSITIVELY SHRED Trump in a debate.

    4. The black caucus would presumably support her — especially if Joe passed the torch with confidence to her as the presidential candidate.

    5. Roe may be the most important issue to many.  Kamala is 110% forward on this topic.

    Cons:

    1. Racism

    2. Misogyny

    Discuss….

  36. 36.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Ah, the GQP, ever adept at the dog-whistle.

    I’m kicking myself, I saw something over the last couple of days that was a  brilliant setup of Felonious D as the first DEI candidate.  But did I save it?  Or can I find it now?  Sigh.

  37. 37.

    H.E.Wolf

    From Rebecca Solnit’s excellent essay, front-paged a few days ago by Anne Laurie:

    Although the Biden administration seems to have run extremely well for three and a half years, with a strong cabinet, few scandals and little turnover, a thriving economy and some major legislative accomplishments, the narrative the punditocracy has created suggest we should ignore this record and decide on the basis of the 90-minute debate and reference to newly surfaced swarms of anonymous sources that Biden is incompetent. Quite a lot of them have been running magical-realism fantasy-football scenarios [my bold – H.E.] in which it is fun and easy to swap in your favorite substitute candidate. The reality is that it is hard and quite likely to be a terrible mess. Nevertheless, this pretense is supposed to mean that telling a presidential candidate in mid-campaign to get lost is fine.

     

    Fantasy football isn’t my thing.

    I prefer to join the folks who are doing the unglamorous, non-newsworthy, day-to-day work to re-elect President Biden.

    I think of it as supporting the tens of millions of people across the country who voted in favor of Biden in the 2024 primaries.

  38. 38.

    Nina

    This probably occurred to everybody else long before me, but…

    The UK just had their election on July 4th, our holiday where we celebrate tossing out an oppressive government.  They tossed out the Tories.

    Our election is scheduled for the first Tuesday in November, which this year falls on the 5th.  As in, remember, remember, the 5th of November, gunpowder treason and plot… The holiday in the UK where they celebrate a time that they narrowly managed to foil a plot to destroy the government.

    History doesn’t repeat, but sometimes there are odd rhymes.

  39. 39.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @BellyCat: The responses you are going to get are going to cause you to complain about other commenters being mean to you again.  BTW, where do you think the jackal nickname came from?

  41. 41.

    Scout211

    MVP Harris is speaking tomorrow at the national convention of AKA.  I hope we see videos of that.  Attendance is expected to be around 20,000.

    Vice President  Kamala Harris will be in Dallas on Wednesday to speak to a gathering of about 20,000 members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., a historically Black international service organization focused on social justice.
    . . .
    Harris, a member of the sorority, will address the Dallas gathering at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as part of Harris’ “Summer of Engagement” tour.

    She also plans to speak at a gathering of the Zeta Phi Beta, another influential Black sorority, in Indianapolis later this month. The tour “will be a continuation of her intentional efforts to build coalitions while speaking directly with Black Americans, women, young leaders, and community leaders from throughout the nation,” according to a July 3 White House statement.

  42. 42.

    scav

    Odd, how there’s never a pop-up ad for “One weird trick to remove BellyFat!” when you need it.

  44. 44.

    Scout211

    @scav: Odd, how there’s never a pop-up ad for “One weird trick to remove BellyFat!” when you need it.

    I’m just guessing, but I think that trick is pie.  🥧

  45. 45.

    Eyeroller

    VP Harris is 100% with the ticket.  She can step in if necessary once they are re-elected but she will not throw her boss under the bus.

    I seem to recall that she kicked his ass in a primary debate in 2020 and yet he chose her as his VP. He was not threatened by a smart woman of color.  I wonder whether that’s part of her loyalty (as well as her better understanding of politics than seemingly a big chunk of “professional Democrats”).

    VPs don’t have a great record of advancing to the Presidency but maybe she will be able to accomplish that.

  46. 46.

    BellyCat

    @Omnes Omnibus: I’m prepared for that. While many seem to have an appetite largely for desserts of late, a few people might actually wish to discuss ideas. Heaven forfend that any of us actually learn something useful in the exchange!

  49. 49.

    Hildebrand

    @BellyCat: My question is procedural – how do you do it?  Biden resigns, Harris becomes President, names Biden as VP.  Ok – weird, but ok – then the Republican led House approves Biden?  That simply isn’t going to happen.

  52. 52.

    No One You Know

    @Scout211: Pie removed BellyFat, and then it gave back all the future time I was about to spend eating pie. I’ll have to eat ice cream for the rest of time!

  54. 54.

    Suzanne

    Open thread? Open thread.

    I am so close to my middle split, like maybe two degrees away. I am sitting here in a deep straddle, trying to get my hamstrings to fully release. Not the comfiest.

  56. 56.

    Ohio Mom

    @Steve in the ATL: I had a bright red wool hat I wore every day every winter for years, and although it was not a baseball cap — it was a variation on a deerstalker hat — I couldn’t bear to wear it during the Trump years.

    I ended up buying a multicolored crocheted hat at a crafts fair and that has taken its place. I’m about ready to put the red one in tne give-away pile because I don’t think I’ll ever wear it again. And it was very flattering, I got a lot of compliments on it.

    Just another thing Trump ruined.

  58. 58.

    wjca

    @BellyCat: a few people might actually wish to discuss ideas.

    More than willing to.  Waiting anxiously for you to actually produce one.

  59. 59.

    NotMax

    Water shut off again today (came back on last evening/night). Sumthin’s up, but no info to be found.

  60. 60.

    wjca

    @Hildebrand: My question is procedural – how do you do it?

    The obvious answer is that he simply has no clue how these things work in the US.  (Not to mention offering not even a ghost of a reason why Biden would want to be VP again.  Talk about nonsense!)

  62. 62.

    Scout211

    @NotMax: Water shut off again today (came back on last evening/night). Sumthin’s up, but no info to be found.

    Construction in the area?

  65. 65.

    Another Scott

    Yay MVP!  Yay POTUS!

    Meanwhile, …

    Nitter

    Twitter version

    Jeremy Wallace
    @JeremySWallace
    1h

    NEW: President Joe Biden himself called into the @HoustonChron today saying he’s been trying to “track down” the governor to get the necessary requests to release the federal aid, which includes manpower and supplies.

    Abbott of course has been in Asia.
    houstonchronicle.com/news/ho…

    President Biden says Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick delayed federal Beryl aid
    “We’ve been working on this for two days and we finally got the request,” Biden said…

    houstonchronicle.com

    Jul 9, 2024 · 10:24 PM UTC

    🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡

    Biden’s having to do the job of GQP governors and Lt. Govs too.

    (via Fritschner)

    Grr…,
    Scott.

  72. 72.

    Trivia Man

    It is what I call the “Condoleezza Rice fallacy.” I hate Condoleezza Rice. I despise everything she stands for and essentially every one of her political positions and political accomplishments. But for people to claim “she only got hired by Bush because she is black” is the dumbest of all dumb takes. She was an extremely qualified and capable hire as NSA and Sec of State.

    Kamala Harris may have positions they don’t like or wish she wouldn’t enact, but she is NOT a pity “DEI” hire by any stretch of the imagination.

  73. 73.

    BellyCat

    The procedural objection could be a barrier, but it may be surmountable procedurally if not legally.

    One could imagine a scenario in which Joe and Kamala, both on the ticket, would consent to switching places before the election is held.

    If republicans wished to do this, absofuckinglutely they would , letting the courts sort it out later after the will of the people was heard at the voting booth.

    The “too old” drama will likely be substantially diminished in four months, replaced by another “butteremailz” October surprise, but a Plan B inquiry into this idea is not as outlandish as it initially seems — especially if it looks like this might be the only way to keep Trump out of the Whitehouse.

  74. 74.

    Geminid

    @BellyCat: The Black Caucus already supports Joe Biden. No advantage gained.

    Harris would have to win over people who already want Joe Biden. The Party is united already, outside of a querulous few.

    Biden’s public appearances since the debate have shown he is still a good campaigner. Video of them is easily accessible if you want reassurance, although I am not sure you do.

    Harris would constantly be asked why Biden is still President if he’s not up to running at the top of the ticket. “What do you know about Joe Biden, and when did you know it?” At the same time, Republicans and their poison machine would troll Harris as a power-hungry backstabber.

    What makes you think there would be another debate? And how much could it matter? This campaign is a Decathlon, and a debate is but one event.

    This would a defensive, reactive move when Democrats need to go on offense. Trump is a lousy, weak candidate, and we have to turn the spotlight back on him. A ticket switch would focus it back on us for weeks and knowing the press, more likely months.

    Also, I think Democrats are already on a path to victory if we execute our game plan. Why run a “Hail Mary” play when we’re ahead and our ground game can seal the win.

    And that is all I have to say to you on this matter.

  76. 76.

    Steve in the ATL

    The procedural objection could be a barrier, but it may be surmountable procedurally if not legally.

    The stupid, it burns!

  78. 78.

    MisterForkbeard

    @BellyCat: It won’t, and I can’t imagine that would work. It would probably also violate a bunch of state laws about candidates.

    I think we’d also get the downsides of a Biden run with the downsides of a Kamala run without the full benefits of either.

  79. 79.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Ohio Mom: and I’ll bet your hat had Pete Rose’s autograph on it!  Or I am thinking of the jersey at Pacific Rim?

  81. 81.

    Steve Holmes

    I think it is important to remember that when a Republican calls someone a “DEI x” they are just substituting DEI for the racist slur the can no longer use in our online world.  When you read “DEI x” put the slur back in, because that’s what the R team is doing.

  82. 82.

    Kirk

    @BellyCat:

    One could imagine a scenario in which Joe and Kamala, both on the ticket, would consent to switching places before the election is held.

    No, one can’t. Because neither the federal government nor the national Democratic party – nor even the candidates themselves – control what is printed on the ballots. They cannot bait and switch, any more than you and I could use each others’ resumes to get a job.

  85. 85.

    Another Scott

    Matt Blaze

    Breaking: Secret Service logs show seven visits to White House by an arborist in the last six months. Our expert analyst concludes this means Biden likely has Dutch Elm Disease.

    Jul 09, 2024, 06:50 PM

    Seems legit.

    (via mastodon.social/explore)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  87. 87.

    Hildebrand

    @BellyCat: Could be?  This isn’t a multiple choice final.  You either have a procedure or you don’t, and you don’t.  The rest is just wishcasting.

  88. 88.

    BellyCat

    @Steve in the ATL: Would not be the first Consent Order interpreted in this fashion but judicially signed.

    Hypothetically, what happens if a major health event injures the top of the ticket (say, a stroke), but the two parties on the ticket wish to market themselves as a team, but by reversing the order on the ticket.  Does not seem outlandish — especially if the will of the people support same in the voting booth.

  91. 91.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Another Scott: Lol. Good one.

    Also–not aimed at you–but there’s no good reason to feed the sea lion, even if they’re Just Asking Questions.

  92. 92.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Hmm Maybe I should cancel that subscription to the New York Times.

    NYT@BowDownToYurMediaOverlord “It is time for the reader to ask themselves; which candidate would you like to do a murder for hire with?  Can anyone seriously picture Joe Biden putting a ’22 to someone head, pulling the trigger, dismembering the body and burying the parts in the woods? (except for the liver, which this editorial board has reliable information is quite tasty)  Of course not! The very thought is absurd. One would want someone discreet like my cousin Larry on something like this. And this dear reader is why Biden is unfit to be president.

  94. 94.

    SuzieC

    Awww, I love this.  Go Padma!  And the photo of MVP with Steph and LeBron–money.

  95. 95.

    bbleh

    @BellyCat: I don’t disagree that Harris would be not only a fully competent candidate and President, but as a candidate even in some ways superior to Biden.  Certainly if Biden decides to step aside, she should be the nominee.

    But.

    1. Her skills and presence can be almost as valuable as VP nom.  And the present situation has boosted her profile significantly, which is all to the good.  More of that, please!

    2. A “switch” would be a waste of the VP slot and nothing but a slap in the face (ok anatomically worse) to Biden.  *IF* he steps aside, he steps all the way aside, and a more suitable VP nom needs to be selected.  (Note: the switch will never happen.)

  96. 96.

    moonbat

    GOD! It feels like I’m caught in a political Ground Hog Day.

    Would someone please remind me of the last time a president got the United States out of a sticky political, military or policy situation by winning a debate?

    Did Eisenhower win the debate to rebuild Europe after WWII?

    Did JFK debate Nikita Khrushchev to get us out of the Cuban missile crisis?

    Did Obama debate our way into the Paris Climate Treaty or debate the ACA into being?

    I’m starting to feel like my American history education was somehow deficient if I missed all that.

    Debates are political theater. That’s it. Nothing to do with the job of presidenting. I don’t need theater critics trying to rewrite the play. I don’t need a president who is an actor (heaven forefend we get another actor!) capable of delivering one liners and zingers with aplomb. It might feel good in the moment, but it has nothing to do with doing the job.

    Joe Biden has been doing a great job of presidenting and he has said he’s ready to do it for another term. The party is behind him. I am behind him. Let’s move on.

  97. 97.

    Another Scott

    @Another Scott: Horse’s mouth – WhiteHouse.gov:

    JULY 09, 2024

    Statement from President Joe Biden on Approving a Major Disaster Declaration for Texas

    I spoke today with Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

    On the call, I raised the need for an emergency declaration and immediately approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the damage sustained from the hurricane, which ripped through Texas’ Gulf Coast and Houston yesterday.

    FEMA has had resources on the ground since well before the storm and will support the needs of the state.

    The greatest concern right now is the power outages and extreme heat that is impacting Texans. As you all know, extreme heat kills more Americans than all the other natural disasters combined.

    As part of the federal support, we pre-positioned generators and are moving in additional ones to support any power outages, which will help Texans as the extreme heat arrives.

    With this Major Disaster Declaration in place, we will provide life-saving and life-sustaining activities, and any other Federal resource that Texas needs. We will be with the people of Texas for as long as it takes to recover.

    ###

    That’s gotta sting Patrick and Abbott. Good for Biden for making it absolutely clear that competence matters, and cos-playing GQPers who refuse to actually do their jobs cost people in many, many ways.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  98. 98.

    O. Felix Culpa

    Superman vs. Spiderman. Discuss.

    On a more productive note, MVP spoke at our university campus shortly after Dobbs. She was great, and the youngs loved her. I think she’ll help boost turnout significantly.

  99. 99.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    @Trivia Man:

    DEI Hire = Affirmative Action

    In GQP Dog Whistle World.

    Lee Atwater would be so proud.

    And fuck him and his death bed regrets.  I’m hoping he was there in hell to greet Inhofe earlier today.

  101. 101.

    BellyCat

    @Old School: Cons:  They already printed a lot of merch with Biden listed first.

    Oh shit… That’s a tough one to overcome.

    That said, if the switcheroo scenario took place and they actually won, that stuff would be worth a fortune on eBay.

    (BTW: Brown Fiesta ware is worth double or triple any other color because it’s rare: meaning, who the hell ever bought it to begin with?)

  102. 102.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @moonbat: Friend, we have moved on. See the previous thread. Don’t let yourself get baited into another round of “what if” and “just asking questions” and “OMG the debate.”

  104. 104.

    bbleh

    @Starfish: And bless him and his family and even his biting dog for that!  Ok, the Emancipation Proclamation it ain’t, but removing the burden (and legal implications) of discharges / convictions from people who SERVED THEIR FKIN COUNTRY just because of WHOM THEY LOVED is a goddam blessing on the nation and on history.  Arf arf arf fkin ARF!!

  106. 106.

    scav

    @Steve Holmes: On the upside, doesn’t Dei in Latin mean God?  Latin being one of The Classical Bedrocks of Their Western Culture, I’m sure they are using the word in its original(ist) meaning.

  111. 111.

    bbleh

    @scav: Lol.  Long from now, it will be revealed as one of the Lord’s Little Jokes, haha.

    [deep voice] “Opposed to DEI were you?  Hmmm…” [pushes red button, trapdoor opens]

  112. 112.

    Jackie

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    …even if they’re Just Asking Questions.

    Isn’t that the definition of sealioning? Ask nonsensical questions after every reply to keep trying to control a thread?

  116. 116.

    moonbat

    @MagdaInBlack: 😉 Except in this Bill Murray movie it’s the same stuff worded just SLIGHTLY different as though this introduces a whole new aspect to the discussion. 🙄

  119. 119.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Trivia Man: as far as I can tell, badgers and their hats are no threat to anyone who’s not coached by Kirk Ferentz

    confidential to Iowa: zing!

  125. 125.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @Omnes Omnibus: my initial response to, um Sugar Pie, up in this thread was simply

    what the hell fuck?

    I see 5 other people said it, too, only more articulately.

  127. 127.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @getsmartin: someone pls put this on a front page post w links for NATO joe, and Las Vegas MVP…

    love rep Crockett

    I’ll  LIsten to it all soon, if the links aren’t buried

  129. 129.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @Suzanne: golf ball, tennis ball, pool noodle. A little self massage.
    Never push a stretch, esp if not warm from an hour long workout.
    there are some marvelous nerve functions, that can make a muscle grab on and not let go for weeks. Useful if falling off a cliff and grabbing a tree branch to stop the fall. Otherwise difficult and horrendous.

    I’ve done it to my hamstrings.
    for further stretching, those last 2 degrees, tomorrow is another day, and then next week. I hope your dance career doesn’t depend on it.

  130. 130.

    Starfish

    I know that a lot of you want Biden as President, but I want to point out that Lina Khan is my President, and all the corporations who were afraid of her were correct to be afraid. I have no clue what the Competitive Enterprise Institute is, but I am so happy she makes them cry.

  136. 136.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @SiubhanDuinne: amazing that when white men were the only people who could run they were never called white men only need apply hires. Also, Chip Roy is a POS.

  137. 137.

    wjca

    It’s a new kind of buyer’s remorse (well new to me anyway): where I respond to someone thinking they might be at least semi-serious.  And Pie them before the thread is over.

  138. 138.

    cain

    @Another Scott:

    This is so fucking brilliant. Calling into the local newspaper .. that’s the kind out of box thinking we need.

    Plus he gets a chance to expose himself to the newspaper.

  140. 140.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @moonbat:

    Debates are political theater. That’s it. Nothing to do with the job of presidenting. I don’t need theater critics trying to rewrite the play. I don’t need a president who is an actor ………capable of delivering one liners and zingers with aplomb.
    It might feel good in the moment, but it has nothing to do with doing the job.
    Joe Biden has been doing a great job of presidenting and he has said he’s ready to do it for another term. The party is behind him. I am behind him. Let’s move on.

    yes,

    sigh

    A tv personality who is used to presenting with charisma, and grabbing a lot of attention to get ratings, is not necessarily anything more than a person who can speak in public, read the room to play off a crowd, and keep talking. Theater, and not even good theater.

    We need our skilled experienced president to keep president-ing. Grateful he’s willing to keep going, he’s needed.

    Quit FA and Focus. Q-FAFo

    (I am hereby reclaiming the letter Q for our use and higher purposes)

    ABBCCD

    Abortion, build back better, black jobs, courts, climate

    democracy.

  141. 141.

    BellyCat

    @Starfish: Thanks for the Ars Technica link on drug price fixing.  WILD!

    Unusual journal for this type of reporting as Ars Technica has long been a techno rag. Makes one wonder if some journals are reevaluating the media landscape and trying to reposition themselves with broader content?

    (Ooops!…. Apologies to all the avid bakers here for “just asking a question”.)

    —BellySeaLion

  142. 142.

    wjca

    @Mai Naem mobile: amazing that when white men were the only people who could run they were never called white men only need apply hires.

    Anyone who objects to “DEI hires” or “affirmative action”: show your sincerity by rejecting any job applicant who got into a university as a “legacy admission”.

    What?  You have a problem with that?  Whyever would that be a problem…?

  146. 146.

    Jackie

    @eclare: I haven’t!* Maybe Noodles is a lot more fun than the blog as of late?

    *I’ve skipped/skimmed through a lot of posts for the obvious reasons, so Humboldt Blue may have posted and I didn’t see him.

  148. 148.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @NotMax: I’m so sorry…(uncle Albert)  riff on different song.

    me too sometimes. I take calcium mag at night, I may look into homeopathic leg cramp remedies. Homeopathic stuff works great for me, and for many. Then I think, oh maybe it’s potassium I need.

    sucks

    You are welcome to pls help me rearrange the words in that other song. Oh! Might be in the other thread.

  149. 149.

    scav

    @wjca: At this point, even legacy students have been exposed to too much information in their eyes?

     

    eta, I mean, heaven forfend we have VP who can correctly spell potatoes!

  151. 151.

    eclare

    @Jackie:

    Hopefully.  He’s a big soccer fan, though, so I’m surprised not to see him with the Euro and Copa going on.

  154. 154.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @Ohio Mom: there’s a scene in the idea of you, the lead guy is wearing a nice knit red cap, sort of a winter thing…

    seeing it, I didn’t have one thought about horrible public persons who have a red cap cult…

    only interest in following the movie characters through their story arc

  157. 157.

    NotMax

    @Gloria DryGarden

    One leg is an annoyance. It’s when both legs compete for attention that real grimaces ensue.

    Supposedly swallowing a teaspoon of mustard helps. Have never tested that theory myself.
    ;)

  158. 158.

    NotMax

    @Starfish

    There’s also EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation). Long time love affair with their Privacy Badger browser add-on.

  159. 159.

    BR

    Every day that passes it’s more clear Biden should run against the media establishment as part of his pitch:

    https://journa.host/@w7voa/112759621907023314

    George S. thinks Biden won’t make it 4 years. Great, thanks George. The NYT has already made their point of view clear. Put them all on notice that they want self-fulfilling prophecies. That nobody elected them or their billionaire owners.

  160. 160.

    Gloria DryGarden

    Blog page very jumpy today. Is it my tablet, or the blog function?
    I click to read an antecedent, and it scrolls on past. Or I return via back arrow, and it scrolls I think up, then down. If I don’t  glance first at the comment #, I am so screwed. Where the hell fuck was the comment I was just starting to read.

    im going to go take out the trash, or bake a pie…

  161. 161.

    NotMax

    @BR

    George S. needs to, in the name of truth in advertising, change his first name to Jack.
    //

  162. 162.

    BR

    Those who are in Colorado and so inclined — time to call and shout at your senator who has gone off the deep end, shitting on Biden on CNN.

  163. 163.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @NotMax: Jesus! No!
    try my ideas. Rub some arnica or something on it, cold heat. Keep a tennis ball , but do the self massage thing before bed.

  164. 164.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @BR: um, which one? Michael Bennett?
    I’m sure in Colo. Happy to call, not gonna watch cnn

    gotta stop the clicks, and go do something.

    jfc

  165. 165.

    BR

    @Gloria DryGarden:

    Yeah. Maybe he has a beef with Biden from his flop of a run for president in 2020, or maybe it’s thanks to his brother who used to head up and publish garbage at the NYT.

  167. 167.

    BellyCat

    @wjca: Thread’s not over. You still have time to rethink your infatuation with pastries.

    Perhaps someone can explain to me the pros and cons of pie-ing people in a blog that is semi-well moderated. If the rules are blatantly violated, history has shown that people rapidly get a time-out or perma-shitcanned.

    At a minimum, in-group and out-group behavior is the result of announcing “pie-ing” to others (i.e. mistermix’s echo chamber argument, recently). Worse, doing so becomes a kind of purity-test-pile-on (aka collective bullying).

    Same for instantly calling people, often brave (naive?) lurkers finally steeping off the sidelines) with new Nyms and different opinions, “Trolls”. I just don’t get it.

    Nonetheless, I’m concerned that the Troll Spotters might lapse in their vigilance and that Ye Olde Pie Shoppe might suffer from lack of future business if people become more inquisitive/tolerant; therefore, anytime you see a new Nym here, all jackals are called upon to DO YOUR DUTY! Alert others that these are TROLLS!!1! and immediately pie the shit out of them, declaring your heroic actions to others. After all, this new Nym could be me, or eversor, or MomSense, or gaucho, or myriad others that have been following along for a decade or more, but now they are posting under a new Nym! Clearly, this can not be tolerated.

    An alternative is to switch things up. Give the naive lurker who wants to lose their cherry here a bit more of a level playing field. How? After everyone’s Nym, just list their pie count.  That way, they have a clue as to whether the person being a complete dick to them is just a closed minded dick or not.

    Been here 15+ years, mostly lurking (and this place has often been a lifeline) but the treatment of a number of others the last few weeks has been truly dispiriting. Attack me all you want ( I could give a fuck) but some have genuinely sought reassurance and solace when concerned and confused and were flat out abused.  WTF?!?!

    Wonder if anyone else feels that the front pagers and Cole need to put some checks on the mob mentality that seems to be emerging here?

  169. 169.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @Scout211: I had never tried the pie filter before our two recent (including this thread) troll-like posters, but I am having fun with it now. WG found a great bunch of pics and drawings. My favorite is the CatCake :-)

  170. 170.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @BellyachingCat: “Nonetheless, I’m concerned…”

    We know, we know… like TFG you can’t shut your mouth about your concerns.

    I would rather listen to our sea lions down at the harbor. They’re real.

  171. 171.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @NotMax: mustard or pickle juice are remedies. I will get nasty calf cramps as well, the ones that make me feel like someone stuck a knife in and twisted the muscle around it.  Waking up to that is very unpleasant..

  172. 172.

    sdhays

    Better a “DEI” hire than a weak, pathetic “don’t challenge daddy” VP like Dan Quayle or Mike Dense.

    Seriously, though. Our current VP has got to be in at least the top 10% of all Vice Presidents when it comes to conventional ideas of the experience useful to being President. Unless you’re counting some…physical characteristics. 

  173. 173.

    JML

    In the horrible personal news department, mom had a massive stroke on her way to the firework July 4th and passed away the next day. Am now in memorial planning hell, trying to navigate some unpleasant blended family dynamics, and struggling with the trauma of sitting through the night with her waiting for the end.

    Anyone got any inappropriate death jokes they want to share?

  175. 175.

    wjca

    @sdhays: Unless you’re counting some…physical characteristics.

    But, but…. There’s no evidence she knows how to tie a neck tie while wearing it.  Oh, the horror, such a lack of a critical skill!

    /

  179. 179.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @Kayla Rudbek: um, do you apply it topically, the pickle or mustard stuff? In case I need it later. ..

    I just wouldn’t ingest it as a direct cure, unless further information..

  180. 180.

    BellyCat

    @JML: Horrific! So very, very sorry.

    (Will have to get back to you on inappropriate death jokes, though).

  181. 181.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @JML:

    My condolences to you and your family. Lost my Mom in 2009 and miss her dearly to this day. Memories are sweet though.

    Inappropriate death joke? Jim Inhofe arrives in Hell and Satan is there to greet him, holding a snowball.

  187. 187.

    JML

    Thanks. She and I had just done a European cruise last month too.

    The hospital staff was really great, super nice and compassionate and made sure mom went without any chance of pain. Joked with my brother-in-law that we really could have used one rotter just to have someone to be angry at. Damn their compassion and competence!

    But let me tell you: stay on top of your finances, your estate, and your designations otherwise you might accidentally leave some unpleasant mess behind that will likely cause very hard feelings. Mom tried, but things still got tangled and I’m really hoping it doesn’t go sideways. But it might because money makes people crazy.

  189. 189.

    BellyCat

    @JML: Got one for you:

    New entrant to heaven is getting a tour. Asks St. Peter, “What’s that big windowless building over there?”

    ”Oh, that’s for the Catholics. They think they are the only ones here.”

  192. 192.

    Jackie

    Heh!

    The Biden campaign issued a vicious counterpunch Tuesday night after former President Donald Trump challenged President Joe Biden to an 18-hole golf contest at his latest rally in South Florida.

    Trump’s goading appeared to be part of a dare for Biden to show that he is physically fit to campaign in the 2024 contest.

    But the Biden campaign had a cutting response to the challenge.

    “Donald Trump hasn’t been seen in public for 12 days, now he’s inviting fictional serial killers to dinner, teasing lil’ Marco Rubio, praising Project 2025 architect Tom Homan, and challenging the President of the United States to golf,” said spokesperson James Singer, according to 19th News reporter Grace Panetta.

    “We’d challenge Donald Trump to create jobs but he lost 3 million,” the statement continued. “We’d challenge Donald Trump to stand up to Putin, but he bent the knee to him. We’d challenge Donald Trump to follow the law, but he breaks it. We’d challenge Donald Trump to not destroy our country, but that’s all his Project 2025 aims to do.”

    “Joe Biden doesn’t have time for Donald Trump’s weird antics — he’s busy leading America and defending the free world,” the statement concluded.

    As part of Trump’s dare, he also demanded Biden meet him for another debate this week with “no moderators” and “no holds barred,” not elaborating on exactly how a debate would work without moderators, but suggesting that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) could “referee.”

    https://www.rawstory.com/trump-rally-florida-2668712970/

  193. 193.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @JML: I’m so sorry. At least you were there w her, she had your presence. I hope you got some closure, got to make a song or a prayer. I’ve never been in the room when someone passes, but I hear people thrash to loosen the super glue that holds them to their cells, so they can leave their body. I’m sorry this was traumatic for you.
    I acknowledge family dynamics can be so painful and hurtful.

    the only death joke I know is a cartoon where some kids are trick or treating, and with the kids, is a very tall grim reaper. Mrs smith opens the door, kids are saying trick or treat, the gr r at the back says “ it’s not really a costume, I’m here for—-“  and he cuts himself off because mrs smith, white hair, older, house dress, is giving out the treats, and he gets his and says “ holy shit, full size snickers bars,   Never mind, we’re good “

    that used to crack me up. I held onto it fiercely in the autumn run up to a bff’s cancer surgery. Hoping.
    Trying real hard to find the grim reaper to slip him a big chocolate bar, please leave our friend here, we love him. Oh well.

  195. 195.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @Gloria DryGarden: ingest it. Leg cramps are often caused by an electrolyte imbalance, so pickle juice or eating pickles works well. The organized bike rides I go on will sometimes have pickles at the rest stops. I’m not sure why the mustard works (could be the vinegar and salt, could be something in the mustard seeds themselves). I also can recommend the LMNT brand of electrolytes if you’re looking for something sugar-free (although I use one packet in two 24-ounce water bottles for cycling as it’s salty enough to make Gatorade taste bland by comparison).  However I am on medication that can mess up sodium levels and cause the damned leg cramps in the first place.

  197. 197.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    JML:

    Liberal thoughts and prayers to you.

    So says the godless, secular humanist.

  199. 199.

    eclare

    @Gloria DryGarden:

    There is a big outdoor music festival (Bonnaroo) outside Nashville in June, and it was really hot this year.  The paper reported that dozens of jars of pickles were confiscated from attendees because no glass is allowed.

  200. 200.

    Old School

    @JML:

    My condolences.

    Anyone got any inappropriate death jokes they want to share?

    Was she a lawyer?

  204. 204.

    Slightly_peeved

    @BellyCat:

    Ars have been convering political and economic issues related to tech for years. With accompanying critiques for being political in the comments.

  205. 205.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @JML: I’m so sorry.  Deepest condolences for your loss. My mother died on December 4 several years ago and I had to really hurry up the funeral/memorial service in order to not hold it shortly before Christmas. Fun times. Had a Celebration of Life the next May when there was time to plan .

  206. 206.

    CaseyL

    @JML: ​

    I am so sorry.

    I am also sorry I can’t think of any good death jokes. There’s the one about lawyers, but your Mom wasn’t a lawyer. There’s also the Parrot Sketch from Monty Python, but your Mom wasn’t a parrot…

    …she didn’t happen to have any Scandinavian ancestry, did she?
    .

  207. 207.

    Old School

    @JML: Years ago – I think it was after Princess Diana’s death – there was an article in the newspaper about how people tell dark jokes as part of the coping process after death.  Someone was quoted in the article about this process, but said that while he’d seen it all the time, the one event that he not seen this occur was the Oklahoma City bombing.

    A coworker and I spent the rest of our shifts coming up with set-ups to non-existent jokes. Three Oklahoma City bombing victims walk into a bar…,How many Oklahoma City bombing victims does it take to screw in a lightbulb?, etc.

  208. 208.

    BellyCat

    @Slightly_peeved: That’s excellent. Haven’t read Ars as much lately. Healthcare does seem a little tangential to Ars central (prior?) focus — aside from an immense computational workforce. Always a good rag. Glad they took this topic on!

  209. 209.

    sdhays

    @Jackie: Fuck, challenge Donnie to walk a mile, flat, without any aid. He couldn’t do it several years ago and I bet he’s even less capable now.

  214. 214.

    Jackie

    @eclare:

    Or ride a bike.

    The visual of his fat ass hanging over both sides of the bike seat… 😂🤣😂

    He’d need a girl’s bike just to get on a bike, plus spotters on each side…. even with training wheels 😂🤣😂

  217. 217.

    Fair Economist

    @JML: I’m so sorry about the loss of your mom. All my best wishes for peace for you and your family.

  218. 218.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @JML: so sorry for your loss.

    Since you asked, I have this joke: what did the patent attorney say as he was standing at the window?

     

     

     

     

    “Death ray, my ass! It hardly even slows them down!”

  220. 220.

    LanceThruster

    Kamala as a late in the game substitution for the team’s spent star is the best bet for pulling off a W. Talk of anyone else would be an unforgivable snub to the community quite often singularly responsible for saving Dem bacon time and again. That would have lasting consequences for the party down the line.

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