Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

No Justins, No Peace

Accountability, motherfuckers.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Come on, man.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

It’s not hopeless, and we’re not helpless.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

“Why isn’t this Snickers bar only a nickel?”

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

I really should read my own blog.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

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

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

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

There’s always a light at the end of the frog.

Don’t expect peaches from an apple tree.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

You are here: Home / Elections 2024 / Late Night Open Thread: RFK Jr & TFG, Grifter Cronies

Late Night Open Thread: RFK Jr & TFG, Grifter Cronies

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Trump’s dim-witted rant about infant vaccinations is the bit that attracted the immediate headlines (I suspect because Barron Trump’s neurological status has become a topic of more gossip among Very Serious Media types than his sire’s), but the whole conversation is one for the history books. Trump assumes, as of course he would, that RFK Jr is only running because he wants a job (or at least public attention); Bobby himself is quite happy to go along with this theory. We can work so well together!

As of this minute, Bobby Jr Jr’s tweet is still online, and this is part of it:

…There’s a few things you should take from this video:

1. It’s great that Trump and RFK are able to speak, the country needs some unity.

2. Trumps attacks on RFK in the public have been complete lies. He said he didn’t know who RFK was and acknowledges here they’ve talked a long time ago. He’s also attacked RFK for his stance on vaccines when in reality he is in complete agreement with him.

3. Trump wants RFK to join his campaign in some format here so any future attacks on him saying he doesn’t want him are just a lie…

Per the Guardian:

… In posting the recording, Bobby Kennedy III also suggested Anthony Fauci, formerly Biden’s chief medical adviser, should be in prison; appeared to suggest his father should have been Trump’s running mate on a “unity ticket” rather than “JD ‘fire all the unvaccinated nurses’ Vance”, the Ohio senator named on Monday; and implied Republicans and Democrats were subordinate to Pfizer, a multinational vaccine producer.

Kennedy III added: “This is not a cheapfake or somebody doing a Trump voice. This is the real deal.”…

Kennedy’s spokesperson, Stephanie Spear, confirmed the two men met at the RNC in Milwaukee, claiming it was “to discuss national unity” and saying that Kennedy “hopes to meet with leaders of the Democratic party as well.

“And no, he is not dropping out of the race. He is the only pro-environment, pro-choice, anti-war candidate who beats Donald Trump in head-to-head polls.”

Translation from the weaselspeak: He is absolutely open to dropping out, and endorsing Trump for his cultist followers, but only if he’s guaranteed a choice spot in Trump’s future cabinet — maybe Dr. Fauci’s old job.
Predictable blowback:


Politico, Wednesday afternoon, “Where’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?”:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been silent in a moment of significant volatility in the presidential election.

The independent candidate, who has sought to be the biggest threat to the two major parties in a generation, has canceled key campaign appearances in the last two weeks. He hasn’t sent a fundraising email since Saturday. And after trying repeatedly to counterprogram past events in the election, including June’s debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Kennedy is doing little to shift the focus away from the Republican National Convention or to exploit a raft of questions from Democrats over whether Biden should still be the nominee.

Instead, Kennedy sparked a round of speculation after talking with Trump on Monday, prompting him to use his official social media account to quash the rumors on social media: “No, I am not dropping out of the race,” he posted on X…

Last week, as Democrats have been grappling with Biden’s poor debate performance, Kennedy announced a major news conference at the National Press Club in Washington to “present a solution to the mounting political crisis” — only to cancel it for the day. The campaign, which has repeatedly derided Biden’s leadership, said it was postponing “out of respect for President Biden’s solo press conference scheduled for the same day.” Nothing has been rescheduled so far. He instead posted a video offering himself as a replacement nominee for the party, which he left last fall.

And it did seem like Kennedy was planning to present some counter programming at the RNC. Kennedy had been scheduled for a virtual interview at the CNN-POLITICO Grill in Milwaukee on Monday. But it never happened.

“Mr Kennedy’s schedule has changed and we can no longer do the interview,” said Stefanie Spear, the campaign’s spokesperson.

He also planned to host a Boomer Town Hall on Facebook Live to answer questions from “fellow baby boomers” on Tuesday. The event was then postponed. And Kennedy planned to meet with farmers in Baraboo, about two hours from Milwaukee, on Wednesday afternoon to discuss agriculture regulation. That campaign stop was also pulled from his schedule…

A cynic might wonder if the Topic of the Day video was leaked to force the Trump campaign’s hand. Give me a deal, or I go to the gutter media!

Argument that it ain’t gonna happen:


The Donfather is notoriously unlikely to take Fredo’s opinion seriously, for reasons.

… Trump also appeared to discuss a future together for the two men—and their ideas.

“Anyway, I would be, I would love you to do so,” Trump said in the video leaked to X on Tuesday morning, seemingly hinting at something Kennedy and him weighed earlier in the call. It’s unclear whether the former president was referring to a spot for the independent candidate in a future Trump administration, encouraging him to drop out and issue an endorsement, or some other potential offer.

“It would be so good for you and so big for you. And we’re gonna win. We’re gonna win. We’re way ahead of the guy,” Trump continued. In some recent polls, the former president is leading Biden by single digits…

At one point in the call, Trump mentioned Biden reaching out to him the evening of the violent Pennsylvania rally.

“You know it was interesting, it was very nice, actually. He called me and he said, ‘How did you choose to move to the right?’” Trump told Kennedy. “I said ‘I was just showing a chart,’ I didn’t have to tell him the chart was on all the people pouring into our country.”…

Prior to the leak, Kennedy claimed that his call with Trump was focused on unifying the country.

“Lots of rumors going around about my meeting this morning with President Trump,” he posted to X on Monday. “Our main topic was national unity, and I hope to meet with Democratic leaders about that as well. No, I am not dropping out of the race.”

National unity. Like a team of horses under one harness, one whip.

Reader Interactions

68Comments

  2. 2.

    Jay

    Well, we know, from the leaked video, whom Extinct Guaicuruan and his Mother will be voting for.

  5. 5.

    Tony Jay

       NYT ELECTION ‘24

    KENNEDY/TRUMP CALL SHOWS RETURN TO OLD-FASHIONED RESPECT AND COMITY IS CLOSER THAN MANY THINK

    Should the polls remain accurate and he return in triumph to the White House, Donald Trump signals he probably wouldn’t have the Democrat Party leadership arrested, despite leaked video call suggesting he would…

    +++Jackal Newsline – It Could Too Happen+++

  6. 6.

    Jay

    @Scamp Dog:

    if you google it guachi is the extinct language of the extinct Guaicuruan indigenous peoples of Argentina,

    They were big on the Junta, until they wern’t, existing anymore, because of the Junta

    Nyms are often a “tell”,

  8. 8.

    Scamp Dog

    “sought to be the biggest threat to the two major parties in a generation”? This is something like me seeking to be Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. Well done, Politico!

  9. 9.

    TBone

    Maybe Dotard couldn’t hear very well through that ear tampon (that’s what the kids are calling it these days 🤣).

  10. 10.

    Jay

    @Scamp Dog:

    In comments, I try to not respond to trolls and foreign actors, while still responding in regards to their posts.

    I don’t click on the nym, use my own nym for them to make them identifiable, in the hope that other’s won’t engage, and do my best to mock and humiliate them,

    Like “tiny mushroom penis barely wiggling about”.

    All hail TBone.

  11. 11.

    TBone

    @Jay: awww, thank you.  I didn’t get many (any) accolades for my irreverent behavior that day, or thereafter.

    I’m now feeling taller than Matt Gaetz’s forehead 😆 what the hell has he done to his eyebrows 😳?

    ETA I switched to Dad jokes to avoid the tone police. But those don’t work as well unless you tell one just right.

    What did the grouchy mushroom say to the loud mushroom? Put a cap on it.

  13. 13.

    Another Scott

    My recollection is that TCFFG had discussions with RFKJr in 2016 about a place for him in his administration.  Strung him along for his support, etc.

    Must be another day ending in “y”.

    Hang in there, everyone.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  14. 14.

    Tony Jay

    @TBone:

      ETA I switched to Dad jokes to avoid the tone police. But those don’t work as well unless you tell one just right.

    Well, there’s always Dad Penis jokes, but once again… tone.

  15. 15.

    Princess

    Sounds like Vance gave a terrible speech last night. No wonder Trump keeps falling asleep at the convention. You’d think our failed media would notice that.

    Seriously though, Trump’s great gift is being a showman. He must realize now he’s picked a loser who hates him. Watch for cracks.

  18. 18.

    Rusty

    I have to admit that my anxiety level is up over the endless push to get Biden to step aside.  I want him to stay in (he has been an excellent president and I haven’t heard a rational explanation of how he can be replaced), but the endless attacks are adding to my stress.  I really should unplug for a while.

    I did call the Republican sycophants wearing ear patches!

  20. 20.

    lowtechcyclist

    Why isn’t that highlighted part of the call transcript on the front page of every newspaper in the country??

    I mean, I don’t know if he’s clinically experiencing dementia. But in the ordinary, colloquial meaning of the term, anyone who talks like that, whose mind runs like that, is too demented to hold any position of responsibility, let alone President of the entire motherfucking United States of America.

  21. 21.

    Gvg

    @TBone: the 2 statements don’t necessarily conflict. The book statement is about the first year. If he screwed up, or Yale gave less other years, he might still have ended up with debt. Most scholarships are contingent on grades and hours in prior years. I would not be surprised if he lied though.

    Also plenty of scholarships convert to loans if you don’t follow through with certain types of service jobs. For law that might be public defender.

  22. 22.

    TBone

    @Gvg: he’s still just a plain old liar.   His whole schtick is a mirage. I don’t feel the need to justify or analyze why it might be partially true.  He lied.  He is a lying liar, through and through. It’s a job requirement in the Dotard clusterfuck.

    It’s a lie sandwich and he’s the chef du jour.

    I bet his shoe lifts are bigger than Dotard’s.

  23. 23.

    Geminid

    @Princess: Vance’s campaign skills are more or less untested. Vance couldn’t have a very compelling candidate in 2022 if he won his primary with only 33%, and this was with Trump’s endorsement. His winning margin over Ryan that November was unimpressive.

    Vance can give a glib interview to friendly hosts, but now he’s playing in the big leagues where the spotlight is brighter and the pressure more intense.

    Vance might turn out to be a “natural,” impressive in interviews and adept at retail campaigning. But he could also be a clunker. I suspect the first ten days after the convention will show us where he fits on that spectrum.

  24. 24.

    TBone

    Special Purpose Acquisition Corpse:

    In any normal country, in say the 2004 or 1996 election cycles, this would be a HUGE story and a HUGE scandal for the GOP presidential candidate. But it’s 2024 and it’s Trump so nothing matters.

    NEW — Patrick Orlando, the former chief executive of the SPAC that took Trump Media public, has been charged with securities fraud over the deal…

    https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1813759295575744671

  25. 25.

    cain

    @Rusty: the democratic party is exhausting me.

    The endless leaks to media about what’s going on behind the scenes is making the situation worse..

    They are just sucking all the energy out this campaign when we need it most.

  26. 26.

    TBone

    Now they’re coming for Taylor Swift.  We ride at dawn.  God forbid anyone as attractive as she is not be responsible for everything/anything that’s wrong with the yute.  It’s only ok to get a new chest, facelift, take Ozempic, Botox, etc. if you are a rethuglican. Like Kimberly Guilfoyle.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953624005537

    While they spin this as positive, the wording belies the motive.

    Keywords
    Eating disorders
    body image
    Taylor Swift
    anti-fat bias
    parasocial relationship

  28. 28.

    Geminid

    Abigail Spanberger is my Representative, so I was searching her Twitter feed the other day for comments on the big question of the day.

    I didn’t see any, but Spanberger did post a picture of herself standing next to Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who must retire because of a terrible neurological disease. Senator Kain and Rep. Gerry Connelly stood on either side of the two women. All four were smiling, but it was very sad to see..

  29. 29.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Jay: I though that word meant “painfully obvious liar”.

    Argentina is in the middle of an economic crises.  I imagine labor is quite cheep there. Don’t know why I mention this.

  30. 30.

    TBone

    I just found a meme where someone made Dotard’s ear diaper into a miniature Klan hood. 😆

  31. 31.

    3Sice

    Reality has a pro Joe bias:

    DNC members finalized their vote Thursday to move forward with an all-virtual roll call vote after 360 members voted in favor, two voted against and five abstained, according to a spokesperson.

  33. 33.

    Mousebumples

    https://bsky.app/profile/mike10010100.bsky.social/post/3kxjhz4hy4k2k (must be logged in to view, etc)

    This is *libertarian* money being used to openly overturn the Democratic primary election.

    It’s time to stop pretending otherwise.

    https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/07/05/nation-world-news/major-democratic-donors-devise-plans-to-pressure-biden-to-step-aside/

    “The new PAC effort is spearheaded by Mike Novogratz, the cryptocurrency billionaire who backed Dean Phillips in the Democratic primary; his aides; and Hollywood filmmaker Andrew Jarecki, according to three people briefed on the plan, with likely support from the Movement Voter Project.”

    It’s goddamn crypto money Libertarians and always has been.

    Fuck this shit. Fuck the people who are going along with it

    Am I the only one who thought it smelled like rat fucking? My opinion of Dean Phillips and associates is dropping by the second..

  36. 36.

    moonbat

    @Mousebumples: I’ve been using way too many swear words on here lately because of this so I’m just going to say, “These crypto libertarian assholes guys can fuck off into the sun,” very sweetly.

  37. 37.

    Mousebumples

    @moonbat: if you feel like you’re speaking too much “French” – Good Place subs work? Fork those motherforkers.

    Other subs include shirt, bench, darn… But I use fork a lot IRL with 2 littles around.

  40. 40.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Mousebumples: That someone like that was doing this was obvious by the whole “you peasants just don’t understand how brilliant idea this is” tone, the suborn refusal to answer questions and  when the name Manchin was floated as a replacement.

  41. 41.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @3Sice: DNC members finalized their vote Thursday to move forward with an all-virtual roll call vote after 360 members voted in favor, two voted against and five abstained, according to a spokesperson.

    Those 7 people are more important to the media than the 360 or the 14 million before them.

  43. 43.

    Mousebumples

    @TBone: I am 100% adding whomever wins the August Dem primary for that district to the downballot fundraising efforts. Plaffe almost won 2 years ago with limited DNC support. That’s a flip target this cycle, I think.

    I keep getting mail/etc. asking for money for that race. I’m short on $ right now (yay new AC system being installed on Monday…), but will hopefully be in better shape in a few weeks… Also – win the primary first. I’m not giving money to attack another Democrat.

  48. 48.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Mousebumples: It’s almost certain they are Dem donars. The Republicans are not a serious party here in California, so if you want to buy a seat at the table at the state level, it’s the dems.

    In light of that it should be no surprise that Adam Schiff got task with the donar placation since he is in a safe position.

  50. 50.

    Chris Johnson

    @cain: Yeah, see, you CANNOT take it on faith that if media sources doing this, CLAIM that it is from an unnamed secret source, that it, in fact, is.

    They’ve already been caught deceptively editing one guy’s actual statement when there was video of the full statement.

    If there is NO attribution I think it’s pretty safe to assume no actual Democrat was involved. Like, not even homeopathic amounts of Democrat. They didn’t even wave a Democrat over the statement. It’s just straight made the fuck up if it’s not sourced.

    And that means, don’t be too quick to get mad at our people for shit they didn’t even do. It’s a psyop designed to do that, not just to lay groundwork for their wishcasting.

  51. 51.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @WereBear: Who is what gets really obvious when one pays attention to what is not being said as well as what is being said.  Someone who is for real will react to new information, not ignore the new information and repeat the same talking point.

  52. 52.

    Chris Johnson

    @3Sice: See, told you <3

    So the spin, after the inevitable total tidal wave of sticking with Biden like any competent political party would do, is going to be ‘they were all pressured into it!’ because the evil conspiracy has to be simultaneously all-powerful and weak-n-craven…

    Here in reality, I’d have bet on that outcome. All the unsourced ‘high ranking Dems plot rebellion!’ are made up. And the press lying is not new or surprising.

  53. 53.

    Chris Johnson

    I think it’s worth repeating from downthread now that we’ve got all manner of obvious trolling again…

    FWIW, I’m pretty sure Balloon Juice rules of engagement really discourage sitting around speculating who is a troll. ‘cos that gives rise to weird metagamey stuff that’s easy to make toxic.

    It’s Monsters Are Due On Maple Street shit.

    Me, I talk about pie-ing ARGUMENTS that I find disingenuous and suspicious. And so I leave the obvious ones. And then it looks like I have pied them anyway ‘cos they engage with the trusted ones and with each other and you can lose your damn mind over this stuff :D

    So just don’t.

    If you only knew some of the stuff I’ve been through on this blog… you have NO IDEA how ridiculous it can get. Just don’t get into the metagamey stuff. Focus on lines of argument: troll narratives are lines of argument. It’s not about the names or the people.

  54. 54.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Speaking of obvious points everyone is ignoring. Trump has this thing in the bag so much here we have a recording of Trump begging for JFK to drop out. I mean the polls, which you all tell me are the besty information in the world have JFK at like 1%. And do note, this was done after Trump was shot at.

  55. 55.

    Geminid

    @Mousebumples: Arizona also holds primaries soon, and I read a preview in the  state media site Courthouse News Service.

    Republicans have an open seat primary primary in 9th CD to replace Rep. Debbie Lesko. That weirdo Blake Masters one of two front runners there. I think this is considered a fairly safe Republican district..

    The 1st CD is not, and Rep. David Schweikert is a top target for Democrats this cycle. Our primary field there is bunched up, with no one getting separation.

    In the Republican Senate Primary, Scary Kari Lake thinks she’s gotten seperation from rival Mark Lamb, Pinal County Sheriff. At least, she was confident enough to duck a debate. Lamb complained, “I’ve never hired anybody who didn’t show up for a job interview.” Lamb’s a big, weather-beaten man with a really big hat.

  56. 56.

    moonbat

    @Mousebumples: In my meat space existence I swear like a sailor, but I try to keep that talk out of my online life because in general I think it tends to weaken arguments by giving someone an excuse to focus on my ‘incivility’.

    But this whole “Biden must quit” thing has pushed my last button. Being civil is being taken as an excuse to plague us for going on a month when every reasonable argument over how that whole idea is a non-starter gets ignored. Folks still pushing this have earned incivility.

  60. 60.

    Soprano2

    @lowtechcyclist: Because most of the people in the press want TCFG back. I’ve become convinced of it after watching this week as they express exactly zero curiosity about getting more information on TCFG’s injury from the attempted shooting. If something like this had happened to Biden or Harris, they would have been screaming for more information no matter how much they were given, yet for TCFG they seem strangely reluctant to dig into it.

  61. 61.

    moonbat

    @The Kropenhagen Interpretation: How deep the rot goes is pretty eye opening, isn’t it? How are ANY of our media institutions going to regain any credibility after this? We’re going to have to become extremely media savvy to figure out which crypto billionaire is pushing this week’s narrative.

  62. 62.

    Soprano2

    @Mousebumples: This does explain a lot of the freaking out. I think a lot of the down ballot Democrats are terrified that their fundraising will dry up because of this effort. Funny that the byline on that article is July 5th, but we’re just hearing about it now.

  64. 64.

    trnc

    @TBone: ​
     

    Representative Drunken Van Orden

    I’m not familiar with that name, so I assumed it was Ronny Jackson.

  66. 66.

    trnc

    @Geminid: ​
     

    There are a lot of Apples of Discord being tossed right now, from all directions. The goal is to get Democrats to fight over them.

    I think the key is to not take the bait. Specious arguments should be mocked, but every disagreement shouldn’t be taken as a personal attack.

    The drop out discussion may be the most polarizing one since Gaza. We don’t actually have to respect particular lines of argument, but we should generally be able to tell when someone is trolling vs making an argument we disagree with. The good news in this case is that the discussion is moot after the nomination, and we can move on to supporting the nominee AND our party’s platform.

  68. 68.

    LanceThruster

    @Mousebumples:- I grew to love “frelling” from Farscape and still laugh at “mother-crabbers” from MST3K (that one even has a song).

    Shite is more readily understandable than merde on the whole, and since Facebook’s community standards can be applied retroactively should they choose, I just default to fvck and shjt and variations thereof, as prudent.

    I can’t recall where I stole this from but it’s truly a gem:

    Mah.Thur.Fah.Curse.

    I did, however, add this modification for use as needed.

    Mah.Thur.Fah.Curse.Awl.

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