I made a lemon drizzle cake today. I’m not much of a baker, but the recipe is mostly foolproof.
It’s pretty good! But Paul Hollywood would probably say something unkind about the crumb structure.
It’s a good weekend for cocooning, featuring gloomy skies and frequent drizzle. Our dirt road is so bad that only the hardiest vehicles can get through.
Just saw my first Harris-Walz ad in the wild while watching the Dolphins vs. Jags. It was economics focused and featured Harris speaking directly to camera, sounding impossibly coherent and reasonable.
She contrasted her approach to Trump’s anti-freedom, pro-plutocrat agenda, and an orange-tinted photo of the deranged shit-sack flashed onscreen briefly.
The ad seemed effective to me, but I’m not the audience. It captured the visual contrast — the weird old shrieking yam vs. the normal, competent woman — about as well as possible.
That contrast will be unmistakable in the upcoming debate. Will y’all watch?
I’m undecided — maybe I’ll just catch the highlights. I know who I’m voting for, and limiting exposure to the toxic orange sludge pit in semi-human form seems a healthier choice.
Open thread!
Exciting News from NCAAT about our Fundraising!
WaterGirl
What’s a drizzle cake?
zhena gogolia
I’ll probably get the BJ commentary, although I’m not sure even that’s safe.
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl: One where you drizzle the icing?
zhena gogolia
You heard it here first: Harris will win the debate.
clay
How would you know?
Mr. Bemused Senior
I wrote before, I’m looking forward to seeing Kamala Harris’ approach to handling Trump’s blather. I expect it to be enlightening.
MattF
People will watch the ‘debate’ to see if TFG has a public breakdown.
ETA: But not me.
Matt McIrvin
I don’t generally watch debates any more–the cringe/anxiety/dread factor is just too high. I generally already know who I want to vote for. I also know that even if my candidate does well to my eyes, there’s a good chance it’ll be framed afterward as a loss and everyone will just go along with that.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Trump is hard to debate because he’s so incoherent and untruthful. You could spend the whole time rebutting his lies and trying to figure out what he said. That’s not useful. I hope Harris has worked out better ways.
Maybe a quick dismissal that more or less ignores him, and then on to saying what she wants to say.
catclub
Is that usually called ‘mud’?
Scout211
No. I mean, hell no.
I will, however follow the jackaltariat comments for an accurate not at all biased play by play. Thanks, all you jackals who have strong stomachs and can tolerate watching and listening to the nasty person who will be on stage with Kamala Harris.
trollhattan
Poke-poke-poke “Underproofed, isn’t it.”
My Paul Hollywood imitation.
Hot here. Again. This summer has no end.
Baud
@zhena gogolia: And our hearts!
eclare
US Open tennis is happening now. For the first time since 2006 an American is in the final. Go Taylor!
trollhattan
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
He’s the living Gish gallop, just not named Gish. There’s really no countering it beyond cutting that mic.
Baud
@eclare: 🇺🇸🎾
scav
Paul Hollywood has sous-chefs. And earns his lsd by being fussy when cameras are running.
Pish.
Pass the cake!
BellyCat
@Dorothy A. Winsor: This will not be a debate. A debate is where two people exchange differing thoughts on various topics. Rather, this will be two staggered stump speeches (possibly) with linkage attempts to questions posed. Please let Kamala shine in comparison to the sludge which will be spewed by Trump.
Ohio Mom
I have all of my emotional well-being riding on Harris being able to rein Trump in and leave him sputtering.
I don’t think he’ll stalk her like he did Hillary and even if he did, Harris and her folks have gamed that out.
He will most certainly do that verbal fire hose of nonsense but again, I am confident that has been considered by the Democratic team and strategies developed and practiced.
I worry there might be backlash against the optics of a Black woman besting a white man but would that lose us votes? I don’t think those people would have voted Blue to begin with.
I’ve almost talked myself into being brave enough to watch. I didn’t watch the other debate and I’m glad I didn’t. The recaps were excruciating enough.
Chris T.
I will probably watch, and unlike last time (the Biden one) I probably won’t pour an alarmingly large glass of Scotch for it…
HeleninEire
@WaterGirl: It’s a cake where, when it is done, you poke holes in it and drizzle in simple syrup. Makes the cake super moist.
I don’t cook or bake at all, but I absolutely love to watch cooking and baking shows.
mrmoshpotato
Only a thunderstorm would be better.
Nope. No more time for the orange shitstain. It should give late night shows some good material though.
Ohio Mom
@HeleninEire: Good to see you, you haven’t been on any of the threads I’ve frequented of late. Hope all is well.
sukabi
@trollhattan: apparently the mics will be mute except during candidates answer / response so no crosstalk will be heard by viewers… and chances are that cameras will be focused on the current speaker only…. that’s a distinct plus in Trump’s favor as his rudeness, incoherent retorts and body language will be kept from view.
Chris T.
@trollhattan:
Isn’t it a quickbread?
mrmoshpotato
@zhena gogolia:
It’ll save you from Dump’s disgusting, orange, fascist face – and disgusting voice.
HeleninEire
@Ohio Mom: All is grand. I’ve been reading most of the threads, I just haven’t had much to say! 😄
wjca
Hot here, too. But it’s September, after all. And early September at that. Summer doesn’t end in these parts until early to mid-October.
WaterGirl
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Something along the same lines as “same old tired tropes”, like she did with Dana Bash?
“Same old lies; they are getting tiresome.” … and then moves on
Chris T.
@HeleninEire:
That’s never stopped most of the Jackaltariat…
Jackie
@sukabi: The mics were muted during the Biden debate; you could still hear TCFG muttering and see his reactions.
SuzieC
I can’t watch the “toxic orange sludge pit” (good one) under any circumstances. Bad for my mental health, digestive tract, and blood pressure. I’ll follow along some online commentary, maybe here, then maybe watch highlights.
mrmoshpotato
@Mr. Bemused Senior:
“Can we have your response in intelligible English?”
Josie
The weather is strange. Usually here in Houston, September is almost as miserable as August. In contrast, it is occasionally drizzly and almost cool at this point. This morning it felt like a real fall day, so we wondered if we really were in Houston.
mrmoshpotato
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
FTFY.
BellyCat
Kamala’s dismissal of the “R U BlackittyBlack” question on CNN was definitely promising.
For the (so-called) debate, first words out of her mouth, after flashing her amazing smile, should be something like: “Consistent with my values and the belief that Americans deserve honesty and good faith behavior from their leaders, here are my rules for tonight’s debate. I will respond to all questions posed by Mr. Trump which are based upon truth. Queries and claims based on falsehoods will be identified as such and dismissed without comment. Let’s do this….”
ETA: (Why, yes, I’d like a pony also too…)
Ishiyama
The format puts the candidates at the mercy of the moderators by giving them the power to select the topics. Overriding that framework to get to the issues that one seeks to present is a challenge. The style of debate where there is only one question, and each candidate speaks at length, is closer, in my mind, to the prototype of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. But the media would never let themselves be sidelined like that.
wjca
I’m envisioning something like “Well, that was a pretty pathetic excuse for an answer, wasn’t it?” Followed by actually speaking to the topic.
Possibly interrupted by howls of outrage from TCFG. Being labeled “pathetic” (i.e. weak) is far worse to him than merely “weird.” Right up there with being laughed at, for him.
He’s desperate for respect. Always has been. And never has gotten it from the people who he thinks really matter — which aren’t his marks, nice as he finds the adulation. Being reminded that he isn’t respected hits a very raw nerve.
mrmoshpotato
@Ohio Mom:
What was up with that debate? Seriously.
Whose idea was it not to put them behind lecterns – and tell the pu##y-grabbing POS to stay there?
Msb
Not going to watch live; I know how I will vote and the debate will take place in the middle of my night.
Will read about it here and elsewhere. The main thing is for MVP to “look strong” – not to be verbally or physically dominated by trump. Physically, I imagine they’ve gamed that out. Verbally, she’s been laughing/brushing him off for a while, and is well able to put her own points across. I’m a bit concerned about MSM sane-washing trump, though heartened at the increasing number of journalists calling that out.
What people remember about the 2020 debates were Biden saying, “Will you shut up, man?” Much more memorable than any policy points. Anything memorable this year will likely be similar.
Rick Wilson says the Lincoln Project has a pool on when trump will publicly use the n-word. Trump is obviously decompensating and the debate is just one more piece of pressure. Good luck to those who will watch it live.
Geminid
I have a feeling Harris scares Trump.
M31
Tim Walz knows how to order donuts, charm everyone in the place, and pet a dog:
https://nitter.poast.org/Tim_Walz/status/1831774000495628291#m
Dorothy A. Winsor
@WaterGirl: Yes. First time, she could say something like “I believe there will be fact checkers operating after this event. I’ll leave it to them to identify all the lies in that answer. If I did it, I wouldn’t have time to answer the question. Which is…”
KrackenJack
Nope. The formats, moderators and questions have been overripe garbage. It’s not going to change my vote. My only interest is in how it shapes public opinion and that is all post-debate spin. I’ll just wait to see how they hold the Dem to an impossible standard. Thanks.
I did a news blackout the day of the Biden debate and came back to an absolute sh*t storm. Stayed away for another two days.
wjca
I think terrifies might be closer to the mark.
BellyCat
@Ishiyama: Agreed. Without any type of dialogue, a debate is pretty much worthless other than gaff generation. Each party is not seeking to prevail but to damage the other.
If the press is asking questions, I’d prefer much shorter response times and more iterative exchanges for each question.
TBone
I just now made a torte de melanzana. Sauteed eggplant slices in olive oil, layered in a casserole and seasoned with thyme, salt & pepper. Then a layer of thinly sliced local tomatoes (lightly seasoned), covered in a layer of finely minced local red pepper and onion, then a layer of thinly sliced fresh mozzarella. Pour over the layers a custard of 3 egg yolks beaten into 1 and 1/2 cups milk with some freshly grated Parmesan. Voila!
Just took it out of the oven and it smells like I believe heaven should smell.
I will watch every minute of the debate with relish because I believe that Kamala Harris was born for this moment and will, with the precision of a sharp scalpel, drain the putrid pus out of that orange carbuncle growing on our nation’s ass.
mrmoshpotato
@Josie: Got a pool you can cannonball into to celebrate?
M31
also, that place cuts cider donuts in half and puts whoopie pie filling in them
oh man
Scout211
That was a “town hall” format with an audience. It wasn’t a debate. They’d done those before and the candidates were allowed to move around to better connect with the audience. The candidate not answering questions was supposed to sit on their stool and politely wait for their turn to answer audience questions. It had worked many times before.
Another “who could have known” moment (involving Trump) that took the media by surprise but shouldn’t have.
ETA for clarity
trollhattan
@M31:
A world in which the One Weird Trick is being a kind human being.
Clearly, somebody who needs to be crushed.
mrmoshpotato
@M31: Whoop whoop!
mrmoshpotato
@Scout211: Oh, yeah. Forgot about that.
M31
@trollhattan: and the Republicans have managed to raise up and elect a whole slate of people who are unable to muster the humanity to say “donuts are good, give me some of those and some of those, yum”
mrmoshpotato
@trollhattan:
LOL!
zhena gogolia
@M31: I just could watch him all day!
TBone
@wjca: 👍
trollhattan
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
Have a vague idea of Harris keeping a Katie Porter white board at her lectern, and put a hash mark down with each Trump lie. She can intermittently hold it up with the current tally. Doesn’t even need to announce what she’s doing, it will become obvious pretty quickly.
She can focus on answering the moderator questions and not spend all her time noting lying Donny just lied eleventy times, again.
His job is to vacuum up all the oxygen and break the process.
My trepidation is whether the Harris questions will have preambles to make them gotchas, instead of, you know, questions.
zhena gogolia
@trollhattan: No. No white boards, please.
scav
@WaterGirl: Or <Tap Tap Tap> on invisible earphones. “I’m waiting for the translation to come in”
mrmoshpotato
@trollhattan: She could label it Trump Lies.
mrmoshpotato
@zhena gogolia: Blackboard and chalk? 😁
TBone
@mrmoshpotato: how about an abacus?
MAGA heads would explode! 😆
mrmoshpotato
@TBone: Sure.
Ishiyama
@BellyCat: Drawing on my experience in another context, when one argues before an appellate court, the Judges or Justices will interrupt with their own questions, which may not be what you want to address. And, to prepare for appellate argument, one arranges one’s citations to the record to be available to respond to questions with accurate and precise quotations. (Skill comes into play in predicting what questions are likely to be raised.) I expect that Kamala’s preparation is something like that.
zhena gogolia
@mrmoshpotato: Yes, that would be acceptable.
zhena gogolia
@TBone: Abacus would be great!
Ishiyama
@zhena gogolia: Tim Walz has shown that he is comfortable in social situations; he has had a lot of practice doing retail politics.
TBone
@Ishiyama: 💙
mrmoshpotato
Interception! Bears’ touchdown!
Harrison Wesley
So Tuesday night two people will appear behind podiums on a stage. This will be broadcast on the teevee. One will give a synopsis of a comprehensive plan to assure Americans’ future health, welfare and security. The other will give a bad imitation of Donald Duck getting a colonoscopy. I’ll pass, thanks.
SomeRandomGuy
Actually, with a drizzle cake, it’s harder to tell specifics of crumb structure, due to the drizzle. That said, I’ll bet he’s the guest who gets more store-bought from intimidated bakers than anyone else :-).
zhena gogolia
@Harrison Wesley: That about sums it up!
The Thin Black Duke
What are those horrible uniforms the Giants are wearing?
TBone
I want to see this badass Black woman give him the what for, hard!
Kathleen
@Ohio Mom: (Repeated from earlier thread) I usually don’t watch debates or go out after dark either but I registered for a watch party at Memorial Hall sponsored by Democrats. Even if I decide to bail the donation goes to a good cause – Dem candidates in Ohio.
Jackie
@scav: I hope she responds one strategic time with a “THAT was weird!’ with a quizzical look on her face.🤞🏻
WaterGirl
@HeleninEire: Huh. I had no idea there was such a thing!
lowtechcyclist
Here in southern Maryland, it’s an absolutely sparkling early fall day – lots of sunshine, low humidity, totally comfortable temp for sitting outdoors on the deck, which is what I’ve been doing for the past hour, having finished the yard work that I’d intended to do today.
I’ve finished and mailed 40 of my 100 VAAC postcards; I’ve stamped and labeled the other 60, so all I’ve got to do is jot down a short message on each, and get them in the mail this week.
Matt McIrvin
@trollhattan: And yet, it’s Harris’s camp that wanted the uncuttable hot mic. It suggests a certain faith in the viewing audience that I wonder about the value of.
Baud
@Harrison Wesley:
“Candidates spar over health care.” /NYT
dexwood
I read a story at the Google news page this morning that traitor Trump was objecting to any sort of box for 5’4″ Harris to stand on behind the lecturn because, says the man who wears lifts, it would be cheating. Same story said ABC is considering opening the mikes for some crosstalk near the end of the debate. No link, sorry.
MagdaInBlack
Chicagoland is cool and clear and gorgeous and I haven’t done squat all weekend and your drizzle cake sound wonderful. 🌻
Mousebumples
@MattF: late to the thread, but my MIL will be hate watching..
(hate targeted at that fucking guy)
MagdaInBlack
@TBone: I DO love eggplant and that sounds fantastic ❤️
mrmoshpotato
@MagdaInBlack: Also,
Bears win!
White Sox win – somehow!
Cubs win! as the Brewers lose!
MagdaInBlack
@mrmoshpotato: 😊🎉😊
catclub
@trollhattan:
I suspect you are not in New England, which has had (where I am) the most delightful past 4 weeks or so of summer with cool nights.
catclub
@Jackie: No, instead repeatedly say: ” Again, nothing related to the question.”
mrmoshpotato
@catclub: Cannonball into an unheated pool.
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
@WaterGirl: I think it started or is mainly a U.K. thing. I first encountered it on an episode of The Great British Baking Show (pace Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood), along with several other British baking specialties like Victoria Sponge.
Of course the US has specialties too, like Boston Cream Pie. One of my mother’s old cook books had recipes for things like “Martha Washington Cake”.
trollhattan
@catclub:
Sounds grand. NorCal has had few breaks from triple digits after the hottest summer on record. September generally gives us 90s and 80s but noooo.
wjca
@The Thin Black Duke: The way they’re racking up runs, who cares what the uniforms look like?
wjca
Did they want it? Or just want to make sure Trump wouldn’t demand it? The guy is just so easy to manipulate.
MagdaInBlack
@wjca: It is my understanding that he talked smack all thru the last debate, whenever Biden was speaking. We couldn’t hear it but Biden could. If that is the case, then they want us all to know what he is saying while she is speaking.