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rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / AOC Loses First Oversight Vote

AOC Loses First Oversight Vote

by | 117 Comments

This post is in: 

AOC is up against Gerry Connolly, a 74 year-old with esophageal cancer, for the post of ranking member of the House Oversight committee.  Here’s what happened today:

“House Democrats’ Steering and Policy Committee on Tuesday voted to recommend Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee,” Axios reports.

“It’s a huge blow to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) hopes of leading the high-profile panel.”

“The House Democratic caucus still has to vote on whether to accept the recommendation – though that ratification is rarely denied.”

AOC’s response on BlueSky:

AOC Loses First Oversight Vote

I hope she knows something I don’t know.

BTW, the 5 year survival rate for esophageal cancer is 22% (all stages combined).  I’ve known two people, both younger than Connolly, who died a couple of years after their diagnosis, and were severely weakened by the treatment.  It’s a brutal disease.

Reader Interactions

117Comments

  1. 1.

    hrprogressive

    If she loses, go nuclear. Start her own party.

    If the Democratic Party can’t see that a young, popular, progressive woman of color isn’t the right choice to lead in this very moment instead of Yet Another Boring Old White Guy

    It seems like they are unwilling and incapable of learning any meaningful lessons

  2. 2.

    The Audacity of Krope

    AOC is up against Gerry Connolly, a 74 year-old with esophageal cancer

    Normally I’d say tell me about his qualifications, but qualifications aren’t enough to get you ahead in the Democratic Party if the money says otherwise.

  3. 3.

    Quaker in a Basement

    I don’t know much about Conolly, but he seems to be a mainstream Dem. Has he made any public statements about why he wants the post and how he’ll manage it while in cancer treatment?

  4. 4.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    I’ll say a few more things about the two men I knew who died of esophageal cancer.

    One was a father of a wonderful daughter and a good husband.  He spent his time in treatment and after treatment with them, and had a decent year or so of treatment-induced remission before he died.

    The other had his issues, but his illness brought people out of the woodwork who he had helped, including the widow for whom he would shovel walks, and others.

    What is wrong with you if you think being the next in line for a, let’s face it pretty meaningless job for the next 2 years, is more important than time with friends and family?

  6. 6.

    WaterGirl

    I was appalled to see that some 77 year-old male Democrat is talking about / thinking about running against Abigail Spanberger for governor of Virginia.  Unless a contested Democratic primary would be a good thing – and I’m not close enough to VA politics to know the answer – get the hell out of the way and let the talented younger person get the nod.

  7. 7.

    hotshoe

    @@mistermix.bsky.social: ​
     
    I admit I know nothing about Connolly and I hate him almost as much as I hate the MAGAts. HOW DARE HE! How dare he put himself forward (or allow himself to be put forward) for a top position at this time. He is — in my completely uninformed opinion — a selfish bastard to even consider occupying that position when it should go to someone with health and energy to actually serve. I hope his family hates him, too, for choosing “power” instead of spending time with them; although maybe they already hate him because he’s a sociopath and that’s why he won’t take any time away from DC to spend with them.
    Goddamn his eyes.

  8. 8.

    Elizabelle

    Connolly is a good guy, but AOC would be way more effective here.  I hope she wins tomorrow.

    @@mistermix.bsky.social:   Yes.  That is the decision that wonderful Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton was forced to make.  Terrible disease, along the lines of Parkinson’s, that made it hard for her to communicate.  She is retiring to spend time with her family, including two sons.  (Her term is up in January.)

    Tragedy for her, and for us.  Amazing woman.  About 55 or 56 years old.

  9. 9.

    frosty

    @@mistermix.bsky.social: What is wrong with you if you think being the next in line for a, let’s face it pretty meaningless job for the next 2 years, is more important than time with friends and family?

    That sums it up nicely.

    One of my cousins died of esophogeal cancer; he was probably in his 40s, early 50s at the oldest. Like you said, the treatment is awful. He got an extra couple of years to be with his daughters.

  10. 10.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    @hotshoe: Here’s the thing – I know something about the House of Representatives.  It’s my jam, for some reasons I don’t want to share publicly.

    Having AOC in Oversight for 2 years while we’re out of power is invaluable.  She’ll get her staff lined out.  She’ll form stronger relationships with key committee members.  She’ll also be fire in any hearings they have.

    Connolly in that position will be, well, different.

  12. 12.

    eclare

    This is insanity.  It would be even without the cancer, but with cancer?  Sheesh.  And that is a ruthless cancer from what I’ve read, not like a slow growth prostate cancer.

  13. 13.

    Starfish (she/her)

    Jerry Nadler was a class act for understanding he had cancer and stepping down from the top post in his committee. Connelly is putting his ego above the future of the party at a time when the party can least afford that type of nonsense.

    It should be obvious that people who are sick need to scale back a little on their careers to make room for treating their health conditions, and yet some folks do not seem to get that.

  17. 17.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    @eclare: I don’t use the pie filter out of my feeling that I should read every comment on my posts.  That certainly doesn’t mean you can’t!

    @schrodingers_cat:  The only pattern I see is your need to stir shit about your butthurt.

  21. 21.

    Harrison Wesley

    I was startled by this. I had been under the impression that he wasn’t going to pursue the job.

  23. 23.

    WaterGirl

    Remember folks, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to, especially when the other guy has already made up his mind. (Thin Black Duke)

  25. 25.

    trollhattan

    Despite rumors to the contrary, we won’t be locking up our dogs quite yet.

    National reports that former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Mike Vick was closing in on becoming the next football coach at Sacramento State are premature at best, the Hornets confirmed Monday afternoon. Two Sacramento State officials told The Sacramento Bee that Vick being selected to head the Hornets’ football program are not true as the school seeks to find a replacement for Andy Thompson, who left the Hornets after two seasons as head coach to rejoin Troy Taylor, this time as assistant head coach at Stanford.

    Taylor hired Thompson before the 2019 season at Sacramento State as defensive coordinator, and the two enjoyed winning three Big Sky Conference championships. Sacramento State won three games this season amid a crush of injuries and tight, close losses, a year after making the FCS playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

    ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter on social media Monday said that “Sacramento State is in discussions to hire” Vick, “per sources.” A Sacramento State administrator told The Bee on Monday afternoon that the school has had discussions with Vick and others interested in the job, including those with NFL ties, past or present.

    The Hornets coaching post closes Wednesday, but no one has been selected. Sacramento State president Luke Wood tweeted Monday late afternoon addressed to Bee reporter Joe Davidson and ESPN’s Schefter that “Vick and I did meet about Sac State football and our athletic rise. As you can imagine, given the success of our athletic programs that our football head coach job is an attractive role. Announcements on several major decisions coming soon.”

    https://www.sacbee.com/sports/article297196234.html#storylink=cpy

    All this, and a new stadium, for positioning the school to maybe, possibly, be admitted to the wreckage that once was the Pac 12. We are, arguably, “Pacific” as compared to, say, Utah.

  28. 28.

    Harrison Wesley

    This is something I would have thought had been decided ahead of time behind closed doors. 2024 isn’t even over, and Dems In Disarray is already advertising for next season.

  29. 29.

    different-church-lady

    OT: FINALLY someone is showing some spine:

    N.Y. judge denies Trump’s motion to throw out hush money conviction
    Justice Juan Merchan ruled that Donald Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records should not be overturned because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.

  30. 30.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    @John S.:

    The pattern that I see is old politicians selfishly clinging to power instead of passing the torch to the younger generations.

    Yep.

    I will have a post tomorrow with my take on when you should hang up the spurs, with an example from my own life, but it’s supper time now.

  31. 31.

    LeftCoastYankee

    I wouldn’t get out the knives for ranking minority member. She’ll still get to do questioning as a minority member.

    It does set her up to be the next in line either in the majority or minority.

    Unfortunately this kabuki is aimed at internal House customs and not public enthusiasm which seems more urgent at the moment.

    Still Connelly is definitely on the “time to pass the baton” list along with the former speaker.

  32. 32.

    lowtechcyclist

    @frosty:

    Connolly is from Fairfax – or he was back when he was County Exec. He probably goes home every night.

    True, but his treatment, and time recovering from treatment of his cancer, will come out of one or the other, or both.

    So even though he can commute to his job, he will still have to make choices between whether he’s going to cut back on quality time with his family, or quality time as ranking member.  He’s just plain not going to be living a life where he can give anything like full devotion to both.

  33. 33.

    Jeffro

    @WaterGirl: my take is that Scott (and his supporters, including Dem Senate majority leader Lucas) want to try and squeeze Spanberger for some concessions.

    She doesn’t help herself much by offering “bipartisanship” first, last, and always.  I like her a lot, but it gets old.  If you’re a Dem be a Dem.

  34. 34.

    hotshoe

    @Jackie:

    Pelosi is, sadly, another one who has definitely outlived the value she can continue to contribute in her life.

    I respect her and am grateful for her former accomplishments. Former. That’s all.

  37. 37.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    @lowtechcyclist:

    True, but his treatment, and time recovering from treatment of his cancer, will come out of one or the other, or both.

    From my experience with two (younger) men who had the same disease, he could be treated in a special intensive care facility in the basement of the Capitol and he still would be unable to fully do this job.

  39. 39.

    Jeffro

    @lowtechcyclist: he’s incredibly invested in being a showboat, which has usually been to the benefit of the Dems.

    Not this time.

    Pass the baton, Gerry.  We wish you well, just like we do the rest of the old guard.  But it’s past time.

  42. 42.

    Glory b

    @John S.: BUT other younger Dems won in other cimmittees, from what I understand.

    I wish so many of you wouldn’t act like AOC is the only one.

    There are quite a few who flipped red seats, have many more legislative accomplishments, etc, than her.

  43. 43.

    lowtechcyclist

    @schrodingers_cat:

    I guess this is part II of evil old people need to die to make room for young blood. Part I was this June

    That horse is thoroughly beaten to death, and its remains should be decomposing by now.  But sure, dig them up one more time. Phew!

  45. 45.

    cmorenc

    The Conolly recommendation over AOC by the D House Steering Committee is centrist virtue signaling by the traditional D power brokers that the Congressional Ds to supposedly make the party seem more moderate to swing voters than an aggressive, upstart young progressive woman like AOC.  There is no other convincing explanation for choosing a 77yo with a disabling terminal cancer diagnosis over her.

  46. 46.

    frosty

    @@mistermix.bsky.social: When I mentioned the short commute I forgot the issue was esophogeal cancer. He won’t be commuting, or working, for long – won’t have the stamina for it during treatment.

    Give it up, Gerry.

  48. 48.

    John S.

    @Glory b:

    I never said AOC was “the one”. I don’t think anybody here did. Our leadership for the most part is old. That needs to change.

  49. 49.

    Jeffro

    totally OT but wait, Jamelle Bouie is on TikTok and has a big following?

    read some Q&A here

    (I’m always last to the party!)

    Bouie: I just try to produce takes that offer some sort of measured analysis of the world, and to offer as much context as I can provide for events. The New York Times obviously has a broad reach, but that reach is concentrated among a relatively narrow slice of people. It’s affluent, college-educated, mostly white people above the age of 40, and that’s all well and good, but I thought it was valuable to try to cultivate another kind of audience that maybe engages with my work in a different way. When I started doing it, I actually just read my columns or summarized a column. But I quickly realized that that’s not particularly useful. It’s more trivia that I work for the New York Times at this point on TikTok than it is people seeking me out as a guy who works at the New York Times. I’m not sure it’s all that valuable for me to foreground that, and so I don’t.

    Everything I put on TikTok seems very polished, and it seems like it comes out easily. It’s in part because I already did the hard thinking part when I wrote whatever I’m referencing or riffing off of—so I still need to write. I also recognize that if I want to reach a bunch of twentysomethings, I’m not going to reach them at the New York Times.

    good stuff!

  50. 50.

    Steve LaBonne

    What the hell even is the use of this position for an old sick guy? Whereas it would be an excellent platform for someone who will be a big part of the party’s future. I guess that’s why I’m not a politician, because I sure don’t get it.

  52. 52.

    The Audacity of Krope

    @lowtechcyclist: There are principles at play. Lessons to learn.

    I have no ideas of the relative qualifications of AOC v Connolly. Saying one should get the job over the other due to age and cancer disgusts me.

    But, frankly, the money is the problem I really want to attack. The demon pushing all these awful outcomes.

  53. 53.

    Another Scott

    Connolly is a very good guy. In his announcement he said he has no symptoms to speak of, so the diagnosis was a surprise.

    He’s been on Oversight since 2009.

    I have no opinion on whether AOC would be better, but Connolly would be very good there. He’s an effective fighter.

    We have a lot of talent. Getting outraged about things like this ranking member vote is not good for us.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  54. 54.

    Rusty

    I just got a notice that my Balloon Juice pet calendars are shipping.  Woo hoo.  (a little good news to cut the rancor).

  55. 55.

    cmorenc

    @trollhattan: The corresponding phenom to the dissipation of the once great PAC 12 is the expansion of the ACC into a hyper-bloated, unwieldy hog that is no longer so “Atlantic” or southeastern-based.

  57. 57.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    @Glory b:

    BUT other younger Dems won in other cimmittees, from what I understand.

    I wish so many of you wouldn’t act like AOC is the only one.

    There are quite a few who flipped red seats, have many more legislative accomplishments, etc, than her.

    Nope.

    Jamie Raskin was the sole “younger” person who moved into ranking member status.  He’s 62 and a lymphoma survivor.  (Lymphoma is far more treatable than esophageal cancer — I had 3 family members who are survivors and still alive.)

    The reason Raskin moved up is because Jerry Nadler (age 77) stepped aside without a fight.  (I can’t find any evidence that he has cancer, but his wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020 and is apparently still alive.)

  58. 58.

    John S.

    @Another Scott:

    I generally enjoy your comments, but you’re a bit of a broken record lately.

    Policing what people do or don’t get outraged about is just as useless as getting outraged about everything.

    People are allowed to criticize their elected leaders. That doesn’t mean that they are going to burn themselves out.

  59. 59.

    Jeffro

    @WaterGirl: well, she has kind of waltzed into the nomination for VA Gov largely due to her centrist appeal and tremendous fundraising, probably not in that order.

    The VA Gov spot is also – without taking it for granted – very likely to be a Dem win given that a) VA almost always goes against whichever party just won the WH the year beforehand, and b) in 2024, we managed to stay ‘blue’ despite minimal Dem campaigning and trump’s (not)landslide.

    So…it makes sense that before Spanberger coasts to the nomination and governorship, the remaining power brokers in the VA Dem party who are not yet on board with her would try to grab some headlines and see what they can get for themselves and/or their constituents.

    (I’d have preferred they did it behind closed doors…and a Bobby Scott gubernatorial run is kind of laughable for multiple reasons…but that’s just how I see the whole thing).

  60. 60.

    @mistermix.bsky.social

    @Another Scott:

    Trust me, and I really wish this weren’t true, he will well and truly know that he has esophageal cancer as soon as the treatment kicks in.  Sadly, it is brutal, lengthy, and leaves you without the ability to swallow for at least a short time — if you’re lucky.

  63. 63.

    John S.

    @Another Scott:

    Usually you do contribute MUCH more to the discussion. Hopefully the desire to rehash the election will get out of everyone’s system soon, and you can get back to more of that and less of the tone policing.

  64. 64.

    Melancholy Jaques

    @hrprogressive:

    It seems like they are unwilling and incapable of learning any meaningful lessons

    It is possible that the leadership is looking at the last election and thinking another boring white guy might have won.

    I am not agreeing with that view and I would hope that the party big shots can see that AOC is reaching voters we need. But people in power usually do whatever they can to stay in power, cancer be damned.

  65. 65.

    Jeffro

    @UncleEbeneezer: Connolly has a much longer record of being a showboat, is what I mean.  =)

    Both have good reputations for delivering for their constituents.

    As I mentioned upthread, though, all things being equal I want the old guard to take the hint and turn over the keys.

  66. 66.

    tobie

    I like Gerry Connolly but given the circumstances I don’t think he is right for the job at this moment. Dem voters need someone with spunk and a fighting spirit who will not be afraid to go toe to toe with Republicans and expose their corruption. That would be AOC. No one — neither Dem base voters nor moderate Republicans who sometimes vote for Democrats — wants a wishy-washy response to the grift, lawlessness and assault on rights that’s coming with the Trump admin.

  68. 68.

    NotoriousJRT

    @Another Scott: I only have experience with one person diagnosed with esophageal cancer – a 70 something friend who went from having  “a little difficulty swallowing” to assisted suicide in under 12 months. It was harrowing and heartbreaking.  I have always liked what I saw in Connolly, but I have to wonder why he thinks this job is a good idea for him right now. OTOH, I hear a lot of pundits talking about AOC like she is some Bolshevik Boogie Woman.  I believe the Democratic power structure fears her more than surrender to Trump.

  69. 69.

    Glory b

    @John S.: BUT you are ignoring the other younger & more accomplished members. Some of them won & will win.

    Why are so many acting like all is lost if she doesn’t?

  71. 71.

    Quaker in a Basement

    @Jackie: I can’t fault the guy for competing for the job. At the same time, I’m not one who puts a lot of faith in the seniority system. If there’s a better choice, then the party should act in its longterm interests.

    What I fear most is that this situation will devolve into counterproductive namecalling and accusations.

  73. 73.

    Glory b

    @NotoriousJRT: AND I don’t think she has anywhere near the influence that some think she does.

    I recall that Maya Wliey, wonderfully well spoken, smart & knowledgeable,  embraced lefties progressives in NYC & lost to an immigration-demonizing, lying, corrupt former cop.

    I’ll grant this, I’m willingly & reluctantly giving up on the idea that a black woman will win these elected offices very often.

  74. 74.

    Glory b

    @@mistermix.bsky.social: Please recall that age is a protected class & under the law, is like saying we need to get all these blsck people/women/Asians/ etc, out of office.

    Older people don’t deserve stereotyping any more than any other group. Judge them by their abilities, not by their membership in a protected class.

    “We need AOC, not some black guy, you know how THEY are” is the same statement under the law.

  75. 75.

    Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony

    Meh. Of the long list of things to get outraged about, this one doesn’t even rate my top 50. If the treatment is too rough, he’ll step down and AOC will get the post then. This will delay that a year or two at most.

  76. 76.

    John S.

    @Glory b:

    MisterMix already put to bed that lie. There is not a dearth of younger Democrats moving into leadership positions. That is the problem.

  78. 78.

    Glory b

    @John S.: And believing someone is disqualified solely because of their age is no different than thinking the same solely because of their race, religion, disability,  gender,etc.

  79. 79.

    The Audacity of Krope

    @Glory b: Can’t we all just agree that everyone is an asshole and move on?

    Aside: I’m still waiting on that non-age-related pitch for AOC from anyone.

  81. 81.

    eemom

    Holy fuck, people. Connolly is my congressman and a good man. He doesn’t deserve this kind of brutality, regardless of whether AOC would be a better choice.

    And in terms of his personal choice to seek the position notwithstanding his illness, exactly who the fuck do you think you are to judge that??

  83. 83.

    The Audacity of Krope

    @eemom: And in terms of his personal choice to seek the position notwithstanding his illness, exactly who the fuck do you think you are to judge that??

    The party bigwigs signaled earlier this year that bigoted political campaigns that substitute any particular individual’s personal preferences for those actually vested and voting in the process is how we get things done.

    So blame Adam Schiff.

  84. 84.

    Another Scott

    Meanwhile, … RollCall.com:

    Lawmakers return for what’s expected to be the last workweek of the year with no continuing resolution yet in sight.

    The text of a stopgap spending bill that would continue funding until at least March 14 was not released over the weekend, though it had been expected to be. Late hiccups this time include a dispute over how to extend farm programs and provide relief to those in the agriculture sector.

    Absent congressional action, funding would lapse at the end of the night on Friday, when the current stopgap funding law expires. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees each issued weekend statements criticizing the other party’s handling of the farm bill provisions.

    “Their eleventh-hour offer fell short of what farmers need, shortchanged critical farm bill programs, and steals from critically needed assistance to address recent natural disasters. We can and should do both economic and disaster assistance, not pit one against the other.” Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and House Agriculture Committee ranking member David Scott, D-Ga., said in a joint statement.

    There are presently 219R, 210D in the House (5 seats are vacant).

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  85. 85.

    eemom

    @@mistermix.bsky.social:

    What is wrong with you if you think being the next in line for a, let’s face it pretty meaningless job for the next 2 years, is more important than time with friends and family?

    See above. Frankly surprised to see this pious bullshit coming from you.

    And if it’s so meaningless why are you so outraged about who gets it?

  86. 86.

    Jeffro

    Connolly was my congressman just a few short years ago and is a good guy, a real fighter.

    He’s also going to be out a lot (at a minimum) in the coming Congress and I’m tired of seeing the old guard (whether nationally or here in VA) cling to their last scraps of power when it’s well past time to turn over the keys.

    We have a very capable and deep bench.  The wolf is at the door.  He can hang in there if he wants, but there’s a better way.

  87. 87.

    Raoul Paste

    @Another Scott:  I wouldn’t call you the tone police.   I value your role as a fact checker now and then, among other things.  Your input is welcome and beneficial.

  88. 88.

    The Audacity of Krope

    The plus side is AOC’s messaging on this positive and not needlessly ripping people down with a line of bigotry.

  90. 90.

    Another Scott

    Meanwhile, …

    Gabe Ortíz

    “Fourteen Democratic senators will introduce an amendment Monday evening to remove language from Congress’ massive defense spending bill that seeks to ban coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members, the office of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., told NBC News.” https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politi

    [ image ]

    NBC News · 4h

    Democratic senators seek to ax transgender care ban from defense billBy Matt Lavietes

    Dec 16, 2024, 07:18 PM

    The future is yet unwritten.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  92. 92.

    The Audacity of Krope

    @kindness: Just another norm serving the ends of power brokers and the principle of entrenched power. Of course the Democrats will cling to it til the bitter end.

  93. 93.

    Another Scott

    Meanwhile, one for Geminid. Science Advances (Open Access):

    Abstract

    Geologic hydrogen could be a low-carbon primary energy resource; however, the magnitude of Earth’s subsurface endowment has not yet been assessed. Knowledge of the occurrence and behavior of natural hydrogen on Earth has been combined with information from geologic analogs to construct a mass balance model to predict the resource potential. Given the associated uncertainty, stochastic model results predict a wide range of values for the potential in-place hydrogen resource [10^3 to 10^10 million metric tons (Mt)] with the most probable value of ~5.6 × 10^6 Mt. Although most of this hydrogen is likely to be impractical to recover, a small fraction (e.g., 1 × 10^5 Mt) would supply the projected hydrogen needed to reach net-zero carbon emissions for ~200 years. This amount of hydrogen contains more energy (~1.4 × 10^16 MJ) than all proven natural gas reserves on Earth (~8.4 × 10^15 MJ). Study results demonstrate that further research into understanding the potential for geologic hydrogen resources is merited.

    Could be a lot! More study is needed!

    :-)

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  94. 94.

    Harrison Wesley

    I’m just surprised this is an issue. I can’t care about age – I’m the same age he is. Let’s see how it works out.

  96. 96.

    Subsole

    @hrprogressive:

    Agree.

    They can build their own infrastructure, pay for their own ads, secure their own ballot access, and do all the stuff they have traditionally expected the Democrats to do for them before immediately turning around and shitting all over the party.

    If they outperform the Democrats? Great. If they can actually produce results, then I will not argue with success.

    On the other hand, if the American public tells them to pound sand, it gets much easier to cut them loose as unaffiliated.

    As an added bonus, win or lose, at least we won’t have any more acrimony over the evil DNC rigging the votes, or Berniebro convention disruptors, or whatever dolchstosselegende gets thrown out by the losing campaign.

  97. 97.

    Subsole

    @Glory b:

    God, can we please get Jasmine Crockett on SOMETHING. 

     

    @UncleEbeneezer: All politics requires a little showboating, I think.

    The Republicans embrace that. Liberals, apparently, have decided as a matter of general principle that tall poppies get cut.

  98. 98.

    Kay

    @Jeffro:

    He does substantive very short pieces on serious topics, then he completely engages in the comments which makes for great discussion – he basically moderates.
    Hes really raised the bar for TikTok – it was fun to watch it take off.

  99. 99.

    Lyrebird

    @Another Scott: Thanks for speaking up for Rep. Connolly, who’s been fighting the good fight uphill for a long time.  Bit of a hero to me.

    I think I should just skip more posts, to your point.  Not sure about others, but not good for me.  But maybe someday I will travel back to NoVA and have a Proof of Life party.

  100. 100.

    Subsole

    @Melancholy Jaques:

    Yep. This.

    Twice we ran hyperqualified women. Twice we lost yo the absolute lowest form of multicellular life America ever produced.

    They are probably gun-shy. I am too.

     

    Sorry folks. I’m sure AOC is great. I don’t trust Americans anymore. Not like I used to.

  101. 101.

    JCJ

    @@mistermix.bsky.social:  I have no idea what stage his esophageal cancer is, but patients who have this discovered incidentally while undergoing endoscopy for other reasons can do well.  Unfortunately the vast majority of cases are discovered after swallowing difficulty has developed.   Those can still do well, but good results are infrequent.  Currently those with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction are often treated with chemotherapy and surgery, but some are treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation, perhaps with surgery to follow.  Esophagectomy is a big procedure.  Squamous cell carcinoma of the mid or upper esophagus can be treated with surgery if found early or with chemotherapy and radiation in more advanced cases.  Cancer in the cervical esophagus is typically treated with chemotherapy and radiation.

     

    If a person is undergoing surveillance endoscopy (EGD – esophagogastric duodenoscopy) for Barrett’s esophagus sometimes a very early cancer can be discovered and treated.

  102. 102.

    Another Scott

    @Subsole: Made me look.

    It looks like Gerry got about 125,000 more votes than AOC did.  Not bad for an unpopular old guy.

    ;-)

    To be clear(er), I like AOC.  I don’t think that there’s some grand conspiracy to keep her out of power in the party.  I do think, though, that the way to get power is to work within the system with one’s colleagues. To demonstrate over time that one can do the work and be effective in good times and bad. There are lots of talented Democrats on Oversight. Presumably the members there will do what they think is best for holding DJT and the other party to account in voting for the Ranking Member.

    FWIW.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  103. 103.

    RevRick

    @Suzanne: All politicians are narcissistic. Indeed, this is true of most public facing careers: the clergy, actors, salespeople. You have to be to step into the spotlight.

    I’ve seen clips of Connolly in action, and he seemed to be an incisive questioner capable of cutting through GOP bs.

    One factor at play here may be the anxiety of Democratic leadership appearing too NYC centric and the desire to disperse leadership cookies around the caucus. There are 215 egos to be assauged here. But this is me just spit balling.

  104. 104.

    Jinchi

    @@mistermix.bsky.social: What is wrong with you if you think being the next in line for a, let’s face it pretty meaningless job for the next 2 years, is more important than time with friends and family?

    I had the same feeling with Diane Feinstein. What was the point of her running for her last term? She was already 85 years old and noticeably declining in health and mental acuity. There was clearly no “final bill” she was desperate to see passed. She was just there because she felt she deserved a lifetime tenure.​

  106. 106.

    mvr

    @Glory b: I actually like her a lot, partly for her political judgement. Which is why I’m sure she would not go third party were she to lose (which I hole she does not) like someone upthread suggested.

  107. 107.

    mvr

    @RevRick: All politicians are narcissistic.

    Or at least closer to that end of the continuum than most of the rest of us. And I completely agree this has to be part of the lens through which we see all of this.  It is a trait that serves them somewhat well if they don’t go to far with it, as it does with criminal defense lawyers.

    And it is relevant here. If you are choosing between politicians you are always choosing between people whose own estimation of what they can do goes beyond what they in fact will wind up doing. It keeps them going when others would falter. And it sometimes keeps them going beyond when they should let others take their place.

    I think this means that moral failings are somewhat context relative – the very same trait can sometimes be good and sometimes be bad. Both of the protagonists here have a bit of it and it has served both of them well. I’m sort of hoping AOC wins out in this one, since I think the effects would be better. But I don’t have to demonize the other guy for acting in the character that enabled him to be a successful politician.

    So, yes, 100% agree. (Closing out another thread after everyone has gone home.)

  108. 108.

    anitamargarita

    @@mistermix.bsky.social:

    yeah, I don’t get why he wants this at this stage of life and health. A friend of mine died with this cancer a year ago. It was brutal. Of course she didn’t have access to the kind of care that Connolly does.

  111. 111.

    Citizen Alan

    @Melancholy Jaques:

    It is possible that the leadership is looking at the last election and thinking another boring white guy might have won.

    I love Kamala Harris. She was my first choice in 2020. She would have been an absolutely stellar president.

    That said, when Joe picked her for VP, I was fully cognizant that Joe and the Democratic Party were betting the farm on America being “over” racism and misogyny by 2024. Sadly, that turned out to be a losing bet.

  112. 112.

    Geminid

    @Jeffro: I noticed back in Dec, 2020  that Jaime Raskin was named Ranking Member on Oversight despite Gerry Connolly’s seniority. That vote did not make news like this one has, so I assumed at the time that Connolly went along.

    Raskin had earned a reputation as an “up-and-comer” during the first Impeachment trial. Democratic House Leadership knew Oversight Committee hearings would attract a lot of attention from the public, and they wanted the Committee fronted by a more dynamic and “famous” politician.

    At the time, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was made 2nd Ranking member, gIving second place to another rising “star.” But Raskin still ran the Democratic side of the Committee and represented it in negotiations with the Republican Chairman, a key responsibility.

    So why not elevate Ocasio-Cortez now like Raskin was elevated then? I can think of several possible reasons. But I don’t need to speculate since Steering Members members and other House Democrats can be expected let reporters know their rationale. This is obviously a bigger story than than your typical Steering Commitee decision.

    So, another research task; I guess I’ll start with Politico Playbook because they thrive on these types of stories.

  113. 113.

    Geminid

    Correction: that would be December, 2022 when Raskin was jumped over the more senior Connolly as Ranking Member on the Oversight Committee.

  114. 114.

    Geminid

    @Another Scott: Geologists have located substantial reservoirs of geologic hydrogen in Lorraine, France and in Spain, on their side of the Pyrenees. Since the EU has already committed to making hydrogen a large component of their future energy mix, these European sites will likely demonstrate the feasibility of exploiting geologic hydrogen by the end of this decade.

  115. 115.

    AM in NC

    @schrodingers_cat:  I see this more as, “I have cancer and am 74  years old.  Maybe those things combined will have a significant impact on my ability to do this important job, so I should think about that, rather than my desire to hold this job until I die.”

    When you are 8-10 years past normal retirement age, have a deadly cancer where the survival rate is 22% and treatment will be brutal, maybe you look at those facts and say, “I’m not the indispensable man who only and alone can lead the Oversight Committee”, and you let someone who has all the energy in the world do the work.

    We dealt with this in a non-age-related way this cycle with our County Dem chair.  The candidate who won the position has a full-time job and two young kids, and she won over a newly-retired woman who would have had all the time in the world for the job.  The younger, busier County Chair was so unresponsive to Precinct Chairs over the past few years.    She had a lot of friends who voted for her, but this isn’t about making friends.  If you don’t have the bandwidth to do the job like the job needs to be done, you step aside and serve in a less-taxing capacity.   To do anything else makes it about YOU and your ego. And I’m sick of that. From any quarter.

  116. 116.

    Miss Bianca

    So, let me see if I’ve got this straight. The Democrats jettisoned our (perfectly healthy, but, you know, OLD!!11!!) POTUS because he was too old, but now they’re saying that a 77-y.o. dude with CANCER is A-OK to lead an important committee?

    Something tells me the Democrats haven’t given up on learning all the wrong lessons.

  117. 117.

    way2blue

    Sigh.  My Congressperson, Anna Eshoo, is buddies with Nancy Pelosi.  I can call & leave her a message of support for AOC, but I don’t see it affecting the outcome.  The olds need to step aside.  The Democrats desperately need new, young energy to identify & tackle the party’s blind spots and weak media strategies.  As my mother might say:    ‘If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it—did it make a sound?’

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