There’s another special election coming up in a few months. This one’s in PA-18 where Republican “pro-life” icon Tim Murphy resigned after he got busted asking his mistress to get an abortion.
The Democrats have a good candidate in Conor Lamb. Let’s raise some money for him.
Update. Commenter geg6 says:
He’s not just a good candidate, he’s a great one.
People, this could happen. And that’s a very gerrymandered district that is reliably red. But I think Lamb is one of those superb candidates perfectly matched to the district with the exception that it is red and he is blue. If anyone can appeal to the WWC in that district, this is the guy.
Amir Khalid
Not a penny from me; alas, I’m not eligible to give. Just commenting to lend moral support to the cause.
SFAW
Don’t be silly. The Dem has absolutely no chance. In fact, he/we should just give up right now.
Next you’ll be trying to tell me that this “Doug Jones” guy has a chance in
MississippiAlabama. The last Dem to win a Senate race there later switched to be a Republican. So, no, I’m not going to waste my money, the way I did on that Jones guy.MJS
@SFAW: To be complete this comment needs some “recount ratfuckery is coming! Just you wait!”
Major Major Major Major
@MJS: russians are going to come and personally eat the ballots marked for Jones in front of the SoS
SFAW
@MJS:
Sorry, I’m a little off my game this morning, too much single-malt after 11 PM last night. Or was it champagne?
SFAW
@Major Major Major Major:
I wouldn’t think DOCTOR Jill Stein would consider making the trip to Montgomery.
Oh, wait — you meant actual Russians? Not their useful idiots? My bad.
Mike J
WIkipedia edited anonymously from an IP address allocated to congress: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQ73ZhqXkAAzJJy.png
Major Major Major Major
@SFAW: actual literal russians and possibly Greenwald.
@Mike J: I don’t believe that edit for a second!
JPL
I admit that I was among the crew who happily was proved wrong. May I add that it’s time for someone to tell Moore, it was god’s will.
The Ancient Randonneur
“Pro-life”: Life begins at erection.
ByRookorByCrook
Even the Rethug Secretary of State does not think a recount would change the outcome of the election, but it is certainly Moore’s right to flush his donors money on a quixotic recount effort. An Alabama stimulus.
The Moar You Know
Donald Trump is a loser. Weak. Can’t even sell a guy Alabama voters were dumb enough to buy multiple times.
Thoroughly Pizzled
Thanks for doing these, Doug. The DCCC should send you a medal.
? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?
I hope someone can answer this question for me: when is a special election held vs a governor appointing a temporary replacement?
? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?
@ByRookorByCrook:
He probably can’t believe he, a man of God, lost to a godless libtard.
oatler.
Stop parading in my rain Doug Jones. Damn human beings messing up my doomsday scenario.
The Moar You Know
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: varies by state. In the case of Alabama, the replacement would have served through 2018. The new Alabama governor decided to move that date up: an unforced error on her part.
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
Omarosa got fired
dmsilev
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: Each state has their own laws about that. For most states, it’s a temporary appointment to serve until a special election can be held, but in some the temp appointment serves out the balance of the original term.
Mike in NC
We partied too hard last night, so getting a late start today. MSM is saying Roy Moore’s defeat in Alabama is actually good news for Republicans. Naturally!
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et Al.)
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: It depends on the state. Some states schedule it for the next scheduled federal general election, which would be the next November election in an even numbered year. I think this is how Virginia, where I live, does it, though there hasn’t been a special Senate election here since 1966. Some states schedule their special elections for the next general election, whether it’s a federal election or not. That’s how Pennsylvania does it. I grew up there and we had a special election in November of 1991. Some states have them whenever the governor calls them, and as soon as they can.
Mike J
@Mike in NC: This is good news for John McCain!
Marcopolo
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: Agree that rules for replacing senators vary by state (appt or special elections). Rules for replacing house members are delineated in the Constitution (there must be an election) but the timing of the election is at the discretion of the state.
SFAW
@Butthurt
Maybe she quit because she found out that “bow down before Shitgibbon” did not mean what she thought it meant?
[By the way: the Reply button is part of your link. Meaning: clicking “reply” sends one to the article.]
ByRookorByCrook
I admit to being a an eeyore about this race, especially after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling against keeping ballot records. I thought the fix was in, but even with all the weight of state against them, Alabama Democrats persevered. We have work to do. Every race. Every potential vote. Roll Tide!
Amir Khalid
@Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD):
Again? Or are you watching a rerun?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@SFAW: It took heroic no-nonsense beribboned daddy John Kelly only seven months (?) to get rid of the reality show hanger-on best known for having a photo shoot in the Rose Garden. It’s like Eisenhower or George Marshall came back
geg6
He’s not just a good candidate, he’s a great one.
People, this could happen. And that’s a very gerrymandered district that is reliably red. But I think Lamb is one of those superb candidates perfectly matched to the district with the exception that it is red and he is blue. If anyone can appeal to the WWC in that district, this is the guy.
Major Major Major Major
@sylvania: shut the fuck up and go away you annoying fucking useless troll
Mnemosyne
@ByRookorByCrook:
They did try to fix the election. That’s why the AL SoS doesn’t want anyone trying to investigate or recount this election. He wants to sweep everything under the rug so it can’t be proved how much he worked to elect Moore.
geg6
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?:
It all depends on state law. The states determine what happens.
Another Scott
@geg6: Thanks for the endorsement – it means a lot.
Donated.
Let’s do this!
Cheers,
Scott.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
also, this is completely fucking outrageous
debbie
@Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD):
There is justice! This is, to use her phrase, the ultimate revenge!
chris
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Where are the texts from the anti-Hillary New York agents? Just wondering.
Also, how the hell did someone get these texts?
Mike J
tobie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I saw this and heard that NPR already reported on these deliberately leaked emails this morning without mentioning anything about the orchestration of this disclosure. Geez…can’t both-sides-loving reporters insist to the DOJ that they get the tweets of all agents involved in the Wiener investigation in NY? Can’t they ask how this move violates Sessions’ supposed recusal? End of pointless rant.
David Anderson
@Major Major Major Major: Pie is your friend, use it wisely
Major Major Major Major
@David Anderson: I have him pied, I didn’t even read what he said.
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
rikyrah
@TomPerez
24s24 seconds ago
More
Let me be clear: We won in Alabama and Virginia because #BlackWomen led us to victory. Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party, and we can’t take that for granted. Period.
Major Major Major Major
@rikyrah: splitter. Keith Ellison would know better than to alienate working class whites like that. //
rikyrah
@Tilda Swintons Bald Cap:
The shade…
BWA HA HA HA HA HA AH AHH A
jonas
@Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD): LOL. I particularly liked this line in the story: “She was reportedly banned from posting any of the photos online by White House officials citing security and ethical concerns.”
Since when has anyone in Trump’s WH given a shit about security, or (especially) ethical, concerns?
*Everyone* around Trump is either an idiot, a grifter, or both. I’d put Omarosa in the last category.
different-church-lady
@Mike J: I would think vandalizing the entry for “Hey Fourteen” would be more appropriate.
Chyron HR
@different-church-lady:
I think you mean “Everyone’s Gone to the Movies“.
TriassicSands
Bigot Moore has once again said that he is not going to concede. Yawn.
“God is in control.” Hey, Bigot, if God is in control, then why did he let you lose the vote yesterday? Is God really going to commit electoral fraud to put you in office now? If I had a God, it sure wouldn’t be that one. Prediction: Moore’s tantrum will not be short-lived. He’ll be back in 2020 to run again for this Senate seat and it will be interesting to see if all those bigoted GOP voters re-nominate the perv to be their senator.
I wish this result convinced me that Alabama voters decided that electing a theocrat is a terrible idea. But I don’t believe that. They decided that a pervert isn’t the ideal fit for a Senate seat. By they, I mean a very small (but not tiny) plurality of voters.
Shocking factoid? I just heard the 98% of Alabama African American women voted for Jones. That sounds great until to stop and realize it means that 2% of African American women might have voted FOR Moore. Some of that remaining 2% might have written in a non-Moore candidate, but how could any African American woman vote for Roy Moore.
The preliminary reports on the gender gap are that women went for Jones by +16%. Good, but still not what it should have been.
Major Major Major Major
@Chyron HR: I always figured him for a Rikki Don’t Lose That Number kind of guy.
Major Major Major Major
@TriassicSands:
Only because of that black women figure. Moore won white women.
LurkerNoLonger
@Mike in NC: I guess you could make the case it’s good for them that Moore didn’t win because they aren’t painted as the party of a pedophile, but they already have that label now and they have one less vote in the senate too. So I guess you really can’t make that argument and not sound like an idiot.
JPL
@Major Major Major Major: It proves that black is beautiful.
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
@TriassicSands: Margin of error was 2-3%.
Immanentize
@Tilda Swintons Bald Cap: That is a tweet of art.
Humboldtblue
Nate Silver thinks Gillibrand runs in 2020
She has an excellent Trump score.
Major Major Major Major
@Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD): it still means that at least one black woman voted for Moore.
Immanentize
@different-church-lady: Young Girl — Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.
Amaranthine RBG
@Major Major Major Major:
Is there really a place anymore for white women in the Democratic tent?
Chyron HR
@Humboldtblue:
Will Messiah re-join the Democratic party and pretend to care about “identity politics” for 7 months of the election year so that he can seek the nomination as well?
Chyron HR
@Amaranthine RBG:
You’re right, Messiah’s chosen people–the White Working Pederasts–are the ONLY voters who matter. We must put #BlackWomen in their place so they stop disrupting elections by voting for Democrats.
Major Major Major Major
@Amaranthine RBG: I guess I don’t have to read the internet any more today since I’ve already read the stupidest thing on it.
JPL
@Amaranthine RBG: hahahahaha
Mike J
@Immanentize: Neil Diamond
Jeffro
@ByRookorByCrook:
Alabama Stimulus (n): a thing…a thing that means many different things to many different people…
dmsilev
@Major Major Major Major: Have you no faith in the Internet? The day is still young.
different-church-lady
@Amaranthine RBG: I’m sure we could find a place for them, if only they’d come in the tent.
Doug!
@Thoroughly Pizzled:
Thank you
Immanentize
@Mike J: Ha!!
Cherry Bomb The Runaways!
different-church-lady
@Jeffro: Don’t look that up on Urban Dictionary…
Major Major Major Major
@dmsilev: nope, not gonna top that, even if you share one of your emails.
dmsilev
@Major Major Major Major: My inbox has been quiet this morning, unless you’re extremely interested in the nitty-gritty of building renovations. Do you want to hear about duct relocations for fume-hood exhaust lines?
(no, me neither, but I don’t have a choice)
lamh36
@TriassicSands: Wait…like 63% of White Women voted FOR Moore in Alabama…and ur big oooh moment is that 2% of African American women voted for Moore…really…really…
Shouldn’t the better ooh moment be WTF were THOSE White women thinking….
I’ll just assume you’re snarking…cause the 2% of African American women who did not vote for Jones….CERTAINLY aint the big “take away” from last night..and anyone harping on it is an idiot, IMHO
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I see Steve the Gun Nut has taken off his uber-woke costume to put the “voice of forgotten white people” suit back on. Ugly thing, but it fits that particular troll better.
Major Major Major Major
@dmsilev: I do not.
@lamh36: we know what they were thinking—patriarchy and white supremacy good.
FlyingToaster
@Amaranthine RBG: Only for those of us who are NOT condescending shitheads…
TriassicSands
@TriassicSands:
I’m aware of that, but “all women” is still a demographic group, and an important measure of the ability of Democrats to win.
Turnout in Alabama, though above normal by special election standards (in voting-averse Amurka), was appallingly low given the high profile of this race. Thirty-five percent. Sixty-five percent of eligible voters weren’t interested enough to cast a vote. (That is less those who may have had insurmountable obstacles to voting — something Alabama Republicans hope will apply to all African American voters, both male and female.)
Jim, Foolish Literalist
something tells me April Ryan is enjoying this story
Jeffro
Hey folks OT but still…if you haven’t seen The Smithereens (remember them?) you ain’t gonna: singer Pat DiNizio dead at 62
A really good show live (saw them back in ’92 AND in ’15) and a couple really great albums (GREEN THOUGHTS most especially…for you…)
Ah well…off to dig up some CDs in memoriam…
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Jeffro: that one hits close to home
tobie
@Humboldtblue: Please no. I really don’t want to have to knock on doors for her if she’s the party’s nominee.
Edward Moore
Just kicked in my fifty. Might warm the cackles of your cold heart to know that a group was running an “Abortion, it’s not just for your mistress.” billboards out by the Pittsburgh Airport
Jeffro
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yup. Starting up ‘Only A Memory’ now…
piratedan
@Jeffro: always considered Strangers when we meet to be one of their best… loved their straight ahead, lyrically pleasing tunes….
lamh36
@SusanSarandon
4h4 hours ago
Thank you African Americans in Alabama who organized and fought their way to the polls despite so much voter suppression. Thank you Selma once again. Respect.
Miss Bianca
@tobie: I’m not entirely without expectation that some rat-fucking will come up around her that will cause national Democratic leaders to shake their heads sorrowfully and say that for the good of the party and the nation that she will have to withdraw from the race.
Karma. That bitch in the the pantsuit.
Raoul
@chris: Dems in one of the Congressional committees are now asking for that sort of stuff. 2019 is going to be nuts (I hope). Scripts are gonna be flipped in a lot of Dem chaired hearings.
rikyrah
Black Women have saved the country from #RoyMooreChildMolester so while we say #ThankYouAlabama we are really saying thank you Black Women
— Stephen Sipila (@StephenSipila) December 13, 2017
Zelma
Re the contest in PA 18, yes the Democratic candidate can win. It’s my “home” district, although I moved six years ago. The reason he can win is that it contains a large number of Pittsburgh’s affluent suburbs and a number of them went for Clinton in 2016. My town, Mt. Lebanon, has always been competitive for Democrats but what shocked me was that the next town over, Upper St. Clair went for Clinton. And there are lots of Resistance groups in the South Hills that will work hard for Lamb. Also, the Dems chose a candidate who can win and the Rethugs chose a crazy.
Murphy had a lot of latent support in the area because he originally was a moderate Republican. Heck, I think I voted for him a time or two before he went over to the dark side. So, even though it’s Christmas and money is tight, I will donate to Lamb.
BTW, my current district, NJ 2, could also move into the Democratic column thanks to the retirement of our fed-up Republican representative. Interesting times.
TriassicSands
@lamh36:
No, my big ooh moment is that Jnoes won.
I’m just amazed that any African Americans (male or female) would vote for someone who pines for the pre-Civil War greatness of America.
Not at all. R-A-C-I-S-M. There are plenty of white female racists in Alabama. And then you ought to consider the hyper-religiosity issue. Many Republican voters will never consider voting for anyone they think is pro-abortion. It may be that the 2% of African American females who voted for Moore find his views on race less important than Jones’ views on abortion.
So, let’s reconsider. Is it more amazing that (any percentage of) white female racists would vote for anti-abortion Moore or that any African America females would support a man who has said he could do without the 13th Amendment? You’re entitled to your own opinion, but I find the latter a bigger ooh moment.
schrodingers_cat
@TriassicSands: 2% is within the margin of error.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@piratedan: For me it’s Behind a wall of sleep”
I didn’t know who Jeannie Shipton was, wasn’t even (quite) born in 1965, but what an opening line
Amir Khalid
@tobie:
That could end up with some nihilistic, destructive Freedom Cuckoo getting into the Oval Office, which you surely do not want.
lamh36
@TriassicSands: Sigh…nope…I’m not playing this game today…I said my peace, and that’s all I plan to say…
Raoul
@Zelma: I lived in Upper St. Clair from 77-80. Interesting to think it went Clinton.
While white women in AL were terrible, college educated ones were something like 15% less terrible. College white males didn’t split as much. But I’d think the education demo in USC, Mt. Lebo etc plays a big role in the vote there.
Cacti
@Mike in NC:
Yep. The calls are already going out that Jones should do “the responsible thing” and join the Republican caucus.
Amir Khalid
@TriassicSands:
As has been pointed out many a time, every demographic has its share of the un … wise, shall we say.
Ben Cisco
HELLO BJ!!!
Been busy elsewhere, and there’s way too many threads to try to catch up on now, so WHAT’S UP?????
Loving today. LOVING IT.
Jones won, Omarosa got DJ Jazzy Jeff’d up out the paint, people are discovering (or rediscovering) where the Dem base is, and everybody trying to push those pieces trying to deny/denigrate/dismiss it are getting DRAGGED.
ROLL TIDE!
lamh36
Has any of the House reps asked Rosenstein about the reports about this:
lamh36
Raoul
May have been noted elsewhere, but always wrong Bill Kristol broke his streak.
Ian G.
@lamh36:
Go fuck yourself.
(Sarandon, not lamh36)
Amir Khalid
@Raoul:
A stopped clock is right twice a day.
Just One More Canuck
@Major Major Major Major: Rest of the Internet: “Hold my beer”
Raoul
@lamh36: Bullshit. He is just hoping to avoid a libel suit (or prosecution? Dunno if passing forgeries in that manner is illegal or just grossly unethical)
Miss Bianca
@lamh36:I’m not going to click on SS’s tweet, but I hope she’s getting some righteous roasting.
What this tweet didn’t say: “Thank you, African-American voters, for remembering that voting is an act of communal political will, not a consumer choice. and that the lesser of two evils is still the lesser evil, not the greater. A lesson I and white lefty America could stand to learn, or at least acknowledge that I need to learn.”
debbie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I so, so, SO want there to be video of that escort out of the building!
schrodingers_cat
Thank You Alabama, for showing that though our enemies are formidable they are not invincible.
Special shout out to evil vanquishing black goddesses.
BTW when is Balloon Juice FP going to get a female perspective not of the majority?
I nominate rikyrah, lamh36 and ruemara.
Boatboy_srq
@TriassicSands: My biggest takeaway was that 48+% of the AL electorate thinks a God-bothering paedo wingnut is just fine to send to the Senate. That’s unnerving all by itself.
One wonders whether the AL SoS is opposing a recount because even with all the ballot sheninagns implied by the news there STILL wasn’t enough to overcome Jones’lead.
Humboldtblue
While he stills blames the dirty liberal left for daring to insult Christians, the editor of Christianity Today at least has some self-awareness.
Nate Silver has some thoughts on the impact of the Jones win.
debbie
Won’t the court ruling about not preserving some voting records work against Moore if he decides to contest the results?
Ben Cisco
@debbie: Here you go: https://giphy.com/gifs/fresh-prince-jazzy-jeff-dj-wQCWMHY9EHLfq
Ben Cisco
@schrodingers_cat: Seconded!
lamh36
I don’t care what nobody says, Joe Biden is a truly, a good & decent guy
Humboldtblue
@lamh36:
Just finished watching that clip. I can’t stand McCain, but fuck cancer.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I don’t know how credible Schindler is, I’ve seen people say he’s the American Louise Mensch, but I think he may be on to something here: Republican may regret asking what motivated DOJ/IC agents to send each other anti-trump messages.
The Thin Black Duke
@TriassicSands: What the hell are you babbling about?
Jeffro
@Humboldtblue: Intriguing links – thanks!
1) That editor of CT should have just gone with “Hypocrisy on the Right” and left it at that; nevertheless, at least he realizes you don’t win people over to Jesus by supporting those with decidedly un-Christian values.
2) Nate’s interesting…but I think that the Northam win in VA is an even bigger harbinger of what’s in store for the GOP than the Jones win yesterday in AL and a better indication of the national environment. Smilin’, Lyin’ “moderate” Ed Gillespie not only couldn’t win on a ticket of Trumpov-lite, he got smacked down hard by a relatively milquetoast Dem who stuck to his values and stuck with the ‘Obama coalition’ approach (minority voters + women voters + younger voters = victory)
Either way, the GOP is trapped: run away from Trumpov and lose your Neanderthal base, stick with him and continue to get hammered by a majority (provided that the Dem candidate doesn’t do something stupid, like alienate his party and its Obama coalition elements)
Here’s Jen Rubin’s take, pretty much full-on Balloon Juice as we have come to expect: Trump Is Toxic, And Other Lessons From Alabama
That ‘Republican’ vote has dwindled, though…Trumpov is shrinking his party.
Other good lessons:
Yutsano
@schrodingers_cat: @Ben Cisco: Maybe if we ask REALY nicely ABL will come back. Although she is busy with her own work now so that might not happen. Not to mention the undeserved invective she got.
@lamh36: Unca Joe is best Joe.
grandpa john
@debbie: based on Alabama law covering national, elections ,Jones lead is over .05 % and not subject to recount
schrodingers_cat
@Yutsano: We can have ABL and JGC can ask one or more of our commenters if they are interested.
Doug!
@schrodingers_cat:
Mention it to John in one of his threads.
marcopolo
@different-church-lady: Or “My Love is a Flower Just Beginning to Bloom” by JR and the Modern Lovers.
schrodingers_cat
@Doug!: I will, but I don’t think he likes me much. May be you should.
WaterGirl
@Major Major Major Major: Is this the wrong-way Cole guy?
Another Scott
@Jeffro: Hehe. Truth.
I’m again reminded of the rumors/claims that Bill Clinton encouraged Donnie to run. Maybe Bill was playing a very long game, too.
“They say – If you come at the king, you better not miss. Well you morons missed, and I’ll be very happy to live to see all of you destroyed after what you did to me and my family…” – WJC in his less forgiving dreams.
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@lamh36: Is it wrong of me to wish I used Twitter so I could reply to Susan S. with a hearty fuck you?
Please tell me I do not have to forgive her because she acknowledged the hugely important contributions of black women to this win. Pretty please.
Ben Cisco
@The Thin Black Duke: All I see him doing is crushing the hell out of some baked goods. I highly recommend it.
Ben Cisco
@WaterGirl: No. No you are not.
MisterForkbeard
I don’t think there’s a level of attention on this race that would allow the Dem to win. But I’ll put in some money anyway, because we should. :)
J R in WV
@Humboldtblue:
I have to tell you, Humboldt, I could not possibly care less about the editor of Christianity Today (or any subscriber) than I already do. There is nothing about the background of the editor of Christianity Today that makes his opinions better than, oh, say, Amaranthine RBG for one example. Who speaks deeply about Pie.
No hard feelings, just how it is. Hope you and yours are well out on the correct (left) coast!
Gvg
@J R in WV: yeah, I read that and just felt angry that he actually thought his anti roe v wade, anti gay views were the moral values. He also thought Christians are being persecuted.
He did understand that supporting bad men for the sake of political gain made them less influential. I would give the example of the Catholic Church covering up abuse breaking their influence in places like Ireland.
WaterGirl
@Ben Cisco: Thank you! I despise and disrespect her so very much. I bet she thinks this is her get out of jail free card. Arrogant and clueless.
low-tech cyclist
@Humboldtblue:
Not enough, by a long shot. We more liberal Christians have been putting up with the evangelical ‘assholes for Christ’ brigade for four decades now. We’ve had the patience of Job in putting up with these jerks, but it’s run thin, and he wants to bothsides us. Fuck that shit.