NotMax asked me to put up a reminder for the upcoming New York City Meet Up.
The date: Sunday, July 29
The place: Tír na Nóg
The address: 254 W. 31st St. (near 8th Av.)
The time: 5 p.m. – ??If people would be happier with an earlier start time, please do speak
up. (Tough for me to get into the city before maybe 2 p.m., YMMV.)
When making reservations shall be requesting a co-listing under the
name Balloon Juice.Be there or be talked about! :)
P.S.: If someone cares to volunteer to bring green balloon(s), thanks
in advance. Not inclined to run around during vacation seeking those
out.
You all know what to do in the comments!
Open thread.
Patricia Kayden
Have fun with your get together!! Looking forward to the photos of the jackals.
TenguPhule
But we had to lose Al Franken, because reasons.
Via Wapo.
gene108
Sigh… one day, I will find a way to get to a BJ meet up.
Would be fun meeting others in real life.
Baud
@TenguPhule: Who says he’ll survive. The issue isn’t over yet.
LAO
I expect I’ll show up, maybe a little late. Who else is coming?
zhena gogolia
@Baud:
Plus it’s harder to make it a big enough scandal when he’s not the one doing the harassing.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
(is this an open thread? is this a good time to mention that Maddow is leading with the news that Tad Devine is officially cooperating? Is my giggling bothering anyone?)
Wild Cat
I’ll do my best – only 25 minutes away.
PsiFighter37
I live 15 minutes away walking, but I will be flying back from a wedding in New Orleans. It’s been several years since I made a BJ meetup (I think the last one was in Seattle, actually…5 years ago)…will try to plan ahead for it next time!
Kathleen
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m shocked she’s even touching that story. I expect her to poo poo his and Slanders’ procreating of the rats. Fuck A Mess NBC (with some exceptions).
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Kathleen: of the prime-timers, she was probably the most Bernie-skeptical. Hayes is in love, of course, and O’Donnell has some kind of Clinton grudge going back to the 90s health care effort and some slight to the venerated (not by me) Daniel Patrick Moynihan
?BillinGlendaleCA
@LAO: Commute’s a bit far for me.
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Good. As far as I can see, that part has been largely ignored by the media.
lamh36
Evening BJ peeps
tobie
@Kathleen: As far as I know, Rachel’s the only prime time journalist who has ever mentioned this story. For some reason, it’s treated like the third rail of American politics.
LAO
@?BillinGlendaleCA: c’mon Bill! I was counting on you.
Baud
@tobie: She’ll probably get hate tweets.
@lamh36: No secret recordings?
lamh36
Here’s the video of Cuomo:
germy
I love the spin:
I mean, it could also reveal embarrassing details about Fox’s favorite president…
Mary G
@lamh36: Hope Cohen was recording!
Baud
@germy: Fox viewers will never learn about that.
Bruuuuce
Looks like our trip to look at schools for my daughter is off for this weekend, so off to the fairy worlds I shall be to meet with youse jackals.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I believe Mueller would be able to get the identity of that private, or blocked (?), number that DJTJ called right before. There’s gotta be more of a trail with those Three Stooges involved, Manafort and or Jared’s texts and emails, somebody mocking the idea of anyone reaching out to Our Large Slabhead as if he were a player.
There was also a rumor floating around that trump sent Ivanka out to meet the delegation at the elevators, which I can easily imagine: “Go be pretty for the people, baby. Show the Russians what I made.”
Immanentize
@Baud: this is the real story. The issue is not settled.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: Many Fox viewers are elderly and that news could literally kill them, would you want that on your conscience Baud?
Baud
@?BillinGlendaleCA: I will honor them in my inauguration speech.
germy
@Mary G: Cohen seems to be an obsessive taper.
Being semi-literate, he apparently was more comfortable simply taping private conversations rather than taking notes. Just the sort of fixer someone like the donald needed.
Lately, Cohen has gotten all “I love my country and my family, and I want to save them both” etc.
But if trump had simply returned his calls and sent him some money for the defense fund, he’d still be saying “I’d take a bullet for mistah trump!”
But the weasel has to pretend he has higher principles or something.
TenguPhule
@germy:
Acceptable losses. I swear half of them are working for the enemy and the rest of them are incompetent fuckers in the wrong line of work.
Nicole
I will try to make it, while my better half and the Imp are at Mission Impossible Whatever Number Sequel This Is Now.
germy
@TenguPhule: I just hope Tad never has anything to do with any democratic presidential candidate ever again. His track record is not good.
Note I said democratic presidential candidate.
Nicole
ALSO- a friend of mine who lives in LA posted a photo on his FB page of two men dressed in Russian costume standing guard over the remains of Trump’s star on the H’wood Walk of Fame. As he said, we are in a golden age of political theater.
Mnemosyne
@germy:
Part of the claim I keep seeing is that Tad Devine couldn’t possibly be dirty, because he worked on Democratic campaigns (including a minor role for Obama 2008, IIRC).
I say that’s why the Russians suborned him. They wanted an in with the Democrats, but only managed to snare Wilmer.
Immanentize
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Saying/Testifying it happened is evidence. It is PROOF.
germy
@Mnemosyne:
lamh36
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
germy
TenguPhule
Its all downhill from here. A one time steroid boost at the expense of decades of future growth. All of which will come after the 2018 election, probably.
Kathleen
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Thanks for clarification. Been feeling quite deranged this week. Lots of personal stress.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
I guess Cohen touched a nerve
Baud
I wonder if Cohen leaked to CNN because he knew Melania would be watching.
lamh36
Rachel’s point is a good one…why would Micheal Cohen give that info to reporter if they wanted to use it for leverage w/Mueller.
Per Lanny: “I cannot comment. And I have to wonder why the Trump people would put that out. It was not from us”
Steeplejack
@TenguPhule:
You need to tighten up your bullshit sourcing. “Via Wapo” is almost meaningless. News story? Op-ed? Blog entry?
“[Surviving] a sexual-assault-related scandal with his political career intact” sounds like the last of those three, possibly from a right-leaning nutter. Gym Jordan has not “survived” anything yet. It’s still ongoing.
Kathleen
@tobie: I stand corrected (she said sheepishly). You’re right. Media want no part of vetting Bernie.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: Damn, people are being very polite about Rudi. I guess one stays on FoxNews if one wants to avoid someone pointing one’s rather colorful relationship with the truth.
@Kathleen: I find O’Donnell’s grudge to be an interesting and under discussed bit of media criticism, considering what a blazing establishmentarian he is
TenguPhule
@Steeplejack: Wapo Analysis. Author Amber Philips. Appears to be on point and I can’t refute her arguments.
Steeplejack
@lamh36:
Good evening! ?
germy
@Steeplejack:
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: TP is always this way. The worst thing will always happen.
Baud
@Omnes Omnibus: Well, he’s quoting someone else here.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop eating paste.
Baud
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: Never stop eating paste during Infrastructure Week.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
@Baud: LOL
Raven
Check out this Camero from the Art Car Museum!
Adam L Silverman
@Mnemosyne: He lied about when he stopped working with Manafort and Gates on behalf of the Party of Regions. He claimed he stopped in 2012, the emails in the court exhibits for Manafort’s trial include emails from 2014 where he’s haggling with Gates over his fees.
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rubycramer/bernie-sanders-adviser-is-assisting-special-counsel
germy
@Adam L Silverman: He was certainly well paid.
geg6
@germy:
Sliced and diced him. Nancy SMASH!
lamh36
Another point from Rachel, does this public leaking of it in effect take a card out of the deck that Cohen may have been able to use to “negotiate” with the prosecutors?
Which in itself helps Chump, esp if it was leaked before being given to prosecutors as a bargaining chip
germy
@geg6: I like her.
lamh36
Steeplejack
@germy:
Exactly. Jordan is flailing and trying to distract.
tobie
@lamh36: If that’s the case, Cohen better be knocking on Mueller’s door tomorrow morning to spill whatever other beans he has.
Steeplejack
@Raven:
Did they have any works by the master Ed “Big Daddy” Roth?
Adam L Silverman
Submitted without comment:
Dan B
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: And the bombs begin to drop on Iran, with the Dr. Strangelove struggle for the football and old guy testoterone fights raging from the situation room to the Lincoln bedroom. Cohen, in despair, throws himself off his balcony five times. Giuliani pounds on the door of the Russian Embassy begging for asylum, or a fifth… wife. Steven Miller and Trey Gowdy (secret doppelgangers) look longingly into their beady eyes. Camera pulls back on citizens running in panic as smoke rises from K Street and the East Wing where Melania is torching the garish gold drapes while the “bodyguard” idles the Suburban.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Adam L Silverman
@Raven: That looks gnu.
Steeplejack
@Adam L Silverman:
What is Luxembourgish for “retard”? Asking for a trade partner.
lamh36
Rachel’s guest, Chuck Rosenberg Former US ATTY says if Chump co leaked it, he doesn’t think it lessens Cohen’s value as a witness, esp if Cohen has evidence more than just leaked words.
Adam L Silverman
@germy: And I’ve been told my consulting rates are high. I’m clearly in the wrong line of work.
Dan B
@Adam L Silverman: I hope Colbert’s crew gets ahold of this. Colored cue cards!! Comedy gold! And it fits right in with Alinsky’s ridicule your opponent.
Adam L Silverman
@Steeplejack: Ze halen in Luxembourgish.
Peale
@Adam L Silverman: but it’s kind of clear he still doesn’t get it. He still thinks that countries “trade” with each other, and that Juncker will be buying all the soybeans and US cars, as if he can force consumers and corporations to buy those things.
raven
The cat people should love this one.
Major Major Major Major
Darn, I’ll be in town the following week.
Steeplejack
@TenguPhule:
Just put in a link. It can even be naked. Otherwise your hot-off-the-presses bulletins are scarcely better than unsourced Internet bullshit.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: Not according to my thread. Unless I goofed.
Adam L Silverman
@Peale: Bless his heart.
Steeplejack
@raven:
Catillac.
JAFD
I should be there, good Lawd willin and the Hudson don’t rise.
Weather.gov predict for Sunday is sunny, 85 F
Stay well till then
Steeplejack
@Omnes Omnibus:
That’s a hot take from Amber Phillips at the Post, quoted by TenguPhule at #2 above. That’s what Baud was responding to.
Miss Bianca
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: OK, so Tad Devine may not have been one of the five getting use immunity, but he is cooperating with Manafort? Well, I was *half* right, then… ; )
@germy: This is what I’ve been saying for a long time. *And* getting trashed for it – not here, but other virtual joints I frequent.
The Pale Scot
@Adam L Silverman:
Just how incredibly pathetic, Jeez
satby
@LAO: me, me, me!! I’m spending early Sunday with my exchange son Joe and his family, then he will put me on the train to Penn Station for the meet-up. Looking forward to both.
Mr. Palmer
I’ll probably stop by. But since I’m a lurker, I’ll just sit at the bar and eavesdrop.
Steeplejack
@Mr. Palmer:
Well played. Although now you’re not just a lurker.
NotMax
CORRECTION – CORRECTION
Because I’m a doofus, forgot what had e-mailed Adam and made the reservations under NotMax.
Mr. Palmer
In all seriousness, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone here, especially the host. I am a lurker, and while I can’t exactly remember the year I made Balloon Juice a daily “must-read”, I can’t imagine my life without it now. And I only get to enjoy this because of the effort and contributions from all of you. Thank you!
Politics & News are my drugs of choice. And this made growing up pretty tough, especially for a kid without a computer (and in a Red area of Pennsylvania). I can remember a lot of screaming at the tv, and banging my head against the wall. Then I discovered blogs and my life was never the same.
It’s kind of funny because back in the early aughts, I only knew of John Cole and Balloon Juice as a right-winger hang out place. And here I am now. Oh, the places you’ll go!
One of the main reasons why I’m a lurker is because I have a finance job in NYC. I’m not a banker, broker or trader. Just a dude with a crappy back-office job that requires very long hours and doesn’t offer much freedom to engage in real-time online conversations. So by the time I can show up, the party’s pretty beat. But I get to wander around late at night, or early in the morning, and drink all the floaters. It’s not so bad.
I guess this is a long way of saying that with the world going bonkers, with a job I hate, with lots of “friends” and family members who don’t share my interests and passions…this community is quite important and valuable to me, even though I’ve never been a contributing member. In a way, I know that’s a bit weird. But I will make an effort to stop by on Sunday. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll step away from my seat at the bar and say hi. But if I lose my courage and don’t show my face, I really like wheat beers and porters if some of you good people would like to leave some good floaters behind.
Nick D
I’m in! I’ve always been just a lurker here but excited to meet some of you!
Steeplejack (phone)
@Mr. Palmer:
A nice post. See, that wasn’t so hard. You should do it more often.
NotMax
@Steeplejack (phone):
What Steep said. Times a thousand.
arrieve
Missed this last night, but I will be there at the meetup.
RedDirtDirl
@arrieve: Ditto for me on both counts!
sam
I will make best efforts to be there!
RedDirtGirl
This is gonna be fun! See y’all Sunday!
RedDirtGirl
Is there a rough head count yet? I may make commemorative buttons!
RedDirtGirl
@LAO:
I count 12 yes/maybes in this thread:
LAO
RedDirtGirl
Sam
arrieve
NotMax
Satby
Mr. Palmer
Nick D.
JAFD
Nicole
Bruuuuce
Wild Cat
Nick D
Running late but on the way!