After last night’s disappointing baseball game, I watched the finale of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show while Bill and our own two dogs snoozed. As soon as I saw Sage, a miniature poodle from Houston, prancing around the ring, I figured she’d take home the top prize: As many a grifty preacher has demonstrated, …
Open Threads
Late Night Open Thread: ‘A Pride Movement for Bad People’
This post is in: 2024 Elections, Open Threads, Trumpery
Trumpism is maybe better understood as a pride movement for bad people than as a political movement Imagine youre a piece of shit, living with resentment for everyone treating you as such Then one of you emerges, rises to take the WH. Would you care about policy? Hypocrisy? — Giacomo Volpe ?????? (@_giacomo_volpe_) May 13, …
Late Night Open Thread: ‘A Pride Movement for Bad People’Post + Comments (42)
The media’s horse-race touts are very excited!!!
🟡NEW: JD Vance is at the Trump trial today and @ShelbyTalcott reports Tim Scott is discussing a visit too. Sure looks like it'll be a VP litmus test by end of the week. https://t.co/N2IP0HSFdi
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) May 13, 2024
This outfit is like 'wearing white to honor suffrage' for serial tax fraud. https://t.co/18fkDOeomT
— zeddy (@Zeddary) May 14, 2024
======
Notes from Saturday’s Wildwood rally:
Smart move. Make Tang the Conqueror pay you in advance. https://t.co/eH1Bw5o4y7
— Ragnarok Lobster ?? (@eclecticbrotha) May 10, 2024
The left is a pic of 50K people to see @Pink on the beach in Atlantic City….the right a pic of what MAGAs are saying is 80-100K people in Wildwood to see Trump ?? pic.twitter.com/w9JAQlQMJC
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) May 12, 2024
Roger Stone, doing what he’s best at, lying:
Roger Stone’s favorite Rod Stewart song is “Forever Wrong”. pic.twitter.com/dChOlhNTEz
— Matt Anderson (@mattbegins) May 12, 2024
Per Politico, “Trump, escalating attacks at rally, says Biden is ‘surrounded by fascists’ “:
… “All of this persecution is only happening because I’m running for president. If I wasn’t leading in the polls by a lot and running for president, they wouldn’t be after me. I’d have a nice place. I’d be down in Palm Beach. I’d be traveling the world,” Trump said, before repeating falsehoods about the 2020 election that he lost to Biden.
During the speech, Trump threw well-worn lines on the border, windmills and electric vehicles, China and migrants. And he compared himself to the infamous gangster Al Capone, which has become a regular bit on the campaign trail.
“Al Capone was so mean that if you went to dinner with him and he didn’t like you, you’d be dead the next morning. And I got indicted more than him. On bullshit, too. Just bullshit,” Trump said. The crowd erupted into cheers of “bullshit.”…
Trump on Saturday also went after some of New Jersey’s most famous residents, including Bruce Springsteen and former Gov. Chris Christie. Trump claimed he attracted a bigger crowd than Springsteen, and invited the crowd to boo Christie, a former Trump ally turned critic.
“Does anybody like Chris Christie?” Trump said, before calling Christie “unhinged” and suffering from a major case of Trump derangement syndrome.”
by the time this election is over fucking Pervert Hoover is gonna be walking to the stage with goodbye horses playing isn't he https://t.co/LcYbHKvkaW
— John Cole (@Johngcole) May 12, 2024
Of course, should take nothing for granted, making no predictions, etc.
But on that data point: There were 16+ million more votes *AGAINST* Trump (ie for Biden) than in 2016.
HRC beat him by 3 million. Biden by 7+ million.
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) May 12, 2024
Before you do, read the NYT account of the rally. You'd think the reporter was covering a Bush 1 rally in 1988.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) May 12, 2024
Looks like Burning Man, but without the sex, drugs, & Neal Katal https://t.co/Ut72t1zQAk
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) May 13, 2024
War for Ukraine Day 811: A Brief & Late Tuesday Night Update
by Adam L Silverman| 30 Comments
This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine
(Image by NEIVANMADE) A quick housekeeping note: Sorry for the delay tonight. I just got back from the emergency vet. Not for Rosie, Rosie is fine! Ruby, however, got into something she shouldn’t have earlier and we went to the emergency vet, which is the same vet as the oncology vet, to make sure she’s …
War for Ukraine Day 811: A Brief & Late Tuesday Night UpdatePost + Comments (30)
Our Warriors Destroy the Occupier Who Is Trying to Advance: Everything is Quite Tense — Address by the President
14 May 2024 – 19:39
I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
This day brought us more opportunities. First of all — the Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi — he reported on the situation on the battlefields. The Donetsk and Kharkiv regions — where the situation is the most difficult. He is staying right in the key combat areas — working with brigades, in combat positions. It is too early to draw conclusions, but the situation is under control. Our warriors are destroying the occupier who is trying to advance: everything is quite tense. But we have reinforced the directions, including the Kharkiv ones. Many warriors — especially Kharkiv residents — have risen to defend the Kharkiv region. They are doing their job, and I thank them all for their efficiency.
The second point is international negotiations. Today I had a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Blinken. We talked mainly about our defense, and in particular about the delivery of American defense assistance. We need to significantly speed up the supply process. Currently, the time gap between the announcement of packages and the actual appearance of weapons on the frontline is too large. It is important to make the implementation of decisions and logistics more efficient. We also discussed air defense systems — the systems we need. Especially for Kharkiv, for the Kharkiv region. If we had already received two Patriots for this region, it would have made a difference in the overall situation in the war. I am grateful to each of the partners who understands this and really tries to help. Every day, Russian terrorists attack Kharkiv, our other cities and communities in the border area, and our frontline positions with missiles and guided aerial bombs. It is critically important to increase the potential of our air defense, and our aviation, including expanding the coalition of fighter jets, and accelerating training and deliveries to provide protection against Russian terror. We are aware of the actual capabilities of our partners. Clear political decisions are needed. Of course, we discussed with the U.S. Secretary of State the participation of America in preparations and holding of the Peace Summit and America’s efforts to ensure a broader representation of the world and to make the Summit more effective. Now the conditions have been created for the world majority to begin to force Russia into peace. Into real peace. We see what Putin is betting on now: he wants to fully adapt Russia to the war and to expand the war, to increase pressure. But it is our pressure — the joint pressure of everyone in the world who opposes the war, the pressure on the aggressor — that must work and disrupt Russia’s offensive plans — disrupt them both on the frontline and in the diplomatic sphere. Today I had a long and quite detailed conversation with the President of France Macron — almost two hours. I informed him about the situation on the battlefield, about our prospects, about the needs of our warriors. Emmanuel, Mr. President, confirmed his participation in the Peace Summit, and it’s actually the content of the Summit in Switzerland that will give us an understanding of what other steps we can take in the coming months to bring peace closer and to restore the full force of international law for Ukraine, for all the nations that are subject to aggression. Today I also spoke with the President of the Republic of Korea. We discussed the participation of Korea in the Peace Summit. I am grateful that the Republic of Korea has accepted the invitation to the Summit. We also discussed our bilateral relations and assistance to Ukraine, in particular in those areas where we have already achieved results. And during the first weeks of our marathon preparation for the Peace Summit, I personally invited almost 30 leaders — we have many confirmations of the participation of leaders from different regions, from different parts of the world. And it is important — it is important to keep the world consolidated for the sake of a just peace. When it works for Ukraine, it can work for any country that is subject to aggression.
And one more thing.
NATO. We are getting ready and formulating our positions for the Alliance’s Summit, scheduled for this summer. The International Task Force on Security and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine headed by Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen has presented its report. The report will be available to all decision makers in the Alliance that can influence the strengthening of NATO. It is a report on Ukraine’s prospects, on the need for really strong decisions in order not just to end this war, but to eliminate the justification for any wars in our region and throughout Europe. To do that, we need to eliminate the security deficit in Europe, and in particular the security deficit for Ukraine. We need a strong position of the Alliance and a clear signal to Moscow that the war will get them nothing. Putin will not succeed in substituting terror and bombs for the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and the right of every nation to choose its own national path. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine! Glory to all our warriors, to everyone who defends our state and people!
Glory to Ukraine!
Ukraine and Russia were close to a peace deal in spring 2022 but Ukraine rejected it?
This is one of the favorite lies promoted by Russia and its sympathisers to shift the focus… and blame.
However, a closer look at the facts reveals that the whole story does not hold water. pic.twitter.com/uaWh8pTdIS
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) May 14, 2024
Norway:
Thank you for your unwavering support!
🇺🇦🤝🇳🇴 https://t.co/w0riYhRrCS— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 14, 2024
Washington, DC:
I hosted this meeting at GMF today. What David seemed to mean by “main problem” was that this is the #1 agenda item that they are here in DC this week to raise with Congress and the White House.
— Josh Rudolph (@JoshRudes) May 15, 2024
Here’s the full text of Miller’s tweet:
To be clear, I don’t think what Arakhamia said is the “main problem” but it is one of several that has hindered or prevented Ukraine from being able to better defend itself against Russia’s latest offensive or try to prevent it. I’d say also: the 6-month delay in US aid; Ukraine’s failure on mobilization/recruitment/rotation; slow defenses are major issues. Among others.
Counterpoint:
But it is important to keep in mind that the greatest challenge that Ukraine faces is a lack of manpower and available forces. Russia is trying to stretch these forces even more before further offensive operations in the Donbas and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. This policy change would…
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 14, 2024
Here’s the full text of both of Lee’s tweets.
1: Russia’s offensive operations have almost exclusively been conducted from occupied Ukrainian territory since 2022, which Ukraine could strike with US-provided weapons. So this cross-border offensive is a change. I think it would be prudent for the US to reconsider this policy in this case.
2: But it is important to keep in mind that the greatest challenge that Ukraine faces is a lack of manpower and available forces. Russia is trying to stretch these forces even more before further offensive operations in the Donbas and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. This policy change would not solve all of Ukraine’s problems.
Kyiv:
Meanwhile in Kyiv pic.twitter.com/Yp4VKObrUW
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 14, 2024
We need ammunition, not a song (c)#BlinkenInKyiv
— Anastasia Magazova 🌻 (@a_magazova) May 14, 2024
Blinken sheds the suit to rock out at Kyiv’s Barman Dictat speakeasy bar. But some might not see this as a great look considering the current situation, the number of people dying and fleeing just a short train ride east, as Russia intensifies its offensive against Ukraine. https://t.co/ObP3z0r8yS
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 14, 2024
Oh. It actually was tone deaf. https://t.co/ogYjO4e0TH
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 14, 2024
Here’s the full text of Miller’s second tweet:
The optics. The song choice. The current moment. Seems very tone deaf. But he “gave brief, solemn remarks before playing.” I can tell you the people who think this is cool are not those who are under relentless Russian bombing and shelling in eastern Ukraine, which are millions of people, including civilians and soldiers.
If you're gonna rock out in Kyiv while thousands of civilians flee Kharkiv and the ZSU suffer losses caused in part by US aid delays, you better be seriously going to the mat for #Ukraine now. Otherwise this will age very, very badly. pic.twitter.com/F3q3nWDG5m
— Jessica Berlin (@berlin_bridge) May 14, 2024
This will age very, very badly.
Kyiv and seven Ukrainian Oblasts:
Our streets and homes go dark again.
Due to severe energy imbalance and Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, at least seven Ukrainian regions and Kyiv City are introducing partial blackouts for tonight.
Russia keeps trying to drag us into the pitch-black abyss it is…
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 14, 2024
Kharkiv Oblast:
Please come to Vovchansk and explain to the locals why they cannot defend themselves with American weapons https://t.co/yTTIcRHCXA
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) May 14, 2024
Children in Kharkiv study in the subway.
Their biggest dream is for the war to end. Then they'll be able to go to "a real school."
Heartbreaking. No kid should have this experience.
We need weapons and air defense today to keep our kids safe.
📹: DW https://t.co/GDoD24Jp1E pic.twitter.com/wwoxxbK2M9
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 14, 2024
The Ukrainian warriors prepared many convincing arguments for the occupiers in the Kharkiv region.
3 enemy's fighting vehicles were destroyed, and 4 were damaged.📹: 3rd Assault Brigade pic.twitter.com/MXlHj52aFK
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 14, 2024
Photos of dragon's teeth around Lyptsi, Kharkiv Oblast, that were not deployed properly. https://t.co/GSUazYqeaB
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 14, 2024
Russian occupied Crimea:
Russian and Ukrainian sources are reporting about powerful explosions in temporarily occupied Sevastopol and Yevpatoria in Crimea right now after a series of missile strikes, allegedly Storm Shadow missiles.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) May 14, 2024
Chasiv Yar:
Assault battalion "Black Swan" of the 255th strike group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" holding defence in Chasiv Yar, 14 May 2024.https://t.co/MRDkOs0OsP pic.twitter.com/cHu2sBADhI
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) May 14, 2024
Novomykhailivka:
79th Brigade repelling Russian attacks on the Novomykhailivka front.
As said by the unit 17 AFVs were used by Russians in that attack 11 of which were destroyed/damaged. https://t.co/rVTtFC59CU pic.twitter.com/ilPVu6Xdab— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) May 14, 2024
Volgograd Oblast, Russia:
/2. Location of the village where Russian train was attacked by drones.
(48.9490328, 44.2190413) pic.twitter.com/fhpuSaLIk1— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) May 14, 2024
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron tweets tonight. Here’s some adjacent material:
#Ukraine #UkraineFrontLines #UkraineRussianWar #UkraineWarNews #AnimalWell #animals #dog #cat #Eurovision2024 pic.twitter.com/8zxwrd1sGi
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) May 12, 2024
#Ukraine #UkraineFrontLines #UkraineRussianWar #UkraineWarNews #AnimalWell #animals #dog #cat #Eurovision2024 pic.twitter.com/5ACzNfLGTy
— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) May 12, 2024
And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok:
@patron__dsns 😌🤭💗
Open thread!
Reminder: VAAC Zoom Tomorrow (Wed) at 7:30 Eastern, VAAC Angels, and What Comes Next
by WaterGirl| 57 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads, Political Action, Political Fundraising, Politics, Right to Vote, Targeted Political Fundraising 2023-24
Zooming! Just a reminder that the zoom with the great folks at VAAC is tomorrow evening – Wednesday – at 7:30 Eastern. We’ve got several VAAC peeps who are showing up to meet with us tomorrow – they are really special people and once you hear their stories, I guarantee that you will come away …
Readership Capture: Pete Buttigieg’s View from the Middle Seat
This post is in: Biden Administration in Action, Excellent Links, Proud to Be A Democrat, Readership Capture
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trajectory like I’ve seen in the last year or so at the DOT,” said McGee… “I’ve never seen any sort of department or public official turn things around so quickly and so decisively.” https://t.co/LoCjWF0DPf — Zev Karlin-Neumann (@zkarlinn) May 13, 2024 From the Washington Post, “Pete Buttigieg’s view …
Readership Capture: <em>Pete Buttigieg’s View from the Middle Seat</em>Post + Comments (102)
Buttigieg said he typically travels once a week, heading out for a whirlwind day or one night away. With young twins at home, it’s best for him to be in his own bed as often as possible. He’s taken hundreds of flights as transportation secretary, visiting 47 states so far…
Government employees book economy, but because he flies so often, Buttigieg is frequently upgraded by the airlines. His team tries to decline, but if that’s not possible, he said he gives the better seat to the most junior or the tallest person on his team. On this flight, his group has ended up with extra legroom in an “economy plus” row — behind the lavatory.
“I’m not going to learn that much about passenger protection if I’m sitting up in first class,” he said…
He said people approach him frequently, sometimes for a photo, sometimes to share a note, sometimes to vent. He has gotten well-wishes from flight attendants scrawled on napkins, a note of encouragement written on a barf bag and lobbying from pilots on potential changes to the retirement age. People sometimes guess his email and copy him on their notes to airlines, or include him in social media complaints.
Buttigieg said it’s a good thing to hear from people when they have a problem — though the Transportation Department’s consumer complaint form is the best way…
In 2022, just in time for Labor Day, the Transportation Department launched a public-facing dashboard at FlightRights.gov to show what each airline pledged to do for customers in case of delays or cancellations. To get a green check mark on the dashboard, airlines had to make assurances about hotel accommodations, food vouchers, rebooking and other benefits in their own customer service plans. Some actually changed their plans to promise better care for passengers, Buttigieg said.
“What the dashboard taught us is that it’s not just the hard power we have to issue rules and enforce rules, it’s also the power of transparency,” he said…
Buttigieg said that airlines, “unsurprisingly,” have not been enthusiastic about efforts to hold them to a higher standard. He thinks it will be good for them in the long run.
“I think if your customers are mad at you, that’s not good for your business long-term,” Buttigieg said. “I want airlines to succeed, but I want them to succeed by providing good service.”…
Like the airlines care about the ‘long term’…
US airlines are suing the Biden administration over a new rule to make certain fees easier to spot https://t.co/sKrQausTQa
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 14, 2024
U.S. airlines are suing to block the Biden administration from requiring greater transparency over fees that the carriers charge their passengers, saying that a new rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information during the ticket-buying process.
The U.S. Transportation Department said Monday it will vigorously defend the rule against what it called “hidden junk fees.”
American, Delta, United and three other carriers, along with their industry trade group, sued the Transportation Department in a federal appeals court on Friday, asking the court to overturn the rule…
The Transportation Department announced the new rule on April 24. It would require airlines and travel agents to disclose upfront any charges for baggage and canceling or changing a reservation. Airlines must show the fees on the first website page where they quote a price for a flight.
The agency estimated that the rule will save consumers more than $500 million a year…
Trump’s NY Criminal Trial, Day 17 (Michael Cohen)
This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Trump Indictments, Trump’s NY Criminal Trial
It’s Day 17 of the trial. Hard to believe it’s possible that the prosecution could rest as soon as Thursday. That would be trial days on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday this week. Trump has Friday off to go to Barron’s graduation. Odds on Trump skipping graduation to go to his own rally that night? Michael Cohen will …
Trump’s NY Criminal Trial, Day 17 (Michael Cohen)Post + Comments (238)
Late Night Schadenfreude Open Thread: Clarence Thomas Is Not Happy
This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Venality, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Corruption
And you know ‘Just Us’ Thomas really means it, because the original AP story was printed by both Politico and NBC News. I personally see this as a small hopeful sign — sounds like Thomas would like to leave the bench and spend his golden years touring with his beloved Ginni, but his oligarch “friends” …
Late Night Schadenfreude Open Thread: Clarence Thomas Is Not HappyPost + Comments (87)
Clarence Thomas is a grifter and his wife is an insurrectionist.
They both need to get away from anything related to the American government. #RemoveClarenceThomas pic.twitter.com/gFzJlMt9DX— ????? P???????????????????? (@LePapillonBlu2) May 12, 2024
Executive branch employee here. This would get me fired for ethics violations and/or my security clearance revoked. https://t.co/HDpTdxf0cL
— David Burbach (also @dburbach Bluesky) (@dburbach) May 11, 2024
Pretty cool that, at minimum, one of our conservative Supreme Court justices is wildly, unflinchingly, openly corrupt and we can’t do a single thing about it because he’s a Republican. Pretty, pretty cool. https://t.co/1m7U5t6p4i
— Jason Karsh (@jkarsh) May 12, 2024
The victimhood of someone whose lifestyle is propped up by billionaires while the taxpayers pay his salary in a job he's held for 33 years, his decisions are final and cannot be overturned all while his wife is an activist who was actively engaged in a coup attempt. Got it. pic.twitter.com/iDjNpxHqsK
— scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) May 11, 2024
Reid was of course right and all those pundits that said he was too harsh can go to hell
— jim manley (@jamespmanley) May 11, 2024
He picks one of the absolute worst flunkies you could find. Aileen Cannon must’ve been busy. https://t.co/eDbh90R8hl
— Clean Observer (@Hammbear2024) May 11, 2024
Remember, caring is sharing!
Justice Clarence Thomas is 75. Justice Alito is 74. They are getting older and will retire soon.
If Biden is re-elected and they retire, he gets to select their successors meaning a liberal Supreme Court.
That’s a good reason to vote for Biden in 2024. pic.twitter.com/Nncrm0FXcY
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) May 13, 2024
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