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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

đŸŽ¶ Those boots were made for mockin’ đŸŽ”

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment


“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

Keep the Immigrants and deport the fascists!

Come on, man.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

No Kings: Americans standing in the way of bad history saying “Oh, Fuck No!”

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

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Open Thread:  Hey Lurkers!  (Holiday Post)

Open Threads

You are here: Home / Archives for Open Threads

New Additions

by WaterGirl|  July 19, 20245:26 pm| 102 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Political Action, Politics

Looks like we could use a new thread, so maybe this is a good time to share two new additions.

Targeted Political Fundraising

There is now a page with all of our 2024 fundraising efforts and information about what our targeted fundraising is all about.  Click below to take a look at it, and feel free to share the link with any family or friends who are looking to make a difference or would like to donate but don’t know how to best use their funds for the most benefit.

2024 Targeted Political Fundraising

2024 Activism

I’ve also set up the beginnings of a 2024 Activism area.  Here’s a direct link, but you can also find it in the top menu bar if you’re on a computer, and in the hamburger menu if you’re on mobile.

https://balloon-juice.com/category/2024-political-activism/

I’m putting together a list of all the ways we can contribute to the outcome we want in November.  Donating, be a poll worker, election judge, etc.  I’d appreciate nominations for that list in the comments.

Feedback welcome.

Also, this is a (Mostly) Open thread.  There are plenty of other threads where you can talk about will he or won’t he, should he or shouldn’t he.  Just not this one.

Also, please don’t feed the trolls.

 

New AdditionsPost + Comments (102)

UPDATED Open Thread: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

by TaMara|  July 19, 202412:46 pm| 843 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, We All Need A Little Kindness

UPDATE:  

“I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America: one where we save our democracy, protect our rights and freedoms, and create opportunity for everyone. “The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win.”

Image

=============

AOC’s live video was talked about last night and I had a chance to listen to it this morning. I want to post it, but with the caveat that President Biden’s campaign chair came out this morning saying that he is staying in the race. So if there was any wavering (and I don’t believe for a second there was, it was all media driven by unnamed source whisper campaigns) that question has been answered. So now is the time to come together and work our asses off to make sure there is unity.

It that means you call your representatives (I’ll be calling Bennett, Hickenlooper, and Neguse’s offices today) and demanding they come out in full support of Biden, it means talking your friends and family off the ledges, and it means we really, really need to move on from the in fighting here.

Here’s AOC:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc)

(here is a direct link if the embed doesn’t work for you and here is a twitter link if Insta doesn’t work for you. There is no youtube link yet)

And now we have a YouTube link:

==========

Here is Jen O’Malley:

Biden campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon reaffirms that Biden is staying in the race:

“We know that we’ve slipped a bit from the debate and we know that the president has to prove to the American people exactly what he believes. That he’s in this to win this. He can do this.” pic.twitter.com/5BJTgKB06O

— The Recount (@therecount) July 19, 2024

Open Thread: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Today might be a good day to contribute $81 to the Biden campaign if you can/desire.

==========

Also, the PIE FILTER is a blessing. Here’s how to use it:

There is a cherry pie at the top of the comments. Click on it and it opens up a list of all the commenters in the post. Click on the one you want to pie. They will stay pied until you uncheck – across all posts.

Try and find some common ground in this open thread and don’t let the trolls hijack it. Ignore them, move on and talk with folks who want an honest discussion. Be kind.

It’s time to be energized, excited, and unite behind an excellent president.

UPDATED Open Thread: Alexandria Ocasio-CortezPost + Comments (843)

Open Thread (and oops post)

by WaterGirl|  July 19, 202412:17 pm| 14 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Open thread.

Open Thread (and oops post)Post + Comments (14)

This Is How It’s Done – Daniel Dale Summarizes & Fact Checks the Speech in Just 2 Minutes

by WaterGirl|  July 19, 202411:52 am| 50 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics

This Is How It's Done – Daniel Dale Summarizes & Fact Checks the Speech in Just 2 Minutes

This is how it’s done!

Missed the speech last night?  That’s okay, because Daniel Dale lists the lies and fact checks the speech at the same time.  All in just 2 minutes and 15 seconds!

My favorite part was when Dale listed off yet one more thing lie Trump told – and his response to that one, in total, was “That is imaginary.”

Boy, would I love to see the transcript of that 2:15 minutes!

But since that’s not available, maybe everyone who clicks to watch the video can add one lie, and its fact check, in a comment.  Shouldn’t take long to crowd source this, so even people who can’t / won’t click on a video in twitter can witness this thing of beauty!

Start the video at 15 seconds mark to skip the 15 seconds of Trump and go immediately to Daniel Dale and his combination summary and fact checking rebuttals.

This is how it’s done!

BOOM! CNN just fact checked every single one of Donald Trump’s lies in his RNC speech tonight! This is truly humiliating for Trump. We need more of this!!! pic.twitter.com/CALAvUajtn

— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) July 19, 2024

(Mostly) Open thread.  Plenty of other threads where you can talk about will he or won’t he, should he or shouldn’t he.  Just not this one.

Oh, and this was fun!

Former President Trump has tested positive for Convict.

— Brian Guest (@brguest20) July 17, 2024

.

This Is How It’s Done – Daniel Dale Summarizes & Fact Checks the Speech in Just 2 MinutesPost + Comments (50)

Biden Project 2025 Website

by @heymistermix.com|  July 19, 202410:33 am| 215 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

I’m traveling starting today, so I’ll miss out on the “As the Democrats Turn” drama fest that the press are absolutely loving.  So here’s the Biden Campaign’s 2025 website.

I write here as a diversion and also to better understand politics.  Predictions are hard so I try to avoid them unless I’m pretty certain of the outcome.  I don’t have a prediction, just an observation:  all the senior dems who Biden might be inclined to listen to have weighed in.  And this morning, Biden’s campaign manager went on Morning Joe and said he’s “absolutely” staying in the race.  If he can hold tight for another week, he’s in.  If I had to make a prediction yesterday, it would have been that he’s out.  Today, I’m thinking he’s in.

Finally, though as usual it wasn’t reported fairly, last night’s Trump performance was pretty awful, and also quite weird, and it reminded us all that he’s not some unbeatable juggernaut.

Biden Project 2025 WebsitePost + Comments (215)

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Another Hard-Earned Weekend

by Anne Laurie|  July 19, 20249:16 am| 229 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Vice-President Harris

Unity may be one of our most elusive goals, but I firmly believe nothing is as important.

We can do this. And we must.

We owe it to those who gave their lives for this country. We owe it to ourselves. And we owe it to our children and our grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/6bMu1UvOVm

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 18, 2024


 
Anyone wants to bitch and/or moan about TFG, the RNC, and last night’s debacle: Please check the post immediately before this one. You can work out your feelings there, and leave this post for the sane people rest of us, okay?

If you claim to stand for unity, you need to do more than just use the word.

You cannot claim you stand for unity if you are pushing an agenda that deprives whole groups of Americans of basic freedoms, opportunity, and dignity. pic.twitter.com/S8lIWx3JMG

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 18, 2024

show full post on front page

Pay attention. Eyes on the prize.#BidenHarris2024 pic.twitter.com/hPvqXlcMVT

— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) July 18, 2024

See this?
The Biden-Harris administration did this. Personally, I would love 4 more years of growing jobs & updated infrastructure đŸ‘‡đŸŒ https://t.co/bOF4RKLMSD

— Chris Strider (@stridinstrider) July 18, 2024

In the 124 years since 1900, only one incumbent Democratic president has lost re-election.

That happened in 1980 when Democrats fought a bruising convention battle between Senator Ted Kennedy and President Jimmy Carter.https://t.co/2rmEVmFvEM pic.twitter.com/Z2CqurF8mi

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) July 18, 2024

Our VP is out there putting in work! https://t.co/GRN7ckvVb7

— Alida Garcia (@leedsgarcia) July 18, 2024

"If you want the polls to go up, then hell, go out and talk about Joe Biden! Talk about the good that he has done for this country and have his back like he has had our backs for these past four years." pic.twitter.com/4FyFeR8Grs

— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) July 18, 2024

Summary of the last post, for the (understandably) squeamish:

That’s a wrap on the Republican National Convention.

Trump’s rambling speech made it clear that he will reverse our hard-fought freedoms. We must stop him at the ballot box in November.pic.twitter.com/w33GUGzbJV

— The Democrats (@TheDemocrats) July 19, 2024

Trump sucks, no one loves him, there wasn’t a grass roots Trump vibe before Saturday and then his polls got WORSE.

— the pier is retired (@CentristMadness) July 17, 2024

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Another Hard-Earned WeekendPost + Comments (229)

Dark Grey Dawn Open Thread: TFG’s Acceptance Speech

by Anne Laurie|  July 19, 20246:15 am| 280 Comments

This post is in: Elections 2024, Open Threads, Trumpery

Dark Grey Dawn Open Thread:  TFG's Acceptance Speech
James Fallows has been following political speeches since he was one of candidate Jimmy Carter’s writers. He is professionally qualified to judge TFG’s performance here.

Putting this out now, so that those who want to can read it before they eat breakfast. Yes, that *is* a warning…

show full post on front page

Trump talking about the shooting at his campaign rally that nearly took his life, and how he stood up and started chanting "fight! fight! fight" when it happened.

Now the whole room is chanting "fight! fight! fight!" at RNC. pic.twitter.com/mkNrhTM0h2

— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 19, 2024

Predictably, the hirelings sent to Party City for this prop misspelled the poor man’s name.

pic.twitter.com/0qT7D0ZPGt

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) July 19, 2024

This ninja is insane. It's time to #DropOutDon pic.twitter.com/w3txEkvWML

— I Smoked #DropOutDon (@BlackKnight10k) July 19, 2024

Trump says he will round up millions of Latinos into mass detention camps as part of Project 2025 and then says it will be “larger” than a 1950s military-style operation called “Operation Wetback” pic.twitter.com/YbXQkwxJW9

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 19, 2024

?? Trump, referring to 2020: "The election result: we're never going to let that happen again."

— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 19, 2024

It’s fascinating to have this view from the RNC floor where I can see Trump and his teleprompter.

He constantly goes off script and delivers long sections off the top of his head while the prompter operator waits for him to return to the script. pic.twitter.com/Vv9N2XVYUQ

— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) July 19, 2024

Donald Trump: Give us your vote. I am trying to buy your vote. I will be honest about that. pic.twitter.com/KgQtWb7atH

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) July 19, 2024

Sir, you must be likable and affable.

Here take these pic.twitter.com/JkQsMxJ788

— Rachel Bitecofer ???????? (@RachelBitecofer) July 19, 2024

(Not wanting to bleed from the ears is why I only witnessed this speech filtered through social media.)

“The ears bleed more than any other part of the body.”
This is already going to go down in history as the weirdest nomination speech ever.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 19, 2024

Trump: We will have our next Republican convention in Venezuela because it will be safe pic.twitter.com/mpVzTDx4Sq

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 19, 2024


(I checked. Venezuela is listed as a country that ‘frequently refuses’ extradition requests, if anyone wondered about TFG’s post-November plans.)

Conservative-on-conservative violence!

I read this tweet at the very moment when Trump got to the traditional part of a Republican nomination speech where the nominee talks about Hannibal Lecter https://t.co/unl5bgJEB1

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 19, 2024

I’m sorry, John, but I can’t hear you over the Republican nominee doing funny voices while he’s discussing nuclear weapons https://t.co/JSX8k4hDKv

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 19, 2024

Tapper: I hope this doesn't sound harsh, but then it pretty much became the kind of speech generally hear from Donald Trump rallies.. very much the same Donald Trump that we are used to pic.twitter.com/hIqHMzdh84

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 19, 2024


The first twenty minutes, you say?

Kind of interesting watching people saying "Well the first 20 minutes were great"
The first 20 minutes were completely weird and reversed any narrative about Trump's toughness, but I guess compared the hour that followed it, the first ten minutes were Pericles.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 19, 2024

Wallace: It seemed as if Trump couldn't keep up the ‘unity’ act. And so we started hearing about ‘Crazy Nancy Pelosi’ and ‘cheating’ on elections and talking about Biden. Frankly, it was a rambling speech. It was a speech by an older man https://t.co/fGsBVcwRmD pic.twitter.com/e0p4CEJwxP

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 19, 2024

Undecided Michigan voter: I give Trump's speech a D. He went into mistruths and grievances and attacks. It just totally contradicted itself, it didn’t achieve unity pic.twitter.com/2SPhmzxPzR

— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) July 19, 2024

This is all true, & I’m glad Chris said it. But this has been true & obvious the entire time, & a reason I’ve said all along that in 2024 Joe Biden would defeat Donald Trump by a greater margin than 2020. https://t.co/eGD7iwEaNU

— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) July 19, 2024

If Trump had a strategy here to seize the moment after the assassination attempt and widen his appeal, this train wreck of a speech has totally blown it

— Mike Murphy (@murphymike) July 19, 2024

Tonight has been a journey for us all pic.twitter.com/RadtqcWtWm

— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) July 19, 2024

New record? pic.twitter.com/HR986yRTyX

— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) July 19, 2024

I gotta say. All the Republicans who know better but stay w/ Trump. All the journalists who bothsides for clicks. All the people who know Trump should be nowhere near the White House but support him anyway


How do you not feel tremendous shame watching this monstrosity tonight?

— Daniel Miller (@DanielMillerEsq) July 19, 2024

NBC News: The first half I saw a lot of wet eyes, the second half I saw some closed eyes pic.twitter.com/nkYDQqYzj8

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 19, 2024

But let's not forget that one of them is a fascist https://t.co/nXs5DATfCo

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) July 19, 2024

The media owes Biden a huge apology after that disaster

Can we now have 3 weeks of intense speculation on Trump’s mental health, plus endless calls for him to quit? Biden is literally owed that by any standard of fair play or equal treatment

— Robert E Kelly (@Robert_E_Kelly) July 19, 2024

That's how horrible that speech was. The media already had their "new tone, different Trump" narratives ready to go that have to be thrown away like burnt cupcakes now because even they can't spin THAT. https://t.co/EoB7PIf7Ib

— DFW Sports 4Life (@Kennymack1971) July 19, 2024

Everybody who wrote a “Trump’s New Convention Tone” piece as a de facto cover letter for a White House press pool posting is doing a hard rethink of their career trajectory right now

— Blitz Primary (by Oprahℱ) (@canderaid) July 19, 2024

Sure enough… The NYTimes‘ Peter Baker preps his heel turn!

* He is the first convicted felon ever nominated by a major political party, the first found liable for sexual abuse and business fraud and the first whose business was convicted of criminal tax fraud.

* He is the first nominated just days after a failed assassination attempt.
 https://t.co/1cljOZswIo

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) July 19, 2024

The RNC is over pic.twitter.com/SLgokBukh3

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 19, 2024


You’re telling me.

Dark Grey Dawn Open Thread: TFG’s Acceptance SpeechPost + Comments (280)

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