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.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

We can show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Books are my comfort food!

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

This chaos was totally avoidable.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

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

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

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New Additions

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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.

 

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UPDATED Open Thread: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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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.”

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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:

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Here is Jen O’Malley:

Open Thread: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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

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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.

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

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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!

(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!

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Biden Project 2025 Website

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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.

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TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Another Hard-Earned Weekend

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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?

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Dark Grey Dawn Open Thread: TFG’s Acceptance Speech

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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…

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