Proud to Be A Democrat

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Gradually, Then All At Once

by Anne Laurie| September 23, 20236:35 am| 214 Comments

This post is in: Biden Administration in Action, Gun Issues, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

Big crowd in the Rose Garden for ?@POTUS? ?@VP? unveiling of a new White House Office of Gun Violence Protection. No Republican leaders were present, according to a spokewoman. pic.twitter.com/55fJBqq3RM

— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) September 22, 2023

An ‘impossible’ shift in the gun-safety argument, and also a refutation of Old people have a death grip on the Democratic party! meme…

The age span of Democrats in federal office is on stage here. 55 years between the president at 80 years 10 months and the youngest Member of Congress and first Gen Z House member @MaxwellFrostFL at 26 years and 8 months. pic.twitter.com/Jw6qgyS8QY

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) September 22, 2023

Promise kept. pic.twitter.com/JZcgFh8DSx

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 22, 2023

======

Yes. pic.twitter.com/xgKhfKXBKa

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 22, 2023

show full post on front page

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Gradually, Then All At OncePost + Comments (214)

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Some Good News, Too!

by Anne Laurie| September 22, 20237:16 am| 158 Comments

This post is in: Biden Administration in Action, gun safety, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, War in Ukraine

“I think I can beat him again,” @JoeBiden said of Donald Trump tonight at a fundraiser.

The president has more recently been criticizing Trump by name. He has preferred to use euphemisms for the former president, often referring to him as "the last guy." https://t.co/bGAKbP0556

— Akayla Gardner (@gardnerakayla) September 20, 2023

NEWS: Biden administration announces a crackdown on medical debt and a key tool hospitals and others use to enforce it: reporting patients to credit agencies.

By @NoamLevey, who's been investigating this issue for more than a year.https://t.co/CG3W9VNXF4

— Alex Wayne (@aawayne) September 21, 2023

"Harris, who has played a leading role in gun safety policy, will oversee the office, according to a White House statement. Longtime Biden aide @StefFeldman, who has worked on gun policy for more than a decade, will serve as its director."

https://t.co/8StKbgdXby

— Herbie Ziskend (@HerbieZiskend46) September 21, 2023

Republican Rep. Tim Burchett criticizes McCarthy and then compliments Pelosi, saying "she was pretty successful … a lot of work goes into that. But I'm not seeing that work right now." pic.twitter.com/xevmzsPjoz

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 22, 2023

show full post on front page

SCOOP: The Pentagon has decided to exempt Ukraine operations from a potential shutdown if lawmakers can’t agree on a deal by the end of the month, allowing key training and other activities in support of Kyiv’s forces to move ahead uninterrupted. https://t.co/u2REWCROag

— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) September 21, 2023

Hope this holds up:

The Pentagon will exempt its Ukraine operations from a potential shutdown if lawmakers can’t agree on a deal to fund the government by the end of the month, allowing key training and other activities in support of Kyiv’s forces to move ahead uninterrupted, according to a Defense Department spokesperson…

But if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement and government appropriations lapse, DOD has decided to continue activities supporting Ukraine, DOD spokesperson Chris Sherwood told POLITICO Thursday — just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley and other senior leaders at the Pentagon.

“Operation Atlantic Resolve is an excepted activity under a government lapse in appropriations,” Sherwood said, referring to the named operation for DOD’s activities in response to the Russian invasion.

The move means that the U.S. military’s activities related to the war, such as training of Ukrainian soldiers on American tactics and equipment, as well as shipments of weapons to Kyiv, will continue despite any potential shutdown. As recently as Tuesday, Sherwood had said the shutdown could halt those activities, as POLITICO first reported…

By law, the Pentagon chief can make exceptions to activities suspended under a government shutdown, Sherwood said, noting that the decision to exempt Ukraine operations was just made…

And… Trending on Twitter: Senator Mike Lee(… roy Jenkins!) is BIG MAD, you guys:

1) create nonsense poll
2) lose to NAFO
3) seethe and rage publicly about cartoon dogs https://t.co/oFYoJYmW9O

— Abandoned BMP Tïcketer ?? (@st_javelin_stan) September 22, 2023

Outstanding from #NAFO.
Two US Senators (who are not on the right side of history) wondering who pays us.
Seeing this happen to BustedMikeLee is especially funny.Well done #Fellas.

Cheque’s in the post, right @Official_NAFO? pic.twitter.com/mhHsWaCioL

— Benjamin Tallis ???? (@bctallis) September 22, 2023

Goodnight Fellas,
I just spent the past 2 hours tweeting explanations about what NAFO does to two US Senators who were complaining that NAFO ruined their polls. I bet the Senators already knew what NAFO does. The Senators were probably just rage-farming with their MAGA followers. pic.twitter.com/SASYBTGVFn

— F e l l a Historian ?? (@thisuser_isdumb) September 22, 2023

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Some *Good* News, Too!Post + Comments (158)

Thursday Evening Open Thread: GOP War to the Knife Spork

by Anne Laurie| September 21, 20237:12 pm| 73 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republicans in Disarray!

(John Deering via GoComics.com)

Anybody wanna hand them some sharp implements? Nothing too dangerous — maybe some sharp scissors?

Note sender:

https://t.co/vxYqKnLxNq pic.twitter.com/Z48ppBkBZQ

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 20, 2023

McCarthy genuinely making the case for sending the GOP back to minority where they can do less harm: “just want to burn the whole place down.” https://t.co/7TugFOToLA

— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) September 21, 2023

The House GOP, which is “tearing itself apart”, is divided into three factions. There’s the Freedom Caucus; abt 160 reps who do what the Freedom Caucus tells them to do; and about 20 moderates who bitch and moan before doing what the Freedom Caucus tells them to do.

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 20, 2023

House Republicans like Gaetz, Greene, and Boebert are “not serious people,” @JohnJHarwood tells @brianstelter. “They’re on television, they have podcasts or whatever, but they’re not built to do what politicians have to do to make government work.” https://t.co/TG9vlTO9By

— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) September 21, 2023

This is all GOP nonsense.

When @HouseDemocrats had a slim majority, we made investments in infrastructure and manufacturing. We cut the cost of prescription drugs.

Instead of honoring our bipartisan deal and protecting American jobs, McCarthy is consumed with keeping his job. pic.twitter.com/Hr8frpkeKa

— Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) September 21, 2023

Thursday Evening Open Thread: GOP War to the <del>Knife</del> SporkPost + Comments (73)

Thursday Morning Open Thread: The GOP Death Cult Doubles Down In Its War On Women

by Anne Laurie| September 21, 20238:12 am| 164 Comments

This post is in: GOP Death Cult, Healthcare, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, The War On Women

Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is responsible for ending Roe v. Wade.

And if you vote for him, he’ll go even further. pic.twitter.com/24Xq6s33wv

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 19, 2023

Wow.

As the dad of a teen girl, this ad cuts to the bone.

America needs to wake up. Republicans are BEYOND extreme. #MAGAIsWatchingYou pic.twitter.com/MQJSSGSgas

— Nick Knudsen ???? (@NickKnudsenUS) September 19, 2023

Yep:

Hadley’s story is important.

Under Kentucky’s current law—which Daniel Cameron supports and defended to the Supreme Court—women and girls like her would have no options. pic.twitter.com/U89QieNgr2

— Andy Beshear (@AndyBeshearKY) September 20, 2023

show full post on front page

Thursday Morning Open Thread: The GOP Death Cult Doubles Down In Its War On WomenPost + Comments (164)

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Senator Fetterman Is Good At His Job

by Anne Laurie| September 20, 20238:15 pm| 90 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

INBOX: @SenFettermanPA “If those jagoffs in the House stop trying to shut our government down, and fully support Ukraine, then I will save democracy by wearing a suit on the Senate floor next week.”

— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) September 20, 2023

Or: Okay, his social media team is top-notch. So, if nothing else, he knows to hire smart people!

Backstory:

Manchin: I walk up to him, tears in my eyes and I say 'Sir'…great big guy, hoodie, shorts probably never been called Sir in his life… https://t.co/s5u5aCBG8i

— zeddy (@Zeddary) September 20, 2023

thank you joe manchin for wearing a suit while you voted against the child tax credit https://t.co/1OzV8naSyx

— emilie frank (@emiliepfrank) September 19, 2023

Count on Erik ‘Voice of the GOP Gated Community’ Erikson to have a strong opinion:

yes I think that short pants are less offensive than an orgy of fascist violence https://t.co/zXD51tODda

— ➡️ 🌍🕊️🎗️ (@revhowardarson) September 20, 2023

Reminder…

Fetterman on GOP impeaching Biden:

“Go ahead. Do it, I dare you."

"It would just be like a big circle jerk on the fringe right." https://t.co/z4l1cB1liE

— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) September 6, 2023

I love that the picture they chose is like if 'Born in the USA' had a happy ending. https://t.co/hehEaWFrp8

— zeddy (@Zeddary) September 19, 2023

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Senator Fetterman Is Good At His JobPost + Comments (90)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: If I Can’t Dance…

by Anne Laurie| September 19, 20236:51 am| 161 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Our Failed Media Experiment, President Biden, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republicans in Disarray!

How I'm showing up to the polls in 2024 to vote for @POTUS & @KamalaHarris pic.twitter.com/JZl0UnnvAG

— Tai Babilonia ?? (@taiskates) September 18, 2023

There was a thread interwoven across the twitter accounts I read, using gifs to convey the users’ 2024 intentions. Tai Babilonia‘s tweet best conveyed my own feelings!

President Biden addressed questions about his age at a fundraiser on Broadway: “A lot of people seem focused on my age. I get it. Believe me, I know it more than anyone.” But said democracy is at stake and “I will not walk away now.”

— Steve Holland (@steveholland1) September 19, 2023

“Because in 2024 democracy’s on the ballot once again, & let there be no question: Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy. And I will always defend, protect and fight for our democracy. That’s why I’m running,” Biden said at fundraiser.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) September 19, 2023

show full post on front page

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: <em>If I Can’t Dance… </em>Post + Comments (161)

Late Night Open Thread: Sen. Fetterman Stands Out

by Anne Laurie| September 19, 20232:46 am| 47 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

John Fetterman says he'll 'never understand' progressives who refuse to support Joe Biden

"Get behind Joe Biden's policies, or you're gonna get behind Trump's policies," said the Pennsylvania Democrat.https://t.co/Otq28dHHrT

— HawaiiDelilah™ ?? #MauiStrong (@HawaiiDelilah) September 13, 2023

It’s not as though the man has much choice in the matter; he’s been bigger than most for long enough to have grown comfortable in his fashion choices…

I need John Fetterman to run for President in 2028 or something. Not because of any partisan or ideological reasons — I just want to see the reaction of very angry 45-year-olds who have to wear a suit out of habit while the President wears shorts and a hoodie.

— Lakshya Jain (@lxeagle17) September 17, 2023

You can debate his background all you want. But big, bald goateed fellows who ignore their health for work and only wear suits at weddings and funerals is a fertile audience. You could do a lot worse. https://t.co/IFtEJg0ljQ

— Richard M. Nixon (@dick_nixon) September 15, 2023

show full post on front page

Everybody’s got an opinion…

I dress like you predict https://t.co/TDScsGCi2k

— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) September 18, 2023

https://t.co/FTA3NcaJOu pic.twitter.com/DgwmjyzgLF

— Joshua Smithley (@blockedfreq) September 18, 2023

This man calls himself a libertarian https://t.co/GXdWsKWWYi

— chekovian jubilee (@CollieYimby) September 17, 2023

Awful. The Senate chamber isn’t your home, a gym, or an outdoor park. If you can’t dress professionally for work on the floor of the Senate of the United States, then do us all a favor and get a different job. https://t.co/Yc90RrMbxm

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) September 17, 2023

… The intrigue: It’s unclear whether the Senate dress code is actually an official, written policy. It appears to be more of an informal custom, enforced by the Sergeant at Arms.

– No senior staff contacted by Axios on Friday could find a written record of the rules — an omission that also has puzzled some on social media.

Between the lines: Five years ago, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) petitioned her colleagues to make some changes in the dress code, according to New York Times reporter Jennifer Steinhauer’s book “The Firsts: the Inside Story of the Women Reshaping Congress.”

– After some grumbling by males, the standards for women’s attire were relaxed. Afterward, women on the Senate floor were allowed to show their arms. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), a triathlete, often goes sleeveless…

ron has a natural Gollum quality about him that I feel has been underexplored.

— James Palmer (@BeijingPalmer) September 18, 2023

Oh no. How will the guy who marketed himself as a blue collar Pennsylvania populist survive scandalizing politicians in DC by dressing like an everyman?

These guys are so used to being the ones playing the “you could have a beer with him” card they forgot how to counter it.

— Starfish Unexpectedly Cancelled For Hating Hitler (@IRHotTakes) September 18, 2023

Fetterman’s superpower is that Man Big lights up the vestigial caveman part of your brain. If you put DeSantis in the same room as Fetterman and DeSantis pointed this out, you still wouldn’t believe it.

“WHAT YOU MEAN FETTER-MAN NOT FROM STRONG MAN TRIBE? MAN BIG.” https://t.co/NR50spZBmf

— Starfish Unexpectedly Cancelled For Hating Hitler (@IRHotTakes) September 18, 2023

Late Night Open Thread: Sen. Fetterman Stands OutPost + Comments (47)

WaterGirl on Saturday Afternoon Open Thread (Sep 23, 2023 @ 4:38pm)

NotMax on Saturday Afternoon Open Thread (Sep 23, 2023 @ 4:36pm)

Lyrebird on Saturday Afternoon Open Thread (Sep 23, 2023 @ 4:35pm)

bbleh on Saturday Afternoon Open Thread (Sep 23, 2023 @ 4:34pm)

frosty on Saturday Afternoon Open Thread (Sep 23, 2023 @ 4:32pm)

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

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

“woke” is the new caravan.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Optimism opens the door to great things.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

He really is that stupid.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

DeSantis transforms Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

This really is a full service blog.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

The revolution will be supervised.

A consequence of cucumbers

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

As long as McCarthy is Speaker, the House will never be in order.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Gradually, Then All At Once

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Some Good News, Too!

Thursday Evening Open Thread: GOP War to the Knife Spork

Thursday Morning Open Thread: The GOP Death Cult Doubles Down In Its War On Women

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Senator Fetterman Is Good At His Job

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: If I Can’t Dance…

Late Night Open Thread: Sen. Fetterman Stands Out