Patterico's Pontifications

8/11/2020

Rumored: Biden Has Selected a VP Candidate [Updated: It’s Harris]

Filed under: General — JVW @ 12:36 pm



[guest post by JVW]

[UPDATE 1:23 pm]NBC News says it’s Senator Kamala Harris. Hat tip to everyone who put this in the comments. I said a while back that this either makes Joe Biden look weak for going with someone who so nastily demagogued him at the debates, or it makes him look magnanimous in victory. Or he had nothing to do with the pick and won’t remember who it is anyway.

In any case, the real Kamala Harris died over the past weekend. I remember him well; may he rest in peace.

UPDATE 2 (Dana): Trump has already tweeted his campaign’s anti-Harris ad:

—— Original Post ——

The media is abuzz with rumors that Joe Biden has finally settled upon a Vice-President candidate and will announce the decision shortly, as early as today. This follows murmurs that since twice delaying his pick after initially declaring that the announcement would come at the end of July, Mr. Biden has had second thoughts about the names he has been dropping for the past couple of months and has even considered reneging on his hard promise to select a woman and his soft promise that she would be African-American. MAGA Twitter and pro-Trump sites yesterday announced that Kamala Harris had met with Mr. Biden and then subsequently unfollowed him on social media, but there seems to be enough holes in that story to take it with a grain of salt. Claims that a private jet had flown from South Bend to Delaware over the weekend sparked speculation that Biden would select Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly, but with Notre Dame agreeing to play football this fall in the Atlantic Coast Conference it would seem that Coach Kelly will be too busy to campaign.

Last chance to make your predictions. I still think that Coach Kelly is strongly in play.

– JVW

UPDATE BY PATTERICO: There goes any slim chance I might have voted for Biden.

714 Responses to “Rumored: Biden Has Selected a VP Candidate [Updated: It’s Harris]”

  1. It’s not totally out of the question that he has chosen Mike Elston, Notre Dame’s Defensive Coordinator for the VP role and Kelly was just a clever ruse all along.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  2. JVW, bet you 5$ to a charity of your choice that the person he selects will suck.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  3. Kamala Harris had met with Mr. Biden and then subsequently unfollowed him on social media

    serious leadership here

    Dustin (4237e0)

  4. I’d like to submit CornPop for last minute consideration.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  5. Seems to me the Condi Rice is the pick… unless, he’s using her as a massive head fake…

    whembly (c30c83)

  6. @5 Biden….head fake….not seeing it.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  7. “C’mon, Man!”

    Has any major party ever nominated a more worthless and invisible candidate for President as the Dems have with Joe Biden?

    Who can make Michael Dukakis and John McCain look like polished and well-organized campaigners? “C’mon, man!” Joe can!

    Who can make John Kerry look like an articulate and patriotic man? “C’mon, man!” Joe can!

    Who can make Hillary Clinton look like an honest, truthful, and thoughtful person? We all know the answer, shout it out together: “C’mon, man!” Joe can!

    We have before us a man with some half-century of political experience and with zero accomplishments for the country in all that time. Throughout his career, he has been a punchline to a joke. From his misadventures with hair plugs, his plagiarism, his wild and rambling lies about heroic encounters and derring-do, his nonsensical sentences, and his bully-boy manner, Joe has been, well, let’s be kind, a clown. Yes, a clown, albeit a corrupt one, who has gotten rich from the credit card companies, and made his family wealthy thanks to his political connections. That’s his legacy. Hunter, call your dad, he might have another deal for you . . .

    What ideas has this old-time corruptocrat championed? Aside from “more money for Joe,” nix, nada, rien, nothing.

    As he sits in his basement and fades into evermore obvious senility, dementia, general mental incompetence (you pick) he gets championed, much akin to dead El Cid strapped to his horse, by a motley crew of America-hating, left-wing radicals and tech billionaires who see this zombie as a pathway for them to transform the country into something bizarre and unrecognizable. This motley crew now fights over whom will get picked as Joe’s number two; they all know that person will likely take the White House in the unlikely event that “Joe” wins in November.

    Biden should not, cannot become President.

    Well, of course, even if Joe is elected, he won’t be President.

    “C’mon, man!”

    Horatio (56beaa)

  8. Early Bird Special: the buffet shrimp or the rare roast beef?

    Biden decides.
    ____________

    I’ll go w/whiteish– Whitmer [he needs Michigan] or Warren [a scold a takes the chill off a warm bucket of piss.] Maybe Duckworth–hire a vet, eh Joe?

    If he caves to black pressure, he’ll earn reparations all his own: he loses. The U.S. is 75% white and given Plagiarist JoeyBee’s cavernous, cadaver existence is not going to put a black woman a heart beat away from the Oval.

    The first woman VP and/or POTUS will be white— or off-white [Naturally tanned, rested and ready, eh, Nikki?!]

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  9. Biden probably can’t wait to find out who he picked.

    beer ‘n pretzels (8cd54c)

  10. Big Ten craters season? Football may ‘big foot’ Plagiarist JoeyBee’s announcement.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  11. maybe UT has a shot at the championship this way

    Dustin (4237e0)

  12. NBC NEWS REPORTS HARRIS CHOSEN.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  13. Colonel Haiku: Cornpop died several years ago.

    https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1173342875691692032

    Text of what was printed in the newspaper included here:

    https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/delawareonline/obituary.aspx?n=william-l-morris-cornpop&pid=183025951&fhid=18075

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  14. @5 Biden….head fake….not seeing it.
    Time123 (ea2b98) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:00 pm

    A head fake for Susan Rice, the typhoid Mary of the DNC, maybe?

    felipe (023cc9)

  15. It’s Kamala.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  16. Kamala Harris– possibly a heart beat away from being the most powerful person on Earth– chosen by a dead man walking? One person?

    This is democracy????

    … and Putin smiled.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  17. Lincoln Project endorses Kamala Harris.

    Why would a ‘restore the conservatives’ organization be bashing Ted Cruz and praising Kamala Harris? It’s a real head scratcher.

    Sassy and black.

    Biden just lost the election.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:18 pm

    It’s definitely a test of your perspective on white America. I wonder if Trump tries to seize the headlines with a change up of his ticket soon. Nicki vs Kamala?

    Dustin (4237e0)

  18. DCSCA-

    Did you object that Pence was selected without a vote?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  19. Bret Steoehens New York Times Oped column against Susan Rice:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/opinion/susan-rice-africa.html

    Editors’ Note: Susan Rice is a contributing writer for New York Times Opinion, on hiatus while Vice President Joe Biden considers her as a possible running mate.

    The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  20. JVW owes 5$ to the world heifer foundation. 😀

    Anyone want to make bets on how long before Trump questions if Harris meets the citizenship requirement?

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  21. Colonel Haiku: Cornpop died several years ago.

    So did Joe, Sammy. It’s just that no one told him.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  22. Remmeber when John Kerry picked Richard Gephardt as vice president in 2004?

    http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5377014/ns/politics/t/ny-post-jumps-gunon-kerrys-vp-choice/

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  23. Kamala Harris’ Jewish husband takes on growing public role in 2020 race.

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/kamala-harris-jewish-husband-takes-on-growing-public-role-in-2020-race/

    ‘BALTIMORE — Douglas Emhoff was on the stage seconds after an activist rushed his wife, Kamala Harris, and snatched the microphone from her hands. Shortly after he helped remove the activist, Emhoff tweeted that he and Harris were “good” and that he would “do anything for her.”

    The incident quickly turned viral, bringing attention to someone who is often at Harris’s side but rarely front and center.’

    Oy vey.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  24. JVW owes 5$ to the world heifer foundation.

    I’ll pay up. My aunt is a big supporter of that organization.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  25. @20. Yep. And especially Dan Quayle, too.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  26. I was prepared to be disappointed with Biden’s choice, and he didn’t disappoint my disappointment.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  27. ‘BALTIMORE — Douglas Emhoff was on the stage seconds after an activist rushed his wife, Kamala Harris, and snatched the microphone from her hands. Shortly after he helped remove the activist, Emhoff tweeted that he and Harris were “good” and that he would “do anything for her.”

    The incident quickly turned viral, bringing attention to someone who is often at Harris’s side but rarely front and center.’

    Oy vey.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:29 pm

    He seems like a pretty decent guy. Kids seemed nice too. Good link. I don’t really understand the issue, but that was a puff piece. A beautiful family rarely hurts but we’ll see how Douglas handles the inevitable comments from Trump about whether he finds Harris hot or ugly.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  28. I’ll pay up. My aunt is a big supporter of that organization.

    Hey, how come the Seagoing Cowboys Endowment page isn’t loading? That’s where I want to send my Heifer donation.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  29. MSNBC airing “Harris” poll:

    32% favorable.
    34% unfavorable.
    14% Heard of, no opinion.
    20% Never heard of.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  30. @30. ROFMLMAOPIP. You don’t know very many entertainment lawyers, do you.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  31. It’s as if the Biden handlers thought the California/black/Rastafarian vote was in doubt.

    beer ‘n pretzels (585f8c)

  32. The York Post says it is Kamala Harris

    https://nypost.com/2020/08/11/joe-biden-chooses-kamala-harris-as-his-vice-president

    Also NBC, CNN, BBC etc.

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chris-coons-biden-vp-pick

    Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said Tuesday that he did not know who Joe Biden would pick for his running mate, but made a lofty claim that the decision “will literally make history.”

    Coons called Biden’s VP decision “one of the most consequential decisions” the former vice president will ever make.

    “It will literally make history. And it will change, I believe, not just the arc of this campaign, but the trajectory of American history,” Coons said in an interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.

    Mitchell pressed Coons on his claim. “You said it will make history,” she said. “There have been women running mates before. Sarah Palin, Geraldine Ferraro. The only way it would really make history is if it is a black woman.”

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  33. Do you think now someone might ask Senator Harris about her plumb well-paid positions on California state boards while dating Speaker Willie Brown or about her loyal staffer Larry Wallace whose malarky — to coin a term — cost the state $400,000?

    JVW (ee64e4)

  34. Paul Montagu (c280e0) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:31 pm

    Heh.

    felipe (023cc9)

  35. Never vote for anyone who knows what Willie Brown tastes like.

    —- Kurt Schlichter

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  36. 19.Lincoln Project endorses Kamala Harris.

    Oh please;’The Lincoln Project’ would endorse a traffic light on Fifth Avenue if it shot back at you know who.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  37. JVW owes 5$ to the world heifer foundation.

    I’ll pay up. My aunt is a big supporter of that organization.

    JVW (ee64e4) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:29 pm

    You never accepted the bet so I’ll also donate 5$

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  38. 39… Rick Wilson and his merry band of grifter losers gotta pay the bills somehow…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  39. Seems like a safer choice than Rice, in terms of winning the election.

    Dave (1bb933)

  40. O.M.G.

    Released photo of aged Plagiarist JoeyBee high-fiving w/Harris looks like a nurse congratulating a rest home patient for successfully swallowing his meds.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  41. Never vote for anyone who knows what Willie Brown tastes like.

    Go with the guy who buys unprotected sex from wh*res instead?

    Dave (1bb933)

  42. @30. ROFMLMAOPIP. You don’t know very many entertainment lawyers, do you.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:36 pm

    No I do not.

    But I bet good ones have people skills. So I take it your concern with this guy is based on some assumptions? That kind of thing is never really my wavelength. If he’s done something wrong, I’m sure Russian trolls will helpfully give me a very calm and accurate account.

    Oh please;’The Lincoln Project’ would endorse a traffic light on Fifth Avenue if it shot back at you know who.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:43 pm

    I know. It’s a shame because their criticism of Trump has often been great, but they simply aren’t what they claimed they were, and what the right badly needs.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  43. Minimum 1 time is 10$ so i donated that.

    Time123 (b4d075)

  44. From Biden:

    I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate.

    Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.

    Dana (292df6)

  45. Politico is also reporting the choice is Harris.

    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/11/joe-biden-vp-pick-kamala-harris-393768

    I said weeks ago that if it came down to a choice between Harris and Rice, Harris would be the safer choice.

    Kelly was never under serious consideration. Not that he wouldn’t make an excellent candidate, but because of purely financial reasons. College coaches, especially at power schools like Notre Dame, make more money than pro coaches. The salary for a VP is barely a fraction of what he’s earning now.

    Gawain's Ghost (b25cd1)

  46. @42. Rice has never held an elected office. She was a stalking horse; a total head fake for suckers.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  47. The Tell: Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.

    His obsession w/his dead son signals emotional instability. Hey Joe, Beau like Diet Coke, too–just like President Trump!

    Past is prologue: plagiarist Joe Biden betrayed working people w/his pro-big bank legislation as a senator from Delaware.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  48. It’s as if the Biden handlers thought the California/black/Rastafarian vote was in doubt.

    beer ‘n pretzels (585f8c) — 8/11/2020 @ 1:37 pm

    The black vote was in doubt. This is a turnout election and Biden hasn’t done a good job leading on that front at all.

    One state that remains in doubt is Texas. Biden has made an enormous stride there over the months and it’s a consistent toss up. Cornyn is running and polling several points ahead of Trump too, so complaints this is some bad sample don’t make any sense. Harris is going to do very well in Travis County, Tarrant County, and Harris County. She’s no Ann Richards, but there’s overlap IMO because of Richards’s tough on crime approach.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  49. Seems like a safer choice than Rice, in terms of winning the election.

    I wonder if Ms. Rice had the higher upside but the more potentially fatal downside, while Sen. Harris is who she is and doesn’t really bring much or detract much from the ticket. Except of course to the extent that something like three out of five voters supposedly believe that Joe Biden won’t last a full term in office, so perhaps voters really are going to pay close attention to Sen. Harris in the role. One can hope this will be the case.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  50. Oh my…

    Kamala has zero appeal outside of their rabid, crazy base. And plenty of sane people will now have a strong motive to hold their nose and vote for the “other” guy.

    whembly (c30c83)

  51. plagiarist Joe Biden betrayed working people w/his pro-big bank legislation

    While Trump betrayed them by stiffing them on payday.

    Deezy-eskanomics.

    Dave (1bb933)

  52. His obsession w/his dead son signals emotional instability.

    At worst it’s ghoulish politics but no one really thinks that way unless they are a little nutty. This is unfortunately one of Biden’s most effective ways to channel the pain of loss that millions of Americans are associating with Trump anyway.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  53. Kelly was never under serious consideration. Not that he wouldn’t make an excellent candidate, but because of purely financial reasons. College coaches, especially at power schools like Notre Dame, make more money than pro coaches. The salary for a VP is barely a fraction of what he’s earning now.

    You underestimate the recruiting advantage of being able to fly a hotshot quarterback aboard Air Force Two and to call in an airstrike on Ann Arbor or Columbus.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  54. @55. He’s running for CIC. Not Pope.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  55. @54. Reaganomics: the toolbox of capitalism.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  56. Tom Alcapa
    @tomalcapa
    ·
    Today Susan Rice sent an email to herself stating that 2 weeks ago she told Joe Biden she shouldn’t be considered for VP….

    __ _

    harkin (5af287)

  57. @53. Sassy and black worked on Sanford & Son or The Jeffersons.

    The Cosby Show — at least of late–not so much.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  58. Harris will be the new Beto by January, 2021.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  59. At worst it’s ghoulish politics but no one really thinks that way unless they are a little nutty. This is unfortunately one of Biden’s most effective ways to channel the pain of loss that millions of Americans are associating with Trump anyway.

    When I reviewed the book about the Clinton campaign a few years back I saluted Joe Biden because there was a story in there that in the run-up to his decision whether or not to seek the 2016 nomination his political aides commissioned a potential “Meet Joe Biden” TV ad that dwelled on the heartbreak of losing his wife and daughter and then later on his son. Vice-President Biden was reportedly mortified at the idea that he would exploit his family’s pain for political gain. Now I’m wondering if he hasn’t been seduced by the empathy/sympathy crowd and we’ll be treated to a tear-jerking video at the virtual convention. So much the worse.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  60. I wonder if Ms. Rice had the higher upside but the more potentially fatal downside

    Rice had upside in terms of governing experience. It’s hard to really see any electoral upside from putting her on the ticket, except maybe if she sounded knowledgeable about foreign policy, which nobody cares much about at the moment. Rice had no constituency, and would have attracted a lot of attacks.

    while Sen. Harris is who she is and doesn’t really bring much or detract much from the ticket.

    Well, she has a law-enforcement background. She may be able to blunt some Trump attacks on that front.

    Obviously, there’s a different California DA who we all would have preferred, but…

    Dave (1bb933)

  61. Joe Biden announced, or perhaps confirmed, this with two tweets or more.

    What probably tipped the balance for Joe Biden was the idea that his late son. called Beau, would have recommended her. Biden said his son worked together with Kamala Harris while she was Attorney General of the State of California. I don’t know what that’s about, although I read about that claimed connection (no details) somewhere in the last few days. But I didn’t try to look it up. I suspect it is exaggerated, but that argument made an impression on Biden.

    Biden also called Kamala Harris a fighter for the little guy.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  62. So is Kamala going to be considered the POTUS-in-waiting if Biden/Kamala wins?

    whembly (c30c83)

  63. Now I’m wondering if he hasn’t been seduced by the empathy/sympathy crowd and we’ll be treated to a tear-jerking video at the virtual convention. So much the worse.

    He has used it as a crutch beyond what one would consider ‘normal.’ It comes up too many times.

    Old people do that. Fine. But a CIC cannot be afforded that luxury.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  64. I’ve updated the post with Trump’s tweet of his campaigns first anti-Harris ad.

    Dana (292df6)

  65. Hey Joe, Beau liked China-owned KFC, too!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  66. Go with the guy who buys unprotected sex from wh*res instead?

    A man of the people!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  67. Now I’m wondering if he hasn’t been seduced by the empathy/sympathy crowd and we’ll be treated to a tear-jerking video at the virtual convention.

    Biden: Three deaths are a tragedy.

    Trump: 160,000 deaths are a statistic.

    Dave (1bb933)

  68. At worst it’s ghoulish politics but no one really thinks that way unless they are a little nutty. This is unfortunately one of Biden’s most effective ways to channel the pain of loss that millions of Americans are associating with Trump anyway.

    Eh, I’m unwilling to make such a harsh judgment against someone whose lost so much. I couldn’t say, from the outside looking in, how much pain he is in, and when it crops up. While he has certainly used his life experience in his ads and campaigns, so has every other candidate at some point, haven’t they? Isn’t that what makes the candidate relatable to the average person – their shared pain, struggle, sorrow, loss, victories, and successes? I’m just saying that I don’t really know where the line between sorrow and exploitation is, and I wonder if anyone really does. With that though, I think we can all agree that what Cindy Sheehahn did was eventually blatant exploitation to further a political agenda. But is Biden exploiting the loss of his family in that same way? I don’t think so.

    Dana (292df6)

  69. Well, Trump just clinched his second term.

    nk (1d9030)

  70. I wonder how voters will reconcile Harris’s earlier inference that Biden is racist and her stating that she believed Biden’s victim(s) claims of sexual harassment/abuse?

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  71. Does the selection of Harris move the needle for any of you who were undecided about who to vote for, or those of you who said that there was no way you would vote for Trump?

    Dana (292df6)

  72. @71

    At worst it’s ghoulish politics but no one really thinks that way unless they are a little nutty. This is unfortunately one of Biden’s most effective ways to channel the pain of loss that millions of Americans are associating with Trump anyway.

    Eh, I’m unwilling to make such a harsh judgment against someone whose lost so much. I couldn’t say, from the outside looking in, how much pain he is in, and when it crops up. While he has certainly used his life experience in his ads and campaigns, so has every other candidate at some point, haven’t they? Isn’t that what makes the candidate relatable to the average person – their shared pain, struggle, sorrow, loss, victories, and successes? I’m just saying that I don’t really know where the line between sorrow and exploitation is, and I wonder if anyone really does. With that though, I think we can all agree that what Cindy Sheehahn did was eventually blatant exploitation to further a political agenda. But is Biden exploiting the loss of his family in that same way? I don’t think so.

    Dana (292df6) — 8/11/2020 @ 2:19 pm

    Nope. Text book political exploitation in one of the worst way possible…and he knew what he was doing as he KEPT DOING IT:
    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/03/19/bidens_memory_isnt_the_only_problem_its_his_lies_142706.html

    Biden lied on at least two occasions about a man named Curtis C. Dunn. Dunn was the tractor-trailer driver who, in 1972, tragically struck and killed Biden’s wife and his infant daughter. Along with many other news outlets, the Huffington Post, in 2008, described the accident this way: “Delaware’s Senator-elect would face a more difficult challenge soon after his election, when a drunk driver struck the car carrying his family, killing his wife Neilia and daughter Naomi and severely wounding sons Hunter and Beau.”

    Based on Joe Biden’s account, the Huffington Post got it right. Dunn was driving drunk. After all, in a 2001 speech at the University of Delaware, Biden said, “An errant driver who stopped to drink instead of drive and hit — a tractor-trailer — hit my children and my wife and killed them.” But the then-Delaware prosecutor, now a judge, who investigated the accident says, “The rumor about alcohol being involved by either party, especially the truck driver [Dunn], is incorrect.” Furthermore, the tractor-trailer driver had the right of way, and Dunn immediately got out of his truck and tried to render assistance. He was no drunk driver.

    Disturbed by Biden’s drunk-driver version of the accident, Pamela Hamill, Dunn’s daughter, wrote to Biden. The Newark Post wrote:

    “In 2001, [Hamill] wrote a heartfelt letter to Biden expressing her father’s profound grief after hearing Biden make a post Sept. 11 speech in which he told the audience that, given his history, he could empathize with victims.

    “‘Growing up, my dad never talked about it. He always got very solemn around Christmastime because the anniversary was Dec. 18, and he never wanted to celebrate the holidays,’ Hamill said. ‘When newspapers had anniversary articles [about the crash], we hid them from dad.’

    “Biden responded in a handwritten note, which, in part, reads, ‘All that I can say is I am sorry for all of us and please know that neither I or my sons feel any animosity whatsoever.'”

    Biden, it appears, got the message. Both families suffered a terrible tragedy. Why add to the pain by falsely portraying the remorseful Curtis Dunn as a drunk driver?

    But a few years later, Biden did it again.

    In a 2007 speech at the University of Iowa, Biden said: “Let me tell you a little story. I got elected when I was 29, and I got elected November the 7th. And on Dec. 18 of that year, my wife and three kids were Christmas shopping for a Christmas tree. A tractor-trailer, a guy who allegedly — and I never pursued it — drank his lunch instead of eating his lunch, broadsided my family and killed my wife instantly, and killed my daughter instantly, and hospitalized my two sons, with what were thought to be at the time permanent, fundamental injuries.”

    In 2008, Hamill demanded that Biden make a public apology. Hearing nothing from Biden, she sent him a registered letter. The next year, after an accurate CBS television report on the accident, Hamill said she received a phone call from Biden. Hamill told Politico: “He apologized for hurting my family in any way. So we accepted that — and kind of end of story from there.”

    Joe’s calling card is decency, an affable man without a malicious bone in his body. Yet he allowed Dunn, who died in 1999, to go to his grave having been falsely shamed by Biden as a drunk driver responsible for the death of Biden’s wife and newborn daughter. What “decent” man does that.

    whembly (c30c83)

  73. 74.

    Does the selection of Harris move the needle for any of you who were undecided about who to vote for, or those of you who said that there was no way you would vote for Trump?

    Not enough. But it makes me more interested in forecasting who will be president in 2023.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  74. Take a look at her treatment of guns in CA. Particularly her certification of the availability of “microstamping” (hint: does not exist) which will prevent any semi-auto that does not have this non-existent feature from being sold in CA. The State Supreme Court upheld the certification for reasons that still elude me. Apparently if it isn’t actually IMPOSSIBLE, then it can be required.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  75. I have told people that the only thing that could get me to vote for Trump would be Harris as a presumptive Presidential successor. I was going to vote third party, but now I don’t think so.

    Two existential mistakes on hand, I will take the one I despise least.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  76. She would have no problem jumping the Supreme Court to 17 justices to ban guns. After living in CA, I have no patience for the idea that politicians that overreach will be defeated.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  77. Any attack on Harris will be sexist, you understand.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  78. @74. Absolutely.

    America is 75% white and given Biden’s age, medical history and questionable mental fitness, the electorate is simply not going to put a sassy black woman a heart beat away from the Oval. The West Wing isn’t The Jeffersons.

    The first woman VP and/or POTUS will be white— or off-white [don’t forge, HRC won the populr vote.]

    My guess is it’ll be Nikki Haley. Next cycle, her day will come.

    _________

    Oh, BTW, Joe, Beau liked french fries, too– just like President Trump!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  79. Does the selection of Harris move the needle for any of you who were undecided about who to vote for, or those of you who said that there was no way you would vote for Trump?

    Yes. Considering Biden’s age and mental state, she would succeed to the office during his first term. This is unacceptable. Voting for Trump. If Trump were to dump Pence for, say, Cruz then the same argument would make be extra likely to vote GOP.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  80. Seems like a safer choice than Rice, in terms of winning the election.

    Absolute anathema to 2A supporters.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  81. From Biden:

    The odds he made the decision are the same odds he composed the tweet.

    beer ‘n pretzels (00b6c2)

  82. Does the selection of Harris move the needle for any of you who were undecided about who to vote for, or those of you who said that there was no way you would vote for Trump?

    (nk jumps up and down and waves hand in air) Me! Me! Me! What Kevin said. I’m even going to stop saying bad things about Trump and start saying bad things about Never Trump. The freefall was fun while it lasted, but now the rubber has hit the road.

    nk (1d9030)

  83. For DCSCA:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5mjsMEMmoQ (audio may not be safe for work)

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  84. Any attack on Harris will be sexist, you understand.

    I really don’t understand the level of vituperation and pearl-clutching.

    She’s a garden variety Democrat from the liberal wing of her party, a child of immigrants who has more relevant experience on her resume than most of her peers.

    Dave (1bb933)

  85. What’s this about the chattering class that Kamala is a “moderate”??!??!

    WTF?

    She’s the Second most liberal in Congress:
    https://voteview.com/congress/senate/text

    whembly (c30c83)

  86. @71. But is Biden exploiting the loss of his family in that same way? I don’t think so.

    I don’t think he’s ‘exploiting it’ but I’m certain he is obsessing over it to the point of it being an emotional crutch beyond the bonds of reasonable grief. Beau comes up in his conversation too many times. He’s been dead five years. No doubt we’ve all known people who do this- certainly the elderly do, obsessing over a loss as a ‘touchstone’– but this dude is running for CIC and he’s going to be in a gig where he may have to send young men and women to their deaths. Personally, I don’t believe he is emotionally stable enough for the gig. A CIC has to be a SOB. He’s not.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  87. @86. Kevin: Beau liked ’em, too — just like President Trump!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  88. Well, she has a law-enforcement background.

    But is that an asset or a liability these days? Along with the stuff about Willie Brown hooking her up with board appointments and her studied ignorance of Larry Wallace’s sexual harassment, people are going to start to point out how many young minorities she prosecuted for what we are now supposed to think of as relatively harmless offenses, and she can answer questions about why she didn’t contact defense attorneys when her office found out that crime labs had potentially tainted investigations and that certain investigators had become unreliable.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  89. She’s a garden variety Democrat from the liberal wing of her party, a child of immigrants who has more relevant experience on her resume than most of her peers.

    And ‘black.’

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  90. Dave,

    She may be a garden-variety Democrat, if you consider how far left that party has gone. But she is nowhere near the center.

    https://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Kamala_Harris.htm

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  91. Just be glad the First Jewish Second Dude wasnt Anthony Weiner.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  92. whembly, I had forgotten about the nasty demagoguery that Joe Biden engaged in when accusing the trucker of having been drunk. Thanks for the reminder. I guess I thought his disavowal of using his family tragedy in the 2016 race had been principled, but perhaps he simply didn’t want people pointing out how he had brazenly lied about it and in doing so unfairly defamed a dead man. I understand that Joe Biden has since spoken with the man’s family and apologized, but I wonder if he’ll be asked about this if and when he ever emerges from his Bidencave.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  93. Harris is even more unfit than Trump and so is Biden for picking her. More unfit than Trump that is.

    nk (1d9030)

  94. @91. And, of course, surprise: Kamala was a state Attorney General- just like Beau was!

    ______

    Hey Joe, Beau liked Quarter Pounders w/cheese– just like President Trump!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  95. And ‘black.’

    In some quarters, Mr. 1964, that’s not considered a disqualification.

    Dave (1bb933)

  96. @95 I doubt anyone would challenge Biden on this, unless he brings it up again unsolicited. But seeing his most recent speeches, hoooboy… there’s no discipline there.

    whembly (c30c83)

  97. PS I’ve got your “law enforcement background” right here.

    nk (1d9030)

  98. Harris is even more unfit than Trump

    Because…?

    Dave (1bb933)

  99. @96

    Harris is even more unfit than Trump and so is Biden for picking her. More unfit than Trump that is.

    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 2:53 pm

    Welcome to team “Hold your nose whilst voting for team GOP”.

    whembly (c30c83)

  100. @86. Kevin: Beau liked ’em, too — just like President Trump!

    DCSCA, let’s be very careful about not conflating the late Beau Biden with his younger brother Hunter. Do you have a legitimate source for any allegations made against Beau Biden? We know Hunter is a trainwreck, but I don’t want to be a part of sullying Beau Biden’s reputation since he’s not able to defend himself.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  101. Well, she has a law-enforcement background.

    That’s San Francisco “law enforcement” (if you can being an SF DA “law enforcement”).

    She refused to file a death penalty case against an illegal immigrant who killed several witnesses to another crime. She refused to seek the death penalty for someone who killed an SF police officer. She has stated that she favors a “moratorium” on the death penalty being carried out.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  102. I’m certain he is obsessing over it to the point of it being an emotional crutch beyond the bonds of reasonable grief. Beau comes up in his conversation too many times. He’s been dead five years.

    I don’t think Biden minds benefiting from it but it is not that big a deal for someone to reference this kind of thing. After all, Biden is actually near the end of his life. Family and death are part of what people think about then. Regardless, even if you’re totally correct, this isn’t much of a political liability this year, when a lot of people are grieving and think Trump doesn’t care that much.

    Harris was never that good at appealing to people and was very hard on Biden. I think she’s going to come across as low credibility, would say or do anything kind of ‘leader’.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  103. If we’re applying standard consistently… by Kamala Harris’ dubious standards she tried to use with Bret Kavanaugh… didn’t she just willingly team up with a rapist?

    Asking for a friend…

    whembly (c30c83)

  104. In some quarters, Mr. 1964, that’s not considered a disqualification.

    Indeed, and I dislike him saying things like that in “agreement” with a post of mine.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  105. Tiana Lowe
    @TianaTheFirst
    ·
    As a prosecutor, Kamala:
    —Supported ICE separating kids from parents
    —Threatened to lock up the mothers of truant children
    —Targeted trans prisoners
    —Pushed 3 strikes laws against non-violent offenders
    —Refused to prosecute Catholic Church child molesters
    __ _

    Peter J. Hasson
    @peterjhasson
    ·
    Somebody is working overtime to scrub Kamala Harris’s Wikipedia page, and a war is raging over it https://interc.pt/3iwoChx by @aidachavez
    __ _

    Michael Malice
    @michaelmalice
    ·
    And just like that, the cops became heroes again
    __ _

    harkin (5af287)

  106. Harris is even more unfit than Trump and so is Biden for picking her. More unfit than Trump that is.

    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 2:53 pm

    Harris is unqualified and anyone who says it will be deemed a bigot/sexist. Sarah Palin was drastically more qualified.

    Hard to say someone’s unfit compared to Trump because he is screwing everything up.

    Biden’s always been unqualified. He’s just a career senator. Versus anybody but a screw up like Trump, Biden is a joke of a candidate.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  107. What’s this about the chattering class that Kamala is a “moderate”??!??!

    It’s because they know that most people never check anything for themselves and/or want to feel comfortable in voting for Biden.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  108. Oh, my mistake, he was responding to dave

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  109. Harris is even more unfit than Trump

    Because…?

    She’s less honest.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  110. Welcome to team “Hold your nose whilst voting for team GOP”.
    whembly (c30c83) — 8/11/2020 @ 2:56 pm

    I don’t think it’s his nose that nk holds.

    PS I’ve got your “law enforcement background” right here.
    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 2:55 pm

    felipe (023cc9)

  111. FWIW, David Axelrod agrees with my interpretation of the pick.

    Dave (1bb933)

  112. She’s less honest.

    Than Trump?

    LOL!

    Dave (1bb933)

  113. One of the jobs of the CA AG is to prepare ballot titles and ballot summaries. Time and again, these somehow were tilted left so that someone coming across them at the polls would be misled. If it was a tax to do X, it would be about doing X. If it was a tax cut it would be about cutting services. That kind of thing.

    The “microstamping” thing was the height of dishonesty.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  114. LOL!

    Admittedly, she’s a better liar. But who isn’t?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  115. biden/harris just clinched california
    Einsteins running that campaign.

    mg (8cbc69)

  116. FWIW, David Axelrod agrees with my interpretation of the pick.

    Well, that should settle it.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  117. biden/harris just clinched california

    Not-Trump/Not-Trump clinched CA.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  118. As a prosecutor, Kamala:
    —Supported ICE separating kids from parents
    —Threatened to lock up the mothers of truant children
    —Targeted trans prisoners
    —Pushed 3 strikes laws against non-violent offenders
    —Refused to prosecute Catholic Church child molesters

    So to summarize: Harris is a both an ultra-left commie AND an anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, anti-minority nazi fascist?

    Dave (1bb933)

  119. Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  120. One of the jobs of the CA AG is to prepare ballot titles and ballot summaries. Time and again, these somehow were tilted left so that someone coming across them at the polls would be misled. If it was a tax to do X, it would be about doing X. If it was a tax cut it would be about cutting services. That kind of thing.

    The “microstamping” thing was the height of dishonesty.

    Kevin M (ab1c11) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:05 pm

    This is the kind of thing that made the Obama administration frustrating. The veneer of moderate, smart leadership that was totally crooked.

    It’s very different from obnoxious defenses if bleach injections, but strategic corruption isn’t something we can laugh and dismiss.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  121. Black? Really? She’s half West Indian (Jamaican) and half East Indian. What part of the Black American history, culture, and experience does she share? Willie Brown?

    nk (1d9030)

  122. One of the jobs of the CA AG is to prepare ballot titles and ballot summaries.

    Not true.

    9085
    (a) The ballot pamphlet shall also contain a section, located near the front of the pamphlet, that provides a concise summary of the general meaning and effect of “yes” and “no” votes on each state measure. (b) The summary statements required by this section shall be prepared by the Legislative Analyst. These statements are not intended to provide comprehensive information on each measure. The Legislative Analyst shall be solely responsible for determining the contents of these statements. The statements shall be available for public examination and amendment pursuant to Section 9092.

    The Legislative Analyst works for … the legislature.

    Dave (1bb933)

  123. harris must smell like roses

    mg (8cbc69)

  124. Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    Well of course he did.

    Dave (1bb933)

  125. Ivanka donated too!

    Dave (1bb933)

  126. To me she smells like what they grow in, mg.

    But it sure is “came up roses” for Trump.

    nk (1d9030)

  127. Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    And I’m guessing her office never once investigated any of his business holdings in the Golden State.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  128. Finally!

    At long last, principled conservatives have the Lefty Pairing that will help their tireless (and thankless!!!) efforts to conserve conservatism !

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  129. If he was going to black, he should have went black. Most white guys prefer the, er, contrast.

    mg, this is proof of why Biden actually went to DD and 711 so often. No nappy headed coconut oil girl from around the way stood a chance.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  130. Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    The only surprising thing is that the checks cleared.

    Dave (1bb933)

  131. @133

    Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    The only surprising thing is that the checks cleared.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:27 pm

    Is that a criticism… or what?

    It’s interesting…sure. But, not sure why this is a big dealio…

    whembly (c30c83)

  132. One of the jobs of the CA AG is to prepare ballot titles and ballot summaries.

    Not true.

    Depends upon the definition of “labels and summaries.” The AG does indeed come up with the brief two or three sentences that appear in the actual ballot material, but it is true that the longer description in the official Voter Information Guide, which is mailed to voters and available online, has the summary from the legislative analyst.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  133. It’s interesting…sure. But, not sure why this is a big dealio…

    Mr. My-Gut-Instinct-Is-Never-Wrong donating – twice – to yet another woman who he will now spend several months trying viciously to tear down … yep, nothing to see hear, move along!

    Dave (1bb933)

  134. @103. Allegations?

    What’s not to like: BJs, fries, QPs w/cheese and Diet Cokes?

    What- was Beau a commie???? Besides, obviously Beau doesn’t “have to be here”– Plagiarist JoeyBee is doin’ ‘the keep him alive thing’ all on his own, JVW. And that’s ‘the Tell.’ And it is disturbing in a potential CIC–see #89.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  135. Who here wants Harris to be president?

    How about we listen to her calling Biden racist. This should be fun.

    NJRob (49852a)

  136. How about we listen to her calling Biden racist.

    She never called Biden racist.

    Dave (1bb933)

  137. Joe-Blow in 2020

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  138. The opening words of Harris’s colloquy with Biden at the first Dem debate:

    “I’m going to now direct this at Vice President Biden,” she said when she got the floor. “I do not believe you are a racist, and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground.”

    Dave (1bb933)

  139. She never called Biden racist.

    Technically true. Harris inferred/implied Biden was a racist.

    And since you’ve admitted CNN is your gold standard…

    https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/07/08/politics/jill-biden-surprised-kamala-harris-debate/index.html

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  140. Biden – Gold-digging Corksoaker 2020

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  141. hard to believe a person from a toss up state was not picked

    mg (8cbc69)

  142. Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    That’s the kind of thing all corrupt developers do for corrupt public officials.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  143. Who here wants Harris to be president?

    She’s not running for president, but if it comes to that, better her than Trump.

    Dave (1bb933)

  144. JVW:

    ‘On March 2, 2020, Joe Biden mentioned Beau in a speech, comparing him to former South Bend Mayor, Pete Buttigieg, after Buttigieg endorsed Biden for the 2020 presidential election. “I don’t think I’ve ever done this before, but [Buttigieg] reminds me of my son, Beau, and I know that may not mean much to most people, but to me, it’s the highest compliment I can give any man or woman.” – Plagiarist JoeyBee 3/2/20 -source, wikibio

    He comes up over and over as a touchstone… it’s a tell of emotional instability. Not something you want in a CIC who has to be a SOB. 330 million others to pick from.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  145. Dave, the ballot line on the actual ballot, which is all 98% ever look at, is controlled by the AG. The legislative analysis in that big booklet, that everyone plans to look at but doesn’t, is controlled by the legislative analyst and the pro/con argument writers.

    But that little summary on the actual ballot, along with the ballot TITLE, is the AG’s baby.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  146. There are court fights today over the November ballot in CA regarding ballot titles and ballot summaries. For the same tiring reasons.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  147. She’s not running for president, but if it comes to that, better her than Trump.

    You still don’t recognize the target audience.

    [ X ] J.R. Ewing

    [ ] Louise Jefferson

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  148. She’s not running for president, but if it comes to that, better her than Trump.

    That puts you left of center.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  149. Harris’s ancestors were slave owners, according to her father.

    Whoops.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  150. “I’m going to now direct this at Vice President Biden,” she said when she got the floor. “I do not believe you are a racist, and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground.”

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:39 pm

    Sounds like “I’m not saying I believe you’re racist, but…” maybe the voters should think about this racist stuff I’m accusing you of.

    It’s actually kinda amazing Biden let that slide and suggests he really isn’t in control. There’s such a thing as self-respect.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  151. 152… sometimes people resist the obvious until they stumble over it.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  152. Dave at 136. Several months? Wait till you see Biden’s poll numbers next week.

    Silver spoon nothing. Trump was born under a lucky star and has a fairy godmother too.

    nk (1d9030)

  153. He comes up over and over as a touchstone… it’s a tell of emotional instability. Not something you want in a CIC who has to be a SOB. 330 million others to pick from.

    I get that, and I find it eye-rollingly trite too. But the talk of Beau Biden and BJs is beneath you, DCSCA, even if it comes in an off-handed quip. Please, for Heaven’s sake, dial it down a notch or two.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  154. Silver spoon nothing. Trump was born under a lucky star and has a fairy godmother too.

    I am mulling over the idea that Donald Trump is a modern incarnation of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, the 11th Century Spanish knight in the poem El Cid. “You who were born in a fortunate hour.” I don’t think I’ll be able to square all of the holes in this narrative (not the least of which is that El Cid behaved honorably and nobly, with perhaps the exception of the phony treasure gag at the poem’s beginning), so the idea may not come together in the end, but it’s been on my mind. And of course if he loses in November the idea is blown all to hell.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  155. “You cannot go into a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.”- Joe Biden

    “You got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.” – Joe Biden

    Yeah.

    He’s a racist.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  156. @157. You might want to direct that to Kevin- he posted the YouTube clip.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  157. doesn’t look as though the joan rivers face lift worked

    mg (8cbc69)

  158. swimming with joe, kamala and the secret service should be a sitcom

    mg (8cbc69)

  159. Will it make a difference to me? Not really. Trump is hemorrhaging thousands of American lives every day, I’m not terribly picky about the bandage as long as it is clean and stops the bleeding.

    Harris is a garden variety opportunist, just like most politicians. She’s not an ideologue so she’ll fight for whatever the Biden campaign wants. I do think it’s an interesting tell for what Biden intends for his campaign and the public relations strategy for his administration should he be elected.

    Nic (896fdf)

  160. @157. That aside, don’t you find it disturbing he keeps ‘going to Beau’– on co nversations–I mean, you can understand that from your grandmother wistfully remembering your grandfather and so on but it’s genuinely disturbing the way he keeps bringing Beau up after half a decade. I sense it’s less ‘trite’ and more genuine emotional damage- or instability.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  161. @158. There’s no denying ‘Trump Luck.’

    Buy that lottery ticket.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  162. Things she supports:

    * Public funding for abortion
    * No limits on abortions
    * Keep post-birth abortions legal
    * Reparations for slavery
    * Indigenous People’s Day
    * Regulate Facebook as a utility
    * Reverse 2017 tax cuts (but nothing about restoring deductions)
    * An end to cash bail
    * Abolishing the death penalty
    * Prisoners/felons voting
    * End the War of Drugs (OK, I agree here)
    * Free public colleges
    * The New Green Deal (with a 10-year “mobilization”)
    * Banning all drilling on public land
    * Ban fracking and offshore drilling
    * Carbon neutral country by 2030
    * Lower meat in diets
    * Nuclear power (that’s 2)
    * Mandatory gun buyback
    * More restrictions on 2A
    * Medicare for All, including illegals
    * End private health insurance
    * Slash defense budget
    * Stop the Wall
    * Pro-immigration, of whatever sort
    * Replace ICE with ???
    * Soak “the rich” on taxes
    * More transfer payments to “the poor”

    Yeah, middle of the road Democrat.

    https://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Kamala_Harris.htm#Education

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  163. It’s a little unnerving, seeing all the commenters at Hotair declaring that Kamala isn’t black.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  164. Trump should drop Pence for Tulsi for a rematch. I know Tulsi’s a lefty and this doesn’t make sense but nothing else makes sense and it would be hilarious to watch.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  165. @98. In some quarters, Mr. 1964, that’s not considered a disqualification.

    Like in 2008 and 2012.

    This is now, not then. Law and order and race is the battlefield, prepped by our Captain, a la Nixon/Wallace, 1968. Though Biden is less Hubert Humphrey and more George McGovern. And Ol’Plagiarist JoeyBee served in the U.S. Senate w/both– now long dead.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  166. He should drop Pence for someone more acceptable as a President when Trump leaves office suddenly. His problem is that no one wants to stand too close lest they get slimed.

    Ted Cruz — probably would do it, it won’t really hurt him either way.
    Nikki Haley — sorry, but this is her year to wash her hair
    Marco Rubio — hey, why not? Not much a future anyway.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  167. joe is also color blind

    mg (8cbc69)

  168. Ted Cruz — probably would do it, it won’t really hurt him either way.
    Nikki Haley — sorry, but this is her year to wash her hair
    Marco Rubio — hey, why not? Not much a future anyway.

    Kevin M (ab1c11) — 8/11/2020 @ 4:26 pm

    You know, Ted Cruz has trashed his rep anyway. I agree this wouldn’t hurt him. Might actually help a little if he showed a payoff at the end of a sad story that started so well with Cruz telling those Iowans he wasn’t Uncle Sugar.

    I would guess Nikki. I think Trump will look from screen to screen, Kamala, Nikki, Kamala, Nikki, decide Nikki is more attractive and that’s it. Same reason he should just go with Tulsi so I am better entertained.

    Marco hit way too close to home for Trump to ever work with him.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  169. The Stephen Millers (Mr and Mrs, not RedSteez) would talk Trump out of Rubio and would have to be assured Ted C never wore a guayabera shirt.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  170. If the election were held tomorrow, Biden/Harris would lose Cook County. We’ve got not one but two women with “law enforcement backgrounds” (and they are actual Black Americans), Lori Lightfoot and Kim Foxx, and we see what a bang-up job they’re doing.

    nk (1d9030)

  171. For all teh Kevin Williamson lovers…

    Joe Biden has named his 2020 running mate: authoritarianism…In choosing this corrupt prosecutor as his vice-presidential candidate, Joe Biden has made a serious error, one that highlights his already substantial deficiencies in judgment.

    https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/on-kamala-harris/

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  172. @174

    If the election were held tomorrow, Biden/Harris would lose Cook County. We’ve got not one but two women with “law enforcement backgrounds” (and they are actual Black Americans), Lori Lightfoot and Kim Foxx, and we see what a bang-up job they’re doing.

    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 4:40 pm

    I seriously doubt that… Cook County is democrat country with a well oiled democratic grassroot infrastructure.

    whembly (c30c83)

  173. Trump would be an idiot to drop Pence now. Oh, wait ….

    Seriously, I think Harris will lose Biden every swing state and a couple of the saner blue ones.

    nk (1d9030)

  174. Who thought the dark knight would be aspirational, well they didnt use mortars in that one.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  175. NK: in the spirit of spitting or getting off the pot, who exactly were your “acceptable” Biden- running mates?

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  176. harris may not be as black as barry but most definitely more man

    mg (8cbc69)

  177. @179

    NK: in the spirit of spitting or getting off the pot, who exactly were your “acceptable” Biden- running mates?

    urbanleftbehind (771d72) — 8/11/2020 @ 4:45 pm

    Who would be worst than Kamala?

    whembly (c30c83)

  178. has more relevant experience on her resume than most of her peers.

    Nope. For one thing, she’s childless. That’s the bulk of any person’s experience, man or woman.

    beer ‘n pretzels (00b6c2)

  179. I seriously doubt that… Cook County is democrat country with a well oiled, palm-greasing democratic grassroot infrastructure.

    FIFYTML…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  180. urbanleftbehind @ 179. Governor Whitmer, Tulsi, Mayor Keisha, the Senatress from Minnesota, the first 1,000 natural born citizens over the age of 35 from any phonebook.

    nk (1d9030)

  181. I might have even held my nose for Stacey Abrams, because pandering can be forgiven. But Harris is outright malignant non compos mentis.

    nk (1d9030)

  182. @183 My mistake Haiku… I stand corrected. 😉

    whembly (c30c83)

  183. @185

    I might have even held my nose for Stacey Abrams, because pandering can be forgiven. But Harris is outright malignant non compos mentis.

    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 4:55 pm

    Again… I’d like to extend a heartfelt welcome to voting not-Biden/Harris. The water is warm here as I’ve been here since the Kavanaugh/Convinton fiasco.

    whembly (c30c83)

  184. most Americans know joe will never make it 4 more years, so a couch casting vp is not going to excite anyone
    except dave

    mg (8cbc69)

  185. Dave will wear out the sheets if Sinema gets the dedazo in ’24.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  186. What this boils down to is a choice between Trump and Harris, given Biden’s age (he will be older upon taking office than Reagan was when leaving office) and Harris’s ambition.

    norcal (a5428a)

  187. That puts you left of center.

    Nothing to do with left or right.

    If you’re evil, ignorant and insane – as Donald Trump is – I don’t really need to know anything about your politics.

    Dave (1bb933)

  188. For one thing, she’s childless.

    So, like George Washington and Andrew Jackson then?

    Dave (1bb933)

  189. “The water is warm here as I’ve been here since the Kavanaugh/Convinton fiasco.”

    Warm with a faint yellow tint.

    Davethulhu (527049)

  190. per whembly, Kamala is a great person and a brave leader, because she ran for president. That’s his mark of greatness. I see things the opposite. I think these people are the most selfish among us. Great leadership is possible but unlikely due to how the political parties function.

    Trump tweeted about cancelling the election. And his incompetence has killed thousands more than otherwise would have died (even under the ooga booga Obama Biden admin that actually had some kind of plan). These aren’t absurd exaggerations. Trump is the worst president in history.

    Reading this thread, most of the gripes about Harris and Biden have a ring of truth. There is only one answer.

    Kanye.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  191. @175 — yup, she sounds like a real commissar.

    There is going to be lots of great material to work with there.

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  192. UPDATE BY PATTERICO: There goes any slim chance I might have voted for Biden.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  193. From the National Review piece linked at 175:

    Harris was a leader in the junta of Democratic state attorneys general that attempted to criminalize dissent in the matter of global warming, using her office’s investigatory powers to target and harass non-profit policy groups while she and her counterpart in New York attempted to shake down Exxon on phony fraud cases.

    Until she was stopped by a federal court, Harris was laying subpoenas on organizations such as the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a conservative-leaning group that is critical of Democratic global-warming proposals. She demanded private information that the organizations were not legally obliged to disclose, including financial information and donor lists, in order to be able to subject the supporters of right-leaning groups to legal and financial harassment. This was, as a federal judge confirmed, an obvious and unquestionable violation of the First Amendment.

    If this is true, my vote will now tend towards Trump.

    norcal (a5428a)

  194. 197. Oh come on, Pat. You honestly would have entertained the idea of voting for someone who is clinically not right in the head simply because they were not-Trump? I have a hard time taking that idea seriously.

    Gryph (f63000)

  195. So its jorgensen, when shes out of the sunkight?

    Narciso (7404b5)

  196. In the first place, Mr. Dave, you will (Yes, you will!) do me a great big favor by not mentioning George Washington in a thread about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and in the second place George Washington had an adopted son and Andrew Jackson had three.

    nk (1d9030)

  197. 198. My vote is still for “none of the above,” just like it was in ’16.

    Gryph (f63000)

  198. It fits with franklins line about ‘a republic if you can keep it’

    Narciso (7404b5)

  199. 203. We started pi$$ing our republic away in 1860 or 1913 depending on your historical perspective.

    Gryph (f63000)

  200. 197.UPDATE BY PATTERICO: There goes any slim chance I might have voted for Biden.

    Well, look on the upside- if Trump is re-elected the SCOTUS goes conservative.

    ______________

    @174. It’s like cheering choosing Goldwater over Rockefeller– before getting crushed by LBJ.

    Welcome to 1964.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  201. @202 I would agree, if both sides were precisely, equally bad. Harris as Vice-President (President, for all practical purposes) tips the scale.

    norcal (a5428a)

  202. Reading this thread, most of the gripes about Harris and Biden have a ring of truth. There is only one answer.

    Kanye.

    Kim Kardashian will look better going up the steps of Air Force One than Melania. And the State of the Union in rap, how cool is that?

    nk (1d9030)

  203. This crew makes no doubt about it. 1860 was like the social wars of the romam republic.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  204. Oops. That was supposed to be a response to Gryph at 199.

    norcal (a5428a)

  205. 203. So (assuming you are right-handed), do you want your right hand or your left hand chopped off? That’s the essential choice we’re being asked to make here IMO.

    Gryph (f63000)

  206. 203/206. You disagree. And that’s fine. I’m quite confident that Trump doesn’t need my vote to win. That’s a good thing, since he doesn’t have it.

    Gryph (f63000)

  207. More like do we want to feed our children to dogs or pigs, Gryph.

    nk (1d9030)

  208. Biden saved the careers of the women he didn’t choose– and the men he excluded from considering.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  209. 209. One might argue that pigs are a faster, less painful way to go. I’m not sure that’s the case, but here we are.

    Gryph (f63000)

  210. I’m quite confident that Trump doesn’t need my vote to win. That’s a good thing, since he doesn’t have it.

    Gryph (f63000) — 8/11/2020 @ 5:40 pm

    I don’t see how I can vote for either of them without feeling like I’ve done the wrong thing.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  211. @207 It’s a sh*t sandwich, and we all have to take a bite.

    norcal (a5428a)

  212. 213. Have to? I’m an American, goddamit. I don’t have to do sh!t. Not when it comes to exercising the franchise. I’ll sleep well knowing that whatever clusterf*** follows November 3rd, I’m absolutely 100% utterly blame-free for it.

    Gryph (f63000)

  213. 212. Then don’t. I made my peace with that situation back in ’16.

    Gryph (f63000)

  214. has more relevant experience on her resume than most of her peers.

    Nope. For one thing, she’s childless. That’s the bulk of any person’s experience, man or woman.

    beer ‘n pretzels (00b6c2) — 8/11/2020 @ 4:49 pm

    You realize that some people are unable to have children, right? And some people have babies, but they pass away, and there are no more children. And some people, due to their personal histories or because of reasons unique to them, choose not to have children because it wouldn’t be fair to bring a child into the world with the deck stacked against them? And that good and kind and decent couples opt not to have children altogether because, for them, that is simply the right decision.

    On top of all this nonsense, Kamala Harris is step-mother to two children:

    “Years before meeting [Kamala] Harris, [Douglas] Emhoff was married to a woman named Kerstin, and they had two children together: Cole (after jazz saxophonist John Coltrane)…”
    “… and Ella (after Ella Fitzgerald, of course). When Emhoff and Harris hit it off, the future attorney general was initially very wary of the idea of meeting his kids because she knew just how important they were to him. ‘As a child of divorce, I knew how hard it could be when your parents start to date other people… And I was determined not to insert myself in their lives until Doug and I had established we were in this for the long haul. Children need consistency; I didn’t want to insert myself into their lives as a temporary fixture because I didn’t want to disappoint them. There’s nothing worse than disappointing a child.'”

    Dana (292df6)

  215. Its within your right, but puerto rico and dc will cancel south dakotas vote.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  216. @214 “None of the above” is still a decision, and therefore a bite.

    norcal (a5428a)

  217. Shes baals faithful servant thats enough.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  218. And we’ve come back full circle to It’s a binary choice! Heh.

    Dana (292df6)

  219. 218. Oh yeah. The old “if you fail to choose, that is your choice” saw. Strictly speaking, that is a logically sound argument, but only as far as it goes. I will sleep well knowing that whichever sociopathic and/or [clinically] demented politician sits in the Oval Office, I will have voted for neither of them. As I am still at this moment gainfully employed and able to avail myself of internet access, I am quite content being a spectator in this bloodsport you call “politics.”

    Gryph (f63000)

  220. “None of the above” is a decision to let others make the decision, so it’s a vicarious bite.

    norcal (a5428a)

  221. 220. Except that it’s not. It’s only a binary choice if you are proposing that I *must* choose one or the other. I didn’t in ’16, and I will not in ’20.

    Gryph (f63000)

  222. 222. The outcome is the same either way; only the speed with which we reach that outcome will be different.

    Gryph (f63000)

  223. Thune has proven less worthy then noem.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  224. “VEEP… VEEP… VEEP… VEEP… VEEP…”

    Kamala Harris?

    No.

    Sputnik-V.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  225. 225. I’m not sure where that came from, Narc.

    Gryph (f63000)

  226. 226. LOLOL Good one, DC.

    Gryph (f63000)

  227. 213. Have to? I’m an American, goddamit. I don’t have to do sh!t. Not when it comes to exercising the franchise. I’ll sleep well knowing that whatever clusterf*** follows November 3rd, I’m absolutely 100% utterly blame-free for it.

    Gryph (f63000) — 8/11/2020 @ 5:43 pm

    I agree you don’t have to vote and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. But that also strikes me as a problem because if Harris really is so bad, if Trump really is so bad, I want to vote against both. I used to see low voter turnout as a reflection that a lot of Americans have it good (relative to history) so they don’t feel any need to get engaged. But we’re plenty engaged. We want to vote but the choices are becoming so bad, year after year. The more we know the worse the choices seem.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  228. only the speed with which we reach that outcome will be different.

    Sounds binary.

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  229. 230. If you accept the two choices presented to you as the only “practical” or “real” choices, or whatever other pseudophilosophical tripe the media gets you to choke down, then yes, those choices are binary. I choose not to participate. That is my choice. And if you see a non-existent judgement in me towards yourself in that choice, your feeling of guilt is not my problem.

    Gryph (f63000)

  230. 229. I used to think like that too, Dustin. That low engagement was a symptom of good ole American hedonism. But I thought like that while I still voted. I turned 18 in 1996 and 2016 was the first presidential election in which I did not vote for a presidential candidate; I saved my votes for the downticket statesters.

    Gryph (f63000)

  231. . . . in the second place George Washington had an adopted son and Andrew Jackson had three. . .

    And Andy Jack had the street cred to kill a guy who talked trash about his woman. Pretty boss move.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  232. What “decent” man does that.

    A plagiarist.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  233. Pushing for mail vote, which becomes more and more an invitation to fraud.

    After what happened 12 years ago, im jaundiced about these things ask me why?

    Narciso (7404b5)

  234. 233. I think formal pistol duels should still be legal. 😀

    Gryph (f63000)

  235. And we’ve come back full circle to It’s a binary choice! Heh.

    223, that was me being sarcastic…

    Dana (292df6)

  236. 237. I kind of like the way South Park approached the idea of binary choices in ’16. I won’t link it here, but you can google it if you’re curious.

    Gryph (f63000)

  237. Who feels guilty? Not me. You noted that we are heading for destruction at two different speeds depending how everyone except you votes. As a neutral observer who would you attribute the quick path of destruction to? Trump or Biden?

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  238. I agree you don’t have to vote and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. But that also strikes me as a problem because if Harris really is so bad, if Trump really is so bad, I want to vote against both. I used to see low voter turnout as a reflection that a lot of Americans have it good (relative to history) so they don’t feel any need to get engaged. But we’re plenty engaged. We want to vote but the choices are becoming so bad, year after year. The more we know the worse the choices seem.

    One of the things I found most fascinating about the whole Florida recount mess one score years ago was the number of ballots which were filled out for all the other races but with no Presidential vote marked. I remember they were the subject of some degree of controversy with some partisans (mostly Gore supporters, as I recall) arguing that a ballot which had a preponderance of votes for one party on the rest of the races should be counted as a vote for that party’s Presidential candidate, even if no discernible vote was recorded. It struck me even back then that people couldn’t fathom the idea that one would vote for down-ballot races yet refuse on principle to case a vote for President. Maybe now people understand a bit better.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  239. @231 I respect your choice of “None of the above”, Gryph, but to me that’s a shame, because you seem much more knowledgeable than your run-of-the-mill citizen.

    Are you sure that you want to make the decision to let the average Joe make the decision?

    norcal (a5428a)

  240. In 98 there was a very heated local council race, fanned by among others neil rogers more was focused there then up ballot races

    Narciso (7404b5)

  241. 241. What other “choice” do I have? The only “revolutionaries” in the street (and yes, those are mocking quotes) right now are the Marxist malcontents. I’m happy to remain a spectator precisely because I see the election of no more real consequence or importance than any other sporting event.

    And ya know, I really thought it was going to be Page. Hrm.

    Gryph (f63000)

  242. 239. I think in the interest of continued collegiality here, I’d best not answer that question. -.-

    Gryph (f63000)

  243. ms. senator kamala harris, of whom willie brown recently said “So what?”, would make a great head of state in the event mr. president joe biden could no longer perform the duties of his office

    just ask anybody in the california assembly

    nk (1d9030)

  244. The CBS Evening News highlighted Biden’s explanation for choosing Harris by again noting his rationale that she worked with his dead son, Beau.

    This is a disturbing pattern Plagiarist JoeyBee keeps displaying. BTW Joe, Beau liked ice cream sundaes, too… just like President Trump!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  245. I think thats a big deal, this has been a 50 year campaign at least, the pretext there was vietnam, although interestingly the kent state sds was focused on law enforcement.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  246. One of the things I found most fascinating about the whole Florida recount mess one score years ago was the number of ballots which were filled out for all the other races but with no Presidential vote marked. I remember they were the subject of some degree of controversy with some partisans (mostly Gore supporters, as I recall) arguing that a ballot which had a preponderance of votes for one party on the rest of the races should be counted as a vote for that party’s Presidential candidate, even if no discernible vote was recorded. It struck me even back then that people couldn’t fathom the idea that one would vote for down-ballot races yet refuse on principle to case a vote for President. Maybe now people understand a bit better.

    JVW (ee64e4) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:03 pm

    Good point. Gore was the last ‘default’ nominee too. I think those guys understood plenty why they lost.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  247. @216: Dana, my point was that legislative or work experience pales in comparison to life experience. The examples you provided have no bearing on that observation.

    beer ‘n pretzels (edaa99)

  248. I understand the feeling of a need to vote for Trump, distasteful though he may be. I just don’t share it. And if listening to Rush and Hannity every day while I’m making my deliveries isn’t enough to convince me of that need, I’m pretty sure no one else can.

    Gryph (f63000)

  249. Who feels guilty? Not me. You noted that we are heading for destruction at two different speeds depending how everyone except you votes. As a neutral observer who would you attribute the quick path of destruction to? Trump or Biden?

    BuDuh (ea70a4) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:03 pm

    No President Harris without President Trump so Hillary probably would have been the better choice for conservatives. She’s not really more liberal than Trump of course. Barring some judges (A big deal) Hillary would have been holding the bag right now, and a non-goofy GOP could have been fighting her the whole time.

    Of course the real break was the primary, when Cruz, Rubio, Kasich couldn’t draw straws like patriots. Thanks guys.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  250. 249. If you were at all familiar with Angelo Codevilla’s “Ruling class” model of political science, you would understand that there is not a politician alive in DC that has the same understanding of “life experience” that you and I do.

    Gryph (f63000)

  251. The Harris nomination is just amother few feet of soil…the Rust Belt was lost by the Big Ten Commissioners earlier today.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  252. Betcha Plagiarist JoeyBee uses a ‘Ouija Beaud’ for all his decision-making.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  253. 253. Politics is, after all, showbusiness for ugly people. 😉

    Gryph (f63000)

  254. I’d best not answer that question. -.-

    So you have made a choice. Although I don’t understand why you wouldn’t make that same choice at the ballot box, I have no right, IMO, to complain to you and try to coerce you into doing something that you don’t want to do. I am curious about how you reconcile being upset if the candidate who ruins is more quickly wins?

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  255. To me, my duty as a voter is to ferret out which side is marginally better than the other. (I don’t believe they can ever be absolutely even.) It’s a tall task; it was especially so in 2016, and it is again this year.

    I wish I had a crystal ball, but I’ll just have to rely on my best guess.

    norcal (a5428a)

  256. @253.The Harris nomination is just amother few feet of soil…the Rust Belt was lost by the Big Ten Commissioners earlier today.

    You know Trump is going to relentlessly push for football play.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  257. True but we rarely have anyone like that, someone who just served for a short stint,

    Narciso (7404b5)

  258. @255. That would’ve been news to Ronnie and Nancy.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  259. 256. I didn’t say that. You may or may not be correct in your assumption.

    Gryph (f63000)

  260. I apologize, Dustin. Gryph’s concern is who slaughters this nation more quickly. The choices are between Trump and Biden. I didn’t follow your answer.

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  261. 260. I didn’t originate that quote.

    Gryph (f63000)

  262. The Americans for Prosperity Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit that has been investigated in a number of states for illegal or questionable use of its funds to influence elections. It’s currently under investigation in NH on the basis of such a complaint by Republicans, according to Wikipedia.

    It has also been caught in number of underhanded voter suppression dirty tricks.

    It is obviously propaganda to claim she subpoenaed them “in order to be able to subject the supporters of right-leaning groups to legal and financial harassment.”

    My advice is to seek out original sources when encountering these types of hit pieces.

    The decision in the case in question is here.

    As the judgment makes abundantly clear, far from acting as some sort of rogue inquisitor, in this case, Harris was merely following California law, which required all tax exempt organizations to submit the information in question. And the law had been upheld as not facially unconstitutional in a different case previously, although in the AFPF case the court found it failed an “as applied” test.

    In any event, under California law, Harris was required, as Attorney General, to demand the information in question, exposing the dishonesty of NR’s sinister narrative.

    Dave (1bb933)

  263. You did lay out an argument that one administration will get us to the same outcome as the other but at a different speed. You no longer believe that?

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  264. 262. I have no control over who slaughter this nation more quickly. Only an opinion. The choices are now between Trump and Biden. And my choice is “none of the above.”

    Gryph (f63000)

  265. I apologize, Dustin. Gryph’s concern is who slaughters this nation more quickly. The choices are between Trump and Biden. I didn’t follow your answer.

    BuDuh (ea70a4) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:18 pm

    No problem. I don’t think now’s the time to judge anyone who isn’t confident one of these candidates is worth a vote. The pressure to jump in with one side or the other is the actual entity I Wish I could vote (or even fight) against. It’s killed thousands of Americans this year. We cannot just abide it because politics is a sport. I’m tired of seeing the bar lowered in all walks of life, all aspects of church, community, family, marriage, leadership.

    Therefore Kanye 2020.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  266. 265. My opinion in that matter does not matter. I am predicting right now, as I did six months ago, that Trump will win a second term in the Oval Office and that he will do so without my singular support.

    Gryph (f63000)

  267. 267. Thank you, Dustin. 🙂

    Gryph (f63000)

  268. Then why did you mention the speed difference between the two as far as them reaching “the outcome?”

    I would think that a non of the above non-voter would not complain about any result that they didn’t participate in helping dictate.

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  269. Kanye has a pretty good chance of winning.

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  270. In the first place, Mr. Dave, you will (Yes, you will!) do me a great big favor by not mentioning George Washington in a thread about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and in the second place George Washington had an adopted son and Andrew Jackson had three.

    And Ms. Harris is the step-mom to her husband’s two children from his previous marriage.

    I’m so glad you approve!

    Dave (1bb933)

  271. 270. You misconstrue my observations as complaints. I am merely stating certain of my opinions while declining to share others that you have asked me about. My only “complaint,” such as it is, is that I wish more of the electorate shared my distaste for our utter sham of an electoral process. I’ve been laboring under a Cassandra Complex ever since 2012.

    Gryph (f63000)

  272. Trump will win a second term in the Oval Office and that he will do so without my singular support.

    I can’t argue with that. Do you think he will win because more people think he will take the slower path to “the outcome?”

    🙂

    BuDuh (ea70a4)

  273. 274. I think that’s a fair assessment.

    Gryph (f63000)

  274. Dave will wear out the sheets if Sinema gets the dedazo in ’24.

    Klan activities are frowned on in teh OC…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  275. 276. Just call it “peaceful protesting” and you won’t have anything to worry about. Nowadays you’ll get fined and/or hauled off to the klink for not wearing anything over your face!

    Gryph (f63000)

  276. Imagine the possibilities of a president able to trust and work with people who aren’t groveling sycophants in perpetual fear of losing their jobs if they criticize or disagree with him.

    It would be almost like having grownups in charge again!

    Dave (1bb933)

  277. 278. Problem with Biden is, he’s someone else’s groveling sycophant and he’s probably too far gone to even realize it.

    Gryph (f63000)

  278. 273. I wish more of the electorate shared my distaste for our utter sham of an electoral process.

    The problem is not the “process”. Nor is it the “system”. It’s the people.

    “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves…” – Shakespeare

    norcal (a5428a)

  279. I dunno, Gryph…”they” have seemed to come around on gaiters and bandanas – the closest things to Klan hoods and balaclavas- being ineffective placebos.

    http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/08/11/duke-university-neck-gaiters-ineffective-as-not-wearing-mask/

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  280. 280. The people let it get to this point. That is ultimately why I don’t hold out much hope.

    Gryph (f63000)

  281. Forgot, Col., that’s Bircher territory, at least during Tricky Dicks time and before Will Ferrell manched the brand.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  282. @282 I sometimes feel the same way. I’m more than a little envious of my ex-wife. She has passports from three countries–Taiwan, the U.S., and Canada. In other words, options.

    norcal (a5428a)

  283. And Ms. Harris is the step-mom to her husband’s two children from his previous marriage.

    I’m so glad you approve!

    I don’t care, and I didn’t say beer ‘n pretzels wasn’t FOS.

    nk (1d9030)

  284. 284. Whatever options we have left are rather weak sauce IMO. There was unexplored territory somewhere in the world to go, someplace that hadn’t been mapped out, as recently as the mid-nineteenth century. Now it seems like the only place for the misfits to go is to hide with their heads in the sand.

    Gryph (f63000)

  285. Problem with Biden is, he’s someone else’s groveling sycophant and he’s probably too far gone to even realize it.

    You describe a problem shared by many industries and untenured faculty…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  286. 287. I don’t think most industrial CEOs or even tenured university faculty are in fact clinically demented, but you could make a pretty strong case that they are largely sociopathic. A good argument could be made that some degree of sociopathy is a job requirement for elected office.

    Gryph (f63000)

  287. It would be almost like having grownups in charge again!

    You mean those grownups who accept election results as opposed to throwing a four-year hissy fit?

    beer ‘n pretzels (e2de83)

  288. Harris receives congratulations and best wishes from an unlikely source.

    Dave (1bb933)

  289. 289. I hope you’re not lumping me in with those throwing a “hissy fit.”

    Gryph (f63000)

  290. A window into a prospective truly competitive Trump-Biden-Kanye race might be Illinois’ US Senate race where black multimillionaire business operator Willie Wilson is facing off as an independent versus incumbent Dick Durban and R challenger Mark Curran (my former County Sheriff, Lake)

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  291. there has to be some reason that ms. senator kamala harris, who can get more bills out of committee than any other senator by licking her forefinger and running it along her stocking seam, was elected to two state-wide offices in california

    but darn if i know what it is

    nk (1d9030)

  292. 293. I’ll give you two clues:

    1. Willie

    2. Brown

    Gryph (f63000)

  293. Huntress probably banged Willie Brown too, Dave.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  294. Forgot, Col., that’s Bircher territory, at least during Tricky Dicks time and before Will Ferrell manched the brand.

    Yeah, now it’s the Land of Dumbf*ck, ulb. There used to be an Orange Curtain that formed a barrier to the depravity and filth of LA County, but that is fast becoming an historical artifact.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  295. Ugh…the thought of Kamala Harris doing anything carnal with Willie Brown turns my stomach. They’re 30 years apart in age and Willie is now in his mid-80s. :-O

    Gryph (f63000)

  296. there has to be some reason that ms. senator kamala harris, who can get more bills out of committee than any other senator by licking her forefinger and running it along her stocking seam, was elected to two state-wide offices in california

    but darn if i know what it is

    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:57 pm

    Gross.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  297. Just a couple of days ago, Willie said Kamala should decline to be Biden’s running mate, and angle for U.S. Attorney General instead.

    https://nypost.com/2020/08/11/kamala-harris-ex-suggests-she-politely-decline-being-bidens-vp/

    norcal (a5428a)

  298. Meanwhile, the GOP nominates a QAnon true believer in a House district Trump won by 75 points…

    Dave (1bb933)

  299. Stop me but I’m going to take my Avenge Anita slogan in support of anyone whose run or is running against Cook County States Atty Kim Foxx and change it to Avenge Loretta.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  300. Harris receives congratulations and best wishes from an unlikely source.

    That really is a terrific post, gracious and helpful. I hope Sen. Harris takes it to heart.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  301. It struck me even back then that people couldn’t fathom the idea that one would vote for down-ballot races yet refuse on principle to case a vote for President. Maybe now people understand a bit better.“
    __

    As someone who had not voted for a presidential candidate for either of the two major parties since Reagan in 1980, I understood completely and thought the Democrats argument was a pile of manure, as are most Democratic Party arguments.
    __ _

    “ There goes any slim chance I might have voted for Biden.”
    __ _

    Welcome to the party pal!
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  302. 303. I was two-and-a-half years old in November 1980. Good times. Ignorance really is bliss.

    Gryph (f63000)

  303. i’m just dipping my toes, really, mr. Gryph

    and i don’t think i’ll go in after all

    i’ll have to find new tactics and new material

    nk (1d9030)

  304. Considering youve been chomping on kellogg fusion flakes for three years now.

    Shes gracious to a fault, trash like harris or katie hill never go away,

    Narciso (7404b5)

  305. 305. Whatever floats your boat, nk.

    Gryph (f63000)

  306. The Babylon Bee has its usual funny take:

    Stacey Abrams announces that she accepts the VP job and has already started delivering her Election Night victory speech.

    Seriously, is there anyone whose star has fallen so much over the past year as Ms. Abrams? I’m sure that a President Biden would find some cabinet position for her, but man, once upon a time she was the future of the party. I’m guessing she would have fared a lot better had Bernard Sanders been the nominee, but alas, Dems didn’t go full socialist this time around.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  307. @297 Kamala was around thirty at the time, while Willie was in his sixties! Plus, he’s not a good-looking guy anyway. Even though I don’t like her, I do find Kamala very attractive. I’m sure she was even more beautiful when she was 30.

    The only explanation that makes sense for that relationship is a pure lust for power, not a lust for Willie. (No pun intended!)

    norcal (a5428a)

  308. 308. Oh yeah they did. Biden is quoting virtually every jot and tittle from the Biden/AOC playbook. They just can’t be that honest about it.

    Gryph (f63000)

  309. 309. Intend your puns, weakling. 😉

    Gryph (f63000)

  310. Seriously, is there anyone whose star has fallen so much over the past year as Ms. Abrams?

    Not really my impression. I don’t think her stock was ever very high.

    Dave (1bb933)

  311. Meanwhile, the GOP nominates a QAnon true believer in a House district Trump won by 75 points…

    And Ilhan Omar is apparently headed to victory, so both parties are letting their crazies have their moment in the spotlight.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  312. @311 🙂

    norcal (a5428a)

  313. 313. Correction: Ilhan Omar is headed to victory again. The Dems have always tilted the scale in their favor in shear numbers and degrees of crazies.

    Gryph (f63000)

  314. Even though I don’t like her, I do find Kamala very attractive. I’m sure she was even more beautiful when she was 30.

    Powerline has a photo of Ms. Harris with Speaker Brown at around that time. She’s attractive, but not as much as I might have guessed. Perhaps the photo didn’t capture her at her best.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  315. Mayor Keisha (who resembles the Popeyes Chicken Lady) made Stacey Abrams obsolete.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  316. 316. What would you do for a Klondike Bar, Ms. Harris?

    Gryph (f63000)

  317. 316. It certainly didn’t capture Willie at his worst.

    Gryph (f63000)

  318. Stacey Abrams announces that she accepts the VP job and has already started delivering her Election Night victory speech.

    hahahaha

    Dustin (4237e0)

  319. Being ground zero to a firestorm doesnt make an impression in minneapolis

    Narciso (7404b5)

  320. 321. Maybe at one time, but certainly not anymore.

    Gryph (f63000)

  321. @316 Perhaps the photo didn’t capture her at her best.

    Correct.

    You have your sweetie, and I have mine.

    norcal (a5428a)

  322. 323. I don’t think you’ll ever change JVW’s mind. 😛

    Gryph (f63000)

  323. … and The Silent Majority smiled.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  324. Not even on the gabrielle union or kerry washington scale, much less zoe saldana,

    Narciso (7404b5)

  325. Politics has a lower bar, narciso.

    norcal (a5428a)

  326. 323. I don’t think you’ll ever change JVW’s mind.

    No, I have always thought that Sen. Harris was a rather comely lady. I just think that she’s ugly inside.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  327. 327. It’s not what you know, it’s who you bl0w.

    Gryph (f63000)

  328. 328. And the Aloha Sweetie isn’t? :-O

    Gryph (f63000)

  329. I have a feeling that I am once again misunderstanding sarcasm. If so, I apologize for my ineptitude.

    Gryph (f63000)

  330. I’m looking forward to Pence refusing to debate her unless his wife is with him.

    nk (1d9030)

  331. Well, if he gets yanked for Haley, can opposing Bollywood dance routines be mandated as a part of the debate?

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  332. The first question for Ms Harris should be:

    “Black Lives Matter Chicago says looting is permissible because it’s just a form of overdue reparations. Does the Biden/Harris ticket agree with that?
    _

    “Seriously, is there anyone whose star has fallen so much over the past year as Ms. Abrams?”
    __ _

    Were there really serious people who had bestowed elevation to her star?
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  333. If Trump puts an Indian-American woman on the ticket now, it’s plagiarism, plain and simple.

    Dave (1bb933)

  334. @333 Oh, that has Saturday Night Live skit written all over it.

    norcal (a5428a)

  335. @334 You are a bad boy, UBL!

    norcal (a5428a)

  336. I mean, ULB.

    norcal (a5428a)

  337. “Black Lives Matter Chicago says looting is permissible because it’s just a form of overdue reparations. Does the Biden/Harris ticket agree with that?

    Already answered, unequivocally:

    “I’ve said from the outset of the recent protests that there’s no place for violence or destruction of property,” Biden said. “Peaceful protesters should be protected and arsonists and anarchists should be prosecuted, and local law enforcement can do that.”

    Try to keep up.

    Dave (1bb933)

  338. “I was two-and-a-half years old in November 1980. Good times.”
    _

    I was enjoying life in SoCal with an apartment (winter rent in Newport had gone from $400/mo -for a house! – to prohibitive in just a couple years so I moved north), a job, a motorcycle, a few surfboards and when not having the times of my life was convincing as many of my voting friends as possible that Jimmy Carter (whom I had voted for at 18) was worthless.
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  339. I feel the need to point out that in this day and age most women beyond that age of 18 are not virgins any more than most men are and, if married, were not virgins when they married, any more than most men are. Who a woman dates/blows/screws is not a reflection on her abilities any more than it is for a man.

    Nic (896fdf)

  340. “ Try to keep up.”
    _

    I asked for a specific response to a statement from BLM Chicago just a day ago regarding looting and reparations and you link to something he said two weeks ago which doesn’t mention looting nor reparations.

    Maybe you can take the bus.
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  341. @334 You are a bad boy, UBL!

    dammit, should have known Obama faked that whole event back in 2011. Should have demanded a corpse presented on stage.

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  342. “ Who a woman dates/blows/screws is not a reflection on her abilities any more than it is for a man.”
    __

    He hired her strictly for her skills.
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  343. What part of “there’s no place for violence or destruction of property” do you not understand?

    Dave (1bb933)

  344. @345 None of Harris’ elected offices were won by having sex with Willie Brown. He isn’t that popular.

    (I don’t even like Harris, but accusing her of sleeping her way to the top is gross.)

    Nic (896fdf)

  345. I seriously doubt that… Cook County is democrat country with a well oiled democratic grassroot infrastructure.

    Even if none of the registered voters cast ballots, Biden would win by a million vote margin.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  346. Trump: A stupid, incompetent scoundrel who cares only about himself.
    Harris: A smart, savvy scoundrel who wants to ruin everything I value.

    I’ll take the Drunkard’s Walk over the Master Plan, thank you.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  347. @347 You don’t think Willie Brown lending his advice, support, influence, network, and machine helped her win elections?

    norcal (a5428a)

  348. I don’t even like Harris, but accusing her of sleeping her way to the top is gross.

    Well, it won’t be said, but it is TRUE and it will be out there. And women absolutely hate that.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  349. 342. And yet, it’s perfectly reasonable (although perhaps wrong) to assume that Ms. Harris climbed into the halls of power because she climbed into bed with Willie Brown. There is evidence to suggest such, and virtually no evidence to the contrary, save Ms. Harris’ word.

    Gryph (f63000)

  350. I worked for a company once that was run by a gay CEO. By and by, the upper management was all handsome young men. This caused a great deal of unrest. Even the appearance of sexual favoritism rubs people the wrong way. And it should.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  351. Who a woman dates/blows/screws is not a reflection on her abilities any more than it is for a man.

    Yes, but in EVERY corporation they have rules about relationships among the ranks. NOTHING harms morale worse than the boss promoting their squeeze.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  352. 354. In fact, I think I read something fairly recently about McDonald’s trying to claw back some severence they gave their CEO after letting him go because he had dated more than one of his subordinates.

    Gryph (f63000)

  353. “NOTHING harms morale worse than the boss promoting their squeeze.”

    The boss promoting their otherwise unqualified children.

    Davethulhu (527049)

  354. 356. I think we can stipulate that the boss promoting unqualified children is as bad as promoting their squeeze.

    Gryph (f63000)

  355. Who a woman dates/blows/screws is not a reflection on her abilities any more than it is for a man.

    I can’t even ….

    nk (1d9030)

  356. I could start with it’s not “who” it’s “whom”, I suppose.

    nk (1d9030)

  357. Then I could go to the straw man. Who said that it’s not a reflection on a man’s abilities?

    nk (1d9030)

  358. And then the whatever it is. What difference does it make if it’s the same as a man’s?

    nk (1d9030)

  359. I suppose I could ask “abilities at what”? Riding a bicycle?

    nk (1d9030)

  360. You are ever the cutup, nk.

    norcal (a5428a)

  361. I could point out that we don’t elect Presidents solely on ability but on character too.

    nk (1d9030)

  362. And then maybe put it all together with “All the abilities Harris has shown is getting elected to higher and higher office and it matters if she did it by sleeping around and not because she was particularly gifted at anything”.

    nk (1d9030)

  363. i think it says volumes about mr president trumps qualities that he was able to procure several of the most desirable sex workers in failmerica just a few short months after his wife gave birth

    and at a very attractive price i might add

    Dave (1bb933)

  364. Timeline of Harris/Brown events. They dated in 1994-1995, when she was a DDA in Alameda (Bad time for crime in Oakland). Harris moved to SF in 1998, didn’t run for office until 2003.

    @350 I think we have ample evidence that Harris makes her own decisions, since Willie wrote an entire article about how she shouldn’t take the VP spot if offered and yet has taken it. And Willies late career was a plague of scandals that were not particularly popular. IDK if he had any influence in SF at that point, but he sure didn’t in the rest of the state.

    Also, looking at Harris’ career career, the positions she held took work (I know several Bay Area DDAs who have been in those jobs for 15-20 years now and maybe have talked about their workloads over the years some :P. And Oakland was bad news in the 90s.), so she wasn’t just coasting on Willie’s willy.

    @351 Of course it will be said. People tend to say it about powerful women who are even slightly attractive. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t object to people saying it in corners of the net that I frequent. I also objected to people calling Palin “Alaska Barbie” and “Trailerpark Barbie” and I don’t like her either.

    @354 Harris was DDA in Alameda when they dated. He wasn’t her boss.

    @360 et al. It might reflect on one’s morals, in an outdated kind of way, but not one’s ability to do one’s job. I don’t care that Trump slept with Stormy Daniels (I mean, I think it’s kind of funny that he had to pay for sex but I don’t think that’s the reason he’s bad at his job). And when was the last time we had a fit about a (straight) male candidate who dated while single?

    @365 See above timeline.

    Please let me stop defending this woman and criticize her for her actual performance instead of who she dated 25 years ago.

    Nic (896fdf)

  365. Re #359–
    To Whom, Brother, To Whom. (FF to 3:14 minute mark).

    urbanleftbehind (771d72)

  366. In picking Harris, Biden will have the most ambitious VP since LBJ.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  367. BTW,, that link back in #83 was meant to indicate the surreptitious way that people will mention her entry into state politics.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  368. I could point out that we don’t elect Presidents solely on ability but on character too.

    But sometimes on neither.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  369. He would have done a lot bett5er with a National Unity ticket with Condi Rice.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  370. No way to really be sure but it seems like Democrats of most varieties (at least high profile inner party types) are pleased with the selection. No small feat, when you remember how many cliques and tribes they have. I haven’t seen anybody consequential on their side express dissatisfaction.

    The small despairing bands of disgruntled former (and formerly former) Republicans are not the audience for this pick, and it’s kind of silly to think we would be. Although for me I think Biden could have done much worse. Duckworth might have been hated less by the right (although she’s quite liberal) but wouldn’t have helped Biden as much overall, I think. Warren, Bass and Rice all had serious baggage.

    Dave (1bb933)

  371. National Unity ticket with Condi Rice.

    Dude.

    Dave (1bb933)

  372. @369 I don’t know how ambitious LBJ was, but I agree that Harris is extremely ambitious.

    @373 I saw a rundown of Lujan-Grisham’s (Gov NM, Latina) potential for VP that I thought was interesting, but she was thoroughly ignored by the press.

    Nic (896fdf)

  373. The small despairing bands of disgruntled former (and formerly former) Republicans are not the audience for this pick, and it’s kind of silly to think we would be. Although for me I think Biden could have done much worse. Duckworth might have been hated less by the right (although she’s quite liberal) but wouldn’t have helped Biden as much overall, I think. Warren, Bass and Rice all had serious baggage.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 10:01 pm

    You’re gung ho for the pick. What do you mean “we” kemosabe?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  374. Should Biden be elected, Harris will be an octogenarian’s heartbeat away from the Presidency for the majority of Biden’s term.

    norcal (a5428a)

  375. He would have done a lot bett5er with a National Unity ticket with Condi Rice.

    Kevin M (ab1c11) — 8/11/2020 @ 10:00 pm

    I wish. We’re stuck in a rut politically. For all the pain this would have caused Biden, it would have been a bold choice that showed Americans the lines we’re drawing are nonsense.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  376. Stacy couldn’t be reached for comment as she is still counting votes from the previous election.

    mg (8cbc69)

  377. Dave is president of his loco blm group

    mg (8cbc69)

  378. Ilhan omar wins her primary in minnesota. Thats three for three for the squad! Kamela will 35th amendment joe the first chance she gets!

    asset (e66f1c)

  379. I think amendments 28-34 will be bad enough.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  380. It’s been nearly 12 hours… and well, that was an exciting announcement for the future of America, wasn’t it.

    “VEEP… VEEP… VEEP…” goes the Sputnik V.

    … and Putin smiled.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  381. Joe/heels up/2020

    mg (8cbc69)

  382. skin tone/genitals/2020

    mg (8cbc69)

  383. You’re gung ho for the pick.

    You’re projecting.

    I have no emotional reaction to it, positive or negative. Analytically, it seems relatively effective for accomplishing the only thing I want (getting Donald Trump out of office), compared to the plausible alternatives.

    Unlike Trump and his supporters, I don’t hate half the country. I hate one man. Ms. Harris and I would be hard-pressed to find much we agree on politically but she, or Biden, would make a better president than Donald Trump.

    So would any moderately intelligent functioning adult free of chronic psychological pathologies.

    What do you mean “we” kemosabe?

    I meant the people here who recognize that Trump is a disaster but have intensely negative feelings about Harris. I didn’t have you in mind.

    Dave (1bb933)

  384. 386. A chronically, clinially demented individual would make a better president than Trump? That’s an interesting proposition, but I’m not sure it’s one I can get on board with; especially not after the way Harris lit into Biden during the primaries.

    Gryph (f63000)

  385. For all the pain this would have caused Biden, it would have been a bold choice that showed Americans the lines we’re drawing are nonsense.

    I admire Condi bigly but there’s no way Biden could be elected with one of the most visible architects of the Bush Doctrine on the ticket. You might as well cancel the election and crown Mad King Donald tomorrow.

    It would have the same effect on his core voters as Trump replacing Pence with Elizabeth Warren or Condi’s namesake Susan would on the GOP.

    Dave (1bb933)

  386. Start of thread people complain that legitimate criticism will be dismissed as sexism.
    Eng of threat people make crude jokes about sex being the reason she’s successful.

    I think people who do either suck.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  387. That is how she advanced, the same garbage outlets insinuated that about the huntress even a major publishing house allowed that slander, they are all garbage and frankly any defender of such is my enemy

    Narciso (7404b5)

  388. So, where I live, I can see lesbian couples park their cars to go to the sports bar, the Thai restaurant or the Brazilian restaurant. (I haven’t seen any go to the massage parlor yet.)

    They’re of a type. One is dumpy, grungy, and sloppy, or outright female to male transvestite, while the other is neat, well-groomed, well-dressed, and feminine.

    When getting out of the car, the feminine one will stay in her seat and wait until the grunge walks around to open the door for her and offer her hand to help her out. When getting back to the car, the grunge will escort the feminine one to the passenger door, open it for her, help her into the car, close the door, and then walk around to the drivers side.

    I can’t decide whether it’s cute or weird, but I’m leaning towards weird.

    nk (1d9030)

  389. 389. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not a joke. It’s true. She slept her way into office, and Willie Brown was the…erm…conduit, for lack of a better term. And I think it’s far more common, particularly in New York and California state politics, than a lot of outsiders think it is.

    Gryph (f63000)

  390. Well, the choice as a running mate for as vice-president usually doesn’t have much an effect on the top of the ticket. In those rare cases it actually did, the reason was because the choice was a monumentally bad one, such a Quayle, Palin and a few others.

    I’m not sure yet how much the selection of Harris will inspire the Democratic base in support or rile up the Republican base in opposition. Not that it really matters much, as those factions have already made up their minds. How much a Biden-Harris ticket draws in Independent voters will be the key in determining the outcome.

    I think what tipped the balance in Harris’s favor in Biden’s mind was that she had experience as an elected official–district attorney, attorney general, and senator–the other candidates lacked. Also, because he got to know her through her work with his son Beau, when he was an attorney general.

    Several commenters have accused Biden of sentimentality over the loss of his wife and infant daughter, and later of his son Beau. I think that’s a bit harsh and somewhat cynical. People deal with loss in different ways. While it is true that Biden has made the claim that the truck driver in the fatal accident was driving while intoxicated, an accusation that has been disproven, he might actually believe it, or perhaps that’s just his way of coping with or rationalizing the severity of the loss, which must have been excrutiatingly painful. As to Beau, he was the pride and joy Biden’s life, his one link to the times of earlier years. Elderly people often reminisce on these things, in the twilight of their lives. Yet when Biden does bring up these subjects, it’s often as a transition to speak on how much his faith guided him through tragedy. He has been a devout Catholic all of his life. So whatever any of you think of Biden, his politics or his career in government, attacks on him along these lines are unwarranted and cruel.

    Biden does have his faults, and there are plenty of reasons for not voting for him. He knows going into the election, he will served as a transitional president, almost certainly for only one term. Democrats know this as well, however their overriding concern is getting Trump the hell out of office.

    To this point, I believe that was a major factor in his selection of Harris. As an experienced prosecutor, she can make the case for what I think will be the main theme of the campaign, which is the abject failure and complete ineptitude of the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. While Harris will not be debating Trump, she will be debating Pence, and he’s the supposed head of the coronavirus task force.

    This will election will be, perhaps more so than any in recent history, a referendum on the president. People are dying, more and more with each passing day. By mid-September, the US could easily surpass over 200,000 dead, with over 6,000,000 infections. As Covid-19 continues to rage out of control, the economic impact on businesses, schools, hospitals, etc., will only worsen. This is completely unacceptable, and there is no rationalization or justification for it.

    Will I vote for Biden-Harris? I don’t know yet, but I am definitely not voting for Trump-Pence. Would that the Libertarian party had not brushed away Amash. He would have made for a formidable opponent. I’m not too Keen on Jorgensen. Down ballot I will be voting against every Republican, Libertarian where I can and Democrat where I have to. Top-of-the-ticket though is a conundrum. There are no good choices. I’ll probably ask for a paper ballot and write in Amash. As exercise in futility to be sure, but there comes a time when conscience must take precedent over politics. This is one of those times.

    Gawain's Ghost (b25cd1)

  391. Weve already moved on to homunculus sweeney todd in pittsburgh who knows what chimera we shall face next.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  392. 392. You seem to decide that alot of things are true based on no evidence. I know you say you’re not a Trump supporter, but this is one of the prime characteristics of his base.

    Manotaur (0c90cd)

  393. With the choice of Harris, the Biden campaign also expressed some relief and not a little joy, as they finally have someone who can drive at night…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  394. Heh coronello, well talcum x and chomsky are impressed.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  395. I’m dreaming of a third party.

    It will call itself The Normal And Ordinary Party.

    Its platform will be strictly aimed at the center 70%.

    It will pander to no special interest or fringe group.

    It will tell the rich jerkoffs to pay their taxes, the concupiscent to keep it in their bedrooms, the gun nuts to keep their guns in their pants, the pro-lifers to keep it in their churches, the pro-abortionists to keep their legs together, and the criminals “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time”.

    It will promise only safe neighborhoods, no bread lines, and secure borders.

    Like I said, “I’m dreaming”.

    nk (1d9030)

  396. There is no such party in power, anyplace in the western world, maybe in the multiverse.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  397. The world is drifting left except in places like brazil and hungary and poland.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  398. #386 I love the way Biden’s cognitive decline is just assumed. He has always had a habit of mis-speaking or saying odd things. Part of that is likely coping with his stuttering.

    Much the same thing goes on the left. Trump’s alleged cognitive decline has been a talking point since 2015. In the 80s, Reagan was constantly accused of incipient Alzheimer’s. I think Eisenhower got the same rap in the late 50s.

    Appalled (1a17de)

  399. Robert Barnes
    @Barnes_Law
    In order to appeal to disaffected black voters who might lean toward protest voting (Kanye) or not voting (2016), Democrats ingeniously picked the one black candidate whose parents are not from America, whose ancestors had slaves, and who spent her career locking up black men.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  400. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that she believes women who say they felt uncomfortable after receiving unwanted touching from former Vice President Joe Biden.

    “I believe them and I respect them being able to tell their story and having the courage to do it,” Harris said at a presidential campaign event in Nevada.

    The California senator added that Biden will need to decide for himself whether to run for president.

    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437107-harris-i-believe-biden-accusers

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  401. Gryph,
    When you say ‘not joking’ do you mean stuff like this is meant seriously?

    there has to be some reason that ms. senator kamala harris, who can get more bills out of committee than any other senator by licking her forefinger and running it along her stocking seam, was elected to two state-wide offices in california

    but darn if i know what it is

    nk (1d9030) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:57 pm

    Time123 (441f53)

  402. Biden has been consistently wrong but has been rewarded for it, that makes him a knave.

    Narciso (7404b5)

  403. In the 80s, Reagan was constantly accused of incipient Alzheimer’s.

    Reagan’s Alzheimer’s was more than incipient in his last year in office, and full-blown by the end of the next year.

    nk (1d9030)

  404. Robert Barnes
    @Barnes_Law
    In order to appeal to disaffected black voters who might lean toward protest voting (Kanye) or not voting (2016), Democrats ingeniously picked the one black candidate whose parents are not from America, whose ancestors had slaves, and who spent her career locking up black men.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/12/2020 @ 6:43 am

    Wouldn’t this imply that they didn’t pick her primarily for her race?

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  405. 404. i already called my manager mr. or ms. Time123 and he told me to try that comment again like this

    there has to be some reason that ms. senator kamala harris, who can get more bills out of committee than any other senator by licking her forefinger and running it along her stocking seam, was elected to two state-wide offices in california

    but darn if i know what it is

    so … what makes ms. senator kamala so such a person that she should govern us?

    nk (1d9030)

  406. I’m less concerned with Kamala Harris and Willie Brown and more concerned about Kamala Harris and Michael Brown.

    “5 years ago Michael Brown was murdered by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Michael was unarmed yet he was shot 6 times. I stand with activists and organizers who continue the fight for justice for Michael. We must confront systemic racism and police violence head on.”

    Only the last sentence has any truth in it.
    I’m feeling better every day about my protest vote.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  407. It’s kind of a relief now, for the moment, anyway. With two sewers to stir, I’m not in a mood to stir either anymore, neither Trump nor Harris.

    Maybe we’ll find other things to talk about besides politics?

    nk (1d9030)

  408. nk, was the part you crossed our intended as a serious accusation that she uses sex appeal to get bills out of committee? Or was it a joke?

    I assume it was a Joke. Jokes that women are getting things done based on sex appeal are usually sexist because they usually reinforce the stereotype that women are valuable mostly because of their sex appeal.

    But since you asked me a question first I’ll answer it. I don’t think he background makes her a very well prepared VP. State AG and Senator aren’t strong backgrounds for executives officers. She’s not UNqualified but she’s not strongly qualified.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  409. nk, was the part you crossed our intended as a serious accusation that she uses sex appeal to get bills out of committee? Or was it a joke?

    It was a serious general implication (not necessarily a serious accusation specifically about how she uses sex appeal to get bills of committee) that the secret of her success in California’s jungle politics is her femininity.

    nk (1d9030)

  410. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of… Teh Heels of Harris

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  411. @393-
    Your post is one of the best I have seen here, primarily because it’s longer than two sentences and isn’t snarky. It’s very thoughtful and reasoned. As I’ve said, I won’t be voting for either ticket, but it won’t make any difference because I live in a very partisan state. Thanks.

    Rip Murdock (36e2c3)

  412. But that kind of stuff might work with Trump but most people don’t like it when directed at women. Like I said to Gryph at 305 above, I don’t like it either, and I’ll look for different material and tactics. Or none at all.

    nk (1d9030)

  413. In re 402, a more savvy pol would have Sista Soulja’d the announcement and went “Karen” (and I dont mean Bass).

    urbanleftbehind (1e45b0)

  414. @192

    per whembly, Kamala is a great person and a brave leader, because she ran for president. That’s his mark of greatness. I see things the opposite. I think these people are the most selfish among us. Great leadership is possible but unlikely due to how the political parties function.

    Dustin (4237e0) — 8/11/2020 @ 5:19 pm

    I’d appreciate that you’d stop putting words in mouth.

    I didn’t say anyone running for president is a “great person” or “a brave leader” or “it’s a mark of greatness” just because they decided to run for office.

    whembly (c30c83)

  415. #406

    Nk — as you know, the usual precincts of the fever swamps treated Reagan as senile and confused on his 1981 Inauguration Day.

    Appalled (1a17de)

  416. Gawain, Very good comment at 393.

    Time123 (441f53)

  417. I watched Reagan testify at John Poindexter’s trial in the Spring of 1990, about 16 months after he left office. He could not remember who his cabinet and staff were. He was pleasant and personable, reasonable and agreeable, but strictly in the moment, and that’s very common in Alzheimer’s.

    nk (1d9030)

  418. nk, was the part you crossed our intended as a serious accusation that she uses sex appeal to get bills out of committee? Or was it a joke?

    It was a serious general implication (not necessarily a serious accusation specifically about how she uses sex appeal to get bills of committee) that the secret of her success in California’s jungle politics is her femininity.

    nk (1d9030) — 8/12/2020 @ 7:20 am

    I think it’s well established that early in her career her Boyfriend helped her out, if just by giving her access to his contacts/network.

    I haven’t seen any serious allegations that she wasn’t competent as a DA or state AG and used sex to compensate for it. Not to say I like what she did, but there a difference between bad policy (I didn’t like Obama’s FWIW) and lack of general competence.

    Time123 (441f53)

  419. You be you, nk. Don’t change.
    Of all people, Caribou Barbie has some kind words and good advice for Ms. Harris.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  420. The opposite spectrum, irritable and combative, is also common. I guess it reflects the person’s basic personality. You may have seen that at Donald Stirling’s (Clippers owner) court hearing, and we’re seeing it now with both Trump and Biden when asked a challenging question, and by challenging I mean something that requires a spontaneous response.

    nk (1d9030)

  421. I admire Condi bigly but there’s no way Biden could be elected with one of the most visible architects of the Bush Doctrine on the ticket. You might as well cancel the election and crown Mad King Donald tomorrow.

    It would have the same effect on his core voters as Trump replacing Pence with Elizabeth Warren or Condi’s namesake Susan would on the GOP.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/12/2020 @ 4:57 am

    The sad thing is Trump/Warren would trounce Biden/Rice and would actually be welcomed by Tucker Carlson.

    This talk of swapping hypothetical VPs by party also reminds me of a famous off-color Bum Phillips quote about Bear Bryant.

    urbanleftbehind (1e45b0)

  422. Change Little Red Corvette to Big Black SUV and you got the real Nikki Haley.

    urbanleftbehind (1e45b0)

  423. was mr. president abraham lincoln, who went to law school with mr. president donald trump’s uncle, the last president to have a vice president from the other party?

    nk (1d9030)

  424. Kanye / Condi?

    No?

    Dustin (4237e0)

  425. You be you, nk. Don’t change.

    This.

    Dave (1bb933)

  426. Nk —

    Is being combative with reporters out of character for either Trump or Biden?

    Appalled (1a17de)

  427. I’d appreciate that you’d stop putting words in mouth.

    I didn’t say anyone running for president is a “great person” or “a brave leader” or “it’s a mark of greatness” just because they decided to run for office.

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 7:31 am

    You said anyone who runs for president is courageous. You specifically said Hillary was great for running for president. So far the only notable folks who have run for president you haven’t said are great: Kamala and Obama.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  428. To be sure, I know you do not really think this. You were trying to prove that Trump is courageous compared to military veterans, and had to lower the bar so far to prove to me that Trump is such a great man that you were forced to include Hillary.

    But it seems to bug you now. Because it’s stupid.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  429. Nk —

    Is being combative with reporters out of character for either Trump or Biden?

    Not at all out of character. That was my point. That’s why Trump, when asked a question that you and I could answer reasonably or filibuster with a non-answer, responds with “I’m the President and you’re fake news”, and Biden with “You’re a lying dogface pony soldier”, where Reagan would have smiled and said “There you go again”.

    nk (1d9030)

  430. @432

    I’d appreciate that you’d stop putting words in mouth.

    I didn’t say anyone running for president is a “great person” or “a brave leader” or “it’s a mark of greatness” just because they decided to run for office.

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 7:31 am

    You said anyone who runs for president is courageous. You specifically said Hillary was great for running for president. So far the only notable folks who have run for president you haven’t said are great: Kamala and Obama.

    Dustin (4237e0) — 8/12/2020 @ 8:27 am

    I didn’t say they were great. That’s you doing a whole lot of projection…

    I said folks who runs for office has to have some courage to face that political grind, particular for national office.

    Courage ≠ great.

    So… channeling Mad Dog Mattis here</em>… with tears in my eyes, stop putting words in my mouth.

    whembly (c30c83)

  431. @433

    To be sure, I know you do not really think this. You were trying to prove that Trump is courageous compared to military veterans, and had to lower the bar so far to prove to me that Trump is such a great man that you were forced to include Hillary.

    But it seems to bug you now. Because it’s stupid.

    Dustin (4237e0) — 8/12/2020 @ 8:29 am

    Citation please. I wasn’t arguing for that.

    I believe you have me confused with another poster….

    whembly (c30c83)

  432. If Biden win’s America will be a disease riddled nations beset with civil unrest and massive unemployment lead by a man in obvious mental decline who has no idea what to to about any of it.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  433. The picture of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris together that you could see yesterday was from March.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  434. i see what you did there

    Dave (1bb933)

  435. 428. nk (1d9030) — 8/12/2020 @ 8:24 am

    was mr. president abraham lincoln, who went to law school with mr. president donald trump’s uncle, the last president to have a vice president from the other party?

    Andrew Johnson had sort of left the other party. For the purposes of the 1864 election, the Republican Party was renamed the Union Party.

    There are several things that come close.

    in 1872. The Democratic Party named as its candidate a man who had been previously nominated by a thrd party/

    In 1880, the Republican Party was split into factions. The vice president, Chester A Arthur was from a different faction (more machine like or corrupt)

    In 2920, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was given the vice presidential nomination of the Democratic Party, possibly in the hopes that some people would think he was a Republican, like Theodore.

    In 2008, John McCain wanted to place a Democrat,Joe Lieberman on the ticket, but was dissuaded from doing so.

    What makes this even more amazing is that only 8 years before he had been the Democratic vice presidential nominee – the Loserman of Sore/Loserman. (In the interim he had lost his party’d nomination for the United States Senate in 2006, but wass re-elected on a third party line, althogh he caucused with the Democrats once re-elected to the Senate)

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  436. America is a nation of mutts. Not mud people.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  437. Plagiarist JoeyBee already said the job of POTUS is ‘too big’ for one person and Harris will be “ready to lead” on Day One.

    No, Joe. That would be your job.

    IDIOT.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  438. Lots more coming out about Harris.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/03/08/justice-honesty-government-prosecutor-column/24611623/

    Here office appealed dismissal of a case where a prosecutor fabricated a confession, and argued it was not outrageous conduct.

    Yep, she’s a commissar.

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  439. @434 “…where Reagan would have smiled and said “There you go again”.

    No. More like raised his hand to his ear, shaked his head and pointed to the rotor wash from the helicopter: Reaganoptics.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  440. Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:12 pm So to summarize: Harris is a both an ultra-left commie AND an anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, anti-minority nazi fascist?

    She has no principles.

    She never will do something just because it is right, even when she can figure how to make that politically manageable,

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  441. The more I think about it, the more I think this was a lose-lose for Biden.

    Kamala’s baggage isn’t well known to the public, outside of the small political junkies. Her baggage has the danger of dragging down Democrat enthusiasm.

    The Oppo-research is going to drop hard on Kamala…

    whembly (c30c83)

  442. And then there is this thought, which did not occur to me:

    Conventional wisdom dictates that the out-of-power party’s nominee chooses a running mate that can deliver votes from a part of the country that the candidate needs.

    Spoiler alert: California’s electoral votes were already Biden’s.

    What exactly does Harris add (other than being a black woman) that Biden did not already have?

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  443. America is a nation of mutts. Not mud people.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:13 am

    who you calling ‘mud people’?

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  444. In 1880, the Republican Party was split into factions. The vice president, Chester A Arthur was from a different faction (more machine like or corrupt)

    And his President, Garfield, was almost immediately assassinated by a political hanger-on who had not gotten the patronage plum job he wanted. ?

    And, of course, we have Bernie now who only runs as a Democrat in the Presidential primary.

    nk (1d9030)

  445. #425 — I do like both those songs. Not hugely, but they’re fine.

    Radegunda (e1ea47)

  446. And then there is this thought, which did not occur to me:

    Conventional wisdom dictates that the out-of-power party’s nominee chooses a running mate that can deliver votes from a part of the country that the candidate needs.

    Spoiler alert: California’s electoral votes were already Biden’s.

    What exactly does Harris add (other than being a black woman) that Biden did not already have?

    Bored Lawyer (56c962) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:21 am

    Strong Law & Order, Pro-Police record is i think her strongest resume point. It will be harder to paint her a ‘defund the police’ radical.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  447. The more I think about it, the more I think this was a lose-lose for Biden.

    Kamala’s baggage isn’t well known to the public, outside of the small political junkies. Her baggage has the danger of dragging down Democrat enthusiasm.

    The Oppo-research is going to drop hard on Kamala…

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:21 am

    What baggage do you think will resonate with the non-pol junkies?

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  448. Time123 and Rip Murdock, thank you for your kind response to my last comment.

    Here’s what I think, after reading multiple reports and watching the news. (Yeah, I much prefer CNN to Fox, only because I find their hosts and guests less irritating, even though I don’t agree with them very often.)

    The choice of Harris was the safe bet. She was, essentially, the best of a bad slate of potential nominees. But her selection was also strategic, in that it immediately got under Trump’s skin.

    This was evidenced in his press briefing shortly after the announcement. Trump basically said he was surprised that Biden would nominate someone, especially a woman, who was so “nasty” to him in the primaries. In other words, he quickly stumbled into the trap.

    There is absolutely no way that Trump would ever nominate anyone to his administration or staff that wasn’t a blind butt gerbil sycophant. By doing so, Biden demonstrated that he doesn’t hold grudges and is magnanimous in uniting the party and moving forward. The contrast couldn’t be more stark, as Trump is incapable of doing anything like that.

    If Trump-Pence and the entire Republican party try to make this election about Harris, they will lose. Because this election isn’t about her, it’s about their incompetent and inept response to the coronavirus pandemic and the deleterious effect it’s having throughout the economy. Denial is not a river in Egypt, it’s a pathology, one that the American people will not tolerate as matters get worse and worse, with no semblance of a national plan in sight.

    Trump is losing elderly, middle class and suburban voters, especially women, by the score every day. He has no platform to run on, no vision for a second term, other than more of the same. “It will all just go away, someday soon,” is not a strategy. It’s an admission of abject failure. More of the same is unacceptable to the American people, because it’s killing us, more and more with each passing day.

    MAGA has become MADA (Make America Diseased Ad Perpetuity). That is not a winning campaign slogan.

    Gawain's Ghost (b25cd1)

  449. Actually, they’re more than fine.

    Radegunda (e1ea47)

  450. Just teasing, Radegunda. The Roy Orbison link, BTW, is live from Black And White Night, with an all-star cast backing Roy.

    nk (1d9030)

  451. O.M.G.

    “Harris’s friendship with Biden’s late son, who died in 2015 at the age of 46 from brain cancer, was something that Biden said he “thought a lot about” as he made the decision to name her as his running mate. “There is no one’s opinion I valued more than Beau’s and I’m proud to have Kamala standing with me on this campaign,” Biden wrote in a campaign email.” -source, the http://www.theguardian.com

    Nancy had an astrologer. JoeyBee uses a “Ouija Beaud.”

    Plagiarist JoeyBee is unstable; emotionally damaged: he’s sicker than Trump. We’ve been so totally fvcked by both these major parties.

    Vlad keeps getting dealt a pair of deuces and still keeps beating the jokers…no wonder Putin smiles.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  452. If Trump-Pence and the entire Republican party try to make this election about Harris, they will lose. Because this election isn’t about her, it’s about their incompetent and inept response to the coronavirus pandemic and the deleterious effect it’s having throughout the economy.

    This election is about Trump; About is incompetence, his destruction of norms, his corruption, and his mental defects.

    There are three people who will be voting for Joe; Joe, Jill & Hunter. I don’t even think Joe will be excited about it.

    Everyone else will be voting for or against Trump.

    Time123 (441f53)

  453. @450. If you gotta ask then you don’t know the difference or it’s above your pay grade.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  454. @460, DCSCA, Mud People is usually used as a racial slur. Racial slurs seem out of character for your. So I was confused. I didn’t think you meant it that way. Maybe your did.

    Time123 (441f53)

  455. Paul Montagu (c280e0) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:12 pm

    Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    He was a Republican by 2013 and had stopped giving money to Democrats, In 2011 it depends when but it is likely he was a Republican because he had no party affiliation only from December, 2011 through April, 2012.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Donald_Trump

    Trump registered as a Republican in Manhattan in 1987 and since that time has changed his party affiliation five times. In 1999, Trump changed his party affiliation to the Independence Party of New York. In August 2001, Trump changed his party affiliation to Democratic. In September 2009, Trump changed his party affiliation back to the Republican Party. In December 2011, Trump changed to “no party affiliation” (independent). In April 2012, Trump again returned to the Republican Party.[4]

    His registering as a member of the Independence Party in 1999 was probably an error. A lot of its official members wanted to register as Independent.

    It starts with 1987 because that’s when he moved his residence to Manhattan.

    JVW (ee64e4) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:23 pm

    And I’m guessing her office never once investigated any of his business holdings in the Golden State.

    That probably was the idea. Not because there necessarily was anything to investigate. It could have been to prevent her from using his name in a politically inspired investigation for headlines.

    She was elected in 2010 and again in 2014. Donald Trump made some donations after she was elected.

    Yesterday he didn’t give an answer as to why when asked at the coronavirus press briefing but later the Republican National Committee or something said those donations proved that Donald Trump was not a racist.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  456. @461. Right. It’s a misperception that’s soaked into the media [which disappoins me having spent decades n the biz] and frankly both these parties– mainly because they’re operating in a bubble. It’s disturbing. Often told colleagues to get out of Manhattan every month or to and visit the country they’re covering. What we’re witnessing now is meant to gather eyes and clicks– not enlighten. It’s disappointing.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  457. Mud People is usually used as a racial slur.

    It’s what Hitler called the Mediterraneans. It’s somewhere between Aryan Reich Volk and Slavic sub-humans.

    nk (1d9030)

  458. @454

    The more I think about it, the more I think this was a lose-lose for Biden.

    Kamala’s baggage isn’t well known to the public, outside of the small political junkies. Her baggage has the danger of dragging down Democrat enthusiasm.

    The Oppo-research is going to drop hard on Kamala…

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:21 am

    What baggage do you think will resonate with the non-pol junkies?

    Time123 (ae9d89) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:28 am

    Her CA politics… being that she’s one of the most far-left Senator according to this analysis:
    https://twitter.com/rising_serpent/status/1293576131493408768/photo/1

    Her authoritarian streak as AG:
    -Jailing parents for truancy
    -Covered up esculpatory evidence for convicts
    -Abused her office in going after David Daleiden when he exposed aborted organ harvesting
    -During the primary she literally stated she’ll use office of Presidency restrict 2nd amendment rights (loads of Ad worthing stuff during the primary
    -Her ridiculous act during the Kavanaugh hearing

    Point being… she has baggage where there’s a wealth of stuff there for her opponent to bring up.

    whembly (c30c83)

  459. ‘A Real WINNER’: Trump Congratulates and Praises QAnon Candidate for Georgia Primary Win

    President Donald Trump congratulated a QAnon-supporting Republican congressional candidate from Georgia on Wednesday after she won her primary.

    Marjorie Taylor Greene — who is now the Republican candidate for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District — has reportedly called “Q,” the alleged figure of the conspiracy theory, a “patriot,” and said, “He is someone that very much loves his country, and he’s on the same page as us, and he is very pro-Trump.”

    “Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent,” tweeted Trump on Wednesday morning. “Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up – a real WINNER!”
    ……
    The perfect Trump member of Congress-conspiracy minded, racist, and anti-Muslim.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  460. Just teasing, Radegunda

    Hey, I was super happy to see that someone was thinking about me in my absence! (And since I confessed to liking bagpipe bands, maybe I’m fair game as to musical taste.)

    Radegunda (e1ea47)

  461. @462. Trump gave $6,000 total to Kamala in 2011 and 2013, when he was a Republican.

    So what. JFK gave money to Nixon’s Senate campaign to defeat The Big Dick’s opponent.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  462. @462

    The reason Trump donated to her is the same reason every businessman donates to a politician: to buy influence, which can be helpful to their business position.

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  463. Back at the ranch

    https://wbbm780.radio.com/articles/2-year-old-cancer-patient-misses-birthday-due-to-looting
    Groot was a bad lizard after all

    Narciso (7404b5)

  464. 246. DCSCA (797bc0) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:08 pm

    The CBS Evening News highlighted Biden’s explanation for choosing Harris by again noting his rationale that she worked with his dead son, Beau.

    This appears to be based on the fact that they were both Attorney General of their respective states at the same time. (California and Delaware)

    It has become the practice for attorney generals of different states to file lawsuts together *and split the costs)

    So they joined in several lawsuits. Don’t know if Beau Biden was helpful in rounding up Attorney Generals to join in. Or even who came up with the ideas.

    They didn;t always work together:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/us/attorney-general-kamala-harris-looks-for-tougher-settlement-than-obamas-on-mortgage-abuse.html

    …n September, Ms. Harris walked away from settlement talks with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers, saying the proposed deal to have them pay roughly $25 billion in restitution for mortgage abuses was too weak. She said the proposed settlement sought by the Obama administration asked California to “excuse conduct that has not been adequately investigated.”

    Three and a half months later, she remains outside the talks. On Tuesday, she attended a meeting of 15 state attorneys general — including Joseph R. Biden III of Delaware and Eric Schneiderman of New York — intended to compare notes about legal options outside the settlement framework and to devise a tougher approach to the negotiations.

    Her posture has generated praise from MoveOn.org and other liberal advocacy groups…In an interview, Geoff Greenwood, spokesman for Attorney General Tom Miller of Iowa, who is leading the multistate settlement negotiations, said Ms. Harris’s decision to walk out of the talks had “enabled us to secure” a mortgage refinancing plan for borrowers who owe more than their houses are worth, which “added several billion dollars to the deal.” But the additional concessions, aimed at bringing California back to the negotiating table, have not been enough for Ms. Harris, who continues to hold out.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  465. Another Republican winner-
    A House candidate in Connecticut who was arrested Monday holds a slim lead.
    A Republican candidate for Congress in Connecticut who dropped out of the primary race at the last moment after being arrested Monday night nevertheless held a razor-thin lead as of Wednesday morning.

    The candidate, Thomas Gilmer, led his opponent Justin Anderson by 78 votes, or four-tenths of a percentage point. Mr. Gilmer, 29, was charged Monday with strangulation and unlawful restraint in connection with a “possible domestic assault,” the authorities said.
    …..
    In this case the Democratic candidate has a mortal lock on the seat.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  466. They keep giving this brain-damaged soul a pass on his plagiarism– and now this obsession w/what Beau would have thought or done. It lends credibility to Amy Carter’s analysis of nuclear weapon stockpiles.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  467. Joe Biden has been making gaffes for years:

    https://www.firstpost.com/world/joe-bidens-gaffe-refers-to-self-as-us-prez-595147.html

    (Jan 19, 2013)

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  468. @453

    And then there is this thought, which did not occur to me:

    Conventional wisdom dictates that the out-of-power party’s nominee chooses a running mate that can deliver votes from a part of the country that the candidate needs.

    Spoiler alert: California’s electoral votes were already Biden’s.

    What exactly does Harris add (other than being a black woman) that Biden did not already have?

    Bored Lawyer (56c962) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:21 am

    Strong Law & Order, Pro-Police record is i think her strongest resume point. It will be harder to paint her a ‘defund the police’ radical.

    Time123 (ae9d89) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:26 am

    Disgree…and I’m sure JVW can flesh this out more…

    But, Harris never represented law & order/ Pro-police. Harris is a partisan, over-zealous prosecutor weaponizing her office for political gain, covering up corruption (even when it meant imprisoning the innocent) and letting rapists walk while locking up dissidents. The law doesn’t matter in Harris’ “order.”

    whembly (c30c83)

  469. Disgree…and I’m sure JVW can flesh this out more…

    But, Harris never represented law & order/ Pro-police. Harris is a partisan, over-zealous prosecutor weaponizing her office for political gain, covering up corruption (even when it meant imprisoning the innocent) and letting rapists walk while locking up dissidents. The law doesn’t matter in Harris’ “order.”

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 9:58 am

    I think you’ll have an easy time convincing me of that.

    I’m not sure that story will resonate with low info voters. Unless there is a humanizing hook I think they’re going to see
    Aggressive Prosecutor = Pro Police = Not Radical Leftist.

    Time123 (441f53)

  470. 471, the 3 good lizards – Paul Vallas, Bill Daley and Jerry Joyce (a local pol scion, not the Foundation) couldn’t get the eff out of each other’s way.

    And the true hard cores like the far NW side alderman let slip too much bad about Hispanics, nott realizing 3 +3 = 6 and is thus > 4

    urbanleftbehind (1e45b0)

  471. @476

    Yes, she strikes me as a political apparatchik willing to ruthlessly use the power of her office to advance herself and her party.

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  472. Harris is the first woman of color to be nominated for this position in either of the two major parties’ histories. I would love it if I could follow that sentence up with a rah-rah-woman chant — I really would. Harris is clearly sharp as a tack, driven, and a hard worker — all traits that I admire. But those attributes can only be applauded when they are used for good. With Harris, I am sorry to tell you that is not the case.

    Harris’s career ascension was built with the bricks of injustice, misfortune, and the corruption of the prison-industrial complex.

    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/kamala-harris-built-her-career-on-injustice

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  473. @478

    I think you’ll have an easy time convincing me of that.

    I’m not sure that story will resonate with low info voters. Unless there is a humanizing hook I think they’re going to see
    Aggressive Prosecutor = Pro Police = Not Radical Leftist.

    Time123 (441f53) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:04 am

    I think it’ll resonate in the same way that Hillary Clinton’s baggage resonated.

    Hence why I think this was a poor pick by Biden. Hell, he’d probably be in better shape had he selected Bernie as his running mate. (shudders…)

    whembly (c30c83)

  474. Harris is loved by Sillicon Valley deep pocketed leaders. She has repeatedly expressed views that tech companies should be allowed to grow and expand, and that there needed to be a balance between data privacy and government. Further, when Facebook’s acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, Harris was taken to task for her office failing to prevent it. Anyway, California’s tech sector loves her. And they will happily contribute large dollar amounts to the campaign.

    Dana (292df6)

  475. He was a Republican by 2013 and had stopped giving money to Democrats, In 2011 it depends when but it is likely he was a Republican because he had no party affiliation only from December, 2011 through April, 2012.

    Sammy, Trump gave $5,000 to Kamala in September 2011 and another $1,000 in February 2013. He was a registered Republican on both occasions. Those are the facts.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  476. Harris wasn’t working for justice in California, she was working for wins – to pad her resume – and would use any means necessary. Ruthlessly ambitious after taking it to her head to launch her political career.

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  477. “I think it’ll resonate in the same way that Hillary Clinton’s baggage resonated.”

    Literally nothing will resonate the way Hillary’s baggage did.

    Davethulhu (527049)

  478. @484

    He was a Republican by 2013 and had stopped giving money to Democrats, In 2011 it depends when but it is likely he was a Republican because he had no party affiliation only from December, 2011 through April, 2012.

    Sammy, Trump gave $5,000 to Kamala in September 2011 and another $1,000 in February 2013. He was a registered Republican on both occasions. Those are the facts.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:10 am

    And?

    Why the pearl clutching about this? Trump did that as a wealthy businessman attempting to purchase influence. Kinda run-of-the-mill sorta thing, doncha think?

    I mean, it’s interesting for sure… but not surprising nor outrageous.

    whembly (c30c83)

  479. @487

    “I think it’ll resonate in the same way that Hillary Clinton’s baggage resonated.”

    Literally nothing will resonate the way Hillary’s baggage did.

    Davethulhu (527049) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:16 am

    Pretty damn close for sure.

    I think most voters recognize that Biden’s VP would likely be POTUS due to Biden’s obvious health challenges. So, his VP will face even more scrutiny.

    whembly (c30c83)

  480. Literally nothing will resonate the way Hillary’s baggage did.

    Meh… Tim Kaine skipped hard through the clover, as he searched for his Lucky Charms. This resonated with teh nation’s leprechauns and Clinton-Kaine received 95% of their votes… but alas, it proved to be not enough…

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  481. Clem with his fluent spanish,

    Narciso (7404b5)

  482. Russian Meddler
    @RussianMeddler

    What @KamalaHarris brings to the ticket is the ability to call Republicans both racist AND sexist when they say something true about her.
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  483. Kamala Harris pick earns praise from Wall Street – and anti-Wall Street crusaders
    ……
    Harris’s confrontation with the industry – and depiction of herself as a champion of the people – became a touchstone of her own presidential campaign. Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden clearly sees her prosecutorial style as an asset, citing Harris’s history “taking on the big banks” as one of the reasons he picked her as a running mate in his announcement tweet.

    But Wall Street isn’t scared of Harris in the same way they feared the more iconoclastic Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders who pledged to break up the big banks. Harris has long sought to thread the needle, courting the financial industry in her own run even with tough talk about new taxes on large financial institutions. The combination makes her a broadly acceptable choice among Democrats across the spectrum: Her former rivals both embraced her pick, alongside a number of boldfaced Democratic financiers. Industry analysts called her a relatively moderate choice.
    ……
    Cowen Washington Research Group’s Jaret Seiberg said Harris joining the ticket represented “modestly negative” news for the financial services sector. He notes she has opposed the Trump administration’s push to roll back restrictions on the industry and argues she will advocate for a more muscular Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But those positions merely align her with the direction the Biden campaign was already taking, “so having her on the ticket does not change the direction that we already expected for a Biden administration,” Seiberg wrote in a Tuesday note.

    And Terry Haines, founder of Pangaea Policy, called the selection a “small market negative,” but summed it up this way: “It could have been worse.”
    ……
    Some consumer advocates are challenging Harris’s reputation, criticizing her for not holding an even harder line against the banks.

    Some advocates said the agreement Harris negotiated fell short by not ensuring relief for the most vulnerable homeowners, including those with limited English, widows and the disabled, and not holding individual bank executives to account.

    “Her office declined to sue OneWest, the California bank whose CEO was now-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, an architect of the Republican tax cut law that Harris and other Democrats deride as being a giveaway to the wealthy,” the San Francisco Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli and Tal Kopan wrote last year. “Attorneys in her office had singled out the bank for allegedly stacking foreclosure proceedings against homeowners, but Harris says she was hamstrung by legal rules protecting financial institutions from state legal action.”
    …….
    She’s fooled both sides.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  484. The more you know, the more things fall into perspective. Like all the fuss about the QAnon blonde winning the Republican primary. Duh! She’s in Georgia?

    nk (1d9030)

  485. @485. The ‘Ouija Beaud’ says it is so.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  486. Pretty damn close for sure.

    I think most voters recognize that Biden’s VP would likely be POTUS due to Biden’s obvious health challenges. So, his VP will face even more scrutiny.

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:19 am

    Have you lost your mind? There’s a huge difference between an overly ambitious lefty AG that cared more about wining than rights and a Sec State that ran a self serving charity that solicited donations from heads of state / top officials of countries with business before the united states.

    It’s like the difference between Bush suggesting a conference be hosted by a College he was fond of and Trump wanting it at a hotel he owned and profited from financially.

    Sure they’re both wearing pads but you can’t a hit from a pop-warner LB is the same a hit from an NFL LB.

    Time123 (441f53)

  487. Jumped-up barmaid wins Democratic primary? Duh! She’s in Greenwich Village?

    nk (1d9030)

  488. Adulterous Somalian wins other Democratic primary? Duh! It’s Minneapolis?

    nk (1d9030)

  489. I honestly don’t ever recall hearing a man criticized for being ambitious.

    Dave (1bb933)

  490. @497

    Have you lost your mind?
    Time123 (441f53) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:39 am

    Nope.

    Just like Clinton, Harris has a documented history that’s ripe for criticism in a General Election.

    Furthermore, many voters will consider Harris is the POTUS-in-waiting due to Biden’s health, and as such you’ll see much of her baggage laundered out to the public.

    whembly (c30c83)

  491. Just like Clinton, Harris has a documented history that’s ripe for criticism in a General Election.

    Yes, it’s just that the mook Batman beats up isn’t Lex Luthor.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  492. Also, the lost your mind thing was intended to be funny and not insulting. Hope it came across that way.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  493. @497. I think most voters recognize that Biden’s VP would likely be POTUS due to Biden’s obvious health challenges. So, his VP will face even more scrutiny.

    Yep. Unfortunately, the ol’grey parties ain’t what they used tobe.

    Revisit Truman’s hook-up w/FDR. RE- Quora.com:

    ” The crux of the matter was that Wallace needed to be replaced as Vice President because there was every reason to think he would be the next President and the party bosses just did not think he was up for the job. FDR’s health was wretched in 1944. His personal physician , Dr. Frank Lahey, founder of the Lahey Clinic examined FDR and wrote a report on July 9, 1944. The report said that it was highly unlikely that FDR would survive another term. The next day, FDR announced that he was running for a fourth term. That left Wallace to deal with. There is an old political metaphor in America and elsewhere that if you want to exile a political opponent or problem, you send the person to Siberia. In this case, Wallace was LITERALLY sent to Siberia and China and Mongolia on a fifty two day junket. By the time he returned home, his fate was sealed.

    Truman was selected on the belief that he could become the next President if circumstances required it. Truman was regarded as hardworking, serious and honest, if a bit dull. FDR had little input in the actual decision and probably cared little about it. Like most great leaders, he probably thought he would live forever and certainly did not wish to contemplate his own mortality.

    When Truman was informed of the decision by FDR and the party chairman, his response is alleged to have been “oh, sh!t,” followed by “Jesus Christ.” From that inelegant start came one of the most consequential and great presidencies in American history.”

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  494. @503

    Also, the lost your mind thing was intended to be funny and not insulting. Hope it came across that way.

    Time123 (ae9d89) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:49 am

    Didn’t take that as an insult.

    We can reasonably disagree on things. 😉

    whembly (c30c83)

  495. OT: Ads…

    Now this is pretty danged effective:
    https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1293368220498505728

    whembly (c30c83)

  496. I honestly don’t ever recall hearing a man criticized for being ambitious.

    Good lord. Harkin’s @492 wasn’t even an hour old.

    beer ‘n pretzels (477d53)

  497. @503
    Also, the lost your mind thing was intended to be funny and not insulting. Hope it came across that way.
    Time123 (ae9d89) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:49 am

    Didn’t take that as an insult.

    We can reasonably disagree on things. 😉

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:51 am

    It’s good that we can get over the nasty dispute about just how Bad Harris is. 😀

    Time123 (441f53)

  498. Narciso (7404b5) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:01 am

    John Solomon just can’t quit flogging that dead Ukrainian horse with his latest nothingburger. I guess it wasn’t enough that his sketchy “reporting”, using corrupt sources, helped get Trump impeached.
    And apparently, Ron Johnson can’t stop parroting Putin propaganda with his latest disinformation campaign. It makes me wonder if Putin has something on Johnson and why Johnson is so deeply in the bag for Trump that he would continue using all these Putin-friendly “sources”. It makes me wonder if his loyalties are more to Trump than to this nation. Solomon, too. Trump, too. Giuliani, too.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  499. “Just like Clinton, Harris has a documented history that’s ripe for criticism in a General Election.”

    My dude, Hillary had years of being enemy #1. Harris isn’t even close.

    Davethulhu (4355cd)

  500. 484. Paul Montagu (c280e0) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:10 am

    Sammy, Trump gave $5,000 to Kamala in September 2011 and another $1,000 in February 2013. He was a registered Republican on both occasions. Those are the facts.

    That;s correct.

    What’s really significant is he February 2013 contribution. He had pretty much stopped iving to Democrats at that point.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  501. And?
    Why the pearl clutching about this?

    What pearl-clutching? A commenter said something that was provably false. Only Trump can answer why he, a Republican, gave money to a partisan Democrat, assuming he’s telling you the truth.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  502. I honestly don’t ever recall hearing a man criticized for being ambitious.

    Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
    I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
    The evil that men do lives after them;
    The good is oft interred with their bones;
    So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
    Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
    If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
    And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.

    nk (1d9030)

  503. I honestly don’t ever recall hearing a man criticized for being ambitious.

    I said it about Ted Cruz and Barack Obama, neither of whom could wait more than a year or so as freshman Senators before they threw their hats in.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  504. @510

    “Just like Clinton, Harris has a documented history that’s ripe for criticism in a General Election.”

    My dude, Hillary had years of being enemy #1. Harris isn’t even close.

    Davethulhu (4355cd) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:56 am

    My dude…wait until the Harris Oppo-research is dumped to into the public psyche in the general election.

    whembly (c30c83)

  505. @512: fair enough Paul.

    whembly (c30c83)

  506. ‘When former Sen. Chris Dodd, a member of Joe Biden’s vice presidential search committee, recently asked Kamala Harris about her ambush on Biden in the first Democratic debate, Dodd was stunned by her response.

    “She laughed and said, ‘that’s politics.’ She had no remorse,” Dodd told a longtime Biden supporter and donor, who relayed the exchange to POLITICO on condition of anonymity.

    “Dodd felt it was a gimmick, that it was cheap,” the donor said. The person added that Dodd’s concerns about Harris were so deep that he’s helped elevate California Rep. Karen Bass during the vetting process, urging Biden to pick her because “she’s a loyal No. 2. And that’s what Biden really wants.” Through an aide, Dodd declined to comment. Advisers to Harris also declined to comment.’ – source mediaite.com

    A gimmick?!

    ‘The Ouija Beaud’ says: it-is-so.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  507. “My dude…wait until the Harris Oppo-research is dumped to into the public psyche in the general election.”

    My point is that Hillary was a Republican target for years. You can’t make up that kind of wall-to-wall coverage in 82 days.

    Davethulhu (4355cd)

  508. Good lord. Harkin’s @492 wasn’t even an hour old.

    So?

    The only thing that outnumbers the Trumpkin posts in this thread like Harkin’s, expressing indignant outrage at any suggestion of sexism, are the crude sexual insults of Harris and thinly veiled sneers about being “ambitious”.

    Dave (1bb933)

  509. You can’t make up that kind of wall-to-wall coverage in 82 days.

    But by god, they’re sure as hell gonna try.

    Dave (1bb933)

  510. lol, still falling for ‘the banana in the tail pipe’ or as I call it Kellogg fusion flakes,

    narciso (7404b5)

  511. @518

    “My dude…wait until the Harris Oppo-research is dumped to into the public psyche in the general election.”

    My point is that Hillary was a Republican target for years. You can’t make up that kind of wall-to-wall coverage in 82 days.

    Davethulhu (4355cd) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:11 am

    —Insert gif “Challenge Accepted”—
    In this age of ubiquitous social media, I’d argue that GOP will be hard at work to provide “wall-to-wall” oppo research coverage.

    My point was that to the general public, folks don’t really *know* Harris. People starts playing attention during the general election, and Harris has plenty of baggage to drag Biden’s campaign.

    whembly (c30c83)

  512. @520… see? lol

    whembly (c30c83)

  513. 489. whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:19 am

    I think most voters recognize that Biden’s VP would likely be POTUS due to Biden’s obvious health challenges.

    And Kamala Harris was the one person on his short list whom you might be most afraid would be ready and willing to invoke the 25th amendment.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  514. The only thing that outnumbers the Trumpkin posts in this thread like Harkin’s, expressing indignant outrage at any suggestion of sexism, are the crude sexual insults of Harris and thinly veiled sneers about being “ambitious”.

    I honestly don’t ever recall Dave criticizing my crude sexual insults of Trump and barefaced sneers about his ambition.

    nk (1d9030)

  515. It’s the double standard, I guess. You’re not supposed to beat up on a lady.

    nk (1d9030)

  516. 500. Dave (1bb933) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:47 am

    I honestly don’t ever recall hearing a man criticized for being ambitious.

    There was Robert F. Kennedy.

    https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/robert_kennedy_135405

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  517. “My point was that to the general public, folks don’t really *know* Harris.”

    That’s the opposite of Hillary, who people knew for years.

    Davethulhu (4355cd)

  518. lol, still falling for ‘the banana in the tail pipe’ or as I call it Kellogg fusion flakes,

    narciso (7404b5) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:14 am

    LOL…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  519. @524

    489. whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 10:19 am
    I think most voters recognize that Biden’s VP would likely be POTUS due to Biden’s obvious health challenges.

    And Kamala Harris was the one person on his short list whom you might be most afraid would be ready and willing to invoke the 25th amendment.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:19 am

    Yup.

    Now, I wonder if there is a purposeful plan for Biden to step down in the first year or so.

    |||adjust my tinfoil hat snuggier|||

    whembly (c30c83)

  520. whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:18 am

    My point was that to the general public, folks don’t really *know* Harris. People starts playing attention during the general election, and Harris has plenty of baggage to drag Biden’s campaign.

    Trump’s campaign is not really good at coming up with important accurate criticisms (although they had prepared an ad in advance that called her “Phony Kamala”) Most campaigns actually aren’t good at that.

    And I don’t know how much they can rely on the media doing it.

    It helps if it is overwhelming.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  521. I don’t ever recall criticizing Harris, or anyone else, for that matter, as being ambitious.

    Ruthless, unprincipled, willing to use the power of government to her own ends, an apparatchik and comnmissar.

    All those I will cop to.

    Which of those are racist or sexist?

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  522. Dat’s a feature, not a bug, for NeverTrump, narciso!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  523. @528

    “My point was that to the general public, folks don’t really *know* Harris.”

    That’s the opposite of Hillary, who people knew for years.

    Davethulhu (4355cd) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:24 am

    —inserts gif of “Missing the point”—
    And that’s *why* GOP/Trump campaign will be pushing out Kamala oppo research that much of the public would see for the first time. Thus, may have a detrimental impact to Biden’s campaign.

    That. Is. My. Point.

    Not that Harris’ baggage is the *same* as Hillary’s. Only that Hillary’s own baggage was a net-negative to her campaign and GOP/Trump campaign will be working overtime to make Harris’ baggage hurt the Biden campaign.

    Am I making sense or clear as mud?

    whembly (c30c83)

  524. And BTW, is it racist or sexist to point out that Harris got her position because of the combination of her skin color and genitals?

    Or that had she been neither, like a white woman or black man, let alone a white man, then she would have had less chance of being selected by Biden (or whoever is controlling him nowadays) than would my dead dog? (My dead dog was both black and female! A Doberman Pinscher, sweet as can be.)

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  525. I honestly don’t ever recall Dave criticizing my crude sexual insults of Trump and barefaced sneers about his ambition.

    Akshually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that …

    But seriously, Trump is a self-confessed sex offender, proud abuser of young girls and a documented wh*remonger.

    And of his innumerable faults, ambition – if it is a fault – is surely one of the least.

    Dave (1bb933)

  526. And Kamala Harris was the one person on his short list whom you might be most afraid would be ready and willing to invoke the 25th amendment.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:19 am

    Yup.

    Disagree, I think that would be Warren. Harris is young and will be motivated to keep her coalition together. Just like Obama helped Biden with black voters, Biden might help her with older white voters, but not if she knifes him.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  527. Seems relevant to enhance the pro-lifer votes:
    https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2020/08/12/david-daleiden-on-kamala-n2574184
    “Lots of people are asking me what I think of the news tonight,” he said on Twitter. “[Kamala Harris] is the greatest threat to First Amendment civil rights our country has ever seen. I know because she had my home raided for speaking the truth about her political patrons at Planned Parenthood.”

    whembly (c30c83)

  528. To invoke the 25th amendment, you still need a majority of the Cabinet, but the vice president herself likely won’t be any obstacle.

    If the president disputes that, he recovers his powers, unless within four days the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet say again that the president is unable to discharge the powers and the duties of his office. Then Congress has 21 days to agree with the vice president by a 2/3 vote of both houses or else the president re-assumes his powers for the second time.

    There’s quite a lot of checks and balances built into the 25th amendment.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  529. And BTW, is it racist or sexist to point out that Harris got her position because of the combination of her skin color and genitals?

    Or that had she been neither, like a white woman or black man, let alone a white man, then she would have had less chance of being selected by Biden (or whoever is controlling him nowadays) than would my dead dog? (My dead dog was both black and female! A Doberman Pinscher, sweet as can be.)

    Bored Lawyer (56c962) — 8/12/2020 @ 11:29 am

    Honestly? It depends on how you do it. There were a wide number of potential VP that were roughly ‘qualified’. State AG and Senator gets her over that bar.

    Biden could have gone for someone that’s strong in the Mid-West or someone that was nonthreatening to rural American’s or someone to shore up his left flank, or someone to bring out the non-white / female vote.

    Bullock, Klobochar, Warren would have been picks in some of those areas who were also qualified but that wasn’t his strategic pick. He’s trying to shore up his support with non-white voters.

    No one would say that a white male swing state governor “was picked for their skin and genitals.”

    So if you bring it up and it implies that she’s not qualified, or that those are the only reasons, than people might think you’re being racist/sexist. Up to you how much you care about what people think.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  530. Am I making sense or clear as mud?

    I think I agree with Methulhu that the depth of contempt so many had for Hillary was accumulated over decades, and can’t simply be conjured up on demand in a period of ~10 weeks.

    Will Trump and his followers try to smear her? Sure. They would have done the same to anyone Biden picked. Anything to distract from Trump’s never-ending failures and obvious unfitness. But they have already had problems with reconciling “She’s an ultra-left commie anarchist” with “she’s a jack-booted fascist cop”.

    The fact is, nothing Harris did 5 or 10 or 20 years ago as a DA is very relevant to a nation reeling from a public health and economic crisis that Trump and everyone along for the ride in his clown-car have proven themselves utterly incapable of understanding, much less dealing with.

    Trying to focus on VP oppo research trivia will just drive home the point that Trump has absolutely nothing to offer in the way of governing, apart from an endless stream of lies, hate and bullsh*t.

    Dave (1bb933)

  531. “Kamala Harris will be campaigning from inside Donald Trump’s head. No word on what social distancing is like in there.”

    — – Dan Rather

    What’s teh frequency, kenneth?!?!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  532. 541… keep diggin’, prof… gotta be a pony somewhere in that pile of horseschiff.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  533. @540

    Harris may be minimally qualified, the same way as probably another 2000 people are.

    But take race and gender out of the equation, and she would have been very low on anyone’s list.

    Her primary qualifications were her race and gender. Why blacks and women don’t find that insulting is beyond me.

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  534. GOP Senator Roy Blunt goes off-message:

    “I don’t vote with her very often, we don’t agree on our votes, but I served with her, I like her. We’re on the Intel Committee together. She has normally stayed very well within the standards of that committee, which in the Senate is the least political of all committees. And she’s smart and she’s tough.”

    Dave (1bb933)

  535. Roy Blunt is my Senator.

    He’s a stickler to upholding the Senate as an institution of Senatorial camaraderie.

    So, this isn’t surprising and no, doesn’t do “anything” for Harris imo.

    whembly (c30c83)

  536. Roy Blunt probably didn’t want to be called racist or sexist by folks like you, Dave.

    beer ‘n pretzels (477d53)

  537. But they have already had problems with reconciling “She’s an ultra-left commie anarchist” with “she’s a jack-booted fascist cop”.

    Anyone who knows any history understands that there is no contradiction. The way revolutionaries behave when they are trying to get into power and when they reach power is not the same.

    Bored Lawyer (56c962)

  538. Do you think Blunt would have praised her character and intelligence if he thought she was dishonorable, dumb and unfit?

    Couldn’t he have just declined to comment, or say he doesn’t know her very well, if he didn’t believe the things he said?

    Dave (1bb933)

  539. @549

    Do you think Blunt would have praised her character and intelligence if he thought she was dishonorable, dumb and unfit?

    Couldn’t he have just declined to comment, or say he doesn’t know her very well, if he didn’t believe the things he said?

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/12/2020 @ 12:02 pm

    Yes, for reasons I’ve stated.

    Remember, they’re one of 100 critters in Congress,so they have to work together and have relationships.

    whembly (c30c83)

  540. Plagiarist masked-man JoeyBee & sidekick Kamala, friends of the-New-Green-Deal to appear at DuPont Hotel in Wilmington, DE.

    ‘The chemical was used in DuPont’s production of Teflon and other household products at its Washington Works facility just outside Parkersburg, along the Ohio River. C8 is found in nonstick pans, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpets, microwave popcorn bags, fast-food wrappers and hundreds of other products.’ – source,https://www.ehn.org/dupont-c8-parkersburg-2644262065.html

    DuPont and not a MBNA property, Joe?

    ‘The Ouija Beaud’says: it-is-so.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  541. Maybe Blunt’s compliments have a Karnak answer of Josh Hawley. Perhaps the MO GOP machinery behind Hawley prefers running for the White House against a blatantly liberal incumbent rather than follow whatever the Orange 2nd term has in store.

    urbanleftbehind (1e45b0)

  542. Roy Blunt probably didn’t want to be called racist or sexist by folks like you, Dave.

    beer ‘n pretzels (477d53) — 8/12/2020 @ 12:00 pm

    I think Whembly has provided several great examples that you can criticize Harris without being racist or sexist. Logically enough no one has called him either.

    Time123 (ae9d89)

  543. In 1991, former Kennedy White House aide and longtime college professor, scholar, and public intellectual Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., published a slim volume entitled The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society. Precisely because of his impeccable liberal credentials, Schlesinger’s brief against multiculturalism, anti-Americanism and anti-Westernism hit the intellectual world like a thunderbolt. Those being (very) different times, his book was—outside the fever swamps of the universities, and even by some within them—widely praised by Left and Right alike.

    Today it would be denounced as a rightwing screed. Schlesinger criticized multiculturalists as “very often ethnocentric separatists who see little in the Western heritage other than Western crimes,” whose “mood is one of divesting Americans of their sinful European inheritance and seeking redemptive infusions from non-Western cultures.” We can’t go on this like this and remain a “we,” he warned, and urged Americans to (re)unite around our shared language, heritage, history and interests.

    About a decade later, three-term Democratic Colorado Governor Richard Lamm gave a short speech, a third person-account of which became one of the earliest known documents to “go viral” online. In the speech, Lamm laid out what he called—tongue firmly in cheek—his “secret plan to destroy America.” All of his eight points focused on deliberately fostering disunity: encouraging multiculturalism, multilingualism, dual citizenship, “diversity,” the politics of victimization and resentment, and so on.

    Every dire trend Schlesinger and Lamm warned about was already happening when they gave their warnings. Each is exponentially truer today. The country was still united enough in 1991, and in 1998 when Schlesinger augmented and republished his book, even in 2006 when Lamm spoke, the two of them at least got favorable hearings. Of course, no one left or right heeded or acted on any part of what they had to say. Instead, all the trends were not merely allowed to continue but deliberately intensified.

    https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/the-case-for-trump/

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  544. 395. There is evidence. Whether it is conclusive enough to hold up as proof in a court of law is another matter altogether, but you seem to confuse the concept of “evidence” with “conclusive proof.”

    404. You’re barking up the wrong tree with me there, since I didn’t say that.

    Gryph (f63000)

  545. confuse the concept of “evidence” with “conclusive proof.

    That’s happening a lot these days.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  546. Kristol be so cute tryin’ a preemptive strike on teh inevitable “Biden Sh*ts His Pants” headlines…

    @BillKristol
    Just an innocent thought: We’ve seen Biden in office for over four decades, and we’ve seen Trump nonstop for the last four years. We’ve seen enough to make up our minds about them. So let�s skip the presidential debates but have three vice-presidential debates.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  547. “Kamala Harris will be campaigning from inside Donald Trump’s head. No word on what social distancing is like in there.”

    — – Dan Rather

    Given that Hillary Clinton, the Lincoln Project, and Barack Obama also live in Trump’s head, I’m sure there is very little social distancing going on.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  548. 559… little social distancing, but a guaranteed schiffload of griftin’ …

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  549. 553. Let me also point out, nowhere on this blog or elsewhere have I said that women have to sleep their way to the top in politics. That would be unequivocally sexist. What I said is that I believe Kamala Harris did, and that she’s not the only one by a longshot.

    Gryph (f63000)

  550. I did joke at 318, but I defy anyone to infer anything sexist about that link.

    Gryph (f63000)

  551. “on yer knees” they said
    BLM kamala thought
    oh no not again!

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  552. Pat’s post hasn’t hit me until just know.

    He’s seen Harris’ work in California I would assume… right?

    …now he said there “goes any slim chance I might have voted for Biden”.

    That’s saying something and I’m curious if he could expand why Harris as VP (potential POTUS) is a redline for him.

    whembly (c30c83)

  553. …until just now. Jeez, gotta figure out how to incorporate a spellcheck widget here. (might share with Sammy 😉 )

    whembly (c30c83)

  554. “Jobs, jobs, jobs!” – James Baker, 1991

    “Jobs!” – Plagiarist JoeyBee, 2020

    IDIOT.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  555. He did It– he brings up BEAU!!!!

    IDIOT. IDIOT. IDIOT.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  556. Now SHE brings up BEAU.

    IDIOT. IDIOT. IDIOT.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  557. Projection: in front of Plagiarist JoeyBee, Kamala Harris actually said: “This is what happens when we elect a guy who just isn’t up to the job.”

    IDIOTETTE.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  558. Enough to make me wonder if there was stuff between Beau and Kamala. Maybe the brother knew and used it to justify going after the sister in law.

    urbanleftbehind (1e45b0)

  559. Balachandran, [Kamala] Harris’s 80-year-old maternal uncle, laughed and proclaimed himself “very, very happy” with the news. Harris is “quick on her feet and a damn good debater,” he said. She is also well prepared to handle the nastiness of the upcoming campaign, he added. Harris “doesn’t take things lying down.”

    That last sentence is a provable falsehood!

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  560. Over under sideways down
    Backwards forwards square and round

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  561. The Babylon Bee has its usual funny take

    There’s also this:

    Report: Kamala Harris Already Vetting VP Picks

    Supporters of Kamala Harris have been eagerly awaiting an announcement on who her VP pick will be when she takes over as president approximately 5 minutes after Joe Biden is inaugurated. According to sources close to the campaign, she is already vetting possible candidates for the job.

    https://babylonbee.com/news/report-kamala-harris-already-vetting-vp-picks

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  562. oh no not again!

    This is beginning to stray into happyfeet territory.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  563. 570. The whole thing is just creepy; the ‘Ouija Beaud’ says it-is-so.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  564. I don’t know about Joe’s judgement here. Would YOU want to be the heartbeat between Kamala and real power?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  565. This just in:

    Kamala’s favorite numbers are 25 and 5150.

    norcal (a5428a)

  566. 576.I don’t know about Joe’s judgement here.

    His mind is Beauing, Beauing, gone.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  567. Whatever sucks in this country right now, just ask yourself who has encouraged the sucking and is responsible for it. Just a few months ago we were the envy of the world, economically, and rapidly improving the fairness of our international agreements, while avoiding wars. There was political embarrassment from the Democrats on a daily schedule, but it was not sufficient to overwhelm our incredible momentum of success under Trump. Then the Democrats and their enablers worldwide, finally found an opportunity, an excuse sufficient to allow their illegal, power grabs. What did they use that power for? Destruction, lies, fear, failure, and lost years for us all. Why did they do it. They had nothing else left. They had tried and failed with all the rest of the sedition of 3 years of refusal to accept a legal fair election.

    The only job left for them now is to convince enough fools that it wasn’t them that did it. I don’t think there are enough fools out here.

    — – bagoh20

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  568. Harris was ranked the most liberal senator of 2019… she beat Sanders and Warren.

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  569. The shine will wear off this penny PDQ:

    Kamala Harris’ poll numbers tumble in her home state of California

    Los Angeles (CNN) — In yet another sign of trouble for Sen. Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential race, the California Democrat has slid from an enviable front-runner position in her home state into the single digits in a new poll of likely voters in the Golden State.

    As the state’s March 5 primary draws closer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (23%), former Vice President Joe Biden (22%) and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (21%) are now tied as the leaders in the field among likely voters who are either registered as Democrats or identify as Democratic-leaning independents in the new Public Policy Institute of California poll, which was conducted in mid- to late September after Harris’ uneven performance in the last debate.

    Harris tumbled from 19% in July to 8% in the new poll by the institute, failing to sustain the momentum she sparked with her first debate performance in June. She lost significant ground over the summer, while her chief rivals all solidified their standing among California voters.

    In the July poll, Warren was at 15%, Sanders was at 12% and Biden was at 11% — all trailing Harris, who got both a fundraising and a polling bounce after she delivered a fiery performance in the first debate in Miami by questioning the former vice president’s past opposition to busing for the purpose of desegregating schools.’ – source, CNN.com 10/3/19

    Harris was memorably caught on a hot mic declaring to Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono “I’m fvcking moving to Iowa.”

    You drive for show, but putt for Beau, eh, dear?!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  570. It took 2 days for someone significant to question if Kamala Harris meets the citizenship requirement. It will be interesting to see how hard Trump pushes Birtherism a 2nd time.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  571. @582…Harris was born in Oakland, CA. She’s a natural born citizen.

    That’s all.

    whembly (c30c83)

  572. @583 I agree with you, but

    JOHN C. EASTMAN , PROFESSOR OF LAW, CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY AND SENIOR FELLOW, CLAREMONT INSTITUTE apparently isn’t sure that settles it. Tom Fitton, president of Judicial watch would also like to talk about it.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  573. whembly (c30c83) — 8/12/2020 @ 2:08 pm

    …until just now. Jeez, gotta figure out how to incorporate a spellcheck widget here. (might share with Sammy)

    I see wrong spellings, most of which are typod, and some of which are not wrong, but just unusual words, but I don’t see any suggested corrections. The only way to do that is do a Google search in another window. Single letters are never underlined in red. Wrong words, like “ad” instead of “and” are not indicated

    By the way, I read that, yesterday, the Apple iPhone autcorrect was changing Kamala into Kampala (the capital of Uganda)

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  574. Challenge to the commentariat —

    Please provide evidence of Biden’s obvious mental decline and his obvious health challenges. Yeah, he’s real old. Yeah, he says stupid stuff. But is he saying more stupid stuff than usual?

    Please make your most concrete case. Mostly, I just see innuendo.

    Appalled (1a17de)

  575. The issue here is does “natural born citizen” mean?

    Congress/SCOTUS has yet to define that…and we’re relying on an old judical ruling United States v. Wong Kim Ark that muddies the waters quite a bit.

    However, the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment means that one must BOTH be born in United States AND be subject to the jurisdiction thereof.

    The “be subject to the jurisdiction thereof” part is the most controversial part because folks interpret that differently based on their desired outcome. At the time, it was obvious that phrase meant a citizen could not owe allegiance to any other foreign power (ie, foriegn invaders, ambassadors, etc). This obviously excludes illegal immigrants who are in defiance of U.S. jurisdiction and are citizens of a foreign power, however back in those times the term “illegal immigrants” didn’t exist.

    So, the Wong Kim Ark case is the controlling case law of the land that facilitates birthright citizenships.

    Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, CA…ergo, she’s a citizen by birthright.

    whembly (c30c83)

  576. Its a silly argument, they didnt want to challenge what obama stood for. Nor the fraud he had permited on the book jacket

    Bolivar di griz (7404b5)

  577. if ms. senator kamala harris, who always knows where the beef is so she does not eat it by accident, was born to parents who were here on diplomat or other foreign government representative visas, then she is not a natural born citizen even if her mother delivered her on top of Bunker Hill

    nk (1d9030)

  578. “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” != “owing allegiance”

    It means can they be taxed, prosecuted.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  579. I think Kam is like Jindal, a college town anchor baby, which has a far less strict test than the offspring of foreign government diplomats.

    urbanleftbehind (78bfa2)

  580. Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, CA…ergo, she’s a citizen by birthright.

    Agreed. The CRS has a fairly complete analysis. The relevant paragraphs…

    At the time of independence, and at the time of the framing of the Constitution, the term “natural born” with respect to citizenship was in use for many years in the American colonies, and then in the states, from British common law and legal usage. Under the common law principle of jus soli (law of the soil), persons born on English soil, even of two alien parents, were “natural born” subjects and, as noted by the Supreme Court, this “same rule” was applicable in the American colonies and “in the United States afterwards, and continued to prevail under the Constitution …” with respect to citizens. In textual constitutional analysis, it is understood that terms used but not defined in the document must, as explained by the Supreme Court, “be read in light of British common law” since the Constitution is “framed in the language of the English common law.”
    In addition to historical and textual analysis, numerous holdings and references in federal (and state) cases for more than a century have clearly indicated that those born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction (i.e., not born to foreign diplomats or occupying military forces), even to alien parents, are citizens “at birth” or “by birth,” and are “natural born,” as opposed to “naturalized,” U.S. citizens. There is no provision in the Constitution and no controlling American case law to support a contention that the citizenship of one’s parents governs the eligibility of a native born U.S. citizen to be President.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  581. @587

    Challenge to the commentariat —

    Please provide evidence of Biden’s obvious mental decline and his obvious health challenges. Yeah, he’s real old. Yeah, he says stupid stuff. But is he saying more stupid stuff than usual?

    Please make your most concrete case. Mostly, I just see innuendo.

    Appalled (1a17de) — 8/13/2020 @ 8:04 am

    Have you not seen his recent press conferences, limited as they may be? I wouldn’t just search for articles as much of the media is covering/spinning for him. Just WATCH his next press conference/interview.

    whembly (c30c83)

  582. Reality bites:

    Harris is the only one of the four presidential/VP candidates with positive favorability:

    Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is starting her campaign as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate with a net-positive approval rating, according to a new ABC News-Ipsos poll released Thursday.

    Thirty-seven percent of registered voters say they view her favorably, while 32 percent said they have an unfavorable view of her. By comparison, Vice President Pence is viewed favorably by 33 percent of voters and unfavorably by 47 percent of voters.

    Forty-seven percent of voters also rate Biden’s pick of the California senator as his running mate as excellent or good, including 83 percent of Democratic voters and 68 percent of Black voters. Twenty-nine percent overall rated Biden’s pick as poor or not so good.

    Harris’s favorability rating makes her the only person who will appear on a 2020 White House ballot for a major party who is viewed net-positively among registered voters. Forty-two percent of registered voters view former Vice President Biden favorably, while 44 percent view him unfavorably, and President Trump’s favorability rating is deeper underwater with a negative net approval rating, 35 percent favorable to 59 percent unfavorable.

    Dave (1bb933)

  583. ms. vice president kamala harris, who was once cited in san francisco for not wearing a flower in her hair, will gladly provide you with all that evidence, and more, after the second monday after the first wednesday in December, comrade Appalled

    she does not strike me as a person who will wait until after january 20, 2021

    nk (1d9030)

  584. Yeah, he says stupid stuff. But is he saying more stupid stuff than usual?

    He was a zero in ‘88 when he first ran for president, and I guess he hasn’t regressed since. Is that your point?

    beer ‘n pretzels (477d53)

  585. nk — Your happyfeet are showing.

    Whembly — You sound like the Daily Beast, or Morning Joe, circa 2017-8, talking about Trump. You’ve told me what to expect, so that is what I will see (if I am a good partisan). Cognitive decline requires a baseline. Where is it? Current cognitive mediocrity is not the same thing.

    Appalled (1a17de)

  586. @599 – No, I told you to watch his interviews/press conference. I’m trying to lead you to the source.

    If you disagree…that’s fine.

    whembly (c30c83)

  587. In my totally non-professional opinion, Biden seems to suffer from a relatively mild form of Asperger’s syndrome.

    Compared to Donald Trump, who will still be a case study in the psychiatric textbooks a hundred years from now, he’s doing just fine.

    Dave (1bb933)

  588. @596. Reality bites.

    Do tell: from 8/11…

    MSNBC- aired “Harris” poll:

    32% favorable.
    34% unfavorable.
    14% Heard of, no opinion.
    20% Never heard of.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  589. Have you not seen his recent press conferences, limited as they may be? I wouldn’t just search for articles as much of the media is covering/spinning for him. Just WATCH his next press conference/interview.

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/13/2020 @ 8:54 am

    I’m interested to see how he does in the debates. I head the same things about him heading into the sanders debate and he seemed find there.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  590. — Do you think Biden is losing it?
    — Nah, he’s always been an idiot.

    Works for me.

    nk (1d9030)

  591. It’s morning in America: President Trump announced Middle East peace between UAE and Israel. Plagiarist JoeyBee orders breakfast of oatmeal with raisins.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  592. Biden has always been a gaffe machine, but he used to enunciate better.
    The debates may well decide which candidate is more in mental decline.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  593. @602 Why no link? When was that poll taken?

    Dave (1bb933)

  594. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris deploy the Charlottesville hoax to stir up racial pain and anger.

    Here’s the “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Speech Transcript August 12: First Campaign Event as Running Mates.” I watched a small part of it because the TV was on in the room I happened to be in. I myself never turn on the TV news. In fact, I often get up and leave the room when it’s on. I keep my distance from the virulent news and stick to reading on line (with small doses of video occasionally). In the bit of Joe Biden’s speech that I saw, I found him hard to listen to. I wondered how anyone who had English as a second language could understand him, the way he drops consonants — for example, saying “whe’er not” for “whether or not.” He sounded angry but disconnected from the text he was reading.

    But I’m reading the text this morning because I saw in a tweet that he was forefronting the Charlottesville “fine people” hoax. On his first day of campaigning with his running mate, he led with that. I say “he,” but I don’t really believe it’s him. I think it’s more likely that he’s a foggy-minded figurehead, and other people have decided to frame the message like that. I consider these people — whoever they are — despicable. They have chosen quite deliberately to commit to a lie that is intended to make black people feel hated and they are doing it for political gain.

    https://althouse.blogspot.com/2020/08/joe-biden-and-kamala-harris-deploy.html

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  595. Apparently Trump doesn’t even remember appointing Christopher Wray.

    Time123 (7cca75)

  596. There’s no Charlottesville “hoax”. When Trump said his words, there were no other groups there on that Friday night but for the tiki-torch bearing white nationalists.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  597. @Time123… here’s a decent discussion regarding Harris’ eligibility:
    https://www.newsweek.com/some-questions-kamala-harris-about-eligibility-opinion-1524483

    There’s the meat:

    Were Harris’ parents lawful permanent residents at the time of her birth? If so, then under the actual holding of Wong Kim Ark, she should be deemed a citizen at birth—that is, a natural-born citizen—and hence eligible. Or were they instead, as seems to be the case, merely temporary visitors, perhaps on student visas issued pursuant to Section 101(15)(F) of Title I of the 1952 Immigration Act? If the latter were indeed the case, then derivatively from her parents, Harris was not subject to the complete jurisdiction of the United States at birth, but instead owed her allegiance to a foreign power or powers—Jamaica, in the case of her father, and India, in the case of her mother—and was therefore not entitled to birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment as originally understood.

    whembly (c30c83)

  598. 610…

    I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and white nationalists because they should be condemned totally. “Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.”

    — – Donald Trump

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  599. Doubling down on lies and promoting racial division Right. Out. Of. The. Gate.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  600. Biden is more of a doofus than a full-on idiot, IMO.

    In other words he’s normally OK but has brief episodes of idiocy.

    Even before Trump’s decline accelerated, he was the opposite: extended bouts of batsh*t craziness punctuated by fleeting moments of near-lucidity. But lately he doesn’t even have those.

    Dave (1bb933)

  601. @610

    There’s no Charlottesville “hoax”. When Trump said his words, there were no other groups there on that Friday night but for the tiki-torch bearing white nationalists.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0) — 8/13/2020 @ 9:56 am

    Paul… he literally excluded white nationalist and neo-nazis in that conversation. This is a “hoax” simply because of craven cherry picking.

    whembly (c30c83)

  602. whembly (c30c83) — 8/13/2020 @ 9:59 am

    Anyone taking this birther stuff seriously is pathetic. She was born in California. She has lived here for her whole life. It’s funny Trump’s fans have used this argument with Obama, Cruz, and now Kamala. They really like Putin style politics. Only Loyal Comrade on Ballot!!!

    Whembly — You sound like the Daily Beast, or Morning Joe, circa 2017-8, talking about Trump. You’ve told me what to expect, so that is what I will see (if I am a good partisan). Cognitive decline requires a baseline. Where is it? Current cognitive mediocrity is not the same thing.

    Appalled (1a17de) — 8/13/2020 @ 9:12 am

    They are desperate. Trump’s fans see he can’t drink water or walk anymore and he’s barely able to speak. Trump probably had a stroke. I wonder if this is before Trump told us to inject ourselves with Lysol.

    Biden’s stuttering and stammering and not as quick on his feet, and his age has caught up with a man who was never that smart. He’s definitely declined if you compare to his South Africa speech, but if we’re honest, Biden’s doing pretty well for a man his age running a presidential campaign, riding around on bikes, etc.

    Basically it’s people who hate what our country should be, versus people who hate what our country is. A truly sad election.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  603. @612:
    – Trump likes ICE
    ICE = KKK
    – Therefore, Trump likes KKK

    beer ‘n pretzels (477d53)

  604. Both Biden and Trump say a lot of awkward stuff about race. I’m not sure we should take the ‘issued White House statement’ very seriously. That’s some staffer doing damage control.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  605. ‘…bouts of batsh*t craziness punctuated by fleeting moments of near-lucidity.

    Reaganoptics.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  606. And the best thing about that speech, Haiku, was the president’s sincerity:

    The suggestion that he had admitted doing wrong and was unsteady infuriated the president. “That was the biggest f*cking mistake I’ve made,” the president told Porter. “You never make those concessions. You never apologize. I didn’t do anything wrong in the first place. Why look weak?”

    Though Porter had not written the original draft, he had spent almost four hours editing it with Trump, providing the accommodating language. But strangely Trump did not direct his rage at Porter. “I can’t believe I got forced to do that,” Trump said, apparently still not blaming Porter but venting directly to him. “That’s the worst speech I’ve ever given. I’m never going to do anything like that again.” He continued to stew about what he had said and how it was a huge mistake.

    (From Woodward’s book, Fear, Chapter 29)

    Dave (1bb933)

  607. 606. ‘Biden has always been a gaffe machine, but he used to enunciate better.’

    Stealing words from others can do that.

    It’s called plagiarism.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  608. “Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.”

    These are Trump’s words…

    “You had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides. You had people in that group … There were people in that rally — and I looked the night before — if you look, there were people protesting very quietly the taking down of the statue of Robert E. Lee. I’m sure in that group there were some bad ones.”

    And then he mentioned “the following day”. There were none of those other fine people that night but for the neo-Nazis and white supremacists. They were all bad, and not for the lack of looking. There is no video evidence of “people protesting very quietly” the takedown of the General Lee statue.
    This is akin to Trump’s lie that he saw Muslims on television cheering the collapse of the WTC towers. The president doesn’t get the benefit of conjuring up sh*t up in his imagination and then proclaiming that that was what he saw.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  609. The president doesn’t get the benefit of conjuring up sh*t up in his imagination and then proclaiming that that was what he saw.

    Actually, in the world of make-believe where he and his cultists spend their time, he does.

    Dave (1bb933)

  610. O.M.G.

    Biden/Harris optics: say it ain’t so, Beau: TeeVee images of seated Plagiarist JoeyBee & Kamala in profile reveal Biden in ill-fitting suit, suitable for coffinwear and Kamala w/an azz wider than a carrier flight deck. Hit the salad bar, dear.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  611. @612

    Doubling down on lies and promoting racial division Right. Out. Of. The. Gate.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 8/13/2020 @ 10:00 am

    Trump is good at communicating when he doesn’t like something. He’s not into nuance. He doesn’t hedge. He doesn’t go back and forth. He’s not cautious and he’s rarely shown any hesitation about getting the facts before he speaks. If he’s opposed to White Nationalists and the Alt Right he’s done a really poor job of making that clear.

    I think the timeline is important

    Aug 11 Friday night: the Alt Right, organized by supporters of the president, marched with torches through the streets of Charlottesville while chanting Nazi slogans.

    Aug 12 Saturday: Heather Heyes was murdered and several others were injured by Alex Fields.

    The day of that incident Trump said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides.” Trump said he had spoken to Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and “we agreed that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now. We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and true affection — really — and I say this so strongly — true affection for each other.”

    Two days later, on Aug. 14, 2017, Trump issued a statement from the White House, and referred to “KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.”

    He later went back to his orignal statements that there were very bad people on both sides.

    David Duke had this to say about Trump’s walk back
    “Thank you President Trump for your honesty & courage to tell the truth about #Charlottesville,” Mr. Duke said in a Twitter post.

    So, You’re right, he did condemn the KKK and Neo-Nazi. But he only did it after being repeatedly criticized in the press, and from within his own administration, over his initial response. He later stated that his initial statement was fine, and the the follow up statement, where he called out the Nazi wasn’t needed.

    You can say what you want, But the White Nationalists love Trump, and he doesn’t give them much reason not to.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  612. Paul, I saw this posted at another blog I lurk at. CNN’s political analyst Steve Cortes exposes the truth about Charlottesville.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NM6k8uNAQBA

    Be sure to watch the whole thing and see if you can explain Cortes’ conundrum over why Trump would claim there were good people on both sides.

    BuDuh (1d8533)

  613. Here’s an exercise:

    Make the case for Biden-Harris without mentioning Trump.

    whembly (c30c83)

  614. Time123: “So, You’re right, he did condemn the KKK and Neo-Nazi. But he only did it after being repeatedly criticized in the press…”

    He condemned it from the start like Duckworth condemned Antifa recently in the hearing with Cruz. The difference, as you note, is that the press will badger a Republican to condemn a specific group by name, and provide cover for a Democrat.

    Conservatives used to call that out rather than cheer it on.

    beer ‘n pretzels (2bbe92)

  615. oh hey screeching birthers (who say our leaders are courageous because they are our leaders) are demanding Trump’s critics justify themselves, not to themselves, but to the birthers.

    Just move to Moscow already. They are exactly what you want. It’s a match made in heaven.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  616. Make the case for Biden-Harris without mentioning Trump.

    There is none. Duh.

    Dave (1bb933)

  617. There is none. Duh.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/13/2020 @ 11:09 am

    Well you certainly tried above. And that’s just in half the thread.
    So severely conservative of you.

    I really don’t understand the level of vituperation and pearl-clutching.

    She’s a garden variety Democrat from the liberal wing of her party, a child of immigrants who has more relevant experience on her resume than most of her peers.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 2:40 pm

    FWIW, David Axelrod agrees with my interpretation of the pick.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:04 pm

    She never called Biden racist.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 3:36 pm

    The Americans for Prosperity Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit that has been investigated in a number of states for illegal or questionable use of its funds to influence elections. It’s currently under investigation in NH on the basis of such a complaint by Republicans, according to Wikipedia.

    It has also been caught in number of underhanded voter suppression dirty tricks.

    It is obviously propaganda to claim she subpoenaed them “in order to be able to subject the supporters of right-leaning groups to legal and financial harassment.”

    My advice is to seek out original sources when encountering these types of hit pieces.

    The decision in the case in question is here.

    As the judgment makes abundantly clear, far from acting as some sort of rogue inquisitor, in this case, Harris was merely following California law, which required all tax exempt organizations to submit the information in question. And the law had been upheld as not facially unconstitutional in a different case previously, although in the AFPF case the court found it failed an “as applied” test.

    In any event, under California law, Harris was required, as Attorney General, to demand the information in question, exposing the dishonesty of NR’s sinister narrative.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:19 pm

    Imagine the possibilities of a president able to trust and work with people who aren’t groveling sycophants in perpetual fear of losing their jobs if they criticize or disagree with him.

    It would be almost like having grownups in charge again!

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 6:41 pm

    No way to really be sure but it seems like Democrats of most varieties (at least high profile inner party types) are pleased with the selection. No small feat, when you remember how many cliques and tribes they have. I haven’t seen anybody consequential on their side express dissatisfaction.

    The small despairing bands of disgruntled former (and formerly former) Republicans are not the audience for this pick, and it’s kind of silly to think we would be. Although for me I think Biden could have done much worse. Duckworth might have been hated less by the right (although she’s quite liberal) but wouldn’t have helped Biden as much overall, I think. Warren, Bass and Rice all had serious baggage.

    Dave (1bb933) — 8/11/2020 @ 10:01 pm

    Bolded alternating quotes to make it easier to read.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  618. BuDuh (1d8533) — 8/13/2020 @ 10:52 am

    I watched it, and the Prager U guy wasn’t telling the full story. There is no video evidence those quiet protesters were there. The group that Ms. Piercey mentioned is the AWR (who are mentioned in my link), a right-wing militia group that showed up armed and primed for violence. Cortes is spinning.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  619. Here is the transcript of the section of the video that I asked Paul to explain.

    And if that is still not enough to convince you, how about this: Does anyone believe that Donald Trump thinks there are “good” Antifa, the leftist thugs who were counter-protesting the neo-Nazi thugs? After all, if those two groups were the only ones involved, and there were “fine people on both sides,” that means the president believed that there were fine Antifa people.

    Even MSNBC should have found that hard to swallow.

    Again, the “very fine people on both sides” President Trump described at the press conference were the people who wanted to remove the Robert E. Lee statue and the people who wanted to keep it. Both of these groups were non-violent protesters—fine people with very different ideological views.

    BuDuh (1d8533)

  620. Bolded alternating quotes to make it easier to read.

    But none of those are what whembly asked for.

    Dave (1bb933)

  621. BuDuh, The Prager u clip ignores the timeline, it ignores the fact that he had to be badgered into specifically naming Neo-Nazi and the KKK and it ignores the fact that Trump has said that his initial statement was in fact correct and that he didn’t need to add anything to it. Basically it’s deceptive to the point of being dishonest.

    Here’s Trump’ initial statement from Aug 12, 2017.

    Here’s a transcript of what he said about Charlottesville. Unlike the PU video there’s nothing in her about extremists trying to co-opt a reasonable position to make themselves seem less bad.

    Thank you very much. As you know, this was a small press conference, but a very important one. And it was scheduled to talk about the great things that we’re doing with the secretary on the veterans administration. And we will talk about that very much so in a little while. But I thought I should put out a comment as to what’s going on in Charlottesville. So, again, I want to thank everybody for being here, in particular I want to thank our incredible veterans. And thank you, fellas. Let me shake your hand.

    They’re great people. Great people. But we’re closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides. It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama, this has been going on for a long, long time. It has no place in America. What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives. No citizen should ever fear for their safety and security in our society. And no child should ever be afraid to go outside and play or be with their parents and have a good time.

    I just got off the phone with the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and we agree that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now. We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and true affection– really, I say this so strongly, true affection for each other. Our country is doing very well in so many ways. We have record — just absolute record employment. We have unemployment the lowest it’s been in almost 17 years. We have companies pouring into our country, Foxconn and car companies and so many others. They’re coming back to our country. We’re renegotiating trade deals to make them great for our country and great for the American worker.

    We have so many incredible things happening in our country, so when I watch Charlottesville, to me it’s very, very sad. I want to salute the great work of the state and local police in Virginia. Incredible people. Law enforcement, incredible people. And also the National Guard. They’ve really been working smart and working hard. They’ve been doing a terrific job. Federal authorities are also providing tremendous support to the governor. He thanked me for that. And we are here to provide whatever other assistance is needed. We are ready, willing and able. Above all else, we must remember this truth: No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first. We love our country. We love our god.

    We love our flag. We’re proud of our country. We’re proud of who we are, so we want to get the situation straightened out in Charlottesville, and we want to study it. And we want to see what we’re doing wrong as a country where things like this can happen. My administration is restoring the sacred bonds of loyalty between this nation and its citizens, but our citizens must also restore the bonds of trust and loyalty between one another. We must love each other, respect each other and cherish our history and our future together. So important. We have to respect each other. Ideally, we have to love each other.

    Time123 (ea2b98)

  622. Time123: “So, You’re right, he did condemn the KKK and Neo-Nazi. But he only did it after being repeatedly criticized in the press…”

    He condemned it from the start like Duckworth condemned Antifa recently in the hearing with Cruz. The difference, as you note, is that the press will badger a Republican to condemn a specific group by name, and provide cover for a Democrat.

    Conservatives used to call that out rather than cheer it on.

    beer ‘n pretzels (2bbe92) — 8/13/2020 @ 11:01 am

    I think you can call out both media bias and the president being sympathetic to Neo-Nazi and the KKK as bad things.

    I also don’t think 1 excuses the other.

    Time123 (7cca75)

  623. Since that isn’t the speech where the “Trump calls Nazis good people” lie comes from, Time, what is your point?

    BuDuh (1d8533)

  624. Make the case for Trump without mentioning the Democrats.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  625. Paul Montagu (c280e0) — 8/13/2020 @ 9:56 am

    . When Trump said his words, there were no other groups there on that Friday night but for the tiki-torch bearing white nationalists.

    I don’t think he knew that. His precise words implied there were.

    Sammy Finkelman (083d4c)

  626. Say, what happens if both Biden and Trump die in September?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  627. Make the case for Trump without mentioning the Democrats.

    Been done. In one ear and out the other with some here.

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  628. @638

    Make the case for Trump without mentioning the Democrats.

    Kevin M (ab1c11) — 8/13/2020 @ 11:42 am

    Easy.
    -Remaking the judiciary with more conservative, originalist judges (ie, likely filling RBG seat)
    -Keep taxes lower
    -Reducing regulations
    -Continue current foreign polices

    whembly (c30c83)

  629. Make the case for Trump without mentioning the Democrats.

    Gorsuch, Kavanaugh. RGB, Breyer, Thomas vacancies, plus umpteen federal judgeships.

    No Green New Deal. Remain in Mexico.

    Gee, that was easy.

    beer ‘n pretzels (888d61)

  630. 631… Dave saves his devotion and love love love fo’ teh Democrats. The only Conservatives he praises have been safely dead for decades.

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  631. Since that isn’t the speech where the “Trump calls Nazis good people” lie comes from, Time, what is your point?

    BuDuh (1d8533) — 8/13/2020 @ 11:42 am

    I think those are his initial remarks on the protests.

    Neo-Nazi, organised by people that support him, marched through the streets with torches, chanting nazi slogans. The next day one of them killed a women. That was what the president had to say about it.

    Two days later, after internal and external criticism, he explicitly condemned the KKK and Neo-Nazi.

    Later still he said his initial response was fine and he hadn’t really needed to go go back and make the 2nd statement.

    Time123 (7cca75)

  632. Think Nicole Wallace…

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  633. My point, to be very clear, is that Trump is very sympathetic in his remarks about white nationalists, is reluctant to criticize them directly or harshly, and does not appear to be sincere in his condemnation.

    But don’t take my word for it, look up statements by the many elected GOP officials and see what they were saying at the time.

    Time123 (7cca75)

  634. I don’t think he knew that. His precise words implied there were.

    I can’t read Trump’s garbled mind, Sammy, so I can only go by the words he actually said, and he said he “looked the night before” and saw “very fine people” without a shred of video record supporting his statement.
    He would’ve been on solider ground had he talked in general terms, because it’s true that there are fine people who oppose the removal of Confederate statues and fine people on the other side. But he didn’t do that. He said he saw those “very fine people” that weekend in the Charlottesville streets and public areas, despite bupkes for video evidence.

    Paul Montagu (c280e0)

  635. “Worth reviewing… https://www.johnderbyshire.com/Opinions/RadioDerb/2016-12-02.html#05

    Pedantry.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  636. That was what the president had to say about it.

    This?

    But we’re closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides. It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama, this has been going on for a long, long time. It has no place in America. What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives. No citizen should ever fear for their safety and security in our society. And no child should ever be afraid to go outside and play or be with their parents and have a good time.

    I just got off the phone with the governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, and we agree that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now.

    BuDuh (5f7a1d)

  637. John “Around blacks, don’t relax” Derbyshire is a racist.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  638. “If you don’t vote for me, you ain’t black” Biden demanding everyone stay on a plantation while leftist supporters run interference for him. He’s suffering from dementia. What’s your excuse?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  639. Gorsuch, Kavanaugh. RGB, Breyer, Thomas vacancies, plus umpteen federal judgeships.

    No Green New Deal. Remain in Mexico.

    Gee, that was easy.

    beer ‘n pretzels (888d61) — 8/13/2020 @ 11:50 am

    Who is RGB? Did you mean RBG?

    If so you failed the test.

    Not that it matters. Fear of democrat judges is a perfectly valid reason to vote. Whembly’s point is no more than asking people to stop criticizing Courageous Leader Donald Trump. This is America. We don’t do that.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  640. Whembly’s point is no more than asking people to stop criticizing Courageous Leader Donald Trump. This is America. We don’t do that.

    Dustin (4237e0) — 8/13/2020 @ 12:40 pm

    STOP.

    PUTTING.

    WORDS.

    IN.

    MY.

    MOUTH.

    whembly (c30c83)

  641. John “Around blacks, don’t relax” Derbyshire is a racist.“
    _

    You mean he crosses to the other side of the street when he sees young black males approaching just like Jesse Jackson?

    I was working in downtown Denver when The Knockout Game was going down, I didn’t relax either.
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  642. After #Russiagate, drunken SCOTUS rapist, #Shampeachment and other bullschiff hoaxes, what’s one more hoax?

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  643. Lefty Democrats don’t embarrass easy.

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  644. Buduh, yes. That’s what he said. (Plus a little) that’s what everyone at the time felt was insufficient.

    Time123 (4e54b0)

  645. More questions for Biden:
    Is it good for America to use the term “white supremacists” to refer to people who don’t want to tear down the old statues of Confederate heroes?

    Is it impossible for people who hold that viewpoint to be fine people?

    Do you realize that’s what Donald Trump was talking about, that some people who hold that viewpoint might be fine people?

    If you don’t realize it, how can you be running for President if you’re so woefully and dangerously uninformed?

    If you do realize it, and you’re saying the things you’re saying, are you a fine person?

    — – Ann Althouse

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  646. (Plus a little) that’s what everyone at the time felt was insufficient.

    Everyone? Or maybe some

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  647. STOP.

    PUTTING.

    WORDS.

    IN.

    MY.

    MOUTH.

    whembly (c30c83) — 8/13/2020 @ 12:45 pm

    Which of my claims were wrong? That you think Trump is a Courageous Leader solely because he is a politician or that you ‘challenge’ people to make their point about the election without criticizing Trump?

    My guess is your point is to quibble about what the meaning of “Is” is.

    I take the opposite view. I am suspicious of all politicians and I hope all arguments for Biden and Trump also offer generous quantities of criticism of both of these losers. And if you don’t like it, that’s even better.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  648. The only systemic racism visible in the American landscape is the Democratic Party.

    * They fought to keep slavery legal.
    * Opposed Lincoln’s call to end it.
    * Enacted intolerable Jim Crow laws to segregate and intimidate black Americans.
    * Formed an armed militia KKK to terrorize blacks that dared to exercise their civil rights.
    * Opposed civil rights legislation.
    * Celebrated Dixiecrats as elder statesmen, Democrats who opposed civil rights so much they wouldn’t call themselves democrats after so many (40%) elected Democrats voted for CRA1964, to the point their big annual event was the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner until just last year when Old Hickory was cancelled by Democrats for reminding people of their past.

    Why in the early years of this 21st century their were still “former” klansmen serving as Democrats dropping the N Word on live TV. I’ve seen and heard them. If this political party’s 230-year history of using and abusing black people isn’t systemic then nothing in the USA is. Certainly not the Republican party, founded on anti-slavery and always and forever anti-slavery. That’s known as being on the right side of history b*tches!

    — – Mike (MJB Wolf)

    Colonel Haiku (167584)

  649. More questions for Biden:
    Is it good for America to use the term “white supremacists” to refer to people who don’t want to tear down the old statues of Confederate heroes?

    Is it impossible for people who hold that viewpoint to be fine people?

    Do you realize that’s what Donald Trump was talking about, that some people who hold that viewpoint might be fine people?

    If you don’t realize it, how can you be running for President if you’re so woefully and dangerously uninformed?

    If you do realize it, and you’re saying the things you’re saying, are you a fine person?

    — – Ann Althouse

    Colonel Haiku (167584) — 8/13/2020 @ 12:56 pm

    He sounds like a politician trying to talk his way around criticizing and praising anyone specific because… that’s what he was doing. This thing was a crude attempt to blank slate (be whatever the listener wants). For Trump’s critics, they filled in the blanks.

    As to Althouse’s question about Biden’s statement being good for America, we have seen Biden pour fuel on racial division many times. He is not trying to heal the nation. If more racial pain gets Biden across the finish line finally, he will be very happy.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  650. Buduh, yes. That’s what he said. (Plus a little) that’s what everyone at the time felt was insufficient.

    I don’t think everyone felt it was insufficient. He condemned what he needed to condemn while information was still coming in. Only the media demanded clarification and when they got it they lied and the suckers believed them.

    The question remains. Does Trump think Antifa has “fine people” in its ranks?

    BuDuh (5f7a1d)

  651. Which of my claims were wrong?

    All of it.

    That you think Trump is a Courageous Leader solely because he is a politician

    I think it takes certain level of courage to run for office… exposing yourself and your family to the type of scrutiny that no one in the right mind would welcome.

    That is NOT SAYING THAT TRUMP IS A COURAGEOUS LEADER.

    Do we have an understanding now?

    or that you ‘challenge’ people to make their point about the election without criticizing Trump?

    God forbid we have a discussion on an internet forum…it was an exercise to see if a Biden-Harris does *anything* for you without resorting to but Trump arguments.

    Frankly, I recognize that I’m a bit of a hypocrite in that I regularly retort but Democrat BS, but at least I acknowledge that. The straw that broke my back was the Kavanaugh/Convinton fiasco. I have a perpetual “F*CK DEMOCRATS!” mindset now. I’m a lost cause…

    My guess is your point is to quibble about what the meaning of “Is” is.

    My quibble is that you’re attributing statements that I didn’t make.

    If you don’t understand my what I’m saying, please ask me to elaborate instead of assuming I meant something.

    I take the opposite view. I am suspicious of all politicians and I hope all arguments for Biden and Trump also offer generous quantities of criticism of both of these losers. And if you don’t like it, that’s even better.

    Dustin (4237e0) — 8/13/2020 @ 1:03 pm

    I’m actually in agreement with you here.

    whembly (c30c83)

  652. “You mean he crosses to the other side of the street when he sees young black males approaching just like Jesse Jackson?

    I was working in downtown Denver when The Knockout Game was going down, I didn’t relax either.”

    You don’t need to ask what I mean, his words are out there for everyone to see.

    Maybe you have some thoughts on Black IQ as well?

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  653. Buduh,

    1). There was plenty of criticism from prominent Republican and members of his administration. Not just the media. “Everyone” was overly broad.
    2). By the time he made those remarks the facts were already known. Even if there was doubt Trump has not shown hesitation or care about the fine details before making statements in other areas. That’s a weak excuse.

    Time123 (4e54b0)

  654. I don’t think the concept is coming across to you Time.

    The claim is that Trump was supportive of Nazi’s/White Supremacists because they are in the group “fine people on both sides.” The other half of that group is Antifa. Does Trump believe that Antifa has “fine people?”

    BuDuh (cfd528)

  655. “The other half of that group is Antifa. Does Trump believe that Antifa has “fine people?””

    Not all of the counter-protesters were antifa. Not even a majority.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/who-were-the-counterprotesters-in-charlottesville.html

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  656. Trump says he’s blocking Postal Service funding because Democrats want to expand mail-in voting during pandemic

    President Trump said Thursday that he does not want to fund the U.S. Postal Service because Democrats are seeking to expand mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic, making explicit the reason he has declined to approve $25 billion in emergency funding for the cash-strapped agency.

    “Now, they need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo. He added: “Now, if we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money. That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting, they just can’t have it.”
    ……
    During the Wednesday briefing, Trump told reporters he would not approve the $25 billion in emergency funding for the Postal Service, or $3.5 billion in supplemental funding for election resources, citing prohibitively high costs. But he went further in remarks Thursday morning, blaming Democrats’ efforts to make it easier for Americans to vote amid the pandemic.
    ……

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  657. Good point, Dave. So it is likely that Trump suggested that protesters who weren’t Nazi’s and Counterprotesters who weren’t Antifa were very fine people. Thanks for that link.

    BuDuh (cfd528)

  658. “Now, they need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo. He added: “Now, if we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money. That means they can’t have universal mail-in voting, they just can’t have it.”

    He is cheerfully tearing the nation apart with this crap. Worst president in American history. He wants this to be the headline. I don’t know why, but this is the same trolling he always does, bragging about what was once conspiracy theory, handing it to the press on a silver platter.

    Dustin (4237e0)

  659. “ Maybe you have some thoughts on Black IQ as well?”
    __

    lol – hope you didn’t hurt yourself.
    _

    harkin (820854)

  660. “So it is likely that Trump suggested that protesters who weren’t Nazi’s”

    Which of the protesters that attended an event organized by Nazis and neo-Confederates weren’t Nazis and neo-Confederates? This question has been asked before, in this thread.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  661. The U.S. reports its highest single-day virus death toll of the month
    ……
    More than half the deaths reported on Wednesday were spread across five states that saw some of the most dramatic case spikes in June and July. Texas reported more than 300 deaths Wednesday. Florida more than 200. And Arizona, California and Georgia all reported more than 100 each.

    Even as the number of new cases has fallen from its late July peak, deaths have remained persistently high. For more than two weeks, the country has averaged more than 1,000 deaths a day, more than twice as many as in early July.

    The last six weeks have marked a tragic reversal of months of progress in reducing deaths. …..
    ……

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  662. “lol – hope you didn’t hurt yourself.”

    I’m not the one defending an admitted racist.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  663. The U.S. won’t control the virus unless all Americans help, Fauci and Redfield say
    …..
    …….Dr. Fauci said that disparities between the ways different states were handling the situation were keeping the country from bringing it under control once and for all. To end the pandemic, he said, Americans would have to “pull together” by wearing masks, washing their hands and avoiding crowds, among other safety measures.
    …….
    Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sounded a similar theme on Wednesday about the need for universal mask-wearing and social distancing.

    “I keep telling people, I’m not asking some of America to do it,” Dr. Redfield said. “We’ve all got to do it.”
    ……
    LOL! Fat chance of that happening when the President continues to insist it will “just disappear”.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  664. Which of the protesters that attended an event organized by Nazis and neo-Confederates weren’t Nazis and neo-Confederates?

    That is a fair question. I will see what I can find. I’ll check in later with any results.

    BuDuh (83eac2)

  665. This Republican governor just compared kids going back to school to killing Osama bin Laden

    The first rule of politics has long been to never, ever compare anything to Nazi Germany. The murder of 6 million Jews defies comparison. The second rule of politics — or maybe just an addendum to the first rule — should be: Never compare anything to the mission that led to the death of Osama bin Laden.

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (yes, him again) seemed to have missed that class in politician school.

    Here’s DeSantis speaking at an event of a school reopening on Wednesday night in Tallahassee:

    “Martin County Superintendent Laurie Gaylord told me she viewed re-opening her schools as a mission akin to a Navy SEAL operation. Just as the SEALs surmounted obstacles to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, so too would the Martin County School system find a way to provide parents with a meaningful choice of in-person instruction or continued distance learning. All in, all the time.”

    Look, there’s no question that the decisions being made by administrators, parents and politicians as to whether kids should return to school amid the still-ongoing coronavirus pandemic is a very, very tough question — with good people on all sides of it. There’s a public health argument. An economic argument. An educational argument. And on and on and on.
    …….
    But none of this is in any way comparable to a group of Navy SEALs killing bin Laden. Like, at all.

    ….[T]here’s a big difference between adult men who have signed up to be SEALs taking on a mission they know to be hugely dangerous, and kids (and teachers and parents) going back to school without the science on this virus being totally worked out just yet.

    ….[E]ven Trump didn’t go as far as to compare the effort to offer in-person learning to the operation to kill bin Laden.
    ……

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  666. “I’m not the one defending an admitted racist.“
    _

    Jesse Jackson is a racist?
    _

    Interesting thought coming from the guy who introduced ‘Black IQ’ into the argument.
    _

    harkin (5af287)

  667. “Interesting thought coming from the guy who introduced ‘Black IQ’ into the argument.”

    That’s one of Derbyshire’s talking points. You were a fan of his “avoid black people” one, just asking if you like that one as well.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  668. 668. Time123 (4e54b0) — 8/13/2020 @ 1:24 pm

    Even if there was doubt Trump has not shown hesitation or care about the fine details before making statements in other areas. That’s a weak excuse.

    Trump doesn’t ascertain the facts – and then he changes them.

    It may be a bad excuse, but he still didn’t say what they said he said.

    This is like the Republican/talk radio talking point that’s going around that says some poll shows that many americans think 30 million in the United States died of the coronavirus and the same kind of pol was taken in the United Kingdom and France (they were asked apercentage that transates out to that. It just shows innumeracy)

    https://fullfact.org/health/why-poll-gives-misleading-view-how-many-people-public-think-covid-19-has-killed/

    Sammy Finkelman (5818f3)

  669. Say, what happens if both Biden and Trump die in September?

    Bars (if any are open) and liquor stores will have their best month in history.

    Dave (1bb933)

  670. the zero coverage of base on balls biden’s lack of mental capacity is disturbing

    mg (8cbc69)

  671. NPR Politics
    @nprpolitics

    Joe Biden said every governor in the U.S. should mandate the wearing of masks to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

    “Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months, at a minimum,” Biden said.
    __ _

    Stephen L. Miller
    @redsteeze
    ·
    pardon me if I’m skeptical of the out-of-the-blue mandate demands form the guy who told everyone to run outside and fire a shotgun in the air to scare off home invaders.
    __ _

    MDCarlisleMA
    @CarlisleContra
    ·
    It is vital until Nov 4th

    _

    harkin (5af287)

  672. “Wait a minute… sex is a thing again?”

    That’s your take from the article?

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  673. 689. My take from the article is that post-modern feminists want all the benefits of being male but are willing to foot absolutely none of the cost or responsibility that comes with it.

    Gryph (f63000)

  674. Just answer to people who claim “Waah! It’s not fair!” to draft men and not women is “Just put on a dress and we’ll exempt you too”.

    nk (1d9030)

  675. Just *A fair* answer

    nk (1d9030)

  676. That didn’t work for Corporal Klinger, nk.

    norcal (a5428a)

  677. “My take from the article is that post-modern feminists want all the benefits of being male but are willing to foot absolutely none of the cost or responsibility that comes with it.”

    Interesting. My take was that 5th district court ruled because they feel that, because the Supreme Court upheld the male-only draft in 1981, only the Supreme Court can reverse it. As far as I can tell, no “post-modern feminists” were involved in the case at all.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  678. That didn’t work for Corporal Klinger, nk.

    We’re all more permissive these days.

    nk (1d9030)

  679. Between the Yellow Wars and the Sand Wars, Klinger would have needed a strategic amptutation courtesy of Hawkeye and Trapper John. Now hes on the cover of high school brochures.

    urbanleftbehind (78bfa2)

  680. I bid you all good night with this thought: Did Kamala leave one of her shoes behind, for Joe Biden to find, at the last debate?

    nk (1d9030)

  681. That’s your take from the article?

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb) — 8/13/2020 @ 3:58 pm

    That we are back to just admitting reality is only male and female. Yes, that’s my take on it. What’s yours?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  682. “That we are back to just admitting reality is only male and female. Yes, that’s my take on it. What’s yours?”

    I posted my take @695. It’s different than yours because I read the article.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  683. You haven’t offered a take Thulu other than to dodge the question. But I understand. Science answers that question for you.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  684. JoeyBee: White Masks Matter.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  685. “You haven’t offered a take Thulu other than to dodge the question. But I understand. Science answers that question for you.”

    My post @695:

    My take was that 5th district court ruled because they feel that, because the Supreme Court upheld the male-only draft in 1981, only the Supreme Court can reverse it. As far as I can tell, no “post-modern feminists” were involved in the case at all.

    Can you not see it? It doesn’t say it’s in moderation.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  686. JoeyB is screwed. If he wears a black mask it’s a white man in black face. If he wears a white mask it’s white supremacism. If he wears a blue mask, he’s supporting the police instead of his brownshirts… on and on…

    Good times.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  687. Once again. It’s a dodge. Only male and female. 2 sexes. Science 101.

    Thanks for playing.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  688. So silly thulu. Are there more sexes than male and female?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  689. “So silly thulu. Are there more sexes than male and female?”

    Here’s your original post:

    https://www.nationalreview.com/news/male-only-military-draft-is-constitutional-federal-appeals-court-rules/

    Wait a minute… sex is a thing again?

    You posted an article followed by a comment. I (perhaps foolishly) assumed your comment was related to the article in some way.

    Here’s the ruling, taken from a link within the article:

    Plaintiffs-Appellees point to no case in which a court of appeals has
    done what they ask of us, that is, to disregard a Supreme Court decision as to
    the constitutionality of the exact statute at issue here because some key facts
    implicated in the Supreme Court’s decision have changed. That we will not
    do.

    There’s nothing sex (or gender) related in the ruling.

    Davethulhu (ed5cbb)

  690. harris teaching women how to couch cast for profit is the meme

    mg (8cbc69)

  691. can’t wait for totalarian joe to try and make me put a mask on my grand daughter, one punch will end his demented fate.

    mg (8cbc69)

  692. I don’t think the concept is coming across to you Time.

    The claim is that Trump was supportive of Nazi’s/White Supremacists because they are in the group “fine people on both sides.” The other half of that group is Antifa. Does Trump believe that Antifa has “fine people?”

    BuDuh (cfd528) — 8/13/2020 @ 1:39 pm

    I think I get the point. The assertion is that because Trump doesn’t like Antifa he could not have been referring to all people there as ‘good people’ Since he was excluding some people from his generalization he was also excluding the KKK, Alt-Right, Neo-Nazi and White Nationalists that had organized the meeting and made up the bulk of the ‘keep the statues’ group.

    I don’t think this is a compelling point. I think his initial statement was weak given what was known at the time. I think his follow up statement a few days later seemed forced and not something he strongly believed. But he said those words and condemned the right wing hate groups there so that’s good. Had he stuck to that line of talking points I’d have been satisfied FWIW. I think his follow up statements at the press conference walked that 2nd statement back and drew a lot of moral equivalence between Nazis/KKK/Alt Right and people trump doesn’t like on the left. David Duke (and others of his ilk) were delighted with the press conference and thought trump was standing up for them. (evidence of this provided up thread)

    When he talked about it a 4th time he claimed that his initial statements were perfect.

    Trump’s good at communicating contempt and hate and when he doesn’t like something. Nothing he’s said here has made the white nationalists/alt right/nazi/KKK/Neo-Confederate groups think he doesn’t like them. But he did say enough to allow normal people to say he condemned them, if they’re so inclined.

    I don’t think we’re going to bridge the gap here. But I wanted to answer the question you asked me.

    Time123 (653992)

  693. harris teaching women how to couch cast for profit is the meme

    mg (8cbc69) — 8/14/2020 @ 3:18 am

    It will be harder to call out unfounded accusations that criticism of Harris is sexist if you keep throwing out actually sexist insults. The more if this there is the more people are going to conclude that the objection to Harris is her gender and not her overly liberal policy goals, or her over reach with executive powers or other valid complaints.

    Time123 (653992)

  694. Because that judgment directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s holding in Rostker v. Goldberg, 453 U.S. 57, 78–79 (1981), and only the Supreme Court may revise its precedent, we REVERSE. (Page 1 of the opinion.)

    ****
    The Fifth Circuit is a “strict stare decisis” court and “cannot ignore a decision from the Supreme Court unless directed to do so by the Court itself.” Ballew v. Cont’l Airlines, Inc., 668 F.3d 777, 782 (5th Cir. 2012); Hernandez v. United States, 757 F.3d 249, 265 (5th Cir. 2014), adhered to in part on reh’g en banc, 785 F.3d 117 (5th Cir. 2015), vacated and remanded sub nom. Hernandez v. Mesa, 137 S. Ct. 2003 (2017). “[F]ollow[ing] the law as it is . . . respect[s] the Supreme Court’s singular role in deciding the continuing viability of its own precedents.” Perez v. Stephens, 745 F.3d 174, 180 (5th Cir. 2014). The Supreme Court is clear on this point. (Pages 4-5 of the opinion)

    Me, I have a slightly different view. I don’t believe that the so-called National Coalition of Men has standing to challenge a men-only draft. Because they are not men. No real man wants to see women drafted.

    nk (1d9030)


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