Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Let’s go!
First news item
Holding the majority is the priority:
A resolution to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress was referred to the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday as Republicans successfully sidestepped an effort to force them into a vote that could have narrowed their already slim four-seat majority.
The House voted along party lines, 221-204, to refer the matter to the ethics panel, with Santos himself joining his GOP colleagues in voting to do so.
The freshman congressman has been charged with embezzling money from his campaign, falsely receiving unemployment funds and lying to Congress about his finances. He has denied the charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., introduced a resolution in February to expel Santos, something the House has only done twice in recent decades. He sought to force a vote on that resolution under a process that left three options for Republicans: a vote on the resolution, a move to table, or a referral to committee.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy chose the third option, much to the chagrin of Democrats who described it as a “complete copout.” They noted that the ethics panel is already investigating Santos and that it was time for Republican House members who have called for Santos to resign to back their words with action.
Second news item
When Sen. Dianne Feinstein walked into the Capitol last week, ending a monthslong medical absence, she was accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a small entourage of aides — and a close personal confidant with a storied political pedigree.
Nancy Carinne Prowda blended into the swarm around the legendary California Democrat. The San Francisco Chronicle made note of her presence but left unreported amid the spectacle was the larger role that Prowda, the eldest child of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has come to play in Feinstein’s life as the 89-year-old has dealt with the absence of her deceased husband, the departure of trusted staffers, a nasty case of shingles and spiraling concerns about her fitness for office.
…
The intrigue surrounds the future of Feinstein’s seat. Pelosi has endorsed Rep. Adam Schiff, her longtime protégé and former hand-picked House Intelligence Committee chair, to succeed Feinstein after her sixth and final term ends next year…But if Feinstein were to bow to pressure and retire early, Schiff’s advantage could disappear. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) has pledged to appoint a Black woman to serve out her term, and one of Schiff’s declared opponents, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), would fit the bill.
“If DiFi resigns right now, there is an enormous probability that Barbara Lee gets appointed — thus, it makes it harder for Schiff,” one Pelosi family confidant told Playbook, adding that the relationship between Pelosi, her daughter and the senator is “being kept under wraps and very, very closely held.”
Third news item
Sanctions against Russian defense companies have not interfered with Western supplies – equipment is still being imported by military contractors who have escaped sanctions lists. European businessmen have continued to sell goods to Russian firms that supply the country’s army with microchips for missiles, shells, fuses, tactical boots, body armor, engines for warships, and many other goods. The Insider confirmed supplies coming in from Germany, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Estonia, Lithuania, Austria, and Poland.
This:
Engaging with Russia is being an accessory to crime. It used to be mostly fraud and theft, now it’s murder and terror…Countries and companies still doing business with Russia are exploiting the murder of Ukrainians for profit. They barely hide avoiding sanctions to help Putin and his war machine. This isn’t geopolitics or politics at all. It’s funding and empowering a war criminal regime attempting genocide on an industrial scale. These companies and governments are doing it knowingly, and in many cases openly.
Related: The Biden administration has reportedly signaled to allies that the U.S. would not block their export of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Filed under: I’ll believe it when I see it.
Fourth news item
Gov. DeSantis doesn’t seem very business friendly. More fallout from DeSantis’s nonsense feud with Disney:
The Walt Disney Co. said it is pulling out of a roughly $1 billion investment in Florida, citing “changing business conditions.” The media and entertainment giant announced the move amid a year-long feud with the state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, after Disney publicly opposed his bill to limit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
In a memo sent to Disney employees, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said that the company isn’t moving forward with its plans to build a new Disney campus in Lake Nona.
The Lake Nona complex would have included several buildings employing 2,000 Disney workers that would have been relocated from California to Florida.
Fifth news item
San Francisco’s problems go far beyond drugs. The Bay Area is home to four of the 10 most valuable companies in the world — Apple, Alphabet, Nvidia and Meta — titanic producers of wealth, but a staggering one per cent of the city’s population is homeless, compared to less than 0.2 per cent across the US. The gulf between rich and poor — and white and black — is among the largest in America. House prices and rents soared to among the highest in the US during the last tech boom. Since the pandemic, tech companies have embraced remote working, laid off staff and slashed office space, leaving almost a third of the city’s commercial real estate vacant. In other words, houses are more expensive and scarcer, and offices are cheap and empty. Teachers and nurses can’t afford to live in San Francisco, and tech workers see fewer reasons to.
There is a growing sense, too, that the city’s progressive political class has failed its citizens. Violent attacks in wealthy neighbourhoods, including the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee and a burglary at the home of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi which left her husband in hospital with a fractured skull, were interpreted as symbols of pervasive lawlessness.
The area has lost a net of 2,500 businesses since March 2020. Now residents are doubtful about the long-delayed opening of San Francisco’s first Ikea just three blocks away from Whole Foods — although Ikea said its plans had not changed.
Earlier this month, high-end Saks and Nordstrom vacated San Francisco, leaving over 500,000 square feet of retail space expected to be completely vacated by the early fall.
Sixth news item
Former U.S. ambassador the United Nations Nikki Haley Wednesday called Jan. 6, 2021 “a terrible day” and said any person who broke the law at the U.S. Capitol that day “should pay the price.”
“It was not a beautiful day, it was a terrible day, and we don’t ever want that to happen again,” Haley said at a town hall-style event in Ankeny, Iowa, when asked by a voter how she could ensure a “fair and speedy” trial for those charged over their alleged actions on Jan. 6. “I don’t know enough about each individual [rioter] but that’s my rule: If you break the law, you pay the price. And so I think that’s the way we need to look at it.”
I feel like Haley is always trying to gingerly walk the tightrope by not mentioning you know who. But, after all, it was you know who that fomented the insurrection of Jan. 6, and it was the same you know who that referred to Jan. 6 as a “beautiful day” during the CNN townhall. This is Haley back in February 2021:
She confidently predicted Trump would not run for federal office again.
“I don’t think he’s going to be in the picture,” Haley said. “I don’t think he can. He’s fallen so far.”
…
When asked how Trump could be held accountable, she said: “I think he’s going to find himself further and further isolated. I think his business is suffering at this point. I think he’s lost any sort of political viability he was going to have. I think he’s lost his social media, which meant the world to him. I mean, I think he’s lost the things that really could have kept him moving.”
Underestimating Trump is the biggest mistake a Republican candidate can make.
Seventh news item
Ramping up: Gov. DeSantis is said to be officially announcing his run for the presidency next week. Sen. Tim Scott is launching a $6 million ad buy and is expected to officially announce his entry into the presidential race on Monday.
Eighth news item
High-stakes negotiations over raising the debit limit abruptly came to a halt Friday on Capitol Hill, after Republican negotiators walked out of the room and blamed the White House for holding up the talks.
“Until people are willing to have reasonable conversations about how you can actually move forward and do the right thing, then we’re not gonna sit here and talk to ourselves,” Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., told reporters.
“We decided to press pause because it’s just not productive,” he added. Graves said he did not know if talks would resume this weekend.
As Republicans demand spending cuts and policy changes, Biden is facing increased pushback from Democrats, particularly progressives, not to give in to demands they argue will be harmful to Americans.
Democrats particularly refuse the Republican proposal to protect defense and veterans accounts from spending caps, arguing that the cuts will fall too heavily on other domestic programs.
Republicans also want to impose stricter work requirements on government aid recipients. Biden has suggested he might be open to considering it, but Democrats in Congress have said is a nonstarter.
Have a great weekend.
–Dana
Good morning.
Dana (560c99) — 5/19/2023 @ 9:06 amPer your link, the Administration has not said the US will export F-16s to Ukraine, they have said the US will not object to European countries exporting their F-16s to Ukraine.
Rip Murdock (dca0fa) — 5/19/2023 @ 9:15 amI would add this item, and it signals that Trump will be criminally indicted in three months.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 9:22 amThanks, Rip. Fixed now.
Dana (560c99) — 5/19/2023 @ 9:29 amBiden also agreed to allow Ukrainian fighter pilots to train on F-16s, twelve months too late.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 9:33 amThis has nothing to do with DeSantis or Florida’s ‘Parent’s Right’s” bill.
This project was always going to be shut down, because Iger hated it from the beginning (before the latest kerfluffle) and most of those 2k employees were going to be jobs from California, whom hated the idea of the move.
whembly (d116f3) — 5/19/2023 @ 10:06 amMaybe there was reason for initial skepticism about a “bombshell” New York Post story that was funneled to them by a lawyer whose law licenses were suspended for lying.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 10:29 amCitation for post #6
whembly (d116f3) — 5/19/2023 @ 11:40 amhttps://twitter.com/MattWolking/status/1659598980559380480
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 9:33 am
Related:
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 11:49 am@8
Who’s to say if Desantis influenced the decision or not, but the timing looks bad, especially with the comment during the earnings call about pulling investments out of Florida. You could be completely right, but public perception is going to chalk this update to DeSantis driving Diseny’s money out of Florida, and I think that’s the way Disney wants it to look.
Manotaur (e04635) — 5/19/2023 @ 11:53 amRelated:
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 11:59 amBTW, Zelenskyy is not only appearing at the G-7 summit, he also made a stop at the Arab League summit.
Assad reacted with his usual class.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:09 pmFrom what I have read of the GOP’s hitting “pause” of debt limit talks on Twitter and various other conservative-leaning blogs, the Biden Administration is publicly claiming to be making concessions on rescinding COVID funds and considering limits on future budget growth, but in private negotiations they are absolutely refusing to lock in those details. So McCarthy and McConnell have determined that it is all a ruse, so that when nothing has been done by the deadline the Democrat-friendly media will claim that Biden had tried to negotiate in good faith, but that Republicans were just too damn intransigent. It looks like we are going to have to sweat this out to the end.
One nice piece of news is that now that the President is cancelling part of his Asia and Oceania trip next week, various media outlets are on the line for thousands of dollars in unrefundable travel costs.
JVW (3c73d4) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:15 pmDisney’s real payback will be when it starts releasing the DeSantis administration’s internal communications regarding the reasons behind his campaign to dissolve the Reedy Improvement District.
Hint: It had nothing to do with the fact that Disney had a special district and everything to do with Disney’s speech.
Discovery will be a b!tch. Just ask Fox News.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:19 pmAssad reacted with his usual class.
No doubt that Assad is a bad actor on the scene, but as the community notes are pointing out, Zelensky’s speech was delivered in English and Assad is fluent in English, so just because he removed his earpiece with the Arabic translation doesn’t mean that he wasn’t listening to the speech.
JVW (240239) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:23 pm@8 and @10
Nearly one year ago.
In June 2022, Disney’s own spokesperson said the company’s decision to delay for three years the relocation of jobs to FL had nothing to do with Governor DeSantis.
Jacquee Wahler “said the dispute with DeSantis had nothing to do with the delay,” reported the Orlando Sentinel.
The Walt Disney Co. said it is pulling out of a roughly $1 billion investment in Florida, citing “changing business conditions.” In a memo sent to Disney employees, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said that the company isn’t moving forward with its plans to build a new Disney campus in Lake Nona.
Purplehaze (05dea1) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:25 pmThe Puppet Masters:
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:28 pmRIP football great and actor Jim Brown (87).
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:30 pmSixth news item: Nikki Haley
She’s auditioning to be Trump’s VP. That’s the closest she’ll ever get to the Oval Office.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:38 pm@11
Yep. They need the F-16s to protect the A-10s
How “Killer Chick” Got Her Battle-Damaged A-10 Home
Purplehaze (05dea1) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:50 pmI dunno, JVW. If he’s so fluent in English, why the earpiece in the first place.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 12:56 pmRIP football great and actor Jim Brown (87).
Donald Sutherland is the last surviving member of The Dirty Dozen, one of the ten greatest movies of all-time. I may have to watch it tonight in memory of the greatest NFL running back there ever has been.
JVW (cef0d9) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:15 pmRip,
There is no law that requires that a government official like you or that said official can urge the legislature maintain a special governmental district for you. In particular, there is no law that says the state legislature can’t take action after you try to end run around first legislation with a cuter than lace pants legal maneuver designed to thwart the clear legislative intent of bill #1.
I have no doubt Disney’s decisions are motivated in part to retaliate against DeSantis. I assume he knew he was risking that. The one thing I assume he won’t do is sue Disney over this action.
DeSantis is going down a populist pathway I have no love for. Disney’s defenders, however, are advocating positions that they would not do if the company were Exxon, Amazon or Microsoft.
Appalled (d2e551) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:15 pmI dunno, JVW. If he’s so fluent in English, why the earpiece in the first place.
So that he could dramatically rip it from his ear for the sake of the cameras. My point is that Assad still had to listen to the speech.
JVW (ed68f3) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:16 pmDeSantis is going down a populist pathway I have no love for. Disney’s defenders, however, are advocating positions that they would not do if the company were Exxon, Amazon or Microsoft.
I think this is an excellent summation of how I feel too. For obvious reasons, the left treats entertainment companies in a far more tolerant way than they would ever treat an energy company. Have they ever stopped to realize this.
JVW (31ac7a) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:30 pmDeSantis would have been so much better served had he left his dust-up with Disney to simmer once he delivered that wonderful broadside against their mislabeling of the parental rights bill and then added his bon mot about how disgustingly obsequious to China they are. He had won the argument at that point; the rest of it was just gratuitous. Hopefully he’s learned from this mistake.
JVW (a35eae) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:33 pmOver a year out to the convention, who would bet a lot of money that Trump or Biden will be the nominees? Too much can still go on. It’s all name recognition at this point. If indictments drop, so will Trump. Biden is one fall away from dropping out. Not everyone follows politics 24/7. Few voters fully comprehend the case against Trump. Once Christie et al make it, then let’s revisit the polling.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:43 pmHe’ll only learn when he needs to sit for a recorded deposition and Disney’s lawsuit plays out during his presidential campaign.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:59 pm
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:07 pmPaying the Piper:
I really don’t care whether Disney has a special district or not. Apparently De Santis was happy with the arrangement during the first four years of his administration and willingly took their campaign contributions.
The point is that DeSantis’s clear motivation in dissolving the district (and the other actions) was to punish Disney for its speech, which is protected by the First Amendment. Every statement made by DeSantis confirms it. Disney has right to speak out without fear of arbitrary government action.
Now if you think corporations shouldn’t have free speech rights, that’s another question.
We’ll see next who’s right. My bet is that Disney will receive a huge monetary award from Florida taxpayers.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:23 pmHe’ll only learn when he needs to sit for a recorded deposition and Disney’s lawsuit plays out during his presidential campaign.
Yeah, if Disney files suit against Florida while its Republican governor is running for President, then they have the stupidest executive team of all time. Imagine giving a middle finger to nearly 60% of the voters in the state in which you do most of your theme-park business.
But as I have said earlier, Disney can always relocate everything to California and be at the whim of an arbitrarily-extended government lockdown solely at the discretion of the governor. That sure worked out well for them, didn’t it?
JVW (57d887) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:31 pmAlso, an Ethics panel investigation is usually put on hold after the FBI informs them there is a criminal investigation and certainly after an indictment. On the other hand a member is not usually expelled or resigns after after an indictment but only a conviction. They do lose committee assignments but George Santos has none.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:35 pmThey already have done so.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:38 pmDIFi’s memory problems actually predate this, although she has new problems like partial face paralysis
and the connection may (also) be personal
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/us/politics/feinstein-illness-shingles-senate.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:40 pmBob Lee’s murder doesn’t belong with the others (except that the location may have been picked on purpose to mislead investigators) but is more of a “high class” Columbo episode type murder.
He was probably killed because a man suspected that the married Lee was carrying on an affair with his sister or wanted to.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:43 pmI was surprised to hear that the Rep had called off negotiations. Maybe they want to call Biden’s bluff.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:44 pmand prove him wrong.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/19/2023 @ 2:44 pmI’m not. The House has already passed an increase in the debt limit. What is there to talk about?
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:04 pmWhile the election of trump was the best short term for the democrat party base. Discrediting the clinton corporate establishment wing of the party and getting AOC and the squad elected. The supreme court abortion ruling is the best long term for the party base forcing more militancy out of the biden wing of the party then their donors want and doing for the democrat party what gun control militancy has done for the republican party.
asset (0811db) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:05 pmSource
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:15 pmThe Washington Post titled this AP story the “Mississippi miracle”:
(Following Jeb Bush leads to better reading skills. Even in Mississippi.)
The New York Times had the story earlier.
Neither article describes the process that produced these results, but it seems likely that it was bipartisan.
You can look at the AAEP data for all the states here. (You should be prepared for some surprises.)
Jim Miller (0e46f9) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:25 pmNAEP, of course (National Assessment of Educational Progress.)
Jim Miller (0e46f9) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:27 pmThey are resuming negotiations.
Main sticking point is spending cap.
Biden is not opposed to one that won’t matter much,
Sammy Finkelnan (692f37) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:50 pmMr. Theiner has a good rundown on Bakhmut and the Ukrainian strategy of making the Russians bleed for every square inch. This only works if the kill ratio is five or more dead Russians to every dead Ukrainian, which appears to be the case.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:09 pmIt’s brutal, but it’s sucking up Russian resources in this minimally strategic town while Ukrainians are still able to attack on other fronts.
These companies and governments are doing it knowingly, and in many cases openly.
A number of German industrialists were jailed at Nuremberg, notably board members of IG Farben (which supplied Zyklon B) and Krupp (which supplied weapons). The West may not be able to reach Putin after this is over, but there are these fellow travelers who don’t have the same refuge.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:12 pmUnderestimating Trump is the biggest mistake a Republican candidate can make.
Second biggest. Acting as if he was a legitimate candidate is the worst mistake they can make. Every hand should be raised against him, and all should agree to support an independent if Trump is nominated. Nominate him again and be damned.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:15 pmThe Lake Nona complex would have included several buildings employing 2,000 Disney workers that would have been relocated from California to Florida.
Those 2000 jobs would have cost Florida $570 million in subsidies. Who’s the loser?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:16 pmOr, maybe Johnny Paycheck said it better. It more than annoys me when those corporate assholes entice and coerce communities with “jobs”.
nk (bb1548) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:30 pmThe problem in the debt discussion is that Democrats think they can close the $1.37 trillion between taxes and spending (2022) by soaking the rich. That’s over 5% more of 2022 GDP they want to add in taxes, giving a tax burden of about 24% of GDP.
The federal government has never collected that large a percentage of GDP in its history. Since 1933 it has occasionally touched 20%, but never over — even when the top tax rate was 90%.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:34 pm“This plane [the A-10] can’t see far and is very slow. There are a lot of them in the USA, but they don’t fight. They are old, they have no spare parts, and it is impossible to maintain them,” Reznikov continued in his interview with Liga. “I discussed these planes [with U.S. officials] back in March of last year.”
The Air Force has been saying this about the A-10 for the last 30 years, to add to its justification of the failing F-35 program. The A-10 has been used in every American war since Desert Storm and to great effect. Is it slow and nearsighted? Perhaps, but that’s is part of the &^#$ing SPEC for supporting infantry, who are also slow and nearsighted.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:42 pmThe fairest and best way to avoid more government debt is simple, but difficult. Everybody takes a haircut. Everybody. Defense, Medicare, you name it.
Once you get into “this program, but not that” then it’s just a never-ending, grandstanding, poo-flinging argument.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:46 pmDeSantis is going down a populist pathway I have no love for.
As AllahNick points out today in The Dispatch: TFB, that is where the party is now. The debate is not over policy, but over character.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:48 pmDespite what policy disagreements you might have, is it not obvious that Trump’s character and ability to lead is inferior to, well, anyone?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:49 pmDespite what policy disagreements you might have, is it not obvious that Trump’s character and ability to lead is inferior to, well, anyone?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:49 pm
To people who reason? Yes. Not so much for those who operate on pure emotion, who got a thrill when Trump descended the escalator and implied that most illegal immigrants are criminals and rapists.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:59 pmOh, my!
No, no, one does not do that.
nk (0b14ec) — 5/19/2023 @ 5:59 pmTo echo norcal, if DeSantis wants Trump’s supporters, we don’t want DeSantis.
nk (0b14ec) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:01 pm“The fairest and best way to avoid more government debt is simple, but difficult. Everybody takes a haircut. Everybody. Defense, Medicare, you name it.
Once you get into “this program, but not that” then it’s just a never-ending, grandstanding, poo-flinging argument.”
There are 2 problems with this:
1. Republicans only care about the debt/deficit when a Democrat is in the Whitehouse. When Trump was president, they happily voted to raise the limit every time.
2. During Obama’s administration, they did close to what you’re asking. The budget sequestration affected a wide range of programs (Social Security and Medicaid were protected, Medicare was somewhat protected). Afterwards, the Republican talking point was that these cuts “destroyed” the military.
Basically what I’m saying is that the Republicans can’t be trusted.
Davethulhu (fec3f0) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:06 pmnk (0b14ec) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:01 pm
I don’t know how much of this is strategy by DeSantis to win the primary, and how much he truly believes. It might be best to just sit this one out, let Trump get the nomination, and watch him lose again.
That, however, runs the risk of both chambers going majority Democrat, which is another can of worms.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:23 pmHe said he would go further by allowing the open carry of firearms in public — a step too far for even Republican lawmakers in his state despite persistent lobbying from gun advocates.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:23 pm
Here’s what’s funny about Nevada. Open carry is perfectly legal, and no training or permit is required. Concealed carry requires training and a permit.
Go figure.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:27 pmHere’s what’s funny about Nevada. Open carry is perfectly legal, and no training or permit is required. Concealed carry requires training and a permit.
That was initially the law in Florida in 1987, when it first allowed public carry by private citizens. But the wimps went and “clarified” it.
nk (0b14ec) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:37 pmNo, no, one does not do that.
Unless it is absolutely true. See U.S. v. Microsoft Corporation
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:41 pmTo echo norcal, if DeSantis wants Trump’s supporters, we don’t want DeSantis.
nk, do you think it is possible for the GOP to throw off the populist platform and return to the status quo ante?
If not, take your pick of better Trumps.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:43 pmOpen carry is perfectly legal, and no training or permit is required. Concealed carry requires training and a permit.
It is also the law in New Mexico now, but the Democrats who utterly control this 55-45 state* intend to change that and impose lot of new gun laws.
———
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:45 pmbetter than that in years which do not have Trump.
Republicans only care about the debt/deficit when a Democrat is in the Whitehouse
Democrats don’t care about it EVER.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:47 pmThat assumes that the 2000 jobs (average salary $120k) wouldn’t have an economic impact that exceeds the subsidy. It could very well be that the spending by the employees would exceed the $570M tax credit (which was spread over 20 years). The tax credit amount is a pittance to Disney out of recent cost estimates of $1.3B.
Source
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:50 pmraised the age to own a rifle to 21.
Soon to be unconstitutional, along with most state-level restrictions.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:51 pmThat assumes that the 2000 jobs (average salary $120k) wouldn’t have an economic impact that exceeds the subsidy.
I didn’t say who the loser was, so I assumed nothing. I said that YOUR assumption that Florida was the loser is suspect.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:53 pmThe populist platform is the status quo ante.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:53 pmThe only time I said Florida was a loser is when Disney beats them in court.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:56 pmDemocrats don’t care about it EVER.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:47 pm
For some reason, a Democratic President and a Republican Congress seems to do the trick. Witness the balanced budget under Clinton.
I still remember Clinton saying that “the era of big government is over” in his SOTU speech. Fortunately, Clinton was more concerned with his nether regions than ideology.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:58 pmVermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) has taken himself out of the running……
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 7:14 pmWhat’s the rationale for the (probably unconstitutional) distinction?
As will the federal age restrictions to purchase handguns.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 8:40 pm“Democrats don’t care about it EVER.”
The majority of Republicans don’t actually care about it either. It’s performative.
Davethulhu (fec3f0) — 5/19/2023 @ 8:53 pmRIP actor Rick Dalton (age unknown).
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 10:45 pmWhat’s the rationale for the (probably unconstitutional) distinction?
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/19/2023 @ 8:40 pm
No idea. A vestige of cowboy culture?
norcal (15fce4) — 5/19/2023 @ 11:31 pmThat is true, except the battlefield environment the US faced then is very different than the battlefield environment in Ukraine. The US had air dominance during the Gulf wars and Afghanistan. No one has air superiority over Ukraine. Anti-air missile defenses have changed markedly over the last 40 years since the A-10 was introduced.
And it wouldn’t be experienced American pilots using the A-10 in Ukraine, it would be untrained and inexperienced Ukrainian pilots whose problems start with reading the English language readouts on their cockpit displays.
The best outcome would be to intervene directly using NATO pilots to fly NATO aircraft in support of Ukraine, but that is absolutely impossible to consider.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:20 amI am waiting for a democrat to run on we know the solutions to our problems. Implementation of those solutions is the problem because republicans prevent the solutions from being implemented. The problem solves itself if elected.
asset (0358fd) — 5/20/2023 @ 2:10 amI am waiting for a democrat to run on we know the solutions to our problems. Implementation of those solutions is the problem because republicans prevent the solutions from being implemented. The problem solves itself if elected.
Uh-uh. Because the American people absolutely loved the first two years of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden when Democrats had complete control of the Executive and Legislative branches. In your world I guess the voters didn’t immediately respond to this by electing Republicans.
The incompetence of Democrats really isn’t the fault of Republicans, no matter how badly you want to believe otherwise.
JVW (6bdb00) — 5/20/2023 @ 9:55 amBad News for RFK, Jr.:
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/20/2023 @ 11:16 amI hope the orcas in Puget Sound don’t learn this behavior.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/20/2023 @ 11:26 amRIP author Martin Amis (73). Son of writer Kingsley Amis.
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/20/2023 @ 11:49 amCreepy:
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:06 pmShe’s auditioning to be Trump’s VP. That’s the closest she’ll ever get to the Oval Office.
If she’s Trump’s VP. that’s true. But she’s already moving away from Trump.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:06 pmThe best outcome would be to intervene directly using NATO pilots to fly NATO aircraft in support of Ukraine, but that is absolutely impossible to consider.
US pilots flew against Japan (in US-built fighters) as the Flying Tigers. They flew against Germany for the RAF during the Blitz. But please to call them “volunteers.”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:16 pmEvidence?
Rip Murdock (8accf8) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:18 pmNo one has air superiority over Ukraine. Anti-air missile defenses have changed markedly over the last 40 years since the A-10 was introduced.
Well, once they have F-16s that might change, at least over active ground combat which is the only place you’d use A-10s. AA missiles are indeed better, although at lot more effective against planes flying higher than ground support tasks require. Shoulder-fired missiles would be the bigger threat.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:20 pmEvidence?
Her position on J6 for starters. Back in Item 3.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:21 pmRIP actor Rick Dalton (age unknown).
He appears to have been 90.
Then again where fact and fiction leave off is hard to know.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:24 pmI am waiting for a democrat to run on we know the solutions to our problems. Implementation of those solutions is the problem because republicans prevent the solutions from being implemented. The problem solves itself if elected.
Kevin Williamson destroys the “tax the rich” meme by pointing out that returning to the tax policies of the 1950s would INCREASE the deficit.
But read the whole thing. Our problem is we are spending too much, not that we are taxing too little.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:31 pmBiden doesn’t really care about deficits as he won’t be around to be put on trial when the economy collapses.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:40 pm#NeverTrump ought to hold a convention now and pick a single candidate to go up against Trump and DeSantis. Instead we are starting to see a bunch of opportunists planning for 2028 and trying to use this contest for name recognition.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/20/2023 @ 12:42 pm@93, you might be right, but I think NeverTrump is probably smeared across the spectrum. Some may actually like DeSantis enough. Others want a moderate like Sununu. Others like someone more Right but not as abrasive as DeSantis, like Haley or Scott. Still others might prefer someone more seasoned and adult like Hutchinson. It’s hard to even decide because they’ve said so little and it’s hard to place who’s actually running for VP or who’s practice running for 2028 or beyond (ok, Hutchinson we know is running for real but at 72 he’s getting a little long in the tooth).
I can see arguments for all of them. Sununu who might be the smartest of the bunch has the toughest road as a social moderate, but he has the greatest chance of cross-party appeal. Democrats will vote for him; they probably won’t vote for Haley or Scott in numbers. If you are talking about pulling someone in off the street, like Ryan or Manchin, that’s a tough road too. Does Ryan want to cut his GOP roots and make it virtually impossible to re-enter into GOP politics again (at 53 he still has legs)?
I think we are all anxious, but it still is really really early. A lot can still yet play out. I think drama will be with us for the next 17 mos. We may need to wait until the first few primaries to see much coalescing on the GOP side. Why drop if Trump may get indicted out of contention and DeSantis’ support might evaporate? But it is true that there can only be so many lanes….and I can’t see Haley and Scott being viable. I can’t see Pence being viable period. Sununu probably isn’t viable but between him and Christie they may make the best arguments of not being Trump and why we need to move away from him. This may not be fun for the impatient….
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/20/2023 @ 1:02 pmCorrection to 94, Haley and Scott BOTH being viable
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/20/2023 @ 1:04 pmWhere was Trump mentioned in her statement? I must have missed it.
Don’t worry, this isn’t her final statement on January 6th. It will change again and again and again, depending on the on TrumpWorld’s reaction. It will certainly not improve her polling among Republican primary voters.
Rip Murdock (2c0ecf) — 5/20/2023 @ 1:29 pmTrump and DeSantis?
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/20/2023 @ 1:30 pmSpeaking as a NeverTrumper ever since he dipped his toe into Republican presidential waters in 2011, my pick is the person who can beat Trump in the upcoming primaries.
If that person is DeSantis (and right now he’s the leading non-Trump candidate), I’ll hold my nose and pull the lever for him.
Aaron Blake thinks that Chris Christie might take revenge on the Loser.
It’s a pleasant thought. I’ll wait to see just how plausible it is, after Christie officially begins his campaign — assuming he does.
(Possibly significant detail: “Christie has even blamed Trump for giving him a coronavirus infection that landed him in intensive care in late 2020, and he said Trump never called to check on him.”)
Jim Miller (0e46f9) — 5/20/2023 @ 1:38 pmEwwwwww……
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/20/2023 @ 1:44 pmAs I recall, Jim, Christie said he’d still vote for Trump if nominated. I don’t take him seriously.
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/20/2023 @ 2:00 pm#100 From the column:
(First three links omitted, the fourth added.)
The Axios article begins with this paragraph:
Jim Miller (0e46f9) — 5/20/2023 @ 3:55 pmSouth Carolina Cage Match:
The most recent poll (from late March) shows the following for presidential preference in SC:
Trump 41
DeSantis 20
Haley 18
Scott 7
While they have great approval ratings in SC, (Haley 73%, Scott 69%; Trump 74%), it appears the good people of South Carolina just don’t want Darling Nikki or Tim Scott to be President.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/20/2023 @ 5:48 pm@79 Wrong filibuster. 2009 dino democrats bought and paid for by healthcare industry when we had 60 like manchin/sinema today. remove fillibuster stack supreme court. We got romney care which was the republican answer to clinton single payer so of course it was lousy! Voter upset with democrats who wont “deal” with republican obstructionists. The left said NO to this pathetic excuse for national health care. Donor class told corporate establishment democrats this is better then nothing! Left said when people die (as they would from lack of health care) arrest republican obstructionists for murder and jail them to await trial with victims families as jury. Unlike some democrats I support the death penalty for politicians.
asset (df21a9) — 5/20/2023 @ 5:55 pmNew hampshire democrats balking in letting south carolina go first. Biden may not be on ballot for new hampshire primary if they go first.
asset (df21a9) — 5/20/2023 @ 5:58 pmmr. former president donald trump, who softens your hands as you do the dishes, has a locked-in plurality of republican primary voters
hopefully not a majority
which nobody can take away from him
for sure former governor nikki haley, who asked his permission to run (for real), was put in the race to splinter the non-trump vote
however sincere former governor chris christie who definitely should not sunbathe in public may be, that’s all he’ll do too if he runs
nk (21b5ba) — 5/20/2023 @ 6:26 pmRIP advertising executive Don Draper (97).
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/20/2023 @ 10:14 pmMore Theiner on Bakhmut…
Paul Montagu (8f0dc7) — 5/20/2023 @ 10:54 pm$22 million war chest
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/20/2023 @ 5:48 pm
Please to show where place of chest like this.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/20/2023 @ 11:59 pmSee here.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:45 amDoes Ryan want to cut his GOP roots and make it virtually impossible to re-enter into GOP politics again (at 53 he still has legs)?
1) He mostly has already. Certainly the Trumpists have cut the GOP’s ties with him.
2) Teddy was the presumptive GOP candidate for 1920 (and would have been the nominee in 1916 had he allowed it), even though he ran a third party campaign in 1912. Sadly for TR, he dropped dead in 1919, leaving the GOP with a 10-ballot convention (the Democrats took 44 ballots).
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 9:54 amI can’t see Haley and Scott being viable.
If Trump and DeSantis are out of doing poorly, it will be to the advantage of Haley or Scott. At this point, I see Scott as the better campaigner of the two. We’ll see how he does Monday.
A Trump/DeSantis/Scott choice going into March 2024 would be a tossup unless Trump has it all nailed down. The insurrection charges will hurt Trump outside his cult, how much I don’t know. I hope that the courts resist delaying tactics.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 9:59 amIf that person is DeSantis (and right now he’s the leading non-Trump candidate), I’ll hold my nose and pull the lever for him.
A lot of people are resisting nose-holding. They want someone they can vote FOR. Especially people who used to be Republicans and held their nose to vote Biden in 2020.
Why surrender so soon? You can actually vote for who you want in the primaries.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:02 amRIP advertising executive Don Draper (97).
Still alive and raising cain: Lazarus Long (111), born Woodrow Wilson Smith, senior member of the Howard Families.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:09 amIt is WAY too early in the campaign season to use polls as predictors of final results. Many people say “Trump” because they have no exposure to any other candidate. Some have begun to learn about DeSantis. Scott came as a very nice surprise to me (and Nikki as a disappointment).
I think that more exposure for other serious candidates will change things, particularly if Trump decides to play the Hare and refuses to debate the Tortoises.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:19 amDavethulhu (fec3f0) — 5/19/2023 @ 6:06 pm
IIRC, it was the Democrats who wanted the cutbacks to include the military.
But this does go to show that there is short term memory.
Which makes sense since all these numbers change, as David Stockman explained to Ronald Reagan. Reagan wanted to stop making 10-year projections.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:34 amSince the poll I cited is of Republican South Carolina voters, I assume they are familiar with Darling Nikki and Tim Scott. They just don’t want either one to be President.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:37 amJim Miller (0e46f9) — 5/19/2023 @ 3:25 pm
Bipartisan?
I expected to read something like phonics.”What’s the situation with teachers’ unions in Mississippi? Or charter schools?
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:40 amLOL! I guess we have our fairy tale metaphors.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:40 amRip Murdock (2e3548) — 5/20/2023 @ 5:48 pm
People pick from among the serious candidates, even when they know much about the also-rans, even in polls.
They may be worried about what are their foreign policy credentials.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:44 am“Scott came as a very nice surprise to me (and Nikki as a disappointment).”
What she is doing right now does not distinguish her. She needs to either up her rhetoric or drop out and wait for the next cycle. With Scott, we will see. He’s a nice guy at a time where the base isn’t interested in one. If there is a bully on the block, eventually you have to go toe to toe with that bully. Is Scott wired that way? I guess we’ll see. Christie is and has nothing to lose. Sununu maybe. We need a clear articulation why a third run by Trump is bad for the party. Someone. Anyone. Please.
AJ_Liberty (46d411) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:44 amBiden’s talking about the 14th amendment again, as Plan C, which it isn’t.
If he sold debt a court should rule that he can sell them, but cannot legally obligate the United States to pay it back, and all payments for the over-the-limit bonds should be considered gifts to the federal treasury
Congress may later decide to pay some or all of it back.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:51 amSince the poll I cited is of Republican South Carolina voters, I assume they are familiar with Darling Nikki and Tim Scott. They just don’t want either one to be President.
No, they’re just a bunch of poll-watchers wanting to “vote for the winner.”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:03 amLOL! I guess we have our fairy tale metaphors.
I guess we have to have blinders on our views. Musn’t see anything outside the little box.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:06 amThe best single thing that could happen this year for America is Trump dropping dead.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:07 amBoth of the major political parties are obsessed with trying to prove that the other party, taken as a whole, is set to put the United States on a disastrously wrong course in the court of public opinion (truth and the possibility of alternative courses of action s be darned) and that’s the essence of their 2024 election strategy.
Wrong in more than one way.. Not just wrong, but disastrous.
Or they want the other party to, at lest in effect, concede that they were wrong until they caved.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:07 amKevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:03 am
No, for the winner or the person who comes in second.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:10 amBut not a third or lower ranked choice.
Because they want their vote to “count.”
)(even or maybe especially, in a poll)
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:13 amNot just that the other party is disastrously wrong, but that theirs is the only course oof action. And they all engage in half truths or less.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:17 amThe ukrainians may be wanting to destroy the Wagner group, which is really evil (but not particularly skilled militarily) It’s the WagnerGroup that is attacking Bakhmut.
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:20 amWe’ll see what happens on February 24, 2024. Neither Haley or Scott may be still in the running then.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:27 amTrump Civil Litigation Watch:
Comedy gold!
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:36 amRip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:36 am
The Post article at issue.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:40 amTMTG Is asking for $3.78 billion in damages.
Comedy gold!
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:44 am“No, they’re just a bunch of poll-watchers wanting to “vote for the winner.””
I find it hard to imagine that two indictments of Trump…on charges far less nuanced than the Stormy Daniels payoffs…will not change the dynamics of the GOP primary. Would you bet against those dynamics at this point, especially with Georgia readying everyone’s calendars for the end of the summer? I wouldn’t. Yes, Trump has a near immutable 20% group that is all-in. But if we add in that DeSantis has not exactly sent thrills up anyone’s leg at this point, few ads have been made by anyone but Trump, and all speeches have been remarkably vanilla to this point, then there can be movement. It’s true that the GOP politicians have shown remarkably little courage to this point and the base has reflexively circled the wagon for Trump. But it is early….and I anticipate the big-dollar donors being spooked by the indictments. A lot of GOP electorate wanted an alternative to Trump not that long ago. I can’t be so cynical to say that absolutely nothing matters from this point forward. There is a case to be made. It’s only a question of the courage to make it.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/21/2023 @ 11:59 amIt depends on how the other candidates (and the Trump caucus in the House) react to any indictments. So far they have either ignored the New York cases (both civil and criminal) or defended Trump. Only Asa Hutchinson (polling at 1%) has flat out said that Trump should withdraw from the race.
I’ll bet Trump remains a candidate whether he’s indicted or not. He doesn’t need big dollar donors, if he wishes he can self-finance his campaign. His current donors are just suckers.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 12:40 pm3.
She’s clearing a lot of time.
If this were because of a possible indictment of Trump, couldn;t she decide what day he should appear in court later?
Sammy Finkelnan (cd290d) — 5/21/2023 @ 1:54 pmHis current donors are just suckers.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 12:40 pm
Ain’t that the truth. A billionaire who NEEDS YOUR MONEY to “save” the country and “fight”. Someone who can’t even admit he lost the election. What a con.
P.T. Barnum was right.
I received a warning, and my comment was deleted for being offensive, at a BYU sports chat board I frequent. Here was the comment:
“I wonder what the Venn diagram looks like when comparing Trump supporters and professional wrestling fans.”
norcal (15fce4) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:12 pm46-year-old public club pro Michael Block is having a magical PGA Championship week, capped off by an even more magical day with a hole-in-one.
Looks like he will finish tied for 15th, which is amazing. It is even more amazing to watch him humbly enjoy every moment.
DRJ (39fa52) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:22 pmExcuses, Excuses:
Colt is the insurrectionist seen hanging from the Senate Gallery. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
Nathaniel DeGrave was sentenced to three years in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
Ronald Sandlin was sentenced to 5.25 years in prison and 36 months of supervised release.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:22 pmThe GOP contenders should heed another PT Barnum quote:
“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:27 pmCorrection to first paragraph in post 139:
Rip Murdock (f48a81) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:30 pmIt depends on how the other candidates (and the Trump caucus in the House) react to any indictments. So far they have either ignored the New York cases (both civil and criminal) or defended Trump.
The rape case was more important. The so-called criminal case is literally trumped up, down to repetitive charges for the same “crime” that are a textbook case of overcharging. People who HATE Donald Trump, but don’t feel like striking down all Law to get at him, say it’s bogus.
Only Asa Hutchinson (polling at 1%) has flat out said that Trump should withdraw from the race.
Well, he should, but not because of the Stormy/Cohen charges. Sexual assault is an actual felony.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:35 pmSomething, of course, Trump was never convicted of.
Rip Murdock (f48a81) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:39 pmHere’s what I’d like to see:
Have a Republican primary debate with Trump, Christie, and the others. Christie goes after Trump, and vice-versa. Meanwhile, the other candidates debate like adults, all the while ignoring Trump and his shenanigans.
It just might help viewers come to their senses.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/21/2023 @ 3:47 pmIgnoring Trump’s “shenanigans” just empowers him. Also, it be very unwieldy to have any more than four or five candidates on the same stage (how did that work out in 2016?)
There should be round robin “debates” (aka glorified press conferences) with no more than three candidates, and enough of them so everyone debates everyone at least once.
I don’t think Gulliver will debate the Lilliputians. There is no benefit for him to do so. In fact, it might be better not to include Trump at all. Any debates might be more useful without him.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 4:12 pm144, Chris Christie would be the guy at 2:09 to 2:19 of this clip.
https://youtu.be/H_lijLYuw-o
urbanleftbehind (2cc899) — 5/21/2023 @ 5:08 pmAnd he, not DJT, was the true killer of Jeb!
urbanleftbehind (2cc899) — 5/21/2023 @ 5:14 pmhttps://youtu.be/RMw5GSd1bw0
Something, of course, Trump was never convicted of.
Statute of limitations. Still, he lost the civil case and that is an assignment of guilt. IF you don’t think that will give some women pause, think again. It may, however, make him more popular among his incel followers.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:22 pmChristie goes after Trump, and vice-versa.
I’d prefer they all did. Make it known that he is unacceptable to them all. Someone who is afraid to call Trump a criminal has no business running for President. If they can’t stand the heat….
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:25 pmAnd he, not DJT, was the true killer of Jeb!
And Marco, and Fiorina, and then they all kept their heads down.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:28 pmStatement of Facts.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:30 pmIgnoring Trump’s “shenanigans” just empowers him. Also, it be very unwieldy to have any more than four or five candidates on the same stage (how did that work out in 2016?)
They had 20 candidates and maybe 8 on stage at once. This time it won’t matter, so long as every time Trump shows up it’s about his J6 treason, his rapes, his hookers and his general assh0leness.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:30 pmI think it’s a bump in road for Trump’s support among women. It hasn’t made a difference in polling since then; some women probably see Carroll at best as a gold digger. Darling Nikki’s polling against Trump hasn’t changed.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:45 pmA. Which is why Trump will skip the debates.
B. Why Americans will tune out the debates.
DeSantis, Vivek, Darling Nikki, or Scott won’t attack Trump, they don’t want to turn off his voters (or want a role in his Administration). Then you are left with the real inconsequential candidates.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:52 pmI do not believe E. Jean Carroll. What I hold against Trump in that whole fiasco is the way he made it a fiasco just by being himself. Nonetheless, I would be as deranged as he is if I held the conceit that I know how women think.
nk (334df9) — 5/21/2023 @ 6:59 pm@norcal@137 Did they think you were offending the Trump voters or the professional wrestling fans?
Nic (896fdf) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:06 pmDeSantis, Vivek, Darling Nikki, or Scott won’t attack Trump, they don’t want to turn off his voters (or want a role in his Administration). Then you are left with the real inconsequential candidates.
You and Sammy should have a mind-reading contest.
Besides, there are only four candidates (Trump, DeSantis, Scott and Nikki). Given Trump’s absence, they will indeed stick to a normal policy debate. Meanwhile Trump will be trying to delay his more serious trials (and the only one that really matters is the DC one). I expect federal judges to move expeditiously.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:09 pmAnother Lilliputian.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:14 pmYour paragraph is equally speculative.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:16 pmAs is this:
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:17 pmSecond Amendment News:
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 8:10 pmSecond Amendment News II:
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/21/2023 @ 8:25 pm@norcal@137 Did they think you were offending the Trump voters or the professional wrestling fans?
Nic (896fdf) — 5/21/2023 @ 7:06 pm
That is funny!
The owner of the site told me I was insulting the intelligence of Trump fans. Well, if the shoe fits…
norcal (15fce4) — 5/21/2023 @ 10:41 pmWhat percent of republicans are trumpsters and what percent merely trump voters who might vote for others if trump not on ballot. To know these answers will answer most of your other questions. Hillary your likable enough. Obama. Desatan not so much. trump.
asset (fac7ee) — 5/22/2023 @ 1:17 amThe current leader of the Republican Party wants default. Sorry, Kevin.
https://www.thebulwark.com/why-trump-wants-u-s-to-default-on-debt/
What positive function does Trump serve in this country? Usually, you can name something. I can’t figure anything for Trump. It is funny that Mr. Art of the Deal believes that maximalist don’t give an inch demands are the way to go in a high stakes negotiation. I guess that explains some of the bankrupcys.
Appalled (1d7a64) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:28 amYour paragraph is equally speculative.
No, mine is more speculative, since yours isn’t speculative at all. It’s assertive and pretends to know people’s motives. THAT is mind-reading.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:45 amThis time it won’t matter, so long as every time Trump shows up it’s about his J6 treason, his rapes, his hookers and his general assh0leness.
“as long as” isn’t speculative, it’s conditional.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:46 amBumb also blocked a provision that would have required in-person interviews of character references for gun applicants.
Hmmm. I would hope that such would be legal in the context of a overall regulation allowing most people free access to guns, ammunition and CCW. The point of an [objective] in-person interview, as well as proficiency training, is to weed out those who have obvious deficiencies when it comes to gun ownership, such as developmental disabilities. It would be subject to other rules, such as a ban on racial discrimination.
The current regime, where only overt acts can block access to guns, isn’t sustainable.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:54 amThe current leader of the Republican Party wants default. Sorry, Kevin.
Default would force the government to drastically cut its spending and bonds would cost more and the loss of the dollar’s reserve status would make deficit spending far more difficult.
But it would also cause a severe recession, if not a depression, irrespective of the fiscal actions it forces. In the end, social spending would increase, and cuts would be mostly in places like the military, border security, education, farm supports, NASA, “green” subsidies and the like. Taxes on the rich would go way up, and not in any evadible way. A national wealth tax would be imposed, with an amendment if necessary. There would be pressure on Medicare and Medicaid but this would probably be addressed by cutting payments to providers while mandating their acceptance of the coverage.
The results would not really be conservative, as such an economic disaster would strengthen the social safety net while cutting most everything else out of the budget. Look what the lesser disaster of 2008 led to and you’d get an idea of the politics.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:06 amIf it’s necessary to give Biden cover for spending cuts, here’s a tax thing they should offer:
1. Add a top rate of 39.6% for those making over $1 million.
2. Allow up to $50,000 in SALT deductions.
It’s a pretty good triangulation.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:10 am#169
When I said Sorry, Kevin, I meant Kevin McCarthy. So unless you are the Speaker of the House, I wasn’t talking about you. I can see why that wasn’t obvious, though.
In any event, Trump really needs to take some time off to plot his legal strategy. The Biden folks will take all the necessary steps to make sure his primary campaign remains viable. Crashing the country just might make Republicans uneelectable in 2024 and Trump probably does not want that result.
Appalled (1d7a64) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:24 amNo, I got that. I was commenting on why Trump’s apparent attitude is way stupid (however redundant that might seem).
As for Trump, his legal strategy is to win the WH, then pardon everyone. I think it’s a no-brainer that his VP choice will be impeachment insurance.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:28 amTim Scott Begins Presidential Campaign (NYT free link)
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:30 amThe viability of a candidate is related to his ability to fund-raise. Scott needs a good showing in Iowa (which Trump lost in 2016) and New Hampshire and this will depend heavily on his ability to connect at a retail level. Coming from South Carolina, he’s had a lot of practice at that.
I think that DeSantis announces in the next couple of days.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:34 am“Victimhood or victory? Grievance or greatness?”
I expect Trump to be particularly uncivil in his retribution for this.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:36 amKevin M —
I am actually heartened that Scott seems to be adressing the MAGA in the room. The coding is not subtle.
Appalled (1d7a64) — 5/22/2023 @ 8:59 am“A time for choosing” isn’t an accidental choice of words.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 9:21 amKevin, isn’t it nice we have less of the capering nonsense? I mean, I feel as if I can say what I think and I won’t get snide commentary with movie quotations.
Although I do like nk’s impressions.
Hey, nk, we are watching “Forged in Fire” on the History Channel, and I always think about you and knifemaking. Wish you were a competitor!
Simon Jester (ca4340) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:05 amP.S. I really liked Tim Scott’s speech. But holy heck, he will get savaged by right and left both.
Simon Jester (ca4340) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:06 am#172 — General Flynn rather than Nikki Haley? Or, heck, MTG is tanned, crazy and ready.
Appalled (1d7a64) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:16 amOr, heck, MTG is tanned, crazy and ready
And she’d make a MUCH better attack dog than Nikki. Or Boebert, who’s single now….
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:30 amP.S. I really liked Tim Scott’s speech. But holy heck, he will get savaged by right and left both.
Or Tim Scott’s 2022 speech at the Reagan Library, as part of the “A Time for Choosing” speaker series.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:33 am“The current regime, where only overt acts can block access to guns, isn’t sustainable.”
The difficulty is that mental health is not a fixed state and it’s a continuum. People can suffer life events, like divorce, getting fired, health setbacks, that can cause mental health to deteriorate. However, not all people who suffer some degree of depression become suicidal or homicidal. Add in that social media makes it easier to get caught up in obsessive fantasies that snowball. The Red Flag laws at least recognize that a person who qualified to have a gun three years ago might not be in the same mental state now. The problem is that loners by definition might not have people who can reasonably throw the flag.
Let’s take Stephen Paddock who committed the Las Vegas mass shooting. The motive is not at all clear. He did have a history of depression possibly triggered by gambling losses, but there was a massive break with normalcy that caused him to slaughter a bunch of people at a concert. He had suitcases full of guns and ammo in his room which suggests some sort of accelerated fantasy, probably suicide related. Do we just live with this potential as a “cost” of liberty? Is there really nothing that can be done because of an amendment ratified in 1791, when mass shootings were not exactly a thing?
Now most laws that target a unique and solitary situation probably miss the forest. However, I also think the notion of more concealed carry or open carry solving the problem just spins the roulette wheel of mental health further. Just saying “mental health” doesn’t exactly give a clear path forward. For some, not Kevin, it seems like a bit of a dodge…kick the can….suggestion.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:36 amOutside of an AI interviewer, no human can fully suppress their political or social biases. For example, if a 65-year old interviewer was speaking to a long-haired 20-year old gun purchaser, there could be biases on the interviewers part about “hippies.”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:42 amBesides, there is no “text, history, and tradition” for mental health interviews to purchase firearms.
Source.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:48 am““Victimhood or victory? Grievance or greatness?””
This does crystallize it. It’s challenge to the Republican voter: what future do you want? Maybe like jiu jitsu, you let Trump himself amplify the point.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:54 amJust saying “mental health” doesn’t exactly give a clear path forward.
No, it does not, although for the most part we don’t even say that at this point. Still a proactive licensing regime that was not particularly restrictive (but probably not as insanely tolerant as driving) would be an improvement. Would it solve the problem entirely? Probably not as someone who really wants a weapon will find one.
All I know is that there is an answer between than unlicensed concealed carry for everyone vs no guns for anyone. And the one that imposes the least continuing burden on 2nd amendment rights, while reducing mass shootings is the better one.
I’m not sure I agree there were no mass killings in 1791. Just not the same kind as now.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:55 amthere could be biases on the interviewers part about “hippies.”
Almost all remaining hippies are 65 or older. They live in places like Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica or Ojai.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:57 amBesides, there is no “text, history, and tradition” for mental health interviews to purchase firearms.
There is plenty of history for banning weapons to mental incompetents. Sure, “in-person interviews” might not be that way, nor for that matter are many modern diagnoses or diagnostic tools. That does not mean the results become unusual criteria.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:00 amBesides, Rip, you take your normal pessimum view, assuming that any licensing regime would be overly restrictive. It the CA DMV had attitudes like that, no white person could drive.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:05 am“Besides, there is no “text, history, and tradition” for mental health interviews to purchase firearms.”
I wonder how workable this SCOTUS test becomes if we can’t reasonably deter mentally unstable people from having firearms. I would think that for certain classes of mental problem…yes there’s some subjectivity…that the government might pass strict scrutiny. Society has a strong interest in protecting the individual and others. If it’s not an interview, then how else can mental instability be assessed?
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:06 amIt’s not my “pessimism”, it’s the standards set by the Supreme Court.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:16 am“I’m not sure I agree there were no mass killings in 1791”
It’s curious that you changed “mass shootings” to “mass killings”
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:22 amIt’s curious that you changed “mass shootings” to “mass killings”
Because it was more mixed. Some were mass shootings (the Boston Massacre, for one). Others were unreported (e.g. enslaved people or inconvenient natives). And then there were highwaymen killing and looting travelers. It was as I said: different.
But it wasn’t just happy yeomen farmers and peace throughout the land.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:32 amIf it’s not an interview, then how else can mental instability be assessed?
Other than after they shoot up a school?
And what constitutes due process in a red-flag situation. It it’s a court hearing, now is that fundamentally different from an in-person interview, other than the interviewers being court officials? Who I’m pretty sure can be biased or corrupt.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:36 am<a href="“>Federal law prevents persons have been “adjudicated as a mental defective” or “committed to a mental institution” from possessing firearms, and their names are added to the NICS database. And each state has their own laws (Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky and New Hampshire are the exceptions). And red flag laws are opportunities for families to prevent their mentally ill members from possessing firearms.
Courts are probably the best forum for these issues as the individual who is mentally ill or the subject of red flag order will have representation and the court is a neutral party.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:40 amFixed link for post 196.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:42 amQuestion: If Biden, claiming the 14th Amendment views all appropriations as “debt”, tells the Treasury Department to issue new bonds over the Debt Limit:
1. Will he be impeached?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:43 am2. Should he be impeached?
3. Will a court enjoin the selling of these bonds?
4. Will a court order that debt service be prioritized?
5. Both 3 & 4.
6. Will Biden obey court orders?
7. See 1 & 2.
The Boston Massacre was equivalent to self-defense. And the six of the eight soldiers were acquitted.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:45 amBiden will not invoke the 14th Amendment, he is a cautious politician (as we have seen vis a vis Ukraine), and doesn’t want to get ahead of the crowd.
However, if he does, my opinion is that:
1. Yellen will resign.
2. He should/will be impeached (really he should be for a host of other reasons, which the Republicans have failed to do.)
3. A court will enjoin the sale of the bonds, and Biden will follow the court order. He will say he tried, but the courts prevented him from doing so.
4. The Supreme Court will punt, declaring it a political question.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:54 am5. Stock markets worldwide will crash.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:57 amEasy — he won’t be removed and he probably won’t be impeached.
The GOP should not waste time on an impossibility, as they will need to address the way their world has been changed. This is a bell that does not get un-rung.
A court will do it, somewhere. And may well be overruled. I have a feeling this will get to the Supreme’s quickly.
I’d love to see this as an answer. It preserves full faith and credit while turning this into a garden variety government shutdown. (Congress always climbs down from government shutdowns)
.
If you do 4, you can do 3 without causing a ginormous cluster.
I think he has to. Ignoring them is a Constitutional earthquake on the order of Trump’s 1/6 coup attempt.
He wouldn’t be removed but he should be. Rule of law and all that.
Appalled (1d7a64) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:59 am6. Interest rates will skyrocket to well over 10%.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/22/2023 @ 12:02 pm“Some were mass shootings (the Boston Massacre, for one).”
Hmm, given a crowd of more than a hundred was attacking the British soldiers with rocks and clubs, isn’t the Boston Massacre more an example of righteous self defense than something akin to the depraved Vegas shooting? Still, muskets requiring 30-60seconds to reload makes mass shootings somewhat problematic unless you have 4 or more buddies with you. If mass shootings were uniquely rare, why would there be a history of regulations needed to control them prior to the mass-produced multi-chamber revolver decades later?
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/22/2023 @ 12:04 pmTreasury maintains that the software has no way to prioritize certain payments over others. If that’s true, what are they supposed to do?
aphrael (d21044) — 5/22/2023 @ 12:30 pm#205 — the software is unconstitutional, I guess. Personally, I think they say that to ensure a court does not order this solution, which does not suit their preferences.
Appalled (1d7a64) — 5/22/2023 @ 12:43 pm@205
Imma call BS on them on this one.
This stuff isn’t hard.
whembly (d116f3) — 5/22/2023 @ 12:54 pmStating the Obvious:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 1:09 pm137 and 156
What you mean here is that peoplemight believe both are real.’
But Donald Trump was a character in professional wrestling in 2007
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3DufFa6fw8
It broke into the news again when Donald Trump tweeted something from that with a newly appended message.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/22/2023 @ 1:55 pmThis took place on April Fools Day, 2007.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/22/2023 @ 1:56 pmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/us/politics/debt-ceiling-xdate.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:08 pmProvided you can blame the other party.
I don’t think the game is being played on that simple a level. It’s not really good politics for anyone if the economy does..,something bad.
Each party wants the other party to be proven, or appear to admit, it was wrong.
A possible Democratic aim is to keep Kevin McCarthy as Speaker with Democratic votes, but this may just be a feint. Jeffries may prefer to try to become Speaker himself with some Republican votes. But that may not be possible. I think they’ll try to avoid having a contest for
Anyway, the goal is to try to make the other party appear more irresponsible without making any more than minimal concessions themselves.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:18 pmNo it won’t.
All that is needed is for someone to say that any money spent to buy these bonds will be considered a gift with no legal obligation to pay it back unless ratified after the fact by Congress (and the president)and then only to the extent Congress declares (in other words the interest rate might be reduced)
How bad is everyone’s understanding of civics?
Another out: The Federal Reserve Board could forgive some debt it has bought.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:24 pmLike the interviews in Blade Runner?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:28 pmTim Scott’s Sugar Daddy:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:32 pmWall Street Journal editorial:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-14th-amendment-really-says-debt-ceiling-biden-shut-down-default-constitution-78b24824
I’m not sure about that. You can default on debt but still owe.
This is a case where the 14th amendment came up.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:33 pmTreasury maintains that the software has no way to prioritize certain payments over others. If that’s true, what are they supposed to do?
This is a lie. During government shutdowns they had priorities. Social Security checks went out. Government paychecks did not.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:39 pmTrump Civil Litigation Watch II:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:40 pmIf that’s true, what are they supposed to do?
The “tied to the railroad tracks” defense. Me, I’d look at it as a Trolley Problem.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:43 pmThe Republican strategist close to Ellison also noted that Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk could follow his friend and supporter Ellison in backing the South Carolina senator.
So, tell me again about how Senator Scott is non-viable.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:45 pmObviously a government shutdown because a budget wasn’t passed is different than a failure to increase the debt ceiling. SS payments are made by direct deposit, not requiring government employees to process. But a debt default is different, there is then no authority to incur debt to cover on-going expenses.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:48 pmHis politics.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:48 pmOf course he only declared today, but there is nothing in his Senate record that shows any leadership on issues.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:50 pmHaving a billionaire sugar daddy back you for president is no guarantee for winning. Just ask Newt Gingrich and his sugar daddy (Sheldon Adelson).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:52 pmSammy, the “public debt” is not the same thing as “all obligations.” That would be like equating your mortgage payments with the balance due on your Mobil card.
Th 14th Amendment was aimed at the sovereign debt of the United States, which after the Civil War was in some dispute. The former Confederate states were disinclined to consider Lincoln’s borrowing as legitimate, for several not entirely bogus reasons. The Amendment settled the argument.
Public Debt refers to debt instruments backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (and authorized by law), not the appropriation for the Rural Electrification Administration.
Why is this so hard to understand? Answer: some don’t want to understand and would prefer to pretend there is some other meaning.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:53 pmHaving a billionaire sugar daddy back you for president is no guarantee for winning. Just ask Newt Gingrich and his sugar daddy (Sheldon Adelson).
I would rather they had backers instead of buying htemselves the office. It suggests that others think the candidate is a good choice.
BTW “sugar daddy” is pejorative, if not sexist or racist.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:56 pmOf course he only declared today, but there is nothing in his Senate record that shows any leadership on issues.
He was one of 4 Senators who wrote the “Trump” tax reform. But really, if that’s your standard I guess you favor Cruz and Hawley.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:58 pm223, 224: Both his own straight man and comic, Rip is.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:59 pm222, see the last sentence in 226
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:00 pmHis politics.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 2:48 pm
How is that? Don’t be shy.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:02 pmBig whoop.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:34 pmHow about puppet master?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:46 pmMerely racist.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:50 pmOr power behind the throne?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:51 pmRip, it’s just that you are so negative about anyone who is not DeSantis, and you are lukewarm about DeSantis. It’s hard to take you seriously as someone who wants the GOP to have someone besides Trump. Then again you don’t vote, so I’m at a loss to know why you even have an opinion.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:53 pmAllahNick just posted a column on Scott. A piece of it:
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/how-tim-scott-wins/
norcal (15fce4) — 5/22/2023 @ 3:57 pmI’m plenty negative about someone who is polling at RFK Jr.’s level. I find it hard to vote while holding my nose at the same time.
I look forward to Tim Scott or Darling Nikki surging to 5%.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:00 pmGood interview with Tim Scott. He vows never to try to overturn an election result.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:10 pmI misspoke when I said Scott showed no leadership on issues. Scott co-sponsored S. 61 in the 117th Congress, Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which established a new criminal offense subjecting doctors with fines and/or prison for up to five years for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more.
But since then he has really mishandled abortion-related issues, finally surrendering by saying
Outside of the abortion issue his legislative accomplishments are slim.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:54 pmI’m plenty negative about someone who is polling at RFK Jr.’s level.
“Never tell me the odds”
–Han Solo
“Those odds sound terrible. We need new odds.”
–Drax
“Odds are for dice. People make their own odds”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:54 pm–Kevin M
Because there is no profit to a politician in arguing maybes.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:56 pmCalifornia Wins Another Food Fight:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:57 pmBecause there is no profit to a politician in
arguing maybestaking a stand.FIFY.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:59 pmOutside of the abortion issue his legislative accomplishments are slim.
Outside of major issues he’s addressed, that is. Abortion is a wedge issue and a distraction. It’s part of the Democrat press’s “Let’s you two Republicans fight!”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 4:59 pmIt was a major accomplishment of the last Republican administration, yet Republicans refuse to embrace it.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:01 pmBecause there is no profit to a politician in taking a stand.
There no “stand” in which week. There is only putting your feet in concrete, stupidly. He is for serious limitation, but a President doesn’t not have a single vote in Congress. He’s said that if they pass a bill, he will sign it. That’s a stand, even if it recognizes he’s not a dictator.
Trump has no problem taking stands. It might not be the same stand he took last week, or will take next week, and he’ll deny he ever said otherwise.
DeSantis signed a bill in Florida, but now wants to pretend someone else did it. This is a stand?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:03 pmIt was a major accomplishment of the last Republican administration, yet Republicans refuse to embrace it.
All the Court did was remove a judicial usurpation. They did not say “Abortion bad.” Many Republicans (correctly) objected to ROE without objecting to abortion. They already won and intend to go no further.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:07 pm20 weeks is not a serious limitation. Most abortions occur long before that.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:11 pmRepublican states beg to differ.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:13 pm20 weeks is not a serious limitation. Most abortions occur long before that.
Six weeks is an abomination, making elective abortions nearly impossible. Many women don’t realize they are pregnant until they’ve missed a second period (not everyone is totally regular) and most clinics won’t go anywhere near 6 weeks if a mistake is treated as a criminal act.
Only men would think it’s reasonable and half the voters are women. This is a suicide pact for Republicans.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:22 pmAgain, civilized places that have debated this for 40 years longer than we have have come to legislative conclusions at 12-15 weeks. They are not all crazy and America should, for one, stop being so effing arrogant about it.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:24 pm*for once
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:24 pmAny abortion restriction below 12 weeks, and maybe even 15, is a loser politically.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:27 pmI didn’t see your 252 before posting my 254, Kevin.
We are in agreement nonetheless.
norcal (15fce4) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:28 pmAnyone who thought that states (especially those with pre-Roe bans) wouldn’t take advantage of their new found freedom to legislate abortion restrictions after Roe is incredibly naïve. From their perspective that was the point of overturning Roe.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:34 pmLarry Ellison isn’t giving Tim Scott $20M+ for altruistic reasons. He will want return on his investment.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:46 pmLarry Ellison isn’t giving Tim Scott $20M+ for altruistic reasons. He will want return on his investment.
What, besides naive cynicism, do you base that on?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:49 pmFrom their perspective that was the point of overturning Roe.
Many of them will have a new perspective shortly: being out of office. This is a direct attack on young single women and politicians who rely on margins of less than, oh, 15% will be sorry. Very sorry indeed.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:52 pmJust that nobody gives multi-millions to someone and not expect anything in return. Unlike Warren Buffet or Bill Gates, Ellison is not known for his altruism. It will be interesting to hear Scott’s position on banning Tik Tok in the US, given the fact TT uses Oracle’s servers.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:53 pmThat’s the way the system should work.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 5:54 pmJust that nobody gives multi-millions to someone and not expect anything in return.
Perhaps that something is “an America that favors hard work and self-reliance.” Larry Ellison does not need more money. And if you think the guy who sunk tens of billion$ into Twitter did it for financial gain then at least one of you two is really stupid.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 6:02 pmThat’s the way the system should work.
Old British Leyland commercial, showing a sports car and crash-test dummy swerving before hitting the crash-test wall:
“In England, we strive to avoid the wall.”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 6:04 pmI am sure there will be government actions that impinge on his businesses that require a friendly ear to listen.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2023 @ 6:05 pmHe wants to influence governmental decisions, which is more valuable than money. Ask Jeff Bezos.
Rip Murdock (6098c9) — 5/22/2023 @ 6:11 pmAllahNick seems to see what I see:
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/how-tim-scott-wins/
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 6:43 pm264, 265: This is classic naive cynicism, the supposition that the powers that be are in cahoots and that everything is bent. It’s how Trump supporters think.
Naïve cynicism (Wikipedia)
A related example:
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 6:49 pmWhat is it when you look for a politician to be your knight in shining armor and ride to your rescue?
nk (e7f88f) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:06 pmHaving worked with Congressional committees, I know whereof I speak.
Rip Murdock (28faa6) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:40 pmAnswer
lurker (cd7cd4) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:43 pmApparently you missed this post.
Rip Murdock (f970de) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:50 pmlurker (cd7cd4) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:43 pm
Touché.
Rip Murdock (f970de) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:56 pmI see DC whatever is back.
Rip Murdock (f970de) — 5/22/2023 @ 7:58 pmWhat is it when you look for a politician to be your knight in shining armor and ride to your rescue?
Desperation? I don’t much care about shining armor so much as it isn’t Trump or Biden. However, someone of character would be a definite plus.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/22/2023 @ 10:44 pmMajor accomplishment? Thats like saying the german 6th army reaching the volga river at stalingrad was a major accomplishment. They (anti-abortionists) already have won is like saying when the jap carrier force at midway shot down the last bomber of torpedo eight they had won. Don’t look up at those dive bombers entering their dives! I like the analogy in the movie hondo when paul newman says to richard boone. “Hey I got a question. How are you going to get back down the hill?”
asset (f6a243) — 5/22/2023 @ 11:02 pmInteresting passage from the Scott interview Rip referenced above:
I don’t think a GOP candidate has a prayer if he does not dodge the question asked here. If we want an alternative who is not Mr. I Am Your Retribution, we had better get used to dealing wth it.
Appalled (d12978) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:02 am“we had better get used to dealing with it.”
I tend to agree. It’s clear that all of the political consultants and pollsters are providing the same guidance. The goal is NOT to appease the 10% of NeverTrump that want the fully Cheney. It’s about persuading the 70% that are at least willing to put their pants back on that it is time to try a new direction.
Someone desperate enough might Kamikaze against Trump, but the fear is that most Republicans will view this as succumbing to the MSNBC-liberal spin. Trump Derangement! So the best we will get is allusions to victimhood and grievance and a different vision. Again to me, this is woefully understated, but this is a baby-steps process. NeverTrump will not be picking the nominee. The best we can hope for is a bit more edge as Trump’s legal problems mount.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/23/2023 @ 8:06 amI would hope that Trump’s actions are discussed at length in some DC federal court, and soon. Trump’s plan is to delay things until after he’s re-elected at which point “courts” will cease to be a problem. I would rather they didn’t let him.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 8:08 amThe goal is NOT to appease the 10% of NeverTrump that want the fully Cheney
For the press, it’s to drag the GOP through [Trump’s] crap some more while encouraging him to run.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 8:10 amNote that Tim Scott would be the FIRST! President (or Vice-President) descended from enslaved American ancestors.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 8:43 amTrump is no longer an unknown who is considered easy to beat. Are we to believe that Biden’s narrow 2020 win over Trump gives liberal media confidence? They want to paint any Republican as extreme so their preferred candidate wins. Conservative media does the same thing. I can’t believe that 53% of Republicans are being swayed by CNN or MSNBC to go with Trump. The problem is with that 53%. They have some options. They’re just choosing not to exercise those options at this early stage. Conservative media is not especially helpful at this point either. There’s no great tidal wave of “let’s move on” coming from National Review, Fox News, or the Daily Wire.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/23/2023 @ 8:54 amSo much for the non-Trump candidates taking on Trump all at once. As I have said previously, DeSantis, Vivek, Darling Nikki, or Scott won’t attack Trump, they don’t want to turn off his voters (or want a role in his Administration).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 9:24 amI don’t think the press needed to encourage Trump to run. It was inevitable since January 6, 2021.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 9:28 amApparently it will be Scott’s election strategy not to be pinned down on any single issue but offer platitudes and “the vision thing.”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 9:31 am> Do it manually.
How many people do you think it takes to manually process the US government’s payments? How many people do you think have the training necessary to know how to do it?
This does not strike me as a serious suggestion. Yes, we had a manual system *once*, but that hasn’t been true for decades, and the staff to do it simply don’t exist any more.
aphrael (3dc074) — 5/23/2023 @ 9:46 amI’m sure we will be hearing that over and over for the next several months from the Scott campaign.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 9:54 amI’m sure we will be hearing that over and over for the next several months from the Scott campaign.
If he was a Democrat, it would be a chyron on CNN.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 10:05 amApparently it will be Scott’s election strategy not to be pinned down on any single issue but offer platitudes and “the vision thing.”
Trump is basing his campaign on “the anger thing.” DeSantis is basing his on Trump-lite (i.e. less anger).
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 10:07 amTrump has also released a number of policy-oriented videos, far more than he has done in the past as well as the other candidates.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 10:11 am#282
Politics, as they say, is the art of the possible. You aren’t going to get elected telling your voter pool that the other guy is the embodiment of all your worst instincts. The best you will get from those voters is that Trump loses because he scares people away,
That said, any GOP candidate is a prisoner of the events that will affect Trump over the next few months. Look for another spike in Trump’s polling in August, when my fair city will become the focal point of the first serious indictment of the Donald.
Appalled (d12978) — 5/23/2023 @ 10:45 amRIP C. Boyden Gray (80), who served as White House Counsel to President George H.W. Bush.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 10:46 am#293 — So you makin’ me out to be a liar, Rip? 😉
Appalled (d12978) — 5/23/2023 @ 11:10 amTrump has also released a number of policy-oriented videos,
And next week he’ll release some different ones. Believe him at your peril.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 12:15 pmWe’ll see if some of the candidates aren’t just there to trash Donald Trump. It’s a noble calling. I just cannot believe that there is such a clamor to be part of his Cabinet. How would you lie about it later?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 12:18 pmLook for another spike in Trump’s polling in August, when my fair city will become the focal point of the first serious indictment of the Donald.
His base will just look at it as Trump trying to get the RINO governor to stop helping The Steal™.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 12:20 pmThe attacks on DeSantis have taken a toll on his support among Republican primary voters.
No, it’s DeSantis’ incompetent actions wrt Disney that have take a toll. DeSantis’s claim is “I can deliver what Trump can’t.” The Disney thing makes that claim hollow.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 12:23 pmNot sure what your comment to a post about C. Boyden Gray has anything to do about making you liar.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 12:42 pmThe point is that Trump is outlining his positions on issues (along with everything else) while the other candidates are not defining what they believe beyond platitudes.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 12:46 pmYesterday in the radio Jesse Kelly did not like Tim Scott. He made some kind of awkward comparison to the Molotov Ribbentrop pact of August, 1939 (!??) with Republican primary voters in the role of Stalin.
It doesn’t make too much sense, except that he’s trying to argue that Scott, although a nice person, is going to fool the MAGA people..
But his objection is that Senator Tim Scott would not agree that the FBI was working against Trump in the obstruction of subpoenaed documents case. Scott wanted to wait and see what happened.
Meanwhile, Scott announced.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/us/politics/tim-scott-2024-campaign-trump.html
The NYT reports that he actually has the most money in his campaign account (DeSantis has more if you include affiliated SuperPacs) and he has the endorsement of Senator Thune who wants Republicans to rally behind him. He is probably the choice of Mitch McConnell. And the other anti-Trump Republicans.
DeSantis has the endorsement of Elon Musk.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/23/2023 @ 3:54 pmScott spoke about how the (economic) ladder he used is being pulled up by the progressives (He used a different word)
This would usually refer to the minimum wage but it probably includes other things.
This sounds like his focus is on domestic issues.
Tim Scott was originally appointed to the Senate at the end of 2012 by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (when Jim DeMint resigned in the middle of a term to take a position as head of the Heritage Foundation). He had been first elected to Congress in 2010.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/23/2023 @ 4:00 pmTrump wants Scott to run (probably because it divides the vote in his thinking)
Sammy Finkelman (d007a3) — 5/23/2023 @ 4:01 pmAnother possible candidate for president not mentioned here yet:
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-full-transcript-05-21-2023
He can’t bne a running mate for Trump because they can’t both get Florida’s electoral votes. he’s have to resign as mayor and move out of state or Trump would have to move his residence out of state, probably to New Jersey.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/23/2023 @ 4:08 pmNYT Op-ed piece that argues that doctors aren’t being misled about anti abortion laws and the proof is that pro-life groups, although they dispute the interpretations of what to in cases of non-viable fetuses including cases where a twin can be saved by killing the presumed doomed twin being offered, aren’t suing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/opinion/abortion-law-texas-lawsuit.html
In the meantime Democrats are opposed to any legal restrictions on abortion whatsoever, arguing in effect that no line can be drawn that wouldn’t stop what you would not want to stop.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/23/2023 @ 4:18 pm,
Biden refuses to do anything that could be attacked as welcoming illegal immigrants but at the same time he does not want to take new action against them, and so he’s releasing people from overcrowded detention centers without giving them work permits which he could do by giving them another status. And he’s certainly not going to send money to cities and states..
I recall that Vietnamese refugees in 1975 and Cubans in 1980 and even some Afghans in 2021 (Before Biden cut off transportation) were accomodated temporarily on military bases.
Republicans are mainly telling various kinds of lies and trying to “prove” that Democrats are secretly as hostile to migrants as they are.
Eric Adams has been caught in a few misstatements of fact too. There were not 900 arriving in one day. Half the hotel rooms were not occupied by migrants. (it’s an argument for federal money)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/23/2023 @ 4:28 pmTrumpworld not buying it
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2023 @ 5:36 pm
I don’t see how a fight with Disney make someone not business friendly. Not Disney friendly, but there are thousands and thousands of businesses that don’t have the deal Disney does that are doing very well in Florida. Heck, Disney is doing well in Florida and wants to maintain its special status, DeSantis wants to trim that back now that Disney World has recovered its investment many times over, its a profitable well established business that got quite a few perks to move to Florida, build out a park, tax breaks and sweetheart deals to make sure Disneyworld had an environment for success. Disney isn’t going to move its park, they are just pitching a fit because if the FLA the taxpayer subsidy is running out, their earnings per share might miss analyst targets by a few pennies.
steveg (dd2429) — 5/23/2023 @ 6:42 pm@302: More horse race news.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:08 pm@310: Trump’s suckers calling someone dumb. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:11 pm“The point is that Trump is outlining his positions on issues (along with everything else) while the other candidates are not defining what they believe beyond platitudes.”
I don’t know a lot of people who are deeply tracking the race yet. I’ve not seen much of what Trump is emphasizing but suspect it just more nationalist stuff. His comments that get the most play of late are his views about stars being allowed to assault women for a million years, the election still being stolen, and his perspectives on J6. Trump the policy wonk is generally underwhelming, like balancing the budget in 8yrs and giving us the greatest health care system ever.
AJ_Liberty (082775) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:13 pmor Trump would have to move his residence out of state, probably to New Jersey.
Isn’t it funny the way that Trump moved to a zero-income-tax state after killing the SALT deduction. Yet another reason to dislike him.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:13 pmYour #302 appears to be different than mine. Mine is the post about the 14th Amendment challenge to the debt ceiling.
Rip Murdock (f970de) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:29 pmSen. rick scott of floriduh ramping up his re-election campaign says socialist democrats are unwelcome in floriduh and that republicans are openly hostile to them. Democrats should make him unwelcome and be openly hostile to him in DC. In lighter news corrupt texas ag ken paxton says republican house speaker should resign for being a drunk moral degenerate!
asset (aba0db) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:32 pmHorse race or marathon, Tim Scott and the other Lilliputians are far behind.
Rip Murdock (f970de) — 5/23/2023 @ 7:35 pmFWIW, here’s Trump’s “Agenda47.”
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 5/23/2023 @ 8:05 pm“These are Trump’s principles..”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/23/2023 @ 10:08 pmThis election wii be decided by less then 100,000 voters in pa., mi., wi., az. and ga.
asset (eb80da) — 5/23/2023 @ 11:15 pmAS IT WAS IN 2016 & 2020. In 2016 thanks to green party ( ) Wi. trump wins by 22,000 with green party siphoning off 38,000 votes from clinton. Mi. 10,000 (50,000) Pa. 43,000 (55,000) A total of 75,000 In 2020 Thanks to green party being kicked off ballot Biden wins Wi. 20,000 Az. 10,000 ga. 13.000 a total 44,000. Anything else you think means something is worthless babel. I keep pointing this out as you babel on! You have to reach a small number of voters in 5 states who will decide the presidency not the inteligencia.
@298
This really doesn’t make any sense.
You can have issues with the way this went down. Those are fair criticisms.
But to say that he’s ‘incompetent’ and that this ordeal renders the argument “I can deliver what Trump can’t” hollow is really short-sighted.
You cannot ignore what DeSantis has done in Florida in putting “wins on the board”, and that he’s insanely popular in Florida among GOPers and independents.
His challenge, is to navigate nationally because Florida GOPs/Independents aren’t the same nationally.
whembly (d116f3) — 5/24/2023 @ 6:40 am@304
No Sammy. Jesse’s objection to Scott is that “he’s too nice” towards his opponent, not that he’s going to “fool MAGA”.
His point on the Molotov Ribbentrop pact between Stalin and Hitler is spot on.
Hitler NEVER hid the fact that he hated Communist Russia. He wanted Russia’s land and resources for the German people. He made public speeches and published books attesting to this.
Hitler’s position vis-à-vis on Russia was well known.
Yet, Stalin was willing to sit down with Hitler to agree to a pact to split eastern Europe. Which we know Hitler later eventually stabbed Stalin’s back and invaded Russia.
The insane Democrat left is telling us all the things they’re wanting to do to this country.
Jesse’s overall premise, is that Tim Scott is genuine a nice guy and could be that stable elder statements that many wants. But this country needs a fighter to counter the insane Democrat leftist that has infected DC.
whembly (d116f3) — 5/24/2023 @ 6:53 am@315
I think it rather highlights the problem with the SALT deductions.
Very wealthy people can simply move to another state to mitigate tax rates.
The answer to this issue, is for voters to vote in the kinds of people to reduce state taxes, so that you don’t hit the limits of the federal SALT deductions.
whembly (d116f3) — 5/24/2023 @ 6:57 am#298 —
Please define how DeSantis has “lost” to Disney. Is it only a win when the antagonist lies down and gives up?
De Santis picked a fight. Disney fought back. The outcome is not yet decided as far as I can tell. What I notice is that when Disney makes a move, DeSantis has a counter move. Neither is out of moves, yet.
Appalled (9c97c5) — 5/24/2023 @ 6:57 amUnlikely.
Par for the course in Florida.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 9:10 amHorse race or marathon, Tim Scott and the other Lilliputians are far behind.
The point being that “horse race” coverage of campaigns, myopically focused on polls is both backward-looking and uninformative as to the candidates, their ideas or the policies they would prefer.
All polls do is sample what people are thinking NOW (or last month). Since people are fickle (cult members excluded) this means nothing. The entire “if the election were held now” meme is a lie; it’s not being held now.
It’s not even good horse race reporting as we are not even at the first turn yet.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 9:40 amNeither is out of moves, yet.
And there are several moving pieces. Disney will lose the fight over the district board’s powers — the outgoing board’s last minute surrender of all their powers to Disney is palpable nonsense.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 9:43 amJonah Goldberg at The Dispatch: Does the GOP Deserve Tim Scott?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 9:53 amSince Scott remains a longshot — his best path is for Trump to leave the contest — the most hopeful sign here is that Scott becomes the face of the Republican Party Yet to Come. That after Trump we won’t have a series of wannabe Trumps working the same rubes with the same grift.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 9:55 amNice guys finish last.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 9:57 amThe answer to this issue, is for voters to vote in the kinds of people to reduce state taxes, so that you don’t hit the limits of the federal SALT deductions.
The SALT limits are rather low as it stands. Even in Texas, a moderately affluent family will hit the limit with property taxes (MUCH higher than California on the same valuation). Two-income professional couples in many states saw huge federal tax increases as a result of Trump’s “tax cut.”
But of course that was the point. Trump has very little support from the upper middle class, the professional classes or even college graduates. His tax cut was aimed at the working classes, not the investing classes; people who did not go to college and/or get an hourly wage, not to mention people on fixed retirement incomes.
The giant increase in the standard deduction dropped a lot of people off the tax roles completely and reduced taxes a lot for households with 5-figure incomes. Those people don’t want to see their taxes jacked back up.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:07 amNice guys finish last.
People liked Reagan, too.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:08 amThey say that Democrats and their Press will demonize any Republican running for president. Demonize Scott at your peril.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:10 amWe’ll see how long he lasts.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:15 amAbout 91% of the old unlimited SALT deduction was claimed by people with more than $100K in state and local taxes, and most of them in six states (CA, NY, IL, NJ, PA and (yes) Texas).
Were Congress to raise the SALT deduction cap to $50K for single filers and $100K for married (currently $10K for either), it would lower federal income taxes paid by 2 or 3 billion dollars.
If they also raised the top rate a point or two, it would a net cut in the deficit.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:25 amDefault prediction: Very soon Biden will have given up enough that 10 or 20 Republicans will decide enough is enough.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:27 amWe’ll see how long he lasts.
Indeed. He has the money to run for a while. I see Haley and Hutchinson dropping out and endorsing him, and some others won’t get in — and also endorse him (e.g. Sununu).
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:37 amHolding the Line:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:41 amMoney isn’t everything. He needs to get votes, and if he doesn’t win in South Carolina, he will be toast.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:43 amWe live in a 24/7 cycle…which does not facilitate patience. People have not yet been confronted with actually voting for someone unhinged….with indictments…found guilty of defamation. I am cynical as heck about the GOP electorate, but we need patience to see how the candidates will operate. Wake me in late August and let’s see where we are at.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/24/2023 @ 11:42 amHe needs to get votes, and if he doesn’t win in South Carolina, he will be toast.
Suppose Trump loses NH or IA?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:09 pmOverall, Trump maintains a 77% overall favorability rating among GOP-aligned voters, with just 18% viewing him unfavorably. ……
Will that go up or down if he’s charged with insurrection and conspiracy to commit treason? Will Trump demand an early trial, or will he try to delay?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:11 pmThere’s also been no real negative ads. The GOP understands that you need all of the baggage out before the Democrats unload it in the general. At some point, electability will be challenged by someone. At some point Trump’s ridiculous answers about J6 and 2020 will be challenged. I don’t buy that it will have no effect. As we get closer to primaries next year, people will pay attention more and have an opportunity to listen more closely to alternatives. Right now, people are being excluded by voters on the most peripheral basis.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:28 pm1. He won’t be charged with either insurrection or conspiracy to commit treason. But if he is indicted for something else related to January 6th, his approval will go up.
2. There will be a long delay anyway since his legal team will need to review all of the evidence accumulated by the prosecution. A delay works in his favor, since he will either be reelected, thereby aborting any trial, or he will be pardoned by the next Republican president.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:28 pmRIP Tina Turner (83).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:31 pmhttps://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/05/trump-scott-desantis-gop-primary/674139
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:31 pmTrump’s statements on CNN have been added to the first Carroll case, which was filed 2019, but delayed by appeals (on rather flimsy grounds)This was the one for defamation for denying it and attackibg her motives.
She partially won the second case, for rape itself, filed in 2022 when the statute of limitations was waived for one year in which the jury decided that there was an over 50% chance that something untoward happened to E. Jean Carroll, but less than a 50% chance it qualified as rape.
They seem to have believed that the 50-50 line would be where Trump tried out what he said he would do on the Access Hollywood tape (but that he guessed wrong about her reaction.)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:41 pmRemember, it’s several seasons before the first primary. Among those who were leading at this point:
’67: Johnson
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:43 pm’71: Ted Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Edmund Muskie (shared lead)
’75: Ted Kennedy, George Wallace, Hubert Humphrey
’87: Gary Hart
`91: Jerry Brown
’03: Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean
I read something about why polls were wrong last year about the midterm elections.
It argues it can’t be because of abortion or Donald Trump because the question is why wasn’t that picked up in the pre-election polls?
.It argues that in seven or eight states Democrats increased turnout, including by absentee voting, while the polls tried to select likely voters.
But the real truth is that polling is very much an art with a response rate of well under 10%. They have to weigh the answers by other answers
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:46 pmA Republican who thinks Trump can be beaten in a primary by gargling warm words such as electability is a Republican in denial
At some point, a candidate who sees the exit door on her path will decide that being anti-Trump now will be worth more later. And so they will go down swinging, doing some damage, and making the issue harder for the remaining candidates to dodge.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:47 pmThey have to weigh the answers by other answers
Or by what other polls are telling them.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:49 pm338. Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 10:27 am
The question is will the most conservative Republicans start an effort to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker for compromising too much, and, if so, will the Democrats save him?
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:50 pmTrump and DeSantis are duking it out in Iowa right now. It all boils down to how much DeSantis or Scott promise in farm subsidies.
As we saw in the audience for Trump’s town hall, New Hampshire is Trump territory. He leads with a RCP average +18 points over DeSantis (and +27 over Sununu).
I don’t think it would be fatal to Trump’s campaign if he lost both; he certainly wouldn’t withdraw. The big one is South Carolina; it’s an opportunity to kneecap the campaigns of Darling Nikki and Scott. If they can’t win in their home state and the first in the South primary, where do they expect to win in the South?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:50 pmGreat quote.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:52 pmNow that is wishful thinking. Trumpism is the mainstay philosophy of the Republican Party, the “good old days” are dead and buried. There are at least two other Trumpist candidates running-DeSantis and Vivek. Vivek has already passed Darling Nikki by one or two points in some polls.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:57 pmThere is no point in burning bridges on your way out.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:57 pm355. Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:49 pm
They do that a lot, which is why, in some elections, polls tend to converge in the end — on the wrong outcome.
538 arhues that the polls were pretty good in 2022, but better for House races than statewide races.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/2022-election-polling-accuracy
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 1:58 pmSomething went wrong with “harm reduction” for opioid addicts in San Francisco.
It got to a point where they were mainly testing the drugs for the addicts and the addicts were being supplied by drug dealers who recruited them to engage in shoplifting for resale to pay for the drugs.
They closed it down, the death rate rose but that may be more because something was being added to the drugs which Narcan had no effect on.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 2:10 pm324. whembly (d116f3) — 5/24/2023 @ 6:53 am
More like envied him. This opposition could not be based on principle. Stalin knew that.
Scott has experience with Democrats sabotaging compromise bills.
He seems to be anti-Democrat policy:
https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/tim-scott-2024-presidential-announcement-speech-transcript
And then he goes on about the southern border and people on the terrorist watch list – doesn’t ask himself why none of them ever do anything/Lists can be full of nonsense. If they were real, they should be arrested and interrogated.
Then this:
War with Mexico? Or drone strikes in Mexico? He has to be able to defend that.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/24/2023 @ 2:25 pmGaetz says most in GOP ‘don’t feel like we should negotiate with our hostage’
………
“My conservative colleagues for the most part support, ‘Limit, Save, Grow,’ and they don’t feel like we should negotiate with our hostage,” Gaetz told Semafor on Tuesday, doubling down on his support for the House-passed GOP bill that would cut spending by an average of 18 percent in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.
Hard-line conservatives have made clear they would oppose any deal that does not extract major concessions from President Biden, making the task of striking a deal with enough broad support even more difficult. At the same time, McCarthy must still consider the constant threat that any member of his conference could call for a motion to vacate at any time — a reality Gaetz acknowledged in his comments to Semafor.
“I believe the one-person motion to vacate has given us the best version of Speaker McCarthy, and I think he’s doing a good job,” Gaetz said Tuesday, touting the provision that he helped secure in exchange for his eventual support of McCarthy’s speakership bid in January.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 2:25 pm………
Joke Punchline 1: “I don’t know, man. I’ve never looked.”
Joke Punchline 2: “No, man, but I bet it hurts like hell.”
nk (7be3aa) — 5/24/2023 @ 3:24 pmMore on the South Carolina 6-week bill:
So, a woman needs to
1) determine that she is pregnant, usually by missing a period. (this would be a minimum of two weeks after conception. Home pregnancy tests are usually only valid after 10 days).
But let’s suppose she’s on top of it, now what? She has to:
2) schedule an in-person doctor visit, and hopefully this would lead to an ultrasound being scheduled
3) Have an ultrasound
4) have a second in-person doctor visit
5) get a second ultrasound.
6) schedule an abortion.
Steps 2-6 need to be completed in at most 4 weeks. There a number of problems. Not only is it sometimes hard to get a doctor visit, but poor women might not have a regular doctor and Medicaid at best. Further, that second ultrasound might not be in line with Medicaid or other insurance guidelines.
But let’s say she hustles and is ready for the abortion at 5 weeks. But wait, doctors who perform an abortion on a fetus more than 6 weeks old are guilty of a felony and can be fined, imprisoned and struck off. They may not want to take a chance on “probably 5 weeks.”
Note that women who have irregular periods have even worse problems. They may not know they are pregnant until after the 6 weeks is gone.
The following is no surprise:
Either there will be a lot more women running in GOP districts, or the GOP is going to get its pee-pee whacked in 2024.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 3:46 pmA few years back I said that I doubted that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe, as it would also overturn the expectations of 3 generations of women of child-bearing age, and that those women would not be willing to lose that safety valve.
Even if it is only 1/3rd of female voters who go to polls seeking revenge, that’s enough to wipe out GOP majorities in nearly any state. See Kansas.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 3:49 pmOpposition to abortion may have been a thing 50 years ago, but it’s not 50 years ago. Yes, Roe was a mistake, but does anyone really think that abortion bans would be in effect in any state if Roe had never happened?
If you do, tell me about the marijuana laws in your state and if you think they’ll hold.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 3:54 pm“I believe the one-person motion to vacate has given us the best version of Speaker McCarthy, and I think he’s doing a good job,” Gaetz said Tuesday, touting the provision that he helped secure in exchange for his eventual support of McCarthy’s speakership bid in January.
The people to talk to are not the hard Right, but the centrists. Michelle Steele, for example.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 3:56 pmYes.
Source
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 4:24 pmI see we have another mentally ill neo nazi or neo something or other. This one trying to ram his way into an area blocks from the WH with duct tape and a manifesto. Plan was to “seize power”… with duct tape and manifesto. Bold, audacious plan, or lunacy?
steveg (4533d6) — 5/24/2023 @ 4:26 pmIt’s the hard right (the Freedom Caucus) that controls the balance of power in the Republican caucus. Centrists won’t threaten McCarthy with a “motion to vacate” but the FC just might to get their way.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 4:30 pmLatest poll biden most unpopular president. CBS news tonight does show with IRS whistleblower about justice department slow walking hunter biden prosecution. Coincidence? 50 years ago gun control gets democrats voted out of office. Today abortion gets republicans voted out of office. You anti-abortionists whine like gun controllers wined 50 years ago. Uvalde anniversary is today. Nothing will ever get done until democrats run on you take 19 children we take 19 nra republicans in congress for prosecution for accessory to murder and jail them in some hell hole.
asset (62a5f7) — 5/24/2023 @ 4:46 pmAny Republican “moderate” who votes with the Democrats on their discharge petition is committing political suicide. Which is why the Republican Caucus is solidly behind McCarthy (and why he can’t slip up.)
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 4:59 pmThe people to talk to are in the Senate.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:00 pmIf McCarthy was a real man, he would have withdrawn his name from nomination after the second vote. Now all Washington has his measure. A cheapie holding out for a twenty when everybody knows she can be had for a dime sack.
nk (63c351) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:06 pmAny Republican “moderate” who votes with the Democrats on their discharge petition is committing political suicide.
That’s a different vote. That one is a flat out debt limit increase, with nothing to show for it. A surrender. But Biden has now put some stuff on the table. Is it enough? Apparently some in the caucus thought so, be have been convinced to hold off. For now. But the are not going to go over the edge for MTG and Gaetz.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:12 pmThe people to talk to are in the Senate.
Whatever the House agrees to, the Senate will go along.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:12 pmI see we have another mentally ill neo nazi or neo something or other. This one trying to ram his way into an area blocks from the WH with duct tape and a manifesto. Plan was to “seize power”… with duct tape and manifesto. Bold, audacious plan, or lunacy?
A lot like the aerial attack on the Kremlin that couldn’t even blow up the flagpole.
But that, they say, was staged by Putin.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:14 pmA cheapie holding out for a twenty when everybody knows she can be had for a dime sack.
“…haggling over the price.”
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:15 pmThe House passed a debt ceiling increase a week ago.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:24 pmTrumpWorld calls it a FBI false flag:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:35 pm
A lot like the aerial attack on the Kremlin that couldn’t even blow up the flagpole.
But that, they say, was staged by Putin.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:14 pm
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:41 pmFailure to Launch:
Related:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2023 @ 5:50 pmMore competent “CAN DO!” from DeSantis. Now he has two trashcans on his feet. The first one is still flaming.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 8:18 pmRip-
steveg (4533d6) — 5/24/2023 @ 8:19 pmTongue in cheek, I’d say FBI False Flag is a better take intellectually than saying this was a serious neo-nazi right wing attack on the WH, and that is not saying much. I’m not a mental health professional, but a mentally capable person, in my admittedly uneducated view, does not attempt to “storm” the WH in a UHAUL that is empty except for a manifesto/window into the mind of a lunatic, and a roll of duct tape. I’d also go out on a limb and say that neo-nazis of SW Asian descent are almost as rare as those of African American descent.
The House passed a debt ceiling increase a week ago.
Well, yes, but they knew that would not pass the Senate. The compromise one will, if Biden says OK.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 8:21 pmI’d also go out on a limb and say that neo-nazis of SW Asian descent are almost as rare as those of African American descent.
Well, I know a redneck prepper Maoist, so it’s hard to say.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/24/2023 @ 8:23 pmI was listening (lightly) to the radio today while driving and think I heard a DDA LA County prosecutor (not the host) say in an interview that in LA County, 4% of the population is Female, African-American, but they make up 33% of homicide victims? If so, wow, that is an awful awful thing. My guess was that since most male African American homicide victims are killed by other African American males, with other males of color coming in at a distant second place, that the African American women might have the same overall dynamic, but with a few extra white guys thrown into the mix? Either way, it was a real mid bending statistic and I wish I’d been able to listen closer
steveg (4533d6) — 5/24/2023 @ 8:30 pmIf I was hiring faculty at CSU Monterey Bay in its earliest days, a black/native american transgender redneck prepper maoist would start my diversity program off with a bang. I could sign three straight white guys late in the draft and no one would notice
steveg (4533d6) — 5/24/2023 @ 8:36 pmEven without the glitches, announcing on Twitter, audio only, with Elon Musk was pitiful to begin with. No flash and no class either. What was he aiming for? The coveted nebbish demographic?
nk (354d80) — 5/25/2023 @ 5:30 amWhat I posted at the Dispatch
My emerging conclusion is that we need a centrist party NOW.
Biden is obviously not a far lefty and not a threat to democracy, but he’s a placeholder looking for signs of dementia. If he was bread, we would have thrown him out for the coming election. But the Democrats don’t exactly have a thriving stable of alternatives. No one but weirdos at this point appear to be willing to challenge Biden…..even as a failsafe for a health crisis. Given Biden’s numbers and Harris’ standing, this is malpractice. Adding-in the perpetual call for free stuff, identity politics, and demagoguery on the border and there’s just not a lot of centrist appeal. The Democrats also have an impending slobberknocker with the Sanders/AOC wing that is not encouraging to non-socialists.
Now on the Right, we are being told the choice is between an unhinged narcissist and a socially-awkward authoritarian. AllahNick confidently announces that all other options are wastes-of-time that have no path to the nomination. If true, then the GOP offers nothing to someone normal. The hope, apparently, will be that one more loss will break the trance. I’m starting to question this wisdom. If the case against Trump is not obvious and if DeSantis is not clearly too extreme for the general, then what will the loss accomplish? We will just see some new election denialism and a call for an even more charismatic authoritarian. The GOP is broke and waiting for the clown car to empty has taxed my patience.
Put something in the middle. Now let’s not pretend that it will be easy to find a credible candidate that is willing to burn his/her bridges, that is personable and doesn’t have a ton of partisan baggage. You have to sell vanilla to a customer core hyped up on anything but vanilla. But imagine the possibility. There are both disaffected Democrats and Republicans starving for normal. Can you get 35% of the population to abandon their bubble and vote “other”? Maybe not but maybe it’s time to send the message anyways….rather than writing in “normal” or doing some deranged nose-holding finger-crossed kabuki, actually create a legitimate choice: Gary Johnson without the weirdness and pot obsession.
I’ve lost confidence in Democrats and Republicans finding and advancing good candidates. Whether it’s another scourge of social media or a culture of tediousness, I’m not sure I care to linger on the diagnosis. I want a better option and I don’t think I’m alone…..
AJ_Liberty (6345ed) — 5/25/2023 @ 6:33 amAJ —
Name a centrist 3rd party in any nation that has done well. I think of things like the Liberal Democrats in the UK and centrist parties on the European continent. They all seem to vaporize — maybe because there is no cohrent ideology of centrism. (Centrists tend to reject ideology — which makes it hard for them to explain what they are all about)
I had hoped in 2016 that a strong Libertarian vote might help bring the system to its senses, but that dissipated in a haze of pot smoke.
Since woke radicalism is more a white person thing, I do hope that the african-american vote and the latin-american vote can enforce some sanity on the Democrats. It is what knocked off Bernie in 2020.
I share your frustration, but a cure for this nation is going to require the patient to want to be cured. The trigger for that is unpredictable.
Appalled (f51ece) — 5/25/2023 @ 6:50 am#391 (nk)
My guess — DeSantis is aiming for Musk’s bankroll, and was, at a minimum, trying to deny it to Trump.
Appalled (f51ece) — 5/25/2023 @ 6:53 amHmm. I hadn’t thought of that, Appalled.
nk (5aba7a) — 5/25/2023 @ 6:55 amThe failure doesn’t reflect too well on Musk too.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 8:43 amTo paraphrase Don Rumsfeld, you conduct elections with the political parties you have, not the political parties you might want or wish you had.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 8:58 am@393, maybe replace centrist by pragmatist, perhaps in the mold of Larry Hogan or Roy Cooper (or Joe Mancin if Cooper would be unlikely the jump). It’s probably a blend of economic realist (conservative) and social moderate (aka, yes there are problems but maybe authoritarian overreaches aren’t the best solutions). Could such a person find enough votes to be more than just a spoiler? Maybe not but in a Biden-Trump rematch, I think it would give some people something substantive to consider. Again, it’s less a fear of Biden going rouge than of Biden going morgue and elevating Harris to do more than mismanage her dysfunctional personal office. With Trump, it’s a fear that with the guardrails off, he might crash the system if there was some personal benefit to doing so. That he’s going to be down to the C-team of advisors does not inspire confidence.
However, your core point remains: it’s the people stupid. But, maybe the people need the contrast. Something beyond unhinged and dementia. Still, the people are the people and they appear to want Twinkees and Ho-Ho’s rather than a nutritious balanced meal. I fear that if we don’t moderate and find the adult, we will hit a crisis and something will break. We’re already playing fast and loose with our election system, investigatory agencies, and now our debt management. The banking system had some worrisome hiccups. We can’t agree about what is reasonable for a pandemic. How much incompetence will it take for a true crisis to tear at our democracy? I know what the Russians and Chinese would like to see. It might be too late to wait for the electorate to sober up.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/25/2023 @ 9:01 am‘Tis the Season:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 9:09 amBiden will sign anything presented to him to avoid default. McCarthy should be arm twisting the Senate.
Related
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 9:15 am“you conduct elections with the political parties you have, not the political parties you might want”
People can be induced to buy Beanie Babies, Pet Rocks, Snuggies, and Abdomenizers. With shrewd enough marketing, the sky’s the limit. Trump Steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump University, Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza Hotel, and the Trump Network. I can’t believe that there aren’t more savvy marketers out there to craft and sell a political vision.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/25/2023 @ 9:37 amFor this election, it is probably too late to launch a new nationwide political party, as state ballot access deadlines are approaching.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 10:54 am@402, I tend to agree because it would likely need a candidate who could self finance that could articulate 2 or 3 national issues that have promise to build coalitions to solve (somewhat like Perot). Because it’s probably less about a new party and more about a new leadership style. The argument in 2016 could have been, neither of the major candidates have the temperament and integrity for the office. We (Johnson and Weld) will be competent administrators that will find ways to work with both parties to solve problems. Clearly Johnson and Weld didn’t make that case. It’s ripe to be made again in 2024 if Trump/Biden get the nominations. I agree that the clock is ticking and no viable candidate is on the radar. It’s looking bad on the GOP side. It’s not looking great on the DEM side. Both remain fluid but trending poorly. Hopefully we see some courage. I think the public would reward courage…done right.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/25/2023 @ 11:26 amFor this election, it is probably too late to launch a new nationwide political party, as state ballot access deadlines are approaching.
State ballot access laws are confusing at best. To begin with, there are rules for independent candidates, new political parties, political party primaries and party nominees for office. The two major parties are always screwing with the rules to disadvantage some minor parties depending on who they might harm. In New Mexico, the rules have recently been changed to keep any non-Libertarian candidate off the ballot since that helps the ruling Democrats in swing districts.
Any blanket statement about ballot access timelines is probably wrong. See https://ballot-access.org to see just how crazy it all is. For example, NH is considering moving its primary to late 2023, but that should not affect general election ballot access, which generally remains oven until September of the election year.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 12:05 pmRoss Perot’s ballot access campaign started in late February 1992 (NOT 1991). By May, Perot was leading presidential polls in both Texas and California. The new Reform Party, or Perot as an independent, was on all 50 ballots by the November election.
Of course, Perot dropped out for a couple months, then re-entered the race, by which time his moment had passed. He got 19% of the popular vote and zero EVs.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 12:15 pmOuch!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 12:44 pmDebt Default As a Political Strategy:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 1:18 pmDebt Default As a Political Strategy II.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 1:33 pmHe could insist on a full reading of the bill and refuse to agree to waive motions to skip other time-consuming procedural formalities on the Senate floor.
Mostly-unanimous consent only requires a vote.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 1:49 pmDeSantis says he’ll consider pardoning Jan. 6 defendants, including Trump
Trump without Trump™
Why should I vote for a phony Trump?
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 1:52 pmA plate of potage DeSantis is. What’s left at the bottom of the bottom of the pot when all servings of Trump have been dished out.
nk (5aba7a) — 5/25/2023 @ 2:16 pmUnexpectedly to him, over an initially obscure matter, I think DeSantis cynicism is going to break through to the greater public. Something will go viral.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/25/2023 @ 3:50 pm409. The polls show that 60% support tying a debt limit increase to spending caps, but who benefits from trouble will depend on who people feel was more wrong.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/25/2023 @ 3:52 pm410 Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 1:33 pm quoting someone
That is not on the table.
If you wanted something like that a change in budget procedure without anything much right now would be the way to go.
It has to allow for midcourse corrections.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/25/2023 @ 3:55 pmInteresting sentence fragment in a NYT anti-all Republican candidates op ed piece today
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/24/opinion/desantis-republicans.html
There’s quite a lot about him and Jack Kemp supporters
https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/senator-scott-receives-2017-jack-kemp-foundation-leadership-award
NYT discussion about Tim Scott:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/opinion/tim-scott-scorecard.html
In the WSJ, Karl Rove seems to support Tim Scott.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/25/2023 @ 4:04 pmAppalled (f51ece) — 5/25/2023 @ 6:53 am
He can’t get money that he controls. and he;’s got enough money.
I think DeSantis is aiming for the anti-woke vote (and money too yes)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 5/25/2023 @ 4:07 pmTell that to Chip Roy.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 4:17 pmOne poll doesn’t make a trend.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 4:23 pmDifferent poll results on the debt ceiling? Look to the question wording.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/25/2023 @ 4:26 pmName a centrist 3rd party in any nation that has done well.
The two major parties are as far apart as they could be. Much further apart that they were in 1992, when Ross Perot was polling ahead of Bush and Clinton, at least until he melted down. But even in the aftermath of a meltdown, with the majors not that far apart, he got 19% of the vote and his signature issue — balancing the budget — happened shortly thereafter.
The new people he brought into the process — mainly fiscal conservatives — were still around when the 1994 midterms send Democrat packing.
A centrist ticket, perhaps with a nominal Republican and a nominal Democrat, would have a lot of interest in a Trump-Biden rematch. A great time for an FU to both parties.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 5:25 pmPicture a 2024 ballot:
Biden-Harris
Trump-(who cares?)
Ryan-Manchin
It’s not obvious to me who would win.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 5:29 pmDifferent poll results … Look to the question wording.
As always.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 5:30 pm@423 Biden wins democratic voters don’t like any of those three. Texas house has votes to impeach ag ken paxton for moral degeneracy and graft.
asset (d2408e) — 5/25/2023 @ 6:57 pmI think Ryan-Manchin would take a lot more from Trump than Biden. Most Dems wouldn’t see a great pull there. I would guess Biden wins. Now, if the option was Hogan-Manchin or Hogan-Cooper, I think those tickets pull more from Biden but some from Trump. That one would be closer. Don’t get me wrong, I would love Ryan to be on a national ticket again. I’m just not sure that the social moderates would trust him.
AJ_Liberty (6c7305) — 5/25/2023 @ 7:15 pmTy Warner took his Beanie Baby money and turned it into a $4.5B real estate heavy empire. I find the Ty Warner properties to be tastefully done. My complaint about Trump properties would be that he brands everything with a fake gold TRUMP and that kind of tacky is hard to overcome. It is the “everything that glitters here is definitely not gold” look. Trump vodka would be plastic 2 liter bottle headache in a solo cup vodka rebranded and rebottled. I do think Trump has an eye for good golf properties, but his bad design tastes diminish rather than enhance
steveg (8c0aff) — 5/25/2023 @ 8:26 pmBiden wins democratic voters don’t like any of those three.
asset, you are so far into the fringe of the fringe Left that you think AOC is a right winger. Given that, you have no idea how the 99.98% to your right vote.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 8:38 pmMost Dems wouldn’t see a great pull there.
Dems I know would consider him. Abortion at that level is no longer in play — it’s move to statehouses and perhaps Congress. Since anything Congress would pass is unlikely to be draconian (or last long if it was), social moderates (whatever they are now) would not recoil from someone who’s main goal is to fix entitlements.
MAYBE Hogan-Manchin, but Cooper? No. Anti-gun, anti-voucher, pro-late-term abortion. Too solidly a Democrat.
Kevin M (213cd6) — 5/25/2023 @ 8:51 pm“No. Anti-gun, anti-voucher, pro-late-term abortion.”
Still, Cooper won in Red North Carolina while the state went twice for Trump (and for Romney and Bush) and has a Republican supermajority in the state legislature. What that suggests to me is that he doesn’t push measures that don’t have broad appeal and he demonstrated quiet competence during Covid while other Democrats like Cuomo turned it into drama fests. He is 16-0 in primaries and general elections in a Republican state. That’s difficult to ignore or discount the cross appeal.
My suspicion too is that, despite his recent veto of moving abortion bans to 12weeks, he’s not a zealot and looks for compromise because that’s his only way to achieve some of his own wins. I see he vetoed a bill that was going to get rid of Sheriff background checks for buying a handgun. Most people are fine with reasonable gun regulations especially aimed at keeping guns from domestic abusers etc.
It’s amusing that you view Cooper as a solid Democrat but don’t apparently view Ryan as a solid Republican. How does that work?
AJ_Liberty (6c7305) — 5/26/2023 @ 6:03 amJVW (a35eae) — 5/19/2023 @ 1:33 pm
Sammy Finkelnan (c005bf) — 5/27/2023 @ 7:10 pm