President Biden Bows Out Of The Race
[guest post by Dana]
Here is his letter to the American people:
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
The President has endorsed Kamala Harris:
My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
Meanwhile, Republicans are calling on President Biden to resign, claiming that:
“If Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States. He must immediately resign,” said a member of House Republican leadership.
I don’t necessarily agree with this:
This just strikes me as a silly argument factually (smart politically though). If Biden broke a hip, he couldn’t run — literally or figuratively — but he could still serve out his term. Cancer might make another term unwise but not require resignation.
But the issue isn’t a broken bone or cancer. The issue is mental cognition and acuity. That is a very different animal than a broken bone or disease like cancer (unless it is a cancer that impacts the mental function). Nonetheless, I believe he should be allowed to finish out his term. If for no other reason, consistency. That he is stepping down is going to cause a commotion. But if that meant tomorrow, it would beget a season of confusion and anger.
Donald Trump’s reaction to President Biden’s announcement:
Crooked Joe Biden is the Worst President, by far, in the History of our Nation. He has done everything possible to destroy our Country, from our Southern Border, to Energy Dominance, National Security, International Standing, and so much more. He was annihilated in an Earth Shattering Debate, and now the Corrupt and Radical Democrats are throwing him overboard. He was not fit to serve from the very beginning, but the people around him lied to America about his Complete and Total Mental, Physical, and Cognitive Demise. Whoever the Left puts up now will just be more of the same. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
—Dana
I feel sad for President Biden, because it seemed like he was being bullied from all sides, and yet at the same time he has been in politics for 50+ years and pride and ego are tough thing to overcome, especially when this has been your life blood for the majority of your years on earth.
Dana (7a6c7e) — 7/21/2024 @ 11:33 amI agree completely that Biden should resign.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 11:46 amSeveral days ago from stupid Trump’s stupid idiots:
🤔
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/21/2024 @ 11:49 am@3
If Democrats want to mitigate the fallout of Biden dropping out of the reelection race, he should resign immediately.
Otherwise, the Trump campaign shouldn’t let American voters forget who lied to them. If the nominee does end up being Kamala Harris, she knew about Biden’s condition. She was in the administration that covered it up and trashed anyone who dared question the official narrative. She is culpable, and the fact that she misled voters is a genuine scandal.
whembly (477db6) — 7/21/2024 @ 11:53 amThis page is probably why Biden dropped out:
https://www.realclearpolling.com/elections/president/2024/battleground-states
Would Harris do better?
whembly (477db6) — 7/21/2024 @ 11:54 amI’m sure they will.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 11:56 amI wonder how Mark Kelly will do against Vance in the upcoming VP debate.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:01 pmBTW, here’s a Kamala after the Biden endorsement.
…a Kamala sighting…
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:01 pmThis must have been a sudden decision. It’s going to taken him several days to write (or have written) a speech?
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:02 pmBTW, the age and mental health issue is fully off the table for the Dems, and it’s glued to the table for my party.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:03 pmTrump said to issue a triumphant statement.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:04 pmIt looks like the deal Biden worked out with the D establishment is that he drops out but doesn’t have to resign. From a purely political standpoint it would make sense for him to resign so Kamala could get into office now and start to build a record, even a necessarily meager one, as an incumbent. Maybe Biden drew the line at that and said he’s not dropping out if he can’t stay on until 1/20/25.
Am not a Trump fan and am not going to vote for him, but am already prospectively nauseated at the coming corporate media chorus extolling Harris’s unlimited virtues.
RL formerly in Glendale (7a2d64) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:18 pmSame here.
But also, already I’m seeing a uniform chorus complaining that Trump is way too old to be president, from people who supported Biden two hours ago. I think the deal was Biden either drops out of the race, or his administration (Which Biden is not really in charge of) removes him from office so Harris can be an incumbent president. Biden’s too selfish to let his team have that advantage, consistent with the man he’s always been.
Dustin (d3acaa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:24 pmI think it was a very dirty trick on poor Mr. Trump to take all the attention off his heroic head butt of a podium before the scab on his ear had even stopped itching.
nk (9bc59c) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:26 pmI agree with this…
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:37 pmEvery time they go to Chicago….
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:39 pmI’ve added Trump’s response to President Biden’s decision:
Dana (5f9a1e) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:40 pmThis page is probably why Biden dropped out:
The only battleground states that Biden is leading are the ones that haven’t been polled since the debate.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:40 pmI feel sad for President Biden, because it seemed like he was being bullied from all sides
Karma is a thing.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:40 pmI’ll never understand how. Dude bragged he would assault women, at least by groping them, before he was elected in 2016. GOP had a much better choice that represented much of the populist zeal that is the GOP’s vitality, without being a total POS. GOP has no excuses this year. I think the situation is much darker than we realize, and the conspiracy theories that they all have dirt on eachother is on the right track.
Dustin (d3acaa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:43 pmIt is national ice cream day, so irony is also a thing.
Dustin (d3acaa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:44 pmGiven the Biden endorsement, the best ticket is Space Cadet Kamala and Astronaut Mark Kelly, IMO, but I like Beshear, though he’s too young. Shapiro is a one-term governor, so same deal.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:53 pmIf I were casting for the role of The Ugly American, I’d ask Donald Trump first. Then maybe Michael Moore.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:53 pmWell now we’ll get to see why the democrats think democracy looks like. Should be interesting.
And the first question (oft repeated) for Kamala should be “why did you and the rest of the administration hide Joe’s decline and lie to the American people for so long?”
Harvey’s Potted Plant (1d4a43) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:55 pmIf Democrats want to mitigate the fallout of Biden dropping out of the reelection race, he should resign immediately.
More to the point, Americans should get a taste of President Harris. And it cannot hurt the Democrats if she is running AS president. Of course, that presumes she will be the nominee.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:55 pm@Dana@18 There’s something wrong with that man.
The VP pick won’t be Newsom. President and VP can’t be from the same state.
Nic (120c94) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:55 pmTrump said to issue a triumphant statement.
Does he have another kind? Last I looked, even in a loss, he wins.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:56 pmNorth Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is also a likely VP choice as Harris has visited the state frequently and they both were state AGs at the same time.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:56 pmThe clintons, Alex Soros, Joe Biden, have all endorsed Harris.
the only narrative the Dem’s have is that Biden is pulling a George Washington level act of sacrifice and we should respect and honor him. He’s passing the torch to the same administration 14 million democrats voted for in the primary. In a way they did vote for Harris to be Biden’s replacement.
The 24 hour news cycle will try to make this an interesting horse race, but just as sure as I was that Biden would withdraw (and have said so on this blog for 2 years), Harris is the dem candidate. For better or worse.
Her success in securing the border is unparalleled so we know what the election will be about.
Dustin (d3acaa) — 7/21/2024 @ 12:59 pm“What” the democrats think democracy looks like… sorry for the fat fingered typo
Harvey’s Potted Plant (1d4a43) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:01 pmThe Dem headliner is now young and not mentally debilitated.
The GOP headliner is still old and still mentally ill and still writing batshit on social media.
Dustin is right, that Kamala has no answer for her pitiful performance at securing out southern border. Her only response is that she’s not a mentally deranged geriatric, not a rapist, not a court-affirmed fraud, etc. Better to run on what she’s not versus what she is.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:04 pmDamn, moderation again. I meant to say “batsh-t”.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:05 pmWhat a weird time and country we live in when the felon who was found by a jury to be a rapist *wasn’t* the one to drop out of the race.
There was a time a couple of years back when a cousin called me for advice about one of his kids, who was having apparent mental problems. I thought it was going to be the son who wanted to live life as a girl, but no.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:06 pmSpace Cadet Kamala and Astronaut Mark Kelly
I think you have the Zeitgeist down.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:09 pmI doubt Newsom would play second fiddle to anyone.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:09 pmThey’ll orchestrate a cascade of endorsements for Kamala, but still have some kind of “open” convention with another name or two for show, and a vote that will be largely Kamala, and then they can claim “democracy” AND the “best” person got the nod.
Then we’ll get a Joe resignation so they can say “President” Harris as nauseum (but not before Joe pardon’s Hunter and possibly gives Beau a posthumous Medal of Honor).
And the Media will NEVER ask “why did you hide joes decline and lie to the American people” and they’ll never ask “what did you do to fix the border crisis?” Instead, they’ll just talk about how “ready” she is and how much of a “fighter” she is, and “abortion” and “first black woman” and “shut up you racist/misogynist/privileged deplorables”
Harvey’s Potted Plant (1d4a43) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:10 pmHe’s 7 years older than Vance, and has been a red state governor for 8 years.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:11 pmKamala needs to pick Shapiro for her VP, because she has been awful on Israel and because her only path to 270 EVs includes Pennsylvania. She can tightrope by continuing to wink at the most evil people on the face of the planet, while her VP reassures the normals.
Dustin (d3acaa) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:11 pmNorth Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is also a likely VP
The LtGov is a Republican (and a gay-bashing antisemite), so no.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:12 pmDid you see the RNC last week?
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:13 pmI doubt Newsom would play second fiddle to anyone.
He was second fiddle to Jerry Brown for 8 years.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:15 pmDid you see the RNC last week?
Yes, but (sadly) Trump won all those primaries.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:17 pmBeshear is my governor, and the reality on the ground in Kentucky doesn’t really fit with the attack dog they need. Andy’s a generally nice guy, who was lucky enough to run as his dad’s pick, and against two Republicans that were absolutely loathed by most folks in the state. Kind of like Trump in the national, a living human running against Bevin was going to win, and Cameron was terrible, he should have waited to run for McConnell’s seat. Beshear was pretty good in his first term, and Cameron seemed kind of nutty, and is black. This is still Kentucky.
I don’t think he’d help Harris much, Shapiro would be better, but I don’t think he’d do it, in 2028 as a 2 term gov, he’d be better positioned as a rational choice over Newsom in the primary and Vance in the general.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:21 pmEh, she already had this one ready to roll at Biden’s say so.
Dana (c5011d) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:22 pmSo did Harris, technically.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:23 pmChicago, 1968: The President dropped out due to his handling of a war, one leading candidate was assassinated, another was the grass-roots choice but not the establishments’. So they nominated a man who had run in NO primaries while mobs outside were clubbed by the police.
Chicago, 2024: The President dropped out due to his handling of everything, plus mental impairment. The opponent was nearly assassinated due to Secret Service failures. There are a number of alternative candidates, all out of place due to the President concealing his mental impairment. So they will nominate a woman of few accomplishments who has run in no primaries this time (and lost all she ran in last time). No word on mobs outside or what the police will do to them.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:23 pmIt’s from 2019, but still works with today’s news.
Dana (9a1653) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:23 pmSo what? Cooper isn’t running (term-limited), and the Republicans have nominated Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson as their candidate. NC is a battleground state, I’ll bet any VP choice comes from one of them.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:24 pmSo did Harris, technically.
Is the VP choice on the primary ballot? I don’t remember that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:24 pm“If Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States.”
This is just a non-sequitur. Nothing has been conceded about fitness to serve. I’m not running for President either, it’s not because I’m not at least as competent as at least one of the actual candidates.
Dave Munger (f2acc4) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:24 pmThe Clintons and Biden have endorsed Harris; Obama has endorsed an open convention.
Rip Murdock (b9e03a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:26 pmEh, she already had this one ready to roll at Biden’s say so.
The other ad says “He’s a world leader in temper tantrums; she never loses her cool”
The turnover in her staff said otherwise.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:28 pmThe convention will be open, in the sense that no candidate is bound to vote for Harris.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:29 pmGood for Biden. Time for the anti-anti-Trump people to train their fire on whoever Trump’s opponent will be (almost certainly Harris).
Patterico (474ac0) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:30 pmHarris will easily win an open convention.
Patterico (474ac0) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:30 pmPay no attention to the polls for the next couple of weeks. New and shiny always gets a bump.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:31 pmSource
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:31 pmHarris will easily win an open convention.
Probably. Especially as there will be no serious opposition for fear of cancellation.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:32 pmI would like to hear Patterico’s take on Harris as the CA AG. My take as a citizen was negative. Her rancid manipulation of the gun laws (e.g. microstamping), her pernicious titling and summaries of initiatives to help or hinder signature gathering and ballot lines, and her failure to defend Proposition 8 (as well as her amicus brief asserting that the Prop 8 sponsors did not have standing to defend) all combined to make me glad she got kicked upstairs to the Senate.
She is, in short, a piece of work. Donald Trump, but better looking.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:43 pmI had to look as I’m a registered Republican and Trump didn’t have a running mate, I voted for Nikki. But it doesn’t appear that the veep slot is on the ticket, but I’d submit that you’d automatically assume she’s on the ticket.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:46 pmI am with Obama, and against the Clintons and the Bidens. It should be an open convention.
The question is, do any big names other than Kamala even want a piece of this late-stage, long-shot election? I’d wager some of them are perfectly content to have Kamala be the sacrificial lamb against the master grifter.
norcal (7c8755) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:48 pmA distinction without a difference. As Kevin M pointed out, Biden’s delegates are now “uncommitted” so by definition it will be an open convention. And Patterico is correct in saying that Harris will win, probably on the first ballot.
No Democrat of note will challenge Harris. Things are already f-up for the Democrats, they are not going to want to have multi-round votes to select a nominee.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:57 pmI know Democrats who strongly dislike Harris and are less likely to vote for her than they were for Biden. They won’t vote for Trump of course, but they might stay home.
She is one of those Democrats who knows no Republicans. Let’s see how she presents herself; I expect mostly “I am not Donald Trump” instead of “This is how we fix the border.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:07 pmKamala clicking on Send:
https://x.com/dragonsnaydra/status/1815085643661238699
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:14 pmAides Struggling To Figure Out How To Break The News To Biden That He Dropped Out
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:16 pmI’m waiting for the Downfall video: “Trump finds out that Biden quit the race.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:19 pm#55, 56, 60
Irrespective of politics, Biden did the right thing by dropping out. But, how likely is an open convention? The D establishment surely doesn’t want one, they want the convention to be, as every convention of both parties has been since 1972 or so, a coronation and not an airing of differences between factions. It’s hard to believe that some sort of deal hasn’t been worked out, or at least pressure from the top applied, to get all the party leaders to fall into line for Harris. Whether that’s enough to close the obvious fissures over Israel is anyone’s guess but Harris seems like the D establishment’s anointed one.
Patterico, Kevin M or JVW (among others) probably remember this much better than I do but when Harris was elected California AG, didn’t Republican Steve Cooley (then the LA County DA) have a significant lead when the votes were counted on Election Day, but the lead evaporated over the next week or so as absentee votes came in? I’ve seen no evidence of fraud but it always seemed suspicious that once the size of Cooley’s lead was known, enough votes for Harris materialized to overcome it. Or was Harris’s win really legit (maybe my doubts about it are just a paranoid fantasy)?
RL formerly in Glendale (7a2d64) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:30 pmThe Democrats will be shielding Kamala from live events more than they did Biden.
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:52 pmShe is one of those Democrats who knows no Republicans. Let’s see how she presents herself; I expect mostly “I am not Donald Trump” instead of “This is how we fix the border.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:07 pm
I think she’d like people to forget that she was put in charge of the border.
norcal (7c8755) — 7/21/2024 @ 2:59 pm> her failure to defend Proposition 8
Note that I voted *against* her in 2010 (and for the Republican running against her), was out of state in 2014, and voted for the other Democrat in 2018, but this particular criticism is somewhat unfair. The outgoing AG, Jerry Brown, had already refused to defend it, and she was open in her campaigning that she wouldn’t. The voters knew what they were getting on this.
aphrael (4127d7) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:12 pm> Patterico, Kevin M or JVW (among others) probably remember this much better than I do but when Harris was elected California AG, didn’t Republican Steve Cooley (then the LA County DA) have a significant lead when the votes were counted on Election Day, but the lead evaporated over the next week or so as absentee votes came in? I’ve seen no evidence of fraud but it always seemed suspicious that once the size of Cooley’s lead was known, enough votes for Harris materialized to overcome it. Or was Harris’s win really legit (maybe my doubts about it are just a paranoid fantasy)?
I’m pretty sure it was legit.
(a) I don’t remember what you remember, although https://web.archive.org/web/20161117161047/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/steve-cooley-kamala-harris-attorney-general.html/ confirmsit
(b) Cooley lost *in Los Angeles County*, the county he’d been DA of, by a decisive margin. This had nothing to do with *him*, it had to do with *his party affiliation* — DA has been nonpartisan for a century and it was the first time he’d run with a party label attached to his name.
(c) the general pattern in CA that absentees swing left had been established for close to a decade at that point, so this really wasn’t anything out of the oridnary
aphrael (4127d7) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:16 pmSubstitute Trump for Cooley and Biden for Harris and you’ve got Trump’s claim the 2020 election was stolen.
Rip Murdock (b9e03a) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:20 pmNot only that, but the Secretary of State at the time, Debra Bowen, had been very active in election integrity efforts and had led the charge to decertify unsafe electronic voting machines. The notion that she would have participated in rigging an election for Harris is laughable.
aphrael (4127d7) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:25 pmWell, here we are. Once again, the flappers from Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” are revealed. They let us see, speak, and hear when they think it is a good idea.
What I fear most is the deification of KH.
Simon Jester (92677e) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:29 pmAt the end I was reminded of Muhammed Ali when he had faded to a shell- he was still smart enough not to step back into the ring- Joe in his lucid moments and his tight inner circle were not being smart.
The reason for the “bullying” was that Biden was living and acting in lies and delusion and his handlers were lying to our faces.
Because Biden was lying while delusional, lying while jacked up on meds lucid, everyone had to be increasingly blunt and harsh. Biden was not listening, so escalation was in order.
Biden’s proxies were lying to us, and claimed Biden was in charge. Biden when medicated fully, angrily claimed to be in charge, so Biden was addressed, not his proxies.
That “bullying” was kinder than what the level of lying wrapped around a lifetime of aholery dictated, and the tone was appropriate toward a lifelong liar who lied about lying about his lies. Not a joke
Like it or not, Joe the sorry old man whose last 4 years achieved a new pinnacle of cynical, serial deception that was exceptional even by Biden standards.
Joe deserved every bit of the harsh words and more. He BS’d us for 50 years and his last 4 were a doozy. All he got for his multi generational aholery was a harsh scolding at the end of his run. Got off easy.
Biden has withdrawn from the race. He should be forgiven-not that he’ll ever ask- but forgiven. Nobody- not even Trump- owes him an apology.
My guess is Biden and his handlers will keep him chirping, and he’ll keep lying until some point around December. Then once he is 100% off the stage I plan to be forgiving and gracious
steveg (1929f8) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:33 pm@Kevin@64 So, for reasons, I know people in 3 of the bay area or near bay area DA’s offices pretty personally. Even in the Bay Area, DAs offices are not particularly hotbeds of Democratic thought. Probably split fairly evenly. I am certain Harris knows some Republicans on a personal level. However, the ones she knows would be law and order republicans and fiscal conservatives for the most part rather than social conservatives.
Nic (120c94) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:43 pmNic – people not unlike our host, in fact.
aphrael (4127d7) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:50 pmThe lawfare game just did a 180. Republicans will challenge removing Biden from the ballot in several swing states (NV, WI, GA) where the rules are somewhat strict. They had anticipated this move for weeks. Rule of Law folks should be ecstatic.
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 3:52 pmLOL!. I don’t think Democrats will trade one old guy for another.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:01 pmDonald Trump made better comments to CBS off the air when called on the telephone. He said it was good for the country (I think – I don’t remember exactly what the reporter said he said) and that it was shocking.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:18 pm> will challenge removing Biden from the ballot in several swing states (NV, WI, GA) where the rules are somewhat strict.
Presidential elections are wierd because no state is going to require that the winner of the state’s presidential primary be the general election presidential nominee, so qualification is not based on having won the primary.
I can’t find anything in the Nevada election code which governes this situation. Chapter 293 doesn’t say anything about general election presidential candidates and only discusses presidential electors in the context of recounts, and chapter 298 discusses how the *convention* selects electors but not how they are attributed on the ballot. (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/)
There is no case in Wisconsin:
Wis Consin Code Chapter 8.16(7):
> Nominees chosen at a national convention and under s. 8.18 (2) by each party entitled to a partisan primary ballot shall be the party’s candidates for president, vice president and presidential electors. The state or national chairperson of each such party shall certify the names of the party’s nominees for president and vice president to the commission no later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September preceding a presidential election.
In Georgia tihs is governed by Title 21, Chapter 2, Article 4, Part 2, Section 21-2-153 (f):
> Candidates for the office of presidential elector or their agents who have been nominated in accordance with the rules of a political party shall qualify beginning at 9:00 A.M. on the Monday of the thirty-fifth week prior to the November general election in the year in which a presidential election shall be held and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday immediately following such Monday, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays. All qualifying for the office of presidential elector shall be conducted in the state capitol.
I’m not sure it matters, though, because 21-2-180 says that parties which meet certain qualifications (which the democrats absolutely do, it only requires that the party have run a candidate in the previous general election and that candidate got at least 1%).
The problem is 21-2-187:
> Political bodies shall hold their conventions in accordance with Code Section 21-2-172, and candidates nominated for state-wide public office in convention shall file a notice of candidacy no earlier than 9:00 A.M. on the fourth Monday in June immediately prior to the election and no later than 12:00 Noon on the Friday following the fourth Monday in June as prescribed in Code Section 21-2-132; provided, however, that the political body must file its qualifying petition no later than 12:00 Noon on the second Tuesday in July following the convention as prescribed in Code Section 21-2-172 in order to qualify its candidates to be listed on the general election ballot.
So I see no issue in Wis, a real issue in GA, and who can tell in NV?
That said, I also think the point here is not so much to win the cases as it is to drum up another fraudulent fraud narrative.
aphrael (4127d7) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:20 pmPresident Biden said to have begun seriously considering dropping out last night. He spoke to Kamala Harris numerous times this morning/early afternoon. He informed some aides at 1:45 and released his statement at 1:46. About half an hour later he endorsed Kamala Harris for the nomination.
He hasn’t been seen or heard from in person all day.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:21 pmDonald Trump has cancelled his participation in the second scheduled presidential debate Sept 10, arguing that they don’t even know who the Democratic candidate will be,
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:23 pmYesterday, Bill Clinton was all for Joe Biden staying in the race and telling donors to contribute (if they asked him I suppose)
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:25 pmThe Biden campaign committee has officially changed its name to be only Harris and Biden campaign employees told they’re for Harris.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:26 pmThere is no official nominee for president till the convention (or zoom roll call which we still don’t know if it is scheduled for AUgust 7.
They have this argument that Ohio’s new law doesn’t take effect till September 1m but no serious claim can be made that a deadline will be missed.
First mail ballots in the nation go out September 6.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:31 pm@aphrael@78 Probably, yeah.
Nic (120c94) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:35 pmBased on my skim of GA law there’s at least a colorable argument that the formal rules are violated by this process, and that might be enough to complicate matters.
aphrael (1797ab) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:35 pmOT
Time123 (e396ef) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:37 pmAphrael, thank you for the very thoughtful response to my question about the scalier shooting. I didn’t really have anything to add or contest so I didn’t reply to it. But you thoughts were well laid out and you clearly put effort into developing and articulating your opinion. I appreciate it.
This is good for the country.
The only good reason to vote for Harris is that she’s not Trump.
Same as Biden.
But Biden is clearly struggling with age related mental decline and a mentally acute leader with very bad policy preferences is better then a dimwitted leader with bad policy preferences.
Both / either is preferable to Trump.
I think Biden should resign from the presidency. I can get my head around how he’s been deteriorating. In 2020 he seems more physically fit and mentally acute than Trump. Neither is currently the case IMO. He should step down.
Time123 (e396ef) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:42 pmThe voters knew what they were getting on this.
Perhaps, but the job of the AG is to serve the voters, and they passed Prop 8. She not only chose to do otherwise, but argued that if she didn’t defend it no one could, despite the CA Supreme Court ruling the backers had standing. As a result Prop 8 (which, btw, I voted against) lost the appeal by default when the Supreme Court ruled that the backers did not have standing.
My disagreement with her was not about Prop 8 (other than she should have defended it or appointed an agent to do so), but the idea that you can allow a group to defend a case in district court (with a judge who should have recused), then deny them standing to appeal.
It’s dirty pool, at best. And that’s how Harris fights.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:43 pmIn general, states accept the national party nomination either directly or as echoed by their state party after the Convention. There is no state that has already printed the November ballot since, in most years, they have no idea who the VP candidate will be. And if they have, tough.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:50 pmLOL!. I don’t think Democrats will trade one old guy for another.
Manchin’s argument will be that a progressive Democrat cannot win.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:51 pmcandidates nominated for state-wide public office in convention shall file a notice of candidacy no earlier than
aprhael, I don’t think this is talking about presidential candidates as the state convention does not nominate them.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:54 pmWhen do you think Harris became aware of this deterioration?
BuDuh (0e7d16) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:54 pmDonald Trump has cancelled his participation in the second scheduled presidential debate Sept 10, arguing that they don’t even know who the Democratic candidate will be,
I can understand this, in a way, but the nominee will be known by then. It’s important that Harris is exposed to real, live questions. In a studio campaign, I think she wins.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:56 pmWhen do you think Harris became aware of this deterioration?
To paraphrase Howard Baker: “What did the Vice-President know, and when?”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 4:57 pmTrump is a pizda for canceling the debate. The August VP debate with Vance should be full on.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:17 pmYou are still waiting. In the meantime there is this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=evsAdBY9StY
BuDuh (0e7d16) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:18 pmFrom Mr. Sorkin’s favorite Dem nominee…
Well done, Mitt.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:20 pmI wonder when Mitt knew of the deterioration? He sounds pretty close to the Biden’s.
BuDuh (0e7d16) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:21 pmApparently, that campaign cash might not go to Harris anyway.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:22 pmAgain we are back to needing a pliant judge that some people don’t believe exists.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:23 pmGavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg Endorse Kamala Harris
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:25 pmRomney didn’t owe Biden anything after losing to Obama and after getting demagogued by Obama-Biden and their surrogates along the way.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:31 pmIn September of last year, Romney said Biden should retire and not pursue a 2nd term. Whether Romney knew of Biden’s mental state, perhaps that’s for BuDuh to find out.
Interesting stuff, Paul.
Thanks.
BuDuh (0e7d16) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:36 pmIn order for any Democrat to be placed in nomination at the convention, they need the signatures of 300 delegates, with no more than 50 from a single state. No delegate may sign more than one petition.
Each candidate will have 20 minutes for nominating and seconding speeches.
Source
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:37 pmRomney also wanted Biden to interfere with New York’s fraud case against Trump and pardon him for his alleged J6 and Espionage Act crimes.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:44 pmI guess the DNC program committee needs to get back to work.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:47 pmThe democrats got into the mud to force their old man with dementia out. The republicans could have done the same with their moronic old man, but they had no cajones, just a bucket of cucks.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:50 pmI agree with Romney a lot, not on pardoning a felonious ex-president. Don’t do the crime if can’t do the time.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:50 pmFlashback:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/clinton-and-the-dnc-are-not-just-colluding-theyre-changing-the-rules-for-superdelegates_b_9876274
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:53 pmSays a Republican campaign lawyer whom I’m sure doesn’t have a rooting interest in the outcome.
We’ll see what happens.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:54 pmKevin Williamson ran a column the other week suggesting that Harris should stand aside and let the party choose the candidate, since she’d face a certain loss.
But no.
This reminds me of a line from Blazing Saddles.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:54 pmWahhhh!!! Give me money. Elon, give me some more money.
This turd was saying last week that Biden should drop out, so he did. Now, he’s crying like a toddler.
More to the point, it’s going to be all about him again, which he loves, but his campaign hates.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:55 pmSays a Republican campaign lawyer whom I’m sure doesn’t have a rooting interest in the outcome.
And, btw, the FEC chair.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:55 pmNikki could still be right, to Dustin’s chagrin…
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:59 pmActBlue has raised $27.5M since Biden’s announcement this morning.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:00 pmAlso a Republican.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:02 pm@119 Did they return the assassin’s $15?
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:08 pmAs I said earlier, the GOP shouldn’t take this lying down. Get even and drop Trump.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:08 pmHow soon will we start hearing about the Harris Crime Family?
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:11 pmOuch:
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:12 pmOverheard:
Trump: Damn it! I should never have let them talk me into an early debate. If that had happened in September, they’d have no choice!
Biden: Damn it! I should never have let them talk me into an early debate. If that had happened in September, they’d have no choice!
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:17 pmWe realize Mr. Trump is frustrated that he won’t be able to run against Mr. Biden.…………
He still can.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:18 pmFrom the X…
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:20 pmMaybe she’s just terrible.
Yeah, maybe.
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:25 pm> Maybe she’s just terrible
I voted for the Republican running against her in 2010 despite his promising to defend a ballot initiative that banned gay marriage. I voted for the other Democrat running in the general election for Senate in 2018 despite thinking the other Democrat was mediocre. I would never in a million years vote for her in a primary.
*I* think she’s terrible.
But she’s not a corrupt con man selling the country a pretty little lie while setting it up so he can rig the system to ensure that he and his stay in power indefinitely.
I’ll take terrible over potential extinction-level-event-for-the-Republic any day.
aphrael (1797ab) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:29 pmMore to the point, it’s going to be all about him again, which he loves, but his campaign hates.
I did not hear Trump’s convention speech. When he regretted that he only had one ear left to give for democracy, did he mention Corey Comperatore who was killed, and David Dutch and James Copenhaver who were wounded?
nk (29f2b6) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:32 pmFrom Lloyd’s link:
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:36 pmMore:
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:38 pmWell, no he didn’t mention them. He did kiss the helmet of his fireman cover. Still hasn’t tried to reach out to them either.
It was big news when Biden did call because the wife said her husband was a true MAGA and wouldn’t have accepted it.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:45 pm@130 Yes nk, he mentioned all three and had Corey Comperstore’s firefighter gear and helmet up there with him too. They all suffered cackle bladder stains, though Comperatore’s somehow proved fatal. BTW nk, isn’t “cackle bladder” a great nickname for Kamala?
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:48 pmI actually think this is very accurate. Not sure if this is a joke, but definitely nodded my head.
Dustin (e58460) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:50 pmBleach:
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:50 pm@133 “Well, no he didn’t mention them.”
Has this not pierced your media bubble yet?
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:51 pmAnd this.
Klink has impeccable sources to keep him informed.
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:55 pmThank you, gentlemen! If you don’t ask, you don’t get to learn things.
nk (29f2b6) — 7/21/2024 @ 6:56 pmSeeing so many self-described conservatives push yet another hard leftist just proves how pure they are. And lying about the republican candidate.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:01 pmA dose of common sense from Ms. McArdle…
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:01 pmThe Democrats traded old, incoherent and incompetent for younger, incoherent and incompetent.
lloyd (7d321a) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:04 pmCol.
from 5 days ago
“He was very kind and said he would continue to call me in the days and weeks ahead,” she wrote, The New York Times reported.
Comperatore said the former president said her 50-year-old husband “left this world a hero, and God welcomed him in.”
weird how when I go to Google, “Has Trump reached out to the family of Corey Comperatore” the top answer is an old article that says no
From Trumps stemwinder
Tragically, the shooter claimed the life of one of our fellow Americans, Corey Comperatore, and seriously wounded two other great warriors, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. I spoke to all three families of these tremendous people—our love and prayers are with them, and always will be. Corey, a highly respected former fire chief, was accompanied by his wife Helen and two precious daughters. He lost his life selflessly acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. He was such a fine man. Next to me on stage this evening are Corey’s firefighting helmet and jacket. I now ask that we observe a moment of silence in honor of Corey.
I also spoke to all three families of these tremendous people. Our love and prayers are with them and always will be. We’re never going to forget them. They came for a great rally. They were serious trumpsters, I want to tell you.
They were serious trumpsters and still are. But Corey, unfortunately, we have to use the past tense. He was incredible. He was a highly respected former fire chief, respected by everybody. Was accompanied by his wife, Helen, incredible woman I spoke to today.
Devastated. And two precious daughters. He lost his life selflessly, acting as a human shield to protect them from flying bullets. He went right over the top of them, and Washington hit what a fine man he was.
I want to thank the fire department and the family for sending his helmet, his outfit, and it was just something, and they’re going to do something very special when they get it. But we did something which cannot match what happened. Not even close. But I am very proud to say that over the past few days, we’ve raised $6.3 million for the families of David, James and Corey, including from a friend of mine, just called up. He sent me a check right here.
I just got it. $1 million from Dan Newland. Thank you, Dan.
And again, when speaking to the family, I told them, I said, well, I’m going to be sending you a lot of money, but I can’t compensate. They all said the same thing. You’re right, sir. We appreciate so much what you’re doing, but nothing can take the place. In the case of Corey and the other two, by the way, they were very, very seriously injured, but now they’re doing very well.
They’re going to be okay. They’re going to be doing
They’re warriors. So now I ask that we observe a moment of silence in honor of our friend Corey.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for others. This is the spirit that forged America in her darkest hours. And this is the love that will lead America back to the summit of human achievement and greatness. This is what we need. Despite such a heinous attack, we unite this evening more determined than ever.
steveg (1929f8) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:07 pmI stand corrected, I tuned out when he started blabbing about how no one ran, when many ran, then tuned in again for a second until he started talking about checks.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:08 pmDoes Ms. McArdle have a take on the about-face group that thought Biden was fit as a fiddle with the mind of a genius?
Maybe there is a Venn diagram of the overlap of the groups.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:13 pmThis is what is so frustrating. For years, I’ve bleated that Trump has to go, that the Republican Party was selling its soul to corruption and deceit by keeping him as the (titular) head of the Party. And now he *is* the head of the Republican Party. Sadly, IT DIDN’T MATTER to enough Republicans that he was a moronic, dishonest, charlatan who cares about nothing but power and wealth. Trump’s GOP : Party before a working moral compass, always. But here’s the thing, I don’t believe it was a lack of cajones that Republicans didn’t get into the mud to force trump out. It’s because they love what he says, does, and represents. He is not a moronic old man to his supporters. We’re 10 years into Trump and if people still believe he is the man who will “make America treat again,” they’re drunk on the kool-aid or they willfully deceive themselves. To see a convicted felon who sexually assaulted a woman and attempted to overthrow an election result by pressuring his vice-president to break the law for him become the nominee again and take over the GOP will never not be shocking to me. An old man with failing cognitive skills and a liberal agenda is not worse than a convicted felon who sexually assaults women and illegally attempts to turn over the legitimate results of an election by using the levers of power for his personal gain.
Dana (b18fb2) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:14 pmAt no point in the media briefing did the then-president explicitly recommend that people inject bleach or other disinfectants into their bodies. He merely asked experts whether disinfectants could be injected to tackle COVID-19.
later after William N. Bryan corrected the President in the Q&A session about the results of the study he was referencing.
Trump then responded
Several days later President Trump claimed
It certainly didn’t appear to be sarcastic when initial stated by the President.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:21 pm^
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:23 pmI stand by this statement, as I never said who would remove her from the campaign. There is still 107 days until Election Day.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:38 pmCol.
I wanted to hear how Trump would describe getting shot in the ear… he went on a little long about it, but its what I signed up for. If it had happened in 2016, he’d have spoken on it for 3 hours
steveg (1929f8) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:47 pmThought he did an OK job of honoring Comperatore, because he has a bad habit of making everything about himself. Better than I’d expected.
Enough was enough, so I went on to better things than watching a convention speech. I knew if he gacked it, I could watch it on youtube later anyway.
History lesson via Victor Davis Hanson
(link below)
By Brezhnev’s late 60s and early 70s, he was too ill to travel abroad or make public appearances. Indeed, his debility left the Soviet Union without a real leader for the final six or seven years of his tenure.
Brezhnev got away with it because the Soviet state-controlled media doctored photos and videos to attest to his supposedly vigorous health and constant hands-on involvement.
“Journalists” sent out false communiques. They spun narratives that Brezhnev was robust, hale, and working long hours on behalf of the Russian people. Any dissenting journalists who sought to report the true, sad state of affairs were in danger of losing their jobs, freedom — or even their lives.
Instead, the “reporters” of Pravda (“Truth”), the official print megaphone of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, wrote lies about Brezhnev’s busy workdays. Pravda’s handlers spun fables about the respect (and fear) the rest of the world held for such a dynamic leader — even as Brezhnev became an ill virtual recluse.
In the end, Brezhnev could not even hobble to the May Day dais to celebrate communism’s national holiday.
He soon reached the point that his debilities were so manifest that even his hirelings and the media could not hide them. He then vanished from public view, leaving the Russian people with no idea as to who was running their communist nation.
Then one day, Soviet propagandists announced suddenly but matter-of-factly that the dynamic Brezhnev had died and that his successor, Yuri Andropov, was now brilliantly running the Soviet Union.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2024/07/12/our_brezhnev_our_pravda_our_soviet_union_151249.html
steveg (1929f8) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:50 pmJust gaslight the MAGAVerse and select Mayor Pete as the veep. Who in that group drops the n or f words live and in color, so to speak. Tucker, Cernovich, Loomer, Fuentes? Fuentes 2/1 probably.
Vance’s wife divorces him in 6 weeks for playing footsie with the full on klan types.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:51 pmDavid Weigel
@daveweigel
Sen. John Fetterman: People pushed out an honorable man, loving father and a great president before an absolute sleazeball like Menendez. Congratulations.”
Yeah, everyone’s on board
lloyd (0637c5) — 7/21/2024 @ 7:59 pmContinued:
Biden, too, is at that point of stasis. He cannot do press conferences, town halls, debates, or real interviews. To do so would confirm to the public the truth: that Biden is too cognitively challenged to continue his presidency.
Yet our Pravda journalists have sworn to the American people that, in private, the reclusive, three-day-a-week Biden outpaces the energy and drive of those half his age. Obsequious staffers plant stories in the Soviet-like ears of reporters about Biden’s singular dynamism.
Any dissenters are publicly demonized as peddlers of “cheap fakes.”
When Biden’s reclusiveness prompts too much gossip that he is near senile, he is wheeled out for a staged interview that must be edited before release. Or he answers questions secretly shown to him in advance.
Why would I trust what these people tell me about mail in ballots? Or anything.
steveg (1929f8) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:02 pmFrustrating. All you had to do was compromise and go with Desantis. If enough nevertrumpers backed a conservative who wasn’t all those bad things, he would have been viable enough to have a shot.
But it didn’t matter to a lot of folks who act like Trump is an existential threat (but apparently not worth a little compromise for a social con).
Dustin (e58460) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:12 pmHonorable man? Great President?
I’m sure Biden did some honorable things. Some have been intentional.
steveg (1929f8) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:18 pmThe problem for Biden’s legacy should be the intentional dishonorable things. His Presidency ended with a thud because the lies fell apart under their own weight
CottonBulls Eye JoeIf it hadn’t been for Bulls-Eye Joe
I’d have a ear without a hole
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Bulls-Eye Joe?
He spoke to my daughter in a soft whisper
A lying no good dog faced pony soldier
His eyes was always on the watch on his hand
And some dude named Corn Pop was his main man
If it hadn’t been for Bulls-Eye Joe
I’d have an ear without a hole
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Bulls-Eye Joe?
He brought disaster wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to Hell, broken, sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
And left dead men ’cause of Bulls-Eye Joe
If it hadn’t been for Bulls-Eye Joe
lloyd (0637c5) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:20 pmI’d have an ear without a hole
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Bulls-Eye Joe?
As is usual in this election year, this does not actually improve the choices.
Out: Very old experienced pol with only modest progressive tendencies.
In: Young, inexperience pol with hard-line progressive positions.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:28 pmAs Rip points out “There is still 107 days until Election Day.”
Plenty of time to remove Trump, right?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:32 pmPray tell, is there anywhere in the transcript where a “one minute” disinfectant is described?
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:39 pmYou joke, but of course it’s really too late to remove Trump.
Not that today’s GOP, which is run by the Trumps, would do that in a million years. But there’s a reason they planned for Biden to drop out of the race after the GOP convention, and before the Democratic convention.
They have totally stolen any potential momentum Trump got from the convention (frankly they probably saved Trump from discussion of his lame speech). He’s still way ahead because the democrats’ violent rhetoric led to bloodshed.
The GOP had its chance to change course. We took ‘same old.’ The country will pay for that for a long time, as it has been since Romney’s nomination. The inflexibility of those who hate social conservatives is the actual source of the rot that leads to populism and grifters running things.
Dustin (e58460) — 7/21/2024 @ 8:40 pmLOL!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 9:13 pmamiright?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 9:34 pmYou joke, but of course it’s really too late to remove Trump.
It’s more likely than removing Harris as Rip suggests.
Trump is old, he’s WAAAAAY overweight and in bad physical shape. God calls a lot of people home in that condition.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/21/2024 @ 9:38 pmIt’s beginning to look like the Democrats don’t want to hear from anyone else. A number of state delegations have voted to endorse Harris, including Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and New Hampshire. The chairs for the 57 state parties and territories have also endorsed Harris.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 9:42 pmThe odds of Trump or Harris being removed by their respective parties are absolutely zero. Being removed by fate is something else; it nearly happened to Trump.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 9:47 pmMaybe find out.
Paul Montagu (b2b4aa) — 7/21/2024 @ 9:49 pmI would like to see gov. shapiro might not help in michigan so looks like it will be sen. mark kelly. At least one senile old fool is out of the race. too soon for AOC.
asset (f4cb2a) — 7/21/2024 @ 10:05 pmWe now have a former prosecutor running against a current defendant and convicted felon. In a sane world that wouldn’t and shouldn’t be a close race. In the world we live in it probably won’t be a close race either, but with the criminal winning.
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:10 am@169 Vote early and often for curley! Elected mayor of boston from jail cell. Populism hates the wealthy more then democrats!
asset (f4cb2a) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:13 amDana, I think you’re missing a few very important difference between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
1. Joe is a lifelong democrat and is very invested in our system and institutions. Once pushed out it’s likely that he will support his party. Trump care about Trump. If he’s pushed out he’d do everything possible to take personal advantage of the situation and get revenge for the insult. Biden may hold grudges based on his this has happened but he has other priorities as well. Trump doesn’t seem to.
2. Trump is the center of the MAGA movement and has immense personal devotion from many of the voters. Biden does not. He was sort of popular at one point but “generic democrat” polled better then he did for a while and what ppl liked best about him was that they thought he could beat Trump in 2020. Take that away and few in the party will miss him.
3. Trumps been obviously mental for years. His supporters don’t object to his deranged rants, they like them. 2024 Biden is diminished from 2020. His current state was not priced in.
So forcing Trump out would be a lot harder and Cary much higher costs for the GOP then did forcing Biden out.
Time123 (2e48aa) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:24 am@155 Dustin, Trump wiped the floor with Desantis in Iowa and NH there was never any opportunity for most of us to support him as a compromise alternative.
Fact is that the GOP base *really* likes Trump. So much so that the populist alternatives weren’t willing to risk upsetting them by making a fight out of it.
I think Desantis was running to raise his profile for 2028, not to beat Trump.
Time123 (2e48aa) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:33 amI think DeSantis was Trump’s stooge as much as Halley and Ramasalami, all three in the primary as ringers, principally to give Trump a stack of Primo Carnera “wins”, and secondarily to crowd out a serious challenger (who never showed up).
nk (ed15fb) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:56 amBTW, does Bridget Ziegler look like a young Marjorie Main or is it just me?
nk (ed15fb) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:02 amInteresting story about the behind the scenes https://apple.news/Ab_FQOwFBTle4D5kH_DznvQ
Time123 (3c5119) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:13 am@60
Who also abused her office in going after Daleiden:
https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/anti-abortion-groups-kamala-harris-resign-david-daleiden-221681
For those who worried that Trump will abuse his office, his likely opponent has shown no hesitation in actually doing so.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:40 amHarris might be like Arnold Schwarzenegger, unable to win a primary, but able to win a general election because of a unique set of circumstances.
Much of Biden’s problem was with the young (for obvious reasons) and a less enthusiastic african-american vote. Harris ought to reduce that slide. The counter argument is that older voters are less enamored. But I don’t see older people people suddenly deciding Trump fter supporting Biden. Frankly, the main reason independents and the like supported Biden is that they feared Trump. And may they were afraid Trump would try to put Hannibal Lecter in the cabinet.
Appalled (98cadf) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:46 am@111
Yeah, I don’t want to hear from Democrats that they’re “saving Democracy” this election.
I refuse to go along with the gaslighting that Democrat primary voters didn’t know Biden was too old.
Biden was democratically elected during the primary.
But, Democrat elites, compliant media and Democrat congression-critters had to chuck out their democratically nominated candidate for someone else, simply because they realized that he would likely lose.
Can’t get more undemocratic than that.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:50 amPost @178 is stuck in moderation.
What caused this? There’s no cuss words or euphemistic words that traditionally hit the filters…
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:52 am@133
Yes, he did reach out to them Klink.
Secret Service prevented Trump from attending the funeral because they couldn’t guarantee safety in such a short time.
You don’t have to make crap up to ding Trump. He’s a rich target, and doing so despite being a rich target gives him cover.
Ya’ll still haven’t learned this…
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:56 am@142
To be fair, it is truly an upgrade.
At least *she’ll* be running the Whitehouse… not a bunch of handler like the current shadow government.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:58 amJoe Manchin will not challenge Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:01 amFor those who worried that Trump will abuse his office, his likely opponent has shown no hesitation in actually doing so.
In CA, there is a law that limits those guns available for sale to ones that have passed strict safety rules. Even guns that have been approved in the past must be periodically re-approved. One notable statutory requirement is a microstamping feature on semi-auto handguns, so long as the AG certifies that such a feature is possible. Which AG Harris did despite widespread industry assertions that it was not possible. No new semi-auto weapons have been approved in CA.
Recently, this law has been struck down by a federal district court, but the state is appealing.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:07 amAt least *she’ll* be running the Whitehouse… not a bunch of handler like the current shadow government
What evidence do you have of that? She looks like a figurehead to a wokist mob to me.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:08 amHarris doesn’t seem either incoherent or incompetent. I dislike her policies and general approach to governing but those are different objections.
Also, Trumps abuse of power isn’t a hypothetical concern. There were several large examples from his first term whose impacts were limited by his inability to execute his schemes and find competent subordinates.
Time123 (2e48aa) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:09 amAnd may they were afraid Trump would try to put Hannibal Lecter in the cabinet.
I very much doubt that many voters heard about that. And since they’d have to listen to Trump for long periods to actually hear it, the ones that stick it out are probably in agreement about Mr Lecter.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:11 amhis inability to execute his schemes and find competent subordinates.
He did have competent subordinates. He just fired them until he got replacements that said YES more often.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:13 am@187, imagine if we’d had AG Guliani instead of Barr. I’m not a fan of Barr. But compared to Rudy…..
Time123 (2e48aa) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:17 amI think she’ll do better that Biden would have with the 18-25 age group. And I mean actually getting their votes.
No guess about the rest of the population. I doubt that she’ll move any to vote for Trump, but that’s not same as getting them to vote for her.
nk (fac2c0) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:17 amHave we seen Biden lately?
Biden has not been seen in public since he boarded a plane on his way to DE to recover from COVID.
He resigned the nomination in a clearly-written-by-staff that was posted on X.
He “endorsed” Harris later in subsequent X.
He has not been seen in public since then…. Harris is going to speak in public this morning BEFORE Biden has a chance to explain his position to American voters.
Is it conspiratorial to allege that none of this is adding up neatly?
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:37 amGiven that Harris had two, polished, ads ready to go, she had either gotten the word a while ago and the delay was just to disadvantage Trump, or she did it behind Biden’s back.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:48 am@190
If you want to point out that this announcement is being executed badly and criticize Biden for not speaking directly to the American ppl and owning the message clearly that doesn’t seem conspiratorial to me.
If you want to use those observations to assert that Biden is dead/being held captive in a sex dungeon in the basement of a DC pizzeria then it is conspiracy theory stufff
Similar to your comment up thread about skipping valid criticism of Trump to make unfounded / inaccurate accusations.
Time123 (2e48aa) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:52 am@191, or she knew it was a possibility and spent some
Time123 (2e48aa) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:53 amMoney on a contingency plan.
Is this a campaign violation (coordination)?
Harris’s X page has a header which lists her website as kamalaharris.com
That redirects to an ACctBlue site that says “Paid for by ActBlue and not authorized by any candidate of candidate’s committee.”
All contributions on that site are to ActBlue, not Harris, for “independent expenditure.”
Also, it gives more insight into Crooks’ $15 donation if this kind of supporter redirection is common.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:56 amIf you want to use those observations to assert that Biden is dead/being held captive
I’d go with “his COVID case is not mild like they say.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:59 amI’m not following this
Can I ask you to elaborate?
Time123 (2d151a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:00 amIs there a “seal of the Vice-President”
OMG, there is.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:02 amCan I ask you to elaborate?
If you click on the purported page for Kamala Harris (listed at the top of her X page), you are redirected to a page seeking donations in her name which go to (and are recorded as going to) ActBlue.
So, while Crooks is recorded as donating to ActBlue, we really don’t know who he thought he was donating to.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:04 amReading through that site, it is unclear where the donations actually go. It is said that the donation will “benefit Kamala Harris” and something called “Harris for President” is mentioned, but donations seem to go to ActBlue.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:08 am@192
Trying replying again… WordPress is being weird.
No, not asserting Biden is dead or being held in sex dungeon.
But, there’s a non-zero chance that there’s some wild palace-intrigue or even a soft coup… simply because Biden hasn’t been seen in public or even recording since he dropped out.
The ONLY thing we have is his X posting.
Furthermore, I don’t know if this is real, but on X, there’s a ton of posting about how Biden’s signature on his ‘dropping out’ document that doesn’t match to his various signatures on public signing documents.
All of it is… just… weird.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:11 amYeah, I’ve already had two texts from them with the heading Kamala Harris and an ActBlue URL and the amount asked for is $15.
nk (a730bb) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:13 amMy problem is that her X account co-ordinates with ActBlue’s donation page.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:14 amConspiratorial how?
BTW, the indomitable Cathy Young writes about the so-called media conspiracy that covered up Biden’s declining health. In short: Didn’t happen. The reporting on his feebleness was there for those willing to see, although there could’ve been more reporting. Perhaps there were reasons why Biden skipped the Superbowl interview and why he refused to sit down with the NYT, having to do with his mental fitness, which he and his staff concealed.
Also of note…
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/did-the-media-hide-bidens-aging
Paul Montagu (713e99) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:34 amI think a lot of folks here has forgotten how radical Harris is…
She will energize the progressive base (right asset??), as base that was wavering on Biden.
She abused her AG office to go after an anti-abortion journalist in real heinous ways.
She abused her AG office advocating that non-violent prisoners shouldn’t be released early because the prison system would lose cheap labor.
As AG, she jailed many who’s only infraction was for possessing weed.
As AG, she advocated to jail parents for truancy.
She claimed that ICE is no different than the KKK.
She’s a progressive-warrior who will always take that side – ie, believed that whole Border Agent horse whipping-migrant story.
She argued that she’d ban carbon-base fuels when possible.
She’d enact a federal fracking ban.
She supported the end of the Senatorial filibuster.
She advocated and facilitated donations for the rioters post-Floyd summer of riots.
She joined the dog-pile of ludacrist allegations at the Kavanaugh hearing.
She’s a radical that will go further left than the current Biden administration, where she’ll have compliant media and her Democrats voters will vote in lock-step for her agendas.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:36 am#200 —
Biden announced he would be making a speech later in the week. As he is still in COVID quarrentine (whether Trump believes that or not), the cries that all this is wierd is just…wierd.
Just a gut check for you — do you also find it odd that Trump has not released any info about his ear injury — except through a friendly congressman his is no longer a licensed doctor?
Appalled (98cadf) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:37 am“who is”…not “his is”
Appalled (98cadf) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:38 am“I think DeSantis was Trump’s stooge as much as Halley and Ramasalami, all three in the primary as ringers, principally to give Trump a stack of Primo Carnera “wins”, and secondarily to crowd out a serious challenger (who never showed up).”
This is weirdly goofy…and continues to miss that most Republican voters are fine with Trump. We need to stop blaming the Haley’s, DeSantis’, and Vivek’s and just acknowledge that it’s the stupid people. There was no “serious” challenger because there was no oxygen for a serious challenger. Youngkin and Kemp would have been rolled just as badly and DeSantis and Haley. The die was cast and the party circled the wagons to protect Trump. If Haley had done her best impersonation of Chris Christie or Liz Cheney, she would have only lost quicker. The problem is the people who squint and look at Trump and say, yeah, he was the goodest President who says mean things to people I don’t like….I want that.
AJ_Liberty (d42587) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:57 amdo you also find it odd that Trump has not released any info about his ear injury — except through a friendly congressman his is no longer a licensed doctor?
I have read that it’s a 2cm (13/16ths of an inch) long cut or abrasion. The pictures I saw, he had it covered with a white gauze bandage for a while and then with a Band Aid folded over the top of the ear. I have cut myself worse than that in my straight razor period.
It probably will not leave a scar. No hole in the ear except the one that was already there.
nk (5e3323) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:58 amCataggio had the Great Cover-up nailed a few weeks ago. After detailing how the inner circle had been intentionally covering up, he goes on to show how the process continued without active participation:
Emphasis mine, but go read the whole thing. The train-wreck had many moving parts.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:09 amActBlue acts as conduit for individuals to earmark their contributions to specific Democrat candidates nationwide, not just the Harris campaign.
WinRed is the Republican equivalent organization.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:09 am“who is”…not “his is”
It’s OK. We speak typo.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:11 amHow is that “coordination”? Her X account is just providing link. I’ll bet if you went to former President Trump’s Truth Social or X account you would find a similar link to WinRed.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:12 amAnd a demoted Navy Rear Admiral?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:13 amWinRed is the Republican equivalent organization.
Yes, I thought that might be so, but the idea of non-coordination seems like a fiction. I guess political parties are exempted from money-laundering laws.
Still, it means that Crooks’ $15 was not to ActBlue as such.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:14 amHow is that “coordination”?
It is what it is, no matter who does it. Frankly, we’d be be3tter off with no campaign finance laws instead of these porous fictions.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:16 amHarris still has a problem: The working people in those swing states still don’t like the Biden administration and she cannot pretend she had nothing to do with it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:18 amHowever, I expect polls later this week showing her ahead. The “Shiny” principle.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:19 amIn a highly unreported story, disgraced ABC News reporter Mark Halperin (now with Newsmax) scooped the Washington establishment media when he tweeted on Thursday that Biden would drop out of the 2024 presidential race, though he did get it wrong when he said Biden would not endorse Kamala Harris.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:22 amIf the Postal Service delivers a fundraising appeal, is that coordination? “Coordination” in this context means X is working with ActBlue hand in glove, which certainly is not the case. And it’s certainly not money laundering.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:24 am8:34AM:
9:09AM:
Ok.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:36 amthough he did get it wrong when he said Biden would not endorse Kamala Harris.
If he had the letter that Biden posted on X, he would have been correct — Biden rather pointedly did not endorse. Later he did, when his captors made him.
(yes, I’m kidding)
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:38 amBuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:36 am
Two different people posting.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:38 am@205
I actually do think it’s a wee bit weird.
He may be so vain that he doesn’t want to show off his wound.
If I were him, so long as it’s not bleeding (ear wounds are bleeders tho), I’d show it off, all scabby and gross.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:40 amI know, Kevin. Two different “well respected” authors as well.
I’m merely pointing out the mass confusion amongst the adults-in-the-room.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:41 amAll of ActBlue’s (and presumably WinRed’s) are reported to the FEC, where you can search by recipient name and state. Their records include the name and address of the contributor, occupation, employer, and the earmarked campaign.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:43 amAlong with those “pettifogging” ethics laws? 😉
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:44 amHere’s what I absolutely do not get:
JD Vance is a smart smart guy. He is everything that Donald Trump is not. Smart, educated, a Marine, versatile, well-read and well-written. He’s married to a woman even smarter than himself who chose him FOR himself when she could have had anyone.
I get ambition, but he seems to see Trump differently than I do, differently than most people with his off-the-chart IQ see Trump. He does agree with Trump’s conversion of the GOP to supporting the working and lower-middle classes, main street not Wall Street and an antipathy to globalism in general. Fine, you can be smart and support those things.
But how in God’s name can he see Trump as anything but Jabba the Hutt? The time will come when his wife looks at him like she doesn’t know him any more, and she’ll be right. I don’t get it.
Maybe Trump will fall from a high window if Putin thinks he’s bot a better, newer model.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:46 amAlong with those “pettifogging” ethics laws?
The ones that regulate petty ethics but not actual ethics? That allow Biden to defraud everyone about his health, but tell a government employee he cannot accept a cheeseburger from a vendor?
Yeah, those.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:49 amAugust is going to be official Hagiography Month.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:50 amDevastating ransomware attack shuts down L.A. County courts
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 10:00 amRFK Jr. keeps revealing his true pro-Trump colors. It’s cute how he describes his anti-vax nuttery as “talk about children’s health and how to end the chronic disease epidemic”.
Paul Montagu (c160c0) — 7/22/2024 @ 10:25 am@Paul Momtagu @231 That’s not pro-Trump -that’s pro-MAGA, since Trump personally is not anti-vaccine and has to be led by his supporters into making some nod in that direction.
In his whole 93 minute convention I don’t think that Donald Trump mentioned vaccines or vaccine mandates even once (one way or the other)
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 10:49 amSammy, RFK Jr. was recruited by Bannon.
Paul Montagu (c160c0) — 7/22/2024 @ 10:51 amIt will be interesting when RFKJr and his uber-woke running mate have their inevitable falling out.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:19 am223. Re: Trump’s ear wound
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 9:40 am
It might be that it’s not as disfiguring as has been implied – it’s never been described much -and it could be that if he didn’t wear a bandage we wouldn’t even notice anything even on HDTV.
Another thing wrong is the claim that had he not turned his head he might have been hit in the head. That doesn’t make much sense if it is was his right ear and he turned his head to the right and up.
In his convention speech, Trump gave a different description of what happened than what we heard otherwise:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/us/politics/trump-rnc-speech-transcript.html (as delivered -NBC must have as prepared)
Now in another place, Trump makes the statement that he got hit because he did turn his head
Now which was it? Turning his head saved his life, or turning his head endangered him? I would bet that endangered him and somebody in his camp, early on, turned the story around.
He praised the crowd for not panicking. And said they loved him.
He also said they thought he was dead – which was true for Melania, according to her statement in which she used two wrong English words.
he words were “realized” instead of “thought” and “recognized” instead of “saw.”
In both cases she used a word that meant the thinking was factual when he meaning was only that she (in the first case) and the shooter (in the other) thought something was true (when it wasn’t)
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:20 am233. Paul Montagu (c160c0) — 7/22/2024 @ 10:51 am
Bannon doesn’t tell Trump everything he’s doing.
Bannon created the whole appearance of ballot box stuffing in 2020 by having Trump discourage mail in voting and he may possibly have had something to do with the January 6 Capitol Hill riot.(what for, I wouldn’t be sure)
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:25 amI think getting shot at endangered him.
Seriously though, the kid putting the dot on his head vs center mass on the first shot saved him. That and pure luck.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:29 amI kind of feelthat those whopassed them in early 1970sknew what they doing.
They created PACS which practically institutionalized bribery.
And otherwise they distort politics.
All 50 Democratic state chairman endorsed Kamala Harris. This has to be because of the pool of money controlled by the Biden-Harris campaign that can’t be given to anyone else and the slowness of the raising of hard money.
Staff and offices must be paid for by hard money and the need to raise a lot of money well in advance limits the number of candidates.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:32 amSeriously though, the kid putting the dot on his head vs center mass on the first shot saved him.
And not adjusting for the crosswind.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:41 amhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42636667
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2018/01/03/trump-slams-bannon-when-he-was-fired-he-not-only-lost-his-job-he-lost-his/16284998007
Later, they reconciled, at least enough for Trump to pardon Bannon
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/steve-bannon-pardoned-by-trump/index.htm
Now, he just went to prison to begin serving a 4-month sentence till almost the election for defying (on spurious legal grounds) a Congressional subpoena.
And he was ready to claim again that the 2024 election this time could be stolen and said Trump was a moderate:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/steve-bannon-sows-doubts-2024-election-before-prison-rcna159691
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:46 amThis has to be because of the pool of money controlled by the Biden-Harris campaign that can’t be given to anyone else and the slowness of the raising of hard money.
The gaslighting campaign of the last few weeks seems to have succeeded.
HARRIS was never a candidate, and could not BE a candidate until the convention. So, those funds were all for Joe Biden, and only for Joe Biden unless and until Harris was place on the ticket by the convention.
Since he dropped out, those funds are no more Harris’s than they are mine. There is actually no procedure, I’m told, for this exact situation, but there IS a procedure for transferring donations to another candidate. But “Harris” has no better claim on than me, at least until donors are contacted and asked their preference.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:46 am108. Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/21/2024 @ 5:37 pm
But I don’t think candidates needs a speech on their behalf for a delegate to vote for them.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:56 amThe Democrats are making haste to put lipstick on their pig, as they really have no other choice. No matter what qualms they may have, it’s shoulder-to-shoulder behind Harris.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:01 pm@205 “Just a gut check for you — do you also find it odd that Trump has not released any info about his ear injury — except through a friendly congressman his is no longer a licensed doctor?“
Appalled, what info do you want? There are photos out there, like here for example.
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:11 pmYou mean info to satisfy BlueAnon crackpots?
I want to remind people here… that in 2019, no one was further left than Harris.
Yes, Harris was further left than Bernie Sanders:
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:23 pmhttps://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2019/senate/ideology
The Klunk Kount is now 0-3.
Whiffed on bleach blanket bingo.
Lied about Trump mentioning the dead and wounded
And gaffed on Cheatle.
Kimberly Cheatle
Director, United States Secret Service U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Statement for the Record
Before the Committee on Oversight and Accountability United States House of Representatives
Monday, July 22, 2024
Not the resume of a junior agent, it seems.
I feel for you man. Time123 is not going to go soft on you. He really dislikes this kind of willful behavior.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:27 pmBoth election denier Democrat Jamie Raskin and Comer agree that Cheatle should resign. Even AOC is exasperated with her testimony. But a head of lettuce can’t fire anyone.
lloyd (3c47cd) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:32 pmBiden To Make Statement Via Ouija Board
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:44 pmI would vote for a head of lettuce over Trump. But sadly Harris is not a head of lettuce, she’s a fairly bright socialist.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 12:45 pmlloyd:
I don’t care if Trump does not issue anything more on his injuries. What’s wierd is that he had Ronny Jackson — who is no longer a licenced doctor — do it. My guess is that he was hoping for a stupid controversy on his injuries which makes his opponents look stupid and mean. Sending out Jackson was intended to trigger the usual suspects. Biden’s withdrawal has likely killed any interest, though.
Appalled (98cadf) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:19 pmHarvey’s Potted Plant (1d4a43) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:10 pm
No, they
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:20 pmwill try to have as few votes cast for other people as possible (without pulling too many credentials) but Kamala will still want to claim that she “earned” the nomination and did not merely have it merely given to her. She will “earn” it by a cascade of endorsements, starting with her associates in Congress.
Jamie Raskin also liked saying that a Kamala Harris versus Donald Trump election makes for the prosecutor versus the felon, and that J.D. Vance has no convictions, but Trump has 34, and something about Vance maybe getting some from Trump.
Somebody must have thought that was clever punning
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:26 pmbut he said it straight.
Ronny Jackson no longer has expertise in the medical field because the bureaucrats say so.
If you like your doctor, you can’t keep your doctor because Appalled might get triggered.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:28 pm@250
Jackson’s letting his license expired doesn’t nothing to his training as a doctor. SO, this is a weird take…
If you want to complain that Trump wanted someone who’s obviously in the tank for Trump, sure.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:30 pmAt no point in the media briefing did the then-president explicitly recommend that people inject bleach or other disinfectants into their bodies. He merely asked experts whether disinfectants could be injected to tackle COVID-19.
later after William N. Bryan corrected the President in the Q&A session about the results of the study he was referencing.
Trump then responded
Several days later President Trump claimed
It certainly didn’t appear to be sarcastic when initial stated by the President.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:42 pmCheatle was the assistant to the supervisor of the Biden VP detail.
Butt ummh?
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:43 pmThe unanswered question remains unanswered:
In the transcript do you see any disinfectants mentioned that work in a one minute time frame? (I know you know. You are thinking no one else knows you know. Lame)
Yeah, well The Hill and all… Never mind her actual opening statement that is quoted and linked above.
When you wrote that a BB Chevy and a BB Olds were the same motor, I should not have expected much more from you in the research and truth telling department.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 1:53 pmTHE PRESIDENT: Right. And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you’re going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds — it sounds interesting to me.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:15 pm@258 Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:15 pm
Dude… just… stop.
Take the L.
This is NOT Trump saying “inject bleach”.
You harping on this bs is another example how Trump fends off legit criticisms, as you are debasing your principles on what you thought he said vs. what he truly said.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:19 pmLOL! You should run the Secret Service with BS responses like that.
You really haven’t read the transcript?
Derp.
BTW, did you try swapping manifolds on your identical engines? Was it pretty straight forward?
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:20 pmhttps://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-31
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:21 pmWhembly!!! Don’t make him stop. Please!!
🤣😂
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:21 pmTrump also heard:
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:25 pmOr falling in bed.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:28 pmin saliva or in respiratory fluids outside the body. They wee still going by the contamination theory not the breathing in theory.
Trump wondered: What about inside the body.
Nobody told anyone to inject bleach except possibly the people who said that Trump had recommended that. He merely asked a question.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:30 pmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyP3tKtgtnw
Just after the 33min mark Cheatle is sworn in. 5 minutes later, under that oath, she says states that she “supervised on VP Biden’s detail.”
Believe it or not.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:35 pmTrump was cluelessly talking about ways to kill the virus. If you watch it looks like
He’s learning for the first time that disinfectants kill germs and brainstorming how to use this new discovery.
He didn’t say inject bleach. He said inject disinfectant. But it’s still a stupid thing to say and he deserves to be mocked for it.
Anyone trying desperately to argue that he didn’t look like a complete
Time123 (f80c89) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:47 pmDumb@$$ isn’t doing themselves or their credibility any favors.
@265, it was a dumb question that reveals a remarkable lack of knowledge about the disinfectants
Time123 (f80c89) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:49 pmThey’d been talking about a few minutes before.
Kevin, that makes sense. Thank you for elaborating.
Time123 (f80c89) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:54 pmWhat about anyone arguing that he did say “inject bleach?” Do they get to feel your Dumb@$$ credibility wrath?
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:56 pmOr falling in bed.
He’s not rich enough.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:57 pmI am certain Time123 read the transcript. Am I right, Time?
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 2:58 pmI did, and I watched the press conference.
What idea/concept do you think he was trying to communicate Budah?
Time123 (f80c89) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:00 pm@267
No objection from me that Trump didn’t help himself by looking like a doofus there and everyone knows it.
But, my point was that everything that Trump said/did that generated an outrage such that the fervor didn’t match what Trump actually said/did.
The media and Democrats (BIRM) ran stories that told the public that Trump said you can inject yourself with bleach to kill the virus.
It’s dishonest framing, and I’m calling out the Colonel to address this.
Anytime you dishonestly framing something… then THAT becomes the story. Not any of the other, maybe unsensational, underlining facts.
whembly (477db6) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:00 pmFor the record, Time, I am not calling you a Dumb@$$. I certainly do not think that.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:00 pmI just cannot believe we are still talking about bleach.
👊➡💀🐴
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:01 pmUV therapy.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:02 pmCan you believe people didn’t know Biden was unwell?
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:03 pm+1
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:04 pmTHE PRESIDENT: Right. And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you’re going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds — it sounds interesting to me.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:05 pmHere is the quote that Klink has used numerous times:
And here is the very next line in the transcript that Klink always leaves out:
This is not by accident. This is actual trolling.
I emphasized the “one minute” claims because throughout the transcript the only disinfectant with that timeframe is UV. Not bleach. Not alcohol.
Time, do you think Klink’s shortened quotes were deceitful?
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:13 pmThe very next line…not so much
Donald Trump: (29:46)
A question that probably some of you are thinking of if you’re totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting. So, supposedly we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light, and I think you said that hasn’t been checked, but you’re going to test it. And then I said supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way. And I think you said you’re going to test that too. Sounds interesting, right? And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that so that you’re going to have to use medical doctors with, but it sounds interesting to me. So, we’ll see, but the whole concept of the light, the way it kills it in one minute. That’s pretty powerful. Steve, please.
Steve: (30:50)
You said that the country will be in a better place by early summer. Does that mean you’re going to need to extend the social distancing guidelines until then?
Donald Trump: (30:57)
Well, we may and we may go beyond that. We’re going to have to see where it is and I think people are going to know. You’re going to know, I’m going to know. I think people are going to know just out of common sense, at some point we won’t have to do that, but until we feel it’s safe, we’re going to be extending.
Steve: (31:12)
You have 23 States where new cases are on decline. What does that mean about when the country can be safely reopened to a more normal point?
Donald Trump: (31:24)
Yeah. It means we’re going to watch those cases very carefully. I think we’ve all gotten very good at it. We’ve gotten good at tracing. We see where the cases are, where they’re going, and we’re going to be watching it and it’s called containment. At a certain point, we’re going to be able to contain, and when you see this, a lot of people have been talking about summer. Maybe this is one of the reasons. I once mentioned that maybe it does go away with heat and light and people didn’t like that statement very much. The fake news didn’t like it at all and I just threw it out as a suggestion, but it seems like that’s the case because when it’s on a surface that would last for a long time, when that surface is outside, it goes away very quickly. It dies very quickly with the sun. Yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 4: (32:09)
You said yesterday that you’re going to look into Senator McConnell’s suggestion for allowing states to declare bankruptcy versus the-
Donald Trump: (32:16)
Yeah, we’ll look into it and I have been looking into it. I’ve been talking to a lot of the different senators, but I don’t want to talk about it now. That was a very interesting presentation. Go ahead, Jim.
Jim: (32:24)
Well, I wanted to talk about McConnell’s suggestion that aid to the states amounts to a-
Donald Trump: (32:29)
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:24 pmI just told you I’m not talking about it and we’ll talk about it later.
He said the injection BS. I mean, he could be talking about the words he’s saying, or when he says a different thing, he could mean the different thing. But since they’re both stupid…I suspect he meant to words he was saying, then later meant other words that he was saying and then when pressed said words he meant that he was saying. If you disregard the stupid things he says it would only be silence.
Do you think Donald trump is a moron, or just plays one on TV? Since whenever he talks he only speaks in stupid, lie, or both.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:30 pmThanks, Klink. I had not noticed that you started your quote by chopping a sentence. Wow.
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:32 pmNot sure what happened there. Klink’s hackery starts by cutting the sentence that ends with “right?” So think of that when you read “ark ght?”
BuDuh (015b8b) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:35 pmAnyway this was fun.
I’ll check back in a while to see if there are more tales from Klink’s engine swaps. Hopefully a Poncho drops right in the engine bay in the next iteration.
BuDuh (28782e) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:38 pmLet’s go to the video.
6 March 2020
“Within a couple of days [infections are] going to be down to close to zero. One day, it’s like a miracle. It will disappear.”
“The tests are beautiful. Anybody that needs a test, gets a test.”
“I’ve always known this is a real [sic], this is a pandemic. I’ve felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic.”
“We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.”
“China has been working very hard to contain the coronavirus,the United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well.”
21 May 2020
“I tested very positively. In another sense, I tested positively toward negative, right? So no. I tested perfectly this morning, meaning I tested negative. But that’s a way of saying it. Positively toward the negative.”
Post defeat
“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.”
“Nobody has ever seen anything like we’re witnessing right now … It’s poisoning the blood of our country.”
“I love this guy. He says, ‘You’re not gonna be a dictator, are you?’ I say, ‘No, no, no – other than day one.’ We’re closing the border. And we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that I’m not a dictator, OK?”
“In 2016, I declared: I am your voice. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.”
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:46 pmYou go girl
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:47 pmWow, teasing out the distinction between bleach and disinfectant. Someone is really winning the internet today! Congrats!
Now, who will Harris pick as a VP? I think it will come down to Shapiro or Whitmer. Maybe a longshot of Warnock to ice the black vote while helping with Georgia. It will be the most strategic decision…maybe in history. I still think the Democrats….yeah they won’t listen….need to have a lightning round primary debate to see what they have. They all mostly thought Biden still had the chops. They might be imagining competence with Harris that is only superficially there. There is no protocol for it and maybe no fair way to evaluate what is “good enough” but, gosh, talk about high stakes.
AJ_Liberty (9263af) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:48 pmYeah, definitely not talking about injecting disinfectant. Totally not, nope no way.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:49 pmI’ve seen scant evidence she’s either bright or a socialist. On her political orientation, Harris is way too left wing for my taste — among the numerous reasons I voted against her three times times in California — but she’s just a garden variety progressive, not a socialist. If you doubt it, ask some actual socialists. They consider her right wing. Of course she’s no more right wing than NeverTrump Republicans are leftists, but it’s a reliable indicator her political positions are unacceptable to socialists.
As for her intelligence, I don’t know what to say. I find her midwittery as self-evident as her unlikeability. I’m somewhat surprised you disagree. Take for example her public lawyering skills. When her media admirers wax euphoric over her interrogation of Senate witnesses, I’m always left shaking my head. She’s a non-lawyer’s idea of a good cross-examiner: long on self-flattering speeches and short on eliciting useful, previously undisclosed testimony. I suppose getting people already invested in your success to shower you with praise requires a certain kind of political intelligence, but it’s not what I think of as “bright.” J.D. Vance, Ted Cruz, Amy Klobuchar, Adam Schiff… like or hate ’em… they’re all bright. Harris couldn’t hold up her end of a challenging conversation with any of them. (FWIW, I’d say Trump is less intelligent than any of those four, and more intelligent than Harris, but his laziness and stubborn ignorance make him functionally as dumb as Harris is, if not dumber.)
Don’t get me wrong. I’ll be holding my nose and voting for the unlikeable, progressive midwit. Against the convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser, malignant narcissist who tried to end the Republic, it’s an easy choice. But let’s not pretend Harris is anything she isn’t.
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 3:56 pmI think one or the other gives Harris her best shot, so I hope you’re right. On the other hand, who am I kidding. As I’ve been saying for months, I believe this race is over, and only more so since the debate. I can generate a trickle of dopamine by telling myself the VP pick matters, but I really don’t think it does. My only hope is that I’m as deluded about Harris’ chances in November as I was about Trump’s in 2016, but I doubt God loves me that much.
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:12 pmWhat about the rumors that Democrats will pick Mark Kelly if it goes to a second ballot?
Both seem unlikely but it’s all hard to predict right now.
DRJ (da4128) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:24 pmAdam Kinzinger, or Mayor Pete. A blick, and/or traitor, and/or deviant, vermin all.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:30 pmI have to switch to ESPN. Listening to Elizabeth Warren gush about how brilliant and qualified and lovable Kamala Harris is challenging my NeverTrump resolve. OK, not really. My resolve is unshakeable. But it does make me worry I may be about to throw up in my mouth.
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:34 pmListening to Elizabeth Warren gush about how brilliant and qualified and lovable Kamala Harris is *is* challenging my NeverTrump resolve.
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:37 pmcan’t we take this to alt.talk.stupid.covid.bleach ?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:43 pmI’ve seen scant evidence she’s either bright or a socialist.
She ran to the left of everyone, including Bernie, in 2020. By “socialist” I mean what they call things in Europe, not what they called things in the USSR. True Communists would never use “socialist” in any favorable way.
So, no she isn’t a Maoist or Shining Path wannabe, but she is amongst the most left in the Democrat party. asset should be thrilled.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:47 pmShe didn’t run to the left of either Bernie or Warren in 20, she lined up closest to Gillibrand. Bernie wasn’t even a Democrat for most of his career, he was a straight up socialist, so no one out lefts Bernie.
Mayor Pete was probably the most center-left of all of them. But he’s a gay so no soup for you.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:57 pmI have to say this: It will probably upset me more if Harris wins than Trump does. Why? Because I know what to expect from Harris and I don’t want any part of it. Trump will surprise me no end, and maybe we’ll get lucky.
I discount the screeds about how he is the “end of the Republic” because the Republic has chewed up and spit out more formidable scoundrels than Trump. The Founders built well. Even as President, even with control of the Senate and the Supreme Court on his side, Trump couldn’t get dick on Jan 6th, and would not have even if Pence had committed seppuku as requested.
That aside, Trump scores about a 3 on the policy scale against Harris’s 0.2. I will hate Trump less. Countering that is the extreme stress level Trump’s constant need for attention presents. You just never know what tomfoolery will come out of his Twitter feed, driving the markets into a tizzy. I suspect that some people DO know and make money off of it, but I digress.
It will depend on how I feel in November. Maybe I vote for Harris, maybe I vote for Trump, maybe I vote for Chucko the Birthday Clown.
This election sucks.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:58 pm@298. Ask him. I’ll be surprised if asset considers Harris a socialist.
If by “socialist” you mean what the Germans call “Social Democrat” or the Brits call “Labour,” I won’t disagree. But that’s not how the word is used here. Neither does it mean Maoist or Shining Path. Those are communist. There’s a pretty broad gulf between Tony Blair and Pol Pot. Within that gulf is where you’ll find the common American meaning of “socialist.”
FWIW I’ve seen Harris refer to herself as a capitalist. I don’t believe any self-respecting socialist would do that.
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:02 pmWhitmer says no to being VP with a Shermanesque statement:
What would a “lightning round primary” look like? Anybody who wants to become the Democratic nominee only needs the signatures of 300 delegates (no more than 50 from one state) to place their name in nomination. It’s just no one wants to go through 10 rounds of voting to select a nominee.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:03 pmBeshear looks like he’s actively going for it.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:08 pmthe veepstakes that is
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:08 pmThere are a whole host of governors who might be a good VP: Shapiro (though he has barely warmed his chair as governor); Roy Cooper, who has a a close relationship with Harris (and is termed out); Andy Beshear; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore; Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; etc.
Not sure what qualifies Sen. Mark Kelly for VP, aside from his celebrity.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:14 pmShe didn’t run to the left of either Bernie or Warren in 20
Supported Medicare for All and single-payer medicine
BLM and Defund the Police
Advocated major tax increases on “the rich”
Supported banning the death penalty
Supported ending the filibuster
Supports bussing for combating segregation
Supported government funding of public university tuition for most students
Has always been anti-gun, taking extreme positions
Supported a nationwide ban of fracking
Supported the New Green Deal
Opposed Trump’s tariffs on China (but apparently had no problem with Biden’s)
Supports packing the Supreme Court
I’ve probably missed some of this, but it is pretty far left.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:15 pmNot sure what qualifies Sen. Mark Kelly for VP, aside from his celebrity.
And your point?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:16 pmHarris needs to meet the same signature requirement as other candidates (though that shouldn’t be too hard).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:16 pmI think it’s pretty self-evident, that Kelly is only being considered because of his prior career (the same reason he got elected in the first place, like John Glenn).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:19 pmIf you’ve got the time (and hurry before it gets fixed) Wikipedia has a pretty in-depth rundown of Harris’ positions past and present.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:19 pmThe Save Democracy party anoints a successor and everyone is expected to fall in line. She hasn’t won a single vote or a single delegate. She debated Lester Holt, and lost. Maybe I think more of Democrats than they think of themselves, but four weeks is a long time and I expect a “hey, wait a minute” moment. Any sort of resistance will push her horizontal, which, ok … the joke writes itself.
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:19 pmI think it’s pretty self-evident, that Kelly is only being considered because of his prior career (the same reason he got elected in the first place, like John Glenn).
No, I got that. My question is why you think this is unusual in modern America? Is being an astronaut less qualifying than writing a best-selling book?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:20 pmRIP Abdul Kareem “Duke” Fakir (88), co-founder of The Four Tops and its last surviving original member.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:23 pmShe debated Lester Holt, and lost.
Luckily for her, Lester isn’t her opponent. This may surprise you, but Trump is a horrid debater. Not only does he dredge up the most obviously untrue assertions, but he misses nearly every opportunity where his opponent leads with their chin.
Truly awful. Of course he’s preaching to his followers who are primed to believe every last morsel of nonsense he spews. But those who can tell Shinola from not-Shinola know how terrible he is.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:25 pmJust because it’s not “unusual” in this day and age doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be questioned.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:25 pm@314 He wins ugly. She loses ugly. Big difference.
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:33 pmAnother reason to oppose Kelly is his gun grabbing wife.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:34 pmSo in 2020 how did the winning ugly work out for him? He’s run twice, twice the majority of voters voted against him, he’s lost each time by millions, 7 million, and 3 million. The swing states went for Trump in 16, Biden in 20.
It will be the same swing states this time, 50k votes will decide it, and Trump will lose the popular vote by millions again.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:43 pmThose were right in the middle for 20, well center of Warren and Sanders.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:45 pmI think it is no mistake that Biden and Harris waited until after the GOP convention to make their move. Done beforehand, Trump could have considered alternatives for VP to help against Harris; Vance does not help him with women.
Of course, Trump could have planned for it, too. It’s not like Biden stepping out took Carnac the Magnificent to predict.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 5:49 pmFrom August 2020:
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-more-liberal-bernie-sanders-senate-record-analysis-shows-1524481
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/kamala-harris-farther-left-than-elizabeth-warren-bernie-sanders/
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:00 pmThose were right in the middle for 20, well center of Warren and Sanders.
Contemporaneous reviews say otherwise. It can be hard to Google anything about Harris that is more than a day old, but limiting a search to ending on July 20th turns up a lot of stuff.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:02 pmI discount the screeds about how he is the “end of the Republic” because the Republic has chewed up and spit out more formidable scoundrels than Trump. The Founders built well. Even as President, even with control of the Senate and the Supreme Court on his side, Trump couldn’t get dick on Jan 6th, and would not have even if Pence had committed seppuku as requested.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 4:58 pm
The Republic is only as good as its citizens, and we can’t say for sure what would have happened if Mike Pence had done Trump’s bidding. It’s playing with fire.
Trump’s mere attempt to overturn the election should be utterly disqualifying to any voter with normal civic bearings. The prospect of some good policies shouldn’t outweigh an attempted autogolpe.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:03 pmDid anyone notice that Saturday was the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing?
Sic transit gloria mundi
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:05 pmOf course, Trump could have planned for it, too. It’s not like Biden stepping out took Carnac the Magnificent to predict.
It’s like when Bush 41, running against Dukakis, had Greek Orthodox Archbishop Iakovos give the prayer in the 1988 Republican National Convention. Usha Chilukuri Vance for that little extra desideratum (yes, it’s a word) on top of the sow-belly-and-a-pot-of-beans-tie-a-rope-around-your-jeans that J.D. brings.
nk (b9a64e) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:06 pmThe prospect of some good policies shouldn’t outweigh an attempted autogolpe.
There are all kinds of ways to destroy a Republic. Main force isn’t the most dangerous.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:08 pmUsha Chilukuri Vance
To be fair, it’s hard to adorn a ticket with Trump leading it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:09 pmClearing the decks:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:15 pmhttps://freebeacon.com/israel/anti-israel-radicals-are-hopeful-kamala-will-cast-aside-the-jewish-state-they-have-plenty-of-reasons-to-be/
Voting for Kamala is voting for the death of Israelis.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:21 pmYeah, it certainly seems like Bernie was much farther left, specifically on tax redistribution, socialized medicine, “living” wage and minimum income, anti-corporations, etc. I don’t know what that site was tracking to get the numbers.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:21 pmSo you agree that any Democrat on the ballot is disqualified? They overturned the primary and told Biden he’d be 25th if he didn’t drop out. That’s an actual coup.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:22 pmThere are all kinds of ways to destroy a Republic. Main force isn’t the most dangerous.
We recently got a glimpse of that from the six gerbils on the Supreme Covfefe.
nk (fee006) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:28 pmhttps://nypost.com/2024/07/22/us-news/top-dems-threatened-to-remove-biden-unless-he-resigned/
To stop Trump, how many will become what they proclaim to hate?
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:31 pmBefore Biden, Nixon was forced to resign by the Republicans in Congress. There were not enough Democrats to remove him by themselves. And two years earlier, he had been elected in a popular landslide. It was not a coup. It was the way things are supposed to work.
nk (fee006) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:31 pmThere are all kinds of ways to destroy a Republic. Main force isn’t the most dangerous.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:08 pm
I didn’t say it would be main force.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:32 pmOverturning a primary where the one selected retires, is a bit different than trying to overturn an election that occurred when no one retired. It was Biden’s choice to bow out, it was Trump fighting the actual election winner, and obvious winner. One of these things is not like the other.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:33 pmOne of these things is not like the other.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:33 pm
Hear, hear!
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:35 pm@331, I’m glad to see you’ve found an appreciation for democrat norms now that it provides partisan advantage….i hadn’t read that members of his cabinet threatened to use the 25th amendment. Can you provide a link to support that?
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:54 pmI have never been less happy to vote for a candidate, and I’ve never voted for a Democratic candidate for President before, but I will vote for Harris over Trump. Trump is beyond the pale.
J.D. Vance was correct with his criticisms of Trump back in 2016:
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/15/jd-vance-donald-trump-comments-00168450
Sadly, Vance took the path of cravenness blazed by the likes of Ted Cruz and Elise Stefanik. Power, holding on to it, and the prospect of greater power, corrupts absolutely.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 6:55 pmJoe Biden Is Our Greatest Living President
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:00 pmOn the most unlikely great president in modern history. Talking about hyperbole. Just beating a weak Donald Trump once doesn’t make him a great anything, just better than the alternative.
Because the NYpost article appears to have a single, anonymous,
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:00 pmSource.
CK, “generic democrat” would have won with a larger margin in 2020
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:01 pm@341 “Because the NYpost article appears to have a single, anonymous,
Source.”
Because if there were ten sources, with names, you’d change your conclusion.
lloyd (3c47cd) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:07 pm@342 Generic pandemic handed generic Trump opponent the victory.
lloyd (3c47cd) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:09 pmSo is the new conspiracy theory that Biden was unfairly forced out and any nominee is illegitimate?
Wasn’t there an article about this a few weeks ago that the GOP strategy would be to push this?
Anyone have thoughts about how the replacement “should” be selected in this situation?
Does the opinion change if you assume good faith about the timing of Bidens decision not to run.
Time123 (4f7c10) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:12 pmHi Lloyd, do you have 10 names source? Or are you just making stuff up again because reality doesn’t look as you’d like it to
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:15 pmThis is the key point. Biden decided, under pressure sure, I wonder why? The people complaining about him bowing out are the same people that 3 days ago said he was too incompetent to run, pick a lane.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:17 pm@346 Just like searching for the shooter’s motive, the answer isn’t going to impact your predetermined conclusion. No, I don’t, which you already knew, and if it were 10 or 10,000 named sources it wouldn’t matter. Which was my point, which you also already knew.
lloyd (3c47cd) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:21 pmAP:
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:21 pm@349 The Politburo has spoken!
lloyd (3c47cd) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:25 pmYou keep asserting that I wouldn’t change my opinion if the facts were different and supported your POV. But the facts don’t support your POV so a pointless hypothetical where you claim others are as irrational as you is all you have.
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:27 pm@351 Is it rational to ask questions you don’t care about?
lloyd (3c47cd) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:29 pmSo Biden had no agency in his life? He isn’t a fantasm, he’s a human person. A very old, kind of senile old man, who in a clear moment saw that the best decision was to bow out, not stay in for ego, or to defy some cabal, but recognized that he’d lost a few steps.
You can argue now that he should step down as president, but with your logic, he’d not be allowed to do that. It’s a primary, not a suicide pact.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:33 pmI’ve been commenting here for a while. Can you find any examples to support your claim that I don’t change my view based on facts?
I’m betting you can’t.
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:35 pmHere’s a fun hypothetical:
If Biden stepped down now, would that help or hurt Kamala’s chances?
If you answer the former, it just begs another question.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:36 pmSo you proposed a scenario that doesn’t exist, Time answered and asked if there was any evidence this happened, and your follow up was “if there were 10”, and his was, “is there 10?”
That’s how a question works, you can’t just make up a situation as you wish it existed and replace reality with supp…never mind. We’re in MAGAWorld, so sure, magic reality exists. Things don’t happen with linear timing, if a thing needs to have occurred before the opinion could be correct, just say “why yes, it did” and then say “yes, it did, 10 times in fact”. Chronology intact.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:38 pmI mean stepped down as President, of course.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:38 pm@353, Clink, assuming that’s how it happened how do you think the new nominee should be selected? I don’t have a well thought out position and would welcome hearing your ideas.
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:39 pmNorCal, I assume it would help her and that Biden is staying in due to ego.
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:40 pmlloyd, Time123 has been around for more than a while, and he’s the most principled and reasonable commenter you will find. You had best argue with somebody else.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:41 pm@354 I mean, it’s clear from your @345 that you don’t care about how well the article was sourced.
You lost your bet. What do I get?
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:43 pmIt won’t matter, if Biden does step down, and Trump loses, MAGAWorld says, it’s because Biden stepped down, unfair. But it’s MAGAWorld, so if he doesn’t step down and Trump loses, it’s because he didn’t, unfair. It’s theology at this point.
People can make up their own mind, voters, and Joe Biden
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:43 pmNorCal, I assume it would help her and that Biden is staying in due to ego.
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:40 pm
In that case, Biden doesn’t have the country’s best interest at heart, and his endorsement doesn’t carry much weight.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:43 pmHere’s the thing. The country has some serious problems. Unsustainable spending, entitlements that must continue but cannot, immigration laws that don’t work and are just ignored, bloated government at all levels (with catastrophic pension promises), infrastructure, roads, housing all failing. Et cetera.
The Democratic Party does not really address any of these. The closest it comes is to want new and higher taxes, but in the next breath they talk about all the new programs this will fund, forgetting that they are unable to fund the ones they have.
Now Trump’s approach is a wrecking ball, and while that won’t fix many problems (except maybe the size of government itself) it might have the effect of breaking them to the point they can no longer be ignored.
Yes, I know I’m grasping at straws, but sometimes there are only straws to grasp.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:46 pmI’m sure RFKJr. (or Marianne Williamson, who has decided to re-join the presidential race) can find 300 delegates to sign their nominating petitions.
Comedy Gold!
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:47 pmIt won’t matter, if Biden does step down, and Trump loses, MAGAWorld says, it’s because Biden stepped down, unfair. But it’s MAGAWorld, so if he doesn’t step down and Trump loses, it’s because he didn’t, unfair. It’s theology at this point.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:43 pm
It’s just like Trump’s election logic. If he wins, the election was fair. If he loses, it was rigged.
People actually buy this horsesh!t.
I mean, Trump actually claimed that Ted Cruz won the 2016 Iowa primary by fraud! I’m sorry, but if you can’t see Trump for the grifter he is then you are in denial.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:48 pmLloyd, how did you get that from what I posted?
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:48 pmSo, we have an election where one side is running on “I am your retribution” and the other side is running on “taxing the rich bastards.” Pretty much the same, actually.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:49 pmThe scenario we have is probably the best bet at this point. Having a chaotic convention with 10 votes doesn’t help defeat the orange megalomaniac, so this is about as good as we’re going to get.
I thought that either party was stupid to go forward with such old and faulty (in different ways) men. Trump should have been flushed for being a horrible human person, and Biden because he’s freakin’ older (while he’s younger than Trump would be at this point in a fictional universe where he wins this year). But the last time an incumbent has turned it downed, was LBJ, and he’d had 1.5 terms then anyway. Before that James Polk, James Buchanan, Rutherford Hayes, Calvin Coolidge, and Harry Truman, been a while between then and now.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:51 pm@366 “It’s just like Trump’s election logic. If he wins, the election was fair. If he loses, it was rigged.”
If he wins, it was Russia collusion.
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:52 pmGiven the apparent fact that Harris has rounded up the necessary delegates to be nominated and raised $80M within 24 hours of Biden’s withdrawal, I’d say his endorsement did carry weight among Democrats.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:55 pmWell, technically Trump is pre-taxing the rich bastards, it just goes to him instead of the gov.
He’s straight up telling the large corp CEO’s “if you like you’re house, pay me weekly, it would be a shame to see it catch fire“
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:56 pmIf he wins, it was Russia collusion.
lloyd (6d38c8) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:52 pm
Attributing Trump’s win to Russian collusion is also wrong. Embrace the freedom of calling out both sides. I promise you you’ll be happier.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:57 pmI would submit that the donors didn’t want to spend money on a senile old man who should have retired.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:00 pmI’d say his endorsement did carry weight among Democrats.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 7:55 pm
Yes, but it would carry more weight if he increased her chances by resigning.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:00 pmIf that happens, I’m sure the Trump campaign would litigate the issue, and find a pliant judge (like Aileen Cannon) would rule in their favor. The Republicans are already threatening litigation over Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’s candidacy.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:02 pmI’m waiting for the reported threat made to Biden to invoke the 25th Amendment. 😏
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:04 pm@377 “I’m waiting for the reported threat made to Biden to invoke the 25th Amendment.”
Are you waiting for that? Instead of waiting for proof of life? First things first, I guess.
lloyd (2aa933) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:27 pmBiden called in to an event today. Wait, it was AI right?
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:30 pmWe had proof of life, sometime in the middle of the day, Biden phoned in to a live meeting where Kamala Harris and media were, I heard an excerpt of that on the NBC Nightly News (runs 6:30 to 7:00 EDT) Biden sounded OK, although he maybe stumbled over a word or two,
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:34 pmTrue or false, Kamala Harris is reported to have rounded up commitments to vote for her from a majority of the delegates to the Democratic convention.
NBC still reported that August 7 deadline as fact.
Eric Holder to be in charge of vetting vice presidential candidates for Kamala Harris.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:38 pmI’d lay money that she’s got enough delegates by EOD Wednesday.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:41 pmYou left out Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. He put in Taft and later regretted it. And Grover Cleveland in 1896.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:42 pm– Retweeted by Patterico
lurker (c23034) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:42 pmI’m sure Jim Miller will appreciate this cartoon:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/jul/22/ben-jennings-cartoon-joe-biden-kamala-harris-donald-trump
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:44 pmNotice Trump’s extra-long tie in the cartoon. Nice touch. Trump’s ties are always too long. I think he does it to hide his belly.
norcal (f95dc5) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:50 pmDon’t know why I missed Teddy, I knew he ran twice, but for some reason I thought they were sequential. He ran as an independant and lost in 12.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:54 pmWhere does he get those ties? He’s a fat guy, so he gets the B&T ones, but he’s got to get those super-extra long.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:56 pmFor a rich guy, his suits are terrible.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/22/2024 @ 8:58 pmI’m with Nick.
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/wishful-thinking/
This reminds me of our host deeming those who would still vote for Trump “civic disasters”.
norcal (49ec27) — 7/22/2024 @ 10:50 pmIf you’ve noted, for the time being I am trying not to take this clustercuck seriously. It hurts too much.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:12 pmYes, but it would carry more weight if he increased her chances by resigning.
Would it though? He has a pile of crap in his IN box. Does she really want to take the blame for failing to handle it? Plenty of time for that in January.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:13 pmYou left out Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. He put in Taft and later regretted it. And Grover Cleveland in 1896.
TR, yes, as he had not had two full terms. But Grover had the full measure.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:15 pmOf course Republicans think that there was a coup, because voluntarily giving up power is inconceivable to them.
A bit unfair. This is just coming from the whaddabout corner of the True Believers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:17 pmThis is what I said yesterday on this very thread:
The question is, do any big names other than Kamala even want a piece of this late-stage, long-shot election? I’d wager some of them are perfectly content to have Kamala be the sacrificial lamb against the master grifter.
norcal (7c8755) — 7/21/2024 @ 1:48 pm
And this is what Catoggio said today:
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/wishful-thinking/
Vindication is sweet. 😛
norcal (49ec27) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:28 pmWouldn’t vindication depend on Harris losing the election? Having someone else agree with you is not vindication.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:52 pmToo late. AP has already said that Harris has enough delegates.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:56 pmIt just means you and Catoggio think alike.
Rip Murdock (5be45a) — 7/22/2024 @ 11:59 pm@395, 397. No, vindication doesn’t depend on Harris losing the election. Whitmer and Shapiro making a calculated decision to sit out the race doesn’t mean Harris will lose. It means they believe it’s likelier than not she will. Underdogs win all the time. It’s what keeps bookies in business.
The only dispositive vindication would be a statement from Whitmer or Shapiro that that’s what they did. Since that’s implausible, a very smart, respected pundit expressing the same opinion you did is probably as close as you’ll ever get to it. It’s not “I was right” vindication. It’s “great minds think alike” vindication. I would take it.
lurker (c23034) — 7/23/2024 @ 1:12 amIt would not help Harris for Biden to resign. Right now she can focus 100% on the election. If Biden resigned, she’s have to split her focus.
Also, it wouldn’t particularly make a difference for us. The House is in the middle of campaigning for the next 4 months so they aren’t really going to get much done except essentials. Ukraine policy wouldn’t change. And we don’t actually have all that much we can do about the Israel mess.
Nic (120c94) — 7/23/2024 @ 2:20 amBiden gives up because the big money donors pulled out, and a successor gets anointed who didn’t get one single vote from a Democrat voter. Shows you what democracy means to the Save Democracy party.
lloyd (2aa933) — 7/23/2024 @ 2:59 am@400 democrat party rigged the process for joe biden to keep RFK jr. out. 2016/2020 to keep Bernie sanders out. In 2016 clinton said election process was completely fair and not rigged until she lost! Save democracy party when its convenient for the party. Party officials hate left base as much as they hate trump and know the left is taking over the party with now black democrat allies.
asset (29f7bf) — 7/23/2024 @ 3:28 amI linked evidence of the coup. They were going to use the 25th if Biden refused.
The Post has been nailing its articles for years and proven correct time and time again. Those who ignore them are doing so for partisan reasons.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/23/2024 @ 3:45 amWill nobody let Trump have things all his own way? SO UNFAIR!
You know what? Two can play that game! If I were Trump, I would drop out out of the race and let Kamala run against Vance. See how she likes them apples!
nk (5b9cfa) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:26 am@389
If money was not the issue… Dems should go Shapiro/Whitmer.
But, because of the politics of it, and the money, Harris needs to be the top of the ticket.
SO, Harris/Warnock might be the next strongest… but, it’ll probably be Harris/Whitmer because Dems are terrified in losing Michigan.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:12 amWhitmer and Shapiro making a calculated decision to sit out the race doesn’t mean Harris will lose. It means they believe it’s likelier than not she will.
Further, they correctly calculate that 2028 will be a good year for Democrats after 4 more years of Trump.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:12 amYou know what? Two can play that game!
I’ve been saying that since Sunday. Trump needs to get even!
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:14 amBut, because of the politics of it, and the money, Harris needs to be the top of the ticket.
Again, you have bought the gaslighting. Harris was not a candidate when that money was raised. She is not the nominee even now. There is no reason she has a better claim to that money that Shapiro, Whitmer or you.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:16 am@408 Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:16 am
It’s not just the money Kevin… it’s also the money spent on infrastructure.
I was listening to a podcast the other day, and a former campaign manager articulated that asking a brand new candidate to start all over, when early voting starts in roughly 3 months is a really really tall ask.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:29 amhttps://www.nationalreview.com/2024/07/kamala-harris-is-still-a-dangerous-authoritarian/
Please take note of the last few sentences.
Of course, a 2nd Trump administration would be under intense microscope and would be challenged aggressively.
But, no such scrutiny would exist if Harris wins the Presidency.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:37 amFor balancing….and if Whitmer and Shapiro are truly off the table….then a term-limited strong Biden supporter like Roy Cooper might make some sense. He’s won in red-leaning NC…and might give a fig leaf of moderation to the ticket. He doesn’t offer much on national security….like a Mark Warner might….but with the Senate still reasonably in play, DEMs cannot afford to lose that VA seat.
Pritzker doesn’t bring much. Polis is well liked but it’s a wild card to have the first gay VP in the mix too. I haven’t heard much from Warnock, but he might help with Georgia. I think the decision has to be about energy and excitement and being able to articulate the case against Trump. It can’t just be a lame recitation of the charges. It doesn’t seem to move many people. Harris will still have her baggage along with the administration’s baggage regarding inflation, immigration, crime, and Afghanistan. Whoever she picks…if she stays at the top of the ticket…it sure feels like it’s Trump’s to lose at this point. Can he keep the crazy constrained?
AJ_Liberty (9263af) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:55 amPritzker will reassure the sane class.
nk (0393e0) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:01 amBut I don’t see him playing second fiddle.
nk (c6c5d5) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:14 amI don’t know why people keep suggesting Whitmer when she keeps saying “no.” Pritzker brings nothing to the ticket, there’s no chance of Illinois turning Republican.
As I’ve said before, the Veep will come from one of the battleground states: Shapiro, though he’s been governor for a short while; and Cooper, or Beshear are the most likely choices.
The reason none of the above are running for the top job is that most voters have no idea who they are. They would need to develop a national profile and campaign in just over 100 days, which at best would be difficult but in reality impossible.
Rip Murdock (3e5426) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:20 am@413
I don’t either, especially since he has his eyes at the top of the ticket.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:24 amHere’s my VP rundown…
I already said that I favor Kelly, for one being in a battleground, for being wed to Gabby Giffords, and for his unique experiences.
Kelly being a bald white guy could be a plus or minus, but it would balance the ticket, be more representative to a broader cross-section.
I like Shapiro, and he’s also in a battleground state, but he’s only a 1-term governor. His Jewishness shouldn’t be an issue but could be for the left-wing base.
I like Beshear better, because he has more executive experience and he’s battleground state adjacent, being a two-term governor in a deep red state, which is an accomplishment.
Whitmer is possible because she’s in a battleground, but there’s already enough estrogen on the ticket. Same reason for Klobuchar, but she’s just out of the woods, recovering from cancer.
I like Cory Booker, but there’s already enough melanin on the ticket. Wes Moore is just a first-term governor, so he’s special mention at best, IMO.
I don’t like Newsom. Too slick, and the Dems don’t need another Californian.
Here’s a wild card: Al Franken, who would be a cool pick, unexpected but cool. His little trouble that forced him out is a non-issue, considering the sexual abuser on the GOP side.
Paul Montagu (6e8fec) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:38 amP.S. I didn’t even think about Pritzker or Buttigieg. I didn’t even know about Rory Cooper until yesterday, but liberals like him.
Paul Montagu (6e8fec) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:39 am@384
There’s more evidence that this was a soft-coup, than any “insurrection” claims on J6.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:41 amCheatle is now the former director of the Secret Service. She did the right thing, eventually.
Paul Montagu (6e8fec) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:41 am@419
She deserves zero credit, when there’s bipartisan outrage that would likely end up being impeached in House (doubtful she’d be removed in Senate tho).
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:55 amBS.
As they say, words have meaning, such as “coup”, as defined by Oxford: “a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government.”
Biden is still president, and there was no attempt to suddenly, violently and unlawfully seize power from him. Biden was politically pressured to withdraw, which is a non-violent non-crime.
The Trump-fomented J6 insurrection was an attempt to suddenly, violently and unlawfully seize power from the lawfully elected president. Trump’s is the very definition of a coup, and attempts to call the Biden thing a “coup” is a FoxNews right-deflection from the real coup plotter.
Paul Montagu (0ce78a) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:15 am> But, no such scrutiny would exist if Harris wins the Presidency.
Except, of course, that the House will almost certainly remain in Republican hands, and except that the Supreme Court has just decided that it doesn’t need to defer to executive agency interpretations, and the current Supreme Court will put decisions of a Harris presidency under a microscope while not doing the same to decisions of a Trump presidency.
aphrael (250ac0) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:22 am@421 Paul Montagu (0ce78a) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:15 am
Weird that you chose to ignore “soft” before what I typed “-coup”.
If you’re arguing semantics, you’re losing the argument.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:22 amI have no idea what “soft-coup” means, other than to give you an excuse to use the c-word.
Paul Montagu (29fd63) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:32 amlloyd, at 350:
>@349 The Politburo has spoken!
The convention delegates are the people who decide the candidate, right? What exactly do you think they *should* do, given that:
(a) Biden has dropped out
(b) there is a hard deadline of little more than two weeks before the Democrats have to start certifying the candidate to state elections offices and less than a month before the Democrats have to certify to most state elections offices?
The convention delegates are doing their job and making a decision. There isn’t time to have another round of primaries (thanks, Biden, for putting us in this position); the delegates making up their minds and deciding is the only process we’ve got.
aphrael (250ac0) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:32 amI’m not sure it matters what you call J6. We are not entering a court of law but the court of public opinion. With the fake elector scheme, there was more to it than a simple riot. The fact that a US President sat and watched as Capitol police were bludgeoned, bear-sprayed, crushed in doorways, and dragged unconscious down the Capitol steps…is disturbing…especially when all his legal and political advisers told him to act. Even Sean Hannity pleaded with Trump to preserve his legacy. The question is why he chose to do nothing?
The answer is likely because he wanted to see how far people would go and what drama happened. He didn’t care about the pawns in play. This was about his amusement…and feeding whatever mania consumed him and his inner circle following the election. It’s less about whether Trump will do the same thing again, but about what psychology was at work in those hours. Did he actually think the rioters would get to Pence or Pelosi? Did he just enjoy scaring his political rivals in the Congress? Did he think this strengthened his hand in swapping the electoral votes? Was it just about delay and chaos?
I think he’s unhinged.
This is and will always be about self-amusement and exercising power over others. That’s why I fully expect him to detonate NATO in whatever way he can get away with. Not because this is smart policy or needed, but because it’s the best way to eye gouge Kelly and Mattis while consummating his bromance with Putin. He’s unfit. Democrat policy is bad. It will lead to 2028 being a sweep for the GOP provided they start to pivot. Harris is bad…but she’s not unhinged….and will be handcuffed by her approval ratings and any small victory margin. She may be a lefty, but she’s not a kamikaze and will want to get to a second term. My vote is immaterial. Harris quickens the transition both back to Republicanism and away from MAGAism. I’m sad with our choice but ok with that potential result…
AJ_Liberty (410b93) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:38 amIf we allow Whembky to make the word “coup” mean what he wants it to mean he’s completely correct. If we stick to the standard definition he’s wrong.
Also, please stop calling Jan 6 an insurrection. It leads to pointless arguments. Just accurately describe it by the events: a day many hundreds of Republicans assaulted the police to forcibly sieze the US capital while threatening to murder congress ppl in an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after Trump lost the election.
Time123 (e7ec12) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:38 amThe “I didn’t leave the GOP, the GOP left me” people in CA who are voting for Kamala Harris because “Trump” are fine with voting for a hard left Democrat they know will be as terrible at President as she’s been at everything else in her career.
steveg (1f2a7e) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:41 amI’ve seen some impressive, meticulously crafted arguments as to why but in voting for Harris they are still throwing the baby out with the bath water.
It’s like reading the most perfect defense of 1+1 = 3, at the end, it still makes no sense.
A true conservative sits out Harris rather than supporting her, a yes on Harris is an affirmation of all she stands for.
It’s probably fortunate that Trump rejected Project 2025 (another document he didn’t read), because their personnel changes to Schedule F jobs would’ve created a Politburo for Trump.
Paul Montagu (d7860c) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:42 amRegarding the silly assertion (without evidence) of a “soft coup” against Biden:
Didn’t Republicans for the past few weeks call on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:42 amAJ, I suspect Trumps inaction was in part to see what developed and if the new situation could be used to his advantage. There were possible outcomes of those events what would have allowed him to delay the certification and leave open paths to his retaining power.
Time123 (4f7c10) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:43 amNo.
Because again, words have meaning…
“a violent uprising against an authority or government.”
Paul Montagu (d7860c) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:43 am–Oxford Dictionary
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coup%20d'état
It was exactly that. Telling him to withdraw or you will use the 25th is exactly that.
NJRob (5b071f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:09 am@431, I’m not sure that there was some super-secret plan here that would have kept Trump in power. If the rioters had taken hostages or killed Pence or Pelosi, I suspect that there would have been little opposition to quickly impeaching and removing Trump. An armed standoff would not have been received much better. If there was a rational play, we’ve yet to hear it. If there were other rational explanations of Trump’s inaction, we haven’t heard it. All we hear are conspiracy distractions of who was ultimately in charge of security….not anything rational about why Trump didn’t immediately Tweet for his supporters to stand down.
This election is about fitness versus unfitness. With Biden finally extricating himself, the choice is more clear. Trump’s a sociopath. Harris gives little confidence of being a good administrator, but there is a bit of a chance she grows into the job and that her running mate helps her out. There’s nothing conservative about letting a sociopath back in the Oval office and hoping that he doesn’t break too much…
AJ_Liberty (410b93) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:11 amHarris pledged to issue a gun ban by presidential executive fiat
Harris is a post-liberal leftist. A fascist who just has other groups to reward and oppress. It is true that she never tried to steal an election, but then she’s hasn’t lost one yet.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:11 amHarris gives little confidence of being a good administrator, but there is a bit of a chance she grows into the job and that her running mate helps her out
See #410 for the rebuttal
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:16 amHarris is not some inexperience centrist who just needs a little help. She’s an experienced back-room fixer who has grand designs for reinventing the American experience. While the system defends well against putsches and the like, it seems to allow power to accrete to the President, now to the point of ukases.
And boy does Ms Harris have a list.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:19 amThe only president in my lifetime that has had almost no lasting impact has been Donald Trump. Only with judges does he have a legacy and that is mostly due to the Federalist Society and Mitch McConnell, not Trump.
Yet he is the one that is held up as the posterboy for executive excess. Biden, Obama, W, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, LBJ, Kennedy and Ike had much more effect. Maybe not Ford or GHWB, but no one feared them anyway.
Harris wants to ban guns. All guns. Just that one thing would be a monstrous change, and she wants to do it by executive order.
I really don’t get the fear of Trump. He hasn’t the wit or the skill to overcome 250 years of constitutional order, what with the press and the courts there to stop him. With Harris the press and the courts would be carrying hod for her.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:28 amA president can issue all the executive orders they want, but the authority to do so needs to be found in either a President’s Article II powers, or by a Congressional delegation of power to Executive Branch, neither of which is available to enact a “gun ban” (an exaggeration of what she said as Senator). And given the expansive interpretation by the courts of the Second Amendment, any EO would be swiftly stopped in its tracks.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:34 am@439
Tell that to the Biden/Harris administration knowingly knew that they didn’t have the authority to EO a rent moratorium or the school loan efforts.
Even if such order lasts a few months, they’ll consider it a “win” as some people benefited it for a time.
Harris is an authoritarian who’s willing to enact EO only to be slapped down later.
whembly (477db6) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:39 amKevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 6:16 am
That seems to be what the chariman of the Federal Elections Commission is saying.
https://nypost.com/2024/07/22/us-news/fec-chair-predicts-legal-challenges-if-kamala-harris-tries-to-access-bidens-war-chest
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:42 amneeds to be found in either a President’s Article II powers, or by a Congressional delegation of power to Executive Branch
Congress has delegated an awful lot.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:44 amHarris is an authoritarian who’s willing to enact EO only to be slapped down later.
And, you know, maybe not.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:45 amBreaking: Biden to address the nation on TV at 8 pm Wednesday.
He earlier cancelled all meetings, including with Netanyahu today, then rebooked it.
Also:
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns; gets complimentary going away letter from Biden.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:45 amNobody let’s poor Donnie do ANYTHNG!
Grab women by the pussy? NO, DONNIE!
Rape a woman in a dressing room? NO, DONNIE!
Cheat on his taxes? NO, DONNIE!
Lie on bank loan applications? NO, DONNIE!
Hide payments to a stripper? NO, DONNIE!
Take top secret information to Mar-a-Lago? NO, DONNIE!
Sic a mob on the Vice President and Congress? NO, DONNIE!
Run against an intellectually diminished octogenarian? THINK AGAIN, DONNIE!
SO UNFAIR!
nk (3a2a67) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:49 amI think the Secret Service made the same general type of mistake that NASA made before the destruction of the Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003,
Here the core mistake was drawing the perimeter with the buildings outside the perimeter, and making no real plans for taking care of what was the responsibility of others – and needing to elevate a suspicion to a threat (and confirm it) before moving Trump away.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:50 amMany of Trump’s supporters hope that he’ll use the Presidency to make all those people they hate suffer.
Many of Harris’s supporters hope that she’ll use the Presidency to enact all those unliberal laws they want by decree.
I think they’re both wrong about that, but I also think that each candidate will try, if elected.
Where did we go wrong?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 9:53 amThat’s their problem.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/23/2024 @ 10:00 amI’m shocked a Donald Trump appointee would say such a thing!
An opposing view:
Steve Roberts, who served as general counsel to Vivek Ramaswamy, thinks that Cooksey’s interpretation is “likely wishful thinking. Any FEC rulings will take years to resolve. For example, according to UCLA law professor Rick Hasen, the FEC is still considering complaints from the 2016 campaign. Even if (years later), the FEC rules against the Harris campaign, the worst that can happen would be fine.
I’m sure though the Republicans can find a pliant judge somewhere, like in the Southern District of Florida.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/23/2024 @ 10:35 amYou left out this part, Rob, I dare say deliberately.
And Oxford defines force as “coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence.”
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:08 amI didn’t leave anything out. The word “especially” means not always the case.
Nice try.
And what do you think using the 25th is if not force.
NJRob (5b071f) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:11 amNext you’ll tell us that Oxford is a “leftist source”.
The 25th Amendment is a non-criminal act and non-violent act, done under the rule of law. This isn’t hard.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:13 amI’ve been told enough times by the same people that a vote for Trump is a vote for everything, so turn about is fair play.
Placing my affirmation on Harris makes me a hard left Democrat policy affirmer.
I’d like to be talking about political policies and stated goals for America from each candidate though and the conversation often gets shifted to projection of Trump the 82 year old trying to make himself President for life
No one can prove Trump will do that, no one can disprove it, so it is a frustrating conversation.
This is shaping up to be a Trump loss. The Hollywood people are going to go all in on making Harris look like Presidential material. Trump will have beaten one weak unlikeable candidate and lost to two who never have polled above 3 percent in their entire careers.
steveg (1f2a7e) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:19 amTrump would have beaten Biden, regardless to his abrasive style. Trump’s attacking vocabulary toward Harris is losing him female voters by the hour. The race that was turned on its ear has turned again and Trump isn’t keeping up
By the way, during the Cheatle testimony, she was asked about an incident with Harris. I think it sounded like it might be a case where Harris- who sheds staffers like dandruff- sounds like Harris the tyrant got into it with someone her USSS detail.
steveg (1f2a7e) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:24 amThey should look into that.
Harris has a lot of disgruntled former staffers- that said, chances are none of them will lift a finger to help the guy they call “Hitler Pig”
425. aphrael (250ac0) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:32 am
That claim appears to be not true, I don’t know what it is for other states, but the convention starts August 19 and ends August 22 and that appears never to have been a problem except for Ohio (and maybe Alabama) where they had to name their candidate by August 7 but that has been changed b to September 1, the day before Labor Day. There is also the claim that the Ohio law changes on Sept 1, but who knows the truth, except I don’t think the new Ohio law can be a Catch-22. They easily changed the law in Alabama.
But Kamala Harris didn’t have to call them and get commitments in one day. Probably only the people on the Credentials committee, and the Associated Press and the Biden campaign had the full list and contact numbers or most of them.
v
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:32 amBiden’s call yesterday may have been pre-recorded and not live (and thus maybe not the first take of prepared remarks) There was no interaction or change in the speed because of applause etc, and Kamala Harris almost referred to it as a recording.
He was seen today getting off a 757 – moving and turning slow it is said, Had not been seen in public since last Wednesday.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:41 amFTR, I’m not voting for Harris, for pretty much the same reasons as I’m NeverBiden.
I understand why my conservative friends would still pull the lever for her, i.e., they’re not so much voting for her as against Trump, for first-order democracy reasons, because policy comes second to the security and preservation of our Constitution and rule of law.
steve,
I’m not so optimistic about Harris winning because it’s still a Weekend at Bernie’s situation for the Dems, where instead of the Andrew McCarthys and Jon Silvermans of the party dragging a mentally unfit Biden across the finish line, they’re trying to do the same with the politically unfit Harris. The only difference is that with Harris, a la the Princess Bride, her viability is mostly dead, which means there’s some life in there, that she has the potential to not be a political poltroon and incompetent who can’t resonate with voters.
But…Old Man Trump is going to say nutso stupid stuff pretty much every day, so who knows. If anyone else suggested that Kim Jong Un go with the candidate to a baseball game to “relax” about nukes (sure, an authoritarian dictator and murderer of American Otto Warmbier could really “chill” at a stadium packed with 50,000 Americans who hate the little fat guy’s guts), that candidate would get laughed out of the race. But for Trump, it’s just another Saturday.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:42 am> they’re not so much voting for her as against Trump, for first-order democracy reasons, because policy comes second to the security and preservation of our Constitution and rule of law.
at the end of the day, same reason I voted for Cruz in the 2016 primary, and same reason why i voted for Harris (for the first time in my life despite her being a prominent democratic politician from my home state) in 2020.
aphrael (078a66) — 7/23/2024 @ 11:45 amLOL!
Rip Murdock (3e5426) — 7/23/2024 @ 12:55 pmThis was supposed to have solved the problem for the Democratic Party with ballot access in Ohio:
https://www.wvxu.org/2024-06-03/dewine-signs-biden-ohio-ballot-fix-and-foreign-money-ban-he-asked-for-in-special-session
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/23/2024 @ 12:59 pmThe New York Times has a front page story about the timing of Biden’s decision (sometime Saturday afternoon – then he and two aides spent the next hours or so and early Sunday crafting a statement.)
I think, by the way, he always intended to back Kamala as his successor, but the statement was not worded so as to say that outright.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/politics/biden-withdrawal-timeline.html
The New York Times, probably wrongly, and having no better theory, links the timing to a self-imposed deadline
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/23/2024 @ 3:42 pmOn Saturday, they ran a front page story about the pressure campaign to push Biden out
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/us/politics/biden-democrats-campaign.html
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/23/2024 @ 3:45 pmHaha. Telling the President to do what you say or else you will get rid of him is “the rule of law?”
What 3rd world dictatorship do you live in?
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/23/2024 @ 3:49 pmThe Wall Street Journal ran a front page story today about Biden’s condition – when people suspected something was wrong with him or what they suspected.
He would have some strong moments too, like at the time of the Maryland bridge collapse, or the first part of the NATO summit. Then his voice lost energy or loudness, and he spoke slowly, until finally he introduced Zelensky as Putin – he caught himself – but at a later press conference he called Kamala Harris “Vice president Trump” and did not catch himself
https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/joe-biden-age-condition-before-election-drop-out-c9fc46ef
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/23/2024 @ 3:57 pmFrank Biden said that in his humble opinion his brother’s health played a role in is decision
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/bidens-brother-on-decision-to-drop-out
Part of the CBS News special report Sunday)
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:02 pm@463 Rob, I thought your opinion was that Biden was mentally unfit? Doesn’t that make the 25th amendment justified in your view?
Time123 (aebf47) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:06 pmNow that Biden has dropped (or shoved 😉) out of the race, I’m not sure why Republicans would want to give Harris the promotion to Acting President.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:19 pmI’m sure though the Republicans can find a pliant judge somewhere, like in the Southern District of Florida.
I’d go with Texas.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:51 pmI’m not sure why Republicans would want to give Harris the promotion to Acting President.
So that they could badger her to fix things.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:57 pmI probably shouldn’t use “badger” in a sentence when talking about Harris.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 4:58 pmIt does. But they aren’t doing it because he’s unfit. They threatened it because he’s getting smoked by Trump. If he was up 5 points they’d still be lying about his infirmary like so many here posted their lies.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/23/2024 @ 7:01 pmIf Trump hadn’t been so hot for an early debate, the expose could have waited until September when it would have been completely fatal.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/23/2024 @ 8:45 pmThree events on various radio and TV today:
1. Testimony of FBI Director Wray about Butler.
2. Speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before Joint Session of Congress 2 pm.
He will also privately see President Biden, Vice President Harris (who, it seems, doesn’t want to be photographed in the same picture as Netanyahu) and tomorrow, Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago.
3. Address by President Biden from Oval Office at 8 pm, explaining his withdrawal from the race, and maybe other things.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/24/2024 @ 9:03 amAs usual, Catoggio offers some clarity regarding the latest right-wing narrative.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 7/25/2024 @ 1:01 pmTranscript of Netanyahu’s speech:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-07-25/ty-article/full-text-netanyahus-2024-address-to-congress/00000190-e6c0-d469-a39d-e6d7117d0000
Transcript of Biden’s Oval Office address Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8 pm EDT:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/us/politics/biden-speech-transcript.html
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/25/2024 @ 1:10 pmBiden’s speech had no theme. It was maybe more than two dozen disconnected ideas * to be included a speech) never woven together. It was, in part, written as if to explain to his strongest supporters why he was not running for re-election.
———–
* even if you count all the different praises of himself as one idea.
He said he revered the Surroundings of the Resolute Desk, but there was something more important to him than ambition: The sacred cause of protecting our democracy. And he needed to unite his party in order to do that. In other words, his party was too divided (over him?) to help him win the election.
He said the choice of whether we believed in honesty, decency, respect, freedom, justice and democracy and if character in public life still matters was now up to us (condensing things a bit)
Some of what he spoke was just nonsense.
Notably:
And that:
No, it was at a50-year low about the year 2017. It rose, and has fallen back a bit.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/25/2024 @ 2:38 pmWe have a clue as to what he meant to say when he said in the debate that “We finally beat Medicare” because in this speech he said:
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/25/2024 @ 2:39 pmOne thing he said was true, but was also not a good thing:
At what cost?
And he didn’t mean that U.S. troops were not in danger anywhere, because he also said:
He could have declared the war in Afghanistan over while still keeping aa few troops in the country, like he does in Syria and Iraq.
https://www.cato.org/commentary/why-are-american-troops-still-iraq-syria
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/25/2024 @ 2:40 pmPeople are praising Biden and contrasting what they call Biden’s gracious stepping aside and peaceful transition vs Trump.
I think that involves projection and assumptions (my guy is high minded and true).
Wishcasting. Reminds me of all the people who think Trump is alive because God wants Trump to be President- maybe God has heard good Catholic Melania praying for the safety her husband and Father of her son every night- nobody really knows
Biden’s letter and speech were written for him by the same people who have been telling Biden what to say for the last 2 years and he did an at OK job of reading what they wrote to us.
Countercasting, I think it is more likely that the Bidens were given a choice: Be removed ignominiously via 25th Amendment with no guaranteed $$$ or resign from the race and be rewarded. Joe gets a big book deal for his memoirs- a very high dollar ultra-major cash advance deal that doesn’t seem to come close to penciling out for the publisher. Same goes for Jill. They’ll never earn out the advance without book buyers, but the big Democrats boosters are accustomed to acting like College Football boosters raising the money to buy out the contract of a coach they want to have fired and it is very common for this type of golden parachute book deal to happen to Democrats. This will be a deal right down Joe “Senator MBNA” Bidens aisle.
In other words, it is far more likely that Family Biden simply sold out. Nothing high minded- $$$ bundled into an offer Joe couldn’t refuse.
steveg (5f8724) — 7/25/2024 @ 6:07 pm