All in all, not a bad night for the GOP. I have already said that the House doesn’t seem to matter much, with no real GOP legislative agenda at stake. Gaining seats in the Senate means more easily confirmed judges. In California, we’re still insane, approving bonds like there’s no tomorrow, and trading Clown #1 for Clown #2 in the Governor’s mansion.
What did you think was important?
[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]
Pronounced "Patter-EE-koh"
E-mail: Just use my moniker Patterico, followed by the @ symbol, followed by gmail.com
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Meh
Patterico (115b1f) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:48 amCruz’s wake up call by his electorate.
felipe (5b25e2) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:52 amthe only reason there was no real agenda was cause lame duck speaker Paul Ryan was protecting the rights of head licers to storm the gates of America 24/7 with free refills
now his yum-yum daddy Mitt Romney’s in charge of this project
but please to reflect on how unprecedented it was to have a lame duck speaker with no agenda
that’s sick
that’s corruption
and it says a lot about Paul Ryan’s disgusting lack of character
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:53 amWhat did you think was important?
the decimation of nevertrump influence in both chambers is both historic and funneh
they’re stewing in the juices of their own impotence!
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:58 amAre we great again yet?
Most predictable outcome: Trump gives away the House
Biggest heartache: Scott Walker’s defeat
Biggest surprise: Purple Texas
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:02 amAnd the Captain tweeting that is willing to let Republicans vote for Pelosi as speaker, should the Occasional Cortex-Star Wars Cantina lobby or the Opoid-Rust Belt lobby think otherwise. Perfect heel by hook or crook.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:04 amMissouri. They not so dumb after all. Despite all the dirty tricks pulled by Democrats earlier in the year, McCaskill finally lost. It was a long time coming. (And DC will lose a zip code because of it but I don’t think that’s important.)
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:07 amoh my goodness how’s that even a moderation it’s a lovely comment about making tea
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:09 amI poofed on Ohio, forgetting its population is now more representative of O-hi-yah. DeWine is just a chill bizarro reflection of erstwhile Cincy mayor Jerry Springer, though.
I think Klink was on about the SW Hispanic vote being put off, as reflected in the purpling Texas, Rosen-Sisolak, and car-trunk close AZ Senate race. Watch Rob Ducey for 2024, though, especially if there is a wall sooner than later (I think the House will shoot its wad on Medicaid for all or saving Ocare i/o of any loosening or reversal of Trump immigration, Hondos in Estadio Azteca dont vote). One feint silver lining is that Florida belies this and is almost nearly the opposite and a feint blexit might have saved FL (combined with PR- and Jewish- exit for respective Scott and DeSantis) and GA and almost turned MI from Stab Me Now.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:12 amoh i see what happened
here’s my comment about making suutei tsai
it’s a kinda painstakingly prepared tea – easy when you get the knack though – it’s just one of those where you don’t walk away you have to be on top of stuff
i found it cause I’ve become such a splenda addict and the only alternative i like is monk fruit sweetener which is super-expensive
so i needed something what wasn’t sweet so i can take a break from the splenda sometimes
so… very simple
saucepan
fill a little less than halfway with water and add loose black tea
i use the store brand lavender black from mariano’s – BECAUSE
tea quality is NOT important … the authentic tea is made from the … inferior stemmy chunky bits of the tea there in Mongolia – they just chip a bit off of a tea brick into the pot
i think an oolong would be lovely as well
so anyways boil that
the lavender’s wonderful and makes your kitchen smell real good – like freedom and melania trump and lavender all mixed up together
as it boils
add salt
i use the pink Himalaya grinder kind
grind grind grind
not a lot but grind grind grind a bit
then i add half n half (fat free) – 1-1 with the tea
(so this is muy inauthentico – they love full fat stuff there in the land of mongolia) (faraway land)
then turn heat back on and let it simmer up to just-starting-to-boil
as it simmers you do a little more grind grind grind of the salt
then you strain it into a bowl and traditionally the tea is then served in bowls as well
only way to screw up is to add too much salt (or not enough)
please to enjoy i love this tea on blustery days before i head out
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:16 am“What did you think was important?“
The long face on James Comey. The great anti-Trump “awakening” wasn’t supposed to include gains in the Senate. Poor sap.
And, to altNeverTrump’s great consternation, the DOJ still has to answer to the Senate. The slow walk almost worked. Looking forward to more criminal referrals.
Munroe (548534) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:17 amI think that over the next two years there will be additional emphasis on undoing gerrymandering and on expanding voting opportunities. I was pleased (most Americans should be) that Kobach was defeated in Kansas.
John B Boddie (41beaf) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:18 amGotta sell the farm in Muzziesota after they elected sharia candidates.
mg (9e54f8) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:18 amTed really seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way.
Abbot ran more than ten points ahead of him in the governor’s race. Over 400,000 Texans who voted for Abbot also pulled the lever for Beto the Socialist…
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:18 amAgree with your take, Patterico.
Be leaving California with an aching in my heart.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:21 amWhat did you think was important?
How little this changes anything. The Resistance has a bigger megaphone in the House to make noise, and Devin Nunes may find himself under real attack. And Cocaine Mitch has a bigger majority to play with to knock through more judges and appointments.
The GOP and Trump will continue their emphasis on fear issues — deadly lice infested caravans — and the counterpunch approach. Trump will feel emboldened to go forward with executive orders and governance by tweet. A government shutdown drama will happen over immigration, and Schumer/Pelosi will be shocked by their loss.
The RINO vote (it really exists) went enough Democrat to cost the GOP the House and some governors. The Trump party really does not care, but will be saddened by the loss of traitors in their midst to blame for stuff.
I think we all now know how 2020 will be fought — a rhetorical death match where partisans of both sides invoke the Flight 93 mindset. Because both sides can claim that this approach really worked, and all ultimate victory demands is more of it.
Appalled (96665e) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:21 amWell they spent 70 million, more if you consider the porn lawyers cut.
Narciso (d53c51) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:22 amRafael Cruz beat Robert Francis O’Rourke, which is a very good thing.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:24 amThat’s an interesting point…
The GOP is Trumpier and thus, I wonder how that’ll impact Jeff Session’s job? (maybe let him step down so that he can run for his old seat?)
whembly (b9d411) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:24 amThanks!
MO GOP finally put up a decent candidate as Claire seemed to attract weak opponents in her first 2 elections.
What do you mean by DC losing a zip code? o.O
whembly (b9d411) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:26 amMost predictable outcome: Trump claiming that any good results are his doing and that only “fake news” would fail to give him credit, while any bad results owe to insufficient Trumpiness.
Radegunda (9e0773) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:28 amBefore the election, he said that a bad outcome for the GOP couldn’t possibly be his fault because he wasn’t on the ballot, and that his not being on the ballot was bad for the GOP. It’s as certain as sunrise that he would be pounding on that theme if the outcome had been worse. Because the results were not as bad as some expeced — but hardly a red wave either — he is shouting, in essence, “Look how awesome I am!”
Nevada becomes East California and they elect teh Dead Pimp of Pahrump!!!
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:28 amYou can check-out anytime you want, but…
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:30 amTexas is about as purple as the Higgs Boson is a real thing you can put in your pocket. Cruz won. Like narciso said, with the whole Left nationwide funding his opponent. And talking him down with every breath.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:30 amI know misogynists hate it, but women are in national politics now, in a big way. It was entirely unintentional on your part, but thank ya, Spanky!
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/historic-firsts-midterms/index.html
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:36 amLooks like Stuart Smalley too a pit stop in Montana. Magic votes appeared.
NJRob (1d7532) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:48 amNot surprising at all. He used to be one of Nancy’s top campaign donors. Chuck Schumer too.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:49 amtook a*
NJRob (1d7532) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:53 amDave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:49 am
Correct. Our POTUS’ ethical standards can best be understood by a line from an Alice in Chains song:
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:53 amSo “Tester!!!!” would be my version of this GIF
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:55 amthis dork from Staten Island he’s another one of McCain’s smurfs what lost
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:56 amDoes it make me a bad person to think that Kyrsten Sinema is kinda hawt?
Asking for a friend.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:56 amNational level polling was right on the money. High chance for Democrats to take the House (which they did) low chance to take the Senate (which they didn’t).
Davethulhu (02d505) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:58 amDan Donovan, if he were smarter, should have ran against DiBlasio last year.
And yes, Dave, I would have loved it if in one of the debates Krysten and Martha did a Madonna-Britney.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:00 amGovernor Abbott ran against a socialist in this election and won by over a million votes with over 55% of the vote, even in an election where Democrats and Independents were highly motivated to turn out for Beto and his Party. Meanwhile, Cruz ran against a socialist and barely won by 200,000.
Texans don’t vote for socialists, although some (like Beldar) chose to vote for Democrats.
IMO this Senatorial election was about Trump for most Texas voters. Trump got 52% of the vote in 2016 and his reluctant surrogate Cruz got 51% yesterday. Very similar results and not characteristic for Texas. In Texas, this race was a referendum on Trump and the results show it.
DRJ (15874d) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:09 am32… those Moscow girls make you scream and shout, do they…
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:11 amoof
dirty Mia Love went down like a clown
even with slurp-daddy mitt’s coaty coaty coattails
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:12 am35… Cruz may well have been saved by his embrace…
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:13 amLike jeri Ryan’s much younger sister, if you dark skies.
Narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:14 amCruz certainly thought Trump was his salvation, Haiku. Beautiful Ted will do as he is told from now on.
DRJ (15874d) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:16 amWell, it was on the money within the margin of error.
Fivethirtyeight predicted 234 Dem seats, and current estimate is 229. If you look at their probability distribution, they nailed to within about half a standard deviation. OTOH, they predicted D+9 national vote, and according to the NYT results page, it was “only” D+7.
They were also within one sigma on the senate composition, but had a few races the GOP won, or appears likely to win, as “Lean D” (because the prediction for the senate as a whole is based on probabilities, each of these mis-calls only affects it by a fraction of a seat) .
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:18 amGood to see Orange County, Ca. is still reliably Republican, but the Orange Curtain is not as bright orange as it was.
Go, Mimi Walters!
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:22 am40… dang it… and it could’ve been Robert Francis O’Rourke.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:24 amYou shouldn’t be so jealous of other strong black women, footsies.
That race isn’t called yet, and is very close (current prediction has her opponent up by 0.1% in the final count). She could definitely still win.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:24 amJim Acosta given a major smack down, lol!
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:28 amStaff tried to wrestle the mic away from him, unsuccessfully.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:30 amdean heller’s another one what liked to gently cuddle with sloopy sloopy john mccain on a snowy evening and guess what
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:31 amShe certainly had an aggressive GOTV operation. I got four text messages and a phone call in the last week. I don’t even pay attention to election-related mail, but there was plenty of that too.
And I only moved into the district and changed my registration a month before election day.
Putin’s hireling, Rohrabacher, looks like he’s on the way out in my old district, though.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:32 amWhite House press pool is filled with know-nothing, preening assclowns.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:32 amHeh. You have a binary choice fixation. Texas was DEMOCRAT state. We have LBJ and a host of Dems in our history. We broke out of that mold and know the way to change is not to always make the “safe choice.” If we believed in binary choice, Beto would have been running against David Dewhurst.
DRJ (15874d) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:34 amJeez, the loonies in California re-elected dunce Nunes? What a maroon.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:34 amGet yo’u hand off my microphone!!…Get yo’ hand off my microphone!! And for Acosta’s sake he better hope none of the Secret Service had kin that were NYPD stationed in Harlem circa February 1965.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:36 amMr. Nunes knows what time it is
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:36 amJust like the Oval Office, so it all works out.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:37 amDespite skincrawling Ryan lizzas supposed expose.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:38 amYeah, but those Central Valley Portos can be flakey sometimes.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:39 amThe reason there was no legislative agenda was that the GOP was stalemated from within, notably the one-fell-swoopers in the House Freedom Caucus who would not abide anything that wasn’t 110% their way.
Virtue signalling isn’t limited to liberals.
Also the Democrats were lockstep obstructionist.
Kevin M (a57144) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:40 amWhat was important?
Fodder for fresh episodes that are all about him. Flipping the House for Dems; Senate buys more Mueller insurance.
Our Captain is cranky today; up too late watching TeeVee. Great theater making America great again attacking reporters, grabbing mikes and assaulting freedom of the press– in the White House, no less. The dust hasn’t settled and he’s already talking ’bout cutting ‘deals’ w/Pelosi and crew at his out-of-control-morning presser. He’ll sell anyone or anything out for a win.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:40 amAnd the Captain tweeting that is willing to let Republicans vote for Pelosi as speaker
But what about voting for a moderate Democrat who … what’s that? NONE?! Never mind.
Kevin M (a57144) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:43 amBe leaving California with an aching in my heart.
Watching something you love die isn’t a good thing. Maybe I’ll move back after the crash.
Kevin M (a57144) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:44 am@51. The House Intel Committee still needs a coffee boy.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:45 amI voted for Trump because I knew Texas voters did not like him, and I was afraid if he made a poor showing in Texas that it would convince Democrats to put more money into Texas. That is exactly what happened. It may be the only time I can say this, but my political prognostication was exactly right.
DRJ (15874d) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:47 amCorrect me if I’m wrong but in the LA Superior Court judge races, the candidates with all the endorsements lost. Congratulations and good luck to Tony Cho and Javier Perez.
AZ Bob (885937) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:47 amThe theory I heard is that (a) the Dems in the House will now see this as a license to act crazy (see the Kavanaugh hearings for a taste of that); which will (b) tip the scales in favor of Trump’s re-election.
Time will tell.
Bored Lawyer (998177) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:49 am@52. Shades of Gunga Dan getting thugged down on camera at the ’68 DNC in Chicago.
History rhymes.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:49 amScott Walker got more votes yesterday than in either of his first two elections for governor, and still lost.
Does he have a political future? Will he become another soulless apparatchik in the failed Trump administration?
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:54 am@35. The tight margin may simply speak to personalities; he’s just not a likeable fella. Good theater needs a villain; the Senate has Cruz.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:04 amYes that’s a creature like puyallop, or some other of Doolittle ‘s menagerie.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:06 amWell the gubernatorial candidate made Wendy Davis seem normal.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:07 amWhat happened to the Blue Wave? The media cheered the Blue Wave all year and this is what happens:
Fake News.
AZ Bob (885937) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:19 am@66. Meet Scott Walker, Ambassador to Antarctica.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:20 amYes, DRJ I think Texas, when it thinks of Trump, teeters on being “swapped” for Florida in R electoral college arithmetic hierarchy.
urbanleftbehind (5eecdb) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:24 amMy original predictions
Final tally for the House: 225-210 for the Democrats. Tough night for Republicans, who lose six seats in California as part of a generally weak showing.
Final tally for the Senate: 52-46-2 with Heitkamp being the only incumbent to lose.
Governor of Wisconsin: I’m worried that Scott Walker’s good fortune has run out.
Biggest relief: Dean Heller manages to hold on in Nevada
Biggest upset: The recent Fox News poll turns out to be right and Joe Donnelly wins fairly handily in a race it seemed he would lose just two weeks ago.
Race that will really disappoint you: Claire McCaskill, the Democrats’ most resilient survivor, nips Josh Hawley thanks to a recount.
Race where you want a candidate to win the most: Martha McSally deserves to clean the clock of Kyrsten Sinema; it’s criminal that the race is even close.
What is appears has happened
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:26 amFinal tally for the House: 230-205 for Dems, providing a handful of Republican seats aren’t lost to election recount vote manufacturing. Worse than I had predicted.
Final tally for the Senate: 53-45-2, subject to the GOP winning in Arizona and retaining the Mississippi seat next month, slightly better than I had guessed
Governor of Wisconsin: I was right; Walker’s luck ran out last night.
Biggest relief: I was wrong about Heller. I can’t yet put McSally in the win column, though I am pretty optimistic. So I’ll go with Prop 10, rent control, going down to defeat here in California.
Biggest upset: Happily, Fox and I were both wrong about Joe Donnelly winning. So I’ll now choose Rick Scott over Bob Graham in Florida, when all of the pre-election polls said “leans Democrat.”
Race that was really disappointing: I was wrong, Hawley managed to win. Biggest disappointment turned out to be Mia Love losing in Utah.
This post-election presser was as bad as Helsinki.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:26 amWhat was important? The Obama Admin establishing the principle that the Executive Branch can ignore subpoenas from the House and Senate.
Rock Bottom (5a4596) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:33 amThat and a dead pimp getting elected in Nevada.
So every wrong thing the Obama Administration did is now OK as long as a Republican does it?
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:45 amJerry brown (Clown #1) isn’t really qute that bad. Clown #2 is divorced. his ex-wife is now the girlfriend of Donald J. Trump Jr., who has split from hsi wife Vanessa, and was with him on the campaign trail.
I read we might not know the results from California for weeks.
California now allows, and encourages, no-excuses absentee voting. About 60% of the voters were expected to so, and of them about 35% were expected to cast their votes on Election Day (totalling 21%)
They can not only be put in a mailbox (maybe there is a problem with doing that on Election Day as maybe the mail might not be picked up after say 8 am) but also delivered in person to any polling location in the state.
Now you have to allow at least a day or two to just deliver the balots to the right precinct or sort them out accoridng to precinct.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:46 amI think I did not see any real surprises. (things turning out a little diffrent in races that were expected to be close do not count)
I expected Donnelly to lose in Indiana because he should really not ahve won in 2012. I thought the Democrat would take the senate seat in Arizona.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:50 amSo every wrong thing the Obama Administration did is now OK as long as a Republican does it?
More like Republicans are tired of playing by Marquis of Queensbury rules just to have Democrats turn it into a street brawl.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:51 amMany big states, where the Republicans could have won, did not have real contests (exp. Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia)
The different sizes of the Senate “districts” is areaslcontribution to democracy because it enables more races to be real contests.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:51 amTo put it in nutshell maybe: The blue areas got more blue and the red areas got more red. But the blue areas are smaller.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:52 amRush Limbaugh said if there hadn’t been so many retirements of Republicans in the House, the Republicans could have retained their majority.
He says they got psyched out, i.e, they didn’t run for re-election because they thought the Reublicans would lose the majority in the election. (but he also conceded many Republican House members retired because they were term limited in Chairmanships)
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:55 amPeople punish politicians who lie to them, pander to them, or look like they could be rubber stamps, but they doi not punish petty corruption. (nor probably sexual offenses)
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:57 amMarquis of Queensbury rules = the law.
So, pretty much what I said then.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:57 amThey chose to give up before the election.
Narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:05 amMarquis of Queensbury rules = the law.
So, pretty much what I said then.
You would be a lot of fun in a street brawl, Dave. I’m sure crying “foul” and asking the referee to deduct a point from your opponent would be a winning strategy as the other guy is hitting you in the mouth with a bike chain.
Seriously, it would be great if both sides would hew to the same traditions and established norms. But Democrats have a history of expanding the boundaries (perjury is no longer perjury when it’s about sex; Executive Orders are equal to legislation if you can get a friendly court to run interference against any objections) and then expressing mock astonishment when Republicans give them a taste of their own medicine. Witness the hand-wringing when Cocaine Mitch applied the Dems anti-filibustering rule for judicial nominees to the Supreme Court.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:07 amNeverTrump is only alive and well in DC Media.
Dr Dre (1d84a5) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:09 amJVW is correct.
Assymetric war is not one the Right should fight under the guise of principles
Dr Dre (1d84a5) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:11 amDCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:26 am
Yep, Lord Maximus Farquaad strikes again.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:14 amOklahoma CD 5 (Oklahoma City and surroundings) was rated “Safe Republican” by all major prognosticators, and the incumbent there, Steve Russell, won re-election by more than 20% in 2016, outperforming Trump by 7%. The 538 poll average had him up by 11.
And last night he lost by 1.4%.
(His opponent out-raised him by almost 3:1, but Russell’s total was a pretty pathetic $330K)
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:15 amMake that Lord Maximus (“Spanky”) Farquaad strikes again.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:15 amBesides the fantastic ability to appoint good justices….
What’s important to me is Beto, or what he symbolizes. I don’t think he expected to win, but he is sure going to run again for Senator or President–anything to turn Texas blue. It’s clear now that all our major cities are blue, and rural is red.
If you were going to leave CA, where would you move? Someplace red or someplace in danger of turning blue?
Patricia (3363ec) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:18 amI thought Kansas was a deep red state, but it looks like their Governor will be a Democrat. ?
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:22 amNo they had cruella deville not that long ago, sebilious for those without the rosetta.
Narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:25 amI wonder if this is the moment that J.B. Pritzker is saying to himself “Oh f___: now I have to actually govern this ridiculous state.” It will be a real laugh-riot watching him try. His only hope is that this is a Nixon-to-China moment: only a Democrat can get Madigan and the corrupt Illinois Democrat machine to accept public pension reforms and statewide tax restructuring. But I kind of doubt it.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:28 amI thought Kansas was a deep red state, but it looks like their Governor will be a Democrat.
Look up Kathleen Sebeilus. She had a government job in Kansas before going on to horribly mismanage the Obamacare rollout.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:30 amExcept physical violence shouldn’t be the model for political behavior.
Our side used to be the ones who followed the rules, and stood up for the rules. We used to be the ones who told the truth. No longer.
And don’t give any horse manure about “yeah, but you can’t win like that”. Between 2009 and 2015, before Donald Trump crawled out of his sewer to “save” the Republican Party, the party gained over 1000 seats nationwide in state legislatures, governors’ mansions and congress.
Now that there is no major political party in America who stands for morality and the rule of law (n.b.: supporting morality and the rule of law only when it is expedient for your side doesn’t count…), our country is well and truly $@$%ed.
Anyone who adopts or applauds the (identical) tactics of Trump and the Democrats is tearing our country down.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:31 am@89. Dictators don’t like a free press. Neither did The Big Dick. And Trump keeps a framed letter from him on the Oval Office wall.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:32 am97. Bear in mind that the “rule of law” and the “golden rule” are at odds with each other and nobody truly supports the rule of law.
For example, Importing prescription medicines from Canada and Mexico or states legalazing marijuana.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:35 amThw Weekly standard had an article on Illinois politics in its November 5, 2018 issue.
https://www.weeklystandard.com/andrew-ferguson/illinois-is-a-mess-heres-why
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:43 amHagedorn brings the Democra6ts down one.
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:45 amSessions resigns, does that mean rosenstein in next,
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:48 amSessions resigns– at Trump’s request— per letter.
He was fired.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:50 am“the other guy is hitting you in the mouth with a bike chain”
Or shooting up your church or synagogue. Or mailing you a pipe bomb.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:50 amNot in this case.
Republicans wanted the Obama administration to respect the law. Therefore a Republican administration should respect the law.
The “golden rule” is not Donald Trump’s version.
Many. So many.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:50 amThe bodies from last night aren’t even cold…
The Slow-Mo Massacre rolls on.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:51 am11. James Comey had an Op-ed in he New York Times today (written before the election results were in, and I think it could work with any possible election results)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/opinion/james-comey-election-trump.html
I can’t quite figure out what he is talking about. He seems maybe to be hinting at things but doesn’t want to say it. I mean I can fill in the blanks, (illegal immigrant bashing is just as bad as racism) but I think Comey is afraid to.
Is this like old time radio – you use your imagination?
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:53 amSessions is out. This is a prediction I heard back when Nikki Haley resigned. She will replace Lindsey Graham who will become the new AG.
AZ Bob (885937) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:54 amOr shooting up your church or synagogue. Or mailing you a pipe bomb.
Or shooting up your baseball practice. Or vandalizing your office. Or physically assaulting your female staff. Or accosting you at a restaurant.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:55 amjeffy sessions was a vile useless corrupt RACISM and a slow driver in the left lane of life
he’s a putrefaction and a european tourist without deodorant
bye bye jeffy
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:56 am105. theer;s anotehr thing: if you advocate the rule of law in all circumstances, then you should expect policy to make sense because the law doesn’t automatically make sense. Trump argues, for instance taht brthright citzenship doesn’t make sense. Does that mean it is not the law?
But people really do expect the law to make sense, especially when enforcing the law becoems a cause.
What happens is you discard the golden rule, and it also degenerates into sadism or racism or cynicism. Which do, after all, make some more sense.
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:57 am“Or accosting you at a restaurant.”
lol
Davethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:58 amRepublicans wanted the Obama administration to respect the law. Therefore a Republican administration should respect the law.
I want a rich supermodel to fall madly in love with me. But that doesn’t mean I’m shelling out $75,000 for a fancy sportscar to drive her around in. It doesn’t matter what you want if you have no feasible path of obtaining it. And Democrats have proven time and time again that they will gladly change the customs and rules to suit their needs. I’m not talking about breaking laws, but I am talking about no longer believing that playing nice with Democrats when you are in the majority will assure that they play nice with you when it’s their turn in power. That’s for suckers. So it’s time to dispense with the filibuster, and it’s time to break up any bipartisan coalitions in the Senate unless a similar one forms in the House. Lindsay Graham seems to finally understand this; I wonder if the scales have fallen from other Republicans’ eyes yet.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:01 pmDavethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 11:58 am (Edit)
Actually, I hope you guys keep up that act. It makes very unsympathetic Republicans appear sympathetic (hello Ted Cruz), and it shows the rest of the country the ugly thuggery behind the social justice mob. Have at it, antifa wannabes.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:03 pmJVW talks as if Nixon followed the law or was a Democrat! It’s not either black or white like that JVW.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:05 pmMatthew Whittaker is now acting Attorney General of the United States.
“On August 6, 2017, one month prior to joining the Justice Department, Whittaker wrote an opinion column for CNN titled ‘Mueller’s Investigation of Trump Is Going Too Far.’” – source, wikibio
Jaysus. Paging Richardson and Ruckelshaus.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:09 pmOh c’mon, show a little empathy.
Watching your $355 four-course meals with Grand Wine Pairing get cold while a bunch of idiots scream at you would traumatize anyone.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:12 pmThe filibuster has no basis in law, and is simply a custom preserved at the pleasure of the Senate majority.
This conversation started with the assertion that Republican presidents should ignore lawful subpoenas.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:17 pm“Whitaker, appearing on TV last year, mused about a situation in which “the attorney general doesn’t fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt”
(See the WaPo)
Appalled (96665e) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:23 pmTrue. Cruz is a villain to many New Yorkers but Trump plays that role to many Texans. He was made for the part.
DRJ (15874d) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:26 pmWill the Republicans in the Senate do as Trump wants or will they expect him to make amends over Sessions?
DRJ (15874d) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:30 pm@120. LOL who can forget the Indiana ‘basketball ring.’ Yes, given his performance in the ’16 primaries and his Dr. Seuss readings on the taxpayer’s time and dime, most Americans aren’t exactly in love w/him either.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:36 pmWho can forget the game of 1-on-1 (to eleven) that took 80 minutes?
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:42 pm@ Dave (#32): Tell your friend that some STDs aren’t treatable by antibiotics, and that the risks spectacularly outweigh any imagined benefits, which would in any event be disappointed.
@ DRJ (#35): The only Dem I voted for was Mike Collier, for lieutenant governor instead of Dan Patrick. I know Collier personally (he’s a fellow trumpet player in Longhorn Alumni Band), and he’s dramatically out of step with the rest of his party, almost a throwback to Preston Smith (and to pre-Ann Richards days). Dan Patrick is a talk radio clown and a shameless rabble-rouser, the Trumpiest member of state government, and I frankly consider him an embarrassment to the GOP and to the state. Collier has none of the charisma, Kennedy looks, or skateboard cred that brought Beto tens of millions of dollars in out-of-state contributions and publicity, but he was by a wide margin the most credible candidate on the Dems’ statewide slate.
I think that Trump ended up hurting rather than helping Cruz in Texas on a net basis, especially among Cruz’ college-educated but conservative supporters like me and like those in Texas Congressional District 7, in which I live, but which Hillary won in 2016 and in which GOP incumbent John Culberson lost yesterday. I respectfully submit that it’s Cruz who’s gotten Trump, through Leonard Leo (the biggest winner yesterday! hurrah for more life appointments he feeds to Trump to run through the GOP Senate), to do Cruz’ bidding on the overwhelmingly important issue of judicial appointments; and on trade, Cruz continues to oppose Trump’s tariffs nonsense. I therefore respectfully disagree with DRJ’s #40, but Cruz is certainly not going to try to primary Trump in 2020, assuming Trump’s still alive and in office then (which are both reasonable assumptions at this point).
In looking at the results from Harris County, which O’Rourke won by a large margin, I note that a substantial number of local GOP judges won, to my considerable surprise. To me, that indicates that Beto got a lot of ticket-splitting voters who were responding to his political sizzle and romance, but who aren’t devoted to the Democratic party and didn’t vote straight-ticket Democrat. The O’Rourke mania did surely benefit a number of Dem candidates for Congress, though, to a far, far greater extent than the Wendy Davis faux-boom of 2014 benefited Dem congressional candidates then.
I’m perplexed by my friend felipe’s comment (#2), or other similar comments, about this being some kind of “wake-up call” for Cruz. He can’t put his brain into a Beto O’Rourke body, and he’s a favorite target of the left even though on matters of policy and substance, there’s not an inch of space between Cruz and Abbott. But Cruz has to deal with Trump on a continuous basis, whereas Abbott can keep a huge distance from Trump both literally (geographically) and on most policy issues (except things like hurricanes and borders). More of Trump “rubbed off” onto Cruz than onto Abbott, to Cruz’ substantial detriment yesterday; and Abbott certainly never needed any help from Trump. Nevertheless, come January, Cruz will still be “Senator Cruz” and his opponent will merely be “Mr. O’Rourke.”
I am again reminded today that even when I block happyfeet’s vileness, other people here will react to him and even quote him. I’m loathe to use the blocking script to block all those folks, many of whom I like and whose views I respect. I remain baffled by our host’s willingness to let him daily pollute this blog’s comments. I’ve seen infected wounds that are more “entertaining.” His continued presence is a constant disincentive to commenting here as far as I’m concerned, and I can’t count the number of comments I’ve written, but then deleted before posting, out of my general disinclination to share conversation in a forum in which he’s still welcome, despite a long, consistent, and abusive history of testing our host’s patience, which in his case (but very nearly only in his case) seems unlimited.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:59 pmJVW talks as if Nixon followed the law or was a Democrat! It’s not either black or white like that JVW.
My memory isn’t as good as it used to be, but I seem to recall that Nixon was forced to resign because of his misdeeds.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:00 pmRosenstein is expected to be at the White House soon (per CNN). Will this be the Wednesday Evening Massacre?
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:00 pmJVW: Nixon would have gotten away with it if he could have, nevertheless. Of course both sides of the isle do not have perfect records.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:03 pmI am again reminded today that even when I block happyfeet’s vileness, other people here will react to him and even quote him. I’m loathe to use the blocking script to block all those folks, many of whom I like and whose views I respect. I remain baffled by our host’s willingness to let him daily pollute this blog’s comments. I’ve seen infected wounds that are more “entertaining.” His continued presence is a constant disincentive to commenting here as far as I’m concerned, and I can’t count the number of comments I’ve written, but then deleted before posting, out of my general disinclination to share conversation in a forum in which he’s still welcome, despite a long, consistent, and abusive history of testing our host’s patience, which in his case (but very nearly only in his case) seems unlimited.
Beldar, as one of the few people who is willing to make the case for happyfeet let me say that I completely understand where you are coming from, and even I find his act growing stale, more and more so these days (how many different ways can you profess your adoration for Donald Trump in a cheeky and insouciant way before it devolves into a bad Catskills comedy act?). Having said that, I find that if you really do ignore him and absolutely refuse to take him seriously one iota, his comments just become background noise. At least that works for me, though I know others aren’t so lucky. I only mention this because I value your input here and would hate to see you let him chase you away. Our host’s patience with him may be partly my fault, as I am usually encouraging patience and forbearance where happyfeet is concerned.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:11 pmJVW: Nixon would have gotten away with it if he could have, nevertheless.
Nixon was toast the moment Republicans stood up and said “enough.” I’m still waiting for a similar moment from Democrats, one a little more consequential than running Al Franken from the Senate because you are pandering to MeToo. Bob Menendez would have been a nice place to start, but Chuck Schumer and Corey Booker took a pass. Profiles in courage from Cryin’ Chuck and Spartacus.
JVW (42615e) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:13 pm“Actually, I hope you guys keep up that act.”
On the other hand, I’d prefer if you guys could stop with the church and synagogue shootings.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:14 pmNow don’t you hold back anything, Lord Farquaad, no one will suspect that you’re making obstructionist moves because Mueller has put so many of your
partners in crimebest buds in jail. No one will ever suspect it.Oh, why lookee here:
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/donald-trump-jr-expecting-to-be-indicted-by-mueller-soon.html
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:15 pmJefferson Beauregard Sessions III seems like a thoroughly nice man, and that’s the problem. If he hadn’t limped out over “principles” on Day One, he might still be AG.
“This is not normal!”, screech the liberals. And they’re right, it isn’t normal for the democratically elected leader of a First World country to be:
* The subject of pee-pee fanfic commissioned by his political opponent
* Said yellow journalism used as an excuse for the government of the day to spy on him
* This politically-motivated spying campaign to mutate into an unlimited and effectively unaccountable investigation staffed by his sworn enemies, with the goal of deposing a legitimate head of state
* Every single person the President has ever worked with – including his family – to be harassed by partisan federal attack lawyers hoping to jail them for process crimes or get them to testify against the President
Nothing about this is normal, and as the chief lawyer of the United States federal government, it’s an AG’s job to stamp down on this.
Even accepting his incredibly foolish decision to recuse himself without warning his boss, there must have been a million and one ways Sessions could’ve – quite legally and above board – acted to counter the Mueller witchhunt. Did Sessions do anything?
Not-so-jazzy Jeff was an unworldly figure in the modern political landscape, a refugee from a more innocent time when his Just Say No schtick was relevant and people unironically did the Bartman.
Farewell, Mr Sessions.
Ajami (a41d1a) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:16 pm“Every single person the President has ever worked with – including his family”
What if, follow me here, what if every single person the President has worked with is a crook, including his family?
Davethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:18 pmfoolish decision to recuse himself
He got caught lying about talking with the Russians. He was in on it.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:19 pm@123. Indiana, did. That’s who.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:20 pm@patterico,
Question looking local did you read or pay any attention to the San Francisco Prop C race?
I live on Seattle and after our “Amazon Head Tax” rebuke to the city council here, I have almost even if not better money saying they will pull the same stunt but use SF Prop C accounting slight of hand to make it pass.
For those that don’t know. SFCC had an initiative on the ballot thats said if you make >$50M in profits you get a .5% on $300M of your gross receipts. Anyone who has taken even basic accounting 101 knows that “profits” are different that “reciepts”. Receipts are total cash flow from everything sales, sales with no cash coming in for X days, investments, rents, interest payments from notes you float to people (no cash for 30 days but pay 2% on total bill), dividends on shares, etc. All of which are on the books before expenses. While profits is strictly what you make after physical sales results on physical cash entering your bank and deduct all expenses from payroll to taxes to interests on notes you own, on over to share payments.
What is more annoying is plenty of evidence that says SF spends plenty on homeless. Yet, it isn’t making a dent because it isnt holding those programs that fail to account and making those that work successfully and finding ways to reduce costs of living short of old and out dated ideas like rent control.
Charles B (25cd93) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:22 pm“He got caught lying about talking with the Russians. He was in on it.”
WRONG.
The mealy-mouthed Senator who he supposedly lied to has resigned in disgrace and the ‘lie’ doesn’t pass muster outside of a coven of motivated reasoners.
“What if, follow me here, what if every single person the President has worked with is a crook, including his family?”
All vigilantes against a corrupt and decadent society are criminals by that society’s corrupt and unevenly enforced standards, just like Batman.
Ajami (fd6264) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:22 pm“What is more annoying is plenty of evidence that says SF spends plenty on homeless. Yet, it isn’t making a dent because it isnt holding those programs that fail to account and making those that work successfully and finding ways to reduce costs of living short of old and out dated ideas like rent control.”
Charities transmuted into money-laundering influence-peddling vote-banking tax havens and makework for rich men’s wives so slowly, I barely noticed.
Ajami (215211) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:24 pmMaybe Agent Orange is just throwing in the towel since he knows his time is short. Those are desperate moves. Your hero’s toast, Ajami.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:25 pm“All vigilantes against a corrupt and decadent society are criminals by that society’s corrupt and unevenly enforced standards, just like Batman.”
Pictured here, a vigilante against a corrupt and decadent society:
https://i.imgur.com/m7HCtPQ.jpg
Davethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:32 pmIt’s Marquess of Queensbury. Not Marquis! Marquess! Marquess! Get it right!
And he did bury one queen. Oscar Wilde, when Wilde sued him for defamation. For two years in Reading Gaol. And I thought our anti-SLAPP statutes are harsh.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 1:57 pm“Your hero’s toast, Ajami.”
Sorry, it’s YOUR heroes that are toast, the NeverTrumpers and the NeverEnforceImmigrationLawyers took the biggest and most consistent hits yesterday. We have a Senate, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch who all depend on working closely together to achieve the President’s agenda. And we have an Attorney General who lifts, games, and considers Marbury v. Madison to be bad precedent.
I like our chances against yours.
141: There’s nothing as beautiful as a hi-rise apartment NOT filled with the blank walls, ugly decor, and ‘modern’ art that no children ever play on or around.
Ajami (931ad1) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:24 pmWe have a Senate, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch who all depend on working closely together to achieve the President’s agenda.
The only people whose job it is to work for the President’s agenda are the people who work in the Executive Branch. No one else is obliged to support him, and in those cases where his agenda would produce bad results, Congress has the job of stopping it.
And if the Supreme Court has any agenda other than the Constitution and Laws of the United States, it is failing to do its job.
kishnevi (fe869b) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:41 pmBeldar, as I recall, you were the one who said people who leave the GOP may find that their opinions don’t matter much and they should stick around if they want a role in rebuilding the Party. I don’t agree with that — I think a good idea is a good idea, no matter who has it — but if I agreed with you then I would think twice about taking counsel from a Republican who admits to voting for a Democrat during these turbulent times. If Party affiliation matters, votes matter more.
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:42 pmHowever, I agree with the original pre-Trumpified Ted Cruz: Vote your conscience.
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:43 pmAnd the corollary is: It’s your choice to be a Republican, Democrat, or an Independent.
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:46 pmYes, and Donald Trump loves to play with his children around modern ‘art’.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:48 pmI like happyfeet, especially the way he used to be, but as a moderator I tried to deal with his more extreme moments by adding words to the filter — words that are seldom used by other people and that forced happyfeet to use his creative brain to find acceptable substitutes. I only moderated for about 10 days but I think it was having a positive impact for everyone. But then a commenter complained because one word put a comment in moderation, and Patterico decided it wasn’t worth antagonizing that special commenter. His blog, his decision, as it should be, but that experiment ended pretty quick and I don’t know anyone else willing to take the task on. If so, best wishes to them.
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:56 pmI voted for one Democrat. Jesse White, the Illinois Secretary of State. Because I like him. Everybody does. He outperforms every other candidate on the ballot by at least ten percent, getting nearly 90% of the vote in Chicago, in every election.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 2:56 pmI can’t speak for felipe (comment 2) but IMO it is time for Cruz to wake up and realize people don’t like him. Originally, he did not win as a likeable fellow, he won as someone who stands up for principles. Now we know that was an act. His principles are disposable when it’s his job on the line. No thanks.
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:01 pm@151. Still, it will be entertaining to watch Trump put one of Melania’s spare collars and leash on him and take him out for campaign walks in 2020.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:05 pmEntertaining for a New Yorker, but New Yorkers have strange values.
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:07 pmGeorge Zimmerman is not a white Hispanic. This new congressman is a literal white Hispanic (Go Bucks!) and what a cool socially adept Ted Cruz could have been like.
urbanleftbehind (22b95a) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:12 pmI agree. It’s sad.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:12 pmI envisioned Cruz’s lips planted squarely on Spanky’s rear end. But your image is much better DCSCA.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:14 pmHaving children will do that to you. Make you compromise your “principles”. Their future is more important. Everything that affects them is more important.
No, I am not being snarky or facetious.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:17 pmI envisioned Cruz’s lips planted squarely on Spanky’s rear end.
Whatever turns you on, Mr. Tillman. Thank you for sharing.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:20 pm“This conversation started with the assertion that Republican presidents should ignore lawful subpoenas.”
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:17 pm
All subpoenas should be honored, but slow walked, preferably slow crawled, especially those issued by Devin Nunes.
Principles, etc., etc….
Munroe (a82ede) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:22 pmNo turn on, my mind didn’t even go there; it’s really sickening, nk.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:23 pmAn OSU grad who isn’t flipping burgers at McDonalds…impressive indeed!
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:28 pmHaving children is what made me care about principles, nk. If it were just about me, who cares?
DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:28 pm74… if the media thinks this will win them any respect, they have misinterpreted their standing with the American people.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:31 pmI really enjoyed Trump telling fat-assed April Ryan to take a seat.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:33 pm160… I, for one, feel your pain, Tillman. You appear shaken, not stirred.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:35 pmJesse White… who doesn’t like him!?!? The man knew his way around a Maytag…
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:38 pmChildren have to be fed, and housed, and doctored, and educated, and sometimes a man has to leave his mountainside and his house that was in his family since 1832 and his herds and other livestock, and go to the Big City and learn how to make chocolate and work for somebody else, so his kids can become lawyers, and MBAs and doctors, and the kids don’t appreciate that until they have kids of their own.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:38 pm140… when Tillman gets lemons, he drinks Kool-Aid.
Colonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:41 pmThe Jesse White you’re thinking of passed away in 1997, Haiku. Chicago may let the dead vote but we haven’t gotten so bad that we let them hold elected office too.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:45 pmFox declared the House lost absurdly early. They refused to grant Braun his obvious win because that would mean any shred of drama over control would be gone. These moves also announced to the world it is a new day at Fox. Rupert’s sons are going to ruin the place very much in the manner Disney execs ruined ESPN.
If I ever meet that turd Stirewalt, it will be difficult for me to be civil. He was doing a phenomenal impression of Strzok at the witness table as he talked about the Fox decision desk/committee. Hey, puts, explain to me why y’all were so hellfire eager to shoe Braun at 38 in your final poll, which was a significant under-lyer to everyone else? FIFTEEN points off! How were you so far off in a typically easy state to discern? Hoosiers just gave a neophyte a 10 point win over an alltime beloved donkey. Trump won by 20. And you thought after Kavanaugh that the ‘folks” would not come out in droves? DJT’s appearances were nothing? The Libertarian did get his 5%. You were thinking more for him? What?
Why did you refuse to call FL for DeSantis before a freaking concession?! You then withheld a call for Scott with almost the precise same results as DeSantis across the state?
Anyway…the suburban moms are a huge problem for our country. They have little understanding of the world. There will be no overcoming the fantasy and virtue signalling of this lock of votes. Never mind the coming end of the middle class. What does taking care of everyone and every problem have to do with economic peril? AMIRIGHT? Well, I am mean.
Kavanaugh and the over-reach of spectacularly tyrannical socialists like Abrams and Gillum as Dem candidates stopped what should have been a Blue tsunami. I look forward to the House Dems delivering another 2016 to the GOP and DJT.
Ed from SFV (6d42fa) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:00 pm@ nk, #169:
Actually, and hear me out on this, why not let them hold office? I can see two distinct advantages. First, since they couldn’t sue for lack of compensation, you could save that salary and benefits package. I’m sure that will help with the budget hole. Second, since they wouldn’t be able to perform there official duties, they wouldn’t be able to do more harm to the city. Granted, that situation is not preferable to having someone in office who would actually do some good, but you take the victories you can get, right?
Demosthenes (7fae81) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:09 pmObviously, I meant “their,” not “there.” The dangers of dictating comments to your iPhone…
Demosthenes (7fae81) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:10 pmI am very glad you voiced this concern. With the exception of this comment, I will cease quoting any commenters words and, instead, quote only their screen id ( Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 12:59 pm).
I once scolded Daleyrocks (IIRC) for the same infraction, when he would quote someone I had scipt-blocked. I regretted my tone, and as a result, was much gentler when I admonished Kishnevi(?) for quoting HF in order to bring HF’s comment to Patterico’s attention, this, after Patterico announced that he had blocked HF.
At any rate, it is obvious that I, too, must be reminded to observe this courtesy. Thank you Beldar.
As to my perplexing comment at #2, DRJ (46c88f) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:01 pm Summed up my thinking, nicely. Thank you, DRJ.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:15 pmYou have a point, Demosthenes. I, myself, have proposed that as soon as we elect a new governor in Illinois we send him straight to prison pretty much in accordance with the same reasoning you laid out.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:22 pm148, 156: This is exactly the type of normal and dispassionate analysis that indicates someone worthy of trusting with public office. People who continually sexually ideate politicians in the crudest ways when they lose arguments are exactly the people we should listen to in this day and age and we certainly shouldn’t ignore their desperately emotive posts as fruits of a diseased mind.
“Anyway…the suburban moms are a huge problem for our country. They have little understanding of the world. There will be no overcoming the fantasy and virtue signalling of this lock of votes. Never mind the coming end of the middle class. What does taking care of everyone and every problem have to do with economic peril? AMIRIGHT? Well, I am mean.”
Just say it: “Female suffrage was a mistake.” Though I do expect women to security-vote for Republicans following the violence that inevitably comes from putting lefties in power:
“Smash Racism DC
@SmashRacismDC
Follow Follow @SmashRacismDC
More
BREAKING. Activists ring doorbell, hold protest at the Washington DC area home of @TuckerCarlson, racist, sexist, bigoted FOX News personality. So far no one has opened the door.
“Tucker Carlson, we will fight!
We know where you sleep at night!””
Still ‘we’ll get it back during the next crazy Democrat overreach!’ is putting ENTIRELY too much initiative into the hands of your enemies.
Ajami (9f8874) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:34 pmNow, these kids https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/missouri-republican-slammed-homophobic-his-kids-loses-election-n933546 should not only be written out of the will, they should be locked out of the house.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:34 pmSuburban women fleeing the GOP….who would have ever thought?
AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:35 pmOuch, DRJ. That is the kind of comment best delivered in private; the kind my dear departed sister used to patiently wait to deliver to me. You have a big sister, Beldar.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:37 pm“Female suffrage was a mistake”
Wow.
Davethulhu (fab944) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:38 pmColonel Haiku (f2bc98) — 11/7/2018 @ 3:41 pm
HA! Good one.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:40 pm“WOW” spelled upside-down is “MOM.”
felipe (023cc9) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:43 pmi did good comments this whole thread with nice pleasant words not bad vile words and I still get people doing criticize on me
it’s not fair
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:46 pmplus that tea recipe i gave you guys will change your whole life
happyfeet (28a91b) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:46 pmThe Real Jesse White lives on in the hearts of his fans, nk.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:47 pm@ajami 175 – The numbers do not lie. If it were not for the countervailing block of men voting near 60% for Kemp and DeSantis, we would have genuine radicals taking the oath of office. On what rational basis should an Abrams or Gillum ever even sniff a Governor’s status?
Many have expounded on the non-thinking of the sainted Moderates. Rush has been quite effective and specific. The suburban moms are, by far, the block most closely associated with “moderates.”
I am not claiming a Dem initiative. Quite the opposite. They cant help themselves (sm Ann Richards)! DJT, however, for all his faults, will be a genius at taking the advantage being handed him. That insane presser? The man took the high road and reached out an olive branch. He refused opportunity after opportunity to disparage Pelosi and the leadership’s intentions. The folks will remember.
Ed from SFV (6d42fa) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:51 pmWhy did you refuse to call FL for DeSantis before a freaking concession?! You then withheld a call for Scott with almost the precise same results as DeSantis across the state?
Because Nelson did marginally better than Gillum in terms of percentage of votes. Enough of a difference that, depending on how many Democratic votes Brenda Snipes* can dig up before the final tally is tallied, there might be an automatic recount for the Senate race, but not for the governorship. (There were some 3rd party gubernatorial candidates, hence the difference.)
*Supervisor of Elections here in Broward County.
kishnevi (eb30e0) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:53 pm170… this, Ed. I asked my wife, “what the Hell gives?” I went to the other room to watch a few reruns of Ray Donovan, come out to where my wife was still watching the political stuff to see Scott making a victory speech at the same time the Nelson/Scott race was flashing “too close to call”, which was the same status as Gillum was making a concession speech on the Governor race.
Chris Stirewalt is a buffoon and the man has too many teeth. Something is amiss. Check it out.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:55 pmIs this the “normal and dispassionate analysis” you were hectoring me about a few sentences before?
Just making sure.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 4:56 pmI regretted my tone, and as a result, was much gentler when I admonished Kishnevi(?) for quoting HF in order to bring HF’s comment to Patterico’s attention, this, after Patterico announced that he had blocked HF.
It was me, I think. But it was so gentle that it barely rated the term admonishment.
But
kishnevi (eb30e0) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:00 pmshould not only be written out of the will, they should be locked out of the house.
the commandment to love and honor one’s parents includes the duty of telling them they are wrong when they are wring, and even doing so publicly because others will see that the parent despite his own failings has succeeded in raising his children as decent human beings.
Favorite Jesse White line:
“Why don’t we just shoot’em down and be through with it?!” – as a Rancho Conejo airport radio controller, ‘It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World’ 1963
__________
Freedom of the press: NBC reports this evening White House has suspended ‘hard pass’ credentials for CNN’s Jim Acosta. Echoes of Nixon’s Enemies List. History rhymes.
And Putin smiled…
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:00 pm. He refused opportunity after opportunity to disparage Pelosi and the leadership’s intentions. The folks will remember.
Taking the high road is a tactic Trump seems incapable of.
kishnevi (eb30e0) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:03 pmBut he has enough cunning to know his compliments to her will be, in the eyes of the DSA, more evidence that Pelosi needs to be replaced.
157… “Having children will do that to you. Make you compromise your “principles”. Their future is more important. Everything that affects them is more important.“
Yes, that’s why usually, though not always, on matters of great importance, I discount the opinions of people that I know are not parents to a certain extent. They have reduced “skin in the game”.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:06 pmWatch it Colonel, IL SOS Jesse White might schedule the Bud Billiken parade for your block next summer.
urbanleftbehind (22b95a) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:09 pm“Echoes of Nixon’s Enemies List. History rhymes.
And Putin smiled…”
DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:00 pm
Could be worse. Could be echoes of Bush’s and Obama’s treatment of reporters. Judith Miller, James Risen, James Rosen …
Munroe (a068dd) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:12 pmMoses begs to differ, kishnevi. That’s Exodus 21:17. See also Leviticus and Deuteronomy on the sidebar of the link. Not to mention Matthew 15:4, where Christ goes on to chide the Pharisees for such sophistry.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:14 pmThat was partly Fitzgerald’s doing even though comedy already knew Armitage was at fault,
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:15 pmYes bloc committee type denunciation, seems popular, they tried it will Paul gosar the Arizona congressman but it didn’t take.
In other news Greece is considering releasing the November 17th terrorists responsible for a string of attacks going back to the 80s
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:24 pm@ DRJ: I just don’t agree that one must vote exclusively for Republicans to still be recognized by other Republicans as a Republican. I don’t attribute that argument to you; I’m responding to your argument that some will ignore me because they so believe, and perhaps some will.
But growing up, as you did, in a solidly Democratic Texas, ticket-splitting was nearly universal among the few people who regularly voted mostly Republican. And like both my parents, I also voted “strategically” in more than one Democratic primaries when Texas was still a majority-Democrat state.
The number of general election votes in contested non-judicial races that I’ve cast for Democrats, I can count on the fingers of one hand. I’m sure it’s way less than 1% of the total votes I’ve cast in my lifetime. And I’ve never been, and never will be, 100% in tune with any single Republican candidate (including some I admire a whole lot and have enthusiastically voted for), nor have I ever agreed, or am I likely to agree, 100% with any GOP state or national platform. Right now, there’s a ton of the Trump “agenda” which is official national GOP dogma just because he’s the nominal “head of the party,” but with which I don’t agree at all. I think he’s the “bad Republican” for that — just as I think he’s mounted a temporarily successful and very hostile takeover of the GOP that will dissipate when he’s out of office, for want of a similarly compelling demagogue. And I intend to be around, and hope to still be influential to at least a few people who I speak with or who read what I write on the internet, after he’s gone.
I therefore still think it’s useful, in our two-party system, to pick a party, and to publicly identify oneself with that party, for purposes of shared credibility among people who’ve done likewise — even though we haven’t given any loyalty oaths, haven’t sworn to vote straight tickets, haven’t gotten any membership cards, haven’t paid any dues, or (in states like Texas) haven’t officially registered that preference. And regardless of whether one so identifies with either party, I think it’s affirmatively off-putting to current members of a political party to say, “I’ve left your party” — even though one still intends to vote regularly, and will in fact turn out to mostly still vote for that party’s candidates. It’s a matter of emphasis, perhaps.
Among the many things I admire about you is your tolerance as a moderator. I lack it, and would therefore not be a good one for anyone else’s blog but my own.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:27 pmThey killed Richard Welch, the CIA station chief in Greece, among other people. But Greeks do not like long prison sentences.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:28 pmTorah was referring to actually literally cursing one’s parents, and not to publicly calling them out for being asses. But what I stated is the actual halacha.
Jesus was talking about a totally different dodge. If you vowed all your assets to the Temple, you had nothing left to support your parents (or your children or your wife). The equivalent in our days would be putting everything in an irrevocable trust to avoid alimony, gift and estate taxes, Medicaid asset limits, etc.
kishnevi (eb30e0) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:28 pmThis so-called POTUS has gone over the line with firing the AG and appointing one of his brown-nosers in his place. It is an obvious obstruction of justice – this is serious and something has to be done. Why weren’t some laws passed after Nixon’s thuggery to prevent this from happening, again?
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:33 pmThen let me eject the empty and reload. 😉 Denouncing one’s own parents for political incorrectness is Stalinist.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:34 pmThose are good verses, nk, but the wrong ones for this situation, since they were not cursing, in any way, their father.
Try Matt 10:35-37
This, arguably. is closer to the situation at hand, since the children ar acting out of charity for those who are hurt by their father’s actions. His children love the Truth more than their father. Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
I side with Kish.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:34 pmIt is an obvious obstruction of justice – this is serious and something has to be done.
If you’re talking about prosecuting the “legalized” marijuana racket like Sessions wanted to, I agree. If you’re talking about Mueller’s investigation, Sessions had recused himself, remember?
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:38 pmnk, I wasn’t accusing Sessions of obstructing justice.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:40 pmYes but those concern priorities, putting anything above God. The phrase ‘let the dead bury the dead’ is on a similar wavelenght
narciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:42 pmI know. I took you to mean that Trump is obstructing justice by firing Sessions. Isn’t that what you meant? And I say that it would be Nixonesque obstruction if Sessions was pursuing a justice Trump did not want him to pursue. But it could not be Russia-Russia-Russia because Sessions had recused himself from that.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:44 pmnarciso (d1f714) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:42 pm
Quite right, as it would have been a mistake to give higher priority to supporting their father against the public good.
felipe (023cc9) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:47 pmnk, by getting rid of Sessions, of course he can affect the Mueller investigation.
Tillman (61f3c8) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:47 pm@ JVW: Thanks for your thoughtful & generous comment at #138. There are a few other commenters who I have blocked, or whom I can tolerate as “background noise.” None of them have happyfeet’s scatalogical compulsions, though, nor, does it seem to me, do they so constantly try to test the bounds of decency. At some point, tolerance of indecency becomes indifference to the decent. But mine is not the judgment to make on that point, on this blog. I will try harder to be indifferent to him, but it is a genuine trial.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 5:53 pmI can affect the Mueller investigation by going to Mueller’s house every night and singing “Bess You Is My Woman Now” under his window, keeping him awake and too tired to work the next day. But I have not done it yet.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:03 pmAnd would you say that’s comparable to being the boss that Mueller reports to?
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:10 pmSo … having an Attorney General without a conflict of interest that the Special Counsel must now report to instead of the Deputy Attorney General is obstruction of justice all by its own self? Is that in Article XII of the Constitution?
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:13 pmToday’s firing didn’t really happen in the vacuum your question suggests, now did it?
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:16 pmHell, Trump should have withdrawn Sessions’s nomination as soon as Sessions recused himself. The country did not need an Attorney General who 1) could not fully carry out his duties and 2) was a potential material witness, not to say co-conspirator, in an investigation of the President.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:21 pmOr would that have been obstruction of justice also?
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:22 pmnk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:13 pm
This particular Deputy AG was previous to his Deputy AG days a Fox News expert who is on record saying any investigation of Trump’s finances is outside Meuller’s ambit, that the investigation should be shut down, etc. IOW, Trump has every reason to think Whitaker will on his own shut down the Mueller probe as soon as possible.
So, yes, obstruction of justice is not an irrational charge in the circumstances.
kishnevi (eb30e0) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:30 pmCorrect me if I’m wrong counselor (but please don’t try to bill me): isn’t a person’s state of mind when they do something highly relevant to whether what they do is a crime?
In other words, if Trump fired Sessions because he believed Sessions was engaged in corruption, or based on specific evidence of malfeasance, that would be different than if Trump fired Sessions so he could protect himself, his family and his close associates from legal jeopardy by appointing a lackey to fire Mueller or greatly hamstring his investigation.
The problem for Trump apologists is that he has gone on record multiple times saying that he wanted to be rid of Sessions for precisely that reason – because he appointed Sessions in the expectation that Sessions would protect him from legal jeopardy, and Sessions had refused to comply by recusing himself.
And one could reasonably believe that Trump indeed fired Sessions for the (unlawful) reasons that he publicly voiced for wanting to fire Sessions.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:42 pmAre there seriously some on here who still believe they are going to manufacture a Russian collusion angle and remove Trump from office?
When I became a man I put away childish things. It’s time to grow up people. He’s the President for the next 2-6 years.
NJRob (035ec0) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:42 pmThe special counsel regulations in 28 C.F.R. part 600 do anticipate the situation in which a sitting Attorney General has recused himself from a particular matter, including on the decision whether to appoint a special counsel. In that situation — which had indeed come about less than a month after Sessions’ confirmation — 28 C.F.R. § 600.1 provides that “the Acting Attorney General” may make the decision, and for that purpose, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was the Acting Attorney General.
The regulations don’t directly anticipate the situation created when an Attorney General who had recused himself resigns, and the POTUS appoints someone (other than the Deputy Attorney General) to be the Acting Attorney General, to serve under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, codified at 5 U.S.C. § 3345 et seq., until a new Attorney General is confirmed. Under that section 3345(a)(1), the “first assistant to the office of [any cabinet] officer” who’s died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to function is the default interim choice. In the DoJ, that’s the Deputy Attorney General.
But: Sections 3345(a)(2) & (3) go on to empower the POTUS with a couple of non-default options. Under section 3345(a)(2), the POTUS can select some other Senate-confirmed person to “to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346.” And under section 3345(a)(3), the POTUS can also pick some other employee of the executive agency who isn’t in a Senate-confirmed position, provided that he’s been there at least 90 days in a job whose pay rate is at least GS-15 (which is generally reserved for top-level positions such as supervisors, high-level technical specialists, and top professionals holding advanced degrees).
So: Rather than allow the default (which would have been Rosenstein) to go into effect, and rather than using section 3345(a)(2) to pick someone else in the DoJ who has Senate confirmation (e.g., current Solicitor General Noel Francisco), Trump therefore used section 3345(a)(3) when he announced that Sessions’ chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, will be Acting Attorney General pending the nomination and confirmation of a new Attorney General.
Whitaker’s service is capped by 5 U.S.C. § 3346 at either 210 days, or else through the date that a first or second nomination has been made and remains pending in the Senate, or else for 120 days after the second nomination is “rejected, withdrawn, or returned.”
But does Whitaker immediately take over supervision of the Mueller investigation from Rosenstein? The special counsel regulations are silent on that subject. Since the only reference to any “Acting Attorney General” is in the appointment regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 600.1, arguably that’s the “Acting Attorney General” for the duration of any single appointment. But NPR presumes that Whitaker will step into Sessions’ shoes without Sessions’ recusal, meaning he could take over from Rosenstein pretty much at will; and as NPR simultaneously noted, shortly before Sessions appointed Whitaker in November 2017, then private-citizen Whitaker had written an op-ed for CNN (linked from the NPR article) urging Rosenstein to assert more control over the investigation.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:51 pmThe President does not need a reason to fire any cabinet member. As for any crimethink, it is up to the accusers to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt (or to whatever standard 67 Senators at an impeachment trial want).
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 6:57 pmRegarding Sessions’ resignation, and Whitaker’s temporary appointment as Acting Attorney General, and the obstruction of justice angle:
(1) We (the general public) know almost nothing — beyond what’s public record through indictments, guilty pleas, and convictions of a handful of defendants — about what Mueller has done or is doing, or toward what ends.
(2) We likewise know almost nothing about what supervision Rosenstein has done or is doing, or toward what ends.
(3) We likewise know almost nothing about what Trump knew — through Rosenstein’s briefings, inferences made by WH counsel from their dealings with Mueller, or otherwise — about either topic (1) or (2) above.
Without knowing all of these things, discussing obstruction of justice angles at this point is speculation on top of speculation. Could this be framed as a Saturday Night Massacre a la Nixon’s firing of Richardson and Ruckelshaus for their refusal to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox? Sure, in theory. Are there facts which make that plausible? We don’t know — not even enough facts from which we can draw reasonable inferences about Trump’s motivations.
Moreover, we don’t know yet who Trump will nominate as Sessions’ permanent replacement, nor when. And that would surely be relevant in trying to decide whether this reflects a POTUS’ legitimate exercise of his discretion regarding when and whether to continue the service of any cabinet officer, or whether it’s instead part of a nefarious plot.
If it’s a nefarious plot, there should be much clearer indications of that, and probably soon, in the form of actions taken by Whitaker (assuming he does purport to displace Rosenstein from supervising Mueller) to terminate Mueller’s appointment — which must, by regulation, be reported to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.
So color me interested, but not yet outraged.
(Also color me unsympathetic to Sessions, who surely today rues the day he stood on a stage, just before the Alabama presidential primary in 2016, to become the first sitting U.S. Senator to endorse Donald J. Trump.)
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:10 pm@ Kish: I don’t think Whitaker was ever a Deputy AG. He was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa in the Bush-43 administration, but out of government from 2009 until September 2017 (I was mistaken in #220 when I said November 2017), when he became Sessions’ chief of staff.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:16 pmIf I’m reading 5 U.S.C. § 3345(b) correctly, Whitaker himself can’t be nominated as Sessions’ permanent successor, because he’s hasn’t been the Deputy Attorney General within the past year. He’s limited to being an Acting AG, and for a specified time. And he doesn’t have to undergo Senate confirmation; his appointment is effective immediately.
BUT: Be assured that any nominee for Sessions’ permanent successor will have to undergo Senate confirmation, as part of which he’ll be asked about his intentions regarding Mueller, and whether he knows anything about what instructions or understandings may have passed between Trump and Whitaker.
Ultimately, tomorrow as today as yesterday, Mueller’s job security depends on Senate Republicans. In the rump of this Congress and in the next one, only a few Republican votes could flip a House impeachment from a non-starter to Nixon situation. (Recall that it was Howard Baker’s trip to the White House to tell Nixon his Senate Republican supporters had deserted him which triggered Nixon’s resignation.) Ultimately, Trump’s limited by the consciences of people like Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and (soon) Mitt Romney. And yes, Ted Cruz — who may not actually have completely forgiven Trump for the attacks on Cruz’ father and wife in 2016.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:28 pmTwenty-three. Twenty-three Republicans would need to flip, assuming all the Democrats and the two Communists are in favor of conviction.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:34 pm179,188: It also appears that all posters named ‘Dave’ show a common incapacity to take a joke. Like this one:
“Freedom of the press: NBC reports this evening White House has suspended ‘hard pass’ credentials for CNN’s Jim Acosta. Echoes of Nixon’s Enemies List. History rhymes.”
Now THAT’S funny, especially when you read it in a 1920’s carnival barker accent!
“The numbers do not lie. If it were not for the countervailing block of men voting near 60% for Kemp and DeSantis, we would have genuine radicals taking the oath of office. On what rational basis should an Abrams or Gillum ever even sniff a Governor’s status?”
Women get bored and vote for dangerous men. But mostly single women. If Republicans were focused on protecting jobs for their own native sons that enabled them to marry and start families earlier, you wouldn’t have a large oversupply of urban Maenads running around following whoever the media forced meme of the day is.
I’m told middle management prefers women as employees, who, like illegal immigrants, are generally risk-averse and very easy to bully for the most part. Too bad for them!
Someone who was actually CONSERVATIVE about human nature would be able to recognize this.
Ajami (215211) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:36 pmI’m sorry. Twenty-one. Sixty-seven minus forty-six is twenty-one.
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:36 pmJust out of curiosity, when did you move to Texas from Canada, Christoph?
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:38 pmnk, you’re of course right (#255) about the number of Republican senators who’d be needed for conviction in the Senate.
If Trump starts firing people at the DoJ until one of them fires Mueller, though, he’s going to destroy the GOP majority for every other purpose, including the confirmation of any more cabinet officers. And that would only require five, assuming the GOP ends up with 54.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:39 pmI generally agree on both sentiments.
Regarding Point 1, remember Beldar’s General Theory of Trump – anything he does, he does for a single reason: for sake of his own personal brand.
Having accepted that as an axiom, the natural question to ask is: in what way does firing Sessions help Trump’s personal brand? If the obvious answer (putting a compliant lackey in charge of Mueller) isn’t the correct one, what is?
Regarding Point 2, although Sessions has sometimes appeared to be a lonely island of probity in the ethical cesspool of this administration, his culpability is enormous.
With that said, I hope his inevitable book pulls no punches.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:40 pmErr, I meant you were right in #227, nk. 😉
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:41 pm@ Dave, who asked (#230):
Those reacting most negatively to Sessions’ firing would say that he hopes, and/or expects, and/or has already secured a deal or given an instruction, that Whitaker will fire Mueller tomorrow. But he’s been resisting that impulse for many months now. I think it’s simpler: He thinks that Sessions looks weak because he recused himself, and that that makes Trump look weak, and this will create a superficial, temporary, but powerful impression that Trump isn’t weak. And hey, he just seized the short-term news cycle from the Dems’ takeover of the House.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:45 pmAnd to think that I passed my cognitive ability test (where you subtract successively down from a hundred) less than four months ago. 😉
nk (dbc370) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:46 pmSessions’ book can be titled, “I Am Not Dobby!”
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:47 pmSo McAuliffe with the help of the court gerrymandered at least 4 seats, they did the same in Pennsylvania that’s eight maybe even 12, the independent commissions did the same on south Florida several years ago, they are
Narciso (de974d) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:50 pmBeldar@223
kishnevi (ce6470) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:54 pmYou are correct. I was going by the news reports I heard. I think in fact every cable news show got the title wrong.
That suggests coordination doesn’t it, yes Neil Munro wryly laughs at how the press is now valuable.
So after the Zetas nabbed 100 from the caravan, well what’s next.
Narciso (de974d) — 11/7/2018 @ 7:59 pmA question for the floor:
Does anyone expect that in the 116th Congress, under whomever becomes the new minority leader, the Republican delegation will be more disciplined in voting along party lines than it was in the current 115th Congress under Speaker Paul Ryan?
I expect the opposite — that without Ryan, the Republican delegation will be hopelessly and continuously fractured, regardless of whether the next minority leader is a GOPe figure like current GOP House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) or an insurgent like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). I expect they’ll behave even more like the proverbial herd of cats.
Beldar (fa637a) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:46 pmNewt was the only one who productively herded those cats, that’s why they got rid of him.
Narciso (de974d) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:48 pmAs long as the Z’s do them like the 43 or 72 or just have on corners south of D.F., isn’t that a partial victory? That’s on that Pueblo group or the Zelaya partisans.
urbanleftbehind (22b95a) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:52 pmWas the House GOP so undisciplined in the 115th Congress?
Some of the die-hards held-out for concessions on Obamacare repeal, but I don’t remember hearing about it happening as a matter of routine.
Dave (9664fc) — 11/7/2018 @ 8:58 pmWho knows what happened to them, but there is a reason you don’t traipse around Mexico williy Billy since the rise of the zapatistas in the east the eln in the west and the cartels every which way.
Narciso (de974d) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:03 pmRight first you had to vote to find what was in it, which meant a procrustian array of coverage rules 75 taxes and the must buy mandate the reason the prices have become slightly more reasonable is because of the latter.
Narciso (de974d) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:07 pm“I expect the opposite — that without Ryan, the Republican delegation will be hopelessly and continuously fractured, regardless of whether the next minority leader is a GOPe figure like current GOP House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) or an insurgent like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). I expect they’ll behave even more like the proverbial herd of cats.”
If effective cat herding means “accomplishing almost literally nothing in the legislative session but spending weeks on bills that don’t have a prayer of passing the Senate, then finally pushing out a status quo continuing resolution at the 11th hour that no one in their party appreciates” then bring on the mewling menagerie. The House had no media game, pushback, or even basic communication for the past year, and thus no high-profile image in the voting public’s eyes as fighting for them on any issue. They were rewarded accordingly for their decisions to do everything behind the scenes and avoid any risk.
‘Cocaine Mitch’, on the other hand worked so hard and did so well at his media blitz that he acquired a nickname far cooler than he had any right to.
Ajami (1c9556) — 11/7/2018 @ 9:12 pmI think it makes a big difference if its McCarthy or a Jordan.
If it’s a Jordan, there will be party discipline with an eye on 2020. If it’s McCarthy, it’ll be every rat for themselves. Jordan will have a clear plan to confront the Dems on their BS and he would enjoy the backing of DJT. GOPe types would hold their noses and go along. With McCarthy, the calculus of appeasing donors will lead to GOP schisms, imo. He can’t, after all, play a chairmanship card.
Generally, I think the House Dems will be every bit as obnoxious, and worse, as the Senate Judiciary dems were and that will tend to unite the GOP Conference. But, GOPe leadership timidity would not sit well with many members.
Ed from SFV (6d42fa) — 11/7/2018 @ 10:40 pmI’ve said I don’t think Trump is popular in Texas. Now we know he’s not.
DRJ (15874d) — 11/10/2018 @ 5:13 pm