I keep thinking about the boat parades.
There were several around here that I can recall, and in and around our marina many docked boats flew Trump flags all summer. Part of me can understand why so many Trumpers from that neck of the woods — which is to say, “can afford a boat and a place to run it” — were so stunned by Trump’s loss. The proverbial Pauline Kael effect on the water.
We saw the remnants of a few once or twice when we were out this year, and we all saw the videos. Give them this: They sure looked like the were having fun. It was the Beach Boys formula: Sun + water + friends + air horns + beer + what-have-you = Fun, fun, fun ’til Joe Biden takes the White House awaaaayyy.
I still hear the bewildered, often pouting, comments here and there: But how could Biden have won, when we had huge rallies and boat parades? The idea that some people made up their minds and didn’t feel the need to stand in an airplane hangar for hours listening to the Village People was simply incomprehensible to many Trump supporters. I was plenty enthusiastic about Barack Obama in 2008, and he made a Detroit stop, on Labor Day. Let’s go see the future president, I suggested; as I recall, Alan’s sister was in town, and we all went. By the time we got parked and walked over to Hart Plaza and stood there for-fucking-ever in the hot sun and estimated the bathroom lines and would it be possible to get something to eat with all these people downtown, and, and, all to see him from seemingly miles away — I remember thinking that political speeches without a press credential were simply not worth the trouble, no matter who was speaking.
But that feeling of togetherness you’d get from standing on the deck of your own boat and seeing someone who looks and feels the same way you do in another one, and you’re both blasting “Macho Man” and wearing sunglasses — I could see where that would be powerful.
And it all culminates with the violent sons and daughters of those people ranging through the Capitol, the creepiest ones yelling Naaaaancy. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
So with that transition, a few links, then I’m going downstairs to work out.
Monica Hesse on that creepy call for the Speaker of the House:
Oh, Naaaaaaancy is a very specific scene from a horror movie. Oh, Nancy is what the protagonist hears when she is hiding in a parking garage, or in a stairwell, or crouched under her desk, or pressed flat on the ground in a damp cornfield. Her terror is played out for entertainment, whether that means a narrow escape or a bloody death.
Oh, Naaaaaaancy is said in a singsongy voice. It is the same voice that a child would use to say, Come out, come out, wherever you arrrrre in a backyard game of hide-and-seek tag. It is playful. It is sinister. It says, I am planning to take my time, and it will not be pleasant, and it will not end well for you. The men looking for Pelosi in the Capitol were strolling, not running.
…Some women — and I won’t say all, but I think it is closer to all than none — have heard their own first names called out in this singsong tone. Maybe a woman heard it when the front door clicked open, announcing the homecoming of the boyfriend who hits her sometimes. Or maybe she heard it intoned with flirtation and menace by the unnerving guest at a party; maybe she was hiding in the pantry at the time, concocting her excuse to leave. Or maybe she heard it while lying in bed, eyes wide-open, wishing she hadn’t told the pushy date he could sleep it off on the sofa.
Yup.
Trump was sicker than he, or his handlers, let on last fall:
The people familiar with Mr. Trump’s health said he was found to have lung infiltrates, which occur when the lungs are inflamed and contain substances such as fluid or bacteria. Their presence, especially when a patient is exhibiting other symptoms, can be a sign of an acute case of the disease. They can be easily spotted on an X-ray or scan, when parts of the lungs appear opaque, or white.
Mr. Trump’s blood oxygen level alone was cause for extreme concern, dipping into the 80s, according to the people familiar with his evaluation. The disease is considered severe when the blood oxygen level falls to the low 90s.
More lies. I am so, so surprised.
The Bidens on the White House lawn, embracing V-Day with their dogs. What a strange and unfamiliar sight.
And now, into the weekend of romance, or at least our weird version of it. See you when it’s over.
Deborah said on February 12, 2021 at 10:24 am
I went to hear McGovern in Nebraska when he ran for Prez and much later John Kerry in Chicago. I was at Grant Park when Obama’s win was announced and he and his family came out on the stage in front of throngs of people crying and cheering, that was exciting as hell. The walk up Michigan Ave on our way home from that was memorable too.
Obviously smart Democrats didn’t flock to be around Biden in droves in the middle of a horrendous pandemic. And Democrats don’t go around constantly wearing Biden hats or waving Biden flags on the backs of pick-ups because that’s not how we roll, we don’t see Biden as our tribal leader raised to the measure of Jesus Christ. Because that’s stupid.
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Bruce Fields said on February 12, 2021 at 10:41 am
“The proverbial Pauline Kael effect on the water.”
Since I didn’t know the term, I had to google it, and feel compelled to post one of the first results, which points out (you may already have known) that the quote is apocryphal: https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/10/The-Fraudulent-Factoid-That-Refuses-to-Die
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nancy said on February 12, 2021 at 1:17 pm
I’m aware. However, the expression Pauline Kael effect is part of the lexicon now, which is why I use the word proverbially.
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Jakash said on February 12, 2021 at 10:47 am
On Lincoln’s birthday, repurposing this great cartoon as he contemplates the replacement of his Republican party with whatever this mob of know-nothing, anti-democratic, freedumb-lovers is evolving into.
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/193829/weeping-lincoln
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Jeff Borden said on February 12, 2021 at 11:06 am
Was that cartoon of a weeping Lincoln done by Bill Mauldin? I remember the image vividly in the days after the assassination of JFK but the artist’s name is escaping me.
There is no question tRump will not be convicted by the flesh blobs in the Senate. The “Constitooshunal skolurs” will argue the petty points of some Federalist Society argument to give themselves a little intellectual cover, but at base, it will come down to nothing but rank cowardice and fear of rejection by the by the racists and cranks and boors who love their orange doughboy.
The GOP is a minority party whose ideas of governance are rejected by a sizable majority of the electorate. Naturally, 28 new efforts to change voting laws are being discussed in Republican statehouses from sea to polluted sea. I suspect they won’t be happy until voters can prove a link to the Mayflower voyagers. Everyone else? Fuck off.
Neil Steinberg has a good take. http://www.everygoddamnday.com/
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Julie Robinson said on February 12, 2021 at 11:22 am
Yes, that was a Mauldin, and if you scroll down underneath it’s identified thusly. Mauldin spoke at my high school in the 70’s, with a collection of his drawings. Somehow I can’t quite call them cartoons. He was one of the last of that great breed, embedded with the troops in WWII, and experiencing everything they did. He spoke of being with them as he showed his works. Quite a sobering evening.
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Suzanne said on February 12, 2021 at 11:54 am
Last night, I dreamed there was a Nancy Nall meetup at the Allen Co Public Library. I went and there were about 40 people there and I was so surprised to discover so many people I knew also were fans of this blog.
So, I don’t know what the deep meaning of that is.
I see Tim Alberta has a big story in Politico about Nikki Haley & whatever blather she says. I refuse to read it because I don’t care, do u? Please, journalists, just ignore these people. Please.
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alex said on February 12, 2021 at 12:03 pm
For the weekend of romance I’m preparing one of my hubby’s favorites — cheese rarebit. It’s what he wants.
On edit: Nikki Haley is cleaning the shitstains off her lips and nose so she can get all kissy-kissy with moderate educated suburban women in 2024.
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LAMary said on February 12, 2021 at 12:17 pm
Nikki Haley is saying she’s no longer following trump and that no one should. In other words, he can’t do me any good anymore so I’m bailing out of this garbage scow.
The Pauline Kael Effect reminded me of a Zoom meeting I had to attend on Wednesday. Instead of business it was the fun Valentines day trivia contest, with some company who provides that service running it. We were in randomly selected teams. First question: on which holiday are more cards sent? Christmas or Valentines day? Most of my team said Valentines day. I convinced the team captain that I get Christmas cards from my insurance agent and my city councilman. I do not get Valentines from either of those guys. So that version of Pauline Kael reasoning worked that time, but who knows? Maybe all my team mates get valentines from their insurance guys.
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Mark P said on February 12, 2021 at 12:53 pm
I can’t watch today’s impeachment trial. Total crap and lies, so a perfect Trump defense. I’m sure the Republican senators are nodding their heads as they listen.
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basset said on February 12, 2021 at 1:04 pm
Not Pauline Karl but similar… I remember reading somewhere that Joe Kennedy had asked how Harry Truman could have become president when he didn’t even know him.
Probably not true, but I suppose it could be.
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Deborah said on February 12, 2021 at 1:50 pm
I said this here a few weeks ago, I was astonished when Dukakis lost because everyone in my bubble was for him. I especially, was completely hogswallowed when Kerry lost and W won his second term. I never thought that anyone cheated though. I thought W’s first “win” was a little dubious.
I’ve had dreams about getting together with the nn.c community too and I always wonder what some of you look like after I’ve conjured you up in a dream. Some of you I’ve seen in person and some on Facebook.
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Deborah said on February 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm
That Steinberg piece sure was a downer, but probably dead on, unfortunately.
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Sherri said on February 12, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Calling the Republican Senators cowards is far too generous. They aren’t afraid of their base. They want to lead that base.
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Suzanne said on February 12, 2021 at 4:03 pm
I agree, Sherri.
The GQP isn’t afraid of how history will judge them because they assume they will write that history.
They aren’t afraid of their base; they are in agreement with their base.
This is no longer a monster that got out of control but the monster they chose to create and now are telling it where to go and who to kill.
And they still don’t get that it will ultimately destroy us all.
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ROGirl said on February 12, 2021 at 5:16 pm
That Pauline Kael “quote” has been called out as apocryphal, but she did call An Officer and a Gentleman “crap on a motorcycle.”
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LAMary said on February 12, 2021 at 5:34 pm
I get Pauline Kael and Judith Crist mixed up sometimes. I know they really aren’t in the same class. For one thing, Judith Crist did a feminine hygiene commercial.
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Sherri said on February 12, 2021 at 7:46 pm
As I’ve said, this is what the Republican Party is, and it’s the job of the rest of us to crush them. That is, if we want to save democracy.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/a-uw-professor-explains-why-the-gop-even-now-just-cant-quit-trump/
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Sherri said on February 12, 2021 at 8:34 pm
Sexual harassment, misogyny, and pure grifting – whaddaya know, the Lincoln Project guys really were Republicans!
https://www.rawstory.com/lincoln-project-2650523061/
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Suzanne said on February 12, 2021 at 9:41 pm
This is Schmidt’s statement
https://twitter.com/steveschmidtses/status/1360392136982622208?s=21
There are 2 parts. I found it gut wrenching. He was molested as a kid and it still affects him.
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Sherri said on February 13, 2021 at 1:08 am
Jaime Herrera Beutler, Republican Congress member from southwest Washington, came out with a pretty strong statement tonight. Keep in mind that Washington’s primary system means that she doesn’t have to win a Republican primary to keep her job, just finish in the top two.
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Dexter Friend said on February 13, 2021 at 1:38 am
My nephew’s wife Becky was 2008 Chairperson of Illinois Women for Obama, and she invited my brother and a few other family members inside the V.I.P roped off secure close-in area at the famous election night rally in Grant Park. My brother was introducing himself to the celebrities like he was a big shot, Jesse Jackson was one. He took photos all around and showed me, and I had to tell him who they were as I recognized them all from TV. I was surprised he didn’t know who Jonathan Alter was.
It’s a shame the vote isn’t secret, because the repuggs are scared to death of their party’s leader, Trump. Trump is sure as hell the leader of this pathetic party, and will likely run for President again. Just look at how his very being is getting him found not guilty by these chickenshit Senators.
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Deborah said on February 13, 2021 at 2:59 am
It looks like the Lincoln Project is going down in flames. I gave them money, not a lot, and I still follow some of them on Twitter. The sad part is that the Trumper types are feeling like they’ve won something out of this. I didn’t follow Weaver and barely knew who he was. The LP got a lot of criticism for pocketing money unethically and now it seems like they did.
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alex said on February 13, 2021 at 8:59 am
Pocketing money unethically? Abiding sexual misconduct among their own? They may not like Trump but they’re still Republicans through and through.
Hubby surprised me with reservations last night at Auburn City Steakhouse. Even more surprising was the name of the house wine splashed atop the menu:
“Auburn City Steakhouse Conservative Rebel White Blend.”
They certainly know their audience.
We had a nice server though and he had an interesting story. He and his wife are from Chicago but have been working from their vacation home on Hamilton Lake ever since COVID struck and now they want to relocate there permanently. He retired recently but took this gig just to get out of the house. And I recognized his house immediately when he talked about it. It’s a fabulous mid-century modern on Muskrat Bay that used to belong to a doctor and I’ve always admired it.
So that was the start of the weekend. Hubby’s making me bacon Benedict this morning.
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Deborah said on February 13, 2021 at 11:37 am
I don’t know what this means politically for Biden’s agenda (rescue package etc) but I’m glad to hear that the Senate will be hearing witnesses. I’d drag it out for a long time to continue to humiliate the Republican senators in the eyes of the public. IMHO.
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Deborah said on February 13, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Apparently their vote was to debate whether to have witnesses or not, then the senate can make the rules for number of witnesses, whether the witnesses are questioned on the floor of the senate or a remote location etc. It will probably pass to have witnesses but to limit the number because Democrats have the majority. We shall see.
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Deborah said on February 13, 2021 at 1:10 pm
I don’t know what just happened, the Democrats seem to have caved on witnesses. My husband thinks this was wise, but I don’t get their strategy here at all. Obviously the Republicans aren’t going to vote to convict, a small number may but nowhere near what would be needed. Is that all this is? Just get it over with? I don’t get it.
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alex said on February 13, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Evidently all the Dems really wanted was to have Jaime Herrera-Beutler’s statement entered into evidence. The statement refutes defense counsel’s claims that Trump was unaware of what was going down, particularly where Pence was concerned. Herrera-Beutler made it known last night in an interview that Kevin McCarthy had been on the phone with Trump during the fracas and that Trump made no effort to quell the situation until hours later.
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Suzanne said on February 13, 2021 at 1:55 pm
I could be wrong but I think the Dems made a big mistake not demanding witnesses. I understand their reasoning regarding the statement by Herrera-Buetler but the optics are that they knew their side was going to lose so they backed down. In politics, optics really are everything. The medium IS the message.
So, today, I sit here on a cold day truly believing that the USA had a decent 245 year run, but it’s basically over.
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alex said on February 13, 2021 at 2:57 pm
The defense closing arguments are, in a word, Trumpian. Total gaslighting and bullshittery. If this were a real court they’d be disbarred.
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David C said on February 13, 2021 at 3:34 pm
I wouldn’t despair yet. He’s going to get hauled into a real court where his lawyer’s buffoonish crap won’t be tolerated. There will be a real jury selected from the citizens of New York City and DC not a bunch of co-conspirators. He’ll get his. Even if Joe and Merrick Garland decide to turn the page, and I don’t think they will, Tish James won’t. He’ll spend the rest of his miserable life in court with rotten lawyers who couldn’t argue their way out of a paper bag. Any smart lawyer is going to demand cash up front and that doesn’t register with tRump. He’ll end up with more “I don’t get payed until you get paid” ambulance chasers like VanderVeen.
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Sherri said on February 13, 2021 at 3:43 pm
The Republican Party is the party of white supremacy, and will do anything to maintain that, including destroying the country. They must be crushed.
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alex said on February 13, 2021 at 3:52 pm
57 to 43. Not the 2/3 majority needed.
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Suzanne said on February 13, 2021 at 4:10 pm
I will despair. This vote shows the world that there are no checks and balances in our government. It proves that a sitting President is free to execute his political enemies, if he so desires. The fact that Trump was unsuccessful is irrelevant because the next time, the people who would try to hold him accountable will be dead.
Even if Trump goes to jail for private corruption, the precedent has been set that attempting to murder your own VP is not worthy of an impeachment conviction.
It took almost 250 years, but King George won the revolution. We no longer have a democracy. The longest experiment in democratic government failed today.
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Suzanne said on February 13, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Even Russian mobster & Rudy G pal was appalled at the trial outcome.
https://twitter.com/levparnas/status/1360695535334752272?s=21
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Jakash said on February 13, 2021 at 5:26 pm
Grifting, porn stars, money-laundering, lying, casinos, stiffing contractors, fraud — the Big-time Loser has always seemed much more like a mob boss than a president or even a businessman.
It’s always been tough to pin stuff on a mob boss and even Al Capone, the most notorious criminal of his day, was only put away for tax evasion. So, he skated again today. Though it’s not like a 57 – 43 vote against him is anything like an exoneration.
I agree with David C. This is not the last time he’ll need lawyers, and soon, the likes of Cruz, McConnell, Graham and Hawley won’t be among his jurors. Though I also agree with Suzanne that the “checks and balances” that we were promised when the Big-time Loser took office have been woefully inadequate in dealing with a charlatan of his ilk.
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David C said on February 13, 2021 at 6:00 pm
I may be overly optimistic, which I almost never am, but I think not being convicted puts him in a worse situation. If he was convicted, everyone from the Times, to the Post, to the all networks would have started banging the “he’s suffered enough” drum. Now he’s an accessory to murder and I think he’ll pay like he’s never paid before.
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Dexter Friend said on February 13, 2021 at 7:05 pm
I am still bitterly harping. So McConnell, after everything is done and Trump declared not guilty, feels he has to go national and rave on about how there is no doubt Trump did every damn thing the Democrats said he did, but says since there are no priors to this case, well, we have to just let it go and support Trump on a dozen technicalities. I have lost faith in way the USA government and all 3 branches do things. So what’s next? Here’s what is next: Monday, Lady Lindsey G flies to Trump’s resort to begin plotting and planning for the 2024 election. You can betcher ass Trump’s gonna run in 2024. The Republican Party is still Party Trump. See why I have all but lost hope in our national government?
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Suzanne said on February 13, 2021 at 7:40 pm
I am with you, Dexter. The Republican Party is party Trump because they want to be. And the Dems don’t have the guts to be as ruthless as McConnell.
I hold to what I said above. We no longer have a democracy. It is over.
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Deborah said on February 13, 2021 at 7:54 pm
I need to take some deep breaths and remember that Biden is president now and Harris is VP. The Democrats have the majority in the house and the senate. The virus is slowly going down, the vaccines are happening. A rescue package is coming. The economy will recover, life will get back to something like normal at some point. Trump will be prosecuted for something, it will happen. He will go bankrupt again. We will rebuild better but we need to get rid of the fucking filibuster to get stuff done soon.
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Suzanne said on February 14, 2021 at 9:03 am
After sleeping on the outcome of yesterday’s vote, I am just as angry as I was. People are praising McConnell’s post acquittal speech. I see it as a giant f*** you to all of us. He’s a murderer who has just been acquitted of charges and knows that he cannot be tried again for the same crime so he freely confesses that, yes, he indeed committed the murder. Nothing you can do about it either, you losers.
McConnell has put down the first bricks paving the road to fascism.He knows it and he is happy about it.
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Deborah said on February 14, 2021 at 10:01 am
You’ve no doubt seen these astonishing facts: the 57 senators that voted to convict represent 73 million MORE citizens than the 43 who voted to acquit, or put another way the 43 who voted to acquit represent 14.5% of the population. That’s mind boggling.
Suzanne, I empathize with your feelings, maybe it’s because of my bubble or because I’m naive, but I have hope. We have less than 2 years to do a hell of a lot to turn things around, but I think it’s possible. They need to get rid of the filibuster to do it though. Will they do it?
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David C said on February 14, 2021 at 11:20 am
I’ve read that they won’t get rid of the filibuster but it will die of a thousand cuts. For instance they bring up the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The Rs will filibuster it. The Dems will get a ruling from the Senate Parliamentarian if the filibuster applies to voting rights bills. The Parliamentarian says yes and the Dems can overturn that with a simple majority vote just like the Dems did with judicial nominees and the Rs did for SC nominees and Cabinet nominees. So there might be a filibuster at the end but it’ll be Swiss cheese. I think Manchin’s and Sinema’s objections are mostly performative and they’ll go along.
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Deborah said on February 14, 2021 at 11:54 am
This is a good Twitter thread by Daniel Goldman about how the Impeachment managers backing down on witnesses was a better move than going forward with it https://mobile.twitter.com/danielsgoldman/status/1360963234778537986 to see the whole thread you may have to click on “show this thread” I never know how it shows up on your various devices.
The Republicans threat of blocking Biden’s cabinet nominees (etc) if the managers called witnesses was meaningless because they’re going to do it anyway over and over again. The Democrats are always so afraid they’ll be accused of overreach instead of acting boldly and decisively. The Republicans keep power because they’re willing to play dirty and they always do (gerrymandering, voter suppression, lies, playing on fear etc etc etc) I don’t think the Dems in the Senate should play dirty but they need to work hard, smart and aggressive, like the managers did. The managers obviously did their homework.
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Jakash said on February 14, 2021 at 12:08 pm
I understand your outrage, Suzanne, and was going to post something about that fucker, McConnell after watching his amazingly cynical speech, but what’s the use? And I realize that your on-the-ground-in-the-midst-of-the-crazies perspective is a lot different from mine.
But, given that the “jury” in this trial had made up their minds ahead of time (uh, that’s kinda frowned-on in a real, functioning democracy) and were looking at their phones instead of the evidence, I wasn’t anticipating a different outcome.
Instead, I’m choosing to take what we’ve gotten at this point. The fascists storming the Capitol have not won. They’ve been roundly condemned on all sides, even by the Grand Turtle of Kentucky. 7 votes aren’t 17, but they ain’t 0, either. Seems to me that the Repbulicans, at long last, are a fractured party and Jan. 6 is what it ultimately took for a percentage of the cult to wake up. I choose not to believe that the Big-time Loser’s “movement” will gain momentum as he spends his time in various courtrooms and/or prison and/or exile. McConnell, in particular, got what he needed from the deal with the devil he made and seems to be genuinely done with his former partner for good. I think there are many more like him — far from a majority of Republicans at this point, but enough to cripple some of the party’s prospects. I hope.
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Deborah said on February 14, 2021 at 12:39 pm
I found this article about channeling your impeachment rage helpful https://messagebox.substack.com/p/how-to-channel-your-impeachment-anger It gives specific suggestions and links where to give and get involved that can be done immediately.
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Jakash said on February 14, 2021 at 12:54 pm
“Bedtime reading routine.” YMMV.
https://twitter.com/tomgauld/status/1360911268085907458
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Jakash said on February 14, 2021 at 1:25 pm
I’m not a fan of former Bush speechwriters, but since this guy says essentially the same thing I was thinking, and it’s the #1 post on The Atlantic at the moment, it’ll do.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/impeachment-did-not-prevail-trump-still-lost/618026/?
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Suzanne said on February 14, 2021 at 1:43 pm
I have been seeing several iterations of this the past few days
https://twitter.com/kurtbardella/status/1360995763199881219?s=21
Rhetoric? Doubtful. The past four years have shown us exactly what the GOP is, out in the open, unabashedly. They now know that even storming the Capitol, seeking the execution of members of Congress has no consequences.
I will be channeling my impeachment rage, but we are not dealing with normal partisan politics here. We are dealing with fascists who will not play by any rules the opposition may set up. They mean to have complete control and the Senate acquittal but it within their reach.
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Jakash said on February 14, 2021 at 2:20 pm
I’m sorry, Suzanne, but “no consequences” is a bit of a stretch. The Big-time Loser was impeached, and found guilty by 57 Senators. He now faces possible criminal prosecution. Over 250 people have been arrested and charged. Those are consequences.
Their lust for control has resulted in them losing the House majority, Senate majority and presidency in the last 2 1/2 years. And now, the monolithic support of the cult leader is beginning to crack — at least more so than it had before.
Things are not great, but I actually think, politically, they looked worse a year ago, when reelection because of the “strong economy” seemed possible.
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Deborah said on February 14, 2021 at 2:53 pm
Two negative things about my much improved vision:
Now I can see each wrinkle on my face every time I look in the bathroom mirror. I could see them of course in my magnifying mirror that I use when I put make-up on but I had no idea they were THAT apparent. Oh well, I guess I’ve earned them, especially after frowning and having resting bitch face so much these last few years.
The other negative thing about good vision is now I can see how dirty my kitchen was. I had been giving it the once over every week, thinking that was sufficient. Today has been deep cleaning day in there, scrubbing like crazy and using toothpicks to clean out every crevice. Yikes. I’m taking a break before I mop the floor with my new mop.
The upside of this cleaning day is I’m working off anger, rage cleaning.
This is how I’m spending Valentine’s Day and that’s a good thing.
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Suzanne said on February 14, 2021 at 3:20 pm
This is what the Indiana Secretary of State posted on Twitter today.
https://twitter.com/toddrokitain/status/1361028464736952327?s=21
So, yeah. The GOP have been chastened by the impeachment and, to quote Susan Collins, “have learned their lesson”.
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Sherri said on February 14, 2021 at 4:43 pm
We don’t know yet about the consequences of insurrection and impeachment, and whether Republicans have been hurt by them. Republicans are betting on Americans having a short memory, and nobody caring about any of this in the midterms. They think the corporations who have stopped giving money to the insurrection caucus will come back as soon as the furor dies down, and they can trash things enough from the minority to take back the Senate and maybe the House in 2022.
They will do everything they can to hinder voting, because they don’t want democracy. They will tie things up in the courts with their McConnell judges.
The Dems need someone to get Manchin under control, make it clear to him that he needs to get on board with eliminating the filibuster. Carrot or stick, I don’t care, but the patient approach has gone on too long. Take the Byrd method and throw money at WV, or start planting stories about his ties to the pharmaceutical industry and the havoc wreaked on WV.
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FDChief said on February 14, 2021 at 7:22 pm
The problems this mess throws into stark relief are that:
1) The “left” (whatever you want to call it, the Democratic Party, every non-wingnut in the US, normally functional human American voters…) wants to and needs the various levels of government to function. Which means that they can’t go full boogaloo the way the GQP can and does, while
2) The “right” has become the faction of the white and the wealthy (but principally the latter). Rich people don’t NEED government to function except in the grossest sense of “not a howling wilderness of all against all”. They can buy the things they need; private roads, private schools, private guards/cops, private…well, everything.
So the logical direction for the wealthy donors who actually matter to the GQP is to continue to stoke the crazy, knowing that what it will do is effectively prevent the various governments from acting in the public interest by reining in oligarchy by regulation and taxation.
If they were less loathsome the ultimate fate of the GQP rank-and-file – soylent green for the plutocracy – would be pitiable. Because they ARE loathsome, a vile congeries of hatred and stupidity, they are merely pitiful.
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Colleen said on February 14, 2021 at 8:14 pm
Deborah, my mom had cataract surgery and has noted the same two things about her improved eyesight…
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basset said on February 14, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Mrs. B. had cataract surgery in both eyes with no noticeable improvement. Soon, she will experience an outpatient procedure which involves scraping the outer surface of one cornea… I would have to be drugged stupid for that but the doctor (a different one from the cataract work) told her she could drive home afterward, if she were still driving.
The current spell of awful weather is not hitting Nashville as hard as, say, Oklahoma City, but it has gotten me out of a dental appointment and a meeting with my tax guy tomorrow.
Got my second Covid shot yesterday, and a pin for my ID badge comes with that… reads “Covid Vaccinated” and some other stuff. Now I need to do as some of the medical students do and put a sticker on my badge specifying my preferred pronouns. First time one of em asked me that I had to stop and process it… hey, I’m old, just use the regular ones, “he” and “him” are fine.
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Suzanne said on February 14, 2021 at 9:24 pm
And then there is this gem
https://twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/1348331087487926273?s=21
My husband attended a church event this evening and heard these exact talking points from a pastor who was there. And a layperson.
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Dexter Friend said on February 15, 2021 at 4:08 am
Ditto Colleen + Deborah…Carl Lee had both eyes done a few years ago and was amazed at the color and clarity enhancement.
Tip for Netflix users: Skip “Red Dot”, the current horror film. Somebody took a Sam Peckinpaugh film-making class and made a movie straight from Sam’s old book of procedure. Just a horrible bloody senseless film.
Senator Lady G from The Palmetto State keeps mouthing off what a great man Trump is, saying all the lies, the hate speech, all and everything was pretty over the line, but by gawd he’s a winner, and Lady G is going to stick with him, and stick to Trump like, oh…Gorilla Glue.
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on February 15, 2021 at 9:51 am
Have to admit, it made me chuckle to see Trump’s lawyers snagging all the “U.S. Senate” coasters they could as the trial ended on the Senate floor. Souvenir hunting is a human universal.
Bitter chuckling, perhaps. “Stop the steal!”
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LAMary said on February 15, 2021 at 2:08 pm
An old friend of mine had a Gerald Ford Whitehouse ashtray that I coveted. He swore he’d leave it to me when he died but the younger second wife kept it. It had the presidential seal and a picture of Gerald and Betty on it. He only put it out for his legendary New Years Eve parties and no one used it for ashes. He also had an unindicted co-conspirator guest from the Watergate era at his parties. I wish I remembered that guy’s name, but to be honest I don’t think I ever caught it at the parties. I just thought of him as unindicted co-conspirator guy.
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