It’s all going to come together, and HRC is not going to be able to avoid the liberal positions that have been advanced in the primary.
We are still MUCH better off than if she had run unopposed (sorry O’Malley).
I also think she is well aware of Elizabeth Warren and doesn’t want to go down in history as the sellout female President before the heroic one comes along.
Too bad we can’t use all this typing as a form of power. Think of the carbon savings!
9.
Hal
I’m just glad this will all be over by next Tuesday? Is that right? Please tell me I’m right. I’m going to vote on the way home today. Hopefully not too crowded since I should be to the polling place before 5pm. I think I’m going with Clinton, but I’m also a little surprised by how much I like so much of what Sanders says, but do not feel inclined to vote for him. Yeah, some Sanders supporters are being annoying, but that’s probably true of certain numbers of everyone’s supporters. Oh well. As long as it’s not Trump, Kasich, or Cruz next November with a victory party, I’ll be thrilled.
They subcaption that grey parrot as saying “What the hell was that?” but I’m pretty sure I heard the f-bomb….
11.
MazeDancer
Was very excited to vote today for a woman to be President of the United States. Especially one so remarkably qualified and impressive.
There was no line in the teeny village where I vote. And the ballot was extremely simple. Choose Hillary. And right next to her name are only 5 choices for the 5 delegate slots. And all the delegates are clearly labelled as pledged to her. (Same for Bernie’s) So no surprises in NY delegate actions.
They weren’t giving out “I voted” stickers. Really wanted one for the historic occasion of it all. But smiled at a lot of people walking into the poll as I left. Everyone always looks so happy and uplifted to be voting. We are lucky to be doing so with such ease.
@LAO: Misleading hed though. Kansas doesn’t have small government. They have enough government to want to dig through women’s medical histories. They just don’t have enough to fix roads or run schools. Kansas Republicans picked what they wanted the government to do.
17.
tinare
I remember how nasty 2008 was and how that was a distant memory by November. So, my hope is that this will be the same. Cannot have President Trump or Cruz! (Or Kasich or Ryan…)
I celebrated primary day by watching “The Suffragettes” which was very enjoyable, I thought.
That’s great! Was thinking today that the 72-year struggle for US women to get the vote started in NY State, and how appropriate it felt to be voting for the first time for a woman in NY. Plus – knock wood, Goddess willing – Hillary could be running for re-election in 2020, the suffrage 100 year anniversary.
19.
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
Not voting for Bernie if he wins the nom, he hasn’t earned my vote for centrist pragmatism….
*sits back, awaiting the pelting by stones and outraged howls*
Rosie looks like she learned long ago that cats have pointy ends and doesn’t want to learn it again. Steve looks satisfied to be the boss.
22.
NR
@eemom: Whereas Hillary supporters are all calm, rational, positive people who never have an unkind word to say about anyone. They are truly saints of the modern day, and stand out as a stark contrast from the demonic Sanders supporters who may, in fact, be literal demons.
23.
gratuitous
Oh sure, “get along” like the nice cat and dog. Shall we sing a chorus of “Kum Ba Yah,” too, ya tree-hugging, granola-munching bunch of hippies? As soon as I remember which Democratic candidate I prefer, I solemnly vow to commit to all-out internecine war against those who would destroy our beloved nation in the name of, uh, in the name of . . . damn, I really need to figure out who the implacable enemy is. Just watch yourself, is all I’m sayin’.
A pet store I used to frequent had a gray parrot named Kenya with a big “NOT FOR SALE” sign on her cage. (It wasn’t that kind of pet store anyway — rescue adoptions only.)
Her favorite trick was to wait for the employees to go to the back of the store and then imitate the phone so they would have to run back up to the front. Got ’em every time, which is probably why they loved her so much.
when you would be 42 years old, if you had stayed in the state of your birth before you’d be able to vote in this country and that’s AFTER you put on the uniform and put your life on the line for said country
when you attempt to register people to vote and wind up with a cross burning on your lawn
when you have a Bachelors and Masters degree, and are asked to inform the registrar – how many bubbles are in a bar of soap.
or how many jelly beans are in that jar.
or to recite the preamble to the U.S. Constitution..
and, even after you’ve done that, you are asked to recite the Declaration of Independence – verbatim.
Or, you have to take a test, on your state’s constitution, that lawyers, registered to practice law in your state – don’t know….
Or, being told that you can get a ‘ Free Voter ID’, but in order to get the ‘ Free ID’, you have to spent Hundreds of $$$$, and make numerous trips to various agencies to get the paperwork for the ‘ Free Voter ID’
ALL of the above is voter suppression.
What is NOT Voter Suppression?
You being too fucking lazy to know the ins and outs of VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES.
You being too arrogant and believing that the laws, which have been in place – FOR YEARS – should be changed, because, well, of YOU.
They didn’t just come up with a closed primary in New York last week, last month, or last year.
And, if ‘offends’ you to register with a political party…that is YOUR RIGHT.
But, sit down, shut THE PHUCK up, and wait for you turn to vote in November.
If you don’t like that there is no Early Voting – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that there is no ‘ No Reason’ Absentee – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that it’s a ‘closed Primary’ – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that there is no Election Day Registration – get the legislature to change it.
IF you have not spoken up before about these things…then go somewhere and STFU.
32.
Arm The Homeless
Bernophiles on my Twitter-twatter have spent the day so far trying to explain why they would totally be within 5% if only NY hadn’t conspired with the GOP to disenfranchised poor NYers, at least the poor ones who aren’t old, gay, old-gays, brown or some other sub-group who aren’t going to vote Bernard.
Meh.
Neither Trump nor Cruz will blow up my economic world like that fucking moron Sanders would. Hillz would enhance my economic world while presenting a pragmatic foreign and domestic policy and solidifying Obama gains on gay rights, consumer protection, gender bias and race relations.
However, in a world where Sanders is the nominee I can easily segue to FYIGM* and keep my filthy money and organizing talent in my pocket.
*FYIGM is where Bernfeelers are aiming to be, except they’ll ruin the economic futures of tens of millions in the course of their little revolution to the bottom.
36.
Citizen_X
Clearly the commentariat here nedds to be heavily armed, and then we’d all be more polite to each other.
Just like the Republican voters this season. See how well that works?
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
Just had a flashback to some post I did on FR sometime in 2002 or 2003, where I was breathlessly and loudly called a “radical centrist” by a true RWNJ, and that I was completely intolerant of views outside the mainstream.
There was a post yesterday, about the woman who follows the Supreme Court for Slate, and how, THIS was supposed to be the year where the SC was going to deliver a big FU to President Obama.
In case after case, they had greased the wheels so that the SC could just deliver a number of body blows to the President.
But, then, Fat Tony went up and died.
So, you don’t like Hillary.
Hell, I don’t like Hillary.
But, there are real cases.
The outcome will affect MILLIONS of your fellow Americans.
So, maybe they don’t affect you.
But, you don’t have enough concern for your fellow citizens that you should know better that it’s important that a DEMOCRAT fills that seat?
You don’t like Money in Politics?
CITIZENS UNITED
You don’t know why so many of us are talking about ‘Voter Suppression?’
THE GUTTING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
Why is this hard for some people to get?
The Court is literally – IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES-hanging in the balance.
And, that’s not enough reason to get out and vote?
REALLY?
SERIOUSLY?
47.
Robert Sneddon
@WarMunchkin: Sweet old ladies run the elections, do all the graft for the parties (GOP and Dems too), turn up on the day, are letter-perfect on the rules and they have cookies.
Shorter Kansas: we’re going to shrink government until it’s small enough to fit in a woman’s uterus.
Not to be a size queen or anything, but that sounds unsatisfying.
56.
Benw
Voted for Bernie!
I was so pumped that I voted for like six names next to his on the ballot!
While my daughter did cartwheels and ate a cookie that the nice poll volunteer gave her. Pretty sweet.
57.
Kropadope
@Shell: Oh, yeah, that was an aspect that didn’t really stick with me, but you’re right.
58.
Hal
@LAO: But if Brownback was eligible for a third term he’d probably have no issue getting re-elected. I’m still amazed he got voters to buy into a cut taxes on the rich scheme.
59.
Keith G
@Mnemosyne: In case you haven’t seen this, here is a wonderfully performed version the Schuyler Sisters from that musical you like. This is from MissCast at the MCC theater
But we are in fact at war over what should have been. And what should have been, for Senate Republicans, is quite simple: The 2016 term was meant to be the Supreme Court’s year to destroy Obama.
…………………………
GOP senators aren’t just angry about losing Justice Scalia’s seat. They are angry because the court as the weapon of choice to screw the president has been taken from them, and they want it back.
……………………..
What this case really means—and this is important—is that insofar as this entire term was intended to do away with Obama’s immigration action, and Obama’s climate action, and “one person one vote,” and public-sector unions, and the right to choose, and Obama’s birth-control subsidy, well, that isn’t going to happen.
@WarMunchkin: Sweet old ladies run the elections, do all the graft for the parties (GOP and Dems too), turn up on the day, are letter-perfect on the rules and they have cookies.
And daughters! Or sons, if you lean that way.
66.
NotoriousJRT
Rosie lives!!! And Steve lives, too!
67.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Shocked. I’m shocked by the mess in Kansas.
@LAO: That is the best article ever. Kansas GOP legislators who should have known better now enthusiastically throwing Brownback under the bus for their shitty votes. Terrific. The modern GOP in one sentence.
68.
NR
@rikyrah: Thanks. A lot of that seems speculative, but we’ll see how it plays out.
69.
Jeffro
@Mnemosyne: I’m down with that… Maybe we could do a playoff bracket for best song in the musical ?
*FYIGM is where Bernfeelers are aiming to be, except they’ll ruin the economic futures of tens of millions in the course of their little revolution to the bottom.
True. Bernie would be hard on the 32 million Amerincans in the top 10%. However, we’ve had 30+ years of no economic future for the bottom 80%+, and that has to change. The people at the top have been taking all the growth of the pie. I don’t see Hillary changing that, Bernie at least wants to change it.
And that’s the basic problem with the Democratic race. Hillary is pragmatic and will be more able to get things done, but does she want to make a difference (at least on economic fairness/ 1% vs the rest of us issues)? Her courting of the very wealthy says probably not.
Bern is less competent/less able to get anything done. But he is at least pointed in the right direction.
72.
randy khan
As a counterbalance to some of the anecdata posted recently (not that I disbelieve it, but small sample size, etc.), I should note that, as a Hillary supporter, I find the Bernie supporters on my Facebook feed to pretty much all be polite and entirely on board with supporting the nominee regardless of who it is. I do see an occasional post about how awful some election policy is, but that’s about it.
And I guess since all the cool kids are weighing in on the New York laws on party registration, I’m personally in favor of easy, at-the-polls voter registration and the ability to change your party registration any time you want up to the point when they have to get the voter books together (call it two weeks before the election). I do think that people who can’t figure out the party they want to be part of before they get to the polls shouldn’t vote in that party’s primary unless they weren’t previously registered. (And, so, yes, I’d change the law in New York, and in Virginia where I live, but I’m just not a fan of completely open primaries – there’s too much possible mischief.)
73.
LAO
@CONGRATULATIONS!: None of it matters in the end, as long as these voters keep voting for Republicans at the state level. Forgodsakes, look at Kentucky and that moron Bevin. All those voters, voting against their economic interests, because of their need to police and punish women (and gays too!). Welcome to the Republican Party!
(I’m tired of the Bernie/Hillary war of 2016 and would rather vent my angst against the “real enemy”)
Almost nothing about the “surprise” of independents can’t vote in party primaries makes any sense. The warning is on the voter registration form in NY. For eons, anyone with a liberal bent has known that if you want to be part of the important decisions, you have to register as a Democrat to vote in the primaries. This is true in many states. For some Red states it’s the GOP primary that decides the election.
None of this is news.
Here is an article from back in October saying “Heads up” time to change. It even links to this pro-Bernie web site explaining what to do.
How did a campaign so good at sending out fund-raising emails screw up getting their voters registered? What could be more basic?
And, yes, calling ignorance “disenfranchisement” is insulting to all the people who fought – and died – for the right to vote.
@the Conster, la Citoyenne: Oh, for Christ’s sake, young people are always stupid. I’m a late Millenial and I hate being considered part of the “special snowflake participation trophy helicopter parenting cohort” because we aren’t.
They don’t think they’re stupid, they think they’re being wronged, and looking for something and someone to blame. It’s ridiculous. It feeds into the whole I don’t understand the rules so it must be corrupt or a conspiracy set of delusions that I’ve seen WAY too much of this cycle.
81.
Chris
I wish you all in the comments could remember we are all in this miserable shitshow together.
To paraphrase Curtis LeMay: our opponents are the Republicans. Our enemies are the Berniebros/Hillbots.
@Daulnay: I can’t believe a person would work so hard to get campaign contributions from people who have significant disposable income. Only corruption can explain a decision like that.
85.
RareSanity
I, for one, say screw it all and let’s just have a Thunderdome style cage match with supporters of Clinton, Sanders, Trump , and Cruz fighting till here’s only one standing.
I predict the Cruz supporters will go down first, turning the other cheek and all. Then the Sander’s supporters because although they will be young and strong, not many of them will bother to actually show up, or they will get lost because they have trouble following directions. That leaves Trump and Clinton supporters…and since Trump’s support is made up of mainly middle aged, angry white guys, I like the Clinton contingent’s chances. I don’t like the angry white guys chances against the real anger (as opposed to the imagined anger of the AWGs) from the people of color on Clinton’s team.
How did a campaign so good at sending out fund-raising emails screw up getting their voters registered?
Well, that would cost money. Quite defeats the purpose of fund-raising, wouldn’t you agree?
87.
Trollhattan
California for the first time since…ever might be relevant when the primaries roll through next month. As a compare-and-contrast, the Democratic Party lets petitioners not registered as Democrats vote in their primary (the Sec. of State mails out forms and you can go to the country registrar). The Republicans do not.
You’d think the national political media would take a look at what’s going on there, and ask the GOP candidates about what they’d do – it would make an interesting story. I crack myself up sometime.
@MazeDancer: Bernie was barely a consideration in October. A 50-state registration drive is actually quite difficult, and he only had a small core of support back then. It’s understandable. Bernie couldn’t even vote for Bernie if he were registered in NY because he didn’t change his own affiliation until November. The campaign shifted into “let’s try to win” strategy between then and now; it wasn’t always so.
You being too fucking lazy to know the ins and outs of VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES.
You being too arrogant and believing that the laws, which have been in place – FOR YEARS – should be changed, because, well, of YOU.
They didn’t just come up with a closed primary in New York last week, last month, or last year.
And, if ‘offends’ you to register with a political party…that is YOUR RIGHT.
But, sit down, shut THE PHUCK up, and wait for you turn to vote in November.
If you don’t like that there is no Early Voting – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that there is no ‘ No Reason’ Absentee – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that it’s a ‘closed Primary’ – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that there is no Election Day Registration – get the legislature to change it.
IF you have not spoken up before about these things…then go somewhere and STFU.
Sure. But then get up off your ass to work to change the monstrosities we’re seeing. Six months’ advanced time to change party is fundamentally ridiculous in 2016. Six weeks, or even two months….maybe….at least so that parties can get compiled information to send you information. Maybe.
But there’s no excuse not to be acting, and there’s no excuse for campaigns not to be out there letting people know early. Bernie’s campaign had enough money over the summer to beat the drum in NY.
WMC
92.
muddy
Rosie both wants and needs a walk.
93.
Daulnay
@FlipYrWhig:
She’s accepted backing pretty indiscriminately, and that’s a problem. Taking contributions from some wealthy people, well … not all wealthy people are amoral, greedy, FYIGM types. The problem is taking contributions from the MotU types, the Monsanto types, the wealthy who only contribute with a quid pro quo understanding.
Shoot. At least you got an interview. I’m in the Kanye someone should give me a pile of money because i have ideasideasIDEAS West phase of my job search.
Don’t usually read Lithwick but that was a great piece. In these stressful days it is so very splendid to be reminded that Scalia is dead, and all the horror that now will NOT happen, thanks to him being dead. I gleefully celebrated his death the moment I learned of it, but now I’m thinking I didn’t go far enough — should have thrown a party or something.
How did a campaign so good at sending out fund-raising emails screw up getting their voters registered?
I think you answered your own question. Sanders was initially running as an issue candidate and his team were there to cash in. None of them thought they would get close to winning.
Even better is that they are usually edible or wearable. Hmmm, maybe I should combine those categories.
103.
Betty Cracker
@eemom: It also rooooooonz our perfect record (as far as I know) on this blog of 100% of the “if-my-candidate-loses-I’m-taking-my-ball-and-going-home” commenters being Sanders supporters. Oh well. Exception proves the rule.
I doubt botsplainer is serious. Besides being a cryptofascist tool of the oppressor class, he is also a provocateur.
105.
billcoop4
I started this cycle as a Bernie supporter, and am one of the many donors….each monthly donation is below $27, but in the aggregate I’m over $200.
In February, as the first events were taking place, I changed my mind; I think both will appoint fine folks to the Supreme Court, although perhaps Bernie’s would be more to the left–but either will appoint folks far, far more acceptable to any sane person, even of strong federalist bent, than anyone Trump, Cruz, or Kasich would even consider.
But HRC clearly is working towards electing Democrats to get other stuff done–and I suspect her coattails will extend to state elections also. Since that institutional change is needed to get ANYTHING done, I’ll accept that HRC is not perfect, but will be good. I know she’s a hawk, but is probably less of a hawk than any in the GOP. She also will play far dirtier in the fall against the dirt-meisters on the other side, and that’s a net plus.
In my part of west central Missouri there’s an unending supply of chocolate chip cookies at the local field office during the general election campaign. I believe it’s daily deliveries via tractor/trailer.
Bernie 2016 had already raised $40 million by the end of September, more than any GOP candidate in the race, and $14 million by the end of July.
That with all that money in the bank they didn’t work all the primaries they could shows that they weren’t in it to win it, they were just in it to run a Ben Carson style grift on the left.
@Major Major Major Major: The reason Bernie changed his registration in November was NOT because he wanted to but because New Hampshire wasn’t going to put him on the Democratic ballot because he wasn’t a registered Democrat.
The reason Bernie changed his registration in November was NOT because he wanted to but because New Hampshire wasn’t going to put him on the Democratic ballot because he wasn’t a registered Democrat.
Um…not sure that makes it any better…..
116.
different-church-lady
@Betty Cracker: So botsplainer did Sandernistas a favor. Bet he wasn’t expecting that result.
Turnout for the 2015 Kentucky governor’s race is estimated to have been 31%. Democrats and Democratic leaning voters do not bother in non-presidential years.
119.
Mike J
@gwangung: Well, $2700, but close enough. Out of $160 million raised, how much quid pro quo is $2700 supposed to buy you? I would argue, “not much”.
Taking contributions from some wealthy people, well … not all wealthy people are amoral, greedy, FYIGM types. The problem is taking contributions from the MotU types, the Monsanto types, the wealthy who only contribute with a quid pro quo understanding.
IOW, the rich people who contribute to Bernie Sanders are the good and selfless ones, and the rich ones who contribute to Hillary Clinton are the ones who are greedy, amoral, and quid-pro-quo motivated masters of the universe, because of course they are, they’re contributing to Hillary Clinton.
123.
agorabum
@Daulnay: if Congress gives Hillary a tax increase on the rich, she will sign it.
The issue is getting a good Congress, not with Hillary. Bernie acts like there is a tidal wave of great legislation being held up by BHO or something.
124.
Calouste
@Major Major Major Major: Running an issues campaign is not running to win, is it? And Sanders himself might have thought he was running an issues campaign, but Tad Devine is just there for the paycheck.
@Mike J: I find that most people don’t know much about campaign contributions. I think a lot of them still think it’s Goldman Sachs that’s giving Clinton those hundreds of thousands of dollars this year…(instead of Goldman Sachs employees giving over a number of years).
IOW, the rich people who contribute to Bernie Sanders are the good and selfless ones, and the rich ones who contribute to Hillary Clinton are the ones who are greedy, amoral, and quid-pro-quo motivated masters of the universe, because of course they are, they’re contributing to Hillary Clinton.
I’m curious. Who has advanced this argument that you are making? Anyone in this comment section? As every thread proves again and again, assholes comes from all sides and all walks of life.
EDIT: I understand you were responding to Daulnay, who was talking about Masters of the Universe types.
Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad assertion to state that the ultra wealthy have too much effect on our political process. I don’t think those people are limited to HRC or Sanders or even the D party though.
130.
bemused
Steve is a damn handsome boy. Love the floofy kitties. One cold, snowy winter day, I took a nap on the sofa and was joined by a 50# dog and two kitties. Warm and cozy.
131.
FlipYrWhig
@singfoom: Um, maybe the person to whose comment I’m replying?
132.
Miss Bianca
@RareSanity: OK, is it weird to think that I might actually *volunteer* for that cage match? Yeah. Yeah, it probably is.
133.
singfoom
@FlipYrWhig: Yeah, reading is FUNdamental. I obviously need more caffeine. That said, I’m not sure Daulnay was making the argument you wrote out there, but please, keep the manichean hate machine driving along.
@agorabum: Well, Sanders introduced 29 Senate bills in 2015 and 0 (zero) made it our of committee. I guess Sanders thinks that’s the tidal wave and that if he is elected Congress will be so struck by his awesomeness that they will vote them all into law by the end of January 22, 2017.
137.
Shana
@WarMunchkin: Most of the people working day in and day out doing data entry, etc. in most campaign offices are either young people or nice old ladies. I say that as a nice old (57) lady whose daughter (25) has worked in many campaign offices.
138.
Trollhattan
@Schlemazel (parmesan rancor):
Think of it as making one deposit into the Bank of FY. You’ll be withdrawing it relatively soon, which is okay because the interest rate sucks.
139.
Shana
@Mnemosyne: Just got back from my weekly behavioral and exercise class associated with my medical weight loss program. There are about 12 of us in the program and two exercise leaders. I have successfully converted one of the exercise leaders and one of the other participants into Hamilton fans. They still don’t play the soundtrack while we’re exercising though.
140.
Germy
@Mike J: Has anyone seen the GOP healthcare plan? They keep promising to share it, but I haven’t seen anything yet. Next week maybe?
141.
Renie
Read thru some of the mega threads and had to laugh at the postings made by people who are fed up now with the Democratic party because of what they read on BJ. LOL
Voted today in NYS for Hillary. Looking forward to tonite’s results and hopefully Sanders will concede once and for all and stop all the nonsense.
And can someone explain how does someone on a $200K income afford to charter a $300k plane to Rome? Where did that money come from?
142.
Trollhattan
Programming reminder: “The Night Manager” premieres tonight on AMC. Love me some Hugh Laurie, although it’s disconcerting to hear him sans the flat American accent.
Well, $2700, but close enough. Out of $160 million raised, how much quid pro quo is $2700 supposed to buy you? I would argue, “not much”.
Get serious, and follow the money. The individual contributions aren’t the problem, they’re too small. The real money is in the speaking fees and the PACs. That money, serious money, buys some real clout. And that’s the problem, isn’t it.
And can someone explain how does someone on a $200K income afford to charter a $300k plane to Rome? Where did that money come from?
From 10,345 very dedicated supporters. (The extra $5 is for peanuts on the plane.)
147.
Shana
@Robert Sneddon: Sweet old ladies also, as I did in ’08, organize volunteers to bring in healthy lunches and dinners every day of the week for 5+ months to campaign offices so all those overworked campaign workers don’t have to live on burgers and pizza.
148.
Germy
@Trollhattan: Last week I was channel surfing and happened upon the Stuart Little movie (that I’d seen with my kids when they were little but forgot about) and there was Hugh Laurie as the neatly-groomed father. A polar opposite of his “House” character. He looked and sounded like he could have been playing the father of Dennis the Menace.
The issue is getting a good Congress, not with Hillary. Bernie acts like there is a tidal wave of great legislation being held up by BHO or something.
Hillary’s ally Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been trying to help the payday loan industry fight the Consumer Protection Finance Bureau law. Part of the issue, indeed, is a good Congress, which would not contain DWS or other Hillary allies who are all too willing to cater to business. And Bernie’s been very clear that he alone is not enough; to his fault, he hasn’t followed it up with primary support for progressive candidates trying to oust DINOs.
150.
Mike J
John Hodgeman (the PC in the commercials) on why he supports Hillary:
I think she wants to make the best policy possible in an antagonistic-by-design political process that she has known and wrestled with for decades, and keep that policy in place. Moreover, I think she wants to make policy that I largely agree with. And I think she can do it.
Justin Long, the Mac in the commercials:
told the crowd, moments after describing grainy footage of Sanders in the ’80s as like watching “an actual unicorn.”
151.
Turgidson
Random observation: When I arrived at the front page, this thread had 148 comments, the mistermix Bern thread had 418 comments, and the Rettig thread had 481 comments. The odds of each thread having some permutation of 1, 4 and 8 at the same time must be vanishingly small.
So I guess I’m predicting a Bernie upset based on this. Just for the hell of it.
I’m anti-open primary, but I would be fine letting people change their party affiliation as close to the election as is practicable — two weeks sounds pretty good.
I think that if you’re going to vote for the leaders of the club, you should have to join the club. Fence-sitters who like to think of themselves as being above the fray of those nasty, nasty party politics can stay out of it.
159.
Trollhattan
@Germy:
Busy guy! He’s also in the live version of “101 Dalmatians” and had a running role in “Blackadder.” Then there’s the whole piano thing.
160.
Mary G
@rikyrah: Yes! Don’t forget who the real enemy is. Hint: not Hillary or Bernie.
161.
lamh36
@JerryBriant 2h2 hours ago
NYPD cop Peter Liang gets community service for killing Akai Gurley http://nyp.st/1SXPlOI via @nypost
162.
Hildebrand
On a far more important note – Newcastle tied Man City today. The point is nice, but honestly, Newcastle, you gotta get your act together to get out of the relegation zone. The new coach, Rafa Benitez, seems to have gotten them to actually play with some life. I fear it may not be enough. I think the powers that be took too long to sack McClaren.
There is a place in NYC that’s doing a “Hamilton” spinning class. No idea where — I only saw it because LMM retweeted someone else. Imagine trying to pedal to “Guns and Ships”!
ETA: I think I successfully converted my ultrasound technician from last week. I told her it was a sing-thru musical and she said, “Oh, like ‘Evita’?” Ha!
164.
FlipYrWhig
@Daulnay: He alone is not enough, but you might as well give him the money, because those other guys aren’t going to use it properly.
@Trollhattan: I’ve seen clips of Laurie in that Jeeves TV show, but not entire episodes.
167.
Germy
@Mnemosyne: Since I won’t be getting to Broadway anytime soon, is there a chance the original Hamilton cast will do one of those live broadcasts that gets shown in movie theaters around the country, or for PBS?
Not to be a snob, but I’m not sure I’d want to see the traveling company in my hick town, with Tony Danza as Hamilton.
Bernie acts like there is a tidal wave of great legislation being held up by BHO or something.
And a good chunk of his most vocal supporters believe this 100%. Anecdotally, I know a slew of Bern-feelers. The one thing they have in common is negativity towards Obama. The intensity ranges from moderate disappointment to total, visceral disgust, and in my opinion is mostly misplaced. Some disappointment with the president you voted for is inevitable, understandable, and when properly channeled into pressuring him or her to do better, a good thing. But the Bern-feelers’ disgust is borne out of blaming Obama for breaking “promises” he never made as a candidate or for the fact that Congress exists, and is made up of 535 individuals with egos the size of Montana and agendas that often do not line up with Obama’s, much less theirs. My attempt at understanding this phenomenon is to assume that the Berners in my age cohort (mid-late 30s) became politically aware or active during the Bush years and I think they assumed Congress would be as much of a rubber stamp for Obama as the GOP Congress was during the darkest days of the Bush years. Alas, the Democrats aren’t as eager to fall in behind a single leader as the GOP was back then.
In any event, they all seem to share the view that Obama’s 2008 win gave him an overwhelming mandate to do everything on the progressive wish list and the only reason he didn’t was that he was a con man or a sellout. Arguments that he had to round up 60 votes in the Senate and needed some chunk of Blue Dogs in the House to get legislation passed are waved off, or met with an immediate changing of the subject to “why aren’t bankers in jail” or “drones!” or “Snowden!”
Bernie’s campaign is basically flattering these types of voters into believing they were correct to think we don’t have all the nice things we wanted because Obama is a sellout and/or weak and/or a fraud, etc. and that all that needs to change is to elect a president who really means it.
I don’t think I’m overly cynical in my concern that, even if Bernie pulls off a near-miracle and becomes president, these types of voters will accuse Bernie of betrayal and go home and pout as soon as Paul “Zombie-Eyed Granny Starver” Ryan tells him to cram free college right up his ass and it never sees so much as committee vote.
169.
WaterGirl
@Major Major Major Major: They say that if you are getting interviews, you will get a job. I’m sure it’s beyond frustrating, but hang in there.
170.
WaterGirl
@asiangrrlMN: I’m still sad that you don’t comment here very often anymore. :-(
I think they’re working on it, but no news yet. If you have any connection to Chicago, they’re going to be having a long-term run, not just a brief stop by a touring company. Chicago is a really good theater town (better than LA, ironically) so they’ll probably have a really good cast. It opens in Chicago this September.
Recruiters typically get a huge number of resumes to sort through, and they winnow them ruthlessly. I’ve seen people discard a resume after glancing at it. They have limited time to do interviews, and if they ask you to come in they’ve seen something potentially valuable.
Hang in there, M4.
174.
WaterGirl
@Mnemosyne: I’m even fine with Iowa, where you can declare your party the day of the primary (caucus). But if you’re not willing to declare yourself as part of a party, why the hell should you get to help choose that party’s candidate?
175.
Miss Bianca
@Renie: ssshhh…the magic progessivism fairies actually *wafted* them there on fairy dust…DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE ABOUT SPENDY 767s.
Man, I’m trying to chill on rox/sux but…LOL. Your snark game is on point
178.
Luthe
@WarMunchkin: Whereas in my slice of CT the volunteers are all 40 something ladies (I was the youngest by ten years) and all the registered voters we were calling were crochety old ladies (seriously, the demographic info was mostly female and 60+).
179.
Miss Bianca
@Turgidson: I’m getting this reaction from Sandernistas of my acquaintance who *are* old enough to know better…from mid-40s to mid-60s and beyond…it’s almost like they don’t get how our political system works – or doesn’t. One reminisced, in a more “sorrow than anger” sort of way, when I declared that I wasn’t, and now never would be, Feeling the Bern, about how giddy we had all felt in ’08 at Obama’s election, and then went on to say something like, “welp, Obama wasn’t our man, but Bernie Sanders *will be*”. I replied, “If you thought Obama was going to wave a magic wand and get things done all by himself, then you were misguided. If you think Bernie Sanders is going to do it, then you are delusional.” Strangely, that little remark didn’t get quite as many FB likes as the original…and remind me, to stay the hell off FB till after primary season…hell, till after the election, at this rate.
180.
Schlemazel (parmesan rancor)
@Turgidson:
I have fathered a couple of bernfeelers & neither is unhappy with Obama. They both are in love with Sanders message though one has backed off & the other has stopped this Bernie or Bust bullshit she was spouting a month ago, so they are cognizant of the world they live in, just idealistic.
181.
Miss Bianca
@Technocrat: thank you, thank you…I’ll be here all week…
I’m even fine with Iowa, where you can declare your party the day of the primary (caucus). But if you’re not willing to declare yourself as part of a party, why the hell should you get to help choose that party’s candidate?
Why should the party let independents help choose the candidate? Because the party isn’t stupid, it wants to win elections. And it wants to prevent a viable 3rd party from cropping up, which is more likely if independents have no place to turn.
The Republican system is more closed than the Democratic one, look where it’s gotten them. Either of the Dem candidates will likely win, because the Repubs let their slavering wingnuts choose the candidates. (And because they’ve been fueling ugly ideas to win elections, since Nixon.)
184.
Shana
@Trollhattan: Don’t forget Jeeves and Wooster! He was terrific in that.
Bernie’s campaign is basically flattering these types of voters into believing they were correct to think we don’t have all the nice things we wanted because Obama is a sellout and/or weak and/or a fraud, etc. and that all that needs to change is to elect a president who really means it.
This is one of the reasons why I get so pissy about the “corruption” meta-narrative Bernie Sanders is hung up on lately. In essence the argument is that the reason why Democratic/liberal politicians haven’t already done all the good things every right-thinking person wants is either because they’ve been bought off, so they’re taking a dive, or they’re just too lazy to try. What that does is deny the genuine existence of Democrats who don’t want those things, or want those things but in different ways, and their conviction in doing so. It presumes that all Democrats are liberals but some of them are chicken and some of them are venal. And it also presumes that liberals are a majority, or would be if they tried hard enough, but they don’t, because of either money or laziness, as above. This is a grievous misinterpretation of the composition of the Democratic Party and a comparably grievous misunderstanding of how much work it has taken to get Democrats to the point where they’re only _this_ disappointing to liberals and still _this_ close to a majority. The corruption story makes it all so easy: JUST TRY YOU SCHMUCKS, WE’VE ALREADY GOT YOUR BACKS. That’s not an accurate perception of the standing of political liberalism in 21st-century America, which is much _higher_ than its status in 20th-century America after the crackup and re-sorting of the two-party system into two rough ideological blocs.
I just want to remind everyone I’m still available as a protest vote this November in case it comes down to Trump vs. Webb.
188.
D58826
Reading a link on Twitter. Seems the GOP can hardly wait to run against Bernie. It will be a replay of the commies are coming from the 1950’s. According to the google Sanders served as a presidential elector for the Socialist Workers’ Party in 1980, something that he acknowledged in a 1988 television appearance. The group at the time was a Trotskyist party that pressed for the abolition of capitalism and the peaceful establishment of socialism. He also was an elector for something called the Marxist-Leninist-Trotskyist Socialist workers party in 1980.
Now maybe he has higher favorable ratings than Hillary has today but by the time the GOP finishes raking over his political associations it will be a different story. According to one of his supporters no one cares today what he did in his 20’s. Hmmmmmm. They sure cared about Bill’s not inhaling pot and his draft record.
Now maybe he has higher favorable ratings than Hillary has today but by the time the GOP finishes raking over his political associations it will be a different story.
Yeah, he might end up with an utterly abysmal net -25 favorability rating or something.
@Daulnay: I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about.
Not sure what you mean, I’m guessing what I said about Hil owing the MotUs, etc. for contributions. Let me be a little clearer.
MotU’s = Wall Street, finance, hedge fund interests
Hillary’s total campaign funds raised so far (excluding dark money):
Outside money $64,392,304
Campaign Committee $159,903,968
Total $224,296,268
Of which over $22,907,888 (10%+) comes from financier/hedge fund sources. That amount is from the top 20 contributors to the her efforts, of which 7 are MotUs (both numbers exclude finance industry heiresses). The total from financiers is larger, when the remaining contributors are counted. (Data from OpenSecrets.org.)
So over a third of Hillary’s top 20 contributors are financiers, making up over 10% of contributions to date.
Note that she earned $2.9 million in speaking fees for 12 speeches to large banks. That’s a lot in comparison to the contributions above (12+%) and her total campaign expenditures (over 1%).
If you believe that has no affect on her perception of Wall Street and financiers, I have a bridge for sale.
This is one of the reasons why I get so pissy about the “corruption” meta-narrative Bernie Sanders is hung up on lately. In essence the argument is that the reason why Democratic/liberal politicians haven’t already done all the good things every right-thinking person wants is either because they’ve been bought off
Please explain to me exactly why Debbie Wasserman Schultz is carrying water for the payday loan industry to cripple regulation, and why it isn’t precisely an example of a Democratic politician blocking a good thing every right-thinking person wants. Why should we not be more than just ‘pissy’ about such corruption, and the obvious acceptance of it by the Democratic establishment?
192.
FlipYrWhig
@Daulnay: Who is “the Democratic establishment”? If Debbie Wasserman Schultz will occasionally, or regularly, do something stupid, it’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s problem.
@Daulnay: And Clinton’s speaking fees for the Deli-Dairy-Bakery Association and the Convenience Stores group and the Fresh Produce group and various women-in-business groups, what do those signify?
Anecdotally, I know a slew of Bern-feelers. The one thing they have in common is negativity towards Obama
Take it from this Bern-feeler, Obama was the best thing that happened to politics in my lifetime and is probably better than we deserved.
197.
D58826
@Technocrat: If the new Bernie standard is that a person is disqualified from holding office because they have taken campaign contributions from various and sundry industries/lobbyists,special interest groups, or organizations that don’t pass muster, then Bernie will be the only person at either end of Pennsylvania ave. LBJ said it a generation ago – money is the mothers milk of politics.
Now is there a problem with the dark money and the rest, yes but you have to get elected to fix the problems. And it takes money, lots of it, to get elected.
As far as whither campaign contributions influence a politicians vote, I’m not sure it’s that a short straight line. It’s true the banksters won’t give money to Bernie because of his political views but the NRA will. Hillary has gotten campaign contributions from Wall street types at least in part because they where her constituents when she was in the Senate. I’ll bet Chuck Grassley of Iowa gets a lot of campaign money from farm interests but not a lot from the shipping interests. It’s the way the system works and has always worked.
You being too fucking lazy to know the ins and outs of VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES.
Someone mentioned on one of these threads that the registration deadline in NY is 6 months before the voting. That’s practically around the time the candidates were announcing. So, you’re supposed to re-register to support your candidate before even knowing who the candidates are?
200.
Renie
@Chyron HR: If he did that it would be illegal cuz it wasn’t a political event. Hope someone at the FEC is looking into this. Seems Sanders already has some problems with the FEC cuz of donations.
but you have to get elected to fix the problems. And it takes money, lots of it, to get elected
Which is the rub, honestly. Make running for office free, then we can talk about taking the money out of it. Doing it the other way round is just absurd. It’s some sort of weird, iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma.
202.
D58826
@Kropadope: And exactly how do you propose financing a political campaign? All the folks that provide the telephones, mailings, computer time, etc expect to get paid. The TV stations are not going to give away huge amount of air time for free (unless your name is Trump). Somebody has to pay for all of that. Somebody has to pay to keep the party infrastructure going between election cycles. Now I have no problem with federal funding of elections, but that doesn’t address state and local elections. In fact we have federal funding now but most of the democratic candidates reject it because it doesn’t provide enough money to compete against the deep pockets of the the GOP. Even if you forced the candidates to accept federal funding, SCOTUS might have different ideas – that first amendment. Millionaires can simply self finance their campaign. The result would be the 1% would have even more influence then they do now because they would be the only ones who could run a national campaign.
203.
Kropadope
@D58826: I would say we need absolute transparency with respect to donations and their sourcing. Also, hard limits on donation size once we a Supreme Court that isn’t dominated by Republican activist judges. If the candidates need all that money, they’ll have to make it up in volume. I’d rather have them courting millions of individual donors than getting millions from a handful of donors. Hopefully we can bring down the price threshold for political campaigns too. The generational move from TV to the internet should probably help in that regard.
Like I said, I was just describing my anecdotal experience. Bernie has brought millions of voters into his fold and undoubtedly, many of them, maybe most, do not share that jaded view of Obama. But I do think his campaign has become a convenient vehicle for those types to express their anger/disappointment/whatever with the Obama era, and often the man himself, for not ushering in the progressive utopia they thought, incorrectly and unrealistically, they were promised.
For example my brother, a Bernfeeler and long-time “Obama is a bloodthirsty monster because DRONES and is probably reading this email right now because NSA!” proponent, had sort of quieted down on that stuff post-2014 election, when Obama ran out of Fucks to Give and started just doing good things because he felt like it. But the Bernie campaign started to catch fire and all the same “OMG Obama” stuff came rushing back, now appended by some variation of “Hillary sux”. I had to break the news to him that Bernie is on the record supporting the drone campaign and saying he’d continue it. Long, awkward silence followed.
205.
Kropadope
@Turgidson: Obama was also prevented from reforming the drone program by Congress. Also, pretty much all the anti-drone superstars are actually beneath the surface some of the worst potential abusers, see Rand Paul.
You mean the guy who used to be “the Most Interesting Man in Politics” who launched a fake filibuster to kvetch about potential domestic drone strikes, then said in the following few days that he thought it was just fine if a drone strike took out a liquor store robber?
Yeah, that guy really knew his shit. My favorite moment of this wretched election season so far was when Donald Trump went out of his way to insult Rand Paul, just for the hell of it, at one of the early debates. Can’t stand that preening fraud.
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Betty Cracker
Dogs and cats! Living together!
schrodinger's cat
Floofy Steve!
schrodinger's cat
@Betty Cracker: More like, ignoring each other.
Jane2
A rare Rosie sighting! And with Steve!
Just Some Fuckhead
Wassup Bigfoot?
eemom
It’s a false equivalence at this point. The bernouts have officially crossed the teatard line. JMO, YMMV, of course.
BGinCHI
It’s all going to come together, and HRC is not going to be able to avoid the liberal positions that have been advanced in the primary.
We are still MUCH better off than if she had run unopposed (sorry O’Malley).
I also think she is well aware of Elizabeth Warren and doesn’t want to go down in history as the sellout female President before the heroic one comes along.
redshirt
Too bad we can’t use all this typing as a form of power. Think of the carbon savings!
Hal
I’m just glad this will all be over by next Tuesday? Is that right? Please tell me I’m right. I’m going to vote on the way home today. Hopefully not too crowded since I should be to the polling place before 5pm. I think I’m going with Clinton, but I’m also a little surprised by how much I like so much of what Sanders says, but do not feel inclined to vote for him. Yeah, some Sanders supporters are being annoying, but that’s probably true of certain numbers of everyone’s supporters. Oh well. As long as it’s not Trump, Kasich, or Cruz next November with a victory party, I’ll be thrilled.
Hillary Rettig
Link to NY Times parrots highlight reel
They subcaption that grey parrot as saying “What the hell was that?” but I’m pretty sure I heard the f-bomb….
MazeDancer
Was very excited to vote today for a woman to be President of the United States. Especially one so remarkably qualified and impressive.
There was no line in the teeny village where I vote. And the ballot was extremely simple. Choose Hillary. And right next to her name are only 5 choices for the 5 delegate slots. And all the delegates are clearly labelled as pledged to her. (Same for Bernie’s) So no surprises in NY delegate actions.
They weren’t giving out “I voted” stickers. Really wanted one for the historic occasion of it all. But smiled at a lot of people walking into the poll as I left. Everyone always looks so happy and uplifted to be voting. We are lucky to be doing so with such ease.
Kropadope
@eemom:
Cake anyone?
Kropadope
@MazeDancer:
I celebrated primary day by watching “The Suffragettes” which was very enjoyable, I thought.
StringOnAStick
That is a seriously gorgeous cat; Steve is a king in the 4 legged world.
LAO
Shocked. I’m shocked by the mess in Kansas.
Mike J
@LAO: Misleading hed though. Kansas doesn’t have small government. They have enough government to want to dig through women’s medical histories. They just don’t have enough to fix roads or run schools. Kansas Republicans picked what they wanted the government to do.
tinare
I remember how nasty 2008 was and how that was a distant memory by November. So, my hope is that this will be the same. Cannot have President Trump or Cruz! (Or Kasich or Ryan…)
MazeDancer
@Kropadope:
That’s great! Was thinking today that the 72-year struggle for US women to get the vote started in NY State, and how appropriate it felt to be voting for the first time for a woman in NY. Plus – knock wood, Goddess willing – Hillary could be running for re-election in 2020, the suffrage 100 year anniversary.
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
Not voting for Bernie if he wins the nom, he hasn’t earned my vote for centrist pragmatism….
*sits back, awaiting the pelting by stones and outraged howls*
LAO
@Mike J: So sadly true.
Mnemosyne
Rosie looks like she learned long ago that cats have pointy ends and doesn’t want to learn it again. Steve looks satisfied to be the boss.
NR
@eemom: Whereas Hillary supporters are all calm, rational, positive people who never have an unkind word to say about anyone. They are truly saints of the modern day, and stand out as a stark contrast from the demonic Sanders supporters who may, in fact, be literal demons.
gratuitous
Oh sure, “get along” like the nice cat and dog. Shall we sing a chorus of “Kum Ba Yah,” too, ya tree-hugging, granola-munching bunch of hippies? As soon as I remember which Democratic candidate I prefer, I solemnly vow to commit to all-out internecine war against those who would destroy our beloved nation in the name of, uh, in the name of . . . damn, I really need to figure out who the implacable enemy is. Just watch yourself, is all I’m sayin’.
Cathie from Canada
Well, I don’t know what to say except its Christmas and we’re all in misery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je4rgaSBO2g
Mnemosyne
@Hillary Rettig:
A pet store I used to frequent had a gray parrot named Kenya with a big “NOT FOR SALE” sign on her cage. (It wasn’t that kind of pet store anyway — rescue adoptions only.)
Her favorite trick was to wait for the employees to go to the back of the store and then imitate the phone so they would have to run back up to the front. Got ’em every time, which is probably why they loved her so much.
gvg
@Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class:
WarMunchkin
Volunteering for HRC, am the only person in their 20s. Turns out the corporate establishment is all sweet old ladies.
Mnemosyne
Well, if you guys get too tired of the Clinton/Sanders slapfight, we can always talk about Hamilton some more.
Just sayin’.
Roger Moore
@Mike J:
Shorter Kansas: we’re going to shrink government until it’s small enough to fit in a woman’s uterus.
mdblanche
@Betty Cracker: Mass hysteria!
rikyrah
Voter Suppression is…
when you would be 42 years old, if you had stayed in the state of your birth before you’d be able to vote in this country and that’s AFTER you put on the uniform and put your life on the line for said country
when you attempt to register people to vote and wind up with a cross burning on your lawn
when you have a Bachelors and Masters degree, and are asked to inform the registrar – how many bubbles are in a bar of soap.
or how many jelly beans are in that jar.
or to recite the preamble to the U.S. Constitution..
and, even after you’ve done that, you are asked to recite the Declaration of Independence – verbatim.
Or, you have to take a test, on your state’s constitution, that lawyers, registered to practice law in your state – don’t know….
Or, being told that you can get a ‘ Free Voter ID’, but in order to get the ‘ Free ID’, you have to spent Hundreds of $$$$, and make numerous trips to various agencies to get the paperwork for the ‘ Free Voter ID’
ALL of the above is voter suppression.
What is NOT Voter Suppression?
You being too fucking lazy to know the ins and outs of VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES.
You being too arrogant and believing that the laws, which have been in place – FOR YEARS – should be changed, because, well, of YOU.
They didn’t just come up with a closed primary in New York last week, last month, or last year.
And, if ‘offends’ you to register with a political party…that is YOUR RIGHT.
But, sit down, shut THE PHUCK up, and wait for you turn to vote in November.
If you don’t like that there is no Early Voting – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that there is no ‘ No Reason’ Absentee – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that it’s a ‘closed Primary’ – get the legislature to change it.
If you don’t like that there is no Election Day Registration – get the legislature to change it.
IF you have not spoken up before about these things…then go somewhere and STFU.
Arm The Homeless
Bernophiles on my Twitter-twatter have spent the day so far trying to explain why they would totally be within 5% if only NY hadn’t conspired with the GOP to disenfranchised poor NYers, at least the poor ones who aren’t old, gay, old-gays, brown or some other sub-group who aren’t going to vote Bernard.
All I can think of is, “There are dozens of us… DOZENS!”
Kropadope
@MazeDancer: Well, I chose differently than you, but best of luck.
Technocrat
John, blog traffic either costs you money or makes you money. Given the last two days, I really hope it’s the latter.
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
@gvg:
Meh.
Neither Trump nor Cruz will blow up my economic world like that fucking moron Sanders would. Hillz would enhance my economic world while presenting a pragmatic foreign and domestic policy and solidifying Obama gains on gay rights, consumer protection, gender bias and race relations.
However, in a world where Sanders is the nominee I can easily segue to FYIGM* and keep my filthy money and organizing talent in my pocket.
*FYIGM is where Bernfeelers are aiming to be, except they’ll ruin the economic futures of tens of millions in the course of their little revolution to the bottom.
Citizen_X
Clearly the commentariat here nedds to be heavily armed, and then we’d all be more polite to each other.
Just like the Republican voters this season. See how well that works?
rikyrah
The picture is cute, Cole.
Steve, though Tunch’s size, does not scare me as much as Tunch did. But, it’s getting close.
Technocrat
@Citizen_X:
Wait, this isn’t an Open Carry blog? Mah rights!
Shell
@Kropadope: It was good, but pretty grim.
Major Major Major Major
Didn’t get the job, naturally. Ah well.
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
Just had a flashback to some post I did on FR sometime in 2002 or 2003, where I was breathlessly and loudly called a “radical centrist” by a true RWNJ, and that I was completely intolerant of views outside the mainstream.
It was meant to be an insult.
Kropadope
@Arm The Homeless:
Has there been any gay polling?
The Lodger
@Major Major Major Major: Drat. Sorry to hear it.
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
Well, that sucks. I’ve been trying to do an internal transfer for over a year now, but at least I already have a job.
JPL
@rikyrah: He’s big boned.
rikyrah
You want to know why you should vote?
THE SUPREME COURT.
There was a post yesterday, about the woman who follows the Supreme Court for Slate, and how, THIS was supposed to be the year where the SC was going to deliver a big FU to President Obama.
In case after case, they had greased the wheels so that the SC could just deliver a number of body blows to the President.
But, then, Fat Tony went up and died.
So, you don’t like Hillary.
Hell, I don’t like Hillary.
But, there are real cases.
The outcome will affect MILLIONS of your fellow Americans.
So, maybe they don’t affect you.
But, you don’t have enough concern for your fellow citizens that you should know better that it’s important that a DEMOCRAT fills that seat?
You don’t like Money in Politics?
CITIZENS UNITED
You don’t know why so many of us are talking about ‘Voter Suppression?’
THE GUTTING OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
Why is this hard for some people to get?
The Court is literally – IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES-hanging in the balance.
And, that’s not enough reason to get out and vote?
REALLY?
SERIOUSLY?
Robert Sneddon
@WarMunchkin: Sweet old ladies run the elections, do all the graft for the parties (GOP and Dems too), turn up on the day, are letter-perfect on the rules and they have cookies.
Mnemosyne
@rikyrah:
And people try to tell me there’s no God …
Kropadope
@Shell:
Like fighting for what’s right often is.
D58826
@LAO: Loved this from the article
NR
@rikyrah: Can you link that post?
Kropadope
@WarMunchkin:
I had a similar experience volunteering in the past. The only other volunteers I met under the age of 55 were the union folk.
LAO
@D58826: But…but it’s a republican paradise. Proof that conservative policies can never fail, only be failed.
I can’t believed Kansas elected that schmuck twice.
Shell
@Kropadope: I also meant the horrendous fact that a married woman, at that time, had absolutely no legal right to her own children.
Kropadope
@Roger Moore:
Not to be a size queen or anything, but that sounds unsatisfying.
Benw
Voted for Bernie!
I was so pumped that I voted for like six names next to his on the ballot!
While my daughter did cartwheels and ate a cookie that the nice poll volunteer gave her. Pretty sweet.
Kropadope
@Shell: Oh, yeah, that was an aspect that didn’t really stick with me, but you’re right.
Hal
@LAO: But if Brownback was eligible for a third term he’d probably have no issue getting re-elected. I’m still amazed he got voters to buy into a cut taxes on the rich scheme.
Keith G
@Mnemosyne: In case you haven’t seen this, here is a wonderfully performed version the Schuyler Sisters from that musical you like. This is from MissCast at the MCC theater
Major Major Major Major
@Mnemosyne: Heh. Thanks?
I just gatling-gunned off like ten resumes in a fit of pique (reserved the super promising postings for careful consideration, don’t worry)
rikyrah
@NR:
More Than Immigration at the High Court
The Supreme Court’s look at Obama’s executive action perfectly explains the Merrick Garland fight.
By Dahlia Lithwick
…………………
But we are in fact at war over what should have been. And what should have been, for Senate Republicans, is quite simple: The 2016 term was meant to be the Supreme Court’s year to destroy Obama.
…………………………
GOP senators aren’t just angry about losing Justice Scalia’s seat. They are angry because the court as the weapon of choice to screw the president has been taken from them, and they want it back.
……………………..
What this case really means—and this is important—is that insofar as this entire term was intended to do away with Obama’s immigration action, and Obama’s climate action, and “one person one vote,” and public-sector unions, and the right to choose, and Obama’s birth-control subsidy, well, that isn’t going to happen.
different-church-lady
@Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class: You really know how to preemptively hold a grudge.
MazeDancer
@Kropadope:
We all choose so much the same. Lean to the Left. (In so many ways, I could easily be found to Bernie’s left.)
And likely we are all happy that we are nearing the time when our unity of purpose will be guiding us to defeat our common foes.
gogol's wife
@Keith G:
She’s seen evahthing.
Poopyman
@Robert Sneddon:
And daughters! Or sons, if you lean that way.
NotoriousJRT
Rosie lives!!! And Steve lives, too!
CONGRATULATIONS!
@LAO: That is the best article ever. Kansas GOP legislators who should have known better now enthusiastically throwing Brownback under the bus for their shitty votes. Terrific. The modern GOP in one sentence.
NR
@rikyrah: Thanks. A lot of that seems speculative, but we’ll see how it plays out.
Jeffro
@Mnemosyne: I’m down with that… Maybe we could do a playoff bracket for best song in the musical ?
nanute
@Kropadope: with teatards? :)
Daulnay
@Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class:
True. Bernie would be hard on the 32 million Amerincans in the top 10%. However, we’ve had 30+ years of no economic future for the bottom 80%+, and that has to change. The people at the top have been taking all the growth of the pie. I don’t see Hillary changing that, Bernie at least wants to change it.
And that’s the basic problem with the Democratic race. Hillary is pragmatic and will be more able to get things done, but does she want to make a difference (at least on economic fairness/ 1% vs the rest of us issues)? Her courting of the very wealthy says probably not.
Bern is less competent/less able to get anything done. But he is at least pointed in the right direction.
randy khan
As a counterbalance to some of the anecdata posted recently (not that I disbelieve it, but small sample size, etc.), I should note that, as a Hillary supporter, I find the Bernie supporters on my Facebook feed to pretty much all be polite and entirely on board with supporting the nominee regardless of who it is. I do see an occasional post about how awful some election policy is, but that’s about it.
And I guess since all the cool kids are weighing in on the New York laws on party registration, I’m personally in favor of easy, at-the-polls voter registration and the ability to change your party registration any time you want up to the point when they have to get the voter books together (call it two weeks before the election). I do think that people who can’t figure out the party they want to be part of before they get to the polls shouldn’t vote in that party’s primary unless they weren’t previously registered. (And, so, yes, I’d change the law in New York, and in Virginia where I live, but I’m just not a fan of completely open primaries – there’s too much possible mischief.)
LAO
@CONGRATULATIONS!: None of it matters in the end, as long as these voters keep voting for Republicans at the state level. Forgodsakes, look at Kentucky and that moron Bevin. All those voters, voting against their economic interests, because of their need to police and punish women (and gays too!). Welcome to the Republican Party!
(I’m tired of the Bernie/Hillary war of 2016 and would rather vent my angst against the “real enemy”)
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@rikyrah:
The privilege it takes to think this is next level entitlement. This is the special snowflake participation trophy helicopter parented cohort.
dww44
@Major Major Major Major: Sorry about that! Keep the faith.
Benw
@Major Major Major Major: sorry, that’s too bad.
John D
@Kropadope: OK, I admit it, I LOL’ed.
MazeDancer
Almost nothing about the “surprise” of independents can’t vote in party primaries makes any sense. The warning is on the voter registration form in NY. For eons, anyone with a liberal bent has known that if you want to be part of the important decisions, you have to register as a Democrat to vote in the primaries. This is true in many states. For some Red states it’s the GOP primary that decides the election.
None of this is news.
Here is an article from back in October saying “Heads up” time to change. It even links to this pro-Bernie web site explaining what to do.
How did a campaign so good at sending out fund-raising emails screw up getting their voters registered? What could be more basic?
And, yes, calling ignorance “disenfranchisement” is insulting to all the people who fought – and died – for the right to vote.
Major Major Major Major
@the Conster, la Citoyenne: Oh, for Christ’s sake, young people are always stupid. I’m a late Millenial and I hate being considered part of the “special snowflake participation trophy helicopter parenting cohort” because we aren’t.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@Major Major Major Major:
They don’t think they’re stupid, they think they’re being wronged, and looking for something and someone to blame. It’s ridiculous. It feeds into the whole I don’t understand the rules so it must be corrupt or a conspiracy set of delusions that I’ve seen WAY too much of this cycle.
Chris
To paraphrase Curtis LeMay: our opponents are the Republicans. Our enemies are the Berniebros/Hillbots.
Major Major Major Major
@the Conster, la Citoyenne: I meant that thinking that is being stupid. You’re expecting political sophistication from 20-year-olds.
Emma
@Major Major Major Major: Damn and blast. Sorry to hear it.
FlipYrWhig
@Daulnay: I can’t believe a person would work so hard to get campaign contributions from people who have significant disposable income. Only corruption can explain a decision like that.
RareSanity
I, for one, say screw it all and let’s just have a Thunderdome style cage match with supporters of Clinton, Sanders, Trump , and Cruz fighting till here’s only one standing.
I predict the Cruz supporters will go down first, turning the other cheek and all. Then the Sander’s supporters because although they will be young and strong, not many of them will bother to actually show up, or they will get lost because they have trouble following directions. That leaves Trump and Clinton supporters…and since Trump’s support is made up of mainly middle aged, angry white guys, I like the Clinton contingent’s chances. I don’t like the angry white guys chances against the real anger (as opposed to the imagined anger of the AWGs) from the people of color on Clinton’s team.
All Hail President Clinton!
Chyron HR
@MazeDancer:
Well, that would cost money. Quite defeats the purpose of fund-raising, wouldn’t you agree?
Trollhattan
California for the first time since…ever might be relevant when the primaries roll through next month. As a compare-and-contrast, the Democratic Party lets petitioners not registered as Democrats vote in their primary (the Sec. of State mails out forms and you can go to the country registrar). The Republicans do not.
eemom
@Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class:
You’re in brick-red Kentucky, right? So who the fuck cares if you’re an entitled asshole? Interesting that you felt the need to advertise it, though.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@LAO:
You’d think the national political media would take a look at what’s going on there, and ask the GOP candidates about what they’d do – it would make an interesting story. I crack myself up sometime.
Major Major Major Major
@MazeDancer: Bernie was barely a consideration in October. A 50-state registration drive is actually quite difficult, and he only had a small core of support back then. It’s understandable. Bernie couldn’t even vote for Bernie if he were registered in NY because he didn’t change his own affiliation until November. The campaign shifted into “let’s try to win” strategy between then and now; it wasn’t always so.
billcoop4
@rikyrah:
Sure. But then get up off your ass to work to change the monstrosities we’re seeing. Six months’ advanced time to change party is fundamentally ridiculous in 2016. Six weeks, or even two months….maybe….at least so that parties can get compiled information to send you information. Maybe.
But there’s no excuse not to be acting, and there’s no excuse for campaigns not to be out there letting people know early. Bernie’s campaign had enough money over the summer to beat the drum in NY.
WMC
muddy
Rosie both wants and needs a walk.
Daulnay
@FlipYrWhig:
She’s accepted backing pretty indiscriminately, and that’s a problem. Taking contributions from some wealthy people, well … not all wealthy people are amoral, greedy, FYIGM types. The problem is taking contributions from the MotU types, the Monsanto types, the wealthy who only contribute with a quid pro quo understanding.
MomSense
@Major Major Major Major:
Shoot. At least you got an interview. I’m in the Kanye someone should give me a pile of money because i have ideasideas IDEAS West phase of my job search.
John D
@Trollhattan: Yeah, 2008 was lost to the dim reaches of antiquity.
eemom
@rikyrah:
Don’t usually read Lithwick but that was a great piece. In these stressful days it is so very splendid to be reminded that Scalia is dead, and all the horror that now will NOT happen, thanks to him being dead. I gleefully celebrated his death the moment I learned of it, but now I’m thinking I didn’t go far enough — should have thrown a party or something.
Calouste
@MazeDancer:
I think you answered your own question. Sanders was initially running as an issue candidate and his team were there to cash in. None of them thought they would get close to winning.
MomSense
@RareSanity:
Take it from me, Hillzillas are scrappy.
Major Major Major Major
@MomSense: I’m sure your ideas are great :)
Chris
@Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class:
And if they blow up anyone else’s, economic or otherwise, why should you care. Ah, the beauty of privilege.
Yutsano
Proper authoritahs alerted. Papa Stevedore Hemingway looks so majestic snoozing there!
MomSense
@Major Major Major Major:
Even better is that they are usually edible or wearable. Hmmm, maybe I should combine those categories.
Betty Cracker
@eemom: It also rooooooonz our perfect record (as far as I know) on this blog of 100% of the “if-my-candidate-loses-I’m-taking-my-ball-and-going-home” commenters being Sanders supporters. Oh well. Exception proves the rule.
MomSense
@Betty Cracker:
I doubt botsplainer is serious. Besides being a cryptofascist tool of the oppressor class, he is also a provocateur.
billcoop4
I started this cycle as a Bernie supporter, and am one of the many donors….each monthly donation is below $27, but in the aggregate I’m over $200.
In February, as the first events were taking place, I changed my mind; I think both will appoint fine folks to the Supreme Court, although perhaps Bernie’s would be more to the left–but either will appoint folks far, far more acceptable to any sane person, even of strong federalist bent, than anyone Trump, Cruz, or Kasich would even consider.
But HRC clearly is working towards electing Democrats to get other stuff done–and I suspect her coattails will extend to state elections also. Since that institutional change is needed to get ANYTHING done, I’ll accept that HRC is not perfect, but will be good. I know she’s a hawk, but is probably less of a hawk than any in the GOP. She also will play far dirtier in the fall against the dirt-meisters on the other side, and that’s a net plus.
But if somehow Bernie gets the nod, I’m all in.
WMC
Schlemazel (parmesan rancor)
FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!
oh, wait, wrong thread – as you were
parmesan rancor
Michael Bersin
@Robert Sneddon:
In my part of west central Missouri there’s an unending supply of chocolate chip cookies at the local field office during the general election campaign. I believe it’s daily deliveries via tractor/trailer.
Calouste
@Major Major Major Major:
Bernie 2016 had already raised $40 million by the end of September, more than any GOP candidate in the race, and $14 million by the end of July.
That with all that money in the bank they didn’t work all the primaries they could shows that they weren’t in it to win it, they were just in it to run a Ben Carson style grift on the left.
Chris
@LAO:
This.
asiangrrlMN
If Rosie and Sir Willie Whiskerton III can peacefully coexist, so should Bernie and Hillary supporters! I can’t get enough of Sir Willie’s floofiness.
Major Major Major Major
@MomSense: What would you be if you didn’t even try?
@Calouste: Eh, they were running a real issues campaign, I think.
different-church-lady
@MomSense:
I’m starting to worry he’s all too serious.
The Ancient Randonneur
@Major Major Major Major: The reason Bernie changed his registration in November was NOT because he wanted to but because New Hampshire wasn’t going to put him on the Democratic ballot because he wasn’t a registered Democrat.
gwangung
@Daulnay:
Given that the household limit is $2,000, I find that hard to believe.
What about PAC money? Well, given that CITIZENS UNITED was an anti-Hilary PAC….
gwangung
@The Ancient Randonneur:
Um…not sure that makes it any better…..
different-church-lady
@Betty Cracker: So botsplainer did Sandernistas a favor. Bet he wasn’t expecting that result.
MomSense
@Major Major Major Major:
I like making things–food, clothing, housewares, gardens. I used to be a teacher.
Anoniminous
@LAO:
Turnout for the 2015 Kentucky governor’s race is estimated to have been 31%. Democrats and Democratic leaning voters do not bother in non-presidential years.
Mike J
@gwangung: Well, $2700, but close enough. Out of $160 million raised, how much quid pro quo is $2700 supposed to buy you? I would argue, “not much”.
elmo
@Kropadope:
The cake is a lie.
Miss Bianca
@MazeDancer: : ) I like nice election day stories!
FlipYrWhig
@Daulnay:
IOW, the rich people who contribute to Bernie Sanders are the good and selfless ones, and the rich ones who contribute to Hillary Clinton are the ones who are greedy, amoral, and quid-pro-quo motivated masters of the universe, because of course they are, they’re contributing to Hillary Clinton.
agorabum
@Daulnay: if Congress gives Hillary a tax increase on the rich, she will sign it.
The issue is getting a good Congress, not with Hillary. Bernie acts like there is a tidal wave of great legislation being held up by BHO or something.
Calouste
@Major Major Major Major: Running an issues campaign is not running to win, is it? And Sanders himself might have thought he was running an issues campaign, but Tad Devine is just there for the paycheck.
Schlemazel (parmesan rancor)
@Schlemazel (parmesan rancor):
oh dear, I believe I spoke too soon, this was the right place to that
Well then, have at it
Miss Bianca
@LAO: new book by Thomas Frank: “What’s the Matter with Kansas Now?”
Calouste
@FlipYrWhig: Just like caucuses that Sanders wins are good, closed primaries that Clinton could win are baaaad.
gwangung
@Mike J: I find that most people don’t know much about campaign contributions. I think a lot of them still think it’s Goldman Sachs that’s giving Clinton those hundreds of thousands of dollars this year…(instead of Goldman Sachs employees giving over a number of years).
singfoom
@FlipYrWhig:
I’m curious. Who has advanced this argument that you are making? Anyone in this comment section? As every thread proves again and again, assholes comes from all sides and all walks of life.
EDIT: I understand you were responding to Daulnay, who was talking about Masters of the Universe types.
Personally, I don’t think it’s a bad assertion to state that the ultra wealthy have too much effect on our political process. I don’t think those people are limited to HRC or Sanders or even the D party though.
bemused
Steve is a damn handsome boy. Love the floofy kitties. One cold, snowy winter day, I took a nap on the sofa and was joined by a 50# dog and two kitties. Warm and cozy.
FlipYrWhig
@singfoom: Um, maybe the person to whose comment I’m replying?
Miss Bianca
@RareSanity: OK, is it weird to think that I might actually *volunteer* for that cage match? Yeah. Yeah, it probably is.
singfoom
@FlipYrWhig: Yeah, reading is FUNdamental. I obviously need more caffeine. That said, I’m not sure Daulnay was making the argument you wrote out there, but please, keep the manichean hate machine driving along.
Mike J
@agorabum:
As far as he is concerned, there is. The house has voted hundreds of times to repeal and replace Obamacare, something Sanders explicitly endorses.
geg6
@eemom:
I’m with you.
Calouste
@agorabum: Well, Sanders introduced 29 Senate bills in 2015 and 0 (zero) made it our of committee. I guess Sanders thinks that’s the tidal wave and that if he is elected Congress will be so struck by his awesomeness that they will vote them all into law by the end of January 22, 2017.
Shana
@WarMunchkin: Most of the people working day in and day out doing data entry, etc. in most campaign offices are either young people or nice old ladies. I say that as a nice old (57) lady whose daughter (25) has worked in many campaign offices.
Trollhattan
@Schlemazel (parmesan rancor):
Think of it as making one deposit into the Bank of FY. You’ll be withdrawing it relatively soon, which is okay because the interest rate sucks.
Shana
@Mnemosyne: Just got back from my weekly behavioral and exercise class associated with my medical weight loss program. There are about 12 of us in the program and two exercise leaders. I have successfully converted one of the exercise leaders and one of the other participants into Hamilton fans. They still don’t play the soundtrack while we’re exercising though.
Germy
@Mike J: Has anyone seen the GOP healthcare plan? They keep promising to share it, but I haven’t seen anything yet. Next week maybe?
Renie
Read thru some of the mega threads and had to laugh at the postings made by people who are fed up now with the Democratic party because of what they read on BJ. LOL
Voted today in NYS for Hillary. Looking forward to tonite’s results and hopefully Sanders will concede once and for all and stop all the nonsense.
And can someone explain how does someone on a $200K income afford to charter a $300k plane to Rome? Where did that money come from?
Trollhattan
Programming reminder: “The Night Manager” premieres tonight on AMC. Love me some Hugh Laurie, although it’s disconcerting to hear him sans the flat American accent.
Roger Moore
@agorabum:
If he would only use The Bully Pulpit. Thanks, Obama!
Botsplainer, Cryptofascist Tool of the Oppressor Class
@Daulnay:
Try “hard on the futures of everyone with a 401K or pension”. That includes a helluvalotmore than “the top 10%”.
Daulnay
@Mike J:
Get serious, and follow the money. The individual contributions aren’t the problem, they’re too small. The real money is in the speaking fees and the PACs. That money, serious money, buys some real clout. And that’s the problem, isn’t it.
Chyron HR
@Renie:
From 10,345 very dedicated supporters. (The extra $5 is for peanuts on the plane.)
Shana
@Robert Sneddon: Sweet old ladies also, as I did in ’08, organize volunteers to bring in healthy lunches and dinners every day of the week for 5+ months to campaign offices so all those overworked campaign workers don’t have to live on burgers and pizza.
Germy
@Trollhattan: Last week I was channel surfing and happened upon the Stuart Little movie (that I’d seen with my kids when they were little but forgot about) and there was Hugh Laurie as the neatly-groomed father. A polar opposite of his “House” character. He looked and sounded like he could have been playing the father of Dennis the Menace.
Daulnay
@agorabum:
Hillary’s ally Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been trying to help the payday loan industry fight the Consumer Protection Finance Bureau law. Part of the issue, indeed, is a good Congress, which would not contain DWS or other Hillary allies who are all too willing to cater to business. And Bernie’s been very clear that he alone is not enough; to his fault, he hasn’t followed it up with primary support for progressive candidates trying to oust DINOs.
Mike J
John Hodgeman (the PC in the commercials) on why he supports Hillary:
Justin Long, the Mac in the commercials:
Turgidson
Random observation: When I arrived at the front page, this thread had 148 comments, the mistermix Bern thread had 418 comments, and the Rettig thread had 481 comments. The odds of each thread having some permutation of 1, 4 and 8 at the same time must be vanishingly small.
So I guess I’m predicting a Bernie upset based on this. Just for the hell of it.
bystander
@eemom:
For once, I believe we can all say, Thank you, Justice Scalia.
Roger Moore
@Germy:
Alan Grayson got it exactly correct. The Republican plan is “Don’t get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly”.
gwangung
@Daulnay: I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
It’s great to see Rosie again, and Steve. Lily and Thurston Howl were getting all the play. I would like proof of life for Shawn.
p.a.
I just can’t decide whether Hils or Bern is the World’s Greatest Monster ™. There was no generic Democrat box to check!
Oh wait, Dem would be Hillary.
Poopyman
@Germy: I’ve only seen the cover. It says “To Serve Man”.
Mnemosyne
@randy khan:
I’m anti-open primary, but I would be fine letting people change their party affiliation as close to the election as is practicable — two weeks sounds pretty good.
I think that if you’re going to vote for the leaders of the club, you should have to join the club. Fence-sitters who like to think of themselves as being above the fray of those nasty, nasty party politics can stay out of it.
Trollhattan
@Germy:
Busy guy! He’s also in the live version of “101 Dalmatians” and had a running role in “Blackadder.” Then there’s the whole piano thing.
Mary G
@rikyrah: Yes! Don’t forget who the real enemy is. Hint: not Hillary or Bernie.
lamh36
Hildebrand
On a far more important note – Newcastle tied Man City today. The point is nice, but honestly, Newcastle, you gotta get your act together to get out of the relegation zone. The new coach, Rafa Benitez, seems to have gotten them to actually play with some life. I fear it may not be enough. I think the powers that be took too long to sack McClaren.
Mnemosyne
@Shana:
There is a place in NYC that’s doing a “Hamilton” spinning class. No idea where — I only saw it because LMM retweeted someone else. Imagine trying to pedal to “Guns and Ships”!
ETA: I think I successfully converted my ultrasound technician from last week. I told her it was a sing-thru musical and she said, “Oh, like ‘Evita’?” Ha!
FlipYrWhig
@Daulnay: He alone is not enough, but you might as well give him the money, because those other guys aren’t going to use it properly.
gwangung
@lamh36: Oh, don’t get me started…
And it pisses me off that there are people in my own community that push anti-black sentiments or see the larger picture.
Germy
@Poopyman: spoiler alert: it’s a cookbook!!
@Trollhattan: I’ve seen clips of Laurie in that Jeeves TV show, but not entire episodes.
Germy
@Mnemosyne: Since I won’t be getting to Broadway anytime soon, is there a chance the original Hamilton cast will do one of those live broadcasts that gets shown in movie theaters around the country, or for PBS?
Not to be a snob, but I’m not sure I’d want to see the traveling company in my hick town, with Tony Danza as Hamilton.
Turgidson
@agorabum:
And a good chunk of his most vocal supporters believe this 100%. Anecdotally, I know a slew of Bern-feelers. The one thing they have in common is negativity towards Obama. The intensity ranges from moderate disappointment to total, visceral disgust, and in my opinion is mostly misplaced. Some disappointment with the president you voted for is inevitable, understandable, and when properly channeled into pressuring him or her to do better, a good thing. But the Bern-feelers’ disgust is borne out of blaming Obama for breaking “promises” he never made as a candidate or for the fact that Congress exists, and is made up of 535 individuals with egos the size of Montana and agendas that often do not line up with Obama’s, much less theirs. My attempt at understanding this phenomenon is to assume that the Berners in my age cohort (mid-late 30s) became politically aware or active during the Bush years and I think they assumed Congress would be as much of a rubber stamp for Obama as the GOP Congress was during the darkest days of the Bush years. Alas, the Democrats aren’t as eager to fall in behind a single leader as the GOP was back then.
In any event, they all seem to share the view that Obama’s 2008 win gave him an overwhelming mandate to do everything on the progressive wish list and the only reason he didn’t was that he was a con man or a sellout. Arguments that he had to round up 60 votes in the Senate and needed some chunk of Blue Dogs in the House to get legislation passed are waved off, or met with an immediate changing of the subject to “why aren’t bankers in jail” or “drones!” or “Snowden!”
Bernie’s campaign is basically flattering these types of voters into believing they were correct to think we don’t have all the nice things we wanted because Obama is a sellout and/or weak and/or a fraud, etc. and that all that needs to change is to elect a president who really means it.
I don’t think I’m overly cynical in my concern that, even if Bernie pulls off a near-miracle and becomes president, these types of voters will accuse Bernie of betrayal and go home and pout as soon as Paul “Zombie-Eyed Granny Starver” Ryan tells him to cram free college right up his ass and it never sees so much as committee vote.
WaterGirl
@Major Major Major Major: They say that if you are getting interviews, you will get a job. I’m sure it’s beyond frustrating, but hang in there.
WaterGirl
@asiangrrlMN: I’m still sad that you don’t comment here very often anymore. :-(
Mnemosyne
@Germy:
I think they’re working on it, but no news yet. If you have any connection to Chicago, they’re going to be having a long-term run, not just a brief stop by a touring company. Chicago is a really good theater town (better than LA, ironically) so they’ll probably have a really good cast. It opens in Chicago this September.
Mnemosyne
@asiangrrlMN:
In case you didn’t hear the outcome of last week’s stress — benign! Woot!
Technocrat
@WaterGirl:
This, very much.
Recruiters typically get a huge number of resumes to sort through, and they winnow them ruthlessly. I’ve seen people discard a resume after glancing at it. They have limited time to do interviews, and if they ask you to come in they’ve seen something potentially valuable.
Hang in there, M4.
WaterGirl
@Mnemosyne: I’m even fine with Iowa, where you can declare your party the day of the primary (caucus). But if you’re not willing to declare yourself as part of a party, why the hell should you get to help choose that party’s candidate?
Miss Bianca
@Renie: ssshhh…the magic progessivism fairies actually *wafted* them there on fairy dust…DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE ABOUT SPENDY 767s.
gwangung
@WaterGirl: Hit and run voters, in essence. Won’t do anything for the party, won’t help it, but want to use their resources to elect Their Guy.
Technocrat
@Miss Bianca:
Man, I’m trying to chill on rox/sux but…LOL. Your snark game is on point
Luthe
@WarMunchkin: Whereas in my slice of CT the volunteers are all 40 something ladies (I was the youngest by ten years) and all the registered voters we were calling were crochety old ladies (seriously, the demographic info was mostly female and 60+).
Miss Bianca
@Turgidson: I’m getting this reaction from Sandernistas of my acquaintance who *are* old enough to know better…from mid-40s to mid-60s and beyond…it’s almost like they don’t get how our political system works – or doesn’t. One reminisced, in a more “sorrow than anger” sort of way, when I declared that I wasn’t, and now never would be, Feeling the Bern, about how giddy we had all felt in ’08 at Obama’s election, and then went on to say something like, “welp, Obama wasn’t our man, but Bernie Sanders *will be*”. I replied, “If you thought Obama was going to wave a magic wand and get things done all by himself, then you were misguided. If you think Bernie Sanders is going to do it, then you are delusional.” Strangely, that little remark didn’t get quite as many FB likes as the original…and remind me, to stay the hell off FB till after primary season…hell, till after the election, at this rate.
Schlemazel (parmesan rancor)
@Turgidson:
I have fathered a couple of bernfeelers & neither is unhappy with Obama. They both are in love with Sanders message though one has backed off & the other has stopped this Bernie or Bust bullshit she was spouting a month ago, so they are cognizant of the world they live in, just idealistic.
Miss Bianca
@Technocrat: thank you, thank you…I’ll be here all week…
Schlemazel (parmesan rancor)
@Mnemosyne:
VERY GOOD NEWS!
Daulnay
@WaterGirl:
Why should the party let independents help choose the candidate? Because the party isn’t stupid, it wants to win elections. And it wants to prevent a viable 3rd party from cropping up, which is more likely if independents have no place to turn.
The Republican system is more closed than the Democratic one, look where it’s gotten them. Either of the Dem candidates will likely win, because the Repubs let their slavering wingnuts choose the candidates. (And because they’ve been fueling ugly ideas to win elections, since Nixon.)
Shana
@Trollhattan: Don’t forget Jeeves and Wooster! He was terrific in that.
Technocrat
@Daulnay:
Majorities at all levels of governance?
I’m not counting Scalia’s death as the result of electoral politics. I hope.
FlipYrWhig
@Turgidson:
This is one of the reasons why I get so pissy about the “corruption” meta-narrative Bernie Sanders is hung up on lately. In essence the argument is that the reason why Democratic/liberal politicians haven’t already done all the good things every right-thinking person wants is either because they’ve been bought off, so they’re taking a dive, or they’re just too lazy to try. What that does is deny the genuine existence of Democrats who don’t want those things, or want those things but in different ways, and their conviction in doing so. It presumes that all Democrats are liberals but some of them are chicken and some of them are venal. And it also presumes that liberals are a majority, or would be if they tried hard enough, but they don’t, because of either money or laziness, as above. This is a grievous misinterpretation of the composition of the Democratic Party and a comparably grievous misunderstanding of how much work it has taken to get Democrats to the point where they’re only _this_ disappointing to liberals and still _this_ close to a majority. The corruption story makes it all so easy: JUST TRY YOU SCHMUCKS, WE’VE ALREADY GOT YOUR BACKS. That’s not an accurate perception of the standing of political liberalism in 21st-century America, which is much _higher_ than its status in 20th-century America after the crackup and re-sorting of the two-party system into two rough ideological blocs.
PaulWartenberg2016
I just want to remind everyone I’m still available as a protest vote this November in case it comes down to Trump vs. Webb.
D58826
Reading a link on Twitter. Seems the GOP can hardly wait to run against Bernie. It will be a replay of the commies are coming from the 1950’s. According to the google Sanders served as a presidential elector for the Socialist Workers’ Party in 1980, something that he acknowledged in a 1988 television appearance. The group at the time was a Trotskyist party that pressed for the abolition of capitalism and the peaceful establishment of socialism. He also was an elector for something called the Marxist-Leninist-Trotskyist Socialist workers party in 1980.
Now maybe he has higher favorable ratings than Hillary has today but by the time the GOP finishes raking over his political associations it will be a different story. According to one of his supporters no one cares today what he did in his 20’s. Hmmmmmm. They sure cared about Bill’s not inhaling pot and his draft record.
NR
@D58826:
Yeah, he might end up with an utterly abysmal net -25 favorability rating or something.
You know, like Hillary has right now.
Daulnay
@gwangung:
Not sure what you mean, I’m guessing what I said about Hil owing the MotUs, etc. for contributions. Let me be a little clearer.
MotU’s = Wall Street, finance, hedge fund interests
Hillary’s total campaign funds raised so far (excluding dark money):
Outside money $64,392,304
Campaign Committee $159,903,968
Total $224,296,268
Of which over $22,907,888 (10%+) comes from financier/hedge fund sources. That amount is from the top 20 contributors to the her efforts, of which 7 are MotUs (both numbers exclude finance industry heiresses). The total from financiers is larger, when the remaining contributors are counted. (Data from OpenSecrets.org.)
So over a third of Hillary’s top 20 contributors are financiers, making up over 10% of contributions to date.
Note that she earned $2.9 million in speaking fees for 12 speeches to large banks. That’s a lot in comparison to the contributions above (12+%) and her total campaign expenditures (over 1%).
If you believe that has no affect on her perception of Wall Street and financiers, I have a bridge for sale.
Daulnay
@FlipYrWhig:
Please explain to me exactly why Debbie Wasserman Schultz is carrying water for the payday loan industry to cripple regulation, and why it isn’t precisely an example of a Democratic politician blocking a good thing every right-thinking person wants. Why should we not be more than just ‘pissy’ about such corruption, and the obvious acceptance of it by the Democratic establishment?
FlipYrWhig
@Daulnay: Who is “the Democratic establishment”? If Debbie Wasserman Schultz will occasionally, or regularly, do something stupid, it’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s problem.
@Daulnay: And Clinton’s speaking fees for the Deli-Dairy-Bakery Association and the Convenience Stores group and the Fresh Produce group and various women-in-business groups, what do those signify?
Kropadope
@FlipYrWhig:
Well, the Iraq vote has me pretty well convinced that Hillary is chicken.
Technocrat
@Daulnay:
Speaking for myself, I have taken significant sums of money from people I detest (as a consultant). I believe it’s quite plausible.
Renie
@rikyrah: Amen. 100% correct.
Kropadope
@Turgidson:
Take it from this Bern-feeler, Obama was the best thing that happened to politics in my lifetime and is probably better than we deserved.
D58826
@Technocrat: If the new Bernie standard is that a person is disqualified from holding office because they have taken campaign contributions from various and sundry industries/lobbyists,special interest groups, or organizations that don’t pass muster, then Bernie will be the only person at either end of Pennsylvania ave. LBJ said it a generation ago – money is the mothers milk of politics.
Now is there a problem with the dark money and the rest, yes but you have to get elected to fix the problems. And it takes money, lots of it, to get elected.
As far as whither campaign contributions influence a politicians vote, I’m not sure it’s that a short straight line. It’s true the banksters won’t give money to Bernie because of his political views but the NRA will. Hillary has gotten campaign contributions from Wall street types at least in part because they where her constituents when she was in the Senate. I’ll bet Chuck Grassley of Iowa gets a lot of campaign money from farm interests but not a lot from the shipping interests. It’s the way the system works and has always worked.
Kropadope
@D58826:
Isn’t it way past time for weaning?
Kropadope
@rikyrah:
Someone mentioned on one of these threads that the registration deadline in NY is 6 months before the voting. That’s practically around the time the candidates were announcing. So, you’re supposed to re-register to support your candidate before even knowing who the candidates are?
Renie
@Chyron HR: If he did that it would be illegal cuz it wasn’t a political event. Hope someone at the FEC is looking into this. Seems Sanders already has some problems with the FEC cuz of donations.
Technocrat
@D58826:
Which is the rub, honestly. Make running for office free, then we can talk about taking the money out of it. Doing it the other way round is just absurd. It’s some sort of weird, iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma.
D58826
@Kropadope: And exactly how do you propose financing a political campaign? All the folks that provide the telephones, mailings, computer time, etc expect to get paid. The TV stations are not going to give away huge amount of air time for free (unless your name is Trump). Somebody has to pay for all of that. Somebody has to pay to keep the party infrastructure going between election cycles. Now I have no problem with federal funding of elections, but that doesn’t address state and local elections. In fact we have federal funding now but most of the democratic candidates reject it because it doesn’t provide enough money to compete against the deep pockets of the the GOP. Even if you forced the candidates to accept federal funding, SCOTUS might have different ideas – that first amendment. Millionaires can simply self finance their campaign. The result would be the 1% would have even more influence then they do now because they would be the only ones who could run a national campaign.
Kropadope
@D58826: I would say we need absolute transparency with respect to donations and their sourcing. Also, hard limits on donation size once we a Supreme Court that isn’t dominated by Republican activist judges. If the candidates need all that money, they’ll have to make it up in volume. I’d rather have them courting millions of individual donors than getting millions from a handful of donors. Hopefully we can bring down the price threshold for political campaigns too. The generational move from TV to the internet should probably help in that regard.
Turgidson
@Kropadope:
Like I said, I was just describing my anecdotal experience. Bernie has brought millions of voters into his fold and undoubtedly, many of them, maybe most, do not share that jaded view of Obama. But I do think his campaign has become a convenient vehicle for those types to express their anger/disappointment/whatever with the Obama era, and often the man himself, for not ushering in the progressive utopia they thought, incorrectly and unrealistically, they were promised.
For example my brother, a Bernfeeler and long-time “Obama is a bloodthirsty monster because DRONES and is probably reading this email right now because NSA!” proponent, had sort of quieted down on that stuff post-2014 election, when Obama ran out of Fucks to Give and started just doing good things because he felt like it. But the Bernie campaign started to catch fire and all the same “OMG Obama” stuff came rushing back, now appended by some variation of “Hillary sux”. I had to break the news to him that Bernie is on the record supporting the drone campaign and saying he’d continue it. Long, awkward silence followed.
Kropadope
@Turgidson: Obama was also prevented from reforming the drone program by Congress. Also, pretty much all the anti-drone superstars are actually beneath the surface some of the worst potential abusers, see Rand Paul.
Turgidson
@Kropadope:
You mean the guy who used to be “the Most Interesting Man in Politics” who launched a fake filibuster to kvetch about potential domestic drone strikes, then said in the following few days that he thought it was just fine if a drone strike took out a liquor store robber?
Yeah, that guy really knew his shit. My favorite moment of this wretched election season so far was when Donald Trump went out of his way to insult Rand Paul, just for the hell of it, at one of the early debates. Can’t stand that preening fraud.