Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

This blog goes to 11…

This is a big f—–g deal.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

I’m only here for the duck photos.

Tick tock motherfuckers! Tick fucking tock!

Shelter in place is one thing. shelter in pants is quite another.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Wetsuit optional.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Something seems odd about that, but i have been drinking.

We need fewer warriors in public service and more gardeners.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Militantly superior in their own minds…

I did not have this on my fuck 2020 bingo card.

I really should read my own blog.

This is all too absurd to be reality, right?

Reality always wins in the end.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Where tasty lettuce and good mustard aren’t elitist.

‘Forty-two’ said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

You are here: Home / Balloon Juice / Events / New York City Meet Up Update: The Updating!!!

New York City Meet Up Update: The Updating!!!

by | 98 Comments

This post is in: ,

NotMax asked me to put up a reminder for the upcoming New York City Meet Up.

The date: Sunday, July 29
The place: Tír na Nóg
The address:  254 W. 31st St. (near 8th Av.)
The time: 5 p.m. – ??

If people would be happier with an earlier start time, please do speak
up. (Tough for me to get into the city before maybe 2 p.m., YMMV.)
When making reservations shall be requesting a co-listing under the
name Balloon Juice.

Be there or be talked about! :)

P.S.: If someone cares to volunteer to bring green balloon(s), thanks
in advance. Not inclined to run around during vacation seeking those
out.

You all know what to do in the comments!

Open thread.

Reader Interactions

98Comments

  1. 1.

    Patricia Kayden

    Have fun with your get together!! Looking forward to the photos of the jackals.

  2. 2.

    TenguPhule

    Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) appears to be doing something that nine other members of Congress have not been able to in the past year: survive a sexual-assault-related scandal with his political career intact.

    Jordan’s career is not just intact; it appears to be thriving this week. The man who has been accused by seven former wrestlers at Ohio State University of knowing or likely knowing about sexual harassment on the team and not doing anything about it just announced he is running for speaker of the House.

    Less than 12 hours before he made that official, Jordan filed highly politicized articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein.

    But we had to lose Al Franken, because reasons.

    Via Wapo.

  3. 3.

    gene108

    Sigh… one day, I will find a way to get to a BJ meet up.

    Would be fun meeting others in real life.

  4. 4.

    Baud

    @TenguPhule: Who says he’ll survive. The issue isn’t over yet.

  6. 6.

    zhena gogolia

    @Baud:

    Plus it’s harder to make it a big enough scandal when he’s not the one doing the harassing.

  7. 7.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    (is this an open thread? is this a good time to mention that Maddow is leading with the news that Tad Devine is officially cooperating? Is my giggling bothering anyone?)

  8. 8.

    Wild Cat

    I’ll do my best – only 25 minutes away.

  9. 9.

    PsiFighter37

    I live 15 minutes away walking, but I will be flying back from a wedding in New Orleans. It’s been several years since I made a BJ meetup (I think the last one was in Seattle, actually…5 years ago)…will try to plan ahead for it next time!

  11. 11.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kathleen: of the prime-timers, she was probably the most Bernie-skeptical. Hayes is in love, of course, and O’Donnell has some kind of Clinton grudge going back to the 90s health care effort and some slight to the venerated (not by me) Daniel Patrick Moynihan

  14. 14.

    lamh36

    @ThePlumLineGS
    Follow Follow @ThePlumLineGS
    More
    Michael Cohen claims that Trump knew about the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, @ChrisCuomo is reporting right now.

    8:01 PM – 26 Jul 2018
    https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/1022648092674457600
    @ThePlumLineGS
    5m5 minutes ago
    More
    Cohen is alleging that he witnessed Don Jr telling pops (President Trump) about the meeting offering dirt on Clinton before it happened.

    Not clear he can prove this, though.

    Evening BJ peeps

  15. 15.

    tobie

    @Kathleen: As far as I know, Rachel’s the only prime time journalist who has ever mentioned this story. For some reason, it’s treated like the third rail of American politics.

  18. 18.

    lamh36

    Here’s the video of Cuomo:

    @CuomoPrimeTime
    Follow Follow @CuomoPrimeTime
    More
    BREAKING: Michael Cohen claims then-candidate Donald Trump knew in advance of 2016 Trump Tower meeting in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton, sources say https://cnn.it/2OinH50

  19. 19.

    germy

    I love the spin:

    Manafort trial could reveal embarrassing details about Dem consultants
    Fox News-Jul 23, 2018

    I mean, it could also reveal embarrassing details about Fox’s favorite president…

  22. 22.

    Bruuuuce

    Looks like our trip to look at schools for my daughter is off for this weekend, so off to the fairy worlds I shall be to meet with youse jackals.

  23. 23.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @lamh36: Cohen is alleging that he witnessed Don Jr telling pops (President Trump) about the meeting offering dirt on Clinton before it happened.
    Not clear he can prove this, though.

    I believe Mueller would be able to get the identity of that private, or blocked (?), number that DJTJ called right before. There’s gotta be more of a trail with those Three Stooges involved, Manafort and or Jared’s texts and emails, somebody mocking the idea of anyone reaching out to Our Large Slabhead as if he were a player.

    There was also a rumor floating around that trump sent Ivanka out to meet the delegation at the elevators, which I can easily imagine: “Go be pretty for the people, baby. Show the Russians what I made.”

  27. 27.

    germy

    @Mary G: Cohen seems to be an obsessive taper.

    Being semi-literate, he apparently was more comfortable simply taping private conversations rather than taking notes. Just the sort of fixer someone like the donald needed.

    Lately, Cohen has gotten all “I love my country and my family, and I want to save them both” etc.

    But if trump had simply returned his calls and sent him some money for the defense fund, he’d still be saying “I’d take a bullet for mistah trump!”

    But the weasel has to pretend he has higher principles or something.

  28. 28.

    TenguPhule

    @germy:

    Manafort trial could reveal embarrassing details about Dem consultants

    Acceptable losses. I swear half of them are working for the enemy and the rest of them are incompetent fuckers in the wrong line of work.

  29. 29.

    Nicole

    I will try to make it, while my better half and the Imp are at Mission Impossible Whatever Number Sequel This Is Now.

  30. 30.

    germy

    @TenguPhule: I just hope Tad never has anything to do with any democratic presidential candidate ever again. His track record is not good.

    Note I said democratic presidential candidate.

  31. 31.

    Nicole

    ALSO- a friend of mine who lives in LA posted a photo on his FB page of two men dressed in Russian costume standing guard over the remains of Trump’s star on the H’wood Walk of Fame. As he said, we are in a golden age of political theater.

  32. 32.

    Mnemosyne

    @germy:

    Part of the claim I keep seeing is that Tad Devine couldn’t possibly be dirty, because he worked on Democratic campaigns (including a minor role for Obama 2008, IIRC).

    I say that’s why the Russians suborned him. They wanted an in with the Democrats, but only managed to snare Wilmer.

  35. 35.

    lamh36

    @ditzkoff
    4m4 minutes ago
    More Dave Itzkoff Retweeted John Berman
    you can’t trust a man who used to represent donald trump, says man currently representing donald trump

    @JohnBerman
    Follow Follow @JohnBerman
    More
    JUST NOW: “He has lied all his life.”

    Rudy Giuliani on Michael Cohen now saying @realDonaldTrump knew of Trump Tower meeting beforehand.

    It’s on.

    8:19 PM – 26 Jul 2018

  36. 36.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    Andrew Goss
    ✊USAF
    ✊
    ‏ @Goss30Goss

    Breaking: Cohen claims Trump knew beforehand of the Trump Tower meeting in 2016. The flood gates are about to open Bigly.

    22 replies 73 retweets 250 likes

    Dan Rather
    ‏Verified account @DanRather
    8m8 minutes ago

    Um… This is important! And that is a major understatement…

    39 replies 283 retweets 808 likes

  38. 38.

    TenguPhule

    Preliminary data from the Commerce Department is expected to show that United States gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of more than 4 percent in April through June. Some economists think growth may have topped 5 percent — a figure reached only once in the eight years of the Obama administration as the economy recovered from the recession.

    While he said he didn’t know the actual number,Trump didn’t wait to herald the rosy news. At an event in Iowa on Thursday, he said he was expecting a very strong result, noting predictions that ran to 5 percent or higher. “It could be very close,” he said. “Could even happen.”

    “We’ll take anything with a four in front,” he added.

    Even a number starting with a four, though, will almost certainly be misleading. Several one-time factors — including a surge in exports tied, at least in part, to Mr. Trump’s trade policies — probably combined to pump up growth in the second quarter. Those effects won’t last, and economists expect growth to slow in the second half of the year. Pretty much no one outside the White House thinks a growth rate of 4 percent is sustainable in the long term.

    Its all downhill from here. A one time steroid boost at the expense of decades of future growth. All of which will come after the 2018 election, probably.

  40. 40.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    John Berman
    ‏Verified account @JohnBerman
    11m11 minutes ago

    Rudy Giuliani on Michael Cohen: “He has lied all his life.”

    66 replies 115 retweets 431 likes

    I guess Cohen touched a nerve

  42. 42.

    lamh36

    Rachel’s point is a good one…why would Micheal Cohen give that info to reporter if they wanted to use it for leverage w/Mueller.

    Per Lanny: “I cannot comment. And I have to wonder why the Trump people would put that out. It was not from us”

  43. 43.

    Steeplejack

    @TenguPhule:

    You need to tighten up your bullshit sourcing. “Via Wapo” is almost meaningless. News story? Op-ed? Blog entry?

    “[Surviving] a sexual-assault-related scandal with his political career intact” sounds like the last of those three, possibly from a right-leaning nutter. Gym Jordan has not “survived” anything yet. It’s still ongoing.

  45. 45.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: Damn, people are being very polite about Rudi. I guess one stays on FoxNews if one wants to avoid someone pointing one’s rather colorful relationship with the truth.

    @Kathleen: I find O’Donnell’s grudge to be an interesting and under discussed bit of media criticism, considering what a blazing establishmentarian he is

  58. 58.

    lamh36

    Another point from Rachel, does this public leaking of it in effect take a card out of the deck that Cohen may have been able to use to “negotiate” with the prosecutors?

    Which in itself helps Chump, esp if it was leaked before being given to prosecutors as a bargaining chip

  60. 60.

    lamh36

    @jonfavs
    1m1 minute ago
    More
    Don’t forget there’s also the blocked number Don Jr. called before and after the Trump Tower meeting. If Mueller knows it was Trump, Cohen’s account becomes even stronger evidence.

  62. 62.

    tobie

    @lamh36: If that’s the case, Cohen better be knocking on Mueller’s door tomorrow morning to spill whatever other beans he has.

  65. 65.

    Dan B

    @David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch: And the bombs begin to drop on Iran, with the Dr. Strangelove struggle for the football and old guy testoterone fights raging from the situation room to the Lincoln bedroom. Cohen, in despair, throws himself off his balcony five times. Giuliani pounds on the door of the Russian Embassy begging for asylum, or a fifth… wife. Steven Miller and Trey Gowdy (secret doppelgangers) look longingly into their beady eyes. Camera pulls back on citizens running in panic as smoke rises from K Street and the East Wing where Melania is torching the garish gold drapes while the “bodyguard” idles the Suburban.

  66. 66.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    Sean Kent
    ‏Verified account @seankent
    19m19 minutes ago

    CNN and MSNBC are talking about the breaking Michael Cohen/Trump Tower news. On Fox Sean Hannity is interviewing Roseanne Barr.

    15 replies 49 retweets 158 likes

  69. 69.

    lamh36

    Rachel’s guest, Chuck Rosenberg Former US ATTY says if Chump co leaked it, he doesn’t think it lessens Cohen’s value as a witness, esp if Cohen has evidence more than just leaked words.

  70. 70.

    Adam L Silverman

    @germy: And I’ve been told my consulting rates are high. I’m clearly in the wrong line of work.

  73. 73.

    Peale

    @Adam L Silverman: but it’s kind of clear he still doesn’t get it. He still thinks that countries “trade” with each other, and that Juncker will be buying all the soybeans and US cars, as if he can force consumers and corporations to buy those things.

  76. 76.

    Steeplejack

    @TenguPhule:

    Just put in a link. It can even be naked. Otherwise your hot-off-the-presses bulletins are scarcely better than unsourced Internet bullshit.

  80. 80.

    JAFD

    I should be there, good Lawd willin and the Hudson don’t rise.

    Weather.gov predict for Sunday is sunny, 85 F

    Stay well till then

  81. 81.

    Steeplejack

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) appears to be doing something that nine other members of Congress have not been able to in the past year: survive a sexual-assault-related scandal with his political career intact.

    That’s a hot take from Amber Phillips at the Post, quoted by TenguPhule at #2 above. That’s what Baud was responding to.

  82. 82.

    Miss Bianca

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: OK, so Tad Devine may not have been one of the five getting use immunity, but he is cooperating with Manafort? Well, I was *half* right, then… ; )

    @germy: This is what I’ve been saying for a long time. *And* getting trashed for it – not here, but other virtual joints I frequent.

  84. 84.

    satby

    @LAO: me, me, me!! I’m spending early Sunday with my exchange son Joe and his family, then he will put me on the train to Penn Station for the meet-up. Looking forward to both.

  85. 85.

    Mr. Palmer

    I’ll probably stop by. But since I’m a lurker, I’ll just sit at the bar and eavesdrop.

  87. 87.

    NotMax

    CORRECTION – CORRECTION

    Because I’m a doofus, forgot what had e-mailed Adam and made the reservations under NotMax.

  88. 88.

    Mr. Palmer

    In all seriousness, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone here, especially the host. I am a lurker, and while I can’t exactly remember the year I made Balloon Juice a daily “must-read”, I can’t imagine my life without it now. And I only get to enjoy this because of the effort and contributions from all of you. Thank you!

    Politics & News are my drugs of choice. And this made growing up pretty tough, especially for a kid without a computer (and in a Red area of Pennsylvania). I can remember a lot of screaming at the tv, and banging my head against the wall. Then I discovered blogs and my life was never the same.

    It’s kind of funny because back in the early aughts, I only knew of John Cole and Balloon Juice as a right-winger hang out place. And here I am now. Oh, the places you’ll go!

    One of the main reasons why I’m a lurker is because I have a finance job in NYC. I’m not a banker, broker or trader. Just a dude with a crappy back-office job that requires very long hours and doesn’t offer much freedom to engage in real-time online conversations. So by the time I can show up, the party’s pretty beat. But I get to wander around late at night, or early in the morning, and drink all the floaters. It’s not so bad.

    I guess this is a long way of saying that with the world going bonkers, with a job I hate, with lots of “friends” and family members who don’t share my interests and passions…this community is quite important and valuable to me, even though I’ve never been a contributing member. In a way, I know that’s a bit weird. But I will make an effort to stop by on Sunday. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll step away from my seat at the bar and say hi. But if I lose my courage and don’t show my face, I really like wheat beers and porters if some of you good people would like to leave some good floaters behind.

  97. 97.

    RedDirtGirl

    @LAO:
    I count 12 yes/maybes in this thread:
    LAO
    RedDirtGirl
    Sam
    arrieve
    NotMax
    Satby
    Mr. Palmer
    Nick D.
    JAFD
    Nicole
    Bruuuuce
    Wild Cat

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