"You Know What I Am? I'm a [] Nationalist."
October 30, 2018 12:50 PM Subscribe
"It doesn't matter if it's 100% accurate. This is the play." Eleven worshippers were killed, and six others injured, at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in what is thought to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. Trump’s caravan hysteria led to this (Adam Serwer, Atlantic) Stop trying to understand what Trump says and look at what his followers do (Dahlia Lithwick, Slate) Why did synagogue suspect believe migrant caravan is Jewish conspiracy? Maybe he watched Fox News (Slate) Synagogue Killings Mark a Surge of Anti-Semitism (The Atlantic) Thousands Signed a Letter Saying Trump Was Not Welcome in Pittsburgh He plans to visit anyway. Shooting victim’s family shuns President Trump in Pittsburgh as top officials decline to join him (WaPo)
A series of suspected explosive packages intercepted this week left the nation stunned and authorities hunting for a bomber targeting prominent Democratic figures, former intelligence officials, and CNN. 5 days, 13 potential bombs and lots of questions. Here's what we know (CNN) (Update: a 14th bomb was found in Atlanta, intended for CNN headquarters) Bomb Suspect Described as 'Loner' With Long Arrest Record (AP) Document: Criminal Complaint Against Cesar Sayoc (Lawfare) Annotated: the Trump Memes Stuck to Cesar Sayoc's Van (Guardian) The week also saw shootings at a Kroger in Kentucky (after the shooter tried to enter a black church) and a North Carolina high school
HEADLINE ROUNDUP:
• US To Tell Russia it is Leaving Landmark I.N.F. Treaty (NYT) The Trump administration plans to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, arguing that Russia has been violating it for years, and that the administration would like to develop new intermediate-range nuclear weapons to counter ones developed by China. While Obama argued that Russia was in violation of the agreement, he chose not to leave it, not wanting to stoke a renewed arms race. New Satellite Images Show Military Buildup in Russia's Strategic Baltic Enclave (CNN) Justice Department Charges Russian Woman with Interference in [2018] Elections (WaPo) Read the Complaint (CNN) Prosecutors Say Elena Khusyaynova managed the finances of “Project Lakhta,” a foreign influence operation designed “to sow discord in the U.S. political system” by pushing arguments and misinformation online about issues including immigration, the Confederate flag, gun control, and NFL anthem protests. Russian President Vladimir Putin says US dominance is ending after mistakes 'typical of an empire' (ABC) Not long after, John Bolton says Putin has been invited to visit Washington in early 2019 (Politico)
• Paul Manafort to be sentenced February 8 in federal court in Virginia (WaPo) Judge T.S. Ellis III set the sentencing date during a Friday afternoon hearing. Legal experts said Manafort is likely to face seven to 10 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. He also faces sentencing in a related case in the District, also brought by special counsel Mueller. Mueller probes WikiLeaks' contact with conservative activists (WSJ) Mueller has questioned witnesses about Trump confidant Roger Stone, pundit Jerome Corsi, and the late Peter W. Smith and their links to WikiLeaks and the Clinton emails. Special Counsel Examines conflicting accounts as scrutiny of Roger Stone and WikiLeaks deepens (WaPo) George Papadopoulos wants immunity From the Senate (The Atlantic) The former Trump-campaign adviser may be worried that his testimony could implicate him in a crime, according to legal experts. U.S. says ‘others’ are under scrutiny in Michael Cohen grand jury probe (Bloomberg) Trump may answer Mueller questions post-election, Giuliani says (Bloomberg) Rudy Giuliani said in an interview Monday that the answers relate only to Trump colluding with Russia. He said the legal team is still unwilling to answer questions about obstruction of justice, and that a face-to-face interview with Mueller is “off the table” for now. Mueller wants the FBI to look at a scheme to discredit him (The Atlantic)
• In their latest action against transgender people (National Center for Transgender Equality), The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a government-wide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law (NYT) This move is opposed by the Human Rights Campaign (CNN), and by thousands of activists who have adopted the hashtag #wontbeerased (NYT) Department of Justice argues that transgender discrimination is not sex discrimination (Bloomberg) As Trump administration eyes writing transgender people ‘out of existence,’ a reckoning for a transgender Republican (WaPo); Impact of Strict Voter ID Laws on Transgender Voters in 2018 General Election (UCLA School of Law Williams Institute)
• Early Voting/Voter Suppression: [Florida] mail ballots cast by youngest voters, blacks and Hispanics were much more likely to be rejected than mail ballots cast by white voters (Miami Herald) Georgia voting begins amid accusations of voter suppression (NYT) In leaked audio, [GOP Gubernatorial Candidate] Brian Kemp expresses concern over Georgians exercising their right to vote (Rolling Stone) Voter applications said to be missing in Georgia (NYT) Former President Jimmy Carter asks Georgia Secretary of State to resign (AP) "In Georgia’s upcoming gubernatorial election, popular confidence is threatened not only by the undeniable racial discrimination of the past and the serious questions that the federal courts have raised about the security of Georgia’s voting machines, but also because you are now overseeing the election in which you are a candidate." Officials close only voting site in majority-Latino Kansas town (Slate) Project Veritas activist posed as an intern with [Missouri] U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s campaign and had access to voter information (Kansas City Star) North Carolina's stated reason for shutting down Sunday voting was that counties with heavy Sunday voting were disproportionately African-American, and that African-Americans tended to be Democrats Reports of voter intimidation at polling places in Texas (ProPublica) Belief in widespread voter fraud is even worse Than QAnon or Birtherism (Washington Monthly) Low voter turnout is no accident, according to a ranking of the ease of voting in all 50 states (WaPo) Republicans Rushing to Save House Seats From Onslaught of Democratic Money (NYT) Early Voting clues point to very high interest election (TPM) University of Florida professor Michael McDonald, who runs the United States Election Project blog, expects that some 45-50 percent of eligible U.S. voters will participate in the midterms—-a figure not seen in a midterm election since 1970.
• Horserace/Invisible Primary: Elizabeth Warren (previously on MeFi) says she took a DNA test to 'restore trust in government' (CBS), Bernie Sanders hints at a showdown with Warren (Politico), but many of his former staffers are looking for a different candidate (Politico), and Warren and Sanders may be headed for a standoff (The Atlantic) Kamala Harris introduces tax plan (Vox) Michael Avenatti says 'you're going to have to engage in a brutal campaign' (Hollywood Reporter). A judge ruled he owes a former partner $4.85 million, and he might have a little tax problem (Daily Beast) 'Well, I'd Like to be President': Hillary Clinton sends mixed signals on a 2020 bid (WaPo) How do you solve a problem like Hillary? (Politico) She’s not going away—and Democrats aren’t sure what to do about it. Barack Obama still doesn't get it (Splinter News) At a rally last night in Las Vegas, Obama told the audience that “the threat to our democracy does not come from one person in the White House or Republicans in Congress or big money lobbyists. The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference.” This is simply not true
IN OTHER HEADLINES:
• As Trump attacks the refugee caravan "invasion" on Twitter ("Many Gang Members and some very bad people"), the Pentagon plans to deploy5,200 14,000 active-duty troops to U.S.-Mexico border to halt migrant caravan (USA Today, Newsweek)
• Exclusive: Trump targeting birthright citizenship with executive order (Axios) Birthright citizenship explained (Vox) The revelation Tuesday morning that President Trump has plans to end birthright citizenship by executive order is the culmination of the President’s weeks-long effort to inject nativism into the midterm elections as his party desperately tries to hold on to its congressional majorities. (TPM)
• HHS Admits Miscount Left Some Migrant Children Stranded In Custody (Politico)
• The United States targeted Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgency on Tuesday with sanctions against eight individuals, including two linked to the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (Reuters)
• Entire Broadband Industry Sues Vermont Over Net-Neutrality Law Trade associations and lobbying groups from the industry have also sued California, while New York and Montana have also passed similar laws. California Agrees To Suspend Law Until After Court Case (Ars Technica)
• The Decline of Congressional Expertise Explained in 10 Charts (Techdirt) From 1979 to 2015, the Congressional Research Staff has lost 28% of its staff—238 people. In the same span, the Government Accountability Office staff has been cut by 44%—2,314 positions.
• Trump Persuaded Struggling People to Invest in Scams, Lawsuit Says (NYT) The complaint alleges that Trump and his family received secret payments from three business entities: ACN, a telecommunications marketing company that paid Mr. Trump millions of dollars to endorse its products; the Trump Network, a vitamin marketing enterprise; and the Trump Institute, which the suit said offered “extravagantly priced multiday training seminars” on Mr. Trump’s real estate “secrets.”
• Donald Trump’s Strategy as Midterms Approach: Lies and Fear-Mongering (Trump-rally-live-tweeter Daniel Dale for the Toronto Star)
• “No One Is in Charge”: Inside Trump’s New Fox Takeover (Gabriel Sherman, Vanity Fair) "Lachlan Murdoch, now installed at Fox News, is a caretaker rather than an empire builder. And, so more than ever, Trump remains the network’s main programmer."
• The Hack Gap: How and Why Conservative Nonsense Dominates American Politics (Vox)
• Tucker Carlson's Descent into White Supremacy: A Timeline (Media Matters for America)
• We're Witnessing a Massive Surge in Far-Right Violence (ThinkProgress) It's unlikely to end soon.
• Nihilist Nation: The Empty Core of the Trump Mystique (Garret Keizer, The New Republic)
• A Plaque Says This Fence In Southern California Is the First Completed Section of Trump's Border Wall (BuzzFeed) "The project to replace an old section of border wall was first requested in 2009. But a plaque dedicated Friday calls it the first section of Trump’s border wall."
• Czechoslovakia Ramped Up Spying On Trump in Late 1980s, Seeking US Intel (Guardian) Exclusive: Aided by Ivana Trump’s father, intelligence service with KGB ties targeted high-level government information
• #FOIA UPDATE: The FBI has not been able to locate any photographs of James Comey and Robert Mueller hugging and kissing. (Trump said he had 100)
Remember to check your voter registration. Early Voting laws and Election Day polling place hours are different in every state. Find your polling place here.
Previously in U.S. Politics Megathreads: "Game on, Tiny"
Megathread-Adjacent Posts Murdered Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Elizabeth Warren DNA Test, Pew Study on Fact vs. Opinion, Politics and Policies, on Warren, Sanders, and others' economic plans
Elsewhere in MetaFilter: On MeTa, what Mefites are doing to improve things and getting out the vote (e.g. rangefinder 1.4's in-depth guide to Postcards to Voters); and on AskMe, How to help get out the vote without stepping outside my front door and nonpolitical volunteering from home.
As always, please consider MeFi chat and the unofficial PoliticsFilter Slack for hot-takes and live-blogging breaking news, the current MetaTalk venting thread for catharsis and sympathizing, and funding the site if you're able. Also, for the sake of the ever-helpful mods, please keep in mind the MetaTalk on expectations about U.S. political discussion on MetaFilter. Thanks to Doktor Zed and zachlipton for their help creating this post. U.S. Politics FPPs are generally collaborative, and a draft post can usually found on the MeFi Wiki.
A series of suspected explosive packages intercepted this week left the nation stunned and authorities hunting for a bomber targeting prominent Democratic figures, former intelligence officials, and CNN. 5 days, 13 potential bombs and lots of questions. Here's what we know (CNN) (Update: a 14th bomb was found in Atlanta, intended for CNN headquarters) Bomb Suspect Described as 'Loner' With Long Arrest Record (AP) Document: Criminal Complaint Against Cesar Sayoc (Lawfare) Annotated: the Trump Memes Stuck to Cesar Sayoc's Van (Guardian) The week also saw shootings at a Kroger in Kentucky (after the shooter tried to enter a black church) and a North Carolina high school
HEADLINE ROUNDUP:
• US To Tell Russia it is Leaving Landmark I.N.F. Treaty (NYT) The Trump administration plans to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, arguing that Russia has been violating it for years, and that the administration would like to develop new intermediate-range nuclear weapons to counter ones developed by China. While Obama argued that Russia was in violation of the agreement, he chose not to leave it, not wanting to stoke a renewed arms race. New Satellite Images Show Military Buildup in Russia's Strategic Baltic Enclave (CNN) Justice Department Charges Russian Woman with Interference in [2018] Elections (WaPo) Read the Complaint (CNN) Prosecutors Say Elena Khusyaynova managed the finances of “Project Lakhta,” a foreign influence operation designed “to sow discord in the U.S. political system” by pushing arguments and misinformation online about issues including immigration, the Confederate flag, gun control, and NFL anthem protests. Russian President Vladimir Putin says US dominance is ending after mistakes 'typical of an empire' (ABC) Not long after, John Bolton says Putin has been invited to visit Washington in early 2019 (Politico)
• Paul Manafort to be sentenced February 8 in federal court in Virginia (WaPo) Judge T.S. Ellis III set the sentencing date during a Friday afternoon hearing. Legal experts said Manafort is likely to face seven to 10 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. He also faces sentencing in a related case in the District, also brought by special counsel Mueller. Mueller probes WikiLeaks' contact with conservative activists (WSJ) Mueller has questioned witnesses about Trump confidant Roger Stone, pundit Jerome Corsi, and the late Peter W. Smith and their links to WikiLeaks and the Clinton emails. Special Counsel Examines conflicting accounts as scrutiny of Roger Stone and WikiLeaks deepens (WaPo) George Papadopoulos wants immunity From the Senate (The Atlantic) The former Trump-campaign adviser may be worried that his testimony could implicate him in a crime, according to legal experts. U.S. says ‘others’ are under scrutiny in Michael Cohen grand jury probe (Bloomberg) Trump may answer Mueller questions post-election, Giuliani says (Bloomberg) Rudy Giuliani said in an interview Monday that the answers relate only to Trump colluding with Russia. He said the legal team is still unwilling to answer questions about obstruction of justice, and that a face-to-face interview with Mueller is “off the table” for now. Mueller wants the FBI to look at a scheme to discredit him (The Atlantic)
• In their latest action against transgender people (National Center for Transgender Equality), The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a government-wide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law (NYT) This move is opposed by the Human Rights Campaign (CNN), and by thousands of activists who have adopted the hashtag #wontbeerased (NYT) Department of Justice argues that transgender discrimination is not sex discrimination (Bloomberg) As Trump administration eyes writing transgender people ‘out of existence,’ a reckoning for a transgender Republican (WaPo); Impact of Strict Voter ID Laws on Transgender Voters in 2018 General Election (UCLA School of Law Williams Institute)
• Early Voting/Voter Suppression: [Florida] mail ballots cast by youngest voters, blacks and Hispanics were much more likely to be rejected than mail ballots cast by white voters (Miami Herald) Georgia voting begins amid accusations of voter suppression (NYT) In leaked audio, [GOP Gubernatorial Candidate] Brian Kemp expresses concern over Georgians exercising their right to vote (Rolling Stone) Voter applications said to be missing in Georgia (NYT) Former President Jimmy Carter asks Georgia Secretary of State to resign (AP) "In Georgia’s upcoming gubernatorial election, popular confidence is threatened not only by the undeniable racial discrimination of the past and the serious questions that the federal courts have raised about the security of Georgia’s voting machines, but also because you are now overseeing the election in which you are a candidate." Officials close only voting site in majority-Latino Kansas town (Slate) Project Veritas activist posed as an intern with [Missouri] U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s campaign and had access to voter information (Kansas City Star) North Carolina's stated reason for shutting down Sunday voting was that counties with heavy Sunday voting were disproportionately African-American, and that African-Americans tended to be Democrats Reports of voter intimidation at polling places in Texas (ProPublica) Belief in widespread voter fraud is even worse Than QAnon or Birtherism (Washington Monthly) Low voter turnout is no accident, according to a ranking of the ease of voting in all 50 states (WaPo) Republicans Rushing to Save House Seats From Onslaught of Democratic Money (NYT) Early Voting clues point to very high interest election (TPM) University of Florida professor Michael McDonald, who runs the United States Election Project blog, expects that some 45-50 percent of eligible U.S. voters will participate in the midterms—-a figure not seen in a midterm election since 1970.
• Horserace/Invisible Primary: Elizabeth Warren (previously on MeFi) says she took a DNA test to 'restore trust in government' (CBS), Bernie Sanders hints at a showdown with Warren (Politico), but many of his former staffers are looking for a different candidate (Politico), and Warren and Sanders may be headed for a standoff (The Atlantic) Kamala Harris introduces tax plan (Vox) Michael Avenatti says 'you're going to have to engage in a brutal campaign' (Hollywood Reporter). A judge ruled he owes a former partner $4.85 million, and he might have a little tax problem (Daily Beast) 'Well, I'd Like to be President': Hillary Clinton sends mixed signals on a 2020 bid (WaPo) How do you solve a problem like Hillary? (Politico) She’s not going away—and Democrats aren’t sure what to do about it. Barack Obama still doesn't get it (Splinter News) At a rally last night in Las Vegas, Obama told the audience that “the threat to our democracy does not come from one person in the White House or Republicans in Congress or big money lobbyists. The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference.” This is simply not true
IN OTHER HEADLINES:
• As Trump attacks the refugee caravan "invasion" on Twitter ("Many Gang Members and some very bad people"), the Pentagon plans to deploy
• Exclusive: Trump targeting birthright citizenship with executive order (Axios) Birthright citizenship explained (Vox) The revelation Tuesday morning that President Trump has plans to end birthright citizenship by executive order is the culmination of the President’s weeks-long effort to inject nativism into the midterm elections as his party desperately tries to hold on to its congressional majorities. (TPM)
• HHS Admits Miscount Left Some Migrant Children Stranded In Custody (Politico)
• The United States targeted Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgency on Tuesday with sanctions against eight individuals, including two linked to the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (Reuters)
• Entire Broadband Industry Sues Vermont Over Net-Neutrality Law Trade associations and lobbying groups from the industry have also sued California, while New York and Montana have also passed similar laws. California Agrees To Suspend Law Until After Court Case (Ars Technica)
• The Decline of Congressional Expertise Explained in 10 Charts (Techdirt) From 1979 to 2015, the Congressional Research Staff has lost 28% of its staff—238 people. In the same span, the Government Accountability Office staff has been cut by 44%—2,314 positions.
• Trump Persuaded Struggling People to Invest in Scams, Lawsuit Says (NYT) The complaint alleges that Trump and his family received secret payments from three business entities: ACN, a telecommunications marketing company that paid Mr. Trump millions of dollars to endorse its products; the Trump Network, a vitamin marketing enterprise; and the Trump Institute, which the suit said offered “extravagantly priced multiday training seminars” on Mr. Trump’s real estate “secrets.”
• Donald Trump’s Strategy as Midterms Approach: Lies and Fear-Mongering (Trump-rally-live-tweeter Daniel Dale for the Toronto Star)
• “No One Is in Charge”: Inside Trump’s New Fox Takeover (Gabriel Sherman, Vanity Fair) "Lachlan Murdoch, now installed at Fox News, is a caretaker rather than an empire builder. And, so more than ever, Trump remains the network’s main programmer."
• The Hack Gap: How and Why Conservative Nonsense Dominates American Politics (Vox)
• Tucker Carlson's Descent into White Supremacy: A Timeline (Media Matters for America)
• We're Witnessing a Massive Surge in Far-Right Violence (ThinkProgress) It's unlikely to end soon.
• Nihilist Nation: The Empty Core of the Trump Mystique (Garret Keizer, The New Republic)
• A Plaque Says This Fence In Southern California Is the First Completed Section of Trump's Border Wall (BuzzFeed) "The project to replace an old section of border wall was first requested in 2009. But a plaque dedicated Friday calls it the first section of Trump’s border wall."
• Czechoslovakia Ramped Up Spying On Trump in Late 1980s, Seeking US Intel (Guardian) Exclusive: Aided by Ivana Trump’s father, intelligence service with KGB ties targeted high-level government information
• #FOIA UPDATE: The FBI has not been able to locate any photographs of James Comey and Robert Mueller hugging and kissing. (Trump said he had 100)
Remember to check your voter registration. Early Voting laws and Election Day polling place hours are different in every state. Find your polling place here.
Previously in U.S. Politics Megathreads: "Game on, Tiny"
Megathread-Adjacent Posts Murdered Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Elizabeth Warren DNA Test, Pew Study on Fact vs. Opinion, Politics and Policies, on Warren, Sanders, and others' economic plans
Elsewhere in MetaFilter: On MeTa, what Mefites are doing to improve things and getting out the vote (e.g. rangefinder 1.4's in-depth guide to Postcards to Voters); and on AskMe, How to help get out the vote without stepping outside my front door and nonpolitical volunteering from home.
As always, please consider MeFi chat and the unofficial PoliticsFilter Slack for hot-takes and live-blogging breaking news, the current MetaTalk venting thread for catharsis and sympathizing, and funding the site if you're able. Also, for the sake of the ever-helpful mods, please keep in mind the MetaTalk on expectations about U.S. political discussion on MetaFilter. Thanks to Doktor Zed and zachlipton for their help creating this post. U.S. Politics FPPs are generally collaborative, and a draft post can usually found on the MeFi Wiki.
I eagerly await Trump’s words from Pittsburg, to hear how he manages to make it all about him and to blame the media.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
This Wohl thing is going to drive John Rogers into an early grave.
posted by phearlez at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
A new tool called http://Factcheck.me shows journalists how much bot activity there is across an entire topic or hashtag. On Sunday, bots drove 23 percent of Twitter activity around the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. via Wired.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [43 favorites]
The sexual assault 'scheme' to discredit Mueller confounds me. They try to make up a lie about someone who's job it is to uncover lies. It'll convince exactly the people who already hate Mueller and make everyone else look bad. More garbage and noise for the spectrum I suppose.
posted by msbutah at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by msbutah at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Re: Wohl, offering money to falsely swear an affidavit must surely be a crime, right? And assuming he lives in New York, a Trump-proof state AG office can charge him.
More: no need to connect through his mom. The domain registration for Surefire Intelligence has Jacob Wohl's name right in it.
posted by msalt at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
More: no need to connect through his mom. The domain registration for Surefire Intelligence has Jacob Wohl's name right in it.
posted by msalt at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
The sexual assault 'scheme' to discredit Mueller confounds me. They try to make up a lie about someone who's job it is to uncover lies.
And also to prosecute people who, say, offer bribes to suborn perjury.
posted by Gelatin at 1:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
And also to prosecute people who, say, offer bribes to suborn perjury.
posted by Gelatin at 1:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Which makes sense, because if there was ever a soulless husk of a man who needed to be prayed for en masse, it is Tucker Carlson.
posted by delfin at 1:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by delfin at 1:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
There have been a few other tools that check for twitter bot activity, yes? I love how we have all of these tools to track twitter bot activity written by people outside of twitter, yet there's only the smallest amount of lip service given to actually cleaning them off their network, because it's "hard".
The only REAL answer is that they want the bots to remain.
posted by MysticMCJ at 1:21 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
The only REAL answer is that they want the bots to remain.
posted by MysticMCJ at 1:21 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Early voting report, yesterday in Raleigh, NC.
NCSU reserved parking for voters near Reynolds Coliseum and it was easy to find the building. The curbside voting people told me to go upstairs as I walked in but there were no signs at the stairway itself so I wandered around until I found a volunteer distributing Democratic voting cards and got the same directions, good. After climbing the stairs the room was obvious. I was mildly surprised that I didn't need to show ID. Hope nobody else does either. Guess the Nazis are hoping the threat will be enough.
The Brits who live across the street were helping us vote again. Since they moved in I've seen one or the other handing out ballots, monitoring machines, etc., every time I've voted at my precinct. I got a kick out of seeing both of them doing the same on campus.
posted by kingless at 1:21 PM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
NCSU reserved parking for voters near Reynolds Coliseum and it was easy to find the building. The curbside voting people told me to go upstairs as I walked in but there were no signs at the stairway itself so I wandered around until I found a volunteer distributing Democratic voting cards and got the same directions, good. After climbing the stairs the room was obvious. I was mildly surprised that I didn't need to show ID. Hope nobody else does either. Guess the Nazis are hoping the threat will be enough.
The Brits who live across the street were helping us vote again. Since they moved in I've seen one or the other handing out ballots, monitoring machines, etc., every time I've voted at my precinct. I got a kick out of seeing both of them doing the same on campus.
posted by kingless at 1:21 PM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
For those of you with clinically low blood pressure, I present the antidote. From NY Mag: 12 Young People on Why They Probably Won’t Vote.
The stupidity, ignorance, and false intellectualism burns. It burns!
Sample: "I hate mailing stuff; it gives me anxiety."
posted by Justinian at 1:21 PM on October 30, 2018 [63 favorites]
The stupidity, ignorance, and false intellectualism burns. It burns!
Sample: "I hate mailing stuff; it gives me anxiety."
posted by Justinian at 1:21 PM on October 30, 2018 [63 favorites]
"Honestly, if someone had the forms printed for me and was willing to deal with the post office, I’d be much more inclined to vote."
I'm going to go take a walk now, thanks.
posted by Justinian at 1:23 PM on October 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
I'm going to go take a walk now, thanks.
posted by Justinian at 1:23 PM on October 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
I didn't know dude got speaking gigs at churches, but it makes sense that he does. Voting is worship or some shit.
Just like how atheist alt-right youtuber Stefan Molyneux gets paid to give pro-Christian speeches. Their god is fascism.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just like how atheist alt-right youtuber Stefan Molyneux gets paid to give pro-Christian speeches. Their god is fascism.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
The only REAL answer is that they want the bots to remain.
well, yeah. their only metric for success is engagement, and bots simultaneously make Twitter look busier than it actually is, and gin up a bunch of angry responses, which makes Twitter busier than it otherwise would be
posted by murphy slaw at 1:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [33 favorites]
well, yeah. their only metric for success is engagement, and bots simultaneously make Twitter look busier than it actually is, and gin up a bunch of angry responses, which makes Twitter busier than it otherwise would be
posted by murphy slaw at 1:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [33 favorites]
This is an amazingly well crafted post of despair, thank you!
posted by corb at 1:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [77 favorites]
posted by corb at 1:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [77 favorites]
Re: Wohl, offering money to falsely swear an affidavit must surely be a crime, right? And assuming he lives in New York, a Trump-proof state AG office can charge him.
Steve Vladek thinks it might be a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 372
Sample: "I hate mailing stuff; it gives me anxiety."
For what it's worth, mailing stuff gives me anxiety. Filling out my voter registration took a few days as I needed to double check it several times. And then the anxiety around remembering to carry the letter with me when I go out. Never underestimate the power of anxiety. I spent several days worrying about whether it had gotten in before the deadline and I had put in the correct zip code. That said, I got a letter from my state saying that I had successfully registered to vote, so I'm all good, but anxiety is weird, yo.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
Steve Vladek thinks it might be a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 372
Sample: "I hate mailing stuff; it gives me anxiety."
For what it's worth, mailing stuff gives me anxiety. Filling out my voter registration took a few days as I needed to double check it several times. And then the anxiety around remembering to carry the letter with me when I go out. Never underestimate the power of anxiety. I spent several days worrying about whether it had gotten in before the deadline and I had put in the correct zip code. That said, I got a letter from my state saying that I had successfully registered to vote, so I'm all good, but anxiety is weird, yo.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
The domain registration for Surefire Intelligence has Jacob Wohl's name right in it
Waiting for someone to cry that public WHOIS records are a violation of Wohl's privacy under the GDPR.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:26 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Waiting for someone to cry that public WHOIS records are a violation of Wohl's privacy under the GDPR.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:26 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Pence has messianic rabbi open appearance with prayer invoking Jesus the Messiah.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 1:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
But wait, there's even more of this incredibly stupid story which is unraveling at a truly marvelous pace, from Natasha Bertrand again:
By shady as hell, I mean: @lachlan: More! At least three supposed Surefire employees, including "station chiefs" in DC and Tel Aviv, use fake LinkedIn headshots. The two station chiefs' pics are actually of Israeli model Bar Rafaeli and Sigourney Weaver's husband
posted by zachlipton at 1:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [53 favorites]
Jennifer Taub, an associate professor at Vermont Law School, received an email from a man using a "Surefire Intelligence" email address around the same time, on October 22, which Taub forwarded to me on Tuesday. "It's my understanding that you may have had some past encounters with Robert Mueller,” he told Taub. “I would like to discuss those encounters with you.” (Taub told me she has never had any encounters with Mueller, though she does appear on CNN at times as an expert commentator.)There's no reason to believe "Lorraine" actually exists, but Jennifer Taub clearly does. The point here is that there's a clear path from this conspiracy theory to the shady as hell Surefire Intelligence to the shady as hell Whol, who denied involvement. And if a couple of journalists can put all this together in less time than it's taken Trump to fly to Pittsburgh, I suspect this plot isn't going to outsmart the FBI.
“I believe a basic telephone call, for which I would compensate you at whatever rate you see fit (inside reason), would be a good place to start,” the man continued. “My organization is conducting an examination of Robert Mueller's past. Tell me a decent method to contact you by telephone (or Signal, which would be ideal) and a beginning rate to talk with you about all encounters you've had with Special Counsel Mueller. We would likewise pay you for any references that you may have. Lastly, I would appreciate your discretion here, as this is a very sensitive matter." Taub forwarded the email the special counsel’s office, noting that she did not plan to respond.
Around the time that Taub and the other woman began receiving these calls and emails from Surefire, Jack Burkman released a video on his Facebook page claiming, without evidence, that Mueller “has a whole lifetime history of harassing women.” On Tuesday, the day the special counsel’s office revealed that it had referred the woman’s claims to the FBI, Burkman tweeted a similar allegation.
By shady as hell, I mean: @lachlan: More! At least three supposed Surefire employees, including "station chiefs" in DC and Tel Aviv, use fake LinkedIn headshots. The two station chiefs' pics are actually of Israeli model Bar Rafaeli and Sigourney Weaver's husband
posted by zachlipton at 1:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [53 favorites]
James O'Malley, creator of the invaluable @TrumpsAlert bot, has noticed Kellyanne Conway just removed "Counselor to the President" from her @KellyannePolls bio.
"Start your Kremlinology.... now!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
"Start your Kremlinology.... now!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
12 Young People on Why They Probably Won’t Vote
For the first time in my entire life, I understand how it feels to rage against the kids these days.
Then I checked in again with my youngest sibs on their voting plans. Two have already early voted. One is driving home from college to early vote on Friday -- her first election ever!
So that helped dissipate some of the rage. Only some though. I still want to slap Tim a few times.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 1:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
For the first time in my entire life, I understand how it feels to rage against the kids these days.
Then I checked in again with my youngest sibs on their voting plans. Two have already early voted. One is driving home from college to early vote on Friday -- her first election ever!
So that helped dissipate some of the rage. Only some though. I still want to slap Tim a few times.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 1:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
Pence has messianic rabbi open appearance with prayer invoking Jesus the Messiah.
The "rabbi" praised Trump and Pence at the point in the service where the mourner's kaddish should have been recited, which was when my numbness finally turned into rage.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:32 PM on October 30, 2018 [87 favorites]
The "rabbi" praised Trump and Pence at the point in the service where the mourner's kaddish should have been recited, which was when my numbness finally turned into rage.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:32 PM on October 30, 2018 [87 favorites]
I kind of think mail-in ballots should have free postage, at least inside the US Postal Service (I could see overseas mail being an issue), so I'm not 100% going to dump on the people who find mailing ballots hard. I suffer from the "one more thing" barrier for trivial tasks, so I don't really see why making mailing ballots easier wouldn't be a good idea, along with making registration easier. Making a printable foldable form with address and postage bar code on the outside wouldn't be such a hard design task.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Karmakaze at 1:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
white whiner invites nazi milo to talk at nyu to prove a point about how shitty he is
posted by poffin boffin at 1:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 1:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Then I checked in again with my youngest sibs on their voting plans. Two have already early voted. One is driving home from college to early vote on Friday -- her first election ever!
My three millennials are voting too!
posted by bluesky43 at 1:34 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
My three millennials are voting too!
posted by bluesky43 at 1:34 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Let's not get too upset about the kids not voting, they generally don't.
There are a lot of lower hanging fruit to convince.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:34 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
There are a lot of lower hanging fruit to convince.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:34 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
In Pima County, Arizona (can't speak for the rest of the state) mail-in ballots are postage paid. I'll give a shout out to our county recorder, F. Ann Rodriguez, who has run a very competent operation for a long time. It may be the easiest county to vote in as far as Arizona is concerned.
posted by azpenguin at 1:35 PM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 1:35 PM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
Mod note: A few deleted. Folks, reminder we're aiming for more signal and less noise; that emotions like fear/anger/etc can go to the venting thread, etc. Yes kids these days; let's not have 25 comments about kids these days. C'mon.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
The "rabbi" praised Trump and Pence at the point in the service where the mourner's kaddish should have been recited, which was when my numbness finally turned into rage.
It was a blessing given at a campaign event, not a religious service. I think the point here was that he prayed by name for various Republicans (he had a list) instead of the victims in Pittsburgh, which is indeed rageworthy as is everything about his presence there, but it wasn't a religious service.
posted by zachlipton at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
It was a blessing given at a campaign event, not a religious service. I think the point here was that he prayed by name for various Republicans (he had a list) instead of the victims in Pittsburgh, which is indeed rageworthy as is everything about his presence there, but it wasn't a religious service.
posted by zachlipton at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
The worst part of that NY Magazine article is that they could have interviewed people who can't vote because it's a two-hour round trip to the nearest polling place, and instead interviewed people who don't want to vote.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [73 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [73 favorites]
Instead of spending your time talking about how much you want to smack some young people in an article, work harder to make voting EASIER and MORE CONVENIENT for people to do.
posted by all about eevee at 1:37 PM on October 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by all about eevee at 1:37 PM on October 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
The Guardian is pissed.
A solid read that touches on factual information like how grandstanding it is to send troops to the border right before the election even though the caravan is weeks away from arriving. Or how every affected and/or official person in Pennsylvania on both sides told him to stay away in the wake of the Tree of Life shooting. Or how he continues to attempt manufacturing crises for political purposes, like threatening to single-handedly end US birthright while the irony he was born to an immigrant mother is lost on him.
My favorite line is the ending:
"A man who hates half of his country has no right to call for a unity that he does not believe in."
posted by Arson Lupine at 1:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [131 favorites]
A solid read that touches on factual information like how grandstanding it is to send troops to the border right before the election even though the caravan is weeks away from arriving. Or how every affected and/or official person in Pennsylvania on both sides told him to stay away in the wake of the Tree of Life shooting. Or how he continues to attempt manufacturing crises for political purposes, like threatening to single-handedly end US birthright while the irony he was born to an immigrant mother is lost on him.
My favorite line is the ending:
"A man who hates half of his country has no right to call for a unity that he does not believe in."
posted by Arson Lupine at 1:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [131 favorites]
What was the name of that Israeli intelligence firm with the vaguely scary name that was harassing journalists a while back? It was like “Black Dice” or some such.
posted by gucci mane at 1:42 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by gucci mane at 1:42 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have not seen Dred Scott mentioned in these (recent) threads as being part of the birthright citizenship debate. Responding to the Supreme Court Dred Scott decision in the post-Civil War years was one of the major impetuses for birthright citizenship.
Some (mostly misinformed conservatives) have said that the Dred Scott decision declared blacks 3/5ths would be counted as 3/5 whites. No, that was the 3/5ths compromise in the Constitution. The Dred Scott decision declared that blacks were not and could never be U.S. Citizens (whether North or South, slave or free).
That was considered so egregious a pronouncement, the post-Civil War 14th amendment declared all those born on American soil to be citizens. The government cannot erase the citizenship for someone who is born here. To do so would be to validate the Dred Scott decision.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [37 favorites]
Some (mostly misinformed conservatives) have said that the Dred Scott decision declared blacks 3/5ths would be counted as 3/5 whites. No, that was the 3/5ths compromise in the Constitution. The Dred Scott decision declared that blacks were not and could never be U.S. Citizens (whether North or South, slave or free).
That was considered so egregious a pronouncement, the post-Civil War 14th amendment declared all those born on American soil to be citizens. The government cannot erase the citizenship for someone who is born here. To do so would be to validate the Dred Scott decision.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [37 favorites]
The Pitt News twitter feed has some good photos and video of the protests going on in Squirrel Hill right now.
posted by octothorpe at 1:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 1:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
ABC: Fewer Than Half of US States Have Undergone Federal Election Security Reviews Ahead of Midterms
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:46 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
The Department of Homeland Security has already provided or is scheduled to provide the service, which is free for states that request it, to only 21 states, a department spokesman told ABC News, concerning election experts who fear some states may not be aware of potential vulnerabilities.[...]So much for DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's happy talk that "We are more prepared than we’ve ever been" for these elections. (Politico)
The department spokesperson declined to say which states have and have not undergone the assessments. ABC News asked election officials in all 50 states whether they have participated, and 19 states -- Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin -- confirmed that they had, while several others declined to comment.[...]
A Louisiana election official said the state is currently undergoing a DHS assessment, which will be complete after the November midterms. A New York official said the state has completed paperwork and is awaiting an assessment.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:46 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
The sexual assault 'scheme' to discredit Mueller confounds me. They try to make up a lie about someone who's job it is to uncover lies. It'll convince exactly the people who already hate Mueller and make everyone else look bad. More garbage and noise for the spectrum I suppose.
The noise factor is very much a feature rather than a bug. The people throwing this garbage out there don't care if it sticks or not. Its mere existence pushes the apathetic observers deeper into apathy. Some people will very much throw up their hands and say "Who you gonna believe?" even in the face of blatant, confounding, even hilarious stupidity, because they're looking for any excuse for their laziness--and the safety of their blind privilege.
Some right-leaning toolshed out there is even now going to point to the craziness of people like Wohl and say there's no reason to trust anything because of him and never once look at the opposite side of the spectrum. They'll just assume both sides are equally bad, because that's easier than making a judgment.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:47 PM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
The noise factor is very much a feature rather than a bug. The people throwing this garbage out there don't care if it sticks or not. Its mere existence pushes the apathetic observers deeper into apathy. Some people will very much throw up their hands and say "Who you gonna believe?" even in the face of blatant, confounding, even hilarious stupidity, because they're looking for any excuse for their laziness--and the safety of their blind privilege.
Some right-leaning toolshed out there is even now going to point to the craziness of people like Wohl and say there's no reason to trust anything because of him and never once look at the opposite side of the spectrum. They'll just assume both sides are equally bad, because that's easier than making a judgment.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:47 PM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
More coverage of the Sq. Hill protests from The Incline.
posted by octothorpe at 1:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 1:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Incidentally, ABC reports that Roger Stone has picked Bruce Rogow, a Florida-based Trump lawyer, to represent him against the Special Counsel. This legal eagle, who has represented Trump's golf clubs a few civil cases, has suggested Stone take a polygraph test to prove his innocence, which Mueller's team will no doubt find hilarious.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:51 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:51 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
The worst part of that NY Magazine article is that they could have interviewed people who can't vote because it's a two-hour round trip to the nearest polling place, and instead interviewed people who don't want to vote.
Honestly, those kids didn't really strike me as that bad. One of them (the "I'm into the classics, not your puny contemporary politics, because Machiavelli" one) seemed not as smart as she thinks she is, and the guy who was all "if only you could vote on Instagram" clearly hadn't thought about voter security, but their concerns mostly weren't unreasonable per se even though "so I won't vote" wasn't the logical conclusion to draw. I didn't vote too much in my twenties either, for a mixture of "voting is endorsing a corrupt system", practical difficulties due to moving a lot and generalized ignorance. When you're just starting out, you don't necessarily notice how, eg, mass transit changes happen, or food stamps get cut, etc, because you literally haven't been living as an adult for more than a couple of years.
The problem with "we need to build grassroots power, not vote" is that voting is an important link between grassroots power and policy change. The other link is "we will physically strike or riot if you don't enact policies", and while that totally has its place, it's difficult to maintain. You can't always be on the cusp of a general strike for years at a time. Grassroots power is all about "if you don't enact policy change, our thousands and thousands of grassroots activists will vote you out". If you have 10,000 people but no way for them to put a scare into the politicians, you have nothing; grassroots organizing without a way to affect the state won't get you anywhere lasting.
posted by Frowner at 1:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [54 favorites]
Honestly, those kids didn't really strike me as that bad. One of them (the "I'm into the classics, not your puny contemporary politics, because Machiavelli" one) seemed not as smart as she thinks she is, and the guy who was all "if only you could vote on Instagram" clearly hadn't thought about voter security, but their concerns mostly weren't unreasonable per se even though "so I won't vote" wasn't the logical conclusion to draw. I didn't vote too much in my twenties either, for a mixture of "voting is endorsing a corrupt system", practical difficulties due to moving a lot and generalized ignorance. When you're just starting out, you don't necessarily notice how, eg, mass transit changes happen, or food stamps get cut, etc, because you literally haven't been living as an adult for more than a couple of years.
The problem with "we need to build grassroots power, not vote" is that voting is an important link between grassroots power and policy change. The other link is "we will physically strike or riot if you don't enact policies", and while that totally has its place, it's difficult to maintain. You can't always be on the cusp of a general strike for years at a time. Grassroots power is all about "if you don't enact policy change, our thousands and thousands of grassroots activists will vote you out". If you have 10,000 people but no way for them to put a scare into the politicians, you have nothing; grassroots organizing without a way to affect the state won't get you anywhere lasting.
posted by Frowner at 1:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [54 favorites]
My daughter’s wheelchair made the perfect foundation for her Halloween costume
posted by growabrain at 1:54 PM on October 30, 2018 [106 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 1:54 PM on October 30, 2018 [106 favorites]
@joshtpm [with CNN video of the arrival]: This is a touchy subject. Many will disagree with me. But I find it offensive and bizarre that this was choreographed so that the Israeli Ambassador is the one who greeted the President first at the Tree of Life synagogue. The Prez is not visiting Israel.
posted by zachlipton at 1:56 PM on October 30, 2018 [68 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:56 PM on October 30, 2018 [68 favorites]
I kind of think mail-in ballots should have free postage
Washington State does! Mail-in ballots for everyone. For this election, alas, some of the old postage-required envelopes went out, but the postal service will deliver them unstamped. Also we have free drop boxes hither and yon.
posted by clew at 1:59 PM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Washington State does! Mail-in ballots for everyone. For this election, alas, some of the old postage-required envelopes went out, but the postal service will deliver them unstamped. Also we have free drop boxes hither and yon.
posted by clew at 1:59 PM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Waiting for someone to cry that public WHOIS records are a violation of Wohl's privacy under the GDPR.
Technically it was in the nameserver for one of DNS resolvers
posted by nikaspark at 2:00 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Technically it was in the nameserver for one of DNS resolvers
posted by nikaspark at 2:00 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Frowner: "The problem with "we need to build grassroots power, not vote" is that voting is an important link between grassroots power and policy change. The other link is "we will physically strike or riot if you don't enact policies", and while that totally has its place, it's difficult to maintain. You can't always be on the cusp of a general strike for years at a time. Grassroots power is all about "if you don't enact policy change, our thousands and thousands of grassroots activists will vote you out". If you have 10,000 people but no way for them to put a scare into the politicians, you have nothing; grassroots organizing without a way to affect the state won't get you anywhere lasting."
This is exactly it. Voting *and* direct action are both critical.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
This is exactly it. Voting *and* direct action are both critical.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
Hey, guys. It's been a tough week for Pittsburgh.
I was refreshing social media constantly over the weekend, but somehow didn't hear the names of the shooting victims until church services on Sunday. When I looked at their faces I recognized one of them immediately: Cecil Rosenthal. If you ride the bus in Squirrel Hill you will probably recognize his face. He's easy to notice and hard to forget. He lived at the ACHIEVA residential support home around the corner from my apartment and was the kindest soul. He deserved so much better.
If you are looking for a constructive place to do something there are numerous collections for HIAS going around. I'd also recommend donating or volunteering for ACHIEVA or Best Buddies. Best Buddies is a program that creates ties and inclusion for people living with disabilities and Cecil was an active member.
Also, community note here, if this all feels raw to you maybe don't read the Post Gazette article entitled "'We just wanted to stay alive': As shooting began, Barry Werber hid in a closet and called 911". There are a lot of details in there and I'm not sure what to do with this anger.
posted by Alison at 2:02 PM on October 30, 2018 [101 favorites]
I was refreshing social media constantly over the weekend, but somehow didn't hear the names of the shooting victims until church services on Sunday. When I looked at their faces I recognized one of them immediately: Cecil Rosenthal. If you ride the bus in Squirrel Hill you will probably recognize his face. He's easy to notice and hard to forget. He lived at the ACHIEVA residential support home around the corner from my apartment and was the kindest soul. He deserved so much better.
If you are looking for a constructive place to do something there are numerous collections for HIAS going around. I'd also recommend donating or volunteering for ACHIEVA or Best Buddies. Best Buddies is a program that creates ties and inclusion for people living with disabilities and Cecil was an active member.
Also, community note here, if this all feels raw to you maybe don't read the Post Gazette article entitled "'We just wanted to stay alive': As shooting began, Barry Werber hid in a closet and called 911". There are a lot of details in there and I'm not sure what to do with this anger.
posted by Alison at 2:02 PM on October 30, 2018 [101 favorites]
Trump’s stunning hypocrisy on preexisting conditions: Republicans are lying about their position on health care. Voters have a right to know that.
But perhaps Trump’s most brazen move is supporting a lawsuit that would eliminate Obamacare’s preexisting condition protections completely. The Trump administration has filed a brief in federal court arguing that these protections are unconstitutional and ought to be thrown out completely.posted by homunculus at 2:05 PM on October 30, 2018 [51 favorites]
Let that sink in for just a moment. President Trump is tweeting things like, “All Republicans support people with preexisting conditions.” But that is just not the position of his White House, full stop. If the federal court sides with the Trump administration, protections for Americans with preexisting conditions would cease to exist.
The world that President Trump has pushed for — in federal regulations, in congressional legislation, in legal filings — is undeniably a world where it is harder for the Americans who need health insurance to get access to it.
The Washington Post reports: Mueller Probes Roger Stone’s Interactions With Trump Campaign and Timing of Wikileaks Release of Podesta Emails
As for that incompetent hatchet job, the Daily Beast takes us inside the crazy cabal trying to smear Robert Mueller—a Seth Rich conspiracy pusher and fringe online figures appear to be working behind the scenes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:08 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
The special counsel investigation into President Trump’s longtime ally Roger Stone is pressing witnesses about Stone’s private interactions with senior campaign officials and whether he had knowledge of politically explosive Democratic emails that were released in October 2016, according to multiple people familiar with the probe.[...]The stream of recent leaks about Roger the Rat-fucker and the Special Counsel suggests something big is coming down the pipe, and today's abortive smear of Mueller only points towards that.
On Friday, Mueller’s team questioned Stephen K. Bannon, Trump’s former chief campaign strategist, about alleged claims Stone made privately about WikiLeaks before the group released emails allegedly hacked by Russian operatives, according to people familiar with the session.
In recent weeks, Mueller’s team has also interviewed several Stone associates, including New York comedian Randy Credico and conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi. Both testified before the grand jury.[...]
In his interview Friday with the special counsel team, Bannon was asked about Stone’s interactions with the campaign and instances in which Stone allegedly made private comments that matched his public declarations of having knowledge of WikiLeaks’s plans, according to people with knowledge of the interview.
In a statement to The Post today, Bannon said: “Mueller’s team has been very professional and courteous. Out of respect for the process, I will not discuss my interviews with them, but people shouldn’t believe everything they read.” William Burck, an attorney for Bannon, declined to comment.[...]
Bannon — who was previously interviewed by Mueller’s investigators for more than 20 hours in February — was also briefly asked Friday about potential obstruction of the Russia investigation by Trump, including the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, according to people briefed on the discussions.
As for that incompetent hatchet job, the Daily Beast takes us inside the crazy cabal trying to smear Robert Mueller—a Seth Rich conspiracy pusher and fringe online figures appear to be working behind the scenes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:08 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
@JaneMayerNYer: Odd. Jacob Wohl says he doesn't know nuttin' about Surefire Intelligence, the firm tied to the bizarre Mueller allegations. Take a look at the photos below of Matthew Cohen, head of 'Surefire,' and of Jacob Wohl.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:08 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:08 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Trump Played “Happy” at a Rally Hours After the Pittsburgh Shooting, and Pharrell Is Not OK With It - Hailey Gavin, Slate
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:09 PM on October 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:09 PM on October 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
I lived in Pittsburgh for 10 weeks back in 2007 for a Japanese language course at U Pitt. The bedroom I rented was in Squirrel Hill, I walked past the Tree of Life Synogogue a few times, mostly when I got lost looking for the Giant Eagle.
And after googling his name, I'm close to 100% certain I rode the bus with Cecil Rosenthal. Or at least someone who looked like him and who talked to me about the irrelevant things people who sit near each other on the bus talk about.
I'm sorry for you Pittsburgh. You didn't deserve this.
posted by sotonohito at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
And after googling his name, I'm close to 100% certain I rode the bus with Cecil Rosenthal. Or at least someone who looked like him and who talked to me about the irrelevant things people who sit near each other on the bus talk about.
I'm sorry for you Pittsburgh. You didn't deserve this.
posted by sotonohito at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
I kind of think mail-in ballots should have free postage
San Francisco does, but not all California counties do in 2018. Anyone can choose to vote by mail in California.
Starting in 2019, all California mail-in ballots must come with a postage-paid return envelope.
There are also a number of counties that are transitioning towards mailing all registered voters a ballot by default, thanks to the Voter's Choice Act. The goal of that act is to move California towards an all-mail (or at least, mostly-mail) elections system. In counties where they tried it in the June 2018 primaries, voter participation was way up.
posted by toxic at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
San Francisco does, but not all California counties do in 2018. Anyone can choose to vote by mail in California.
Starting in 2019, all California mail-in ballots must come with a postage-paid return envelope.
There are also a number of counties that are transitioning towards mailing all registered voters a ballot by default, thanks to the Voter's Choice Act. The goal of that act is to move California towards an all-mail (or at least, mostly-mail) elections system. In counties where they tried it in the June 2018 primaries, voter participation was way up.
posted by toxic at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
protections for Americans with preexisting conditions would cease to exist
And two of those on the list of preexisting conditions are:
"Transgender" and "Sex Change"
posted by nikaspark at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
And two of those on the list of preexisting conditions are:
"Transgender" and "Sex Change"
posted by nikaspark at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
The sexual assault 'scheme' to discredit Mueller confounds me.
Ahhh ... you are viewing it from the wrong side. Let say that you think that all these sexual assault allegations are largely false, and the "MSM" just quotes them verbatim, without checking, and BANG! a good man goes down for the count. Any old allegation will do, they are mostly false. If you believe that, then hey, just drum up some allegations and Presto! They guy is toast.
posted by Bovine Love at 2:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
Ahhh ... you are viewing it from the wrong side. Let say that you think that all these sexual assault allegations are largely false, and the "MSM" just quotes them verbatim, without checking, and BANG! a good man goes down for the count. Any old allegation will do, they are mostly false. If you believe that, then hey, just drum up some allegations and Presto! They guy is toast.
posted by Bovine Love at 2:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
Let say that you think that all these sexual assault allegations are largely false
They don't think they're false. They just don't care that they're true.
posted by dng at 2:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
They don't think they're false. They just don't care that they're true.
posted by dng at 2:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
there are two ways the Mueller Sex Scamdal makes sense
1. as a falsifiable nonsense scandal that the right can point to when the next real sex scandal happens, as proof that some sex scandals are falsifiable nonsense, so who can ever say what "truth" is in this crazy mixed-up world we live in
2. as the flimsiest possible pretext for Trump to get Mueller fired
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
1. as a falsifiable nonsense scandal that the right can point to when the next real sex scandal happens, as proof that some sex scandals are falsifiable nonsense, so who can ever say what "truth" is in this crazy mixed-up world we live in
2. as the flimsiest possible pretext for Trump to get Mueller fired
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
The sexual assault 'scheme' to discredit Mueller confounds me.
The plan is already working. You're talking about "scheme" and "sexual assault" in the same sentence. The phrase "false allegation" is going to be all over the news. We're talking about women falsely accusing political figures for money and the talking heads aren't going to add "but it was different last time" every time they bring it up.
It doesn't matter that the details don't exactly apply in this particular situation. The public discourse for those only half-listening is being framed as we speak.
posted by FakeFreyja at 2:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
The plan is already working. You're talking about "scheme" and "sexual assault" in the same sentence. The phrase "false allegation" is going to be all over the news. We're talking about women falsely accusing political figures for money and the talking heads aren't going to add "but it was different last time" every time they bring it up.
It doesn't matter that the details don't exactly apply in this particular situation. The public discourse for those only half-listening is being framed as we speak.
posted by FakeFreyja at 2:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
toward bottom of previous thread anastasiav offered
posted by 20 year lurk at 2:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
"If anyone is looking for a map to the arguments the five current Federalist Society members of SCOTUS might use to overturn US v. Ark and thus end birthright citizenship, you should check out this "perspective" published by the Federalist Society in 2016.reposted here for better access, because it is important & good to read, and because it is galling when you have to look to john f'ing yoo for the right (or less wrong) argument. maybe have it cued up come thanksgiving. if we make it to thanksgiving.
Particularly interesting that they consider this a "controversial" issue and not settled law."
posted by 20 year lurk at 2:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
in the FedSoc article on birthright citizenship linked by anastasiav in the last thread, we find this in the introduction:
posted by mabelstreet at 2:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Does the 14th Amendment Guarantee Citizenship to Babies Born to Illegal or Transient Immigrants on U.S. Soil? Mr. Walpin answers “no,” arguing that treating immigrants and the children humanely does not require interpreting the Constitution to grant birthright citizenship. Mr. Rivkin and Prof. Yoo argue that the 14th Amendment does in fact require that anyone born on U.S. soil be granted citizenship.Prof Yoo is he of the torture memos. So if you read that page, you end up siding with him. It's a bizarro world trap! Save yourselves!
posted by mabelstreet at 2:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
When The Onion isn’t printing satire any more:
Trump Claims He Can Overrule Constitution with Executive Order Because of Little-Known ‘No One Will Stop Me’ Loophole
posted by Weeping_angel at 2:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [110 favorites]
Trump Claims He Can Overrule Constitution with Executive Order Because of Little-Known ‘No One Will Stop Me’ Loophole
posted by Weeping_angel at 2:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [110 favorites]
If you believe that, then hey, just drum up some allegations and Presto! They guy is toast.
Added bonus: No matter how the attempt to smear Mueller goes, fail or win, it also works as a tool to try and taint @metoo...“See? We almost got away with it, so it’s not impossible to think someone* is paying all these women to lie!”
*Soros obvs
posted by Thorzdad at 2:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Added bonus: No matter how the attempt to smear Mueller goes, fail or win, it also works as a tool to try and taint @metoo...“See? We almost got away with it, so it’s not impossible to think someone* is paying all these women to lie!”
*Soros obvs
posted by Thorzdad at 2:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thank you to all the Pittsburghers who keep bringing us updates. We moved last year and it's heartbreaking not to be there with yinz. The one time I laughed in all this coverage was a photo from Squirrel Hill, on a block I walked many times, and there was a big orange sign that said "DETOUR TO HOMESTEAD." Yep, that felt like home.
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Doktor Zed: So much for DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's happy talk that "We are more prepared than we’ve ever been" for these elections.
Depends on how you define "prepared" -- prepared to purge non-Republican votes? As Georgia has shown, they're doing fuckinggangunionbusters.
Meanwhile: A Rural Community Decided To Treat Its Opioid Problem Like A Natural Disaster (NPR, Oct. 28, 2018)
Think if the President did this, addressing a REAL ISSUE in rural communities, instead of being a fear-mongering tyrant in training.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:38 PM on October 30, 2018 [58 favorites]
Depends on how you define "prepared" -- prepared to purge non-Republican votes? As Georgia has shown, they're doing fucking
Meanwhile: A Rural Community Decided To Treat Its Opioid Problem Like A Natural Disaster (NPR, Oct. 28, 2018)
When he was police chief of Stanwood, Wash., population 7,000, Ty Trenary thought rural communities like his were immune from the opioid crisis.The community learned from how well they were able to react and respond to a natural disaster, the massive 2014 landslide in Oso, Washington, and they're taking that experience and applying those tactics and multi-agency coordination to the opioid epidemic in their community.
Then, one day, a mother walked through his door and said, "Chief, you have a heroin problem in your community."
"And I remember thinking, 'Well that's not possible,' " Trenary recalls. "This is Stanwood and heroin is in big cities with homeless populations. It's not in rural America."
But heroin addiction and abuse are not just a big city problem, as Trenary had thought. While the bulk of fatal overdoses still happen in urban areas, the rural overdose rate has increased to slightly surpass that of cities.
...
A few years ago, he was elected sheriff of Snohomish County and got a rude awakening. He toured the jail and found it had become a de facto detox center, full of "very, very sick, very, very sick people," he says.
"Detoxing from heroin is like having the worst possible stomach virus you can have. People are proned out, just suffering."
...
"It took becoming the sheriff to see the impacts inside the jail with heroin abuse, to see the impacts in the community across the entire county for me to realize that we had to change a lot about what we were doing," Trenary says.
So they did. Snohomish County in Western Washington is taking a unique approach to tackle the problem.
Last year, leaders declared the opioid epidemic a life-threatening emergency. The county is now responding to the drug crisis as if it were a natural disaster, the same way it would mobilize to respond to a landslide or flu pandemic.
Think if the President did this, addressing a REAL ISSUE in rural communities, instead of being a fear-mongering tyrant in training.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:38 PM on October 30, 2018 [58 favorites]
@juliareinstein [video]: “Olam chesed yibanei,” the protestors are singing. “We will build this world with love.”
It's a lovely little song. Rabbi Menachem Creditor wrote it for his newborn daughter once upon a time. I've heard it a number of times, but never like this, never through a bullhorn. I...I hope I never have to again.
The Pitt News has a five minute video of the protest, which gives some idea of the size of it.
In New York today, Jewish activists held a protest sitting shiva on the doorstep of the Metropolitan Republican Club, which recently hosted Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes. 14 were arrested.
posted by zachlipton at 2:38 PM on October 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
It's a lovely little song. Rabbi Menachem Creditor wrote it for his newborn daughter once upon a time. I've heard it a number of times, but never like this, never through a bullhorn. I...I hope I never have to again.
The Pitt News has a five minute video of the protest, which gives some idea of the size of it.
In New York today, Jewish activists held a protest sitting shiva on the doorstep of the Metropolitan Republican Club, which recently hosted Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes. 14 were arrested.
posted by zachlipton at 2:38 PM on October 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
The scales have fallen from Yeezy's eyes: My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!
posted by PenDevil at 2:42 PM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 2:42 PM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
So
"I fucked up, please ignore this as I will not take any action to make amends and I'll go back to making music till the next time I need attention"[fake]
posted by Twain Device at 2:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
"I fucked up, please ignore this as I will not take any action to make amends and I'll go back to making music till the next time I need attention"[fake]
posted by Twain Device at 2:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
> The scales have fallen from Yeezy's eyes: My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!
Not sure whether to laugh, cry, or throw up.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Not sure whether to laugh, cry, or throw up.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used...
Yes, Kanye, you are, indeed, a tool.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:47 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Yes, Kanye, you are, indeed, a tool.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:47 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Yes, Kanye, you are, indeed, a tool.
He's a weapon. That's like a tool, but more dangerous.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
He's a weapon. That's like a tool, but more dangerous.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Here's more info about that unbelievable mailer which was mentioned in the last thread:
GOP State Senate Contender Accused Of Sending Anti-Semitic Mailer: Ed Charamut denies that the mailer, which shows Jewish opponent Matt Lesser clutching a fistful of cash, contains hateful stereotypes.
And here's more about the candidate: Matt Lesser: Progressive Politics Start Close to Home
posted by homunculus at 2:50 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
GOP State Senate Contender Accused Of Sending Anti-Semitic Mailer: Ed Charamut denies that the mailer, which shows Jewish opponent Matt Lesser clutching a fistful of cash, contains hateful stereotypes.
And here's more about the candidate: Matt Lesser: Progressive Politics Start Close to Home
posted by homunculus at 2:50 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
From Courthouse News Service today: Deciding whether to revive a case calling Trump-branded businesses a threat to the Constitution, a federal appellate judge noted Tuesday that the president’s enterprises certainly have a leg up on the competition. “The Trump restaurants and hotels are offering something that nobody else can offer,” U.S. Circuit Judge Pierre Leval said, identifying this as the ability to “line the pockets of the president.” One of three judges sitting on the Second Circuit panel, Leval appeared inclined to reverse a federal judge’s ruling in December throwing out a lawsuit by local hotels and restaurants calling that competitive advantage unconstitutional.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:52 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 2:52 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
I guess with a new album out soon Kanye's label reminded him that conservative white 50 year olds don't buy hip-hop records.
posted by PenDevil at 2:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 2:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in. I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!
He lifted up his hand and from the MAGA hat he wore there issued a great light that illumined him alone and left all else dark. He stood before Twitter seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then he let his hand fall, and the light faded, and suddenly he laughed again, and lo! he was shrunken: a stocky hip hop star, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad.posted by Atom Eyes at 3:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [69 favorites]
"I pass the test", he said. "I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Kanye. "
"I pass the test", he said. "I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Kanye. "
No, Kanye. No, you did not pass the test. You only realized the looming price of your spectacular failure.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:04 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
No, Kanye. No, you did not pass the test. You only realized the looming price of your spectacular failure.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:04 PM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
spoiler: that wasn't actually a quote from Kanye West.
posted by boo_radley at 3:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by boo_radley at 3:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Mod note: Y'all let's not put a lot of effort into giving a shit about Kanye's latest whateverthefuck maybe.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [100 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [100 favorites]
ThinkProgress, New video of purported Russian troll discussing 2018 strategies removed from YouTube: "The video claims to reveal Russian social media interference talking points for the upcoming midterms."
Is this real? A hoax? Is him posting this video really just part of an Internet Research Agency plot somehow? What is even happening today? Why does everything have to be so so strange all the time?
posted by zachlipton at 3:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
In a video uploaded to YouTube last Friday, a man claims he participated in Russian social media interference operations during the 2016 election. Now, he says, he wants to come clean and reveal online strategies utilized by the notorious Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) in the lead-up to the 2018 midterm elections. However, the video has since been removed from YouTube without any explanation from the company.It goes on to discuss the person's claims about the Internet Research Agency’s strategy to interfere in the midterms, including specific candidates to support (both Democrats and Republicans).
The man, who says his name is Williams, is seen sitting in a kitchen and talking into his camera. Williams claims that he was an employee of the IRA, the main entity behind Russia’s social media interference operations through and after the 2016 election. “I want to confess to you guys,” Williams says. “I lied to you guys a lot. Why is that? I’ve never been to America before. I only work in Russia.” Williams, both in appearance and in describing his work, appears to be half of the Russian “Williams and Kalvin” team originally exposed as fakes by The Daily Beast a year ago.
...
In the video, entitled “The last word of truth — escape from the troll factory,” Williams says an unnamed colleague recently started “receiving threats, messages, calls from [the] American military” regarding their work. (Last week, the New York Times revealed that U.S. Cyber Command had begun contacting Russian operatives to “deter them from spreading disinformation to interfere in elections.”)
Williams goes on to say he has decided to quit his work with the Internet Research Agency. “Man, it’s fucked up,” he says in the video. “Even me, I’m afraid of going to the office. Right now, I’m done. And [I] quit the job, so I’m moving out of [Russia] to a nearby European country to find [an] American embassy [to] seek asylum.”
A Twitter account, which has since been suspended, first alerted ThinkProgress to the existence of the YouTube video last Friday. The Twitter account also passed along an email address, claiming that it was also run by Williams. On Monday, ThinkProgress received a message from the email account, which wrote, “I’m so scared. I tried to escape to Europe but got stopped by the cops at the airport.” The email noted that Williams is now “stuck” in St. Petersburg, and that he will “probably get arrested soon.”
Is this real? A hoax? Is him posting this video really just part of an Internet Research Agency plot somehow? What is even happening today? Why does everything have to be so so strange all the time?
posted by zachlipton at 3:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
I was refreshing social media constantly over the weekend, but somehow didn't hear the names of the shooting victims until church services on Sunday. When I looked at their faces I recognized one of them immediately: Cecil Rosenthal. If you ride the bus in Squirrel Hill you will probably recognize his face. He's easy to notice and hard to forget. He lived at the ACHIEVA residential support home around the corner from my apartment and was the kindest soul. He deserved so much better.
Oh, I totally recognize him.
posted by octothorpe at 3:20 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Oh, I totally recognize him.
posted by octothorpe at 3:20 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
WATCH: Trump’s motorcade forced to turn around after thousands of protesters flood Pittsburgh streets
(can't see where the article backs up the headline, but rather nice if true).
posted by Buntix at 3:23 PM on October 30, 2018 [50 favorites]
(can't see where the article backs up the headline, but rather nice if true).
posted by Buntix at 3:23 PM on October 30, 2018 [50 favorites]
Is this real? A hoax? Is him posting this video really just part of an Internet Research Agency plot somehow? What is even happening today? Why does everything have to be so so strange all the time?
If you make things just too insane for anyone to parse, people will start disconnecting from daily life. Once that happens, no one will be watching when you simply walk in and take over.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
If you make things just too insane for anyone to parse, people will start disconnecting from daily life. Once that happens, no one will be watching when you simply walk in and take over.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:25 PM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
From Vice News today: One of Facebook’s major efforts to add transparency to political advertisements is a required “Paid for by” disclosure at the top of each ad supposedly telling users who is paying for political ads that show up in their news feeds. But on the eve of the 2018 midterm elections, a VICE News investigation found the “Paid for by” feature is easily manipulated and appears to allow anyone to lie about who is paying for a political ad, or to pose as someone paying for the ad.
To test it, VICE News applied to buy fake ads on behalf of all 100 sitting U.S. senators, including ads “Paid for by” by Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. Facebook’s approvals were bipartisan: All 100 sailed through the system, indicating that just about anyone can buy an ad identified as “Paid for by” by a major U.S. politician. What’s more, all of these approvals were granted to be shared from pages for fake political groups such as “Cookies for Political Transparency” and “Ninja Turtles PAC.” VICE News did not buy any Facebook ads as part of the test; rather, we received approval to include "Paid for by" disclosures for potential ads.
This comes after a VICE News test conducted last week, where we received approval to run political ads posing as Vice President Mike Pence, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, and the Islamic State group. An attempt to place an ad posing as Hillary Clinton was denied. At the time, Facebook said those ad disclosures should not have been approved. But these tests show that compliance with the feature is entirely voluntary, meaning a tool that Facebook introduced to increase trust in advertising can also be used as a vector for misinformation, and another way bad actors can game Facebook’s platform.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [33 favorites]
To test it, VICE News applied to buy fake ads on behalf of all 100 sitting U.S. senators, including ads “Paid for by” by Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. Facebook’s approvals were bipartisan: All 100 sailed through the system, indicating that just about anyone can buy an ad identified as “Paid for by” by a major U.S. politician. What’s more, all of these approvals were granted to be shared from pages for fake political groups such as “Cookies for Political Transparency” and “Ninja Turtles PAC.” VICE News did not buy any Facebook ads as part of the test; rather, we received approval to include "Paid for by" disclosures for potential ads.
This comes after a VICE News test conducted last week, where we received approval to run political ads posing as Vice President Mike Pence, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, and the Islamic State group. An attempt to place an ad posing as Hillary Clinton was denied. At the time, Facebook said those ad disclosures should not have been approved. But these tests show that compliance with the feature is entirely voluntary, meaning a tool that Facebook introduced to increase trust in advertising can also be used as a vector for misinformation, and another way bad actors can game Facebook’s platform.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [33 favorites]
From Vice News today
You didn't quote the punchline at the very end.
You didn't quote the punchline at the very end.
There was one “Paid for” disclosure that Facebook didn’t approve in our latest test. They denied, just a couple minutes after we submitted it: Mark Zuckerberg.posted by Faint of Butt at 3:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
For those of you with clinically low blood pressure, I present the antidote. From NY Mag: 12 Young People on Why They Probably Won’t Vote.
Alexandra Petri provides some better excuses in Why I, a young person, probably won’t vote
Alexandra Petri provides some better excuses in Why I, a young person, probably won’t vote
Miranda, 22: I was going to vote, but then I thought I saw a moth.posted by zachlipton at 3:37 PM on October 30, 2018 [52 favorites]
But a plaque dedicated Friday calls it the first section of Trump’s border wall.
Taking Trump’s name off of things is going to be the stuff of some truly great photo essays. I hope we live long enough to see them.
posted by Etrigan at 3:41 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Taking Trump’s name off of things is going to be the stuff of some truly great photo essays. I hope we live long enough to see them.
posted by Etrigan at 3:41 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Alexandra Petri provides some better excuses in Why I, a young person, probably won’t vote
only the byline and the avocado jokes make that recognizable as satire
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:47 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
only the byline and the avocado jokes make that recognizable as satire
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:47 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mass shootings happen in an instant and grab headlines. A business and investment shift away from the firearms industry is happening more subtly. FedEx, the U.S. shipping group, is ending a program that offers discounts for business members of the National Rifle Association, the company confirmed to Breakingviews. It's a quiet reversal: eight months ago, FedEx stood by the gun-rights lobby group as other companies scrapped deals.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:48 PM on October 30, 2018 [68 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 3:48 PM on October 30, 2018 [68 favorites]
@jdawsey1: Trump has said for months that he wanted to end birthright citizenship by fiat. It even came up during transition. But there was no White House plan to announce it now. Many thought issue was dead. Lawyers had no papers ready to go and are very dubious.
@ddayen:
posted by zachlipton at 4:02 PM on October 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
@ddayen:
This birthright citizenship thing is so infuriating, because it exposes how access journalists become willing dupes through which policy is laundered. In this case Swan-dered. Here's how it probably worked:I wouldn't say Swan got played though. He got exactly what he wanted: a big scoop and hype for his HBO show, a show that's premised on doing precisely this kind of work and will surely make him a bunch of money. Everybody's happy with this arrangement as long as you don't care about the rule of law.
There have maybe been "discussions" about ending birthright citizenship, amounting to a few hardliners bringing it up and getting shot down. They know they have an ally in Trump, they just have to get it over to him. So one of them chats up Swan, says "hey we've been talking about this." The guy knows Swan's interviewing Trump in a matter of days. Maybe he even encourages him to ask Trump about it. Swan complies, and Trump says "I thought I was the only one who knew that," feeding Swan's ego that he has a scoop.
Once he runs it, the issue is Swan-dered. Now it's something "the president intends to do" rather than spitballing. And because it's public, the BS machismo of the White House dictates that they can't back down. By planting the trial balloon with an access journalist, it's now a debate, not than a few lunatics in the White House game-planning. The access journalist got played. his scoop wasn't dug out, it was handed over. And for very strategic reasons. No different than Cheney giving scoops about Iraq to the NYT and then pointing to those stories to justify the war.
posted by zachlipton at 4:02 PM on October 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
But a plaque dedicated Friday calls it the first section of Trump’s border wall.
Trump promised a 65-foot-high wall.
I think the difference is not only is it see-through but it’s different than a fence in that it’s part of a system
Personally I feel that if you can see through it it's a fence not a wall.
“This looks like a wall,” [Obergruppenführer des Reichssicherheitshauptamt Kirstjen Nielsen] said. “It’s 30 feet tall. I think the difference is not only is it see-through but it’s different than a fence in that it’s part of a system...it has technology. It’s a wall. This is what the president has asked us to do. It’s part of a system.”It’s 30 feet tall.
Trump promised a 65-foot-high wall.
I think the difference is not only is it see-through but it’s different than a fence in that it’s part of a system
Personally I feel that if you can see through it it's a fence not a wall.
The conventional differentiation is that a fence is of minimal thickness and often open in nature, while a wall is usually more than a nominal thickness and is completely closed, or opaque.But to be fair, Trump did promise transparency, at least as far as the wall is concerned.
One of the things with the wall is you need transparency," Trump said. "You have to be able to see through it. In other words, if you can't see through that wall — so it could be a steel wall with openings, but you have to have openings because you have to see what's on the other side of the wall.posted by kirkaracha at 4:05 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
The American Chopper Boys on the NY Mag "young non-voters" piece.
posted by Justinian at 4:10 PM on October 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:10 PM on October 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
WaPo op-ed, Trump’s proposal to end birthright citizenship is unconstitutional
By George T. Conway III and Neal Katyal
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
Sometimes the Constitution’s text is plain as day and bars what politicians seek to do. That’s the case with President Trump’s proposal to end “birthright citizenship” through an executive order. Such a move would be unconstitutional and would certainly be challenged. And the challengers would undoubtedly win.Sure, that is indeed what most legal scholars think. Oh, I forgot the byline, didn't I?
Trump has long argued that birthright citizenship for the children of parents not legally in the United States should be abolished. “It’s ridiculous. And it has to end,” he told Axios in an interview released Tuesday, in which he disclosed his plan for the unilateral action.
But at its core, birthright citizenship is what our 14th Amendment is all about, bridging the Declaration of Independence’s promise that “all men are created equal” with a constitutional commitment that all those born in the United States share in that equality.
By George T. Conway III and Neal Katyal
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
I worry for John Rogers, I worry for Cameron Kasky's well-being, I worry for us all.
The next week is going to take a thousand years.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
The next week is going to take a thousand years.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
mendacious and intellectually bankrupt is what Mark Joseph Stern at Slate calls the concept that the 14th Amendment doesn't cover everyone born in the US (other than children of diplomats).
We have Ed Meese to thank for this, in part. Ptooie.
posted by suelac at 4:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
The next week is going to take a thousand years.
A few days ago, I posted a comment here saying that we had a week and a half to go for this election cycle to get weirder.
We've had the Tree of Life massacre, Trump doubling down on encouraging violence against journalists, another bomb arriving at a CNN office, Pence's Jews for Jesus blasphemy, the Jacob Wohl self-immolation, Trump's announcing his intent to revoke the 14th Amendment and Kanye West's recantment since then.
And we still have a week to go.
posted by delfin at 4:20 PM on October 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
A few days ago, I posted a comment here saying that we had a week and a half to go for this election cycle to get weirder.
We've had the Tree of Life massacre, Trump doubling down on encouraging violence against journalists, another bomb arriving at a CNN office, Pence's Jews for Jesus blasphemy, the Jacob Wohl self-immolation, Trump's announcing his intent to revoke the 14th Amendment and Kanye West's recantment since then.
And we still have a week to go.
posted by delfin at 4:20 PM on October 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
By George T. Conway III and Neal Katyal
I really hope Neal "Democrats Should Confirm Gorsuch to help my SCOTUS practice" Katyal never has another role in another Democratic administration, should we be so fortunate to see another, and I could do without his self-promoting bylines in the WaPo too. Maybe ask an actual immigration scholar.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:22 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
I really hope Neal "Democrats Should Confirm Gorsuch to help my SCOTUS practice" Katyal never has another role in another Democratic administration, should we be so fortunate to see another, and I could do without his self-promoting bylines in the WaPo too. Maybe ask an actual immigration scholar.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:22 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
From Judd Legum: .@Purina is the third company to drop Steve King in response to reporting by Popular Information The others are @LandOLakesInc and @intel
Legum is a one-man newsletter writer. I genuinely believe that poking at companies like this can be an effective tactic (Sleeping Giants!) and whomever suggested in the last megathread that we need to come together and pester Fox News advertisers is right. It won't work immediately, but I do think it will work eventually if we keep at it because companies care about profits. That is pretty much all they care about. So if the cost of donating to Nazis like King becomes more expensive than not donating, they will stop. If the costs of advertising on Fox News becomes more expensive than advertising elsewhere exclusively, they will stop.
posted by Bella Donna at 4:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
Legum is a one-man newsletter writer. I genuinely believe that poking at companies like this can be an effective tactic (Sleeping Giants!) and whomever suggested in the last megathread that we need to come together and pester Fox News advertisers is right. It won't work immediately, but I do think it will work eventually if we keep at it because companies care about profits. That is pretty much all they care about. So if the cost of donating to Nazis like King becomes more expensive than not donating, they will stop. If the costs of advertising on Fox News becomes more expensive than advertising elsewhere exclusively, they will stop.
posted by Bella Donna at 4:24 PM on October 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
Voter-Suppression Tactics in the Age of Trump: The suppression of minority votes is the homegrown corollary of the Administration’s xenophobic rhetoric—an attempt to place a white thumb on the demographic scale.
Georgians shrug at voter suppression as Republican voters keep a low profile: Democrat Stacey Abrams and her opponent Brian Kemp seem to be proxies for racial and social divisions of the age of Trump
North Dakota ID law threatens Native Americans’ vote in key Senate race: On the tribal reservations, Republicans are accused of trying to suppress a potentially decisive bloc who tend to swing Democratic
Voter suppression is a crucial story in America, but broadcast news mostly shrugs
How Democrats Can Reverse Years of Voter Suppression: It doesn’t require packing the Supreme Court.
posted by homunculus at 4:37 PM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
Georgians shrug at voter suppression as Republican voters keep a low profile: Democrat Stacey Abrams and her opponent Brian Kemp seem to be proxies for racial and social divisions of the age of Trump
North Dakota ID law threatens Native Americans’ vote in key Senate race: On the tribal reservations, Republicans are accused of trying to suppress a potentially decisive bloc who tend to swing Democratic
Voter suppression is a crucial story in America, but broadcast news mostly shrugs
How Democrats Can Reverse Years of Voter Suppression: It doesn’t require packing the Supreme Court.
posted by homunculus at 4:37 PM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
Too little, too late news, NBC reports: GOP Lawmaker Says Trump Administration To Name Anti-Semitism Envoy Soon—The State Department Position Has Been Vacant Since President Trump Took Office
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:50 PM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who wrote the law creating the position, said Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan had told him late Monday that the administration had planned to name someone two weeks ago but that the candidate withdrew due to health reasons. He said Sullivan had informed him the administration has settled on another person and is preparing to name them to the job, although he couldn’t say exactly when.As a reminder, anti-Semitic incidents surged nearly 60% in Trump's first year in office across the US, as tracked by the ADL.
“Hopefully, yesterday, because the problem is very real,” Smith told NBC News. “I don’t think we can wait any longer for this.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:50 PM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Because of course it is:
The U.S. military appears to be planning for armed confrontation on the southern border with groups it considers terrorist and criminal organizations as a caravan of asylum seekers makes it way through Mexico from Central America, according to a document obtained by Newsweek. ... On Monday, Defense Secretary James Mattis and subordinate combatant commanders authorized troops heading to the border to carry live ammunition, according to the documents obtained by Newsweek. It is unknown at this time what the specific rules of engagement will be on the southern border for active-duty service members.
posted by Bella Donna at 4:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
The U.S. military appears to be planning for armed confrontation on the southern border with groups it considers terrorist and criminal organizations as a caravan of asylum seekers makes it way through Mexico from Central America, according to a document obtained by Newsweek. ... On Monday, Defense Secretary James Mattis and subordinate combatant commanders authorized troops heading to the border to carry live ammunition, according to the documents obtained by Newsweek. It is unknown at this time what the specific rules of engagement will be on the southern border for active-duty service members.
posted by Bella Donna at 4:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Oops, missed this related story. Not surprising, just appalling, like everything else:
The Trump administration was informed that “only a small percentage” of Central American migrants traveling with several “caravans” headed toward the U.S. will likely make it to the border. The information was received before the administration moved ahead with plans to deploy more than 5,200 troops to the border, according to operational documents obtained by Newsweek.
The Pentagon announced Monday that it would send around 5,200 troops to the border ahead of the arrival of as many as four migrant caravans making their way to the U.S.-Mexico border. But a Defense Department official with knowledge of the deployment told Newsweek that “the units deployed right now are of actual strength between 5,000 and 7,000. With another 7,000 on standby, who can deploy with 24-hour notice.”
Operational documents sent to Newsweek by a Pentagon official outlining the deployment, dubbed Operation Faithful Patriot, reveal that the government continued its plans to send troops to the border despite anticipating that “based on historic trends...only a small percentage of migrants will likely reach the border.”
posted by Bella Donna at 5:04 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Trump administration was informed that “only a small percentage” of Central American migrants traveling with several “caravans” headed toward the U.S. will likely make it to the border. The information was received before the administration moved ahead with plans to deploy more than 5,200 troops to the border, according to operational documents obtained by Newsweek.
The Pentagon announced Monday that it would send around 5,200 troops to the border ahead of the arrival of as many as four migrant caravans making their way to the U.S.-Mexico border. But a Defense Department official with knowledge of the deployment told Newsweek that “the units deployed right now are of actual strength between 5,000 and 7,000. With another 7,000 on standby, who can deploy with 24-hour notice.”
Operational documents sent to Newsweek by a Pentagon official outlining the deployment, dubbed Operation Faithful Patriot, reveal that the government continued its plans to send troops to the border despite anticipating that “based on historic trends...only a small percentage of migrants will likely reach the border.”
posted by Bella Donna at 5:04 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
The troops will probably outnumber the migrants from the caravan who make it at least 2 to 1.
posted by BungaDunga at 5:07 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 5:07 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
If it’s like the caravans in the past it will be greater than a 10 to 1 ratio. As someone who lives on the border I am more terrified of the further militarization of my home than I am of the refugees.
posted by wobumingbai at 5:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [66 favorites]
posted by wobumingbai at 5:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [66 favorites]
It is unknown at this time what the specific rules of engagement will be on the southern border for active-duty service members
Create an incident that “proves” that the US is under “terrorist” attack? Just spitballin’ here.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:18 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Create an incident that “proves” that the US is under “terrorist” attack? Just spitballin’ here.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:18 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Grateful as usual for Mefi at a time like this. The people elsewhere in my life who get it are worse off than I am, so my job there is just to listen. Like too many others I've felt numb since Saturday, with flashes of rage and sorrow. Squirrel Hill is the neighborhood here in Pittsburgh that I consider to be home, the place I've lived the longest/most frequently in my life (in every corner of it; I move a lot). The wait to learn the names of the victims was nauseating. Through work, volunteering (JFCS), a family friendship, and just walking around the neighborhood, many of them were familiar. I am trying to remember them only as I knew them.
So many people who live in Squirrel Hill walk almost everywhere if they can, because almost everything you need is a couple of blocks this or that way, and you get to know people at least by sight with a "good morning" or a "shabbat shalom". Though not perfect (gentrification among other ills), there's so much good there: it's an urban small town with multiple generations of families living together or nearby, as well as a vibrant student quarter; it's ethnically and religiously diverse, full of small businesses, and usually safe. A tragedy close to home is no more tragic than any other, but this place and its people are especially closely woven into the fabric of Pittsburgh. For many of us, there is a sense of symbolic injury atop the immediate loss to the families, friends, and congregations of the victims. The wound is deep. May it only bring us closer to one another.
posted by notquitemaryann at 5:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [73 favorites]
So many people who live in Squirrel Hill walk almost everywhere if they can, because almost everything you need is a couple of blocks this or that way, and you get to know people at least by sight with a "good morning" or a "shabbat shalom". Though not perfect (gentrification among other ills), there's so much good there: it's an urban small town with multiple generations of families living together or nearby, as well as a vibrant student quarter; it's ethnically and religiously diverse, full of small businesses, and usually safe. A tragedy close to home is no more tragic than any other, but this place and its people are especially closely woven into the fabric of Pittsburgh. For many of us, there is a sense of symbolic injury atop the immediate loss to the families, friends, and congregations of the victims. The wound is deep. May it only bring us closer to one another.
posted by notquitemaryann at 5:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [73 favorites]
Anti-Semitic incidents surged nearly 60% in Trump's first year in office across the US, as tracked by the ADL.
Come on, if you are going to quote the ADL, at least quote the actual headline:
"Anti-Semitic Incidents Surged Nearly 60% in 2017", because some unknown mysterious thing may have occurred in 2017.
And you also have the editorial in the NYT by Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League entitled "When Hate Goes Mainstream" in which he cites Steve King and Louis Farrakhan.
You know three words you will not find in either of those articles by the ADL -- Donald or Jay or Trump.
posted by JackFlash at 6:07 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Come on, if you are going to quote the ADL, at least quote the actual headline:
"Anti-Semitic Incidents Surged Nearly 60% in 2017", because some unknown mysterious thing may have occurred in 2017.
And you also have the editorial in the NYT by Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League entitled "When Hate Goes Mainstream" in which he cites Steve King and Louis Farrakhan.
You know three words you will not find in either of those articles by the ADL -- Donald or Jay or Trump.
posted by JackFlash at 6:07 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Carl Reiner is still alive and has a message for America.
posted by octothorpe at 6:09 PM on October 30, 2018 [47 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 6:09 PM on October 30, 2018 [47 favorites]
During the 2016 election campaign the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) was upset enough by Trump's rhetoric that they took all the money Trump had donated (or maneuvered over to them) through the years ($56 000) and redirected it to an educational program called No Place for Hate®.
... in light of Mr. Trump’s “penchant to slander minorities, slur refugees, dismiss First Amendment protections and cheer on violence”
In lighter, the leopard would never eat my face, news;
"I have long supported ending birthright citizenship," Sen. Ted Cruz said following a campaign rally in Uvalde. [Real]
posted by phoque at 6:10 PM on October 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
... in light of Mr. Trump’s “penchant to slander minorities, slur refugees, dismiss First Amendment protections and cheer on violence”
In lighter, the leopard would never eat my face, news;
"I have long supported ending birthright citizenship," Sen. Ted Cruz said following a campaign rally in Uvalde. [Real]
posted by phoque at 6:10 PM on October 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
You know three words you will not find in either of those articles by the ADL -- Donald or Jay or Trump.
Or any mention of the political party that 90% of the people he mentioned belong to.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:18 PM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Or any mention of the political party that 90% of the people he mentioned belong to.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:18 PM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Texas Governor Abbot reacts differently to Trump military move than he did to Obama's Jade Helm.
Huh.
Wonder why he'd react so very differently to a routine long-announced military preparedness drill than to he's reacting to a move that sends armed federal troops who will outnumber the force they're being sent to oppose by at least a factor of 10:1?
Maybe he felt 2015 was a darker time? Maybe he figures the complexion of the situation has changed? I just can't figure it out.
posted by lord_wolf at 6:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [110 favorites]
Huh.
Wonder why he'd react so very differently to a routine long-announced military preparedness drill than to he's reacting to a move that sends armed federal troops who will outnumber the force they're being sent to oppose by at least a factor of 10:1?
Maybe he felt 2015 was a darker time? Maybe he figures the complexion of the situation has changed? I just can't figure it out.
posted by lord_wolf at 6:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [110 favorites]
From a Twitter thread by Martha S. Jones, author of Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America
6/ A narrowly tailored EO that rested on the view that the children of unauthorized immigrants are not subject to the jurisdiction of the US (in citizenship terms) and thus not citizens by virtue of Birthright is an argument that can be made.posted by jgirl at 6:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
[...]
4/ Coukd [sic] #SCOTUS revisit its own precedent in Wong Kim Ark and rule that children of non citizens are not Birthright citizens. It would be a departure from precedent, but it is possible.
I worry for Cameron Kasky's well-being, I worry for us all.
I love Cameron Kasky. Those Parkland kids are amazing.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
I love Cameron Kasky. Those Parkland kids are amazing.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Penguins Include Blue Lives Matter Flag In Ceremony Honoring Tree Of Life Victims, For Some Reason
Oh, I think we know the reason.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Oh, I think we know the reason.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
It is unknown at this time what the specific rules of engagement will be on the southern border for active-duty service members
Create an incident that “proves” that the US is under “terrorist” attack?
I don't know if they'll go that far, but I'm definitely betting the framing will be that since the troops were what stopped the caravan (armed soldiers, worn-out and destitute refugees, go figure), OF COURSE permanent militarization of our borders is the answer.
posted by Rykey at 6:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Create an incident that “proves” that the US is under “terrorist” attack?
I don't know if they'll go that far, but I'm definitely betting the framing will be that since the troops were what stopped the caravan (armed soldiers, worn-out and destitute refugees, go figure), OF COURSE permanent militarization of our borders is the answer.
posted by Rykey at 6:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
"Jacob Wohl" is a pseudonym, right? I mean, really... Jacob A Wohl. J. A. Wohl. Ja Wohl.
C'mon, writers. Be better. Be Best.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [50 favorites]
C'mon, writers. Be better. Be Best.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [50 favorites]
Pharell is not happy.
"Dear Mr. Trump: We write you on behalf of our client, Pharrell Williams, composer and performer of the hit song 'Happy.' On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged 'nationalist,' you played his song 'Happy' to a crowd at a political event in Indiana [sic]. There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose."
posted by bluesky43 at 6:58 PM on October 30, 2018 [52 favorites]
"Dear Mr. Trump: We write you on behalf of our client, Pharrell Williams, composer and performer of the hit song 'Happy.' On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged 'nationalist,' you played his song 'Happy' to a crowd at a political event in Indiana [sic]. There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose."
posted by bluesky43 at 6:58 PM on October 30, 2018 [52 favorites]
@RobbieGramer: Wow: Pompeo signals (at least rhetorical) shift in US support for Saudi coalition’s bombing campaign in war-wracked Yemen: “Coalition air strikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen.”
The Times had an utterly devastating feature on famine and economic warfare in Yemen (cw: photos of starving kids) over the weekend. It's unclear to me whether Pompeo's comments will be backed by any tangible change in policy.
posted by zachlipton at 7:04 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
The Times had an utterly devastating feature on famine and economic warfare in Yemen (cw: photos of starving kids) over the weekend. It's unclear to me whether Pompeo's comments will be backed by any tangible change in policy.
posted by zachlipton at 7:04 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
Let's remember four policemen got shot at the synagogue too. They deserve our highest honors. Not like this, of course, but I suspect the Penguins' motives were coming from the right place, if more than a bit misguided as seen from our point of view.
posted by M-x shell at 7:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [57 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 7:06 PM on October 30, 2018 [57 favorites]
Yeah, "Blue Lives Matter" and that tasteless flag are horseshit, but the Pgh cops absolutely have some skin in this attack and its memorial.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:08 PM on October 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:08 PM on October 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
Trump Says Caravan Asylum Seekers Will Be Detained: 'We’re Going to Build Tent Cities'
This news comes exactly one month after this: In the Dead of Night, Trump Administration Is Shipping Hundreds of Undocumented Minors to Texas Tent Camp
He's really got a thing for tents.
posted by homunculus at 7:09 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
This news comes exactly one month after this: In the Dead of Night, Trump Administration Is Shipping Hundreds of Undocumented Minors to Texas Tent Camp
He's really got a thing for tents.
posted by homunculus at 7:09 PM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 7 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 7 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- AZ: Marist poll has Dem Sinema up 47-44 on GOPer McSally [MOE: +/- 5.4%].** 2018 House:
-- FL: Suffolk poll has Dem incumbent Nelson up 45-43 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. | UNF poll has Nelson up 47-46 [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- TN: Vox Populi poll has GOPer Blackburn up 53-47 [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. | Marist poll has Blackburn up 51-46 [MOE: +/- 5.7%].
-- IN: Cygnal poll has GOPer Braun up 49-46 on Dem incumbent Donnelly [MOE: +/- 4.4%].
-- MI: Glengariff Group poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 53-36 on GOPer James [MOE: +/- 4.0%].
-- MO: Cygnal poll has GOPer Hawley up 49-46 on Dem incumbent McCaskill [MOE: +/- 4.4%].
-- OH: BWU poll has Dem incumbent Brown up 51-32 on GOPer Renacci [MOE: +/- 3.8%].
-- TX: Dixie Strategies poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 52-42 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/- 4.0%].
-- CT: Quinnipiac poll has Dem incumbent Murphy up 56-41 on GOPer Corey [MOE: +/- 4.0%].
-- PA-11: Susquehanna poll has GOP incumbent Smucker up 50-46 on Dem King [MOE: +/- 5.6%]. [Trump 61-35 | Cook: Solid R] => You might remember Jess King from this Metafilter FPP. Lancaster is the only county in the US never to be represented by a Democrat, so this would be quite something.** Odds & ends:
-- CA-50: Survey USA poll has GOP incumbent Hunter up 48-45 on Dem Campa-Najjar [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 55-40 | Cook: Lean R] => This is one of the races with the most blatantly racist GOP ad campaigns, perhaps only second to....
--NY-19: Monmouth poll has Dem Delgado up 49-44 on GOP incumbent Faso in their standard turnout model. Low turnout, Delgado up 48-46; high turnout, Delgado up 51-43 [MOE: +/- 5.1%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup] =>...the other super-racist ad campaign race.
-- KS-02: Siena poll has Dem 41-37 on GOPer Watkins [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Trump 56-37 | Cook: Tossup]
-- FL-27: Anzalone Liszt Grove poll has Dem Shalala up 49-39 on GOPer Salazar [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. Poll was commissioned by the DCCC. [Clinton 59-39 | Cook: Lean D] => The "Shalala is blowing it" narrative seems to have quieted a bit, but both sides still spending plenty in the race.
-- NC-02: Survey USA poll has GOP incumbent Holding up 49-40 on Dem Coleman [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. [Trump 53-44 | Cook: Lean R]
-- OH-07: Mellman Group poll has GOP incumbent Gibbs up 45-38 on Dem Harbaugh [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 63-33 | Cook: Solid R]
-- NC-09: Siena poll has GOPer Harris up 45-44 on Dem McCeady [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Trump 54-43 | Cook: Tossup]
-- A whole passel of polls from Change Research (and no MOE for any of them). Change Research is a Dem shop, but a) these results go both way versus expectations, b) as Nathaniel Rakich points out, most of these GOP districts have been polled lightly, if at all, so it's something. Note that these are mostly reach districts for Dems.-- CO-03: GOP incumbent Tipton up 53-38 on Dem Mitsch. [Trump 52-40 | Cook: Likely R]-- IA-04: Steve King shot back at the above poll with an internal from WPA Intelligence that has him up 52-34 [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. They both could be true-ish, though, as the WPA one is about a week older, and King hasn't gone on the air at all, while Scholten has been up with a lot of ads. Plus, King getting a lot of bad press of late.
-- NY-01: GOP incumbent Zeldin up 52-37 on Dem Gershon. [Trump 55-42 | Cook: Likely R]
-- FL-18: GOP incumbent Mast up 53-44 on Dem Baer. [Trump 53-44 | Cook: Lean R]
-- IL-16: GOP incumbent Kinzinger up 55-41 on Dem Dady. [Trump 56-38 | Cook: Solid R]
-- OH-02: GOP incumbent Winstrup up 52-39 on Dem Schiller. [Trump 56-40 | Cook: Solid R]
-- MI-06: GOP incumbent Upton up 46-43 on Dem Longjohn. [Trump 51-43 | Cook: Likely R]
-- IN-05: GOP incumbent Brooks up 50-44 on Dem Thornton. [Trump 53-41 | Cook: Solid R]
-- MI-01: GOP incumbent Bergman up 54-42 on Dem Morgan. [Trump 58-37 | Cook: Likely R]
-- WI-06: GOP incumbent Grothman up 50-48 on Dem Kohl. [Trump 56-39 | Cook: Likely R]
-- KS-02: GOPer Watkins up 45-44 on Dem Davis. [Trump 56-37 | Cook: Tossup]
-- IN-09: GOP incumbent Hollingsworth up 52-45 on Dem Watson. [Trump 61-34 | Cook: Solid R]
-- IA-04: GOP incumbent King up 45-44 on Dem Scholten. [Trump 61-34 | Cook: Lean R]
-- VA-07: GOP incumbent Brat bringing in Steve Bannon to rally. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- SC-01: Outgoing incumbent Mark Sanford is refusing to endorse GOP candidate Arrington. [Trump 54-40 | Cook: Lean R]
-- Silver: All about the big number of competitive districts, and why that's problematic for forecasting.
-- AZ gov: Same Marist poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 55-42 on Dem Garcia. [Cook: Likely R]** Averages & forecasts:
-- FL gov: Same Suffolk poll has Dem Gillum up 45-44 on GOPer DeSantis. | Same UNF poll has Gillum up 49-43. [Cook: Tossup]
-- FL Amendment 4 (felon re-enfranchisement): Same UNF poll shows YES up 69-23. Measure needs 60% to pass. | St Pete Polls finds YES up 60-34 [MOE: +/- 2.1].
-- OH gov: Same BWU poll has Dem Cordray tied 39-39 with GOPer DeWine. [Cook: Tossup] | Downballot: AG: Dem Dettelbach up 40-39 on GOPer Yost. SOS: Dem Clyde up 40-34 on GOPer LaRose. Auditor: Dem Space up 40-32 on GOPer Faber. Treasurer: Dem Richardson up 39-36 on GOPer Sprague. Issue 1 (drug law reform) YES up 43-40.
-- TX gov: Same Dixie Strategies poll has GOP incumbent Abbott up 59-33 on Dem Valdez. [Cook: Solid R] | Downballot: LG: GOP incumbent Patrick up 51-40 on Dem Collier. AG: GOP incumbent Paxton up 50-41 on Dem Nelson. Land Commissioner: GOP incumbent Bush up 52-36 on Dem Suazo.
-- TN gov: Same Vox Populi poll has GOPer Lee up 56-44 on Dem Dean. | Same Marist poll has Lee up 57-40. [Cook: Likely R]
-- CT gov: Same Quinnipiac poll has Dem Lamont up 47-43 on GOPer Stefanowski. [Cook: Tossup]
-- GA gov: OpinionSavvy poll has Dem Abrams up 48-47 on GOPer Kemp [MOE: +/- 3.9%]. [Cook: Tossup] => Reminder that this will go to a runoff if no one breaks 50%.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.5 (50.4/41.9)posted by Chrysostom at 7:16 PM on October 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 86.1% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 15.2% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.0 states.
People in this thread (and as far as I can tell, on the Internet) forgetting that police officers were shot or saying the police don't deserve "highest honors" for their heroic actions in intervening and preventing a much worse tragedy: ~0.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:18 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 7:18 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
it's a real shame we didn't have ways to honor fallen cops before someone invented a racist-ass flag.
posted by rotten at 7:23 PM on October 30, 2018 [68 favorites]
posted by rotten at 7:23 PM on October 30, 2018 [68 favorites]
it's a real shame we didn't have ways to honor fallen cops before someone invented a racist-ass flag.
my $.02? Any org goes with the cheapest solution. They had the flag. They have this tragedy. This is tone-deaf, not a straight up insult.
If anyone has exceptionally strong feelings, write them in a week, once it's something they can consider outside the heat of the moment.
posted by mikelieman at 7:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
my $.02? Any org goes with the cheapest solution. They had the flag. They have this tragedy. This is tone-deaf, not a straight up insult.
If anyone has exceptionally strong feelings, write them in a week, once it's something they can consider outside the heat of the moment.
posted by mikelieman at 7:29 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
For the first time, I'm getting the sense that some Democrats in Iowa think that Scholten could actually beat Steve King. It's a very, very, very long shot, but I think it's moved out of pipe dream territory and into the realm of (extremely remote) possibility. King has gotten really complacent: he hasn't campaigned at all, and he hired his son and daughter-in-law as his campaign managers, rather than actual professionals. He also hasn't bothered to raise money, and he can't raise any last-minute money now that things seem to be close, because nobody wants to be associated with him at the moment. I don't expect Scholten to pull a Doug Jones, but stranger things have happened.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
How does anyone who supports abolishing birthright citizenship not realize that it will eliminate all forms of ID they have too, because all of those forms of ID are things which would have been given to someone who could merely prove that they were born in the United States
posted by XMLicious at 7:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 7:33 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Sam Bee writer Mike Drucker provides a moment of levity:
Jacob Wohl trying to scam Robert Mueller is like the scene in the first 10 minutes of every Terminator film where a guy punches the robot and breaks his handposted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:49 PM on October 30, 2018 [89 favorites]
I live in IA-04 and am tentatively daring to hope for Scholten winning. At least - the energy I've been feeling from the campaign has been enough to make me think "you really should've polled the district since September."
I'm ready to get my heart broken like the 1996 NC senate race Jesse Helms won for the umpteenth time, though.
posted by Jeanne at 7:58 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
I'm ready to get my heart broken like the 1996 NC senate race Jesse Helms won for the umpteenth time, though.
posted by Jeanne at 7:58 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Update: Jews assail 'Christian rabbi' who appeared with Pence, and so does his own movement: Loren Jacobs, who spoke at a rally with the vice-president, was stripped of his ordination by the Messianic movement in 2003.
posted by zachlipton at 7:59 PM on October 30, 2018 [96 favorites]
Loren Jacobs, who was invited onstage by Vice President Mike Pence to speak at a rally in Michigan for a GOP congressional candidate, was defrocked 15 years ago, according to a spokeswoman for the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations.@mattyglesias: The fake rabbi wasn’t even a real fake rabbi.
“Loren Jacobs was stripped of his rabbinic ordination by the UMJC in 2003, after our judicial board found him guilty of libel,” Monique Brumbach said in an email.
Brumbach did not say who Jacobs allegedly libeled, but it appears from his synagogue website he was involved in a theological battle with other leaders of the group, which believes that Jesus is the son of God — a belief that is anathema to the vast majority of the world's Jews. Jacobs seemed to be concerned that the group was insufficiently conservative on doctrinal matters.
Meanwhile, mainstream Jewish leaders and experts on the faith said they could not fathom why GOP congressional candidate Lena Epstein, herself a longtime member of a Detroit–area synagogue, invited Jacobs at all to her rally Tuesday because in their eyes he’s not even a real Jew, let alone a rabbi.
posted by zachlipton at 7:59 PM on October 30, 2018 [96 favorites]
Arson Lupine: Or how [Trump] continues to attempt manufacturing crises for political purposes, like threatening to single-handedly end US birthright while the irony he was born to an immigrant mother is lost on him.
I am loving the almost passive aggressiveness of the section of Trump's mother's Wikipedia page which discusses her immigration to the United States:
posted by Secret Sparrow at 8:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [46 favorites]
I am loving the almost passive aggressiveness of the section of Trump's mother's Wikipedia page which discusses her immigration to the United States:
"she became what would later be termed an economic migrant, one of tens of thousands of young Scots who left for the United States or Canada during this period"The man's mother came to the U.S. as a teenage economic migrant, speaking English as a second language and with only an 8th grade education. And now he turns around and treats migrants the way he does? Christ what an asshole.
"Arriving in the U.S. with $50 (equivalent to $732 in 2017), MacLeod lived with her older sister Christina Matheson on Long Island and worked as a domestic servant for at least four years."
"As one account has put it, she "started life in America as a dirt-poor servant escaping the even worse poverty of her native land.""
posted by Secret Sparrow at 8:01 PM on October 30, 2018 [46 favorites]
The Perfect Storm: Trump, White Nationalism, and a 24-Hour News Cycle. The attacks of the last week are clearly connected to a larger pattern of right-wing extremism that has been gaining steam over the last ten years.
Trump’s hate and lies are inciting extremists. Just ask the analyst who warned us.
posted by homunculus at 8:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
Trump’s hate and lies are inciting extremists. Just ask the analyst who warned us.
I spoke to Daryl Johnson, the former Department of Homeland Security analyst who created a big stir when he authored a leaked report in 2009 warning of a rise in right-wing extremist activity. Conservatives reacted with outrage, and the Obama administration decided it needed to do damage control. But Johnson was onto something, and he has since launched a consulting company that studies domestic extremism and advises law enforcement about it.Trump Shut Programs to Counter Violent Extremism: The administration has hobbled the infrastructure designed to prevent atrocities like Pittsburgh.
posted by homunculus at 8:14 PM on October 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
538 classic has Scholten about 1 in 6 chance right now, which seems right-ish. Definitely has the feel of a late breaking race but it's a big hill to climb.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:16 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:16 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Or how [Trump] continues to attempt manufacturing crises for political purposes, like threatening to single-handedly end US birthright while the irony he was born to an immigrant mother is lost on him.
The Borowitz Report: Trump Strips Citizenship from Children of Immigrants, Thus Disqualifying Himself from Presidency
posted by homunculus at 8:17 PM on October 30, 2018 [56 favorites]
The Borowitz Report: Trump Strips Citizenship from Children of Immigrants, Thus Disqualifying Himself from Presidency
posted by homunculus at 8:17 PM on October 30, 2018 [56 favorites]
unclear how the gov't could assert that persons detained and held (or subject to being detained and held) by u.s. authorities are not subject to the jurisdiction of u.s. authorities.
all that nineteenth century language, the the FedSoc article about jurisdiction being contingent upon that state to which a person owes allegiance (evidently traditionally by dint of birth locale) was kinda yucky, as is most discussion of allegiance.
i have grim intuitions of or insights into how things might play out poorly, often, when presented with a set of facts, the kind a person such as myself hesitates to articulate for sort-of-superstitious, and maybe a few normatively stitious, reasons. lately i've typed some of them into this box, and edited them, and refreshed the thread, and thought about them and deleted them. i had one just last night, pursuant to discussion of what (at that time seemed to be a developing consensus on) 14,000 troops would do once they got to the border, which i typed in and then deleted unsaid. discussion has developed, nobody has said it, and just upthread there was talk of building a refugee camp and someone else reminded us of the legalistic administrative purpose behind guantanamo bay.
the grim intuition is that best use of those troops, for the nascent fascist regime, would be to cross into mexico and, there, halt the advance of the refugees before they reach the border. this has a variety of salutary results, not least of which is that those refugees don't make it onto u.s. soil. and some plausible risks and drawbacks. sorry to share.
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
all that nineteenth century language, the the FedSoc article about jurisdiction being contingent upon that state to which a person owes allegiance (evidently traditionally by dint of birth locale) was kinda yucky, as is most discussion of allegiance.
i have grim intuitions of or insights into how things might play out poorly, often, when presented with a set of facts, the kind a person such as myself hesitates to articulate for sort-of-superstitious, and maybe a few normatively stitious, reasons. lately i've typed some of them into this box, and edited them, and refreshed the thread, and thought about them and deleted them. i had one just last night, pursuant to discussion of what (at that time seemed to be a developing consensus on) 14,000 troops would do once they got to the border, which i typed in and then deleted unsaid. discussion has developed, nobody has said it, and just upthread there was talk of building a refugee camp and someone else reminded us of the legalistic administrative purpose behind guantanamo bay.
the grim intuition is that best use of those troops, for the nascent fascist regime, would be to cross into mexico and, there, halt the advance of the refugees before they reach the border. this has a variety of salutary results, not least of which is that those refugees don't make it onto u.s. soil. and some plausible risks and drawbacks. sorry to share.
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:19 PM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
@Noahpinion
Trump has three basic groups of people that he thinks he can use as scary bogeymen to stir up fear among voters:@interfluidityHe basically cycles back and forth between these three bogeymen, as circumstances allow...
- Central American immigrants
- Black people
- Muslims
“I’m old enough to remember when we suddenly had a ‘national conversation’ about torture…I’m worried the same thing will happen here — that birthright citizenship will be permanently damaged by the very existence of this sham debate”@ChuckWendig
TRUMP: "I've decided to eat babies."posted by kliuless at 8:46 PM on October 30, 2018 [107 favorites]
PEOPLE: "He can't eat babies, that's super illegal."
TRUMP, on TV, eating babies, not even cooking them first: "People are saying that I really am the best baby-eater, folks."
NYT: "Trump Vs. Babies: The Rhetoric On Both Sides Must Stop"
unclear how the gov't could assert that persons detained and held (or subject to being detained and held) by u.s. authorities are not subject to the jurisdiction of u.s. authorities.
I haven't looked through the relevant links yet but I'm recalling that when I was Googling about the rules around treason a couple of years ago, I encountered a statement that although someone who is not a U.S. national and has never entered U.S. territory can't be charged with treason, because they owe no allegiance to the U.S. which can be betrayed, even someone who is not a U.S. citizen or resident and is technically just here on vacation or something is construed as having a temporary allegiance to the country by virtue of their presence on U.S. soil alone. And thus can be charged with treason for actions which occurred during their time here.
If that's true, I wonder if we'll end up with a situation where someone is legally regarded as having an allegiance to the U.S. which would be sufficient to charge them with treason, but the government is trying to claim that they simultaneously aren't under U.S. jurisdiction.
posted by XMLicious at 9:00 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
We all know the answer to that, right? Not if they’re white.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:13 PM on October 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:13 PM on October 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
It makes me a little sad sometimes that America seems so intent to destroy itself and the world because quite a lot of you on here seem quite nice.
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [93 favorites]
posted by turbid dahlia at 9:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [93 favorites]
So if birthright citizenship is done away with (it won't be), then every woman who gives birth in an American hospital will have to prove her own citizenship or that of the other biological parent in order for the baby to be a citizen, right?
I'm not sure anybody knows how it would work and I'm kinda sure the Administration doesn't know how it would work and they're the ones proposing it.
posted by Justinian at 9:32 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
I'm not sure anybody knows how it would work and I'm kinda sure the Administration doesn't know how it would work and they're the ones proposing it.
posted by Justinian at 9:32 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
We all know the answer to that, right? Not if they’re white.
Ahnenpaß
posted by XMLicious at 9:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Birthright Citizenship is just another roadblock against the kind of Fascist America they want to create. None of them are thinking about how citizenship would work otherwise.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:40 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Plenty of other countries manage it [not-birthright citizenship] just fine, so there are plenty of models to borrow from. Rest assured we’ll choose to model the one that screws people over in the most cruel and careless way possible and take it up a notch.
posted by notyou at 10:16 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by notyou at 10:16 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
We’re Just Here for The Hilarious “Antifa Ex-Girlfriend” Memes
posted by homunculus at 10:56 PM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 10:56 PM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
It's come up that Trump's the son of an immigrant, but so are most of his own children. Ivana became a naturalized US citizen in 1988, after the kids were born; Barron Trump was born in March 2006 and Melania became a citizen sometime that year.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:13 PM on October 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:13 PM on October 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
From the NYT Opinion page: You’re Disillusioned. That’s Fine. Vote Anyway.
[...] I could have offered a warm, gentle answer but these are not warm, gentle times. Given everything that has transpired since President Trump took office, I have no patience for disillusionment. I have no patience for the audacious luxury of choosing not to vote because of that disillusionment, as if not voting is the best choice a person could make. Not voting is, in fact, the worst choice a person could make.posted by Justinian at 12:37 AM on October 31, 2018 [47 favorites]
[...]
Nothing will change by sitting at home for the midterms or any other election. We cannot afford disillusionment. We cannot afford to do nothing. Lives are at stake and if you don’t recognize that, you are no better than those with whom you are disillusioned.
TRUMP: "I've decided to eat babies."
Trump Supporters: As long as they're not fetuses we're cool with it.
posted by flabdablet at 12:44 AM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
Trump Supporters: As long as they're not fetuses we're cool with it.
posted by flabdablet at 12:44 AM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
Facebook is letting anyone impersonate almost any organisation to run ads, making a mockery of their 'transparency' rules.
posted by PenDevil at 3:10 AM on October 31, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 3:10 AM on October 31, 2018 [15 favorites]
I dipped into morning programming on NPR for the first time in weeks and got Innskeep giving a both-sidesish platform to former WH aide overtalking him about how the 14th amendment indeed is functionless just as the Trumpy has said, and then Liasson interviewing someone who just can't side with progressives because she finds them so close minded, 'bullying' and dogmatic. Jeeesh.
posted by Harry Caul at 4:27 AM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 4:27 AM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
I was listening to the same NPR programming and thinking to myself “And this is supposed to be the liberal network?”
posted by TedW at 4:30 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by TedW at 4:30 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
“And this is supposed to be the liberal network?”
It never had that intention. It's always been a fairly centrist news source and does take pains to represent a range of opinion and perspective. It's futile to bring that expectation to it. However, it remains probably the most informative broadcast source of any kind. It's possible to draw information from something without agreeing with its slant.
posted by Miko at 4:36 AM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
It never had that intention. It's always been a fairly centrist news source and does take pains to represent a range of opinion and perspective. It's futile to bring that expectation to it. However, it remains probably the most informative broadcast source of any kind. It's possible to draw information from something without agreeing with its slant.
posted by Miko at 4:36 AM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
One should listen to NPR for the same reason that I subject myself to the likes of Breitbart Radio, Hannity and such.
It is much easier to refute an ignorant argument if you have already heard the argument that an ignorant person will parrot.
posted by delfin at 5:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
It is much easier to refute an ignorant argument if you have already heard the argument that an ignorant person will parrot.
posted by delfin at 5:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
New open postcard campaigns since I last checked:
- FL: Gillum and Taddeo
- ND: Heitkamp (no blog link yet, but it's one of the options now)
Still active:
- GA: Abrams and Amico
- FL: Second Chances in FL (Yes on Amendment 4)
- TN: Bredesen
- TX: Beto O'Rourke and Eric Holguin
Since there's less than a week left until Nov 6th, I'm writing for the closest region to me. The instructions now say to hand the postcards over to a USPS mail carrier or counter clerk to help avoid delivery delays.
On a more personal note, yesterday was a weird day -- I might talk more about it some other time/place -- but something came up and I've had to reduce the number of cards I had planned to write. I was thinking about it before I caught up here, and I literally did a double take when I saw my username in this post. If anyone found my Postcards To Voters info helpful and joined, that's awesome (thank you box for mentioning it). If I could ask a favor, it would be to write one more postcard if you can.
Or if you're interested in writing cards but don't think you can mail any in time for Nov. 6, it's not too late; you can sign up to participate in the next election. There are always elections throughout the year: for run-offs, retirements, etc, and downballot races of course are super important.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 5:16 AM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
- FL: Gillum and Taddeo
- ND: Heitkamp (no blog link yet, but it's one of the options now)
Still active:
- GA: Abrams and Amico
- FL: Second Chances in FL (Yes on Amendment 4)
- TN: Bredesen
- TX: Beto O'Rourke and Eric Holguin
Since there's less than a week left until Nov 6th, I'm writing for the closest region to me. The instructions now say to hand the postcards over to a USPS mail carrier or counter clerk to help avoid delivery delays.
On a more personal note, yesterday was a weird day -- I might talk more about it some other time/place -- but something came up and I've had to reduce the number of cards I had planned to write. I was thinking about it before I caught up here, and I literally did a double take when I saw my username in this post. If anyone found my Postcards To Voters info helpful and joined, that's awesome (thank you box for mentioning it). If I could ask a favor, it would be to write one more postcard if you can.
Or if you're interested in writing cards but don't think you can mail any in time for Nov. 6, it's not too late; you can sign up to participate in the next election. There are always elections throughout the year: for run-offs, retirements, etc, and downballot races of course are super important.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 5:16 AM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
Mod note: We've had the NPR debate many times before, so let's cut this short, please.
posted by taz (staff) at 5:30 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 5:30 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
None of them are thinking about how citizenship would work otherwise.
Service guarantees citizenship! Would you like to know more?
posted by entropicamericana at 5:51 AM on October 31, 2018 [62 favorites]
Service guarantees citizenship! Would you like to know more?
posted by entropicamericana at 5:51 AM on October 31, 2018 [62 favorites]
The Washington Post reports: Mueller Probes Roger Stone’s Interactions With Trump Campaign and Timing of Wikileaks Release of Podesta Emails
Incidentally, Roger Stone's changing his story about Wikileaks and the Trump campaign again: "Stone denied discussing WikiLeaks with Trump campaign officials. [...] Stone said he may have briefly discussed WikiLeaks’s email releases with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, his longtime business partner, but only after Manafort stepped down from his post in August."
This sounds like a classic limited hangout, and with Stone's talent for deceit, a modified one at that. He must be terrified of what Manafort could be telling Mueller.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Incidentally, Roger Stone's changing his story about Wikileaks and the Trump campaign again: "Stone denied discussing WikiLeaks with Trump campaign officials. [...] Stone said he may have briefly discussed WikiLeaks’s email releases with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, his longtime business partner, but only after Manafort stepped down from his post in August."
This sounds like a classic limited hangout, and with Stone's talent for deceit, a modified one at that. He must be terrified of what Manafort could be telling Mueller.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
In today's horrible news from the campaign trail that isnt about bad polling or offensively racist shit trump said:
It doesnt seem like the fact that they were canvassing was the reason they were shot, but two canvassers from Good Jobs Now, a community based organization working to create a fair economy and promote a more just Detroit were shot while on their route, one fatally.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
It doesnt seem like the fact that they were canvassing was the reason they were shot, but two canvassers from Good Jobs Now, a community based organization working to create a fair economy and promote a more just Detroit were shot while on their route, one fatally.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
Has Mueller Subpoenaed the President? Nelson W. Cunningham, Politico
The evidence lies in obscure docket entries at the clerk’s office for the D.C. Circuit. Thanks to Politico’s Josh Gerstein and Darren Samuelsohn, we know that on August 16th (the day after Giuliani said he was almost finished with his memorandum, remember), a sealed grand jury case was initiated in the D.C. federal district court before Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. We know that on September 19, Chief Judge Howell issued a ruling and 5 days later one of the parties appealed to the D.C. Circuit. And thanks to Politico’s reporting, we know that the special counsel’s office is involved (because the reporter overheard a conversation in the clerk’s office). We can further deduce that the special counsel prevailed in the district court below, and that the presumptive grand jury witness has frantically appealed that order and sought special treatment from the judges of the D.C. Circuit – often referred to as the “second-most important court in the land.” ...posted by mcdoublewide at 6:21 AM on October 31, 2018 [62 favorites]
But is it the president? The docket sheets give one final – but compelling – clue. When the witness lost the first time in the circuit court (before the quick round-trip to the district court), he unusually petitioned for rehearing en banc—meaning he thought his case was so important that it merited the very unusual action of convening all 10 of the D.C. Circuit judges to review the order. That is itself telling (this witness believes his case demands very special handling), but the order disposing of the petition is even more telling: President Trump’s sole appointee to that court, Gregory Katsas, recused himself.
In lighter, the leopard would never eat my face, news;
"I have long supported ending birthright citizenship," Sen. Ted Cruz said following a campaign rally in Uvalde. [Real]
Ah but see the ending of birthright citizenship doesn't apply to Ted Cruz because he was born in Canada. Like all true Americans are.
posted by srboisvert at 6:23 AM on October 31, 2018 [15 favorites]
"I have long supported ending birthright citizenship," Sen. Ted Cruz said following a campaign rally in Uvalde. [Real]
Ah but see the ending of birthright citizenship doesn't apply to Ted Cruz because he was born in Canada. Like all true Americans are.
posted by srboisvert at 6:23 AM on October 31, 2018 [15 favorites]
Donald Trump and other GOP candidates want to radically change a 150-year-old cornerstone of American citizenship
This is an article from 2015.
When the famous immigration hawk US Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) proposed a bill to end so-called "birthright citizenship," just 27 far-right Republican members of the House of Representatives signed on as cosponsors. the [17th amendment] issue, got little traction, however. Seven months later, enter Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
Since the real-estate magnate unveiled his official immigration-reform plan last month, at least four Republican candidates have followed him on one of his more controversial proposals: ending birthright citizenship, the constitutional right that automatically grants American citizenship to anyone born in the United States.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:32 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is an article from 2015.
When the famous immigration hawk US Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) proposed a bill to end so-called "birthright citizenship," just 27 far-right Republican members of the House of Representatives signed on as cosponsors. the [17th amendment] issue, got little traction, however. Seven months later, enter Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
Since the real-estate magnate unveiled his official immigration-reform plan last month, at least four Republican candidates have followed him on one of his more controversial proposals: ending birthright citizenship, the constitutional right that automatically grants American citizenship to anyone born in the United States.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:32 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
But wait: the same whites who are Trump's preferred citizens arrived here from Northern Europe as...immigrants? So their children -- i.e., every Republican alive now who isn't a naturalized citizen themselves -- shouldn't be citizens? WTF?
Who does he think is going to vote for him??
posted by wenestvedt at 6:40 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Who does he think is going to vote for him??
posted by wenestvedt at 6:40 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
I loathe to dignify this nonsense with discussion even vaguely, but I do wonder what statistics there are on exactly how many babies are born and benefit from birthright citizenship where both parents - or even just mom[1] - are not already citizens anyway. It seems obvious to me that this is an invented problem but some hard facts would be nice, re exactly what’s the real negative impact* here compared to the massive convenience in documentation we get from this presumption?
* to the extent that this automatic granting of citizenship can be called “negative impact” which in my mind is a huge and unfounded assumption in the first place
[1] I mean for fucks sake, what sort of societal morass are we going to get into if we insist on a genetic link here and the birth mom isn’t a citizen? Now we’re going to be the genealogy&monogamy cops? It’s amazing that racism can manage to simultaneously be so stupid and pointless and yet so much groddamned work.
posted by phearlez at 6:50 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
* to the extent that this automatic granting of citizenship can be called “negative impact” which in my mind is a huge and unfounded assumption in the first place
[1] I mean for fucks sake, what sort of societal morass are we going to get into if we insist on a genetic link here and the birth mom isn’t a citizen? Now we’re going to be the genealogy&monogamy cops? It’s amazing that racism can manage to simultaneously be so stupid and pointless and yet so much groddamned work.
posted by phearlez at 6:50 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I wish people would stop trying to apply notions of logic to the fascist Republican agenda. We all know exactly what they want, and who they're targeting, and who will be exempt from their decrees. Trying to catch them out in a fallacy or a moment of hypocrisy will get you nowhere.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:50 AM on October 31, 2018 [103 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:50 AM on October 31, 2018 [103 favorites]
US troops deployed at the border limited in what they can do
The more than 5,200 active-duty troops being sent by President Donald Trump to the U.S.-Mexico border will be limited in what they can do under a federal law that restricts the military from engaging in law enforcement on American soil.
That means the troops will not be allowed to detain immigrants, seize drugs from smugglers or have any direct involvement in stopping a migrant caravan that is still about 1,000 miles from the nearest border crossing.
Instead, their role will largely mirror that of the existing National Guard troops
posted by bluesky43 at 6:51 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
The more than 5,200 active-duty troops being sent by President Donald Trump to the U.S.-Mexico border will be limited in what they can do under a federal law that restricts the military from engaging in law enforcement on American soil.
That means the troops will not be allowed to detain immigrants, seize drugs from smugglers or have any direct involvement in stopping a migrant caravan that is still about 1,000 miles from the nearest border crossing.
Instead, their role will largely mirror that of the existing National Guard troops
posted by bluesky43 at 6:51 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Now we’re going to be the genealogy&monogamy cops?
I guess Jordan Peterson is unofficially advising on policy now.
The reality is that no one advocating to end birthright citizenship is thinking about applying it to white people. They definitely aren't going to apply it to wealthy capitalist immigrants like Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, etc., either. It's purely intended as a signal that poor immigrants who are portrayed as "cheating" the system by having "anchor babies" are going to be further targeted for elimination, either by deportation or total disenfranchisement or ??? They know it's never going to apply to people like Ivanka; that's not the intent. Don't take this seriously as a real policy goal. It's a dogwhistle over a wish to use the legal system to enforce white supremacy.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 6:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
I guess Jordan Peterson is unofficially advising on policy now.
The reality is that no one advocating to end birthright citizenship is thinking about applying it to white people. They definitely aren't going to apply it to wealthy capitalist immigrants like Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, etc., either. It's purely intended as a signal that poor immigrants who are portrayed as "cheating" the system by having "anchor babies" are going to be further targeted for elimination, either by deportation or total disenfranchisement or ??? They know it's never going to apply to people like Ivanka; that's not the intent. Don't take this seriously as a real policy goal. It's a dogwhistle over a wish to use the legal system to enforce white supremacy.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 6:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
The Yawning Divide that Explains American Politics (WSJ) Two groups of voters—white women with college degrees and white men without—have moved drastically in opposite directions. Among the women, the share who want Democrats to lead the next Congress is 33 percentage points larger than the share favoring GOP control. The men, by contrast, favor Republicans by a net 42 points.
posted by box at 7:05 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by box at 7:05 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
I dipped into morning programming on NPR for the first time in weeks and got Innskeep giving a both-sidesish platform to former WH aide overtalking him about how the 14th amendment indeed is functionless just as the Trumpy has said, and then Liasson interviewing someone who just can't side with progressives because she finds them so close minded, 'bullying' and dogmatic. Jeeesh.
My alarm clock is set to the local Adult Contemporary radio station and they have the typical morning format of a few people trading witty banter, doing call-in bits and playing some hits. They start the top of the hour with a scripted "news" roundup, which is usually a couple of big national items, some entertainment items, and some sort of "weird" news item that you probably saw going around the internet the day before.
Today it started right off with "President Trump has finally come up against something his ego can't beat" (paraphrasing). They summarize his attack on birthright citizenship and then say that since it's in the Constitution it's basically going nowhere. They recap what it takes to ratify a new amendment to the Constitution. They make some jokes and move on.
So I'm getting out of bed to the thought that "Blake & Eva in the Morning" have a better take on this than NPR.
posted by mikepop at 7:06 AM on October 31, 2018 [63 favorites]
My alarm clock is set to the local Adult Contemporary radio station and they have the typical morning format of a few people trading witty banter, doing call-in bits and playing some hits. They start the top of the hour with a scripted "news" roundup, which is usually a couple of big national items, some entertainment items, and some sort of "weird" news item that you probably saw going around the internet the day before.
Today it started right off with "President Trump has finally come up against something his ego can't beat" (paraphrasing). They summarize his attack on birthright citizenship and then say that since it's in the Constitution it's basically going nowhere. They recap what it takes to ratify a new amendment to the Constitution. They make some jokes and move on.
So I'm getting out of bed to the thought that "Blake & Eva in the Morning" have a better take on this than NPR.
posted by mikepop at 7:06 AM on October 31, 2018 [63 favorites]
In 2015 I got some terrifying foreshadowing when a Republican acquaintance, herself a descendant of 100% 20th-century immigrants, proposed this creative interpretation of the 14th Amendment. She probably did not realize the “ignore what the text literally says” version she was proposing called my own citizenship into question if I go back a few generations.
Anyways, I can confirm that Cruz has promoted this for years. In the video clip I found he called birthright citizenship a “policy” he had some ideas about how to change while avoiding a constitutional amendment, and then said a bunch of sniveling stuff about liberals. My acquaintance was evidently successfully distracted by the rambling about liberals when I sent her the link, rather than realizing as I'd hoped that Cruz was acknowledging that birthright citizenship is the way everything currently works.
posted by XMLicious at 7:08 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Anyways, I can confirm that Cruz has promoted this for years. In the video clip I found he called birthright citizenship a “policy” he had some ideas about how to change while avoiding a constitutional amendment, and then said a bunch of sniveling stuff about liberals. My acquaintance was evidently successfully distracted by the rambling about liberals when I sent her the link, rather than realizing as I'd hoped that Cruz was acknowledging that birthright citizenship is the way everything currently works.
posted by XMLicious at 7:08 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Both Ted Cruz and I acquired our citizenship via one or both of our parents, who were citizens at the time and were allowed by law to pass it on to us, even though we were born abroad. So birthright citizenship, per se, isn't relevant- there's an actual law that governs who is allowed to pass citizenship down by descent, and it varies on whether the parents are married and how long the US citizen parent lived in the US. Of course, nobody on the right is mad about American "ex-pats" handing down citizenship to their children born abroad, even if those children grow up and never touch foot in America.
That law is designed to give citizenship to people born abroad. If birthright citizenship were erased by fiat, I have no idea how you decide who gets to be a citizen. It could revive Dredd Scott, for all we know. Before the 14th Amendment, just about anyone could have citizenship denied on the basis of race. The Equal Protection clause would theoretically stop that happening, but once we're in crazytown and reinterpreting one bit of the 14th, there's no obvious reason why that could stop anything.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
That law is designed to give citizenship to people born abroad. If birthright citizenship were erased by fiat, I have no idea how you decide who gets to be a citizen. It could revive Dredd Scott, for all we know. Before the 14th Amendment, just about anyone could have citizenship denied on the basis of race. The Equal Protection clause would theoretically stop that happening, but once we're in crazytown and reinterpreting one bit of the 14th, there's no obvious reason why that could stop anything.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
nobody on the right is mad about American "ex-pats" handing down citizenship to their children born abroad
Unless it's a conspiracy theory about Barack Obama...
posted by XMLicious at 7:15 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
Here's your regular reminder that citizenship is a concept that does not exist outside of your ability to prove it in the manner required by whatever person or agency is questioning it. If they want you to be a citizen, you will be a citizen; if they want you to not be a citizen, you won't be, no matter how many papers or DNA tests you wave in their face.
I'd like to also remind folks that the 14th Amendment is what establishes the requirement of due process before being deprived of life, liberty, or property; what mandates equal protection under the law; and what has been interpreted as making the Bill of Rights applicable to state government actions. They will not stop at birthright citizenship; their intent is to nullify the 14th Amendment completely, and with it Brown v. Board of Ed., Roe, Obergefell, etc.
And the birthright citizenship thing has been a headline on an annual basis since at least 2010 in the mainstream press, yet they're all treating this as some new ground for debate that we've never heard of before:
2010, NPR
2011, CNN
2012, HuffPo
2013, USA Today
2014, LA Times
2015, WaPo
posted by melissasaurus at 7:21 AM on October 31, 2018 [61 favorites]
I'd like to also remind folks that the 14th Amendment is what establishes the requirement of due process before being deprived of life, liberty, or property; what mandates equal protection under the law; and what has been interpreted as making the Bill of Rights applicable to state government actions. They will not stop at birthright citizenship; their intent is to nullify the 14th Amendment completely, and with it Brown v. Board of Ed., Roe, Obergefell, etc.
And the birthright citizenship thing has been a headline on an annual basis since at least 2010 in the mainstream press, yet they're all treating this as some new ground for debate that we've never heard of before:
2010, NPR
2011, CNN
2012, HuffPo
2013, USA Today
2014, LA Times
2015, WaPo
posted by melissasaurus at 7:21 AM on October 31, 2018 [61 favorites]
Unless it's a conspiracy theory about Barack Obama...
As the father of an American citizen born abroad I always wondered about this aspect of the birther argument too. Since Barack was born in 1961 when his mother was 18 however, the argument went that Ann Dunham did not fulfill the citizenship requirements to pass citizenship to her son as prescribed by the State Department:
For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for 10 years prior to the person’s birth, at least five of which were after the age of 14 for the person to acquire U.S. citizenship at birth.
Not that your average birther actually cared about the fine print. Or ever crossed international borders with infants and all the requisite documentation to do so.
posted by St. Oops at 7:26 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
As the father of an American citizen born abroad I always wondered about this aspect of the birther argument too. Since Barack was born in 1961 when his mother was 18 however, the argument went that Ann Dunham did not fulfill the citizenship requirements to pass citizenship to her son as prescribed by the State Department:
For birth between December 24, 1952 and November 13, 1986, the U.S. citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for 10 years prior to the person’s birth, at least five of which were after the age of 14 for the person to acquire U.S. citizenship at birth.
Not that your average birther actually cared about the fine print. Or ever crossed international borders with infants and all the requisite documentation to do so.
posted by St. Oops at 7:26 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I do wonder what statistics there are on exactly how many babies are born and benefit from birthright citizenship where both parents - or even just mom[1] - are not already citizens anyway. It seems obvious to me that this is an invented problem
It's totally an invented problem, designed to do nothing but extend a middle finger to brown people and pick up some votes on November 6.
posted by Rykey at 7:27 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
It's totally an invented problem, designed to do nothing but extend a middle finger to brown people and pick up some votes on November 6.
posted by Rykey at 7:27 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
Buzzfeed: Oprah Is Going To Georgia To Campaign With Stacey Abrams—The media mogul will door-knock voters and hold two town halls this week with Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor.
Miami Herald: Obama to stump with Gillum and Nelson in Miami between Trump MAGA rallies in Florida
Atlantic: Biden Stumps in Iowa As He Ponders 2020—The former vice president drew enthusiastic crowds and said he was “sick and tired” of the Trump administration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:31 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
Miami Herald: Obama to stump with Gillum and Nelson in Miami between Trump MAGA rallies in Florida
Atlantic: Biden Stumps in Iowa As He Ponders 2020—The former vice president drew enthusiastic crowds and said he was “sick and tired” of the Trump administration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:31 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
There's an argument- and I have tried unsuccessfully to find where I read it- that the Reconstruction amendments, followed by the cases incorporating the bill of rights to apply to the states, functionally ended up creating a new Constitution.
Pulling the rug out from under the 14th Amendment would Make America 1857 Again and could roll everything back to Dred Scott.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:32 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Pulling the rug out from under the 14th Amendment would Make America 1857 Again and could roll everything back to Dred Scott.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:32 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Biden Stumps in Iowa As He Ponders 2020—The former vice president drew enthusiastic crowds and said he was “sick and tired” of the Trump administration.
if you want a vision of the gerontocracy, imagine a boomer running for office—forever
posted by entropicamericana at 7:35 AM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
if you want a vision of the gerontocracy, imagine a boomer running for office—forever
posted by entropicamericana at 7:35 AM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
There's an argument- and I have tried unsuccessfully to find where I read it- that the Reconstruction amendments, followed by the cases incorporating the bill of rights to apply to the states, functionally ended up creating a new Constitution.
It's not a coincidence that that time period is when referring to the "United States" as a singular began to overtake the plural.
posted by Etrigan at 7:36 AM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
It's not a coincidence that that time period is when referring to the "United States" as a singular began to overtake the plural.
posted by Etrigan at 7:36 AM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
This piece from April seems even more relevant in light of Trump's latest rhetorical attacks on immigration: The US government should cede territory back to Native Americans: Historically, immigrants were given special rights to take Native land. If Trump says we are no longer a nation of immigrants, that has consequences
Portugal, Spain, France and England claimed territory by planting a flag [link mine], a symbolic action known as “discovery”. It made no difference whether the land in question was inhabited or not, since only Christians had conferred upon themselves the right to “discover” in this sense. By the logic of the papal bulls, and that of later charters to English explorers made by the English king or queen, indigenous peoples had no rights to land or to legal recognition of any kind. Only immigrants did.posted by homunculus at 7:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
The young American republic preserved this European doctrine. The US supreme court formalized the Doctrine of Discovery in three famous cases of 1823, 1831 and 1832. Chief Justice John Marshall took for granted the obvious fact that America was the homeland of the Native Americans, “the rightful occupants of the soil”. By the logic of “discovery”, Native Americans had no rights because America was their homeland: “Their power to dispose of the soil at their own will to whomsoever they pleased was denied by the original fundamental principle that discovery gave exclusive title to those who made it.”
...
The American claim to American land is that Native Americans had a homeland but no dominion over it, since sovereignty automatically shifted to immigrants. If the federal government no longer defines the America as a “nation of immigrants”, it abandons, by its own logic, the claim to sovereignty over the land. If US policy is now, instead, to protect a “homeland”, that would mean restoring the rights of the Native Americans to the entirety of the US.
1) Trumpism is fascist enough that the success of Trump's goals only depend on complicity.
2) The detailed backs and forths about the supposed illegality, while informational, do very little to help the people being traumatized in real-time by the targeting.
posted by nikaspark at 7:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
2) The detailed backs and forths about the supposed illegality, while informational, do very little to help the people being traumatized in real-time by the targeting.
posted by nikaspark at 7:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
People here love Biden. I find it bizarre. But I'm not complaining, because the turnout at the Biden rally was massive, and I have a good feeling about Abby Finkenauer's chances. And that's good, because she'd be a huge improvement over the current asshole.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Tom Scocca: These Are the Bad Times.
posted by overhauser at 7:39 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by overhauser at 7:39 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Diamond Joe Biden the Onion article and bromance meme is pretty lovable, the reality, however, falls way short.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:41 AM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 7:41 AM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
if you want a vision of the gerontocracy, imagine a boomer running for office—forever
I have some sympathy for Biden's position. Who among us has not said to ourselves "I wish there was just some way I could do something to FIX THIS." Biden is among the very small number of people who have something like the experience of being President, so for him it must be particularly painful to see so much get fucked over. I think he (and a number of other people, Bloomberg included) are in a spot where they legitimately have the skills and experience that would traditionally make them a favorite for the nomination.
In their shoes, how could you NOT think about taking over and trying to right the course?
That is not to say that I think it would be a good idea for him to run. But it is pretty easy to understand why he would want to at least try.
posted by anastasiav at 7:43 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
I have some sympathy for Biden's position. Who among us has not said to ourselves "I wish there was just some way I could do something to FIX THIS." Biden is among the very small number of people who have something like the experience of being President, so for him it must be particularly painful to see so much get fucked over. I think he (and a number of other people, Bloomberg included) are in a spot where they legitimately have the skills and experience that would traditionally make them a favorite for the nomination.
In their shoes, how could you NOT think about taking over and trying to right the course?
That is not to say that I think it would be a good idea for him to run. But it is pretty easy to understand why he would want to at least try.
posted by anastasiav at 7:43 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
[please god could we not discuss Biden again unless he actually does something]
posted by aspersioncast at 7:48 AM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 7:48 AM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
[i find it disconcerting when a non-mod adopts the mod comment style. first i think it's an actual mod, and then i don't recognize the name as being a mod, and then i think there has been another staff shakeup and i start to wonder if the end of metafilter is nigh and in a world where so much seems temporary and unstable any change to the status quo no matter how incidental or illusory is a source of threat]
posted by logicpunk at 7:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 7:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [33 favorites]
Mod note: Pssst, let's not do more of this.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:59 AM on October 31, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:59 AM on October 31, 2018 [37 favorites]
I wish people would stop trying to apply notions of logic to the fascist Republican agenda. We all know exactly what they want, and who they're targeting, and who will be exempt from their decrees. Trying to catch them out in a fallacy or a moment of hypocrisy will get you nowhere.
Dislodging people from the Republican agenda requires getting them feel bad about it and getting them to feel good/hopeful about something else. They're not going to directly react to facts, but will react to how facts make them feel.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
Dislodging people from the Republican agenda requires getting them feel bad about it and getting them to feel good/hopeful about something else. They're not going to directly react to facts, but will react to how facts make them feel.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
Tom Scocca: These Are the Bad Times.
Tiny bit of good news in updating a section of that piece: It quotes a column by the incoming executive director of the Massachusetts Police Association that we should "meet violence with violence." That guy is a lieutenant in the Arlington Police Department, whose chief is, among other things, an active proponent of restorative justice. The town yesterday placed that guy on leave. "I disavow the remarks in the strongest possible terms, and this matter will be dealt with swiftly and certainly," Chief Frederick Ryan said.
posted by adamg at 8:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
Tiny bit of good news in updating a section of that piece: It quotes a column by the incoming executive director of the Massachusetts Police Association that we should "meet violence with violence." That guy is a lieutenant in the Arlington Police Department, whose chief is, among other things, an active proponent of restorative justice. The town yesterday placed that guy on leave. "I disavow the remarks in the strongest possible terms, and this matter will be dealt with swiftly and certainly," Chief Frederick Ryan said.
posted by adamg at 8:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
Back in the late Bush years I was sent to the "extra scrutiny" area at the border when coming back to the US from overseas. It turned out that I was sent there due to a misunderstanding (Senegal is not Syria, thanks), but in my two hours waiting for that to be sorted out, I could overhear the conversations in the other lines. The one that stuck with me was a very pregnant south asian woman who spent nearly the whole two hours going over her paperwork with the agent, only to finally be allowed in with an admonition that "Remember, we don't want your baby in our country. I'm putting this in your file."
posted by Nothing at 8:12 AM on October 31, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by Nothing at 8:12 AM on October 31, 2018 [24 favorites]
Inspired by a comment in the previous thread I'm having 10 of this yard sign printed. Pittsburgh MeFites are welcome to one each while supplies last. They'll be ready by Friday. MeMail me if you want one.
posted by M-x shell at 8:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 8:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
Dems Hope Trump’s Latest Immigration Attacks Could Spur Hispanic Turnout - Cameron Joseph, TPM
Democrats have been worried for months that a failure to boost Hispanic turnout could cost them in key House and Senate races. While some early voting analysis and recent polling suggests there’s been an uptick in interest in recent weeks, they remain concerned that not enough Latino voters will cast ballots to win some key battleground campaigns.Some have been pointing at a lack of targeted outreach. Trump's attacks, as disruptive as they are, and as portrayed by the news media, aren't the same.
It won’t be clear until election day whether Democrats did enough to get Hispanic voters to the polls. While Trump’s closing message could help his party win key red-state races, it could prove a double-edged sword. But Latino vote experts say their candidates need to be doing all they can to highlight Trump’s latest comments to the Hispanic community.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
“This barrage of anti-immigrant rhetoric is just serving to intensify the anger and frustration in the Latino community which generally means it should be pushing more people to the polls,” said Barreto. “But it’s contingent on the candidates in those races making a big deal out of it.”
Question: did 45 go INTO the Tree of Life SYnagogue during his visit or did he just visit the descanso/memorial outside?
posted by ocschwar at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018
posted by ocschwar at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018
Bonzo went to Bitburg, Trump went to Pittsburgh.
posted by e1c at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by e1c at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
This Is How We Radicalized The World
Ryan Broderick, Buzzfeed
These are the times we live in. This is the history of right now.
Reading those descriptions, I just want to say... when you are living at an inflection point in history you have a responsibility. Think of what you have told yourself you would have done if you lived "back then" at previous inflection points in our history, and try to do that.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [106 favorites]
Ryan Broderick, Buzzfeed
It really doesn’t matter what country you’re in. The dance is the same everywhere you go.This piece starts off with a descriotion of the disastrous consequences of this process, from the genocide in Myanmar to Duterte in the Philippines (who like Bolsonaro thinks criminals shoukd be shot without the benefit of a trial) to Trump, Brexit, etc.
Chances are, by now, your country has some, if not all, of the following. First off, you probably have some kind of local internet troll problem, like the MAGAsphere in the US, the Netto-uyoku in Japan, Fujitrolls in Peru, or AK-trolls in Turkey. Your trolls will probably have been radicalized online via some kind of community for young men like Gamergate, Jeuxvideo.com ("videogames.com") in France, ForoCoches ("Cars Forum") in Spain, Ilbe Storehouse in South Korea, 2chan in Japan, or banter Facebook pages in the UK.
Then far-right influencers start appearing, aided by algorithms recommending content that increases user watch time. They will use Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to transmit and amplify content and organize harassment and intimidation campaigns. If these influencers become sophisticated enough, they will try to organize protests or rallies. The mini fascist comic cons they organize will be livestreamed and operate as an augmented reality game for the people watching at home. Violence and doxxing will follow them.
Some of these trolls and influencers will create more sophisticated far-right groups within the larger movement, like the Proud Boys, Generation Identity, or Movimento Brasil Livre. Or some will reinvigorate older, more established far-right or nationalist institutions like the Nordic Resistance Movement, the Football Lads Alliance, United Patriots Front, or PEGIDA.
While a far-right community is building in your country, a fake news blitz is usually raging online. It could be a rumor-based culture of misinformation, like the localized hoaxes that circulate in countries like India, Myanmar, or Brazil. Or it could be the more traditional “fake news” or hyperpartisan propaganda we see in predominantly English-speaking countries like the US, Australia, or the UK.
Typically, large right-wing news channels or conservative tabloids will then take these stories going viral on Facebook and repackage them for older, mainstream audiences. Depending on your country’s media landscape, the far-right trolls and influencers may try to hijack this social-media-to-newspaper-to-television pipeline. Which then creates more content to screenshot, meme, and share. It’s a feedback loop.
Populist leaders and the legions of influencers riding their wave know they can create filter bubbles inside of platforms like Facebook or YouTube that promise a safer time, one that never existed in the first place, before the protests, the violence, the cascading crises, and endless news cycles. Donald Trump wants to Make American Great Again; Bolsonaro wants to bring back Brazil’s military dictatorship; Shinzo Abe wants to recapture Japan’s imperial past; Germany’s AFD performed the best with older East German voters longing for the days of authoritarianism. All of these leaders promise to close borders, to make things safe. Which will, of course, usually exacerbate the problems they’re promising to disappear. Another feedback loop.
These are the times we live in. This is the history of right now.
Reading those descriptions, I just want to say... when you are living at an inflection point in history you have a responsibility. Think of what you have told yourself you would have done if you lived "back then" at previous inflection points in our history, and try to do that.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [106 favorites]
Check out this excellent, and surprisingly hard-hitting piece by Maggie Haberman and Katie Rogers that--
You know what? I can't actually finish the joke. This is an awful fluff piece, the pinnacle of access journalism, and just a gross piece overall. It has everything: the "but Trump can't be anti-Semitic because Javanka!" excuses throughout, the gotta-hear-both-sides, the steamrolling of the objections from victims and Jews on the left, the gushing over SHS' crocodile tears while lying through her teeth, the inescapable subtext that critics claiming that the Trumps encourage anti-Semitism are blowing this out of proportion and being unfair to them.
This story is trash, and does nothing but continue to strengthen the far-right meme that the real Jews are the ones who uncritically view the Trumps as the best friends of Jewish Americans EVAR.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:20 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
You know what? I can't actually finish the joke. This is an awful fluff piece, the pinnacle of access journalism, and just a gross piece overall. It has everything: the "but Trump can't be anti-Semitic because Javanka!" excuses throughout, the gotta-hear-both-sides, the steamrolling of the objections from victims and Jews on the left, the gushing over SHS' crocodile tears while lying through her teeth, the inescapable subtext that critics claiming that the Trumps encourage anti-Semitism are blowing this out of proportion and being unfair to them.
This story is trash, and does nothing but continue to strengthen the far-right meme that the real Jews are the ones who uncritically view the Trumps as the best friends of Jewish Americans EVAR.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:20 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
This Is How We Radicalized The World
open thread
posted by XMLicious at 8:20 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Question: did 45 go INTO the Tree of Life SYnagogue during his visit or did he just visit the descanso/memorial outside?
My understanding from following coverage online yesterday was that the sanctuary and building(s) proper are still closed as they process them as a crime scene. the language i heard described them as being inside the entryway to the shul.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:24 AM on October 31, 2018
My understanding from following coverage online yesterday was that the sanctuary and building(s) proper are still closed as they process them as a crime scene. the language i heard described them as being inside the entryway to the shul.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:24 AM on October 31, 2018
Three Men Convicted Of Plotting To Bomb Somali Refugees Say They Were Encouraged By Trump's Rhetoric
Three men who were convicted of plotting to bomb an apartment building that housed a mosque and dozens of Muslim Somali refugees in Kansas were encouraged by President Donald Trump's rhetoric and asked a judge for leniency in their sentencing, their attorneys said.posted by homunculus at 8:32 AM on October 31, 2018 [43 favorites]
In court documents filed this week, attorneys for Patrick Stein, Curtis Allen, and Gavin Wright, say the men were influenced by Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric and Russian propaganda on social media and argue that life sentences against their clients would not deter others from committing similar crimes.
"As long as the White House with impunity calls Islam 'a dangerous threat,' and paints average Americans as 'victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad,' a mixed signal gets sent," Wright's attorneys wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday.
"As long as the Executive Branch condemns Islam and commends and encourages violence against would-be enemies, then a sentence imposed by the Judicial Branch does little to deter people generally from engaging in such conduct if they believe they are protecting their countries from enemies identified by their own Commander-in-Chief," they continued.
A local synagogue held a vigil yesterday evening. It was mobbed. Traffic was grid-locked. Temple was full even with extra chairs and people standing, with many more outside. The newspaper estimated 1,500. I posted on fb, and have gotten feedback from friends around the country that vigils and memorials have been packed. It makes me a tiny bit optimistic, but mostly I feel a powerful righteousness and solidarity. I will not allow this fucking monster to cultivate violence, racism, anti-Semitism and lies in my country, and apparently, I'm in good company.
posted by theora55 at 8:33 AM on October 31, 2018 [42 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 8:33 AM on October 31, 2018 [42 favorites]
Chris Evans Taunts Donald Trump With Rewrite Of His ‘Fake News Media’ Rant - Lee Moran, HuffPo
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:35 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:35 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
I wish people would stop trying to apply notions of logic to the fascist Republican agenda. We all know exactly what they want, and who they're targeting, and who will be exempt from their decrees. Trying to catch them out in a fallacy or a moment of hypocrisy will get you nowhere.
This, and here's their historical reference point: The Immigration Act of 1924. TLDR America decided to preserve our "national identity" by picking an "arbitrary year", 1890, to base quotas on which countries people could emigrate from. What a total, shocking coincidence that this was right before Asians, Southern and Eastern Europeans and Jews began to emigrate in high numbers.
They'll just pick another year. It's not hard to imagine which year(s) white nationalists imagine as the current high point of "good American stock."
posted by nakedmolerats at 8:37 AM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
Oprah will campaign with Stacey Abrams in Georgia - Emily Stewart, Vox
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
That article kiiiiiiiinda buries the lede, which is that Oprah will be both campaigning with Abrams at a pair of town halls, and canvassing in door-to-door voter outreach.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:53 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:53 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
At Event For Black Civil War Soldiers, Zinke Likens Robert E. Lee To MLK Jr.
Fittingly, according to the video this event "for black civil war soldiers" was attended entirely by white people.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
Fittingly, according to the video this event "for black civil war soldiers" was attended entirely by white people.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
> nakedmolerats:
"I wish people would stop trying to apply notions of logic to the fascist Republican agenda. We all know exactly what they want, and who they're targeting, and who will be exempt from their decrees"
I don't think it's a "who" that they're targeting (anymore), but a "what": the Constitution itself. The current "who"'s are merely the planks of the bridge that Trump will lead the country across, mostly willingly. Everybody is primed to discount some portion of the populace, so as long as Trump denies that it is what it is, We Discounters will harp on each other while the laws change beneath us.
Not only that, but in my fevered imagination this morning I was wondering if world leaders are conspiring on top of all this. The leaders that Trump has been courting are all people who would love to suspend or modify their own countries' Constitutions, it may just be that each will make tiny inroads of their own, seeing how the UN or whoever reacts (the press will be compliant by then), and chipping away at the notions of equality that are included in their national laws and, later, culture.
Maybe it's the culture that gets modified first, I'll have to think about that.
The things that these leaders are doing are happening now, not "maybe on next week's episode." I know everybody here is aware of all this, but I feel like perception (or action) is lagging reality in general, in the press, and at the coffee shop.
posted by rhizome at 8:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
"I wish people would stop trying to apply notions of logic to the fascist Republican agenda. We all know exactly what they want, and who they're targeting, and who will be exempt from their decrees"
I don't think it's a "who" that they're targeting (anymore), but a "what": the Constitution itself. The current "who"'s are merely the planks of the bridge that Trump will lead the country across, mostly willingly. Everybody is primed to discount some portion of the populace, so as long as Trump denies that it is what it is, We Discounters will harp on each other while the laws change beneath us.
Not only that, but in my fevered imagination this morning I was wondering if world leaders are conspiring on top of all this. The leaders that Trump has been courting are all people who would love to suspend or modify their own countries' Constitutions, it may just be that each will make tiny inroads of their own, seeing how the UN or whoever reacts (the press will be compliant by then), and chipping away at the notions of equality that are included in their national laws and, later, culture.
Maybe it's the culture that gets modified first, I'll have to think about that.
The things that these leaders are doing are happening now, not "maybe on next week's episode." I know everybody here is aware of all this, but I feel like perception (or action) is lagging reality in general, in the press, and at the coffee shop.
posted by rhizome at 8:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Oprah will campaign with Stacey Abrams in Georgia
You get a vote, and you get a vote, and you get a vote. Everybody gets a vote!
posted by mach at 9:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [64 favorites]
You get a vote, and you get a vote, and you get a vote. Everybody gets a vote!
posted by mach at 9:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [64 favorites]
Maybe it's the culture that gets modified first
This has already happened.
posted by Miko at 9:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
This has already happened.
posted by Miko at 9:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
I don't think it's a "who" that they're targeting (anymore), but a "what": the Constitution itself.
I can remember back when conservatives liked to parade around as if they, and only they, were for abiding by the Constitution.
Back about two years ago.
posted by Gelatin at 9:01 AM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
I can remember back when conservatives liked to parade around as if they, and only they, were for abiding by the Constitution.
Back about two years ago.
posted by Gelatin at 9:01 AM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
At Event For Black Civil War Soldiers, Zinke Likens Robert E. Lee To MLK Jr.
Just like Pence and his fake-ass rabbi, Trump and...everything, the strategy is to shit in the sink at the party whenever possible. What do you do when you can't beat them down and kick them out? I'm starting to think all public performances should be ignored and only legal and policy initiatives and changes make the news. The administration can't be touched by picket signs, and frankly I don't think yelling at people in restaurants changes anything (as much as I want them to continue).
posted by rhizome at 9:03 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Just like Pence and his fake-ass rabbi, Trump and...everything, the strategy is to shit in the sink at the party whenever possible. What do you do when you can't beat them down and kick them out? I'm starting to think all public performances should be ignored and only legal and policy initiatives and changes make the news. The administration can't be touched by picket signs, and frankly I don't think yelling at people in restaurants changes anything (as much as I want them to continue).
posted by rhizome at 9:03 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Donnelly open to legislation ending birthright citizenship
"Well, would you prefer a Republican senator be in that seat trying to turn the children of immigrants into stateless unpersons?"
Yes.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:03 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Well, would you prefer a Republican senator be in that seat trying to turn the children of immigrants into stateless unpersons?"
Yes.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:03 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
To be clear, I was quoting from Faint of Butt with the italics. I agree with them though.
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:04 AM on October 31, 2018
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:04 AM on October 31, 2018
Until the President steps forward with an executive order that kicks off the "debate" over birthright citizenship, and the Executive's ability to undo parts of the constitution via EO, where it matters (in the courts, in the Congress), he's still only shit stirring.
I hope significant parts of his base he's seeking to stir up will notice that and remain unstirred.
posted by notyou at 9:09 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
I hope significant parts of his base he's seeking to stir up will notice that and remain unstirred.
posted by notyou at 9:09 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
NYT: Congress Has No Clue What Americans Want
Assuming that you’re convinced by the authors’ methodology, it turns out that senior congressional staffers on both sides of the aisle massively underestimate support for many popular policies:
posted by chappell, ambrose at 9:10 AM on October 31, 2018 [79 favorites]
Assuming that you’re convinced by the authors’ methodology, it turns out that senior congressional staffers on both sides of the aisle massively underestimate support for many popular policies:
Congress doesn’t know what policies Americans support. We know that because we asked the most senior staff members in Congress — the people who help their bosses decide what bills to pursue and support — what they believed public opinion was in their district or state on a range of issues.TL;DR: just look at this fucking chart
...
Shockingly, 92 percent of the staff members we surveyed underestimated support in their district or state for background checks, including all Republican aides and over 85 percent of Democratic aides.
The same is true for the four other issues we looked at: regulating carbon emissions to address the climate crisis, repealing the Affordable Care Act, raising the federal minimum wage and investing in infrastructure. On climate change, the average aide thought only a minority of his or her district wanted action, when in truth a majority supported regulating carbon.
...
Aides usually assumed that the public agreed with their own policy views. If an aide did not personally support acting on climate change, he or she was less likely to think that constituents wanted action. This self-centered bias is common in other areas of life — we all tend to think that other people share our preferences. But we aren’t all charged with understanding what the public wants to ensure democratic representation.
Interest groups also played an important role in explaining congressional staffs’ errors. Aides who reported meeting with groups representing big business — like the United States Chamber of Commerce or the American Petroleum Institute — were more likely to get their constituents’ opinions wrong compared with staffers who reported meeting with mass membership groups that represented ordinary Americans, like the Sierra Club or labor unions.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 9:10 AM on October 31, 2018 [79 favorites]
Jesus fuck, no. The time to be stirred is now, before they start blanketing both traditional and new media with reasons why we should end it.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 9:11 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Interest groups also played an important role in explaining congressional staffs’ errors.
Way to bury the lede, NYT.
posted by Gelatin at 9:12 AM on October 31, 2018 [33 favorites]
Way to bury the lede, NYT.
posted by Gelatin at 9:12 AM on October 31, 2018 [33 favorites]
Facebook is letting anyone impersonate almost any organisation to run ads, making a mockery of their 'transparency' rules.
I know I'm way late to The Discourse on this but: Anyone with any experience placing ads on Facebook, doing paid event promotion, working with their Business Manager back-end in any capacity at all, etc., would not be surprised at all that FB has no fucking clue whether the features they create and promulgate actually, in any meaningful way, do the things they're supposed to do.
posted by penduluum at 9:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
I know I'm way late to The Discourse on this but: Anyone with any experience placing ads on Facebook, doing paid event promotion, working with their Business Manager back-end in any capacity at all, etc., would not be surprised at all that FB has no fucking clue whether the features they create and promulgate actually, in any meaningful way, do the things they're supposed to do.
posted by penduluum at 9:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
From the amount of legislators jumping on the bandwagon, I think the shit stirring was partly to take temperature. He can't change the Constitution, but Congress can. And the more Republican legislators get data from their constituents suggesting that GOP base loves this idea (and they will), the more it will become a real possibility. If they can't get enough support to rewrite the amendment, they can at least move the window enough to argue that a new immigration act modeled on 1924 is "the moderate option."
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:14 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Congress Has No Clue What Americans Want
It's almost as though letting people buy campaigns has a corrupting effect!
posted by enn at 9:16 AM on October 31, 2018 [58 favorites]
It's almost as though letting people buy campaigns has a corrupting effect!
posted by enn at 9:16 AM on October 31, 2018 [58 favorites]
This, and here's their historical reference point: The Immigration Act of 1924. TLDR America decided to preserve our "national identity" by picking an "arbitrary year", 1890, to base quotas on which countries people could emigrate from. What a total, shocking coincidence that this was right before Asians, Southern and Eastern Europeans and Jews began to emigrate in high numbers.
Counterpoint: The Framers wanted open borders. Evidence: The word Immigration appears 0 times in the US Constitution.
posted by mikelieman at 9:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
Counterpoint: The Framers wanted open borders. Evidence: The word Immigration appears 0 times in the US Constitution.
posted by mikelieman at 9:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
> Chris Evans Taunts Donald Trump With Rewrite Of His ‘Fake News Media’ Rant - Lee Moran, HuffPo
Oh man. Evans retweeted these clips of Obama speaking a few days ago. Hearing him speak, what a difference from the blowhard in office now.
posted by homunculus at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh man. Evans retweeted these clips of Obama speaking a few days ago. Hearing him speak, what a difference from the blowhard in office now.
posted by homunculus at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
NYT: Congress Has No Clue What Americans Want
Their explanations don't leap to the most plausible one: congress members, especially Republicans, but Democrats as well, just don't care what the people want.
Also:
posted by dis_integration at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [70 favorites]
Their explanations don't leap to the most plausible one: congress members, especially Republicans, but Democrats as well, just don't care what the people want.
Also:
The public contributes to the problem by not taking the time to express its opinions to politicians or vote.Get fucked NYT.
posted by dis_integration at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [70 favorites]
Donnelly open to legislation ending birthright citizenship
"Well, would you prefer a Republican senator be in that seat trying to turn the children of immigrants into stateless unpersons?"
I think Donnelly is playing their games here, and playing them pretty well. The full quote from TFA is:
"I heard you say that Lindsey Graham is going to put legislation forward" to rescind the law, Donnelly continued. "We have to take a look at that legislation."
"I’d want to see that legislation, make sure it was constitutional and review it first," he added.
Emphasis mine. I dont know a lot about Donnelly's views on the constitution but I am (perhaps naively) hopeful that this is just posturing on top of posturing.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
"Well, would you prefer a Republican senator be in that seat trying to turn the children of immigrants into stateless unpersons?"
I think Donnelly is playing their games here, and playing them pretty well. The full quote from TFA is:
"I heard you say that Lindsey Graham is going to put legislation forward" to rescind the law, Donnelly continued. "We have to take a look at that legislation."
"I’d want to see that legislation, make sure it was constitutional and review it first," he added.
Emphasis mine. I dont know a lot about Donnelly's views on the constitution but I am (perhaps naively) hopeful that this is just posturing on top of posturing.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
ProPublica, with WNYC's "Trump, Inc." podcast: Rudy Giuliani’s Mystery Trips to Russia, Armenia and Ukraine—We spent weeks investigating his work and clients in the former Soviet Union. We have so many questions.
For example, "Just last week, for example, Giuliani appeared in the former Soviet republic of Armenia, which has close trade ties with Russia. He was invited, according to local press accounts, by Ara Abramyan, an Armenian businessman who lives in Russia. Abramyan once helped reconstruct the Kremlin and also received a medal for “merit to the fatherland” from President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Giuliani said he was in Armenia as a private citizen, but on a local TV news show, Abramyan implied that he expected Giuliani to carry a message for him to Trump."
While mainstream media is happy to repeat and amplify Guiliani's blatherings about the Mueller investigation, they've been on what appear to be Giuliani's back-channel trips to erstwhile Soviet bloc states. (Kudos to TPM for reporting on the Armenia trip.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
For example, "Just last week, for example, Giuliani appeared in the former Soviet republic of Armenia, which has close trade ties with Russia. He was invited, according to local press accounts, by Ara Abramyan, an Armenian businessman who lives in Russia. Abramyan once helped reconstruct the Kremlin and also received a medal for “merit to the fatherland” from President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Giuliani said he was in Armenia as a private citizen, but on a local TV news show, Abramyan implied that he expected Giuliani to carry a message for him to Trump."
While mainstream media is happy to repeat and amplify Guiliani's blatherings about the Mueller investigation, they've been on what appear to be Giuliani's back-channel trips to erstwhile Soviet bloc states. (Kudos to TPM for reporting on the Armenia trip.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted - let's keep graphic details about Khashoggi killing in the Khashoggi thread
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:20 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:20 AM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
...in my fevered imagination this morning I was wondering if world leaders are conspiring on top of all this. The leaders that Trump has been courting are all people who would love to suspend or modify their own countries' Constitutions, it may just be that each will make tiny inroads of their own, seeing how the UN or whoever reacts (the press will be compliant by then), and chipping away at the notions of equality that are included in their national laws and, later, culture.
Even besides the culture, which of the leaders Trump has been courting have not already directly modified their countrys' constitutions yet? el-Sisi dissolved the Egyptian constitution once already, Putin and Kim and King Salman have free rein as far as I know... as one of his early acts in office Trump was the only Western leader to call and congratulate Erdoğan when his constitutional changes went through, Xi Jinping had term limits eliminated and Trump joked with his Mar-a-Lago buddies “Maybe we'll try President For Life here some day!”... has Duterte gotten any changes in the Philippines? Bolsinaro isn't in office yet...
So, I think Trump is actually playing catch-up in the constitution-wrecking competition.
posted by XMLicious at 9:22 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I don't think it's a "who" that they're targeting (anymore), but a "what": the Constitution itself.
For what it's worth, this has been percolating in the heads of Trumpoids for a long while. Hannity's show has a lot of commercials for a Convention of States petition website, where True Patriots can pressure their state representatives to call an Article V convention to amend the Constitution on the fly.
Convention of States, with Alec’s support, is one of three prominent conservative groups pushing for a new constitutional convention. Under article V, if two-thirds of state legislatures so choose, they can force congress to convene such a meeting. On the agenda for Convention of States: an amendment to require a balanced budget, term limits for congress, repealing the federal income tax and giving states the power to veto any federal law, supreme court decision or executive order with a three-fifths vote from the states.
So, nothing much.
The threshold is 34 states to call it, 38 states for anything passed there to become law of the land. So it is unlikely that this would come to pass, and even more unlikely that a sweeping The Year Is One overhaul would destroy the Constitution as we know it -- but it is still a remarkably dangerous tool in the toolbox, and one worth keeping an occasional eye on.
posted by delfin at 9:25 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
For what it's worth, this has been percolating in the heads of Trumpoids for a long while. Hannity's show has a lot of commercials for a Convention of States petition website, where True Patriots can pressure their state representatives to call an Article V convention to amend the Constitution on the fly.
Convention of States, with Alec’s support, is one of three prominent conservative groups pushing for a new constitutional convention. Under article V, if two-thirds of state legislatures so choose, they can force congress to convene such a meeting. On the agenda for Convention of States: an amendment to require a balanced budget, term limits for congress, repealing the federal income tax and giving states the power to veto any federal law, supreme court decision or executive order with a three-fifths vote from the states.
So, nothing much.
The threshold is 34 states to call it, 38 states for anything passed there to become law of the land. So it is unlikely that this would come to pass, and even more unlikely that a sweeping The Year Is One overhaul would destroy the Constitution as we know it -- but it is still a remarkably dangerous tool in the toolbox, and one worth keeping an occasional eye on.
posted by delfin at 9:25 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
The problem isn't getting it through a Convention of States, because that's not going to be the path they take. More likely is that a bunch of states and/or municipalities will gleefully follow the executive order, a case against it works its way up through the courts, and then it lands in front of SCOTUS. Thanks to decades of manipulating the courts for just this kind of fuckery (with huge help from the same "moderates" now posturing against it), it easily passes muster in a SCOTUS that is extremely hostile even to legal immigration.
If half the country thinks they can just get away with doing it, and the entire federal government plus more than half of state governments is willing to give them free rein, there's nothing to stop them.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
If half the country thinks they can just get away with doing it, and the entire federal government plus more than half of state governments is willing to give them free rein, there's nothing to stop them.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
Counterpoint: The Framers wanted open borders. Evidence: The word Immigration appears 0 times in the US Constitution.
I mean, sure, but that clearly didn't stop us from explicitly pro-northwest-Europe immigration quotas until 1965, so why would it stop them now? The noble modern GOPer who is loyal to strict constructionism is a myth. The word fetus isn't anywhere in there either.
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:49 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I mean, sure, but that clearly didn't stop us from explicitly pro-northwest-Europe immigration quotas until 1965, so why would it stop them now? The noble modern GOPer who is loyal to strict constructionism is a myth. The word fetus isn't anywhere in there either.
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:49 AM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Jus soli is part of Lincoln’s legacy. Trump wants to destroy that. So here ya go, U.S. news orgs, some headlines for you to use, free of charge:
Republicans Forget Lessons of America’s Bloody Civil War
Party of Lincoln Denounces Lincoln’s Work
Ending Lincoln’s Legacy
It feels like we need voices in the background amplifying a message that jus soli was a response to foreign ideas of citizenship, that it’s inherently better because American does it and they don’t. Herr Twitler’s followers lap that shit up. His type of rhetoric is currently being used for a message of hate, but it can just as easily be used to amplify messages of acceptance. Simply muddying the waters with alternative messaging could mitigate his damage potential. After all, you can take that same irritatingly blinkered rah-rah America, Fuck yeah! language and simply change the dependent clause hanging off the end of whatever jingoistic nonsense you’re babbling.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [26 favorites]
Republicans Forget Lessons of America’s Bloody Civil War
Party of Lincoln Denounces Lincoln’s Work
Ending Lincoln’s Legacy
It feels like we need voices in the background amplifying a message that jus soli was a response to foreign ideas of citizenship, that it’s inherently better because American does it and they don’t. Herr Twitler’s followers lap that shit up. His type of rhetoric is currently being used for a message of hate, but it can just as easily be used to amplify messages of acceptance. Simply muddying the waters with alternative messaging could mitigate his damage potential. After all, you can take that same irritatingly blinkered rah-rah America, Fuck yeah! language and simply change the dependent clause hanging off the end of whatever jingoistic nonsense you’re babbling.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 9:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [26 favorites]
"The Framers" would not have been able to conceive of a state apparatus powerful enough to police the country's borders. Even the Know-Nothings in the 1850s wanted to regulate naturalization, not immigration. It's hard even to convey how alien the concept of closed borders would have been to pre-20th-century people. There was a ton of controversy about the introduction of passports right after World War I, because it seemed wrong to many Americans to require people to have a document in order to travel.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [61 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:00 AM on October 31, 2018 [61 favorites]
"The Framers" believed in fucking bodily humours and thought that ponds produced fish through spontaneous generation. Republicans do not care about the original intent or primacy of the constitution. We're the only people taking arguments of constitutionality in good faith and the only people who see it as anything other than a scrap of ancient parchment to be abused and warped to one's liking. It's time we give up that notion.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:06 AM on October 31, 2018 [59 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:06 AM on October 31, 2018 [59 favorites]
Jus soli is part of Lincoln’s legacy.
That is not my understanding, though this is just from reading Wikipedia: pre-14th-Amendment we also had birthright citizenship in principle as a carry-over from British law after the Revolutionary War, it just in practice only applied to white people in the context of the US's white supremacist society. There was somewhat of a conflation between the concepts of a citizen and a subject, and European monarchs wanted to be able to declare as many of the people of the world their subjects as possible. But it all traces even further back to the Antonine Constitution of Rome which in 212 declared that all free men were Roman citizens.
However, since responding to your proposed headlines would seem to require acknowledging and discussing just how far back ius soli goes they might be a good idea, while the nationalists are trying to portray it as an aberration of some sort. (Not to mention all of the other good-to-engage-with principles brought up in the course of discussing how the topic of birthright citizenship would relate to black Americans taking their rightful place as citizens of the country they built.)
posted by XMLicious at 10:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Politico: Inside The Trump Administration’s Rudderless Fight To Counter Election Propaganda—The administration is letting individual agencies respond to foreign governments’ attempts to undermine U.S. elections.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Nearly a dozen senior law enforcement, homeland security and intelligence officials held a first-of-its-kind meeting at the Justice Department in late September to discuss how to respond if a foreign adversary tried to influence the midterm elections.The list of attendees encompasses numerous government agencies (which is part of the problem when it comes to co-ordination, especially without guidance from the top):
But they left after 90 minutes without devising a plan or answering key questions, according to a person who attended the previously unreported gathering.
No one from the White House was present, said the attendee, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. The only presidential appointee there, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, delivered opening remarks and left after the first half hour. And in a twist that epitomized the administration chaos surrounding election preparations, attendees emerged to discover that The New York Times was reporting that Rosenstein had discussed secretly recording his meetings with President Donald Trump.
Participants in the meeting included John Demers, the head of DOJ’s National Security Division, who chaired the session; Krebs, from DHS; Tonya Ugoretz, head of the intelligence community’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center; and Brian Benczkowski, who leads DOJ’s Criminal Division.Back on the Internet, Twitter Just Launched a Midterms Page and It’s Already Surfacing Trolls and False, Hyperpartisan News, Buzzfeed reports.
Also present were Matt Gorham, the head of the FBI’s Cyber Division; Robert Johnson, the head of the bureau’s Criminal Division; Joseph Bonavolonta, the No. 2 official in the bureau’s Counterintelligence Division; Anne Neuberger, the NSA’s lead on countering foreign influence operations; a CIA official; and someone from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.[...]
A month after the Sept. 21 meeting, the Trump administration still has no strategy for fighting disinformation campaigns aimed at swaying U.S. elections, three people knowledgeable about the matter told POLITICO — less than a week before voters nationwide return to the polls.[...]
Meanwhile, intelligence and law enforcement agencies warned this month that Russia, China and Iran are waging “ongoing campaigns” to influence American elections and policies.
“The lines of authority for defending against and responding to influence ops are going to be hypercomplicated,” said one former DHS employee, who also requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive deliberations.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:15 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Inside The Trump Administration’s Rudderless Fight To Counter Election Propaganda
"inside a dog's fight against treats"
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [68 favorites]
"inside a dog's fight against treats"
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [68 favorites]
We're the only people taking arguments of constitutionality in good faith and the only people who see it as anything other than a scrap of ancient parchment to be abused and warped to one's liking. It's time we give up that notion.
The alternative to the rule of law is the rule of warlords. Gang leaders. Mafia Dons. Strongmen. Tyrants. Call them what you like. Either the law is above everyone or someone is above the law.
So I'm all in favor of patching our constitutional firmware when we need to, but I see this rhetoric about warping the law to one's like as being as bad as Trumpism. In fact it IS Trumpism, one of the core tenets.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
The alternative to the rule of law is the rule of warlords. Gang leaders. Mafia Dons. Strongmen. Tyrants. Call them what you like. Either the law is above everyone or someone is above the law.
So I'm all in favor of patching our constitutional firmware when we need to, but I see this rhetoric about warping the law to one's like as being as bad as Trumpism. In fact it IS Trumpism, one of the core tenets.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:18 AM on October 31, 2018 [18 favorites]
Apologies for directly quoting the latest graphic Khashoggi details from CNN.
The main thing is that in the past month the story's shifted from departed consulate alive/mysteriously missing/accidental death/accidentally killed in fistfight/killed by 'rogue operatives'/murdered, but not under royal aegis; now CNN's reporting a statement by the chief prosecutor's office in Istanbul that the entire attack on the WaPo journalist, from method of murder to means and removal of (still-missing) remains, was a premeditated plan. Which makes royal involvement even more obvious, and the photo-op with Khashoggi's eldest son, Salah, shaking hands with King Salman and the crown prince last week, more troubling.
Salah, a dual US-Saudi citizen who had been under a travel ban due to his father's work, and his family were allowed to come to America two days later.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:19 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
The main thing is that in the past month the story's shifted from departed consulate alive/mysteriously missing/accidental death/accidentally killed in fistfight/killed by 'rogue operatives'/murdered, but not under royal aegis; now CNN's reporting a statement by the chief prosecutor's office in Istanbul that the entire attack on the WaPo journalist, from method of murder to means and removal of (still-missing) remains, was a premeditated plan. Which makes royal involvement even more obvious, and the photo-op with Khashoggi's eldest son, Salah, shaking hands with King Salman and the crown prince last week, more troubling.
Salah, a dual US-Saudi citizen who had been under a travel ban due to his father's work, and his family were allowed to come to America two days later.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:19 AM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Donald Trump and other GOP candidates want to radically change a 150-year-old cornerstone of American citizenship This is an article from 2015.
Worth noting that the birthers and their ilk spent eight years obsessing over this "birthright citizenship" fan fic stuff and that much of that goes back ever farther through the various kinds of sovereign citizen and posse comitatus ideologies and probably back through the birchers. They grasped then, the way they do now, after any story they could use to invalidate the citizenship of anyone they wanted to take it from. Maybe yet they'll haul in the "Jedi" Pauly, the dude who declared that citizenship only travels through the sperm.
There's an argument- and I have tried unsuccessfully to find where I read it- that the Reconstruction amendments, followed by the cases incorporating the bill of rights to apply to the states, functionally ended up creating a new Constitution.
Among sovereign citizens, birchers, nazis, and other fringe right types, this is taken for granted. It's why they call African-Americans—and sometimes others—there's a plethora of overlapping explanations used to justify it—"14th Amendment citizens" to suggest that their citizenship is somehow inferior to white citizens.
Until the President steps forward with an executive order that kicks off the "debate" over birthright citizenship, and the Executive's ability to undo parts of the constitution via EO, where it matters (in the courts, in the Congress), he's still only shit stirring.
I think it's very important to grasp that even if there's no chance at all of eliminating "birthright citizenship," none of this is merely "shit stirring." Even claiming the authority to eliminate the 14th amendment—especially when Senators get up and talk about introducing legislation to do the same thing—is a way of terrorizing immigrants, naturalized citizens, and people of color in general. This is the same thing that's being done to trans people. The same thing they do with women. Even if nothing comes of this—and it's possible nothing will—this is a way to bully and incite fear and most importantly try to delegitimize a group (who will then be more vulnerable to whatever attacks might follow). The primary goal of this kind of rhetoric isn't to stir shit; it's to license his base's eliminationist fantasies.
posted by octobersurprise at 10:24 AM on October 31, 2018 [55 favorites]
Worth noting that the birthers and their ilk spent eight years obsessing over this "birthright citizenship" fan fic stuff and that much of that goes back ever farther through the various kinds of sovereign citizen and posse comitatus ideologies and probably back through the birchers. They grasped then, the way they do now, after any story they could use to invalidate the citizenship of anyone they wanted to take it from. Maybe yet they'll haul in the "Jedi" Pauly, the dude who declared that citizenship only travels through the sperm.
There's an argument- and I have tried unsuccessfully to find where I read it- that the Reconstruction amendments, followed by the cases incorporating the bill of rights to apply to the states, functionally ended up creating a new Constitution.
Among sovereign citizens, birchers, nazis, and other fringe right types, this is taken for granted. It's why they call African-Americans—and sometimes others—there's a plethora of overlapping explanations used to justify it—"14th Amendment citizens" to suggest that their citizenship is somehow inferior to white citizens.
Until the President steps forward with an executive order that kicks off the "debate" over birthright citizenship, and the Executive's ability to undo parts of the constitution via EO, where it matters (in the courts, in the Congress), he's still only shit stirring.
I think it's very important to grasp that even if there's no chance at all of eliminating "birthright citizenship," none of this is merely "shit stirring." Even claiming the authority to eliminate the 14th amendment—especially when Senators get up and talk about introducing legislation to do the same thing—is a way of terrorizing immigrants, naturalized citizens, and people of color in general. This is the same thing that's being done to trans people. The same thing they do with women. Even if nothing comes of this—and it's possible nothing will—this is a way to bully and incite fear and most importantly try to delegitimize a group (who will then be more vulnerable to whatever attacks might follow). The primary goal of this kind of rhetoric isn't to stir shit; it's to license his base's eliminationist fantasies.
posted by octobersurprise at 10:24 AM on October 31, 2018 [55 favorites]
It's why they call African-Americans—and sometimes others—there's a plethora of overlapping explanations used to justify it—"14th Amendment citizens"
JFC, I can't get used to this feeling when I find out that some simple-looking single-layer craven shit (kill the 14th amendment to stop anchor babies) is actually just covering for about 37 layers of deep craven nasty dog whistle scheming.
posted by duoshao at 10:48 AM on October 31, 2018 [26 favorites]
JFC, I can't get used to this feeling when I find out that some simple-looking single-layer craven shit (kill the 14th amendment to stop anchor babies) is actually just covering for about 37 layers of deep craven nasty dog whistle scheming.
posted by duoshao at 10:48 AM on October 31, 2018 [26 favorites]
Donnelly open to legislation ending birthright citizenship
"Well, would you prefer a Republican senator be in that seat trying to turn the children of immigrants into stateless unpersons?"
Yes.
He's in a tight reelection. He's an attorney, and knows it's a bullshit non-starter. "Open" means exactly nothing. Beat the shit out of him in the primary, or after the election, otherwise you're just supporting his opponent.
posted by leotrotsky at 10:50 AM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
Compared to the same time period in '14, voters under the age of 30 in Texas have increased their turnout by 508% (not a typo). Voters over the age of 65 in TX increased their turnout by 96%.
Over 1.5 million people under the age of 30 have already voted in this country, despite many states making it near impossible for younger people to vote early. This is compared to only 563,000 votes cast in the same time period in 2014.
posted by gwint at 10:56 AM on October 31, 2018 [70 favorites]
Over 1.5 million people under the age of 30 have already voted in this country, despite many states making it near impossible for younger people to vote early. This is compared to only 563,000 votes cast in the same time period in 2014.
posted by gwint at 10:56 AM on October 31, 2018 [70 favorites]
Donald Trump and other GOP candidates want to radically change a 150-year-old cornerstone of American citizenship This is an article from 2015.
One thing that can't be emphasized enough -- and, tragically, isn't being -- is that the Republican Party is undoing a 220-plus-year-old cornerstone of American governance: That the rule of law, competing interests, and checks and balances (most ably demonstrated by the supine Congressional Republicans actively conspiring to aid Trump in covering up his crimes).
If Trump can undo a Constitutional amendment by executive order, so could any Democratic president. (And given how the Republicans howled about Obama's "tyranny" over his use of executive orders, it's clear that every accusation is indeed a confession, as they must have had just that idea in mind for their own use.)
If these racist would-be tyrants can redefine citizenship away from their fellow Americans, their fellow Americans, should they take power, could do so right back to them.
No one branch of government is entrusted with too much power because one thing the Founders did know, along with their belief in bodily humors, is that any power one faction amassed could eventually be used against it. That's why the rule of law is supposed to, however imperfectly in practice, protect everyone alike.
And that's why the notion of an in-group that the law protects but does not bind and an out-group that the law binds but does not protect is utterly revolting and anathema to the American experiment.
The things the Republicans propose and suggest are beyond illegal -- they're fundamentally un-American.
posted by Gelatin at 10:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [38 favorites]
One thing that can't be emphasized enough -- and, tragically, isn't being -- is that the Republican Party is undoing a 220-plus-year-old cornerstone of American governance: That the rule of law, competing interests, and checks and balances (most ably demonstrated by the supine Congressional Republicans actively conspiring to aid Trump in covering up his crimes).
If Trump can undo a Constitutional amendment by executive order, so could any Democratic president. (And given how the Republicans howled about Obama's "tyranny" over his use of executive orders, it's clear that every accusation is indeed a confession, as they must have had just that idea in mind for their own use.)
If these racist would-be tyrants can redefine citizenship away from their fellow Americans, their fellow Americans, should they take power, could do so right back to them.
No one branch of government is entrusted with too much power because one thing the Founders did know, along with their belief in bodily humors, is that any power one faction amassed could eventually be used against it. That's why the rule of law is supposed to, however imperfectly in practice, protect everyone alike.
And that's why the notion of an in-group that the law protects but does not bind and an out-group that the law binds but does not protect is utterly revolting and anathema to the American experiment.
The things the Republicans propose and suggest are beyond illegal -- they're fundamentally un-American.
posted by Gelatin at 10:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [38 favorites]
Well over 200,000 people who have NEVER voted in any election before now have already cast a ballot in Texas. The state with the second highest number of first time voters, CA, has only 78,000. Keep that in mind as you assess the polls in Texas.
posted by gwint at 10:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [76 favorites]
posted by gwint at 10:57 AM on October 31, 2018 [76 favorites]
My latest Trump, this time a fair bit more realistic, though I did attempt to draw him as an overgrown rage filled child. So, warning, it's pretty intense, and maybe perfect for Halloween.
I think I'm done with these for the time being, other than a long running Dorian Gray image I'm still working on.
This may be a surprise, but I can actually do portraits in a non monstrous fashion, and I think I would like to try drawing some people that are actually decent, as opposed to the spilt fingered mouth breathers I've been posting here for the last 2 years.
I am open to suggestions for doing more positive drawings.
Please take care, all of you, and good luck with the midterms.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 11:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
I think I'm done with these for the time being, other than a long running Dorian Gray image I'm still working on.
This may be a surprise, but I can actually do portraits in a non monstrous fashion, and I think I would like to try drawing some people that are actually decent, as opposed to the spilt fingered mouth breathers I've been posting here for the last 2 years.
I am open to suggestions for doing more positive drawings.
Please take care, all of you, and good luck with the midterms.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 11:13 AM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
Politico: Inside The Trump Administration’s Rudderless Fight To Counter Election Propaganda—The administration is letting individual agencies respond to foreign governments’ attempts to undermine U.S. elections.
Writer Eric Geller had to leave out so many vividly appalling details in his in-depth article, but thankfully he's sharing a selection on Twitter:
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:15 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Writer Eric Geller had to leave out so many vividly appalling details in his in-depth article, but thankfully he's sharing a selection on Twitter:
—There's a bit in the story about these repeated NSC requests for info."We've done a really good job with the low-hanging fruit and the obvious risks,” said Masterson, officially senior adviser for cybersecurity policy at DHS, tried to reassure Politico.
"By the third time it happened," a source told me, "all of us were rolling our eyes, because we were just cutting and pasting from the last time. We can’t figure out why we’re being asked this over and over."
—Then there's the part about preparing a briefing for Trump.
"I shit you not," my source said, "they told us, 'Less words, more pictures.'"
—Another angle that we had to trim was the tension between DHS and other agencies due to DHS's desire to constantly share information with its partners.
Other agencies are more cautious about what to share and how. For DHS, it's partly about establishing credibility outside USG.
—DHS Secretary Nielsen has tried to fill the void left by the White House on this issue.
A source suggested to me that "DHS had a little bit of an emboldened attitude because DOJ was so embattled and perceived as having weak influence within the administration."
—So this is a complicated situation that defies easy narratives.
It is not the case that Trump appointees and their employees are covering their eyes and ears and abdicating their duties.
It *is* the case that the WH's approach is concerning to many current and former officials.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:15 AM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Dan Rather:
Think about this headline: "Trump claims he can defy Constitution and end birthright citizenship" - VP Pence echoes, says Supreme Court may back Trump. Objective Analysis: this is moving from outrageously absurd to truly dangerous. A president says he can defy the constitution!
posted by growabrain at 11:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [36 favorites]
Think about this headline: "Trump claims he can defy Constitution and end birthright citizenship" - VP Pence echoes, says Supreme Court may back Trump. Objective Analysis: this is moving from outrageously absurd to truly dangerous. A president says he can defy the constitution!
posted by growabrain at 11:17 AM on October 31, 2018 [36 favorites]
Dan, starting with the emoluments clause, he's never said otherwise.
Trump Is Violating the Constitution (NYR, Feb. 2017)
In the year since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, a myriad of constitutional issues has so far arisen during his term. (National Constitution Center)
Trump vs. the Constitution: A Guide (Aug. 2016, Politico)
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:25 AM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
Trump Is Violating the Constitution (NYR, Feb. 2017)
In the year since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, a myriad of constitutional issues has so far arisen during his term. (National Constitution Center)
Trump vs. the Constitution: A Guide (Aug. 2016, Politico)
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:25 AM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
There's a lot I like about you, Dan, but you really blew it at a critical moment that paved the way for what we're dealing with now.
posted by Rykey at 11:29 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Rykey at 11:29 AM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Nancy Pelosi on The Late Show last night: “We will win.”
Colbert: “I feel like I should sacrifice a goat to take the hex off of what you just said.”
(Qualified as Democrats will take the House, if they win “big” the Senate too. Probably a geo-locked video clip, unfortunately)
posted by XMLicious at 11:33 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
Colbert: “I feel like I should sacrifice a goat to take the hex off of what you just said.”
(Qualified as Democrats will take the House, if they win “big” the Senate too. Probably a geo-locked video clip, unfortunately)
posted by XMLicious at 11:33 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
But Latino vote experts say their candidates need to be doing all they can to highlight Trump’s latest comments to the Hispanic community.
No, you fuckers. They need to be doing all you can to FIGHT THIS FUCKING FUCKERY. Like, it's not just a matter of "how can my candidates explain that Trump is awful loud enough?" We know. We know that Trump is coming for everyone. We are well fucking aware. What we aren't aware of is how much other people actually care, what they plan to do about it, and what they are actually doing right now while they are still a candidate. If your candidates aren't trash and actually are working to defend people, it will be clear.
posted by corb at 11:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
No, you fuckers. They need to be doing all you can to FIGHT THIS FUCKING FUCKERY. Like, it's not just a matter of "how can my candidates explain that Trump is awful loud enough?" We know. We know that Trump is coming for everyone. We are well fucking aware. What we aren't aware of is how much other people actually care, what they plan to do about it, and what they are actually doing right now while they are still a candidate. If your candidates aren't trash and actually are working to defend people, it will be clear.
posted by corb at 11:38 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
Colbert: “I feel like I should sacrifice a goat to take the hex off of what you just said.”
so the new TTTS is SAG?
posted by numaner at 11:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
so the new TTTS is SAG?
posted by numaner at 11:42 AM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
Don't take this seriously as a real policy goal.
I mean FFS, is the term libsplaining a thing yet? Because I cannot believe that a literal half dozen people felt like they needed to drop some variation of this about the birthright citizenship thing here in response to my "what's the actual scope of the impact of this" question. Yes, we know that the cruelty is the point and the noise and mess, if that's all they get, also serves them. I guess I should be thankful there wasn't an accompanying few lines on the moistness of H2O?
We know voter fraud is also a bullshit made up problem too but we take the time to point out the unbelievable scarcity of it - and the fact that it always seems to be R voters - because facts matter. They don't change racist minds, such as they are, but being able to say "this applies to 9 people but will force all of you to need even more documentation at the DMV" is part of inoculating the squishy middle against this.
posted by phearlez at 11:44 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
I mean FFS, is the term libsplaining a thing yet? Because I cannot believe that a literal half dozen people felt like they needed to drop some variation of this about the birthright citizenship thing here in response to my "what's the actual scope of the impact of this" question. Yes, we know that the cruelty is the point and the noise and mess, if that's all they get, also serves them. I guess I should be thankful there wasn't an accompanying few lines on the moistness of H2O?
We know voter fraud is also a bullshit made up problem too but we take the time to point out the unbelievable scarcity of it - and the fact that it always seems to be R voters - because facts matter. They don't change racist minds, such as they are, but being able to say "this applies to 9 people but will force all of you to need even more documentation at the DMV" is part of inoculating the squishy middle against this.
posted by phearlez at 11:44 AM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
so the new TTTS is SAG?
All the turning, cursing, and spitting we did in 2016 didn't seem to do jack, so sure, let's startsacrificing goats eating goat cheese or whatever.
posted by Uncle Ira at 11:45 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
All the turning, cursing, and spitting we did in 2016 didn't seem to do jack, so sure, let's start
posted by Uncle Ira at 11:45 AM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
right-leaning SCOTUS opinions like Heller, Citizens United, and Hobby Lobby effectively create a "new Constitution" by creating new constitutional rights and doctrines from whole cloth
Not to mention Bush v Gore...
posted by Gelatin at 11:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Not to mention Bush v Gore...
posted by Gelatin at 11:58 AM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
“The ongoing project of the American conservative legal community (scholars, judges, lawyers, think tanks, etc.) is to roll back every aspect of this ever-changing "new Constitution" that they happen to disagree with”
For decades we've been playing piecemeal defense against this highly focused and organized effort so it's not surprising that they've been successful.
I guess this is a rhetorical question, but what would it look like to go on the offensive against this? Yes, yes, we need to GOTV and take back the House, Senate, and Oval Office, etc. but it seems we need something more targeted specifically for this.
posted by duoshao at 12:16 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
For decades we've been playing piecemeal defense against this highly focused and organized effort so it's not surprising that they've been successful.
I guess this is a rhetorical question, but what would it look like to go on the offensive against this? Yes, yes, we need to GOTV and take back the House, Senate, and Oval Office, etc. but it seems we need something more targeted specifically for this.
posted by duoshao at 12:16 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
An ... uhhh ... interesting Halloween message from Ted Cruz [real]
posted by anastasiav at 12:21 PM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 12:21 PM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
phearlez, I found this WP article from a few years ago, providing stats on the history of immigrants as a portion of the whole population. (see if you can spot the subtle difference in the URL and the actual headline.)
A couple take-aways:
- The percentage of 1st and 2nd generation residents as a total of the population (~ 24%) is quite a bit lower now than the 30%-45% we saw in the first half of the 20th century.
- The diminishing size of the European blue bars relative to other segments in the last graph probably explains a lot of why this is suddenly an "issue".
[also, don't read the comments.]
posted by mach at 12:21 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
A couple take-aways:
- The percentage of 1st and 2nd generation residents as a total of the population (~ 24%) is quite a bit lower now than the 30%-45% we saw in the first half of the 20th century.
- The diminishing size of the European blue bars relative to other segments in the last graph probably explains a lot of why this is suddenly an "issue".
[also, don't read the comments.]
posted by mach at 12:21 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Josh Marshall:
What is the deal with Lena Epstein? Is she a nice Jewish girl from suburban Detroit who is actually a secret or well … not so secret alt-righter or a congregant at a Reform Temple who’s secretly part of “Jews for Jesus”?
(It includes the line: ..."Last night it was revealed that Jacobs was actually defrocked years ago by the national “Jews for Jesus” group, making him actually a fake fake rabbi...)"
posted by growabrain at 12:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
What is the deal with Lena Epstein? Is she a nice Jewish girl from suburban Detroit who is actually a secret or well … not so secret alt-righter or a congregant at a Reform Temple who’s secretly part of “Jews for Jesus”?
(It includes the line: ..."Last night it was revealed that Jacobs was actually defrocked years ago by the national “Jews for Jesus” group, making him actually a fake fake rabbi...)"
posted by growabrain at 12:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
People do realize that "Jews for Jesus" is a Christian cult, right?
posted by Melismata at 12:23 PM on October 31, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 12:23 PM on October 31, 2018 [15 favorites]
An ... uhhh ... interesting Halloween message from Ted Cruz [real]
Game, set, match.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:26 PM on October 31, 2018 [43 favorites]
Game, set, match.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:26 PM on October 31, 2018 [43 favorites]
Let's check in on the President, from the pool report:
posted by zachlipton at 12:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
President Trump is now being interviewed by Larry Kudlow.Besides the obvious problem that he can't stick to the script, why is Trump being interviewed by *checks notes* his own advisor?
“Nobody wants to talk about the economy anymore so let’s talk about the economy,” Kudlow said.
Trump used the opportunity to talk about both the caravan and immigration.
Referencing the caravan the president reminded the room, “We want people to come in legally.”
posted by zachlipton at 12:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
An ... uhhh ... interesting Halloween message from Ted Cruz [real]
Ha ha ha, it's funny because the country is full of living relatives and loved ones of the victims of an uncaught serial murderer! ha ha ha!
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [35 favorites]
Ha ha ha, it's funny because the country is full of living relatives and loved ones of the victims of an uncaught serial murderer! ha ha ha!
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [35 favorites]
People do realize that "Jews for Jesus" is a Christian cult, right?
Optimistically, I used to think maybe it was a "we love Jesus but hate Paul", sort of thing. But on closer inspection, yeah, looks like a weirdly-branded evangelical Christian cult.
posted by McCoy Pauley at 12:30 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Optimistically, I used to think maybe it was a "we love Jesus but hate Paul", sort of thing. But on closer inspection, yeah, looks like a weirdly-branded evangelical Christian cult.
posted by McCoy Pauley at 12:30 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Referencing the caravan the president reminded the room, “We want people to come in legally.”
This is your regular reminder that applying for asylum is a legal process and a legal and moral right and obligation, regardless of whether the individual entered the country legally.
posted by Gelatin at 12:32 PM on October 31, 2018 [48 favorites]
This is your regular reminder that applying for asylum is a legal process and a legal and moral right and obligation, regardless of whether the individual entered the country legally.
posted by Gelatin at 12:32 PM on October 31, 2018 [48 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Yesterday in Pittsburgh I was really impressed with Congressman Keith Rothfus (far more so than any other local political figure). His sincere level of compassion, grief and sorrow for the events that took place was, in its own way, very inspiring. Vote for Keith!
Uhhhh. Did he just endorse a candidate he met while visiting a memorial on the basis that he showed a suitable level of grief? Did that just happen? Was his main takeaway from his trip really "wow that guy knows how to look like he cares; I wish I could do that?"
This goes with this morning's tweet in which he made it all about himself and how he was treated by various groups.
@ddale8: It is perhaps interesting that the president is impressed with someone for having sincere grief and sorrow over a mass murder.
posted by zachlipton at 12:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [61 favorites]
Uhhhh. Did he just endorse a candidate he met while visiting a memorial on the basis that he showed a suitable level of grief? Did that just happen? Was his main takeaway from his trip really "wow that guy knows how to look like he cares; I wish I could do that?"
This goes with this morning's tweet in which he made it all about himself and how he was treated by various groups.
@ddale8: It is perhaps interesting that the president is impressed with someone for having sincere grief and sorrow over a mass murder.
posted by zachlipton at 12:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [61 favorites]
So just a little view of the current political climate in my mostly blue city in a very red state: we have a mayoral election this year, with a former police chief running against a long-time city council member. Today I got a campaign flyer from the former police chief in the mail, in which he accuses his opponent of being a Republican and suggests she could have voted for Trump.
From the flyer with the bold and all-caps: [his opponent] "says she is an independent but in fact she is a LIFELONG REGISTERED REPUBLICAN" and "consistently voted in GOP Primaries that included Donald Trump, Andy Barr, and Mitch McConnell'.
posted by dilettante at 12:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
From the flyer with the bold and all-caps: [his opponent] "says she is an independent but in fact she is a LIFELONG REGISTERED REPUBLICAN" and "consistently voted in GOP Primaries that included Donald Trump, Andy Barr, and Mitch McConnell'.
posted by dilettante at 12:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
yeah but have you seen that dude grieve
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
Trump Lashes out at Paul Ryan over birthright citizenship comments
[sl WaPo]
In which smirking fratghoul Paul Ryan continues to eat the meatloaf while also carrying the water.
posted by aspersioncast at 12:46 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
[sl WaPo]
In which smirking fratghoul Paul Ryan continues to eat the meatloaf while also carrying the water.
posted by aspersioncast at 12:46 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Yesterday in Pittsburgh I was really impressed with Congressman Keith Rothfus (far more so than any other local political figure). His sincere level of compassion, grief and sorrow for the events that took place was, in its own way, very inspiring. Vote for Keith!
In my experience, Rothfus has no human emotions of any kind.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
In my experience, Rothfus has no human emotions of any kind.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
People do realize that "Jews for Jesus" is a Christian cult, right?
A cult that was sued (more or less successfully) by Jackie Mason after they featured a cartoon of him in a pamphlet.
What is the deal with Lena Epstein?
So, here's a thing that Marshall didn't touch on in his excellent reading of how incredibly bad at everything Epstein is: She doesn't even live in the district she's running in. It's not a requirement in Michigan, and she doesn't even pretend to have an apartment here. But the 11th is more Republican than where she actually lives (or works, or anywhere else she can claim a connection to) because it was gerrymandered to absolute fuck in 2010.
The 11th (post-gerrymandering) elected a goddamn reindeer farmer to Congress because he had an R by his name. And Lena Epstein may well be about to lose it. Granted, her opponent is a pretty good Democrat who's been working her ass off, but Epstein is absolutely fucking inept.
posted by Etrigan at 12:53 PM on October 31, 2018 [19 favorites]
A cult that was sued (more or less successfully) by Jackie Mason after they featured a cartoon of him in a pamphlet.
What is the deal with Lena Epstein?
So, here's a thing that Marshall didn't touch on in his excellent reading of how incredibly bad at everything Epstein is: She doesn't even live in the district she's running in. It's not a requirement in Michigan, and she doesn't even pretend to have an apartment here. But the 11th is more Republican than where she actually lives (or works, or anywhere else she can claim a connection to) because it was gerrymandered to absolute fuck in 2010.
The 11th (post-gerrymandering) elected a goddamn reindeer farmer to Congress because he had an R by his name. And Lena Epstein may well be about to lose it. Granted, her opponent is a pretty good Democrat who's been working her ass off, but Epstein is absolutely fucking inept.
posted by Etrigan at 12:53 PM on October 31, 2018 [19 favorites]
I know this is ancient history, but I have a theory on that odd "faked leak of a fake sex allegation against Mueller" story, where "Lorraine Parsons" mass-bcc'ed reporters claiming she was offered money to make up allegations against Mueller. But Ms. Parsons didn't check out as a real existing person.
1. Jacob Wohl decides to offer cash for allegations against Mueller, and gets told to piss off by one or more of the women contacted. He knows this is likely to get back to reporters.
2. He creates the fake Lorraine Parsons character who preemptively leaks a fake version of essentially true facts to reporters, to discredit the real scandal. (Pure Roger Stone, may be what happened with Bush Jr. cocaine allegations in 2000).
If you want a deeper level of inception, he may have planned to fabricate an allegation all along, and contacted real former associates of Mueller to create a scenario that might lead reporters to believe he actually found a real incident. But along the way, the Mueller referral to the FBI or just some solid legal advice convinced him he had fucked up and put himself in real legal jeopardy, so he rushed to muddy the waters.
posted by msalt at 12:55 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
1. Jacob Wohl decides to offer cash for allegations against Mueller, and gets told to piss off by one or more of the women contacted. He knows this is likely to get back to reporters.
2. He creates the fake Lorraine Parsons character who preemptively leaks a fake version of essentially true facts to reporters, to discredit the real scandal. (Pure Roger Stone, may be what happened with Bush Jr. cocaine allegations in 2000).
If you want a deeper level of inception, he may have planned to fabricate an allegation all along, and contacted real former associates of Mueller to create a scenario that might lead reporters to believe he actually found a real incident. But along the way, the Mueller referral to the FBI or just some solid legal advice convinced him he had fucked up and put himself in real legal jeopardy, so he rushed to muddy the waters.
posted by msalt at 12:55 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
Very interesting thread from Nick Gourevitch of Dem pollster Global Strategy Group, arguing that a lot of "polling error" is really late movement in the race:
posted by Chrysostom at 12:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [35 favorites]
One of the polling lessons I learned from conducting polling almost up until Election Day in both the 2016 general and the 2017 VA Gov race is that “polling error” is partly late movement (partly!!). There were obviously some methodological issues with 2016 polls around education weighting and urbanity but there was also late movement. In 2017, a lot of those were addressed and we still saw late movement towards Ds. This is very difficult to untangle if you are an outsider like @FiveThirtyEight judging polling error. Especially because some polls do have error and methodological flaws.FWIW, I've seen several other pollsters agreeing.
But I’m really not a fan of judging polls simply by the margin of final result to margin of Election Day. You can do very rigorous poll 2 weeks out and it can look wrong if the race shifts. You can also do a garbage poll 2 weeks out that looks right if the race shifts. Campaigns spend the most resources in the final week(s). Plenty of voters only tune in at the end. The expectation that a poll done 2-3 weeks out needs to predict the result to be “right” is bad. This is especially true in lower info races (House, state leg, ballot proposals).
As campaign pollsters, we almost never do polls in the final days because most decisions have been made and it’s mostly curiosity at that point. But every cycle we do a few and every cycle those are more accurate than the ones we did weeks prior. Imagine that. Anyway, late movement is a thing. It’s real. We’ve done callbacks on pre-election calls to confirm it. All these races aren’t settled. 6 more days. The end.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [35 favorites]
The Great Center-Right Delusion By Paul Krugman/NYTimes
What’s driving American politics off a cliff? Racial hatred and the cynicism of politicians willing to exploit it play a central role. But there are other factors. And an opinion piece by Hertel-Fernandez, Mildenberger, and Stokes in today’s Times (which is actually social science, not opinion!) seems to confirm something I already suspected: misunderstanding of what voters want is distorting both political positioning and public policy.posted by mumimor at 12:58 PM on October 31, 2018 [39 favorites]
What the authors of the piece show is that congressional aides grossly misperceive the views of their bosses’ constituents; this is true in both parties, but more so of Republicans. What they don’t point out explicitly is that with the exception of A.C.A. repeal, Democrats err in the same direction as Republicans, just less so. Specifically, both parties believe that the public is to the right of where it really is.
Ohio vote purge ruling:
A federal appeals court is ruling that the Ohio boards of elections must count provisional ballots in this year's midterm elections for certain individuals who were previously purged from the voter rolls.posted by Chrysostom at 1:00 PM on October 31, 2018 [35 favorites]
A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the ruling on Wednesday, Cleveland.com reported.
The court stipulated that Ohio must count votes cast by people who were purged from the voter rolls between 2011 and 2015 and live in the same county of their last registration. Those voters can cast ballots as long as they were not disqualified from voting due to reasons such as felony conviction, mental incapacity or death.
Specifically, both parties believe that the public is to the right of where it really is
Maybe, but they are responding to voters who are as to the right (or perhaps even far righter) of the general public. That's why voting and increasing the number of voters is so important.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:01 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Maybe, but they are responding to voters who are as to the right (or perhaps even far righter) of the general public. That's why voting and increasing the number of voters is so important.
posted by The_Vegetables at 1:01 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump Lashes out at Paul Ryan over birthright citizenship comments
Media Matters's Matthew Gertz notes that, predictably, Trump's 12:43 pm tweet lambasting Paul Ryan for giving his opinions on birthright citizenship instead of focusing on the midterms followed Fox News interviewed Ryan at 12:01 pm ("You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order. We didn't like it when Obama tried changing immigration laws via executrive action[….]").
Honestly, journalists need to cover Trump's tweets in the context of whatever he's watching on Fox. More often than not, @realDonaldTrump is just an old man shouting at his TV.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
Media Matters's Matthew Gertz notes that, predictably, Trump's 12:43 pm tweet lambasting Paul Ryan for giving his opinions on birthright citizenship instead of focusing on the midterms followed Fox News interviewed Ryan at 12:01 pm ("You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order. We didn't like it when Obama tried changing immigration laws via executrive action[….]").
Honestly, journalists need to cover Trump's tweets in the context of whatever he's watching on Fox. More often than not, @realDonaldTrump is just an old man shouting at his TV.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
I should have linked the piece Krugman links to: Congress Has No Clue What Americans Want
posted by mumimor at 1:02 PM on October 31, 2018
posted by mumimor at 1:02 PM on October 31, 2018
It is perhaps interesting that the president is impressed with someone for having sincere grief and sorrow over a mass murder.
The President is implying that those local politicians who asked him to stay away were not sincere in their concern that the President's presence would be disrespectful of the dead and the grieving and that those local politicians were instead politicizing the tragedy.
He's a terrible person.
posted by notyou at 1:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
The President is implying that those local politicians who asked him to stay away were not sincere in their concern that the President's presence would be disrespectful of the dead and the grieving and that those local politicians were instead politicizing the tragedy.
He's a terrible person.
posted by notyou at 1:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
More often than not, @realDonaldTrump is just an old man shouting at his TV.
As I say every month or so in a megathread: Like you read fortune cookie fortunes as ending with "...in bed.", every Trump tweet should be read as starting with "Long time listener, first time caller...".
posted by Etrigan at 1:09 PM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
As I say every month or so in a megathread: Like you read fortune cookie fortunes as ending with "...in bed.", every Trump tweet should be read as starting with "Long time listener, first time caller...".
posted by Etrigan at 1:09 PM on October 31, 2018 [30 favorites]
also trump doesn't understand that ryan is not seeking re-election, having seen his chances of retaining a majority and therefore the speakership go up in a puff of trumpsmoke, and therefore gives zero fucks whatsoever about maintaining the majority as he prepares to skip off into wingnut welfare land and cash the giant check he wrote himself by passing a giant tax cut that helped seal his party's congressional fate this go-round
posted by murphy slaw at 1:10 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:10 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Today in grift + relentless propaganda = MAGA: for only 30 bucks you can pre-order your own MAGA Lego knock-off box and BUILD YOUR OWN WALL! (This set comes with more than 100 pieces including President Trump in a MAGA hard hat!) So, you know, you can't build too big a wall, but probably big enough wall to keep a horde of mini-figs from expropriating the Malibu Barbie Dream House.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:25 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 1:25 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
A federal appeals court is ruling that the Ohio boards of elections must count provisional ballots in this year's midterm elections for certain individuals who were previously purged from the voter rolls.
Is some Democratic GOTV campaign on this? Get the list, contact individuals with detailed instructions on how to cast provisional ballots, man a hotline to respond to any poll takers who won't accept them?
posted by msalt at 1:25 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Is some Democratic GOTV campaign on this? Get the list, contact individuals with detailed instructions on how to cast provisional ballots, man a hotline to respond to any poll takers who won't accept them?
posted by msalt at 1:25 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
@JenniferJJacobs: Breaking: Trump, talking to reporters before leaving WH for Florida, says troop deployment to border may go up to 10,000 to 15,000 on top of border patrol officers.
Jack Crosbie: Secretary of Defense James Mattis Takes the Coward's Way Out
posted by zombieflanders at 1:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
Jack Crosbie: Secretary of Defense James Mattis Takes the Coward's Way Out
posted by zombieflanders at 1:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
Jeebus H. Christ, the popups that come up on that MAGA Lego link.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Seema Verma, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (in other words, she runs Medicare), tweeted out "This year’s scariest Halloween costume goes to..." and a picture of a "Medicare for all" t-shirt.
In other words, she considers it terrifying that the program she runs could possibly help people under the age of 65, and thinks that's a good joke.
These are just terrible people.
posted by zachlipton at 1:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [92 favorites]
In other words, she considers it terrifying that the program she runs could possibly help people under the age of 65, and thinks that's a good joke.
These are just terrible people.
posted by zachlipton at 1:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [92 favorites]
Army Times: Deployed border troops are preparing for militias stealing their gear, protester violence, documents show
From the papers, the military is preparing to defend against an “estimated 200 unregulated armed militia members currently operating along the [Southwest Border]. Reported Incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments. They operate under the guise of citizen patrols supporting [Customs and Border Patrol] primarily between [Points of Entry].”
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:29 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
From the papers, the military is preparing to defend against an “estimated 200 unregulated armed militia members currently operating along the [Southwest Border]. Reported Incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments. They operate under the guise of citizen patrols supporting [Customs and Border Patrol] primarily between [Points of Entry].”
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:29 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
10-15,000 troops? By the time the stragglers who are still in the caravan approach the US-Mexico border, the scene will look like the Cook County Assessor's office from the Blues Brothers.
posted by delfin at 1:31 PM on October 31, 2018 [51 favorites]
posted by delfin at 1:31 PM on October 31, 2018 [51 favorites]
What the authors of the piece show is that congressional aides grossly misperceive the views of their bosses’ constituents; this is true in both parties, but more so of Republicans.
Sure, proposals that are quite left-sounding poll surprisingly well. But then people vote for Republicans anyway. So, I don't know that constituent views are as clear as all that - actions speak louder than words.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sure, proposals that are quite left-sounding poll surprisingly well. But then people vote for Republicans anyway. So, I don't know that constituent views are as clear as all that - actions speak louder than words.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sure, proposals that are quite left-sounding poll surprisingly well. But then people vote for Republicans anyway. So, I don't know that constituent views are as clear as all that - actions speak louder than words.
Isn't the point that most people don't vote? I dunno
posted by mumimor at 1:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Isn't the point that most people don't vote? I dunno
posted by mumimor at 1:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Note to South Carolina kids: Consider skipping Mark Sanford’s house this year
posted by growabrain at 1:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 1:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Ugh, the new mailer from the Pennsylvania Republican Party on behalf of gov-wannabe Scott Wagner screams in all-caps that IF YOU DON'T VOTE, THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP. The graphics are, um, crappy. Front: a pair of ambiguously ethnic tattooed folks, one of whom is (Photoshoppedly) carrying an Impeach Trump sign. Back: Photo Wagner, four times the size of DJT's picture.
Dear Pa. GOP,
Attached is a Scott Wagner mailer that I received on October 31, 2018. I feel that you should be aware that some asshole is signing your name to stupid, racist, badly Photoshopped propaganda.
Very truly yours,
An impeachment supporter
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
Dear Pa. GOP,
Attached is a Scott Wagner mailer that I received on October 31, 2018. I feel that you should be aware that some asshole is signing your name to stupid, racist, badly Photoshopped propaganda.
Very truly yours,
An impeachment supporter
posted by MonkeyToes at 1:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
Ex-CIA Agent's Congressional Campaign Says James O'Keefe's Project Veritas Infiltrated It
The campaign of Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger announced on Thursday that it had discovered and removed an operative for James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas who had posed as a volunteer and infiltrated its staff.
The operative, who went by the name Monica Nelson, appears to have been Marisa Jorge, a New York-based official who has been previously exposed after embedding with other political campaigns. Justin Jones, Spanberger’s communications director, said that Nelson had been on the campaign as a volunteer for several weeks. She had shown up at the offices with the appearance of being pregnant and said she was bored at home and wanted to help out.
posted by PenDevil at 1:38 PM on October 31, 2018 [19 favorites]
The campaign of Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger announced on Thursday that it had discovered and removed an operative for James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas who had posed as a volunteer and infiltrated its staff.
The operative, who went by the name Monica Nelson, appears to have been Marisa Jorge, a New York-based official who has been previously exposed after embedding with other political campaigns. Justin Jones, Spanberger’s communications director, said that Nelson had been on the campaign as a volunteer for several weeks. She had shown up at the offices with the appearance of being pregnant and said she was bored at home and wanted to help out.
posted by PenDevil at 1:38 PM on October 31, 2018 [19 favorites]
(This set comes with more than 100 pieces including President Trump in a MAGA hard hat!)
It's not even a flattering faux-LEGO likeness.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's not even a flattering faux-LEGO likeness.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
@JenniferJJacobs: Breaking: Trump, talking to reporters before leaving WH for Florida, says troop deployment to border may go up to 10,000 to 15,000 on top of border patrol officers.
@adam_wola [receipts behind the link]:
@adam_wola [receipts behind the link]:
What is even going on here?posted by zachlipton at 1:41 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Left: Yesterday. The general who heads U.S. Northern Command saying "14,000 troops at the border? I don't even know where that came from."
Right: Today. The president saying "yeah how about 15,000."
It'll be a million fresh troops by Monday night.
posted by notyou at 1:43 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by notyou at 1:43 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
It's not even a flattering faux-LEGO likeness.
No, somehow fascinating that even a pro-trump faux lego marketeer portrays him as an ugly yellow and shouty blob.
posted by mumimor at 1:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
No, somehow fascinating that even a pro-trump faux lego marketeer portrays him as an ugly yellow and shouty blob.
posted by mumimor at 1:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Shouldn't the states rights right wingers be throwing a fit about this blatant incursion of Federal troops?
posted by PenDevil at 1:46 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 1:46 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
I won't buy the faux-Lego MAGA wall set but I am truly tempted, precisely because that is one very angry toy Trump. He looks super pissed.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:47 PM on October 31, 2018
posted by Bella Donna at 1:47 PM on October 31, 2018
trump's actual statement was that he would deploy "up to anywhere between 10 and 15,000 military personnel" to the border, which, if parsed carefully, means that if he sends no troops at all he still told the truth.
emphasis mine
posted by murphy slaw at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
emphasis mine
posted by murphy slaw at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
Doesn't Paul Ryan still have an active role in the Congressional Leadership Fund SuperPAC?
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018
So the wall will be just be a Baltic Chain with guns?
Giving them no actual jurisdiction or authority will no doubt serve to actualize a currently non-existent situation.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018
Giving them no actual jurisdiction or authority will no doubt serve to actualize a currently non-existent situation.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:48 PM on October 31, 2018
10-15,000 troops? By the time the stragglers who are still in the caravan approach the US-Mexico border, the scene will look like the Cook County Assessor's office from the Blues Brothers.
If they won't build his wall for him he'll just make it out of people.
posted by scalefree at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
If they won't build his wall for him he'll just make it out of people.
posted by scalefree at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
No, he'll just use the troops to start interrogating and detaining everyone who "doesn't look like a citizen".
posted by Autumnheart at 2:01 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 2:01 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Seema Verma, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (in other words, she runs Medicare), tweeted out "This year’s scariest Halloween costume goes to..." and a picture of a "Medicare for all" t-shirt.
I work on a government contract related to Medicare. I was in a phone meeting just now that included one of her deputies when she tweeted this. The meeting was about making healthcare pricing more transparent to Medicare beneficiaries. This has become one of the most important initiatives of the administration. One of her deputies was in the meeting. (I'm pretty certain everyone but me was apparently unaware of the tweet.) We were getting a briefing about some behavioral research on whether beneficiaries use healthcare price transparency tools available to them. The answer is no, they do not. At least not yet. When her deputy heard this part of the briefing, he refused to accept it. Refused to accept the facts, or any of the possible explanations. He repeated an anecdote I've heard him say before: his elderly mother will drive long distances to save 3 cents on a gallon of gas. He was told by multiple people well versed in the material, from inside and outside the agency, that shopping for healthcare is not the same as shopping for gas or food or clothing.
I'm sorry my thoughts are so disorganized. I'm filled with rage. And growing my once-small and easy-to-ignore suspicion that "making prices more transparent" really equates to a desired future of forcing people to choose option B over option A, rather than just making options more clear and easier to understand.
Also, I want to say this: My clients inside of CMS are good people. They're incredibly resilient, and knowledgeable, and thoughtful, and kind. I don't know how they put up with this. As angry as I personally feel, I know they will be heartbroken and mortified and torn.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [91 favorites]
I work on a government contract related to Medicare. I was in a phone meeting just now that included one of her deputies when she tweeted this. The meeting was about making healthcare pricing more transparent to Medicare beneficiaries. This has become one of the most important initiatives of the administration. One of her deputies was in the meeting. (I'm pretty certain everyone but me was apparently unaware of the tweet.) We were getting a briefing about some behavioral research on whether beneficiaries use healthcare price transparency tools available to them. The answer is no, they do not. At least not yet. When her deputy heard this part of the briefing, he refused to accept it. Refused to accept the facts, or any of the possible explanations. He repeated an anecdote I've heard him say before: his elderly mother will drive long distances to save 3 cents on a gallon of gas. He was told by multiple people well versed in the material, from inside and outside the agency, that shopping for healthcare is not the same as shopping for gas or food or clothing.
I'm sorry my thoughts are so disorganized. I'm filled with rage. And growing my once-small and easy-to-ignore suspicion that "making prices more transparent" really equates to a desired future of forcing people to choose option B over option A, rather than just making options more clear and easier to understand.
Also, I want to say this: My clients inside of CMS are good people. They're incredibly resilient, and knowledgeable, and thoughtful, and kind. I don't know how they put up with this. As angry as I personally feel, I know they will be heartbroken and mortified and torn.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [91 favorites]
If they won't build his wall for him he'll just make it out of people.
Soylent Screen
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:03 PM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
Soylent Screen
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:03 PM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
Donnelly open to legislation ending birthright citizenship
Donnelly’s down in the polls. It was hard to check that box for him when I early voted Saturday. But a pretend Democrat in that seat really is preferable to the Trump rubber-stamp that’s running against him. At least Donnelly didn’t vote 100% with Republicans. For Indiana, that’s about the best you can hope for these days.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
Donnelly’s down in the polls. It was hard to check that box for him when I early voted Saturday. But a pretend Democrat in that seat really is preferable to the Trump rubber-stamp that’s running against him. At least Donnelly didn’t vote 100% with Republicans. For Indiana, that’s about the best you can hope for these days.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
Shouldn't the states rights right wingers be throwing a fit about this blatant incursion of Federal troops?
The order came from the WHITE House, so it’s all good.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:08 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
The order came from the WHITE House, so it’s all good.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:08 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
reminder: after today, you trump won't have Don McGahn to kick around anymore:
Former White House Counsel Don McGahn ended his tumultuous tenure at the White House with one last encounter in which President Donald Trump blamed him for Robert Mueller's appointment, sources close to McGahn tell CNN.posted by murphy slaw at 2:08 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
In a face-to-face Oval Office meeting, the President groused to McGahn about Mueller's appointment made on McGahn's watch as White House counsel, and the cloud the investigation has continued to cast over the presidency, the people familiar with the conversation said.
Sources say while the President was fixated on Mueller, he also gave McGahn high marks for other matters during his time as the top White House lawyer, as CNN previously reported. One source said the President's continued frustration about Mueller is another example of him shifting blame for the ongoing Russia investigation.
McGahn had decided it was time to go and he left before the background investigation was complete for the incoming White House counsel Pat Cipollone, one source familiar said.
"Typically you would have the incumbent stay until the successor was ready to take his place. But in this case, McGahn was tired of the President and the President was tired of McGahn." The source added while the departure was "positive," both men recognized it was time for McGahn to go. "He didn't want to stay on and the President didn't want him to stay."
At least Donnelly didn’t vote 100% with Republicans. For Indiana, that’s about the best you can hope for these days.
Montana's no blue state but it has Tester, who despite fighting to keep his seat has not promoted removing the legal personhood from future generations of children. I do not buy that we need to look the other way on red-state democrats' support of crimes against humanity.
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:11 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
Montana's no blue state but it has Tester, who despite fighting to keep his seat has not promoted removing the legal personhood from future generations of children. I do not buy that we need to look the other way on red-state democrats' support of crimes against humanity.
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:11 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
No, he'll just use the troops to start interrogating and detaining everyone who "doesn't look like a citizen".
Possibly, but with his current batch DoD explicitly said they would act in accordance with the Posse Comitatus Act: "O’Shaughnessy on Monday said the military will conduct all of its operations at the border “in adherence to posse comitatus.”"
Trump could certainly try to assert some sort of inherent Constitutional power to overrule posse comitatus if he wanted, but he hasn't yet and would have to before troops start detaining people.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:12 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Possibly, but with his current batch DoD explicitly said they would act in accordance with the Posse Comitatus Act: "O’Shaughnessy on Monday said the military will conduct all of its operations at the border “in adherence to posse comitatus.”"
Trump could certainly try to assert some sort of inherent Constitutional power to overrule posse comitatus if he wanted, but he hasn't yet and would have to before troops start detaining people.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:12 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
McGahn had decided it was time to go and he left before the background investigation was complete for the incoming White House counsel Pat Cipollone, one source familiar said.
I seriously can’t even imagine why they’re bothering with background investigations anymore. Are they afraid he’s not corrupt and criminal?
posted by Etrigan at 2:18 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
I seriously can’t even imagine why they’re bothering with background investigations anymore. Are they afraid he’s not corrupt and criminal?
posted by Etrigan at 2:18 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
I guess I'm reading Donnelly differently. To me, saying "I'll take a look at whether it's Constitutional" is a nice way of saying "no fucking way" without losing voters.
I'm more concerned about McCaskill calling the Democratic base "crazies". If, say, Manchin had said it he'd be getting pilloried.
posted by Justinian at 2:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'm more concerned about McCaskill calling the Democratic base "crazies". If, say, Manchin had said it he'd be getting pilloried.
posted by Justinian at 2:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
note: still vote for McCaskill
posted by Justinian at 2:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [14 favorites]
He was told by multiple people well versed in the material, from inside and outside the agency, that shopping for healthcare is not the same as shopping for gas or food or clothing.
This is just so rage inducing, and I'm sorry your meeting was so frustrating. I know someone who is unusually equipped to operate the health care system. As in, she worked in the legal department of a major health insurance company for many years. And finding herself with a high deductible health plan (so the cost would be out of pocket) and a need for a screening colonoscopy, she tried to do the responsible consumer behavior of comparing prices. And could not do it. No available online tool, no series of phone calls were capable of producing an answer to the basic question of "how much will this cost?"
And this is pretty much the best-case scenario for health care shopping where it should really be like buying a TV. It's a preventative screening exam, so she feels fine and there's no urgency whatsoever, it's a neatly packaged service that can be easily described, there are a bunch of providers and facilities that would all be perfectly fine, prices vary a decent amount. And it was impossible. It's somehow even more impossible to price shop under the typical circumstances when someone is sick, scared, needs care urgently, has limited choices, doesn't know exactly what they'll need, and isn't an actual expert in navigating the health care system.
But all we hear from Verma and friends is "free market" this and raise deductibles so consumers have "skin in the game" that. It's never worked, and it hurts so many people in the process.
posted by zachlipton at 2:20 PM on October 31, 2018 [71 favorites]
This is just so rage inducing, and I'm sorry your meeting was so frustrating. I know someone who is unusually equipped to operate the health care system. As in, she worked in the legal department of a major health insurance company for many years. And finding herself with a high deductible health plan (so the cost would be out of pocket) and a need for a screening colonoscopy, she tried to do the responsible consumer behavior of comparing prices. And could not do it. No available online tool, no series of phone calls were capable of producing an answer to the basic question of "how much will this cost?"
And this is pretty much the best-case scenario for health care shopping where it should really be like buying a TV. It's a preventative screening exam, so she feels fine and there's no urgency whatsoever, it's a neatly packaged service that can be easily described, there are a bunch of providers and facilities that would all be perfectly fine, prices vary a decent amount. And it was impossible. It's somehow even more impossible to price shop under the typical circumstances when someone is sick, scared, needs care urgently, has limited choices, doesn't know exactly what they'll need, and isn't an actual expert in navigating the health care system.
But all we hear from Verma and friends is "free market" this and raise deductibles so consumers have "skin in the game" that. It's never worked, and it hurts so many people in the process.
posted by zachlipton at 2:20 PM on October 31, 2018 [71 favorites]
I do not buy that we need to look the other way on red-state democrats' support of crimes against humanity.
Sure. I agree. Those ideals are what primaries are for. But, when you’re down to the general election, and you only have shit choices on the ballot, you vote for the least smelly one because the really smelly one would carry Trump’s love child if he could.
Or should I simply not vote at all? That’s not an option this year.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
Sure. I agree. Those ideals are what primaries are for. But, when you’re down to the general election, and you only have shit choices on the ballot, you vote for the least smelly one because the really smelly one would carry Trump’s love child if he could.
Or should I simply not vote at all? That’s not an option this year.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
As long it's with the assumption that those mefites in his district will hold their noses and vote for him over any Republican I don't see why not?
None of these comments should be read as, "...and therefore you should vote for the Republican." So, like, just proceed knowing that no matter how harsh a comment someone might make, they know that voting against them in their next primary and contacting them to voice their displeasure is how any of us will react.
If you don't think Donnelly's actions merit a primary challenge or angry calls from constituents, that's all you're arguing against.
We do need to look the other way when it comes to the general and we all know that, anything else is fair game.
posted by VTX at 2:32 PM on October 31, 2018
None of these comments should be read as, "...and therefore you should vote for the Republican." So, like, just proceed knowing that no matter how harsh a comment someone might make, they know that voting against them in their next primary and contacting them to voice their displeasure is how any of us will react.
If you don't think Donnelly's actions merit a primary challenge or angry calls from constituents, that's all you're arguing against.
We do need to look the other way when it comes to the general and we all know that, anything else is fair game.
posted by VTX at 2:32 PM on October 31, 2018
He repeated an anecdote I've heard him say before: his elderly mother will drive long distances to save 3 cents on a gallon of gas.
This is actually inefficient, his elderly mother (if true, and that's a big if) is using more gas than she would save on the 3 cent savings. So actually it's exactly like healthcare, where a lot of people choose perceived savings over the reality of actual higher costs.
posted by corb at 2:33 PM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
This is actually inefficient, his elderly mother (if true, and that's a big if) is using more gas than she would save on the 3 cent savings. So actually it's exactly like healthcare, where a lot of people choose perceived savings over the reality of actual higher costs.
posted by corb at 2:33 PM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
we don't need to dive head-first down this rabbit hole every time a marginally useful democrat gives a vague pseudo-answer to a loaded question in the week before midterms, also
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [21 favorites]
Mod note: This "red-district Dem waffles, threat or menace" thing is pretty darn well-trod ground, maybe folks who want to tread it again can go read one o the previous iterations?
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
We've been through this a thousand times in here. Given the option, you should absolutely show up and vote for the lesser of two evils in a general election.
The only alternative to voting for the lesser-evil effectively gives a fraction of a vote to the more-evil option.
That's it. Those are your two choices at this juncture. You don't need to feel guilty about opting for harm-reduction. If anything, it's a moral imperative to vote for the least-bad option that has a chance of winning.
posted by schmod at 2:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [36 favorites]
The only alternative to voting for the lesser-evil effectively gives a fraction of a vote to the more-evil option.
That's it. Those are your two choices at this juncture. You don't need to feel guilty about opting for harm-reduction. If anything, it's a moral imperative to vote for the least-bad option that has a chance of winning.
posted by schmod at 2:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [36 favorites]
And finding herself with a high deductible health plan (so the cost would be out of pocket) and a need for a screening colonoscopy, she tried to do the responsible consumer behavior of comparing prices. And could not do it. No available online tool, no series of phone calls were capable of producing an answer to the basic question of "how much will this cost?"
Yes, I've had similar experiences. Including calling up every provider/facility/company ahead of my husband's neurosurgery to ask "I don't care what words you use to describe it: How MANY DOLLARS WILL I OWE YOU when this is all done?" and being told zero dollars, and then getting a bill for $2000.
And this is pretty much the best-case scenario for health care shopping where it should really be like buying a TV.
This is what the government wants--regardless of their motive. This is what consumers want. This is, however, not what insurance companies or physicians or hospitals want. Or lobbyists. Because they will all lose revenue. Ambulatory surgical centers uniformly cost way, way less for outpatient procedures than do the same procedures done as an outpatient at a hospital. But the hospital won't make money if you go somewhere else because they can't charge you $45 for an aspirin and $91 for a breakfast plate that looks and smells like cow vomit and oh by the way when you were unconscious we used an out-of-network "consultant" on your case and please write us a check for $3200. And the doctor will probably make less money too. And the insurance company will get screwed, because [insert byzantine insurance company billing scheme bullshit here].
But all we hear from Verma and friends is "free market" this and raise deductibles so consumers have "skin in the game" that. It's never worked, and it hurts so many people in the process.
Yes. I'd thought all this price transparency work was in service of sustaining the long-term health of the Medicare trust fund. So, you know, other people could use it later. I mean, those are the actual words used as business goals and whatnot for all these projects. But then I see a swinging dick like the one I saw today, and I just....
The main reason people aren't able to accurately shop right now--even if they want to--is because the data has no interoperability, and no reliability. It isn't available, and when it is, it doesn't play nicely with other data, and it may not represent your true out of pocket cost. So why would you use it? This will change over time; this is in fact actively being worked on inside the agency right now. But it will take years for consumers to trust the data once it's all available. It's a years-long arc. I fear the state of things by then.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [40 favorites]
Yes, I've had similar experiences. Including calling up every provider/facility/company ahead of my husband's neurosurgery to ask "I don't care what words you use to describe it: How MANY DOLLARS WILL I OWE YOU when this is all done?" and being told zero dollars, and then getting a bill for $2000.
And this is pretty much the best-case scenario for health care shopping where it should really be like buying a TV.
This is what the government wants--regardless of their motive. This is what consumers want. This is, however, not what insurance companies or physicians or hospitals want. Or lobbyists. Because they will all lose revenue. Ambulatory surgical centers uniformly cost way, way less for outpatient procedures than do the same procedures done as an outpatient at a hospital. But the hospital won't make money if you go somewhere else because they can't charge you $45 for an aspirin and $91 for a breakfast plate that looks and smells like cow vomit and oh by the way when you were unconscious we used an out-of-network "consultant" on your case and please write us a check for $3200. And the doctor will probably make less money too. And the insurance company will get screwed, because [insert byzantine insurance company billing scheme bullshit here].
But all we hear from Verma and friends is "free market" this and raise deductibles so consumers have "skin in the game" that. It's never worked, and it hurts so many people in the process.
Yes. I'd thought all this price transparency work was in service of sustaining the long-term health of the Medicare trust fund. So, you know, other people could use it later. I mean, those are the actual words used as business goals and whatnot for all these projects. But then I see a swinging dick like the one I saw today, and I just....
The main reason people aren't able to accurately shop right now--even if they want to--is because the data has no interoperability, and no reliability. It isn't available, and when it is, it doesn't play nicely with other data, and it may not represent your true out of pocket cost. So why would you use it? This will change over time; this is in fact actively being worked on inside the agency right now. But it will take years for consumers to trust the data once it's all available. It's a years-long arc. I fear the state of things by then.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [40 favorites]
the bolshevik larpers in trotskyist and marxist-leninist groups have this concept of "democratic centralism," generally sloganized as "democracy in debate, unity in action." basically the idea is that there's free debate up until the group votes on what to do, after which point debate is over and everyone in the group must enthusiastically support the decision the group has made, whether or not they agree with that decision.
it's a hallmark of our shitty times that we're forced to basically embrace democratic centralism in the defense of idiot "moderatism," but, well, that's where we are.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 2:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
it's a hallmark of our shitty times that we're forced to basically embrace democratic centralism in the defense of idiot "moderatism," but, well, that's where we are.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 2:39 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
raise deductibles so consumers have "skin in the game"
Like, in addition to the literal skin that medical care consumers already have "in the game"?
posted by mabelstreet at 2:43 PM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
Like, in addition to the literal skin that medical care consumers already have "in the game"?
posted by mabelstreet at 2:43 PM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
homunculus: In court documents filed this week, attorneys for Patrick Stein, Curtis Allen, and Gavin Wright, say the men were influenced by Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric and Russian propaganda on social media and argue that life sentences against their clients would not deter others from committing similar crimes.
Tough break, chaps. We know longer jail sentences don't deter criminals ("This matters for policy, as it suggests that locking vast numbers of people in jail is not only expensive, but useless as a deterrent"), but this, and the growth of private prisons, came from the GOP's "tough on crime" spree that started in the 1980s. Can't be seen to be soft on crime, or the criminals win, right? Oh wait, criminals are people, too. Often POC. [Want more depressing US statistics on prisons? See these International Incarceration Comparisons.]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:45 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Tough break, chaps. We know longer jail sentences don't deter criminals ("This matters for policy, as it suggests that locking vast numbers of people in jail is not only expensive, but useless as a deterrent"), but this, and the growth of private prisons, came from the GOP's "tough on crime" spree that started in the 1980s. Can't be seen to be soft on crime, or the criminals win, right? Oh wait, criminals are people, too. Often POC. [Want more depressing US statistics on prisons? See these International Incarceration Comparisons.]
posted by filthy light thief at 2:45 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
raise deductibles so consumers have "skin in the game"
The phrase 'skin in the game' (as used in 2018) means the person you are talking to knows nothing about economics, as the prisoners dilemma and tragedy of the commons both show that literal skin in the game is not enough to guarantee optimal outcomes.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:55 PM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
The phrase 'skin in the game' (as used in 2018) means the person you are talking to knows nothing about economics, as the prisoners dilemma and tragedy of the commons both show that literal skin in the game is not enough to guarantee optimal outcomes.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:55 PM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
Iris Gambol: Trump vs. the Constitution: A Guide (Aug. 2016, Politico)
Addition via NPR -- FACT CHECK: 14th Amendment On Citizenship Cannot Be Overwritten By Executive Order (Oct. 30, 2018)
scaryblackdeath: From the papers, the military is preparing to defend against an “estimated 200 unregulated armed militia members currently operating along the [Southwest Border]. Reported Incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments. They operate under the guise of citizen patrols supporting [Customs and Border Patrol] primarily between [Points of Entry].”
I have met the enemy, and he is us. Specifically, he is the faux-military "us" who think that it's OK to steal the actual military's gear and undermine actual military exercises and capacity.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:00 PM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
Addition via NPR -- FACT CHECK: 14th Amendment On Citizenship Cannot Be Overwritten By Executive Order (Oct. 30, 2018)
scaryblackdeath: From the papers, the military is preparing to defend against an “estimated 200 unregulated armed militia members currently operating along the [Southwest Border]. Reported Incidents of unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment during deployments. They operate under the guise of citizen patrols supporting [Customs and Border Patrol] primarily between [Points of Entry].”
I have met the enemy, and he is us. Specifically, he is the faux-military "us" who think that it's OK to steal the actual military's gear and undermine actual military exercises and capacity.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:00 PM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
unregulated militias stealing National Guard equipment
Does this mean unregulated militias are stealing guns from our well-regulated militia? Wonder what the writers of the second amendment would think of that.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [32 favorites]
Does this mean unregulated militias are stealing guns from our well-regulated militia? Wonder what the writers of the second amendment would think of that.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [32 favorites]
"Unregulated militias are stealing national guard equipment" is one way to sell the plausibly-deniable buildup of paramilitaries.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:10 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:10 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
ImproviseOrDie: He repeated an anecdote I've heard him say before: his elderly mother will drive long distances to save 3 cents on a gallon of gas. He was told by multiple people well versed in the material, from inside and outside the agency, that shopping for healthcare is not the same as shopping for gas or food or clothing.
I wonder if his mother knows she's being used as an anecdote for "old people are dumb."
The fact that this person has no empathy or sympathy for his own mother and is willing to use her as a prop for his broken analogies is no longer sad, it's expected of Trump and Co.
Meanwhile: Verizon won’t speed up 5G buildout despite FCC preempting local fees -- Verizon also lowering capital investment in 2018 despite net neutrality repeal. (Jon Brodkin for Ars Technica, Oct. 31, 2018)
Really, the headline and sub-line say it all. FCC sold out local jurisdiction's authority and gutted its power and potential to actually charge for the time it takes to review what is often a visual blight of cell phone antennas for ... nothing. Absolutely nothing.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:13 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
I wonder if his mother knows she's being used as an anecdote for "old people are dumb."
The fact that this person has no empathy or sympathy for his own mother and is willing to use her as a prop for his broken analogies is no longer sad, it's expected of Trump and Co.
Meanwhile: Verizon won’t speed up 5G buildout despite FCC preempting local fees -- Verizon also lowering capital investment in 2018 despite net neutrality repeal. (Jon Brodkin for Ars Technica, Oct. 31, 2018)
Really, the headline and sub-line say it all. FCC sold out local jurisdiction's authority and gutted its power and potential to actually charge for the time it takes to review what is often a visual blight of cell phone antennas for ... nothing. Absolutely nothing.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:13 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
"Well, this looks a good spot to store this large cache of weapons and vehicles for a bit, hmm, yeah, I'll just set the documentation right on top here so I don't misplace it. I sure hope none of those darn patriotic militia groups happen to COME BY AND TAKE THEM WHILE I GO OVER HERE FOR A WHILE."
posted by contraption at 3:15 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by contraption at 3:15 PM on October 31, 2018 [11 favorites]
Reuters: The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is pursuing a wide-ranging examination of former White House adviser Steve Bannon’s activities during the 2016 presidential campaign, three sources familiar with the inquiry told Reuters.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 3:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [34 favorites]
Meanwhile: Verizon won’t speed up 5G buildout despite FCC preempting local fees -- Verizon also lowering capital investment in 2018 despite net neutrality repeal.
This is exactly the type of thing I expected would happen with NN repealed. There's now less incentive to invest in the infrastructure. Why invest in beating the competition when you can just charge your customers more, charging them for things you weren't allowed to charge for in the past?
posted by azpenguin at 3:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
This is exactly the type of thing I expected would happen with NN repealed. There's now less incentive to invest in the infrastructure. Why invest in beating the competition when you can just charge your customers more, charging them for things you weren't allowed to charge for in the past?
posted by azpenguin at 3:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
Montana's no blue state but it has Tester, who despite fighting to keep his seat has not promoted removing the legal personhood from future generations of children.
In 2010, when Democrats had a majority, Jon Tester, along with four other Democratic senators, voted against the DREAM Act to protect immigrant children. The DREAM Act failed 55/41 by five votes. That was the last possible chance of getting a DREAM Act.
Face it. Red state Democrats are always walking a fine line.
posted by JackFlash at 3:24 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
In 2010, when Democrats had a majority, Jon Tester, along with four other Democratic senators, voted against the DREAM Act to protect immigrant children. The DREAM Act failed 55/41 by five votes. That was the last possible chance of getting a DREAM Act.
Face it. Red state Democrats are always walking a fine line.
posted by JackFlash at 3:24 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
Harry Enten and the Nates go FULL BETO.
kinda.
posted by Justinian at 3:26 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
kinda.
posted by Justinian at 3:26 PM on October 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
Brian Kemp decided he would rather hang out with Trump on Sunday afternoon than attend a long scheduled debate with his opponents for the Georgia governor's race. (almost as though he planned it this way to get out of having a debate)
Then he lied and said Stacey Abrams "cancelled" the debate.
Now the tv station hosting it is trying to get all three candidates to agree to Kemp's preferred date of Monday night.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Then he lied and said Stacey Abrams "cancelled" the debate.
Now the tv station hosting it is trying to get all three candidates to agree to Kemp's preferred date of Monday night.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
@JenniferJJacobs: Breaking: Trump, talking to reporters before leaving WH for Florida, says troop deployment to border may go up to 10,000 to 15,000 on top of border patrol officers.
Think Progress's Aaron Rupar has the video:
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
Think Progress's Aaron Rupar has the video:
—Trump says he plans to deploy "up to 15,000" troops to the southern border to deal with a caravan of migrants that's a fraction of that size."I wouldn't be surprised"?!? Does Trump think that he can hide his incitement behind a statement like that? He will have more blood on his hands before Election Day at this rate.
For context, America has less than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan.
—Trump promises concentration camps and indefinite detention for border-crossers: "One other thing -- important -- we're not doing any releases anymore... We'll build tent cities, whatever we have to build in terms of housing. We're not doing releases."
—REPORTER: Do think somebody is funding the caravan?
TRUMP: "I wouldn't be surprised, yeah. I wouldn't be surprised."
R: George Soros?
T: "I don't know who, but I wouldn't be surprised. A lot of people say yes."
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [16 favorites]
Harry Enten and the Nates
I saw them open for Talking Heads at CBGB in '78.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:45 PM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
I saw them open for Talking Heads at CBGB in '78.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:45 PM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
R: George Soros?
What if reporters didn't try to bait Trump into spreading anti-Semitic conspiracies? Like, that's actually not something they need to do, and playing the 10,000th round of "will Trump agree with whatever nonsense he last hears?" is no longer a useful exercise. It's entirely possible to even ask the question without suggesting an answer.
posted by zachlipton at 3:50 PM on October 31, 2018 [79 favorites]
What if reporters didn't try to bait Trump into spreading anti-Semitic conspiracies? Like, that's actually not something they need to do, and playing the 10,000th round of "will Trump agree with whatever nonsense he last hears?" is no longer a useful exercise. It's entirely possible to even ask the question without suggesting an answer.
posted by zachlipton at 3:50 PM on October 31, 2018 [79 favorites]
Just wanted to throw this out there, I want to thank people who have provided links/ resources to turn comments into actionable items on here. I was going to quote comments but as I was reading it turned into too many to quote but for example: things like "do things to help people vote instead of judging them for not voting" or "boycott Fox News advertisers" or "this candidate in this race could use some support" etc. etc.
I love it when people include, when they make comments like this, additional suggestions and especially links to help us do something helpful faster. Wanna help people get out the vote? Donate/volunteer here, check out this resource. This candidate needs help- here's the link. Boycott Fox news advertisers, here's a link to a site I've found to be current and accurate about this stuff.
I get that for megathread regulars it might seem like these things are old news- for example, Sleeping Giants- so they don't get explicitly mentioned/linked. But the information overload these days is so intense and ever increasing- especially when trying to follow it all and balance it with our day jobs or whatever else- for me, anyway, I do forget these things and it takes some effort and googling to find them again. I'm not such a precious snowflake that I can't google for ten minutes to figure out what the name of Sleeping Giants was again, but when there are twenty horrible news stories every day and twenty things to donate to/ volunteer for/ boycott, every little shortcut helps us be more efficient. Personally, the repetition of things in these threads doesn't bother me, it helps. I must have seen Postcards to Voters get suggested at least twenty times before I actually decided I wanted to do it (and I did)! Plus even though many of us are regulars, who knows whether lots of people who never comment are reading, people who are new, etc.
posted by robotdevil at 3:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [50 favorites]
I love it when people include, when they make comments like this, additional suggestions and especially links to help us do something helpful faster. Wanna help people get out the vote? Donate/volunteer here, check out this resource. This candidate needs help- here's the link. Boycott Fox news advertisers, here's a link to a site I've found to be current and accurate about this stuff.
I get that for megathread regulars it might seem like these things are old news- for example, Sleeping Giants- so they don't get explicitly mentioned/linked. But the information overload these days is so intense and ever increasing- especially when trying to follow it all and balance it with our day jobs or whatever else- for me, anyway, I do forget these things and it takes some effort and googling to find them again. I'm not such a precious snowflake that I can't google for ten minutes to figure out what the name of Sleeping Giants was again, but when there are twenty horrible news stories every day and twenty things to donate to/ volunteer for/ boycott, every little shortcut helps us be more efficient. Personally, the repetition of things in these threads doesn't bother me, it helps. I must have seen Postcards to Voters get suggested at least twenty times before I actually decided I wanted to do it (and I did)! Plus even though many of us are regulars, who knows whether lots of people who never comment are reading, people who are new, etc.
posted by robotdevil at 3:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [50 favorites]
Wonkette is not just defending Soros, but also singing his praises: George Soros Is A Goddamn HERO
posted by homunculus at 3:59 PM on October 31, 2018 [47 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:59 PM on October 31, 2018 [47 favorites]
To robotdevil's excellent comment, I'll add that the "volunteers get favorites" metathread policy (not actually a policy, your favorites are your business, use or don't them as you see fit, void where prohibited, see your doctor immediately if you exceed your favorite limit for more than 24 hours) has been in effect since the 2016 primaries and continues. If someone shares how they spent their time hoofing it to knock doors or battled phone anxiety, please join me in acknowledging their hard work with meaningless internet points.
posted by zachlipton at 4:00 PM on October 31, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 4:00 PM on October 31, 2018 [39 favorites]
Amanpour interviews Dave Chappelle and Jon Stewart
Stewart and Chapelle (moreso Stewart) were fairly critical of the press handwringing about not getting respect from Trump along with the $$$$ pouring in to news media, and Amanpour was totally in her 'we journalists searching for truth it's not about the money' mode. She seemed visibly annoyed at one point. It's a great interview and I found their comments super insightful.
posted by bluesky43 at 4:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
Stewart and Chapelle (moreso Stewart) were fairly critical of the press handwringing about not getting respect from Trump along with the $$$$ pouring in to news media, and Amanpour was totally in her 'we journalists searching for truth it's not about the money' mode. She seemed visibly annoyed at one point. It's a great interview and I found their comments super insightful.
posted by bluesky43 at 4:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
"I've turned in my ballot. I voted for Andrew Gillum," said [former GOP Rep] @DavidJollyFL. "The reason is simple: it's because I've served with Ron DeSantis."
posted by Chrysostom at 4:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [63 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 4:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [63 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump [video, which includes footage of the caravan and the words of a Latino man in court talking about killing cops with the title "Illegal Immigrant [his name] KILLED OUR PEOPLE"]: It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now! Vote.GOP
@jkuhnhenn: Trump goes all Willie Horton.
@JohnJHarwood: as you recall, Bush campaign distanced itself from the Willie Horton TV ad // this is coming directly from the President of the United States // from dog whistle to guttural scream
posted by zachlipton at 4:05 PM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
@jkuhnhenn: Trump goes all Willie Horton.
@JohnJHarwood: as you recall, Bush campaign distanced itself from the Willie Horton TV ad // this is coming directly from the President of the United States // from dog whistle to guttural scream
posted by zachlipton at 4:05 PM on October 31, 2018 [31 favorites]
CNN Exclusive: Trump Blamed Ex-Counsel Mcgahn For Mueller Investigation
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Former White House Counsel Don McGahn ended his tumultuous tenure at the White House with one last encounter in which President Donald Trump blamed him for Robert Mueller's appointment, sources close to McGahn tell CNN.The seriousness of McGahn's interactions with the Special Counsel's investigation notwithstanding, this is another yet example of Trump's actual passive-aggressive management style rather than the "you're fired" take-charge executive.
In a face-to-face Oval Office meeting, the President groused to McGahn about Mueller's appointment made on McGahn's watch as White House counsel, and the cloud the investigation has continued to cast over the presidency, the people familiar with the conversation said.
Sources say while the President was fixated on Mueller, he also gave McGahn high marks for other matters during his time as the top White House lawyer, as CNN previously reported. One source said the President's continued frustration about Mueller is another example of him shifting blame for the ongoing Russia investigation.
McGahn had decided it was time to go and he left before the background investigation was complete for the incoming White House counsel Pat Cipollone, one source familiar said.
"Typically you would have the incumbent stay until the successor was ready to take his place. But in this case, McGahn was tired of the President and the President was tired of McGahn." The source added while the departure was "positive," both men recognized it was time for McGahn to go. "He didn't want to stay on and the President didn't want him to stay."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
@jkuhnhenn: Trump goes all Willie Horton
"The last 3.5 years did not happen."
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:09 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
"The last 3.5 years did not happen."
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:09 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Has Mueller Subpoenaed the President? Nelson W. Cunningham, Politico
Marcy Wheeler: "BREAKING: The President and his lawyer insist the President was not subpoenaed in criminal investigation into the President but they also refuse to turn in his open book test in that criminal investigation into the President until they know if they can fire the Attorney General."
She analyzes the situation at length on emptywheel.net: No, Mueller Probably Didn’t Subpoena Trump, Yet "I suspect the subpoena — if that’s what this is — is either for a White House figure (John Kelly or Don McGahn might be possibilities), a lawyer (Trump Organization lawyers Alan Garten and Alan Futerfas both had non-privileged conversations about the pushback on the June 9 meeting, as did Agalarov lawyer Scott Balber), or a journalist (Chuck Johnson and Lee Stranahan have denied having been contacted by Mueller; Hannity would be another possibility)."
As for : "I’m at least as intrigued by the way the timeline [of Mueller's court filings] overlaps with Don McGahn’s last big press push, around the same time as the initial filing before Beryl Howell. A lawyer like McGahn would also have reason to want to avoid the jurisdictional step of being held in contempt (indeed, if he had been held in contempt, it might explain one reason for the urgency of the appeal). It’s also one possible explanation for why someone would skip that step — another being that whoever is making this challenge is even less well-lawyered than Miller. Finally, if it were McGahn appealing a grand jury subpoena, Katsas’ recusal would be a no-brainer (though he has said he would recuse more generally)."
This heat from Mueller might further explain why McGahn became so anxious to leave the White House this summer and departed so hastily after Kavanaugh's SCOTUS confirmation.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:21 PM on October 31, 2018 [21 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler: "BREAKING: The President and his lawyer insist the President was not subpoenaed in criminal investigation into the President but they also refuse to turn in his open book test in that criminal investigation into the President until they know if they can fire the Attorney General."
She analyzes the situation at length on emptywheel.net: No, Mueller Probably Didn’t Subpoena Trump, Yet "I suspect the subpoena — if that’s what this is — is either for a White House figure (John Kelly or Don McGahn might be possibilities), a lawyer (Trump Organization lawyers Alan Garten and Alan Futerfas both had non-privileged conversations about the pushback on the June 9 meeting, as did Agalarov lawyer Scott Balber), or a journalist (Chuck Johnson and Lee Stranahan have denied having been contacted by Mueller; Hannity would be another possibility)."
As for : "I’m at least as intrigued by the way the timeline [of Mueller's court filings] overlaps with Don McGahn’s last big press push, around the same time as the initial filing before Beryl Howell. A lawyer like McGahn would also have reason to want to avoid the jurisdictional step of being held in contempt (indeed, if he had been held in contempt, it might explain one reason for the urgency of the appeal). It’s also one possible explanation for why someone would skip that step — another being that whoever is making this challenge is even less well-lawyered than Miller. Finally, if it were McGahn appealing a grand jury subpoena, Katsas’ recusal would be a no-brainer (though he has said he would recuse more generally)."
This heat from Mueller might further explain why McGahn became so anxious to leave the White House this summer and departed so hastily after Kavanaugh's SCOTUS confirmation.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:21 PM on October 31, 2018 [21 favorites]
Those voters can cast ballots as long as they were not disqualified from voting due to reasons such as felony conviction, mental incapacity or death.
Wait wait wait ... they're saying you can be disqualified from voting just because you're dead?
sorry, couldn't help myself
posted by joz at 4:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Wait wait wait ... they're saying you can be disqualified from voting just because you're dead?
sorry, couldn't help myself
posted by joz at 4:28 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
@Mike_McGough: CA Democrat HQ cordoned off downtown Sac. Reportedly receieved suspicious package. 9th St. closed between R and S.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:35 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:35 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
How does the Posse Comitatus Act interact with the 100-mile border exclusion for constitutional rights? Couldn't the White House argue that troops deployed within that zone are "guarding the border" and that they're not acting in a domestic capacity at all? That would give a legal veneer to building concentration camps &c. Yes, I know this means treating migrants as if they were a literal invading army, but that's literally what they're doing, so.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:40 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:40 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
"and subject to the jurisdiction thereof"
Well, suppose they were not... they would not be "illegal" would they?
posted by sjswitzer at 4:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Well, suppose they were not... they would not be "illegal" would they?
posted by sjswitzer at 4:44 PM on October 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Couldn't the White House argue that troops deployed within that zone are "guarding the border" and that they're not acting in a domestic capacity at all?
The WH can argue any bullshit they want in a calling spirits from the vasty deep sense but the courts (and ultimately the Supreme Court) will have the ultimate say. Brett Kavanaugh is a man, I am sure, of great intellectual weight and integrity who will undoubtedly do the right thing in all respects.
posted by Justinian at 4:48 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
The WH can argue any bullshit they want in a calling spirits from the vasty deep sense but the courts (and ultimately the Supreme Court) will have the ultimate say. Brett Kavanaugh is a man, I am sure, of great intellectual weight and integrity who will undoubtedly do the right thing in all respects.
posted by Justinian at 4:48 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
CA Democrat HQ cordoned off downtown Sac. Reportedly receieved suspicious package. 9th St. closed between R and S.
Sacramento police say the "suspicious envelope" is not dangerous.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:50 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Sacramento police say the "suspicious envelope" is not dangerous.
posted by murphy slaw at 4:50 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
As far as I know the 100-mile zone relates to police powers, and the Posse Comitatus Act specifically forbids using the Army in a law-enforcement capacity. That is- while certain kinds of stops might be allowed in the 100-mile zone, you can't use the Army to do it.
The Insurrection Act offers some narrow possibilities though. There's a flowchart. You could declare the immigrants a "public health emergency", and then declare that border states are "incapable of maintaining public order". In the alternate reality the Fox News propagates, both of those are true. "American carnage", "bringing crime", "law and order president", etc.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Insurrection Act offers some narrow possibilities though. There's a flowchart. You could declare the immigrants a "public health emergency", and then declare that border states are "incapable of maintaining public order". In the alternate reality the Fox News propagates, both of those are true. "American carnage", "bringing crime", "law and order president", etc.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Toronto Star's Trump rally live-tweeter/fact-checker Daniel Dale covers tonight's one in Florida here. "Trump just prompted a CNN SUCKS chant out of his comments on the Pittsburgh massacre" which tells you what kind of a night this is.
The only drawback to Dale's scrupulous text-based approach is that without the occasional video clip, it's easy to underestimate how well Trump interacts with/manipulates these crowds of fans. Trump's pronouncements still sound "whacky" (to use his favorite word) to normal viewers, but they're keyed to meet the immediate expectations of his audience or elicit responses from it. (This was why he was taken so aback that his schtick wasn't going over reliably with the Future Farmers of America last week—"You're a hard crowd to figure," he confessed up front to them.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
The only drawback to Dale's scrupulous text-based approach is that without the occasional video clip, it's easy to underestimate how well Trump interacts with/manipulates these crowds of fans. Trump's pronouncements still sound "whacky" (to use his favorite word) to normal viewers, but they're keyed to meet the immediate expectations of his audience or elicit responses from it. (This was why he was taken so aback that his schtick wasn't going over reliably with the Future Farmers of America last week—"You're a hard crowd to figure," he confessed up front to them.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [17 favorites]
One other way to satisfy Posse Comitatus is to claim that states are refusing to deal with illegal immigration, and the violence being caused by illegal immigrants is infringing on Americans' constitutional rights. That is, to abuse the same exception that Eisenhower used to enforce desegregation in Little Rock.
posted by BungaDunga at 5:06 PM on October 31, 2018
posted by BungaDunga at 5:06 PM on October 31, 2018
fluttering hellfire: it is a pretty high bar, and appears to be limited to objection to "participation in war in any form."
wikipedia's source, DoD Instruction 1300.06 (2007) bars "selective" objection: "the individual's objections must be to all wars rather than a specific war," but that DoD Instruction has been reissued & cancelled by a 2017 revision, in the text of which I readily find no instances of "selective" modifying conscientious objection.
that is probably moot insofar as the mission is not one of war (ostensibly, and so far). moreover, troops assigned this mission have already enlisted, and so, subject to very limited exception, are likely ineligible.
separately, posse comitatus is unlikely to significantly restrict what those troops do in mexico.
posted by 20 year lurk at 5:18 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
wikipedia's source, DoD Instruction 1300.06 (2007) bars "selective" objection: "the individual's objections must be to all wars rather than a specific war," but that DoD Instruction has been reissued & cancelled by a 2017 revision, in the text of which I readily find no instances of "selective" modifying conscientious objection.
that is probably moot insofar as the mission is not one of war (ostensibly, and so far). moreover, troops assigned this mission have already enlisted, and so, subject to very limited exception, are likely ineligible.
separately, posse comitatus is unlikely to significantly restrict what those troops do in mexico.
posted by 20 year lurk at 5:18 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Well, back from my days in uniform with Sgt Alvarado and my squadmates Valcarcal and Flacco...they might have some problems with the troops using force against la rasa.
I would absolutely love, however, to see those bum fuck militia turds go up against my old infantry platoon. We fought some skinheads in Germany once without weapons, and it was a rout. My proudest moment under the flag.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [64 favorites]
I would absolutely love, however, to see those bum fuck militia turds go up against my old infantry platoon. We fought some skinheads in Germany once without weapons, and it was a rout. My proudest moment under the flag.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [64 favorites]
moreover, troops assigned this mission have already enlisted, and so, subject to very limited exception, are likely ineligible.
They could still refuse. They would probably be subject to court martial, prison time, dishonorable discharge, loss of benefits, etc etc.
posted by zrail at 5:25 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
They could still refuse. They would probably be subject to court martial, prison time, dishonorable discharge, loss of benefits, etc etc.
posted by zrail at 5:25 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Would this be grounds for Conscientious Objection? What if service members were to say fuck right off with this?
That is not how Conscientious Objectorship works. A Conscientious Objector is a lot more than someone refusing to follow orders they don't like.
posted by Miko at 5:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
That is not how Conscientious Objectorship works. A Conscientious Objector is a lot more than someone refusing to follow orders they don't like.
posted by Miko at 5:27 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
I don't know anything about them really, but there's a group called Courage To Resist that's trying to encourage and help individual service members to refuse to collaborate on the internment camps.
posted by contraption at 5:51 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by contraption at 5:51 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
A Conscientious Objector is a lot more than someone refusing to follow orders they don't like.
Well, there is also more to refusing to follow illegal orders than not liking them - there is an objective standard, although, as with many things in life, it may be hard to say exactly where the line is. Clearly, for example, an order to massacre civilians must not be obeyed, since it is an order to commit a war crime and a human rights violation.
posted by thelonius at 6:03 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Well, there is also more to refusing to follow illegal orders than not liking them - there is an objective standard, although, as with many things in life, it may be hard to say exactly where the line is. Clearly, for example, an order to massacre civilians must not be obeyed, since it is an order to commit a war crime and a human rights violation.
posted by thelonius at 6:03 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Would this be grounds for Conscientious Objection? What if service members were to say fuck right off with this?
Soldiers are allowed, per the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to refuse to obey illegal or immoral orders.They don’t have to declare CO status, they can simply refuse to obey, and I hope they do. They may get charged, but “this order was illegal to give” is absolutely a defense.
posted by corb at 6:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [55 favorites]
Soldiers are allowed, per the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to refuse to obey illegal or immoral orders.They don’t have to declare CO status, they can simply refuse to obey, and I hope they do. They may get charged, but “this order was illegal to give” is absolutely a defense.
posted by corb at 6:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [55 favorites]
Children of Mo. candidate who espouses anti-Semitism have a message: don’t vote for him
Emily West has a message for voters in Missouri House District 15.posted by octothorpe at 6:06 PM on October 31, 2018 [69 favorites]
Don’t vote for her dad.
“I can’t imagine him being in any level of government,” she told The Star on Monday.
Her dad is Steve West, 64, the Republican candidate for the Missouri General Assembly who made headlines after winning the GOP primary in August when word spread about his radio show and website through which he regularly espoused an array of bigotry including homophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and outright racism.
“A lot of his views are just very out there,” Emily West said. “He’s made multiple comments that are racist and homophobic and how he doesn’t like the Jews.”
On Tuesday, her brother contacted The Star to say that he, too, was concerned about their father’s candidacy.
“My dad’s a fanatic. He must be stopped,” said Andy West, the middle of Steve West’s three children. “His ideology is pure hatred. It’s totally insane.
...on the other hand, attempted conscientious objection might be an interesting way to probe the boundaries of the new religious liberty that apparently protects people from doing the jobs when they feel doing their jobs might conflict with some minor, tangential comment in their source of ethics that they take to be the lynchpin of their faith.
if i can refuse to sell a cake to a class of persons who do not abide by one of the rules articulated (in a passage i cannot even cite correctly in my legal filings) by a patriarch or prophet of the religion from which the religion informing my deep faith arose because to do otherwise would violate my religious freedom (aside: this is not what the cake shop case held, at all, but the received catastrophic gloss), then why wouldn't an order to turn my guns on la rasa in contravention of the explicit guidance of my god (i'm thinking "as you do to the least of these" but there are surely more, maybe better, passages) violate my deeply-held and sincere religious belief in striving to live up to that deity's standard?
i don't think that's the right direction to be pushing religious liberty, but maybe it is the kind of case recent trends in religious liberty activism and jurisprudence deserve.
isn't the duty of a soldier to refuse to carry out an illegal order codified in the uniform code of military justice? (on preview: whoops, thanks thelonius & corb) a drawback there is that it is difficult to know which illegal things are still illegal. so far, that something is illegal has not stopped the president from saying he'll do it, or everyone from repeating that he'll do it and workshopping viable approaches and objections, or his actually attempting to do it, or the courts from figuring out a way that it is okay that he did it.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:14 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
if i can refuse to sell a cake to a class of persons who do not abide by one of the rules articulated (in a passage i cannot even cite correctly in my legal filings) by a patriarch or prophet of the religion from which the religion informing my deep faith arose because to do otherwise would violate my religious freedom (aside: this is not what the cake shop case held, at all, but the received catastrophic gloss), then why wouldn't an order to turn my guns on la rasa in contravention of the explicit guidance of my god (i'm thinking "as you do to the least of these" but there are surely more, maybe better, passages) violate my deeply-held and sincere religious belief in striving to live up to that deity's standard?
i don't think that's the right direction to be pushing religious liberty, but maybe it is the kind of case recent trends in religious liberty activism and jurisprudence deserve.
isn't the duty of a soldier to refuse to carry out an illegal order codified in the uniform code of military justice? (on preview: whoops, thanks thelonius & corb) a drawback there is that it is difficult to know which illegal things are still illegal. so far, that something is illegal has not stopped the president from saying he'll do it, or everyone from repeating that he'll do it and workshopping viable approaches and objections, or his actually attempting to do it, or the courts from figuring out a way that it is okay that he did it.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:14 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
Forget about Oprah: Michael "Bae" Jordan is also getting out the vote in Georgia and is calling attention to #VotingWhileBlack.
Little Wallace all grown up and doin' good!
posted by TwoStride at 6:30 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
Little Wallace all grown up and doin' good!
posted by TwoStride at 6:30 PM on October 31, 2018 [25 favorites]
Sacramento police say the "suspicious envelope" is not dangerous.
We had one of those in Charlotte yesterday. What it turned out to be will shock you!
‘Suspicious package’ that started uptown Charlotte bomb scare was a Journey cassette
Well OK, maybe not shock. Kinda funny actually.
posted by scalefree at 6:41 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
We had one of those in Charlotte yesterday. What it turned out to be will shock you!
‘Suspicious package’ that started uptown Charlotte bomb scare was a Journey cassette
Well OK, maybe not shock. Kinda funny actually.
posted by scalefree at 6:41 PM on October 31, 2018 [10 favorites]
The revised SCOTUS would probably favor an argument that posse commitatus doesn't apply to using military troops for a national security purpose at the geographic border, if not the already ludicrous 4th-Am-Lite "border zone" in which CBP and etc currently operate under relaxed strictures.
Or, not yet, anyway.
The political question doctrine could be used to avoid answering any of the philosophical questions about what national security really means.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:01 PM on October 31, 2018
Or, not yet, anyway.
The political question doctrine could be used to avoid answering any of the philosophical questions about what national security really means.
posted by snuffleupagus at 7:01 PM on October 31, 2018
I don't think I have seen this mentioned here. Mods, please delete if it's a dupe:
Beto received threats from pipe bomb suspect in April.
Per the article, he made the threats via Facebook, which may explain why he was arrested so quickly. The guy has (presumably) been under investigation by Capitol police for 7 months and FBI for 4.
Also, Cruz calls him a terrorist! I remain cynical as to why, but he said it.
And Beto made (yet another) quotable reported in the article that lets me live in the dream world (even if just for two seconds) that civility could be restored to America and to politics.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Beto received threats from pipe bomb suspect in April.
Per the article, he made the threats via Facebook, which may explain why he was arrested so quickly. The guy has (presumably) been under investigation by Capitol police for 7 months and FBI for 4.
Also, Cruz calls him a terrorist! I remain cynical as to why, but he said it.
And Beto made (yet another) quotable reported in the article that lets me live in the dream world (even if just for two seconds) that civility could be restored to America and to politics.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:02 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
if i can refuse to sell a cake...then why wouldn't an order to turn my guns...
The military has a certain amount of wiggle room regarding Constitutional issues because of the power goven the government in Article I to regulate the armed forces.
I'm not here to debate the morality or feasibility of refusing to follow an illegal order, just to refute the narrow point of error of thinking that that is the same as CO status. It's not.
posted by Miko at 7:14 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
The military has a certain amount of wiggle room regarding Constitutional issues because of the power goven the government in Article I to regulate the armed forces.
I'm not here to debate the morality or feasibility of refusing to follow an illegal order, just to refute the narrow point of error of thinking that that is the same as CO status. It's not.
posted by Miko at 7:14 PM on October 31, 2018 [6 favorites]
Holy moly: David Neiwert's Twitter thread on eliminationism (1 of 75, it's quite detailed and upsetting, but...wow, powerful). "“Eliminationism” is a term you need not just to become familiar with, especially in today’s American rush toward authoritarianism. This will be a long, illustrated thread explaining what it means, how it works, and why Donald Trump is now our Eliminationist in Chief."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [47 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:22 PM on October 31, 2018 [47 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 6 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 6 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- AZ:** 2018 House:-- Ipsos poll has GOPer McSally up 48-46 on Dem Sinema [MOE: +/- 4.0%].-- CA:
-- SSRS poll has Sinema up 51-47 [MOE: +/- 4.4%].
-- Fox News poll has it tied 46-46 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].-- UC Berkeley poll has incumbent Feinstein up 45-36 on de León[MOE: +/- 4.0%].-- FL: Ipsos poll has Dem Nelson up 49-44 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/- 3.4%].
-- Probolsky Research poll has Feinstein up 41-35 [MOE: +/- 3.3%].
-- ND:-- Trafalgar Group poll has GOPer Cramer up 49-39 on Dem incumbent Heitkamp [MOE: +/- 2.1%].-- NJ: Vox Populi poll has Dem incumbent Menendez up 54-46 on GOPer Hugin [MOE: +/- 3.4%].
-- Fox News poll has Cramer up 51-42 [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- NV: SSRS poll has Dem Rosen up 48-45 on GOP incumbent Heller [MOE: +/- 4.8%].
-- TN:-- Cygnal poll has GOPer Blackburn up 51-45 on Dem Bredesen [MOE: +/- 4.4%].-- IN:
-- Fox News poll has Blackburn up 50-41 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].-- Fox News poll has Dem incumbent Donnelly up 45-38 on GOPer Braun [MOE: +/- 3.5%].-- MO: Fox News poll has Dem incumbent McCaskill tied 43-43 with GOPer Hawley [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. | KC Star reporting that out of state political consultants virtually ran Hawley's AG office.
-- Marist poll has Donnelly up 45-42 [MOE: +/- 5.5%].
-- TX: UT-Tyler poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 47-42 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- WI: Marquette poll has Dem incumbent Baldwin up 54-43 on GOPer Vukmir [MOE: +/- 3.2%].
-- MT: Gravis poll has Dem incumbent Tester up 48-45 on GOPer Rosendale [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- MT: Libertarian Breckenridge drops out, endorsing GOPer Rosendale. Breckenridge was polling low single digits, and Montana is heavy early voting, so probably a minimal impact.
-- ND-AL: Same Fox News poll has GOPer Armstrong up 55-33 on Dem Schneider. [Trump 64-28 | Solid R]** Odds & ends:
-- PA-16: Susquehanna poll has Dem DiNicola up 51-47 on GOP incumbent Kelly [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 58-38 | Cook: Lean R] => I would love if this recent Susquehanna polling were accurate, but they seem a bit too good to be true.
-- NJ-07: [Clinton 49-48 | Cook: Tossup]-- Monmouth poll has Dem Malinowski up 47-44 on GOP incumbent Lance in their standard turnout model. Low turnout, tied at 46; high turnout, Malinowski up 48-43 [MOE: +/- 5.2%].-- ME-02: Emerson poll has Dem Golden up 47-46 on GOP incumbent Poliquin [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 51-41 | Cook: Tossup] => RCV would apply to this race.
-- Siena poll has Malinowski up 47-39 [MOE: +/- 4.6%].
-- NH-01: Emerson poll has Dem Pappas up 48-46 on GOPer Edwards [MOE: +/- 4.3%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Likely D]
-- MT-AL: Same Gravis poll has Dem Williams tied 48-48 with GOP incumbent Gianforte. [Trump 57-36 | Cook: Lean R]
-- NY-19: Survey USA poll has Dem Delgado tied 44-44 with GOP incumbent Faso [MOE: +/- 4.2%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- VA-05: Surprise endorsement of Dem Cockburn by former GOP Senator John Warner. [Trump 53-42 | Cook: Lean R]
-- IA-04: NRCC says it will not assist incumbent King's campaign, which is known to be short of cash. Siena poll is in the field right now, offering a chance to confirm if this one is really breaking late. [Trump 61-34 | Cook: Lean R]
-- VA-07: WP reports that Project Veritas, the James O'Keefe ratfucking operation, apparently infiltrated the campaign of Dem Spanberger. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- Crystal Ball: What districts might be bellwethers.
-- Rakich: Where candidates are out-performing their party.
-- AK gov: Alaska Survey Research poll has GOPer Dunleavy up 43-42 on Dem Begich. When respondents who selected indy Walker, who dropped out of the race (not everyone watches the news), the result was Begich up 46-43 [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. [Cook: Lean R]** Averages & forecasts:
-- AZ gov: [Cook: Likely R]-- Same Ipsos poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 57-37 on Dem Garcia.-- CA gov: Same UC Berkeley poll has Dem Newsom up 58-40 on GOPer Cox. | Downballot: Prop 6 (gas tax repeal): NO 56-40. Prop 10 (permit rent control): NO 60-35.
-- Same SSRS poll has Ducey up 52-45.
-- Same Fox News poll has Ducey up 55-37.
-- FL gov: Same Ipsos poll has Dem Gillum up 50-44 on GOPer DeSantis. [Cook: Tossup]
-- NV gov: Same SSRS poll has Dem Sisolak up 46-45 on GOPer Heller. [Cook: Tossup]
-- TN gov: [Cook: Likely R]-- Same Cygnal poll has GOPer Lee up 59-36 on Dem Dean.-- WI gov: Same Marquette poll has Dem Evers tied 47-47 on GOP incumbent Walker. [Cook: Tossup] | Downballot: AG: GOP incumbent Schimel up 47-45 on Dem Kaul.
-- Same Fox News poll has Lee up 54-37.
-- ME gov: Emerson poll has Dem Mills up 50-42 on GOPer Moody [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- NH: Emerson poll has GOP incumbent Sununu up 51-43 on Dem Kelly [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Cook: Lean R]
-- CT gov: Emerson poll has Dem Lamont up 46-39 on GOPer Stefanowski [MOE: +/- 3.7%]. [Cook: Tossup] => Joe Lieberman has pledged to serve on a Stefanowski transition team, reminding us all that he is just the biggest piece of shit.
-- OR gov: Hoffman Research poll has Dem incumbent Brown up 45-42 on GOPer Buehler [MOE: +/- 3.7%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- KS gov: Ipsos poll has Dem Kelly at 43, GOPer Kobach at 41, indy Orman at 9 [MOE: +/- 3.6%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- OK gov: SoonerPoll has GOPer Stitt up 46-42 on Dem Edmondson [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- MI gov: GOPer Schuette cancelling most ad buys, seemingly conceding likely defeat. This matters less for this race - Dem Whitmer has been consistently in the lead - than downballot, where Dems have a chance of taking both houses of the legislature.
-- Survey USA poll of NC downballot [MOE: +/- 6.0%], has Dem Earls leading for the Supreme Court with 44 over GOPer Jackson at 22, and pseudo-GOPer Anglin at 19. Earls is a civil rights lawyer, so this would be great. Ballot amendments:-- Cap state income tax at 7%: YES 47-41-- Good DKE roundup of ballot initiatives impacting voting rights.
-- Right to hunt and fish: YES 64-29
-- Hijack governor's ability to fill judicial vacancies: NO 52-31
-- Hijack governor's role in election boards: NO 47-37
-- Strengthen rights of crime victims: YES 65-27
-- Require voter ID: YES 59-37
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.5 (50.1/41.6)posted by Chrysostom at 7:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [41 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 85.7% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 15.2% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.0 states.
So I have an analysis & prediction that together leave me with deeply mixed feelings. It gives me no joy to say this but I believe Beto will lose & when he does I know why. Simply put, he's too nice. He's a boy scout. It's his strength but it's also a weakness, one I fear will undo him. He absolutely refuses to go negative; on the very few occasions he's done so he's been obviously uncomfortable with it. I think it's possible to thread the needle of going negative without compromising his ideals, I just don't think he'll find that path in the next few days & it will cost him that last sliver of votes to push him past Ted.
posted by scalefree at 7:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 7:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sorry that comment is so long. Next two days should be the last of the heavy polling results, I think.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:34 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I think Beto will (likely) lose because he's running against an incumbent Republican in Texas.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [58 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:36 PM on October 31, 2018 [58 favorites]
>> Donnelly open to legislation ending birthright citizenship
> I guess I'm reading Donnelly differently. To me, saying "I'll take a look at whether it's Constitutional" is a nice way of saying "no fucking way" without losing voters.
I tend to agree, and also, phew. This was one of two Senate campaigns I'd adopted to donate to. I certainly don't agree a Republican would be better. For one thing, Donnelly voted against Kavanaugh without even turning his decision-making process into national drama. I don't mean to retread the general "how much to support a moderate Democrat" question, but I am super interested in Donnelly. Indiana is really conservative in my experience. Last time I was there, the house three doors up had a Confederate flag hanging outside. So I've been watching nervously as his poll numbers decline slightly and really hoping he and the Hoosiers rooting for him can pull it off. If anyone knows a way to do phonebanking or texting voters from home for his campaign, let me know!
posted by salvia at 7:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
> I guess I'm reading Donnelly differently. To me, saying "I'll take a look at whether it's Constitutional" is a nice way of saying "no fucking way" without losing voters.
I tend to agree, and also, phew. This was one of two Senate campaigns I'd adopted to donate to. I certainly don't agree a Republican would be better. For one thing, Donnelly voted against Kavanaugh without even turning his decision-making process into national drama. I don't mean to retread the general "how much to support a moderate Democrat" question, but I am super interested in Donnelly. Indiana is really conservative in my experience. Last time I was there, the house three doors up had a Confederate flag hanging outside. So I've been watching nervously as his poll numbers decline slightly and really hoping he and the Hoosiers rooting for him can pull it off. If anyone knows a way to do phonebanking or texting voters from home for his campaign, let me know!
posted by salvia at 7:37 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
I think Beto will (likely) lose because he's running against an incumbent Republican in Texas.
Sure but that's the lay of the land, not a strategic or tactical choice by Beto. If he wants to overcome that uphill terrain, the thing that can do it is going negative - but in a way that doesn't force him to compromise himself, which I believe is possible. Not going to argue the point further, I've had my say on it.
posted by scalefree at 7:45 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sure but that's the lay of the land, not a strategic or tactical choice by Beto. If he wants to overcome that uphill terrain, the thing that can do it is going negative - but in a way that doesn't force him to compromise himself, which I believe is possible. Not going to argue the point further, I've had my say on it.
posted by scalefree at 7:45 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sorry that comment is so long. Next two days should be the last of the heavy polling results, I think.
Chin up, it's only 7 days until the start of the 2020 campaign!
posted by Justinian at 7:49 PM on October 31, 2018 [27 favorites]
Chin up, it's only 7 days until the start of the 2020 campaign!
posted by Justinian at 7:49 PM on October 31, 2018 [27 favorites]
Clearly, you've forgotten about the numerous state races in 2019.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:50 PM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:50 PM on October 31, 2018 [23 favorites]
If they won't build his wall for him he'll just make it out of people.
Trump defends military presence on border and says 'I do try' to tell the truth
posted by scalefree at 7:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trump defends military presence on border and says 'I do try' to tell the truth
"We have to have a wall of people," Trump said, shortly after it was announced that they're going to send 10,000 to 15,000 troops to the border.Not funny, guys. Not funny.
posted by scalefree at 7:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
A++ to MonkeyToes for that link to the Eliminationism thread. I’m on mobile, so if someone could post the threadreader link, that would be awesome, and as said above, powerful.
*Content Warning*
It is harsh and triggering.
posted by daq at 7:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
*Content Warning*
It is harsh and triggering.
posted by daq at 7:52 PM on October 31, 2018 [12 favorites]
So I have an analysis & prediction that together leave me with deeply mixed feelings. It gives me no joy to say this but I believe Beto will lose & when he does I know why. Simply put, he's too nice. He's a boy scout.Beto will lose because he's a Democrat running for statewide office in Texas, and Democrats have some work to do before they can win statewide in Texas. But Beto has over-performed any reasonable expectation. He's not going to lose because of anything he did wrong. He's going to lose because Democrats neglected Texas for a long time, and they're going to need a longterm strategy to mobilize their potential voters.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:55 PM on October 31, 2018 [43 favorites]
>>someone could post... that eliminationism thread at threadreader. on edit: content warning like daq said.
posted by 20 year lurk at 7:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 7:56 PM on October 31, 2018 [22 favorites]
(i'm thinking "as you do to the least of these" but there are surely more, maybe better, passages)
I'm thinking the passage that follows immediately after is super relevant:
posted by corb at 8:07 PM on October 31, 2018 [49 favorites]
I'm thinking the passage that follows immediately after is super relevant:
Matthew 25:41-46But really there's a metric fuckton of religious doctrine about helping immigrants and it is not even a wacky hot take to say you can't call yourself a Christian and shoot migrants.
Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink.
I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me.
Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?
Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.
And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.
posted by corb at 8:07 PM on October 31, 2018 [49 favorites]
it's spelled la raza, FYI.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:12 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 8:12 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
thx, aspersioncast. noted. apologies.
old enough to remember when the people posing as the adults in the room conveyed their confident assessment that up to 10,000 al-qaeda "sleeper agents" were scattered throughout the american 'burbs waiting to be activated, i find david neiwert's eliminationism thread inexplicably silent on a decade or more of the reviling of muslims, and of patriots murdering sikhs. oh, and torturing a bunch of unpersons, glibly musing about "glassing" tehran from the presidential primary debate stage. but for that omission, a harrowing, excellent overview.
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:43 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
old enough to remember when the people posing as the adults in the room conveyed their confident assessment that up to 10,000 al-qaeda "sleeper agents" were scattered throughout the american 'burbs waiting to be activated, i find david neiwert's eliminationism thread inexplicably silent on a decade or more of the reviling of muslims, and of patriots murdering sikhs. oh, and torturing a bunch of unpersons, glibly musing about "glassing" tehran from the presidential primary debate stage. but for that omission, a harrowing, excellent overview.
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:43 PM on October 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am in a city/county just south of Indianapolis. If Joe Donnelly ends up holding his seat I will be flabberghasted. Nobody is excited about Joe Donnelly. If he loses it's a case where he did it to himself by being a waffling dipshit who waffles to the right.
All the excitement and work down here is being put into Liz Watson (IN, 9th District.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:53 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
All the excitement and work down here is being put into Liz Watson (IN, 9th District.)
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:53 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
Days After Bomb Attacks, NRA Doubles Down on Demonization of Soros, Steyer, Bloomberg - Kara Voght, Mother Jones
Not even attempted assassinations have caused the NRA to throttle back on demonizing these targets of political violence. Moreover, the NRA tweet—accusing sinister billionaires of pushing an “elitist agenda on Americans”—fits a pattern of rhetoric that has historically been associated with anti-Semitism.posted by ZeusHumms at 9:04 PM on October 31, 2018 [13 favorites]
Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate in VA-07 running against Dave Brat, is a former CIA officer. Project Veritas decided to have someone spy on her campaign posing as a volunteer to try to get some last-minute dirt. They were almost immediately outed after acting suspiciously and trying to finagle an in-person meeting with the candidate. Fucking idiots.
posted by nangar at 9:07 PM on October 31, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by nangar at 9:07 PM on October 31, 2018 [19 favorites]
Jesus, that Eliminationism thread. I report antisemites on Twitter most days, and these are the exact attitudes of every single one.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [20 favorites]
The elimination tweet needs a FPP of its own
posted by growabrain at 9:24 PM on October 31, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 9:24 PM on October 31, 2018 [21 favorites]
I mentioned Dave Niewart in the last thread, he's been on this eliminationism beat for a long, long time. Can't reccommend reading his 2006 10 part series any harder. He saw the Republican party for what it was years ago and has cataloged every last step of the decent.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:26 PM on October 31, 2018 [48 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:26 PM on October 31, 2018 [48 favorites]
Nobody is excited about Joe Donnelly. If he loses it's a case where he did it to himself by being a waffling dipshit who waffles to the right.
As another Indiana resident, I PROMISE you I'm as critical of Donnelly as anybody. But like with Beto in Texas, if he loses it'll be because he has a D in front of his name more than anything else.
posted by Rykey at 9:31 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
As another Indiana resident, I PROMISE you I'm as critical of Donnelly as anybody. But like with Beto in Texas, if he loses it'll be because he has a D in front of his name more than anything else.
posted by Rykey at 9:31 PM on October 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
> Clearly, you've forgotten about the numerous state races in 2019.
Yep. Virginia has elections every year. Currently, Republicans have a one-seat majority in both houses of the state legislature. Next year, we're going to try to fix that. If Democrats turn out in numbers like we did last year – and I think we will – we should be able to do that.
posted by nangar at 9:47 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
Yep. Virginia has elections every year. Currently, Republicans have a one-seat majority in both houses of the state legislature. Next year, we're going to try to fix that. If Democrats turn out in numbers like we did last year – and I think we will – we should be able to do that.
posted by nangar at 9:47 PM on October 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
Oh yes. I never make predictions, but I am quite optimistic about a Democratic trifecta in Virginia.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:01 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:01 PM on October 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Josie Duffy Rice, How to Punish Voters
Mr. Kemp’s attempts to prevent people from voting exemplify the familiar ways in which access to the ballot has been restricted for people of color across the United States. But voter suppression also happens in ways that aren’t as well-known, and are even more insidious. In particular, local prosecutors have increasingly brought criminal charges against black voters and community activists for small technical infractions. They’re sending the frightening message that casting a ballot is risky — a message that resonates even when the charges turn out to be baseless and the people charged are acquitted.posted by zachlipton at 11:19 PM on October 31, 2018 [50 favorites]
In a particularly disturbing case, Olivia Pearson, a grandmother and lifelong resident of Coffee County, Ga., found herself on trial this year on charges of felony voter fraud. It began six years ago, on the first day of early voting in Georgia, when a black woman named Diewanna Robinson went to cast her ballot. Ms. Robinson, then 21, had never voted before and didn’t know how to operate the electronic voting machine, reported Buzzfeed. She asked Ms. Pearson, more than 30 years her senior, for help. Ms. Robinson would later testify that Ms. Pearson informed her where the card went in the machine and told her to “just go through and make my own selections on who I wanted to vote for.” Ms. Pearson walked away before Ms. Robinson started voting.
Almost four years later, Ms. Pearson received a letter from District Attorney George Barnhill’s office, informing her that she was facing felony charges for improperly assisting Ms. Robinson. The city councilwoman and community leader was arrested and booked. She had never been in trouble with the law, but now she found herself facing up to 15 years in prison.
Alright, since nobody else seems to be doing it, I'll go ahead and be the moron that does.
I think the stars will align, hell will briefly freeze over, and Beto will win.
I'll probably be wrong, but if not, then for future reference: I was the one who called it first (and WILL post a follow-up linking to this comment), am wearing his T-shirt here in random-ass Baltimore City, Maryland, where it'll make no difference, and based this prediction on nothing more than my years of service as an Austin resident from 1984-1990, which feeds into my gut feeling.
And those Texas (particularly El Paso) early voting numbers, particularly among the young. I feel like we aren't looking at those enough.
(I'll now proceed to go eat some goat cheese or whatever it is we're doing now.)
posted by CommonSense at 12:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [66 favorites]
I think the stars will align, hell will briefly freeze over, and Beto will win.
I'll probably be wrong, but if not, then for future reference: I was the one who called it first (and WILL post a follow-up linking to this comment), am wearing his T-shirt here in random-ass Baltimore City, Maryland, where it'll make no difference, and based this prediction on nothing more than my years of service as an Austin resident from 1984-1990, which feeds into my gut feeling.
And those Texas (particularly El Paso) early voting numbers, particularly among the young. I feel like we aren't looking at those enough.
(I'll now proceed to go eat some goat cheese or whatever it is we're doing now.)
posted by CommonSense at 12:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [66 favorites]
Josie Duffy Rice, How to Punish Voters
The impersonal cruelty of vote suppression is one thing but this deliberate personal cruelty, upending a person's life & toying with it like a plaything for political gain is just criminal. It makes me deeply angry. These people weren't cheating the system, they were being citizens & these fuckers abused their power in the worst way imaginable just because they could. Fuck them. I wish very bad things upon them. Very bad things.
posted by scalefree at 12:51 AM on November 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
The impersonal cruelty of vote suppression is one thing but this deliberate personal cruelty, upending a person's life & toying with it like a plaything for political gain is just criminal. It makes me deeply angry. These people weren't cheating the system, they were being citizens & these fuckers abused their power in the worst way imaginable just because they could. Fuck them. I wish very bad things upon them. Very bad things.
posted by scalefree at 12:51 AM on November 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
How to Punish Voters
Isn't there some way that the ACLU or League of Women Voters can bring lawsuits against these DAs for malicious prosecution? I would donate money to that effort in a second.
posted by msalt at 1:47 AM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
Isn't there some way that the ACLU or League of Women Voters can bring lawsuits against these DAs for malicious prosecution? I would donate money to that effort in a second.
posted by msalt at 1:47 AM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
Yeah, I am totally down with helping fund the countersuit against the DA.
posted by jadepearl at 1:54 AM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 1:54 AM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
This is just getting out of hand. Yes, let's partner with the drug cartels to "pressure" the caravans into not coming here because it would cut into their profits. Maybe Congress should give the cartels a tax subsidy to make up the difference?
Border Patrol union president tells Fox News he wants drug cartels to ‘pressure’ migrant caravans to not come to US
Border Patrol union president tells Fox News he wants drug cartels to ‘pressure’ migrant caravans to not come to US
The leader of the Border Patrol’s union suggested to Fox News that drug cartels should “pressure” migrant caravans out of coming to the United States.posted by scalefree at 1:57 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd began the segment by saying agents are “excited” that President Donald Trump is sending troops to defend the border against the caravans of Latin American migrants making their way north through Mexico.
“He’s been forced to come up with innovative solutions,” Judd explained, “and the readily available solution for us is the military.”
This move, the Border Patrol union chief added, is “going to cut into the cartels’ profits and that could force the cartels to put pressure on these caravans not to continue to come.”
Last week, Fox News’ Jesse Watters claimed the Latin American migrants in the caravans rely on cartels to “smuggle” them into the United States.
“The drug cartels [are] basically acting like toll booth operators for America,” Watters said during the October 22 segment.
Now there's an ad. Preach, brother.
@future_majority Ask yourself: "What does America need right now? Absolute power or a balance of power?" Think about it.
Then, share why you're voting on Tuesday: Future Majority
[video]
posted by scalefree at 2:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
@future_majority Ask yourself: "What does America need right now? Absolute power or a balance of power?" Think about it.
Then, share why you're voting on Tuesday: Future Majority
[video]
posted by scalefree at 2:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Michael Lewis (journalist author of The Big Short about the Global Financial Crisis and other nonfiction works) interviewed on Radio New Zealand last weekend: ‘This is what happens when you turn the US government into a Will Ferrell comedy’ (~22min, .mp3 link) discussing various deteriorating systems in the executive branch under Trump, in the course of a book tour for a new book on the subject and general Trumpian unpreparedness to actually win the 2016 election, The Fifth Risk.
posted by XMLicious at 3:10 AM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 3:10 AM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Alright, since nobody else seems to be doing it, I'll go ahead and be the moron that does. What do we do in the opposite direction? Cruz wins by a hair, Gillum fizzles out, several races have suspicious results, etc? What’s the strategy behind electoral?
posted by The Whelk at 3:14 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:14 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
But really there's a metric fuckton of religious doctrine about helping immigrants and it is not even a wacky hot take to say you can't call yourself a Christian and shoot migrants.
Sure, but anyone who can put that together can also put together that you can't support any part of the platform of the modern Republican party and call yourself a Christian, and that blindingly obvious fact has managed to slip by (or, more honestly, be intentionally ignored) by Republicans who call themselves Christian for decades. Hard to imagine this will be any different.
posted by IAmUnaware at 3:18 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Sure, but anyone who can put that together can also put together that you can't support any part of the platform of the modern Republican party and call yourself a Christian, and that blindingly obvious fact has managed to slip by (or, more honestly, be intentionally ignored) by Republicans who call themselves Christian for decades. Hard to imagine this will be any different.
posted by IAmUnaware at 3:18 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
But really there's a metric fuckton of religious doctrine about helping immigrants and it is not even a wacky hot take to say you can't call yourself a Christian and shoot migrants.
Jesus said pretty explicitly it would be easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven and the prosperity gospel followers have retconned it into being a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel just had to stoop down to enter into.
posted by PenDevil at 3:30 AM on November 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Jesus said pretty explicitly it would be easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven and the prosperity gospel followers have retconned it into being a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel just had to stoop down to enter into.
posted by PenDevil at 3:30 AM on November 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Human Rights Group Calls For Investigation Of Giuliani, Trump Money-Laundering Scheme.
posted by adamvasco at 3:57 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by adamvasco at 3:57 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Jesus said pretty explicitly it would be easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven and the prosperity gospel followers have retconned it into being a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel just had to stoop down to enter into.
The rot goes deeper than that - I remember hearing exactly that spin from a mainstream evangelical pulpit in the 80s. I used to think that sort of thing could be fixed from the inside, but the Trump era has convinced me otherwise.
posted by bcd at 4:28 AM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
The rot goes deeper than that - I remember hearing exactly that spin from a mainstream evangelical pulpit in the 80s. I used to think that sort of thing could be fixed from the inside, but the Trump era has convinced me otherwise.
posted by bcd at 4:28 AM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
she was facing felony charges for improperly assisting Ms. Robinson.
If that's how election law is applied, then some of the stuff I've seen as a poll worker would merit the electric chair. One time I had to report a fellow poll worker to our precinct leader because I overheard him telling a voter, "If you vote for the Republican your taxes will go down; if you vote for the Democrat your taxes will go up."
(Disclaimer: I am not actually in favor of the death penalty.)
posted by Rykey at 4:33 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
If that's how election law is applied, then some of the stuff I've seen as a poll worker would merit the electric chair. One time I had to report a fellow poll worker to our precinct leader because I overheard him telling a voter, "If you vote for the Republican your taxes will go down; if you vote for the Democrat your taxes will go up."
(Disclaimer: I am not actually in favor of the death penalty.)
posted by Rykey at 4:33 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
The Alpha & Omega Prize for Contemporary Religious Art has just been awarded to John Gutoskey, whose painting individually commemorate victims from the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Florida. The website does not engage in both sider-ism. It opens:
This week, as U.S. President Trump's supporters either massacred, murdered or tried to bomb Americans, the Oakland Museum of California asked visitors, "Do you have faith?" That's why we created the Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts to track and thank artists who provoke conversations about faith in America.
Plain speaking is a public virtue.
posted by stonepharisee at 5:10 AM on November 1, 2018 [33 favorites]
This week, as U.S. President Trump's supporters either massacred, murdered or tried to bomb Americans, the Oakland Museum of California asked visitors, "Do you have faith?" That's why we created the Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts to track and thank artists who provoke conversations about faith in America.
Plain speaking is a public virtue.
posted by stonepharisee at 5:10 AM on November 1, 2018 [33 favorites]
In election meddling related news, the UK National Crimes Agency has (finally) launched an investigation into Arron Banks and the funding for Leave.eu.
posted by PenDevil at 5:28 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 5:28 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Buzzfeed provides a solid overview on Russian information-warfare efforts, the Trump administration's passive response to them, and the tech sector's attempts to catch up with security: Russia Is Meddling In The Midterms. The White House Just Isn't Talking About It. Russia hasn't tried to hack voting machines in 2018, the government says, but its propaganda efforts are as active as ever.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:48 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:48 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
Historical podcasting grandmaster Mike Duncan (History of Rome, Revolutions) writes a historical opinion piece for the Washington Post: This Is How Republics End
posted by absalom at 6:04 AM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by absalom at 6:04 AM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
The comparison to Afghanistan got me thinking. Let’s assume for the moment that that 15,000 troops number is not just Trump blustering in advance of an election. If I’m Mexico, what do I think about that? Do I treat this as the buildup to a war?
Also, under normal rules about asylum and who qualifies, directing drug cartels to attack a group of migrants (many of whom might not otherwise qualify) seems... counterproductive. No?
posted by eirias at 6:19 AM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Also, under normal rules about asylum and who qualifies, directing drug cartels to attack a group of migrants (many of whom might not otherwise qualify) seems... counterproductive. No?
posted by eirias at 6:19 AM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
The invasion is coming to our shores!! It’s world war Z!
posted by growabrain at 6:33 AM on November 1, 2018
posted by growabrain at 6:33 AM on November 1, 2018
This dovetails into the discussion of soldiers refusing an illegal order, For Trump, a ‘national emergency’ is anything he says it is — including the migrant caravan (WaPo):
President Trump declared a national emergency last week — in a tweet.posted by peeedro at 6:42 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
...
But Trump has filed no legal proclamation declaring a national crisis as required under a 1976 law enacted to rein in abuses of executive power by granting presidents additional authorities only in specific instances and for a limited time frame.
For Trump, the caravan is an emergency merely because he said so.
The website does not engage in both sider-ism.
I was unsure what is meant by this gloss. This is a great project and prize, but there's no reason to imagine it would engage in both-siderism. It's a blog about a personal project to promote contemporary religious art by two people who seem to be art collectors. The Oakland Museum, which is one of my favorite and most socially engaged museums in the nation, isn't an author of this statement - they just had an exhibit that the authors wanted to blog about, and they do keep a calendar of museums with religious art exhibitions. So it's neither a journalistic nor an institutional message, and there's no reason the blog authors would be obligated by any ethic to represent any "sides" other than their own. I mean I think it's great, but this falls within the realm of free expression and advocacy, which can be polemical if it wants to. These men are clearly arts leaders and I absolutely love their project and it will have a great impact. But it's not journalism because it's not journalism.
posted by Miko at 6:47 AM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
I was unsure what is meant by this gloss. This is a great project and prize, but there's no reason to imagine it would engage in both-siderism. It's a blog about a personal project to promote contemporary religious art by two people who seem to be art collectors. The Oakland Museum, which is one of my favorite and most socially engaged museums in the nation, isn't an author of this statement - they just had an exhibit that the authors wanted to blog about, and they do keep a calendar of museums with religious art exhibitions. So it's neither a journalistic nor an institutional message, and there's no reason the blog authors would be obligated by any ethic to represent any "sides" other than their own. I mean I think it's great, but this falls within the realm of free expression and advocacy, which can be polemical if it wants to. These men are clearly arts leaders and I absolutely love their project and it will have a great impact. But it's not journalism because it's not journalism.
posted by Miko at 6:47 AM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
The rot goes deeper than that - I remember hearing exactly that spin from a mainstream evangelical pulpit in the 80s. I used to think that sort of thing could be fixed from the inside, but the Trump era has convinced me otherwise.
I've noted before that in 1980, evangelicals had one of their own in the White House in Jimmy Carter, a man of apparently genuine piety, who once confessed to "committing adultery in his heart" by looking at other women with lust, and whose life since has been as close to sainthood as any public figure I can name.
And the so-called "moral majority" abandoned him in droves to vote for Ronald Reagan, who had already been divorced and remarried, which strict christian doctrine supposedly condemns.
They've always been hypocrites and fully prepared to sell out their so-called "values" in a devil's bargain to gain temporal power. Some predicted at the time that doing so would corrupt both the evangelical faith and politics alike, and boy howdy, has it ever.
posted by Gelatin at 7:03 AM on November 1, 2018 [75 favorites]
I've noted before that in 1980, evangelicals had one of their own in the White House in Jimmy Carter, a man of apparently genuine piety, who once confessed to "committing adultery in his heart" by looking at other women with lust, and whose life since has been as close to sainthood as any public figure I can name.
And the so-called "moral majority" abandoned him in droves to vote for Ronald Reagan, who had already been divorced and remarried, which strict christian doctrine supposedly condemns.
They've always been hypocrites and fully prepared to sell out their so-called "values" in a devil's bargain to gain temporal power. Some predicted at the time that doing so would corrupt both the evangelical faith and politics alike, and boy howdy, has it ever.
posted by Gelatin at 7:03 AM on November 1, 2018 [75 favorites]
> But it's not journalism because it's not journalism.
Sure, but it refreshing to see a public institution speaking forthrightly about the situation. Not all debate is in the newspapers and blogs. Calling out Trump supporters in public wherever possible is urgent work.
posted by stonepharisee at 7:16 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Sure, but it refreshing to see a public institution speaking forthrightly about the situation. Not all debate is in the newspapers and blogs. Calling out Trump supporters in public wherever possible is urgent work.
posted by stonepharisee at 7:16 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Poll: Nearly 4-In-5 Voters Concerned Incivility Will Lead To Violence (NPR, Nov. 1, 2018)
Hah, no it won't. Dems and Independents mostly blame Trump, while Republicans are split whether Democrats in Congress or Mass Media are more to blame. Ellos viven en otro mundo, I mutter to myself almost daily. Truly, they live in another world.
Speaking of another world, Mexicans shower the caravan with kindness — and tarps, tortillas and medicine (Joshua Partlow for the Washington Post, October 26, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:18 AM on November 1, 2018 [96 favorites]
Roughly 80 percent of voters say they are concerned that the negative tone and lack of civility in Washington will lead to violence or acts of terror, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll conducted after the recent deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.The divide will shock you!
But they are divided on who is the most to blame.
Hah, no it won't. Dems and Independents mostly blame Trump, while Republicans are split whether Democrats in Congress or Mass Media are more to blame. Ellos viven en otro mundo, I mutter to myself almost daily. Truly, they live in another world.
Speaking of another world, Mexicans shower the caravan with kindness — and tarps, tortillas and medicine (Joshua Partlow for the Washington Post, October 26, 2018)
Everything Pedro Osmin Ulloa was wearing, from the black felt shoes with the gold buckles to the shimmery blue button-down, was as new to him as he was to Mexico.Emphasis mine, because these are the role models the world needs to see, and Christians should be celebrating.
The 30-year-old Honduran corn farmer and dogged sojourner in the migrant caravan was dressed head-to-toe in donated clothes. His 3-year-old son, Alexander, played with donated toys. And the rest of the family — his wife, his two brothers and a cousin — sat on the sidewalk eating beef stew and tortillas ladled out for them by residents of this bustling market town in Mexico’s southern Chiapas state.
“These people have been beautiful,” he said. “Everyone’s helping us out.”
Who is financing the caravan? There is no sign here of George Soros or the Russians. Instead, the responsibility of feeding, clothing and sheltering several thousand migrants has been embraced by the small Mexican towns along the route, with residents jumping into charity mode as if they are responding to a natural disaster. It was hard to walk a block in this town without seeing crates of free bottled water, tables packed with ham and cheese tortas or relief stations filled with medical supplies donated by the community to help the people on this grueling march.
“We’re supporting them 100 percent,” Rafael Trinidad, a municipal employee, said as he passed out sandwiches to migrants arriving along the main road. “At least here, they can feel good.”
posted by filthy light thief at 7:18 AM on November 1, 2018 [96 favorites]
So apparently Carter Page has a TV show, America in the World With Carter Page, debuting this Saturday on One America News Network. (Which somehow gets distribution from companies like DirecTV and Verizon, despite peddling far right conspiracy theories and being enough of a rinky-dink operation that "Page signed his paperwork with the network Wednesday night".) And, "the broadcast this weekend will be a pre-midterms special, set to feature guest J. D. Gordon, another former Team Trump foreign-policy hand who also became a fixture in Trump-Russia controversy."
posted by mubba at 7:20 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mubba at 7:20 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
t it refreshing to see a public institution
No, this is what I meant in that I think the gloss is misplaced. Alpha Omega Arts is not a public institution. It's a private project. I don't even think it's a private nonprofit, just a personal project. That's why we can't really draw any bigger lessons from it about what public institutions or journalists should or could do. This is in a totally different category of expression.
I agree, call out Trump everywhere you can, but this particular case isn't an example of what a news org or a nonprofit should or could do. Just what some individuals can do.
posted by Miko at 7:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
No, this is what I meant in that I think the gloss is misplaced. Alpha Omega Arts is not a public institution. It's a private project. I don't even think it's a private nonprofit, just a personal project. That's why we can't really draw any bigger lessons from it about what public institutions or journalists should or could do. This is in a totally different category of expression.
I agree, call out Trump everywhere you can, but this particular case isn't an example of what a news org or a nonprofit should or could do. Just what some individuals can do.
posted by Miko at 7:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
Pompeo's ideological war on the State Department continues from within, Politico reports: Trump's State Department Eyes Ban On Terms Like 'Sexual Health'
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:39 AM on November 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
U.S. diplomats may soon be prohibited from using the phrases “sexual and reproductive health” and “comprehensive sexuality education” under a proposal being floated to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, four people familiar with the issue said.Pompeo, as a Koch-funded conservative extremist and evangelical fundamentalist who doesn't allow exceptions for rape in his anti-abortion dogmatism, is doing to the State Department what he did to Congress as a Tea Party zealot.
The proposal is being pushed by a handful of conservative political appointees at the State Department and other agencies, including Mari Stull, an adviser at State whose alleged mistreatment of career government staffers has already sparked multiple federal investigations.
It was not immediately clear what sort of direct policy changes, if any, could result from eliminating such terms, which have been used for years in domestic and international communications.
But changing the terms could lead to more contentious negotiations at the United Nations and other forums over language used for resolutions and agreements. It also could complicate matters for some non-governmental groups that receive U.S. funding and opt to stick with the traditional terms.[...]
Stull and another political appointee, Bethany Kozma, are behind the push to restrict the terminology, three of the people familiar with the issue said. The pair tried to initially put the proposal in a diplomatic cable to all embassies. But they switched it to a memo for Pompeo after career staffers warned they were circumventing protocol. Cables are typically signed by the secretary or one of his top deputies, and Pompeo could still send a cable if he approves the memo, one source said.[...]
Stull is a former lobbyist and wine blogger serving as an adviser in the State Department’s International Organizations bureau. She’s under investigation after facing allegations that she tried to create a blacklist of career staffers whose loyalty to Trump she questioned. Kozma is an adviser at the U.S. Agency for International Development who reportedly agitated against transgender rights before joining the administration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:39 AM on November 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
> I mentioned Dave Niewart in the last thread, he's been on this eliminationism beat for a long, long time. Can't reccommend reading his 2006 10 part series any harder. He saw the Republican party for what it was years ago and has cataloged every last step of the decent.
Previous thread.
posted by homunculus at 7:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
Previous thread.
posted by homunculus at 7:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
Less than a month after GOP Senator John Barrasso introduces bill to end EV tax credit (Karen Graham for Digital Journal, Oct. 10, 2018), Wired runs an EV hype article that isn't about Tesla: Chevy's Making an Electric Camaro to Dominate the Drag Strip. And if you want another reason to shout into the void, the context of the bill from John Barrasso (R-WY) might give you some of that fuel:
And in other coverage of either Barrasso's bill or another one, a Republican was whining about electric vehicle discounts only supporting rich people who buy Teslas, and I failed to check his political funding to see if any car companies, or any of the major oil and gas companies who have diversified their investments in recent years. (Then again, a 'new energy order' is threatening shareholder returns for oil companies, so we really should ride this Oil and Gas Train until the bitter, apocalyptic end. We don't want to upset the shareholders, or *gasp* invest more into decreasing our carbon footprints.)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:44 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Right on the heels of the UN report on climate change, the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unveiled legislation on Tuesday to end the $7,500 tax incentive for electric vehicles.Except EVs also improve air quality, which is good for all people AND animals AND the environment in general, Mr. Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
The legislation from Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming would also impose “a federal highway user fee on alternative fuel vehicles,” which would then go into the Highway Trust Fund, according to a committee summary.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, federal fuel taxes of 18.4 cents per gallon of gas and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel are the primary sources of revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. But with greater fuel efficiency and the growing number of electric vehicles on the road today, there has been a decline in federal fuel taxes collected.
“The electric vehicle tax credit largely benefits the wealthiest Americans and costs taxpayers billions of dollars,” Barrasso said in a statement. “My legislation levels the playing field for all drivers across America.”
And in other coverage of either Barrasso's bill or another one, a Republican was whining about electric vehicle discounts only supporting rich people who buy Teslas, and I failed to check his political funding to see if any car companies, or any of the major oil and gas companies who have diversified their investments in recent years. (Then again, a 'new energy order' is threatening shareholder returns for oil companies, so we really should ride this Oil and Gas Train until the bitter, apocalyptic end. We don't want to upset the shareholders, or *gasp* invest more into decreasing our carbon footprints.)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:44 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Poll: Nearly 4-In-5 Voters Concerned Incivility Will Lead To Violence (NPR, Nov. 1, 2018)
The Onion beat them to this yesterday: Political Scientists Trace American Democracy’s Severe Polarization to Fucking Idiots On Other Side of Aisle “The analysis we conducted indicates the growing divide in political attitudes has been entirely caused by those dipshits in the other party,” said Dr. Stanley Pomeroy, adding that all these goddamn slobbering imbeciles and the biased media outlets they call news are primary drivers of the nation’s movement toward ideological extremes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:45 AM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
The Onion beat them to this yesterday: Political Scientists Trace American Democracy’s Severe Polarization to Fucking Idiots On Other Side of Aisle “The analysis we conducted indicates the growing divide in political attitudes has been entirely caused by those dipshits in the other party,” said Dr. Stanley Pomeroy, adding that all these goddamn slobbering imbeciles and the biased media outlets they call news are primary drivers of the nation’s movement toward ideological extremes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:45 AM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
The only REAL answer is that they want the bots to remain.
My guess is that this is to keep Trump happy. He was distressed when they cleaned up his bot followers. I suspect nobody wants to know just how few people outside the media assigned to him due to his current role, actually care what he says.
posted by infini at 7:49 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
My guess is that this is to keep Trump happy. He was distressed when they cleaned up his bot followers. I suspect nobody wants to know just how few people outside the media assigned to him due to his current role, actually care what he says.
posted by infini at 7:49 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
The media loves to point to "extremism on both sides" as justification for the "both sides do it approach" that gives aid and comfort to the rising and increasingly open violent authoritarianism of the Republican Party.
But this morning I wondered, exactly what are Democrats proposing that's so extreme?
Democrats who speak to the media need to push back on the notion that nothing being proposed by any democrat is extreme, and that only the Republican Party's steady march to fascism makes it even faintly appear so. Yes, this rhetoric may seem "partisan" and "divisive" but it's also true.
posted by Gelatin at 7:49 AM on November 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
But this morning I wondered, exactly what are Democrats proposing that's so extreme?
- Expanding the popular and effective Medicare program so it covers all Americans?
- Reversing the decades-long trend of paying for tax cuts by cutting college subsidies?
- Suggesting the Border Patrol not run actual concentration camps?
- Having Congress hold the President accountable for blatantly unconstitutional acts, starting with open violation of the emoluments Clause?
Democrats who speak to the media need to push back on the notion that nothing being proposed by any democrat is extreme, and that only the Republican Party's steady march to fascism makes it even faintly appear so. Yes, this rhetoric may seem "partisan" and "divisive" but it's also true.
posted by Gelatin at 7:49 AM on November 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
The comparison to Afghanistan got me thinking. Let’s assume for the moment that that 15,000 troops number is not just Trump blustering in advance of an election. If I’m Mexico, what do I think about that? Do I treat this as the buildup to a war?
Nope, not really. It's just another crazy thing Trump is saying/doing, because that's what Trump does. The Mexican government so far has generally been quite obsequious to Trump, just kind of going along with whatever, in the hopes of getting an ok deal in the future.
In any case, the country has other thing in it's mind other than the US:
1) There's a new incoming president who will assume office in December.
2) He just canceled a partially built airport in Mexico City and the economy is getting a beating.
3) Mexico City (pop. 9 million) is without water until at least Monday due to infrastructure repairs.
4) The caravan is a huge issue in the country, independent of the US position, there's a lot of mixed signals about what exactly to do with the migrants and the security of the southern border.
5) The Mexican Supreme Court just ruled marijuana prohibition unconstitutional.
Those are the main headlines in Mexican newspapers today. I think the country is jumping a lot less to Trump's daily logorrhea.
posted by Omon Ra at 7:49 AM on November 1, 2018 [41 favorites]
Nope, not really. It's just another crazy thing Trump is saying/doing, because that's what Trump does. The Mexican government so far has generally been quite obsequious to Trump, just kind of going along with whatever, in the hopes of getting an ok deal in the future.
In any case, the country has other thing in it's mind other than the US:
1) There's a new incoming president who will assume office in December.
2) He just canceled a partially built airport in Mexico City and the economy is getting a beating.
3) Mexico City (pop. 9 million) is without water until at least Monday due to infrastructure repairs.
4) The caravan is a huge issue in the country, independent of the US position, there's a lot of mixed signals about what exactly to do with the migrants and the security of the southern border.
5) The Mexican Supreme Court just ruled marijuana prohibition unconstitutional.
Those are the main headlines in Mexican newspapers today. I think the country is jumping a lot less to Trump's daily logorrhea.
posted by Omon Ra at 7:49 AM on November 1, 2018 [41 favorites]
The invasion is coming to our shores!! It’s world war Z!
I know this is just screaming into the void, but I honestly want these people to tell me:
Let's say, for argument's sake, there's an honest-to-god huge crowd of people somewhere who are actually, really fleeing violence and poverty. Who are so desperate to escape their circumstances that they're willing to leave the place they were born and raised, risking everything—even death—in the hopes of reducing their suffering.
How different would that group of people look and act from what we're seeing in the caravan? For that matter, how different does the caravan look and act from other images of we've historically accepted as "legitimate" refugees?
If your answer is "Not much"—and reason and available data dictate that it should be—then why are youbeing such a fascist asshole so hostile to the idea that these people are worthy of basic human rights and compassion? Why are you so ready to latch on to this bogus "invasion of the leprosy murderers" notion?
Oh, wait. It's the color of their skin. It's always the racism, isn't it.
posted by Rykey at 7:58 AM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
I know this is just screaming into the void, but I honestly want these people to tell me:
Let's say, for argument's sake, there's an honest-to-god huge crowd of people somewhere who are actually, really fleeing violence and poverty. Who are so desperate to escape their circumstances that they're willing to leave the place they were born and raised, risking everything—even death—in the hopes of reducing their suffering.
How different would that group of people look and act from what we're seeing in the caravan? For that matter, how different does the caravan look and act from other images of we've historically accepted as "legitimate" refugees?
If your answer is "Not much"—and reason and available data dictate that it should be—then why are you
Oh, wait. It's the color of their skin. It's always the racism, isn't it.
posted by Rykey at 7:58 AM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
“The electric vehicle tax credit largely benefits the wealthiest Americans and costs taxpayers billions of dollars,” Barrasso said in a statement.
Honestly, that's not wrong. I'm not sure the benefit of EVs justifies the credit either. The only reason this is hard to swallow is it's coming from someone who is otherwise perfectly happy to toss benefits to top earners. But road taxes tied to gasoline and credits for the people who least need them are unquestionably problem areas that ought to be addressed. The fact that this $7,500 could go to someone looking to buy a six-figure electric camaro ought to be something we as progressives look side-eyed at. Nobody buying that car at $92,500 is going to turn their nose up at it at $100,000, so as an incentive to reduce emissions this is non-functional.
A functioning congress could put a sliding scale on this benefit the way they do things like, say, the adoption tax credit. As your annual taxable income heads up in the six figures that diminishes and it's a fair way to help folks who need it more while still achieving its goal. EV credits could similarly be income based as well as inverse to the vehicle cost. A congress that didn't have a shrieking terror of anything resembling bureaucracy could switch the highway tax to a mileage-based tax rather than attaching it to gas.
posted by phearlez at 8:00 AM on November 1, 2018 [22 favorites]
Honestly, that's not wrong. I'm not sure the benefit of EVs justifies the credit either. The only reason this is hard to swallow is it's coming from someone who is otherwise perfectly happy to toss benefits to top earners. But road taxes tied to gasoline and credits for the people who least need them are unquestionably problem areas that ought to be addressed. The fact that this $7,500 could go to someone looking to buy a six-figure electric camaro ought to be something we as progressives look side-eyed at. Nobody buying that car at $92,500 is going to turn their nose up at it at $100,000, so as an incentive to reduce emissions this is non-functional.
A functioning congress could put a sliding scale on this benefit the way they do things like, say, the adoption tax credit. As your annual taxable income heads up in the six figures that diminishes and it's a fair way to help folks who need it more while still achieving its goal. EV credits could similarly be income based as well as inverse to the vehicle cost. A congress that didn't have a shrieking terror of anything resembling bureaucracy could switch the highway tax to a mileage-based tax rather than attaching it to gas.
posted by phearlez at 8:00 AM on November 1, 2018 [22 favorites]
I do not think we are that far away from a world where Trump does the ultimate nationalistic thing and just pulls out of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
posted by jaduncan at 8:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 8:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I do not think we are that far away from a world where Trump does the ultimate nationalistic thing and just pulls out of the 1951 Refugee Convention.
i suspect the only thing separating us from that world is that in ours, trump has no idea that the 1951 Refugee Convention exists
posted by murphy slaw at 8:07 AM on November 1, 2018 [119 favorites]
i suspect the only thing separating us from that world is that in ours, trump has no idea that the 1951 Refugee Convention exists
posted by murphy slaw at 8:07 AM on November 1, 2018 [119 favorites]
Trump: Republicans attacked as 'racist' only because they're winning - Caitlyn Oprysko, Politico
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:12 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
President Donald Trump on Wednesday pushed back against critics who have labeled him and others in the GOP as racist, telling an interviewer that such criticism is a sign that Democrats are growing desperate in their efforts to win back power in Washington.The important take away here seems to be that Trump and the Republicans are self proclaimed winners.
“You know the word ‘racist’ is used about every Republican that’s winning,” he told Christian Broadcasting Network’s Jenna Browder en route to a campaign rally in Florida. “Anytime a Republican is leading, they take out the ‘R’ word, the ‘racist’ word. And I’m not anti-immigrant at all.”
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:12 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
It was in the auditorium at the University of Pittsburgh where I was able to hear first hand the stories of visiting Auschwitz survivors. I cried along with them.
I lived in Pittsburgh 1998 to 2002, it was my first home in the United States.
posted by infini at 8:13 AM on November 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
I lived in Pittsburgh 1998 to 2002, it was my first home in the United States.
posted by infini at 8:13 AM on November 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
I was just curious what 5,000 people looks like, because I think it's not a lot of people, it just sounds like a lot. So, I looked up some images of 5,000 people. And in doing so I learned that in the story of the fishes and loaves, the number of people fed by Jesus was 5,000. Food for thought.
posted by M-x shell at 8:16 AM on November 1, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 8:16 AM on November 1, 2018 [29 favorites]
“Kris has spent his career trying to prevent black people and poor people from voting,” he said. “That’s been your goal for decades.”
I heard this clip on 1A on my way to work this morning. Jeffery Toobin does what other journalists refuse to do, and that's to call out Kobach for his true motivations in clear, unambiguous language, without a hat tip to the fig leaf Kobach tries to cover himself with. Kobach tries to defend himself, but poorly. It is quite gratifying.
The commenters on 1A, who all agreed with Toobin, were asked by host Joshua Johnson what are reasonable regulations of voters, and responded with guidelines that could be used to determine if a requirement was reasonable, such as whether the requirement was more likely to suppress a vote than to prevent an ineligible voter. I screamed at the radio, "No, no, no. It isn't up to a citizen to prove she has a right; it is up to the government to use due process to deprive the citizen of her rights." I wish we had full-throated defenders of our rights to vote (on the Supreme Court, for instance, who recently judged it was mete and just that North Dakota prevents tribal members who don't have an address on their IDs from voting) but, alas, we don't.
posted by Mental Wimp at 8:19 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
I heard this clip on 1A on my way to work this morning. Jeffery Toobin does what other journalists refuse to do, and that's to call out Kobach for his true motivations in clear, unambiguous language, without a hat tip to the fig leaf Kobach tries to cover himself with. Kobach tries to defend himself, but poorly. It is quite gratifying.
The commenters on 1A, who all agreed with Toobin, were asked by host Joshua Johnson what are reasonable regulations of voters, and responded with guidelines that could be used to determine if a requirement was reasonable, such as whether the requirement was more likely to suppress a vote than to prevent an ineligible voter. I screamed at the radio, "No, no, no. It isn't up to a citizen to prove she has a right; it is up to the government to use due process to deprive the citizen of her rights." I wish we had full-throated defenders of our rights to vote (on the Supreme Court, for instance, who recently judged it was mete and just that North Dakota prevents tribal members who don't have an address on their IDs from voting) but, alas, we don't.
posted by Mental Wimp at 8:19 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
Sweaty Beto was a popular Halloween costume.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 8:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 8:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
I've been to so many marches in the last couple of years that had more than 5,000 people. I think the March for Science as about that size in my city, the family separation protests were twice as big, the March For our Lives was three times as big, and the Women's March was 20 times as big. In all of those case there were dozens of simultaneous marches going on across the country multiplying those figures by in some cases a factor of 50.
I had no idea we were such a powerful force!
If only we'd gotten a fraction of the news coverage the caravan is getting...
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:23 AM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
I had no idea we were such a powerful force!
If only we'd gotten a fraction of the news coverage the caravan is getting...
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:23 AM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
After being out of state last week, and catching up on all the followup from that trip, I finally voted this morning. My closest polling place is a small one, and has only been there for the last 2 years (I've lived in this part of town for the last 10). It was quiet, no line, no wait, and mostly construction workers on break at 9AM when they opened.
All smiles, all around.
I got to see Beto again yesterday, when he made a brief stop in Austin during his drive from Waco to San Antonio. Sounded a little hoarse, as he seems to most of the time, these days. He's like a Van de Graaff generator, arcing electricity all around and connecting with everyone. It was really different from the Pod Save America taping, which necessitated separation. He could have just crowd-surfed back to the vans.
Here are a couple pics: 1 2 3 .
posted by rp at 8:24 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
All smiles, all around.
I got to see Beto again yesterday, when he made a brief stop in Austin during his drive from Waco to San Antonio. Sounded a little hoarse, as he seems to most of the time, these days. He's like a Van de Graaff generator, arcing electricity all around and connecting with everyone. It was really different from the Pod Save America taping, which necessitated separation. He could have just crowd-surfed back to the vans.
Here are a couple pics: 1 2 3 .
posted by rp at 8:24 AM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
The Parkland Effect on Youth Turnout - Nancy LeTourneau, Washington Monthly
A couple of conflicting headlines caught my eye recently.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:25 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
“Record turnout? Not for millennials — just a third say they’ll vote” by Stephanie Perry, and
“The young don’t vote? This time they will” by John Della Volpe.
Those can’t both be true, can they? The key to understanding how people come to such opposite conclusions is included in the Perry headline when she says that “just a third say they’ll vote.” As I’ve written previously, that ignores history. If we add some historical context to the analysis, we learn that in the 2014 midterm elections, only 19.9 percent of 18-29 year olds voted.
…
If, as Perry suggests, just a third of millennials vote, that would be the largest turnout among young people since at least the late 70’s. According to Volpe, even that number is low.
…
The key shift, however, is not just about the issues. [from Volpe]Issues alone do not lead to youth voter turnout. Changes in attitude must come first, and our studies show that there is a new attitude about the efficacy of political engagement that matches interest in issues that disproportionately affect the current young generation That’s why I am confident that the underlying factors are in place for what Teddy Landis, the student chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project, refers to as a “youth wave.”
where we received approval to run political ads posing as Vice President Mike Pence, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, and the Islamic State group. An attempt to place an ad posing as Hillary Clinton was denied.
So Facebook is partisan? Or bending over backwards to keep Trump happy?
posted by infini at 8:31 AM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
So Facebook is partisan? Or bending over backwards to keep Trump happy?
posted by infini at 8:31 AM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
To put the size of the caravan into perspective--and in case anyone needs a counter-example to show around in your own circles: the Cuban rafter story I talk about? That was 35,000 rafters in 1994. They were taken to Guantanamo Bay and a couple of other places for some processing--y'know, back before Gitmo was a prison. Ultimately most of them stayed here. That was seven or ten times the size of the caravan (depending on who's talking about the caravan today) and the ocean is a little harder to work in than the border. Turns out America handled it.
It was a news story at the time and it sure was a big deal in my life, but there's every reason to have forgotten about it if you were around back then -- because it turns out the country didn't burn down over it.
None of this is rocket science. The only real differences here are a situation easier to handle and a White House running on racism and cruelty.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:31 AM on November 1, 2018 [42 favorites]
It was a news story at the time and it sure was a big deal in my life, but there's every reason to have forgotten about it if you were around back then -- because it turns out the country didn't burn down over it.
None of this is rocket science. The only real differences here are a situation easier to handle and a White House running on racism and cruelty.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:31 AM on November 1, 2018 [42 favorites]
Nobody buying that car at $92,500 is going to turn their nose up at it at $100,000, so as an incentive to reduce emissions this is non-functional.Put another way, the tax credit functions as an incentive for companies to develop marketable electric vehicles, allowing those companies to recoup some of their R&D expenses, enter the market in a competitive position with traditional vehicles, and recoup some of their one-time start-up costs.
I don't believe in trickle-down economics, but when it comes to technology R&D, there are a lot of good reasons to believe that the development and mass-production of expensive electric vehicles is going to clear a lot of the barriers to producing cheap electric vehicles.
There are a lot of reasons for why the subsidies are capped -- once the vehicles start to sell well, the government's investment has basically paid off, and is sufficient to prove that the subsidies are no longer necessary.
Is this the best use of our tax dollars? I have no clue. But I don't really see it as a massive hand-out to the rich (especially compared to so many other things in the tax code).
posted by schmod at 8:32 AM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
By the way, expanding on my "what exactly are the Democrats proposing that's so extremist?" comment earlier, it's worth noting that some time in the late 1980s or early '90s, Grover Norquist got Republicans to declare unilateral, ironclad opposition to the idea of raising taxes, ever, for any reason.
This doctrine was so pervasive that George W. Bush ran two entire wars on the national credit card (and understandably so; his failures in Iraq and Afghanistan were not popular, and would have been more so had Americans been presented with the bill up front, instead of in stealth mode via rising deficits).
Never, ever raising taxes an extreme position -- and only one of many -- but the so-called "liberal media" media just shrugged.
We grouse about Democrats conceding too much by adopting PAYGO and similar policies, but it's worth noting that on problem with they doing so is they don't get the benefit they should -- their commitment to fiscal responsibility is never noticed, let alone rewarded, while Republicans get away with only caring about the deficit when the Democrats are in charge without ever having their good faith questioned.
posted by Gelatin at 8:42 AM on November 1, 2018 [25 favorites]
This doctrine was so pervasive that George W. Bush ran two entire wars on the national credit card (and understandably so; his failures in Iraq and Afghanistan were not popular, and would have been more so had Americans been presented with the bill up front, instead of in stealth mode via rising deficits).
Never, ever raising taxes an extreme position -- and only one of many -- but the so-called "liberal media" media just shrugged.
We grouse about Democrats conceding too much by adopting PAYGO and similar policies, but it's worth noting that on problem with they doing so is they don't get the benefit they should -- their commitment to fiscal responsibility is never noticed, let alone rewarded, while Republicans get away with only caring about the deficit when the Democrats are in charge without ever having their good faith questioned.
posted by Gelatin at 8:42 AM on November 1, 2018 [25 favorites]
The milblog Task & Purpose published a piece yesterday entitled "Advice For US Troops Sent To The Mexican Border In An Age Of Terrible Leaders" that suggests the risks being externalized onto junior leaders by the racist C-in-C. (All emphasis, below, is mine.)
We do not live in normal times, but rather in an age of morally compromised leadership. The Trump administration is preparing to send 5,000 U.S. military personnel to the United States’ southern border. There is no legitimate military purpose for this operation. Border crossings are near historical lows, and the so-called “caravan” of hungry, frightened migrants poses no risk to U.S. national security....and it really is that frank all the way through. It's good, I guess, that someone is laying this all out for the people affected, but also miserably offensive that these soldiers are being used as props like this at all.
Instead, this operation is a political stunt. The administration aims to leverage the military’s credibility in support of its hysterical anti-immigrant propaganda campaign, which is itself a component of a partisan mid-term electoral strategy.
Junior military leaders thus begin in a morally hazardous position which will only grow worse with time. The purpose of this piece is to outline those hazards and to advise junior military leaders on how best to respond.
1. You’re on your own…posted by wenestvedt at 8:48 AM on November 1, 2018 [67 favorites]
Neither the Secretary of Defense nor any other senior military leader will whisper a word of objection to this political stunt.
Recall that Secretary of Defense James Mattis served as a prop when the president signed his Muslim ban at the Pentagon. Recall also that Mattis helpfully offered DoD facilities to support the president’s policy of separating migrant children from their parents when detained at the border.
To be sure, Mattis has a world-class press operation designed to leak selected postures of toughness which alight the internet. However, if you’ve bet your life that Jim Mattis will discover his spine in the face of presidential political exploitation, you’re already dead.
The military subreddits aren't talking much about the border deployment, but when they do they're very much aware this is a stunt.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:05 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:05 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
a “youth wave.”
See also, The National School Walkout
posted by Buntix at 9:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [41 favorites]
See also, The National School Walkout
This Fall, The National School Walkout is working with other youth-led organizations on a nationwide High School Voter Registration Challenge. We’re asking every student in America to lead a team that will register every eligible student at their school.@davidhogg111 "Who's ready to walk out to vote November 6th at 10am to vote for leaders that actually give a fuck about young people?" [currently at 29k likes and 8.6k retweets in ~14 hours]
Our organizers are working directly with student leaders and administrators to empower students to register their classmates offline at school-based events.
posted by Buntix at 9:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [41 favorites]
ZeusHumms: "Those can’t both be true, can they? The key to understanding how people come to such opposite conclusions is included in the Perry headline when she says that “just a third say they’ll vote.” As I’ve written previously, that ignores history. If we add some historical context to the analysis, we learn that in the 2014 midterm elections, only 19.9 percent of 18-29 year olds voted."
The additional context is - MOST people don't vote during the midterms. It's usually about 40% of eligible voters.
There has been some talk we might hit 50% turnout this year, which would be the highest for a midterm since the Taft administration.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:12 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
The additional context is - MOST people don't vote during the midterms. It's usually about 40% of eligible voters.
There has been some talk we might hit 50% turnout this year, which would be the highest for a midterm since the Taft administration.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:12 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
Hah, it just occurred to me that Voting Day could be made a holiday simply through those who are able to take the entire day off to vote. Kind of a voting strike, maybe it gains steam, but it wouldn't take too many people taking the day off for business owners to start howling, and that's where the laws are made.
posted by rhizome at 9:26 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 9:26 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
This thought is triggered by a recent column by Ross Douthat, one of the small-but-doughty band of conservatives ensconced in a safe space in the high tower of The New York Times. After dismissing some of those conservatives he no longer agrees with as “converts and apostates,” he urges his readers to turn instead to those “thinkers and writers who basically accept the populist turn, and whose goal is to supply coherence and intellectual ballast, to purge populism of its bigotries and inject good policy instead."What Lord Of The Rings Says About #NeverTrump Conservatives
...
"A new Power is rising. Against it the old allies and policies will not avail us at all. There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor. This then is one choice before you, before us. We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses, to control it. We can bide our time, we can keep our thoughts in our hearts, deploring maybe evils done by the way, but approving the high and ultimate purpose: Knowledge, Rule, Order; all the things that we have so far striven in vain to accomplish, hindered rather than helped by our weak or idle friends. There need not be, there would not be, any real change in our designs, only in our means.”
And there you have it. Ally with the rising power (Sauron is making his ashen, desolate homeland, Mordor, great again) and use your wisdom to contain and guide it. Your old friends and allies are fools or weaklings. Go along with the inevitable, and you may shape the new world; oppose it, and you will simply fail and perish.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:40 AM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
The Wohl/Burkman conference has eclipsed the Kavanaugh hearing for clownshoes, obvious lying, makes no sense, etc.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:41 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:41 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Jesus said pretty explicitly it would be easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven and the prosperity gospel followers have retconned it into being a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel just had to stoop down to enter into.
The rot goes deeper than that - I remember hearing exactly that spin from a mainstream evangelical pulpit in the 80s.
I was taught that interpretation (at least, it was mentioned as a possibility) in a Jesuit Catholic high school in the mid-'80s. It apparently goes back at least as far as the 15th century, and maybe further.
posted by The Tensor at 9:42 AM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
The rot goes deeper than that - I remember hearing exactly that spin from a mainstream evangelical pulpit in the 80s.
I was taught that interpretation (at least, it was mentioned as a possibility) in a Jesuit Catholic high school in the mid-'80s. It apparently goes back at least as far as the 15th century, and maybe further.
posted by The Tensor at 9:42 AM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
one of the small-but-doughty band of conservatives ensconced in a safe space in the high tower of The New York Times. After dismissing some of those conservatives he no longer agrees with as “converts and apostates,” he urges his readers
This is a majorly-trending conceit: never say "Republican," only "conservative."
posted by rhizome at 9:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
This is a majorly-trending conceit: never say "Republican," only "conservative."
posted by rhizome at 9:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
> OnTheLastCastle:
"The Wohl/Burkman conference..."
What's this now?
posted by rhizome at 9:44 AM on November 1, 2018
"The Wohl/Burkman conference..."
What's this now?
posted by rhizome at 9:44 AM on November 1, 2018
Those are the two people who fabricated the sexual assault claim against Mueller now being investigated by the FBI. They are holding a press conference. https://twitter.com/willsommer is there and tweeting about it.
These two people are going to prison, and I can't really encapsulate how badly they are handling things.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:48 AM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
These two people are going to prison, and I can't really encapsulate how badly they are handling things.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:48 AM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
@willsomer The Q&A is getting heated! Jacob Burkman defends Jacob Wohl's age:
"Jacob is a child prodigy who has eclipsed Mozart."
posted by zakur at 9:54 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
"Jacob is a child prodigy who has eclipsed Mozart."
posted by zakur at 9:54 AM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
CNN Cools on Hiring Trump Alums
... CNN president Jeff Zucker has told people inside and outside the network that he’s not interested in hiring former officials he perceives as complicit in spreading falsehoods or spurious talking points, according to four people familiar with the conversations.”
*slow clap*
Thanks a lot, Zuck.
posted by petebest at 9:54 AM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
... CNN president Jeff Zucker has told people inside and outside the network that he’s not interested in hiring former officials he perceives as complicit in spreading falsehoods or spurious talking points, according to four people familiar with the conversations.”
*slow clap*
Thanks a lot, Zuck.
posted by petebest at 9:54 AM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
The Wohl/Burkman conference has eclipsed the Kavanaugh hearing for clownshoes, obvious lying, makes no sense, etc.
BREAKING NEWS*: Jack Burkman's fly is down. 🚨🚨🚨
Now that their news conference is over, I'm waiting for an explanation of the giant inflatable rat in a Trump wig that was outside the venue.
* via Rightwing Watch's Jared Holt's Twitter thread
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:55 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
BREAKING NEWS*: Jack Burkman's fly is down. 🚨🚨🚨
Now that their news conference is over, I'm waiting for an explanation of the giant inflatable rat in a Trump wig that was outside the venue.
* via Rightwing Watch's Jared Holt's Twitter thread
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:55 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
I was just curious what 5,000 people looks like, because I think it's not a lot of people, it just sounds like a lot.
I like to compare with a sporting event when talking to people about crowd numbers.
"Did you see the Vikings game last Sunday? That's about 66,000 people in the stands."
Or, a bit more than 13 times the estimated size of the caravan.
posted by gimonca at 9:56 AM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I like to compare with a sporting event when talking to people about crowd numbers.
"Did you see the Vikings game last Sunday? That's about 66,000 people in the stands."
Or, a bit more than 13 times the estimated size of the caravan.
posted by gimonca at 9:56 AM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
Now that their news conference is over, I'm waiting for an explanation of the giant inflatable rat in a Trump wig that was outside the venue.
Activist Claude Taylor brought it.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:59 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Activist Claude Taylor brought it.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:59 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best question of the whole press conference:
Reporter: "Are you both prepared to go to federal prison?"
Jack Burkman: "No, we are not."
posted by Etrigan at 10:14 AM on November 1, 2018 [63 favorites]
Reporter: "Are you both prepared to go to federal prison?"
Jack Burkman: "No, we are not."
posted by Etrigan at 10:14 AM on November 1, 2018 [63 favorites]
There has been some talk we might hit 50% turnout this year, which would be the highest for a midterm since the Taft administration.
I took a peek at the early voting returns for my county. There's 560,418 registered voters in Pima County. They've received 220,510 (including a batch of 5,000 that came in this morning.) They're well on track to hit 50% here.
posted by azpenguin at 10:19 AM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
I took a peek at the early voting returns for my county. There's 560,418 registered voters in Pima County. They've received 220,510 (including a batch of 5,000 that came in this morning.) They're well on track to hit 50% here.
posted by azpenguin at 10:19 AM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
the story of the fishes and loaves
At one time, I thought this story was about food & drink appearing out of thin air, instead of about people being prodded to share what they had, and realizing collectively that they had more than enough to go around. Seems relevant today.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [58 favorites]
At one time, I thought this story was about food & drink appearing out of thin air, instead of about people being prodded to share what they had, and realizing collectively that they had more than enough to go around. Seems relevant today.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:21 AM on November 1, 2018 [58 favorites]
Reporter: "Are you both prepared to go to federal prison?"
Jack Burkman: "No, we are not."
oh my god, I needed that laugh real bad. thank you.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:22 AM on November 1, 2018 [36 favorites]
I like to compare with a sporting event when talking to people about crowd numbers.
Exactly. There are more people in the stands of any random college football game (e.g. Ohio State's stadium holds 100k+) than there are in 1,000 refugee caravans.
It's all about the racism: 1-10 POC is "diverse"; 11-20 POC is "a lot"; and 20+ is too damned many for these folks.
posted by skye.dancer at 10:23 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Exactly. There are more people in the stands of any random college football game (e.g. Ohio State's stadium holds 100k+) than there are in 1,000 refugee caravans.
It's all about the racism: 1-10 POC is "diverse"; 11-20 POC is "a lot"; and 20+ is too damned many for these folks.
posted by skye.dancer at 10:23 AM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
(e.g. Ohio State's stadium holds 100k+)
And is the third-biggest in its own conference, go blue.
posted by Etrigan at 10:25 AM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
And is the third-biggest in its own conference, go blue.
posted by Etrigan at 10:25 AM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
From LitHub by Aleksandar Hemon:
... only those safe from fascism and its practices are far more likely to think that there might be a benefit in exchanging ideas with fascists. What for such a privileged group is a matter of a potentially productive difference in opinion is, for many of us, a matter of basic survival. The essential quality of fascism (and its attendant racism) is that it kills people and destroys their lives—and it does so because it openly aims so.
Witness Stephen Miller and Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance for illegal immigration” policy. Fascism’s central idea, appearing in a small repertoire of familiar guises, is that there are classes of human beings who deserve diminishment and destruction because they’re for some reason (genetic, cultural, whatever) inherently inferior to “us.” Every fucking fascist, Bannon included, strives to enact that idea, even if he (and it is usually a he—fascism is a masculine ideology, and therefore inherently misogynist) bittercoats it in a discourse of victimization and national self-defense. You know: they are contaminating our nation/race; they are destroying our culture; we must do something about them or perish. At the end of such an ideological trajectory is always genocide, as it was the case in Bosnia.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:30 AM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
... only those safe from fascism and its practices are far more likely to think that there might be a benefit in exchanging ideas with fascists. What for such a privileged group is a matter of a potentially productive difference in opinion is, for many of us, a matter of basic survival. The essential quality of fascism (and its attendant racism) is that it kills people and destroys their lives—and it does so because it openly aims so.
Witness Stephen Miller and Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance for illegal immigration” policy. Fascism’s central idea, appearing in a small repertoire of familiar guises, is that there are classes of human beings who deserve diminishment and destruction because they’re for some reason (genetic, cultural, whatever) inherently inferior to “us.” Every fucking fascist, Bannon included, strives to enact that idea, even if he (and it is usually a he—fascism is a masculine ideology, and therefore inherently misogynist) bittercoats it in a discourse of victimization and national self-defense. You know: they are contaminating our nation/race; they are destroying our culture; we must do something about them or perish. At the end of such an ideological trajectory is always genocide, as it was the case in Bosnia.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:30 AM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
remember Parker Curry, the toddler who was obsessed with @MichelleObama’s portrait? ..
posted by growabrain at 10:32 AM on November 1, 2018 [69 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 10:32 AM on November 1, 2018 [69 favorites]
Georgia GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Ditches Final Debate At The ‘Last Minute’ - Dominique Mosbergen, HuffPo
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:35 AM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
The final televised debate between Georgia gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams (D) and Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) has been canceled after the Kemp’s 11th-hour decision to pull out of the Sunday forum. He has decided to campaign that day with President Donald Trump in the city of Macon instead.To be honest, this is not particularly surprising.
Abrams and Kemp, who are running neck-and-neck in the hotly contested race, each blamed the other for the cancellation, which organizer WSB-TV confirmed Wednesday.
“We regret that we had to cancel, but once Secretary Kemp pulled out at the last minute, the candidates could not agree to a new time,” Misti Turnbull, the station’s news director, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In a blistering statement, Abrams suggested Kemp was callously “breaking promises” to Georgians, while a spokesman for Kemp said Abrams had been “offered multiple days, times and venues” as alternatives for their dialogue and was “ducking Georgia voters because she can’t defend her extreme, radical agenda on live television.”
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:35 AM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
From Filter by Rory Fleming: There are over 2,000 elected local head prosecutors, most commonly known as district attorneys, in the United States. And overall, these powerful individuals do not care what people think about the War on Drugs. They are going to fight it anyway, and hope that the voting public doesn’t notice.
That is the conclusion of an exclusive investigation from Filter, which surveyed the top prosecutors of the nation’s 50 most populous counties. (We included incumbents, outgoing incumbents, incoming DAs and challengers, making 61 individuals in total.) The full results are presented in map, chart and table forms here.
... Many of the prosecutors surveyed have stated publicly that we must treat drug use as a “public health issue,” rather than a criminal justice one. But our findings show that the vast majority nonetheless support or implement practices that drive criminalization, inequality and large-scale human suffering.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:36 AM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
That is the conclusion of an exclusive investigation from Filter, which surveyed the top prosecutors of the nation’s 50 most populous counties. (We included incumbents, outgoing incumbents, incoming DAs and challengers, making 61 individuals in total.) The full results are presented in map, chart and table forms here.
... Many of the prosecutors surveyed have stated publicly that we must treat drug use as a “public health issue,” rather than a criminal justice one. But our findings show that the vast majority nonetheless support or implement practices that drive criminalization, inequality and large-scale human suffering.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:36 AM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
I'd argue that part of the problem is that "the public" has a deep contradiction between what it says and how it votes. Partially that's because some of the people more opposed to the War on Drugs don't vote, but a lot of it is because the public will **SAY** they're opposed to the War on Drugs, but then they'll **VOTE** for a prosecutor who brags about the number of (black) people they've thrown in the slam on drug charges.
I suspect there's often simply a disconnect between what people claim to support and their baser thinking, or that they don't realize opposing the War on Drugs would necessarily mean opposing prosecutors who, well, prosecute the War on Drugs.
The American voter simultaneously likes git tuff talk on crime and claims to think the War on Drugs is bad. But when it comes to actually voting, they'll vote for a drug warrior every time. It's maddening.
posted by sotonohito at 10:46 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
I suspect there's often simply a disconnect between what people claim to support and their baser thinking, or that they don't realize opposing the War on Drugs would necessarily mean opposing prosecutors who, well, prosecute the War on Drugs.
The American voter simultaneously likes git tuff talk on crime and claims to think the War on Drugs is bad. But when it comes to actually voting, they'll vote for a drug warrior every time. It's maddening.
posted by sotonohito at 10:46 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Partially that's because some of the people more opposed to the War on Drugs don't vote, but a lot of it is because the public will **SAY** they're opposed to the War on Drugs, but then they'll **VOTE** for a prosecutor who brags about the number of (black) people they've thrown in the slam on drug charges.
The parenthetical says it all. The American public may be turning against the War on Drugs That White People Like, but the War on Those People And Their Drugs will take a while to get past. A GOP incumbent here in Michigan just came out with an ad featuring a nice suburban-looking middle-aged dad talking about how his son died of an overdose, and the local Republican Congressman is in favor of treatment and early intervention to keep that sort of thing from hurting families. I will give you one guess what skin color is shared by everyone in that commercial.
posted by Etrigan at 10:52 AM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
The parenthetical says it all. The American public may be turning against the War on Drugs That White People Like, but the War on Those People And Their Drugs will take a while to get past. A GOP incumbent here in Michigan just came out with an ad featuring a nice suburban-looking middle-aged dad talking about how his son died of an overdose, and the local Republican Congressman is in favor of treatment and early intervention to keep that sort of thing from hurting families. I will give you one guess what skin color is shared by everyone in that commercial.
posted by Etrigan at 10:52 AM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
The NYT has dumped a cache of e-mails by Stephen Bannon, Breitbart Washington editor Matthew Boyle, Roger Stone, and Julian Assange that were "obtained" by anonymous sources: Read the Emails: The Trump Campaign and Roger Stone—Newly revealed messages show how the political operative Roger J. Stone Jr. sold himself to Trump campaign advisers as a potential conduit to WikiLeaks, which published thousands of emails in 2016 damaging to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
(Maggie Haberman shares the byline with Michael S. Schmidt, Mark Mazzetti, and Sharon LaFraniere, so the usual caveats apply.)
This article's publication may explain, however, why Stone wrote a virulent, self-exculpatory opinion piece the Daily Caller this morning—The Treachery of Steve Bannon (archive.is link). "This is called “politics.” It’s not illegal."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:00 AM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
(Maggie Haberman shares the byline with Michael S. Schmidt, Mark Mazzetti, and Sharon LaFraniere, so the usual caveats apply.)
This article's publication may explain, however, why Stone wrote a virulent, self-exculpatory opinion piece the Daily Caller this morning—The Treachery of Steve Bannon (archive.is link). "This is called “politics.” It’s not illegal."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:00 AM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
The NYT has dumped a cache of e-mails by Stephen Bannon, Breitbart Washington editor Matthew Boyle, Roger Stone, and Julian Assange that were "obtained" by anonymous sources
Oh boy, is it finally... Roger Stone's time in the barrel??
posted by Aubergine at 11:01 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
Oh boy, is it finally... Roger Stone's time in the barrel??
posted by Aubergine at 11:01 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
"...the story of the fishes and loaves"
ZeusHumms: At one time, I thought this story was about food & drink appearing out of thin air, instead of about people being prodded to share what they had , and realizing collectively that they had more than enough to go around. Seems relevant today.
Until a few seconds ago, I had never considered the second interpretation of that "miracle".
And, yes, it is relevant.
posted by Jody Tresidder at 11:04 AM on November 1, 2018 [60 favorites]
ZeusHumms: At one time, I thought this story was about food & drink appearing out of thin air, instead of about people being prodded to share what they had , and realizing collectively that they had more than enough to go around. Seems relevant today.
Until a few seconds ago, I had never considered the second interpretation of that "miracle".
And, yes, it is relevant.
posted by Jody Tresidder at 11:04 AM on November 1, 2018 [60 favorites]
More encouragement for servicemembers to refuse illegal or immoral orders at military-focused liberal rag Task and Purpose.
posted by contraption at 11:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by contraption at 11:06 AM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
the public will **SAY** they're opposed to the War on Drugs, but then they'll **VOTE** for a prosecutor who brags about the number of (black) people they've thrown in the slam on drug charges.
I can't find it with a quick google but (I am pretty sure it was) Vox printed a piece once talking about how once you told people that the death penalty was racist they liked it better. Presumably people in that case were primarily white folks but I take nothing for granted anymore.
posted by phearlez at 11:07 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I can't find it with a quick google but (I am pretty sure it was) Vox printed a piece once talking about how once you told people that the death penalty was racist they liked it better. Presumably people in that case were primarily white folks but I take nothing for granted anymore.
posted by phearlez at 11:07 AM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Jesus said pretty explicitly it would be easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven and the prosperity gospel followers have retconned it into being a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel just had to stoop down to enter into.
...I was taught that interpretation (at least, it was mentioned as a possibility) in a Jesuit Catholic high school in the mid-'80s. It apparently goes back at least as far as the 15th century, and maybe further.
That interpretation might hold water if not for practically everything else Jesus said in the New Testament, from "blessed are the poor" to "I was hungry and you did not feed me" to "sell all you own and give the money to the poor."
I was taught by Jesuits, and trained to spot that kind of sophistry. I'm sad to see any Jesuits were pushing it instead, unless it was as an example of "here's the kind of bogus Biblical argument that doesn't stand up to even casual scrutiny."
posted by Gelatin at 11:07 AM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
...I was taught that interpretation (at least, it was mentioned as a possibility) in a Jesuit Catholic high school in the mid-'80s. It apparently goes back at least as far as the 15th century, and maybe further.
That interpretation might hold water if not for practically everything else Jesus said in the New Testament, from "blessed are the poor" to "I was hungry and you did not feed me" to "sell all you own and give the money to the poor."
I was taught by Jesuits, and trained to spot that kind of sophistry. I'm sad to see any Jesuits were pushing it instead, unless it was as an example of "here's the kind of bogus Biblical argument that doesn't stand up to even casual scrutiny."
posted by Gelatin at 11:07 AM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
If you need a palette cleanser, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Dean Phillips (MN-03) in "Constituents in Trucks Getting Coffee" (spoiler: they don't get coffee)
posted by nathan_teske at 11:12 AM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by nathan_teske at 11:12 AM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
“We regret that we had to cancel, but once Secretary Kemp pulled out at the last minute, the candidates could not agree to a new time,” Misti Turnbull, the station’s news director, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
So the station rewards Kemp's bad behavior by canceling the event entirely. They could have held the even with an empty podium, noting Kemp chose to campaign with Trump instead (something I'm sure Abrams would have been glad to remind Georgia voters at every opportunity).
By canceling, the station denies Abrams, who has done no wrong and already faces an uphill battle due to Kemp's electoral shenanigans, a platform to address the state's voters. The station should not have made the appearance dependent on her agreeing to Kemp's last minute, self serving change.
posted by Gelatin at 11:20 AM on November 1, 2018 [81 favorites]
So the station rewards Kemp's bad behavior by canceling the event entirely. They could have held the even with an empty podium, noting Kemp chose to campaign with Trump instead (something I'm sure Abrams would have been glad to remind Georgia voters at every opportunity).
By canceling, the station denies Abrams, who has done no wrong and already faces an uphill battle due to Kemp's electoral shenanigans, a platform to address the state's voters. The station should not have made the appearance dependent on her agreeing to Kemp's last minute, self serving change.
posted by Gelatin at 11:20 AM on November 1, 2018 [81 favorites]
That interpretation might hold water if not for practically everything else Jesus said in the New Testament, from "blessed are the poor" to "I was hungry and you did not feed me" to "sell all you own and give the money to the poor."
FWIW, the version I've always heard was that the gate was so small the camel (or merchant or whatever) could fit through, but you'd have to leave behind all the bags and money and supplies that the camel was carrying because those wouldn't fit through. It was, as the story goes, the last ditch way to enter the city after the gates were closed at night.
(I guess back then they didn't have ropes to pull supplies in afterwards?)
The interpretation, then, was that the rich could enter heaven but they'd have to discard everything else, and with that they wouldn't really be rich any more, would they? So just go and feed the poor, you knuckleheads.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:27 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
FWIW, the version I've always heard was that the gate was so small the camel (or merchant or whatever) could fit through, but you'd have to leave behind all the bags and money and supplies that the camel was carrying because those wouldn't fit through. It was, as the story goes, the last ditch way to enter the city after the gates were closed at night.
(I guess back then they didn't have ropes to pull supplies in afterwards?)
The interpretation, then, was that the rich could enter heaven but they'd have to discard everything else, and with that they wouldn't really be rich any more, would they? So just go and feed the poor, you knuckleheads.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:27 AM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
@IAStartingLine [video]: Steve King blows up at questioner who pressed him on the Pittsburgh massacre #IA04
posted by zachlipton at 11:36 AM on November 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:36 AM on November 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
> only those safe from fascism and its practices are far more likely to think that there might be a benefit in exchanging ideas with fascists. What for such a privileged group is a matter of a potentially productive difference in opinion is, for many of us, a matter of basic survival. The essential quality of fascism (and its attendant racism) is that it kills people and destroys their lives—and it does so because it openly aims so. Witness Stephen Miller and Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance for illegal immigration” policy...
Uncle of Stephen Miller: Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Is What Happens When Hate Is Legitimized
posted by homunculus at 11:38 AM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
Uncle of Stephen Miller: Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Is What Happens When Hate Is Legitimized
posted by homunculus at 11:38 AM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
Steve King blows up
Blatant false advertising, although I guess it was nice to see him mad.
Noteworthy: "I knew you were an ambusher when you walked in the room." You can practically hear the triple parentheses around "ambusher."
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
Blatant false advertising, although I guess it was nice to see him mad.
Noteworthy: "I knew you were an ambusher when you walked in the room." You can practically hear the triple parentheses around "ambusher."
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
By canceling, the station denies Abrams, who has done no wrong and already faces an uphill battle due to Kemp's electoral shenanigans, a platform to address the state's voters.
By canceling at the last minute, he fucked her schedule and stopped her from optimizing her time in the crucial last days of the election. Now the station is forcing her to reschedule yet again and drop other things. It's classic run down the clock bullshit, with a side helping of "you are beneath my notice" racism.
posted by benzenedream at 11:55 AM on November 1, 2018 [44 favorites]
By canceling at the last minute, he fucked her schedule and stopped her from optimizing her time in the crucial last days of the election. Now the station is forcing her to reschedule yet again and drop other things. It's classic run down the clock bullshit, with a side helping of "you are beneath my notice" racism.
posted by benzenedream at 11:55 AM on November 1, 2018 [44 favorites]
Jesus said pretty explicitly it would be easier for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven and the prosperity gospel followers have retconned it into being a small gate in Jerusalem that a camel just had to stoop down to enter into.
What I remember learning is that this was probably a second-century typo/misunderstanding, and that Jesus actually said a rope, not a camel. The Greek words for rope and camel are almost homophones and are one letter off. Rope makes a hell of a lot more sense to me, but you know, I'm not a fucking Bible scholar.
posted by en forme de poire at 11:57 AM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
What I remember learning is that this was probably a second-century typo/misunderstanding, and that Jesus actually said a rope, not a camel. The Greek words for rope and camel are almost homophones and are one letter off. Rope makes a hell of a lot more sense to me, but you know, I'm not a fucking Bible scholar.
posted by en forme de poire at 11:57 AM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
Mod note: If we're really excited about bible exegesis of this particular phrase, I'd bet it'd make a good FPP!
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 11:58 AM on November 1, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 11:58 AM on November 1, 2018 [43 favorites]
All I know about this Jacob Wohl saga is that his Chuck Tingle commemoration is going to be amazing.
posted by delfin at 12:02 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by delfin at 12:02 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
> From Filter by Rory Fleming: There are over 2,000 elected local head prosecutors, most commonly known as district attorneys, in the United States. And overall, these powerful individuals do not care what people think about the War on Drugs. They are going to fight it anyway, and hope that the voting public doesn’t notice.
Speaking of the War on Drugs: Why Everything About the Trump Administration’s New Opioid Video Campaign Is Wrong
posted by homunculus at 12:03 PM on November 1, 2018
Speaking of the War on Drugs: Why Everything About the Trump Administration’s New Opioid Video Campaign Is Wrong
posted by homunculus at 12:03 PM on November 1, 2018
Ratfucked In The Butt By My Own Bogus Intelligence Operation
posted by murphy slaw at 12:04 PM on November 1, 2018 [49 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:04 PM on November 1, 2018 [49 favorites]
From Johnstown, PA, where Stephen Miller's Yiddish-speaking immigrant ancestors found their American dream. You can't pick your relatives, but if they are fascists, you can drag them masterfully... while blowing your nose.
posted by Scram at 12:06 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Scram at 12:06 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
If you had any question about the type of rocket surgeons we're dealing with here:
TPM's Tierney Sneed:posted by murphy slaw at 12:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
The signature of the accuser on the affidavit is a docusign
So . . . NYT Stone emails article is trying to exonerate Stone by portraying him as just the same lying grifter he's always been, attempting to bilk Mercers of money through the Trump campaign? Seems like classic Stone self-shade to hide something and/or inflate his weird ego.
posted by Harry Caul at 12:11 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 12:11 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
"giant inflatable rat"
We have one of those here, I believe called "Scabby" that goes up at pickets till the cops take it down because it's "intimidating" to scabs. A beautiful thing, an inflatable rat, used wisely.
Anyway, I hope this isn't too chatfiltery, but I wanted to say a couple of things. Firstly, I don't know how I'm going to manage the tension of the next week, and I'm over on another continent, so good luck to all of you.
Secondly, I thought it might be of interest that as a young person, albeit a continent away, I've been told to vote in the US elections a dozen times from a dozen sources. I remember one podcast in 2016 making such a request, tentatively (MBMBAM), now I find myself under a deluge of the same. Social media, videos, music, you're really pushing the GOTV message hard.
If the youth vote doesn't come out, I don't think it'll be because you didn't tell them to vote enough. It'll be barriers, or a failure to convince people it matters. It surely can't be ignorance. I shouldn't have any idea which states require pre-registration, but I keep getting told, and how to submit a postal vote, and to take a friend, and so on.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 12:15 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
We have one of those here, I believe called "Scabby" that goes up at pickets till the cops take it down because it's "intimidating" to scabs. A beautiful thing, an inflatable rat, used wisely.
Anyway, I hope this isn't too chatfiltery, but I wanted to say a couple of things. Firstly, I don't know how I'm going to manage the tension of the next week, and I'm over on another continent, so good luck to all of you.
Secondly, I thought it might be of interest that as a young person, albeit a continent away, I've been told to vote in the US elections a dozen times from a dozen sources. I remember one podcast in 2016 making such a request, tentatively (MBMBAM), now I find myself under a deluge of the same. Social media, videos, music, you're really pushing the GOTV message hard.
If the youth vote doesn't come out, I don't think it'll be because you didn't tell them to vote enough. It'll be barriers, or a failure to convince people it matters. It surely can't be ignorance. I shouldn't have any idea which states require pre-registration, but I keep getting told, and how to submit a postal vote, and to take a friend, and so on.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 12:15 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
@weijia: NEW: At 4:15pm today, @realDonaldTrump is expected to announce a plan to deny asylum to migrants trying to cross the border between ports of entry. As it stands now, they’re apprehended and still given a chance to make a case.
posted by zachlipton at 12:17 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:17 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
As Trump attacks the refugee caravan "invasion" on Twitter ("Many Gang Members and some very bad people"), the Pentagon plans to deploy 5,200 14,000 active-duty troops to U.S.-Mexico border to halt migrant caravan (USA Today, Newsweek)
The caravan of a few hundred weary, desperate people who have walked many hundreds of miles?
The home of the brave.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
The caravan of a few hundred weary, desperate people who have walked many hundreds of miles?
The home of the brave.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
NYT Read the Emails: The Trump Campaign and Roger Stone
Marcy Wheeler drags the Grey Lady: "The NYT doesn't even get the timing of Stone's tweets correct. Come on, NYT, four bylines on that story."
She also notes, "One thing that's interesting abt these emails is that Stone doesn't think we should see what emails they were using -- for example, whether Treacherous Bannon was talking WikiLeaks from the campaign domain or not."; and astutely points out, "I find it rather telling that neither the NYT nor Roger Stone want to tell us what domains anyone but Boyle was using. It's ... a really important part of the story, folks."
So . . . NYT Stone emails article is trying to exonerate Stone by portraying him as just the same lying grifter he's always been, attempting to bilk Mercers of money through the Trump campaign?
I'm not sure I totally buy Stone as the NYT's source. Stone telling Bannon to have Rebekah Mercer channel funds through his shady C-4 political org sounds like it could violate election/campaign finance laws if any of those e-mails originated from official campaign domains. That would be a hell of a limited hangout. I could easily see Bannon, having cooperated with Mueller as recently as last Friday, CNN reports, deciding to burn bridges with him.
Also, ABC has an update on Roger Stone's former friend Jerome Corsi and the Special Counsel: Conspiracy Theorist Becomes Key Figure As Mueller Builds Case
"Self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi returned to Washington, D.C., again this week for more closed-door meetings with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators, and on Friday is scheduled to make a second appearance before the federal grand jury probing Russia interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, ABC News has learned."
Team Trump is reaching the stage in which they're discussing who'll be the fall guy, like in The Maltese Falcon.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:38 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler drags the Grey Lady: "The NYT doesn't even get the timing of Stone's tweets correct. Come on, NYT, four bylines on that story."
She also notes, "One thing that's interesting abt these emails is that Stone doesn't think we should see what emails they were using -- for example, whether Treacherous Bannon was talking WikiLeaks from the campaign domain or not."; and astutely points out, "I find it rather telling that neither the NYT nor Roger Stone want to tell us what domains anyone but Boyle was using. It's ... a really important part of the story, folks."
So . . . NYT Stone emails article is trying to exonerate Stone by portraying him as just the same lying grifter he's always been, attempting to bilk Mercers of money through the Trump campaign?
I'm not sure I totally buy Stone as the NYT's source. Stone telling Bannon to have Rebekah Mercer channel funds through his shady C-4 political org sounds like it could violate election/campaign finance laws if any of those e-mails originated from official campaign domains. That would be a hell of a limited hangout. I could easily see Bannon, having cooperated with Mueller as recently as last Friday, CNN reports, deciding to burn bridges with him.
Also, ABC has an update on Roger Stone's former friend Jerome Corsi and the Special Counsel: Conspiracy Theorist Becomes Key Figure As Mueller Builds Case
"Self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi returned to Washington, D.C., again this week for more closed-door meetings with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators, and on Friday is scheduled to make a second appearance before the federal grand jury probing Russia interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, ABC News has learned."
Team Trump is reaching the stage in which they're discussing who'll be the fall guy, like in The Maltese Falcon.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:38 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
It'll be barriers, or a failure to convince people it matters. It surely can't be ignorance.
It's also that the opportunity cost for voting can be higher for them because their lives are, as a general tendency, more interestingly chaotic, lively, and active than older people's. In part because they just are, and in part because almost everything in the adult world is new to them.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:38 PM on November 1, 2018
It's also that the opportunity cost for voting can be higher for them because their lives are, as a general tendency, more interestingly chaotic, lively, and active than older people's. In part because they just are, and in part because almost everything in the adult world is new to them.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:38 PM on November 1, 2018
> That interpretation might hold water if not for practically everything else Jesus said in the New Testament, from "blessed are the poor" to "I was hungry and you did not feed me" to "sell all you own and give the money to the poor."
I think, though, that understanding why this nonsense resonates with right-wingers is useful for understanding right-wing epistemology in general. I posit that this is how conservatives, reactionaries, and fascists determine how to interpret texts (or statements about the world more generally):
Here are other examples where this epistemological strategy finds use:
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 12:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [83 favorites]
I think, though, that understanding why this nonsense resonates with right-wingers is useful for understanding right-wing epistemology in general. I posit that this is how conservatives, reactionaries, and fascists determine how to interpret texts (or statements about the world more generally):
- First, determine what statement about the world the right-winger would prefer to be true. In this case, the statement is something like "it's okay to be rich when others are poor" or "it's good to be rich and bad to be poor"
- Next, examine the text in question (in this case, Matthew 19:23-26).
- The appropriate reading of this text is whatever reading affirms the preferred statement.
- One can then make additional statements about the world based on this interpretation of the text; in this case, one can infer that there existed a gate in Jerusalem called "the eye of the needle" through which a man with a camel could pass, but with difficulty. The lack of other evidence for the existence of this gate — indeed, the presence of evidence that this gate doesn't exist — is irrelevant, because the fact that the existence of this gate would lend credence to the preferred reading of the text is itself rock-solid evidence that the gate existed.
Here are other examples where this epistemological strategy finds use:
- We like the statement that Hillary Clinton is a criminal, therefore it is known that she is running a pedophile ring out of the nonexistent basement of a D.C. area pizza joint.
- We like the statement that Barack Obama is unamerican, therefore he was born in Kenya. Moreover, the birth certificate saying he was born in Hawaii is therefore an obvious forgery.
- We are Christian and we like what the Trump administration is doing, therefore what the Trump administration is doing is Christian. The naked antichristianity of Trump's behavior is explained away to appeals to historical statements about nongodly rulers producing godly results, much like the "eye of the needle" statement is explained away through the claim that there must have been a gate in Jerusalem by this name.
- We would prefer that the United States be a de jure Christian nation, ideally a Protestant one, and therefore we can from our preference infer that the Constitution defines the United States as a Christian, Protestant nation.
- We would like it if Nazi atrocities could be pinned on the left, therefore the Nazi government was a left-wing government.
- We would like it if Jews were evil, therefore Jews have horns on their heads.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 12:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [83 favorites]
"Secondly, I thought it might be of interest that as a young person, albeit a continent away, I've been told to vote in the US elections a dozen times from a dozen sources. "
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
I'm Gen X and I'm getting all the GOTV messages as well, and I ignore them because I am gonna vote. I don't ever miss voting, period. It is slightly annoying to be bombarded but I know the messages are for a good cause and they will be over soon. (For now.) I kind of feel like anyone who wouldn't vote because they resent the onslaught of reminders is probably looking for an excuse not to vote. It's frustrating. And upsetting.
I hope most folks are able to see past their own personal annoyance and do what needs to be done.
(I know you weren't saying what my friend did. Your post just reminded me of this thing that has been bugging me since I saw my FB friend's post. )
posted by litlnemo at 12:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
I'm Gen X and I'm getting all the GOTV messages as well, and I ignore them because I am gonna vote. I don't ever miss voting, period. It is slightly annoying to be bombarded but I know the messages are for a good cause and they will be over soon. (For now.) I kind of feel like anyone who wouldn't vote because they resent the onslaught of reminders is probably looking for an excuse not to vote. It's frustrating. And upsetting.
I hope most folks are able to see past their own personal annoyance and do what needs to be done.
(I know you weren't saying what my friend did. Your post just reminded me of this thing that has been bugging me since I saw my FB friend's post. )
posted by litlnemo at 12:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
@Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon: I completely agree. One of the surest hallmarks of extremism is that they begin a debate by assuming what they are trying to prove.
posted by M-x shell at 12:50 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 12:50 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
In short, preferences held by the members of their group themselves generate evidence of the correctness of those preferences, and anyone who says otherwise is willfully and perversely denying what is plainly true.
Something we all need to be watchful for in ourselves, as well.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:50 PM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
Something we all need to be watchful for in ourselves, as well.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:50 PM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
People say the same things about anti-smoking commercials. And yet, the demographics they're targeted to consistently show lower rates of smoking based on exposure to the commercials.
posted by Etrigan at 12:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
People say the same things about anti-smoking commercials. And yet, the demographics they're targeted to consistently show lower rates of smoking based on exposure to the commercials.
posted by Etrigan at 12:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
@HillaryClinton, 3:34 PM - 5 May 2016
FACT: Donald Trump would end birthright citizenship.posted by kirkaracha at 12:52 PM on November 1, 2018 [51 favorites]
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
I got yelled this at me while phone-banking, basically. It was a "I'm not going to vote for Democrats, and now that I've gotten a text AND a phone call, I'm really not!"
Which just...made no sense to me? "Your party has reached out to me, so I'm super not voting for you!"
(I've gotten a few mailers addressed to me as a "Conservative Christian Voter", which, wrong on two counts there, bud, which did in fact, piss me off, but it's not like that's what going to make me not vote for the GOP candidates.)
posted by damayanti at 12:53 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I got yelled this at me while phone-banking, basically. It was a "I'm not going to vote for Democrats, and now that I've gotten a text AND a phone call, I'm really not!"
Which just...made no sense to me? "Your party has reached out to me, so I'm super not voting for you!"
(I've gotten a few mailers addressed to me as a "Conservative Christian Voter", which, wrong on two counts there, bud, which did in fact, piss me off, but it's not like that's what going to make me not vote for the GOP candidates.)
posted by damayanti at 12:53 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
@HillaryClinton, 3:34 PM - 5 May 2016
FACT: Donald Trump would end birthright citizenship.
She called it early. She should probably change her name to Cassandra, for all the good that did her and the rest of us.
posted by lydhre at 12:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [59 favorites]
FACT: Donald Trump would end birthright citizenship.
She called it early. She should probably change her name to Cassandra, for all the good that did her and the rest of us.
posted by lydhre at 12:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [59 favorites]
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
I suspect that this person probably wouldn't have voted anyway. They wouldn't plan for it and then, whoops, forgot about it and the polls close in five minutes.
In my experience, people who are all "WELL, if you hadn't tried to give me a "meat is murder sticker", I would have had a BEAN burrito, but now I am going to eat MEAT, see what you've done" are really just looking for a justification for what they're planning to do anyway. They feel some nagging guilt, don't want to do the thing but are not able to take emotional responsibility for what they actually want to do.
I think they're a pretty small percentage of the population in any case, and it looks like a HUGE percentage of younger folks (compared to the usual midterm situation) are going to vote, so actually I'm feeling more "well done fellow kids" than anything else.
posted by Frowner at 12:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [59 favorites]
> One of the surest hallmarks of extremism is that they begin a debate by assuming what they are trying to prove.
This statement is false, because I certainly wouldn't prefer it to be true.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 12:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
This statement is false, because I certainly wouldn't prefer it to be true.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 12:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
My Millennial-age roommate and I had a conversation recently where he also may be shedding light on the "why people don't vote" mindset - he was basically channeling peeps-Chili Chidi from The Good Place, and was all "nothing matters and the world is going to hell and society is collapsing and even if we do change the population of the House of Representatives it won't matter because global warming will drown us all in 20 years anyway so nothing's going to make any difference and playing video games is the only thing keeping me sane right now".
However, every third sentence he would fall all over himself to say "but don't worry, I'm still going to vote anyway." He knows it's a civic responsibility, even though there seems vanishingly little impact.
I think that trying to ascertain the One Weird Trick that will get a given generation to vote is a fools' errand; everyone is different, and in conclusion Millennials are a generation of contrasts. ....And so are Gen-X and Boomers for that matter.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
My Millennial-age roommate and I had a conversation recently where he also may be shedding light on the "why people don't vote" mindset - he was basically channeling peeps-Chili Chidi from The Good Place, and was all "nothing matters and the world is going to hell and society is collapsing and even if we do change the population of the House of Representatives it won't matter because global warming will drown us all in 20 years anyway so nothing's going to make any difference and playing video games is the only thing keeping me sane right now".
However, every third sentence he would fall all over himself to say "but don't worry, I'm still going to vote anyway." He knows it's a civic responsibility, even though there seems vanishingly little impact.
I think that trying to ascertain the One Weird Trick that will get a given generation to vote is a fools' errand; everyone is different, and in conclusion Millennials are a generation of contrasts. ....And so are Gen-X and Boomers for that matter.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
People say the same things about anti-smoking commercials. And yet, the demographics they're targeted to consistently show lower rates of smoking based on exposure to the commercials.
And plenty of online alt-righters are saying "you libs complaining about Nazis has turned me into a Nazi." It's good old-fashioned why-are-you-making-me-hit-youism.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:57 PM on November 1, 2018 [46 favorites]
And plenty of online alt-righters are saying "you libs complaining about Nazis has turned me into a Nazi." It's good old-fashioned why-are-you-making-me-hit-youism.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:57 PM on November 1, 2018 [46 favorites]
Which just...made no sense to me? "Your party has reached out to me, so I'm super not voting for you!"
I don’t see what’s not to get. Do you like cold calls from telemarketers? That’s what you are, and that’s what you’re doing. People don’t like that.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
I don’t see what’s not to get. Do you like cold calls from telemarketers? That’s what you are, and that’s what you’re doing. People don’t like that.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
Less snarkily, I think the point I'm belaboring isn't that they start from the premises and work backwards, rather that they start from the premises, work backwards, and genuinely believe in the real existence of whatever entities are necessary to make this strategy work. It's a fantastic process, in that it takes fantasies and makes the fantasies really truly real to the person entertaining them.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 12:59 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 12:59 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
@HillaryClinton, 3:34 PM - 5 May 2016
FACT: Donald Trump would end birthright citizenship.
"A woman gets pregnant. She's nine months, she walks across the border, she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don't think so." - Donald J. Trump, 16 September 2015
Not exactly Miss Cleo, guy straight-up told everyone.
posted by FakeFreyja at 12:59 PM on November 1, 2018 [22 favorites]
FACT: Donald Trump would end birthright citizenship.
"A woman gets pregnant. She's nine months, she walks across the border, she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don't think so." - Donald J. Trump, 16 September 2015
Not exactly Miss Cleo, guy straight-up told everyone.
posted by FakeFreyja at 12:59 PM on November 1, 2018 [22 favorites]
Speaking of The Maltese Falcon, Roger Stone would make a nice Wilmer.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don't think so.
This in conjunction with the fact that we are permanently kidnapping hundreds or thousands of migrant children suggests that there is no interest in or intention of these children living to old age.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
This in conjunction with the fact that we are permanently kidnapping hundreds or thousands of migrant children suggests that there is no interest in or intention of these children living to old age.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me
Seriously, don't fuck people who don't vote, if only because they appear to be impaired.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
Seriously, don't fuck people who don't vote, if only because they appear to be impaired.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
I like to compare with a sporting event when talking to people about crowd numbers.
Exactly. There are more people in the stands of any random college football game (e.g. Ohio State's stadium holds 100k+) than there are in 1,000 refugee caravans.
For me it's helpful to think of live music venues. For example, the Summit in Houston, which is now Lakewood Church, holds 15,000-20,000 people. I've regularly been in smaller venues with around 5,000 people and it didn't feel like many at all.
But, like, this caravan is a quarter the size of the weekly turnout at ONE CHURCH in Houston.
posted by threeturtles at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
Exactly. There are more people in the stands of any random college football game (e.g. Ohio State's stadium holds 100k+) than there are in 1,000 refugee caravans.
For me it's helpful to think of live music venues. For example, the Summit in Houston, which is now Lakewood Church, holds 15,000-20,000 people. I've regularly been in smaller venues with around 5,000 people and it didn't feel like many at all.
But, like, this caravan is a quarter the size of the weekly turnout at ONE CHURCH in Houston.
posted by threeturtles at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
Less snarkily, I think the point I'm belaboring isn't that they start from the premises and work backwards, rather that they start from the premises, work backwards, and genuinely believe in the real existence of whatever entities are necessary to make this work. It's a fantastic process, in that it takes fantasies and makes the fantasies really truly real to the person entertaining them.
Cognitive dissonance is a hell of a drug.
It's significant, though, that this process would be a lot easier for them if anything they believed actually was true. Conservatives jump through these counterfactual magical-thinking hops because they have to. Climate change is real. Tax cuts do not increase revenue. Iraq had no nuclear weapons program worth speaking of. America was not founded as a christian nation. Seeking asylum is legal immigration.
On and on, they have to believe, or pretend to believe, in nonsense because the facts do not support their positions. Chrysotom's admonishment is well taken, but reality truly does have a liberal bias.
It's high time the so-called "liberal media" stopped equating belief in nonsense, however sincere, with actual facts, or the fact that conservatives stubbornly refuse to believe in reality as "controversy."
posted by Gelatin at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Cognitive dissonance is a hell of a drug.
It's significant, though, that this process would be a lot easier for them if anything they believed actually was true. Conservatives jump through these counterfactual magical-thinking hops because they have to. Climate change is real. Tax cuts do not increase revenue. Iraq had no nuclear weapons program worth speaking of. America was not founded as a christian nation. Seeking asylum is legal immigration.
On and on, they have to believe, or pretend to believe, in nonsense because the facts do not support their positions. Chrysotom's admonishment is well taken, but reality truly does have a liberal bias.
It's high time the so-called "liberal media" stopped equating belief in nonsense, however sincere, with actual facts, or the fact that conservatives stubbornly refuse to believe in reality as "controversy."
posted by Gelatin at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
"A (Scottish) woman gets pregnant. She's nine months, she walks across the border, she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don't think so." - Donald J. Trump, 16 September 2015
The Mirror Abides.
posted by Harry Caul at 1:04 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
The Mirror Abides.
posted by Harry Caul at 1:04 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
Which just...made no sense to me? "Your party has reached out to me, so I'm super not voting for you!"
I don’t see what’s not to get. Do you like cold calls from telemarketers? That’s what you are, and that’s what you’re doing. People don’t like that.
Yeah, I actually feel this, and trust me I'll save my extensive complaining for the fucking-fuck thread(s), but I have come to very extremely dislike politics-as-actually-practiced. Don't worry, fellow MeFites, I am absolutely voting this Tuesday - in fact I may mail my ballot this afternoon - but I sincerely wish all the phone bankers, text bankers, canvasers, and pamphleteers would shut up Shut Up SHUT UP already.
To me, it merits consideration how we could make this less fucking annoying. Not so much for the "well I was GOING to vote until you CALLED me" guy, but more for people who start with a moderate/low level of engagement, get extremely annoyed, and end up actively refusing to engage further. Those people seem reachable to me and... maybe not always with the current tactics.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:07 PM on November 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
I don’t see what’s not to get. Do you like cold calls from telemarketers? That’s what you are, and that’s what you’re doing. People don’t like that.
Yeah, I actually feel this, and trust me I'll save my extensive complaining for the fucking-fuck thread(s), but I have come to very extremely dislike politics-as-actually-practiced. Don't worry, fellow MeFites, I am absolutely voting this Tuesday - in fact I may mail my ballot this afternoon - but I sincerely wish all the phone bankers, text bankers, canvasers, and pamphleteers would shut up Shut Up SHUT UP already.
To me, it merits consideration how we could make this less fucking annoying. Not so much for the "well I was GOING to vote until you CALLED me" guy, but more for people who start with a moderate/low level of engagement, get extremely annoyed, and end up actively refusing to engage further. Those people seem reachable to me and... maybe not always with the current tactics.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:07 PM on November 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by notyou at 1:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
This reminds me. One FB post I saw from a late-millennial of my acquaintance was a forward that basically said "stop telling us to vote all the time. We're just getting pissed off and it makes us not want to vote. We KNOW about voting but I'm probably not going to vote because you've annoyed me. Shut up already." My friend agreed. And... well... I don't know what to say to that.
Really? Seems obvious to me. Every hour on the hour you comment on that post "Don't give me $20."
posted by phearlez at 1:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [29 favorites]
Really? Seems obvious to me. Every hour on the hour you comment on that post "Don't give me $20."
posted by phearlez at 1:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [29 favorites]
To make matters worse, in a previous thread, we learned that facts aren't always true.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:12 PM on November 1, 2018
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:12 PM on November 1, 2018
"A woman gets pregnant. She's nine months, she walks across the border, she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don't think so." - Donald J. Trump, 16 September 2015
Which is hardly a departure from standard Republican dogma. They give it the slightest thought only as long as it's inside the mother, and after that point they don't think they should need or want to help take care of it at ALL.
posted by delfin at 1:12 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Which is hardly a departure from standard Republican dogma. They give it the slightest thought only as long as it's inside the mother, and after that point they don't think they should need or want to help take care of it at ALL.
posted by delfin at 1:12 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
she has the baby in the United States, and we take care of the baby for 85 years. I don't think so.
Quite the child development expert, there.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 1:13 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
Quite the child development expert, there.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 1:13 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
I don’t see what’s not to get. Do you like cold calls from telemarketers? That’s what you are, and that’s what you’re doing. People don’t like that.
I mean, I've already voted, and if I ever get another fucking text message from any political campaign ever again it'll be too fucking soon. I do not even answer unknown numbers anymore, for any reason. I wish I wish I WISH there were a way for me to communicate to the campaigns I otherwise whole heartedly support that they are wasting their goddamn time and annoying the shit out of me besides.
My husband donated to Beto (we're in MA) and he's been getting multiple text messages a day. WE VOTED. WE'RE NOT EVEN IN TEXAS. I CAN ALSO SEE THE POLLS, THANK YOU. Aughhhh.
posted by lydhre at 1:13 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
I mean, I've already voted, and if I ever get another fucking text message from any political campaign ever again it'll be too fucking soon. I do not even answer unknown numbers anymore, for any reason. I wish I wish I WISH there were a way for me to communicate to the campaigns I otherwise whole heartedly support that they are wasting their goddamn time and annoying the shit out of me besides.
My husband donated to Beto (we're in MA) and he's been getting multiple text messages a day. WE VOTED. WE'RE NOT EVEN IN TEXAS. I CAN ALSO SEE THE POLLS, THANK YOU. Aughhhh.
posted by lydhre at 1:13 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
"I'm not going to vote because you're annoying me and I hate cold calls–so THERE".
I thought the point of having to be 18 to vote is so theoretically you might be a grownup. My nine-year old asked me the other day how come 18, it's not fair (she wants to vote :) and I did my best to explain that she's spending these years getting the knowledge and wisdom to make good decisions that really matter. That seemed to satisfy her.
posted by maniabug at 1:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
I thought the point of having to be 18 to vote is so theoretically you might be a grownup. My nine-year old asked me the other day how come 18, it's not fair (she wants to vote :) and I did my best to explain that she's spending these years getting the knowledge and wisdom to make good decisions that really matter. That seemed to satisfy her.
posted by maniabug at 1:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
I hear you on the annoyance factor, but these Georgia voters sure seem happy to have Michael B. Jordan knocking on their doors [video]. Same for Oprah. Not sure that solution scales though.
posted by zachlipton at 1:16 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:16 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
It's also that the opportunity cost for voting can be higher for them because their lives are, as a general tendency, more interestingly chaotic, lively, and active than older people's.
I'm Gen X but I doubt things have changed that much. It was difficult to get people in my college to vote and there was minimal opportunity cost. There were registration drives right in front of the library and dining halls as well as other major areas and while the polling place wasn't on campus, it was a short, free bus ride away. And either the young Democrats or Republicans would arrange for a car ride if you couldn't take the bus for whatever reason.
And still a lot of people just shrugged. I'll buy that their lives may be chaotic and active but there was way less opportunity cost than the people I've seen in my working class neighborhood.
posted by Candleman at 1:18 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm Gen X but I doubt things have changed that much. It was difficult to get people in my college to vote and there was minimal opportunity cost. There were registration drives right in front of the library and dining halls as well as other major areas and while the polling place wasn't on campus, it was a short, free bus ride away. And either the young Democrats or Republicans would arrange for a car ride if you couldn't take the bus for whatever reason.
And still a lot of people just shrugged. I'll buy that their lives may be chaotic and active but there was way less opportunity cost than the people I've seen in my working class neighborhood.
posted by Candleman at 1:18 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trump is as we speak holding a "press conference" to spew bullshit about immigration. MSNBC isn't even carrying it, rightfully judging it more a racist rant meant to influence the midterms than an actual policy presser. But CNN is doing CNN and giving him free airtime for his midterm ad.
posted by Justinian at 1:21 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:21 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
The only turnout metric that matters is whether you vote...
I guess what I'm saying, though, is that that is a very campaign-centric perspective, and it may have negative externalities. I mean yes, I absolutely concede that a particular campaign's priority is to increase turnout (well... the Democrats anyway), but surely it would be good for the broader system if the people who voted were also willing to engage more generally, yes? Like, going to town halls and writing their representatives and maybe volunteering in the community and stuff? That's the kind of thing that I fear is discouraged by the constant aggressive blanket messaging, even to people who have already committed to voting, even to people who have already voted.
I'm not saying I have the perfect solution, and again I certainly don't advocate disengaging as a response, but I do suspect it's a real problem in contexts that extend beyond Nov. 6.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I guess what I'm saying, though, is that that is a very campaign-centric perspective, and it may have negative externalities. I mean yes, I absolutely concede that a particular campaign's priority is to increase turnout (well... the Democrats anyway), but surely it would be good for the broader system if the people who voted were also willing to engage more generally, yes? Like, going to town halls and writing their representatives and maybe volunteering in the community and stuff? That's the kind of thing that I fear is discouraged by the constant aggressive blanket messaging, even to people who have already committed to voting, even to people who have already voted.
I'm not saying I have the perfect solution, and again I certainly don't advocate disengaging as a response, but I do suspect it's a real problem in contexts that extend beyond Nov. 6.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
If I could have one goddamn wish (that wasn't something sadly unrealistic like "no more racism") it would be that the current flaming dumpster fire of evil and corruption would make people realize that exciting is bad. Boring competence is good.
posted by Justinian at 1:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [77 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [77 favorites]
Seriously, don't fuck people who don't vote, if only because they appear to be impaired.
I just want to push back on this. I know a metric fuck-ton of anarchists who aren't planning to vote, but who have been doing some serious work on improving the lives of the least fortunate in our society. There are a lot of people who don't think that the state is redeemable, and they're not idiots, they just have a different view on the primacy of mutual aid and voting in our current system than folks here do. Especially in hard blue or hard red districts/states, or for uncontested races, 'just voting' is not the end-all and be-all. It's important overall, yes, but that doesn't mean that everyone who isn't hasn't thought about their actions.
posted by corb at 1:25 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
I just want to push back on this. I know a metric fuck-ton of anarchists who aren't planning to vote, but who have been doing some serious work on improving the lives of the least fortunate in our society. There are a lot of people who don't think that the state is redeemable, and they're not idiots, they just have a different view on the primacy of mutual aid and voting in our current system than folks here do. Especially in hard blue or hard red districts/states, or for uncontested races, 'just voting' is not the end-all and be-all. It's important overall, yes, but that doesn't mean that everyone who isn't hasn't thought about their actions.
posted by corb at 1:25 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
No matter how outraged you are and think they should be with you, most low propensity voters still aren't going to vote. Else they wouldn't be low propensity in the first place. But the goal isn't to get everyone to vote, it's to get more to, and to reach a critical mass to change the outcome.
Those GOTV messages are reaching all types, and not every low frequency voter will be the spiteful douchebro or budding 4channer. Some will be the 23yr old new mom who just now realizing Republicans really will throw her and her newborn off her parent's health insurance, or the 19 year old student who really didn't know how to find their polling place.
If you encounter the douchebro type, the practical thing is to say, "Well, I hope you change your mind, and have a nice day" and move on. Or if it's someone close to you, "Well, I want you to know your decision disappoints me greatly" and move on to find someone persuadable.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:26 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
Those GOTV messages are reaching all types, and not every low frequency voter will be the spiteful douchebro or budding 4channer. Some will be the 23yr old new mom who just now realizing Republicans really will throw her and her newborn off her parent's health insurance, or the 19 year old student who really didn't know how to find their polling place.
If you encounter the douchebro type, the practical thing is to say, "Well, I hope you change your mind, and have a nice day" and move on. Or if it's someone close to you, "Well, I want you to know your decision disappoints me greatly" and move on to find someone persuadable.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:26 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
Not sure that solution scales though.
how do we scale hugs. must find way to scale Michael B. Jordan hugs.
posted by gwint at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
how do we scale hugs. must find way to scale Michael B. Jordan hugs.
posted by gwint at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
I accept the pushback on the "impaired" part but I still think we shouldn't fuck them
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
'just voting' is not the end-all and be-all. It's important overall, yes, but that doesn't mean that everyone who isn't hasn't thought about their actions.
Voting is necessary but not enough. A lot of otherwise well-meaning people are ignoring the "necessary" part.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
Voting is necessary but not enough. A lot of otherwise well-meaning people are ignoring the "necessary" part.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
One of the smartest things local politicians did in my area in 2012 was change their pre-election spam robo-calls. We still got them, but instead of a get out the vote message most of them were "Hi, I am [politician]. I get you have more on your mind than the election right now, so I'm just going to read off a list of passable roads and public charging stations in your area and then let you get on with your day." Right before the election, some of the messages noted the polling stations were still open, but many were on generator power so don't be discouraged if you don't see everything lit up.
If they'd stuck to the pre-hurricane script, I expect a lot of people would have felt like not voting out of spite.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
If they'd stuck to the pre-hurricane script, I expect a lot of people would have felt like not voting out of spite.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
@JoshDorner: Very important context here is that the Trump administration has been preventing people from reaching ports of entry, turning them away, or otherwise stopping them from making their claims lawfully. This seems designed to escalate that issue. They've already been sued over this.
@seungminkim: Trump, from the White House, says "we will not allow our generosity to be abused by those who would break our laws." Friendly reminder that applying for asylum is part of the *legal* immigration process.
@DLind: "We want them to come into our country, very much" is going to make its way into a lot of asylum applications in the next 6 months. From people. Who have applied. For asylum. Legally. Because they can do that. Legally. After coming to the US.
@DLind: Donald Trump just announced that as of a couple of days ago they're no longer releasing people. That bears no resemblance to any policy I've heard about. What HAS been reported is that ICE is releasing people FASTER, with LESS guidance.
posted by zachlipton at 1:31 PM on November 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
@seungminkim: Trump, from the White House, says "we will not allow our generosity to be abused by those who would break our laws." Friendly reminder that applying for asylum is part of the *legal* immigration process.
@DLind: "We want them to come into our country, very much" is going to make its way into a lot of asylum applications in the next 6 months. From people. Who have applied. For asylum. Legally. Because they can do that. Legally. After coming to the US.
@DLind: Donald Trump just announced that as of a couple of days ago they're no longer releasing people. That bears no resemblance to any policy I've heard about. What HAS been reported is that ICE is releasing people FASTER, with LESS guidance.
posted by zachlipton at 1:31 PM on November 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
and they're not idiots
Disagree, and I think impaired works just fine. They may have reasoned themselves into doing what they want but at the end of every election one of the candidates takes the office. You can think of it as choosing between being shot in the head or shot in the arm but one way or the other the shot is fired whether you take part in the choice or not. Or you've talked yourself into thinking it's between one arm and the other in which case congrats on your privilege but that's not true for everyone and yay that you don't care about them I guess? I guess I would agree that the word to describe that line of thought isn't idiot but it's no more complimentary.
posted by phearlez at 1:33 PM on November 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
Disagree, and I think impaired works just fine. They may have reasoned themselves into doing what they want but at the end of every election one of the candidates takes the office. You can think of it as choosing between being shot in the head or shot in the arm but one way or the other the shot is fired whether you take part in the choice or not. Or you've talked yourself into thinking it's between one arm and the other in which case congrats on your privilege but that's not true for everyone and yay that you don't care about them I guess? I guess I would agree that the word to describe that line of thought isn't idiot but it's no more complimentary.
posted by phearlez at 1:33 PM on November 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
corb, I hear you, but at this particular moment in history, I don't see much difference between "I'm not voting but helping in other ways because the state is irredeemable" and a kind of accelerationism. Which is maybe exactly what your anarchist friends want. But I'm personally not interested in an interregnum of fascism in order to eventually get to a utopian paradise.
posted by gwint at 1:33 PM on November 1, 2018 [62 favorites]
posted by gwint at 1:33 PM on November 1, 2018 [62 favorites]
And still a lot of people just shrugged. I'll buy that their lives may be chaotic and active but there was way less opportunity cost than the people I've seen in my working class neighborhood.
I lived for a long time in a working-class neighbourhood with consistently strong turnout -- whether a midterm or a presidential year, there'd always be a line and a wait no matter the time of day (though much longer lines in presidential years, and part of that line was usually due to at least one broken voting machine, because lol budgets for maintaining such things). It's only anecdotal, but I believe that turnout was due to a lot of people in that neighbourhood feeling like their local representatives really did work for them. It was common knowledge that you could go to local pols and get help. Even if you weren't a voter yet you could get help for a variety of situations -- I'm forever grateful and loyal to a particular rep who was able to help in an immigration situation in which I was involved. The person she helped wasn't a citizen, and couldn't vote -- but I've sung that rep's praises ever since.
This was in a city, but I have family in rural places and it's the same, when they feel that their representatives do concrete, tangible stuff for them. But fewer younger people, many of whom are mobile and move around a lot, have that kind of personal hey-a-politician-did-a-real-thing experience. Because The Youngs don't vote, there's not much policy directly aimed at them, and they don't yet have interests to which representatives can appeal, like meaningful tax cuts, since many don't make much, or property tax/mortgage benefits, since lol who among us is ever going to be able to afford to own anything ever. GOTV efforts aimed at young voters often end up pandering to them or annoying them or both, and they rarely see anything tangible, just celebrities and endless mass texts. So why vote? (Especially those who live in big cities like mine, with the unreliable transit and the multi-hour long lines and the broken voting machines/locked polling places/missing voter rolls/etc etc etc).
No one's proposing any meaningful action on student loans. A lot of young people don't yet intimately know the horror of navigating health insurance thanks to being on their parents' plans still, but they know that no one's proposing much meaningful action on health care. People are talking at them all the time, but no one's saying much that's useful to them in the short or even mid-range timeframe.
posted by halation at 1:34 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I lived for a long time in a working-class neighbourhood with consistently strong turnout -- whether a midterm or a presidential year, there'd always be a line and a wait no matter the time of day (though much longer lines in presidential years, and part of that line was usually due to at least one broken voting machine, because lol budgets for maintaining such things). It's only anecdotal, but I believe that turnout was due to a lot of people in that neighbourhood feeling like their local representatives really did work for them. It was common knowledge that you could go to local pols and get help. Even if you weren't a voter yet you could get help for a variety of situations -- I'm forever grateful and loyal to a particular rep who was able to help in an immigration situation in which I was involved. The person she helped wasn't a citizen, and couldn't vote -- but I've sung that rep's praises ever since.
This was in a city, but I have family in rural places and it's the same, when they feel that their representatives do concrete, tangible stuff for them. But fewer younger people, many of whom are mobile and move around a lot, have that kind of personal hey-a-politician-did-a-real-thing experience. Because The Youngs don't vote, there's not much policy directly aimed at them, and they don't yet have interests to which representatives can appeal, like meaningful tax cuts, since many don't make much, or property tax/mortgage benefits, since lol who among us is ever going to be able to afford to own anything ever. GOTV efforts aimed at young voters often end up pandering to them or annoying them or both, and they rarely see anything tangible, just celebrities and endless mass texts. So why vote? (Especially those who live in big cities like mine, with the unreliable transit and the multi-hour long lines and the broken voting machines/locked polling places/missing voter rolls/etc etc etc).
No one's proposing any meaningful action on student loans. A lot of young people don't yet intimately know the horror of navigating health insurance thanks to being on their parents' plans still, but they know that no one's proposing much meaningful action on health care. People are talking at them all the time, but no one's saying much that's useful to them in the short or even mid-range timeframe.
posted by halation at 1:34 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
But why not both? How is taking 45 minutes to vote impairing their "doing some serious work on improving the lives of the least fortunate in our society."
posted by jetsetsc at 1:38 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by jetsetsc at 1:38 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
but no one's saying much that's useful to them in the short or even mid-range timeframe.
Periodic reminder that Hillary gave many speeches about a range of issues, but the media never covered it because the slow-rolling Trump disaster generated better ratings. Then they turned around and complained that she never spoke about important policies.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 1:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [85 favorites]
Periodic reminder that Hillary gave many speeches about a range of issues, but the media never covered it because the slow-rolling Trump disaster generated better ratings. Then they turned around and complained that she never spoke about important policies.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 1:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [85 favorites]
I just want to push back on this. I know a metric fuck-ton of anarchists who aren't planning to vote, but who have been doing some serious work on improving the lives of the least fortunate in our society. There are a lot of people who don't think that the state is redeemable, and they're not idiots, they just have a different view on the primacy of mutual aid and voting in our current system than folks here do.
Voting doesn't take very long. It need not, and in times like these in particular, should not be your only form of action. But it is a necessary form of action, and it happens to be the tangible action that's happening right now.
If your anarchist friends honestly believe they can both start and complete the revolution before November 6th, then sure, no need to vote, but if they think our system is still going to exist next week, voting is itself an important form of mutual aid. Serious work to help people in need is wonderful, but that happens at mass scale through the political process too. Are they voting for Medicaid expansion or for candidates who support it? Are they submitting public comments against Medicaid work requirements and the Public Charge Rule? Or are they just washing their hands of anything they can't personally do themselves?
posted by zachlipton at 1:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [56 favorites]
Voting doesn't take very long. It need not, and in times like these in particular, should not be your only form of action. But it is a necessary form of action, and it happens to be the tangible action that's happening right now.
If your anarchist friends honestly believe they can both start and complete the revolution before November 6th, then sure, no need to vote, but if they think our system is still going to exist next week, voting is itself an important form of mutual aid. Serious work to help people in need is wonderful, but that happens at mass scale through the political process too. Are they voting for Medicaid expansion or for candidates who support it? Are they submitting public comments against Medicaid work requirements and the Public Charge Rule? Or are they just washing their hands of anything they can't personally do themselves?
posted by zachlipton at 1:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [56 favorites]
Daily Beast: ‘Homeland Security’ Ignores White Terror, DHS Veterans Say—As far-right terror attacks mount, DHS is concentrating on a migrant caravan 1000+ miles away—and some FBI veterans say the bureau isn't taking white supremacy seriously enough.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
Five veterans of the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Beast that DHS, created in the wake of al Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks, has long considered far-right radicalism to be the FBI’s purview. But the FBI has competing priorities. Four bureau veterans interviewed by The Daily Beast gave a range of responses, spanning from either considering it important but less so than fighting jihadist terror to, in the words of one retiree, “the lowest priority.” (The FBI, for its part, insisted to The Daily Beast that its “top priority remains protecting the United States from terrorist attacks, both international and domestic.”)Further to this, NBC reports: Trump Admin Will Apparently Not Renew Program To Fight Domestic Terror—The Trump administration had already canceled a grant for a group that fights white supremacist terror. The DHS put the Obama administration–era Countering Violent Extremism Grant Program on hold as soon as Trump took office, eventually cancelling several grants and getting into political disputes with some other recipients who wound up withdrawing. The DHS Office of Terrorism Prevention Partnerships now appears to have decided against continue the program after its funding runs out in July 2019.
Under Donald Trump’s presidency, experts say the threat has only grown–and without commensurate efforts to mitigate it. DHS gutted an interagency task force that represents the only federal effort at preventing radicalization for any form of terrorism. White supremacy was among its targets. “What we’ve lost here is the creation of infrastructure to prevent the threats of the future,” said George Selim, a senior Department of Homeland Security official who ran the task force before his retirement in summer 2017.[...]
Since assuming office in December of 2017, Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen mentioned white supremacist terror just four times in public statements—three in response to prodding from Democratic lawmakers asking her to both condemn and prioritize the threat from it. By contrast, she has mentioned Islamist terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda in public over 16 times as Homeland Security Secretary. Nielsen tweeted six times about migrant caravans; she has never mentioned the far-right terror threat on Twitter.
Additionally, an interagency entity led by DHS and the Bureau and designed specifically to help collect tips to prevent attacks like the one in Pittsburgh is deeply understaffed, and only got a director several months ago, according to a law enforcement official who works closely with the office.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
Justinian: If I could have one goddamn wish [...] it would be that the current flaming dumpster fire of evil and corruption would make people realize that exciting is bad. Boring competence is good.
I can't decide on the right riff in response, Justinian. "But her emails ... " is too obvious, "Oh man I miss Obama" is too sad, "Remember when we had sane Republicans like George H. W. Bush?" is too easy to dispute. But yes, I remember George W. Bush rubbing on a monkey's paw to wish that people would stop calling him the worst President, and I never thought I'd see the day.
gwint: I don't see much difference between "I'm not voting but helping in other ways because the state is irredeemable" and a kind of accelerationism.
Yeah, I complained about the Trotskyist in Facebook feed in the Fucking Fuck thread - it's very noticeable that they want to throw bodies on the wheels and grind things to a halt, but those happen to be other people's bodies.
posted by RedOrGreen at 1:43 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
I can't decide on the right riff in response, Justinian. "But her emails ... " is too obvious, "Oh man I miss Obama" is too sad, "Remember when we had sane Republicans like George H. W. Bush?" is too easy to dispute. But yes, I remember George W. Bush rubbing on a monkey's paw to wish that people would stop calling him the worst President, and I never thought I'd see the day.
gwint: I don't see much difference between "I'm not voting but helping in other ways because the state is irredeemable" and a kind of accelerationism.
Yeah, I complained about the Trotskyist in Facebook feed in the Fucking Fuck thread - it's very noticeable that they want to throw bodies on the wheels and grind things to a halt, but those happen to be other people's bodies.
posted by RedOrGreen at 1:43 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Anyway, Trump just said that a rock thrown by the caravan will be "treated as if it was a firearm."
They're going to do everything they can to make a massacre.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
They're going to do everything they can to make a massacre.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
@ddale8: Trump warns that if any migrants throw stones or rocks when they get to the US border, "We will consider that a firearm. Because there's not much difference."
This is the kind of talk that already has led to murder.
@chrisgeidner: tl;dr: Nothing is happening. Trump: "We will be doing an executive order sometime next week." This is such an appalling news conference of made-up allegations and imaginary legal principles.
@mattyglesias: I really think cable news producers need to do some self-scrutiny here. CNN is just airing, without editing or commentary, Trump making up a lot of weird slanders about the Democrats.
posted by zachlipton at 1:46 PM on November 1, 2018 [44 favorites]
This is the kind of talk that already has led to murder.
@chrisgeidner: tl;dr: Nothing is happening. Trump: "We will be doing an executive order sometime next week." This is such an appalling news conference of made-up allegations and imaginary legal principles.
@mattyglesias: I really think cable news producers need to do some self-scrutiny here. CNN is just airing, without editing or commentary, Trump making up a lot of weird slanders about the Democrats.
posted by zachlipton at 1:46 PM on November 1, 2018 [44 favorites]
I find it astonishing the lack of context regarding the physical challenge that the caravan is facing. I think most people don't realize just how big Mexico is (about three times the size of France). The caravan is at present traveling through Matias Romero in Oaxaca. They are walking to Mexico City. From there they are probably going to go north towards Reynosa. That's a distance of about 1,500 km (932 miles) in total. Assuming they are traveling around six hours every day, it's going to take them more than fifty days to reach the border. Some crisis indeed.
posted by Omon Ra at 1:48 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Omon Ra at 1:48 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
"I told the military: consider a rock a rifle."
God help the caravan and us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:49 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
God help the caravan and us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:49 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
Less snarkily, I think the point I'm belaboring isn't that they start from the premises and work backwards, rather that they start from the premises, work backwards, and genuinely believe in the real existence of whatever entities are necessary to make this strategy work.
I think this last thing is the key part. We all privilege our principles and try to remake the world around them, and when the law contradicts our deeply held principles, we seek to rewrite the law and in the meantime find ways of reinterpreting the law to support our principles. That's actually a fair and just way to live in the world. What's weird about the right is how it bases this practice on textual literalism: the bible is literally and unchangeably true, the constitution is a single literal and unchangeable document, Limbaugh or Fox or Trump are to be dittoed, etc. It's not just hypocrisy that they found their beliefs on the immovable and literal interpretation of documents that they willfully and persistently misread and reinterpret whenever it suits their deeper beliefs, with absolutely no awareness of this hypocrisy. I think more fundamentally, the insulation of their beliefs from external evidence requires the creation and worship of literal documents to misinterpret, since that gap between the meaning of the bible/constitution/news-item and their beliefs is what allows them to avoid entering into the messy world of evidence, logic, argument, facts, etc. I'm sure literary critics or political psychologists have worked this out better somewhere, but somehow the creation of the urdocument that is worshipped and almost willfully misunderstood is foundational to the process of living in an anti-truth bubble despite all of our efforts to puncture it. It really is a strangely powerful tool.
posted by chortly at 1:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
I think this last thing is the key part. We all privilege our principles and try to remake the world around them, and when the law contradicts our deeply held principles, we seek to rewrite the law and in the meantime find ways of reinterpreting the law to support our principles. That's actually a fair and just way to live in the world. What's weird about the right is how it bases this practice on textual literalism: the bible is literally and unchangeably true, the constitution is a single literal and unchangeable document, Limbaugh or Fox or Trump are to be dittoed, etc. It's not just hypocrisy that they found their beliefs on the immovable and literal interpretation of documents that they willfully and persistently misread and reinterpret whenever it suits their deeper beliefs, with absolutely no awareness of this hypocrisy. I think more fundamentally, the insulation of their beliefs from external evidence requires the creation and worship of literal documents to misinterpret, since that gap between the meaning of the bible/constitution/news-item and their beliefs is what allows them to avoid entering into the messy world of evidence, logic, argument, facts, etc. I'm sure literary critics or political psychologists have worked this out better somewhere, but somehow the creation of the urdocument that is worshipped and almost willfully misunderstood is foundational to the process of living in an anti-truth bubble despite all of our efforts to puncture it. It really is a strangely powerful tool.
posted by chortly at 1:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
There are a lot of people who don't think that the state is redeemable, and they're not idiots
They are literally idiotes, a word defined in ancient Athenian democracy. They are focusing on individual-scale action and neglecting one of their duties as members of their polity.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:52 PM on November 1, 2018 [68 favorites]
They are literally idiotes, a word defined in ancient Athenian democracy. They are focusing on individual-scale action and neglecting one of their duties as members of their polity.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:52 PM on November 1, 2018 [68 favorites]
Somebody needs to get Trump on record agreeing that these new camps are places where they can concentrate the immigrants. 'Cause that's what they are. But he needs to say it.
posted by Justinian at 1:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm airing this under a ton of important shit already, and it's a more broadly topical than news, but Grace Lavery's piece at the blog of the LA Review of Books, "Grad School As Conversion Therapy," really deserves a read, tying together, as it does, the style of eliminationist rhetoric, the distinction between ideas and threats, trans erasure, the complicity of liberal institutions, Foucauldian parrhesiastes, liberal academics, and the fascists who love them.
"Meanwhile, blurring the line between harassment and hate speech has been one of the signal strategies of the ethnonationalist movement that currently encompasses the federal government, and it is remarkable that so many people in colleges and universities have fallen for it. Because of the distinctiveness of the trans position — the distinctiveness, that is, of entailing a change in referential pronoun on the part of a third party — trans people have been made into a convenient scapegoat for the idea that a group (or generation, or class) of people are forcing others to change the way they are speaking. That the phantom authority in question is simply good sense — that it makes sense to refer to trans women as “she” because, well, we look, speak, act, dress, and identify as women, and many of us have estrogen rather than testosterone in our bodies — can be ignored in favor of the paranoid fear that someone else is coming to dispossess us of our language.posted by octobersurprise at 1:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
And once that fear has been established in relation to trans people, it can be expanded indefinitely: indeed, in our current political climate, an anxiety about trans people serves just that propagandistic purpose. For a clear example of how the victimization of trans students mutates, through the careful manipulation of conservative media, into a wholly abstract debate about the nature of free speech in which liberal academics rush to wax lyrical about the spirit of liberal tolerance represented by the famous Skokie case, we need look no further than the despicable machinations of Reed’s kindred spirit, Milo Yiannopoulos."
A week ago Friday, I early voted in Indianapolis, and was in and out in probably half an hour. Today, a friend of mine in nearby Brownsburg waited three hours for her turn. She voted, though, and I trust she did the right thing.
posted by Gelatin at 2:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Gelatin at 2:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
"I told the military: consider a rock a rifle."
Can i presume this means that open-carry of rocks will be allowable and in fact impossible to regulate based on their current understanding of the 2nd amendment?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
Can i presume this means that open-carry of rocks will be allowable and in fact impossible to regulate based on their current understanding of the 2nd amendment?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
if any migrants throw stones or rocks when they get to the US border, "We will consider that a firearm. Because there's not much difference."
Not much difference? Really? Great! When do the mandatory handguns-for-stones exchanges across the USA begin?
posted by Rykey at 2:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
Not much difference? Really? Great! When do the mandatory handguns-for-stones exchanges across the USA begin?
posted by Rykey at 2:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
Trump is trying to make out as if the troops will be standing vigilant on the border, in actual fact they'll be doing a bunch of logistics for the CBP.
posted by PenDevil at 2:11 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 2:11 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
CBP gets an instant manpower boost without having to directly hire people or pay for it.
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:21 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:21 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
My husband donated to Beto (we're in MA) and he's been getting multiple text messages a day. WE VOTED. WE'RE NOT EVEN IN TEXAS. I CAN ALSO SEE THE POLLS, THANK YOU. Aughhhh.
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the number.
posted by schoolgirl report at 2:22 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the number.
posted by schoolgirl report at 2:22 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
So as soon as there’s video of military personnel detaining immigrants who is going to uphold the law against them?
posted by gucci mane at 2:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by gucci mane at 2:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't want to get too into a derail here about GOTV efforts, but I just gotta say my brain has been brewing up a theory that lots of people approach voting as if it were an act of late-capitalist consumer choice: carrying only individual significance, expressing a facet of personal identity, and done only for the benefit of the candidate. So if a restaurant that sold only cheese sandwiches kept calling you and asking you to buy cheese sandwiches, your appropriate refusal to do so would theoretically only impact you & the restaurant. No one else would be denied cheese sandwiches if you didn't buy them. If that restaurant really wanted you to be a customer, it might even start making sandwiches you prefer, like PB&Js.
But voting isn't an exchange like this. In the US, not voting doesn't really have the power to change the system. It actually benefits the status quo when people don't vote, because it makes it less likely that conditions will change. Our political system maintains stability when voting turnout is low. Not voting has wide impacts on the community, and it's usually those in a more precarious position than the abstainer who will feel those effects. Populations that don't vote find themselves further marginalized by the political system because candidates are going to aim their messages at those who do vote. Not voting won't force politicians to listen to you, take your concerns seriously, or change policy positions on the slim hope that you might change your mind about voting. In the US, there's no level of voter turn out low enough to have an election vacated or delegitimized. Finally, voting for a candidate or party doesn't have to be an identity. You don't have to approve of everything they do or affiliate with all their positions. Sometimes you really do have to choose the lesser of two evils because those differences could mean life & death for people who aren't you. Voting doesn't foreclose other options like striking, protesting, mutual aid, etc.
I think too many people tend to think of voting in the same atomized framework they think about consumption. They don't want to "buy" an imperfect product, or they feel like when they "buy" a candidate or party, they're letting that choice impose an identity they don't like. Choices in the marketplace are supposed to be sexy & cool, and most political candidates are square & dorky. Of course the idea of "boycotting" the system until it offers the exact "product" the consumer/voter wants has no traction. Once non-voters remove themselves from civic life, civic life further marginalizes them because no one is engaging the system to represent their interests.
Also, accelerationism is just a bad idea and I'm increasingly convinced it's inaccurate.
So, if people are contacting you asking you to vote, please remember a lot of them are volunteers who are already nervous about annoying people. The best way to get off those call lists is to vote, and let the next person who calls you know you already voted so they can mark you as such in their system. I don't think people who volunteer to phonebank are trying to annoy you or force something on you. It's likely that you get those calls in the first place because you took the time to register with a political party, and now that organization is doing what it is meant to do by turning out all likeminded voters.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [94 favorites]
But voting isn't an exchange like this. In the US, not voting doesn't really have the power to change the system. It actually benefits the status quo when people don't vote, because it makes it less likely that conditions will change. Our political system maintains stability when voting turnout is low. Not voting has wide impacts on the community, and it's usually those in a more precarious position than the abstainer who will feel those effects. Populations that don't vote find themselves further marginalized by the political system because candidates are going to aim their messages at those who do vote. Not voting won't force politicians to listen to you, take your concerns seriously, or change policy positions on the slim hope that you might change your mind about voting. In the US, there's no level of voter turn out low enough to have an election vacated or delegitimized. Finally, voting for a candidate or party doesn't have to be an identity. You don't have to approve of everything they do or affiliate with all their positions. Sometimes you really do have to choose the lesser of two evils because those differences could mean life & death for people who aren't you. Voting doesn't foreclose other options like striking, protesting, mutual aid, etc.
I think too many people tend to think of voting in the same atomized framework they think about consumption. They don't want to "buy" an imperfect product, or they feel like when they "buy" a candidate or party, they're letting that choice impose an identity they don't like. Choices in the marketplace are supposed to be sexy & cool, and most political candidates are square & dorky. Of course the idea of "boycotting" the system until it offers the exact "product" the consumer/voter wants has no traction. Once non-voters remove themselves from civic life, civic life further marginalizes them because no one is engaging the system to represent their interests.
Also, accelerationism is just a bad idea and I'm increasingly convinced it's inaccurate.
So, if people are contacting you asking you to vote, please remember a lot of them are volunteers who are already nervous about annoying people. The best way to get off those call lists is to vote, and let the next person who calls you know you already voted so they can mark you as such in their system. I don't think people who volunteer to phonebank are trying to annoy you or force something on you. It's likely that you get those calls in the first place because you took the time to register with a political party, and now that organization is doing what it is meant to do by turning out all likeminded voters.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [94 favorites]
@mattyglesias: I really think cable news producers need to do some self-scrutiny here. CNN is just airing, without editing or commentary, Trump making up a lot of weird slanders about the Democrats.
They aired hundreds of hours of empty podium and uncut raw feed from every one of his rallies.
They're doing this on purpose to help him and help Republicans and their own ratings. They've already done the scrutiny, and affirmatively decided they cared much more about ratings and ad dollars than democracy.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:29 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
They aired hundreds of hours of empty podium and uncut raw feed from every one of his rallies.
They're doing this on purpose to help him and help Republicans and their own ratings. They've already done the scrutiny, and affirmatively decided they cared much more about ratings and ad dollars than democracy.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:29 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
I'm kind of doubting the active duty military will get close to firing a shot, not that trump has any clue about all the logistical maneuvers or personnel distinctions. But worry about the fascists in the CBP who will take his dictum to heart and shoot up innocent crowds for nothing.
Bloody Sunday really didn't work out so well for the Tsar in the long run but Trump wouldn't know that.
posted by dilettante at 2:31 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Bloody Sunday really didn't work out so well for the Tsar in the long run but Trump wouldn't know that.
Yeah, but the U.S. public has a really good track record of not caring how many people die in cruel slaughters as long as they're "foreign."
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:50 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yeah, but the U.S. public has a really good track record of not caring how many people die in cruel slaughters as long as they're "foreign."
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:50 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
I think too many people tend to think of voting in the same atomized framework they think about consumption.
The American cult of individualism kicks ass. (Our own asses. All the time. See also: climate change.)
Writing Postcards to Voters, I add stuff like, "Your vote is your voice in our democracy - please vote, and be HEARD" and Obama's "In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it” (from his 2008 caucus speech).
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
The American cult of individualism kicks ass. (Our own asses. All the time. See also: climate change.)
Writing Postcards to Voters, I add stuff like, "Your vote is your voice in our democracy - please vote, and be HEARD" and Obama's "In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it” (from his 2008 caucus speech).
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:03 PM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
I wish I wish I WISH there were a way for me to communicate to the campaigns I otherwise whole heartedly support that they are wasting their goddamn time and annoying the shit out of me besides.I've spent something like forty or fifty hours over the last couple weeks making calls. I'm taking a break from making calls right now. And I've also entered data from a lot of calls which is, let me tell you, a process.
Nearly all Democratic/progressive campaigns use NGP VAN, a privately owned for-profit company. They've got a canvassing app, MiniVan, which is actually pretty usable, but their database management system, VoteBuilder, is really complicated to work with and suffers from poor data modeling. You can enter an "already voted" or a "stop calling me" or a "you're wasting your time" in a bunch of different ways which means it's really, really hard to generate new call lists which exclude everyone who's given any of those responses.
Given this messiness, campaigns are erring on the side of too much contact rather than too little. Cjelli has the right of it - the calculus is that people are more likely to be reminded into voting than annoyed out of voting.
As frustrated as you are by being contact multiple times, the volunteers and staffers calling you are likely just as frustrated. They don't want to bother anyone, know that they will end up bothering people anyway, and if they're like me, they've got phone anxiety to boot. Please be as kind as you can.
posted by galaxy rise at 3:07 PM on November 1, 2018 [61 favorites]
My husband donated to Beto (we're in MA) and he's been getting multiple text messages a day. WE VOTED. WE'RE NOT EVEN IN TEXAS. I CAN ALSO SEE THE POLLS, THANK YOU. Aughhhh.
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the number.
Former Beto campaigner here. We got trained never to remove someone until they explicitly asked for it. You may need to do it more than once if you're in datasets that haven't synced properly, uncommon but it does happen.
posted by scalefree at 3:10 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the number.
Former Beto campaigner here. We got trained never to remove someone until they explicitly asked for it. You may need to do it more than once if you're in datasets that haven't synced properly, uncommon but it does happen.
posted by scalefree at 3:10 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the number
They come from different numbers. I mean, this is never in any way going to stop me from voting or donating or what have you, but I do understand why some people might get frustrated and overwhelmed. When I still used to answer the phone I’d tell the campaigns to stop calling me thank you because they already had my firm support and they would take me off that list and ANOTHER number from the same campaign would call.
I know it’s hard work. I appreciate volunteers. I just wish there were a universal button for “I am a Democrat who votes in every election including town ones and you have my support and yes I promise to vote as early as I can and tell everyone to vote and donate just please please please use your energy elsewhere”.
posted by lydhre at 3:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
They come from different numbers. I mean, this is never in any way going to stop me from voting or donating or what have you, but I do understand why some people might get frustrated and overwhelmed. When I still used to answer the phone I’d tell the campaigns to stop calling me thank you because they already had my firm support and they would take me off that list and ANOTHER number from the same campaign would call.
I know it’s hard work. I appreciate volunteers. I just wish there were a universal button for “I am a Democrat who votes in every election including town ones and you have my support and yes I promise to vote as early as I can and tell everyone to vote and donate just please please please use your energy elsewhere”.
posted by lydhre at 3:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
@SiegelScribe: In a surprising twist, the GOP's @NRCC attacks Florida Democrat challenging climate-friendly @RepCurbelo for alleged ties to "dirty coal money." The NRCC told me their logic for the ad, which critics says is deceptive considering typical GOP support for fossil fuels: It's all local politics. Sea level rise threatens Curbelo's district, located on the tip of Florida. "Every ad we run is district specific."
So the Republican Party does acknowledge climate change when they're worried their constituents might have concerns about being underwater, but not when it's time to actually do anything?
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
So the Republican Party does acknowledge climate change when they're worried their constituents might have concerns about being underwater, but not when it's time to actually do anything?
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on November 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
So, maybe a stupid question...the army can't detain anyone, but can they shoot people? None of the articles I have read about this have mentioned that point, and it worries me.
posted by vim876 at 3:17 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by vim876 at 3:17 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
> Daily Beast: ‘Homeland Security’ Ignores White Terror, DHS Veterans Say—As far-right terror attacks mount, DHS is concentrating on a migrant caravan 1000+ miles away—and some FBI veterans say the bureau isn't taking white supremacy seriously enough. ... Further to this, NBC reports: Trump Admin Will Apparently Not Renew Program To Fight Domestic Terror—The Trump administration had already canceled a grant for a group that fights white supremacist terror.
The Democrats should make this into a campaign issue: "Republican's shield white supremacists" or something to that effect.
posted by homunculus at 3:19 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Democrats should make this into a campaign issue: "Republican's shield white supremacists" or something to that effect.
posted by homunculus at 3:19 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
> absalom:
"Historical podcasting grandmaster Mike Duncan (History of Rome, Revolutions) writes a historical opinion piece for the Washington Post: This Is How Republics End"
Wow, chilling.
"Writing decades later, in the midst of the final civil wars that destroyed the republic, the historian Sallust reflected on the beginning of the end of the republic, noting, “It is this spirit which has commonly ruined great nations, when one party desires to triumph over another by any and every means, and to avenge itself on the vanquished with excessive cruelty.”
posted by dreamling at 3:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [43 favorites]
"Historical podcasting grandmaster Mike Duncan (History of Rome, Revolutions) writes a historical opinion piece for the Washington Post: This Is How Republics End"
Wow, chilling.
"Writing decades later, in the midst of the final civil wars that destroyed the republic, the historian Sallust reflected on the beginning of the end of the republic, noting, “It is this spirit which has commonly ruined great nations, when one party desires to triumph over another by any and every means, and to avenge itself on the vanquished with excessive cruelty.”
posted by dreamling at 3:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [43 favorites]
But yes, I remember George W. Bush rubbing on a monkey's paw to wish that people would stop calling him the worst President, and I never thought I'd see the day.
And now ... "petebest: A Political Diorama in One Comment"
1981: Jesus this Reagan guy is evil AND stupid. Can't wait til he's voted back to hell
1985: (no entry)
1990: Really? A war for oil, by an oilman ... Just - right out there?! These guys are going down.
1992-96: Di- did he just give that to the Republicans? Jebus. They have really gone batshit.
2000: No way. You have *got* to be shitting.
2001: Great.
2003: I don't even. WORST. AMERICA. EVER.
2004: /deadpan_underbite
2008: finally
2009-2016: veggie-corndogs-and-soda montage in the style of an Apple commercial
2016: (inchoate screaming)
fin
posted by petebest at 3:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [58 favorites]
And now ... "petebest: A Political Diorama in One Comment"
1981: Jesus this Reagan guy is evil AND stupid. Can't wait til he's voted back to hell
1985: (no entry)
1990: Really? A war for oil, by an oilman ... Just - right out there?! These guys are going down.
1992-96: Di- did he just give that to the Republicans? Jebus. They have really gone batshit.
2000: No way. You have *got* to be shitting.
2001: Great.
2003: I don't even. WORST. AMERICA. EVER.
2004: /deadpan_underbite
2008: finally
2009-2016: veggie-corndogs-and-soda montage in the style of an Apple commercial
2016: (inchoate screaming)
fin
posted by petebest at 3:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [58 favorites]
So, maybe a stupid question...the army can't detain anyone, but can they shoot people? None of the articles I have read about this have mentioned that point, and it worries me.
You're asking if the apparatus of state violence can shoot people? The answer throughout history is "only if they're allowed to or are told to or want to."
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:29 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
You're asking if the apparatus of state violence can shoot people? The answer throughout history is "only if they're allowed to or are told to or want to."
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:29 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
You may need to do it more than once if you're in datasets that haven't synced properly, uncommon but it does happen.
Ohh hooohh. Do NOT get me started on being in datasets that haven't synced properly! I mean ... Amirite?!
posted by petebest at 3:33 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Ohh hooohh. Do NOT get me started on being in datasets that haven't synced properly! I mean ... Amirite?!
posted by petebest at 3:33 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
So folks in Georgia are reporting cops using traffic stops to suppress the vote.
posted by suelac at 3:34 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by suelac at 3:34 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the number
They come from different numbers.
Blocking won't help, texts are sent from the volunteer's own phone so each contact attempt will likely come from a new number. STOP may work; I never texted so I'm not sure.
Incidentally you may notice the calls & texts come from your area code if your number's an out of state one. That's on purpose. The generous interpretation is that it helps create a bond, talking/texting with someone who has similar roots as you; less generously it fools you into thinking it's a friend or family member from home calling on a new phone.
posted by scalefree at 3:36 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
They come from different numbers.
Blocking won't help, texts are sent from the volunteer's own phone so each contact attempt will likely come from a new number. STOP may work; I never texted so I'm not sure.
Incidentally you may notice the calls & texts come from your area code if your number's an out of state one. That's on purpose. The generous interpretation is that it helps create a bond, talking/texting with someone who has similar roots as you; less generously it fools you into thinking it's a friend or family member from home calling on a new phone.
posted by scalefree at 3:36 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm asking if this particular apparatus of state violence (the Army, not CBP) can legally shoot people at the border (i.e. whether that falls under the category of law enforcement things they at least nominally aren't supposed to be doing), not whether they have the capacity to.
posted by vim876 at 3:37 PM on November 1, 2018
posted by vim876 at 3:37 PM on November 1, 2018
I'm asking if this particular apparatus of state violence (the Army, not CBP) can legally shoot people at the border (i.e. whether that falls under the category of law enforcement things they at least nominally aren't supposed to be doing), not whether they have the capacity to.
It's only illegal if they're punished. Who'll do that?
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:40 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
It's only illegal if they're punished. Who'll do that?
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:40 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
Mod note: Fixed the link, carry on.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:40 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:40 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Apparently someone has been killing activists in Ferguson. The police are investigating the latest death as a suicide, even though the victim had apparently packed an overnight bag and was founding hanging from a tree by sheets that didn’t belong to the family, using knots he didn’t know how to make. The other two activists were found dead in burned out cars.
A Facebook post using the word “lynched” was taken down.
posted by schadenfrau at 3:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [82 favorites]
A Facebook post using the word “lynched” was taken down.
posted by schadenfrau at 3:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [82 favorites]
Not voting won't force politicians to listen to you, take your concerns seriously, or change policy positions on the slim hope that you might change your mind about voting.
I mean... to a certain extent, voting doesn't do that either, in the current system? Money is what gets politicians to take your concerns seriously. And Millennials-and-under, as a group, do not have money.
It's a chicken-and-egg problem, in that plenty of young/first time/intermittent voters will vote for a person who is supposed to Do The Thing (whatever Thing may be), and even if the person gets elected, suddenly there are reasons that Thing can't happen/is not politically feasible/we have to keep our powder dry... anyway, Thing doesn't get done. It's happened since before Obama, and it's happened since, and every time it happens, people end up disillusioned. I don't mean to rehash the endless "why the Democrats are the worst" debate, but dang, I don't necessarily blame Millennials-and-under voters for feeling ignored and forgotten and basically saying "fuck this, I don't have the time." Particularly since, while I appreciate that voting is supposed to be an in-and-out, under-an-hour effort, in a lot of places, it's not. I've lived in college towns and big cities and the only time voting took me less than an hour was when I was living in a suburb with a whole lot of white people. (Edited to add: and it actually still took me, personally, longer than an hour all told, because I had to rely on public transit buses.) Yes, everyone should vote, but we know it's harder for some people than others, and we know we have a broken system that results in a lot of people getting ignored, and all the robotexts and phonebanks in the world can't help us annoy our way out of that problem.
(And while it is absolutely true that Clinton's actual policy messaging got ignored in 2016, I meant the "pols aren't talking about [X]" comment to refer to the current election. I don't follow every race, but in the ones I do follow, there could be a little more attention paid to youth-oriented policy, for sure.)
posted by halation at 3:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
I mean... to a certain extent, voting doesn't do that either, in the current system? Money is what gets politicians to take your concerns seriously. And Millennials-and-under, as a group, do not have money.
It's a chicken-and-egg problem, in that plenty of young/first time/intermittent voters will vote for a person who is supposed to Do The Thing (whatever Thing may be), and even if the person gets elected, suddenly there are reasons that Thing can't happen/is not politically feasible/we have to keep our powder dry... anyway, Thing doesn't get done. It's happened since before Obama, and it's happened since, and every time it happens, people end up disillusioned. I don't mean to rehash the endless "why the Democrats are the worst" debate, but dang, I don't necessarily blame Millennials-and-under voters for feeling ignored and forgotten and basically saying "fuck this, I don't have the time." Particularly since, while I appreciate that voting is supposed to be an in-and-out, under-an-hour effort, in a lot of places, it's not. I've lived in college towns and big cities and the only time voting took me less than an hour was when I was living in a suburb with a whole lot of white people. (Edited to add: and it actually still took me, personally, longer than an hour all told, because I had to rely on public transit buses.) Yes, everyone should vote, but we know it's harder for some people than others, and we know we have a broken system that results in a lot of people getting ignored, and all the robotexts and phonebanks in the world can't help us annoy our way out of that problem.
(And while it is absolutely true that Clinton's actual policy messaging got ignored in 2016, I meant the "pols aren't talking about [X]" comment to refer to the current election. I don't follow every race, but in the ones I do follow, there could be a little more attention paid to youth-oriented policy, for sure.)
posted by halation at 3:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Writing decades later, in the midst of the final civil wars that destroyed the republic, the historian Sallust reflected on the beginning of the end of the republic, noting, “It is this spirit which has commonly ruined great nations, when one party desires to triumph over another by any and every means, and to avenge itself on the vanquished with excessive cruelty.”
Reminds me of Rorty's u/dystopian fiction piece for NYT in '96 (how did he know? . . and how did he guess 2014?)
'Fraternity Reigns' . .written from a distant (100 years?) future after all that we are experiencing is passed.
Except of course for climate change, which wipes away the 100 years in the future part.
posted by Harry Caul at 3:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Reminds me of Rorty's u/dystopian fiction piece for NYT in '96 (how did he know? . . and how did he guess 2014?)
'Fraternity Reigns' . .written from a distant (100 years?) future after all that we are experiencing is passed.
Except of course for climate change, which wipes away the 100 years in the future part.
posted by Harry Caul at 3:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
On Election Day I plan on putting a sign on my front door: "I voted. Thanks for checking."
posted by jointhedance at 4:37 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by jointhedance at 4:37 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Orrrr you could put up a GOP sign and then when they canvas you talk to them for an hour.
posted by Justinian at 4:40 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:40 PM on November 1, 2018 [28 favorites]
I recommend no signs and just sheltering in place.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
From the link
Jones had packed an overnight bag found on the patio, suggesting that he trusted and had planned to leave the house with the person who killed him, McKinnies said.
...
Darryl Gray, a prominent St. Louis activist and a friend of McKinnies, said Ferguson activists are often harassed and threatened via text and social media. Gray said he found a package inside his car earlier this year. Bomb squad investigators determined it wasn’t an explosive — the package contained a 6-foot-long snake.
So, harassed and then catfished, to his death.
Jones’ mother, Melissa McKinnies, disagrees. Soon after his death she posted photos on Facebook of her deceased son, with the words: “They lynched my baby.” Facebook took down the posting, but not before it began trending on social media sites such as Twitter and Reddit
Facebook's corporate governance insticts are just disgusting. Some activist shareholder should file a derivative suit to the effect that a policy of overlooking criminality is going to damage the company sooner or later. Maybe it will get dismissed. Who cares. The company's arguments to achieve that will be damning.
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:49 PM on November 1, 2018 [22 favorites]
Jones had packed an overnight bag found on the patio, suggesting that he trusted and had planned to leave the house with the person who killed him, McKinnies said.
...
Darryl Gray, a prominent St. Louis activist and a friend of McKinnies, said Ferguson activists are often harassed and threatened via text and social media. Gray said he found a package inside his car earlier this year. Bomb squad investigators determined it wasn’t an explosive — the package contained a 6-foot-long snake.
So, harassed and then catfished, to his death.
Jones’ mother, Melissa McKinnies, disagrees. Soon after his death she posted photos on Facebook of her deceased son, with the words: “They lynched my baby.” Facebook took down the posting, but not before it began trending on social media sites such as Twitter and Reddit
Facebook's corporate governance insticts are just disgusting. Some activist shareholder should file a derivative suit to the effect that a policy of overlooking criminality is going to damage the company sooner or later. Maybe it will get dismissed. Who cares. The company's arguments to achieve that will be damning.
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:49 PM on November 1, 2018 [22 favorites]
Politico, As Trump fumed about immigration, some media outlets cut away
posted by zachlipton at 4:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [63 favorites]
Tapper was having none of it.Is our media learning? Slowly, but a tiny bit. And it's such a dumb thing because if Trump had signed a piece of paper instead of giving his stump speech and saying "we will be doing an executive order sometime next week," it would have been Officially News and made headlines outside of Fox, but he can't help himself.
“We brought out that speech live because we were told by the White House that the president would be introducing a new proposal, a new policy when it came to asylum. That's not actually what happened,” Tapper said shortly after CNN cut away from Trump. “That’s not the first time that this White House has not been honest, but it’s obviously very disappointing when we bring you the news because we were told the president was going to be presenting the policy and he just regurgitates the same speech he gives every night on the campaign trail.”
...
Citing his record of untruths, MSNBC chose not to carry Trump’s remarks at all.
“Because he’s used immigration in blatantly political ways, and in an abundance of caution, we’ve decided to monitor those remarks, fact-check them against his rhetoric and record on immigration, and bring you the important news from them,” Nicolle Wallace, the host of “Deadline White House,” told viewers as Trump spoke.
...
“They are clearly not policy remarks or policy announcements,” tweeted Barbaro, whose podcast reaches millions of listeners monthly. “They are deliberate attempts to inflame the electorate before the midterms. Just happens to be from the White House.”
posted by zachlipton at 4:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [63 favorites]
You may need to do it more than once if you're in datasets that haven't synced properly, uncommon but it does happen.
listen pal, don't make me come over there and sync your datasets for you...
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
listen pal, don't make me come over there and sync your datasets for you...
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Orrrr you could put up a GOP sign and then when they canvas you talk to them for an hour.
"Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:59 PM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
"Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:59 PM on November 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
You can just reply STOP to the text or block the numberThere are some things to clarify here:They come from different numbers.Blocking won't help, texts are sent from the volunteer's own phone so each contact attempt will likely come from a new number. STOP may work; I never texted so I'm not sure.
Incidentally you may notice the calls & texts come from your area code if your number's an out of state one. That's on purpose. The generous interpretation is that it helps create a bond, talking/texting with someone who has similar roots as you; less generously it fools you into thinking it's a friend or family member from home calling on a new phone.
First, from one of Scalefree's earlier comment, with some campaigns you have to be very explicit with the stop message. "I don't think I want to receive these texts any more" or even "Hell, no not voting for Beto. Cruz all the way!". The first probably would not get you off the texts, and the second we were instructed to mark them as strong Cruz supporter, but do not remove.
Along with that, even when you are explicit, you may still get one or two more. This is, typically, a sync issue. I recommend telling/texting the second person that you want off the list and have already told someone else that. One of the Slack channels for Beto volunteers is just for text volunteers. A significant amount of traffic was people telling the Volunteer Managers someone has been contacted who requested no further contact. I am sure the VMs also got a ton of DMs about that.
Also, removing people from Beto's text list was SUPER easy. Of all the things involved with the behind-the-scenes maintenance volunteers did, removing people was by far the easiest, partially because some steps of the maintenance were now n/a and some were no longer mandatory to archive and move on.
As to the phone numbers, they are different every time, so yes blocking one ain't going to help. They are not, however, the volunteer's phone number, at least for the Beto campaign. I can't speak for Adrienne Bell's campaign because I signed up to do it and in the process, I was going to have to send the texts from my phone.
I know that last sentence sounds weird, so I will explain. Texting for Beto really meant firing up a web browser and clicking a button anywhere from 100-500 times to send the texts to the phone. (I believe you have to manually do that part to comply with robocall laws.) This is...not fun on a computer. It's why I passed on doing it for Bell, b/c I can't imagine trying to do the same on a phone. I would assume it is not attached to the actual volunteer's number for any professional campaign for a whole host of reasons, but I can't verify.
I just want to stress that again, though. Texts from Beto's campaign, at least are not from the volunteer's actual cell number. If anyone was on the fence about being a texting volunteer for a campaign in the future, don't go into it assuming your personal info will be used.
I am not so sure about area code thing. I had to go all the way back to 10/14 to find one that was close to my area. Because of volunteering for them, I usually get at least one text a day from the campaign. Now, I did notice all of the area codes were Texas, which makes sense.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 5:07 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Since Daniel Dale's taking the night off, live-blogging tonight's Trump rally in Missouri falls to Shareblue's Caroline Orr. He's just started a weird caravan rant: "That's a big caravan. They underestimate the crowds. They want to underestimate the crowd...Have you seen how tough these young men - mostly strong, tough young men. Thees are not angels."
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have you seen how tough these young men - mostly strong, tough young men. These are not angels.
He's parroting his defense of calling for the deaths of the central park five. Do not for one second think he doesn't want a bloodbath.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:31 PM on November 1, 2018 [36 favorites]
He's parroting his defense of calling for the deaths of the central park five. Do not for one second think he doesn't want a bloodbath.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:31 PM on November 1, 2018 [36 favorites]
> Incidentally you may notice the calls & texts come from your area code if your number's an out of state one. That's on purpose.
So there's a couple of problems. I get called by spammers ALL DAY who are using this technique. And my area code happens to be a few timezones off from where I actually am, so they start at 6AM my time.
I don't know if I can understate how bad the phone spam problem is if you have it. The techniques are literally indistinguishable from people who are trying to scam you up until you are actually able to tell me that you aren't looking for any money, you just want to know if I'm going to vote. Is your policy to also not leave any messages? Because I'd honestly be happy with a message asking for my support. I'd even call back! But if you don't leave one - again, I have only less reasons to answer the phone from further unknown numbers.
If you all called from an actual traceable number, one that showed up as the org or candidate you actually represented, I'd be a hell of a lot more likely to answer, and answer happily. If you are masking who you really are from the beginning, I'm going to assume ill intent, and I may react rather negatively. Seriously, if everyone who actually wanted something from me allowed the name of the organization they represented to come through, I'd be a lot more likely to answer. Not that the called ID is foolproof - it can be spoofed - but at least I'd know it wasn't someone trying to hide who they are from the get go.
posted by MysticMCJ at 5:36 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
So there's a couple of problems. I get called by spammers ALL DAY who are using this technique. And my area code happens to be a few timezones off from where I actually am, so they start at 6AM my time.
I don't know if I can understate how bad the phone spam problem is if you have it. The techniques are literally indistinguishable from people who are trying to scam you up until you are actually able to tell me that you aren't looking for any money, you just want to know if I'm going to vote. Is your policy to also not leave any messages? Because I'd honestly be happy with a message asking for my support. I'd even call back! But if you don't leave one - again, I have only less reasons to answer the phone from further unknown numbers.
If you all called from an actual traceable number, one that showed up as the org or candidate you actually represented, I'd be a hell of a lot more likely to answer, and answer happily. If you are masking who you really are from the beginning, I'm going to assume ill intent, and I may react rather negatively. Seriously, if everyone who actually wanted something from me allowed the name of the organization they represented to come through, I'd be a lot more likely to answer. Not that the called ID is foolproof - it can be spoofed - but at least I'd know it wasn't someone trying to hide who they are from the get go.
posted by MysticMCJ at 5:36 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
One upside to living in Adam Schiff's district, besides having Adam Schiff as my rep, is that I have been canvassed a grand total of 0 times in 10 years.
posted by Justinian at 5:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
And to be clear, I'm not suggesting that volunteers personal phones be IDed. I guess... responsible spoofing? I don't really know what the answer is, but a rotating barrage of unknown numbers from the area code of where I moved away from ain't it.
posted by MysticMCJ at 5:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by MysticMCJ at 5:41 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Have you seen how tough these young men - mostly strong, tough young men. These are not angels.
Hey Mafia Don, you left out the word "brown."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:42 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hey Mafia Don, you left out the word "brown."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:42 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't know if I can understate how bad the phone spam problem is if you have it. The techniques are literally indistinguishable from people who are trying to scam you up until you are actually able to tell me that you aren't looking for any money, you just want to know if I'm going to vote. Is your policy to also not leave any messages? Because I'd honestly be happy with a message asking for my support. I'd even call back! But if you don't leave one - again, I have only less reasons to answer the phone from further unknown numbers.
I remain unconvinced this is actually happening. Esp. given the other inaccuracies I corrected in the comment. When texting for Beto, our time frame each day that we were allowed to text was such that I could not text during the work week. It was something like noon to 5 p.m. central, so that we weren't texting too early to someone in Hawaii or too late to someone in New York, from a legal standpoint.
I'll see if I can find an answer on the not leaving voicemail. Calling back is definitely a non-starter, since phone banks are very limited times.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 5:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
I remain unconvinced this is actually happening. Esp. given the other inaccuracies I corrected in the comment. When texting for Beto, our time frame each day that we were allowed to text was such that I could not text during the work week. It was something like noon to 5 p.m. central, so that we weren't texting too early to someone in Hawaii or too late to someone in New York, from a legal standpoint.
I'll see if I can find an answer on the not leaving voicemail. Calling back is definitely a non-starter, since phone banks are very limited times.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 5:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
I am not so sure about area code thing. I had to go all the way back to 10/14 to find one that was close to my area. Because of volunteering for them, I usually get at least one text a day from the campaign. Now, I did notice all of the area codes were Texas, which makes sense.
Just going by my own experience with this. I've gotten both calls & texts from Beto's campaign that matched my out-of-state area code. Seemed a bit on the nose to be coincidence. I remember the bit about the web dialer, maybe they used outdials matching areas, or maybe it was a slightly freaky coincidence.
posted by scalefree at 6:04 PM on November 1, 2018
Just going by my own experience with this. I've gotten both calls & texts from Beto's campaign that matched my out-of-state area code. Seemed a bit on the nose to be coincidence. I remember the bit about the web dialer, maybe they used outdials matching areas, or maybe it was a slightly freaky coincidence.
posted by scalefree at 6:04 PM on November 1, 2018
We all hate phone spam. I can totally relate. But the subject was about Trump proclaiming himself a nationalist. Priorities, people. Priorities.
posted by sjswitzer at 6:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by sjswitzer at 6:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
At this rate he may soon be proclaiming himself King of the Pillow Fort.
@christinawilkie “I’ve kept more promises than I’ve made,” Trump just told the crowd in Missouri. Hmmm.
posted by scalefree at 6:12 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
@christinawilkie “I’ve kept more promises than I’ve made,” Trump just told the crowd in Missouri. Hmmm.
posted by scalefree at 6:12 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
@BrianKarem NOW: POTUS claims human trafficking is the worst it's ever been in 500 years...I will not comment further.
posted by scalefree at 6:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 6:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [40 favorites]
(That said, effective strategies to end this madness are relevant. But this one is a bit of a rabbit hole, maybe.)
posted by sjswitzer at 6:20 PM on November 1, 2018
posted by sjswitzer at 6:20 PM on November 1, 2018
I was thinking that this might be a way to communicate to those who don't understand the whole Rabbi Loren Jacobs / Jews for Jesus story.
Pence featured a rabbi who believes that the victims of the Pittsburgh massacre are going to receive eternal punishment for not having accepted Jesus. At the same time, the rabbi believes that the shooter will go to heaven if he is born again in Jesus.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:20 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
Pence featured a rabbi who believes that the victims of the Pittsburgh massacre are going to receive eternal punishment for not having accepted Jesus. At the same time, the rabbi believes that the shooter will go to heaven if he is born again in Jesus.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:20 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
Pence featured a rabbi who believes that the victims of the Pittsburgh massacre are going to receive eternal punishment for not having accepted Jesus. At the same time, the rabbi believes that the shooter will go to heaven if he is born again in Jesus.
This is my periodic reminder to not expect rational behavior from irrational people.
posted by mikelieman at 6:22 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is my periodic reminder to not expect rational behavior from irrational people.
posted by mikelieman at 6:22 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
It was (barely) plausibly deniable trolling.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Now that Trump's Missouri rally is done, here are a few highlight's from Caroline Orr's live-tweet:
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:32 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
—Once again, Trump floats the conspiracy theory about outside groups funding the migrant "caravan": "Does anybody think by accident they're just forming? Does anyone think it's by accident? I really think somebody was involved... someone not on our ledger."If this rally seemed comparatively subdued, Trump's scheduled two for tomorrow, two on Saturday and on Sunday, and three on Monday.
—"Women want security. They need security. They want jobs, they want homes, but they need security. Women need security," the admitted sexual predator tells the Missouri rally.
—Crowd at Missouri rally is chanting "Lock Her Up."
Trump is smiling.
—"You must reject the Democrat [agenda] of anger and hatred and division and fear," Trump tells Missouri rally.
no really, he actually said that. without a hint of irony. 🙃
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:32 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
@kylegriffin1: Trump just said that the pipe bomb mailings and Pittsburgh shooting stopped his momentum in the midterms: "Now, we did have two maniacs stop a momentum that was incredible. Because for 7 days, nobody talked about the elections. It stopped a tremendous momentum."
There's video.
"How can I make the death of 11 people in a hate crime all about me?" is the question Trump has asked himself every day since it happened.
posted by zachlipton at 6:39 PM on November 1, 2018 [39 favorites]
There's video.
"How can I make the death of 11 people in a hate crime all about me?" is the question Trump has asked himself every day since it happened.
posted by zachlipton at 6:39 PM on November 1, 2018 [39 favorites]
Masha Geessen, After the Pittsburgh Shooting, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Receives an Outpouring of Support
posted by zachlipton at 6:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [39 favorites]
During the first week of the Trump Administration, Mark Hetfield, the president of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), sent the President’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a copy of a file. It documented Kushner’s grandparents’ immigration to the United States. Like many Jews who fled the pogroms in the Russian Empire, the Kushners were what’s known as “resettled” by HIAS. Resettling meant more or less the same thing then that it does now: processing visas, finding a community that would welcome new immigrants, arranging transportation, insuring that a family has a place to live and access to basic services, and insuring the continuity of those services until new arrivals are, well, resettled. Back in early 2017, Hetfield wanted to put HIAS on Kushner’s radar: in addition to providing resettlement services, both in the United States and in other countries with displaced people, HIAS also lobbies for raising the so-called ceiling—the maximum number of refugees admitted to the U.S.Jared has plenty of time to chat with the Saudi Crown Prince though.
Hetfield never heard back from Kushner: not then, and not after a shooter—apparently moved by his hatred of HIAS and refugees—opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, killing eleven people. In the wake of the shooting, HIAS has not heard from President Trump, either, nor from Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, even though HIAS is a State Department contractor. “We’ve heard from civil servants, but not institutions,” Hetfield told me. “There has been no offer of support. Not even an acknowledgment.”
posted by zachlipton at 6:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [39 favorites]
The greatest Massachusetts political ad of the year: Be a Masshole - vote Yes on Question 3 and for trans rights (language NSFW and NSFYankeesFans). Special bonus fact: Filmed at the Porter Cafe in West Roxbury.
posted by adamg at 6:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by adamg at 6:47 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
A federal judge on Thursday rejected a last-ditch attempt to block North Dakota’s requirement that voters have a residential address.The law is expected to block as many as 5,000 mostly Native American voters from voting and is widely considered to have been constructed deliberately for that purpose.
The judge, Daniel L. Hovland of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, wrote in a brief, two-page order that it was simply too close to Election Day to do so. He noted that “federal courts are unanimous in their judgment that it is highly important to preserve the status quo when elections are fast approaching.”
posted by Nerd of the North at 6:51 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
Note that Hovland is the same judge who initially held the law to be an unconstitutional infringement on the right to vote, so this was definitely not his preferred outcome.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
Also:
Mark Gaber, senior legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center, said he and the other lawyers were reviewing their options. He emphasized that Judge Hovland’s order concerned only the request to block the law before the election, and had no bearing on the ultimate outcome of the challenge to the law’s constitutionality.posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
Mr. Gaber urged Native Americans to go to the polls on Tuesday and, if turned away for lack of identification, to demand a provisional ballot. The Campaign Legal Center and other groups could then ask the courts to order that the provisional ballots be counted.
“The court’s concern was with creating confusion before the election,” he said. “Those same concerns don’t apply after the election is over.”
so this was definitely not his preferred outcome
Then it’s a fucking stupid decision.
It’s saying that maintaining an unconstitutional status quo is more important than securing justice.
It’s basically giving carte blanche for any unscrupulous actor to engage in unconstitutional vote suppression, just so long as they do it near the election. They’re guaranteed to be allowed to get away with it, because forestalling their evil acts might be too disruptive or confusing.
posted by darkstar at 6:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
Then it’s a fucking stupid decision.
It’s saying that maintaining an unconstitutional status quo is more important than securing justice.
It’s basically giving carte blanche for any unscrupulous actor to engage in unconstitutional vote suppression, just so long as they do it near the election. They’re guaranteed to be allowed to get away with it, because forestalling their evil acts might be too disruptive or confusing.
posted by darkstar at 6:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [20 favorites]
That wouldn’t surprise me at all. I suspect it wouldn’t take much social engineering effort at all to “flash mob” a group of quite sincere and desperate refugees/migrants to coalesce at a particular place and time. Once the group starts to form, very little effort would be needed to keep it growing and mobilized.
posted by darkstar at 7:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 7:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Then it’s a fucking stupid decision.
I'm not saying the circuit precedent that dictates it is good, just that it's not something he as a district court judge has the authority to overturn. For once in these cases, it's not the result of a Republican judge looking for an excuse to let a suppressive law stand.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'm not saying the circuit precedent that dictates it is good, just that it's not something he as a district court judge has the authority to overturn. For once in these cases, it's not the result of a Republican judge looking for an excuse to let a suppressive law stand.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:09 PM on November 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
True - his decision merely reflects the precedent. I should have said more accurately that it’s a stupid federal court precedent.
posted by darkstar at 7:12 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 7:12 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Politico: Inside The Trump Administration’s Rudderless Fight To Counter Election Propaganda—The administration is letting individual agencies respond to foreign governments’ attempts to undermine U.S. elections.
Earlier this afternoon, Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen tweeted, "Just concluded briefing @POTUS with @FBI and @ODNIgov on steps @DHSgov and our partners are taking to protect #Election infrastructure. We are working with state and local election officials to ensure that every vote counts and will be counted correctly."
To which Politico cybersecurity reporter Eric Geller replied, "I repeatedly asked the White House for details of this meeting, which was described on his schedule as an "election integrity" meeting. The White House didn't give me anything."
But the Trump White House has declared November "Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month".
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:26 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Earlier this afternoon, Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen tweeted, "Just concluded briefing @POTUS with @FBI and @ODNIgov on steps @DHSgov and our partners are taking to protect #Election infrastructure. We are working with state and local election officials to ensure that every vote counts and will be counted correctly."
To which Politico cybersecurity reporter Eric Geller replied, "I repeatedly asked the White House for details of this meeting, which was described on his schedule as an "election integrity" meeting. The White House didn't give me anything."
But the Trump White House has declared November "Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month".
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:26 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Samantha Bee Calls Out the Not-So-Subtle Anti-Semitism of the Republican Party: The Full Frontal host breaks down the hate-based conspiracy theories of the right.
posted by homunculus at 7:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 7:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
AZ Senate race news: Sinema endorsed by Green Party Senate candidate
The Arizona Green Party's U.S. Senate candidate told 12 News Thursday she is getting out of the race and throwing her support to Democratic Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema.posted by gwint at 7:38 PM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
The decision, just five days before the election, could remove a potential obstacle for Sinema in her toss-up race against Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally.
The Green Party candidate, political newcomer Angela Green, has garnered up to 6 percent of the vote in recent polls. Polling averages show McSally and Sinema separated by a point or two.
Better late than never but note that something like 60% of ballots have already been cast.
posted by Justinian at 7:46 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:46 PM on November 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
(GREEN: Getting Republicans Elected Every November.)
posted by Justinian at 7:46 PM on November 1, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:46 PM on November 1, 2018 [40 favorites]
KHQ TV:
posted by Chrysostom at 7:53 PM on November 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
Just one week until the Midterm election and a Spokane Valley representative up for reelection finds himself under federal scrutiny after a manifesto distributed by him was leaked to the public.Matt Shea, of Washington HD-04A. More from the Seattle Times.
The four-page document, titled "Biblical Basis for War" was originally reported by the Spokesman-Review. It's a radical Christian call to arms, outlining 14 steps for seizing power and what to do afterward in explicit detail. It calls for an end to abortions, an end to same-sex marriage, and if enemies do not yield and everyone obey biblical law, all males will be killed.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:53 PM on November 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
From the Riverfront Times, the progressive weekly in St. Louis: Vote for Claire McCaskill, You Liberal Dipshits. It opens,
Listen up, hippies: November 6 is not the primary. This is a real-ass election day. You can whine about how you’d like more choices or a viable third party or whatever, but if you are any type of lefty and you aren’t voting for Claire McCaskill, you are also a raging moron.posted by Justinian at 7:55 PM on November 1, 2018 [96 favorites]
I am becoming more convinced by the hour that the origin of the caravan is legit a right wing operative.
posted by Slackermagee at 7:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Slackermagee at 7:56 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Masha Geessen, After the Pittsburgh Shooting, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Receives an Outpouring of Support
An ex-girlfriend of mine posted this week that HIAS was the agency that resettled her and her family in the US in 1991 just as the Iron Curtain was falling. She was much more grateful than Jared.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:57 PM on November 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
An ex-girlfriend of mine posted this week that HIAS was the agency that resettled her and her family in the US in 1991 just as the Iron Curtain was falling. She was much more grateful than Jared.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:57 PM on November 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
HIAS was the agency that resettled her and her family in the US in 1991 just as the Iron Curtain was falling
Gary Shteyngart too.
posted by gwint at 8:01 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Gary Shteyngart too.
posted by gwint at 8:01 PM on November 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am becoming more convinced by the hour that the origin of the caravan is legit a right wing operative.
It's not. I've read and listened to reporting from the caravan. They're real refugees, fleeing real violence and instability in failing Central American states. Most of the people in it are not aware that a US election is coming up, or that every single American has heard of them, or that there are troops massing on the border. This caravan isn't even that special - there have been several of them, all of them generally dispersing and petering out in Mexico. The only difference is that this one came together at just the right moment to be seized on by Republicans desperate for a October hate-object to rally their most horrible and reliable voters.
posted by theodolite at 8:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [63 favorites]
It's not. I've read and listened to reporting from the caravan. They're real refugees, fleeing real violence and instability in failing Central American states. Most of the people in it are not aware that a US election is coming up, or that every single American has heard of them, or that there are troops massing on the border. This caravan isn't even that special - there have been several of them, all of them generally dispersing and petering out in Mexico. The only difference is that this one came together at just the right moment to be seized on by Republicans desperate for a October hate-object to rally their most horrible and reliable voters.
posted by theodolite at 8:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [63 favorites]
Just a reminder, I had a bunch of "RED HAT = HATRED" yard signs made up. They look pretty good. Pittsburgh MeFites are welcome to one each while supplies last. MeMail me if you want one.
posted by M-x shell at 8:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 8:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [26 favorites]
I'm not saying the individuals aren't real. Trump told his supporters to expect and love the upcoming October surprise. Now he complains that it's being wasted and something about payroll?
It's like a bizarro world Le Carre novel. Next act is some shady evangelist org that's a relic from the cold war being name dropped from the Rose garden after five minutes of "why is my surprise walking so slow?!"
posted by Slackermagee at 8:19 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's like a bizarro world Le Carre novel. Next act is some shady evangelist org that's a relic from the cold war being name dropped from the Rose garden after five minutes of "why is my surprise walking so slow?!"
posted by Slackermagee at 8:19 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
But the Trump White House has declared November "Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month".
Oh good, infrastructure week is now a month? And the election is in a few days? What could possibly go wrong?
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:22 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
Oh good, infrastructure week is now a month? And the election is in a few days? What could possibly go wrong?
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:22 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
Well, this thread is really psyching me up for canvassing on Saturday.
When I first registered to vote, I was in Chicago, and I was shocked and amused by the number of phone calls I got concerning my vote (and this was the 80s). I was called 3 times on election day and asked if I needed help getting to the polls! I was 18 and I could walk a few blocks. It cracked me up and actually made me feel kind of important.
Please be kind to the volunteers who are asking about your vote. You are important to them.
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
When I first registered to vote, I was in Chicago, and I was shocked and amused by the number of phone calls I got concerning my vote (and this was the 80s). I was called 3 times on election day and asked if I needed help getting to the polls! I was 18 and I could walk a few blocks. It cracked me up and actually made me feel kind of important.
Please be kind to the volunteers who are asking about your vote. You are important to them.
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:27 PM on November 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
I am becoming more convinced by the hour that the origin of the caravan is legit a right wing operative.
No. Just no. The caravan is the latest in a series going back several years, organized & sponsored by a refugee humanitarian group called Pueblo Sin Fronteras, which is around 15 years old. Apparently they need to fire their media director & hire someone who can do the job, but as far as I've been able to tell they're completely legitimate organization with a long history.
posted by scalefree at 8:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [49 favorites]
No. Just no. The caravan is the latest in a series going back several years, organized & sponsored by a refugee humanitarian group called Pueblo Sin Fronteras, which is around 15 years old. Apparently they need to fire their media director & hire someone who can do the job, but as far as I've been able to tell they're completely legitimate organization with a long history.
posted by scalefree at 8:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [49 favorites]
I'm not saying the individuals aren't real. Trump told his supporters to expect and love the upcoming October surprise. Now he complains that it's being wasted and something about payroll?
If you want to prove nefarious activity surrounding the caravans you'll have to start with Pueblo Sin Fronteras. Show that they're not what they seem, that they've been infiltrated or coopted & you'll have the backbone of a strong case to build on. Without that you'd only be showing you haven't done your homework.
posted by scalefree at 8:34 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
If you want to prove nefarious activity surrounding the caravans you'll have to start with Pueblo Sin Fronteras. Show that they're not what they seem, that they've been infiltrated or coopted & you'll have the backbone of a strong case to build on. Without that you'd only be showing you haven't done your homework.
posted by scalefree at 8:34 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
All the focus on voting has impacted me, and I always vote. Now, I'm having nightmares where I wake up in a cold sweat thinking I forgot to vote :-) This is the way it should be. People should feel shame if they don't vote.
posted by xammerboy at 8:43 PM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 8:43 PM on November 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
My intuition is that Trump shouldn't be able to legally deploy large number of troops to the border to stave off a non-existent threat. I keep expecting a congressman or general to say "no - you can't do that." Is my intuition wrong? Or is my intuition right, but no one is stepping forward?
posted by xammerboy at 8:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 8:58 PM on November 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
On what basis wouldn't he be allowed to move troops to the border? They can't be forcibly quartered in civilian homes, sure, but apart from that?
posted by Justinian at 9:01 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 9:01 PM on November 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
ProPublica, Inside a Trump Project that Failed. Spoiler: The Trumps Still Won.
posted by zachlipton at 9:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
By the fall of 2006, estimated costs were soaring toward $300 million. Two general contractors had dropped out. Liens were being filed for millions in unpaid bills. And more than 40 percent of the condos remained unsold, after dozens of buyers had canceled their reservations and pulled out. The projected completion date had slipped into 2009.Well you said it, man.
Related proposed tough terms to rescue the venture, including a provision that would eliminate the Trump Organization share of the profits and replace it with a fee for each condo unit sold.
Donald Trump Jr., 28 at the time, was furious.
“I hate related,” he wrote a Trump Organization colleague on Sept. 9, 2006. “this is b/s. I do not think we could have been more clear with these assholes less than 3 weeks ago and they are already back to the flat structure nonsense and connot consider giving trump a piece of the backend,” he vented to in-house attorney Diamond. “They must think we are the dumbest people on the fucking block.”
posted by zachlipton at 9:05 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
On what basis wouldn't he be allowed to move troops to the border?
It sort of looks like an act of war to me, which would need congressional approval? Also, intuitively, I wouldn't think the president could deploy troops for a demonstrably false reason (the migrant threat). Really, I'm not sure, but it feels wrong, like banning travel from countries that promote terrorism when there is no evidence of those countries promoting terrorism? I find in many cases, it's legal to do things for no reason, or any reason, but not for demonstrably false reasons (e.g. You can be fired for no reason, but you can't be fired for missing work when you haven't).
posted by xammerboy at 9:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
It sort of looks like an act of war to me, which would need congressional approval? Also, intuitively, I wouldn't think the president could deploy troops for a demonstrably false reason (the migrant threat). Really, I'm not sure, but it feels wrong, like banning travel from countries that promote terrorism when there is no evidence of those countries promoting terrorism? I find in many cases, it's legal to do things for no reason, or any reason, but not for demonstrably false reasons (e.g. You can be fired for no reason, but you can't be fired for missing work when you haven't).
posted by xammerboy at 9:24 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 5 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
** Odds & ends:
// 5 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- AZ: OH Predictive insights poll has GOPer McSally up 52-45 on Dem Sinema [MOE: +/ 4.0%]. => OHPI has been consistently right of anyone else polling AZ - I don't think anyone else has ever had a McSally lead above 2. | Green candidate drops out, endorses Sinema. She was polling 4-5%, but Arizona is a heavy early vote state, so probably will not matter much. Can't hurt, though.** 2018 House:
-- FL:-- Cygnal poll has Dem incumbent Nelson up 50-48 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/ 4.4%].-- OH: Cygnal poll has Dem incumbent Brown up 52-42 on GOPer Renacci [MOE: +/ 4.4%].
-- SSRS poll has Nelson up 49-47 [MOE: +/ 4.3%].
-- St Pete Polls has Nelson up 49-47 [MOE: +/ 2.0%].
-- Trafalgar poll has Nelson up 49-47 [MOE: +/ 1.9%].
-- TN:-- SSRS poll has GOPer Blackburn up 49-45 on Dem Bredesen [MOE: +/ 4.3%].-- WV:
-- Emerson poll has Blackburn up 52-44 [MOE: +/ 4.0%].-- Research America poll has Dem incumbent Manchin up 45-40 on GOPer Morrisey [MOE: +/ 4.9%].-- TX: Emerson poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 50-47 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/ 3.7%].
-- Emerson poll has Manchin up 47-42 [MOE: +/ 3.2%].
-- PA: F&M poll has Dem incumbent Casey up 50-35 on GOPer Barletta [MOE: +/ 6.0%].
-- VA-10: GMU poll has Dem Wexton up 54-43 on GOP incumbent Comstock [MOE: +/ 6.5%]. [Clinton 52-42 | Cook: Lean D]
-- AK-AL: Alaska Survey Research poll has indy/Dem Galvin up 49-48 on GOP incumbent Young [no MOE listed]. [Trump 53-38 | Cook: Lean R] => This one might be too good to be true.
-- NM-02: Carroll Strategies poll has GOPer Herrell up 47-42 on Dem Torres Small [MOE: +/ 2.8%]. [Trump 50-40 | Cook: Tossup]
-- WV-03: Emerson poll has GOPer Miller up 52-45 on Dem Ojeda [MOE: +/ 5.5%]. [Trump 73-23 | Cook: Lean R]
-- 538: Dems and the suburbs.
-- NYT has GOP leaking bad internals as they prepare for finger pointing.
** Odds & ends:
-- CO gov: [Cook: Lean D]** Averages & forecasts:-- Keating-OnSight-Martin poll has Dem Polis up 50-42 on GOPer Stapleton [MOE: +/ 4.3%].-- FL gov: [Cook: Tossup]
-- Magellan Strategies poll has Polis up 45-40 [MOE: +/ 4.4%].-- Same Cygnal poll has Dem Gillum tied 47-47 with GOPer DeSantis.-- GA gov: [Cook: Tossup]
-- Same SSRS poll has Gillum up 49-48.
-- Same Trafalgar poll has Gillum up 43-42.-- Cygnal poll has GOPer Kemp up 49-47 on Dem Abrams [MOE: +/ 4.4%]. | Downballot: AG: GOPer Carr up 53-45 on Dem Bailey. SOS: GOPer Raffensperger up 47-45 on Dem Barrow.-- MN gov: Survey USA poll has Dem Walz up 49-41 on GOPer Johnson [MOE: +/ 5.3%]. [Cook: Likely D] | Downballot: AG: Dem Ellison up 44-40 on GOPer Wardlow.
-- UGA poll has it tied 47-47 [MOE: +/ 4.4%]. Downballot: SOS: Barrow up 42-41.
-- CT gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- Emerson poll has Dem Lamont up 46-39 on GOPer Stefanowski [MOE: +/ 3.7%].-- NM gov: Same Carroll Strategies poll has Dem Lujan Grisham up 51-46 on GOPer Pearce. [Cook: Lean D]
-- Sacred Heart poll has Stefanowski up 40-38 [MOE: +/ 4.3%]. => Note that this is the first poll that has Stefanowski up, and Sacred Heart is apparently new to polling. Grain of salt, I think.
-- PA gov: Same F&M poll has Dem incumbent Wolf up 59-33 on GOPer Wagner. [Cook: Likely D] => This total blowout, combined with solid Casey performance in the Senate race is in the range where it starts reducing GOP turnout, which might explain the good House numbers we've seen from Susquehanna. Also could have implications for the state legislature, where Dems have an outside shot at each chamber.
-- OH gov: Same Cygnal poll has Dem Cordray tied 43-43 with GOPer DeWine. [Cook: Tossup]
-- SD gov: Mason-Dixon poll has GOPer Noem up 43-40 on Dem Sutton [MOE: +/- 4.5%].
-- DKE summary of the governors' races. Current polling has Dems on track to pick up 10 seats.
-- Governing Magazine look at big state Supreme Court races. Progressives could land some important seats.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.5 (50.3/41.8)posted by Chrysostom at 9:43 PM on November 1, 2018 [23 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 85.0% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 15.2% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.0 states.
I mean, yes, it feels wrong, but the president can deploy troops for demonstrably false reasons without Congressional approval. It's perfectly legal to move the troops the way he is.
What he may be hoping for- U.S. soldiers shooting migrants- is much less likely to be legal*, but even if it happened, I don't believe the consequences he himself would suffer would be any sort of legal penalty.
*Military officers seem to think shooting at rock-throwers would be illegal:
Mark Hertling
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:44 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
What he may be hoping for- U.S. soldiers shooting migrants- is much less likely to be legal*, but even if it happened, I don't believe the consequences he himself would suffer would be any sort of legal penalty.
*Military officers seem to think shooting at rock-throwers would be illegal:
Mark Hertling
FWIW, there is no leader in the military - Officer or NCO - who would allow a soldier to shoot at an individual throwing a rock. They know that violates the rules of engagement, the law of land warfare & the values those in the military believe. It would be an unlawful order.But there will be a lot of soldiers out there, and it wouldn't take many to cause trouble.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 9:44 PM on November 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
If you missed it above in the wall of text, Survey USA poll has Ellison up on Wardlow 44-40 in the Minnesota AG race. Previous Survey USA in Sept was tied at 41.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
From the /r/dataisbeautiful subreddit: A graph of how many times Ted Cruz has included the phrase "y'all" in his tweets
posted by Rhaomi at 10:10 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 10:10 PM on November 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
They want to underestimate the crowd...Have you seen how tough these young men
The strongest military nation on the planet is facing an existential threat from 3000 mothers, fathers, and children 1500 miles away, on foot.
What a sad sack bunch of cowards and paranoids.
posted by benzenedream at 10:25 PM on November 1, 2018 [82 favorites]
The strongest military nation on the planet is facing an existential threat from 3000 mothers, fathers, and children 1500 miles away, on foot.
What a sad sack bunch of cowards and paranoids.
posted by benzenedream at 10:25 PM on November 1, 2018 [82 favorites]
One Second Before Awakening: "I think in general these politics threads on here are composed of roughly:"
Oooh, which one am I?
posted by Chrysostom at 10:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
Oooh, which one am I?
posted by Chrysostom at 10:45 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
You a BadAssMuthaFucka Chrysostom
posted by awfurby at 10:52 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by awfurby at 10:52 PM on November 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
On the topic of texts from the Beto campaign, my friend posted screenshots that her CAT is getting texts from the campaign in addition to the ones she's already getting under her own name. So they're taking her cat off the mailing list...
posted by threeturtles at 10:53 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 10:53 PM on November 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
WP:
posted by Chrysostom at 11:06 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
The White House is growing increasingly concerned about allegations of misconduct against Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, according to two senior administration officials, and President Trump has asked aides for more information about a Montana land deal under scrutiny by the Justice Department.Man, when *Trump* thinks you're corrupt....
Trump told his aides that he is afraid Zinke has broken rules while serving as the interior secretary and is concerned about the Justice Department referral, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. But the president has not indicated whether he will fire the former Navy SEAL and congressman and has asked for more information, the officials said.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:06 PM on November 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
xkcd has a handy map of midterm challengers. The bigger the name, the higher the office and the higher their chance of success. There's a lot of blue.
"To edit the map, submit your ballot on November 6th."
posted by zachlipton at 11:08 PM on November 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
"To edit the map, submit your ballot on November 6th."
posted by zachlipton at 11:08 PM on November 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Trump told his aides that he is afraid Zinke has broken rules while serving as the interior secretary and is concerned...
So by my calculations, we’re about a day from him tweeting about how that’s all a bunch of made up Fake News, two days from a statement about how much faith the White House has in Zinke, and about a week and half til he gets somebody to fire Zinke for him. (Oh, and about three weeks from complaining about having to fire such a great guy.)
posted by Weeping_angel at 11:30 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
So by my calculations, we’re about a day from him tweeting about how that’s all a bunch of made up Fake News, two days from a statement about how much faith the White House has in Zinke, and about a week and half til he gets somebody to fire Zinke for him. (Oh, and about three weeks from complaining about having to fire such a great guy.)
posted by Weeping_angel at 11:30 PM on November 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
-- TX: Emerson poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 50-47 on Dem O'Rourke
BETOMENTUM
posted by Justinian at 12:28 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
BETOMENTUM
posted by Justinian at 12:28 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's only illegal if they're punished. Who'll do that?
Yeah. I don't like to be a downer, but it seems like people have forgotten we all saw armed troops shooting unarmed people and people with rocks and signs for reasons of "border security" which did not hold up to international scrutiny, just a few short months ago. IIRC, the Trump administration explicitly condoned it.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 1:19 AM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Yeah. I don't like to be a downer, but it seems like people have forgotten we all saw armed troops shooting unarmed people and people with rocks and signs for reasons of "border security" which did not hold up to international scrutiny, just a few short months ago. IIRC, the Trump administration explicitly condoned it.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 1:19 AM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Texans of MeFi tell us what is happening on the ground. I do desperately hope.
posted by jadepearl at 1:20 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 1:20 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Author David Neiwert on the outbreak of political violence: Expect “an intense period of terrorism.” Expert on right-wing terror expects “a lot more of this type of violence,” no matter who wins the midterms
posted by homunculus at 1:23 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 1:23 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
The White House is growing increasingly concerned about
Like they care. They just want to start a news cycle. Everybody's at least as bad as Zinke (maybe), so they can be jettisoned from time to time and replaced with hey! someone not quite as championship bad as those dudes. Last time it was whatshisface.
posted by rhizome at 1:29 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Like they care. They just want to start a news cycle. Everybody's at least as bad as Zinke (maybe), so they can be jettisoned from time to time and replaced with hey! someone not quite as championship bad as those dudes. Last time it was whatshisface.
posted by rhizome at 1:29 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Author David Neiwert on the outbreak of political violence: Expect “an intense period of terrorism.” Expert on right-wing terror expects “a lot more of this type of violence,” no matter who wins the midterms
I am always reminded about this fantastic comment on the blue by warbaby about Right-wing violence back in 2010.
posted by PenDevil at 1:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
I am always reminded about this fantastic comment on the blue by warbaby about Right-wing violence back in 2010.
posted by PenDevil at 1:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
Moderate liberal blogger Kevin Drum points to a disgustingly racist Republican scare ad, calling it the next Willie Horton and noting that it came not from an outside group but from the Republican Party itself, and that the ad accuses not a particular candidate but all Democrats of wanting to let illegal immigrants in to murder people, then asks:
Good question. Democrats should tie Trump's disgusting behavior to the Republican Party that benefits from it and at least tacitly supports it. Republicans succeeded in changing Democratic politicians' behaviors with their decades-long propaganda campaign -- demonizing the word "liberal," for instance -- and it's high time Democrats made Trump's brand of ugly, sexist, racist authoritarianism toxic for all Republicans. No amount of "appealing to voters affected by economic anxiety" is worth the imperative to punish bad behavior.
posted by Gelatin at 3:26 AM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
So why aren’t Democrats doing the same thing to Republicans? Hell, Democrats don’t even have to be racist to do it. They don’t have to lie. The subject could be pre-existing conditions or corporate tax cuts or DACA or tearing infants away from their mothers. There are loads of totally legitimate subjects that could be dramatized and stuck squarely on the back of the entire Republican Party. So where are they?
Good question. Democrats should tie Trump's disgusting behavior to the Republican Party that benefits from it and at least tacitly supports it. Republicans succeeded in changing Democratic politicians' behaviors with their decades-long propaganda campaign -- demonizing the word "liberal," for instance -- and it's high time Democrats made Trump's brand of ugly, sexist, racist authoritarianism toxic for all Republicans. No amount of "appealing to voters affected by economic anxiety" is worth the imperative to punish bad behavior.
posted by Gelatin at 3:26 AM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
'So why aren’t Democrats doing the same thing to Republicans? Hell, Democrats don’t even have to be racist to do it. They don’t have to lie. The subject could be pre-existing conditions or corporate tax cuts or DACA or tearing infants away from their mothers.'
[...]
Good question. Democrats should tie Trump's disgusting behavior to the Republican Party that benefits from it and at least tacitly supports it. [...] No amount of "appealing to voters affected by economic anxiety" is worth the imperative to punish bad behavior.
This is just a guess, but maybe they figure the Maybe-Trump voters are already convinced of the badness of the behavior, but need a reason to vote Dem rather than not vote at all? Hence the focus on improving systemic problems rather than slinging mud at a literal walking pile of mud? And maybe they figure the Always-Trump voters will assume a Dem ad is lying about anything issues-related, and will either assume the same thing or won't care about (or will feel pride in response to) a Dem ad about the bad behavior.
Not saying it's necessarily a winning strategy, of course. But OTOH, it does seem like a good play for SOMEbody to visibly be the grown-ups in the room.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 3:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
[...]
Good question. Democrats should tie Trump's disgusting behavior to the Republican Party that benefits from it and at least tacitly supports it. [...] No amount of "appealing to voters affected by economic anxiety" is worth the imperative to punish bad behavior.
This is just a guess, but maybe they figure the Maybe-Trump voters are already convinced of the badness of the behavior, but need a reason to vote Dem rather than not vote at all? Hence the focus on improving systemic problems rather than slinging mud at a literal walking pile of mud? And maybe they figure the Always-Trump voters will assume a Dem ad is lying about anything issues-related, and will either assume the same thing or won't care about (or will feel pride in response to) a Dem ad about the bad behavior.
Not saying it's necessarily a winning strategy, of course. But OTOH, it does seem like a good play for SOMEbody to visibly be the grown-ups in the room.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 3:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
On the phone banking thing--at least around here, for the past two elections, phone bankers could either choose to use their own phones, or a cheap burner cell phone with a local area code. I've gotten multiple calls from a few numbers, which I'm pretty sure are the campaign phones; I've just gone ahead and entered them in as "Campaign" in my phone.
So we're not spoofing a local number (since it is actually coming from a local number, as opposed to being made to look like it is). And actually hard coding the location into the burner phones isn't possible (I think maybe you can only do that with landlines, but I could be wrong).
Anecdotally, I've noticed higher success rates from people using a semi-local number. We're in NH, so folks calling with Maine or MA area codes. It doesn't look like a spam call, because it's not the local area code, but it's close enough that people realize it's actually someone from the area.
Also, at least for my campaign, the magic box you want to be in to stop getting calls is "Refused". If you say "I'm voting for Democrats, you have my support, I promise", our goal is to get you to come into volunteer. You *also* want to say "Please stop calling me."
posted by damayanti at 4:45 AM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
So we're not spoofing a local number (since it is actually coming from a local number, as opposed to being made to look like it is). And actually hard coding the location into the burner phones isn't possible (I think maybe you can only do that with landlines, but I could be wrong).
Anecdotally, I've noticed higher success rates from people using a semi-local number. We're in NH, so folks calling with Maine or MA area codes. It doesn't look like a spam call, because it's not the local area code, but it's close enough that people realize it's actually someone from the area.
Also, at least for my campaign, the magic box you want to be in to stop getting calls is "Refused". If you say "I'm voting for Democrats, you have my support, I promise", our goal is to get you to come into volunteer. You *also* want to say "Please stop calling me."
posted by damayanti at 4:45 AM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you want to see scenes from the ground on Texas, I recommend Anne Helen Petersen.
posted by tofu_crouton at 5:07 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by tofu_crouton at 5:07 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
I am always reminded about this fantastic comment on the blue by warbaby about Right-wing violence back in 2010.
Oh shit, and now the Sov Cit movement is advising the Oval Office and "The Terrorists are coming from INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE!"
Really. I never really thought about how all the crackpot, right wing extremist nuts are now running the government. I'm more terrified than ever.
There's a non-zero probability that we'll hear "Mueller's courtroom has a gold-fringed flag, and that means Admiralty Law, which has not authority here."
posted by mikelieman at 5:35 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh shit, and now the Sov Cit movement is advising the Oval Office and "The Terrorists are coming from INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE!"
Really. I never really thought about how all the crackpot, right wing extremist nuts are now running the government. I'm more terrified than ever.
There's a non-zero probability that we'll hear "Mueller's courtroom has a gold-fringed flag, and that means Admiralty Law, which has not authority here."
posted by mikelieman at 5:35 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Not saying it's necessarily a winning strategy, of course. But OTOH, it does seem like a good play for SOMEbody to visibly be the grown-ups in the room.
Be the rational grown-ups in the room after winning an election, but first do whatever it takes to win. Appeal to emotion, attack the opposition, scare people into voting if you have to ( hint...you do ).
Then govern like adults.
posted by rocket88 at 5:48 AM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Be the rational grown-ups in the room after winning an election, but first do whatever it takes to win. Appeal to emotion, attack the opposition, scare people into voting if you have to ( hint...you do ).
Then govern like adults.
posted by rocket88 at 5:48 AM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
MetaFilter: Listen up, hippies
So, it's Friday, and you're an awesome person, and most of the world is pretty swell so don't forget to smell the rose doughnuts today! Go you! Yes!
posted by petebest at 5:49 AM on November 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
So, it's Friday, and you're an awesome person, and most of the world is pretty swell so don't forget to smell the rose doughnuts today! Go you! Yes!
posted by petebest at 5:49 AM on November 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
The only difference is that this one came together at just the right moment to be seized on by Republicans desperate for a October hate-object to rally their most horrible and reliable voters.
And since the lazy media picked up on Trump waving a shiny new hate object at them as always, it should be imperative for decent people who speak to the media to point out that very fact -- there's nothing unusual about these desperate people seeking asylum in the US except that the Republicans desperately need a new racist appeal to gin up their base.
The only reason we're talking about the caravan at all apart from "how can the richest nation in the world help these poor people" is Republicans going all in on racism.
posted by Gelatin at 6:11 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
And since the lazy media picked up on Trump waving a shiny new hate object at them as always, it should be imperative for decent people who speak to the media to point out that very fact -- there's nothing unusual about these desperate people seeking asylum in the US except that the Republicans desperately need a new racist appeal to gin up their base.
The only reason we're talking about the caravan at all apart from "how can the richest nation in the world help these poor people" is Republicans going all in on racism.
posted by Gelatin at 6:11 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trae Crowder, my favorite person who talks/sounds like me, speaking the words that matter. Transcribed as best I could, with snips, by yours truly. Check out the video, it's great. Fuck people who don't vote, I'm sure they're nice and they make nice apple crumbles or whatever but this shit matters.
Hey y'all, hope everybody had a good Halloween and whether that hangover you're nursing is from too much chocolate and peanut butter or too much Jager and regret, either way I've been there and my heart goes out to you.
...
We know how we got here. We know what happened in 2016. Right? The most popular story is that it was my people. Poor white people. Rural Americans. They've done this to the rest of us. Right?
Yea, naw. See, you can blame my people for a lot of things... But Trump's presidency ain't one of them in my opinion.
First of all, when you blame poor white people for it, it lets all the other white people off the hook. Statistically Trump won every demographic of white person. So when you blame all this shit on Billy Bob that lets William Robert Esq. skate on by guilt free and that ain't right.
But secondly, it don't really even matter. It's irrelevant who all voted for Trump and why... Or it would have been if Democrats would have voted too. If Democrats would have voted like they did in the two elections prior then Trump would have lost and none of this shit would have mattered.
...
So where were you at? And for a lot of Democrats the answer in 2016 was 'home'. They thought they could sit at home and keep their conscience clean and it wouldn't matter 'cuz Trump wouldn't win anyway. Well, like Mike Tyson said "Everybody's got a plan 'til you get punched in the mouth".
...
Hopefully that woke some Democrats up in this country. If there's one silver lining from all this Trump bullshit I hope it's that it will illustrate to certain types of progressives in America that you can't take yourself out of the game and then get mad when the other team shits on the 50 yard line.
...
And if you're one of those people who say your vote doesn't matter because of where you live: Go tell that shit to Roy Moore. Go find Roy Moore in some Birmingham Waffle House screaming at the hash browns about the devil and tell him a liberal vote doesn't matter in the South. I bet he has a different perspective right about now.
And if you're sitting here listening right now and thinking "Trae, it's my vote, no one else's and if I don't feel that my Democratic candidate properly reflects my progressive values I'm under no obligation to cast my vote for them and that's just how it is. It is my right as an American."
And you're right. If you're thinking something like that you're 100% right. You are correct about all that.
But I'm'a ask you, and I've aked it before:
Do you want to be right or do you want to fucking win? It's crunch time baby, it's here. This is all it is. It's all of us together. There's no other plan. There's no other strategy. You have to vote on or before Nov. 6 and we can turn this ship around. That's it.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:15 AM on November 2, 2018 [85 favorites]
Hey y'all, hope everybody had a good Halloween and whether that hangover you're nursing is from too much chocolate and peanut butter or too much Jager and regret, either way I've been there and my heart goes out to you.
...
We know how we got here. We know what happened in 2016. Right? The most popular story is that it was my people. Poor white people. Rural Americans. They've done this to the rest of us. Right?
Yea, naw. See, you can blame my people for a lot of things... But Trump's presidency ain't one of them in my opinion.
First of all, when you blame poor white people for it, it lets all the other white people off the hook. Statistically Trump won every demographic of white person. So when you blame all this shit on Billy Bob that lets William Robert Esq. skate on by guilt free and that ain't right.
But secondly, it don't really even matter. It's irrelevant who all voted for Trump and why... Or it would have been if Democrats would have voted too. If Democrats would have voted like they did in the two elections prior then Trump would have lost and none of this shit would have mattered.
...
So where were you at? And for a lot of Democrats the answer in 2016 was 'home'. They thought they could sit at home and keep their conscience clean and it wouldn't matter 'cuz Trump wouldn't win anyway. Well, like Mike Tyson said "Everybody's got a plan 'til you get punched in the mouth".
...
Hopefully that woke some Democrats up in this country. If there's one silver lining from all this Trump bullshit I hope it's that it will illustrate to certain types of progressives in America that you can't take yourself out of the game and then get mad when the other team shits on the 50 yard line.
...
And if you're one of those people who say your vote doesn't matter because of where you live: Go tell that shit to Roy Moore. Go find Roy Moore in some Birmingham Waffle House screaming at the hash browns about the devil and tell him a liberal vote doesn't matter in the South. I bet he has a different perspective right about now.
And if you're sitting here listening right now and thinking "Trae, it's my vote, no one else's and if I don't feel that my Democratic candidate properly reflects my progressive values I'm under no obligation to cast my vote for them and that's just how it is. It is my right as an American."
And you're right. If you're thinking something like that you're 100% right. You are correct about all that.
But I'm'a ask you, and I've aked it before:
Do you want to be right or do you want to fucking win? It's crunch time baby, it's here. This is all it is. It's all of us together. There's no other plan. There's no other strategy. You have to vote on or before Nov. 6 and we can turn this ship around. That's it.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:15 AM on November 2, 2018 [85 favorites]
Following up on what Gelatin linked to above (Kevin Drum discussing an ad that I guess was aired last night), here's WaPo: Trump’s new immigration ad was panned as racist. Turns out it was also based on a falsehood. The whole thing centers on Luis Bracamontes, convicted of killing two deputy police, and the ad says "Democrats let him into our country... Democrats let him stay". But his actual history was of repeatedly coming in and being deported by administrations of both parties. After the killings, he was arrested/captured and never got free since then, so it's yet another stupid argument of "Murders by non-citizens are umpty times worse because they could have been deported first" (even though this guy was).
The "let him in" part (referring to someone who in fact snuck in) shouldn't be missed -- there is a sizable number of Americans, including the president himself, who truly believe that zero illegal entry could be a reality if only the shackles were off or whatever. This is a fascist notion because it always justifies more and more egregious enforcement. There have been plenty of border crossings even under this administration, Donald has been upset with his underlings about this, and he's just going to keep asking for more fascism until the country is somehow "closed".
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:34 AM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
The "let him in" part (referring to someone who in fact snuck in) shouldn't be missed -- there is a sizable number of Americans, including the president himself, who truly believe that zero illegal entry could be a reality if only the shackles were off or whatever. This is a fascist notion because it always justifies more and more egregious enforcement. There have been plenty of border crossings even under this administration, Donald has been upset with his underlings about this, and he's just going to keep asking for more fascism until the country is somehow "closed".
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:34 AM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
Be the rational grown-ups in the room after winning an election, but first do whatever it takes to win. Appeal to emotion, attack the opposition, scare people into voting if you have to ( hint...you do ).
Then govern like adults.
But more than that, don't fall into the trap of presuming the only time one needs ot influence voter opinion is in the runup to the elections. As The Atlantic pointed out, Newt Gingrich did much to damage American politics, but one of the the ways he was successful in amassing Republican power is to relentlessly propagandize, including badmouthing Democrats at every opportunity. And it worked, to the point that the foundation he laid helped pave the way for Trump.
Democrats absolutely can not afford to unilaterally disarm in the face of constant Republican aggression. They need to tell the wavering Republican voter that they are casting an affirmative vote for racism and violence by pulling the R lever even if all they want is more tax cuts. There can be no room for so-called "moderates" like Susan Collins to pretend that their lockstep votes don't enable all the unpopular Republican policies their voters don't want.
(Here's a Fresh Air segment with the author of that Atlantic piece.)
posted by Gelatin at 6:37 AM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Then govern like adults.
But more than that, don't fall into the trap of presuming the only time one needs ot influence voter opinion is in the runup to the elections. As The Atlantic pointed out, Newt Gingrich did much to damage American politics, but one of the the ways he was successful in amassing Republican power is to relentlessly propagandize, including badmouthing Democrats at every opportunity. And it worked, to the point that the foundation he laid helped pave the way for Trump.
Democrats absolutely can not afford to unilaterally disarm in the face of constant Republican aggression. They need to tell the wavering Republican voter that they are casting an affirmative vote for racism and violence by pulling the R lever even if all they want is more tax cuts. There can be no room for so-called "moderates" like Susan Collins to pretend that their lockstep votes don't enable all the unpopular Republican policies their voters don't want.
(Here's a Fresh Air segment with the author of that Atlantic piece.)
posted by Gelatin at 6:37 AM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Trump’s new immigration ad was panned as racist. Turns out it was also based on a falsehood.
"The ad also failed to mention that in 1998, Bracamontes was arrested on drug charges in Phoenix, then released by the office of then-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio “for reasons unknown,” the Bee reported."posted by mcdoublewide at 6:39 AM on November 2, 2018 [62 favorites]
Be the rational grown-ups in the room after winning an election, but first do whatever it takes to win. Appeal to emotion, attack the opposition, scare people into voting if you have to ( hint...you do ).
Then govern like adults.
But more than that, don't fall into the trap of presuming the only time one needs ot influence voter opinion is in the runup to the elections. As The Atlantic pointed out, Newt Gingrich did much to damage American politics, but one of the the ways he was successful in amassing Republican power is to relentlessly propagandize, including badmouthing Democrats at every opportunity. And it worked, to the point that the foundation he laid helped pave the way for Trump.
So... not govern like adults, then.
Every Republican Speaker who served under a Democratic President since the 1950s has either shut down the government or impeached that Democratic President, and Paul Ryan is such a child that he managed to shut down the government under a Republican President. The abyss beckons. Let's not advocate jumping in without even bothering to gaze first.
posted by Etrigan at 6:50 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
Then govern like adults.
But more than that, don't fall into the trap of presuming the only time one needs ot influence voter opinion is in the runup to the elections. As The Atlantic pointed out, Newt Gingrich did much to damage American politics, but one of the the ways he was successful in amassing Republican power is to relentlessly propagandize, including badmouthing Democrats at every opportunity. And it worked, to the point that the foundation he laid helped pave the way for Trump.
So... not govern like adults, then.
Every Republican Speaker who served under a Democratic President since the 1950s has either shut down the government or impeached that Democratic President, and Paul Ryan is such a child that he managed to shut down the government under a Republican President. The abyss beckons. Let's not advocate jumping in without even bothering to gaze first.
posted by Etrigan at 6:50 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
Texas volunteer report. I spent two mornings canvassing this week. The first one made me concerned about the volunteer effort, as my local office person was kind of clueless and my walk list wound up having a bunch of already-canvassed houses on it.
Yesterday my housemate and I hit a primarily African American neighborhood a couple of miles south of us – a high priority area that had been little-canvassed. Most of the people who opened their doors had already voted and they got a happy dance of thanks. Woot!! We met a couple of friendly huskies; I had my pant leg bit by a german shepherd. We talked to a few people who were meh on voting. In response to some hemming and hawing about lines, my roommate pulled the "I took my mom who's a heart patient to vote" card, and resistance turned to plan-making :) It was a great shift.
The number of voters in my county has remained high, lagging 2016 a bit, but far more than 2014. Word is that university students have been voting like crazy at uni polling places.
There has been a big uptick in anecdotal reports of Beto sign theft, and I've been sad to see the Beto signs outside polling places disappear or be hidden by another sign placed directly in front.
So, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, but I have my customary despair on hold for now.
posted by tingting at 6:57 AM on November 2, 2018 [61 favorites]
Yesterday my housemate and I hit a primarily African American neighborhood a couple of miles south of us – a high priority area that had been little-canvassed. Most of the people who opened their doors had already voted and they got a happy dance of thanks. Woot!! We met a couple of friendly huskies; I had my pant leg bit by a german shepherd. We talked to a few people who were meh on voting. In response to some hemming and hawing about lines, my roommate pulled the "I took my mom who's a heart patient to vote" card, and resistance turned to plan-making :) It was a great shift.
The number of voters in my county has remained high, lagging 2016 a bit, but far more than 2014. Word is that university students have been voting like crazy at uni polling places.
There has been a big uptick in anecdotal reports of Beto sign theft, and I've been sad to see the Beto signs outside polling places disappear or be hidden by another sign placed directly in front.
So, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, but I have my customary despair on hold for now.
posted by tingting at 6:57 AM on November 2, 2018 [61 favorites]
Quartz: Melania Trump Spent One Day In Cairo and the Hotel Bill Was Over $95,000
"Melania Trump’s stay in Cairo during her October trip to Africa cost taxpayers $95,050, according to federal spending records. The US first lady and her entourage racked up the tab at the Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo, which offers rooms starting at $119. The hotel’s presidential suite can be rented for $699, which includes $156.50 in taxes, per the property’s website. A spokeswoman for the first lady says Trump was in Cairo for six hours and didn’t actually spend the night at the hotel."
“I really don’t care, do u” truly is Melania's motto.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:57 AM on November 2, 2018 [51 favorites]
"Melania Trump’s stay in Cairo during her October trip to Africa cost taxpayers $95,050, according to federal spending records. The US first lady and her entourage racked up the tab at the Semiramis Intercontinental Cairo, which offers rooms starting at $119. The hotel’s presidential suite can be rented for $699, which includes $156.50 in taxes, per the property’s website. A spokeswoman for the first lady says Trump was in Cairo for six hours and didn’t actually spend the night at the hotel."
“I really don’t care, do u” truly is Melania's motto.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:57 AM on November 2, 2018 [51 favorites]
On preview, what Burhanistan said about the border troop maneuver being basically a substitute for Moron's military parade.
On the debatably lighter side, I laughed out loud at this embellishment of JeffFart Fortenberry's yard sign. The remainder of the article, not so much.
posted by yoga at 7:01 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
On the debatably lighter side, I laughed out loud at this embellishment of Jeff
posted by yoga at 7:01 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Oh, one last Texas anecdote. I organized a Vote Forward letter-writing afternoon at my job on Monday. 5 of us prepared and sent 100 letters to AZ district 8. It was incredibly satisfying to drop that bundle into the mailbox. Evidently over a million letters were sent by volunteers working with that org.
posted by tingting at 7:01 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by tingting at 7:01 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
So... not govern like adults, then.
No, I never said not to govern like adults; Democrats are committed to do so, even though it gives Republicans a tactical advantage, and it's worth conceding that tactical advantage to be the one party capable of running the country.
What I said was to never let up on defining Republicans by the bad behavior they indulge in all the time. Democrats can govern like adults and not leave it to a media that isn't liberal at all to point out the truth about Republicans at every opportunity.
So govern like adults, but give up the false and foolish notion of "comity" or that the Republicans who stole a SCOTUS seat operate in good faith, ever. Govern like adults, but point out every time Republicans block measures the American people want. Govern like adults, but don't like creeps like Paul Ryan get away with mealymouth condenmnation of Trump's rhetoric while using Trump to advance his own agenda. Govern like adults, but make it clear to voters which party does and which party refuses to.
Your point about Republican speakers is excellent. Since the so-called professional political press seems to have the institutional memory of goldfish -- or pretends to -- Democrats should point out that Republicans weaponized the government shutdown to benefit their own political power at the cost of the nation's well being, because that is who they are.
Newt Gingrich is not a popular figure, but he should be hung around the necks of the party that operates by his strategy. Republicans will whine about guilt by association, but it's they who chose to do the associating.
posted by Gelatin at 7:08 AM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
No, I never said not to govern like adults; Democrats are committed to do so, even though it gives Republicans a tactical advantage, and it's worth conceding that tactical advantage to be the one party capable of running the country.
What I said was to never let up on defining Republicans by the bad behavior they indulge in all the time. Democrats can govern like adults and not leave it to a media that isn't liberal at all to point out the truth about Republicans at every opportunity.
So govern like adults, but give up the false and foolish notion of "comity" or that the Republicans who stole a SCOTUS seat operate in good faith, ever. Govern like adults, but point out every time Republicans block measures the American people want. Govern like adults, but don't like creeps like Paul Ryan get away with mealymouth condenmnation of Trump's rhetoric while using Trump to advance his own agenda. Govern like adults, but make it clear to voters which party does and which party refuses to.
Your point about Republican speakers is excellent. Since the so-called professional political press seems to have the institutional memory of goldfish -- or pretends to -- Democrats should point out that Republicans weaponized the government shutdown to benefit their own political power at the cost of the nation's well being, because that is who they are.
Newt Gingrich is not a popular figure, but he should be hung around the necks of the party that operates by his strategy. Republicans will whine about guilt by association, but it's they who chose to do the associating.
posted by Gelatin at 7:08 AM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
The audio from that Fartenberry call is just batshit. I managed about five minutes of highlights and it's both frustrating and pathetic the way the pol's handler keeps spewing this I'm threatening you but doing my best to make it sound like we're just talking politely. Kohen seems to also think it's just sad, since after the CoS drops the do you want me to do this? he just politely and with a hint of this is the best you can manage, huh? in his voice comments that it would be terrible optics for Fortenberry. But there's a full fifty-five minute recording available and it is proof I could never succeed in that area of academics because I'd have made it about 90 seconds in that call before working my way through the @effinbirds quotation list.
posted by phearlez at 7:13 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 7:13 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
" A spokeswoman for the first lady says Trump was in Cairo for six hours and didn’t actually spend the night at the hotel."
Suddenly this makes Trump's claim to Comey (in Comey's book) that he just flew to Russia, changed clothes and left without even sleeping seem...is this a Thing the rich do?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:25 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Suddenly this makes Trump's claim to Comey (in Comey's book) that he just flew to Russia, changed clothes and left without even sleeping seem...is this a Thing the rich do?
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:25 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Blocking won't help, texts are sent from the volunteer's own phone so each contact attempt will likely come from a new number. STOP may work; I never texted so I'm not sure.
Stop (and just stop, not 'stop texting me' or the stop sign emoji) gets one more autoreply confirming an opt-out and your name taken off the list. I've seen it in action.
The texts I got from Openprogress were local to where I currently live, but not where I grew up. I'm getting the idea that when I text out, it's within the state I'm campaigning for. The difference is that Open Progress has campaigns open for a lot of different states - they're probably pushing the local angle as much as possible.
Other stuff about the texting experience: I'm doing a lot of state senator and attorney general races, which I think gets a lot less hostility than the Senate/Governor/Representative races, because honestly people don't know what their state senator or attorney general does. Still, the stories I heard from the Texas volunteers the last few days made me stay away from volunteering for that race.
Thinking up good 'no, really, I'm a human responding to this' reponses is possibly the hardest part. Telling them that my cat's name is Beatrix Kitters seems to help. So do minor punctuation errors.
The texting software I'm using doesn't allow images through. I'm very glad that it doesn't allow images through. I'm also super glad I'm doing this on the computer instead of trying this on my phone, since it's just so much faster to get out the RR.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:25 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Stop (and just stop, not 'stop texting me' or the stop sign emoji) gets one more autoreply confirming an opt-out and your name taken off the list. I've seen it in action.
The texts I got from Openprogress were local to where I currently live, but not where I grew up. I'm getting the idea that when I text out, it's within the state I'm campaigning for. The difference is that Open Progress has campaigns open for a lot of different states - they're probably pushing the local angle as much as possible.
Other stuff about the texting experience: I'm doing a lot of state senator and attorney general races, which I think gets a lot less hostility than the Senate/Governor/Representative races, because honestly people don't know what their state senator or attorney general does. Still, the stories I heard from the Texas volunteers the last few days made me stay away from volunteering for that race.
Thinking up good 'no, really, I'm a human responding to this' reponses is possibly the hardest part. Telling them that my cat's name is Beatrix Kitters seems to help. So do minor punctuation errors.
The texting software I'm using doesn't allow images through. I'm very glad that it doesn't allow images through. I'm also super glad I'm doing this on the computer instead of trying this on my phone, since it's just so much faster to get out the RR.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:25 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Texans of MeFi tell us what is happening on the ground.
Beto and Cruz both came through my neck of the woods last week. Here's how Justin Miller with the Texas Observer saw it:
The View From Louie Gohmert-Land: Fear and loathing on one side. Hope and inspiration on the other. East Texas is a microcosm of Beto-Cruz race.
Voter registration in my county has hit a record. I'm pretty sure we can thank Michaela for that. Turnout is at record levels as well.
I'm getting texts constantly. I do not mind at all.
I think tingting said it very well: I, too, have put my customary despair on hold for now. If nothing else, I am reveling at the palpable fear my Republican neighbors are pretending they don't feel.
posted by mcdoublewide at 7:31 AM on November 2, 2018 [36 favorites]
Beto and Cruz both came through my neck of the woods last week. Here's how Justin Miller with the Texas Observer saw it:
The View From Louie Gohmert-Land: Fear and loathing on one side. Hope and inspiration on the other. East Texas is a microcosm of Beto-Cruz race.
Voter registration in my county has hit a record. I'm pretty sure we can thank Michaela for that. Turnout is at record levels as well.
I'm getting texts constantly. I do not mind at all.
I think tingting said it very well: I, too, have put my customary despair on hold for now. If nothing else, I am reveling at the palpable fear my Republican neighbors are pretending they don't feel.
posted by mcdoublewide at 7:31 AM on November 2, 2018 [36 favorites]
The Wohl/Burkman conference has eclipsed the Kavanaugh hearing for clownshoes, obvious lying, makes no sense, etc.
Further obvious lying from Wohl (via @GossiTheDog): "Jacob Wohl tweeted this photo of the ‘Mueller accuser’ (left), who failed to turn up to his press confidence. You can just stick it into Google Images to get her face, since that exact photo is old, already online and.. his girlfriend." (Pic 1; Pic 2)
As for more competent rat-fucks, though, James O'Keefe's Project Veritas has struck Beto's campaign: "“Nobody needs to know” Beto Campaign Appears to Illegally Spend Funds on Supplies for Caravan Aliens, Campaign Manager Says “Don’t Worry”"
This video-sandbagging of low-level staffers is showing up in the likes of Breitbart, Free Republic, Townhall, and Zero Hedge, so expect it to make its way upstream through the rightwing noisemachine ecosystem. (Sean Hannity tweeted about it last night.) It'll probably hit Fox and then Trump's speeches before the weekend's over.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Further obvious lying from Wohl (via @GossiTheDog): "Jacob Wohl tweeted this photo of the ‘Mueller accuser’ (left), who failed to turn up to his press confidence. You can just stick it into Google Images to get her face, since that exact photo is old, already online and.. his girlfriend." (Pic 1; Pic 2)
As for more competent rat-fucks, though, James O'Keefe's Project Veritas has struck Beto's campaign: "“Nobody needs to know” Beto Campaign Appears to Illegally Spend Funds on Supplies for Caravan Aliens, Campaign Manager Says “Don’t Worry”"
This video-sandbagging of low-level staffers is showing up in the likes of Breitbart, Free Republic, Townhall, and Zero Hedge, so expect it to make its way upstream through the rightwing noisemachine ecosystem. (Sean Hannity tweeted about it last night.) It'll probably hit Fox and then Trump's speeches before the weekend's over.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
The texting software I'm using doesn't allow images through. I'm very glad that it doesn't allow images through.
Man, no kidding. Considering the punitive cost some plans (paygo ones in particular) assign to data, image sending would be practically an act of hostility.
posted by phearlez at 7:39 AM on November 2, 2018
Man, no kidding. Considering the punitive cost some plans (paygo ones in particular) assign to data, image sending would be practically an act of hostility.
posted by phearlez at 7:39 AM on November 2, 2018
Beto and Cruz both came through my neck of the woods last week . . .
Voter registration in my county has hit a record. I'm pretty sure we can thank Michaela for that. Turnout is at record levels as well.
I'm getting texts constantly. I do not mind at all.
I think tingting said it very well: I, too, have put my customary despair on hold for now. If nothing else, I am reveling at the palpable fear my Republican neighbors are pretending they don't feel. -- mcdoublewide
Fellow East Texan here . . . yeah, I have put my despair on hold as well. I am getting texts from Beto volunteers daily, and it makes me HAPPY to finally see a Democratic campaign not only run well, but run at all in this area. I voted early, last week, and there was a crowd there. Middle of the day on a week day -- a crowd of people voting. And while my stalwart conservative neighbors have Cruz signs up, just down the street there are plenty of Beto signs in evidence.
I have hope.
posted by Annabelle74 at 7:39 AM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Voter registration in my county has hit a record. I'm pretty sure we can thank Michaela for that. Turnout is at record levels as well.
I'm getting texts constantly. I do not mind at all.
I think tingting said it very well: I, too, have put my customary despair on hold for now. If nothing else, I am reveling at the palpable fear my Republican neighbors are pretending they don't feel. -- mcdoublewide
Fellow East Texan here . . . yeah, I have put my despair on hold as well. I am getting texts from Beto volunteers daily, and it makes me HAPPY to finally see a Democratic campaign not only run well, but run at all in this area. I voted early, last week, and there was a crowd there. Middle of the day on a week day -- a crowd of people voting. And while my stalwart conservative neighbors have Cruz signs up, just down the street there are plenty of Beto signs in evidence.
I have hope.
posted by Annabelle74 at 7:39 AM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Man, no kidding. Considering the punitive cost some plans (paygo ones in particular) assign to data, image sending would be practically an act of hostility.
I was more thinking of the guy who tried repeatedly to send me a dick pic, made sure to tell me it was a dick pic, and then got angry when he heard that images don't go through. You can still harass volunteers plenty without using images, but it's easier to scan a message when it proves to be just a mass of vitriol than unsee an image.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
I was more thinking of the guy who tried repeatedly to send me a dick pic, made sure to tell me it was a dick pic, and then got angry when he heard that images don't go through. You can still harass volunteers plenty without using images, but it's easier to scan a message when it proves to be just a mass of vitriol than unsee an image.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Texans of MeFi tell us what is happening on the ground.
My wife, first time registered voter in Texas, got a very nice hand-written postcard encouraging her to vote Dem. So there's that (we plan to take care of it today.)
posted by Cyrano at 7:44 AM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
My wife, first time registered voter in Texas, got a very nice hand-written postcard encouraging her to vote Dem. So there's that (we plan to take care of it today.)
posted by Cyrano at 7:44 AM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
we all saw armed troops shooting unarmed people and people with rocks and signs for reasons of "border security"
When Trump said rocks are also guns, I immediately thought of the Palestinian protest at Israel's border, and how some protesters were armed with rocks, some using slingshots, which can be quite deadly. I absolutely thought he was purposely conflating the two events to further cement the "migrants are terrorists" trope.
Sure, it's possible to turn a rock into a deadly weapon, but Trump seemed to be suggesting that people plus the presence of rocks nearby equals deadly terrorism.
posted by xammerboy at 7:48 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
When Trump said rocks are also guns, I immediately thought of the Palestinian protest at Israel's border, and how some protesters were armed with rocks, some using slingshots, which can be quite deadly. I absolutely thought he was purposely conflating the two events to further cement the "migrants are terrorists" trope.
Sure, it's possible to turn a rock into a deadly weapon, but Trump seemed to be suggesting that people plus the presence of rocks nearby equals deadly terrorism.
posted by xammerboy at 7:48 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
The really crazy thing is that I don't think it can qualify as extortion since you have to be trying to get something for it to be extortion. It's never clear to me exactly what this clown is angling for except perhaps to intimidate. But why they would seems baffling. My understanding is that Fartënbully has a comfortable double-digit lead, and how does a CoS not have something better to do for an hour? I assume that's part of why the prof is so politely nonplussed; he seems to not have any clue why someone would do something this bone headed for zero possible gain.
The cruelty is the point, I guess.
posted by phearlez at 7:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
The cruelty is the point, I guess.
posted by phearlez at 7:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Suddenly this makes Trump's claim to Comey (in Comey's book) that he just flew to Russia, changed clothes and left without even sleeping seem...is this a Thing the rich do?
While racking up a 100,000 bill at a hotel ( Hmmm... The Trumps are in the hotel business, aren't they? ) that $SOMEONE_ELSE pays for. Seems like something the corrupt rich will do.
posted by mikelieman at 8:00 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
While racking up a 100,000 bill at a hotel ( Hmmm... The Trumps are in the hotel business, aren't they? ) that $SOMEONE_ELSE pays for. Seems like something the corrupt rich will do.
posted by mikelieman at 8:00 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Sure, it's possible to turn a rock into a deadly weapon, but Trump seemed to be suggesting that people plus the presence of rocks nearby equals deadly terrorism.
Turns out that throwing rocks is an American Tradition. As is shooting the rock throwers dead, well not necessarily the rock throwers
The May 4 Shootings at Kent State University: The Search for Historical Accuracy
Turns out that throwing rocks is an American Tradition. As is shooting the rock throwers dead, well not necessarily the rock throwers
The May 4 Shootings at Kent State University: The Search for Historical Accuracy
Yelling and rock throwing reached a peak as the Guard remained on the field for about ten minutes. Several Guardsmen could be seen huddling together, and some Guardsmen knelt and pointed their guns, but no weapons were shot at this time. The Guard then began retracing their steps from the practice football field back up Blanket Hill. As they arrived at the top of the hill, twenty-eight of the more than seventy Guardsmen turned suddenly and fired their rifles and pistols. Many guardsmen fired into the air or the ground. However, a small portion fired directly into the crowd. Altogether between 61 and 67 shots were fired in a 13 second period.posted by mikelieman at 8:10 AM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
That's the other part that confuses me. How do you rack up a $95,000 hotel bill at a hotel where the most expensive room is $700? That's cover 135 rooms at the $700 rate. Even if she rented an entire floor it wouldn't be that much.
What else was involved in that hotel stay?
posted by sotonohito at 8:11 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
What else was involved in that hotel stay?
posted by sotonohito at 8:11 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
What else was involved in that hotel stay?
Governmental contract bill padding, obviously. I wonder how many foreign government do the same thing when staying at a Trump branded property? If Congress gave a damn about Congressional Prerogatives, they'd be all up in the Executive Branch for this, but you know. Lapdogs.
posted by mikelieman at 8:14 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Governmental contract bill padding, obviously. I wonder how many foreign government do the same thing when staying at a Trump branded property? If Congress gave a damn about Congressional Prerogatives, they'd be all up in the Executive Branch for this, but you know. Lapdogs.
posted by mikelieman at 8:14 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Justinian: Orrrr you could put up a GOP sign and then when they canvas you talk to them for an hour.
I think I'm just ruining the joke, but from my limited experience with a local Democratic canvassing effort, the canvassers are given a list of names and addresses, including likely party affiliation, which are mostly Dems, some Declined to State, and a few stray Republicans (usually when there's a Democrat living there, which was the child of the Republican, in the one time that happened to me). And you're told to keep conversations to 3 minutes max, so you don't get bogged down talking to people who just want to talk.
In Governors' Elections This Year, Republicans Have A Lot To Lose (NPR, Nov. 2, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 8:15 AM on November 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
I think I'm just ruining the joke, but from my limited experience with a local Democratic canvassing effort, the canvassers are given a list of names and addresses, including likely party affiliation, which are mostly Dems, some Declined to State, and a few stray Republicans (usually when there's a Democrat living there, which was the child of the Republican, in the one time that happened to me). And you're told to keep conversations to 3 minutes max, so you don't get bogged down talking to people who just want to talk.
In Governors' Elections This Year, Republicans Have A Lot To Lose (NPR, Nov. 2, 2018)
We tapped our network of political reporters and editors across the country to bring you an analysis of every one of the 36 gubernatorial races in 2018. Here's what they said.A pretty good overview of all of the Governors races.
Over the past decade, Republicans have made historic gains on the state level. Heading into the election, they control two-thirds of the governors' mansions. But this year the GOP is playing defense.
In the two years since President Trump's election, Democrats have found their energy. Party turnout during the primaries was high, and looking forward to the general election, Democrats could pick up more than a dozen gubernatorial seats and have the chance to become the majority.
And there is more than state policy on the line. With the 2020 census, new congressional districts will be drawn and in most states, whichever party is in control can decide where the lines go.
Also, some Democrats could make history as "firsts." In Georgia, the state could elect Stacey Abrams who would be the country's first female African-American governor. Democratic candidate Andrew Gillum could be Florida's first African-American governor. And in Colorado, Jared Polis could be the first openly gay governor elected in the country.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:15 AM on November 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
When Trump said rocks are also guns, I immediately thought of the Palestinian protest at Israel's border, and how some protesters were armed with rocks, some using slingshots, which can be quite deadly. I absolutely thought he was purposely conflating the two events to further cement the "migrants are terrorists" trope.
So when the caravan reached the Mexican border the gates across the road were closed & it got a bit messy, a couple of the refugees legitimately threw rocks at Mexican police/military. I believe this is authentic video of the incident even though it's posted through a sketchy YouTube account.
posted by scalefree at 8:22 AM on November 2, 2018
So when the caravan reached the Mexican border the gates across the road were closed & it got a bit messy, a couple of the refugees legitimately threw rocks at Mexican police/military. I believe this is authentic video of the incident even though it's posted through a sketchy YouTube account.
posted by scalefree at 8:22 AM on November 2, 2018
I don't do hope. I do know that I'm doing a conference call with Beto's campaign this evening. I also know that we'll be at an event with him in E Austin on Sunday. It all feels a lot like 2008, in a lot of ways. There's definitely a groundswell, in a way I've never seen before, but there's also been a surge of Cruz signs in the last couple weeks.
Despair isn't useful, either, but if El Paso, Houston, and Dallas are turning out like we are here, there may be hope. I've gotten thankful texts back from campaigners. We are knocking on doors. Bugging everyone we know, making sure they've voted.
I also know that in the 24 hrs since I posted the pics on imgur that I linked yesterday, there have been 4 comments, all typical-negative, dissent-sowing type bullshit. Which made me realize that I'd left them public. Bots? I dunno. But.
The noise machine is real, and loud. We need people. Turning out like never before. Rule #1 for making a difference is showing up. Yesterday I got a note from the machine shop boss I'd mentioned back in 2016, the kind of guy you'd exepect to be wearing a red hat if you went by appearances, that he'd donated, voted, and reached out, and I can't wait to get back to hanging out and cutting metal with him again. There's a lot going on here, and I know how big a bubble Austin is, and how big Texas is, but if Beto loses, something is seriously wrong with all of us.
posted by rp at 8:23 AM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Despair isn't useful, either, but if El Paso, Houston, and Dallas are turning out like we are here, there may be hope. I've gotten thankful texts back from campaigners. We are knocking on doors. Bugging everyone we know, making sure they've voted.
I also know that in the 24 hrs since I posted the pics on imgur that I linked yesterday, there have been 4 comments, all typical-negative, dissent-sowing type bullshit. Which made me realize that I'd left them public. Bots? I dunno. But.
The noise machine is real, and loud. We need people. Turning out like never before. Rule #1 for making a difference is showing up. Yesterday I got a note from the machine shop boss I'd mentioned back in 2016, the kind of guy you'd exepect to be wearing a red hat if you went by appearances, that he'd donated, voted, and reached out, and I can't wait to get back to hanging out and cutting metal with him again. There's a lot going on here, and I know how big a bubble Austin is, and how big Texas is, but if Beto loses, something is seriously wrong with all of us.
posted by rp at 8:23 AM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
What else was involved in that hotel stay?
Yeah, that's basic business. Oh, you're rich? That intangible item will be $500, not $6. Try to argue otherwise.
posted by Melismata at 8:24 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yeah, that's basic business. Oh, you're rich? That intangible item will be $500, not $6. Try to argue otherwise.
posted by Melismata at 8:24 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
The Role Harassment Plays in Climate Change Denial - Rebecca Leber, Mother Jones
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:30 AM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Many of the same patterns have appeared when extremists attack other targets.Emphasis mine.
…
The link between hate groups and climate denial is complex and anecdotal at best, with little research examining the overlap between the two. But there is enough anecdotal experience to prompt prominent figures who study and advance science and policy to see a connection. In an interview with Mother Jones, [environmental activist Tom Steyer] said he sees the intolerance and hyperpartisanship that has marked the GOP as fundamentally connected with the party’s “willingness to directly lie” on climate change science.
“Climate change was really one of the seminal points for the Republicans because they decided they could straight-up lie,” he said in a phone interview. “When you look at the kind of violent and dehumanizing rhetoric that the president has indulged in, it’s entirely consistent with the idea that there is no cost to lying, there is no cost to really attacking the basic interest of the American people. So I think climate was the template.”
...
Katharine Hayhoe, a Texas Tech climate scientist and self-identified evangelical Christian, often invokes her faith in explaining the need to act to slow down the progress of global warming. Often prominent deniers invoke their faith to advance fossil-fuel-friendly talking points—think Scott Pruitt, who invoked God to justify burning fossil fuels. Hayhoe, who also finds herself facing harassment for her work, draws on her religion to make a moral case to act on the scientific evidence, not bury one’s head in the ground. A scientist alarmed by the impacts of climate change, she has also observed that the anger surrounding the climate debate may have its roots in similar impulses present in other toxic debates. “I think that right now we’re facing a time of tremendous change in race, gender, socioeconomic status, and privilege. It’s especially frightening if you feel you’re going to lose from the change.”
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:30 AM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
The discussion about rocks versus rifles seems to be neglecting an important aspect: where are they throwing rocks from?
if you're talking about "throwing rocks", you've already ceded a stupid point to trump. these people are seeking asylum. why the fuck would they throw rocks?
posted by murphy slaw at 8:30 AM on November 2, 2018 [37 favorites]
if you're talking about "throwing rocks", you've already ceded a stupid point to trump. these people are seeking asylum. why the fuck would they throw rocks?
posted by murphy slaw at 8:30 AM on November 2, 2018 [37 favorites]
Apple News Gaining Dedicated 'Election Night' Tab With Real-Time Results
Something else we can set up on one of our screens in our Election Night living/war rooms. They will use AP data to create real-time infographics, etc.
"All of these infographics and results data will automatically update every minute,"
But I obsess at an average of three refreshes per minute!
"and there will still be a manual page refresh option to force an immediate update."
Oh, whew.
Apple says that having a wide range of various news sources was necessary to ensure that all voters were informed about the election, no matter their political leaning. The company also notes that all of the Election Night coverage is not being driven by algorithms, and the November 6 update will see an "all-hands-on-deck" situation for the Apple News team.
posted by mikepop at 8:31 AM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Something else we can set up on one of our screens in our Election Night living/war rooms. They will use AP data to create real-time infographics, etc.
"All of these infographics and results data will automatically update every minute,"
But I obsess at an average of three refreshes per minute!
"and there will still be a manual page refresh option to force an immediate update."
Oh, whew.
Apple says that having a wide range of various news sources was necessary to ensure that all voters were informed about the election, no matter their political leaning. The company also notes that all of the Election Night coverage is not being driven by algorithms, and the November 6 update will see an "all-hands-on-deck" situation for the Apple News team.
posted by mikepop at 8:31 AM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I realize trying to parse his inflammatory horseshit can be a fool's errand, but that "order" is going to stick in some young foolish soldier's head anyway.
Far more likely and more importantly: it'll stick in some foolish voter's head. As you say, it's horseshit, totally designed to further demonize and misrepresent this group of people in desperate need. Whatever it takes to solidify Republican power.
posted by Rykey at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Far more likely and more importantly: it'll stick in some foolish voter's head. As you say, it's horseshit, totally designed to further demonize and misrepresent this group of people in desperate need. Whatever it takes to solidify Republican power.
posted by Rykey at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
if you're talking about "throwing rocks", you've already ceded a stupid point to trump.
This is (in addition to being hella racist) pure Overton Window shifting. They're 1000 miles out, and Trump is saying that rocks will be answered with bullets. When they're 500 miles out, "Shoot back at people throwing rocks" will have been adopted by Republicans as the slightly-right-of-center point, and Trump will say that any threatening movement will be answered with bullets. When they're 250 miles out, the GOP and its bought-and-paid-for pundits will soberly assert that the threatening-movement test is reasonable, and Trump will say that attempting to cross the border will be answered with bullets. When they're within sight of the border, Fox et al will be talking about how perfectly reasonable it is to gun down individuals attempting to invade the homeland, and Trump will say that merely approaching the border is an unconscionable incitement.
posted by Etrigan at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [56 favorites]
This is (in addition to being hella racist) pure Overton Window shifting. They're 1000 miles out, and Trump is saying that rocks will be answered with bullets. When they're 500 miles out, "Shoot back at people throwing rocks" will have been adopted by Republicans as the slightly-right-of-center point, and Trump will say that any threatening movement will be answered with bullets. When they're 250 miles out, the GOP and its bought-and-paid-for pundits will soberly assert that the threatening-movement test is reasonable, and Trump will say that attempting to cross the border will be answered with bullets. When they're within sight of the border, Fox et al will be talking about how perfectly reasonable it is to gun down individuals attempting to invade the homeland, and Trump will say that merely approaching the border is an unconscionable incitement.
posted by Etrigan at 8:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [56 favorites]
And on Preview, to avoid abusing the Edit function:
To add to what Etrigan said, it also sets the stage for justifying what I fear will be the inevitable violence directed at the caravan (either by the troops, ICE, CBP, or some random "volunteer" border protection outfit). It's straight out of the authoritarian playbook: When an authoritarian leader says "If you do X, I will do Y," they're pretty much forecasting that they will do Y no matter what, then claim that X happened. Provoking X, in fact, is pretty common.
posted by Rykey at 8:49 AM on November 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
To add to what Etrigan said, it also sets the stage for justifying what I fear will be the inevitable violence directed at the caravan (either by the troops, ICE, CBP, or some random "volunteer" border protection outfit). It's straight out of the authoritarian playbook: When an authoritarian leader says "If you do X, I will do Y," they're pretty much forecasting that they will do Y no matter what, then claim that X happened. Provoking X, in fact, is pretty common.
posted by Rykey at 8:49 AM on November 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
With more military being sent to the border, history will just repeat itself:
Washington Post, Samantha Schmidt (April 6, 2018): How the tragic killing of an American teenager halted the military border presence in 1997
I was looking for the story about Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, who, in 2012, was killed in Mexico by a border control agent who fired across the border from Arizona 16 times, in response to "allegedly thrown rocks".
posted by Hermeowne Grangepurr at 8:56 AM on November 2, 2018 [39 favorites]
Washington Post, Samantha Schmidt (April 6, 2018): How the tragic killing of an American teenager halted the military border presence in 1997
It was a cloudy afternoon in May 1997, on a desolate hill of rugged desert and alfalfa fields along the Rio Grande known as “El Polvo,” Spanish for dust. Esequiel Hernandez Jr., a high school sophomore who had just turned 18, ventured out with his herd of 43 goats near his family’s home, guiding them through the brush to graze. As usual, to protect his flock from wild dogs or coyotes, he carried with him his .22-caliber rifle.Guardian (May 1, 2018) Border patrol violence: US paid $60m to cover claims against the agency with accounts of wrongful death and injury settlements.
In the distance, something moved. Approaching him were four heavily camouflaged U.S. Marines, armed with M-16s, looking for drug smugglers.
The encounter that followed would leave Hernandez, an American citizen, shot in the chest by a Marine corporal. He bled to death, receiving no medical aid. Military officials said the Marine team shot the teenager after he twice fired his rifle in their direction and was raising his gun for a third time, according to Washington Post coverage at the time. Relatives of Hernandez, along with the Texas Rangers who investigated the case, doubted that the teenager ever saw the hidden Marines.
While the circumstances of the shooting would be disputed for years, it spurred an immediate uproar and came to symbolize the dangers of an armed military presence on the border. By July of that year, following local protests, the Pentagon suspended military patrol of the border.
All told over the 12-year period studied, the treasury department cut a check to settle a claim against CBP every 32 hours on average, for a grand total of more than $177m, when $116m in claims related to employment or property are taken into account.Guardian (May 2, 2018): Fatal encounters: 97 deaths point to pattern of border agent violence across America
I was looking for the story about Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, who, in 2012, was killed in Mexico by a border control agent who fired across the border from Arizona 16 times, in response to "allegedly thrown rocks".
posted by Hermeowne Grangepurr at 8:56 AM on November 2, 2018 [39 favorites]
Yeah, it's groundwork for covering up an unprovoked massacre. It's hard to disprove "somebody threw a rock."
posted by contraption at 8:56 AM on November 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by contraption at 8:56 AM on November 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
More updates from Texas, early vote totals in the big counties; i.e. where Houston, San Antonio, Austin and Dallas/Ft. Worth are, which is about 70% of the state population, are showing numbers between 30-40% of ALL registered voters having cast early ballots, by day 10 of early voting. Today is the last day of early voting in Texas, and we may surpass the number of early votes cast in the 2016 presidential elections. We are leaps and bounds above what normally sees in a midterm.
I suspect the numbers of people on actual vote day are going to be lower than expected, because I think the GOTV early campaign has been wildly successful.
In other news: STUDY: Over the past 3 months, guest panels on Sunday shows have been overwhelmingly conservative. The charts make it easy to visualize how marginalized the voice of the left really is.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:22 AM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
I suspect the numbers of people on actual vote day are going to be lower than expected, because I think the GOTV early campaign has been wildly successful.
In other news: STUDY: Over the past 3 months, guest panels on Sunday shows have been overwhelmingly conservative. The charts make it easy to visualize how marginalized the voice of the left really is.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:22 AM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
Texans of MeFi...
Houston: It's kind of great and crazy making. I feel like YAY/OMG back and forth constantly. Our house is trashed. The dining table is where the unfolded clean clothes go and husband and I are pretty much getting dressed right there now.
It's gorgeous outside. I was sad I did not reach my goal of knocking 1000 doors in October. I had to pick up a work shift and missed the last two days so I only got to 700 something. I'm not even in the big leagues for that, but that's a lot for me. For November I'm at 100 so far. I hope to be at 500 by election day. I'll canvass with Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly (fyi almost all links are facebook links) for my congressional candidate Saturday afternoon! I hope to fit in two other canvasses that day. I'm plotting my canvasses in my calendar with alerts so I hit as many as I can. My knee hurts I may rest some today (Friday).
Husband has been driving people to the polls. He left before 7AM this last day of early voting. He comes back with the best stories of people just being adorable. He has also been making these shorts about people we meet and why they are voting for Beto and what they think people can do to help. This project make me love this diverse city more than I even thought I could. Here's two of my favorites, Amina and Shannon.
A close friend in Austin is travel canvassing outside of Austin to help knock on doors in smaller communities because Austin is already saturated.
A high school girl made a political statement out of her homecoming mum (Texas mums previously). She got Beto's picture from a negative mailer. They have yet to make him look bad.
One of my favorite clips from the live streams: Beto arriving in San Antonio Gilbert Garza park to a mariachi band. This is how it feels to be at one of these things. Joyful just like that.
I am not without my concerns. The voter machines switching to Cruz is a real problem and causes a lot of anxiety It begins to shift from fyi news story into voter suppression ("voting is hard, rigged, not worth it").
I still knock on a lot of doors where people say some variation of 'never heard of him,' or 'I just don't vote anymore.' And it feels like a gut punch. The voter suppression is imbedded here. It will be why, if we lose. We are 49th and sometimes 50th in voter turnout by design. The turn out seems great, but still doesn't seem to be enough. We are just trying to keep going and do as much as we can so we will never say "what if" when it's over.
posted by dog food sugar at 9:25 AM on November 2, 2018 [66 favorites]
Houston: It's kind of great and crazy making. I feel like YAY/OMG back and forth constantly. Our house is trashed. The dining table is where the unfolded clean clothes go and husband and I are pretty much getting dressed right there now.
It's gorgeous outside. I was sad I did not reach my goal of knocking 1000 doors in October. I had to pick up a work shift and missed the last two days so I only got to 700 something. I'm not even in the big leagues for that, but that's a lot for me. For November I'm at 100 so far. I hope to be at 500 by election day. I'll canvass with Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly (fyi almost all links are facebook links) for my congressional candidate Saturday afternoon! I hope to fit in two other canvasses that day. I'm plotting my canvasses in my calendar with alerts so I hit as many as I can. My knee hurts I may rest some today (Friday).
Husband has been driving people to the polls. He left before 7AM this last day of early voting. He comes back with the best stories of people just being adorable. He has also been making these shorts about people we meet and why they are voting for Beto and what they think people can do to help. This project make me love this diverse city more than I even thought I could. Here's two of my favorites, Amina and Shannon.
A close friend in Austin is travel canvassing outside of Austin to help knock on doors in smaller communities because Austin is already saturated.
A high school girl made a political statement out of her homecoming mum (Texas mums previously). She got Beto's picture from a negative mailer. They have yet to make him look bad.
One of my favorite clips from the live streams: Beto arriving in San Antonio Gilbert Garza park to a mariachi band. This is how it feels to be at one of these things. Joyful just like that.
I am not without my concerns. The voter machines switching to Cruz is a real problem and causes a lot of anxiety It begins to shift from fyi news story into voter suppression ("voting is hard, rigged, not worth it").
I still knock on a lot of doors where people say some variation of 'never heard of him,' or 'I just don't vote anymore.' And it feels like a gut punch. The voter suppression is imbedded here. It will be why, if we lose. We are 49th and sometimes 50th in voter turnout by design. The turn out seems great, but still doesn't seem to be enough. We are just trying to keep going and do as much as we can so we will never say "what if" when it's over.
posted by dog food sugar at 9:25 AM on November 2, 2018 [66 favorites]
Fox News Sunday has more left-right balance than Meet the Press. What in the actual hell, NBC.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:27 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:27 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
@Susan_Hennessey "The most powerful nation on Earth is now reduced to conducting nation state deterrence through internet memes. It'd be funny if it wasn't so scary and pathetic."
- quoting a Trump tweet which is a hagiographic pic of him with 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING / NOVEMBER 5" written on it in the Game of Thrones font. [real]
posted by Buntix at 9:34 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
- quoting a Trump tweet which is a hagiographic pic of him with 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING / NOVEMBER 5" written on it in the Game of Thrones font. [real]
posted by Buntix at 9:34 AM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
AP: US Reimposes All Iran Sanctions Lifted Under Nuclear Deal
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:37 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
The sanctions will take effect Monday and cover Iran’s shipping, financial and energy sectors. It’s the second batch of penalties that the administration has reimposed since President Donald Trump withdrew from the landmark deal in May.Mnuchin and Pompeo made this joint announcement today, the latter declaring, “Maximum pressure means maximum pressure” (which sounds about as clear "Brexit means Brexit").
With limited exceptions, the sanctions will penalize countries that don’t stop importing Iranian oil and foreign companies that do business with blacklisted Iranian entities, including Iran’s central bank, a number of private financial institutions and state-run port and shipping companies.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:37 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Agence France-Presse: Nigerian army posts Trump video to justify shooting protesters.
Nigeria’s army has posted a video of Donald Trump saying soldiers would shoot migrants throwing stones to justify opening fire on a group of Shia protesters this week.posted by adamg at 9:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [32 favorites]
these people are seeking asylum. why the fuck would they throw rocks?
because they're people, and whenever there's a sizeable group of hungry/exhausted/frustrated people trapped in a desperate situation, there's a non-zero chance at least one of them, or some small number, might react in a desperate way. people snap or get angry or panic -- any person could. and the military units being sent to the border, also being people, are also prone to reacting badly, which is why escalating the situation by having anyone carrying arms is just a spectacularly bad and cruel idea.
it is of course possible that, whether or not anyone throws anything, the allegation could be used as a pretext for a massacre. but even if people throw things (which is not that unlikely), shooting shouldn't be a possible response.
posted by halation at 9:42 AM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
because they're people, and whenever there's a sizeable group of hungry/exhausted/frustrated people trapped in a desperate situation, there's a non-zero chance at least one of them, or some small number, might react in a desperate way. people snap or get angry or panic -- any person could. and the military units being sent to the border, also being people, are also prone to reacting badly, which is why escalating the situation by having anyone carrying arms is just a spectacularly bad and cruel idea.
it is of course possible that, whether or not anyone throws anything, the allegation could be used as a pretext for a massacre. but even if people throw things (which is not that unlikely), shooting shouldn't be a possible response.
posted by halation at 9:42 AM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
This got buried yesterday. It seems Bad. John Bolton just gave an “Axis of Evil” speech about Latin America
posted by zachlipton at 10:08 AM on November 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
National Security Adviser John Bolton just gave a modern-day “Axis of Evil” speech, this one focused on three countries in Latin America.Note the absence of Bolton at today's Iran sanctions announcement. Right wing media was reporting that he's upset the government isn't taking a harder line because they'll be waivers for "friends and allies" to let them buy Iranian oil anyway. Sounds like he's mad about that and decided to go thrreaten some other countries instead.
In a 30-minute address at Miami Dade College’s Freedom Tower, Bolton said the Trump administration will take a hard line against Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua by sanctioning the countries and cutting off diplomatic relations with them until they meet US demands.
“This Troika of Tyranny, this triangle of terror stretching from Havana to Caracas to Managua, is the cause of immense human suffering, the impetus of enormous regional instability, and the genesis of a sordid cradle of communism in the Western Hemisphere,” Bolton said. “Under President Trump, the United States is taking direct action against all three regimes to defend the rule of law, liberty, and basic human decency in our region.”
Bolton’s speech seems intended to usher in a new era of US relations with Latin America. It portends a massive escalation in US foreign policy: one where America is trying to dictate how three sovereign countries should operate.
posted by zachlipton at 10:08 AM on November 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
That Bolton "Troika of Tyranny" speech terrifies me. The last thing Latin America needs is a return to the 20th century pattern of the US deposing leftist governments at the behest of capital and then installing bloody dictators.
Cuba was pretty much the only nominally socialist country that made it out of that nexus of violence with their sovereignty in tact, and I'd hate to see them falter now.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 10:22 AM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
Cuba was pretty much the only nominally socialist country that made it out of that nexus of violence with their sovereignty in tact, and I'd hate to see them falter now.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 10:22 AM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
Unfortunately, Trump's team could simply point to stuff like this that circulated in early 2016 and say "well, THEY did it, so....."
Ah, yes, I remember canvassing a lot of neighborhoods for the Clinton/imgur-user-hardpass 2016 ticket.
posted by Etrigan at 10:24 AM on November 2, 2018
Ah, yes, I remember canvassing a lot of neighborhoods for the Clinton/imgur-user-hardpass 2016 ticket.
posted by Etrigan at 10:24 AM on November 2, 2018
The inclusion of Nicaragua confuses me. I thought the Nicaraguan government was already cracking down on leftist student types (where cracking down = shooting, disappearing, etc), after the govt tried to fuck with benefits and people were like “hey that’s the last straw.”
posted by schadenfrau at 10:24 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 10:24 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
> This Troika of Tyranny, this triangle of terror
Come ON, writers! This is a low-budget parody of "Axis of Evil" and it is beyond ridiculous.
posted by RedOrGreen at 10:28 AM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Come ON, writers! This is a low-budget parody of "Axis of Evil" and it is beyond ridiculous.
posted by RedOrGreen at 10:28 AM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
That's the other part that confuses me. How do you rack up a $95,000 hotel bill at a hotel where the most expensive room is $700? That's cover 135 rooms at the $700 rate. Even if she rented an entire floor it wouldn't be that much.
I have some insight into visits like this and there's a lot more that go into them than just renting rooms. Additional space is needed for offices, meeting rooms, hold rooms, equipment storage, vehicle storage, etc - the logistics are insane and can take weeks to prepare (and were similarly crazy for previous administrations of both parties). Whether all that overhead is really needed is a fair question, but it's not uncommon.
posted by photo guy at 10:29 AM on November 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
I have some insight into visits like this and there's a lot more that go into them than just renting rooms. Additional space is needed for offices, meeting rooms, hold rooms, equipment storage, vehicle storage, etc - the logistics are insane and can take weeks to prepare (and were similarly crazy for previous administrations of both parties). Whether all that overhead is really needed is a fair question, but it's not uncommon.
posted by photo guy at 10:29 AM on November 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
The inclusion of Nicaragua confuses me. I thought the Nicaraguan government was already cracking down on leftist student types (where cracking down = shooting, disappearing, etc), after the govt tried to fuck with benefits and people were like “hey that’s the last straw.”
He's talking to the low-information middle-aged and elderly - people who know nothing about Nicaragua except that the Sandinistas were in power at one point.
It's part of the same MAGA deal which has all these near-zombie eighties political ideas and figures resurfacing. It's about appealing to the youth or semi-youth of the older right-wing base.
posted by Frowner at 10:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
He's talking to the low-information middle-aged and elderly - people who know nothing about Nicaragua except that the Sandinistas were in power at one point.
It's part of the same MAGA deal which has all these near-zombie eighties political ideas and figures resurfacing. It's about appealing to the youth or semi-youth of the older right-wing base.
posted by Frowner at 10:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Additional space is needed for offices, meeting rooms, hold rooms, equipment storage, vehicle storage, etc - the logistics are insane and can take weeks to prepare (and were similarly crazy for previous administrations of both parties).
Let 'em meet in a Starbucks like normal people.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Let 'em meet in a Starbucks like normal people.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:33 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
This Troika of Tyranny
I doubt Bolton's boss knows what a Troika is, but I'm sure his boss's boss knows.
posted by bcd at 10:35 AM on November 2, 2018 [34 favorites]
I doubt Bolton's boss knows what a Troika is, but I'm sure his boss's boss knows.
posted by bcd at 10:35 AM on November 2, 2018 [34 favorites]
It's hard to disprove "somebody threw a rock."
If a rock is considered as dangerous as a rifle, merely holding one while looking angry is sufficient to be met with deadly force. Think it's hard to disprove "somebody threw a rock?" How hard will it be to disprove "someone was holding a rock?"
Making rocks equivalent to guns is permission to shoot anybody and everybody, full stop.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:36 AM on November 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
If a rock is considered as dangerous as a rifle, merely holding one while looking angry is sufficient to be met with deadly force. Think it's hard to disprove "somebody threw a rock?" How hard will it be to disprove "someone was holding a rock?"
Making rocks equivalent to guns is permission to shoot anybody and everybody, full stop.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:36 AM on November 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
This Troika of Tyranny, this triangle of terror
this threesome of threat, this trio of trouble, this triple scoop of scurrilousness
posted by murphy slaw at 10:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
this threesome of threat, this trio of trouble, this triple scoop of scurrilousness
posted by murphy slaw at 10:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
Good news, everyone! @srl: Breaking news: A federal judge ordered Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp to guarantee people flagged as non-citizens through Georgia's "exact match" system can vote in the 2018 election. This is a win for voting rights groups that sued. It deals with a portion of the 53,000 people on the voter registration suspense list. Overwhelming majority of 53,000 were not flagged for citizenship. They were flagged because their information didn't match with SSN database.
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is very happy.
More good news, everyone! Four members of the Rise Above Movement white supremacy group have been indicted for attacking protesters at political rallies in California last spring. This follows charges against another group of RAM members for rioting in Charlottesville.
Weird news, everyone! In which HBO would like to be excluded from this narrative, @blackmon: Here's the statement HBO sent BuzzFeed News regarding President Trump's Game of Thrones-related tweet/meme: “We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes.”
posted by zachlipton at 10:41 AM on November 2, 2018 [74 favorites]
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is very happy.
More good news, everyone! Four members of the Rise Above Movement white supremacy group have been indicted for attacking protesters at political rallies in California last spring. This follows charges against another group of RAM members for rioting in Charlottesville.
Weird news, everyone! In which HBO would like to be excluded from this narrative, @blackmon: Here's the statement HBO sent BuzzFeed News regarding President Trump's Game of Thrones-related tweet/meme: “We were not aware of this messaging and would prefer our trademark not be misappropriated for political purposes.”
posted by zachlipton at 10:41 AM on November 2, 2018 [74 favorites]
He's talking to the low-information middle-aged and elderly - people who know nothing about Nicaragua except that the Sandinistas were in power at one point.
I looked, since I was surprised too, but the Sandanistas are -- along with Daniel Ortega! -- back in power. Why do the figures of the Eighties keep coming back to haunt us?
posted by Quindar Beep at 10:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I looked, since I was surprised too, but the Sandanistas are -- along with Daniel Ortega! -- back in power. Why do the figures of the Eighties keep coming back to haunt us?
posted by Quindar Beep at 10:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
We were supposed to all be killed by that false nuclear attack report Petriov stopped in 83 so now reality has to keep looping back to the 80s until it happens.
posted by The Whelk at 10:46 AM on November 2, 2018 [60 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:46 AM on November 2, 2018 [60 favorites]
With limited exceptions, the sanctions will penalize countries that don’t stop importing Iranian oil and foreign companies that do business with blacklisted Iranian entities,
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
posted by msalt at 10:49 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
posted by msalt at 10:49 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
In the 20th century, the US tended to intervene in Latin American countries once they started nationalizing industries the US had a hand in, or started instituting land reform that took back land from US corporations. Are the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua currently doing anything like this, or anything that would otherwise threaten US commerce? I think this is the best way of predicting whether Bolton's speech is a harbinger of catastrophe or just empty nostalgic rhetoric.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 10:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 10:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
Sounds like a job for Trump Oil
posted by flabdablet at 10:53 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Sounds like a job for Trump Oil
posted by flabdablet at 10:53 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Vox, Lind, Border Patrol agents now have to ask everyone they catch if they’re part of the caravan. This started yesterday, and similar guidence was issued in the spring when another caravan happened. The answer will be "no" for quite some time though, as the lead group of the remaining portion of the caravan is in Oaxaca and will take at least six weeks to reach the border at its current pace.
posted by zachlipton at 10:59 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:59 AM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
With limited exceptions, the sanctions will penalize countries that don’t stop importing Iranian oil and foreign companies that do business with blacklisted Iranian entities,
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
I'm sorry, your solution to sanctions on foreign companies that do business with blacklisted Iranian entities is to found a foreign company that does business with blacklisted Iranian entities?
posted by Etrigan at 10:59 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
I'm sorry, your solution to sanctions on foreign companies that do business with blacklisted Iranian entities is to found a foreign company that does business with blacklisted Iranian entities?
posted by Etrigan at 10:59 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
ZeusHumms: [Talking on denying climate change] It’s especially frightening if you feel you’re going to lose from the change.
This just made me think of the five stages of grief. If that's appropriate to apply to the grieving the slow death of the world as we know it, I can see people broadly going through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Buntix: @Susan_Hennessey "The most powerful nation on Earth is now reduced to conducting nation state deterrence through internet memes. It'd be funny if it wasn't so scary and pathetic."
- quoting a Trump tweet which is a hagiographic pic of him with 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING / NOVEMBER 5" written on it in the Game of Thrones font. [real]
This is some gradeschool memery, which is probably a good thing for the country. I posted this (with more context) in the The social media Fordlândias thread, but per the article Why are populists winning online? Social media reinforces their anti-establishment message (Clara Hendrickson and William A. Galston for The Brookings Institution, April 28, 2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 11:03 AM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
This just made me think of the five stages of grief. If that's appropriate to apply to the grieving the slow death of the world as we know it, I can see people broadly going through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Buntix: @Susan_Hennessey "The most powerful nation on Earth is now reduced to conducting nation state deterrence through internet memes. It'd be funny if it wasn't so scary and pathetic."
- quoting a Trump tweet which is a hagiographic pic of him with 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING / NOVEMBER 5" written on it in the Game of Thrones font. [real]
This is some gradeschool memery, which is probably a good thing for the country. I posted this (with more context) in the The social media Fordlândias thread, but per the article Why are populists winning online? Social media reinforces their anti-establishment message (Clara Hendrickson and William A. Galston for The Brookings Institution, April 28, 2017)
Marine Le Pen’s National Front is well-known for its digital prowess, with an office in Paris dedicated exclusively to managing the party’s social media presence and aggressively launching online campaigns that include viral hashtags, memes, and animated videos.Trump relies on reposting other people's memes and trying to jump onto bandwagons that rolled out years back. I only hope he spends more time picking the right dank meme to own the libs, and less time actually making real decisions that are further ruining this country.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:03 AM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
I looked, since I was surprised too, but the Sandanistas are -- along with Daniel Ortega! -- back in power. Why do the figures of the Eighties keep coming back to haunt us?
But Ortega today is pretty different than the Sandinistas of yore - IIRC he's super anti-gay and he's definitely enriching himself, so he ought to be popular with the right if they only knew.
posted by Frowner at 11:04 AM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
But Ortega today is pretty different than the Sandinistas of yore - IIRC he's super anti-gay and he's definitely enriching himself, so he ought to be popular with the right if they only knew.
posted by Frowner at 11:04 AM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
the lead group of the remaining portion of the caravan is in Oaxaca and will take at least six weeks to reach the border at its current pace.
It's not like that's going to stop them from shooting unrelated people in the face for the heinous crime of not being white in the presence of armed white people.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:04 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
It's not like that's going to stop them from shooting unrelated people in the face for the heinous crime of not being white in the presence of armed white people.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:04 AM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
So why aren’t Democrats doing the same thing to Republicans? Hell, Democrats don’t even have to be racist to do it. They don’t have to lie. The subject could be pre-existing conditions or corporate tax cuts or DACA or tearing infants away from their mothers. There are loads of totally legitimate subjects that could be dramatized and stuck squarely on the back of the entire Republican Party. So where are they?
Because if Democratic voters responded to this kind of drama they'd probably already be Republicans.
posted by srboisvert at 11:14 AM on November 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
Because if Democratic voters responded to this kind of drama they'd probably already be Republicans.
posted by srboisvert at 11:14 AM on November 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
In other news: STUDY: Over the past 3 months, guest panels on Sunday shows have been overwhelmingly conservative. The charts make it easy to visualize how marginalized the voice of the left really is.
Worse yet, too often the panel shows have a member of the news media, not a pundit or politician, to fill the ostensible "liberal" (or "reality based," if you please), side. In one of the previous threads I noted that NPR did so a couple of times recently for its Friday politics roundup, pairing a conservative hack with a journalist. Besides not actually airing a liberal opinion, that construction also tacitly, and falsely, concedes the conservative slander that the media is liberal.
posted by Gelatin at 11:17 AM on November 2, 2018 [22 favorites]
Worse yet, too often the panel shows have a member of the news media, not a pundit or politician, to fill the ostensible "liberal" (or "reality based," if you please), side. In one of the previous threads I noted that NPR did so a couple of times recently for its Friday politics roundup, pairing a conservative hack with a journalist. Besides not actually airing a liberal opinion, that construction also tacitly, and falsely, concedes the conservative slander that the media is liberal.
posted by Gelatin at 11:17 AM on November 2, 2018 [22 favorites]
John Bolton just gave an “Axis of Evil” speech about Latin America
Also, Bolton praises Brazil's Bolsonaro as a 'like-minded' partner (Politico). “The recent elections of like-minded leaders in key countries, including Iván Duque in Colombia and, last weekend, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, are positive signs for the future of the region, and demonstrate a growing regional commitment to free-market principles, and open, transparent and accountable governance,” Bolton said. His conclusion that "the righteous flame of freedom will burn brightly again in this hemisphere" sounds like he's more interested in flames and burning than freedom.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:18 AM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
Also, Bolton praises Brazil's Bolsonaro as a 'like-minded' partner (Politico). “The recent elections of like-minded leaders in key countries, including Iván Duque in Colombia and, last weekend, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, are positive signs for the future of the region, and demonstrate a growing regional commitment to free-market principles, and open, transparent and accountable governance,” Bolton said. His conclusion that "the righteous flame of freedom will burn brightly again in this hemisphere" sounds like he's more interested in flames and burning than freedom.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:18 AM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
The Washington Post's David Fahrenthold reports: "BREAKING: Federal judge denies @realDonaldTrump's attempt to stop discovery process in "Emoluments Clause" lawsuit by DC/MD A.G.'s. Will allow AGs to get documents showing foreign-government customers at Trump Hotel D.C. Story coming soon..."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:27 AM on November 2, 2018 [60 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:27 AM on November 2, 2018 [60 favorites]
It's part of the same MAGA deal which has all these near-zombie eighties political ideas and figures resurfacing. It's about appealing to the youth or semi-youth of the older right-wing base.
Leaked transcript (fake) of an upcoming Trump speech:
Leaked transcript (fake) of an upcoming Trump speech:
My fellow Americans,posted by Gelatin at 11:28 AM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
WOLVERINES!!!
Thank you, and God bless America.
Update: @HBO: How do you say trademark misuse in Dothraki?
Why does everything have to be so weird?
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 AM on November 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
Why does everything have to be so weird?
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 AM on November 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
Vanity Fair, Emily Jane Fox, Michael Cohen Says Trump Repeatedly Used Racist Language Before His Presidency. Shocking, I know, but I was wondering when we’d hear from Cohen.
During our conversation, Cohen recalled a discussion at Trump Tower, following the then-candidate’s return from a campaign rally during the 2016 election cycle. Cohen had watched the rally on TV and noticed that the crowd was largely caucasian. He offered this observation to his boss. “I told Trump that the rally looked vanilla on television. Trump responded, ‘That’s because black people are too stupid to vote for me.’” (The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)posted by zachlipton at 11:38 AM on November 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
This conversation, he noted, was reminiscent of an exchange that the two men had engaged in years earlier, after Nelson Mandela’s death. “[Trump] said to me, ‘Name one country run by a black person that’s not a shithole,’ and then he added, ‘Name one city,’” Cohen recalled, a statement that echoed the president’s alleged comments about African nations earlier this year.
...
The conversation wended its way back to the show’s first season, which ended in a head-to-head between two contestants, Bill Rancic and Kwame Jackson. “Trump was explaining his back-and-forth about not picking Jackson,” an African-American investment manager who had graduated from Harvard Business School. “He said, ‘There’s no way I can let this black f-g win.’” (Jackson told me that he had heard that the president made such a comment. “My response to President Trump is simple and Wakandan,” he said, referring to the fictional African country where Black Panther hails from. “‘Not today, colonizer!’”)
Meanwhile in Idaho, some elementary school teachers decided that dressing up like Mexicans and a border wall was a good idea.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:39 AM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:39 AM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Because if Democratic voters responded to this kind of drama they'd probably already be Republicans.
Yet after two years of being subjected to exactly this kind of drama daily we're seeing relatively massive midterm voter turnout.
The discussion is about whether, as a large-scale campaign strategy, Democrats should be saying "All Republicans are bad and want you to [insert issue here]!" in the manner of "A vote for [local Democrat] is a vote for Nancy Pelosi, who wants to let foreigners live in your basement!" Maybe your area is different, but none of the Democratic candidates I'm seeing are using anything like that. They're being very specific about how their opponent voted against protections for pre-existing conditions or the like. The Democratic Party apparatus isn't spending a lot of effort tying Republicans to Trump.
posted by Etrigan at 11:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yet after two years of being subjected to exactly this kind of drama daily we're seeing relatively massive midterm voter turnout.
The discussion is about whether, as a large-scale campaign strategy, Democrats should be saying "All Republicans are bad and want you to [insert issue here]!" in the manner of "A vote for [local Democrat] is a vote for Nancy Pelosi, who wants to let foreigners live in your basement!" Maybe your area is different, but none of the Democratic candidates I'm seeing are using anything like that. They're being very specific about how their opponent voted against protections for pre-existing conditions or the like. The Democratic Party apparatus isn't spending a lot of effort tying Republicans to Trump.
posted by Etrigan at 11:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Because if Democratic voters responded to this kind of drama they'd probably already be Republicans.
Revelations of the Trump Administration putting kids in cages proved massively unpopular and forced the Administration to at least pretend to change the policy.
Republicans are right now lying consistently about their efforts and plans to eliminate guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions.
DACA is popular, and the Republicans, not the Democrats, looked bad (not that the "balanced" media didn't give it the old college try) when Paul Ryan backed down to the wingnut Freedom Caucus and didn't even pass a law that could have gained majority support, citing a nonexistent "Hastert Rule."
The corporate tax cuts are such a flop that even the Republicans aren't running on them.
For each of the subjects Drum mentioned, there's a a policy that Democrats favor and is popular, and a Republican position that is not. Drawing contrasts between oneself and one's political opponents is essential (a lesson sadly forgotten after the "triagulation" of the 1990s, which all to often validated Republican framing). There's no reason at all for Democrats to point out all the time that Republican positions are not popular, and that Republicans know it because they lie about those positions all the time.
posted by Gelatin at 11:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Revelations of the Trump Administration putting kids in cages proved massively unpopular and forced the Administration to at least pretend to change the policy.
Republicans are right now lying consistently about their efforts and plans to eliminate guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions.
DACA is popular, and the Republicans, not the Democrats, looked bad (not that the "balanced" media didn't give it the old college try) when Paul Ryan backed down to the wingnut Freedom Caucus and didn't even pass a law that could have gained majority support, citing a nonexistent "Hastert Rule."
The corporate tax cuts are such a flop that even the Republicans aren't running on them.
For each of the subjects Drum mentioned, there's a a policy that Democrats favor and is popular, and a Republican position that is not. Drawing contrasts between oneself and one's political opponents is essential (a lesson sadly forgotten after the "triagulation" of the 1990s, which all to often validated Republican framing). There's no reason at all for Democrats to point out all the time that Republican positions are not popular, and that Republicans know it because they lie about those positions all the time.
posted by Gelatin at 11:40 AM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Another reason Democrats shouldn't adopt the nastiest tactics of the Republicans:
Among the lower-information voters I know, they respond a lot to perceived personality. I know someone who initially really liked Sarah Palin - possibly because she's a woman, among other things - who shifted to a hard dislike of her because Palin turned out to be such a meanie. I think Palin's "palling around with terrorists" line was one thing that caused this shift.
Hillary was up against an unprecedented decades-long smear campaign, and in spite of that, she got 3 million more votes than the other guy - and my recollection is that she emphasized solutions, positive things we could get behind. So did Ocasio-Cortez. Beto's doing the same thing - and whether he wins or not, he's already garnered way more support than anyone thought possible in Texas. And let's not forget the positive messages emphasized by the Obama campaign.
I think embracing nastiness and vicious negativity would risk alienating a lot of people who sometimes vote for Democrats. I think the voters who like negativity and smearing and "owning" the other side are already voting for Republicans, and likely to stick with the zero-sum party rather than the everybody-can-prosper-together party.
posted by kristi at 11:41 AM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
Among the lower-information voters I know, they respond a lot to perceived personality. I know someone who initially really liked Sarah Palin - possibly because she's a woman, among other things - who shifted to a hard dislike of her because Palin turned out to be such a meanie. I think Palin's "palling around with terrorists" line was one thing that caused this shift.
Hillary was up against an unprecedented decades-long smear campaign, and in spite of that, she got 3 million more votes than the other guy - and my recollection is that she emphasized solutions, positive things we could get behind. So did Ocasio-Cortez. Beto's doing the same thing - and whether he wins or not, he's already garnered way more support than anyone thought possible in Texas. And let's not forget the positive messages emphasized by the Obama campaign.
I think embracing nastiness and vicious negativity would risk alienating a lot of people who sometimes vote for Democrats. I think the voters who like negativity and smearing and "owning" the other side are already voting for Republicans, and likely to stick with the zero-sum party rather than the everybody-can-prosper-together party.
posted by kristi at 11:41 AM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
> It portends a massive escalation in US foreign policy: one where America is trying to dictate how three sovereign countries should operate.
Who wrote this line? America trying to dictate the behavior of three sovereign countries is an escalation? Three would be a big decrease from all of them, the standard state of affairs.
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
Sounds like a job for Trump Oil
That's adorable, like a Trump business could operate where they had to pay for shit in full, in advance. They couldn't even handle net30 if their lives depended on it.
posted by phearlez at 11:41 AM on November 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
Who wrote this line? America trying to dictate the behavior of three sovereign countries is an escalation? Three would be a big decrease from all of them, the standard state of affairs.
Can't this be trivially evaded by having some brand new foreign company buy all the Iranian output and reselling it at a 5% markup?
Sounds like a job for Trump Oil
That's adorable, like a Trump business could operate where they had to pay for shit in full, in advance. They couldn't even handle net30 if their lives depended on it.
posted by phearlez at 11:41 AM on November 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
“[Trump] said to me, ‘Name one country run by a black person that’s not a shithole,’...
The United States of America?
posted by The Tensor at 11:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [48 favorites]
The United States of America?
posted by The Tensor at 11:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [48 favorites]
The Democratic Party apparatus isn't spending a lot of effort tying Republicans to Trump.
NPR very recently talked to a Democratic strategist who said that the Democrats don't need to make that point, as Trump is busy making it for them.
His subtext was close to "never interrupt your enemy when they are in the process of making a mistake."
posted by Gelatin at 11:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
NPR very recently talked to a Democratic strategist who said that the Democrats don't need to make that point, as Trump is busy making it for them.
His subtext was close to "never interrupt your enemy when they are in the process of making a mistake."
posted by Gelatin at 11:43 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Not to abuse the edit window:
I mean, yes, of course, call out Republicans on their lies and on all the actions they take against the well-being of Americans. Be honest. Be explicit. Be clear.
But some voters are really turned off by dirty politics. I think Democrats stand to gain more by avoiding outright nasty, dirty tactics.
posted by kristi at 11:44 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I mean, yes, of course, call out Republicans on their lies and on all the actions they take against the well-being of Americans. Be honest. Be explicit. Be clear.
But some voters are really turned off by dirty politics. I think Democrats stand to gain more by avoiding outright nasty, dirty tactics.
posted by kristi at 11:44 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
This Troika of Tyranny, this triangle of terror
this threesome of threat, this trio of trouble, this triple scoop of scurrilousness
And, of course, the puppies of purgatory.
posted by phearlez at 11:45 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
this threesome of threat, this trio of trouble, this triple scoop of scurrilousness
And, of course, the puppies of purgatory.
posted by phearlez at 11:45 AM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Tweet from the NYTimes TV Critic, James Poniewozik
I'm not even going to RT that Sanctions meme, but does anyone in the WH even watch Game of Thrones?posted by ZeusHumms at 11:52 AM on November 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
In GoT, winter is a DISASTER. Nobody wants it! It's not a weapon. It's not, like: "Get ready, sucker, I'm bringing some WINTER down on your ass!"
If memory serves me correctly, it was Adlai Stevenson who quipped to the effect that Republicans complain that accurate descriptions of their agenda is dirty politics.
Let's conduct a thought exercise. Fill in the blank, in, say, Mitch McConnell's voice:
"Tax and ________ liberal."
"_____ killing regulations."
"San ________ values."
"________ media."
Not hard, was it? Republicans have spent decades crafting a focus grouped message that they push consistently in order to mask their agenda of transferring the other half of America's wealth to the top 10%, and even we have absorbed these messages, agree with them or not.
I am not suggesting Democrats engage in Gingrichian name-calling (his infamous memo advised his acolytes to insert insults and slanders of Democrats into practically every sentence they uttered).
I am suggesting that Democrats point out that Republicans have an agenda, and it is not popular. We should not let Republicans get away with pretending they are against this-or-that aspect of Trump's agenda, when electing that Republican helps trump's agenda get enacted will-they-or-nil-they.
Republicans really do want to cut taxes for the rich and slash Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans really do want to make all students say christian prayers in school.
Republicans really do want to eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions.
Republicans really do want to make abortion illegal everywhere in the US.
How do we know? They told us so themselves. It's totally fair play if Democrats help spread that message too.
posted by Gelatin at 11:55 AM on November 2, 2018 [45 favorites]
Let's conduct a thought exercise. Fill in the blank, in, say, Mitch McConnell's voice:
"Tax and ________ liberal."
"_____ killing regulations."
"San ________ values."
"________ media."
Not hard, was it? Republicans have spent decades crafting a focus grouped message that they push consistently in order to mask their agenda of transferring the other half of America's wealth to the top 10%, and even we have absorbed these messages, agree with them or not.
I am not suggesting Democrats engage in Gingrichian name-calling (his infamous memo advised his acolytes to insert insults and slanders of Democrats into practically every sentence they uttered).
I am suggesting that Democrats point out that Republicans have an agenda, and it is not popular. We should not let Republicans get away with pretending they are against this-or-that aspect of Trump's agenda, when electing that Republican helps trump's agenda get enacted will-they-or-nil-they.
Republicans really do want to cut taxes for the rich and slash Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans really do want to make all students say christian prayers in school.
Republicans really do want to eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions.
Republicans really do want to make abortion illegal everywhere in the US.
How do we know? They told us so themselves. It's totally fair play if Democrats help spread that message too.
posted by Gelatin at 11:55 AM on November 2, 2018 [45 favorites]
Re: Boltonisms I like "Trigon of Turpitude," myself
WOLVERINES!!!
I'm sorry, is the idea here that Trump would be on the Wolverines' side? Because I'm thinking maybe Red Dawn is not going to be included in this particular iteration of the 80s revival
In GoT, winter is a DISASTER
yeah, on the other hand, their media tie-in messaging really is shit, since, after all, the biggest bad guy in GoT is climate change
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:00 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
WOLVERINES!!!
I'm sorry, is the idea here that Trump would be on the Wolverines' side? Because I'm thinking maybe Red Dawn is not going to be included in this particular iteration of the 80s revival
In GoT, winter is a DISASTER
yeah, on the other hand, their media tie-in messaging really is shit, since, after all, the biggest bad guy in GoT is climate change
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:00 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
In GoT, winter is a DISASTER. Nobody wants it! It's not a weapon. It's not, like: "Get ready, sucker, I'm bringing some WINTER down on your ass!"
I mean... Winter King does that.
But that’s okay because as bad as the Democratic machine is, at least none of them are Jon Snow.
...uh, right?
posted by curious nu at 12:09 PM on November 2, 2018
I mean... Winter King does that.
But that’s okay because as bad as the Democratic machine is, at least none of them are Jon Snow.
...uh, right?
posted by curious nu at 12:09 PM on November 2, 2018
Gavin Newsom took an adjacent theme (zombie army of MAGAhats) and ran with it for a terrific Halloween ad.
And I'm with kristi that I don't want to see Democrats using Republican smear tactics and dirty politics (though I do want them to defend themselves if attacked - John Kerry didn't, to his loss). The Republicans are bad. I know they're bad. As far as I am concerned, "GOP" stands for "Gross Old Perverts." I want the Democrats to tell me how they can make my life and other Americans' lives better.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 12:19 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
And I'm with kristi that I don't want to see Democrats using Republican smear tactics and dirty politics (though I do want them to defend themselves if attacked - John Kerry didn't, to his loss). The Republicans are bad. I know they're bad. As far as I am concerned, "GOP" stands for "Gross Old Perverts." I want the Democrats to tell me how they can make my life and other Americans' lives better.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 12:19 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I am not suggesting Democrats engage in Gingrichian name-calling (his infamous memo advised his acolytes to insert insults and slanders of Democrats into practically every sentence they uttered).
How finely do you think you can draw a line between Newt Gingrich's campaign tactics and Newt Gingrich's governance tactics? Gingrichian name-calling worked. Do you think everything except that will work?
posted by Etrigan at 12:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
How finely do you think you can draw a line between Newt Gingrich's campaign tactics and Newt Gingrich's governance tactics? Gingrichian name-calling worked. Do you think everything except that will work?
posted by Etrigan at 12:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's been interesting to watch the various campaign ads here in MN this cycle. I've mostly seen ads for Dean Philips followed by an ad for his opponent, Eric Paulsen. The tone of the ads contrast starkly and feels something like, "Hi, I'm Dean Philips and I'm running for congress because I think Minnesota is great and I want to help make it better!"
Followed by a Paulsen ad where the theme is, "DEAN PHILIPS WANTs TO MURDER YOUR FAMILY!!!!!"
I quipped to my wife, "You know, I've seen a lot of movies and that experience has convinced me that I know who the bad guys are in this one."
You don't have to pay much attention to the ads to realize that the pro-GOP ads are all varying degrees of dishonest, extremist, fear-mongering, and hostile. Since they pretty much always run back-to-back, the contrast is really stark and makes the GOP ads all the more distasteful.
The problem is that campaign ads are really designed to convert anyone to their side but to get those who already agree with them to go out and take action (IE: Vote). So while it certainly has the effect Dems are hoping for on me, I wonder if the same is true for conservatives.
Now that I think about it, it reminds me of this scene from the fantasy book "Dies the Fire". Shortly after an apocalyptic event our protagonists encounter a group that has adopted a bunch of aggressive and even openly evil looking symbols. The main protagonist observes that everyone thinks they're the hero and the symbols they use reflect that. So if you see someone trying to make themselves appear as the "bad guys", there is something really really messed up going on there and they want nothing to do with it. Even most of the symbols and icons that the Nazis used only really seem evil in retrospect due to their association with Nazis.
The GOP seems to be making themselves look like the bad guys on purpose. I don't know if it will help or hurt their cause but it can't be a good thing.
posted by VTX at 12:26 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Followed by a Paulsen ad where the theme is, "DEAN PHILIPS WANTs TO MURDER YOUR FAMILY!!!!!"
I quipped to my wife, "You know, I've seen a lot of movies and that experience has convinced me that I know who the bad guys are in this one."
You don't have to pay much attention to the ads to realize that the pro-GOP ads are all varying degrees of dishonest, extremist, fear-mongering, and hostile. Since they pretty much always run back-to-back, the contrast is really stark and makes the GOP ads all the more distasteful.
The problem is that campaign ads are really designed to convert anyone to their side but to get those who already agree with them to go out and take action (IE: Vote). So while it certainly has the effect Dems are hoping for on me, I wonder if the same is true for conservatives.
Now that I think about it, it reminds me of this scene from the fantasy book "Dies the Fire". Shortly after an apocalyptic event our protagonists encounter a group that has adopted a bunch of aggressive and even openly evil looking symbols. The main protagonist observes that everyone thinks they're the hero and the symbols they use reflect that. So if you see someone trying to make themselves appear as the "bad guys", there is something really really messed up going on there and they want nothing to do with it. Even most of the symbols and icons that the Nazis used only really seem evil in retrospect due to their association with Nazis.
The GOP seems to be making themselves look like the bad guys on purpose. I don't know if it will help or hurt their cause but it can't be a good thing.
posted by VTX at 12:26 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
538:Gender Might Be Shaping Democrats' Senate Chances
To which I reply, glad you could join us in figuring out the goddamn obvious. Is it a real wonder that after the Kavanaugh debacle and the outright hostility against women the two most at risk incumbents for the Ds are McCaskill and Heitkamp?
I am glad this is being brought up, obviously, but it's as usual a harsh fucking reminder that being a woman in politics is HARDER.
posted by lydhre at 12:29 PM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
To which I reply, glad you could join us in figuring out the goddamn obvious. Is it a real wonder that after the Kavanaugh debacle and the outright hostility against women the two most at risk incumbents for the Ds are McCaskill and Heitkamp?
I am glad this is being brought up, obviously, but it's as usual a harsh fucking reminder that being a woman in politics is HARDER.
posted by lydhre at 12:29 PM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Because if Democratic voters responded to this kind of drama they'd probably already be Republicans.
And if there's one lesson for our currently divided electorate, it's that the two main parties' members have completely different worldviews that require completely different strategies to win approval.
For example, NBC: Democrats Refuse To Take Trump's Home Stretch Bait—Analysis: As the president launches a wide array of policy proposals and political attacks, his opponents have stuck to their script.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:30 PM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
And if there's one lesson for our currently divided electorate, it's that the two main parties' members have completely different worldviews that require completely different strategies to win approval.
For example, NBC: Democrats Refuse To Take Trump's Home Stretch Bait—Analysis: As the president launches a wide array of policy proposals and political attacks, his opponents have stuck to their script.
[M]ost of the party has pushed back — gently — without rushing to cameras to fight on cultural issues at a time when they believe they have the upper hand in the battle for control of the House and are still in the hunt for several Senate races within the margin of error in recent polling.Meanwhile, in the Fox News bizarro universe, Mark Penn tells Fox & Friends, "Each party throws insults at each other, but President Trump also throws issues at Dems. Right now, Democrats are just hurling insults. They need to learn to take on the issues."
"It’s clear that President Trump is engaged in a cynical political effort to distract voters in the final days of this election, but our candidates have remained focused on what voters care about most — pocketbook issues like the cost of health care and protections for people with pre-existing health conditions," Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said over email. "While the President is reduced to scare tactics, Democrats are fighting to help the families they represent."
It's not a coordinated strategy so much as a collective assessment that it's smart to avoid obvious traps Trump is laying obvious in an increasingly desperate attempt to knock Democrats off their message.
In other words, Democrats are in array.[...]
Democrats say that their low-key reactions are a data point demonstrating their ability to be a responsible governing party if voters give them control of the House. They see a president making the contrast obvious for them with his behavior over the final weeks of the campaign.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:30 PM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Fox News was blaring in the break room today (long story), and there was a segment talking about the various celebrities going door-to-door in Georgia. There was video of Pence at making a campaign speech for Kemp, and after going on about Hollywood Liberal EliteTM, he name dropped Oprah...paused.. and people boo'ed her! Everyone here looked up aghast at the TV.
Someone's out of touch with America but I don't think it's the Abrams campaign.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 12:30 PM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
Someone's out of touch with America but I don't think it's the Abrams campaign.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 12:30 PM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
I want the Democrats to tell me how they can make my life and other Americans' lives better.
You're already convinced. Meanwhile, working-class non-rich people are voting for the party of the wealthy because that party appealed to their emotions, not their intellect.
If you can't get the politically disengaged, low-information voters to vote for you, then you will lose.
posted by rocket88 at 12:31 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
You're already convinced. Meanwhile, working-class non-rich people are voting for the party of the wealthy because that party appealed to their emotions, not their intellect.
If you can't get the politically disengaged, low-information voters to vote for you, then you will lose.
posted by rocket88 at 12:31 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
How finely do you think you can draw a line between Newt Gingrich's campaign tactics and Newt Gingrich's governance tactics? Gingrichian name-calling worked. Do you think everything except that will work?
As the Atlantic article and Fresh Air episode I linked made clear, Newt Gingrich cared more about amassing power than in effective governance -- a characteristic shared by the likes of Ryan and McConnell, with similar poor results. Democrats believe in good governance, and again, that's an imbalance worth keeping in a world where the Republicans couldn't govern a bake sale, but they don't get the opportunity to exercise it as often as they should, because they don't define their opposition well enough. And even then only in the context of a political campaign, while Republicans do it all the time. Of course Gingrichian name calling worked; that's part of my point. Republicans have a consistent message defining their opposition, honestly or otherwise; Democrats's don't.
But as I said, all Democrats have to do is point out that Republicans advocate a whole slew of unpopular positions. They don't need to call them, for example, traitors, even though that's arguably true for several (Trump, Nunes, Rohrabacher, and McConnell).
More to the immediate point, it isn't as if unilaterally disarming will cause the Republicans to give up their advantage. That Republican ad Kevin Drum cited was close to blood libel. And the Republican Party created that ad saying all Democrats want to flood the US with murdering illegal immigrants.
Against that, pointing out that Republicans themselves run away from their own positions in public hardly seems like dirty pool, or Gingrichian scorched earth. It's simply the truth -- but one that the media won't point out, and so most voters never realize. I'd actually agree that it's the media's job to look at actual Republican policy and not simply what Republicans say it is, but, well, here we are. Someone should say it.
posted by Gelatin at 12:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
As the Atlantic article and Fresh Air episode I linked made clear, Newt Gingrich cared more about amassing power than in effective governance -- a characteristic shared by the likes of Ryan and McConnell, with similar poor results. Democrats believe in good governance, and again, that's an imbalance worth keeping in a world where the Republicans couldn't govern a bake sale, but they don't get the opportunity to exercise it as often as they should, because they don't define their opposition well enough. And even then only in the context of a political campaign, while Republicans do it all the time. Of course Gingrichian name calling worked; that's part of my point. Republicans have a consistent message defining their opposition, honestly or otherwise; Democrats's don't.
But as I said, all Democrats have to do is point out that Republicans advocate a whole slew of unpopular positions. They don't need to call them, for example, traitors, even though that's arguably true for several (Trump, Nunes, Rohrabacher, and McConnell).
More to the immediate point, it isn't as if unilaterally disarming will cause the Republicans to give up their advantage. That Republican ad Kevin Drum cited was close to blood libel. And the Republican Party created that ad saying all Democrats want to flood the US with murdering illegal immigrants.
Against that, pointing out that Republicans themselves run away from their own positions in public hardly seems like dirty pool, or Gingrichian scorched earth. It's simply the truth -- but one that the media won't point out, and so most voters never realize. I'd actually agree that it's the media's job to look at actual Republican policy and not simply what Republicans say it is, but, well, here we are. Someone should say it.
posted by Gelatin at 12:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
For a change of pace, Daniel Dale's live-tweeting a rally Obama's holding for Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson. It's refreshing, to say the least. He denounces the fundamental unconstitutionality of Trump's proposed cancellation of birthright citizenship, he condemns the political stunt behind Trump's ordering send troops to the Mexican border, and he calls out the GOP's record and links it to the distractions of Trump's fear-mongering. And there's no fact-checking involved.
Another interesting contrast is that unlike Trump, Obama hasn't purged his rally's attendees of the opposition. He's confident enough to deal with protestors, e.g. "Obama after a protester interruption: “Why is it that the folks who won the last election are so mad at all the time? ...I mean, like, when I won the presidency, at least my side felt pretty good. ...It tells you something interesting...they're gettin' ginned up to be mad.”"
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:48 PM on November 2, 2018 [65 favorites]
Another interesting contrast is that unlike Trump, Obama hasn't purged his rally's attendees of the opposition. He's confident enough to deal with protestors, e.g. "Obama after a protester interruption: “Why is it that the folks who won the last election are so mad at all the time? ...I mean, like, when I won the presidency, at least my side felt pretty good. ...It tells you something interesting...they're gettin' ginned up to be mad.”"
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:48 PM on November 2, 2018 [65 favorites]
And just to be clear, Gelatin, I agree with you - Democrats should absolutely point out all the many things the Republicans have done and are doing that are deeply unpopular. I'm just saying that I think that being adult, and avoiding frothing, and generally coming across as a reasonably nice person while making those points, is more likely to win more voters than trying to mimic Republican lows. I feel like I've seen some comments in the most recent threads saying, basically, that Democrats can't win unless they adopt the worst excesses of Republican obnoxiousness; I'm pushing back against that.
"pointing out that Republicans themselves run away from their own positions in public hardly seems like dirty pool, or Gingrichian scorched earth." I agree completely.
(And I know it's annoying to hear tone policing, and I get why, and agree that telling someone with legitimate anger to turn down the volume is often harmful - but I DO think how we present ourselves matters, and says something about us. I, personally, would rather vote for the nice person than the obnoxious person, and I think that holds even more true for independents and lower-information voters. And frankly, I don't think it's a coincidence that people who genuinely care about others - and therefore typically act nicer - are more likely to advocate for things like minimum wage hikes and universal health care. Adopting the worst behaviors of callous Republicans isn't going to win votes for caring politicians or their policies.)
posted by kristi at 12:51 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
"pointing out that Republicans themselves run away from their own positions in public hardly seems like dirty pool, or Gingrichian scorched earth." I agree completely.
(And I know it's annoying to hear tone policing, and I get why, and agree that telling someone with legitimate anger to turn down the volume is often harmful - but I DO think how we present ourselves matters, and says something about us. I, personally, would rather vote for the nice person than the obnoxious person, and I think that holds even more true for independents and lower-information voters. And frankly, I don't think it's a coincidence that people who genuinely care about others - and therefore typically act nicer - are more likely to advocate for things like minimum wage hikes and universal health care. Adopting the worst behaviors of callous Republicans isn't going to win votes for caring politicians or their policies.)
posted by kristi at 12:51 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Just for fun on a Friday afternoon. Daily Beast, Jacob Wohl’s Fake PI Firm Ghosted on a Previously Homeless Woman Looking For Her Stolen Truck: At the same time he was trying to frame Robert Mueller, the Trump-loving huckster took on another case. It, too, has gone poorly.
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I have various theories about Dale just being about an inch from the brink of madness so his editors were like TAKE A BREAK
posted by angrycat at 12:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 12:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [22 favorites]
Doktor Zed: "Meanwhile, in the Fox News bizarro universe, Mark Penn tells Fox & Friends, "Each party throws insults at each other, but President Trump also throws issues at Dems. Right now, Democrats are just hurling insults. They need to learn to take on the issues.""
If Mark Penn says the Democrats are screwing up, I feel much better about what they are doing.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:04 PM on November 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
If Mark Penn says the Democrats are screwing up, I feel much better about what they are doing.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:04 PM on November 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
I want to be absolutely clear that I do not accept that "accurately but consistently defining your political opposition" and "nasty Gingrichian name calling" are the same thing. I don't see where I advocate "frothing." Just because Republicans think it's mean to point out the truth about them doesn't mean we have to be mean about doing so. We can be nice as pie -- "I'm sure you care about people with preexisting conditions, bless your heart, but you still voted to take their insurance away." (Again, that Republican position is unpopular enough with voters that they lie about it all the time.)
Democrats absolutely can be nicer than Republicans, but they totally must define Republicans by what they stand for, because the so-called "liberal media" won't (but will transmit the Republicans doing same to Democrats). The stakes are too high to unilaterally disarm.
Democrats don't need to slander Republicans, but they need to define them, and not just when it's election time. Democrats must make the contrast between what they and Republicans stand for clear in voters' minds, simply by pointing out what policies Republicans enact.
Republicans used the phony Tea Party to get Democrats to, foolishly, run away from Obamacare. Lately Democrats have seemed to be better about advocating positive policies. Shouldn't Republicans have to explain why they want to take away insurance from millions of Americans? Shouldn't Democrats point out that Republicans always talk about cutting Social Security and Medicare when they're in office (we have tapes!), even though they lie about it on the campaign trail?
I totally agree that the tone of this message matters, but my point is that Democrats aren't delivering this message now at all, and in these times they can no longer afford not to.
posted by Gelatin at 1:05 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Democrats absolutely can be nicer than Republicans, but they totally must define Republicans by what they stand for, because the so-called "liberal media" won't (but will transmit the Republicans doing same to Democrats). The stakes are too high to unilaterally disarm.
Democrats don't need to slander Republicans, but they need to define them, and not just when it's election time. Democrats must make the contrast between what they and Republicans stand for clear in voters' minds, simply by pointing out what policies Republicans enact.
Republicans used the phony Tea Party to get Democrats to, foolishly, run away from Obamacare. Lately Democrats have seemed to be better about advocating positive policies. Shouldn't Republicans have to explain why they want to take away insurance from millions of Americans? Shouldn't Democrats point out that Republicans always talk about cutting Social Security and Medicare when they're in office (we have tapes!), even though they lie about it on the campaign trail?
I totally agree that the tone of this message matters, but my point is that Democrats aren't delivering this message now at all, and in these times they can no longer afford not to.
posted by Gelatin at 1:05 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
all Democrats have to do is point out that Republicans advocate a whole slew of unpopular positions.
Okay, I have to ask: Do you live in the United States of America? If so, do you own a television, or access any other website in existence?
Democrats do this constantly. Hillary Clinton did this for every stupid policy utterance that Donny From Queens managed to fart out between schoolyard insults. I've seen Democrats running commercials saying "Here's what Joe Republican said about covering pre-existing conditions last year... Here's what he says now..." in four different campaigns in the Detroit media market alone, and I'm pretty sure that I'm forgetting at least two more campaigns that have done it.
More to the immediate point, it isn't as if unilaterally disarming will cause the Republicans to give up their advantage.
I genuinely do not understand what "disarming" is supposed to mean here. Are not lying or not calling Republicans "traitors" "unilaterally disarming"?
posted by Etrigan at 1:06 PM on November 2, 2018 [31 favorites]
Okay, I have to ask: Do you live in the United States of America? If so, do you own a television, or access any other website in existence?
Democrats do this constantly. Hillary Clinton did this for every stupid policy utterance that Donny From Queens managed to fart out between schoolyard insults. I've seen Democrats running commercials saying "Here's what Joe Republican said about covering pre-existing conditions last year... Here's what he says now..." in four different campaigns in the Detroit media market alone, and I'm pretty sure that I'm forgetting at least two more campaigns that have done it.
More to the immediate point, it isn't as if unilaterally disarming will cause the Republicans to give up their advantage.
I genuinely do not understand what "disarming" is supposed to mean here. Are not lying or not calling Republicans "traitors" "unilaterally disarming"?
posted by Etrigan at 1:06 PM on November 2, 2018 [31 favorites]
The Republican Party and their ideology as a whole is unpopular, that’s why they lost the popular vote.
posted by gucci mane at 1:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 1:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
@annalecta: White House quietly granted an ethics waiver not on @OfficeGovEthics' public waiver list to the DOJ Solicitor General next in line to oversee the Trump-Russia probe if Rosenstein is fired or resigns, waiving rules that may have kept him from overseeing it due to ties to the probe
The waiver is because of his previous employment at Jones Day.
posted by zachlipton at 1:14 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
The waiver is because of his previous employment at Jones Day.
posted by zachlipton at 1:14 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
Reuters, Twitter deleted over 10,000 accounts seeking to discourage voting: "Twitter deleted more than 10,000 automated accounts posting messages that discouraged people from voting in Tuesday’s U.S. election and wrongly appeared to be from Democrats, after the party flagged the misleading tweets to the social media company."
I love that this is apparently the responsibility of the Democratic Party instead of Twitter's own staff.
----
Bloomberg, Trump Car Standards Rollback Knocked for Faulty Analysis, in which automakers think the administration's effort to rollback fuel economy regulations is nonsense.
posted by zachlipton at 1:19 PM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
I love that this is apparently the responsibility of the Democratic Party instead of Twitter's own staff.
----
Bloomberg, Trump Car Standards Rollback Knocked for Faulty Analysis, in which automakers think the administration's effort to rollback fuel economy regulations is nonsense.
posted by zachlipton at 1:19 PM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
Good news dept: ACLU of Kansas says they have transportation covered for folks in Dodge City who are unable to reach the sole polling place that was moved out of town.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:20 PM on November 2, 2018 [46 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 1:20 PM on November 2, 2018 [46 favorites]
No, they don't do it constantly. They do it during elections, as your own examples point out.
Between elections, Republicans keep on defining Democrats, and in what we probably all agree are phony terms, but ones repeated constantly, in ways that the so-called "liberal media" broadcasts wittingly or otherwise.
Democrats don't have that kind of consistent messaging, which is what I mean by "unilaterally disarming." And without stooping to lies or insults in the way Republicans do, Democrats need it, and right now, because Republicans have at least a 40 year head start.
posted by Gelatin at 1:20 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Between elections, Republicans keep on defining Democrats, and in what we probably all agree are phony terms, but ones repeated constantly, in ways that the so-called "liberal media" broadcasts wittingly or otherwise.
Democrats don't have that kind of consistent messaging, which is what I mean by "unilaterally disarming." And without stooping to lies or insults in the way Republicans do, Democrats need it, and right now, because Republicans have at least a 40 year head start.
posted by Gelatin at 1:20 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
(Not to abuse the edit window, Etrigan's examples make me wonder if the media cynically downplays what Democrats say about Republicans during election season as mere "campaign rhetoric," which gives another advantage to Republicans for sticking with their messages constantly.)
posted by Gelatin at 1:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Gelatin at 1:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Bloomberg, Trump Car Standards Rollback Knocked for Faulty Analysis, in which automakers think the administration's effort to rollback fuel economy regulations is nonsense.
Similarly from The Atlantic, The Trump Administration Flunked Its Math Homework. I'd like to think, because the mistakes that were made were so obvious and fundamental, it was an inside job by career EPA staff so that the regulatory rollback would be easily scuttled in the courts... but who knows anymore.
posted by peeedro at 1:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Similarly from The Atlantic, The Trump Administration Flunked Its Math Homework. I'd like to think, because the mistakes that were made were so obvious and fundamental, it was an inside job by career EPA staff so that the regulatory rollback would be easily scuttled in the courts... but who knows anymore.
posted by peeedro at 1:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
>
Maybe the plan is for Nicaragua to end up with nuclear weapons? I think that's how the Axis of Evil thing works: we pay Halliburton and its ilk enormous amounts of money in the course of very expensively and pointlessly invading one country and then one or both of the other ones acquire nuclear weapons in response.
Then Donald Trump gets elected and tells the world how beloved by his people the nuclear-armed dictator's successor is and legitimizes his status as a nuclear power. But obviously they can just do that part all at once this time.
posted by XMLicious at 1:32 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
National Security Adviser John Bolton just gave a modern-day “Axis of Evil” speech
...Ortega today is pretty different than the Sandinistas of yore - IIRC he's super anti-gay and he's definitely enriching himself, so he ought to be popular with the right if they only knew.
Maybe the plan is for Nicaragua to end up with nuclear weapons? I think that's how the Axis of Evil thing works: we pay Halliburton and its ilk enormous amounts of money in the course of very expensively and pointlessly invading one country and then one or both of the other ones acquire nuclear weapons in response.
Then Donald Trump gets elected and tells the world how beloved by his people the nuclear-armed dictator's successor is and legitimizes his status as a nuclear power. But obviously they can just do that part all at once this time.
posted by XMLicious at 1:32 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
@tparti: Trump in W.Va.: "They all say, 'speak about the economy! speak about the economy!'" Then adds that talking about the economy isn't always as exciting even though it's doing well.
I love when Trump does this stuff, which he does often: publicly announces the exact talking point every half-sensible person in his party keeps telling him to say and dismisses it. He knows exactly what he's doing. Paul Ryan's people want him to say some stuff about the jobs numbers (hope nobody at the rally has access to information about the stock market), but he knows that it's the racist stuff that gets people cheering, so he says more racist stuff.
Meanwhile, Obama is in Florida and is playing Gallant to Trump's Goofus by repeating the one and only thing that should come out of Democrats' mouths between now and election day: "they're coming to take away your health care; go vote." @PeterSullivan4: Obama says he thinks Republicans would succeed at repealing ObamaCare if they win on Tuesday. "If they win this Tuesday they'll finally succeed," Obama says while campaigning in Florida.
I am serious. If a Democrat is asked for directions to the bathroom this weekend, the correct answer is "the Republicans are going to take away your health care; please vote against them."
posted by zachlipton at 1:38 PM on November 2, 2018 [47 favorites]
I love when Trump does this stuff, which he does often: publicly announces the exact talking point every half-sensible person in his party keeps telling him to say and dismisses it. He knows exactly what he's doing. Paul Ryan's people want him to say some stuff about the jobs numbers (hope nobody at the rally has access to information about the stock market), but he knows that it's the racist stuff that gets people cheering, so he says more racist stuff.
Meanwhile, Obama is in Florida and is playing Gallant to Trump's Goofus by repeating the one and only thing that should come out of Democrats' mouths between now and election day: "they're coming to take away your health care; go vote." @PeterSullivan4: Obama says he thinks Republicans would succeed at repealing ObamaCare if they win on Tuesday. "If they win this Tuesday they'll finally succeed," Obama says while campaigning in Florida.
I am serious. If a Democrat is asked for directions to the bathroom this weekend, the correct answer is "the Republicans are going to take away your health care; please vote against them."
posted by zachlipton at 1:38 PM on November 2, 2018 [47 favorites]
To be perfectly honest - anything that Michael Cohen could reveal about Donald Trump is counterbalanced in my head with the fact that Michael Cohen nevertheless worked for Donald Trump for twelve years.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
etrigan: I'm sorry, your solution to sanctions on foreign companies that do business with blacklisted Iranian entities is to found a foreign company that does business with blacklisted Iranian entities?
Yes. Because the U.S. is powerless to sanction companies that don't do business in the U.S. or use U.S. banks. Those kind of sanctions put big multinationals in a squeeze, because they don't want to lose their U.S. business.
But it does nothing about companies set up for this purpose, which of course would avoid connections to the U.S. and work only as a conduit between Europe, Africa, Asia and Iran.
posted by msalt at 1:51 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes. Because the U.S. is powerless to sanction companies that don't do business in the U.S. or use U.S. banks. Those kind of sanctions put big multinationals in a squeeze, because they don't want to lose their U.S. business.
But it does nothing about companies set up for this purpose, which of course would avoid connections to the U.S. and work only as a conduit between Europe, Africa, Asia and Iran.
posted by msalt at 1:51 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
VA-07: WP reports that Project Veritas, the James O'Keefe ratfucking operation, apparently infiltrated the campaign of Dem Spanberger. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
There's a followup, Va. GOP official hinted that Project Veritas had a spy in Democrat’s campaign. A member of the state GOP's governing board of tweeted a bunch of times that Project Veritas had infiltrated the Spanberger campaign before the campaign confronted the woman who had been posing as a campaign volunteer:
There's a followup, Va. GOP official hinted that Project Veritas had a spy in Democrat’s campaign. A member of the state GOP's governing board of tweeted a bunch of times that Project Veritas had infiltrated the Spanberger campaign before the campaign confronted the woman who had been posing as a campaign volunteer:
The timing raised suspicions among Democrats that [GOP official Mark] Hile had prior knowledge of the scheme – a potentially scandalous transgression for someone in a party leadership position. Hile’s wife, Anita Hile, is a vice chairwoman of the Henrico County Republican Committee.posted by peeedro at 1:56 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
But Hile said he merely made a lucky guess that Project Veritas, which has been targeting Democrats running in midterms across the country, would eventually focus on Spanberger.
[@NBCNews]
President Trump to reporter: “You’re creating violence by your question.”posted by Rykey at 1:57 PM on November 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
Reporter: “Me?”
President Trump: “You are creating — you.”
Daniel Dale is live-tweeting/fact-checking Trump's West Virginia rally here and here.
Trump's bragging about the new economic numbers aside, it's pretty standard in terms of mendacity and fear-mongering. Dale notes this is new, though: “Trump, for the first time at a rally, says they could lose the House: "It could happen. Could happen." He says: "And you know what you do? My whole life, you know what I say? 'Don't worry about it, I'll just figure it out.' Does that make sense? I'll figure it out."”
Trump tweet which is a hagiographic pic of him with 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING / NOVEMBER 5" written on it in the Game of Thrones font. [real]
To which @Masie_Willaims responds, "Not today."
Honestly, I have no idea why Bill Shine thinks he can take on Millennials in a contest of memes. That generation has been forged in the fires of always-online social media and will skewer his dank memes before he even sees the blade.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:02 PM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
Trump's bragging about the new economic numbers aside, it's pretty standard in terms of mendacity and fear-mongering. Dale notes this is new, though: “Trump, for the first time at a rally, says they could lose the House: "It could happen. Could happen." He says: "And you know what you do? My whole life, you know what I say? 'Don't worry about it, I'll just figure it out.' Does that make sense? I'll figure it out."”
Trump tweet which is a hagiographic pic of him with 'SANCTIONS ARE COMING / NOVEMBER 5" written on it in the Game of Thrones font. [real]
To which @Masie_Willaims responds, "Not today."
Honestly, I have no idea why Bill Shine thinks he can take on Millennials in a contest of memes. That generation has been forged in the fires of always-online social media and will skewer his dank memes before he even sees the blade.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:02 PM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
NBC News produces an internal document they call "The Book" for election night, a big report on everything at stake, competitive races, quick bullet points on interesting races organized by poll closing times, and more. And this year, they've been kind enough to post it online [pdf] so everyone can channel their inner Steve Kornacki.
Pair this with @Taniel's whatsontheballot.com, which packs 407 races of interest into a spreadsheet, including significant state and local candidates and referenda.
posted by zachlipton at 2:16 PM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
Pair this with @Taniel's whatsontheballot.com, which packs 407 races of interest into a spreadsheet, including significant state and local candidates and referenda.
posted by zachlipton at 2:16 PM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
@GregStohr: BREAKING: Supreme Court rejects Trump administration, won't stop next week's trial over decision to include citizenship question on the 2020 census. Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch dissent.
@KlasfeldReports: See you in court bright and early on Monday for trial! Proceedings start that morning at 9:30 a.m. Watch this space. #Census2020
posted by zachlipton at 2:21 PM on November 2, 2018 [32 favorites]
@KlasfeldReports: See you in court bright and early on Monday for trial! Proceedings start that morning at 9:30 a.m. Watch this space. #Census2020
posted by zachlipton at 2:21 PM on November 2, 2018 [32 favorites]
I don't like to overly pimp it, but I do have my own elections tracker, which I'll be trying to keep current on election night.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [64 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 2:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [64 favorites]
did Kavanaugh recuse himself on this one or did he vote with the majority?
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:26 PM on November 2, 2018
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:26 PM on November 2, 2018
Steve King seems to have realized he might be in trouble and has rushed an ad onto the air. He didn't bother to run any until now, and apparently he wasn't planning to run any, because someone noticed that it's a recycled ad from his 2014 campaign.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:27 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 2:27 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
@GregStohr: BREAKING: Supreme Court rejects Trump administration, won't stop next week's trial over decision to include citizenship question on the 2020 census. Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch dissent.
I love the comment on this that simply says, "What of Beer Boy?"
posted by JenMarie at 2:30 PM on November 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
I love the comment on this that simply says, "What of Beer Boy?"
posted by JenMarie at 2:30 PM on November 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
Since SC justices virtually never recuse themselves it seems likely he voted with Roberts.
posted by Justinian at 2:32 PM on November 2, 2018
posted by Justinian at 2:32 PM on November 2, 2018
State Rep's Outline for Killing Non-Believers In Holy War is Referred to FBI
Five-term Washington state Rep. Matt Shea has been circulating a manual for holy war in the United States, the Seattle Times reported.posted by Atom Eyes at 2:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
The four-page document, titled “Biblical Basis for War,” goes point-by-point over how a Christian theocratic movement could – and should – exterminate its opposition in a battle to win a hypothetical holy war.
At the outset, Shea’s holy army would issue terms of surrender to its enemies. The demands include “stop all abortions,” “no same-sex marriage,” “no idolatry or occultism,” “no communism,” and “must obey Biblical law.”
If the rest of the country refuses to “yield” to these terms, the document advocates a final solution: “kill all males.”
But Ortega today is pretty different than the Sandinistas of yore - IIRC he's super anti-gay and he's definitely enriching himself, so he ought to be popular with the right if they only knew.
Please, no.
Ortega is the same now as he has been for the last forty years - a corrupt, murdering man who raped his own stepdaughter, who had to flee the country for her safety and who has still not been able to get justice. There was no magic time when Ortega was good. He has always been bad. There were times when he was not as successful at consolidating power, but he has always been what he is.
The reason the Trumpists are going hard on Nicaragua, however, is not because they know anything about it - it's because they are trying to reach Hispanics like me who would throw a fucking party if Ortega was toppled, and they just don't fucking understand that there is literally nothing, even an Ortega-toppling-party, that will ever make us forgive them.
posted by corb at 2:39 PM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
Please, no.
Ortega is the same now as he has been for the last forty years - a corrupt, murdering man who raped his own stepdaughter, who had to flee the country for her safety and who has still not been able to get justice. There was no magic time when Ortega was good. He has always been bad. There were times when he was not as successful at consolidating power, but he has always been what he is.
The reason the Trumpists are going hard on Nicaragua, however, is not because they know anything about it - it's because they are trying to reach Hispanics like me who would throw a fucking party if Ortega was toppled, and they just don't fucking understand that there is literally nothing, even an Ortega-toppling-party, that will ever make us forgive them.
posted by corb at 2:39 PM on November 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
CNN, Pentagon rejected request for troops to act as emergency law enforcement at border
When the Trump administration first asked the Pentagon to send troops to the southern border, they wanted them to perform emergency law enforcement functions, CNN has learned.posted by zachlipton at 2:41 PM on November 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
The Pentagon said no.
According to two defense official familiar with the request, the Department of Homeland Security asked that the Pentagon provide a reserve force that could be called upon to provide "crowd and traffic control" and safeguard Customs and Border Protection personnel at the border to counter a group of Central American migrants walking to the US border to request asylum.
The Pentagon rejected the request on October 26, according to one of the officials, even as it signed off on providing DHS with air and logistics support, medical personnel and engineers.
The request was turned down because the Department of Defense felt that active duty troops do not have the authority to conduct that type of mission unless they are granted additional authorities by the President.
So, let me get this straight. The Pentagon knows what it's doing, and Trump doesn't. Huh.
posted by Melismata at 2:47 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 2:47 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
At Carson City event, Donald Trump, Jr. warns against 'apathy'
@petridishes: achieve this so we can have a figrin d’aan and the modal nodes concert on the mall please
posted by zachlipton at 2:53 PM on November 2, 2018 [41 favorites]
“If they get in on November 6th and take over the House or the Senate, God forbid, you will not recognize America,” Guilfoyle said. “So I’m asking every fearless patriot out there to get out and get your friends involved… Otherwise you are going to get the Star Wars bar scene.”She's used this line at least a couple of times that I'm aware of, and it's so fucking racist I can't even. From the last time:
@petridishes: achieve this so we can have a figrin d’aan and the modal nodes concert on the mall please
posted by zachlipton at 2:53 PM on November 2, 2018 [41 favorites]
The star wars bar scene literally has two characters kicked out because they don't serve their kind here!!
posted by BungaDunga at 2:55 PM on November 2, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 2:55 PM on November 2, 2018 [40 favorites]
Wait does that mean we get '77 Harrison Ford because that is really a large point on our side
posted by angrycat at 2:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 2:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [39 favorites]
just like "taco trucks on every corner" it's simultaneously incredibly racist and "um, yes please I would like that very much thank you"
posted by flaterik at 3:00 PM on November 2, 2018 [69 favorites]
posted by flaterik at 3:00 PM on November 2, 2018 [69 favorites]
like, I get what he's saying, but for most people who've seen Star Wars but aren't superfans, the cantina scene is their favorite part
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:01 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:01 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
Don Jr. definitely sees himself as one of the dudes smirking in the background as Darth Vader chokes the guy with a disturbing lack of faith
posted by theodolite at 3:04 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 3:04 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
So, um, the Pentagon used this as an opportunity to squeeze Trump to give the military more legal authority? Of course it did.
In what way could they state that they did not have sufficient legal authority without it being interpreted as asking for more?
posted by Bovine Love at 3:05 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
In what way could they state that they did not have sufficient legal authority without it being interpreted as asking for more?
posted by Bovine Love at 3:05 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Remember, Donny Jr. is the one managing Trump's trust which doesn't require divestment on the pretext that Donny Jr. isn't involved in politics.
posted by JackFlash at 3:07 PM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 3:07 PM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
Peru admitted more migrants in a single day than are in the entire caravan. Bloomberg, Peru Admits More Than 6,700 Venezuelans in New Daily Record
The number of Venezuelans entering Peru set a new daily record of 6,708 on Wednesday, exceeding the number of migrants in the caravan making its way toward the U.S that’s become a target for President Donald Trump ahead of the critical midterm elections.posted by zachlipton at 3:25 PM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Please, if the Trumps are any 1977 movie, it's Smokey and the Bandit. Trump, Sr. is Buford T. Justice, toilet paper stuck to his shoe. Trump, Jr. Is Junior, clueless but concentrating as hard as he can.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:34 PM on November 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
Re.: The Troika of Tyranny. I hope I'm wrong, but I feel they are looking for a war, and have realized Iran is too big of a mouthful.
One problem with the Iran sanctions, as EU sees it, is that a group of nations don't give a shit about US sanctions and they deal with Iran all they want. Making them influential in Iran, which is not ideal. Even Iran would rather trade with Europe than with Russia and China, but that's where we are leaving them. And then of course the ongoing point that Saudi Arabia is as least as crooked and destructive as Iran, but is not sanctioned.
I wish we could all loose our dependency on oil and those countries.
posted by mumimor at 3:36 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
One problem with the Iran sanctions, as EU sees it, is that a group of nations don't give a shit about US sanctions and they deal with Iran all they want. Making them influential in Iran, which is not ideal. Even Iran would rather trade with Europe than with Russia and China, but that's where we are leaving them. And then of course the ongoing point that Saudi Arabia is as least as crooked and destructive as Iran, but is not sanctioned.
I wish we could all loose our dependency on oil and those countries.
posted by mumimor at 3:36 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
A war with a South American country? There's no way that would be covered by the AUMF (which should have been repealed a decade ago as it is.)
posted by Justinian at 3:55 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:55 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's a bit of a joke that I post all of Krugman's columns in the NYTimes. I don't, really. But now I'm posting the whole text of his latest comment for your last-minute persuasion of friends and thanksgiving entertainment. For the mods: it's a short comment and I feel it needs to be read in its entirety, regardless of wether someone can get past the NYT firewall. It sums up a lot of stuff we've been discussing, and he is a Nobel-prize winning economist.
During my first year as an Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, I wasn’t allowed to use the word “lie.”posted by mumimor at 3:59 PM on November 2, 2018 [88 favorites]
That first year coincided with the 2000 election, and George W. Bush was, in fact, being systematically dishonest about his economic proposals — saying false things about who would benefit from his tax cut and the implications of Social Security privatization. But the notion that a major party’s presidential candidate would go beyond spin to outright lies still seemed outrageous, and saying it was considered beyond the pale.
Obviously that prohibition no longer holds on this opinion page, and major media organizations have become increasingly willing to point out raw falsehoods. But they’ve been chasing a moving target, because the lies just keep getting bigger and more pervasive. In fact, at this point the G.O.P.’s campaign message consists of nothing but lies; it’s hard to think of a single true thing Republicans are running on.
And yes, it’s a Republican problem (and it’s not just Donald Trump). Democrats aren’t saints, but they campaign mostly on real issues, and generally do, in fact, stand for more or less what they claim to stand for. Republicans don’t. And the total dishonesty of Republican electioneering should itself be a decisive political issue, because at this point it defines the party’s character.
What are Republicans lying about? As I said, almost everything. But there are two big themes. They lie about their agenda, pretending that their policies would help the middle and working classes when they would, in fact, do the opposite. And they lie about the problems America faces, hyping an imaginary threat from scary dark-skinned people and, increasingly, attributing that threat to Jewish conspirators.
Both classes of lie are rooted in the real G.O.P. agenda.
What Republicans truly stand for, and have for decades, is cutting taxes on the rich and slashing social programs. Sure enough, last year they succeeded in ramming through a huge tax cut aimed mainly at corporations and the wealthy, and came within one vote of passing a health “reform” that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would have caused 32 million Americans to lose health coverage.
The G.O.P.’s problem is that this agenda is deeply unpopular. Large majorities of Americans oppose cuts in major social programs, while most voters want to raise, not reduce, taxes on corporations and high-income individuals.
But instead of changing their agenda to meet voters’ concerns, Republicans have resorted to a strategy of deception and distraction. On one side, they have gone full black-is-white, up-is-down on policy substance. Most spectacularly, they are posing as defenders of protection for people with pre-existing conditions — protection that their failed health bill would have stripped away, and which they are now trying to take away through the courts. And they’re claiming that Democrats are the ones threatening Medicare.
On the other side, they’re resorting to their old standby: race-based fear.
But selling racial fear was easier in the 1980s and early 1990s, when America really was suffering from high levels of inner-city crime. Since then, violent crime has plunged. What’s a fearmonger to do? The answer is: lie.
The lies have come nonstop since Trump’s inauguration address, which conveyed a false vision of “American carnage.” But they have gotten ever more extreme, culminating in the portrayal of a small caravan of refugees still 1,000 miles from the border as an imminent, menacing invasion — somehow full of diseased Middle Eastern terrorists.
And now there’s the added insinuation that sinister Jewish financiers are the real culprits behind this invasion. Because that’s where people doing this kind of thing always end up.
The crucial thing to realize is that these aren’t just ugly, destructive lies. Beyond that, they shape the G.O.P.’s nature. It is now impossible to have intellectual integrity and a conscience while remaining a Republican in good standing. Some conservatives have these qualities; almost all of them have left the party, or are on the edge of excommunication.
There's no way that would be covered by the AUMF
But remember, Trump said "Middle Easterners" were sneaking into the caravan. Voila, it's part of the War on Terror (tm).
(I mean, obviously not, but there are already so many examples of blatant misuse of the AUMF that... what exactly would happen if they misused it again? Nothing)
posted by thefoxgod at 3:59 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
But remember, Trump said "Middle Easterners" were sneaking into the caravan. Voila, it's part of the War on Terror (tm).
(I mean, obviously not, but there are already so many examples of blatant misuse of the AUMF that... what exactly would happen if they misused it again? Nothing)
posted by thefoxgod at 3:59 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
"VOTE R FOR RACISM"
posted by growabrain at 4:05 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 4:05 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
Reuters: The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected for now a bid by the President Donald Trump’s administration to block a trial in a lawsuit filed by young activists who have accused the U.S. government of ignoring the perils of climate change.
A good result for now, but there are some indications it may be short-lived.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:12 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
A good result for now, but there are some indications it may be short-lived.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:12 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
It is now impossible to have intellectual integrity and a conscience while remaining a Republican in good standing.
That has been true for 25 years. What is now possible is to state it in a major newspaper.
posted by M-x shell at 4:15 PM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
That has been true for 25 years. What is now possible is to state it in a major newspaper.
posted by M-x shell at 4:15 PM on November 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Police nab man suspected of anti-Semitic arson
Police have a man in custody for setting eight fires throughout Williamsburg, including in front of an Orthodox Jewish seminary.posted by zachlipton at 4:16 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
On Friday, a series of fires were set in the south section of Williamsburg, including in front of Yeshiva Beth Hillel of Williamsburg.
Seven other locations, allegedly in front of other yeshivas and synagogues within the predominantly Hasidic community, had fires set in front of and inside trash cans. The damage was minor, police said.
So, uh, MetaFilter. I know self-promotion is frowned upon and all but this is more of an announcement so. Offered as a counterpoint to the 12 "oh but it's hard to mail in a ballot" stories, although in all fairness, I am An Old.
Last Thursday I attended my Naturalization Ceremony and became a US citizen.
Last Friday I registered and voted because you can register on the same day in Maryland if you're doing early voting, and there's actually a question on the current ballot about same-day registration on the actual Election Day as well.
(Even if I had had any misguided notions about "oh it's a safe state, my vote doesn't matter," one look at the local races and the Questions on the ballot would have cured me of that right quick. Yes it matters. So maybe that's another way to convince people unwilling to vote in 'safe' states: Choosing the sheriff matters, and while you're there you might as well vote for the senator too, kind of thing.)
posted by seyirci at 4:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [223 favorites]
Last Thursday I attended my Naturalization Ceremony and became a US citizen.
Last Friday I registered and voted because you can register on the same day in Maryland if you're doing early voting, and there's actually a question on the current ballot about same-day registration on the actual Election Day as well.
(Even if I had had any misguided notions about "oh it's a safe state, my vote doesn't matter," one look at the local races and the Questions on the ballot would have cured me of that right quick. Yes it matters. So maybe that's another way to convince people unwilling to vote in 'safe' states: Choosing the sheriff matters, and while you're there you might as well vote for the senator too, kind of thing.)
posted by seyirci at 4:24 PM on November 2, 2018 [223 favorites]
Last Thursday I attended my Naturalization Ceremony and became a US citizen.
Congrats! Sorry about the mess, we're working on it.
posted by Justinian at 4:26 PM on November 2, 2018 [78 favorites]
Congrats! Sorry about the mess, we're working on it.
posted by Justinian at 4:26 PM on November 2, 2018 [78 favorites]
seyirci! Welcome! I am glad to be a co-citizen with you, and I thank you for voting!
posted by kristi at 4:50 PM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by kristi at 4:50 PM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Even if I had had any misguided notions about "oh it's a safe state, my vote doesn't matter," one look at the local races and the Questions on the ballot would have cured me of that right quick.
I know Jealous has a slim chance, but that was one of the reasons I came out, aside from the smaller races. I wanted to show that even if Hogan wins, there are people like me who are not happy about his lack of support for public transportation.
posted by numaner at 4:54 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
I know Jealous has a slim chance, but that was one of the reasons I came out, aside from the smaller races. I wanted to show that even if Hogan wins, there are people like me who are not happy about his lack of support for public transportation.
posted by numaner at 4:54 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
> Last Thursday I attended my Naturalization Ceremony and became a US citizen
Yay! Thanks for not breaking up with us during this awkward period!
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:54 PM on November 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
Yay! Thanks for not breaking up with us during this awkward period!
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:54 PM on November 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
Welcome to the party, pal!
posted by kirkaracha at 5:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
welcome aboard, seyerci!
posted by 20 year lurk at 5:16 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 5:16 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mod note: Welcome seyerci and maybe further congratulators can take it to metatalk or memail hereinafter instead of continuing in this thread!
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 5:18 PM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 5:18 PM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
In which Tom Perez meanders through hundreds of words trying to explain why he won't call Trump a racist or a bigot.
If the Party establishment were a spice, it would be flour.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [40 favorites]
If the Party establishment were a spice, it would be flour.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [40 favorites]
Democrats absolutely can be nicer than Republicans, but they totally must define Republicans by what they stand for, because the so-called "liberal media" won't (but will transmit the Republicans doing same to Democrats). The stakes are too high to unilaterally disarm.
Democrats don't need to slander Republicans, but they need to define them, and not just when it's election time. Democrats must make the contrast between what they and Republicans stand for clear in voters' minds, simply by pointing out what policies Republicans enact.
This is what I've been trying to say regarding Beto, that he's so wedded to his concept of a purely positive campaign that he's unwilling to do this for fear of fanning the flames of division. It showed in his first debate; I think it made him look uncertain, weak. Somebody convinced him of it, he was more willing to go there in the second debate & I think it showed.
posted by scalefree at 5:23 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Democrats don't need to slander Republicans, but they need to define them, and not just when it's election time. Democrats must make the contrast between what they and Republicans stand for clear in voters' minds, simply by pointing out what policies Republicans enact.
This is what I've been trying to say regarding Beto, that he's so wedded to his concept of a purely positive campaign that he's unwilling to do this for fear of fanning the flames of division. It showed in his first debate; I think it made him look uncertain, weak. Somebody convinced him of it, he was more willing to go there in the second debate & I think it showed.
posted by scalefree at 5:23 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Once Reluctant to Speak Out, an Energized Obama Now Calls Out His Successor
posted by bluesky43 at 5:33 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 5:33 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
yeesh, that Tom Perez interview... I think that's best summed up as:
"Let me try to address your point."
(spends next paragraph not addressing the point.)
Not something to read if you are trying to retain some optimism.
posted by MysticMCJ at 5:48 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Let me try to address your point."
(spends next paragraph not addressing the point.)
Not something to read if you are trying to retain some optimism.
posted by MysticMCJ at 5:48 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Daily Beast: Senate Intel to NRA: Hand Over Documents on Your Russia Trip
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:52 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
The Senate intelligence committee has asked the National Rifle Association to provide documents on its connections to Russia—including documents related to a 2015 trip some of its top leaders made to Moscow. That’s according to two sources briefed on the committee’s activities.[...]Meanwhile, the lawyer for Natalie Sours Edwards, the FinCEN senior adviser who leaked SARs on Butina, Manafort, and the oligarch-linked Prevezon Holdings, tells federal court that his client "felt an obligation to bring forward" to reveal these to Buzzfeed because "certain pieces of information were not being handled the right way and were not being brought to the attention of the people who should know it". (Reuters)
In December 2015, [Maria Butina's Right to Bear Arms] group sponsored an NRA delegation to come to Moscow for a week. NRA dignitaries also met with another influential Russian, the former deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin. Torshin subsequently came under U.S. sanctions; Rogozin had been under sanctions since 2014.
Former NRA President David Keene and soon-to-be president Peter Brownell were both on the trip. Accompanying them were Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke; NRA donors Jim Gregory and Arnold and Hilary Goldschlager; and Jim Liberatore, the president and CEO of the Outdoor Channel.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:52 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) has proposed a data privacy law providing for up 20 years in prison for executives of companies which violate it, including data brokers dealing in the information of consumers who aren't their customers
posted by XMLicious at 6:15 PM on November 2, 2018 [57 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 6:15 PM on November 2, 2018 [57 favorites]
Interesting twitter thread
“White women, what are your white women friends and family saying about 45? People I'm friends with who are white are an unrepresentative sample,”
glance at a moment results , White women still with Trump are older, single issue abortion voters, and/or marinating in Fox News/ Facebook paranoia factory all day.
posted by The Whelk at 6:39 PM on November 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
“White women, what are your white women friends and family saying about 45? People I'm friends with who are white are an unrepresentative sample,”
glance at a moment results , White women still with Trump are older, single issue abortion voters, and/or marinating in Fox News/ Facebook paranoia factory all day.
posted by The Whelk at 6:39 PM on November 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
All the white women I know can't stand Trump.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:55 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:55 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
popping back in to report that, following my upthread criticism of the neiwert eliminationism twitterthread's omission of a decade+ of islamophobia, and following the urging of T.D. Strange (& w/ homunculus' previously), i've read 8 of 10 chapters of eliminationism in america, and so add my hearty endorsement, notwithstanding earlier-expressed concern, which i stand by, so far. reading the series of essays is, in my experience, most like reading dee hock's bury my heart at wounded knee or naomi klein's the shock doctrine, insofar as each carefully recounts betrayal and atrocity upon betrayal and atrocity over and unbelievably over again and again, a bludgeoning barrage of separate-but-similar horrors. or being jumped into a gang of historians. so, as i say too often here, it is terrible, and good to know.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:56 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:56 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
All the white women I know can't stand Trump.
Because of geographical clustering. Sadly enough, white women as a whole will once again vote for Trump if he makes it to 2020.
posted by Justinian at 6:59 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
Because of geographical clustering. Sadly enough, white women as a whole will once again vote for Trump if he makes it to 2020.
posted by Justinian at 6:59 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
Accompanying them were Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke;
*click*
Ooohhhhhhh! He was supposed to be their Ollie North! Huh. That is some weird shit.
posted by petebest at 7:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
*click*
Ooohhhhhhh! He was supposed to be their Ollie North! Huh. That is some weird shit.
posted by petebest at 7:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
New York Daily News: New York DMV to yank license plate over anti-Semitic acronym used by neo-Nazis.
posted by adamg at 7:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by adamg at 7:10 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 4 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 4 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
=> FWIW, these Harris Interactive polls seem kind of wacky.** 2018 House:
-- AZ:-- Harris Interactive poll has GOPer McSally up 48-42 on Dem Sinema [no MOE listed on any of these Harris Interactive polls].-- CA: YouGov poll has incumbent Feinstein up 36-29 on de León [MOE: +/- 3.1%].
-- Vox Populi poll has Sinema up 47-32 [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- FL:-- Harris Interactive poll has GOPer Scott up 47-46 on Dem incumbent Nelson.-- IN: Harris Interactive poll has Dem incumbent Donnelly tied 42-42 with GOPer Braun.
-- Vox Populi poll has Scott up 48-43 [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- MO: Harris Interactive poll has Dem incumbent McCaskill up 46-44 on GOPer Hawley.
-- MT: Harris Interactive poll has Dem incumbent Tester up 48-41 on GOPer Rosendale.
-- NJ: Stockton U poll has Dem incumbent Menendez up 51-39 on GOPer Hugin [MOE not listed].
-- NV:-- Harris Interactive poll has Dem Rosen up 46-43 on GOP incumbent Heller.-- PA: Muhlenberg College poll has Dem incumbent Casey up 54-40 on GOPer Barletta [MOE +/- 5.5%].
-- Gravis poll has Rosen up 47-45 [MOE +/- 3.5%].
-- TN: ETSU poll has Dem Bredesen tied 44-44 with GOPer Blackburn [MOE +/- 4.0%].
-- CA-45: Siena poll has Dem Porter up 48-46 on GOP incumbent Walters [MOE +/- 4.6%]. [Clinton 50-44 | Cook: Tossup]** Odds & ends:
-- IA-01: Siena poll has Dem Finkenauer up 46-39 on GOP incumbent Blum [MOE +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 49-45 | Cook: Lean D]
-- NY-27: Dixie Strategies poll has GOP incumbent Collins up 45-38 on Dem McMurray [no MOE listed]. [Trump 60-35 | Cook: Lean R]
-- CA-48: TPStrat Research poll has GOP incumbent Rohrabacher up 51-42 on Dem Rouda [MOE +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 48-46 | Cook: Tossup]
-- CA-49: Survey USA poll has Dem Levin up 51-44 on GOPer Harkey [MOE +/- 5.4%]. [Clinton 51-43 | Cook: Lean D]
-- NC-09: Controversial statements from GOP candidate Harris emerged where he said Jews and Muslims needed to convert to Christianity to reach Middle East peace. [Trump 54-43 | Cook: Tossup]
-- AZ gov: [Cook: Likely R]** Averages & forecasts:-- Same Harris Interactive poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 57-36 on Dem Garcia.-- CA gov: Same YouGov poll has Dem Newsom up 53-34 on GOPer Cox. Downballot: Prop 6 (repeal gas tax): NO 47-34. Prop 10 (allow rent control): NO 42-33.
-- Same Vox Populi poll has Ducey up 54-46.
-- FL gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- Same Harris Interactive poll has Dem Gillum up 48-44 on GOPer DeSantis.-- ME gov: Slingshot Strategies has Dem Mills at 55, GOPer Moody at 38, indy Hayes at 7 [MOE not listed]. [Cook: Tossup] => It's less than a week until the election, and you're still doing a registered voters poll? [eyes emoji]
-- Same Vox Populi poll has Gillum up 53-47.
-- NV gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- Same Harris Interactive poll has Dem Sisolak up 46-44 on GOPer Laxalt.-- PA gov: Same Muhlenberg poll has Dem incumbent Wolf up 58-37 on GOPer Wagner. [Cook: Likely D] => Seems to confirm yesterday's F&M poll. Could have major implications for PA legislature.
-- Same Gravis poll has Sisolak up 46-44.
-- IA gov: U of Iowa poll has Dem Hubbell up 44-40 on GOP incumbent Reynolds [MOE: +/- 4.5%] [Cook: Tossup]
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.3 (50.5/42.2)posted by Chrysostom at 7:16 PM on November 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.8% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 15.7% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
These racist appeals do not work on me, because I am not racist (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
It is rude and wrong of people to insinuate that I am racist just because what motivates me to come to the polls are:posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
1) creepy ads that demonize all immigrants,
2) ominous warnings about The Caravan that Fox News has covered 24/7 in a way that makes me believe invaders are coming for my lake house, or
3) the president shouting the word “NATIONALIST” while my dog whimpers in agony.
The mere fact that what inspires me to vote is the idea that the president wants to dramatically undercut the 14th Amendment doesn’t make me racist. At best, it would make me — Golly, what is the word? — racially tinged! Racially charged. Daubed with the faintest racial chiaroscuro.
I’m not racist. I don’t care if you’re blue, green, purple — you are not welcome in this country. I don’t see color. Or rather, I would prefer not to see color.
I wonder if we could get the Schoolhouse Rock people to license The Great American Melting Pot to the Democratic Party to use for their theme song. It'd be a great way to troll the Republicans, especially if you updated the video to be more inclusive. And if they spoke out against Schoolhouse Rock? What sort of monsters are you? Hell, there's a whole series of relevant numbers that should probably be leveraged as responses to tweets.
That's only half-joking, for what it's worth. I honestly think they should be emphasizing the messages we all grew up on, and introducing the latest generation to civil discourse like Schoolhouse Rock. We in Gen-X marinated in it, and I'd like to see it similarly visible today; I think we'd all benefit to be reminded of those lessons.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 7:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
That's only half-joking, for what it's worth. I honestly think they should be emphasizing the messages we all grew up on, and introducing the latest generation to civil discourse like Schoolhouse Rock. We in Gen-X marinated in it, and I'd like to see it similarly visible today; I think we'd all benefit to be reminded of those lessons.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 7:22 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Mod note: Let's not do yet another round on "how many white women support Trump" -- the twitter thread is worth looking at, otherwise Tuesday we'll have data rather than anecdata.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 7:27 PM on November 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 7:27 PM on November 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
"JOHN COX FOR GOVERNOR"
Cox's ads in CA are basically "There's too much traffic, it's too crowded, and housing costs are way too high. If you elect John Cox that will change." I have a hard time not reading that as "Everybody wants to live here but if you elect me, John Cox, I vow to make California so shitty that nobody wants to be here any more."
posted by Justinian at 7:29 PM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
Cox's ads in CA are basically "There's too much traffic, it's too crowded, and housing costs are way too high. If you elect John Cox that will change." I have a hard time not reading that as "Everybody wants to live here but if you elect me, John Cox, I vow to make California so shitty that nobody wants to be here any more."
posted by Justinian at 7:29 PM on November 2, 2018 [19 favorites]
-- TN: ETSU poll has Dem Bredesen tied 44-44 with GOPer Blackburn [MOE +/- 4.0%].
This is super interesting to me. Most of the polls I've seen have had Bredesen lagging behind the Trumpette Blackburn. But ETSU is the 1st District, which is very red upper East TN. We haven't had a Democratic Congressperson in over 140 years. I just moved back to the area last year, and I've been surprised by how many Bredesen signs I've seen around. More than Blackburn for sure. Bredesen has also been campaigning HEAVILY in this area. He was at the hip coffee shop in my town last week, and will be in Johnson City (home of ETSU) on Monday. I can't speak to comparative methodology... but if ETSU was showing the race this close, I'm feeling a flutter of hope.
posted by kimdog at 7:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is super interesting to me. Most of the polls I've seen have had Bredesen lagging behind the Trumpette Blackburn. But ETSU is the 1st District, which is very red upper East TN. We haven't had a Democratic Congressperson in over 140 years. I just moved back to the area last year, and I've been surprised by how many Bredesen signs I've seen around. More than Blackburn for sure. Bredesen has also been campaigning HEAVILY in this area. He was at the hip coffee shop in my town last week, and will be in Johnson City (home of ETSU) on Monday. I can't speak to comparative methodology... but if ETSU was showing the race this close, I'm feeling a flutter of hope.
posted by kimdog at 7:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
New York Daily News: New York DMV to yank license plate over anti-Semitic acronym used by neo-Nazis.
[fake]And on the line, we have the plate's registrant, Paulie from Queens:[/fake]
[fake]Radio Host: Paulie, you have described yourself as... [/fake]
[real] "an average conservative who is still friendly with a childhood Jewish friend. "
Paulie from Queens: “Sure, They’re not all a part of the Zionist-Occupied Government.” [/real]
posted by mikelieman at 7:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
[fake]And on the line, we have the plate's registrant, Paulie from Queens:[/fake]
[fake]Radio Host: Paulie, you have described yourself as... [/fake]
[real] "an average conservative who is still friendly with a childhood Jewish friend. "
Paulie from Queens: “Sure, They’re not all a part of the Zionist-Occupied Government.” [/real]
posted by mikelieman at 7:37 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
New York Daily News: New York DMV to yank license plate over anti-Semitic acronym used by neo-Nazis.
this is almost certainly due to the wide sharing of Three Months Inside New York's Alt-Right (Commune) which I recommend to everyone for seeing what this looks like in a big urban metropole.
posted by The Whelk at 7:41 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
this is almost certainly due to the wide sharing of Three Months Inside New York's Alt-Right (Commune) which I recommend to everyone for seeing what this looks like in a big urban metropole.
posted by The Whelk at 7:41 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
Alexandra Petri really nailed this bit:
I’m not racist. I don’t care if you’re blue, green, purple
This is what they always seem to go with..."I don't care if you're green, or purple..."
Well, you know what? I'm just going to put this right out there. If you are GREEN? Or PURPLE? I care. I actually care a lot. I'm going to have some questions. And they may not be very P.C. I'm going to be, like..."So, where are you from? Uh huh. Yeah, Wisconson, okay...but I mean...where are your *people* from? You know, ethnically? Like, what planetary system?"
What I *don't* find so interesting is any normal homo sapiens skin color. And it's a little weird that the "I'm not racist" people always go with green and purple. Like they need to show off how not-racist they are with examples from Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy. It feels a bit like overcompensation.
posted by uosuaq at 7:56 PM on November 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
I’m not racist. I don’t care if you’re blue, green, purple
This is what they always seem to go with..."I don't care if you're green, or purple..."
Well, you know what? I'm just going to put this right out there. If you are GREEN? Or PURPLE? I care. I actually care a lot. I'm going to have some questions. And they may not be very P.C. I'm going to be, like..."So, where are you from? Uh huh. Yeah, Wisconson, okay...but I mean...where are your *people* from? You know, ethnically? Like, what planetary system?"
What I *don't* find so interesting is any normal homo sapiens skin color. And it's a little weird that the "I'm not racist" people always go with green and purple. Like they need to show off how not-racist they are with examples from Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy. It feels a bit like overcompensation.
posted by uosuaq at 7:56 PM on November 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
they say it cause there's so social structure against, 200 years of structural, cultural and economic racism against, or mass institutionalized violence against, people with green skin.
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 PM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 PM on November 2, 2018 [18 favorites]
The EPA's Climate Change Page Is Just Gone Now
A report released this week by the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative reveals that the removal of climate change information from the EPA website is set to be a long-term policy of the Trump administration.
posted by adamvasco at 7:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
A report released this week by the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative reveals that the removal of climate change information from the EPA website is set to be a long-term policy of the Trump administration.
posted by adamvasco at 7:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
Like they need to show off how not-racist they are with examples from Star Wars
Oops.
posted by petebest at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oops.
posted by petebest at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
@petridishes: achieve this so we can have a figrin d’aan and the modal nodes concert on the mall please
I'm so disappointed in the lack of Photoshops
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:13 PM on November 2, 2018
I'm so disappointed in the lack of Photoshops
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:13 PM on November 2, 2018
Three Months Inside New York's Alt-Right (Commune)
Has this already been posted here? Worth quoting:
"I replied that the antifascists may be right—the only way to stop Spencer is to take away his platform. Paul agreed completely: 'They think they’ll give him enough rope to hang himself with, but he won’t.'"
"The three of them had recently flyered Prospect Park, but complained it didn’t get any media attention, which they rely on for recruiting."
posted by reductiondesign at 8:13 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Has this already been posted here? Worth quoting:
"I replied that the antifascists may be right—the only way to stop Spencer is to take away his platform. Paul agreed completely: 'They think they’ll give him enough rope to hang himself with, but he won’t.'"
"The three of them had recently flyered Prospect Park, but complained it didn’t get any media attention, which they rely on for recruiting."
posted by reductiondesign at 8:13 PM on November 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I just wanted to drop some links for GOTV texting operations happening this weekend that are still accepting volunteers. All are done from a laptop using a web browser, not your personal phone:
Open Progress - Lots of CA House races, some Dem AG races, NC House races. Once you're in the system (takes about 15 minutes to go through the steps and be trained), you can pick open campaigns at will. Uses Knock, which strikes me as one of the better texting tools.
Resistance Labs - Many different races, some are good and some are frankly wastes of time, so worth taking a moment to be strategic. Once you're in the system, you can fill out a form to be added to whatever's running. Uses Hustle, which is not one of the better texting tools.
Indivisible - The group near you is probably hosting a local event too, but you can signup with that link to call or text from home.
NextGen - I haven't texted them this cycle, but did some GOTV texting for them on Election Day 2016, and it was great. It was a really hot list of young engaged people (people would respond back with "yay NextGen" and the like) and I reached a couple people who directly needed some help voting (looking up their polling place location/hours, talking through ID requirement issues, etc...) so it felt particularly productive. They'll be setup to provide rides to the polls too. Uses Relay, which is one of the better texting tools.
posted by zachlipton at 8:32 PM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Open Progress - Lots of CA House races, some Dem AG races, NC House races. Once you're in the system (takes about 15 minutes to go through the steps and be trained), you can pick open campaigns at will. Uses Knock, which strikes me as one of the better texting tools.
Resistance Labs - Many different races, some are good and some are frankly wastes of time, so worth taking a moment to be strategic. Once you're in the system, you can fill out a form to be added to whatever's running. Uses Hustle, which is not one of the better texting tools.
Indivisible - The group near you is probably hosting a local event too, but you can signup with that link to call or text from home.
NextGen - I haven't texted them this cycle, but did some GOTV texting for them on Election Day 2016, and it was great. It was a really hot list of young engaged people (people would respond back with "yay NextGen" and the like) and I reached a couple people who directly needed some help voting (looking up their polling place location/hours, talking through ID requirement issues, etc...) so it felt particularly productive. They'll be setup to provide rides to the polls too. Uses Relay, which is one of the better texting tools.
posted by zachlipton at 8:32 PM on November 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
Max Levitas, Irish-Jewish, communist anti-fascist who fought in the Battle of Cable Street, has died at age 103.
May we all smash the fash into our triple digits.
Come together, the flag is ready
It waves in anger, it is red with blood!
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:35 PM on November 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
May we all smash the fash into our triple digits.
Come together, the flag is ready
It waves in anger, it is red with blood!
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:35 PM on November 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
This is what they always seem to go with..."I don't care if you're green, or purple..."
I noticed long ago that we have African American, Asian American, Native American, but us white folk just get to call ourselves "Americans" like we own the term. It's a convenient way of classifying people by color without actually saying it. I've since—off and on anyway—used European* American instead of claiming whiteness where conversations warrant it. It feels like cheating to get to claim the eponym American all for myself just because I'm Caucasian. This silly need to classify our fellow Americans on a hyphenated basis makes no sense, but I figure why not at least make it consistently nonsensical.
*Or more commonly say my ancestry makes me Northwest Asian. Separate continent, yeah right—not on a pragmatic basis, certainly.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 8:41 PM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
I noticed long ago that we have African American, Asian American, Native American, but us white folk just get to call ourselves "Americans" like we own the term. It's a convenient way of classifying people by color without actually saying it. I've since—off and on anyway—used European* American instead of claiming whiteness where conversations warrant it. It feels like cheating to get to claim the eponym American all for myself just because I'm Caucasian. This silly need to classify our fellow Americans on a hyphenated basis makes no sense, but I figure why not at least make it consistently nonsensical.
*Or more commonly say my ancestry makes me Northwest Asian. Separate continent, yeah right—not on a pragmatic basis, certainly.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 8:41 PM on November 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Do you need a smile tonight, friends? Watch Rep. John Lewis dance to 'Happy' at an Abrams event in Georgia.
posted by TwoStride at 8:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 8:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
I'm off European American because there used to be a nationalist crank who would write letters to the editor of the San Jose Mercury News in the 80s and 90s, and always always used that term. He may have been the President of the European American Association (San Jose Chapter). Google isn't helping here, sadly.
posted by rhizome at 8:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 8:58 PM on November 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yeah, "European heritage" is the rallying cry of racist Twitter.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:14 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:14 PM on November 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
BREAKING NEWS
Donald J Trump's October Surprise just dropped. If Jeff Sessions & Rod Rosenstein are both fired, next in line to oversee Mueller is DoJ Solicitor General Noel Francisco.
Next-in-line Mueller supervisor got White House ethics waiver in April
Donald J Trump's October Surprise just dropped. If Jeff Sessions & Rod Rosenstein are both fired, next in line to oversee Mueller is DoJ Solicitor General Noel Francisco.
Next-in-line Mueller supervisor got White House ethics waiver in April
A senior Trump administration official in line to become special counsel Robert Mueller’s new supervisor if there’s a Justice Department shakeup secured White House approval earlier this year on what critics say is a potential ethics hurdle that could have kept him from assuming the high-profile role.posted by scalefree at 9:18 PM on November 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Solicitor General Noel Francisco has long been considered a likely candidate to oversee Mueller’s Russia probe if Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is fired or quits. But the 49-year-old conservative lawyer has also been dogged by conflict of interest concerns because he previously worked as a partner at Jones Day, the same law firm that represents Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the Russia probe.
Officials at the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington have been arguing for months that to oversee the Mueller probe, Francisco would require a White House waiver to circumvent a Trump executive order that decreed employees must recuse themselves from work on any matters involving previous employers going back two years.
Turns out, Francisco actually got a White House waiver of that type in April. It’s not clear what triggered the waiver or if it had anything to do with Mueller’s investigation, but a senior Justice official on Friday downplayed its significance and insisted the department isn’t aware of any impediments to Francisco taking over responsibility for managing the Mueller probe if Rosenstein left his position.
I sometimes describe myself as a Saltine-American. It conveys (in a self-aware way, I hope) whiteness, blandness and a play on words with 'cracker.'
posted by workerant at 9:23 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by workerant at 9:23 PM on November 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
And it's a little weird that the "I'm not racist" people always go with green and purple. Like they need to show off how not-racist they are with examples from Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy.
I think more of the Drazi from Babylon 5, myself. "You're fighting and dying over a stupid piece of cloth!"
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:25 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
I think more of the Drazi from Babylon 5, myself. "You're fighting and dying over a stupid piece of cloth!"
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:25 PM on November 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
Hollywood celebrities aim to fire up young voters with election telethon. It will be a two-hour livestreamed telethon on Monday in which no money will be raised, but people will call into a celebrity phone bank to pledge to vote.
This seems unlikely to be particularly effective, but there are worse things to do with a Monday night.
posted by zachlipton at 9:31 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
This seems unlikely to be particularly effective, but there are worse things to do with a Monday night.
posted by zachlipton at 9:31 PM on November 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
As it happens, Tucker Carlson is going to be speaking at a megachurch in Houston this Sunday. I didn't know dude got speaking gigs at churches, but it makes sense that he does. Voting is worship or some shit.
Jesus says otherwise.
More on topic, best of luck for the midterms everyone!
posted by iffthen at 10:21 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Jesus says otherwise.
More on topic, best of luck for the midterms everyone!
posted by iffthen at 10:21 PM on November 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
What else was involved in that hotel stay?
Just to remind people:
What exactly was the total cost of the African safari when her hotel bill in a city she was in for less than 6 hours is nearly $100,000? That's just her freaking hotel bill. What was the total cost of the 6 hours, which probably included shutting down part of the city's airport? This is public money that might otherwise go to schools and roads and food programs. Same with Trump every time he goes to Mar a Lago. It's unspeakably grotesque.
posted by xammerboy at 10:26 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
Just to remind people:
The NYPD estimated it costs between $127,000 and $146,000 per day to protect Mrs. Trump and Barron while President Trump is out of town, according to the New York Times.And she would stay for months...
What exactly was the total cost of the African safari when her hotel bill in a city she was in for less than 6 hours is nearly $100,000? That's just her freaking hotel bill. What was the total cost of the 6 hours, which probably included shutting down part of the city's airport? This is public money that might otherwise go to schools and roads and food programs. Same with Trump every time he goes to Mar a Lago. It's unspeakably grotesque.
posted by xammerboy at 10:26 PM on November 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
While it's true that reading into early voting patterns is haruspicy, Jon Ralston in Nevada is the closest thing we have to a modern haruspex. According to what he's been saying the blues in Clark County have been bringing down the hammer the last couple of days. Dems in Vegas are on fire. So I'm feeling a bit better about Rosen and Nevada!
Sounds like the Reid Machine had one more election in 'em. Or perhaps the Culinary Workers Union is flexing a little old-time labor muscle.
posted by Justinian at 10:39 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
Sounds like the Reid Machine had one more election in 'em. Or perhaps the Culinary Workers Union is flexing a little old-time labor muscle.
posted by Justinian at 10:39 PM on November 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
A picture from Ralston's twitter: 2 hour lines for voting in heavily Dem parts of Vegas.
posted by Justinian at 10:44 PM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 10:44 PM on November 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
it's a little weird that the "I'm not racist" people always go with green and purple. Like they need to show off how not-racist they are with examples from Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy.
Not weird at all. It's completely consistent with a worldview where anybody who doesn't look like their family tree is rooted in northern Europe is automatically some kind of alien.
posted by flabdablet at 11:27 PM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Not weird at all. It's completely consistent with a worldview where anybody who doesn't look like their family tree is rooted in northern Europe is automatically some kind of alien.
posted by flabdablet at 11:27 PM on November 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
I hate the green/purple/whatever thing. I just figured out why. What I’ve usually heard is “I don’t care if they’re black, brown, green, or purple...”. The thing is, people aren’t green or purple. So if, someone is green or purple, whatever they are, they’re not a person. And they equate that with black and brown people. It’s de-humanizing.
posted by Weeping_angel at 11:50 PM on November 2, 2018 [50 favorites]
posted by Weeping_angel at 11:50 PM on November 2, 2018 [50 favorites]
Those in a flailing "I wanna do SOMETHING" state over anti-Semitism: consider participating in the "Show up for Shabatt" movement this weekend. This is a hashtag-spawned thing in response to Pittsburg, encouraging people,to attend a Shabatt service this weekend in particular - non-Jews too, as a show of support.
A synagogue in Brooklyn was tagged with Nazi graffiti Thursday night, so I decided to hit it up on my way home as a show of support. Encouragingly, it looked like about 100 other people had the same idea - the guy sitting next to me said that it was never that crowded during that particular service. He was bemused, but touched, that I was a non-Jew there to show support.
(Also, if you can swing it, hit up a service designed for kids, like I did - they tend to be shorter, there's way more singing, and there is a low level of happy chaos from all the kids that makes it impossible to be sad. The rabbi really knew how to work the under-9 demographic in the service I went to as well.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:24 AM on November 3, 2018 [30 favorites]
A synagogue in Brooklyn was tagged with Nazi graffiti Thursday night, so I decided to hit it up on my way home as a show of support. Encouragingly, it looked like about 100 other people had the same idea - the guy sitting next to me said that it was never that crowded during that particular service. He was bemused, but touched, that I was a non-Jew there to show support.
(Also, if you can swing it, hit up a service designed for kids, like I did - they tend to be shorter, there's way more singing, and there is a low level of happy chaos from all the kids that makes it impossible to be sad. The rabbi really knew how to work the under-9 demographic in the service I went to as well.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:24 AM on November 3, 2018 [30 favorites]
Last night there was a mass shooting in a Tallahassee hot yoga studio. Three dead, including the shooter, of a self-inflicted wound, four more injured, some critically. Who knows how many traumatized.
They released his name, which I couldn’t stop myself from googling. There’s this site called The Heavy that for some reason always has a run down of mass shooters. This time the run down is that he was 40, white, former military. He’d attended FSU (as well as a university in NY) and when he did he was a member of Republican and Conservative Facebook groups. He’d been unemployed possibly since 2013? And in 2014 he was arrested for “battery.”
And yet the motive is currently “unknown.” But it’s not, not really. He was an angry white man who bought into the entitlement, anger, and resentment of the right, and he lashed out. Probably at a woman.
I immediately googled “Republican terrorism” and got a bunch of IRA results. That should change.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 AM on November 3, 2018 [54 favorites]
They released his name, which I couldn’t stop myself from googling. There’s this site called The Heavy that for some reason always has a run down of mass shooters. This time the run down is that he was 40, white, former military. He’d attended FSU (as well as a university in NY) and when he did he was a member of Republican and Conservative Facebook groups. He’d been unemployed possibly since 2013? And in 2014 he was arrested for “battery.”
And yet the motive is currently “unknown.” But it’s not, not really. He was an angry white man who bought into the entitlement, anger, and resentment of the right, and he lashed out. Probably at a woman.
I immediately googled “Republican terrorism” and got a bunch of IRA results. That should change.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 AM on November 3, 2018 [54 favorites]
Just a small observation that really annoys me. Trump steals. In public view. The most recent use of a GoT meme in a tweet, the use of "Happy" at a recent rally. The constant use of "You can't always get what you want".
I doubt any of these artists or copyright owners have received requests for use or fair compensation.
It's theft.
posted by michswiss at 6:07 AM on November 3, 2018 [21 favorites]
I doubt any of these artists or copyright owners have received requests for use or fair compensation.
It's theft.
posted by michswiss at 6:07 AM on November 3, 2018 [21 favorites]
Well, for public performance of most pieces of music, the license is obtained semi-automatically from licensing clearinghouses. If whoever/whatever organization in charge of the music for rallies and such pays dues to ASCAP or whichever other catalogue that has those pieces in their list, they're legally covered.
Of course that's an "if," I don't know. Also, it would be nice to ask the original recording artist, of course, even if not legally required.
I've no idea about the meme-use of the Game of Thrones material, though. I did note in passing that it's a riff on the motto of a house of nobility, and that's one of the things American citizens can't hold or claim—titles of nobility—so the optics is... interesting there.
(I'm not saying use of the meme equates to claiming a noble title; it's just that the association struck me as thoughtless.)
posted by seyirci at 6:36 AM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Of course that's an "if," I don't know. Also, it would be nice to ask the original recording artist, of course, even if not legally required.
I've no idea about the meme-use of the Game of Thrones material, though. I did note in passing that it's a riff on the motto of a house of nobility, and that's one of the things American citizens can't hold or claim—titles of nobility—so the optics is... interesting there.
(I'm not saying use of the meme equates to claiming a noble title; it's just that the association struck me as thoughtless.)
posted by seyirci at 6:36 AM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Tom Bonier (CEO TargetSmart)
At this point in 2014, voters under the age of 30 had cast 849,876 votes. This year?
2,347,864 voters under the age of 30 have already voted, and counting.
posted by chris24 at 6:50 AM on November 3, 2018 [57 favorites]
At this point in 2014, voters under the age of 30 had cast 849,876 votes. This year?
2,347,864 voters under the age of 30 have already voted, and counting.
posted by chris24 at 6:50 AM on November 3, 2018 [57 favorites]
Yeah, not to add too much to a slight derail, but under current US copyright law, use of music by a campaign at a rally is usually covered by licensing fees paid by the venue to a performing rights organization.
RIAA overview on use of songs in political campaigns.
PDF link to an overview by ASCAP (one of the big US performing rights orgs.)
Note that artists and rights holders are not without legal resources to tell a campaign to knock it off even if use of the song is technically legal. But (IANAL) I think this only applies after a song has been used by a campaign.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:50 AM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
RIAA overview on use of songs in political campaigns.
PDF link to an overview by ASCAP (one of the big US performing rights orgs.)
Note that artists and rights holders are not without legal resources to tell a campaign to knock it off even if use of the song is technically legal. But (IANAL) I think this only applies after a song has been used by a campaign.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:50 AM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you ever encounter someone talking about an "illegal immigration crisis" please just show them this chart-- illegal border crossings have dropped 90% over the last decade and a half (via this WaPo article)
posted by gwint at 6:51 AM on November 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by gwint at 6:51 AM on November 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
Next-in-line Mueller supervisor got White House ethics waiver in April
Last night's The Rachel Maddow Show (I think this is the clip, full show transcript should show up here) expressed confidence that Jeff Sessions, at least, will be leaving office after the midterm election no matter the electoral outcome, in connection with this development.
posted by XMLicious at 6:56 AM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
The most recent episode of TRMS, sans adverts, is reliably posted for viewing (and downloading) within hours of initial airing here. (Web page title is "Listen to episodes" but content is video.
posted by perspicio at 7:32 AM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by perspicio at 7:32 AM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Boston Globe reports 14 members of the Jewish group IfNotNow were arrested for a sit-in over white nationalism at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Republican Party in Boston. A Republican official called the protesters "a disgrace to the Jewish people" and said the guy who slaughtered 11 Jews in Pittsburgh was "anti-Trump." For some reason, he did not mention that the reason the guy was "anti-Trump" was because Trump wasn't enough of a Nazi.
Also, the story is oddly constructed: It starts with the Republican kvetching about the protesters before answering the question of why there were protesters to begin with. The Globe's usually better than that.
posted by adamg at 7:33 AM on November 3, 2018 [22 favorites]
Also, the story is oddly constructed: It starts with the Republican kvetching about the protesters before answering the question of why there were protesters to begin with. The Globe's usually better than that.
posted by adamg at 7:33 AM on November 3, 2018 [22 favorites]
(I'm not saying use of the meme equates to claiming a noble title; it's just that the association struck me as thoughtless.)
We can, and do, know what appeals to Trump. If it’s thoughtless, it’s only because the impulses that drive his simple mind cannot be considered thought.
posted by mammoth at 7:57 AM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
We can, and do, know what appeals to Trump. If it’s thoughtless, it’s only because the impulses that drive his simple mind cannot be considered thought.
posted by mammoth at 7:57 AM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Media Matters's Matthew Gertz is syncing up @realDonaldTrump's morning tweet rampage to Fox & Friends, which is concentrating on the new jobs report and Kavanaugh (or Kavanough as Trump misspelled it in a now-deleted tweet).
What stands out, however, is Trump's continued invocation of Maxine Waters when he brings up Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
@mattgertz:
* Waters was called one of the “most corrupt” over a banking scandal—she was eventually cleared—by CREW. That's the same watchdog that has of course repeatedly sued the Trump Administration, but Fox & Friends isn't going to mention them by name.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:57 AM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
What stands out, however, is Trump's continued invocation of Maxine Waters when he brings up Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
@mattgertz:
The president started his morning by live-tweeting Fox & Friends.Daniel Dale's picked up on Trump's emphasis on Waters at his campaign rallies when he's fearmongering, such as last night's in West Virginia:
Left, 6:45 am Harkness: "Maxine Waters is someone who's been called the most corrupt* member of Congress and she would be overseeing the nation's financial institutions."
Right, Trump, 6:54 am [@realDonaldTrump: "Congresswoman Maxine Waters was called the most Corrupt Member of Congress! @FoxNews If Dems win, she would be put in charge of our Country’s finances. The beginning of the end!"]
—Trump derides Pelosi, "Cryin' Schumer, and "the legendary Maxine Waters." Waters, who is not a leader of the party, gets the bigger boo.This isn't subtle, but I haven't seen mainstream pundits remark on it.
—Trump asks voters to send a message to Schumer, Pelosi, and Maxine Waters by voting for Republicans. Waters, a Black woman, is the only non-party-leader Trump ever uses in these sentences.
* Waters was called one of the “most corrupt” over a banking scandal—she was eventually cleared—by CREW. That's the same watchdog that has of course repeatedly sued the Trump Administration, but Fox & Friends isn't going to mention them by name.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:57 AM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
At this point in 2014, voters under the age of 30 had cast 849,876 votes. This year?
2,347,864 voters under the age of 30 have already voted, and counting.
I don't believe this data is available, and if he's making a projection I don't believe he can do so to that level of precision. I'd like to believe this, but I'm skeptical.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:10 AM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
2,347,864 voters under the age of 30 have already voted, and counting.
I don't believe this data is available, and if he's making a projection I don't believe he can do so to that level of precision. I'd like to believe this, but I'm skeptical.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:10 AM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you ever encounter someone talking about an "illegal immigration crisis" please just show them this chart-- illegal border crossings have dropped 90% over the last decade and a half (via this WaPo article)
Being poor in America is not as a big an incentive as it once was.
posted by srboisvert at 10:14 AM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Being poor in America is not as a big an incentive as it once was.
posted by srboisvert at 10:14 AM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
With the Dow Jones lurching up and down and hovering around 25,000, I thought I'd check whether it ever reached 20,000 under Obama.
Nope. It peaked on January 6, 2017 at 19,999.63. This reminded me of a very old joke. How do make a million dollars under Reagan-omics? First you get 999,999 dollars and the rest is easy.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:15 AM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Nope. It peaked on January 6, 2017 at 19,999.63. This reminded me of a very old joke. How do make a million dollars under Reagan-omics? First you get 999,999 dollars and the rest is easy.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:15 AM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
White House prepares to spin defeat as victory - Christopher Cadelago, Politico
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:29 AM on November 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
President Donald Trump and his allies have crafted a face-saving plan if Democrats trounce their way to a House majority — tout Trump as the savior of Republicans in the Senate.Spinning furiously, no doubt, as they lower expectations and minimize losses.
In public and private, Trump and advisers are pointing to the president’s surge of campaigning on behalf of Republican Senate candidates — 19 rallies alone since Labor Day — as evidence that nobody else could have had a bigger impact in the states. The argument is classic Trump, who despite making the midterms a referendum on his own presidency, has a history of personalizing and then dwelling on his victories while distancing himself and diverting attention from his losses.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:29 AM on November 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
I don't believe this data is available, and if he's making a projection I don't believe he can do so to that level of precision. I'd like to believe this, but I'm skeptical.
The Secretary of State in Colorado is making daily totals of early voting publicly available with breakouts by age, party affiliation, and gender and also tabulating the same data for each county (there's a link on that page to a PDF with tallies). I imagine other states with early voting are doing the same. It would be some work to track the whole country to that degree of precision, but not impossible. I signed up for the emails for Colorado totals.
posted by danielleh at 10:34 AM on November 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
The Secretary of State in Colorado is making daily totals of early voting publicly available with breakouts by age, party affiliation, and gender and also tabulating the same data for each county (there's a link on that page to a PDF with tallies). I imagine other states with early voting are doing the same. It would be some work to track the whole country to that degree of precision, but not impossible. I signed up for the emails for Colorado totals.
posted by danielleh at 10:34 AM on November 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
White House tempers hopes of retaining House control - Alex Isenstadt, Politico
In a memo to senior officials, political director Bill Stepien concedes the party’s prospects are ‘challenging.’posted by ZeusHumms at 10:34 AM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
...
[it is Trump], Stepien contended, who deserves credit for any potential Senate gains. The key races in play, he argued, were ones in which Trump had far overperformed previous Republican presidential candidates — a dynamic that imperiled Democratic candidates in those states.
“The 2018 Senate map is only (potentially) favorable because of the way President Trump rewrote it in 2016,” Stepien wrote.
“The prospect of redeploying President Trump’s 2016 coalition again in 2018 put these ‘red state Democrats’ on early notice, prompted the recruitment of strong GOP challengers and is what truly makes these states the pickup opportunities they could be this November,” he added. “These are NOT ‘red states’ or ‘Republican states’ — they are ‘Trump states.’”
I did my first-ever canvassing this morning, knocking on doors for Beto. Probably 50% of the people we reached had already voted, but a couple didn’t realize that early voting ended yesterday. Got polling location info to a bunch of people who intend to vote, but weren’t sure where. A couple people gave thumbs-up and thank yous as we walked down the street. Overall, a more positive experience than I’d expected.
posted by rp at 10:45 AM on November 3, 2018 [62 favorites]
posted by rp at 10:45 AM on November 3, 2018 [62 favorites]
The Secretary of State in Colorado is making daily totals of early voting publicly available with breakouts by age, party affiliation, and gender and also tabulating the same data for each county (there's a link on that page to a PDF with tallies). I imagine other states with early voting are doing the same.
Annoyingly, I wasn't able to find this info for North Carolina. I did find several local papers who had reported their individual counties' early voting stats, though.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:22 AM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Annoyingly, I wasn't able to find this info for North Carolina. I did find several local papers who had reported their individual counties' early voting stats, though.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:22 AM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Molly McKew's Twitter thread on why she no longer identifies as a conservative. (She notes she was never a social conservative.)
posted by jgirl at 11:25 AM on November 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
Every nation has the 20% equivalent that is backward-looking and xenophobic and believes people not exactly like "tradition" don't belong and can't contribute, only steal from those who "deserve" things. /41On Threadreader.
Shame is what makes them the fringe. Trump has torn down those shame walls, and now we will all be held accountable for his actions. /42
posted by jgirl at 11:25 AM on November 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
There is so much work to be done at the state level, in all states (I am guessing). Here is an example from Texas, courtesy of Mike Lee from E&E News.
Texas' top oil and gas regulator is cruising to a re-election win next week despite looming questions surrounding her ties to the energy companies she oversees. Christi Craddick, the Republican chairwoman of the Texas Railroad Commission, is seeking a second six-year term against Democrat Roman McAllen, a first-time candidate short of funds.
If Craddick clinches the seat, she'll continue to helm one of the most powerful regulatory agencies in the state that's been dogged for years by ethical questions. The case is unusual even in Texas, where voters tend to overlook entanglements that might not pass muster in other states.
Craddick and her father, Tom Craddick, a powerful Republican state legislator, have long-standing business relationships with oil companies. And Christi Craddick has voted in several cases before the commission that affected either her or her father's interests, according to news reports by the Austin American-Statesman and Austin TV station KXAN.
Although those reports don't appear to have dented Craddick's chances at re-election, much of her business involvement with the oil industry wouldn't be allowed in other states like Oklahoma and Georgia that have rules aimed at preventing conflicts of interest.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:33 AM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Texas' top oil and gas regulator is cruising to a re-election win next week despite looming questions surrounding her ties to the energy companies she oversees. Christi Craddick, the Republican chairwoman of the Texas Railroad Commission, is seeking a second six-year term against Democrat Roman McAllen, a first-time candidate short of funds.
If Craddick clinches the seat, she'll continue to helm one of the most powerful regulatory agencies in the state that's been dogged for years by ethical questions. The case is unusual even in Texas, where voters tend to overlook entanglements that might not pass muster in other states.
Craddick and her father, Tom Craddick, a powerful Republican state legislator, have long-standing business relationships with oil companies. And Christi Craddick has voted in several cases before the commission that affected either her or her father's interests, according to news reports by the Austin American-Statesman and Austin TV station KXAN.
Although those reports don't appear to have dented Craddick's chances at re-election, much of her business involvement with the oil industry wouldn't be allowed in other states like Oklahoma and Georgia that have rules aimed at preventing conflicts of interest.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:33 AM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
19 year old FSU student arrested and charged with battery for throwing chocolate milk at Republicans, now target of anti-semitic harassment campaign after being featured on Tucker Carlson.
They're afraid we'll throw chocolate milk, we're afraid they'll murder us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:39 AM on November 3, 2018 [77 favorites]
They're afraid we'll throw chocolate milk, we're afraid they'll murder us.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:39 AM on November 3, 2018 [77 favorites]
Note that FSU is the school that actively protected its star quarterback when he was accused of rape. Twice.
But conservatives are under attack on campuses, sure.
posted by Etrigan at 11:47 AM on November 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
But conservatives are under attack on campuses, sure.
posted by Etrigan at 11:47 AM on November 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
Apparently this weekend McGrath's campaign is getting an amazing number of volunteers (facebook link but should be public).
posted by dilettante at 11:52 AM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by dilettante at 11:52 AM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
FFS. Chocolate milk? For sure, throw that kid in the slammer. Meanwhile, the NYT Magazine has a daunting feature on white nationalism by Janet Reitman. Little of it will be news to many MeFites in this thread but may be worth reading or sharing anyway.
White supremacists and other far-right extremists have killed far more people since Sept. 11, 2001, than any other category of domestic extremist. The Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism has reported that 71 percent of the extremist-related fatalities in the United States between 2008 and 2017 were committed by members of the far right or white-supremacist movements. Islamic extremists were responsible for just 26 percent. Data compiled by the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database shows that the number of terror-related incidents has more than tripled in the United States since 2013, and the number of those killed has quadrupled. In 2017, there were 65 incidents totaling 95 deaths. In a recent analysis of the data by the news site Quartz, roughly 60 percent of those incidents were driven by racist, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, antigovernment or other right-wing ideologies. Left-wing ideologies, like radical environmentalism, were responsible for 11 attacks. Muslim extremists committed just seven attacks.
These statistics belie the strident rhetoric around “foreign-born” terrorists that the Trump administration has used to drive its anti-immigration agenda. They also raise questions about the United States’ counterterrorism strategy, which for nearly two decades has been focused almost exclusively on American and foreign-born jihadists, overshadowing right-wing extremism as a legitimate national-security threat. According to a recent report by the nonpartisan Stimson Center, between 2002 and 2017, the United States spent $2.8 trillion — 16 percent of the overall federal budget — on counterterrorism. Terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists killed 100 people in the United States during that time. Between 2008 and 2017, domestic extremists killed 387 in the United States, according to the 2018 Anti-Defamation League report.
“We’re actually seeing all the same phenomena of what was happening with groups like ISIS, same tactics, but no one talks about it because it’s far-right extremism,” says the national-security strategist P. W. Singer, a senior fellow at the New America think tank. During the first year of the Trump administration, Singer and several other analysts met with a group of senior administration officials about building a counterterrorism strategy that encompassed a wider range of threats. “They only wanted to talk about Muslim extremism,” he says. But even before the Trump administration, he says, “we willingly turned the other way on white supremacy because there were real political costs to talking about white supremacy.”
posted by Bella Donna at 11:54 AM on November 3, 2018 [34 favorites]
White supremacists and other far-right extremists have killed far more people since Sept. 11, 2001, than any other category of domestic extremist. The Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism has reported that 71 percent of the extremist-related fatalities in the United States between 2008 and 2017 were committed by members of the far right or white-supremacist movements. Islamic extremists were responsible for just 26 percent. Data compiled by the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database shows that the number of terror-related incidents has more than tripled in the United States since 2013, and the number of those killed has quadrupled. In 2017, there were 65 incidents totaling 95 deaths. In a recent analysis of the data by the news site Quartz, roughly 60 percent of those incidents were driven by racist, anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, antigovernment or other right-wing ideologies. Left-wing ideologies, like radical environmentalism, were responsible for 11 attacks. Muslim extremists committed just seven attacks.
These statistics belie the strident rhetoric around “foreign-born” terrorists that the Trump administration has used to drive its anti-immigration agenda. They also raise questions about the United States’ counterterrorism strategy, which for nearly two decades has been focused almost exclusively on American and foreign-born jihadists, overshadowing right-wing extremism as a legitimate national-security threat. According to a recent report by the nonpartisan Stimson Center, between 2002 and 2017, the United States spent $2.8 trillion — 16 percent of the overall federal budget — on counterterrorism. Terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists killed 100 people in the United States during that time. Between 2008 and 2017, domestic extremists killed 387 in the United States, according to the 2018 Anti-Defamation League report.
“We’re actually seeing all the same phenomena of what was happening with groups like ISIS, same tactics, but no one talks about it because it’s far-right extremism,” says the national-security strategist P. W. Singer, a senior fellow at the New America think tank. During the first year of the Trump administration, Singer and several other analysts met with a group of senior administration officials about building a counterterrorism strategy that encompassed a wider range of threats. “They only wanted to talk about Muslim extremism,” he says. But even before the Trump administration, he says, “we willingly turned the other way on white supremacy because there were real political costs to talking about white supremacy.”
posted by Bella Donna at 11:54 AM on November 3, 2018 [34 favorites]
Apparently Nate Silver has broken, just like the rest of us: Looks like a bit of tightening in the Beto-Cruz race? Hopefully we'll get another poll or two or forty or fifty in TX-Sen to sort it out. [...] In case you can't tell whether I'm joking when I say we need more Texas polls, I'm not sure whether I'm joking either.
posted by Justinian at 11:58 AM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:58 AM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
Yesterday a man walked into a yoga studio in Tallahassee and shot a bunch of people, killing an FSU student and an FSU professor. The shooter was an alum of FSU whose Facebook page identified him as being a member of the FSU Republicans. But by all means, let's talk about the chocolate milk incident.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2018 [68 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:06 PM on November 3, 2018 [68 favorites]
This shit just never ends. The yoga shooter? Exactly the guy you would expect him to be. From Buzzfeed:
The man who shot dead two women at a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday before killing himself was a far-right extremist and self-proclaimed misogynist who railed against women, black people, and immigrants in a series of online videos and songs.
Scott Beierle, 40, was named by Tallahassee Police as the gunman who opened fire inside the Hot Yoga Tallahassee studio, killing two and injuring four other women and a man.
Those killed were named as Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, who worked at Florida State University's College of Medicine, and FSU student Maura Binkley, 21.
On a YouTube channel in 2014, Beierle filmed several videos of himself offering extremely racist and misogynistic opinions in which he called women “sluts” and “whores,” and lamented “the collective treachery” of girls he went to high school with.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [28 favorites]
The man who shot dead two women at a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday before killing himself was a far-right extremist and self-proclaimed misogynist who railed against women, black people, and immigrants in a series of online videos and songs.
Scott Beierle, 40, was named by Tallahassee Police as the gunman who opened fire inside the Hot Yoga Tallahassee studio, killing two and injuring four other women and a man.
Those killed were named as Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, who worked at Florida State University's College of Medicine, and FSU student Maura Binkley, 21.
On a YouTube channel in 2014, Beierle filmed several videos of himself offering extremely racist and misogynistic opinions in which he called women “sluts” and “whores,” and lamented “the collective treachery” of girls he went to high school with.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [28 favorites]
New data shows China has “taken the gloves off” in hacking attacks on US
The new normal: More sophisticated attackers, more destructive attacks.
posted by XMLicious at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
The new normal: More sophisticated attackers, more destructive attacks.
Across the board, the financial sector was the most commonly targeted victim, followed by healthcare. "With North Korea and Iran, as well as Russia, they're understanding how they can offset economic sanctions by targeting the financial sector," Kellerman suggested.I guess Rudy Giuliani wasn't such a great pick to head up U.S. cyber security after all :-P No mention of political targets but I'm sure conservative sources will try to reinvigorate the “China's hacking the election!” talking point with stuff like this.
But there was also a spike over the third quarter of 2018 in attacks against manufacturing companies—a type of attack that has been frequently tied to Chinese economic espionage. "Hacking a manufacturing entity, it's very hard to create a liquid asset to capitalize financially on that," Kellermann noted, "unless it's for the purpose of economic espionage or economic sabotage."
[...]
The trend suggests, Kellermann said, that the days of "the straight burglary" of data are now gone, and sophisticated attackers are turning toward the tactics of a home invasion. Kellermann compared most companies' tactics in dealing with intrusions to responding to an intruder by "standing at the top of the steps and shouting 'I've got a gun and the police know you're here' and assuming that would scare them away." The problem with that approach, he noted, was that it assumes that there is only one intruder, that the threat is enough to intimidate them to leave, and that the intruder(s) "would not get punitive enough to come upstairs and set the house on fire."
We've already seen the potential threat of purely destructive attacks in the past from malware such as Shamoon, WannaCry, and NotPetya. But as tensions continue to build over trade, that sort of virtual arson attack on networks could become increasingly more common and much more sophisticated in its application. And that's something that current security practices and US "cyber deterrence" don't yet appear to be prepared to deal with.
posted by XMLicious at 12:51 PM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Here's David Fahrenthold's full story on the emoluments case for the Washington Post: Judge Denies Trump’s Request For Stay In Emoluments Case
* Trump's tweet is worth quoting in full for its sheer hubris: "I hope John Brennan, the worst CIA Director in our country’s history, brings a lawsuit. It will then be very easy to get all of his records, texts, emails and documents to show not only the poor job he did, but how he was involved with the Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt. He won’t sue!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte in Greenbelt, Md., denied the Justice Department’s request that he pause the case to allow a higher court to intervene. And Messitte sharply questioned the president’s position that his business does not improperly accept gifts or payments — called emoluments — as defined by the Constitution.Trump also gets his just desserts for his injudicious tweeting:
By Trump’s analysis, Messitte wrote, the term emoluments is the subject of such “substantial grounds of disagreement” that payments his business received from foreign governments could not qualify. The judge did not agree: “The Court finds this a dubious proposition.”
Messitte ordered the plaintiffs, the attorneys general for the District and Maryland, to submit a schedule for discovery — the process of producing evidence for the case — within 20 days. That decision is subject to appeal.
The Justice Department “is attempting to delay discovery in our case,” said Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D), who brought the case along with D.C. Attorney General Karl A. Racine (D). “Their ultimate argument was that this the president of the United States, he’s too busy.”The next question is if this lawsuit will open new avenues of inquiry into Trump's cancellation of a new FBI building: How Trump Is Taking On the FBI, And Possibly Violating the Emoluments Clause In the Process (NBC)
But Messitte had rejected that argument earlier, and in this opinion he noted, wryly, that — instead of avoiding legal battles — Trump seems to seek them out while in the White House.
Messitte noted Trump’s threats to sue author Michael Wolff and former adviser Stephen K. Bannon, and Trump’s taunting of former CIA director John Brennan in August. After Trump revoked Brennan’s security clearance, Trump wrote on Twitter: “I hope John Brennan, the worst CIA Director in our country’s history, brings a lawsuit.”*
“It bears noting that the President himself seems to have had little reluctance to pursue personal litigation despite the supposed distractions it imposes on his office,” Messitte wrote.
* Trump's tweet is worth quoting in full for its sheer hubris: "I hope John Brennan, the worst CIA Director in our country’s history, brings a lawsuit. It will then be very easy to get all of his records, texts, emails and documents to show not only the poor job he did, but how he was involved with the Mueller Rigged Witch Hunt. He won’t sue!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
Doktor Z, that's awesome...I'm guessing that when Muellermas finally arrives (I'm guessing/hoping Nov 7) the documents will be like 1/3 @realDonaldTrump tweets presented as direct admissions of guilt.
posted by sexyrobot at 1:58 PM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by sexyrobot at 1:58 PM on November 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
If right-wing stochastic terrorism is our version of the violent prelude to civil war, in raw numbers we'll meet Bleeding Kansas levels in no time at all.
This is kind of why current tensions leading to a civil war or anything like that doesn't really make sense to me. It was actually a feasible and worthwhile goal for proto-Confederates to try to alter the outcome of whether Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state or a slave state. But I'm not seeing similar objectives which would cohere right-wing terrorism into a broader coordinated military-type effort.
Even if they just form into more organized terrorist groups I don't think that we've seen anything specific those groups would ask for in response to the shootings and bombings. A faint silver lining in the nominal basis for all Republican political activity being counterfactual bullshit, I guess.
Any motion to seize by force the things they believe are under the control of the universal liberal/globalist conspiracy and it will all melt in their hands because there's no such conspiracy. Then they'll just be another bunch of conservative-nationalist fuckups in possession of things they can't actually manage well enough to obtain the outcomes Fox News mythology tells them they want, as with the ones in control of the three branches of federal government.
Enough of them are cognizant of this on some level to pull back from setting the town on fire, or to at least run away and let the fire department handle it after the gratification of setting the first couple of buildings alight.
posted by XMLicious at 2:04 PM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
would you like to read up on abolishing police and prisons?
posted by the man of twists and turns at 2:20 PM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 2:20 PM on November 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Republicans falsely accused Mueller of sexual assault.
He didn’t scream at U.S. Senators.
He didn’t sob hysterically & brag about drinking beer.
He didn’t perjure himself.
He didn’t write an op-ed in WSJ.
He asked for an FBI investigation.
That’s what an innocent man does
posted by growabrain at 2:20 PM on November 3, 2018 [88 favorites]
He didn’t scream at U.S. Senators.
He didn’t sob hysterically & brag about drinking beer.
He didn’t perjure himself.
He didn’t write an op-ed in WSJ.
He asked for an FBI investigation.
That’s what an innocent man does
posted by growabrain at 2:20 PM on November 3, 2018 [88 favorites]
Messitte sharply questioned the president’s position that his business does not improperly accept gifts or payments — called emoluments — as defined by the Constitution.
It's not just emoluments. The Trump Hotel is located in the Old Post Office Building owed by the federal government. Trump has a 60 lease on the property from the government. The terms of the lease say "no elected official of the government ... shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom."
Trump's ownership of the property while president is an obvious on-its-face violation of the lease. However, somehow, Trump managed to get a ruling from the GSA saying that he was not in violation under the pretext that Trump had placed his ownership in a revocable trust.
A revocable trust is a distinction without a difference with regards to the lease. While the property is titled in the name of the trust, Trump is the owner of the trust, has full control and discretion over the operation of the trust, and is the beneficiary of the profits of the trust up until the moment of his death. In this context, it's analogous to a shell corporation to disguise ownership.
Further, since the trust is revocable, at any time before his death Trump can dissolve the trust and the property within simply retitles to Trump's direct ownership again. He will no doubt revoke the trust the day he leaves office, meaning he had direct ownership and benefit of profits from the property all along.
All of this is in direct violation of a lease of federal property -- to an elected official.
posted by JackFlash at 2:31 PM on November 3, 2018 [45 favorites]
It's not just emoluments. The Trump Hotel is located in the Old Post Office Building owed by the federal government. Trump has a 60 lease on the property from the government. The terms of the lease say "no elected official of the government ... shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom."
Trump's ownership of the property while president is an obvious on-its-face violation of the lease. However, somehow, Trump managed to get a ruling from the GSA saying that he was not in violation under the pretext that Trump had placed his ownership in a revocable trust.
A revocable trust is a distinction without a difference with regards to the lease. While the property is titled in the name of the trust, Trump is the owner of the trust, has full control and discretion over the operation of the trust, and is the beneficiary of the profits of the trust up until the moment of his death. In this context, it's analogous to a shell corporation to disguise ownership.
Further, since the trust is revocable, at any time before his death Trump can dissolve the trust and the property within simply retitles to Trump's direct ownership again. He will no doubt revoke the trust the day he leaves office, meaning he had direct ownership and benefit of profits from the property all along.
All of this is in direct violation of a lease of federal property -- to an elected official.
posted by JackFlash at 2:31 PM on November 3, 2018 [45 favorites]
To me, it merits consideration how we could make this less fucking annoying. Not so much for the "well I was GOING to vote until you CALLED me" guy, but more for people who start with a moderate/low level of engagement, get extremely annoyed, and end up actively refusing to engage further. Those people seem reachable to me and... maybe not always with the current tactics.
This is why Postcards to Voters really appeals to me. I'm definitely on the side of "hates calls, texts, and door knocks but tries to be polite and also isn't going to be dissuaded from voting." Still, it makes it really hard for me to want to call, text, and knock on doors.
I'm in that transitional gray area between Gen X and Millennial. I hated the part of my life where I had to talk on the phone and deal with people in person. I love that I now have the option to do things other ways and I still hate calls. Imagine growing up with being able to mostly avoid the phone. I think it is pretty common amongst Millennial-and-younger people (as well as in general all the many people who've always hated the phone) to prefer a sort of non-invasive, passive, one way communication. A postcard doesn't make your phone alert or interrupt you, or put you on the spot, ask you to defend your choices, or ask you to commit to something or believe what someone's telling you before you have a chance to google it for yourself. And it's better than your typical mailer because I put a lot of love and work into my postcards. I want people to receive them and feel like they got something special and beautiful and handmade, and when they wonder why a stranger would put that much effort into creating something nice for them, the conclusion that I hope they come to is, huh, people really do feel this is important, maybe I'll look into it some more and make a decision. I know data for generic mailers is that they're not effective but IIRC limited data around these handwritten postcards suggests that they are a significantly more effective strategy (can anyone confirm this? I feel like I read it somewhere but now I don't know).
Along with the provided talking points which are always included in the postcards, I heavily emphasized the additional ideas that: the stakes are really high right now, your vote truly does matter, please make a plan to vote, and please encourage other people that you know to do the same. I also tried to include a few bullet points about what the candidates support, things that are popular and ought to be popular among young people: raise minimum wage! medicare for all! legalize marijuana! (yes I can write very small.)
Of course the problem with PTV and reaching potentially apathetic young people is that I think PTV mailing lists come from people already registered as Democrats. Maybe I'll just make a bunch and literally just start handing them out to people.
posted by robotdevil at 2:47 PM on November 3, 2018 [25 favorites]
This is why Postcards to Voters really appeals to me. I'm definitely on the side of "hates calls, texts, and door knocks but tries to be polite and also isn't going to be dissuaded from voting." Still, it makes it really hard for me to want to call, text, and knock on doors.
I'm in that transitional gray area between Gen X and Millennial. I hated the part of my life where I had to talk on the phone and deal with people in person. I love that I now have the option to do things other ways and I still hate calls. Imagine growing up with being able to mostly avoid the phone. I think it is pretty common amongst Millennial-and-younger people (as well as in general all the many people who've always hated the phone) to prefer a sort of non-invasive, passive, one way communication. A postcard doesn't make your phone alert or interrupt you, or put you on the spot, ask you to defend your choices, or ask you to commit to something or believe what someone's telling you before you have a chance to google it for yourself. And it's better than your typical mailer because I put a lot of love and work into my postcards. I want people to receive them and feel like they got something special and beautiful and handmade, and when they wonder why a stranger would put that much effort into creating something nice for them, the conclusion that I hope they come to is, huh, people really do feel this is important, maybe I'll look into it some more and make a decision. I know data for generic mailers is that they're not effective but IIRC limited data around these handwritten postcards suggests that they are a significantly more effective strategy (can anyone confirm this? I feel like I read it somewhere but now I don't know).
Along with the provided talking points which are always included in the postcards, I heavily emphasized the additional ideas that: the stakes are really high right now, your vote truly does matter, please make a plan to vote, and please encourage other people that you know to do the same. I also tried to include a few bullet points about what the candidates support, things that are popular and ought to be popular among young people: raise minimum wage! medicare for all! legalize marijuana! (yes I can write very small.)
Of course the problem with PTV and reaching potentially apathetic young people is that I think PTV mailing lists come from people already registered as Democrats. Maybe I'll just make a bunch and literally just start handing them out to people.
posted by robotdevil at 2:47 PM on November 3, 2018 [25 favorites]
There will be hell toupee: Trump’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Tweet gets appropriate response
posted by growabrain at 2:51 PM on November 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 2:51 PM on November 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
The Trump Campaign and Roger Stone—Newly revealed messages show how the political operative Roger J. Stone Jr. sold himself to Trump campaign advisers as a potential conduit to WikiLeaks, which published thousands of emails in 2016 damaging to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand pins down Roger the Ratfucker: Roger Stone’s Shifting Story Is a Liability—The longtime Trump confidant could face federal charges if Special Counsel Robert Mueller determines he lied to Congress about his contacts with campaign officials and WikiLeaks.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:04 PM on November 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand pins down Roger the Ratfucker: Roger Stone’s Shifting Story Is a Liability—The longtime Trump confidant could face federal charges if Special Counsel Robert Mueller determines he lied to Congress about his contacts with campaign officials and WikiLeaks.
Even before the latest email revelation, Stone, a longtime friend and confidant of President Donald Trump, was in hot water with the House Intelligence Committee. Since his September 2017 hearing before the panel, he’s amended his testimony three times as new reports have emerged about his contacts with Russian nationals, the extent of his interactions with WikiLeaks, and his conversations with Trump campaign officials. Despite those changes, the question of whether he perjured himself before the committee still stands—and is reportedly being examined by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.And CNN has got its hands on more of Roger's receipts: Messages show Roger Stone attacking the man he says was his WikiLeaks backchannel
“Roger Stone had a chance, under oath, to tell the House Intel Committee about his contacts with Russians and WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign,” Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California, who sits on the panel, told me. “He misled us and has repeatedly—three times now—amended his testimony to fit new press reporting.” Swalwell noted that the committee’s Democrats voted to send transcripts related to its Russia investigation to Mueller, but Republicans resisted. “The special counsel should see Stone’s transcripts and the accounts of all witnesses,” he added.[...]
It isn’t clear whether the panel’s Democrats plan to bring Stone back in for further questioning if they retake the House majority and assume subpoena power. But, like Swalwell, a Democratic aide on the committee emphasized the importance of getting Stone’s full transcript to Mueller to determine whether he committed perjury. “We’ve repeatedly urged the Majority to provide the Special Counsel with access to Roger Stone’s transcript among others, both for the evidence they offer and to determine whether witnesses have committed perjury,” said the aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “This is a particular concern with Roger Stone, especially after the publication of these emails.” Stone didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
Former federal prosecutors told me that inconsistencies between Stone’s testimony and what Mueller has learned could hypothetically lead to federal charges. If Mueller were to determine that Stone lied to the panel, “I think he would just charge Stone with perjury” rather than refer the matter to the committee for further review, said Dan Goldman, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York who specialized in organized crime. “If, for some reason, he didn’t think he had a perjury case but believes Stone misled the committee,” Mueller may notify lawmakers anyway, he said.
Special counsel Robert Mueller has copies of vitriolic and sometimes threatening messages that Roger Stone directed at Randy Credico, a witness in the investigation, according to sources familiar with the investigation.In one message, Stone told Credico, "Everyone says u are wearing a wire for Mueller." Most of them, though, are filled with the amount of obscenities one would expect from an old Nixon hand.
Investigators have been examining the text messages and emails and questioning witnesses about whether there was an attempt to harass or intimidate Credico, according to people familiar with the matter. Stone, a longtime political adviser to President Donald Trump, has claimed that Credico, a progressive New York political activist and radio host, served as his backchannel to WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign. Credico has denied that he acted as an intermediary.[...]
The messages raise the possibility that Mueller could pursue obstruction or witness tampering charges against Stone. Stone said he has not been contacted by Mueller's investigators. But nearly a dozen of his current and former associates have been summoned for interviews or for testimony before Mueller's grand jury.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:04 PM on November 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
As people have been saying this week, if you wanted to know what you’ve done during the rise of fascism in the 30s and 40s, you’re doing it now.
posted by The Whelk at 3:15 PM on November 3, 2018 [63 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:15 PM on November 3, 2018 [63 favorites]
And likewise, if you ever wondered why perfectly decent and sensible people didn't recognize the clear and present danger of rising fascism in the 30s, well, we're seeing that now, too.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:27 PM on November 3, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:27 PM on November 3, 2018 [40 favorites]
The red thread through republican inspired terrorisn is to purge the population of "enemies". Misogynists target women, homophobes target gays, anti-semites target synagogues... what are their demands? apartheid, theocracy, ownership of women, etc. These attacks aren't to scare us, they aim to oppress and kill us.
Win or lose this november, stay safe, be prepared, these people aren't going away and we can't hide. we have to use non-violence to prevent or reduce violence, to use civil and,community resources to protect the vulnerable and investigate and defang the violent. These people were ticking timebombs, you hear someone else ticking don't wait until its too late. These mass shootings were never the perps first act of abuse
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 3:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
Win or lose this november, stay safe, be prepared, these people aren't going away and we can't hide. we have to use non-violence to prevent or reduce violence, to use civil and,community resources to protect the vulnerable and investigate and defang the violent. These people were ticking timebombs, you hear someone else ticking don't wait until its too late. These mass shootings were never the perps first act of abuse
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 3:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
@EyesOnTheRight:
*actually Santayana
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:37 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Gab has now moved to Epik. The founder and CEO, "Robert W. Monster," said in a press release that he accepted Gab's business on free speech grounds. And he did so, no joke, with an Edmund Burke* quote superimposed over a photo of Ebensee concentration camp prisoners. Shameless.Why Epik welcomed Gab.com (Rob Monster, Epik)
*actually Santayana
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:37 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Meanwhile, back at the George Papadopoulos farce, his own family reported his accused-Kremlin agent wife to ICE (Observer)
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:50 PM on November 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
“Simona has destroyed George’s relationship with his family,” one close relative who asked not to be identified told Observer. “She has been physically and mentally abusive. Successfully isolating him from all his friends and family. Only his half-sister now has a relationship with him but at one point she had stopped speaking to him.”If Simona really is Papadopoulos' handler for Russian intelligence, she certainly understands provokatsiya.
Simona, who denies the claims “absolutely,” alleges the Papadopoulos clan is “deeply dysfunctional” and says she fears them more than the FBI.
“They are making all their best to get me ‘deported’,” said Simona. “I had to hire lawyers yesterday to defend myself.”
The family member Observer spoke to confirmed they had reported her to immigration services—news of which first broke from independent journalist Scott Stedman last week.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:50 PM on November 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
Justinian: "While it's true that reading into early voting patterns is haruspicy, Jon Ralston in Nevada is the closest thing we have to a modern haruspex. "
Son, your mother and I are worried you are spending a little too much time with that Word-A-Day calendar.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:23 PM on November 3, 2018 [84 favorites]
Son, your mother and I are worried you are spending a little too much time with that Word-A-Day calendar.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:23 PM on November 3, 2018 [84 favorites]
Dave Brat [R-VA-07]: "The problem is we’ve lied. Both of our leaders…Paul Ryan’s a nice guy, but he said he was going to repeal Obamacare. That’s a lie. It was not a repeal at all. And so, we lie all the time."
Pity this didn't drop a few days ago.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:29 PM on November 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
Pity this didn't drop a few days ago.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:29 PM on November 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
Yesterday a man walked into a yoga studio in Tallahassee and shot a bunch of people, killing an FSU student and an FSU professor. The shooter was an alum of FSU whose Facebook page identified him as being a member of the FSU Republicans. But by all means, let's talk about the chocolate milk incident.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:06 PM on November 3 [31 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
I'm in Tallahassee.
The second I heard about it, I knew I had to be one or two degrees of separation from someone who was there. I don't practice yoga myself, but know several people who do, and Tallahassee is a somewhat small town. And so it turned out one of the victims was an acquaintance - Dr. Nancy Van Vessem. Her kid and my kid were in athletics together in middle school several years ago. I'd run into her grocery shopping and whatnot, but I didn't know her well at all. She was an absolute pillar of the community, though.
The other victim who was killed was Maura Binkley. She was 21 years old. Jeesus. Her whole life ahead of her.
Some incel freak gunned them down, along with several others who were wounded.
Unrelated to that horror, an activist friend also just died suddenly today too. Mrs. Bastard and I found out about it at the end of an exhausting day organizing and volunteering at a science festival.
So we went and Early Voted. Usually we vote on E-Day but the way things are going we figured we better get our ballots in while we're still alive.
posted by Cookiebastard at 4:32 PM on November 3, 2018 [79 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 3:06 PM on November 3 [31 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
I'm in Tallahassee.
The second I heard about it, I knew I had to be one or two degrees of separation from someone who was there. I don't practice yoga myself, but know several people who do, and Tallahassee is a somewhat small town. And so it turned out one of the victims was an acquaintance - Dr. Nancy Van Vessem. Her kid and my kid were in athletics together in middle school several years ago. I'd run into her grocery shopping and whatnot, but I didn't know her well at all. She was an absolute pillar of the community, though.
The other victim who was killed was Maura Binkley. She was 21 years old. Jeesus. Her whole life ahead of her.
Some incel freak gunned them down, along with several others who were wounded.
Unrelated to that horror, an activist friend also just died suddenly today too. Mrs. Bastard and I found out about it at the end of an exhausting day organizing and volunteering at a science festival.
So we went and Early Voted. Usually we vote on E-Day but the way things are going we figured we better get our ballots in while we're still alive.
posted by Cookiebastard at 4:32 PM on November 3, 2018 [79 favorites]
danielleh: "I imagine other states with early voting are doing the same. It would be some work to track the whole country to that degree of precision, but not impossible."
A useful early voting resource is here.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:32 PM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
A useful early voting resource is here.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:32 PM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
This is fine.
U.S. militia groups head to border, stirred by Trump’s call to arms (Mary Lee Grant and Nick Miroff, WaPo)
U.S. militia groups head to border, stirred by Trump’s call to arms (Mary Lee Grant and Nick Miroff, WaPo)
Gun-carrying civilian groups and border vigilantes have heard a call to arms in President Trump’s warnings about threats to American security posed by caravans of Central American migrants moving through Mexico. They’re packing coolers and tents, oiling rifles and tuning up aerial drones, with plans to form caravans of their own and trail American troops to the border.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:33 PM on November 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
“We’ll observe and report, and offer aid in any way we can,” said Shannon McGauley, a bail bondsman in the Dallas suburbs who is the president of the Texas Minutemen. McGauley said he was preparing to head for the Rio Grande in coming days.
“We’ve proved ourselves before, and we’ll prove ourselves again,” he said.
Yoga studio, synagogue, outdoor concert, movie theater, nightclub, school, workplace, restaurant, grocery store, car, house, street...
...Vote like a bunch of school children were shot and a bunch of other children were put into camps indefinitely bc they werent white and like a journalist was murdered and like you are being lied to daily by rich liars who harass / assault women & wont renounce white supremacy
posted by growabrain at 4:48 PM on November 3, 2018 [51 favorites]
...Vote like a bunch of school children were shot and a bunch of other children were put into camps indefinitely bc they werent white and like a journalist was murdered and like you are being lied to daily by rich liars who harass / assault women & wont renounce white supremacy
posted by growabrain at 4:48 PM on November 3, 2018 [51 favorites]
“We’ve proved ourselves before, and we’ll prove ourselves again,” he said.
and again, and again. because no amount of proving yourself can ever fill the gaping hole where your self was supposed to be.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:48 PM on November 3, 2018 [30 favorites]
and again, and again. because no amount of proving yourself can ever fill the gaping hole where your self was supposed to be.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 4:48 PM on November 3, 2018 [30 favorites]
Donald Trump’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Tweet Opens Meme Floodgates - Peter Wade, Rolling Stone
George RR Martin's reply to President Trump:
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
George RR Martin's reply to President Trump:
FEAR cuts deeper than swords. VOTE Tuesday the 6thAs usual, the comments on Twitter are best avoided.
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
With the Infamous Caravan still weeks away from the border, the waiting should be awful for the militia goons and they'll either get bored and go home or turn on the real soldiers, just to have something to shoot at. Like everything else Trump has initiated, it will get ugly.
And if there's a solid example as to why we "good guys" have to keep showing restraint, it's the two "incidents" in Florida, tossing chocolate milk vs. shooting up a yoga class. I'm not especially worried about America falling into "full fascism"; it's bad enough returning to when "America was Great", when lynchings were an everyday occurrence.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:38 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
And if there's a solid example as to why we "good guys" have to keep showing restraint, it's the two "incidents" in Florida, tossing chocolate milk vs. shooting up a yoga class. I'm not especially worried about America falling into "full fascism"; it's bad enough returning to when "America was Great", when lynchings were an everyday occurrence.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:38 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I personally hope the militias wind up with roughly the same experience as the Bundy "occupation". They show up, nobody has remembered to pack a lunch, they have to go online and beg people to send them supplies, people respond with bags of dicks.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:45 PM on November 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 5:45 PM on November 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 3 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 3 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- WI: Emerson poll has Dem incumbent Baldwin up 53-44 on GOPer Vukmir [MOE: +/- 4.1%].** 2018 House:
-- FL: St Pete Polls has GOPer SScott up 49-48 on Dem incumbent Nelson [MOE: +/- 1.9%].
-- NV: Trafalgar Group poll has GOP incumbent Heller up 49-46 on Dem Rosen [MOE: +/- 1.9%].
-- MO: Remington Research poll has Dem incumbent McCaskill tied 47-47 with GOPer Hawley [MOE: +/- 2.6%]. => Remington's last poll a week ago had Hawley +4, so this may be a positive sign.
-- TX: Change Research poll has Dem O'Rourke tied 49-49 with GOP incumbent Cruz [no MOE listed}. => I certainly don't mind seeing this, but apparently CR is using some new methodology that's yet to be fully validated. Still, it's worth remembering how voter turnout model dependent this race is.
-- IA-03: Emerson poll has Dem Axne up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Young [MOE: +/- 5.3%]. [Trump 49-45 | Cook: Tossup]** Odds & ends:
-- IA-04: Emerson poll has GOP incumbent King up 51-42 on Dem Scholten [MOE: +/- 5.5%]. [Trump 61-34 | Cook: Lean R]
-- CO-03: JMC/BBC poll has GOP incumbent Tipton up 46-41 on Dem Mitsch Bush [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 52-40 | Cook: Likely R]
-- AK-AL: GOP incumbent Young appears to be in trouble, as a GOP SuperPAC is parachuting in with six figures to help GOTV. The ironically named Young has been in office since 1973. [Trump 53-38 | Cook: Lean R]
-- FYI, a bunch of the Siena/NYT polls should be wrapping up tomorrow, most all of which look pretty solid for the Democrats. That's probably the last big bunch of polling we'll get.
-- Silver: GOP needs a systematic polling error to hold the House. By the same token, a systematic error the other way would mean a Dem blowout.
-- Lousy performance by the GOP in top of the ticket races in PA could have a big impact downballot (just like you read here yesteday!).
-- IA gov: [Cook: Tossup]** Averages & forecasts:-- Emerson poll has GOP incumbent Reynolds up 49-45 on Dem Hubbell [MOE: +/- 2.7%].-- GA gov: Emerson poll has GOPer Kemp up 49-47 on Dem Abrams [MOE: +/- 3.7%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- Selzer poll has Hubbell up 46-44 [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. => FWIW, the Selzer poll is the "gold standard" Iowa poll.
-- NV gov: Same Trafalgar Group poll has GOPer Laxalt up 47-45 on Dem Sisolak. [Cook: Tossup]
-- WI gov: Same Emerson poll has Dem Evers up 51-46 on GOP incumbent Walker. [Cook: Tossup]
-- NH gov: Change Research poll has GOP incumbent Sununu up 47-46 on Dem Kelly [no MOE listed]. [Cook: Lean R] => This race has been pretty much seen as a foregone conclusion, but there's been indications it is tightening, and both parties are putting in money.
-- FL gov: Same survey from St Pete Polls has Dem Gillum up 48-46 on GOPer DeSantis. [Cook: Tossup]
-- NC downballot: PPP poll has:-- Supreme Court: Dem Earls at 47, GOPer Jackson at 23, pseudo-GOPer Anglin at 14.-- Rakich look at major ballot measures up this week.
-- Max income rate: YES 50-32
-- Voter ID: YES 57-34
-- Hijack governor ability to make judicial appts: NO 43-29
-- Hijack governor ability to fill Election Board seats: NO 40-32
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.3 (50.5/42.2)posted by Chrysostom at 5:50 PM on November 3, 2018 [24 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 85.9% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 16.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.8 states.
Jeanine Pirro has some questions for the caravan: “Who’s in that caravan? Are there pedophiles? Are there career criminals? Are there people who think they can beat their wives without consequence?”
@KevinMKruse has the answer: This is outrageous. We've seen absolutely no proof that Roy Moore, Paul Manafort or Rob Porter are in the caravan
posted by growabrain at 6:22 PM on November 3, 2018 [132 favorites]
@KevinMKruse has the answer: This is outrageous. We've seen absolutely no proof that Roy Moore, Paul Manafort or Rob Porter are in the caravan
posted by growabrain at 6:22 PM on November 3, 2018 [132 favorites]
2 hour lines for voting in heavily Dem parts of Vegas.
It's great that people are willing to wait that long, but... should the United States have lines that long? How many people get fed up and walk away?
posted by xammerboy at 7:11 PM on November 3, 2018 [15 favorites]
It's great that people are willing to wait that long, but... should the United States have lines that long? How many people get fed up and walk away?
posted by xammerboy at 7:11 PM on November 3, 2018 [15 favorites]
At Trump Rallies, Women See a Hero Protecting a Way of Life (NYT)
Written as if it isn't Trump-friendly, but it so is, come for the picture, stay for the ignorant spewage.
“I get a kick out of it,” said Misty Spencer-Sauer, 40, a stay-at-home mother from Blackwater, Mo., who drove more than an hour to attend the Columbia rally with her father and fiancé. “I just sit and yell at my TV, because they twist around what he says and it’s, like, everybody’s so sensitive all the time. He may be blunt, but I can take it.”
... But it is their visceral fear of immigrants and raw anger about changes in cultural mores — encapsulated by what they called Democrats’ rush to believe uncorroborated allegations of sexual assault by Justice Kavanaugh — that appear to be driving the intensity of their support for the president. “Unbelievable what they could do to a man over politics,” said Diana Bass, a small-business owner from Kenna, W.Va. “If it could happen to him, it could happen to you.”
... Meifang Wang, 54, a cardiovascular researcher at the University of Missouri, also sparred with her children about her support for Mr. Trump, an argument that they won in 2016, when they persuaded her on Election Day to stay home rather than vote for him.
“I regret it,” she said, calling Mr. Trump “like a father for this country.”
Ms. Wang, who immigrated from China in 1990 and voted for President Barack Obama twice, said Mr. Trump’s harsh tone and policies toward immigrants did not bother her.
That is super messed up.
posted by petebest at 7:14 PM on November 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
Written as if it isn't Trump-friendly, but it so is, come for the picture, stay for the ignorant spewage.
“I get a kick out of it,” said Misty Spencer-Sauer, 40, a stay-at-home mother from Blackwater, Mo., who drove more than an hour to attend the Columbia rally with her father and fiancé. “I just sit and yell at my TV, because they twist around what he says and it’s, like, everybody’s so sensitive all the time. He may be blunt, but I can take it.”
... But it is their visceral fear of immigrants and raw anger about changes in cultural mores — encapsulated by what they called Democrats’ rush to believe uncorroborated allegations of sexual assault by Justice Kavanaugh — that appear to be driving the intensity of their support for the president. “Unbelievable what they could do to a man over politics,” said Diana Bass, a small-business owner from Kenna, W.Va. “If it could happen to him, it could happen to you.”
... Meifang Wang, 54, a cardiovascular researcher at the University of Missouri, also sparred with her children about her support for Mr. Trump, an argument that they won in 2016, when they persuaded her on Election Day to stay home rather than vote for him.
“I regret it,” she said, calling Mr. Trump “like a father for this country.”
Ms. Wang, who immigrated from China in 1990 and voted for President Barack Obama twice, said Mr. Trump’s harsh tone and policies toward immigrants did not bother her.
That is super messed up.
posted by petebest at 7:14 PM on November 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
Just a small observation that really annoys me. Trump steals. In public view. The most recent use of a GoT meme in a tweet, the use of "Happy" at a recent rally. The constant use of "You can't always get what you want".
Trump funded his campaign in part by stealing money from a fake charity he set up for Iraq war veterans. Everyone knows this. No one cares. This is the new normal. It boggles the mind.
posted by xammerboy at 7:17 PM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
Trump funded his campaign in part by stealing money from a fake charity he set up for Iraq war veterans. Everyone knows this. No one cares. This is the new normal. It boggles the mind.
posted by xammerboy at 7:17 PM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
It's great that people are willing to wait that long, but... should the United States have lines that long? How many people get fed up and walk away?
I agree with you in general but in this case I don't think it is the state's fault. There weren't lines like that for 13.5 of the 14 days of early voting, everybody just apparently waited until Friday night an hour before closing to show up.
If that happens on election day then there is a problem. (spoiler: it will happen.)
posted by Justinian at 7:28 PM on November 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
I agree with you in general but in this case I don't think it is the state's fault. There weren't lines like that for 13.5 of the 14 days of early voting, everybody just apparently waited until Friday night an hour before closing to show up.
If that happens on election day then there is a problem. (spoiler: it will happen.)
posted by Justinian at 7:28 PM on November 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
Montana men mow 'FU45' in large field to protest Donald Trump's visit
The pair mowed "FU45" on Roe's land under the landing approach Air Force One would make.
The result was lettering 60 feet tall and 150 feet across.
Crawford said that seemed like a better approach than protesting at the campaign rally because "his wingnut base loves nothing more than to think they are pissing off a bunch of liberals who are protesting."
Proper!
posted by petebest at 7:35 PM on November 3, 2018 [59 favorites]
The pair mowed "FU45" on Roe's land under the landing approach Air Force One would make.
The result was lettering 60 feet tall and 150 feet across.
Crawford said that seemed like a better approach than protesting at the campaign rally because "his wingnut base loves nothing more than to think they are pissing off a bunch of liberals who are protesting."
Proper!
posted by petebest at 7:35 PM on November 3, 2018 [59 favorites]
It's great that people are willing to wait that long, but... should the United States have lines that long? How many people get fed up and walk away?I am leaning towards "early voter waited until the last minute" in most, but not all polling locations and a whole bunch of more people voting causing delays that have not been seen in decades.
I agree with you in general but in this case I don't think it is the state's fault. There weren't lines like that for 13.5 of the 14 days of early voting, everybody just apparently waited until Friday night an hour before closing to show up.
If that happens on election day then there is a problem. (spoiler: it will happen.)
I am still reading the tea leaves as good for liberal, but with a hefty helping of whothefuqnos since this is a vote with no real history attached.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:55 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
they twist around what he says
Bullshit. Like Sarah Palin, most of the damage is done by quoting him directly.
Bullshit. Like Sarah Palin, most of the damage is done by quoting him directly.
I did try and fuck her. She was married...I moved on her like a bitch. But I couldn’t get there. And she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything...You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them...And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything...Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.posted by kirkaracha at 8:25 PM on November 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
Early voting turnout in Texas has now surpassed the total number of Texans who voted in the 2014 midterms. Something really interesting is happening there.
Not as interesting, but early voting numbers in Iowa are also way up over 2014, and the numbers are hugely favorable to Democrats. 35,000 more Democrats have voted than at this time in the 2014 cycle, and 6,800 more Republicans have. Democrats have historically depended more on early voting, and 2014 was a disaster for us, but those numbers are still really hopeful. And maybe we can get our voters into the habit of voting in midterms, which would be huge.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:27 PM on November 3, 2018 [23 favorites]
Not as interesting, but early voting numbers in Iowa are also way up over 2014, and the numbers are hugely favorable to Democrats. 35,000 more Democrats have voted than at this time in the 2014 cycle, and 6,800 more Republicans have. Democrats have historically depended more on early voting, and 2014 was a disaster for us, but those numbers are still really hopeful. And maybe we can get our voters into the habit of voting in midterms, which would be huge.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:27 PM on November 3, 2018 [23 favorites]
Mod note: We have gone a million rounds on Farrakhan and we don't need to do it again. He's an anti-Semite, full-stop, and is not particularly relevant to the current conversation except insofar as the right-wing media is trying to use him as a distraction, which we're not going to allow to happen in this thread. Sorry some of the deleting was slow, I caught a hiccup in my reload.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
I had a quick thought just now about how ignorant, hateful, and fearful the response to THE CARAVAN is. Based on this report, there were 10,557.5 babies born in the US each day in 2017. That's two caravans a day, using the magic number of 5,000. It's certainly not the number of new people arriving in the country that's upsetting them. We probably shouldn't point out to them that if we were to assume that those new arrivals followed these percentages exactly, we're still getting almost a caravan per day of non white-alone-not-Hispanic-or-Latino people. I don't want to see the Texas Minutemen response to that border.
Maybe we should make up some settlements far away from the border that need their help and mark it on their maps. That would work, right?
posted by bonje at 9:23 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Maybe we should make up some settlements far away from the border that need their help and mark it on their maps. That would work, right?
posted by bonje at 9:23 PM on November 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just short of an hour wait to vote vote in Houston on Friday. But the line moved at a decent pace. Demographics seemed pretty reflective of the area.
posted by Cyrano at 9:35 PM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Cyrano at 9:35 PM on November 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Canvassing today in Suffolk County for Perry Gershon, Democrat running for congress in NY-1 (538 gives him a 1 in 15 chance). Ilana Glazer, looking clearly shaken, was there with her parents.
One guy who answered the door hesitated a moment and said he'd been depressed and feeling disillusioned, but since we came to his door he decided he might as well go out to vote, so that certainly made my day worthwhile! Overall people were seemed pretty enthusiastic so I was kind of shocked to see 1 in 15 odds from 538.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [39 favorites]
One guy who answered the door hesitated a moment and said he'd been depressed and feeling disillusioned, but since we came to his door he decided he might as well go out to vote, so that certainly made my day worthwhile! Overall people were seemed pretty enthusiastic so I was kind of shocked to see 1 in 15 odds from 538.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:36 PM on November 3, 2018 [39 favorites]
Overall people were seemed pretty enthusiastic so I was kind of shocked to see 1 in 15 odds from 538
To be sure, this is the first real election since almost all of the pollsters got it totally wrong, so I'm not putting too too much stock in their numbers. I mean they probably calculate out properly, but their model adjustments are still an unknown.
posted by rhizome at 9:47 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
To be sure, this is the first real election since almost all of the pollsters got it totally wrong, so I'm not putting too too much stock in their numbers. I mean they probably calculate out properly, but their model adjustments are still an unknown.
posted by rhizome at 9:47 PM on November 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes, after the modeling failures in 2016, there are one of three possibilities, (1) they're making the same mistakes, (2) they've fixed their mistakes and (3) they're overcompensating for past mistakes, and possibilities 2 and 3 would both be good for the Democrats (3 more than 2), so, with apologies to Chrysostom, I'm not taking the numbers too seriously...
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:08 PM on November 3, 2018
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:08 PM on November 3, 2018
The minutemen? The fucking minutemen? Remember, after they broke into a house and shot Raul and Gina Flores in front of their 9 year old daughter Brisenia, then made her watch them reload and beg for her life before they shot her in the face and killed her? And how those minutemen (and woman) were then tried and sentenced to death for murdering those people, and we thought we had rid ourselves of that particular species of fucking armed evil?
The minutemen are back. Fanfuckingtastic. That's what this timeline was missing.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:13 PM on November 3, 2018 [35 favorites]
The minutemen are back. Fanfuckingtastic. That's what this timeline was missing.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:13 PM on November 3, 2018 [35 favorites]
SNL'S BLUE WAVE SKETCH IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE, METAFILTER
posted by tonycpsu at 10:33 PM on November 3, 2018 [62 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 10:33 PM on November 3, 2018 [62 favorites]
Yes, after the modeling failures in 2016,
The modeling failures where 538 nailed it?
posted by Justinian at 11:38 PM on November 3, 2018 [27 favorites]
The modeling failures where 538 nailed it?
posted by Justinian at 11:38 PM on November 3, 2018 [27 favorites]
SNL'S BLUE WAVE SKETCH IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE, METAFILTER
Omg the slap
I, too, very much want to slap Pete Davidson
Anyway, good to see we all share the PTSD
posted by schadenfrau at 4:23 AM on November 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Omg the slap
I, too, very much want to slap Pete Davidson
Anyway, good to see we all share the PTSD
posted by schadenfrau at 4:23 AM on November 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Gaslit Nation put out a short featurette about EveryDistrict (previously) yesterday.
posted by progosk at 4:48 AM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by progosk at 4:48 AM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
A short comment-note (as I spent some time doing a post about this but it got deleted) that Barack Obama was elected ten years ago today.
posted by Wordshore at 5:37 AM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 5:37 AM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
Washington Post: Could losing the House actually help Trump in 2020?
A classic in the "This is Great News! For John McCain!" genre.
posted by octothorpe at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
A classic in the "This is Great News! For John McCain!" genre.
posted by octothorpe at 6:01 AM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
"Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue described the stakes of the Florida governor's election next week as being "cotton-pickin' important" at a campaign event on Saturday for Republican Ron DeSantis.
"DeSantis is running against Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is African American."
posted by Slothrup at 6:14 AM on November 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
"DeSantis is running against Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is African American."
posted by Slothrup at 6:14 AM on November 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
The "hey everybody! Look over there, scary brown people" is so screechingly reminiscent of Gee Dubz' O Noes Teh Gay Marriageseses!. I'd forgotten it was a midterm election then, too. I'd remembered it was a last-minute Atwaterian blame-the-other tactic that was laughable for it's disingenuousness as much as for it's hamfisted timing.
It worked, of course, because the corporate news media are really, really bad at their jobs and refused to call bullshit on it. Just the same as when ONTGM was a Gingrinch joint designed to hurt Clinton's re-election against Bob Dole.
Bob Dole.
... Bob Dole.
... Bob Dole.
posted by petebest at 7:01 AM on November 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
It worked, of course, because the corporate news media are really, really bad at their jobs and refused to call bullshit on it. Just the same as when ONTGM was a Gingrinch joint designed to hurt Clinton's re-election against Bob Dole.
Bob Dole.
... Bob Dole.
... Bob Dole.
posted by petebest at 7:01 AM on November 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Why Old Clinton Sleazeball Mark Penn Loves Trump
By Jonathan Chait
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:06 AM on November 4, 2018 [49 favorites]
By Jonathan Chait
One of Donald Trump’s many idiosyncratic effects on American politics and culture has been to divide Americans not only on the familiar partisan and ideological lines, but to some degree on personal character as well. His entire life, Trump has drawn toward him a wide array of gross, unethical characters, Democratic and Republican alike, while repelling the ethical and upstanding.I've said for a while, Trump's base isn't aligned by politics nearly as much as by personality characteristics. He's inspiring for abusers and assholes because he's not just being a shrieking asshole to those closest to him, he's doing it to the entire world! That's aspirational to a lot of people.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:06 AM on November 4, 2018 [49 favorites]
Washington Post: Could losing the House actually help Trump in 2020?
Could avoiding a nuclear war actually help Trump? Could the Dems saving the ACA actually help Trump? Could impeachment proceedings actually help Trump? Could Trump being Trump actually help Trump?
maybe and yet who gives a shit, onwards and upwards people
posted by lydhre at 7:08 AM on November 4, 2018 [50 favorites]
Could avoiding a nuclear war actually help Trump? Could the Dems saving the ACA actually help Trump? Could impeachment proceedings actually help Trump? Could Trump being Trump actually help Trump?
maybe and yet who gives a shit, onwards and upwards people
posted by lydhre at 7:08 AM on November 4, 2018 [50 favorites]
A short comment-note (as I spent some time doing a post about this but it got deleted) that Barack Obama was elected ten years ago today.
Wordshore, I caught your thread before it was deleted and clicked through to the celebration thread after the results came in. I can see how reading it might be depressing, but I've spent most of the day in an ongoing low-grade panic attack and reading that thread, with all its sheer happiness, made me feel much better. Thank you!
posted by trig at 7:09 AM on November 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Wordshore, I caught your thread before it was deleted and clicked through to the celebration thread after the results came in. I can see how reading it might be depressing, but I've spent most of the day in an ongoing low-grade panic attack and reading that thread, with all its sheer happiness, made me feel much better. Thank you!
posted by trig at 7:09 AM on November 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Study Finds 2016 Election Results Caused Trauma
A new Journal of American College Health study finds that one quarter of college students experienced “clinically significant” symptoms of trauma from the 2016 election results.
Politico: “Haunted by memories of 2016, liberals around the country are riven with anxiety in the campaign’s home stretch. They’re suspicious of favorable polls and making election night contingency plans in case their worst fears come true. Some report literal nightmares about a Democratic wipeout.”
(via)
posted by petebest at 7:17 AM on November 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
A new Journal of American College Health study finds that one quarter of college students experienced “clinically significant” symptoms of trauma from the 2016 election results.
Politico: “Haunted by memories of 2016, liberals around the country are riven with anxiety in the campaign’s home stretch. They’re suspicious of favorable polls and making election night contingency plans in case their worst fears come true. Some report literal nightmares about a Democratic wipeout.”
(via)
posted by petebest at 7:17 AM on November 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
Quorum Report newsletter editor Scott Braddock shares a little optimism from Texas: "Hearing from more Texas Republicans tonight that they think @tedcruz is under water. It is Saturday before the election #TXSen #txlege"
Yesteday, the Texas Tribune estimated more than 4,884,528 Texans voted early in the midterm election, so let's hope the trend continues through election day.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:18 AM on November 4, 2018 [24 favorites]
Yesteday, the Texas Tribune estimated more than 4,884,528 Texans voted early in the midterm election, so let's hope the trend continues through election day.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:18 AM on November 4, 2018 [24 favorites]
Haunted by memories of 2016, liberals around the country are riven with anxiety in the campaign’s home stretch. They’re suspicious of favorable polls and making election night contingency plans in case their worst fears come true.
yup. This is me.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:31 AM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
yup. This is me.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:31 AM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
I took the day off work on Election Day so I could volunteer but hadn't yet figured out what I wanted to do, I figured I would see where help is needed most. To that end I've been doing some Googling and realized that in my state there is a shortage of poll workers and especially with all the reports of long lines at polling places, it seems like this might be a good way to spend my day- I just hope it's not too late to get set up to do this. Do you guys have any experience with this, can people volunteer to be an election clerk up until the last minute?
I was reading that (where I live, anyway) a lot of volunteer poll workers are older, retired people and as I think back this checks out with my past experience voting in this state. The last time I voted on an actual Election Day rather than voting early (in Nov 2016, shudder) the workers at my polling place were very sweet and nice but not particularly fast or efficient, and the lines were a hot mess as a result. I'm young, I have a caffeine addiction and a job that requires me to work super fast for long stretches of time without many breaks so I'm hopeful I can apply that speed and stamina to keep lines at the polls moving as fast as possible, especially if long lines are turning people off.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that lines are gonna line if all the voting booths are full. But during my last voting-in-person experience here, that was definitely not the case.
Anyway, I don't know if anyone can comment on whether it's possible to do this so last-minute. If it is, might be a good thing for people to do if they have time? I had to Google the election clerk offices for my town and neighboring towns to get a number to call to apply as a volunteer. I left a message. It does say on their website they are "always on the lookout" for workers, so . . . ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by robotdevil at 7:35 AM on November 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
I was reading that (where I live, anyway) a lot of volunteer poll workers are older, retired people and as I think back this checks out with my past experience voting in this state. The last time I voted on an actual Election Day rather than voting early (in Nov 2016, shudder) the workers at my polling place were very sweet and nice but not particularly fast or efficient, and the lines were a hot mess as a result. I'm young, I have a caffeine addiction and a job that requires me to work super fast for long stretches of time without many breaks so I'm hopeful I can apply that speed and stamina to keep lines at the polls moving as fast as possible, especially if long lines are turning people off.
Don't get me wrong, I understand that lines are gonna line if all the voting booths are full. But during my last voting-in-person experience here, that was definitely not the case.
Anyway, I don't know if anyone can comment on whether it's possible to do this so last-minute. If it is, might be a good thing for people to do if they have time? I had to Google the election clerk offices for my town and neighboring towns to get a number to call to apply as a volunteer. I left a message. It does say on their website they are "always on the lookout" for workers, so . . . ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by robotdevil at 7:35 AM on November 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
Canvassing today in Suffolk County for Perry Gershon, Democrat running for congress in NY-1 (538 gives him a 1 in 15 chance). Ilana Glazer, looking clearly shaken, was there with her parents.
One guy who answered the door hesitated a moment and said he'd been depressed and feeling disillusioned, but since we came to his door he decided he might as well go out to vote, so that certainly made my day worthwhile! Overall people were seemed pretty enthusiastic so I was kind of shocked to see 1 in 15 odds from 538.
I had exactly the same experience canvassing for Tracy Mitrano - NY23rd against the affable liar Tom Reed. People weren't 'yeah we'll vote' they were 'YES WE ARE THERE WE"RE ALL VOTING'. It was really gratifying.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
One guy who answered the door hesitated a moment and said he'd been depressed and feeling disillusioned, but since we came to his door he decided he might as well go out to vote, so that certainly made my day worthwhile! Overall people were seemed pretty enthusiastic so I was kind of shocked to see 1 in 15 odds from 538.
I had exactly the same experience canvassing for Tracy Mitrano - NY23rd against the affable liar Tom Reed. People weren't 'yeah we'll vote' they were 'YES WE ARE THERE WE"RE ALL VOTING'. It was really gratifying.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:41 AM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
When I did my poll worker training last Monday in San Francisco, they said they were still looking for people to come help, and asked me If i knew of any. My hunch is they are still “accepting”, but the only question now might be whether there is a training scheduled for tomorrow. Good luck!
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 7:45 AM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 7:45 AM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
I know in Chicago at least that poll workers are allowed to swear in voters at their polling places as extra judges if they are needed. Not sure what the exact requirements are, or what "needed" counts as. If nothing else presents itself, you could try going to your polling place in the morning and asking.
posted by Wulfhere at 7:46 AM on November 4, 2018
posted by Wulfhere at 7:46 AM on November 4, 2018
The Atlanta Journal-Consitution has the right headline for this election delegitimization story: Without Citing Evidence, Kemp’s Office Opens Probe Into GA Democrats For Alleged Hacking "Brian Kemp’s office cited no evidence in announcing the probe. Kemp is also the Republican candidate for governor. The Democratic Party of Georgia called the allegation “100 percent false” and “an abuse of power” by Kemp’s office."
Here's the full statement from the GA Secretary of State's office about the alleged "failed attempt to hack the state's voter registration system": After Failed Hacking Attempt, Sos Launches Investigation Into Georgia Democratic Party "While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation, I can confirm that the Democratic Party of Georgia is under investigation for possible cyber crimes," said Candice Broce, Press Secretary.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:57 AM on November 4, 2018 [37 favorites]
Here's the full statement from the GA Secretary of State's office about the alleged "failed attempt to hack the state's voter registration system": After Failed Hacking Attempt, Sos Launches Investigation Into Georgia Democratic Party "While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation, I can confirm that the Democratic Party of Georgia is under investigation for possible cyber crimes," said Candice Broce, Press Secretary.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:57 AM on November 4, 2018 [37 favorites]
Washington Post: Could losing the House actually help Trump in 2020?
Choose your headline: "Democrats are Losing," or, "Democrats Are Winning: Why That's Bad for Democrats."
See also, "Spider-Man: Threat, or Menace?"
Haunted by memories of 2016, liberals around the country are riven with anxiety in the campaign’s home stretch.
I've voted and done my donating and pushing and all that, so on Tuesday I plan to do my best to shut it all out unless it's all so awesome I can't keep it out. Election night on 2016 hit me very much like food poisoning. It made me literally physically sick all night and the next day. I think I'm ready to push on through the horror if it continues. But part of how I do that comes down to our PS4 and whether my wife seems to need it more than me on Tuesday. I have no interest in tense horserace needle-pushing garbage.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:14 AM on November 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
Choose your headline: "Democrats are Losing," or, "Democrats Are Winning: Why That's Bad for Democrats."
See also, "Spider-Man: Threat, or Menace?"
Haunted by memories of 2016, liberals around the country are riven with anxiety in the campaign’s home stretch.
I've voted and done my donating and pushing and all that, so on Tuesday I plan to do my best to shut it all out unless it's all so awesome I can't keep it out. Election night on 2016 hit me very much like food poisoning. It made me literally physically sick all night and the next day. I think I'm ready to push on through the horror if it continues. But part of how I do that comes down to our PS4 and whether my wife seems to need it more than me on Tuesday. I have no interest in tense horserace needle-pushing garbage.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:14 AM on November 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
Georgia is really pulling out all the stops in their efforts to suppress the Democratic vote.
posted by Autumnheart at 8:28 AM on November 4, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 8:28 AM on November 4, 2018 [20 favorites]
If that Georgia situation is as ginned up as it looks, people should be serving jail time for it.
They should go to jail for the vote/r suppression they are setting up for. This won't be the end of this story.
posted by jaduncan at 8:28 AM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
They should go to jail for the vote/r suppression they are setting up for. This won't be the end of this story.
posted by jaduncan at 8:28 AM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
A short comment-note (as I spent some time doing a post about this but it got deleted) that Barack Obama was elected ten years ago today.
Twenty years ago, Jesse Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:35 AM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Twenty years ago, Jesse Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:35 AM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Please to remember the Georgia Secretary of State, who oversees elections, and current racist gubernatorial candidate, was "shocked and stunned" that the 2016 machines were completely wiped immediately after the FBI demanded to see them. And that Sergey "don't recall meeting" Kislyak was the guest speaker, six months before the 2016 election, at the university where all the voting machines are stored.
Along with this bullshit, This is Not Fine, he needs to lose and be prosecuted.
posted by petebest at 8:54 AM on November 4, 2018 [88 favorites]
Along with this bullshit, This is Not Fine, he needs to lose and be prosecuted.
posted by petebest at 8:54 AM on November 4, 2018 [88 favorites]
If that Georgia situation is as ginned up as it looks, people should be serving jail time for it
I would like to see someone ask Kemp if he'll resign if he's wrong.
Isn't it funny how Republicans were all "Mueller can't do anything 60 days before an election!" while Mr. Georgia SoS here throws some shit only a couple days beforehand.
posted by rhizome at 9:48 AM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
I would like to see someone ask Kemp if he'll resign if he's wrong.
Isn't it funny how Republicans were all "Mueller can't do anything 60 days before an election!" while Mr. Georgia SoS here throws some shit only a couple days beforehand.
posted by rhizome at 9:48 AM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
Jed Shugerman is a law professor who often writes about Trump’s criminal liability for obstruction of justice, and his and his advisors’ potential liability for various other federal and state crimes.
He recently posted about the special responsibility Jews have to fight Trump, the necessity to cut out the "both sides" bullshit (I'm looking at you, Chuck Schumer - I am so ready for you to be primaried.....) and to ally with black and brown people whose voices are not taken as seriously by the media. I thought it was worth linking to here. It's worth reading the whole thing.
posted by 6thsense at 9:53 AM on November 4, 2018 [20 favorites]
He recently posted about the special responsibility Jews have to fight Trump, the necessity to cut out the "both sides" bullshit (I'm looking at you, Chuck Schumer - I am so ready for you to be primaried.....) and to ally with black and brown people whose voices are not taken as seriously by the media. I thought it was worth linking to here. It's worth reading the whole thing.
posted by 6thsense at 9:53 AM on November 4, 2018 [20 favorites]
My birthday is tomorrow. Is it too much to ask for a blue wave AND many dozens of indictments this week?
posted by yoga at 11:05 AM on November 4, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by yoga at 11:05 AM on November 4, 2018 [35 favorites]
NYT, Two Capitals, One Russian Oligarch: How Oleg Deripaska Is Trying to Escape U.S. Sanctions
posted by zachlipton at 11:10 AM on November 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
But the current lobbying effort on behalf of Mr. Deripaska’s companies still appears to have made substantial headway. In recent months, Mr. Deripaska’s firms have notched initial victories by winning multiple postponements from the Treasury Department of the sanctions on the oligarch’s holding company, EN+, and the giant aluminum company it controls, Rusal.It's a very detailed story on how exactly this is happening.
Now, with the administration closing in on its latest self-imposed deadline to make a final decision by Dec. 12, there are signs that Mr. Deripaska’s companies could escape the sanctions entirely.
Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, has signaled that he is open to a plan under which Mr. Deripaska would reduce his stake in his companies in return for the sanctions being lifted.
But sidestepping the business sanctions is not Mr. Deripaska’s only goal. His team is preparing an audacious and previously unreported campaign to remove the personal sanctions on him, too. Removing the personal sanctions would eliminate substantial barriers to his doing business in the United States and around the world, and could be a requirement for him to get his hands on the money — potentially billions of dollars — resulting from any sale of part of his stake in the companies.
posted by zachlipton at 11:10 AM on November 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
The Atlanta Journal-Consitution has the right headline for this election delegitimization story: Without Citing Evidence, Kemp’s Office Opens Probe Into GA Democrats For Alleged Hacking "Brian Kemp’s office cited no evidence in announcing the probe. Kemp is also the Republican candidate for governor. The Democratic Party of Georgia called the allegation “100 percent false” and “an abuse of power” by Kemp’s office."
More on this:
Brian Kemp's 'Cyber Crimes' Investigation Against Democrats Sure Looks Shady
posted by zachlipton at 11:30 AM on November 4, 2018 [43 favorites]
Brian Kemp's 'Cyber Crimes' Investigation Against Democrats Sure Looks Shady
Georgia Secretary of State and increasingly desperate Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp, who is tied in the polls with Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams, has shamelessly used his position as the state’s top election monitor to purge hundreds of thousands of voters from the rolls and close hundreds of polling sites over the past few years. On Sunday, he announced that his office is investigating a “failed attempt to hack the state’s voter registration system,” and named the Georgia Democratic Party as a suspect in “possible cyber crimes,” though Kemp did not clarify what those crimes were or pretty much anything else.The article goes on to describe the previous instances in which Kemp's office has either not understood how computers work or just plain lied about them. There's a bunch of reason to believe that Kemp's office was notified of a security vulnability involving the state's voter registration file last night, and there's concern Kemp is retailiating rather than fixing it.
In other words, this is a shitty Clue knockoff and Kemp is accusing the Democratic Party of hacking the election computer in the computer room using the computer. No, really.
...
A computer scientist and an attorney suing Kemp said his office’s accusation of hacking is a distraction from a report that voter information is vulnerable on the state’s registration website. The Secretary of State’s Office said the system remains secure and voter information wasn’t breached.
The vulnerability could allow someone to access voters’ registration and personal information, said Richard DeMillo, a computer scientist at Georgia Tech.
“The way the website is set up, once you get access to your own voter record, you can go in and change permissions and get access to anyone’s voting record,” DeMillo said.
According to a report on WhoWhatWhy—a site run by journalist Russ Baker—what may be happening is that security experts alerted Kemp’s office to major vulnerabilities in election databases, whereupon Kemp promptly used that as an excuse to blame the whistleblowers. (Baker has often been characterized as an untrustworthy source, and the report did not seem to have been verified by other media organizations as of early Sunday afternoon.) However, WhoWhatWhy wrote that several security experts it had contacted had verified the vulnerabilities by examining the site’s code and without actually accessing or altering protected data, and that the Georgia Democratic Party “had already contacted computer security experts and notified them of the vulnerability” by the time of the “cyber crimes” announcement.
posted by zachlipton at 11:30 AM on November 4, 2018 [43 favorites]
What was gillum's wisdom? A hit dog hollers. Kemp sure is hollerin'.
posted by j_curiouser at 11:56 AM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 11:56 AM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
Wisconsin GOTV update! I spent the mornings this weekend coordinating and gap filling at my local field office. We have volunteers coming out of our ears. Yesterday we had almost 100 canvassers, and today, when it is cold and rainy, we are looking at getting another 100! It is completely realistic to knock though our entire region by the end of the day, and then we will go through things again.
BTW if you want to be left alone, VOTE EARLY! We are striking early voters from the walk lists three times a day, and the same for call lists. If you have voted, we really don’t want to waste time on you!
posted by rockindata at 12:11 PM on November 4, 2018 [51 favorites]
BTW if you want to be left alone, VOTE EARLY! We are striking early voters from the walk lists three times a day, and the same for call lists. If you have voted, we really don’t want to waste time on you!
posted by rockindata at 12:11 PM on November 4, 2018 [51 favorites]
What was gillum's wisdom? A hit dog hollers. Kemp sure is hollerin'.
Andrew Gillum's grandmother's wisdom, to be precise...
posted by mikelieman at 12:26 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
Andrew Gillum's grandmother's wisdom, to be precise...
posted by mikelieman at 12:26 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
The last round of district polls have been very good for Democrats which indicates a broad map with the potential for big gains. Yay! The last round of the generic ballot has shown a bit of tightening which indicates a close race for the House. Boo! I can't take this.
posted by Justinian at 12:28 PM on November 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:28 PM on November 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
Just back from another Beto rally, and another morning of canvassing. Didn't hit as many people today (Sunday morning, lots of people weren't home), and many of those we did reach said they'd already voted, so the info on the app definitely wasn't up-to-date enough. I dunno. But I've gotten over the anxiety of getting out and knocking on doors. Our feeling is definitely that canvassing is easier than phone banking. We were stopped by several people in the street again today; a couple just thanked us for doing it, one stopped and told us at length how he'd vote for an inanimate carbon rod before voting for Ted Cruz, that his three housemates had also voted, and that he doesn't understand how anyone could support Cruz. A bunch of the people we hit told us how excited they were to have voted for Beto.
The rally was great, big crowd, huge energy, and lots of volunteers signing people up for block walking after. I was literally the next person in line to shake Beto's hand after he came off stage, before the entourage hustled him out. Kinda bummed about that, but, hey. I know we're doing our part. He mentioned at the tail end of his stage time that early voting turnout in Travis county is 300+% what it was in 2014. There's a lot going on down here.
posted by rp at 12:52 PM on November 4, 2018 [57 favorites]
The rally was great, big crowd, huge energy, and lots of volunteers signing people up for block walking after. I was literally the next person in line to shake Beto's hand after he came off stage, before the entourage hustled him out. Kinda bummed about that, but, hey. I know we're doing our part. He mentioned at the tail end of his stage time that early voting turnout in Travis county is 300+% what it was in 2014. There's a lot going on down here.
posted by rp at 12:52 PM on November 4, 2018 [57 favorites]
Kemp also presided over those voting servers that were wiped but which he definitely didn't know about and definitely didn't authorise.
posted by PenDevil at 1:00 PM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 1:00 PM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
Said we should rely on Mueller
I think this is a correct strategy for now.
posted by rhizome at 2:05 PM on November 4, 2018
I think this is a correct strategy for now.
posted by rhizome at 2:05 PM on November 4, 2018
Jed Shugerman is a law professor who often writes about Trump’s criminal liability for obstruction of justice, and his and his advisors’ potential liability for various other federal and state crimes.
He recently posted about the special responsibility Jews have to fight Trump, the necessity to cut out the "both sides" bullshit (I'm looking at you, Chuck Schumer - I am so ready for you to be primaried.....) and to ally with black and brown people whose voices are not taken as seriously by the media. I thought it was worth linking to here. It's worth reading the whole thing.
I read the whole thing. This part jumped out at me:
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:17 PM on November 4, 2018 [35 favorites]
He recently posted about the special responsibility Jews have to fight Trump, the necessity to cut out the "both sides" bullshit (I'm looking at you, Chuck Schumer - I am so ready for you to be primaried.....) and to ally with black and brown people whose voices are not taken as seriously by the media. I thought it was worth linking to here. It's worth reading the whole thing.
I read the whole thing. This part jumped out at me:
When they go low, we still need to go high. But going high now means LOUD AND DIRECT AND FIERCE AND FEARLESS.Works for me.
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:17 PM on November 4, 2018 [35 favorites]
Bonus point question: Who was Georgia Secretary of State when the office sent out CDs containing voter registration info, including SSNs and drivers license numbers, on 6 million voters? (Oct 2015)
Secretary of state attributes the information dump to a “clerical error.”
... "While the application only requests the last four digits of a voter’s social security number, for some reason the Secretary of State maintains each voter’s complete social security number and driver’s license number,” the lawsuit said. "It is unclear how all of this information has been collected and why the complete social security number of each voter is maintained, if it is not required at the time of registration."
Crooked AF
posted by petebest at 2:21 PM on November 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
Secretary of state attributes the information dump to a “clerical error.”
... "While the application only requests the last four digits of a voter’s social security number, for some reason the Secretary of State maintains each voter’s complete social security number and driver’s license number,” the lawsuit said. "It is unclear how all of this information has been collected and why the complete social security number of each voter is maintained, if it is not required at the time of registration."
Crooked AF
posted by petebest at 2:21 PM on November 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
Could the Blue Wave Leave Oregon Dry? - Henry Grabar, Slate
Its progressive governor is in a surprisingly tough race—suggesting white suburban Democrats might be more fickle than we thought.posted by ZeusHumms at 2:22 PM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ralston's predictions for Tuesday in his Nevada Independent.
tl;dr - Rosen (D) for Senate by 2, Sisolak (D) for Gov by 2, Horsford (D) for NV-04 by 6, Lee (D) for NV-03 by 3.
posted by Justinian at 2:26 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
tl;dr - Rosen (D) for Senate by 2, Sisolak (D) for Gov by 2, Horsford (D) for NV-04 by 6, Lee (D) for NV-03 by 3.
posted by Justinian at 2:26 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
Just had a pair of canvassers for Dana Balter (NY24) drop by. I let them know I was voting for her, and then they asked me to be sure to vote Democratic Party down ballot, which I assured them I will be doing, and asked whether I knew where my polling place was (I knew the answer). I thanked them. My take-away was that we all now apparently know what "down ballot" means, and also that canvassing is difficult and important work.
Also, I recently responded to an email seeking volunteers to be an attorney poll worker but am waiting on a verdict whether my Illinois law license disqualifies me from filling that role here in my newly adopted New York State.
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 2:26 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
Also, I recently responded to an email seeking volunteers to be an attorney poll worker but am waiting on a verdict whether my Illinois law license disqualifies me from filling that role here in my newly adopted New York State.
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 2:26 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
I text-banked for Beto yesterday and contacted 1,671 voters. Only 10-ish said some variation of "eat a dick" or "who the fuck is this?" or "I'll sue you under the robocall act, motherfucker" which is a VANISHINGLY small number, actually!
Three Beto canvassers just knocked our door and said they noticed our signs (we have five of them, all facing the entrance to our precinct's polling place, which is directly across the street).
Me: Yeah, don't give me any doorhangers or signs, I have everything.
Them: You voted?
Me: Hell yeah we voted!!!!!
Them (visibly exhausted): yayyyyyyy
Me, clapping, hopping a little: tied in the polls, guys! It's working! KEEP GOING, IT'S WORKING WE FUCKING GOT THIS, GUYS!!!!!!
Them, fist pumping: YEAH!!!!!
Me: This is our time. Thank you for volunteering!!!!
For the first time, just today, I'm convinced he's actually going to win this. It may be a squeaker, but goddammit, we donated/door knocked/postcarded/phone and text banked/livestreamed as much support as we had to give this election cycle.
I've never worked this hard for anything political. We have amazing candidates, and I feel like Stacey Abrams might similarly edge out a win for Georgia. God knows they're trying very hard to suppress the vote, and the courts will probably decide a lot of it but I'm hopeful, regardless.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:29 PM on November 4, 2018 [92 favorites]
Three Beto canvassers just knocked our door and said they noticed our signs (we have five of them, all facing the entrance to our precinct's polling place, which is directly across the street).
Me: Yeah, don't give me any doorhangers or signs, I have everything.
Them: You voted?
Me: Hell yeah we voted!!!!!
Them (visibly exhausted): yayyyyyyy
Me, clapping, hopping a little: tied in the polls, guys! It's working! KEEP GOING, IT'S WORKING WE FUCKING GOT THIS, GUYS!!!!!!
Them, fist pumping: YEAH!!!!!
Me: This is our time. Thank you for volunteering!!!!
For the first time, just today, I'm convinced he's actually going to win this. It may be a squeaker, but goddammit, we donated/door knocked/postcarded/phone and text banked/livestreamed as much support as we had to give this election cycle.
I've never worked this hard for anything political. We have amazing candidates, and I feel like Stacey Abrams might similarly edge out a win for Georgia. God knows they're trying very hard to suppress the vote, and the courts will probably decide a lot of it but I'm hopeful, regardless.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:29 PM on November 4, 2018 [92 favorites]
> For the first time, just today, I'm convinced he's actually going to win this. It may be a squeaker, but goddammit ...
I'm prepared for heartbreak. I thought I'd learnt my lesson two years ago, but I can't help it - I'm feeling real, actual, glimmerings of hope. More early votes banked in Texas than total votes in the 2014 midterms? The outrageous levels of enthusiasm? The tremendous (*TREMENDOUS*) effort from all the volunteers? I just have to hope, here.
And in my own district, NY23 - Tracy Mitrano has maybe closed in on the odious Tom Reed, and my hands still ache from writing those last-minute postcards to occasional voters here encouraging them to vote. We have so many canvassers, so many other postcard writers - I got canvassed today ("Don't waste your time on us, and thanks for canvassing, bye!") and my brother in law got a postcard of his own, after having written a bunch. So much energy - but it was a Trump +15 district last election. So I'm prepared to have it all go to shit.
Still, I have to hope.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:44 PM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
I'm prepared for heartbreak. I thought I'd learnt my lesson two years ago, but I can't help it - I'm feeling real, actual, glimmerings of hope. More early votes banked in Texas than total votes in the 2014 midterms? The outrageous levels of enthusiasm? The tremendous (*TREMENDOUS*) effort from all the volunteers? I just have to hope, here.
And in my own district, NY23 - Tracy Mitrano has maybe closed in on the odious Tom Reed, and my hands still ache from writing those last-minute postcards to occasional voters here encouraging them to vote. We have so many canvassers, so many other postcard writers - I got canvassed today ("Don't waste your time on us, and thanks for canvassing, bye!") and my brother in law got a postcard of his own, after having written a bunch. So much energy - but it was a Trump +15 district last election. So I'm prepared to have it all go to shit.
Still, I have to hope.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:44 PM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
Nate Silver twitter rants about dudes statsplaining probability and election forecasting to him: The one thing I have no patience for is dudes (it's almost *always* dudes) who spend 15 minutes on something you've been studying for 10+ years and act like they've solved Fermat's Last Theorm
Top and most common twitter replies? Variants on "Welcome to being a professional woman" or "Congrats, you've been mansplained to."
posted by Justinian at 2:46 PM on November 4, 2018 [81 favorites]
Top and most common twitter replies? Variants on "Welcome to being a professional woman" or "Congrats, you've been mansplained to."
posted by Justinian at 2:46 PM on November 4, 2018 [81 favorites]
Turn, turn, turn, curse, spit.
Or sacrifice a goat. Or eat goat cheese.
Whatever it is we're doing, these days.
Keep calling. Keep turning 'em out. At the rally today, Beto was like "we have 54 hours to go, but who's counting." Keep going. Keep calling. Keep texting. Keep block-walking. Keep making sure we show the fuck up.
posted by rp at 2:47 PM on November 4, 2018 [13 favorites]
Or sacrifice a goat. Or eat goat cheese.
Whatever it is we're doing, these days.
Keep calling. Keep turning 'em out. At the rally today, Beto was like "we have 54 hours to go, but who's counting." Keep going. Keep calling. Keep texting. Keep block-walking. Keep making sure we show the fuck up.
posted by rp at 2:47 PM on November 4, 2018 [13 favorites]
Top and most common twitter replies? Variants on "Welcome to being a professional woman" or "Congrats, you've been mansplained to."
yes but "That's pretty much how climate scientists feel when someone with an econometrics background pronounces judgment on decades and decades of climate science in a book called "The Signal and the Noise". " ftw
posted by thelonius at 2:50 PM on November 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
yes but "That's pretty much how climate scientists feel when someone with an econometrics background pronounces judgment on decades and decades of climate science in a book called "The Signal and the Noise". " ftw
posted by thelonius at 2:50 PM on November 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
suggesting white suburban Democrats might be more fickle than we thought
I mean on the one hand I'm sort of curious about the thought processes of a political commentator who believes suburban white voters are less fickle than a Magic 8-Ball, on the other hand if you stare into the abyss....
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:01 PM on November 4, 2018
I mean on the one hand I'm sort of curious about the thought processes of a political commentator who believes suburban white voters are less fickle than a Magic 8-Ball, on the other hand if you stare into the abyss....
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:01 PM on November 4, 2018
Gofundme for our chocolate-milk-slinging FSU comrade.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:19 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:19 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
Stephen King on Twitter: Iowans, for personal reasons I hope you’ll vote Steve King out. I’m tired of being confused with this racist dumbbell.
posted by growabrain at 3:49 PM on November 4, 2018 [95 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 3:49 PM on November 4, 2018 [95 favorites]
Just want to say that the folks pitching in about their experiences knocking on doors, etc. are fucking inspirational. I enjoy these politics threads, but sometimes they're a bit dry on good feelings, y'know? Not this one. I don't know anything more than anyone else about how it will all turn out in the end, but the past ten minutes of reading has been like watching dawn break over the horizon.
posted by AdamCSnider at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by AdamCSnider at 3:50 PM on November 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
I picked up my credentials and info packet to be an Election Day poll observer this afternoon. The energy was infectious: inside the Dem HQ, people were phone banking for Hiral Tipirneni in CD8, picking up clipboards to canvass for Kyrsten Sinema and Katie Hobbs and Kathy Hoffman (and everybody's favorite mine inspector candidate, Bill Pierce), and generally getting it done. I'm a bit gutted I was out of town for a conference and so missed Arizona native Ted Danson's visit this week; he helped canvas and took probably about a million selfies with people, including a friend of mine who dressed up as Janet for her phone banking shift specifically for this purpose.
I've been assigned to a precinct polling place at a Catholic church in a low-income, industrial-y area. We've had encouraging early voting numbers, and the county recorder has made some changes since our, um, problematic August primaries, so there is cautious optimism that the day will run fairly smoothly. Still, I'm glad to be able to do a small part to help make sure that happens.
posted by Superplin at 4:07 PM on November 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
I've been assigned to a precinct polling place at a Catholic church in a low-income, industrial-y area. We've had encouraging early voting numbers, and the county recorder has made some changes since our, um, problematic August primaries, so there is cautious optimism that the day will run fairly smoothly. Still, I'm glad to be able to do a small part to help make sure that happens.
posted by Superplin at 4:07 PM on November 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
I've never worked this hard for anything political. We have amazing candidates, and I feel like Stacey Abrams might similarly edge out a win for Georgia.I certainly hope so, because if that Kemp asshole wins, I may fucking riot. People will be like "why is that lady in Iowa throwing bricks through windows," but seriously. He is the absolute worst, and that's saying quite a bit, because there are a lot of candidates for the worst.
Back from canvassing. That's it for this year! Now I get to distract myself until the election by doing all the shit I've been putting off doing because I was canvassing.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:15 PM on November 4, 2018 [35 favorites]
Why it is important to vote in local elections: The mayor from Jaws is still the mayor in Jaws 2.
posted by growabrain at 4:17 PM on November 4, 2018 [47 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 4:17 PM on November 4, 2018 [47 favorites]
Trump's Axios interview is airing.
One story to come out of this is Yemen: Trump: The Saudis "don't know how to use" U.S. bombs
Second, Trump's pre-existing conditions promise clashes with ACA lawsuit, in which Trump blames Jeff Sessions for the lawsuit seeking to end coverage for pre-existing conditions, saying nobody told him it was happening, but makes the preposterous claim that it doesn't matter "because pre-existing conditions, on anything we do, will be put into it."
For the rest, let's check in with Daniel Dale:
One story to come out of this is Yemen: Trump: The Saudis "don't know how to use" U.S. bombs
"Axios on HBO" asked Trump whether it bothered him that the Saudi-led coalition has been using U.S. bombs to kill civilians.So glad Trump can be a passive observer here who says the dumbest possible thing.
"Bother's not strong enough," Trump replied. "That was basically people that didn’t know how to use the weapon, which is horrible."
...
"I'll be talking about a lot of things with the Saudis," he continued, "but certainly I wouldn't be having people that don't know how to use the weapons shooting at buses with children."
Second, Trump's pre-existing conditions promise clashes with ACA lawsuit, in which Trump blames Jeff Sessions for the lawsuit seeking to end coverage for pre-existing conditions, saying nobody told him it was happening, but makes the preposterous claim that it doesn't matter "because pre-existing conditions, on anything we do, will be put into it."
For the rest, let's check in with Daniel Dale:
Trump: "Is there climate change? Yeah. Will it go back like this? I mean, will it change back? Probably. That's what I think."posted by zachlipton at 4:38 PM on November 4, 2018 [21 favorites]
Trump says you can't just call it "man"-made climate change. "Man meaning us, people. Man and WOMEN, to be politically correct. 'Cause everyone says man, but now we have to add women to that one too. Man and women."
Told that his children and others must be urging him to tone down the rhetoric on "enemy of the people" and such, Trump shrugs and says, "Not too much. Eh, I'm here. It got me here."
Challenged on whether there's a danger of inciting a supporter to anti-media violence, Trump says, "When I do really good -- I know when I do good and when I do bad. I really get it. I really get it, better than anybody in the whole world."
A chime rings as Trump is showing off his Sharpies to the Axios team. Trump says, "Must be the head of France. He calls a lot."
Trump explains that he called up Sharpie and asked them to do him a favour and make him a "rich" black Sharpie, and not only did they do that, they made him Sharpies with his own signature on it. "It writes well, so it works out good," he says, and the interview is over.
WaPo, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto leads his city through its darkest days. It's a really good profile, but this particular story is notable:
Before the true toll of that evil was known, before bomb squads had secured the building, before the heart-wrenching condolence calls, before the crying, before the string of funerals, before his city was forced into a near-constant state of mourning, Peduto’s phone rang again.posted by zachlipton at 4:44 PM on November 4, 2018 [59 favorites]
It was President Trump.
The three-minute phone call with the president jarred Peduto, 54, the popular second-term Democratic mayor of the Steel City, just as he was trying to get his head around what was happening. After offering thoughts and prayers — and pledging anything Peduto needed, including a direct line to the White House — Trump veered directly into policy, Peduto recalled. The president, Peduto said, insisted on discussing harsher death penalty legislation as a way to prevent such atrocities. Peduto was stunned into silence.
“I’m literally standing two blocks from 11 bodies right now. Really?” Peduto said, noting that he was numb and believed that talking about the death penalty wasn’t “going to bring them back or deter what had just happened. . . . I ended the conversation pretty quickly after that.”
Washington Post Trump Whisperer Philip Rucker tears into Trump's lies and fabrications: ‘Full Trumpism’: The President’s Apocalyptic Attacks Reach a New Level of Falsity
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:49 PM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
President Trump is painting an astonishingly apocalyptic vision of America under Democratic control in the campaign’s final days, unleashing a torrent of falsehoods and portraying his political opponents as desiring crime, squalor and poverty.It will be interesting to see if Trump reacts by complaining about the dishonest/failing Washington Post on Twitter tomorrow or by trying to mollify his access journalist with some more deep background insider scoops.
As voters prepare to render their first verdict on his presidency in Tuesday’s midterm elections, Trump is claiming that Democrats want to erase the nation’s borders and provide sanctuary to drug dealers, human traffickers and MS-13 killers. He is warning that they would destroy the economy, obliterate Medicare and unleash a wave of violent crime that endangers families everywhere. And he is alleging that they would transform the United States into Venezuela with socialism run amok.
Trump has never been hemmed in by fact, fairness or even logic. The 45th president proudly refuses to apologize and routinely violates the norms of decorum that guided his predecessors. But at one mega-rally after another in the run-up to Tuesday’s midterm elections, Trump has taken his no-boundaries political ethos to a whole new level — demagoguing the Democrats in a whirl of distortion and using the power of the federal government to amplify his fantastical arguments.[...]
Trump is campaigning as if his presidency were on the line — and in a way, it is. Should Democrats win the House majority, as public polling suggests, they likely would use their subpoena power to launch investigations into the president and his behavior and, perhaps, begin impeachment proceedings.
“All his bad characteristics get amplified when he’s in a crunch,” [Republican strategist and #NeverTrumper Mike] Murphy said. “He doesn’t have any allegiance to the truth or reality to begin with, so he’s drunk on crowds, in a corner and under great political pressure.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:49 PM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm prepared for heartbreak.
I'm not prepared for anything. I'm genuinely not sure whether I am more afraid of losing or winning here; both of them seem shatteringly huge on the horizon. I feel very small and very fragile.
I did my own canvassing on Saturday--for Mike Siegal, not Beto, but as we were mostly checking in on folks knowing where to vote and voting downballot it didn't make a whole lot of difference. We were up by Steiner Ranch, a wealthy neighborhood out in the Hill Country with big houses and comfortable families, and we saw... a whole lot of Beto signs, maybe three to five Cruz signs. Most folks we caught in cheerfully cut us off with "oh we voted! Go you!", but we spoke to one awkward Republican who politely talked football to my blockwalking buddy before stepping away and another young man who cheerfully told us he had voted for Cruz--didn't you see the sign?--but go you, I love seeing all this investment from either side! I kind of hated him in that moment and can never decide whether I hate him in the moments since. We were there, I think, for either his wife or his sister--there were a lot of adult kids living with parents on our list--and so I was rather irritated that he assumed we were looking for him, exactly.
On the very next house also ran into a middle-aged gentleman who thanked us profusely for the work we were doing and told us he and his wife were definitely going to the polls on Tuesday, though. So that was definitely something.
posted by sciatrix at 5:06 PM on November 4, 2018 [50 favorites]
I'm not prepared for anything. I'm genuinely not sure whether I am more afraid of losing or winning here; both of them seem shatteringly huge on the horizon. I feel very small and very fragile.
I did my own canvassing on Saturday--for Mike Siegal, not Beto, but as we were mostly checking in on folks knowing where to vote and voting downballot it didn't make a whole lot of difference. We were up by Steiner Ranch, a wealthy neighborhood out in the Hill Country with big houses and comfortable families, and we saw... a whole lot of Beto signs, maybe three to five Cruz signs. Most folks we caught in cheerfully cut us off with "oh we voted! Go you!", but we spoke to one awkward Republican who politely talked football to my blockwalking buddy before stepping away and another young man who cheerfully told us he had voted for Cruz--didn't you see the sign?--but go you, I love seeing all this investment from either side! I kind of hated him in that moment and can never decide whether I hate him in the moments since. We were there, I think, for either his wife or his sister--there were a lot of adult kids living with parents on our list--and so I was rather irritated that he assumed we were looking for him, exactly.
On the very next house also ran into a middle-aged gentleman who thanked us profusely for the work we were doing and told us he and his wife were definitely going to the polls on Tuesday, though. So that was definitely something.
posted by sciatrix at 5:06 PM on November 4, 2018 [50 favorites]
'No Blame'? Mike Levine at ABC News finds 17 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats or alleged assaults.
posted by 6thsense at 5:14 PM on November 4, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by 6thsense at 5:14 PM on November 4, 2018 [33 favorites]
(I haven't been keeping up with Trump Cognitively Impaired alerts since it's not only too difficult to diagnose at a distance but also too rich a field of bizarre moments with all these rallies and interviews. This one from Trump's Tennessee rally, however, sticks with me (via Daniel Dale)—Trump on the USMCA trade deal: "Like the song, YMCA. If you have any problem - if you have any problem remembering, just think YMCA." Since Trump's always talking about himself, whether as the subject or the subtext, I can't help but imagining that he needs a mnemonic for his own trade deal and he's sharing it with us. I hate this goddam timeline.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:30 PM on November 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:30 PM on November 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Thanks for that profile of Mayor Peduto (or "Bike Lane Billy" as his local political opponents like to call him). He's a pretty good Twitter follow, ftr. You know how the Crooked Media guys are always harping on having candidates who talk like actual humans and not the collective memos of their comms shop? Bill Peduto is an actual human on Twitter. He retweets a lot of YAY PITTSBURGH boosterism, a bunch of sportsball (well, sportspuck--he's a hockey fan primarily), but a couple times a week he takes a few minutes to knock out some replies to his Twitter trolls and it's always a delight.
The Democratic machine in Pittsburgh has vomited forth some extremely lackluster politicians, but Bill Peduto seems like a genuine mensch.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:40 PM on November 4, 2018 [28 favorites]
The Democratic machine in Pittsburgh has vomited forth some extremely lackluster politicians, but Bill Peduto seems like a genuine mensch.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:40 PM on November 4, 2018 [28 favorites]
Brian Kemp's 'Cyber Crimes' Investigation Against Democrats Sure Looks Shady
This is a throwback to the Bad Old Days of infosec when independent researchers were persecuted for their efforts to improve the security of systems by demonstrating how it could be broken or bypassed. It's a sad, desperate move that only highlights how much they fear accountability. Accountability's coming anyway.
posted by scalefree at 5:57 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
This is a throwback to the Bad Old Days of infosec when independent researchers were persecuted for their efforts to improve the security of systems by demonstrating how it could be broken or bypassed. It's a sad, desperate move that only highlights how much they fear accountability. Accountability's coming anyway.
posted by scalefree at 5:57 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
ZeusHumms: "Its progressive governor is in a surprisingly tough race—suggesting white suburban Democrats might be more fickle than we thought."
The thing is, Buehler is running on basically the early 2000s Democratic platform. This isn't progressive versus scorched earth ultra-conservative.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:14 PM on November 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
The thing is, Buehler is running on basically the early 2000s Democratic platform. This isn't progressive versus scorched earth ultra-conservative.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:14 PM on November 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
@annehelen (Anne Helen Petersen, BuzzFeed):
I've spent some time with people tracking the minutiae of Texas voting registrations and voter challenges and I'm once again convinced that voter suppression is the larger story of this electionposted by zachlipton at 6:19 PM on November 4, 2018 [62 favorites]
DID U KNOW: Texas is the only state where you have to deputized in order to register voters. You have to be deputized in individual counties. If you even put an envelope w/a voter registration in the mail w/o deputization, you can be charged with a felony. And Gov. Abbott has been aggressive in perusing those charges, specifically against women in nursing homes who helped mail residents' ballots for them.
In many precincts in Texas, a member of a local Republican Central Committee will go and "bulk challenge" a number of votes — in Houston, there was a bulk challenge of 4000+ votes — which resulted in incorrect suspension of 1700 voters. Apparently this is a very common tactic: local GOP precinct members bulk challenge; no one fights it. Citizens get a piece of mail, but who has the time to address?
Here in Texas, a local county clerk can throw a ballot away for mismatch, for any reason they see in violation — but they don't have to tell you. Vast majority of people whose ballots are invalidated never know. Going back to the felony charges for registering: no one officially with the Beto campaign was allowed to register people to vote. The campaign couldn't shoulder the liability of a felony prosecution.
This also applies to Early Voting. Every county with more than 100k people, has to provide 12 days. Less than 100k, you can do pretty much whatever. Unless someone petitions with 12 local voters: then they have to add. So groups just decide to petition EVERY. YEAR. There's a reason counties don't allow the full 12 days. Souls to the Polls = #1 way to get black voters to the polls — and it's on a Sunday. So you just limit your early voting to Mon-Wed. Unless 12 people petition. But again: have to have people to petition, and know to do so.
The team behind http://mapthe.vote has been tracking the TX counties that purge voters — to shine a light on them, but also to find those voters who were purged (and likely not notified) and re-register them
...
Oh and ALSO going back to the deputized in the county argument: think of Abilene, which is cleft right in two between two counties. Think of how fear of FELONY PROSECUTION disincentivizes those who'd otherwise try and register people to vote
There's a reason Texas is usually around 49th/50th in turnout percentage.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:23 PM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:23 PM on November 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
> "Its progressive governor (Oregon) is in a surprisingly tough race—suggesting white suburban Democrats might be more fickle than we thought."
>The thing is, Buehler (R) is running on basically the early 2000s Democratic platform. This isn't progressive versus scorched earth ultra-conservative.
Phil Knight, billionaire founder of Nike, is dumping a state record $2.5 million into the campaign of Republican Buehler. That might have a something to do with it.
Buehler is not running on a Democratic platform. His agenda is state tax cuts for the rich and pension cuts for public employees - just like any Republican.
posted by JackFlash at 6:25 PM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
>The thing is, Buehler (R) is running on basically the early 2000s Democratic platform. This isn't progressive versus scorched earth ultra-conservative.
Phil Knight, billionaire founder of Nike, is dumping a state record $2.5 million into the campaign of Republican Buehler. That might have a something to do with it.
Buehler is not running on a Democratic platform. His agenda is state tax cuts for the rich and pension cuts for public employees - just like any Republican.
posted by JackFlash at 6:25 PM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
Is that his real intention? Sure, I have no doubt. But he's publicly talked about being pro-choice and supporting Obamacare. That's not the GOP position in most states.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:30 PM on November 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:30 PM on November 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Both Saturday and Sunday, I canvassed in a neighboring Congressional district, for Xochitl Torres Small. She is neck-and-neck with her GOP opponent.
On Saturday, a bunch of us took a bus trip organized by Swing Left. We went from Albuquerque to Roswell, three hours away. It was one of the few times when I canvassed that I knew I made a difference. For instance, one young woman didn’t know what days the polls were open.
posted by maurreen at 6:30 PM on November 4, 2018 [45 favorites]
On Saturday, a bunch of us took a bus trip organized by Swing Left. We went from Albuquerque to Roswell, three hours away. It was one of the few times when I canvassed that I knew I made a difference. For instance, one young woman didn’t know what days the polls were open.
posted by maurreen at 6:30 PM on November 4, 2018 [45 favorites]
And in my own district, NY23 - Tracy Mitrano has maybe closed in on the odious Tom Reed, and my hands still ache from writing those last-minute postcards to occasional voters here encouraging them to vote.
Thank you RedorGreen! YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like always I hope for the best, and expect the worst :)
posted by bluesky43 at 6:31 PM on November 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Thank you RedorGreen! YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like always I hope for the best, and expect the worst :)
posted by bluesky43 at 6:31 PM on November 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
WSJ on Kemp's shifty "cyber crimes" accusation: Hacking Probe Spurs Back-and-Forth on Eve of Georgia Governor’s Race—Republican Kemp’s office says it is investigating Democrats, which opponent Abrams calls a distraction
And Luppe B. Luppen @nycsouthpaw takes us back to other dirty tricks on Kemp's CV: "So old I remember Brian Kemp made baseless accusations of hacking against the Obama administration two years ago at a moment when it was politically advantageous to Trump*. Took six months to debunk. https://www.wabe.org/federal-review-debunks-georgia-election-hack-accusation-2/"
* WSJ 12/8/16: Georgia Says Someone in U.S. Government Tried to Hack State’s Computers Housing Voter Data—Unsuccessful intrusion came on November 15 apparently via U.S. Department of Homeland Security IP address
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:31 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
In a short statement on its website, the office of Republican Brian Kemp said little about its investigation and offered no evidence, saying only that the probe began Saturday night after a “failed attempt to hack the state’s voter registration system.” [...]For all the good reporting in that article, the editor responsible for the both-sides headline framed the story in the worst way for the readership of this (Murdoch-owned) newspaper.
A Department of Homeland Security official said the state notified it of the issue. A second DHS official said the agency hadn’t been briefed on Mr. Kemp’s investigation, only on vulnerabilities passed to the state by an outside party, which the official declined to name.
Some cybersecurity researchers, in an interview and on social media, cast doubt on Mr. Kemp’s claims, noting that identifying the source of any alleged hack is an incredibly difficult aspect to any cyberinvestigation.
Mr. Kemp, 54 years old, was one of only a few secretaries of state who declined DHS offers to help improve the security of state voting systems in 2016, as reports were beginning to emerge of Russia-backed hacking of state election systems. And in December 2016, Mr. Kemp accused DHS itself of hacking into his office’s network, which the department’s inspector general later concluded wasn’t a cyberattack but residual traffic from a government employee doing a proper check of the state’s firearms database.
And Luppe B. Luppen @nycsouthpaw takes us back to other dirty tricks on Kemp's CV: "So old I remember Brian Kemp made baseless accusations of hacking against the Obama administration two years ago at a moment when it was politically advantageous to Trump*. Took six months to debunk. https://www.wabe.org/federal-review-debunks-georgia-election-hack-accusation-2/"
* WSJ 12/8/16: Georgia Says Someone in U.S. Government Tried to Hack State’s Computers Housing Voter Data—Unsuccessful intrusion came on November 15 apparently via U.S. Department of Homeland Security IP address
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:31 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
I'm working 10-close on Tuesday, I'll get up early and vote. But I'll miss hanging out here and talking about it as it goes down. These threads are crazy and hard to mod (thanks again mods) and so fun, even when we don't win at least in these threads we can console each other. But we can win a bunch on Tuesday. POOSH CART. I'll try to pop in late Tuesday. I love you people. Now I'm going to smoke some grass and eat some beef noodle goulash.
posted by vrakatar at 6:35 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 6:35 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
Rick Hasen on the Kemp thing. He is very angry.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:36 PM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:36 PM on November 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
@soren_lorenson: The Democratic machine in Pittsburgh has vomited forth some extremely lackluster politicians, but Bill Peduto seems like a genuine mensch.
Maybe things have changed, but Peduto started out, at least, in opposition to the local machine (e.g., running against Ravenstahl). I think that's still the case (e.g., the candidate most connected to Peduto -- Erika Strassburger -- didn't win the local Democratic party committee's endorsement in her council race).
posted by janewman at 6:42 PM on November 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
There were a couple of media stories today about Jonathan Swan that I didn't post here because nobody needs to read journalists writing about other journalists, we've all expressed our opinions about him more than he deserves, and we're all too busy working to win elections to care, but this particular detail is worth noting:
The wording of the story seems to indicate that Bannon boasted of this, which strikes me as something that maybe shouldn't be buried near the end of the story.
posted by zachlipton at 6:43 PM on November 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
Mr. Swan’s foreign origins have also been wielded against him. Stephen K. Bannon, the former White House chief strategist, recalled Mr. Swan once calling him for comment on a negative story. “O.K., killer, remind me again of your visa status?” Mr. Bannon replied.@nycsouthpaw: Why wasn’t the White House chief strategist threatening an axios reporter’s immigration status to deflect a bad story... reported by axios?
The wording of the story seems to indicate that Bannon boasted of this, which strikes me as something that maybe shouldn't be buried near the end of the story.
posted by zachlipton at 6:43 PM on November 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
For instance, one young woman didn’t know what days the polls were open.Yeah, I had a guy today ask me what was the last day to vote. (Me: the election is on Tuesday. Him: so I can't vote after Tuesday? Me: that's right. You can vote tomorrow at the auditor's office or Tuesday at your polling place, and after that it's over. Him: ok, I'll go to the auditor tomorrow.)
I also helped a lady who I think is a semi-hoarder find her absentee ballot in the giant pile of papers that covered her entire floor. (She was like "oh, you're busy, you should leave and I'll find it. And I was like "I'm not busy at all! Let's look in that pile over there." I apparently have an eagle eye for ballots, because I'm the one who finally spotted it.) I told a guy who was planning to mail his ballot tomorrow that he can't do that, and he has to take it to the auditor's office, which he promised to do. So I think I might have got three votes today that wouldn't have been cast otherwise. Not totally sure whether two of them will follow through, but I'd be surprised if the hoarder lady would have found her ballot if I hadn't been there to motivate her, and I took it from her, so I know it got counted.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:46 PM on November 4, 2018 [88 favorites]
ArbitraryAndCapricious: I took it from her, so I know it got counted
Wow, you can do that? In Arizona, we are not allowed to touch someone else's ballot for any reason, under our very strict "ballot harvesting" laws.
posted by Superplin at 7:01 PM on November 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Wow, you can do that? In Arizona, we are not allowed to touch someone else's ballot for any reason, under our very strict "ballot harvesting" laws.
posted by Superplin at 7:01 PM on November 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
'No Blame'? Mike Levine at ABC News finds 17 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats or alleged assaults.
Going into the final stretch before election day, Trump continues to amp up his inciteful rhetoric, from his Georgia rally this afternoon (via Daniel Dale):
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:04 PM on November 4, 2018 [39 favorites]
Going into the final stretch before election day, Trump continues to amp up his inciteful rhetoric, from his Georgia rally this afternoon (via Daniel Dale):
Trump says that members of Antifa have "little arms," not strong arms, and have to resort to using clubs. He says, "Where are the Bikers for Trump? Where are the police? Where are the military? Where are - ICE? Where are the Border Patrol?"Trump is this close to "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" territory.
Trump continuing to mock Antifa: "These are bad people. These are people causing problems, and the press doesn't want to talk about them."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:04 PM on November 4, 2018 [39 favorites]
Those laws are mostly new and not in very many states yet. As one might guess, they are intended to suppress the vote.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:05 PM on November 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:05 PM on November 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Huge thanks to those of you out canvassing in person today! I did some text-out-the-vote stuff, and if you're looking for a way to get involved despite being overcommitted, or for something you can do on your lunch break, it's incredibly easy, and for instance, the Joe Donnelly campaign is trying to text over 200,000 people tomorrow so your help is needed! Here's a reddit thread with a link to a Google doc that compiles the how-to-get-involved links for an enormous list of campaigns. Usually, you fill out the form, respond to an email that confirms your interest, watch a short intro video or read a one page guide, download an app (most campaigns use the same one), and then you're ready to go. It takes maybe 10-15 minutes to get set up, if you've never used the app and have to clear out space on your phone to download it like I did.
posted by salvia at 7:11 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by salvia at 7:11 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
Canvassing report from VA-05, for Leslie Cockburn and Tim Kaine:
I went out for GOTV Saturday and Sunday in Charlottesville, VA, which despite the white supremacist rallies last year is one of the main liberal centers of the (enormous and very rural) congressional district. The scant polling has been basically a tossup.
The women were excited. The men were... well I mostly talked to women because they were the ones on the sheet and/or at home. I got to talk to several newly-eligible voters, one of whom had no idea the election was coming up, so that was fun.
We also said hello to an elderly man on the street and asked if he was voting. Once he realized we were out there for the democrats he gradually transformed from friendly old man to a sputtering bundle of rage, furious about healthcare and immigrants invading the country. It was alarming to watch.
Before this election my only time canvassing was once for Obama in 2012. I've been going out a bunch lately and it's been pretty fun, even for a shy guy like me. It's hard to know when/if you're getting to those marginal voters, but hopefully it helps--and lord knows there are going to be some close races this time around.
posted by ropeladder at 7:18 PM on November 4, 2018 [34 favorites]
I went out for GOTV Saturday and Sunday in Charlottesville, VA, which despite the white supremacist rallies last year is one of the main liberal centers of the (enormous and very rural) congressional district. The scant polling has been basically a tossup.
The women were excited. The men were... well I mostly talked to women because they were the ones on the sheet and/or at home. I got to talk to several newly-eligible voters, one of whom had no idea the election was coming up, so that was fun.
We also said hello to an elderly man on the street and asked if he was voting. Once he realized we were out there for the democrats he gradually transformed from friendly old man to a sputtering bundle of rage, furious about healthcare and immigrants invading the country. It was alarming to watch.
Before this election my only time canvassing was once for Obama in 2012. I've been going out a bunch lately and it's been pretty fun, even for a shy guy like me. It's hard to know when/if you're getting to those marginal voters, but hopefully it helps--and lord knows there are going to be some close races this time around.
posted by ropeladder at 7:18 PM on November 4, 2018 [34 favorites]
Those laws are mostly new and not in very many states yet. As one might guess, they are intended to suppress the vote.
Oh, I knew it was a voter suppression tactic, but didn't realize it wasn't common.
posted by Superplin at 7:19 PM on November 4, 2018
Oh, I knew it was a voter suppression tactic, but didn't realize it wasn't common.
posted by Superplin at 7:19 PM on November 4, 2018
In Arizona, we are not allowed to touch someone else's ballot for any reason, under our very strict "ballot harvesting" laws.Iowa doesn't have that kind of thing. We can basically do anything. As far as I know, the only laws are that the person has to sign their own signature, and their employer or union representative can't help them fill out the ballot. (I technically can help someone fill out a ballot, but I would be *very* uncomfortable doing that. I could see it being necessary for some people with disabilities, though, because you have to bubble in the little bubbles, and if you color outside the lines it can invalidate your ballot. I would be concerned about it if I had a tremor in my hands or poor motor control.) But yeah, people can give canvassers their ballots, and then we take them in to the auditor's office at the end of the day. I haven't been given as many ballots this year as in previous years, though. I think people are feeling a little paranoid. I've had several people tell me that they took their ballot to the auditor's office rather than mailing it in, because they were worried it might get lost in the mail.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:21 PM on November 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
As the off-his-leash Trump crams his schedule with pre-election rallies, Politico gathers sob stories from anonymous GOP sources: 'Trump Has Hijacked The Election': House Republicans In Panic Mode—Worries deepen that Trump's charged immigration rhetoric will cost the GOP more seats.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:23 PM on November 4, 2018 [39 favorites]
House Speaker Paul Ryan got President Donald Trump on the phone Sunday for one final plea on behalf of anxious Republicans: Please, please talk up the booming economy in the final hours before Election Day.Alternate headline: Members of Leopards Eating People's Faces Party Discover They Don't Count as Leopards When It Comes to Face-Eating.
But Trump, unsurprisingly, had another issue on his mind. He boasted to Ryan that his focus on immigration has fired up the base, according to a source familiar with the call.
Two days out from an expected Democratic takeover of the House, Republicans focused on the chamber are profoundly worried that Trump’s obsession with all things immigration will exacerbate their losses. Many of these same Republicans welcomed Trump’s initial talk about the migrant caravan and border security two weeks ago, hoping it would gin up the GOP base in some at-risk, Republican-held districts.
But they now fear Trump went overboard — and that it could cost them dearly in key suburban districts, from Illinois to Texas. Many of them have cringed at Trump’s threats to unilaterally end birthright citizenship, as well as his recent racially-tinged ad suggesting that immigrants are police killers. The president's drumbeat, they say, is drowning out news any incumbent president would be negligent not to dwell on: that the economy added a quarter-million jobs last quarter, and unemployment is below 4 percent.
“Trump has hijacked the election,” said one senior House Republican aide of Trump's focus on immigration. “This is not what we expected the final weeks of the election to focus on.”[...]
“His honing in on this message is going to cost us seats,” said one senior House GOP campaign source. “The people we need to win in these swing districts that will determine the majority, it’s not the Trump base; it’s suburban women, or people who voted for [Hillary] Clinton or people who are not hard Trump voters.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:23 PM on November 4, 2018 [39 favorites]
He says, "Where are the Bikers for Trump? Where are the police? Where are the military? Where are - ICE? Where are the Border Patrol?"
What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk!
posted by Justinian at 7:34 PM on November 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk!
posted by Justinian at 7:34 PM on November 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
Many of them have cringed at Trump’s threats to unilaterally end birthright citizenship, as well as his recent racially-tinged ad suggesting that immigrants are police killers.
If the Democrats were like the Republicans they would run with this and link every Republican to Trump with it. "My opponent thinks your neighbors are going to kill police. For no reason." Make the bastards deny it.
posted by rhizome at 7:38 PM on November 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
If the Democrats were like the Republicans they would run with this and link every Republican to Trump with it. "My opponent thinks your neighbors are going to kill police. For no reason." Make the bastards deny it.
posted by rhizome at 7:38 PM on November 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Virginia law also restricts absentee ballot return to USPS or another commercial delivery service, or personally delivering it by hand (to the county election office, not your polling precinct). Using a "personal courier service" or another individual to deliver your ballot is expressly forbidden.
posted by peeedro at 7:38 PM on November 4, 2018
posted by peeedro at 7:38 PM on November 4, 2018
Trump explains that he called up Sharpie and asked them to do him a favour and make him a "rich" black Sharpie, and not only did they do that, they made him Sharpies with his own signature on it. "It writes well, so it works out good," he says, and the interview is over.
posted by zachlipton
As it happens, I live in the town that makes most (maybe all?) of the Sharpies sold in the US. I'm pretty sure that (a) Newell-Rubbermaid, not Sharpie, has its name on that factory and (2) if this had happened it would be ALL OVER the front page of my local paper. It didn't happen.
Maybe he contacted Skerple by mistake?
posted by workerant at 7:54 PM on November 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton
As it happens, I live in the town that makes most (maybe all?) of the Sharpies sold in the US. I'm pretty sure that (a) Newell-Rubbermaid, not Sharpie, has its name on that factory and (2) if this had happened it would be ALL OVER the front page of my local paper. It didn't happen.
Maybe he contacted Skerple by mistake?
posted by workerant at 7:54 PM on November 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
I think the Trump Sharpie is real. Bush had them too. There are also Obama ones.
posted by reductiondesign at 8:07 PM on November 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by reductiondesign at 8:07 PM on November 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
So the Sharpie might be real but if at least two different administrations had them, Trump almost certainly didn't "call up Sharpie" and ask for a special one.
posted by Literaryhero at 8:13 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Literaryhero at 8:13 PM on November 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
John Dean: Trump’s words are a spreading plague on the world, and beyond an embarrassment to our country. Can we doubt he would have allied with a Hitler, not Churchill, particularly if he could sell the Nazis a few hotels or condos with his name on them? Incredible!
posted by growabrain at 8:16 PM on November 4, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 8:16 PM on November 4, 2018 [28 favorites]
For an international interlude, on mainstream radio in Australia yesterday the narrative about the US elections was about how it's being shaped by voter suppression and gerrymandering.
I don't know if it's good or bad to hear that, but at least know that we're listening and watching, and hope for the best.
posted by chiquitita at 8:25 PM on November 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
I don't know if it's good or bad to hear that, but at least know that we're listening and watching, and hope for the best.
posted by chiquitita at 8:25 PM on November 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 2 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 2 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- AZ:** 2018 House:-- Harris Interactive poll has GOPer McSally up 48-46 on Dem Sinema [no MOE on any of these Harris Interactive polls].-- FL:
-- Trafalgar Group poll has Sinema up 50-47 [MOE: +/- 2.1%].-- Harris Interactive poll has GOPer Scott up 47-45 on Dem incumbent Nelson.-- IN: Harris Interactive poll has Dem incumbent Donnelly up 43-42 on GOPer Braun.
-- Gravis poll has Nelson up 50-47 [MOE: +/- 3.6%].
-- MO: Harris Interactive poll has Dem incumbent McCaskill tied 46-46 with GOPer Hawley.
-- NV: Harris Interactive poll has GOP incumbent Heller up 46-45 on Dem Rosen.
-- MT: Harris Interactive poll has Dem incumbent Tester up 49-43 on GOPer Rosendale.
-- Multiple polls from Research Company, which appears to be a Canadian pollster new to the US (which might explain some of the odd choices). All MOEs +/- 4.6%.-- PA: Dem incumbent Casey up 56-39 on GOPer Barletta.-- NY: Siena poll has Dem incumbent Gillibrand up 58-35 on GOPer Farley [MOE: +/- 3.9%]. => Why is Siena polling this? They're in NY, and they do all the statewides at the end (see more below).
-- NY: Dem incumbent Gillibrand up 60-32 on GOPer Farley.
-- MN (A): Dem incumbent Klobuchar up 53-33 on GOPer Newberger.
-- MN (B): Dem incumbent Smith up 49-39 on GOPer Housley.
-- MI: Dem incumbent Stabenow up 52-36 on GOPer James.
-- CA: Incumbent Feinstein up 47-28 on de León.
-- NM: Research & Polling has Dem incumbent Heinrich up 51-31 on GOPer Rich [MOE: +/- 3.1%]. => The Gary Johnson threat never really coalesced here, it looks like.
-- CA: Probolsky Research poll has incumbent Feinstein up 41-35 on de León.[MOE: +/- 3.3%].
-- MI: Target Insyght poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 53-43 on GOPer James [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- The NYT/Siena polling project is at last completed! Note that a few of these final polls did not quite make it to ~500 responses. Analysis seems to show a slight trend to the left as we get to the last batch.** Odds & ends:
-- NY-22: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Tenney up 46-45 on Dem Brindisi [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 55-39 | Cook: Tossup]
-- IA-04: Siena poll has GOP incumbent King up 47-42 on Dem Scholten [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Trump 61-34 | Cook: Lean R]
-- KY-06: Siena poll has Dem McGrath tied 44-44 with GOP incumbent Barr [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 55-39 | Cook: Tossup]
-- WA-08: Siena poll has Dem Schrier up 48-45 on GOPer Rossi [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Clinton 48-45 | Cook: Tossup] => This is an interesting one. District went for Hillary, but Rossi won it twice in his previous statewide runs, and has a ton of money.
-- MI-08: Siena poll has Dem Slotkin up 49-42 on GOP incumbent Bishop [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- TX-32: Siena poll has Dem Allred up 46-42 on GOP incumbent Sessions [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 49-47 | Cook: Tossup] => Sessions didn't even have Dem *opponent* in 2016.
-- IL-14: Siena poll has Dem Underwood up 49-43 on GOP incumbent Hultgren [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Trump 49-45 | Cook: Tossup]
-- CA-48: Siena poll has Dem Rouda up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Rohrabacher [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 48-46 | Cook: Tossup] => If the actual race is this kind of margin, it might be days and days before we know the final outcome.
-- GA-06: Siena poll has Dem McBath up [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Lean R]
-- VA-07: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Brat up 46-44 on Dem Spanberger [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NY-19: Siena poll has Dem Delgado up 43-42 on GOP incumbent Faso [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- WI-06: JMC/BBC poll has GOP incumbent Grothman up 61-33 on Dem Kohl [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 56-39 | Cook: Likely R] => This one may be an outlier, the numbers for Senate and governor are considerably lower for Dems than make sense, based on statewide numbers.
-- OH-07: Optimus poll has GOP incumbent Gibbs up 55-36 on Dem Harbaugh [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. [Trump 63-33 | Cook: Solid R]
-- AZ-01: Optimus poll has Dem incumbent O'Halleran up 48-45 on GOPer Rogers [MOE: +/- 3.6%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Likely D] => Rogers was pushing some internals that showed her up mid-single digits, which wasn't super plausible.
-- NM-01: Research & Polling has Dem Haaland up 50-38 on GOPer Arnold-Jones [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Clinton 52-35 | Cook: Solid D]
-- NM-02: Research & Polling has GOPer Herrell up 46-45 on Dem Torres Small [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Trump 50-40 | Cook: Tossup]
-- In an echo of the "Watergate babies" the Dem caucus will be significantly different in 2019 than now.
-- AZ gov: Harris Interactive poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 57-36 on Dem Garcia. [Cook: Likely R]** Averages & forecasts:
-- FL gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- Harris Interactive poll has Dem Gillum up 49-46 on GOPer DeSantis.-- NV gov: Harris Interactive poll has GOPer Laxalt up 45-44 on Dem Sisolak. [Cook: Tossup]
-- Gravis poll has Gillum up 48-47.
-- Research Company gubernatorial polls:-- PA gov: Dem incumbent Wolf up 54-39 on GOPer Wagner. [Cook: Likely D]-- IL gov: Victory Research poll has Dem Pritzker up 49-33 on GOP incumbent Rauner [no MOE listed]. [Cook: Solid D]
-- NY gov: Dem incumbent Cuomo up 54-37 on GOPer Molinaro. [Cook: Solid D]
-- MN gov: Dem Walz up 48-42 on GOPer Johnson. [Cook: Likely D]
-- MI gov: Dem Whitmer up 47-43 on GOPer Schuette. [Cook: Lean D]
-- CA gov: Dem Newsom up 58-38 on GOPer Cox. [Cook: Solid D]
-- OK gov: Sooner Poll has GOPer Stitt up 47-44 on Dem Edmondson [MOE: +/- 5.3%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- GA gov: Trafalgar Group poll has GOPer Kemp up 52-40 on Dem Abrams [MOE: +/- 2.1%]. [Cook: Tossup] => This one is completely bonkers - this race has been heavily polled, and everyone's had it within about three points. I'm not a fan of "look at the crosstabs" but they have Abrams support with African-Americans at 66%??? Points for publishing it, I guess.
-- NY gov: Siena poll has Dem incumbent Cuomo up 49-36 on GOPer Molinaro. Downballot: Comptroller: Dem incumbent up 62-25 on GOPer Trichter. AG: Dem James up 49-37 on GOPer Wofford.
-- NM gov: Research & Polling has Dem Lujan Grisham up 53-43 on GOPer Pearce. [Cook: Lean D]
-- CA gov: Probolsky Research has Dem Newsom up 47-37 on GOPer Cox.
-- MI gov: Target Insyght poll has Dem Whitmer up 48-44 on GOPer Schuette.
-- Dave Weigel reminds us that there are several races (House, Senate, and governor) that could take days to finish counting. It's not inconceivable that we could not know who controls either house of Congress for a week.
-- Nevada voting guru Jon Ralston makes his predictions based on early vote. Usually, you don't want to put much stock in early vote, but a) Nevada has a very high portion of their vote then and b) Ralston knows Nevada. tl;dr: Sen and Gov Lean D, NV-03, Lean D, NV-04 Likely D.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.3 (50.5/42.2)posted by Chrysostom at 9:03 PM on November 4, 2018 [26 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 86.0% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 16.3% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.6 states.
I'll have a final update - like half a dozen more just dropped - about mid-day Monday, and then I need to work on the Election Day post.
I can promise it won't be as awesome as the usual FPPs - everyone has been doing great work!
posted by Chrysostom at 9:06 PM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
I can promise it won't be as awesome as the usual FPPs - everyone has been doing great work!
posted by Chrysostom at 9:06 PM on November 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
Side note: I find it ...somehow wild that Vogue is doing little policy issue explainers with famous people before the election
posted by The Whelk at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:13 PM on November 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
oneswellfoop: "Yes, after the modeling failures in 2016, there are one of three possibilities, (1) they're making the same mistakes, (2) they've fixed their mistakes and (3) they're overcompensating for past mistakes, and possibilities 2 and 3 would both be good for the Democrats (3 more than 2), so, with apologies to Chrysostom, I'm not taking the numbers too seriously..."
Here’s How Polling Has Changed Since 2016
posted by Chrysostom at 9:19 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
Here’s How Polling Has Changed Since 2016
posted by Chrysostom at 9:19 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS NEWS
There is a thread up in MeTa to thank the indefatigable Chrysostom for all of his hard work bringing us the freshest data this year.
posted by Tsuga at 9:21 PM on November 4, 2018 [57 favorites]
There is a thread up in MeTa to thank the indefatigable Chrysostom for all of his hard work bringing us the freshest data this year.
posted by Tsuga at 9:21 PM on November 4, 2018 [57 favorites]
I will hereby validate that I don't know anything. Name one race each in the House, Senate, and governor, and I will offer an Official Chrysostom Prediction for the race. Spoiler: These are not likely to be correct.
(but thank you again for the nice stuff being said)
posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 PM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
(but thank you again for the nice stuff being said)
posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 PM on November 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
@Nate_Cohn, wrapping up the NYT polling season: Across our 28 polls in districts rated as "tossups' by the Cook Political Report, we have the Democrats leading by a little under 1 point. Democrats only need about one-third of these districts to take the House, but there are a lot of close races out there And it wouldn't take much of a nudge in either direction to topple a lot of districts. 9 of the 28 were within less than 1 point; 23 were within 3 points
Well I don't know about the JCPL, but I know I won't be sleeping now.
posted by zachlipton at 9:27 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
Well I don't know about the JCPL, but I know I won't be sleeping now.
posted by zachlipton at 9:27 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
Yeah, it's basically like: 20% GOP takes it, 60% modest Dem gains, ranging from j-u-s-t enough, to maybe 35 seats, 20% Dem blowout.
You'd much rather be the Democrats here, but 20% chances come up, say, 1 time out of 5.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:38 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
You'd much rather be the Democrats here, but 20% chances come up, say, 1 time out of 5.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:38 PM on November 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
We all know about the loathsome human disenfranchiser Brian Kemp, but who is running for Georgia Secretary of State to be the next ratfucker general? Info at ballotopedia.. Does anyone know how bad Raffensperger is? Is he Kemp's creature?
posted by benzenedream at 10:34 PM on November 4, 2018
posted by benzenedream at 10:34 PM on November 4, 2018
Regarding that James O'Keefe's Project Veritas and Beto biz (Beto Campaign Appears to Illegally Spend Funds on Supplies for Caravan Aliens), at Esquire:
A Right-Wing Sting Operative Went Undercover in Beto O’Rourke’s Campaign
And the worst thing they caught his campaign staffers doing? Donating food and diapers to needy families.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:46 PM on November 4, 2018 [36 favorites]
A Right-Wing Sting Operative Went Undercover in Beto O’Rourke’s Campaign
And the worst thing they caught his campaign staffers doing? Donating food and diapers to needy families.
On Thursday, O'Keefe's organization, Project Veritas, posted a 24-minute long video, mostly compiled of footage taken surreptitiously within O'Rourke's campaign. In it, staffers discuss buying food and supplies for a charity that works with asylum seekers. It's legal for people to cross our border and apply for asylum. It's also legal for campaigns to give to charity. According to Huffpost, the O'Rourke team offered a simple explanation for the footage Project Veritas released:(Not that Chris Evans - but at this point, would anything surprise you?)
“Staff members took it upon themselves to use prepaid cards from one of our more than 700 field offices to buy baby wipes, diapers, water, fruit and granola bars, and donate them to a local humanitarian nonprofit named Annunciation House that helps mothers and children in the community,” O’Rourke spokesman Chris Evans said. “The value was under $300 and it will be appropriately reported to the FEC.”
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:46 PM on November 4, 2018 [36 favorites]
Right now the most likely outcome is that the Democrats take the House while the Republicans keep the Senate. Inevitably, if this happens, the narrative on Wednesday will be about how holding the Senate is good for Republicans. I think it's worth pointing out, though, that under any realistic scenario this won't be because a majority of voters supported Republicans; the will of the voters will have been strongly for Democrat control of the Senate.
Suppose a best-case scenario for the GOP, where R's win both tossup states (MO and NV; all state rankings from 538's Deluxe forecast) and all three lean-D states (AZ, IN, and FL). There will no doubt be a great deal of conflation in the media about how a good outcome for Rs means that most voters wanted a good outcome for Rs. However, Dems (and left-leaning independents) will still have won 22 of the 35 Senate elections, or 63%. (Contrast this with the House, where a 63% win rate would be astounding!) Further, those 22 seats represent 157 million Americans, versus only 88 million for the 13 R seats (counting MN and MS only once in population, despite there being elections for both seats in those states). Breaking it down into the total vote count will be similarly lopsided, as no Republicans made it on the general election ballot in California, so every non-write in vote there will be for a Democrat. Even ignoring that, Dems are likely to win big in populous states like NY and PA, while R's will likely have narrower victories in populous states like TX and FL.
Now consider the case where Dems do win all of the lean-D states, but neither of the tossups. This would be a net gain of 1 seat for Republicans, and this would no doubt be cast as very meaningful and most important news on Fox. In that scenario, Dems would have won 25 out of 35 races, or 71%, representing 192 million Americans, versus only 53 million in R states.
Now consider the scenario where Dems win all lean-D and tossup states. This will result in a 50/50 Senate, with Pence's tie-breaker keeping it in R control. This may be spun as "Hey look! A D House and R Senate! Voters must be evenly split (except the Senate is more important than the House, so they prefer Republicans a bit more)!" Yet this would be after Dems win 27 of 35 races (77%), from states representing 201 million Americans, versus 41 million Americans in the other 8 states.
In short, Americans are going to overwhelmingly turn out to support a Democratic Senate this week. Don't forget this even if Republicans manage to barely cling on to power.
posted by Tsuga at 11:11 PM on November 4, 2018 [95 favorites]
Suppose a best-case scenario for the GOP, where R's win both tossup states (MO and NV; all state rankings from 538's Deluxe forecast) and all three lean-D states (AZ, IN, and FL). There will no doubt be a great deal of conflation in the media about how a good outcome for Rs means that most voters wanted a good outcome for Rs. However, Dems (and left-leaning independents) will still have won 22 of the 35 Senate elections, or 63%. (Contrast this with the House, where a 63% win rate would be astounding!) Further, those 22 seats represent 157 million Americans, versus only 88 million for the 13 R seats (counting MN and MS only once in population, despite there being elections for both seats in those states). Breaking it down into the total vote count will be similarly lopsided, as no Republicans made it on the general election ballot in California, so every non-write in vote there will be for a Democrat. Even ignoring that, Dems are likely to win big in populous states like NY and PA, while R's will likely have narrower victories in populous states like TX and FL.
Now consider the case where Dems do win all of the lean-D states, but neither of the tossups. This would be a net gain of 1 seat for Republicans, and this would no doubt be cast as very meaningful and most important news on Fox. In that scenario, Dems would have won 25 out of 35 races, or 71%, representing 192 million Americans, versus only 53 million in R states.
Now consider the scenario where Dems win all lean-D and tossup states. This will result in a 50/50 Senate, with Pence's tie-breaker keeping it in R control. This may be spun as "Hey look! A D House and R Senate! Voters must be evenly split (except the Senate is more important than the House, so they prefer Republicans a bit more)!" Yet this would be after Dems win 27 of 35 races (77%), from states representing 201 million Americans, versus 41 million Americans in the other 8 states.
In short, Americans are going to overwhelmingly turn out to support a Democratic Senate this week. Don't forget this even if Republicans manage to barely cling on to power.
posted by Tsuga at 11:11 PM on November 4, 2018 [95 favorites]
In qualitative news, the mood among the large crowd at phonebanking tonight in my competitive House district was: "That SNL ad is how I feel inside." It's going to be hard to get sleep the next two nights.
posted by Tsuga at 11:17 PM on November 4, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Tsuga at 11:17 PM on November 4, 2018 [13 favorites]
It's likely there will be no clear winner of the House on Tuesday because that's when the next phase of the GOP vote suppression campaign kicks in, Challenging the Results. They will tie up as many as possible Dem wins in court on as many grounds as possible, including many that will seem ludicrous on their face. It will be a battle fought by inches, conceding nothing & waging a parallel propaganda campaign to sap our will & turn public opinion against us. Because that's what you do when lust for power wins out over proportionality, fair play & any sense of respect for our institutions & norms. Think Bush v Gore fought over dozens of states.
At the same time I think Trump may actually finally do something smart from a strategic sense & take advantage of the timing of things to get rid of Sessions & Rosenstein both, leaving the oversight for Mueller in the hands of the ethically compromised DoJ Solicitor General Noel Francisco. See here for more on that. All with an eye towards shutting Mueller down, limiting his ability to report, getting visibility into the investigation, etc. Not saying it will happen, this is a worst case scenario where we'd find out how good Mueller really was at planning for every contingency.
posted by scalefree at 11:49 PM on November 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
At the same time I think Trump may actually finally do something smart from a strategic sense & take advantage of the timing of things to get rid of Sessions & Rosenstein both, leaving the oversight for Mueller in the hands of the ethically compromised DoJ Solicitor General Noel Francisco. See here for more on that. All with an eye towards shutting Mueller down, limiting his ability to report, getting visibility into the investigation, etc. Not saying it will happen, this is a worst case scenario where we'd find out how good Mueller really was at planning for every contingency.
posted by scalefree at 11:49 PM on November 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
Speaking of not sleeping, Ellen Tauscher (former Congresswoman from Northern California and a former Under Secretary of State in the Obama Administration) wrote some nightmare fuel: Is California Prepared to be Palm Beach 2.0?
She raises the possibility that a long night on Tuesday could turn into a much longer period of long weeks if control of the House winds up resting on the fate of some close races in California, where counting vote-by-mail ballots could take quite a while (California law requires that they be counted if they're received as late as the Friday after the election, so many ballots may not even be in on election night). The danger is that Trump then starts tweeting that the election is rigged, sending MAGA hats to descend on county election offices, and it could be Florida all over again.
The purpose of her presenting this nightmare fuel (and I think there are a number of reasons to think this scenario isn't super likely, yet possible) is that Democrats and California need to prepare for it right now, just in case:
She raises the possibility that a long night on Tuesday could turn into a much longer period of long weeks if control of the House winds up resting on the fate of some close races in California, where counting vote-by-mail ballots could take quite a while (California law requires that they be counted if they're received as late as the Friday after the election, so many ballots may not even be in on election night). The danger is that Trump then starts tweeting that the election is rigged, sending MAGA hats to descend on county election offices, and it could be Florida all over again.
The purpose of her presenting this nightmare fuel (and I think there are a number of reasons to think this scenario isn't super likely, yet possible) is that Democrats and California need to prepare for it right now, just in case:
California’s Secretary of State needs to send official observers to every contested county registrar’s office to ensure they are complying with all state laws and are not caving to intimidation by GOP lawyers and protesters. Local law enforcement must be prepared to keep the peace as “citizen militias” inevitably descend at Trump’s whistle upon these county elections offices. The Democratic legal infrastructure — in Washington and California — must be ready to counteract every Republican dirty trick Trump and the GOP will pull in courtrooms and in the court of public opinion. And Democratic spinmeisters should be ready starting 8:01pm PST to prevent Republicans from hijacking the narrative and to defend the legitimacy of California votes, voters and the election. Democrats failed to prepare in 2000 because no one imagined that the Presidential election would hinge on 500 votes in Florida and something called “hanging chads.” But, this year, there is no excuse for failure of imagination.posted by zachlipton at 12:06 AM on November 5, 2018 [28 favorites]
Trump being Trump:
Trump Accuses Oprah of Burning Tapes That Don’t Exist to Hide Interview That Never Happened
posted by PontifexPrimus at 3:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
Trump Accuses Oprah of Burning Tapes That Don’t Exist to Hide Interview That Never Happened
Though he had been interviewed on her show, Trump was not included in its last week. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed otherwise to apparently boost his celebrity profile.Yeah, he's just changing the past now. As you do.
The new, baseless accusation of an effort to get rid of a non-existing recordings comes just days after Winfrey traveled to Georgia in support of Abrams’ bid to become the first female black governor in the country.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 3:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
Geoff Garin (Hart Research)
We'll see what happens Tuesday but holding the Senate is a ridiculously low bar for Trump. Democrats are defending seats in 10 Trump states with just one pick up opportunity in a Clinton state. Anything short of 5-6 pick ups shows real weakness for Trump.
posted by chris24 at 4:36 AM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
We'll see what happens Tuesday but holding the Senate is a ridiculously low bar for Trump. Democrats are defending seats in 10 Trump states with just one pick up opportunity in a Clinton state. Anything short of 5-6 pick ups shows real weakness for Trump.
posted by chris24 at 4:36 AM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
That seems like a useful frame for countering T's inevitable self-congratulation if Rs hold the Senate: "You had a super-easy map and you couldn't even pick up a majority of the Dem-held seats. What a missed opportunity! What a failure! Totally weak. Bigly."
posted by GrammarMoses at 4:50 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by GrammarMoses at 4:50 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's going to be hard to get sleep the next two nights.
There is not enough pot in the world at this point
posted by schadenfrau at 5:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
There is not enough pot in the world at this point
posted by schadenfrau at 5:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
An Open Letter to Active Duty Soldiers: Don’t Deploy to the Southern US Border.
The migrants in the Central American caravan are not your enemies.
posted by adamvasco at 5:30 AM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
The migrants in the Central American caravan are not your enemies.
posted by adamvasco at 5:30 AM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
“Blowing Smoke”: Sorry, Pundits, but You Have No Clue What Will Happen on Tuesday (Peter Hamby, Vanity Fair)
Ten years on, since Trump took office, polls have consistently underestimated Democratic performance. “The polls in governor’s races, those special congressional elections, in the Alabama Senate race—on average they underestimated Democrats,” said Harry Enten, the CNN analyst, formerly of Nate Silver’s poll-and-data-driven site, FiveThirtyEight. “The error statewide in Virginia in 2017 was greater than the average error in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 2016.” But why? Northam’s pollster, Geoff Garin, said his biggest lesson from the Virginia election last year is that new voters are storming the gates in the Trump era and throwing turnout models out the window. Pollsters who aren’t accounting for the shifting electorate—a wave of new voters who haven’t been previously reached—could be making a risky mistake. “I think some polls are not reflecting the ways in which electorates are likely to expand,” Garin said. “Turnout in Virginia grew by nearly 17 percent from 2013 and 2017, with roughly 374,000 more voters. In our voter-file analysis, 30 percent of the people who voted in 2017 had not voted in either the 2009 or 2013 governor’s races, which indicates people were dropping out and moving away as well as dropping into the electorate.”posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
In the statewide races he’s working on this year, Garin said he has stopped tying his polling samples so rigidly to past midterm-vote history, as many pollsters do, by working off existing voter files to contact those most likely to turn out. It is true that the best indicator of whether someone will vote in an election is whether they have voted before. It is also true to anyone with a heartbeat and working eyeballs that Trump has motivated legions of new voters, particularly younger voters and women. Early voting numbers in many key states reflect this trend. “I am more concerned that I am under-representing them than over-representing them,” Garin said of new voters jumping into the voting pool post-Trump. In some states, he said, 24 percent of his polling samples are people who didn’t vote in two previous midterm elections.
Garin’s concern is troubling for all sorts of pollsters, particularly because young voters, a lynchpin of Democratic hopes this year, are immensely difficult to reach. “I think the single hardest thing right now is to predict the millennial turnout,” said Celinda Lake, a veteran Democratic pollster. “Any pollster who tells you what that exit-poll number is going to be is lying.” Robert Cahaly, an Atlanta-based Republican pollster who devoted much of 2015 and 2016 to sniffing out those so-called “hidden” Trump voters, outlined the dilemma. “How many young people do you know who would get a cell phone call at five in the afternoon, answer it, and take the time to sit there and talk to someone?,” Cahaly asked. “That is not a normal young person. It’s hard to imagine a voter like that unless you are doing some kind of sophisticated digital polling, too. So you end up with too small of a pool of young people, and when you weight on that small pool, you aren’t actually representing the average youth voter.”
Nathaniel Rakich, 538: How To Watch The Midterms: An Hour-By-Hour Guide
Lists poll closing times and races to watch.
posted by nangar at 5:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Lists poll closing times and races to watch.
posted by nangar at 5:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Chris Hayes speaks with political scientist Michael Tesler about his revelations on racial resentment, economic anxiety and the 2016 election.
I thought this was very interesting. It’s a podcast, I didn’t listen to it, but they have a complete transcript.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 5:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
I thought this was very interesting. It’s a podcast, I didn’t listen to it, but they have a complete transcript.
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 5:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
So in the last thread I posted a brief comment about Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz who was a victim in the massacre that occurred at the Tree of Life Synagogue. There is now a GoFundMe here at Penn that is dedicated to creating an annually awarded endowed scholarship for a "... graduating family medicine resident who embodies Dr. Rabinowitz's selfless devotion to patient care and community outreach."
I work in the department of family medicine and community health here at Penn, full disclosure, but I'm just a staffer not a doctor or anything. A lot of the docs in our practice knew him and are supporting. Just thought I would share in case anyone else was interested in helping out.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:13 AM on November 5, 2018 [51 favorites]
I work in the department of family medicine and community health here at Penn, full disclosure, but I'm just a staffer not a doctor or anything. A lot of the docs in our practice knew him and are supporting. Just thought I would share in case anyone else was interested in helping out.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:13 AM on November 5, 2018 [51 favorites]
Weekend canvassing report from Indianapolis: I canvassed Saturday and Sunday, the former on behalf of Planned Parenthood endorsing a state legislator and helping train a new volunteer, and the latter for the Democratic Party.
Between the two days, I/we knocked on more than 100 doors. About a fourth of them answered, but in general, those we talked to are enthusiastic about voting. We're now waking neighborhoods with post-it stickers containing the basic information about Election Day and an assistance number. I handed one to a fellow on a bicycle Sunday who stopped and asked what I was doing in the (predominantly African-American) neighborhood, but was glad to hear I was working GOTV and happy to know where to go to vote. More than once the voters I spoke to offered a handshake, and more than once they said they'd get their family out to vote as well. Even so, I'm pretty sure we reminded a couple of people who were on the fence or not focusing on the election to get out on Tuesday.
In addition to the many firsts I've experienced since 2016, this year I'll attend the Indiana Democrats' poll watching session at a downtown hotel Tuesday night. May they all be victory parties, across the country.
posted by Gelatin at 6:18 AM on November 5, 2018 [48 favorites]
Between the two days, I/we knocked on more than 100 doors. About a fourth of them answered, but in general, those we talked to are enthusiastic about voting. We're now waking neighborhoods with post-it stickers containing the basic information about Election Day and an assistance number. I handed one to a fellow on a bicycle Sunday who stopped and asked what I was doing in the (predominantly African-American) neighborhood, but was glad to hear I was working GOTV and happy to know where to go to vote. More than once the voters I spoke to offered a handshake, and more than once they said they'd get their family out to vote as well. Even so, I'm pretty sure we reminded a couple of people who were on the fence or not focusing on the election to get out on Tuesday.
In addition to the many firsts I've experienced since 2016, this year I'll attend the Indiana Democrats' poll watching session at a downtown hotel Tuesday night. May they all be victory parties, across the country.
posted by Gelatin at 6:18 AM on November 5, 2018 [48 favorites]
I'm just a staffer
You should never say that.
posted by jgirl at 6:25 AM on November 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
You should never say that.
posted by jgirl at 6:25 AM on November 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
/does the warding off hex thing
It would be cool if there were a lot of babies conceived late Tuesday night. Sort of like there was a spike in the birth rate in NYC after the 2003 blackout, where people were just so fucking happy it wasn't more terrorism.
/does the warding off hex thing
posted by angrycat at 6:26 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
It would be cool if there were a lot of babies conceived late Tuesday night. Sort of like there was a spike in the birth rate in NYC after the 2003 blackout, where people were just so fucking happy it wasn't more terrorism.
/does the warding off hex thing
posted by angrycat at 6:26 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sunday McCaskill doorknocking: The office I knock out of was able to clear all of their city turf, so they took on some of the work out in the county.
The same thing happened with me the previous weekend -- I was sent to a different area and actually crossed the county line, another first -- which also gives me a good feeling.
Even if the Democrats lost some of the squeaker Senate races, the people are out there, and I doubt this sleeping giant will soon rest once wakened. Republicans may revel in their cheating victories and Trump may spew face-saving braggadocio, but everything they've done lately has shown that they're scared.
Let them be scared.
posted by Gelatin at 6:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [22 favorites]
The same thing happened with me the previous weekend -- I was sent to a different area and actually crossed the county line, another first -- which also gives me a good feeling.
Even if the Democrats lost some of the squeaker Senate races, the people are out there, and I doubt this sleeping giant will soon rest once wakened. Republicans may revel in their cheating victories and Trump may spew face-saving braggadocio, but everything they've done lately has shown that they're scared.
Let them be scared.
posted by Gelatin at 6:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [22 favorites]
Peter Hamby's "Blowing Smoke" article was excellent. Thanks for the link, Johnny Wallflower, and it's really worth reading the whole thing.
I couldn't agree more. The post-2016 electorate is not the same as the pre-2016 electorate. We started to see that in Virginia last year. Nobody know what's going to happen this time. We may have to throw out the conventional truism that young people don't vote and Democrats don't vote in mid-terms. Pollsters certainly can't rely on past voting behavior to predict future voting behavior anymore. (Most pollsters got burned pretty badly by that assumption in VA.)
We'll see what happens in couple days.
posted by nangar at 6:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I couldn't agree more. The post-2016 electorate is not the same as the pre-2016 electorate. We started to see that in Virginia last year. Nobody know what's going to happen this time. We may have to throw out the conventional truism that young people don't vote and Democrats don't vote in mid-terms. Pollsters certainly can't rely on past voting behavior to predict future voting behavior anymore. (Most pollsters got burned pretty badly by that assumption in VA.)
We'll see what happens in couple days.
posted by nangar at 6:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I spent 4 hours this past weekend canvassing for local Dems in Florida. As usual, lots of people not home, but the ones I did talk to were enthusiastic about voting for Gillum, and voting straight ticket Dem downballot. Couple people told me that's the first time they'd ever voted straight ticket in local races. One guy said he considered himself more in the "center" [okay], but he was going straight blue to "send a message" about the behavior of the Republicans.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 6:53 AM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 6:53 AM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
In short, Americans are going to overwhelmingly turn out to support a Democratic Senate this week. Don't forget this even if Republicans manage to barely cling on to power.
NPR's Mara Liasson already has. In order to sustain the tired "Dems in disarray / Trump is a fascinating game changer" story line, she notes that the candidates Trump supported often won.
In Republican primaries. In order to fit this narrative, she had to forget that the candidate Trump stumped for, like Roy Moore, didn't always win the special elections we've had so far.
This same story aired audio of Trump's racist lies about immigrants, "balancing" this blood libel with a contrasting quote from Obama pointing out that it's nonsense. Given that some are actually being inspired by Trump's rhetoric to kill people, even though they likely don't listen to NPR, the network is irresponsible for giving Trump's hate speech a rebroadcast.
posted by Gelatin at 7:06 AM on November 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
NPR's Mara Liasson already has. In order to sustain the tired "Dems in disarray / Trump is a fascinating game changer" story line, she notes that the candidates Trump supported often won.
In Republican primaries. In order to fit this narrative, she had to forget that the candidate Trump stumped for, like Roy Moore, didn't always win the special elections we've had so far.
This same story aired audio of Trump's racist lies about immigrants, "balancing" this blood libel with a contrasting quote from Obama pointing out that it's nonsense. Given that some are actually being inspired by Trump's rhetoric to kill people, even though they likely don't listen to NPR, the network is irresponsible for giving Trump's hate speech a rebroadcast.
posted by Gelatin at 7:06 AM on November 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
Power Up: Will there be a youth wave? Early voting points to yes (Jacqueline Alemany, WaPo)
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:12 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
Youth turnout rates in the midterm early vote are up by 125 percent compared to 2014, according to Catalist, a voter database servicing progressive organizations — an eye-popping and historically high figure, say strategists on both the left and the right.I'm sure Chrysostom will weigh in on the validity of Catalist, but this seems promising.
Young Americans ages 18 to 29 who say they are definitely voting tilt leftward, according to polls. But the data also shows young Republicans are bubbling with enthusiasm headed into tomorrow.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:12 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
i recently got a new job that finally pays enough to allow me to support organizations i believe in. in the (now-distant) past, i had intended for npr to be one of the organizations. i think will subscribe to teen vogue instead
posted by entropicamericana at 7:14 AM on November 5, 2018 [55 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 7:14 AM on November 5, 2018 [55 favorites]
murphy slaw presents How To Watch The Midterms: An Hour-By-Hour Guide
4 PM: gather comfy blankets and several bottles of slivovitz
5 PM: lock self in closet and wrap self tightly in blankets
6 PM: drink slivovitz until you can't read what hour it is on your watch
posted by murphy slaw at 7:18 AM on November 5, 2018 [73 favorites]
4 PM: gather comfy blankets and several bottles of slivovitz
5 PM: lock self in closet and wrap self tightly in blankets
6 PM: drink slivovitz until you can't read what hour it is on your watch
posted by murphy slaw at 7:18 AM on November 5, 2018 [73 favorites]
I saw a Beto canvasser in my deeply red area! I was outside with Boy, prepping for a driving lesson, and a lone girl in a Beto shirt was walking down the sidewalk. As she passed, I asked if she wanted a bottle of water, or a snack, or some Halloween candy, and she said no, and I said we'd be around if she needed anything, and Go Beto! And her face lit up. I told her I'd already voted, and was hoping we'd defeat the 1000 live cockroaches in a badly fitting human suit that is Ted Cruz, and she laughed.
As Boy and I were driving around the back roads, we saw a ton of beto signs. I too am living the Snl blue wave ad, and I picked a bad week to quit smoking and run out of weed. On the upside, for my birthday I got an extraordinary bottle of French cognac, which I am saving for Tues, in the hopes of celebration.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:19 AM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
As Boy and I were driving around the back roads, we saw a ton of beto signs. I too am living the Snl blue wave ad, and I picked a bad week to quit smoking and run out of weed. On the upside, for my birthday I got an extraordinary bottle of French cognac, which I am saving for Tues, in the hopes of celebration.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:19 AM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
PA-11 challenger Jess King gets some help from David Simon. He's offered, "In PA11 around Lancaster, if you are a new voter or a voter new to Democrats and you’ve delivered a ballot for the rightful @jessforcongress, I will write you a note of apology for killing any character on The Wire. Also Faidley’s crab cake and Natty on me if you get to Bmore."
posted by gladly at 7:21 AM on November 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by gladly at 7:21 AM on November 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
In order to fit this narrative, she had to forget that the candidate Trump stumped for, like Roy Moore, didn't always win the special elections we've had so far.
Some of the candidates Trump stumped for didn't even win the primaries, like the guy Roy Moore beat.
posted by Etrigan at 7:23 AM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
Some of the candidates Trump stumped for didn't even win the primaries, like the guy Roy Moore beat.
posted by Etrigan at 7:23 AM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
On a lighter note, early this morning the Philip Anschutz–owned Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) tweeted, “Trump is going to hell. Anyone who ever read the bible can tell you where it stands on rich adulterers. The key to God’s forgiveness is repentance. Trump’s entire political career has been about the exact opposite of that. Also this paper is garbage for promoting “‘Trump and God’”
The tweet stayed up for two hours before being deleted, with an explanation, “The Washington Examiner’s Twitter feed was hacked and a tweet was posted that did not come from our staff. We are taking appropriate action and will issue a further statement if necessary.”
Meanwhile, @TrumpOrNotBot spent the morning dutifully promoting assorted GOP candidates, until he snapped and started ranting about "the CNN Fake Suppression Polls". He exhorted his faithful, "We are lucky CNN’s ratings are so low. Don’t fall for the Suppression Game. Go out & VOTE" (Presumably this topic aired on Fox and Friends half an hour ago.)
Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz): "tfw you realize that Trump is going to spend all day tomorrow sitting in front of the television and tweeting Fox News."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:31 AM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
The tweet stayed up for two hours before being deleted, with an explanation, “The Washington Examiner’s Twitter feed was hacked and a tweet was posted that did not come from our staff. We are taking appropriate action and will issue a further statement if necessary.”
Meanwhile, @TrumpOrNotBot spent the morning dutifully promoting assorted GOP candidates, until he snapped and started ranting about "the CNN Fake Suppression Polls". He exhorted his faithful, "We are lucky CNN’s ratings are so low. Don’t fall for the Suppression Game. Go out & VOTE" (Presumably this topic aired on Fox and Friends half an hour ago.)
Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz): "tfw you realize that Trump is going to spend all day tomorrow sitting in front of the television and tweeting Fox News."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:31 AM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
Sorry that the rolling bingo cage of my mind takes so long to make connections, but I've just realized what Trump meant during his presidential announcement speech when he said of Mexicans:
They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.
He meant: They're all rapists. Some of them I'd nominate for the Supreme Court.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:32 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.
He meant: They're all rapists. Some of them I'd nominate for the Supreme Court.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:32 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
Sometimes I wish Fox News would take the lead and directly model mature behavior for Trump.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:33 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:33 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
He meant: They're all rapists. Some of them I'd nominate for the Supreme Court.
Trump's already publicly opined that judges can't be impartial if they're "mexican," so I think the SC is out.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:34 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump's already publicly opined that judges can't be impartial if they're "mexican," so I think the SC is out.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:34 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Matt Glassman's guide to being a political nerd on Election Day is pretty thorough, including tips on what to eat (for example, no guacamole, as it’s easily smeared on iPad screens and lodged in laptop keyboards), who to follow, and what not to do. His first action item: “Do not—under any circumstances—turn on your TV prior to 6pm EST.”
posted by young_simba at 7:37 AM on November 5, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by young_simba at 7:37 AM on November 5, 2018 [16 favorites]
no guacamole, as it’s easily smeared on iPad screens and lodged in laptop keyboards
You're not the boss of me
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:39 AM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
You're not the boss of me
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:39 AM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
Minnesota Attorney General endorsements for the election.
Two flawed candidates, no endorsement in state AG's race - Editorial Board, Minneapolis Star-Tribune .
OK then.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:43 AM on November 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Two flawed candidates, no endorsement in state AG's race - Editorial Board, Minneapolis Star-Tribune .
OK then.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:43 AM on November 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
On Friday night my family met and took home a rescue dog from Texas (which is a long way off, since we are in Rhode Island!). He looks a lot like Benji and, although revoltingly smelly even after long, luxurious bathing, he is charming. He likes the rest of the family well enough, but he loves me and I love him.
We took in a thin, sad, lonely beast and after two days he is already happy and playful and confident. He still needs a serious haircut, but he is eating and going for walks and playing with toys.
I am a little panicky about what happens in America tomorrow and after, but with his help I think I am going to make it.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:54 AM on November 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
We took in a thin, sad, lonely beast and after two days he is already happy and playful and confident. He still needs a serious haircut, but he is eating and going for walks and playing with toys.
I am a little panicky about what happens in America tomorrow and after, but with his help I think I am going to make it.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:54 AM on November 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
A Major Storm Will Hit the Eastern U.S. on Election Day (But Please Go Vote Anyway) - Brian Kahn Earther/Gizmodo
Also, parts of the Upper Midwest may get a dusting of snow.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Also, parts of the Upper Midwest may get a dusting of snow.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
gerstle: "Anecdata, blah blah, and I'm certainly not feeling confident of a Beto win. But I can't wait to see Texas results up and down the ballot. Good job, Texas mefites."
Seriously, even if he doesn't win, he probably helps pull another House seat or two over the line, pulls a number of legislative seats over, *and* activates a large number of first-time voters, many of whom will return again in 2020.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:57 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
Seriously, even if he doesn't win, he probably helps pull another House seat or two over the line, pulls a number of legislative seats over, *and* activates a large number of first-time voters, many of whom will return again in 2020.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:57 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
Etrigan: "Some of the candidates Trump stumped for didn't even win the primaries, like the guy Roy Moore beat."
Trump has done pretty well in the primary endorsements, probably less so in the general, I anticipate.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump has done pretty well in the primary endorsements, probably less so in the general, I anticipate.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
NEW NBC statement regarding the Trump immigration ad:…after showing the ad (which CNN deemed to racist to show at all) during sunday night football
“After further review we recognize the insensitive nature of the ad and have decided to cease airing it across our properties as soon as possible.” – NBCUniversal Spokesperson.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [46 favorites]
Al Jazeera English's Fault Lines: “Church of Trump”
(content warning: violent speech against gays and women) They find a hardware store in Tennessee with a “No Gays Allowed” sign and a Christian flag on its front door. The store's owner speaks to the journalists and expresses predictably execrable views. They also cover “Project Blitz”, an operation to introduce “religious freedom” bills around the country during the last year-plus based on a report and model legislation from the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation.
Open thread on the advance of right-wing Christian political efforts.
posted by XMLicious at 8:02 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
(content warning: violent speech against gays and women) They find a hardware store in Tennessee with a “No Gays Allowed” sign and a Christian flag on its front door. The store's owner speaks to the journalists and expresses predictably execrable views. They also cover “Project Blitz”, an operation to introduce “religious freedom” bills around the country during the last year-plus based on a report and model legislation from the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation.
Open thread on the advance of right-wing Christian political efforts.
posted by XMLicious at 8:02 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
There is not enough pot in the world at this point
And if Proposal 1 passes in Michigan tomorrow, there will be even less!
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
And if Proposal 1 passes in Michigan tomorrow, there will be even less!
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
Trump has done pretty well in the primary endorsements, probably less so in the general, I anticipate.
And in a few cases, didn't the endorsement come after there was an apparent front-runner?
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 8:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
And in a few cases, didn't the endorsement come after there was an apparent front-runner?
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 8:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Matt Glassman's guide to being a political nerd on Election Day is pretty thorough
Daniel Nichanian (@Taniel) has turned his gargantuan google spreadsheet into http://whatsontheballot.com/, which he will be updating live tomorrow.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:05 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Daniel Nichanian (@Taniel) has turned his gargantuan google spreadsheet into http://whatsontheballot.com/, which he will be updating live tomorrow.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:05 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Possibly not the Taylor Swift effect, but another musician speaking to a white fan base that needs to hear it: "We have an individual in the WH that will say n’ do anything w/no regard for truth, ethics, morals or empathy of any kind, who says what’s real is fake n’ what’s fake is real." Twitter thread from Axl Rose.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:14 AM on November 5, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:14 AM on November 5, 2018 [40 favorites]
Final Cook ratings changes. One right, nine left.
AZ-01 [O'Halleran] | Likely D => Lean DFinal category totals:
CA-49 [open] | Lean D => Likely D
FL-25 [Diaz-Balart] | Likely R => Lean R
GA-06 [Handel] Lean R => Tossup
MI-06 [Upton] | Likely R => Lean R
PA-10 [Perry] | Lean R => Tossup
TX-06 [open] | Solid R => Likely R
TX-10 [McCaul] | Solid R => Likely R
WA-08 [Reichert] | Tossup => Lean D
WV-02 [Mooney] | Solid R => Likely R
Solid D - 182 (182 D, 0 R)posted by Chrysostom at 8:17 AM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
Likely D - 12 (7 D, 5 R)
Lean D - 16 (3 D, 13 R)
Tossup - 30 (1 D, 29 R)
Lean R - 29 (1 D, 28 R)
Likely R - 29 (1 D, 28 R)
Solid R - 137 (0 D, 137 R)
NPR's Mara Liasson already has. In order to sustain the tired "Dems in disarray / Trump is a fascinating game changer" story line, she notes that the candidates Trump supported often won.
In Republican primaries. In order to fit this narrative, she had to forget that the candidate Trump stumped for, like Roy Moore, didn't always win the special elections we've had so far.
I can not stomach listening to morning edition any more. However, PBS Newshour remains for me an exceptional news program. There is a live stream nightly so if you're like us and don't have a tv, it's a great feature. Amy Walter and Tamra Keith do a Politics Monday segment that is superb and -Brooks, Shields and Brooks on Friday is usually interesting (and often has Ezra Klein on as a Shields replacement and it is a delight to see him run rings around David Brooks).
posted by bluesky43 at 8:23 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
In Republican primaries. In order to fit this narrative, she had to forget that the candidate Trump stumped for, like Roy Moore, didn't always win the special elections we've had so far.
I can not stomach listening to morning edition any more. However, PBS Newshour remains for me an exceptional news program. There is a live stream nightly so if you're like us and don't have a tv, it's a great feature. Amy Walter and Tamra Keith do a Politics Monday segment that is superb and -Brooks, Shields and Brooks on Friday is usually interesting (and often has Ezra Klein on as a Shields replacement and it is a delight to see him run rings around David Brooks).
posted by bluesky43 at 8:23 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
I know this must be a fraught day for all you Americans, but I just wanted to share that your voting day is also Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, where light triumphs over darkness. good luck, guys
posted by cendawanita at 8:42 AM on November 5, 2018 [139 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 8:42 AM on November 5, 2018 [139 favorites]
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds is holding her final rally with...neo-nazi Steve King.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
Don't forget, she isn't "NPR's Mara Liasson", she's "FOX News' Mara Liasson". She's a FOX correspondent and as such you must always assume that her coverage is there to spin things in the most positive possible way for Republicans and the most negative possible way for Democrats.
The fact that NPR continues to introduce her without mentioning her compromising pay check coming from the rabidly partisan FOX News is journalistic malpractice on the part of NPR.
posted by sotonohito at 8:51 AM on November 5, 2018 [60 favorites]
The fact that NPR continues to introduce her without mentioning her compromising pay check coming from the rabidly partisan FOX News is journalistic malpractice on the part of NPR.
posted by sotonohito at 8:51 AM on November 5, 2018 [60 favorites]
Trump has done pretty well in the primary endorsements, probably less so in the general, I anticipate.
Which is the obvious point "senior political correspondent" Mara Liasson elided when touring her "Trump's a big winner that Democrats are scared of" theory.
People are scared of Trump because he's a violent fascist and his rhetoric (to say nothing of his policies) has, predictably, cost lives.
Democrats have reasons to be nervous of gerrymandering -- a word Liasson didn't see fit to mention -- and vote suppression -- likewise unmentioned by Liasson.
Democrats are confident they represent the majority of the people. And in a sane political system, the modern Republican Party would endure a generation in the wilderness until they atone and reject racism and sexism once and for all.
posted by Gelatin at 8:58 AM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
Which is the obvious point "senior political correspondent" Mara Liasson elided when touring her "Trump's a big winner that Democrats are scared of" theory.
People are scared of Trump because he's a violent fascist and his rhetoric (to say nothing of his policies) has, predictably, cost lives.
Democrats have reasons to be nervous of gerrymandering -- a word Liasson didn't see fit to mention -- and vote suppression -- likewise unmentioned by Liasson.
Democrats are confident they represent the majority of the people. And in a sane political system, the modern Republican Party would endure a generation in the wilderness until they atone and reject racism and sexism once and for all.
posted by Gelatin at 8:58 AM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
"PBS Newshour" still has some good reporting, but Shields & Brooks are flat-out unwatchable. Brooks remains the most hackish of GOP apologists, and Shields' meek, lukewarm left-centrism is a badly-outdated relic of the early 90s. (Ezra Klein is smart enough, but to me, comes off like someone with a lot of privilege who only cares about liberal causes in the abstract because nothing the GOP does will affect him personally.)
They should all be fired, and that segment discontinued, as it offers no actual value to viewers. If people really want to listen to hacks regurgitating stale talking points, there are plenty of other places for that.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 8:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
They should all be fired, and that segment discontinued, as it offers no actual value to viewers. If people really want to listen to hacks regurgitating stale talking points, there are plenty of other places for that.
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 8:59 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
And in a sane political system, the modern Republican Party would endure a generation in the wilderness until they atone and reject racism and sexism once and for all.
can't wait for this to happen so we can get back to the kind of gender- and color-blind cultural warfare in the interest of hereditary wealth that we've come to expect from principled republicans
posted by murphy slaw at 9:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
can't wait for this to happen so we can get back to the kind of gender- and color-blind cultural warfare in the interest of hereditary wealth that we've come to expect from principled republicans
posted by murphy slaw at 9:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
Meanwhile in St. Louis:
A billboard on Interstate 170 near St. Charles Rock Road is catching drivers' attention.posted by monospace at 9:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
A large electronic billboard that features President Donald Trump with the bible verse, "The word became flesh", can be seen along the southbound lanes of the highway.
In the top right corner, the billboard says "Make the Gospel Great Again" playing off Trump's famous slogan.
The advertisement is owned by DDI Media but there is no clear message on the image about who paid for it.
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds is holding her final rally with...neo-nazi Steve King.
I keep tabs on the local news in the Iowa town where I went to college. Kim Reynolds was supposed to do a meet and greet there on Friday along with Rod Blum, the current IA-01 representative, and other Iowa Republican candidates. She cancelled last minute to do an invitation-only event in Des Moines with Ivanka. I can't imagine either of these will play well with Decorah voters. (Link is to a cached version because for some reason the local paper took the story down from their website.)
posted by bassooner at 9:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I keep tabs on the local news in the Iowa town where I went to college. Kim Reynolds was supposed to do a meet and greet there on Friday along with Rod Blum, the current IA-01 representative, and other Iowa Republican candidates. She cancelled last minute to do an invitation-only event in Des Moines with Ivanka. I can't imagine either of these will play well with Decorah voters. (Link is to a cached version because for some reason the local paper took the story down from their website.)
posted by bassooner at 9:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
A large electronic billboard that features President Donald Trump with the bible verse, "The word became flesh", can be seen along the southbound lanes of the highway.
Getting a real "Handmaid's Tale meets Videodrome" vibe.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [43 favorites]
Getting a real "Handmaid's Tale meets Videodrome" vibe.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [43 favorites]
I volunteered to count absentee ballots last week in Minnesota, and it was such an eye-opening experience. There were easily 80 volunteers working, half University of MN students and half county employees taking PTO to help our elections department. One of our tasks was to duplicate UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act) ballots onto official ballots that can be read by the ballot reader machines. So we unfolded ballots of various paper sizes completed and mailed by Americans abroad, and we transcribed their votes onto a standard paper ballot. Reader, it was the first time I have ever filled in the circles for a straight Republican ballot, and it gave my stomach such a lurch to do it. But we did it, multiple times, because AMERICA (and also because overseas military voters from Erik Paulsen territory -> R).
One UOCAVA ballot envelope had a handwritten note written on the flap in the most beautiful old woman cursive: “Thank you for volunteering!” I opened it up and transcribed her votes for all the Democratic candidates, and I cried a bit in relief because it would have broken my spirit to see someone who took the time to thank the faceless ballot counters then turn around and vote for fascism.
posted by Maarika at 9:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [66 favorites]
One UOCAVA ballot envelope had a handwritten note written on the flap in the most beautiful old woman cursive: “Thank you for volunteering!” I opened it up and transcribed her votes for all the Democratic candidates, and I cried a bit in relief because it would have broken my spirit to see someone who took the time to thank the faceless ballot counters then turn around and vote for fascism.
posted by Maarika at 9:03 AM on November 5, 2018 [66 favorites]
A person I have known and trusted for many years wrote this piece for the Washington Post: "Hackers Are Using Malware to Find Vulnerabilities in U.S. Swing States. Expect Cyberattacks"
posted by vibrotronica at 9:10 AM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 9:10 AM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
if only the bible took a strong stance against idolatry
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:13 AM on November 5, 2018 [61 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:13 AM on November 5, 2018 [61 favorites]
@brianstetler: That racist Trump ad WAS running on Fox News, but not anymore: "Upon further review, FOX News pulled the ad yesterday and it will not appear on either FOX News Channel or FOX Business Network," ad sales president Marianne Gambelli says.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Is that quote meant to imply that Trump is literally the new Jesus? That might be a new benchmark in blasphemy committed by ostensible Christians.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
Is that quote meant to imply that Trump is literally the new Jesus? That might be a new benchmark in blasphemy committed by ostensible Christians.
well it just says "the word became flesh", but it doesn't specify which word. i can think of a few choice ones.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:21 AM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
well it just says "the word became flesh", but it doesn't specify which word. i can think of a few choice ones.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:21 AM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
Some news out of New Hampshire. The UNH Survey Center, who has been polling in NH (and elsewhere) for a long time, says the NH governor race is now too close to call. Their report (pdf) also shows Dems leading the two congressional races, and a slight Dem enthusiasm advantage overall.
The gov poll is surprising, as Sununu looked to have it locked down fairly recently. Indeed, per the UNH poll most people still think he’ll win. But Molly Kelly has slowly gained on him with a relentless ground game.
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
The gov poll is surprising, as Sununu looked to have it locked down fairly recently. Indeed, per the UNH poll most people still think he’ll win. But Molly Kelly has slowly gained on him with a relentless ground game.
posted by schoolgirl report at 9:22 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
@brianstetler: That racist Trump ad WAS running on Fox News, but not anymore: "Upon further review, FOX News pulled the ad yesterday and it will not appear on either FOX News Channel or FOX Business Network," ad sales president Marianne Gambelli says.
achievement unlocked: Too Racist For Fox News
posted by murphy slaw at 9:23 AM on November 5, 2018 [71 favorites]
achievement unlocked: Too Racist For Fox News
posted by murphy slaw at 9:23 AM on November 5, 2018 [71 favorites]
Is that quote meant to imply that Trump is literally the new Jesus? That might be a new benchmark in blasphemy committed by ostensible Christians.
Yes, and it's not new. Those Christians are in for a surprise on Judgment Day!
posted by M-x shell at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, and it's not new. Those Christians are in for a surprise on Judgment Day!
posted by M-x shell at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
achievement unlocked: Too Racist For Fox News
But also completely mainstream conservative thought. I doubt 1 in 4 self-identified Republicans would take issue with it.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
But also completely mainstream conservative thought. I doubt 1 in 4 self-identified Republicans would take issue with it.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:24 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
If you want to see how present-day fascist nationalism affects daily life, you need look no further than Italy
posted by growabrain at 9:25 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 9:25 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
achievement unlocked: Too Racist For Fox News
Fox News just needs a few minutes, but don't worry they'll catch up with Trump's level of racism.
posted by duoshao at 9:31 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Fox News just needs a few minutes, but don't worry they'll catch up with Trump's level of racism.
posted by duoshao at 9:31 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
In better morning commute news, I did get to drive under the Tamm Ave bridge and saw this.
it delighted me that the sponsored content on that link was an interview with Jeff Bridges
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:36 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
it delighted me that the sponsored content on that link was an interview with Jeff Bridges
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:36 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
achievement unlocked: Too Racist For Fox News
I think it's more like, "We're pulling this horrifyingly racist election ad 1 day early because it did what it set out to and now we can pretend like we have even a modicum of standards". The damage is done, they've given up nothing taking it down.
posted by tocts at 9:40 AM on November 5, 2018 [33 favorites]
I think it's more like, "We're pulling this horrifyingly racist election ad 1 day early because it did what it set out to and now we can pretend like we have even a modicum of standards". The damage is done, they've given up nothing taking it down.
posted by tocts at 9:40 AM on November 5, 2018 [33 favorites]
I just want to say good luck, and we're all counting on you.
posted by petebest at 9:43 AM on November 5, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by petebest at 9:43 AM on November 5, 2018 [39 favorites]
Remember the Indivisible Guide (previously 12/15/2016)?
This is one of the things it helped lead to: Her Congressman Wouldn’t Hold a Town Hall. So She Came for His Job. (Tim Murphy, Mother Jones).
Gretchen Shirley, who wanted to do something after 2016, is now a Democrat running for Congress in NY-02.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:47 AM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
This is one of the things it helped lead to: Her Congressman Wouldn’t Hold a Town Hall. So She Came for His Job. (Tim Murphy, Mother Jones).
Gretchen Shirley, who wanted to do something after 2016, is now a Democrat running for Congress in NY-02.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:47 AM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
Sam Stein
@samstein
NEW: Facebook Pulls Racist Trump ad
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:51 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
It's all good to pull racist ads, but how much free exposure is the racist Trump ad getting through news coverage?
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:53 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:53 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
The UNH Survey Center, who has been polling in NH (and elsewhere) for a long time, says the NH governor race is now too close to call.
Holy heck, that's some good news. I'm in District 1, and while I'm pretty sure Pappas is going to be fine, I've been pretty pessimistic on Kelly. A blue wave lifts all boats?
Other hyper-local news from NH-1--Edwards (the Republican candidate) was going to be holding, for some reason, a meet-n-greet in the third wave coffee shop in town at 8am. I was planning on working over there this morning, so I checked the coffee shop's Facebook page around 8:30am to see if he was still there or not and found that, at 8:12am, a campaign worker posted that he was sorry, but Eddie had to leave early to get to Manchester by 9am.
I'm still very confused as to why they thought this particular place (which caters to the UNH crowd, which is very much *not* going for Edwards) and not, say, one of the diners down the street, was the place to have an event the day before the election.
posted by damayanti at 9:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Holy heck, that's some good news. I'm in District 1, and while I'm pretty sure Pappas is going to be fine, I've been pretty pessimistic on Kelly. A blue wave lifts all boats?
Other hyper-local news from NH-1--Edwards (the Republican candidate) was going to be holding, for some reason, a meet-n-greet in the third wave coffee shop in town at 8am. I was planning on working over there this morning, so I checked the coffee shop's Facebook page around 8:30am to see if he was still there or not and found that, at 8:12am, a campaign worker posted that he was sorry, but Eddie had to leave early to get to Manchester by 9am.
I'm still very confused as to why they thought this particular place (which caters to the UNH crowd, which is very much *not* going for Edwards) and not, say, one of the diners down the street, was the place to have an event the day before the election.
posted by damayanti at 9:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
> House Speaker Paul Ryan got President Donald Trump on the phone Sunday for one final plea on behalf of anxious Republicans: Please, please talk up the booming economy in the final hours before Election Day.
Paul Ryan should save some of his ire for whoever's running the Congressional Leadership Fund:
Paul Ryan should save some of his ire for whoever's running the Congressional Leadership Fund:
CLF has turned the immigrant caravan into a campaign issue in Minnesota’s First District, the open GOP-leaning seat currently held by Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for governor.posted by tonycpsu at 10:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
[...]
CLF just released an ad saying Axne would “vote with Nancy Pelosi for open borders and amnesty for illegal immigrants.” The ad will run on television in the Des Moines and Omaha media markets and on digital platforms throughout the district.
"The list of black activists who lost their lives by bullet, by rope, by beatings is inconceivable to those who don't study it." Ida Bae Wells @nhannahjones briefly explains how hard white people in Mississippi fought to prevent Black people from voting. Via Threadreader
posted by Bella Donna at 10:12 AM on November 5, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 10:12 AM on November 5, 2018 [36 favorites]
Here's a low-level activism idea:
I just tweeted a message of thanks to both NBC and FOX News, applauding them for pulling that Trump ad.
But then I added: "now all you need to do is return the money you were paid to air it - or better yet, donate it to the Southern Poverty Law Center."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:15 AM on November 5, 2018 [44 favorites]
I just tweeted a message of thanks to both NBC and FOX News, applauding them for pulling that Trump ad.
But then I added: "now all you need to do is return the money you were paid to air it - or better yet, donate it to the Southern Poverty Law Center."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:15 AM on November 5, 2018 [44 favorites]
The list of black activists who lost their lives by bullet, by rope, by beatings is inconceivable to those who don't study it.
Kevin Kruse goes through names and incidents in detail here.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:19 AM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
Kevin Kruse goes through names and incidents in detail here.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:19 AM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
now all you need to do is return the money you were paid to air it
Returning the money would just benefit Cheeto after he already got the benefit of airing the ad. SPLC is a great suggestion.
posted by duoshao at 10:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
Returning the money would just benefit Cheeto after he already got the benefit of airing the ad. SPLC is a great suggestion.
posted by duoshao at 10:20 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
From the New Republic by Spencer Woodman: Register Minority Voter in Georgia, Go to Jail.
In the weeks leading up to the 2012 election, Helen Ho, an attorney who has worked to register newly naturalized immigrants to vote in the Southeast, made an alarming discovery. Some new citizens that her group, then known as the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center, had tried to register in Georgia were still not on the rolls. Early voting had begun and polling places were challenging and even turning away new citizens seeking to vote for the first time.
After more than a week of seeking answers from the office of Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, which oversees elections, AALAC issued a sharply worded open letter on October 31 demanding that Georgia take immediate action to ensure the new citizens could vote.
Two days later Ho received her response. In a letter, Brian Kemp, Georgia's Republican secretary of state, offered few specific assurances about the new voters in question and informed Ho that his office was launching an investigation into how AALAC registered these would-be voters. Kemp’s office asked that AALAC turn over certain records of its registration efforts, citing "potential legal concerns surrounding AALAC's photocopying and public disclosure of voter registration applications."
Ho was aghast. “Our genuine desire was to help the secretary of state clear these people through to vote, so it was interesting that their response was to investigate us,” she told me. “I’m not going to lie: I was shocked, I was scared.” ...
A Quitman resident named Lula Smart faced 32 felony counts that could have carried more than a hundred years in prison, largely for charges of carrying envelopes containing completed absentee ballots to the mailbox for voters. Smart told me that in the first year of the prosecution she contemplated taking her life. ...
At the first of Lula Smart’s three trials, Quitman resident Bessie Hamilton testified that one of Kemp’s investigators came to the doctor's office where she worked, took her into an unused break room, and intimidated her into signing a statement against Smart. “I was scared,” she said on the stand. “This man came to my job with a gun, and on top of that, he told me I could have went to jail.”
If there is not a GoFundMe for documenting the many crimes of Brian Kemp in order to put him in jail, where it appears that he belongs, there should be and I am ready to donate.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:24 AM on November 5, 2018 [64 favorites]
In the weeks leading up to the 2012 election, Helen Ho, an attorney who has worked to register newly naturalized immigrants to vote in the Southeast, made an alarming discovery. Some new citizens that her group, then known as the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center, had tried to register in Georgia were still not on the rolls. Early voting had begun and polling places were challenging and even turning away new citizens seeking to vote for the first time.
After more than a week of seeking answers from the office of Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, which oversees elections, AALAC issued a sharply worded open letter on October 31 demanding that Georgia take immediate action to ensure the new citizens could vote.
Two days later Ho received her response. In a letter, Brian Kemp, Georgia's Republican secretary of state, offered few specific assurances about the new voters in question and informed Ho that his office was launching an investigation into how AALAC registered these would-be voters. Kemp’s office asked that AALAC turn over certain records of its registration efforts, citing "potential legal concerns surrounding AALAC's photocopying and public disclosure of voter registration applications."
Ho was aghast. “Our genuine desire was to help the secretary of state clear these people through to vote, so it was interesting that their response was to investigate us,” she told me. “I’m not going to lie: I was shocked, I was scared.” ...
A Quitman resident named Lula Smart faced 32 felony counts that could have carried more than a hundred years in prison, largely for charges of carrying envelopes containing completed absentee ballots to the mailbox for voters. Smart told me that in the first year of the prosecution she contemplated taking her life. ...
At the first of Lula Smart’s three trials, Quitman resident Bessie Hamilton testified that one of Kemp’s investigators came to the doctor's office where she worked, took her into an unused break room, and intimidated her into signing a statement against Smart. “I was scared,” she said on the stand. “This man came to my job with a gun, and on top of that, he told me I could have went to jail.”
If there is not a GoFundMe for documenting the many crimes of Brian Kemp in order to put him in jail, where it appears that he belongs, there should be and I am ready to donate.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:24 AM on November 5, 2018 [64 favorites]
I just tweeted a message of thanks to both NBC and FOX News, applauding them for pulling that Trump ad.
But then I added: "now all you need to do is return the money you were paid to air it - or better yet, donate it to the Southern Poverty Law Center."
Fantastic idea. Echoed on Twitter.
The activism to undercut contributions to bigots has been really inspiring (see Steve King of IA losing corporate donors). I think this is something that needs to be doubled down on as we go forward.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
But then I added: "now all you need to do is return the money you were paid to air it - or better yet, donate it to the Southern Poverty Law Center."
Fantastic idea. Echoed on Twitter.
The activism to undercut contributions to bigots has been really inspiring (see Steve King of IA losing corporate donors). I think this is something that needs to be doubled down on as we go forward.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 1 day until Election Day //
(we may yet get more polls dropping but this is where I stop)
** 2018 Senate:
// 1 day until Election Day //
(we may yet get more polls dropping but this is where I stop)
** 2018 Senate:
-- I will say upfront I am continuing to raise an eyebrow at these Change Research polls.** 2018 House:
-- MI: Mitchell Research poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 53-46 on GOPer James [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- FL:-- St Pete Polls has Dem incumbent Nelson up 50-46 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/- 1.8%].-- NJ:
-- Quinnipiac poll has Nelson up 51-44 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- Emerson poll has Nelson up 50-45 [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- Marist poll has Nelson up 50-46 [MOE: +/- 5.0%].-- Change Research poll has Dem incumbent Menendez up 51-41 on GOPer Hugin [no MOE on these Change Research polls].-- MT: Change Research poll has GOPer Rosendale up 49-46 on Dem incumbent Tester.
-- Qunnipiac poll has Menendez up 55-40 [MOE: +/- 4.0%].
-- WY: Change Research poll has GOP incumbent Barrasso up 60-31 on Dem Trauner. => Must have been exciting for Wyoming folks to actually get polled!
-- PA: Change Research poll has Dem incumbent Casey up 51-44 on GOPer Barletta.
-- OH: Change Research poll has Dem incumbent Brown up 53-43 on GOPer Renacci.
-- NV: Emerson poll has Dem Rosen up 49-45 on GOP incumbent Heller [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- MO:-- Trafalgar Group poll has GOPer Hawley up 48-44 [MOE: +/- 2.3%].-- AZ:
-- Emerson poll has Hawley up 49-46 [MOE: +/- 3.8%].
-- Marist poll has McCaskill up 50-47 [MOE: +/- 5.2%].-- OH Predictive Insights poll has GOPer McSally up 49-48 on Dem Sinema [MOE: +/- 3.9%].-- MN (A): Survey USA poll has Dem incumbent Klobuchar up 57-34 on GOPer Newberger. [MOE: +/- 5.3%].
-- Emerson poll has Sinema up 49-48 [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- MN (B): Survey USA poll has Dem incumbent Smith up 48-40 on GOPer Housley.
-- MT-AL: Change Research poll has GOP incumbent Gianforte up 52-44 on Dem Williams.** Odds & ends:
[Trump 57-36 | Cook: Lean R]
-- WY-AL: Change Research poll has GOP incumbent Cheney up 55-28 on Dem Hunter. [Trump 70-23 | Cook: Solid R]
-- SD-AL: [Trump 62-32 | Cook: Solid R]-- Change Research poll has GOPer Johnson up 51-41 on Dem Bjorkman.-- OH-04: Change Research poll has GOP incumbent Jordan up 60-36 on Dem Garrett. [Trump 64-31 | Cook: Solid D]
-- Emerson poll has Johnson up 54-38 [MOE: +/- 4.5%]
-- NV-01: Emerson poll has Dem incumbent Titus up 58-28 on GOPer Bentley [MOE: +/- 6.6%]. [Clinton 62-33 | Cook: Solid D]
-- NV-02: Emerson poll has GOP incumbent Amodei up 58-37 on Dem Koble [MOE: +/- 5.3%]. [Trump 52-40 | Cook: Solid R]
-- NV-03: Emerson poll has Dem Lee up 51-41 on GOPer Tarkanian [MOE: +/- 5.6%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Lean D]
-- NV-04: Emerson poll has Dem Horsford up 48-44 on GOPer Hardy [MOE: +/- 6.3%]. [Clinton 50-45 | Cook: Lean D]
-- NH-01: UNH poll has Dem Pappas up 53-40 on GOPer Edwards [MOE: +/- 5.6%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Likely D]
-- NH-02: UNH poll has Dem incumbent Kuster up 56-35 on GOPer Negron [MOE: +/- 5.5%]. [Clinton 49-46 | Cook: Solid D]
-- MI gov: Mitchell Research poll has Dem Whitmer up 54-40 on GOPer Schuette. [Cook: Lean D]** Averages & forecasts:
-- FL gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- St Pete Polls has Dem Gillum up 50-45 on GOPer DeSantis. | Downballot: CFO: Dem Ring tied 47-47 with GOPer Patronis.-- GA gov: 20/20 Insight poll has Dem Abrams up 50-46 [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- Quinnipiac poll has Gillum up 50-43.
-- Marist poll has Gillum up 50-46.
-- Emerson poll has Gillum up 51-46.
-- NH gov: UNH poll has Dem Kelly tied 46-46 with GOP incumbent Sununu [MOE: +/- 3.9%]. [Cook: Lean R] => UNH doesn't have a super great polling rep, but there have been indications this race has been tightening, and New Hampshire has a history of last minute polling upsets.
-- WY gov: Change Research poll has GOPer Gordon up 61-27 on Dem Throne. [Cook: Solid D]
-- SD gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- Change Research poll has Dem Sutton up 51-45 on GOPer Noem.-- PA: Change Research poll has Dem incumbent Wolf up 53-42 on GOPer Wagner. [Cook: Likely D]
-- Emerson poll has Noem up 48-47 [MOE: +/- 4.5%].
-- OH gov: Change Research poll has Dem Cordray up 48-43 on GOPer DeWine. [Cook: Tossup]
-- NV gov: Emerson poll has Dem Sisolak up 48-47 on GOPer Laxalt [MOE: +/- 3.0%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- AZ gov: Emerson poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 55-40 on Dem Garcia. [Cook: Likely R]
-- MO downballot: Emerson poll has: Legalize pot: YES 63-27. Raise minimum wage: YES 60-31.
-- FL downballot: Emerson poll has : Amendment 4 (felon voting rights): YES 59-32. Needs 60% to pass.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.4 (50.5/42.1)posted by Chrysostom at 10:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 87.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 16.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.0 states.
damayanti: "Holy heck, that's some good news. I'm in District 1, and while I'm pretty sure Pappas is going to be fine, I've been pretty pessimistic on Kelly. A blue wave lifts all boats? "
He'd been polling around 10 points up, but there seems to be a possible late break towards Kelly. Polling of NH-01 and NH-02 has been light, and kind of all over the place.
538 gives UNH a B, with a lean of D+2.7, for what it's worth.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:31 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
He'd been polling around 10 points up, but there seems to be a possible late break towards Kelly. Polling of NH-01 and NH-02 has been light, and kind of all over the place.
538 gives UNH a B, with a lean of D+2.7, for what it's worth.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:31 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
FL downballot: Emerson poll has : Amendment 4 (felon voting rights): YES 59-32. Needs 60% to pass.
I'll turn 50 in 2020 and when I look back on the politics that have occurred over my adult life I can easily spot one thing that I find to be in the top five most disgusting trends: how much time we've spent in the US engaging in asking voters to weigh in yea/nay on whether or not other people deserve basic human rights. Fuck you for even asking the question is an under-rated phrase.
About twenty-five years ago I responded to a signature collector who asked "don't you think voters should get a chance to make a decision themselves?" by saying "no, because it's a stupid fucking question." Based on the way they blanched I have to assume they're still carrying around some PTSD over the moment. Or maybe I just hope they are.
posted by phearlez at 10:38 AM on November 5, 2018 [31 favorites]
I'll turn 50 in 2020 and when I look back on the politics that have occurred over my adult life I can easily spot one thing that I find to be in the top five most disgusting trends: how much time we've spent in the US engaging in asking voters to weigh in yea/nay on whether or not other people deserve basic human rights. Fuck you for even asking the question is an under-rated phrase.
About twenty-five years ago I responded to a signature collector who asked "don't you think voters should get a chance to make a decision themselves?" by saying "no, because it's a stupid fucking question." Based on the way they blanched I have to assume they're still carrying around some PTSD over the moment. Or maybe I just hope they are.
posted by phearlez at 10:38 AM on November 5, 2018 [31 favorites]
The Demise Of The Moderate Republican
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:39 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
“And then Trump gets elected,” Costello said recently, at a coffee shop in West Chester. “And the norms of politics all just blow up, and you’re trying to figure out how to orient yourself when the rules don’t apply anymore, and you’re allowed to say and do things which used to be disqualifying.” At first, Costello expected the President to temper his behavior and allow the experienced professionals in the White House—like the chief of staff, Reince Priebus—to guide the Administration. Now that Costello was on the Energy and Commerce Committee, he wanted to work on helping government policy catch up with advances in renewable energy, technology, and health-care delivery. Instead, he found himself swamped with questions about Stormy Daniels and “very fine people on both sides.” He didn’t know how to navigate the Trump era, in which rage constantly emanated from both the left and the right. Being a moderate Republican put him squarely in everyone’s sights.Rep Ryan Costello is not running for reelection. He represent PA 6th - 538 sez better than 99 in 100 for Chrissy Houlahan, D, Cook as "Likely Democratic"
...
There was a limit to what Costello would say—or even think. Perhaps because the nastiness directed at him came mainly from the left, he didn’t acknowledge that the most dangerous commentary came from the right, and from the top. He never suggested that Trump’s routine attacks on decency—his depictions of immigrants and Muslims as sinister invaders; his mockery of everyone from disabled reporters to sexual-assault victims—added up to something more consequential than any piece of legislation. Costello was slow to admit that Trump threatened the country’s democratic institutions and corrupted its most basic values. He never implicated his own party in this corruption, either as passive supporters or as active participants. He insisted on viewing Trump as a short-term tactical problem. If the Democrats swung too far to the left, driving suburban voters back to moderate Republicans like him, the Party could return to its center-right traditions and leave behind the freak show of the Trump Presidency. Costello worried about the Republican Party’s shrinking base, not about the state of its soul. He never talked about the judgment of history.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:39 AM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Jamelle Bouie, Why Don’t Young People Vote? This System Doesn’t Want Them To: Don’t lament young people’s apathy, consider what’s making them apathetic.
To vote in the United States, you can’t simply go cast a ballot. In most states, you first have to register. If you’ve registered, you have to have state-issued identification to then actually vote. If you don’t have identification, you might have to pay a fee to obtain it. If you don’t live in an early voting state—or one with flexible absentee rules—you have to take time from work to cast your ballot. If you live in states like Georgia or Florida, you may have to wait for hours before you can step into a voting booth. If you can’t drive or aren’t mobile, you may have to find a ride.Pair this with @erinscafe's thread last night (she up and drove to Texas a month ago to open a popup field office for Beto, because she's awesome):
If you’re middle-aged with a stable job and a fixed-address, this is straightforward. If you’re anyone else, it’s less so. And if your life is defined by instability—in location, in housing, in employment—any single obstacle might be enough to discourage you from voting altogether. That might be why turnout for the youngest voters in the electorate is lower than most other groups.
And I told him sure, but after a few weeks in mostly low-income neighborhoods around Dallas, I’ll never complain about people not voting again. Because that assumes people don’t vote out of laziness. Or apathy. And that could not be more innacurate.posted by zachlipton at 10:42 AM on November 5, 2018 [110 favorites]
People don’t vote in America, because we’ve allowed America to become a country without a voting culture. Voting is not for everyone. Voting is not who we are. Voter suppression is often incremental, but the results are immediate, and passed down to future generations. If your parents don’t vote, how do you learn to vote? I don’t think many of us fully appreciate the privilege that voting has become.
I talked to a woman in her thirties who cried when I told her she was registered to vote. She’d wanted to , but then she realized her drivers license expired in June. In Texas, your license can be expired up to four years and still be valid for voting. She had no idea.
I talked to a guy who said “hypothetically, if a person had a warrant for running a stop sign and not paying the ticket because it was too expensive, could that person still vote.” And I said “hypothetically, they shouldn’t arrest you.” He won’t risk it; he cares for his sisters.
I have six different people to call tomorrow who have prior felonies, and are terrified to vote. A Fort Worth woman was sentenced to five years in jail for voting in 2016 while on probation. She had no idea she was ineligible.
I spent almost 20 minutes trying to make a vote plan with a woman the other day. She moved to Dallas from a different county last year, and updated her drivers license. It didn’t update her voter registration. You have to vote in the county you’re registered in on Election Day. Not only is that county a four-hour drive, her ID lists an address outside the county. Out of county voting is only allowed during early voting. Early voting ended Friday.
...
I am exhausted by the obstacles to voting in Texas, and overcoming them is essentially my job right now. How can we expect anyone to navigate this while raising children, and working two jobs, and trying to stay healthy.
In the last midterms, 6% of registered voters cast ballots in Fort Worth.Acting like this is some sort of enthusiasm gap, instead of a complete failure of our nation to educate and enfranchise our citizens, is absolute garbage. People don’t vote because we don’t let them vote.
That being said, please know that every day there are literally thousands of volunteers here in Texas trying to fix it. Please vote. Please help other people vote. That’s how we fix it.
@bubbaprog [video]: Trump on racist ad: "I don't know about it [...] a lot of things are offensive. Your questions are offensive"
He, um, tweeted out the racist ad, which he now claims to know nothing about, from his own account.
posted by zachlipton at 10:44 AM on November 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
He, um, tweeted out the racist ad, which he now claims to know nothing about, from his own account.
posted by zachlipton at 10:44 AM on November 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
David Roberts: "One of America's two major parties is producing campaign material so overtly racist that America's news networks refuse to air it. Sit with that for a bit."
posted by gwint at 10:47 AM on November 5, 2018 [79 favorites]
posted by gwint at 10:47 AM on November 5, 2018 [79 favorites]
"I don't know about it [...] a lot of things are offensive. Your questions are offensive"
between this and blaming the media for violence, i think we've entered the "i know you are but what am i?" phase of presidential discourse
posted by murphy slaw at 10:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
between this and blaming the media for violence, i think we've entered the "i know you are but what am i?" phase of presidential discourse
posted by murphy slaw at 10:49 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
I volunteered to count absentee ballots last week in Minnesota
From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Maarika.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:50 AM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Maarika.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:50 AM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
Returning the money [for the racist ad] would just benefit Cheeto after he already got the benefit of airing the ad. SPLC is a great suggestion.
Thanks; I think in one case I also suggested the NAACP or the International Rescue Committee as alternate possibilities. The ACLU would be a good idea as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:52 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thanks; I think in one case I also suggested the NAACP or the International Rescue Committee as alternate possibilities. The ACLU would be a good idea as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:52 AM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Chris Rock & Keegan-Michael Key's message to voters
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:54 AM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:54 AM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
“And the norms of politics all just blow up, and you’re trying to figure out how to orient yourself when the rules don’t apply anymore, and you’re allowed to say and do things which used to be disqualifying.”
The test of the truth of this statement is if a Democrat does any of the things Trump and the Republicans have gotten away with.
Just as Republicans only care about the deficit when a Democrat is president or they want to justify cutting Social Security, those things will indeed be disqualifying in the eyes of Republicans and their allies in the media.
posted by Gelatin at 10:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
The test of the truth of this statement is if a Democrat does any of the things Trump and the Republicans have gotten away with.
Just as Republicans only care about the deficit when a Democrat is president or they want to justify cutting Social Security, those things will indeed be disqualifying in the eyes of Republicans and their allies in the media.
posted by Gelatin at 10:55 AM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
He, um, tweeted out the racist ad, which he now claims to know nothing about, from his own account.
Twice.
between this and blaming the media for violence, i think we've entered the "i know you are but what am i?" phase of presidential discourse
No puppet, no puppet. You're the puppet.
posted by chris24 at 10:57 AM on November 5, 2018 [21 favorites]
Twice.
between this and blaming the media for violence, i think we've entered the "i know you are but what am i?" phase of presidential discourse
No puppet, no puppet. You're the puppet.
posted by chris24 at 10:57 AM on November 5, 2018 [21 favorites]
> "One of America's two major parties is producing campaign material so overtly racist that America's news networks refuse to air it. Sit with that for a bit."
And tomorrow, undeterred or even motivated by this and other similarly-racist messaging by Trump and/or the Republican Party, tens of millions of Americans will cast a vote for this party. That's the part that's really fun to sit and think about.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:58 AM on November 5, 2018 [28 favorites]
And tomorrow, undeterred or even motivated by this and other similarly-racist messaging by Trump and/or the Republican Party, tens of millions of Americans will cast a vote for this party. That's the part that's really fun to sit and think about.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:58 AM on November 5, 2018 [28 favorites]
And tomorrow, undeterred or even motivated by this and other similarly-racist messaging by Trump and/or the Republican Party, tens of millions of Americans will cast a vote for this party. That's the part that's really fun to sit and think about.
And then they will complain when people presume they're racist for voting for Trump. Though come to think of it, maybe this time Trump's racism is so overt we won't be subjected to another two years of thumbsuckers in the news about how Trump voters were actually motivated by "economic uncertainty."
posted by Gelatin at 11:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
And then they will complain when people presume they're racist for voting for Trump. Though come to think of it, maybe this time Trump's racism is so overt we won't be subjected to another two years of thumbsuckers in the news about how Trump voters were actually motivated by "economic uncertainty."
posted by Gelatin at 11:00 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
The always essential Ken White (@Popehat) may have come up with a metaphor to replace the face-eating leopards:
"I condemn burritos as evil," I pronounce around a mouthful of my third burrito of the morning
10:23 AM - 5 Nov 2018
"How can you say Ken promotes burritos? He denounced burritos just today!" my loyal followers exclaim as I attempt to force an entire foot-long burrito into my mouth. "Why are you people so dishonest about burritos?"
"Am I pro-burrito? That question is pro-burrito," I say, fishing burrito filling out of my shirt pocket and eating it with my fingers. "Calling me pro-burrito is made up, a lie." I struggle to turn the shirt pocket inside-out to lick the lining.
My video showing a carne asada burrito being assembled in slow motion, the well-manicured hands deftly manipulating the fillings and rolling it perfectly as 80s light jazz plays, is not pro-burrito. It is anti-pineapple-pizza. Decent people see this. Maybe you don't.
"Maybe you're just obsessed with burritos, did you ever think of that?" asks one of my supporters as in the background I take a gigantic bite of a pillow-sized burrito, my eyes rolling back into my head. "Maybe real Americans are sick of your burrito fanaticism."
"I don't believe Ken likes burritos, because I don't trust the people saying it," says a supporter as I roll on the floor amid a dozen unwrapped burritos, panting. "Ken's on my side and those people aren't, so I don't pay much attention to the burrito distraction."
"I just want what's best for America," says the supporter, staring straight ahead as I groan. He glances fractionally at some beans smeared on his shoe then his eyes lock forward again. "The burrito stuff has nothing to do with me. It doesn't impact me, so why should I care?"
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:04 AM on November 5, 2018 [78 favorites]
"I condemn burritos as evil," I pronounce around a mouthful of my third burrito of the morning
10:23 AM - 5 Nov 2018
"How can you say Ken promotes burritos? He denounced burritos just today!" my loyal followers exclaim as I attempt to force an entire foot-long burrito into my mouth. "Why are you people so dishonest about burritos?"
"Am I pro-burrito? That question is pro-burrito," I say, fishing burrito filling out of my shirt pocket and eating it with my fingers. "Calling me pro-burrito is made up, a lie." I struggle to turn the shirt pocket inside-out to lick the lining.
My video showing a carne asada burrito being assembled in slow motion, the well-manicured hands deftly manipulating the fillings and rolling it perfectly as 80s light jazz plays, is not pro-burrito. It is anti-pineapple-pizza. Decent people see this. Maybe you don't.
"Maybe you're just obsessed with burritos, did you ever think of that?" asks one of my supporters as in the background I take a gigantic bite of a pillow-sized burrito, my eyes rolling back into my head. "Maybe real Americans are sick of your burrito fanaticism."
"I don't believe Ken likes burritos, because I don't trust the people saying it," says a supporter as I roll on the floor amid a dozen unwrapped burritos, panting. "Ken's on my side and those people aren't, so I don't pay much attention to the burrito distraction."
"I just want what's best for America," says the supporter, staring straight ahead as I groan. He glances fractionally at some beans smeared on his shoe then his eyes lock forward again. "The burrito stuff has nothing to do with me. It doesn't impact me, so why should I care?"
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:04 AM on November 5, 2018 [78 favorites]
NYT, What Is the Needle? And other questions about our live election forecasts. (cw: needle)
When the needle says 90%, that means 100%, right?posted by zachlipton at 11:04 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
No. Ninety percent means nine out of 10.
Another thing, just for future fixing of present problems, we probably need a law mandating that when an elected official actually, personally, posts to social media it be marked in some way that distinguishes it from when their staff posts under their account.
Also a law mandating disclosure of who, exactly, has the password and posting rights for any elected official's social media accounts.
Right this second an unknown number of unknown people post under the @RealDonaldTrump name on Twitter and there is absolutely nothing distinguishing a post made by Trump himself, and one made by an underling. If that account tweets "I hereby direct the US army to invade Canada", is that a legal order issued by the President of the USA acting as Commander in Chief, or is it just Steve Bannon tying to start a war, or what?
It's a minor thing, but one that is going to need a law to address.
I still also maintain that we need a strict prohibition on any elected official doing business of any sort. If they own one, they need to sell it before even running for office. If they can't stand letting their business go, then that clearly shows they put their money grubbing ahead of America, and that they are clearly unfit for office.
Not even a blind trust, total sale of all business assets and divestiture from all business. No investment either, they can put their money in a normal savings account or in a true blind trust. Again, if that is just unacceptable for rich people who own businesses, well then they shouldn't be running for office.
Same applies to all executive branch appointees, Judges, and so on.
Take your pick: either be in business or be in the government. Not both.
posted by sotonohito at 11:06 AM on November 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
Also a law mandating disclosure of who, exactly, has the password and posting rights for any elected official's social media accounts.
Right this second an unknown number of unknown people post under the @RealDonaldTrump name on Twitter and there is absolutely nothing distinguishing a post made by Trump himself, and one made by an underling. If that account tweets "I hereby direct the US army to invade Canada", is that a legal order issued by the President of the USA acting as Commander in Chief, or is it just Steve Bannon tying to start a war, or what?
It's a minor thing, but one that is going to need a law to address.
I still also maintain that we need a strict prohibition on any elected official doing business of any sort. If they own one, they need to sell it before even running for office. If they can't stand letting their business go, then that clearly shows they put their money grubbing ahead of America, and that they are clearly unfit for office.
Not even a blind trust, total sale of all business assets and divestiture from all business. No investment either, they can put their money in a normal savings account or in a true blind trust. Again, if that is just unacceptable for rich people who own businesses, well then they shouldn't be running for office.
Same applies to all executive branch appointees, Judges, and so on.
Take your pick: either be in business or be in the government. Not both.
posted by sotonohito at 11:06 AM on November 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
Chris Hayes speaks with political scientist Michael Tesler about his revelations on racial resentment, economic anxiety and the 2016 election.
I thought this was very interesting. It’s a podcast, I didn’t listen to it, but they have a complete transcript.
The same guy was on Ezra Klein's podcast recently. Ezra has been on a hugely annoying identity politics kick, but this particular conversation and the book it's promoting ("Identity Crisis") are both really solidly data based, not a hot take, very dense with information.
The big weird takeaway for me is that views on race/immigration/etc have been really stable, with a slight liberal trend, for decades, no matter who gets elected or what's going on. Trump is not cause or consequence of an increase in racism; there has been no such increase. He does represent a wave, or a movement, but that wave shouldn't be understood as an increase in the number of people who agree with him. ... They used a metaphor about a "reservoir" that I didn't quite get.
It's weird because there's anecdotes of people being radicalized and changed by Trump adjacent forces. But population level numbers show that they're either insignificant or cancelled out by people going the other way. More anecdata: My granddad voted the NRA line his whole life until 2016. Every single member of my family has moved towards the Dems.
interesting thing in New Jersey: Republicans are basically running the Dem playbook instead of the R one. Positive ads, not immigration based fear mongering, focusing on Dems being corrupt, and not focusing on the base but pushing broad turnout. I got canvassed by Republicans for the first time in my life. It's weird.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 11:08 AM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
"I condemn burritos as evil," I pronounce around a mouthful of my third burrito of the morning
Reminds me of this sketch I did back in January based on a tweet about Ted Cruz from someone (that they then deleted, so I never posted it).
posted by mikepop at 11:21 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Reminds me of this sketch I did back in January based on a tweet about Ted Cruz from someone (that they then deleted, so I never posted it).
posted by mikepop at 11:21 AM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
How to Get a Ride to the Polls - Aimée Lutkin, Lifehacker
Free/low cost options for the most part.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Free/low cost options for the most part.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:27 AM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
To go with the rides to the polls, you can use polls.pizza, perhaps the best 501(c)(4) ever, to dispatch free pizza to long lines of hungry voters, anywhere you see them. They're taking donations to fund the pizza supply.
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 AM on November 5, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 AM on November 5, 2018 [37 favorites]
The three men convicted of plotting to bomb an apartment complex where many Somali immigrants lived are being sentenced and their defense attorneys have come up with a... novel... rationale for why their clients should get lenient sentences rather than the life in prison their crimes would normally carry.
Basically the defense attorneys are arguing that given Trump's ongoing anti-Muslim rhetoric the idea of harsh sentences deterring similar crimes is implausible and that on the basis of Trump's continuing anti-Muslim rhetoric their clients should get reduced sentences (in one case the defense is asking for time served).
Libby Ann at Love, Joy, Feminism goes into detail, along with extra links.
posted by sotonohito at 11:40 AM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
Basically the defense attorneys are arguing that given Trump's ongoing anti-Muslim rhetoric the idea of harsh sentences deterring similar crimes is implausible and that on the basis of Trump's continuing anti-Muslim rhetoric their clients should get reduced sentences (in one case the defense is asking for time served).
Libby Ann at Love, Joy, Feminism goes into detail, along with extra links.
posted by sotonohito at 11:40 AM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
I just wanted to give a huge thank you to everyone who has been volunteering across the various states, particularly here in Texas. I'm in a red suburb in a blue county, so seeing the lines for early voting was more queasy-making than inspiring, but when I voted I got a chance to stop by and visit with representatives from the local Democratic club. I'm so grateful for all of the local people out there with smiles on their faces and inspiring words, even when they're in the minority.
I'll be one of the judges at my polling location tomorrow, so it will be a long and (hopefully) tiring day. Early voting has gotten so popular down here that election day itself tends to be quieter at my precinct. But these are different times, so...who knows? Being involved in a small way with the process is far superior to spending the day wringing my hands over what may or may not happen, and by the end of my fourteen hours I'll probably be too tired to worry much.
So thank you again to everyone who has been working so hard, and thank you in advance to those of you who are doing a last push tomorrow, or taking voters to the polls, or doing whatever needs to be done. Once again, the awesome MeFi people inspire me to keep hope and do better.
posted by Salieri at 11:41 AM on November 5, 2018 [40 favorites]
I'll be one of the judges at my polling location tomorrow, so it will be a long and (hopefully) tiring day. Early voting has gotten so popular down here that election day itself tends to be quieter at my precinct. But these are different times, so...who knows? Being involved in a small way with the process is far superior to spending the day wringing my hands over what may or may not happen, and by the end of my fourteen hours I'll probably be too tired to worry much.
So thank you again to everyone who has been working so hard, and thank you in advance to those of you who are doing a last push tomorrow, or taking voters to the polls, or doing whatever needs to be done. Once again, the awesome MeFi people inspire me to keep hope and do better.
posted by Salieri at 11:41 AM on November 5, 2018 [40 favorites]
Supreme Court ends legal fight over Obama-era net neutrality rules
(Business Insider; longer original reporting at Reuters)
- The legal fight over a 2016 lower court ruling upholding former President Barack Obama's net neutrality regulations came to an end on Monday, with the Supreme Court declining to take up the matter.
- The Trump administration and internet service providers had asked justices to wipe away a ruling that had temporarily preserved the Obama-era net neutrality regulations.
- The justices refused Monday to hear the appeals, leaving the lower court ruling in place.
The brief court order noted that three of the court's conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, would have thrown out the appeals court decision. Chief Justice John Roberts and new Trump appointee Brett Kavanaugh were both recused from the case.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:45 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
(Business Insider; longer original reporting at Reuters)
- The legal fight over a 2016 lower court ruling upholding former President Barack Obama's net neutrality regulations came to an end on Monday, with the Supreme Court declining to take up the matter.
- The Trump administration and internet service providers had asked justices to wipe away a ruling that had temporarily preserved the Obama-era net neutrality regulations.
- The justices refused Monday to hear the appeals, leaving the lower court ruling in place.
The brief court order noted that three of the court's conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, would have thrown out the appeals court decision. Chief Justice John Roberts and new Trump appointee Brett Kavanaugh were both recused from the case.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:45 AM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
If you're looking something to do tomorrow night while you're waiting for results to come in, Postcards to Voters is already up and running with their next campaign - the MS Senate special election runoff on Nov 27th (assuming no one gets >50% in the special election jungle primary tomorrow, as is expected).
Worried about Heitkamp, Donnelly, et al.? Put your nervous energy to use and help flip a Senate seat red to blue! Hosting a results watching party? Get some supplies, request some addresses, and hold a competition for best GOTV postcard! Kids want to stay up late to see the results? Ok, sure - if you write postcards. Let's ward off any discouragement from the races we lose by writing a record number of postcards for the next fight!
posted by melissasaurus at 11:46 AM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
Worried about Heitkamp, Donnelly, et al.? Put your nervous energy to use and help flip a Senate seat red to blue! Hosting a results watching party? Get some supplies, request some addresses, and hold a competition for best GOTV postcard! Kids want to stay up late to see the results? Ok, sure - if you write postcards. Let's ward off any discouragement from the races we lose by writing a record number of postcards for the next fight!
posted by melissasaurus at 11:46 AM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
As I get out my anxiety meds for tomorrow, this story [SLSlate, generic dem messaging blame] does evoke the question, where can I go on Wednesday to start volunteering to primary Schumer, and help transition leadership away from Pelosi to someone under 60?
posted by benzenedream at 11:48 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 11:48 AM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
WaPo, Newly released emails suggest Zinke contradicted ethics pledge
posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke continued to engage in discussions involving his family foundation’s property in summer 2017 despite the fact that he had pledged to recuse himself from such matters for a year, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.Disc golf makes an appearance if you read on.
At issue is an August 2017 email exchange with David Taylor, the city planner for Whitefish, Mont. Zinke authorized him access to the property and explained that he was engaged in negotiations with a real estate developer over building a parking lot on his foundation’s land. But under an ethics pledge he signed Jan. 10, 2017, Zinke vowed to step down from his position as president of the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation after winning confirmation and refrain from participating in any matters concerning the group for one year.
posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
I have a hunch "messaging" is maybe not as important as the pundit class likes to think.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:05 PM on November 5, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 12:05 PM on November 5, 2018 [16 favorites]
Not sure if this "GOP panic" story has been linked. James Lambert take:
For what it's worth, anonymous Republicans are saying that GOP incumbents have lost ground in #TX07, #TX32 and #IL06 in the past two weeks.posted by Chrysostom at 12:07 PM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
It also cites new anxiety over #CA21, a race long considered to be on the outer fringes of competitiveness.
regardless of the outcome of the election, if it gives house republicans a "moment of panic" that approximates my baseline anxiety level for the last two years it will all have been worthwhile
posted by murphy slaw at 12:13 PM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:13 PM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
Let's not move the goalposts yet. We still have a decent chance to control the House.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 12:14 PM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 12:14 PM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
More on dem messaging blame:
Democrats Are So, So Bad at This: Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and the atrocity of Democratic messaging - Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate
Democrats Are So, So Bad at This: Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and the atrocity of Democratic messaging - Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate
“Supreme Corp.”! “Make America Sick Again”! The party’s messaging is an atrocity, and it won’t get any better until Pelosi and Schumer are gone.posted by ZeusHumms at 12:16 PM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
…
It’s too simplistic to suggest that elite Democrats have failed to capitalize on the #resistance to Trump because their talking points are alarmingly witless. It’s not unfair, though, to argue that their rhetoric has failed to meet the moment. The horrifying wordplay is just one of many problems. Another recurring, futile trope is the theatrical performance of hope that Republicans are about to begin respecting civic ideals. (Narrator: They aren’t.)
…
The national party’s stale sloganeering seems closely linked to its strategic tendency toward borderline-comical caution and overestimation of Republican good faith.
…
Why are the 67-year-old Schumer and 78-year-old Pelosi so cautious? Probably because they got their starts at a time when Democratic presidential candidates like George McGovern and Walter Mondale were getting splattered against walls by conservative candidates who portrayed them as radical hippies who would raise taxes to finance the Black Panthers.
if it gives house republicans a "moment of panic" that approximates my baseline anxiety level for the last two years it will all have been worthwhile
Their panic is not being able to remodel the pool house on their second-favorite property. Our panic is dying in a gutter or by nazi or by drowning in boiling seawater. The worm will really have to turn before their baseline anxiety approximates ours.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:17 PM on November 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
Their panic is not being able to remodel the pool house on their second-favorite property. Our panic is dying in a gutter or by nazi or by drowning in boiling seawater. The worm will really have to turn before their baseline anxiety approximates ours.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:17 PM on November 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
The mayor of Lantana, Florida, David Stewart, solicited sex from constituent Catherine Padilla in exchange for speed bumps in her neighborhood.
Colbert: This type of corruption is often referred to as "pay to play", but let's just call this one "humps for bumps."
posted by numaner at 12:27 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
Colbert: This type of corruption is often referred to as "pay to play", but let's just call this one "humps for bumps."
posted by numaner at 12:27 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
A large electronic billboard that features President Donald Trump with the bible verse, "The word became flesh", can be seen along the southbound lanes of the highway.
Try to imagine what it must be like in the brain of a person who looks at Trump and sees a christian paragon
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:29 PM on November 5, 2018 [34 favorites]
Try to imagine what it must be like in the brain of a person who looks at Trump and sees a christian paragon
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:29 PM on November 5, 2018 [34 favorites]
Voting report: I grabbed my ballot, which took 20 seconds to request online and came last month so I could fill it out at my leisure, fulfilling the caricature of myself as an urban snob I hopped on a bike share bike (just be glad I didn't take a scooter, ok?), pedaled a short distance to City Hall, and without getting off the bike or waiting, was met by helpful employees of the Department of Elections, who exchanged it for a sticker. Somebody pulled up behind me in the backseat of a taxi to drop theirs off. I brought my mom's ballot too, which is perfectly fine too, as opposed to Georgia where they'll try to lock you up for decades. If I didn't want to go to City Hall, I could put the ballot in the mail (postage already included) anytime up to and including election day, drop it off at my polling place, drop it off at any polling place in the city, or apparently under a new law, drop it off at any polling place anywhere in the state of California. I can go to a handy website to check that my ballot was received and counted. If I wasn't registered to vote or had a problem with my registration, I can register and vote as late as election day at City Hall. Oh, and everything is on a voter-verified paper ballot that's subject to a 1% hand count.
Then I followed Nancy's advice (via mathowie) and got ice cream, because being an adult means you can just go do that.
Voting here isn't perfect, but my point is that we totally know how to run elections that aren't horrible; it's really possible to do this without hours-long lines and pain. It's a deliberate choice in those areas that are suppressing the vote.
GOTV report: the successes are always the best part. Often few and far between, but it's really gratifying to help an irregular voter work through a sticky inactive registration problem or find someone a ride to the polls or give someone who thinks Medicaid is un-Christian a new way of thinking about it. Lots of encouragement from Democrats, including other people busy volunteering. And then there's been a couple of odd ones. One individual told me his power just went out, and they'd vote for anyone I said if I could fix it right away. Then there was the person who, over the course of several texts, said they're not [VOTER_NAME], because that person took off with the goat herder foreign exchange student who was living in their basement and left them with the kids. That one threw me for a bit, but they seemed satisfied with a response of "Some people just like goats, I guess" along with, of course, encouragement to vote.
posted by zachlipton at 12:36 PM on November 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
Then I followed Nancy's advice (via mathowie) and got ice cream, because being an adult means you can just go do that.
Voting here isn't perfect, but my point is that we totally know how to run elections that aren't horrible; it's really possible to do this without hours-long lines and pain. It's a deliberate choice in those areas that are suppressing the vote.
GOTV report: the successes are always the best part. Often few and far between, but it's really gratifying to help an irregular voter work through a sticky inactive registration problem or find someone a ride to the polls or give someone who thinks Medicaid is un-Christian a new way of thinking about it. Lots of encouragement from Democrats, including other people busy volunteering. And then there's been a couple of odd ones. One individual told me his power just went out, and they'd vote for anyone I said if I could fix it right away. Then there was the person who, over the course of several texts, said they're not [VOTER_NAME], because that person took off with the goat herder foreign exchange student who was living in their basement and left them with the kids. That one threw me for a bit, but they seemed satisfied with a response of "Some people just like goats, I guess" along with, of course, encouragement to vote.
posted by zachlipton at 12:36 PM on November 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
homunculus: Author David Neiwert on the outbreak of political violence: Expect “an intense period of terrorism.” Expert on right-wing terror expects “a lot more of this type of violence,” no matter who wins the midterms
Right-Wing Hate Groups Are Recruiting Video Gamers (NPR, Nov. 5, 2018)
The piece focuses on a father's discovery that his 15 year old son was lured into white supremacy in a way that instantly made me think of the much more prevalent coverage of "how were these Muslim youth in America radicalized?"
I'm glad that this is getting some coverage, and emotional coverage, because it's very hard, to unlikely, to change someone's mind with rational thought and logic. "Appealing to their emotions may work better, but doing so is obviously antithetical to the goal of promoting sound science." (Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds -- New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason. By Elizabeth Kolbert for the New Yorker, from the February 27, 2017 Issue)
posted by filthy light thief at 12:37 PM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
Right-Wing Hate Groups Are Recruiting Video Gamers (NPR, Nov. 5, 2018)
The piece focuses on a father's discovery that his 15 year old son was lured into white supremacy in a way that instantly made me think of the much more prevalent coverage of "how were these Muslim youth in America radicalized?"
I'm glad that this is getting some coverage, and emotional coverage, because it's very hard, to unlikely, to change someone's mind with rational thought and logic. "Appealing to their emotions may work better, but doing so is obviously antithetical to the goal of promoting sound science." (Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds -- New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason. By Elizabeth Kolbert for the New Yorker, from the February 27, 2017 Issue)
posted by filthy light thief at 12:37 PM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
Why are the 67-year-old Schumer and 78-year-old Pelosi so cautious? Probably because they got their starts at a time when Democratic presidential candidates like George McGovern and Walter Mondale were getting splattered against walls by conservative candidates who portrayed them as radical hippies who would raise taxes to finance the Black Panthers.
It really can't be overstressed how badly the Democrats' confidence was shaken by Ronald Reagan. That Reagan is perceived as strong is due in no small part to Democrats' weak response to him -- and don't forget that long before Trump, Reagan was breaking political norms by "stretching the truth" with his "anecdotes," sounding none-too-subtle racial dogwhistles like "welfare queen" and "strapping young bucks buying steaks," and pumping up Cold Warrior zealotry against the Democrats (and Russia, which he joked on an open mike about bombing). And Democratic voters -- the white working class, the so-called "Reagan Democrats" -- started voting Republican.
It's notable that Republican success was not arrested (certainly, not arrested enough) until Bill Clinton, who was perceived as winning not because people we sick of Republican incompetence and mendacity but because of "triangulation," or validating Republican frames. And though Clinton enjoyed varying degrees of political success, he did validate those conservative frames. All the while, Republicans demonized the word "liberal" so much that it's only used today to attack Democrats.
Much the political press absorbed this mentality, in which Republicans were popular, if not always forthright about their agenda, and Democrats were too feckless to own their own beliefs. But the rise of Trump has at least incurred some spine in many Democrats, if not Schumer, sending the media rushing to their fainting couches.
posted by Gelatin at 12:40 PM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
It really can't be overstressed how badly the Democrats' confidence was shaken by Ronald Reagan. That Reagan is perceived as strong is due in no small part to Democrats' weak response to him -- and don't forget that long before Trump, Reagan was breaking political norms by "stretching the truth" with his "anecdotes," sounding none-too-subtle racial dogwhistles like "welfare queen" and "strapping young bucks buying steaks," and pumping up Cold Warrior zealotry against the Democrats (and Russia, which he joked on an open mike about bombing). And Democratic voters -- the white working class, the so-called "Reagan Democrats" -- started voting Republican.
It's notable that Republican success was not arrested (certainly, not arrested enough) until Bill Clinton, who was perceived as winning not because people we sick of Republican incompetence and mendacity but because of "triangulation," or validating Republican frames. And though Clinton enjoyed varying degrees of political success, he did validate those conservative frames. All the while, Republicans demonized the word "liberal" so much that it's only used today to attack Democrats.
Much the political press absorbed this mentality, in which Republicans were popular, if not always forthright about their agenda, and Democrats were too feckless to own their own beliefs. But the rise of Trump has at least incurred some spine in many Democrats, if not Schumer, sending the media rushing to their fainting couches.
posted by Gelatin at 12:40 PM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
On that note of "how can you change minds?" Can a Facebook Ad Really Sway Your Vote? MoveOn Thinks So (Issie Lapowsky for Wired, Nov. 5, 2018)
IF YOU ARE one of the 20 million potential voters that MoveOn, a progressive advocacy group, believes could help swing the midterm elections in Democrats' favor, then chances are, over the next few days, you will see a MoveOn–sponsored ad in your Facebook news feed.posted by filthy light thief at 12:40 PM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
It'll be a video of a real voter—not an actor or a politician—explaining why he or she is voting for a given candidate. It might feature Bethany, a business owner in Ohio, who's backing Democrat Sherrod Brown for Senate because he supports the Affordable Care Act. Or maybe it will star Barbara, a Floridian who believes that, as governor, Democrat Andrew Gillum will address wage stagnation in the state. The ad will be simple enough. The calculations that land it in your particular news feed, though, are anything but.
In the lead-up to the midterms, ordinary Americans made 2,500 of these videos for MoveOn. Now the organization has turned them into Facebook ads aimed at voters in 91 House races, ten Senate races, and ten gubernatorial races.1 Since their big advertising push began in late October, millions of people have seen these ads, making MoveOn the highest spender on political Facebook ads last week. But what makes these ads worth noting in a sea of millions isn't just their scale. It's the science behind them.
With these ads, MoveOn is trying to answer a key question in the age of social-media-driven politics: Can a Facebook ad really persuade people to go out and vote?
It really can't be overstressed how badly the Democrats' confidence was shaken by Ronald Reagan.
1932-1980 was basically the FDR frame, regardless of who was president.
1980-now has been the Reagan frame.
It is to be hoped 2018/2020 will break that.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:44 PM on November 5, 2018 [39 favorites]
1932-1980 was basically the FDR frame, regardless of who was president.
1980-now has been the Reagan frame.
It is to be hoped 2018/2020 will break that.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:44 PM on November 5, 2018 [39 favorites]
I had a long bit in my head about the Daily Beasts' rehashing of the same tired old Democrats Are Failures clickbait, but the thought of piecing together something coherent rather than raging about just how WTF the headline was because the vote was won, it was the election that was lost and there's a differ—ugh. Just ugh. I'm preaching to the choir here anyway. So instead, there's this:
I picked up a bottle of dark rum from Trader Joe's the other week in order to top off one of the homemade vanilla extracts I've kept for the past 25 years. Not much of a rum drinker, but I think I'll put my old bartending knowledge to use and pop down to the grocery store tomorrow for some Reed's ginger beer and some limes, because all the stress, anxiety, and nail biting is going to make tomorrow a Dark and Stormy* night for one party or another.
I'm gonna have such a hangover.
I'm also reminding myself that if the outcome is good tomorrow, it's not the beginning of the end, just the end of the beginning. It's still gonna be a shitshow politically and I need to keep that in mind.
*A jigger of dark rum over ice, top off with ginger beer and add a lime wedge.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 12:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
I picked up a bottle of dark rum from Trader Joe's the other week in order to top off one of the homemade vanilla extracts I've kept for the past 25 years. Not much of a rum drinker, but I think I'll put my old bartending knowledge to use and pop down to the grocery store tomorrow for some Reed's ginger beer and some limes, because all the stress, anxiety, and nail biting is going to make tomorrow a Dark and Stormy* night for one party or another.
I'm gonna have such a hangover.
I'm also reminding myself that if the outcome is good tomorrow, it's not the beginning of the end, just the end of the beginning. It's still gonna be a shitshow politically and I need to keep that in mind.
*A jigger of dark rum over ice, top off with ginger beer and add a lime wedge.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 12:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
It also cites new anxiety over #CA21, a race long considered to be on the outer fringes of competitiveness.
I did three shifts of GOTV canvassing in Delano and McFarland yesterday. Lots of yard signs for TJ Cox (the Democratic challenger) and local Dem candidates. I think this district can flip.
posted by donatella at 12:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
I did three shifts of GOTV canvassing in Delano and McFarland yesterday. Lots of yard signs for TJ Cox (the Democratic challenger) and local Dem candidates. I think this district can flip.
posted by donatella at 12:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
Nate Cohn:
Democrats gained by more than 3 pts in our final polls over our initial ones, and this individual-level analysis indicates that's not merely because of identifiable changes in the composition of the sample, like more Demsposted by Chrysostom at 12:47 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
If it even gets close, Republicans are fuuuuuuuuuuuucked. CA-21 is extremely Hispanic, and part of the reason polls don't have Democratic control as a straight-up lock is that Hispanic voters don't seem to have been mobilized by Trump's racism to the same degree that, for instance, his sexism set off an anti-GOP turn among women. If that research turns out to be wrong, ooof.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:49 PM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:49 PM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
It would be cool if a journalist would just ask the president "What was wrong with the Willie Horton ad, really?" I think he and also some of these network people just think it didn't focus group well.
posted by Selena777 at 12:54 PM on November 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Selena777 at 12:54 PM on November 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Text-banking report from MO: My first time. I ended up assigned to a message that asked people to volunteer and knock doors at 7 a.m. tomorrow, which I was a little taken aback by... assumed I'd just be reminding people to vote. Kind of a tough ask honestly. I contacted 300 voters and about 25 replied. Got zero yeses, two maybes, several curt no's, several apologetic no's, and number of opt outs. A good handful said nice/positive things and told me they voted. I'll text bank again tomorrow afternoon.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 12:58 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by the turtle's teeth at 12:58 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
CA-21 is extremely Hispanic, and part of the reason polls don't have Democratic control as a straight-up lock is that Hispanic voters don't seem to have been mobilized by Trump's racism to the same degree that, for instance, his sexism set off an anti-GOP turn among women.
Every Hispanic voter I talked to in CA-21 yesterday was very contra Trump. It’ll be close at least. Personally, I think there’s an excellent chance that Valadao is toast.
posted by donatella at 12:59 PM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
Every Hispanic voter I talked to in CA-21 yesterday was very contra Trump. It’ll be close at least. Personally, I think there’s an excellent chance that Valadao is toast.
posted by donatella at 12:59 PM on November 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
CREW discovered that Ivanka Trump’s business just won approval for 16 new Chinese trademarks, even though the brand shut down this summer. One of the trademarks covers voting machines.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:59 PM on November 5, 2018 [64 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 12:59 PM on November 5, 2018 [64 favorites]
another trademark covers sausage casing, fer cryin' out loud
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:08 PM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:08 PM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
zombieflanders: CREW discovered that Ivanka Trump’s business just won approval for 16 new Chinese trademarks, even though the brand shut down this summer. One of the trademarks covers voting machines.
Go home, writers, you're drunk. We'd be perfectly happy if you just threw on some reruns from the 2008-2016 seasons.
Meanwhile, Gab is back a week after Pittsburgh shooting controversy forced it offline -- Gab continues to be popular with antisemites. (Timothy B. Lee for Ars Technica, Nov. 5, 2018)
And to save you the clicks, here's a choice excerpt:
*Keeps reading Epik.com CEO's message*
Fsk it, I'm done with the internet.
(Not really, I could never leave.)
posted by filthy light thief at 1:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
Go home, writers, you're drunk. We'd be perfectly happy if you just threw on some reruns from the 2008-2016 seasons.
Meanwhile, Gab is back a week after Pittsburgh shooting controversy forced it offline -- Gab continues to be popular with antisemites. (Timothy B. Lee for Ars Technica, Nov. 5, 2018)
Gab, the "free speech" social media site that's popular with the alt-right, is back online.Epik's agreement is pretty much "we support all speech," with such bolded text as "De-Platforming is Digital Censorship. Blacklisting is Digital Shunning."
"We will never get [sic] up, we will never give in," founder Andrew Torba wrote in a Sunday evening post on the site. "Free speech and liberty will always win."
Gab was forced offline in the wake of last month's deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The shooter appears to have been a Gab user, and his final Gab post prior to the shooting attacked the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a non-profit refugee resettlement group: "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
When the shooter's apparent ties to Gab came to light, GoDaddy gave Gab 24 hours to find a new domain provider. Gab wasn't able to transition to a new provider immediately, so the site was down for about a week. But a domain provider called Epik agreed to host Gab, allowing the site to come back online this past weekend.
The new site includes a subtle branding change. "When we go back online this weekend our logo of the month will include a dove in honor of the Tree of Life victims and their families," Gab wrote on Twitter.
Gab has vowed to continue its free-speech policies, and it continues to be a popular online watering hole for noxious antisemitism.
"Please remember it was the Jews who tried to shut this site down," wrote Christopher Cantwell, a Gab user with 11,000 followers, in a Sunday evening post. "You can call them 'big tech' or 'liberal elites' or 'the media' or 'the globalists' or 'the bankers' but it is always the Jews." The post appeared on Gab's front page under the "popular posts" header and as I write this it has been reposted (Gab's equivalent of a retweet) 134 times.
And to save you the clicks, here's a choice excerpt:
As the news broke, and as some elements in the mainstream media rendered their judgement, I embarked on my own search for truth. Along the way, I did have an opportunity to meet with the Founder of Gab, Andrew Torba, an entrepreneur who was willing to swim against the tide for what he believes is right, namely empowering netizens to discuss openly about matters of mutual interest with limited risk of censorship.Harboring hate-mongers is so edgy and chic! {barf} "Looks useful" is such a thin cover to support violent antisemites and actual killers.
Although, I did not take the decision lightly to accept this domain registration, I look forward to partnering with a young, and once brash, CEO who is courageously doing something that looks useful. As I reflect on my own journey as a truth-seeking tech entrepreneur, I have no doubt that Andrew will continue to develop not only as tech entrepreneur but also as a responsible steward — one that can balance bravado with diplomacy and who tempers courage with humility.
*Keeps reading Epik.com CEO's message*
To the casual observer, the case of Gab.com seems like it is something new. It is not. It is history repeating itself.Not the message I would have gone with here. Hmm. Signed:
Robert W. Monster*throws computer mouse*
Founder and CEO
Epik.com
Fsk it, I'm done with the internet.
(Not really, I could never leave.)
posted by filthy light thief at 1:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [23 favorites]
ProPublica/Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia Officials Quietly Patched Security Holes They Said Didn’t Exist: A ProPublica analysis found that the state was busily fixing problems in its voter registration hours after the office of Secretary of State Brian Kemp, the Republican candidate for governor, had insisted the system was secure.
A representative for Kemp, the state’s Republican candidate for governor, denied vulnerabilities existed in the state’s voter-lookup site and said the problems alleged could not be reproduced. But in the evening hours of Sunday, as the political storm raged, ProPublica found state officials quietly rewriting the website’s computer code.posted by zachlipton at 1:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [28 favorites]
ProPublica’s review of the state’s voter system followed a detailed recipe created by the tipster, who was described as having IT experience and alerted Democrats to the possible security problems. Using the name of a valid Georgia voter who gave ProPublica permission to access his voter file, reporters attempted to trace the security lapses that were identified.
ProPublica found the website was returning information in such a way that it revealed hidden locations on the file system. Computer security experts had said that revelation could give an intruder access to a range of information, including personal data about other voters and sensitive operating system details.
ProPublica’s attempt to take the next step — to poke around the concealed files and the innards of the operating system — was blocked by software fixes made that evening. According to the tipster’s recipe, it was also possible to view a voter’s driver’s license, partial Social Security number and address.
Okay writers, I know that we're in the season finale stretch, but calm the fuck down, stop with the blow already
posted by angrycat at 1:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
Blacklisting is Digital Shunning
yes. exactly. what's the problem here? some things should be shunned
posted by murphy slaw at 1:15 PM on November 5, 2018 [63 favorites]
yes. exactly. what's the problem here? some things should be shunned
posted by murphy slaw at 1:15 PM on November 5, 2018 [63 favorites]
The new site includes a subtle branding change. "When we go back online this weekend our logo of the month will include a dove in honor of the Tree of Life victims and their families," Gab wrote on Twitter.
Gab official account, three days ago: "Dude named Krassenstein doesn't support free speech. Imagine my shock."
Does the dove have a cap with a little skull on it?
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:17 PM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
Gab official account, three days ago: "Dude named Krassenstein doesn't support free speech. Imagine my shock."
Does the dove have a cap with a little skull on it?
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:17 PM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
Yeaaaaahhhhh, what is the phrase, "Don't piss on my back and tell me it is rain."
I am hoping that my international ballot made it in time to Minnesota from the US Consulate. After reading about Georgia's suppression I appreciate Minnesota's quiet competence.
Do not veer. Stay Strong.
posted by jadepearl at 1:23 PM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am hoping that my international ballot made it in time to Minnesota from the US Consulate. After reading about Georgia's suppression I appreciate Minnesota's quiet competence.
Do not veer. Stay Strong.
posted by jadepearl at 1:23 PM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
“It might be nice, it might be nice, to get Democracy back on track". Hamildrop!
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:24 PM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:24 PM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
Robert W. Monster
Founder and CEO
Epik.com
Founder and CEO
Epik.com
"The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices to be found only in the minds of men. For the record, prejudices can kill, and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all of its own for the children, and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone.posted by octobersurprise at 1:33 PM on November 5, 2018 [34 favorites]
— Rod Serling, "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street."
Get Up and Go Vote
Roger Angell | The New Yorker
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:29 PM on November 5, 2018 [95 favorites]
Roger Angell | The New Yorker
In a New Yorker piece posted the week before the 2016 election, I wrote that my first Presidential vote was for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in 1944, when I was a young Air Force sergeant stationed in the Central Pacific. I went on to say that, seventy-two years later, defeating Trump made that immediate election the most important of my life. Alarmed as I was, I had no idea, of course, of the depths of the disaster that would befall us, taking away our leadership and moral standing in the world.Let’s fucking go.
I am ninety-eight now, legally blind, and a pain in the ass to all my friends and much of my family with my constant rantings about the Trump debacle—his floods of lies, his racism, his abandonment of vital connections to ancient allies and critically urgent world concerns, his relentless attacks on the media, and, just lately, his arrant fearmongering about the agonizingly slow approach of a fading column of frightened Central American refugees. The not-to-mention list takes us to his scorn for the poor everywhere, his dismantling contempt for the F.B.I. and the Justice Department, and his broad ignorance and overriding failure of human response. A Democratic victory in this midterm election, in the House, at the least, will put a halt to a lot of this and prevent something much worse.
Countless friends of mine have been engaged this year in political action, but, at my age, I’m not quite up to making phone calls or ringing doorbells. But I can still vote, and I ended that 1992 piece by saying how the morning after Election Day I’d search out, in the Times, the totals in the Presidential balloting, and, “over to the right in my candidate’s column, count the millions of votes there, down to the very last number. ‘That’s me!’ ” I would whisper, “and, at the moment, perhaps feel once again the absurd conviction that that final number, the starboard digit, is something—go figure—I would still die for, if anyone cared.”
What I said I would die for I now want to live for. The quarter-century-plus since George H. W. Bush lost that election to Bill Clinton has brought a near-total change to our everyday world. Unendable wars, desperate refugee populations, a crashing climate, and a sickening flow of gun murders and massacres in schools, concert halls, churches, and temples are the abiding commonplace amid the buzz of social media, Obamacare, and #MeToo. What remains, still in place and now again before us, is voting.
What we can all do at this moment is vote—get up, brush our teeth, go to the polling place, and get in line. I was never in combat as a soldier, but now I am. Those of you who haven’t quite been getting to your polling place lately, who want better candidates or a clearer system of making yourself heard, or who just aren’t in the habit, need to get it done this time around. If you stay home, count yourself among the hundreds of thousands now being disenfranchised by the relentless parade of restrictions that Republicans everywhere are imposing and enforcing. If you don’t vote, they have won, and you are a captive, one of their prizes.
When you do go to vote on Tuesday, take a friend, a nephew, a neighbor, or a partner, and be patient when in line. Just up ahead of you, the old guy in a sailing cap, leaning on his cane and accompanied by his wife, is me, again not minding the wait, and again enthralled by the moment and its meaning.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:29 PM on November 5, 2018 [95 favorites]
Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, Karena Virginia Told Her Story About Trump in 2016. It’s Been a Long Two Years
A few of Trump’s accusers have retold their stories since the election. Last December, Rachel Crooks, Jessica Leeds, and Samantha Holvey appeared on “Megyn Kelly Today.” Crooks, who says that Trump grabbed and kissed her on the mouth in 2005 while she was working at Trump Tower, is now running for the Ohio House of Representatives. Virginia has been more reticent. She told me that she has often regretted speaking up. She’s still worried about making things difficult for her kids—there are twice as many registered Republicans as registered Democrats in her town, which voted for Trump by a fourteen-per-cent margin. “I sometimes think, if I hadn’t said anything, my career would be better—I’d still be on ‘Good Morning America’ talking about relaxation tips. But, in the end, I know that silence would have poisoned me. And I’d rather live as a hermit crab without a shell than put on a shell that doesn’t belong to me. It’s more painful to be in clothing that’s not yours and receive love for it than to be yourself and feel more alone,” she said.posted by zachlipton at 2:33 PM on November 5, 2018 [29 favorites]
I asked Virginia how she felt watching the Kavanaugh hearing and the subsequent footage of Trump mocking Christine Blasey Ford at a rally. She felt unbearable rage and panic and desperation, she said. She co-signed a letter, with seven of Trump’s other accusers, in support of Ford and Deborah Ramirez, who also accused Kavanaugh of misconduct. She was thankful that she had been teaching at a yoga retreat in Northern California on the day of the hearing. She recalled going out into the nearby redwood forest and thinking about the root system beneath her—how each tree’s roots are intertwined with the roots of the trees around them, and how all the trees hold each other up. Afterward, she went back to teach her class and comforted students who were crying. Then she went back to her room and allowed herself to be terrified and heartbroken, to let the fear and sadness pass through her. And then she prepared for another day.
"anonymous Republicans are saying that GOP incumbents have lost ground in #TX07, #TX32 and #IL06 in the past two weeks."
In IL06, Roskam is a TRASHFIRE of a human being/candidate, and Casten's ads are EVERYWHERE, mostly centrist-y*, and I don't have to turn the TV off when they come on which I'm having to do with a LOT of Illinois ads if my children are still awake because GOOD LORD. Roskam's ads are mostly about "Casten listens to Mike Madigan!" the Illinois state speaker of the house who is the favorite bogeyman of the IL GOP, but a) he has nothing to actually tie Casten to Madigan with as Casten has no statehouse experience and b) the Governor has spent the last TWELVE MONTHS bitching non-stop about Madigan and everyone's tuned it out at this point ... except that the Gov just ran an INCREDIBLY offensive ad as his "closer" that both mocks gay marriage and uses a (bleeped) f-word about Madigan and I think that was super offputting for a lot of IL suburban women swing voters. Outside money has been putting up DEVASTATING ads about healthcare, with little children with cancer that Roskam tried to take pre-existing condition coverage away from, and sad parents saying stuff like "Peter Roskam had 62 chances to do the right thing, and he voted against Little Billy every single time."
Roskam won by 20 points in 2016, but he's run a miserably bad campaign, and while it's a traditionally pretty GOP area, it's shifting (voted Clinton in 2016 on the backs of suburban white women), and Roskam loves him some Trump and parrots Trump's nonsense constantly, while bragging about being independent, and while his anti-climate-change, anti-ACA, pro-NRA, anti-immigrant, anti-consumer-privacy positions put him increasingly out-of-step with his suburban district. (He's running a downstate campaign in a wealthy suburban district, it's terrible politics.) He's campaigning heavily on those awesome tax cuts, but his constituents own homes valuable enough, and are wealthy enough, that they're getting fucked by SALT caps, and they KNOW that.
Anyway, Roskam is near the top of my list of Illinois Republicans I desperately want to see lose, so I have my fingers crossed hard for Sean Casten.
*Casten's background is as a clean energy executive so he has a LOT to say about clean energy and stopping global warming, but he says it in a really calm way that makes it sound centrist-y (which it ought to be! But isn't.).
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:34 PM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
In IL06, Roskam is a TRASHFIRE of a human being/candidate, and Casten's ads are EVERYWHERE, mostly centrist-y*, and I don't have to turn the TV off when they come on which I'm having to do with a LOT of Illinois ads if my children are still awake because GOOD LORD. Roskam's ads are mostly about "Casten listens to Mike Madigan!" the Illinois state speaker of the house who is the favorite bogeyman of the IL GOP, but a) he has nothing to actually tie Casten to Madigan with as Casten has no statehouse experience and b) the Governor has spent the last TWELVE MONTHS bitching non-stop about Madigan and everyone's tuned it out at this point ... except that the Gov just ran an INCREDIBLY offensive ad as his "closer" that both mocks gay marriage and uses a (bleeped) f-word about Madigan and I think that was super offputting for a lot of IL suburban women swing voters. Outside money has been putting up DEVASTATING ads about healthcare, with little children with cancer that Roskam tried to take pre-existing condition coverage away from, and sad parents saying stuff like "Peter Roskam had 62 chances to do the right thing, and he voted against Little Billy every single time."
Roskam won by 20 points in 2016, but he's run a miserably bad campaign, and while it's a traditionally pretty GOP area, it's shifting (voted Clinton in 2016 on the backs of suburban white women), and Roskam loves him some Trump and parrots Trump's nonsense constantly, while bragging about being independent, and while his anti-climate-change, anti-ACA, pro-NRA, anti-immigrant, anti-consumer-privacy positions put him increasingly out-of-step with his suburban district. (He's running a downstate campaign in a wealthy suburban district, it's terrible politics.) He's campaigning heavily on those awesome tax cuts, but his constituents own homes valuable enough, and are wealthy enough, that they're getting fucked by SALT caps, and they KNOW that.
Anyway, Roskam is near the top of my list of Illinois Republicans I desperately want to see lose, so I have my fingers crossed hard for Sean Casten.
*Casten's background is as a clean energy executive so he has a LOT to say about clean energy and stopping global warming, but he says it in a really calm way that makes it sound centrist-y (which it ought to be! But isn't.).
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 2:34 PM on November 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
wrote Christopher Cantwell, a Gab user with 11,000 followers
Could have gone with "Christoper Cantwell, aka the 'Crying Nazi', who pleaded guilty to assault and battery in connection with Charlottesville and who has been banned from Virginia."
In other words, not just some random racist dipshit on Gab, but someone who has actually been convicted of racist attacks.
posted by thefoxgod at 2:35 PM on November 5, 2018 [59 favorites]
Could have gone with "Christoper Cantwell, aka the 'Crying Nazi', who pleaded guilty to assault and battery in connection with Charlottesville and who has been banned from Virginia."
In other words, not just some random racist dipshit on Gab, but someone who has actually been convicted of racist attacks.
posted by thefoxgod at 2:35 PM on November 5, 2018 [59 favorites]
Al Jazeera English's Fault Lines: “All The President's Profits” (~½ hr video)
posted by XMLicious at 2:54 PM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by XMLicious at 2:54 PM on November 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Daniel Dale, live-tweeting/fact-checking Trump's Cleveland, OH rally, finds him in full Barnum mode:
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:58 PM on November 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
—Trumps says that with presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, and "some dictators, but we don't mention that," they all tell him immediately that he has the hottest economy anywhere in the world.And then there's this bizarre aside: “Trump on his time in Ohio as a young business guy: "I won't tell you...but I on occasion would be known to sneak into Kentucky, because I liked Kentucky. I like Kentucky for all the wrong reasons, but I like Kentucky. I like it."” The Twitter consensus is that at the time, that region of northern Kentucky was known for strippers and hookers.
—Trump re-touts his imaginary 10% tax cut, says that people should "put it in your heads" that they can't do this tax cut unless they win the House.
—Trump: "Who ever even heard of midterms? They don't even know what it is. I've had a lot of people say, 'I don't know what midterm is, but now I'm watching every single minute.'"
—Trump lies that Democrats will try to shut down steel mills if they're elected. He then lies, "Take away your health care - you can forget it. You're gonna live in a socialist world." ???
—Trump, just making stuff up, said that the renovated elevators at Cordray's CFPB were the "most expensive elevators in the history of the world." I asked Trump's CFPB about Trump's previous claim that they cost $50 million; they said that is not true at all.
—Trump lying: "Democrats are inviting caravan after caravan of illegal aliens to flood into our country and overwhelm your communities." Asylum seekers aren't illegal; Dems aren't inviting caravans; there won't be a flood of people.
—Trump just saying words: "The Democrat platform is a 2018 socialism open borders edict." (I think he said edict.)
—Trump starts to warn China that he could impose another $2...in tariffs, then stops himself, saying, "Should I say it? Should I say it? If I say it, it's a big story." The crowd eggs him to say it. He says, "Let's put it this way: it's a lot of money left."
—Trump asks what other president would call up drug companies to get prices reduced, adding, "You think Hillary would do that? I don't think so." There is a very loud Lock Her Up chant.
—Sir Alert: Trump repeats his usual lie, this time featuring a "sir," that Veterans Choice couldn't get passed for "over 40 years" until he independently thought of the idea and then pushed for it: "You know what, I'm good at getting approvals." It was created in 2014.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:58 PM on November 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
From Mother Jones by Pema Levy: How Thousands of Already Cast Florida Ballots Could Be Tossed Aside Without Voters Knowing. Florida is one of a handful of states with a signature-matching law. Such laws require that the signature on the envelope of an absentee ballot match the signature on file with county election officials. In a state with razor tight races for governor, US Senate, and many House of Representatives seats, absentee ballots rejected over signature issues could prove greater than the candidates’ margins of victory. Signature problems affect voters of all of all parties and demographics, but data shows young and minority voters, as well as registered Democrats more broadly, are more likely to have their ballots rejected. While Florida counties are required to notify and provide voters with signature problems a chance to correct them before Election Day, county procedures vary widely, and the same demographic groups are less likely to be given an opportunity to fix any error.
In Florida, each county’s three-member canvassing board decides whether a signature matches. “There’s no expert or standard,” says Daniel Smith, the head of the political science department at the University of Florida. “It’s in the eye of the beholder.”
As of Thursday morning, 15,765 absentee ballots had been rejected due to a signature issue, according to data reported by Florida counties and made available to Smith, who has long studied the issue. Of those, 12,261 have no signature and 3,504 have some other signature error, including mismatches.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:03 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
In Florida, each county’s three-member canvassing board decides whether a signature matches. “There’s no expert or standard,” says Daniel Smith, the head of the political science department at the University of Florida. “It’s in the eye of the beholder.”
As of Thursday morning, 15,765 absentee ballots had been rejected due to a signature issue, according to data reported by Florida counties and made available to Smith, who has long studied the issue. Of those, 12,261 have no signature and 3,504 have some other signature error, including mismatches.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:03 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
Trump: "Who ever even heard of midterms? They don't even know what it is. I've had a lot of people say, 'I don't know what midterm is, but now I'm watching every single minute.'"
I'm glad the leader of our country knows what the midterms are now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 3:08 PM on November 5, 2018 [24 favorites]
I'm glad the leader of our country knows what the midterms are now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 3:08 PM on November 5, 2018 [24 favorites]
Novelist Rabih Alameddine offers a pictorial exhortation to vote: Twitter | Threadreader
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
Regarding that Florida signature matching law, I had my own mail ballot thrown out for that reason in 2012. I had first registered in high school, and my signature had naturally evolved since then. For 2016, I tried to make sure it wouldn't happen again, but despite hours of research and phone calls, there was no way for me to find out what my signature on file looked like, and no way to change my signature on file without physically traveling to Florida and going to their office during office hours. So I had to take a wild-ass guess and hope my ballot didn't get thrown out again. The whole thing is very shady. I am SURE they're throwing out as many ballots as they can, especially from people who have non-white-sounding names.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 3:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [24 favorites]
ProPublica/Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia Officials Quietly Patched Security Holes They Said Didn’t Exist
And this was the "hack". It was someone telling the Democrats about the vulnerability, who correctly passed the information up the chain. Which led to Kemp claiming the Democrats were hacking the system.
I mean, Christ, the Kemp campaign statement here:
Kemp’s campaign showed no signs of relenting Monday. “In an act of desperation, the Democrats tried to expose vulnerabilities in Georgia’s voter registration system,” spokesman Ryan Mahoney said in a statement. “This was a 4th-quarter, Hail Mary pass that was intercepted in the end zone. Thanks to the systems and protocols established by Secretary of State Brian Kemp, no personal information was breached.”
“These power-hungry radicals should be held accountable for their criminal behavior,” he said.
Where "expose the vulnerabilities" means telling your office, DHS, and the FBI about them while your office denies that they exist.
I just, I can't.
posted by damayanti at 3:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
And this was the "hack". It was someone telling the Democrats about the vulnerability, who correctly passed the information up the chain. Which led to Kemp claiming the Democrats were hacking the system.
I mean, Christ, the Kemp campaign statement here:
Kemp’s campaign showed no signs of relenting Monday. “In an act of desperation, the Democrats tried to expose vulnerabilities in Georgia’s voter registration system,” spokesman Ryan Mahoney said in a statement. “This was a 4th-quarter, Hail Mary pass that was intercepted in the end zone. Thanks to the systems and protocols established by Secretary of State Brian Kemp, no personal information was breached.”
“These power-hungry radicals should be held accountable for their criminal behavior,” he said.
Where "expose the vulnerabilities" means telling your office, DHS, and the FBI about them while your office denies that they exist.
I just, I can't.
posted by damayanti at 3:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
The trial in the census citizenship question case began today. Adam Klasfeld, Scholar Warns of ‘Politicized’ Survey as Census Trial Kicks Off
posted by zachlipton at 3:14 PM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
The first day of trial did not address allegations that Secretary Ross lied to Congress by insisting that he added the citizenship question to help the Justice Department enforce the Voting Rights Act.In other legal news, The Trump Administration, Again, Asks The Supreme Court To Hear A DACA Case. The Court previously refused to hear the case until it went through the appelete level, but the Justice Department is once again trying to go straight to the Supreme Court to bring an end to DACA.
In a deposition, Assistant Deputy Attorney General John Gore undermined that position by agreeing that a citizenship question was “not necessary” for that purpose.
“I do agree with that,” Gore said, according a transcript of his deposition released on Sunday.
Internal emails from the Commerce Department showed that the timeline does not match up with Ross’ congressional testimony. Months before communicating with the Justice Department, which initially resisted the idea, Ross floated a citizenship question with anti-immigration hardliners like former White House strategist Steve Bannon and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
Judge Furman initially ordered Ross to face deposition because of evidence of “bad faith,” but the Supreme Court temporarily blocked his testimony. It is unclear whether the New York attorney general’s office will continue to seek his testimony at trial.
posted by zachlipton at 3:14 PM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
“These power-hungry radicals should be held accountable for their criminal behavior,” he said.
In time, Brian.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:15 PM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
In time, Brian.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:15 PM on November 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump: Who ever even heard of midterms? They don't even know what it is. I've had a lot of people say, 'I don't know what midterm is, but now I'm watching every single minute.
Trump: Nov 5, 2014 04:26:10 PM Obama has now had two record & historic midterm losses. There is Hope & Change for America.
(and four other midterm Tweets).
For the record: In 2014, the Democrats lost 13 House seats. Let's see if Trump can beat that record & historic loss.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:38 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
Trump: Nov 5, 2014 04:26:10 PM Obama has now had two record & historic midterm losses. There is Hope & Change for America.
(and four other midterm Tweets).
For the record: In 2014, the Democrats lost 13 House seats. Let's see if Trump can beat that record & historic loss.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:38 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
And then there's this bizarre aside: “Trump on his time in Ohio as a young business guy: "I won't tell you...but I on occasion would be known to sneak into Kentucky, because I liked Kentucky. I like Kentucky for all the wrong reasons, but I like Kentucky. I like it."” The Twitter consensus is that at the time, that region of northern Kentucky was known for strippers and hookers.
Newport, KY was a center for the mob up until about 1970.
Then and Now: The rise and fall of 'Sin City'
Before Las Vegas, there was Newport
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
Newport, KY was a center for the mob up until about 1970.
Then and Now: The rise and fall of 'Sin City'
Before Las Vegas, there was Newport
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
NBC News, Ben Collins, In secret chats, trolls struggle to get Twitter disinformation campaigns off the ground, in which an alt-right genius invited Ben Collins to their Discord channel
In a private “strategy chat” with more than 40 far-right trolls, one user who tried to create a new Twitter account to spread disinformation ahead of Tuesday’s midterms elections described how he had hit an immediate roadblock: Twitter banned him for deliberately giving out the wrong election date.posted by zachlipton at 3:48 PM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
“Were they really banning people for saying [vote on] November 7? Lol, whoops,” the user, whose name was a racist joke about Native Americans, wrote. “Maybe that’s what got me shadowbanned.”
The remark, seen by NBC News in a closed chat room used for planning and executing misinformation efforts, suggested that the changes that Twitter has undertaken in the past two years to avoid a repeat of the 2016 U.S. election may be working. Two years ago, the company did little to police misinformation and allowed a Russian influence campaign and politically motivated trolls to thrive.
But the trolls are also learning from their mistakes and developing new strategies to sidestep Twitter’s rules — sometimes with new technology available on other apps — highlighting the arms race between these groups and social media companies that are developing systems to stop them.
...
In some cases, Twitter’s algorithm could not catch up with persistent trolls working together in private chats. NBC News witnessed trolls developing new strategies on the fly to circumvent the bans. Several were successful in creating unique identities that appeared to be middle-aged women who posted anti-Trump rhetoric as part of a long-term effort to build up followings that could later be used to seed disinformation to hundreds or thousands of followers.
One troll who stole a woman’s identity came up with a plan to skirt reverse image search programs that would show users the real identity of the woman in its stolen profile picture. “If you want a Twitter pic that is a completely unique photo and not an actual person, use the Snapchat filter where you can layer another face,” said one user. “It will be a completely unique face.”
Trump: Nov 5, 2014 04:26:10 PM Obama has now had two record & historic midterm losses.
In 2010, the Democrats lost 63 seats in the House and 6 seats in the Senate.
63 is a pretty big loss, third biggest ever by losses in the House by my count.
The Republicans lost 77 seats in the House and 7 seats in the Senate in 1922 (under Harding).
The Democrats lost 72 seats in the House and 7 seats in the Senate in 1938 (under FDR).
OK, let's stipulate that 2010 was a record and historic midterm loss. In 2010, the Democrats lost 13 seats in the House and 9 seats in the Senate.
Wikipedia's United States midterm election page lists all of the midterm so we'll see how historic this one is.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:57 PM on November 5, 2018
In 2010, the Democrats lost 63 seats in the House and 6 seats in the Senate.
63 is a pretty big loss, third biggest ever by losses in the House by my count.
The Republicans lost 77 seats in the House and 7 seats in the Senate in 1922 (under Harding).
The Democrats lost 72 seats in the House and 7 seats in the Senate in 1938 (under FDR).
OK, let's stipulate that 2010 was a record and historic midterm loss. In 2010, the Democrats lost 13 seats in the House and 9 seats in the Senate.
Wikipedia's United States midterm election page lists all of the midterm so we'll see how historic this one is.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:57 PM on November 5, 2018
Rep. Steve King says he hopes Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Kagan ‘will elope to Cuba’
Cool guy.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:02 PM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Cool guy.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:02 PM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
So just a few anecdata points:
1- I just got back from a weekend canvassing in ME-02. I was stunned by the response.
There were so many people of all voting ages saying 'Yes! We are with you. We have already voted and so happy that you are out here on a rainy day to help get out the vote.'
Granted, this was a GOTV canvass, and so we were going to known Democratic voters, but still, the energy was there. There was a 30-yr old couple that had hosted a house party to make sure all their friends were registered and would be voting. There were 80-year-olds who were seemingly decent, upstanding citizens who jokingly(?) suggested different acts of violence they would like to see performed on the current US president.
2. We saw people of all ages who were aware, were alert, and wanting a new way.
3. The weekend before, I was texting for Williams in MT-AL. In my previous texting, I would typically get 10 responses out of 100, and 8 of those would be 'STOP!'. This weekend for MT-AL, I got over 20% responding, and the overwhelming majority were 'I already voted, and I will text all my friends to go vote.' Again, this was GOTV texting, and was to the choir, but it was inspiring. There are a lot of us out there.
Anyway, in the middle of the day I was driving my wife and SIL to a house, I daydreamed that ALL the Republicans lost.
So I have hope. Good luck, all.
posted by MtDewd at 4:02 PM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
1- I just got back from a weekend canvassing in ME-02. I was stunned by the response.
There were so many people of all voting ages saying 'Yes! We are with you. We have already voted and so happy that you are out here on a rainy day to help get out the vote.'
Granted, this was a GOTV canvass, and so we were going to known Democratic voters, but still, the energy was there. There was a 30-yr old couple that had hosted a house party to make sure all their friends were registered and would be voting. There were 80-year-olds who were seemingly decent, upstanding citizens who jokingly(?) suggested different acts of violence they would like to see performed on the current US president.
2. We saw people of all ages who were aware, were alert, and wanting a new way.
3. The weekend before, I was texting for Williams in MT-AL. In my previous texting, I would typically get 10 responses out of 100, and 8 of those would be 'STOP!'. This weekend for MT-AL, I got over 20% responding, and the overwhelming majority were 'I already voted, and I will text all my friends to go vote.' Again, this was GOTV texting, and was to the choir, but it was inspiring. There are a lot of us out there.
Anyway, in the middle of the day I was driving my wife and SIL to a house, I daydreamed that ALL the Republicans lost.
So I have hope. Good luck, all.
posted by MtDewd at 4:02 PM on November 5, 2018 [41 favorites]
Alexandra Petri, An anxious voter’s guide to understanding polls
The only lesson I have retained from 2016 is that there is no such thing as certainty of any shape or form. Nothing is knowable, and we drift blindly through a void of insufficient information, and the birds whose entrails Nate Silver alone can read and interpret do not have reliable entrails.posted by zachlipton at 4:06 PM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
In accordance with this philosophy, here is a guide to what the polls mean, as far as I can understand them.
...
Candidate A is up by 5 points (margin of error ± 5 pts.): POLL, YOU HAVE TOLD US NOTHING. You are bad and you ought to feel bad! Go home and think about what you have done.
...
This seat is safely blue: NOTHING IN THIS WORLD IS SAFE.
It is more likely that A will occur than that B will occur: I have taken this to mean that “A will surely happen; there is no chance of B,” and will be upset if you tell me that it means anything different.
It all comes down to turnout: The candidate who wins will be the one who gets the most votes. If more people show up to vote for that candidate than show up to vote for the other candidate, that candidate will win!
Curse you, zachlipton! Leave some breadcrumbs for the rest of us to post.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:09 PM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:09 PM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
The “me voting in 2016 vs. me voting in 2018” Meme Is Taking Over Twitter
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:27 PM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:27 PM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
I have a last-minute invite to help out at the polls tomorrow, with a 6:15 a.m. start, so I'm going to turn in. Thank you all so much for keeping me informed and engaged over the course of these threads. See you tomorrow night.
Courage, dear hearts!
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:31 PM on November 5, 2018 [42 favorites]
Courage, dear hearts!
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:31 PM on November 5, 2018 [42 favorites]
Here's a helluva Trump quote:
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:43 PM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
I don’t know, they’ll say this is nepotism, but the truth is, she’s a very, very—you’re not allowed to use the word beautiful anymore when you talk about women. You’re not allowed. No, no. It’s politically incorrect. No, no. It’s politically—I will never call a woman beautiful again. And every man here, every man, raise your hand. You will never ever say your wife, your girlfriend, anybody is beautiful, right? So I’m not allowed to say it. Because it’s my daughter Ivanka. But she’s really smart. And she’s here!(Really smart, and 16 new Chinese trademarks! )
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:43 PM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
The “me voting in 2016 vs. me voting in 2018” Meme Is Taking Over Twitter
That is a such good meme that I did a Buffy-themed one.
posted by nonasuch at 4:58 PM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
That is a such good meme that I did a Buffy-themed one.
posted by nonasuch at 4:58 PM on November 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
Vice/ProPublica, Mysterious Facebook Group is Using Bernie Sanders' Image to Get Liberals to Vote for the Green Party. The group isn't registered with the FEC and the address listed appears to be fake. Sen. Sanders' contacted Facebook and asked them to remove the deceptive ads, and they've refused to do so (weirdly, they took several down today, yet then restored them). It's a pretty small ad buy, but that's still more than 100,000 impressions.
posted by zachlipton at 5:07 PM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:07 PM on November 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
Sen. Sanders' contacted Facebook and asked them to remove the deceptive ads, and they've refused to do so (weirdly, they took several down today, yet then restored them).
By now, Facebook actively collaborating with nefarious forces to destroy American democracy is the opposite of weird.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:10 PM on November 5, 2018 [48 favorites]
By now, Facebook actively collaborating with nefarious forces to destroy American democracy is the opposite of weird.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:10 PM on November 5, 2018 [48 favorites]
Maybe we can assume that everyone's already seen the Twitter memes that everyone's seen?
I'm always happy to assume a tautology, but as someone who barely looks at Twitter, I kind of like seeing The Best Of The Twit posted here. Maybe on balance people will agree with you that there are too many links to Twitter...I'm just not one of them.
posted by uosuaq at 5:16 PM on November 5, 2018 [47 favorites]
I'm always happy to assume a tautology, but as someone who barely looks at Twitter, I kind of like seeing The Best Of The Twit posted here. Maybe on balance people will agree with you that there are too many links to Twitter...I'm just not one of them.
posted by uosuaq at 5:16 PM on November 5, 2018 [47 favorites]
Me Voting in 2016: stay the course as gradual demographic change will bend the arc of history!
Me Voting in 2018: Gritty will guillotine the enemies of the people and we will not apologize.
posted by The Whelk at 5:18 PM on November 5, 2018 [99 favorites]
Me Voting in 2018: Gritty will guillotine the enemies of the people and we will not apologize.
posted by The Whelk at 5:18 PM on November 5, 2018 [99 favorites]
Joint Statement on Election Day Preparations [fbi.gov]
posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:20 PM on November 5, 2018 [45 favorites]
The United States will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections from Russia, China, Iran, or other nations. As noted in a joint statement on October 19, 2018, such actions are a threat to our democracy, and identifying and preventing this interference is one of our highest priorities. On September 12, President Trump signed an executive order that makes clear the U.S. government will not hesitate to defend our electoral processes or punish those who attempt to undermine them.Cool, can you start with Brian Kemp please?
posted by J.K. Seazer at 5:20 PM on November 5, 2018 [45 favorites]
Any Texas MeFites that need a free ride to the poll tomorrow can use the rideshare2vote app. It started off as just a Dallas thing but has quickly spread statewide.
posted by Uncle Ira at 5:57 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Uncle Ira at 5:57 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
Oh, we're talking signs? Here's one down the street from my home. I like it better than an earlier one which I felt was somewhat ambiguous in its message.
posted by phearlez at 6:02 PM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 6:02 PM on November 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
YOU GUYS. I have like two remaining Republican friends (they either quit the party in 2016, or I've been systematically excising them the minute they say something racist) and one of them, who's a fairly centrist Republican, prides himself on voting for the "most qualified" candidate and is legit voting for some pinko lefties in state races, posted about how he was voting for the GOP candidate for the House. A Democratic party official mutual friend pointed out the problems with the candidate, and then a GOP troll came in and was like "LOL, $ableistslur librals, always crying Nazi" (she hadn't).
... and I full-on lost my shit (which I never do on Facebook) and went on a full-scale rant about ACTUAL LITERAL NAZIS and how voting Republican for any federal office this cycle is an endorsement of racism and misogyny and xenophobia and how it may be comforting to Vichy Republicans to convince themselves that they can advance an agenda, they're condoning racism and ACTUAL LITERAL NAZIS, and if they can sleep at night voting pro-Nazi, I don't even want to know what's wrong with their morals, and I added that I understand people are going to get pissed off and want to fight me for saying so but I literally do not fucking care what NAZI SUPPORTING VICHY REPUBLICANS think about me, my morals, or my language, because THEY SUPPORT NAZIS.
And then I hid the thread because fuck social media and all the Nazi-adjacent morons who were going to come back at me for calling them out. So I felt sort-of sick to my stomach when I got a text from my GOP friend this afternoon and opened it with great trepidation, imagining that he was going to complain about me losing my shit on his page and calling him a Nazi, and ...
GUYS HE IS VOTING DEMOCRAT. MY RANT ABOUT NAZIS, VICHY REPUBLICANS, AND MORAL IMPERATIVES FUCKING WORKED. I SHAMED A REPUBLICAN INTO VOTING AGAINST THE TRUMP-ENABLER.
I mean the Trump-enabler is still going to win (it's rural downstate Illinois we're talking about), but shouting Nazi totally works!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:10 PM on November 5, 2018 [173 favorites]
... and I full-on lost my shit (which I never do on Facebook) and went on a full-scale rant about ACTUAL LITERAL NAZIS and how voting Republican for any federal office this cycle is an endorsement of racism and misogyny and xenophobia and how it may be comforting to Vichy Republicans to convince themselves that they can advance an agenda, they're condoning racism and ACTUAL LITERAL NAZIS, and if they can sleep at night voting pro-Nazi, I don't even want to know what's wrong with their morals, and I added that I understand people are going to get pissed off and want to fight me for saying so but I literally do not fucking care what NAZI SUPPORTING VICHY REPUBLICANS think about me, my morals, or my language, because THEY SUPPORT NAZIS.
And then I hid the thread because fuck social media and all the Nazi-adjacent morons who were going to come back at me for calling them out. So I felt sort-of sick to my stomach when I got a text from my GOP friend this afternoon and opened it with great trepidation, imagining that he was going to complain about me losing my shit on his page and calling him a Nazi, and ...
GUYS HE IS VOTING DEMOCRAT. MY RANT ABOUT NAZIS, VICHY REPUBLICANS, AND MORAL IMPERATIVES FUCKING WORKED. I SHAMED A REPUBLICAN INTO VOTING AGAINST THE TRUMP-ENABLER.
I mean the Trump-enabler is still going to win (it's rural downstate Illinois we're talking about), but shouting Nazi totally works!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:10 PM on November 5, 2018 [173 favorites]
After 3 weeks of working the early/absentee ballot voters, I am jazzed. So many people from all walks of life! We had two women voters who were born prior to the ratification of the 19th amendment! High schoolers! New Americans! It was great!
And holy crap I registered so many people. I'm guessing 225-250 over the last 3 weeks. I'm going to make a bold, bold guess that my precinct will have 95%+ turnout if you count new registers. We had 85% in 2016 and we're well ahead of 2016s early voting numbers.
And now I'm going to get ready for bed. Courage!
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [75 favorites]
And holy crap I registered so many people. I'm guessing 225-250 over the last 3 weeks. I'm going to make a bold, bold guess that my precinct will have 95%+ turnout if you count new registers. We had 85% in 2016 and we're well ahead of 2016s early voting numbers.
And now I'm going to get ready for bed. Courage!
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [75 favorites]
Brian Kemp.... WTF
in a campaign ad from April he shows how much he respects women by aiming a rifle at a teenager interested in dating his daughter.
I'm sorry. There evidently is no bottom.
posted by 6thsense at 6:47 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
in a campaign ad from April he shows how much he respects women by aiming a rifle at a teenager interested in dating his daughter.
I'm sorry. There evidently is no bottom.
posted by 6thsense at 6:47 PM on November 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
That’s nothing. In the other spot months ago, he was explaining how he needed such a big truck in case he “needed to round up some illegals.” Dude is full-on Trumpist and I’m terrified he’s so close to becoming my governor.
posted by Room 101 at 6:54 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Room 101 at 6:54 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
In 2016 I was so obsessed with the election and spent so much time reading about it and thinking about it that I accidentally became a bunch of my Facebook friends' primary source of election analysis. This included not just my actual friends but parents of friends, etc. The week before the election, several people asked me to reassure them that everything was gonna be fine, and I very confidently did so. On election night, people kept texting me asking what was happening and if I still thought it might turn out OK.
I learned a lesson in humility that day, and I have not been reading or posting nearly as much about the election this time around.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
I learned a lesson in humility that day, and I have not been reading or posting nearly as much about the election this time around.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
Please please please some investigative journalist in Kentucky go digging into Trump's past
Past?
May 2018: Kentucky's Tim Nolan (former state district court judge, a former leader in the Republican Party and a former Campbell County chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign) sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to 21 counts involving human trafficking.
Nolan was active in politics in Newport (aka "Sin City") since the 70s.
Former Campbell County Judge Tim Nolan indicted on more charges going back 50 years.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:23 PM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
Past?
May 2018: Kentucky's Tim Nolan (former state district court judge, a former leader in the Republican Party and a former Campbell County chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign) sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to 21 counts involving human trafficking.
Nolan was active in politics in Newport (aka "Sin City") since the 70s.
Former Campbell County Judge Tim Nolan indicted on more charges going back 50 years.
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:23 PM on November 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
The Trump administration has awarded a $145 million contract to a Galveston company to build just 6 miles of Trump's wall in the Texas Rio Grande valley. That's $26 million per mile for a wall. That's more than two and a half times the cost of building a mile of 6-lane freeway.
It's all a grift.
posted by JackFlash at 7:31 PM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
It's all a grift.
posted by JackFlash at 7:31 PM on November 5, 2018 [32 favorites]
@JackFlash, link to the story? There is a lot of grifting in Galveston that would be easier for me to research than others.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:38 PM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:38 PM on November 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
@seanhannity, this morning: In spite of reports, I will be doing a live show from Cape Girardeau and interviewing President Trump before the rally. To be clear, I will not be on stage campaigning with the President. I am covering final rally for my show. Something I have done in every election in the past.
That's not ordinarily something a sometimes-journalist-when-it-suits-him-otherwise-not usually needs to say, but nice to clarify he won't be taking the wildly inappropriate step of actively going on stage to campai—oh wait.
Here he is on stage hugging Trump
Ok I'm not sure how he got up there but he surely said he wouldn't be campaigning with the—@christinawilkie: Sean Hannity is now on stage at the Trump rally repeating Trump's midterm campaign slogan, "Promises made, promises kept."
The first words out of Hannity's mouth were "All those people in the back are fake news" as he pointed to the press in the arena.
Trump also called Jeanine Pirro up to the stage so she could campaign too. Trump called her "Justice Jeanine" for some reason; I guess she's been promoted. She apparently told everyone to vote for Donald Trump, which is weird because he's not on the ballot.
posted by zachlipton at 7:38 PM on November 5, 2018 [28 favorites]
That's not ordinarily something a sometimes-journalist-when-it-suits-him-otherwise-not usually needs to say, but nice to clarify he won't be taking the wildly inappropriate step of actively going on stage to campai—oh wait.
Here he is on stage hugging Trump
Ok I'm not sure how he got up there but he surely said he wouldn't be campaigning with the—@christinawilkie: Sean Hannity is now on stage at the Trump rally repeating Trump's midterm campaign slogan, "Promises made, promises kept."
The first words out of Hannity's mouth were "All those people in the back are fake news" as he pointed to the press in the arena.
Trump also called Jeanine Pirro up to the stage so she could campaign too. Trump called her "Justice Jeanine" for some reason; I guess she's been promoted. She apparently told everyone to vote for Donald Trump, which is weird because he's not on the ballot.
posted by zachlipton at 7:38 PM on November 5, 2018 [28 favorites]
Remember when CNN and ABC and the rest stood up to Obama's excluding FOX from the press pool?
Fuck that from now on. The next Democratic President should refuse all journalistic credentials to FOX across the entire administration, down to the press person for the Small Business Administration. No access for any FOX personnel, ever. That includes Shep Smith and Bret Baire and Chris Wallace. It's not a news organization. It's the primary organizing structure of the Republican Party proper.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [44 favorites]
Fuck that from now on. The next Democratic President should refuse all journalistic credentials to FOX across the entire administration, down to the press person for the Small Business Administration. No access for any FOX personnel, ever. That includes Shep Smith and Bret Baire and Chris Wallace. It's not a news organization. It's the primary organizing structure of the Republican Party proper.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [44 favorites]
The week before the election, several people asked me to reassure them that everything was gonna be fine, and I very confidently did so. On election night, people kept texting me asking what was happening and if I still thought it might turn out OK. I learned a lesson in humility that day, and I have not been reading or posting nearly as much about the election this time around.
Ditto. Me on voting 2016. Me on voting 2018.
posted by chortly at 7:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Ditto. Me on voting 2016. Me on voting 2018.
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posted by chortly at 7:45 PM on November 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm canvassing with Planned Parenthood in the Greater Cincinnati area and y'all I have no idea how this election is going to go. The responses are all over the place. But at least today several people thanked us for being out knocking on the doors and said what we're doing is important (and I was genuinely surprised by how many people opened their doors on a weekday, having only canvassed on the weekends so far). I just saw something that said early voting numbers this year in Hamilton County are 8x what they were in 2014.
If you can afford to take vacation time and tend to be the kind of person who gets distracted right before the election obsessively refreshing MetaFilter and 538 to an unhealthy degree, let me urge you to take vacation time and canvass. I am normally prone to terror spirals, but being out knocking on doors, figuring out the best way to navigate turf, and enjoying the fall foliage has really helped me to feel like "I'm doing the most one person with a non-political day job can reasonably do to move the needle the tiniest fraction." And I have met many great canvassing volunteers - the young college students are an especially refreshing antidote and welcome change to the politics of cynicism that tend to be a little more widespread among old millennials like myself.
(Other Ohio news: the big state issue to watch here is Issue 1, which would reform drug sentencing and expand drug treatment programs)
posted by mostly vowels at 7:50 PM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
If you can afford to take vacation time and tend to be the kind of person who gets distracted right before the election obsessively refreshing MetaFilter and 538 to an unhealthy degree, let me urge you to take vacation time and canvass. I am normally prone to terror spirals, but being out knocking on doors, figuring out the best way to navigate turf, and enjoying the fall foliage has really helped me to feel like "I'm doing the most one person with a non-political day job can reasonably do to move the needle the tiniest fraction." And I have met many great canvassing volunteers - the young college students are an especially refreshing antidote and welcome change to the politics of cynicism that tend to be a little more widespread among old millennials like myself.
(Other Ohio news: the big state issue to watch here is Issue 1, which would reform drug sentencing and expand drug treatment programs)
posted by mostly vowels at 7:50 PM on November 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store
One more dawn
One more day
One day more
posted by dannyboybell at 7:59 PM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
What our God in Heaven has in store
One more dawn
One more day
One day more
posted by dannyboybell at 7:59 PM on November 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
A moment of levity for y'all at my expense: I've been keeping quiet even during the wave of people complaining about gettng campaign cold-calls and text spam about my own personal albatross, which is that my donations through SwingLeft or ActBlue or some other slate that spreads your donations far and wide put me on every single goddamn candidate's own fundraising list and made me hesitant to ever do that again unless I use a fake e-mail address.
Anyways, I've been deleting about 30 or so begging letters per day and getting disillusioned by the techniques (no, Sean Casten, I do not believe you are actually sending me a fundraising appeal as a personal message from your iPhone; Cindy Axne and Betsy Dirksen Longrigan, changing your email address every 3 or 4 days will only work until I killfile your entire domain), but one thing which staggers and flummoxes me is that the appeals even now are mostly for money. Just this afternoon and evening, I've received messages begging for contributions from Katie Porter (at 12:12 EST), Liuba Grechen Shirley (13:25), Katie Porter (14:12), Cindy Axne (14:25), Sean Casten (14:51), Brad Schneider (15:11), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (16:39), Cindy Axne again (17:47), Haley Stevens (17:57), Katie Hill (18:57), Lauren Underwood (19:45), Cindy Axne one more time (19:45), Katie Porter again (20:05), Sean Casten again (20:20), Haley Stevens (20:34), Liuba Grechen Shirley again (21:40), and Brad Schneider again (22:40). This all seems a bit bizarre and ill-justified to me: I don't know much about the internal financials of campaigns, but surely by now, the money they can use is the money they have? Whatever donation processing they have, and whatever expenditures they're planning, are presumably not nimble enough to be whipping up a bunch more signs or pamphlets or boots on the grounds or busses or TV spots in the 20 or so remaining hours before polls close?
Don't get me wrong, I think financially supporting progressive causes is important, but these appeals are utterly unconvincing in their claims that supporting these specific causes at this specific time is a remotely effective use of money. Can someone set me straight if I'm misunderstanding, or is this just fundraisers doing the only thing fundraisers know what to do? If Cindy Axne's third appeal in the last 9 hours was sufficient to melt my heart and open my wallet, what would actually be done with that money?
Less shame for the messages from Mikie Sherrill, Lizzie Fletcher, Lauren Underwood (on her first message, anyways), Kara Eastman, Julie Henszey, and MoveOn for stressing voting and activism over expanding their war-chest.
posted by jackbishop at 8:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
Anyways, I've been deleting about 30 or so begging letters per day and getting disillusioned by the techniques (no, Sean Casten, I do not believe you are actually sending me a fundraising appeal as a personal message from your iPhone; Cindy Axne and Betsy Dirksen Longrigan, changing your email address every 3 or 4 days will only work until I killfile your entire domain), but one thing which staggers and flummoxes me is that the appeals even now are mostly for money. Just this afternoon and evening, I've received messages begging for contributions from Katie Porter (at 12:12 EST), Liuba Grechen Shirley (13:25), Katie Porter (14:12), Cindy Axne (14:25), Sean Casten (14:51), Brad Schneider (15:11), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (16:39), Cindy Axne again (17:47), Haley Stevens (17:57), Katie Hill (18:57), Lauren Underwood (19:45), Cindy Axne one more time (19:45), Katie Porter again (20:05), Sean Casten again (20:20), Haley Stevens (20:34), Liuba Grechen Shirley again (21:40), and Brad Schneider again (22:40). This all seems a bit bizarre and ill-justified to me: I don't know much about the internal financials of campaigns, but surely by now, the money they can use is the money they have? Whatever donation processing they have, and whatever expenditures they're planning, are presumably not nimble enough to be whipping up a bunch more signs or pamphlets or boots on the grounds or busses or TV spots in the 20 or so remaining hours before polls close?
Don't get me wrong, I think financially supporting progressive causes is important, but these appeals are utterly unconvincing in their claims that supporting these specific causes at this specific time is a remotely effective use of money. Can someone set me straight if I'm misunderstanding, or is this just fundraisers doing the only thing fundraisers know what to do? If Cindy Axne's third appeal in the last 9 hours was sufficient to melt my heart and open my wallet, what would actually be done with that money?
Less shame for the messages from Mikie Sherrill, Lizzie Fletcher, Lauren Underwood (on her first message, anyways), Kara Eastman, Julie Henszey, and MoveOn for stressing voting and activism over expanding their war-chest.
posted by jackbishop at 8:12 PM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
They'll typically have some campaign debts to pay after the election, salaries to finish paying to campaign staff, etc. (It's tough to run a campaign where you don't make any ad buys or pay to have any ads produced until you have all the cash on hand, because of the lead time on that.)
(Don't donate to Brad Schneider, tho -- he represents the limousine liberal part of Chicago's North Shore and def doesn't need outside small-dollar donations to run a campaign. He can go to a Deerfield cocktail party on any given Friday night and pick up PLENTY. Casten, Longrigan, and Underwood need it!)
I mean Brad Schneider is fine, it's FINE, the district is newly solidly blue, it'll take some time to pull a more progressive rep and he's there when it counts, it's FINE.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:25 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
(Don't donate to Brad Schneider, tho -- he represents the limousine liberal part of Chicago's North Shore and def doesn't need outside small-dollar donations to run a campaign. He can go to a Deerfield cocktail party on any given Friday night and pick up PLENTY. Casten, Longrigan, and Underwood need it!)
I mean Brad Schneider is fine, it's FINE, the district is newly solidly blue, it'll take some time to pull a more progressive rep and he's there when it counts, it's FINE.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:25 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
Also the richer candidates loan themselves their own personal money...that's paid back only after the election, from the campaign accounts. In some cases they're now lobbying you to repay their loans to the campaign.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:28 PM on November 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:28 PM on November 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mod note: Going to ask people to keep non-election US politics stuff in here, and election-day stuff over there. Thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:11 PM on November 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
non-election US politics
Is there even such a thing anymore?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:55 PM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
Is there even such a thing anymore?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:55 PM on November 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
She apparently told everyone to vote for Donald Trump, which is weird because he's not on the ballot.
I have a feeling thousands of people are going to show up to vote and then get angry that Donald Trump isn't on the ballot. ELECTION FRAUD!
posted by mmoncur at 9:57 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
I have a feeling thousands of people are going to show up to vote and then get angry that Donald Trump isn't on the ballot. ELECTION FRAUD!
posted by mmoncur at 9:57 PM on November 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
Is there even such a thing anymore?
Don't take the bait!
posted by rhizome at 10:09 PM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Don't take the bait!
posted by rhizome at 10:09 PM on November 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Vanity Fair on Junior's potential legal exposure.
posted by mikelieman at 5:57 AM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 5:57 AM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Georgia Scrambles To Patch Massive Vulnerabilities In Its Voter Registration System After Insisting It Was Totally Secure
Here's a Masnick quote for the ages:
Here's a Masnick quote for the ages:
I don't care what side of the partisan divide you fall on, but Kemp's actions in failing to protect the system, overseeing the voting in his own election, then attacking the messenger for pointing out his own vulnerability, denying the vulnerability, and then scrambling to fix the vulnerability at the last minute without telling anyone, should disqualify him from running a Burger King, let alone being Governor of the state of Georgia.posted by M-x shell at 6:12 AM on November 6, 2018 [51 favorites]
Brett Kavanaugh Has Refused to Run Interference for Trump in Three Key Early Rulings. Why? - Mark Joseph Stern, Slate
We’ll know soon enough whether Kavanaugh’s silence on this spate of orders is principled or tactical.posted by ZeusHumms at 6:23 AM on November 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
My rule is I only post major outlet “what is socialism” explainers that I’m clearly visible in
posted by The Whelk at 6:28 AM on November 6, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 6:28 AM on November 6, 2018 [17 favorites]
No “I Voted” Stickers at Your Polling Station? We’ve got you covered. - By Lisa Larson-Walker and Forrest Wickman, Slate
Colorful stickers to print at home, just in case.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:40 AM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Colorful stickers to print at home, just in case.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:40 AM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
FBI/DOJ/DNI Joint Statement on Election Day Preparations
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:41 AM on November 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Our agencies have been working in unprecedented ways to combat influence efforts and to support state and local officials in securing our elections, including efforts to harden election infrastructure against interference. Our goal is clear: ensure every vote is counted and counted correctly. At this time we have no indication of compromise of our nation’s election infrastructure that would prevent voting, change vote counts, or disrupt the ability to tally votes.Boston Globe: Hackers Targeting Election Networks Across Country Prior to Midterms
But Americans should be aware that foreign actors—and Russia in particular—continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord. They can do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own interference activities, disseminating propaganda on social media, and through other tactics. The American public can mitigate these efforts by remaining informed, reporting suspicious activity, and being vigilant consumers of information, as discussed below.
The United States will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections from Russia, China, Iran, or other nations. As noted in a joint statement on October 19, 2018, such actions are a threat to our democracy, and identifying and preventing this interference is one of our highest priorities.
Hackers have ramped up their efforts to meddle with the country’s election infrastructure in the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s midterms, sparking a raft of investigations into election interference, internal intelligence documents show.AP: US Election Systems More Secure, But Voting Problems Persist "Nationally, some 6,500 poll watchers are being deployed by a coalition of civil rights and voting advocacy groups, including Common Cause, to assist people who encounter problems at the polls. That is more than double the number sent to polling places in 2016, while the number of federal election monitors has declined. The U.S. Justice Department announced Monday that it is sending personnel to 35 jurisdictions in 19 states, which is less than the 67 jurisdictions in 28 states that received assistance in 2016."
The hackers have targeted voter registration databases, election officials, and networks across the country, from counties in the Southwest to a city government in the Midwest, according to Department of Homeland Security election threat reports reviewed by the Globe. The agency says publicly all the recent attempts have been prevented or mitigated, but internal documents show hackers have had “limited success.”
The recent incidents, ranging from injections of malicious computer code to a massive number of bogus requests for voter registration forms, have not been publicly disclosed until now.[...]
“It’s like a burglar walking up to your house in middle of night, jiggling the door to see if it’s unlocked,” said Jim Condos, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State and Vermont’s top election official. “That’s what it looks like — they’re trying to figure out your weakness.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:41 AM on November 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
The Politics of Donations: Are Red Counties More Donative Than Blue Counties?
We find that political context—both political ideology and electoral competition—do affect charitable giving. While we find strong evidence that political ideology directly affects charitable giving, we also find indirect effects. Political ideology affects private philanthropic giving through tax burdens. Conservative counties are associated with lower tax burdens, and tax burdens crowd out charitable contributions. However, the value of charitable contributions (voluntary redistributions) never compensates for lower levels of government taxes (involuntary redistributions), leading to lower levels of redistribution overall. [...] Ultimately, total levels of redistribution—both private and government—are higher in Democratic-leaning counties.posted by melissasaurus at 6:47 AM on November 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
Mod note: Folks please put election stuff, polls, analysis, etc into the election day thread, thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:00 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:00 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Politics of Donations: Are Red Counties More Donative Than Blue Counties?
This is actually fascinating stuff, and I’d love to see more studies fleshing this out. It seems like in many ways both arguments on charitable giving are correct - charitable giving does increase for conservatives when the tax burden lowers, but it doesn’t overall make up for the redistributive impact of taxes - and the bit about political competition is also super relevant. It’s not included, but I would bet that part of that is political parties receive the donations that otherwise would be going to charities. This would honestly make an awesome FPP.
posted by corb at 7:57 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is actually fascinating stuff, and I’d love to see more studies fleshing this out. It seems like in many ways both arguments on charitable giving are correct - charitable giving does increase for conservatives when the tax burden lowers, but it doesn’t overall make up for the redistributive impact of taxes - and the bit about political competition is also super relevant. It’s not included, but I would bet that part of that is political parties receive the donations that otherwise would be going to charities. This would honestly make an awesome FPP.
posted by corb at 7:57 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Today's election & accountability for Trump are part of the equation for repairing America. Another big piece that hasn't really been tackled yet is the toxic Fox News. But what can be done?
Fox News Is Poisoning America. Rupert Murdoch and His Heirs Should Be Shunned.
Fox News Is Poisoning America. Rupert Murdoch and His Heirs Should Be Shunned.
How can Fox News be pressured?posted by scalefree at 8:01 AM on November 6, 2018 [27 favorites]
The Murdoch family is absolutely central — without their support, and particularly Rupert Murdoch’s support, Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson would be off the air. The curious and condemnable thing, however, is that whereas Steve Bannon became persona non grata in polite society for his role in spreading far-right ideas, Rupert Murdoch and his heirs are welcomed into the halls of power and money even though their network has done irreparably more damage to America than Breitbart News, the media platform Bannon once controlled. Few doors (if any) are closed to the Murdochs, with little questioning of whether they should be shunned rather than solicited by the various nonprofit organizations they patronize and support.
This point was highlighted in a recent exchange in which NBC reporter Ben Collins pointed out that “extremist talking points may get workshopped on fringe sites, but they’re platformed on and reach the most dupes on Fox News. Never forget that Sean Hannity was literally tying Hillary Clinton to actual Satanism three days before the 2016 election.” Bill Grueskin, a journalism professor at Columbia University, aptly responded on Twitter, “As so often, it returns to the toxicity of Rupert Murdoch, and the complicity of his heirs.”
The key heirs are Murdoch’s sons, Lachlan and James. Each of them has held senior positions in the Murdoch empire in recent years, though James has been edged aside in a restructuring that leaves Lachlan with direct control over the news side, albeit under his father’s eye. The other Murdoch children — Prue, Elisabeth, Grace, and Chloe — are not involved in managing the empire (Grace and Chloe are minors), though they are beneficiaries of a family trust that holds an estimated $12 billion in Murdoch assets.
Media coverage of the Murdoch sons has been inexcusably indulgent. Lachlan was a featured guest at the New York Times DealBook conference in New York on Thursday, where he was welcomed with applause and had a generally amiable chat with DealBook founder Andrew Ross Sorkin. This is in contrast to what happened when it was merely announced that Bannon would appear at the New Yorker Festival not long ago; after a surge of protests, editor David Remnick was forced to withdraw the invitation.
This is in contrast to what happened when it was merely announced that Bannon would appear at the New Yorker Festival not long ago; after a surge of protests, editor David Remnick was forced to withdraw the invitation.
Lachlan Murdoch is smart enough to keep the stanning for racism at one deniable remove from himself.
posted by jaduncan at 8:07 AM on November 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Lachlan Murdoch is smart enough to keep the stanning for racism at one deniable remove from himself.
posted by jaduncan at 8:07 AM on November 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Oddly, I have met Lachlan a few times, although it's been decades, but at some point in the 90s I was a freelance stringer living in London, and Lachlan let me have a spot in one of their helicopters so I could shoot the fire at...Windsor(?) castle. (The details are foggy, as our timeline refuses to stay static.) I want to say I went to school with his girlfriend/sister/nanny, or something, I'm not sure which social group threw us together. He was a few years younger than me, and was a serious party monster who was generous with both wine and drivers to get people home after the wine.
I had really high hopes that once he took over the corporation that things would change. I have been disappointed.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
I had really high hopes that once he took over the corporation that things would change. I have been disappointed.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:16 AM on November 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
Didn't one of the sons take over National Geographic magazine? It hasn't been too bad so far, considering the problems of print media.
(NOT excusing his father of course.)
posted by Melismata at 8:20 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
(NOT excusing his father of course.)
posted by Melismata at 8:20 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Re NatGeo and Fox: When Disney bought a ton of Fox properties, NatGeo was included.
National Geographic Society continues to own 27% of the partnership, while Disney now has the controlling stake of 73%. The hope amongst some, is that all the photographers and writers who got fired under the FOX purge will find a home under the Disney umbrella.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
National Geographic Society continues to own 27% of the partnership, while Disney now has the controlling stake of 73%. The hope amongst some, is that all the photographers and writers who got fired under the FOX purge will find a home under the Disney umbrella.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Cite for people who got fired, SecretAgentSockpuppet? Thanks!
posted by Melismata at 8:42 AM on November 6, 2018
posted by Melismata at 8:42 AM on November 6, 2018
I'm sorry, what are you asking for? The article I linked talked about the largest layoff in NatGeo's history, 180 people right after FOX took control. As to citing hope...yeah, I don't know how I can cite chatter. ;)
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:44 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:44 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Why Barack Obama's rallies feel so different from Donald Trump's - Katy Tur, NBC News
NBC's Katy Tur returned to the campaign trail for the first time in two years to see two presidents offering dueling midterm visions.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:50 AM on November 6, 2018 [20 favorites]
…
In all, the weekend could be summed up in two simple appeals to the base. Hope, Change, and Healthcare, versus Caravans, Guns, and Defiance.
They are the slogans of two Americas. The question to be settled on Tuesday is which America has more people in it.
I'm sorry, what are you asking for? The article I linked talked about the largest layoff in NatGeo's history, 180 people right after FOX took control. As to citing hope...yeah, I don't know how I can cite chatter. ;)
Yeah, according to online rumors only 4 of the 180 were from the magazine (the TV channel, indeed, has a lot of Foxlike reality show crap), and at least one was about to retire anyway. I'm totally not doubting you, I just need ammunition to argue with people who think that it's all fine. :) Hard to separate the facts from the rumors online, imagine that.
posted by Melismata at 8:55 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yeah, according to online rumors only 4 of the 180 were from the magazine (the TV channel, indeed, has a lot of Foxlike reality show crap), and at least one was about to retire anyway. I'm totally not doubting you, I just need ammunition to argue with people who think that it's all fine. :) Hard to separate the facts from the rumors online, imagine that.
posted by Melismata at 8:55 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Katy Tur forgot to mention facts versus lies.
Though, it's encouraging to see that gradually, the narrative "Donald Trump lies all the time" is beginning to gain a foothold in the media, because once they establish a narrative, they tend to stick to it, for good or ill.
One of the basic jobs of a journalist is to establish the truth; another is to ask why someone is lying.
posted by Gelatin at 8:55 AM on November 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
Though, it's encouraging to see that gradually, the narrative "Donald Trump lies all the time" is beginning to gain a foothold in the media, because once they establish a narrative, they tend to stick to it, for good or ill.
One of the basic jobs of a journalist is to establish the truth; another is to ask why someone is lying.
posted by Gelatin at 8:55 AM on November 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
We'll take the NatGeo convo to memail. Most of my info comes from talking to photographers and photographer groups, if I can find public facing ones, I'll send it to you.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:58 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:58 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Some questions answered but new ones raised on the caravan. Apparently this year's caravan was NOT organized by Pueblo Sin Fronteras, explaining the lack of a US PR effort accompanying it - begging the question of who did, which remains unanswered. Details on Pueblo's relationship with the caravan inside.
Members Of Last Spring's Caravan In Mexico Will Help The Newest One
Pueblo Sin Fronteras didn’t organize the caravan now making its way through Mexico. But it was quick to rally people who’d made the trip before to help.
Members Of Last Spring's Caravan In Mexico Will Help The Newest One
Pueblo Sin Fronteras didn’t organize the caravan now making its way through Mexico. But it was quick to rally people who’d made the trip before to help.
MATIAS ROMERO AVENDAÑO, Mexico — Santos threw both of his hands in the air, making a pushing motion to try to calm more than 100 people sweating in 80-degree heat along the side of a highway in Oaxaca as a bus pulled up offering a few spots that would spare the travelers who had been walking for hours from the sun.posted by scalefree at 9:07 AM on November 6, 2018 [13 favorites]
Some 22 men, most in orange and yellow vests, had been tasked with bringing order to a chaotic situation, putting members of a migrant caravan into buses, trucks, and flatbeds that would get them to their next destination, some 45 kilometers, about 28 miles, away. Women with kids were put at the front of the line, followed by the men. Anxious people would walk into the highway blocking traffic and others would try to cut the line. It was Santos’s job to keep order.
“Calmly! Calmly!” he yelled as people pushed toward the bus.
Moments later, a woman carrying two kids and a beat-up stroller ran up to him, asking Santos if he could put her and her six family members onto the back of a pickup truck that had just pulled up. She’d been pushing the disintegrating stroller for four and a half hours in sandals. The driver was only willing to take them a few kilometers up the road, not all the way to Matías Romero, the town where the caravan was setting up camp. Santos told her it would be better if they waited for a spot on a bus. She walked away frustrated. There’s no control, Santos thought, and there’s still a lot of territory to cover.
Santos, 41, had been here before. Seven months ago, he’d been a member of the security team for another migrant caravan that made its way from Tapachula, Mexico, on the border with Guatemala, eventually to Tijuana, on the border with the United States. At the time, he had a personal interest in aiding the exodus of people from Central America to the United States — he wanted to get there too.
This time, however, Santos had no reason to be in southern Mexico. After the spring caravan, he’d gotten a steady job installing windshields in Ensenada in Mexico’s Baja California state. He’d never made it to the United States. The likelihood of being detained in an immigration jail there was high, and he was able to obtain a humanitarian visa to stay in Mexico.
But then he saw images of people being tear gassed by Mexican federal police and heard the threats President Donald Trump hurled at this new caravan trying to incite his base as the midterm elections in the US drew near, so when Irineo Mujica, the head of Pueblo Sin Fronteras, asked Santos and a group of others if they wanted to take a bus down to Oaxaca, he didn’t feel like he had a choice.
Apparently this year's caravan was NOT organized by Pueblo Sin Fronteras, explaining the lack of a US PR effort accompanying it
I started following Pueblo Sin Fronteras on Facebook a week or two ago after finding out about them on a megathread and it's been saddeningly hilarious to see actual live pictures of the caravan that have...6 likes/reactions (usually 1 angry face, natch 🙄). Those numbers have gone up a bit in the last few days but I continue to be shocked at how rare it is for posts to even break 100 responses. I get more likes and sad faces on a snowflake emoji for the first snowfall of the year than these pictures do.
You'd think that something getting national wall-to-wall discussions would have a few more eyeballs on it but I guess people are happy to just hear about the alleged boogeyman on the news :/
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:15 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
I started following Pueblo Sin Fronteras on Facebook a week or two ago after finding out about them on a megathread and it's been saddeningly hilarious to see actual live pictures of the caravan that have...6 likes/reactions (usually 1 angry face, natch 🙄). Those numbers have gone up a bit in the last few days but I continue to be shocked at how rare it is for posts to even break 100 responses. I get more likes and sad faces on a snowflake emoji for the first snowfall of the year than these pictures do.
You'd think that something getting national wall-to-wall discussions would have a few more eyeballs on it but I guess people are happy to just hear about the alleged boogeyman on the news :/
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:15 AM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Anyways, I've been deleting about 30 or so begging letters per day
I normally donate through ActBlue, then immediately "Unsubscribe" from any campaign emails. That generally does the trick. Otherwise it is indeed overwhelming.
posted by jetsetsc at 9:36 AM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
I normally donate through ActBlue, then immediately "Unsubscribe" from any campaign emails. That generally does the trick. Otherwise it is indeed overwhelming.
posted by jetsetsc at 9:36 AM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
@juliaioffe: According to reports in the Russian press, French president Emmanuel Macron has scuttled plans for the Trump-Putin meeting in Paris next week.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this, which hasn't been reported in English-language press as far as I can see.
posted by zachlipton at 10:41 AM on November 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
I'm not quite sure what to make of this, which hasn't been reported in English-language press as far as I can see.
posted by zachlipton at 10:41 AM on November 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
They are the slogans of two Americas. The question to be settled on Tuesday is which America has more people in it.
Correction: has more enfranchised, active, and counted voters in it.
Even with that the Senate is not representative of the population's majority.
I'm hopeful that some checks are restored to our government after today, but no question will be settled as a result of this election.
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:06 AM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Correction: has more enfranchised, active, and counted voters in it.
Even with that the Senate is not representative of the population's majority.
I'm hopeful that some checks are restored to our government after today, but no question will be settled as a result of this election.
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:06 AM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Ajit Pai slams Sprint, Charter, and CenturyLink for poor robocall effort -- Pai says seven big carriers haven't promised to use new robocall blocking tech. (Jon Brodkin for Arst Technica, Nov. 6, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 11:10 AM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai yesterday criticized Sprint, Charter, CenturyLink, and four other phone providers for not committing to adopt a new system for blocking robocalls.Huh, dated the day before the midterm elections? This is when you get upset about lack of action against RoboCallers? (Also, I wonder who was the James Bond enthusiast who forced the SHAKEN fake-ronym.)
Pai issued a press release (PDF) and sent letters to wireless carriers and other phone providers, saying that certain companies "have not yet established concrete plans to protect their customers" using the new "SHAKEN" and "STIR" robocall-blocking protocols.
SHAKEN stands for Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs, while STIR stands for Secure Telephone Identity Revisited. The new industry standard isn't expected to completely eliminate robocalls, but it may make a sizable difference and is expected to be implemented by carriers starting in 2019.
"Under the SHAKEN/STIR framework, calls traveling through interconnected phone networks would be 'signed' as legitimate by originating carriers and validated by other carriers before reaching consumers," Pai's press release explained. "The framework digitally validates the handoff of phone calls passing through the complex web of networks, allowing the phone company of the consumer receiving the call to verify that a call is from the person supposedly making it."
posted by filthy light thief at 11:10 AM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Huh, dated the day before the midterm elections? This is when you get upset about lack of action against RoboCallers? (Also, I wonder who was the James Bond enthusiast who forced the SHAKEN fake-ronym.)
If the Dems ran on a "We will stop spam phone calls and you will be able answer your phone again" for the 2020 presidential election it would probably be a continent scouring blue tsunami.
posted by srboisvert at 11:27 AM on November 6, 2018 [41 favorites]
If the Dems ran on a "We will stop spam phone calls and you will be able answer your phone again" for the 2020 presidential election it would probably be a continent scouring blue tsunami.
posted by srboisvert at 11:27 AM on November 6, 2018 [41 favorites]
More grift
Presidential adviser Ivanka Trump’s fashion brand won first trial approval for 16 new trademarks from the Chinese government in October. These approvals come about three months after Ivanka announced that her brand was shutting down, and mark the largest number of new Chinese trademarks she has received in a single month since President Donald Trump took office.
posted by adamvasco at 12:02 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Presidential adviser Ivanka Trump’s fashion brand won first trial approval for 16 new trademarks from the Chinese government in October. These approvals come about three months after Ivanka announced that her brand was shutting down, and mark the largest number of new Chinese trademarks she has received in a single month since President Donald Trump took office.
posted by adamvasco at 12:02 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
She's following the money.
posted by Melismata at 12:05 PM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 12:05 PM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
Robert Mueller's silence could end when the polls close, and so could Rod Rosenstein's control - Mark Sumner, Daily Kos
But once the last polls close tonight, you can expect movement on two fronts. First, Trump will waste no time collecting on promises from Republican senators that he can now fire attorney general Jefferson Sessions. Second, Mueller is likely to unseal indictments that have been waiting in courthouses along the East Coast for this very special day.posted by ZeusHumms at 12:42 PM on November 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
…
Mueller has demonstrated over and over that he intends to follow the guidelines of the Justice Department, even when those guidelines are as vaguely drawn as the ones that kept him quiet over the last few weeks. That means it’s unlikely that Mueller will actually seek to indict Trump before the grand jury … though that definitely could happen. Instead, Mueller will list the evidence against Trump in a report to the DOJ. Right now, that report would go to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Tomorrow, that could be different.
If Trump replaces either Sessions or Rosenstein, the next in line to take over the Russia investigation is Solicitor General Noel Francisco. Theoretically, Francisco would have to immediately recuse himself from that role, because he worked for the same law firm that currently represents Trump in the Russia investigation. But the news that Francisco already has a waiver dealing specifically with that issue suggests that Team Trump is prepared to move quickly to shake up the investigation.
Um, I thought the Pruitt stuff was bad enough, but what the everloving fuck is this? WaPo, Ryan Zinke’s house guest impersonated the secretary Monday night. Then he called Park Police on the neighbors.
“We had some words,” Legere said. “I’ve had some parking issues in the past. This was not a government SUV. He wouldn’t identify himself. He said he was waiting for his boss.”posted by zachlipton at 12:42 PM on November 6, 2018 [24 favorites]
That’s when a man who appeared to be about six-feet tall, white and about 30 years old emerged from Zinke’s front door.
“He said, ‘I’m Ryan Zinke.’ I said, ‘Dude, you’re not Zinke.’ I asked, ‘Who are you?’" Legere recounted.
He said his name was Scott. "Scott what?”
According to Legere, the man wheeled around toward the house without an answer and muttered as he walked to the front door. Within minutes, by around 9:30 p.m., U.S. Park Police arrived, and neighbors assumed the man called Scott had called them. Park Police fall under Zinke’s department.
Dmitry Rybolovlev arrested in Monoco. Guardian has some background on Rybolovlev.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 12:50 PM on November 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 12:50 PM on November 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
I've decided to go early to bed tonight, but I'm thinking that I might need a beer to relax. So my plan in this moment is to walk the dog, and if the bodega is open, I will buy a beer and drink it. This is a wild night, and I feel I need to sleep to be able to handle tomorrow. I teach at school where 80% of the kids are very, very privileged, and 99.1% are white, and when I talked about the election yesterday, I was challenged by one of the students. I know several more agree with him. The head of school supports my election updates and also that I will be the one giving the results at our morning rollcall, but it is still rough to have a huge majority of parents and their spoilt kids on the other side.
Hugs to all of you mefites, you are the good guys. Let's pray we win this battle, and the war.
posted by mumimor at 1:16 PM on November 6, 2018 [34 favorites]
Hugs to all of you mefites, you are the good guys. Let's pray we win this battle, and the war.
posted by mumimor at 1:16 PM on November 6, 2018 [34 favorites]
To put the election in perspective, remember George W. Bush taught us that if you are a complete fuckup as president, the American people will realize their mistake within 6+ years.
posted by benzenedream at 1:40 PM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 1:40 PM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
it is still rough to have a huge majority of parents and their spoilt kids on the other side.
About noon today, one of my students told me “Waiting for the election results is like waiting to find out your grade on a group project. You know you did your part, but you’re afraid everyone else screwed things up.”
posted by darkstar at 2:17 PM on November 6, 2018 [67 favorites]
About noon today, one of my students told me “Waiting for the election results is like waiting to find out your grade on a group project. You know you did your part, but you’re afraid everyone else screwed things up.”
posted by darkstar at 2:17 PM on November 6, 2018 [67 favorites]
While' we're all waiting/not waiting for results, don't forget to comment on the baby jail rule* from DHS and HHS! Deadline is tonight: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ICEB-2018-0002-0001
*ok, ok, "Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children"
posted by Hermeowne Grangepurr at 2:57 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
*ok, ok, "Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children"
posted by Hermeowne Grangepurr at 2:57 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Motel 6 Agrees To Pay Millions After Giving Guest Lists To Immigration Authorities
November 6, 2018 (NPR, Nov. 6, 2018)
There's a lot packed in the article. Here are some excerpts:
Oh, and by the way, they're blaming local managers, even though this was done in Arizona and Washington.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:57 PM on November 6, 2018 [32 favorites]
November 6, 2018 (NPR, Nov. 6, 2018)
There's a lot packed in the article. Here are some excerpts:
The hotel chain Motel 6 has agreed to pay $7.6 million dollars to settle a class-action lawsuit after multiple Motel 6 locations gave guest lists to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.Circling "Latino sounding names" and checking them is not "random checks," it's INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
...
"The hotel turned over the guest list of everybody staying at the hotel. So thousands of individuals had their names turned over to ICE," Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson told NPR in January.
"And according to our interviews with employees at Motel 6, ICE agents would circle the names that looked Latino sounding and ran those names through a database and then would detain individuals based on those random checks."
Washington State filed a lawsuit against Motel 6 that is still pending.Sorry you were deported after paying to stay in one of our hotels, here's a few thousand dollars for your suffering and hardships.
The new settlement deal would resolve a separate class-action lawsuit, filed in Phoenix in January on behalf of affected guests.
...
The settlement agreement doesn't include any admission of wrongdoing, and Motel 6 continues to deny that it had any illegal policies.
The tentative settlement deal includes payments to all customers who stayed at Motel 6 hotels and had their information shared with immigration authorities.
Anyone who had their information shared with no apparent repercussions would receive $50; anyone who was questioned by authorities as a result would receive $1,000; and anyone who was placed in deportation proceedings would receive "not less than $7,500."
Oh, and by the way, they're blaming local managers, even though this was done in Arizona and Washington.
Ferguson, the Washington state attorney general, was skeptical of that local-practice claim when he spoke to NPR in January.This practice first came to light from two CORPORATE-owned motels in Phoenix, and managers directed questions to a corporate media hotline. Yeah, it's corporate racism.
"I asked my team to investigate. And we now know what ... Motel 6 said back in September [2017] was not true," he said. "It's far more widespread than they allowed the public to believe."
posted by filthy light thief at 2:57 PM on November 6, 2018 [32 favorites]
“He said, ‘I’m Ryan Zinke.’ I said, ‘Dude, you’re not Zinke.’ I asked, ‘Who are you?’" ... Within minutes, ... U.S. Park Police arrived, and neighbors assumed the man called Scott had called them. Park Police fall under Zinke’s department.
WTF indeed. That's some "I really don't care do u"-level corruption bullshit.
In other news, at least it's nice to know Zinke's got a special friend. Scott.
posted by petebest at 2:58 PM on November 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
WTF indeed. That's some "I really don't care do u"-level corruption bullshit.
In other news, at least it's nice to know Zinke's got a special friend. Scott.
posted by petebest at 2:58 PM on November 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
BuzzFeed, Hamed Aleaziz, A Trump Proposal Would Block Additional Groups Of People From Obtaining Asylum
Under the proposed regulation, which was in the drafting process and could be altered, those convicted of any felony, illegal re-entry, harboring an unauthorized immigrant, possession of a controlled substance, use of a false identification, unlawful receipt of public benefits, or other offenses would be ineligible for asylum. The draft regulation would also make it so immigrants who have had their convictions expunged because of their immigration case or due to rehabilitative reasons would still have the conviction count against them.posted by zachlipton at 3:08 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
“This is an extreme expansion of the current criminal bars to asylum. Right now the asylum bars are designed to exclude people that may pose a threat to the U.S. public. This move would be imposing obstacles placed on other immigrants to asylum seekers — a group that we had chosen to exempt,” said Sarah Pierce, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute.
The administration, in the draft regulation, claims that Congress gave it the ability to add to the groups of people barred from asylum. But experts believe any attempt to add more groups of people would be challenged because Congress already explicitly detailed who was ineligible.
It's so quiet in here this evening...
posted by Windopaene at 4:24 PM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 4:24 PM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
> It's so quiet in here this evening...
Not sure if joking or not, but the action is over in the Election thread for now.
posted by RedOrGreen at 4:29 PM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Not sure if joking or not, but the action is over in the Election thread for now.
posted by RedOrGreen at 4:29 PM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
> However, PBS Newshour remains for me an exceptional news program. There is a live stream nightly so if you're like us and don't have a tv, it's a great feature. Amy Walter and Tamra Keith do a Politics Monday segment
I love that my kids are growing up thinking it's the standard for the news to be hosted by a woman, who's interviewing other women, often women of color, about current events.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:12 PM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
I love that my kids are growing up thinking it's the standard for the news to be hosted by a woman, who's interviewing other women, often women of color, about current events.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:12 PM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
you’re not allowed to use the word beautiful anymore when you talk about women. You’re not allowed. No, no. It’s politically incorrect.
Wait a minute. I thought his getting elected was going to end political correctness.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:19 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Wait a minute. I thought his getting elected was going to end political correctness.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:19 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I love that my kids are growing up thinking it's the standard for the news to be hosted by a woman, who's interviewing other women, often women of color, about current events.
France24 is great for this, and besides that is better than any US news I've ever watched. I get it on broadcast, so if you use cable check their table for non-antenna options.
posted by rhizome at 5:51 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
France24 is great for this, and besides that is better than any US news I've ever watched. I get it on broadcast, so if you use cable check their table for non-antenna options.
posted by rhizome at 5:51 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
While everyone else is reading the election thread and completely distracted, I want to share this video called You Go High, We Go Low. It's about how the right wing in America (and particularly the alt-right) have perfected the art of playing dirty as a strategy, and then talks about why the Democratic party keeps falling for it - because they've chosen to focus on process instead of values as the only thing their fractious coalition can agree on without infighting. The whole thing's good, the whole channel's good, frankly, but I couldn't justify putting it in the thread with so much else going on.
posted by Merus at 6:50 PM on November 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Merus at 6:50 PM on November 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
Hey, it's after midnight as everyone is paying attention to the election. Time to sneak in a news dump.
@W7VOA: Thursday's meeting in NYC between @SecPompeo and #DPRK officials indefinitely postponed, according to statement from @statedeptspox.
So that's going great.
posted by zachlipton at 9:19 PM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
@W7VOA: Thursday's meeting in NYC between @SecPompeo and #DPRK officials indefinitely postponed, according to statement from @statedeptspox.
So that's going great.
posted by zachlipton at 9:19 PM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Boy howdy, am I ever glad that the North Korean nuclear threat is over! Otherwise news like that would be seriously worrying.
posted by flabdablet at 10:50 PM on November 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 10:50 PM on November 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Saw something about that a few days ago, hadn't gotten around to posting it yet.
North Korea threatens to resume nuke development over sanctions
North Korea threatens to resume nuke development over sanctions
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has warned it could revive a state policy aimed at strengthening its nuclear arsenal if the United States does not lift economic sanctions against the country.posted by scalefree at 12:41 AM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
The statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Friday evening said North Korea could bring back its “pyongjin” policy of simultaneously advancing its nuclear force and economic development if the United States doesn’t change its stance. The North stopped short of threatening to abandon ongoing nuclear negotiations with Washington.
Still, it accused Washington of derailing commitments made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump at their June summit in Singapore to work toward a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. It was the first time the North said it could potentially resume weapons tests and other development activities since Kim signaled a new state policy in April.
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he plans to talk next week with his North Korean counterpart, apparently referring to senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol. Pompeo did not provide the location and date for the meeting, which will likely be focused on persuading North Korea to take firmer steps toward denuclearization and setting up a second summit between their leaders.
Presidential adviser Ivanka Trump’s fashion brand won first trial approval for 16 new trademarks from the Chinese government in October.
This must be the ultimate example of playing in easy mode. Whether Ivanka realises it or not, China has just bought her. I don't know whether "first trial approval" even means anything, but if/when she runs for office there will be Chinese officials prepared to swear that she was given special treatment because of her father – and it will be the absolute truth.
This is the Chinese version of Putin supplying Donald Trump with a hot date. They must think this is hilarious: granting trademark protection (if that) to a foreign official doesn't cost them anything but thoroughly compromises the recipient.
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:55 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
This must be the ultimate example of playing in easy mode. Whether Ivanka realises it or not, China has just bought her. I don't know whether "first trial approval" even means anything, but if/when she runs for office there will be Chinese officials prepared to swear that she was given special treatment because of her father – and it will be the absolute truth.
This is the Chinese version of Putin supplying Donald Trump with a hot date. They must think this is hilarious: granting trademark protection (if that) to a foreign official doesn't cost them anything but thoroughly compromises the recipient.
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:55 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
Ok, so ... where are the Mueller indictments? :)
posted by Melismata at 4:04 AM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 4:04 AM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
Grand juries typically don’t convene until at least 9am.
posted by melissasaurus at 4:43 AM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 4:43 AM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
I can't wait until 4 weeks from now when we find out where the caravan went. CNN is still covering that wall to wall today, right?
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:47 AM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:47 AM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
does anyone read the posts down here?
megathread silence is unnerving
posted by bcd at 6:25 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
megathread silence is unnerving
posted by bcd at 6:25 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
The election megathread is where the happy is haps.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:31 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by zombieflanders at 6:31 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
@realDonaldTrump, having called Nancy Pelosi to congratulate her the night before, wakes up in a different mood: "If the Democrats think they are going to waste Taxpayer Money investigating us at the House level, then we will likewise be forced to consider investigating them for all of the leaks of Classified Information, and much else, at the Senate level. Two can play that game!" (The threat of abuse of power guarantees this as 100% authentic Trump, whether or not Bill Shine helped write it.)
Maybe he's had time to reflect on what's in store for his administration from the House the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the Judiciary Committee, etc. House Dems Already Have Their List of Trump Scandals to Investigate. Here It Is.—The subpoenas are coming. (MoJo)
Maybe he's had time to reflect on what's in store for his administration from the House the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the Judiciary Committee, etc. House Dems Already Have Their List of Trump Scandals to Investigate. Here It Is.—The subpoenas are coming. (MoJo)
You can read the whole list. But here is a sampling of the topics Cummings and his Democratic colleagues have set their sights on:posted by Doktor Zed at 6:32 AM on November 7, 2018 [39 favorites]
• White House security clearances (involving Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, national security adviser John Bolton, and others)
• The controversial addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census
• The Trump administration’s Muslim travel ban
• The State Department’s decision to close its cyber office
• The EPA’s use of a political loyalty list
• The possible participation of Cambridge Analytica’s foreign employees in US elections
• The deadly ambush in Niger that left four American soldiers dead
• The use of private email by White House officials
• Trump’s response to the hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico
• The dealings of the Trump Foundation
• Potential conflicts of interest between Kushner’s business actions and his policy advice
• Payments the Trump Organization received from foreign sources
• Russian intervention with state voting systems
• Former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s contacts with foreign officials
“We could follow up on any and all items on this list,” a Democratic staffer on the committee says. The panel would not likely issue 64 subpoenas on Day One. Cummings, as chairman of the committee, will initially send out what are known as “chairman letters”—essentially polite but official requests for documents or testimony. But as chairman, he would be able to back up these requests with the threat of subpoena.
The 2018 FactCheck Awards - D'Angelo Gore, FactCheck.org
It is our tradition on Election Day to set aside our fact-checking role and instead highlight funny, odd and entertaining ads from the campaign cycle. These are noteworthy for reasons other than making false or misleading claims (though some may do that, too).posted by ZeusHumms at 7:10 AM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
This year’s honorees include an ad from a candidate who did a party switch and another from the campaign that came up with the nickname “Cocaine Mitch.”
Ok, so ... where are the Mueller indictments? :)
CNN's Marshall Cohen reports: "It's the morning after the election. and special counsel Robert Mueller arrived at his downtown DC office around 7:20 a.m., like he always does, bright and early. Remember him? (h/t @FossumSamuel)"
Buzzfeed extrapolates from what we know: Once the Midterms Are Over, Expect to Hear From Robert Mueller Again. Of course, what we know has always been much, much less than Robert Mueller.
It's also important to monitor the UK's investigation of Russian interference in the Brexit pseudo-plebiscite since it's intimately connected to Putin's information warfare operation during the US 2016 presidential campaign. For instance, the NYT's story Cambridge Analytica’s Use of Facebook Data Broke British Law, Watchdog Finds has this significant revelation: "The finding also adds to legal and political scrutiny of [Arron] Banks, who was the single largest donor to the Brexit campaign. His dealings with the Russian ambassador ahead of the referendum have separately raised questions about whether the Kremlin sought to reward important backers of Britain’s exit from the European Union, and prompted British election officials last week to ask for a police investigation. In Washington, the special prosecutor, Robert S. Mueller III, has obtained records of Mr. Banks’s communications with Russian diplomats."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:15 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
CNN's Marshall Cohen reports: "It's the morning after the election. and special counsel Robert Mueller arrived at his downtown DC office around 7:20 a.m., like he always does, bright and early. Remember him? (h/t @FossumSamuel)"
Buzzfeed extrapolates from what we know: Once the Midterms Are Over, Expect to Hear From Robert Mueller Again. Of course, what we know has always been much, much less than Robert Mueller.
It's also important to monitor the UK's investigation of Russian interference in the Brexit pseudo-plebiscite since it's intimately connected to Putin's information warfare operation during the US 2016 presidential campaign. For instance, the NYT's story Cambridge Analytica’s Use of Facebook Data Broke British Law, Watchdog Finds has this significant revelation: "The finding also adds to legal and political scrutiny of [Arron] Banks, who was the single largest donor to the Brexit campaign. His dealings with the Russian ambassador ahead of the referendum have separately raised questions about whether the Kremlin sought to reward important backers of Britain’s exit from the European Union, and prompted British election officials last week to ask for a police investigation. In Washington, the special prosecutor, Robert S. Mueller III, has obtained records of Mr. Banks’s communications with Russian diplomats."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:15 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Ok, so ... where are the Mueller indictments? :)
The WaPo reported yesterday about two more associates of Roger Stone testifying for a grand jury, it seems like there's a focus on the Stone/Wikileaks connection.
posted by peeedro at 7:27 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
The WaPo reported yesterday about two more associates of Roger Stone testifying for a grand jury, it seems like there's a focus on the Stone/Wikileaks connection.
posted by peeedro at 7:27 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Also the Rybolovlev arrest made things interesting.
Eagle-eyed megathreaders may remember Oligarch Rybolovlev as the real estate aficianado that bought Trump's way overpriced mansion (purchased for ~$50M? New paint, new refrigerator) for $95 Million in totally not dirty cash. Reportedly a gym bag full of crumpled hundreds. He then razed the place and sold for pennies on the dollar cause that's how he do.
He was also everyone's favorite private jet traveler who just happened to keep landing where Trump was and vice versa in 2015/16.
Turns out they nabbed him for "corruption". Which, I mean, it's just, pffft.
posted by petebest at 8:16 AM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
Eagle-eyed megathreaders may remember Oligarch Rybolovlev as the real estate aficianado that bought Trump's way overpriced mansion (purchased for ~$50M? New paint, new refrigerator) for $95 Million in totally not dirty cash. Reportedly a gym bag full of crumpled hundreds. He then razed the place and sold for pennies on the dollar cause that's how he do.
He was also everyone's favorite private jet traveler who just happened to keep landing where Trump was and vice versa in 2015/16.
Turns out they nabbed him for "corruption". Which, I mean, it's just, pffft.
posted by petebest at 8:16 AM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
Because there's no rest for Daniel Dale, he's been live-tweeting/fact-checking Trump's ongoing WH lawn press conference:
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:15 AM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
—Trump begins: "It was a big day yesterday, incredible day. And last night the Republican Party defied history to expand our Senate majority while significantly beating expectations in the House." They did not significantly beat expectations in the House.Even the NYT's Maggie Haberman observes, "This is the most shrunken and conventional Trump has ever seemed as he reads this statement spinning last nkgjt {sic}."
—Trump says they did well in the "midtown" election, then says, "and midterm."
—This is the expected Trump: concede no defeat, admit no error, proclaim tremendous victory always.
—This is both very Trump and truly wild. Trump is bitterly arguing, against all evidence, that House Republicans would have done better if they hadn't run away from him: "Peter Roskam didn't want the embrace. Erik Paulsen didn't want the embrace."
—Trump praises Pelosi: "She works very hard, and she works long and hard...I give her a lot of credit..." He says he hopes they can work together on various issues.
—Trump warns House Dems that Republicans will investigate them if they try to investigate against him: "They can play that game, but we can play it better. Because we have a thing called the United States Senate. And a lot of very questionable things were done."
—Trump: You can't "simultaneously" work in a bipartisan way and investigate me; I won't do both; and if you try to investigate me it'll be good for me politically. "Because I think I'm better at that game than they are."
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:15 AM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
Ok, mod note noted! Reposting here a piece from Dan Slater, a SEA scholar, who writes in FP on what happens After Democracy:
The simple answer is authoritarianism. But authoritarian regimes are every bit as diverse as democracies. Authoritarianism is not simply the absence of democracy but its own political beast—really a menagerie of very different beasts—with multiple modi operandi. For this reason, it is safe to say that democracy is under serious threat but that the threat is not a singular one.
From the United States to the Philippines to Poland to Brazil, two undemocratic models of rule are readily identifiable. One is electoral authoritarianism, in which rulers win power through elections, but those elections are either manipulated or the playing field between incumbents and opponents between elections is far from fair. The other is illiberal democracy, in which rulers freely win elections but then abuse both their authority and minority populations with the power they win. To put it most plainly, electoral authoritarians do as they please to win elections. Illiberal democrats do as they please after winning them. While elected leaders and governments often combine both features as democracy erodes, it’s perfectly possible to have one without the other.
[...] Southeast Asia offers a cornucopia of examples of both illiberal democracy and electoral authoritarianism in practice. The Philippines provides a striking instance of an old and established democracy eroding into illiberal democracy. President Rodrigo Duterte accepts few, if any, limits on his personal power. [...] Singapore, on the other hand, furnishes an especially telling example of electoral authoritarianism. Quite unlike Duterte, Singaporean authorities are obsessed with following the law and making everybody else follow it as well. They rule collectively rather than individually. The electoral system is finely tuned and exquisitely manipulated so that the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP’s) opponents stand no legitimate chance of defeating it.
[...] But perhaps the most instructive example from Southeast Asia for the United States is Malaysia. For fifty years, the country was a consummate electoral authoritarian regime, dominated by a single party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). Until it suffered a shocking electoral defeat earlier this year, UMNO ruled on behalf of an “indigenous” majority that feared losing its privileges to “immigrant” minorities. It used every trick in the book to skew elections in its favor. This included gerrymandering, malapportionment, and the targeted disqualification and even imprisonment of especially threatening electoral opponents.
Such manipulations produced a situation in which UMNO and its coalition partners could lose the popular vote outright, as they did for the first time in 2013, yet still secure a firm parliamentary majority, as well as the all-powerful prime minister position. It was only when UMNO’s nativist politics had so totally alienated Malaysia’s sizable ethnic minority populations, and UMNO leader Najib Razak had engaged in such colossal corruption that even the most cynical Malaysian onlookers were shocked, that even outright authoritarian abuses could no longer secure UMNO’s electoral victory.
[...] While Trump in many ways echoes Duterte, the Republican Party increasingly calls Malaysia’s UMNO to mind. Nor is this an unfamiliar look for U.S. party politics. When considering recent American history, it is not difficult to see the post-Reconstruction South of the Jim Crow era as a paradigmatic example of electoral authoritarianism, with the racist Democratic Party basically playing UMNO’s role as the defender of majority privilege, by hook or by crook.
posted by cendawanita at 9:23 AM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
The simple answer is authoritarianism. But authoritarian regimes are every bit as diverse as democracies. Authoritarianism is not simply the absence of democracy but its own political beast—really a menagerie of very different beasts—with multiple modi operandi. For this reason, it is safe to say that democracy is under serious threat but that the threat is not a singular one.
From the United States to the Philippines to Poland to Brazil, two undemocratic models of rule are readily identifiable. One is electoral authoritarianism, in which rulers win power through elections, but those elections are either manipulated or the playing field between incumbents and opponents between elections is far from fair. The other is illiberal democracy, in which rulers freely win elections but then abuse both their authority and minority populations with the power they win. To put it most plainly, electoral authoritarians do as they please to win elections. Illiberal democrats do as they please after winning them. While elected leaders and governments often combine both features as democracy erodes, it’s perfectly possible to have one without the other.
[...] Southeast Asia offers a cornucopia of examples of both illiberal democracy and electoral authoritarianism in practice. The Philippines provides a striking instance of an old and established democracy eroding into illiberal democracy. President Rodrigo Duterte accepts few, if any, limits on his personal power. [...] Singapore, on the other hand, furnishes an especially telling example of electoral authoritarianism. Quite unlike Duterte, Singaporean authorities are obsessed with following the law and making everybody else follow it as well. They rule collectively rather than individually. The electoral system is finely tuned and exquisitely manipulated so that the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP’s) opponents stand no legitimate chance of defeating it.
[...] But perhaps the most instructive example from Southeast Asia for the United States is Malaysia. For fifty years, the country was a consummate electoral authoritarian regime, dominated by a single party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO). Until it suffered a shocking electoral defeat earlier this year, UMNO ruled on behalf of an “indigenous” majority that feared losing its privileges to “immigrant” minorities. It used every trick in the book to skew elections in its favor. This included gerrymandering, malapportionment, and the targeted disqualification and even imprisonment of especially threatening electoral opponents.
Such manipulations produced a situation in which UMNO and its coalition partners could lose the popular vote outright, as they did for the first time in 2013, yet still secure a firm parliamentary majority, as well as the all-powerful prime minister position. It was only when UMNO’s nativist politics had so totally alienated Malaysia’s sizable ethnic minority populations, and UMNO leader Najib Razak had engaged in such colossal corruption that even the most cynical Malaysian onlookers were shocked, that even outright authoritarian abuses could no longer secure UMNO’s electoral victory.
[...] While Trump in many ways echoes Duterte, the Republican Party increasingly calls Malaysia’s UMNO to mind. Nor is this an unfamiliar look for U.S. party politics. When considering recent American history, it is not difficult to see the post-Reconstruction South of the Jim Crow era as a paradigmatic example of electoral authoritarianism, with the racist Democratic Party basically playing UMNO’s role as the defender of majority privilege, by hook or by crook.
posted by cendawanita at 9:23 AM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Peter Roskam didn't want the embrace. Erik Paulsen didn't want the embrace."
posted by halation at 9:29 AM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by halation at 9:29 AM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sorry to liveblog, but this exchange jumps out from the press conference:
"Jim Acosta of CNN points out Trump’s campaign had an ad of migrants climbing a wall. “They weren’t actors,” Trump says.
“I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN,” Trump says."
please can we have Jim Acosta actually literally running CNN? please oh please? it might begin to more resemble a functional news organisation.
posted by halation at 9:32 AM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
"Jim Acosta of CNN points out Trump’s campaign had an ad of migrants climbing a wall. “They weren’t actors,” Trump says.
“I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN,” Trump says."
please can we have Jim Acosta actually literally running CNN? please oh please? it might begin to more resemble a functional news organisation.
posted by halation at 9:32 AM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Trump has switched to taking questions, and if anything, this press conference is getting worse (via @ddale8):
Even the Washington Post's Philip Rucker takes notice of Trump's defensive bitterness: "Kaboom --> Trump is calling out individual House Republicans as losers who decided to distance themselves from Trump. "Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”"
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:34 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
—Asked if he'll try to prevent Dems from getting his tax returns, Trump says, "Well, look, as I have told you, they're under audit. They have been for a long time...Complex...People wouldn't understand them...people don't understand tax returns."And @NYTMaggie continues to snark: "The president, who spent the last month calling Democrats "the party of crime," says it's time to put partisanship aside." and "Trump is not in control the way he was yesterday. And knows it."
—The president is suggesting that he can't be transparent about his finances because Americans are too dumb to understand them.
—Trump says "nobody would" turn over their tax returns when they're "under audit." (The law says Democrats are now able to obtain them no matter their alleged status.)
—Trump asked about voter suppression: "I will give you voter suppression...take a look at the CNN polls, how inaccurate they were. That's called voter suppression." (It is not.) He tells a female reporter repeatedly to "sit down." He adds, "I'm talking to this gentleman."
Even the Washington Post's Philip Rucker takes notice of Trump's defensive bitterness: "Kaboom --> Trump is calling out individual House Republicans as losers who decided to distance themselves from Trump. "Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that, Mia.”"
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:34 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
@atrios on Twitter:
Me, dumb blogger: journalists are only covering the caravan because genius racist trump demands it.
You, smart journalist: no this is an important story.
You, smart journalist, one day later: the holidays are a tough time at the pet adoption center.
And also:
the "funny" thing is I doubt the wapo and NYT will even fake it for a week on the caravan. it'll just be gone.
I can't say he's wrong, but it baffles me how this transparent manipulation is acceptable to journalists.
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:37 AM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
Me, dumb blogger: journalists are only covering the caravan because genius racist trump demands it.
You, smart journalist: no this is an important story.
You, smart journalist, one day later: the holidays are a tough time at the pet adoption center.
And also:
the "funny" thing is I doubt the wapo and NYT will even fake it for a week on the caravan. it'll just be gone.
I can't say he's wrong, but it baffles me how this transparent manipulation is acceptable to journalists.
posted by RedOrGreen at 9:37 AM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
Bourgeois liberals (especially editors at large media corporations) are constitutionally incapable of accurately assessing the threat of fascism, and in many cases welcome and actively facilitate its rise to power.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 9:45 AM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 9:45 AM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
More updates from Trump's press conference, which is now in meltdown mode. As @MaggieNYT describes it, "This presser is so far a visual version of the tweets." but she also pulls out some significant exchanges regarding the Russia scandal and the Special Counsel:
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:47 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
—Trump is describing the GOP-led senate as his personal version of the movie "My Bodyguard," as @johnrobertsFox asks about whether bipartisanship is possible if Dems drop a flurry of subpoenas.And from Politico's Annie Karni: “Trump on whether he will fire Sessions: "I’d rather answer that at a little bit different time."”
—If Dems drop subpoenas, Trump says, then it's "a war-like posture."
—"I could have ended it anytime I wanted. I didn't. And there was no collusion....this is a investigation where many many millions of dollars have been spent," Trump says of Mueller. "I think it's very bad for our country, I'll tell you. I think its' a shame."
—"It should end. 'Cause it's very bad for our country," Trump says of Mueller. "Forget about unfair to me, it's very bad for our country."
—Trump says he had "a great meeting in Russia," referring to Helsinki meeting with Putin {reminder: Trump was supposed to informally meet with Putin next week in Paris}
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:47 AM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
@ddale8 on Twitter:
RIP imaginary middle-class tax cut: Trump says he doesn't have the votes in the Senate for his imaginary middle-class tax cut.
Because, of course. Like the caravan disappearing from focus, there's not going to be any attempt at a logical explanation why this claim just poofs.
posted by bcd at 10:05 AM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
RIP imaginary middle-class tax cut: Trump says he doesn't have the votes in the Senate for his imaginary middle-class tax cut.
Because, of course. Like the caravan disappearing from focus, there's not going to be any attempt at a logical explanation why this claim just poofs.
posted by bcd at 10:05 AM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
Doktor Zed: "I could have ended it anytime I wanted. I didn't. And there was no collusion....this is a investigation where many many millions of dollars have been spent," Trump says of Mueller. "I think it's very bad for our country, I'll tell you. I think its' a shame."
*cough* Trump's border deployments could cost $220 million as Pentagon sees no threat from migrant caravan *cough* (Amanda Macias for CNBC, Nov. 5, 2018)
*cough* Trump's border deployments could cost $220 million as Pentagon sees no threat from migrant caravan *cough* (Amanda Macias for CNBC, Nov. 5, 2018)
- President Donald Trump's move to deploy troops to the U.S.-Mexico border is shaping up to cost $220 million, according to two U.S. defense officials who were not authorized to speak publicly.
- Trump, who has made the caravan one of his prime targets in campaign speeches, said he is prepared to send as many as 15,000 troops to the border.
- A Pentagon risk assessment found that the caravan did not pose a threat to the United States, a source said. This person also said that the caravan would take about a month and a half to get to the U.S. border.
@TheOnion: "Kushner Assures Worried Ivanka They’d Definitely Be Last Jews To Go"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:15 AM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:15 AM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
Democrat John Tester is apparent winner in Montana Senate race: NBC News
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 10:17 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 10:17 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
(WaPo "Trump Attempts To Take Victory Lap"). Trump hasn't been this bad since his first one, aeons ago in February 2017.
Let's switch to MoJo's David Corn to further cherry-pick the crazy:
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:17 AM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Let's switch to MoJo's David Corn to further cherry-pick the crazy:
—Trump: "If they’re doing that, we’re not doing the other." Trump threatens not to work with House Dems on policy and legislation if they launch investigations of him.As always with Trump, however, no matter how bad it looks at first, it always gets worse (via @ PhilipRucker ):
—Trump on possible subpoenas from House Dems: "If that happens, we will do the same thing, and then government comes to a halt. And I will blame them." Trump is actually threatening politically motivated investigations. This is a profound abuse of power.
—Trump says Americans are too dumb to understand his tax returns: "They are extremely complex. People wouldn’t understand them."
—Trump says Mueller investigation should not have been launched: "There was no crime." Uh, how many crimes have been charged and proven? Ask Manafort, Flynn, Papadopoulos, and Gates.
—Trump on the midterms: "I thought it was a very close to complete victory.”
Narrator: [Shakes his head.]
—Trump: "I think I am a great moral leader."
Narrator: [Leaves the building.]
[PBS's Yamiche Alcindor] .@Yamiche asked a fair and important question about whether Trump's embrace of the "nationalist" label is an embrace of "white nationalism."No, really, it always gets worse (via @ddale8):
Trump replied by saying, repeatedly, "That's such a racist question," and told Yamiche, "What you just said is so insulting to me."
Trump says it's "false" that he used racist language about Black people, as Michael Cohen and...Lil Jon...said.As Daniel Dale notes, "Trump just says stuff to get himself through the given moment. Asked why he said earlier in this press conference that he can't work with Democrats if they investigate him, why he can't do both at once, Trump says he can absolutely do both at once."
Trump: "I don't know who Lil Jon is."
Reporter: "He was on The Apprentice."
Trump: Oh okay.
(Here is the Lil Jon story. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2016/10/14/lil-jon-responds-allegations-trump-called-him-uncle-tom/92110358)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:17 AM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Reporter: "He was on The Apprentice."
Trump: Oh okay.
Giving credit here to Hunter Walker of Yahoo News who ALSO told the president he was lying about his African American approval rating:
"its 8% sir"
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:20 AM on November 7, 2018 [27 favorites]
Trump: Oh okay.
Giving credit here to Hunter Walker of Yahoo News who ALSO told the president he was lying about his African American approval rating:
"its 8% sir"
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:20 AM on November 7, 2018 [27 favorites]
*cough* Trump's border deployments could cost $220 million as Pentagon sees no threat from migrant caravan *cough* (Amanda Macias for CNBC, Nov. 5, 2018)
*cough* Pentagon no longer calling border mission 'Operation Faithful Patriot' (CNN) *cough*
"Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Jamie Davis told CNN, "we are not calling it 'Operation Faithful Patriot,' we are calling it 'border support.'" Davis said he could not provide a reason why the change had been made."
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:23 AM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
*cough* Pentagon no longer calling border mission 'Operation Faithful Patriot' (CNN) *cough*
"Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Jamie Davis told CNN, "we are not calling it 'Operation Faithful Patriot,' we are calling it 'border support.'" Davis said he could not provide a reason why the change had been made."
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:23 AM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
Big ups to Mild Dog Mattis for playing along with the whole charade.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:25 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 10:25 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump replied by saying, repeatedly, "That's such a racist question," and told Yamiche, "What you just said is so insulting to me."
Here's a video clip of this, which is worth watching. There's so much scorn in his voice as he lectures her.
Trump hates being challenged by women, and he particularly hates being challenged by women of color
posted by zachlipton at 10:26 AM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
Here's a video clip of this, which is worth watching. There's so much scorn in his voice as he lectures her.
Trump hates being challenged by women, and he particularly hates being challenged by women of color
posted by zachlipton at 10:26 AM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
Giving credit here to Hunter Walker of Yahoo News who ALSO told the president he was lying about his African American approval rating:
"its 8% sir"
Right, and then Trump yodeled that Hunter Walker is the one driving the national discord for rudely pointing out that Trump lied again. Little did I know when I cast my vote yesterday hoping to see a healing in my lifetime of the national divide that the painful schism we've been suffering for years was all caused by a fateful 4-second-long string of words uttered by a reporter the next day!
posted by Don Pepino at 10:33 AM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
"its 8% sir"
Right, and then Trump yodeled that Hunter Walker is the one driving the national discord for rudely pointing out that Trump lied again. Little did I know when I cast my vote yesterday hoping to see a healing in my lifetime of the national divide that the painful schism we've been suffering for years was all caused by a fateful 4-second-long string of words uttered by a reporter the next day!
posted by Don Pepino at 10:33 AM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sorry, I messed up the link to the WaPo story Trump Attempts To Take Victory Lap, which is now titled "Trump says he would take a ‘warlike posture’ if House Democrats investigate him".
Thankfully, Trump has just finished this press conference, having held court for almost an hour and a half. During the Q&A session, his interactions with the press put his misogyny, racism, parochialism, and general contempt for the fourth estate on public display like never before. (Even by his rallies' standards, they were appalling.)
Here are some examples from the Washington Post's Josh Dawsey:
Thankfully, Trump has just finished this press conference, having held court for almost an hour and a half. During the Q&A session, his interactions with the press put his misogyny, racism, parochialism, and general contempt for the fourth estate on public display like never before. (Even by his rallies' standards, they were appalling.)
Here are some examples from the Washington Post's Josh Dawsey:
—"Say hello to Shinzo," Trump says to Japanese reporter. "I'm sure he likes the tariffs on his cars."David Corn captures the mood of journalists all over Twitter who have been trying to keep up with Trump's spew:
—"No I don't," Trump says when asked if he regrets the ad that was deemed too racist to go on many networks.
—"You've been reading the same documents I have. You know exactly what I'm doing," Trump says, when asked if he still plans to send 15,000 troops to the border.
—"Do you think they were actors? They didn't come from Hollywood," Trump says of the caravan and the ad his campaign released.
—"I'd be very good at a low tone," Trump says. Has anyone ever seen the "low tone?"
—Trump on the midterm results: "I am extraordinarily happy.”posted by Doktor Zed at 10:39 AM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
Narrator:
There is no narrator. He left the building to get a drink.
—Trump says if he did more press conferences, the media would say, "What's wrong?"
Narrator is in a drunken stupor.
what the hell is "low tone"
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:42 AM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:42 AM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
Susan Hennessey (Lawfare, Brookings)
That entire press conference was just Trump trying to drown out the Jaws soundtrack emanating from the House of Representatives.
posted by chris24 at 10:50 AM on November 7, 2018 [54 favorites]
That entire press conference was just Trump trying to drown out the Jaws soundtrack emanating from the House of Representatives.
posted by chris24 at 10:50 AM on November 7, 2018 [54 favorites]
> what the hell is "low tone"
This comment is just sitting here and I've written and deleted like three different crude responses. But here:
Trump: "I never use — I have never used racist remarks."
Let that sink in.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:02 AM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
This comment is just sitting here and I've written and deleted like three different crude responses. But here:
Trump: "I never use — I have never used racist remarks."
Let that sink in.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:02 AM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
For a little comic relief/IRL satire, documentary filmmaker Arlen Parsa @arlenparsa has posted a video from Trump's presser: "my favorite way to listen to the president is slowed down to 1/2 speed because it reveals how often times his logic is indistinguishable from that of a drunk person: https://twitter.com/i/status/1060228709850980354"
Meanwhile, NY Mag's Olivia Nuzzi has experienced a sudden revelation: "I’m sitting four rows back from Donald Trump as he speaks right now and I just had one of those moments where I realized how truly bizarre it is for anyone to speak in this stream of consciousness way in any context, never mind in the east room of the White House."
But Hennessey is absolutely correct that no matter how sorry a spectacle Trump made of himself today, that was his attempt to steal the spotlight from the Dems' important victory (the reality of which he repeatedly refused to acknowledge).
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:03 AM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
Meanwhile, NY Mag's Olivia Nuzzi has experienced a sudden revelation: "I’m sitting four rows back from Donald Trump as he speaks right now and I just had one of those moments where I realized how truly bizarre it is for anyone to speak in this stream of consciousness way in any context, never mind in the east room of the White House."
But Hennessey is absolutely correct that no matter how sorry a spectacle Trump made of himself today, that was his attempt to steal the spotlight from the Dems' important victory (the reality of which he repeatedly refused to acknowledge).
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:03 AM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
—"Do you think they were actors? They didn't come from Hollywood," Trump says of the caravan and the ad his campaign released.
Like the one time his weird little "central casting" favored phrase would have fit naturally and he blew it
posted by jason_steakums at 11:07 AM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Like the one time his weird little "central casting" favored phrase would have fit naturally and he blew it
posted by jason_steakums at 11:07 AM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
In which i talk about the midterms from a DSA POV
posted by The Whelk at 11:10 AM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:10 AM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
The "low tone" thing makes me think of Scientology's tone scale. But to my knowledge there isn't any connection between Trump and Scientology. Though maybe there should be. Grifters grifting grifters.
posted by Twain Device at 11:18 AM on November 7, 2018
posted by Twain Device at 11:18 AM on November 7, 2018
as "high-toned" is defined (by dictionary.com) as
posted by 20 year lurk at 11:19 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
1. having high principles; dignified.humbly suggest "low tone[d]" must mean
2. having or aspiring to good taste, high standards or refinement.
3. affectedly stylish or genteel
1. unprincipled, undignified.yes, mr. president, we have seen you lacking principles & dignity; we have seen you wallowing in crass behavior and bad taste; we have seen your coarse, brutish behavior & your encouragement of the coarse, brutish behavior of others. yes, you excel at lacking dignity, decorum, taste, refinement & principles. how is that a virtue?
2. lacking or eschewing good taste, high standards or refinement.
3. [not quite sure how to negate this one: "unaffectedly stylish or genteel" doesn't seem quite right; nor does "affectedly unstylish or brutish." propose] tacky or brutish, whether affected or not.
posted by 20 year lurk at 11:19 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Politico, Trump turns his attention to his own political survival
posted by zachlipton at 11:37 AM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
But that storyline could come roaring back any day now. Mueller might submit a final report on his investigation to the Justice Department at any point in the coming months, and he could also bring dramatic new indictments that would thrust the Russia probe back into national headlines. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., who served as a key campaign surrogate for Republican candidates, has told friends in recent weeks that he believes he could be indicted, according to one of those people.Do we think Don Jr. likes to make "I may have committed some light treason" jokes about himself?
posted by zachlipton at 11:37 AM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
Jeff Sessions "is resigning," Fox News reports. AP and Bloomberg confirm.
posted by msalt at 11:46 AM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by msalt at 11:46 AM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
Via the Twitter feed of the Emperor, news that Sessions is out and Matthew Whitaker, chief of staff to Sessions, becomes Acting Attorney General.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:47 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:47 AM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I wonder if Mueller was holding off on grilling Sessions full-strength since he was basically his boss. Being out of government may take those shackles off, and give Sessions no reason to protect Trump any more. Seemed like the opportunity to push his racist, anti-marijuana agenda was the carrott that kept him in line.
posted by msalt at 11:49 AM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by msalt at 11:49 AM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: We are pleased to announce that Matthew G. Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well........We thank Attorney General Jeff Sessions for his service, and wish him well! A permanent replacement will be nominated at a later date.
NYT is describing is as Trump "forced out" Sessions.
Here's the resignation letter. It starts "at your request, I am submitting my resignation."
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on November 7, 2018 [47 favorites]
NYT is describing is as Trump "forced out" Sessions.
Here's the resignation letter. It starts "at your request, I am submitting my resignation."
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on November 7, 2018 [47 favorites]
Let's see if Mueller still has a job tonight before we start talking about who he'll interview/indict.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:51 AM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:51 AM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Here's the resignation letter. It starts "at your request, I am submitting my resignation."
Here's hoping that his letter six months from now reads "at your request, I am submitting my guilty plea."
posted by Gelatin at 11:53 AM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Here's hoping that his letter six months from now reads "at your request, I am submitting my guilty plea."
posted by Gelatin at 11:53 AM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Let's see if Mueller still has a job tonight before we start talking about who he'll interview/indict.
I heard the House was hiring these days...
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
I heard the House was hiring these days...
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Per Daniel Dale, Sessions' replacement wrote this op-ed about limiting Mueller's investigation.
posted by gladly at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by gladly at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
@ddale8 "VERY important: Sessions's temporary replacement, Matthew Whitaker, is a GOP partisan who wrote a CNN op-ed last year saying the Mueller investigation was going too far and that Rosenstein should order Mueller to limit it:"
posted by anastasiav at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
Does this mean Sessions will run against Doug Jones in 2020?
posted by melissasaurus at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
For those of you who were complaining about how quiet the megathread was while we obsessed over election returns: strap in. This is not a drill.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [66 favorites]
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:54 AM on November 7, 2018 [66 favorites]
The Matthew Whitaker who literally got his job at the DoJ by penning a column for CNN entitled "Mueller's Investigation of Trump Is Going Too Far" (column date: August 6, 2017, Chief of Staff job announcement: September 22nd, 2017) and was at various points short-listed to be a replacement for Don McGahn and for Rosenstein (the latter during that weird Rosenstein Resigned / Is Fired / No Wait He's Fine kerfuffle back in September). The die-hard Trump Loyalist (because he is also a con artist), Matthew G. Whitaker.
I'm sure this is fine.
posted by halation at 11:55 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
I'm sure this is fine.
posted by halation at 11:55 AM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
Perhaps even worse: in 2016, before the presidential election, Whitaker called for an independent prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton's emails: "Hillary Clinton put our national security at risk for the sake of her personal privacy and pursuit of the White House. "
posted by msalt at 11:58 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by msalt at 11:58 AM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
I heard the House was hiring these days...
Yeah, but if you don't think there's potential for major fuckery in the two months between now and the D majority being seated, you're more optimistic than I.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:01 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Yeah, but if you don't think there's potential for major fuckery in the two months between now and the D majority being seated, you're more optimistic than I.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:01 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
MoveOn.org's Mueller Firing Rapid Response - The Plan
"The firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be one step short of the break glass moment. We would not trigger events, but we would respond by growing the rapid-response list and demanding that any new AG protect the investigation and that Congress pass the Mueller protection legislation."
So right now we're at DEFCON 3 ("ROUND HOUSE") and on standby for DEFCON 2 ("FAST PACE") right now.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
"The firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be one step short of the break glass moment. We would not trigger events, but we would respond by growing the rapid-response list and demanding that any new AG protect the investigation and that Congress pass the Mueller protection legislation."
So right now we're at DEFCON 3 ("ROUND HOUSE") and on standby for DEFCON 2 ("FAST PACE") right now.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
Useful reminder from @sarahkendzior: Sessions spent his life attacking civil rights and helped create some of the Trump admin's most brutal policies. I don't want to hear any nonsense about how he was a "white hat". The only white hat involving Sessions is shaped like a cone and comes with a matching robe.
Let's not go too far in whitewashing (ha!) the guy.
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [33 favorites]
Let's not go too far in whitewashing (ha!) the guy.
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [33 favorites]
Here's something fun from Whitaker's CV (which is really thin, given the job he just landed!), courtesy of the 'pedia:
On October 23, 2014, Whitaker joined the advisory board for World Patent Marketing, a patent assistance organization based out of Miami, Florida and founded in February 2014. He said, "World Patent Marketing has become a trusted partner to many inventors that believe in the American Dream...I have always admired World Patent Marketing and its innovative products and dynamic leadership team. It's an honor to join the World Patent Marketing board."[8] This was re-announced the following week with the title, "Former US Attorney Whitaker Joins World Patent Marketing to Protect Inventors From Patent Marketing Scam", and the statement, "'World Patent Marketing is deeply concerned about the integrity of the patent system,' according to Bill Flanagan, VP of Public Relations for WorldPatentMarketing.com, 'As the fastest growing patent assistance company, it is our responsibility to weed out the bad actors.'"[9] Less than two months later, the company announced his "renewal", and Whitaker stated, "As a former US Attorney, I would only align myself with a first class organization...World Patent Marketing goes beyond making statements about doing business 'ethically' and translate (sic) those words into action."[10] CEO Scott J. Cooper "gave Whitaker's 2014 Senate campaign a $2,600 donation and paid him nearly $10,000, World Patent Marketing records show."[11] The firm was closed in May 2017 by the Federal Trade Commission for fraud.[12]posted by notyou at 12:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
I would think that a new AG putting a halt to the Mueller investigation would be something a Democratic House might be interested in looking into.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
While this change is disturbing, keep in mind that Trump does not have a high quality bench. He can always find a loyalist willing to take a job, but it's unlikely that Whitaker, for example, has Jeff Sessions' wily scheming intelligence and heartfelt passion for racism.
I'm not saying he'll be any less evil, but it's very likely he'll be less effective. Also, Sessions got some deference from Congress because of his long tenure there; Whitaker won't.
posted by msalt at 12:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [24 favorites]
I'm not saying he'll be any less evil, but it's very likely he'll be less effective. Also, Sessions got some deference from Congress because of his long tenure there; Whitaker won't.
posted by msalt at 12:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [24 favorites]
To be clear, and I hope we all feel this way, the firing of Jeff Sessions is bad only because it is the opening salvo in Trump's bid to kill the Mueller investigation. Sessions himself can feel free to be eaten by the nearest convenient shark, but the reason Trump wanted him gone wasn't because of the racism or the Confederate apologia or the voter suppression, it's solely because of the recusal that stops him from ending the Mueller investigation. The only reason Trump would pull that trigger is to achieve that goal. If Whitaker won't do it, we should expect heads to continue rolling.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [63 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [63 favorites]
We've been living in "what if Trump fires Sessions" territory for a long time now. This timing in particular was long expected. Maybe not to the very day, but plenty of people foresaw Sessions leaving after the mid-terms. That doesn't make me feel any less uneasy, but it's also not really a surprise.
The real question here is how well Mueller prepared for it. But like the rest, we've been living in that territory for months and months now.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
The real question here is how well Mueller prepared for it. But like the rest, we've been living in that territory for months and months now.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
It's unlikely that Whitaker, for example, has Jeff Sessions' wily scheming intelligence and heartfelt passion for racism.
It’s also likely that, similar to Sessions, Whitaker will have no idea how government actually works and end up repeatedly shooting himself in the foot.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 12:11 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
It’s also likely that, similar to Sessions, Whitaker will have no idea how government actually works and end up repeatedly shooting himself in the foot.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 12:11 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
mr. sessions, i decline to express my very real preference concerning whether the door hits you in the ass (or elsewhere) on your way out. either way: good riddance.
posted by 20 year lurk at 12:14 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 12:14 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
NBCNEWS: BREAKING: With an acting attorney general taking over after AG Sessions’ ouster, Deputy AG Rosenstein will no longer oversee the Mueller investigation.
posted by jazon at 12:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by jazon at 12:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [22 favorites]
@ryanstruyk: Matthew Whitaker on @CNN, July 26, 2017: "I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced, it would recess appointment and that attorney general doesn't fire Bob Mueller but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigations grinds to almost a halt."
So glad he's throught this whole plan through.
posted by zachlipton at 12:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [39 favorites]
So glad he's throught this whole plan through.
posted by zachlipton at 12:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [39 favorites]
Time's up and Mueller has to show at least quite a few of his cards now. Lay 'em down if you got 'em, buddy.
posted by Justinian at 12:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
Useful reminder from @sarahkendzior: Sessions spent his life attacking civil rights and helped create some of the Trump admin's most brutal policies. I don't want to hear any nonsense about how he was a "white hat". The only white hat involving Sessions is shaped like a cone and comes with a matching robe.
Trump is chaotic evil. Sessions is lawful evil. Only difference.
posted by asteria at 12:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [20 favorites]
Trump is chaotic evil. Sessions is lawful evil. Only difference.
posted by asteria at 12:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [20 favorites]
Incoming from the incoming chair of House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler: "Americans must have answers immediately as to the reasoning behind @realDonaldTrump removing Jeff Sessions from @TheJusticeDept. Why is the President making this change and who has authority over Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation? We will be holding people accountable."
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [25 favorites]
Ah. The Wednesday Night Massacre.
posted by MattWPBS at 12:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by MattWPBS at 12:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
NBCNEWS: BREAKING: With an acting attorney general taking over after AG Sessions’ ouster, Deputy AG Rosenstein will no longer oversee the Mueller investigation.
posted by jazon at 12:15 PM on November 7
If the headline alarms (and yeah, I don't feel good either), the clip in the link is worth watching mostly because it makes the points that a special counsel can only be fired for cause and that everyone knows it would create a huge firestorm. Presumably they could just make up some cause, but again, one imagines Mueller has been in this territory for a while now.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by jazon at 12:15 PM on November 7
If the headline alarms (and yeah, I don't feel good either), the clip in the link is worth watching mostly because it makes the points that a special counsel can only be fired for cause and that everyone knows it would create a huge firestorm. Presumably they could just make up some cause, but again, one imagines Mueller has been in this territory for a while now.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Okay, given that Mueller is reportedly very close to delivering his final report to DOJ, how does that work? Who at DOJ receives the report? Who else gets it?
Mueller reports to his supervisor, who was Rosenstein with "with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel." That report can be as detailed or as minimal as Mueller wants. The regulation then provides that the official overseeing Mueller "may determine that public release of these reports would be in the public interest, to the extent that release would comply with applicable legal restrictions." He can pretty much decide that however he wants. The attorney general is then required to notify Congress with "brief notification[], with an outline of the actions and the reasons for them"
Lawfare, as usual, has all the details in What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Mueller Report
posted by zachlipton at 12:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Mueller reports to his supervisor, who was Rosenstein with "with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel." That report can be as detailed or as minimal as Mueller wants. The regulation then provides that the official overseeing Mueller "may determine that public release of these reports would be in the public interest, to the extent that release would comply with applicable legal restrictions." He can pretty much decide that however he wants. The attorney general is then required to notify Congress with "brief notification[], with an outline of the actions and the reasons for them"
Lawfare, as usual, has all the details in What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Mueller Report
posted by zachlipton at 12:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Just FYI, if Trump shuts down the Muller probe and you USians don't take to the streets massively and go into a general strike, I will be very dissapointed.
posted by omegar at 12:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by omegar at 12:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Just FYI, if Trump shuts down the Muller probe and you USians don't take to the streets massively and go into a general strike, I will be very dissapointed.
i'm sorry but your possible disappointment doesn't even make our top 99 problems
posted by murphy slaw at 12:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [96 favorites]
i'm sorry but your possible disappointment doesn't even make our top 99 problems
posted by murphy slaw at 12:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [96 favorites]
Schumer on Sessions resignation: "I find the timing very suspect"
Nothing gets past Detective Schumer.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [27 favorites]
Nothing gets past Detective Schumer.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [27 favorites]
Rosenstein is probably gonna get his first good night's sleep in a year and a half. I'm sure he's a complicated person and has many bad policy positions (Republican!) but as far as I can tell he did his best to serve the country on this particular matter.
posted by Justinian at 12:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
> Schumer on Sessions resignation: "I find the timing very suspect"
Ok, so: this is where the rest of you thank us in New York State for electing Letitia James to be our new State Attorney General yesterday.
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [60 favorites]
Ok, so: this is where the rest of you thank us in New York State for electing Letitia James to be our new State Attorney General yesterday.
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [60 favorites]
Okay, given that Mueller is reportedly very close to delivering his final report to DOJ, how does that work? Who at DOJ receives the report? Who else gets it?
Gabe Sherman is pretty lousy at actual news and just trades in gossip about people's feelings inside the Trump admin. But if you read closely, it says that the White House is getting ready for the Mueller report which could be released as soon as Wednesday. That's like reporting that Mike Pence is prepared for the rapture which he believes could happen as early as Wednesday -- this is not the same as reporting that the rapture is happening any time soon.
posted by peeedro at 12:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
Gabe Sherman is pretty lousy at actual news and just trades in gossip about people's feelings inside the Trump admin. But if you read closely, it says that the White House is getting ready for the Mueller report which could be released as soon as Wednesday. That's like reporting that Mike Pence is prepared for the rapture which he believes could happen as early as Wednesday -- this is not the same as reporting that the rapture is happening any time soon.
posted by peeedro at 12:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
"General strike" is not in the American vocabulary and if you think that's a moral failing on the workers' part I would suggest you consult the last 40 years of U.S. labor law.
(Although said labor law comes from electing Republicans, which is a moral failure, but....you get my point.)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [28 favorites]
(Although said labor law comes from electing Republicans, which is a moral failure, but....you get my point.)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [28 favorites]
I mean, Mueller could indict Roger Stone today, so yeah...I'll wait for actual news.
posted by rhizome at 12:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 12:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ok, so: this is where the rest of you thank us in New York State for electing Letitia James to be our new State Attorney General yesterday.
That's only relevant if the current standards on what is and isn't Double Jeopardy continue to apply. Recall that one of the reasons they were so hot to steal that second Supreme Court seat was specifically to overturn that in an upcoming case.
If it counts as double jeopardy, and he evades the Meuller case on it, then what?
posted by Archelaus at 12:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
That's only relevant if the current standards on what is and isn't Double Jeopardy continue to apply. Recall that one of the reasons they were so hot to steal that second Supreme Court seat was specifically to overturn that in an upcoming case.
If it counts as double jeopardy, and he evades the Meuller case on it, then what?
posted by Archelaus at 12:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler: Matt Whitaker Can't Prevent Mueller from Unsealing Any Sealed Indictments
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
After spending a 1.5 hour press conference denying he “colluded” with Russia, Trump just proved he did by forcing Jeff Sessions to resign.[...]As for why Trump would do this right now, when he's politically vulnerable, this is out of Roger Stone's playbook—“Attack, attack, attack, never defend.” (Also, "Hit it from every angle. Open multiple fronts on your enemy. He must be confused, and feel besieged on every side.")
All that said, Mueller was surely expecting just such an eventuality. And the fact that they got Roger Stone attorney Tyler Nixon to testify Friday suggests they were prepping for it.
The only question is whether they got the grand jury to approve whatever indictments they were working on. I’d be surprised if Mueller didn’t (unless Rosenstein prevented him from doing so).
If that’s the case, then Whitaker is not going to help Trump get out of his legal troubles. That’s because Chief Judge Beryl Howell, not Whitaker, will make the decision about unsealing anything sealed in this grand jury investigation.
So if Mueller prepared for this very predictable eventuality, then Trump may have just fired a key player in his racist agenda for naught.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
I believe the last successful general strike in the US was in 1919.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 12:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Man oh man, the Democrats don’t even get 12 hours to have their victory in the House be the top story before Trump reclaims the headlines.
He’s really good at that!
posted by notyou at 12:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
He’s really good at that!
posted by notyou at 12:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
> Man oh man, the Democrats don’t even get 12 hours to have their victory in the House be the top story before Trump reclaims the headlines.
But I was told this was a massive victory for Trump! Why would he step on his own victory parade like this?
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:32 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
But I was told this was a massive victory for Trump! Why would he step on his own victory parade like this?
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:32 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted; we're not having some interpersonal spat in here, don't care, stop it.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:32 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:32 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
As for why Trump would do this right now, when he's politically vulnerable, this is out of Roger Stone's playbook—“Attack, attack, attack, never defend.” (Also, "Hit it from every angle. Open multiple fronts on your enemy. He must be confused, and feel besieged on every side.")
Translation: Because Trump has no idea what the fuck he's doing and is probably puzzled as to why he can't just fire people whenever he wants, just like on his TV show.
posted by Melismata at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
Translation: Because Trump has no idea what the fuck he's doing and is probably puzzled as to why he can't just fire people whenever he wants, just like on his TV show.
posted by Melismata at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
So, given that the new House doesn't happen until next year, one has to wonder how many fields 45 can salt before that happens?
The next two months are going to be brutal.
posted by Devonian at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
The next two months are going to be brutal.
posted by Devonian at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
The NYT is linking to their September profile of Matthew Whitaker, which says "...thanks to complex department [of Justice] rules, Mr. Whitaker would not assume control of the [special counsel] inquiry if he ever replaces Mr. Rosenstein."
posted by reductiondesign at 12:35 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by reductiondesign at 12:35 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
I have patience.
posted by rocketman at 12:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by rocketman at 12:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
I picked the right week to vote for legalizing pot.
posted by NorthernLite at 12:37 PM on November 7, 2018 [59 favorites]
posted by NorthernLite at 12:37 PM on November 7, 2018 [59 favorites]
From what I gather, reductiondesign, the White House has specifically issued a waiver for Whitaker to sidestep those complex rules. Which I guess means they're not law, just norms, just like everything else that's breaking these days.
posted by dbx at 12:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by dbx at 12:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Matthew Whitaker on @CNN, July 26, 2017: "I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced, it would recess appointment and that attorney general doesn't fire Bob Mueller but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigations grinds to almost a halt."
Given that we raised infinite money for Beto O'Rourke under campaign limits, how much money do you figure a GoFundMe for Mueller's investigation would bring in? I'm going to estimate about 55% of all money in the U.S.
posted by msalt at 12:40 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
Given that we raised infinite money for Beto O'Rourke under campaign limits, how much money do you figure a GoFundMe for Mueller's investigation would bring in? I'm going to estimate about 55% of all money in the U.S.
posted by msalt at 12:40 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
"...thanks to complex department [of Justice] rules, Mr. Whitaker would not assume control of the [special counsel] inquiry if he ever replaces Mr. Rosenstein."
Sure seems like "thanks to complex rules" is doing a lot of unexplained work in that sentence. Perhaps some clarification is in order? If they can spare a moment from writing more bullshit about the caravan.
posted by Justinian at 12:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Sure seems like "thanks to complex rules" is doing a lot of unexplained work in that sentence. Perhaps some clarification is in order? If they can spare a moment from writing more bullshit about the caravan.
posted by Justinian at 12:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
@MattWhitaker46 [our new Acting Attorney General, in 2009]: My new law firm just got our high speed internet hooked up!!!! Don't need to hijack Taco John's free wi fi any more.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
Mr. Whitaker would not assume control of the [special counsel] inquiry if he ever replaces Mr. Rosenstein
He didn't replace Rosenstein, he replaced Sessions.
posted by neroli at 12:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
He didn't replace Rosenstein, he replaced Sessions.
posted by neroli at 12:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
The NYT is linking to their September profile of Matthew Whitaker, which says "...thanks to complex department [of Justice] rules, Mr. Whitaker would not assume control of the [special counsel] inquiry if he ever replaces Mr. Rosenstein."
OK, getting confused. Isn't the speculation that Whitaker will replace Sessions, not Rosenstein? And since Sessions had recused himself from oversight on conflict of interest reasons, wouldn't Whitaker (or whoever the new AG is)just be able to assume oversight because (presumably) that conflict no longer exists?
posted by nubs at 12:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
OK, getting confused. Isn't the speculation that Whitaker will replace Sessions, not Rosenstein? And since Sessions had recused himself from oversight on conflict of interest reasons, wouldn't Whitaker (or whoever the new AG is)just be able to assume oversight because (presumably) that conflict no longer exists?
posted by nubs at 12:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Which I guess means they're not law, just norms, just like everything else that's breaking these days.
Federal rules are law (or violating them is deemed to be a violation of the law that authorizes the rules, which is as close to the same thing as makes no difference). The problem is that when it comes to the internal workings of the executive branch, following the law is itself a norm. Who's going to stop them*, the Justice Department?
*prior to 2019
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Federal rules are law (or violating them is deemed to be a violation of the law that authorizes the rules, which is as close to the same thing as makes no difference). The problem is that when it comes to the internal workings of the executive branch, following the law is itself a norm. Who's going to stop them*, the Justice Department?
*prior to 2019
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
NBCNEWS: BREAKING: With an acting attorney general taking over after AG Sessions’ ouster, Deputy AG Rosenstein will no longer oversee the Mueller investigation.
Former Obama NSC spokesman and NBC contributor Ned Price points out something in Pete Williams's explanation of DoJ hierarchy: "If this wasn't about the Mueller probe, why install an Acting AG other than the DEPUTY Attorney General? That's why Cabinet Secretaries have Deputies. This was clearly about the Mueller probe...."
TPM 's Josh Marshall: "Rod Rosenstein had been hinting to some of his more apolitical colleagues at DOJ that they shld prepare themselves for dramatic changes in leadership and priorities in the first days of November. The Showdown Begins"
The Daily Beast's Betsy Woodruff: “I asked a DOJ spokesperson if Acting AG Matt Whitaker would take over supervision of the Mueller probe. Her reply: "The Acting Attorney General is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice."”
AP's Meg Kinnard: “I just asked a spokesman if @LindseyGrahamSC would be interested in the AG post. Quoting him, he told me: "No, no, no."”
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Former Obama NSC spokesman and NBC contributor Ned Price points out something in Pete Williams's explanation of DoJ hierarchy: "If this wasn't about the Mueller probe, why install an Acting AG other than the DEPUTY Attorney General? That's why Cabinet Secretaries have Deputies. This was clearly about the Mueller probe...."
TPM 's Josh Marshall: "Rod Rosenstein had been hinting to some of his more apolitical colleagues at DOJ that they shld prepare themselves for dramatic changes in leadership and priorities in the first days of November. The Showdown Begins"
The Daily Beast's Betsy Woodruff: “I asked a DOJ spokesperson if Acting AG Matt Whitaker would take over supervision of the Mueller probe. Her reply: "The Acting Attorney General is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice."”
AP's Meg Kinnard: “I just asked a spokesman if @LindseyGrahamSC would be interested in the AG post. Quoting him, he told me: "No, no, no."”
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Of course things can always get worse.
Joe Bernstein (Buzzfeed)
I asked a political operative with the White House's ear if Kobach for AG is likely. His response: "Yes."
posted by chris24 at 12:53 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
Joe Bernstein (Buzzfeed)
I asked a political operative with the White House's ear if Kobach for AG is likely. His response: "Yes."
posted by chris24 at 12:53 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
Lawfare, as usual, has all the details in What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Mueller Report
OK, with Sessions and Rosenstein out, that leaves Mueller releasing a confidential report to Whitaker. How soon after he gets it will Whitaker say "no collusion"?
posted by kirkaracha at 12:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
OK, with Sessions and Rosenstein out, that leaves Mueller releasing a confidential report to Whitaker. How soon after he gets it will Whitaker say "no collusion"?
posted by kirkaracha at 12:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
He could just "leak" it to trusted people and watch the riots begin?
posted by Melismata at 12:56 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by Melismata at 12:56 PM on November 7, 2018
Is Mueller limited to releasing a confidential report, or can he issue a less-classified one to Congress and/or the media?
posted by Autumnheart at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 12:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
I suspect Lindsey Graham is repellant and clever enough to let Kobach take the AG spot initially and just wait while he get stuck doing the required dirty work, gets mired down, finds himself increasingly in over his head, and resigns / flees / gets fired. Then Lindsay gets to step in and keep his hands clean.
Kobach would have to be confirmed, but I assume the Senate would confirm a ham sandwich, if it was a sufficiently malevolent sandwich.
posted by halation at 12:59 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Kobach would have to be confirmed, but I assume the Senate would confirm a ham sandwich, if it was a sufficiently malevolent sandwich.
posted by halation at 12:59 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Can a House committee ask Mueller what he knows and get a story out?
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Cabinet appointees are still subject to a 60 vote threshold for filibusters, right?
posted by chimpsonfilm at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by chimpsonfilm at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't know if this is pessimistic or optimistic on my part, but I'm not sure that outright firing Mueller at any time would be either likely or a strategic move for them. Instead, they can box him in as much as possible, and that would be my prediction.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
@ryanjreilly: DOJ official says ethics officials have yet to examine whether Whitaker has to recuse on anything Mueller related given his prior commentary and role. Rosenstein, meanwhile, is headed to White House for purportedly unrelated meeting. Former AG Sessions is believed to still be in the building.
@maggieNYT: Trump allies are deeply perplexed by his move against Sessions, given that it all but guarantees an investigation by House judiciary.
I think they want the investigations. The more the merrier. They love to say they're being persecuted. They know it doesn't matter; their Fox News-watching faithful won't care about the scandals unearthed by House Democrats any more than the Trump faithful have cared about the hundreds of scandals unearthed by the press or the thousands of lies that have come out of his mouth. They've spent years tearing down the Democrats and the press as liars precisely so that they have a ready constituency ready to ignore anything either of them say.
And then in a year or two, they'll turn around and say "look at how all these Democrats do is investigate, investigate, investigate and it never amounts to anything" as the reason to vote Democrats out of office again.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
@maggieNYT: Trump allies are deeply perplexed by his move against Sessions, given that it all but guarantees an investigation by House judiciary.
I think they want the investigations. The more the merrier. They love to say they're being persecuted. They know it doesn't matter; their Fox News-watching faithful won't care about the scandals unearthed by House Democrats any more than the Trump faithful have cared about the hundreds of scandals unearthed by the press or the thousands of lies that have come out of his mouth. They've spent years tearing down the Democrats and the press as liars precisely so that they have a ready constituency ready to ignore anything either of them say.
And then in a year or two, they'll turn around and say "look at how all these Democrats do is investigate, investigate, investigate and it never amounts to anything" as the reason to vote Democrats out of office again.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
I suspect the plan is to block the report, force Mueller to release his findings through something other than the normal channels, and then use that to paint him as a crazed hater going rogue. Will it work? Who knows!! I'm excited to find out!
posted by theodolite at 1:03 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 1:03 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Amidst the fire I'd just like to drop this tasty lil nug:
Jeff Session: 0
Legal weed: +3
Welcome to the club, Michigan.
posted by juice boo at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [44 favorites]
Jeff Session: 0
Legal weed: +3
Welcome to the club, Michigan.
posted by juice boo at 1:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [44 favorites]
Darren Samuelsohn, Politico: "Mueller has powerful new House allies as he bears down on Trump"
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [22 favorites]
"House Democrats say they’re also ready to act as a backstop if Trump follows through on more than 18 months of pent-up angst and fires Mueller or tries to meddle with the special counsel’s work through a major shakeup at the Justice Department.Emphasis mine. But "immediate" still means "Jan 3rd" right?
(...)
Democrats are even prepping a break-glass scenario in case there’s a Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre during which Trump fires his current DOJ leadership and tries to shutter the Mueller probe in the process. If that happens, senior Democratic officials say Mueller would likely get an immediate summons to Capitol Hill for nationally televised testimony about his findings."
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [22 favorites]
Cabinet appointees are still subject to a 60 vote threshold for filibusters, right?
Nope, 50. That was the nuclear option.
posted by zachlipton at 1:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
Nope, 50. That was the nuclear option.
posted by zachlipton at 1:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
They've already boxed him in as much as possible without performing a blatant act of obstruction. Which is not to say they won't go for that, but at some point the truth is going to come out. If the Senate tries to bury the report, wouldn't that be a pretty clear act of obstruction in itself?
posted by Autumnheart at 1:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Autumnheart at 1:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I suspect the plan is to block the report, force Mueller to release his findings through something other than the normal channels, and then use that to paint him as a crazed hater going rogue. Will it work? Who knows!! I'm excited to find out!
posted by theodolite at 4:03 PM on November 7 [+] [!]
Nothing I've read or heard about Mueller leads me to believe he'd do anything that wasn't by the book. I'm confident he has a contingency plan for this, but his legal options may be limited, and I don't expect him to start leaking or anything.
posted by scarylarry at 1:07 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
WaPo's Carol Leonnig: "I'm told by a Trump adviser that @realDonaldTrump is considering Whitaker as a temporary replacement -- will do extensive interviews to consider a final candidate."
And incoming from the incoming House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff: "President Trump just removed Jeff Sessions. He wants an Attorney General to serve his interest, not the public. Mueller's investigation and the independence of the DOJ must be protected. Whitaker and any nominee must commit to doing both. We will protect the rule of law."
Meanwhile, back with Trump's legal team, Robert Costa checks in with Rudy: "“We’ll do that once [Trump] is back from Europe,” Giuliani tells me, when asked about the legal team's final decision on providing written answers for Mueller and when/what they'll send over. Trump will travel to Paris later this week for centenary Armistice Day events."
Somehow, Trump is managing to refocus the news cycle on him again, even if it's a reality show version of Watergate, dragging out his answers to Mueller's questions and embarking on another Apprentice-like search for a cabinet secretary.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
And incoming from the incoming House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff: "President Trump just removed Jeff Sessions. He wants an Attorney General to serve his interest, not the public. Mueller's investigation and the independence of the DOJ must be protected. Whitaker and any nominee must commit to doing both. We will protect the rule of law."
Meanwhile, back with Trump's legal team, Robert Costa checks in with Rudy: "“We’ll do that once [Trump] is back from Europe,” Giuliani tells me, when asked about the legal team's final decision on providing written answers for Mueller and when/what they'll send over. Trump will travel to Paris later this week for centenary Armistice Day events."
Somehow, Trump is managing to refocus the news cycle on him again, even if it's a reality show version of Watergate, dragging out his answers to Mueller's questions and embarking on another Apprentice-like search for a cabinet secretary.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
He'd have to do it by the book in order to make any of the charges stick. But the Trump administration and its enablers aren't known for their adherence to the law. Wouldn't any illegal behavior on their part only serve to bolster Mueller's case and make those actors vulnerable?
posted by Autumnheart at 1:11 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by Autumnheart at 1:11 PM on November 7, 2018
Oh yeah, I forgot about this. In 2014, Whitaker gave an interview as part of his ill-fated run for Iowa Senate where he described Marbury v. Madison as the worst decision in the Supreme Court's history. That's the guy who is now the acting Attorney General.
posted by zachlipton at 1:12 PM on November 7, 2018 [28 favorites]
19. What’s the role of the courts and what is or what are some of the worst decisions in the Supreme Court’s history?(and a tip of the hat to The World Famous, who saw this twist coming)
Whitaker: “The courts are supposed to be the inferior branch of our three branches of government. We have unfortunately off loaded many of our tough public policy issues onto the court and they’ve decided hem. Unelected judges are deciding many of the issues of the day. There are so many (bad rulings). I would start with the idea of Marbury v. Madison. That’s probably a good place to start and the way it’s looked at the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of constitutional issues. We’ll move forward from there. All New Deal cases that were expansive of the federal government. Those would be bad. Then all the way up to the Affordable Care Act and the individual mandate.”
posted by zachlipton at 1:12 PM on November 7, 2018 [28 favorites]
Fixed it for you:
posted by msalt at 1:13 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I suspect the plan is to block the report, force Mueller to release his findings through something other than the normal channels, and thenTrump has already jailed several leakers, and openly threatened to do so this morning against any Democrats who investigate him. As we know, in Trump's mind Mueller is a "Democrat" because he is opposing him.use that to paint him as a crazed hater going roguelock him up for illegal leaks.
posted by msalt at 1:13 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Adam Schiff is ready to crack the whip! Thank fucking God we took the House.
posted by Autumnheart at 1:13 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 1:13 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sadly, they don't get the whip until January. A lot of damage can be done in two months.
posted by Justinian at 1:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
Wooweee given what Whitaker has written on Marbury v. Madison (bad) the New Deal cases (bad), the individual mandate (bad), and the Mueller investigation (bad) I know Racist Keebler Elf was some bad juju but Whitaker is like yikes
posted by angrycat at 1:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
I think they want the investigations.
This. I hope that the new House has the discipline to do this stuff quietly and low-key (at least for a time) while focusing on things that more-unambiguously benefit nearly all Americans. Working on improvements to Obamacare, for instance, should be a no-brainer.
posted by Slothrup at 1:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
This. I hope that the new House has the discipline to do this stuff quietly and low-key (at least for a time) while focusing on things that more-unambiguously benefit nearly all Americans. Working on improvements to Obamacare, for instance, should be a no-brainer.
posted by Slothrup at 1:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump's own White House leaks like the post-iceberg Titanic. If the news enters those doors, it's getting out. Is he going to put his entire staff in jail?
posted by Autumnheart at 1:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 1:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
the way it’s looked at the Supreme Court as the final arbiter of constitutional issues. We’ll move forward from there. All New Deal cases that were expansive of the federal government.
What in tarnation? If SCOTUS hadn't kept obstructing the New Deal agenda, it would have been even bigger government! How does deleting Marbury stop the New Deal Congress from doing whatever it wants? FDR wanted to pack the court! What is he talking about? Marbury let the court overturn New Deal laws!!!
posted by BungaDunga at 1:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
What in tarnation? If SCOTUS hadn't kept obstructing the New Deal agenda, it would have been even bigger government! How does deleting Marbury stop the New Deal Congress from doing whatever it wants? FDR wanted to pack the court! What is he talking about? Marbury let the court overturn New Deal laws!!!
posted by BungaDunga at 1:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
A lot of damage can be done in two months.
Think how many decades ago the I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration letter was. They still have that much more time.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
Think how many decades ago the I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration letter was. They still have that much more time.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:21 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
I think they want the investigations. The more the merrier. They love to say they're being persecuted.
Robert Costa, earlier this morning:
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:22 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Robert Costa, earlier this morning:
a new term today from McConnell, when talking about scrutiny of President Trump by congressional Democrats: "presidential harassment"Similarly, Lindsey Graham, later:
He repeats it a few times at this news conference. Clearly a new talking point.
It’s apparent to me the White House press corps lives in a bubble and the way they are conducting themselves today will do NOTHING to improve their standing with the American people.(To think it's been only 15 months since Graham was warning that if Trump fired Sessions, there would be "holy hell to pay" and it "could be the “beginning of the end of the Trump presidency".)
Certain members of the press cannot stand the fact that President @realDonaldTrump and Republicans defied expectations in the midterm elections – actually growing our Senate majority.
The mainstream press are not -- in my opinion – ‘Enemies of the People’ but rather ‘Allies of the Democratic Party’ playing an activist role in support of their agenda.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:22 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
"BREAKING: Jeff Sessions has resigned as attorney general. Matthew Whittaker has been named as Acting Attorney General. Whittaker has publicly described how he would strangle the investigation. The Nobody Is Above the Law network demands that Whittaker immediately commit not to assume supervision of the investigation. Our hundreds of response events are not being launched yet, but will be triggered if this demand is not met, or another red line is crossed. We will update this page as the situation develops."
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW—MUELLER FIRING RAPID RESPONSE
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [30 favorites]
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW—MUELLER FIRING RAPID RESPONSE
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [30 favorites]
Rosenstein is out.
[TheHill] Acting AG to take over oversight of Russia probe
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
[TheHill] Acting AG to take over oversight of Russia probe
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 1:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
@bradheath: Brief reminder that there are currently *two* DOJ investigations involving President Trump. One is Mueller's. The other is the case in which Trump's ex-lawyer said in court that Trump had directed him to commit two felonies. Acting AG Whitaker will presumably oversee both. Regardless of whether Whitaker's prior comments would require him to recuse himself from the Mueller probe, they don't seem to suggest that he'd be unable to supervise what DOJ has described as "a grand jury investigation into Michael Cohen and others, which remains ongoing."
posted by zachlipton at 1:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
I went to public school, so I could have (almost certainly) missed something. But AFAIK the DOJ has no power over the Judicial branch, so Whitaker's opinions on decided court cases mean diddly-squat except making it clear just how much of a partisan shit he is, right?
right?
posted by aspersioncast at 1:28 PM on November 7, 2018
right?
posted by aspersioncast at 1:28 PM on November 7, 2018
Rosenstein is out.
to clarify: Rosenstein is no longer in charge of the Mueller investigation. He remains the Deputy Attorney General.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
to clarify: Rosenstein is no longer in charge of the Mueller investigation. He remains the Deputy Attorney General.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Indeed, now that he's no longer involved in the only working of the Justice Department that Trump gives a rat's ass about, his job security just went through the roof.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Okay, so let's say Trump appoints some dumpster fire of an AG, who decides to end the investigation. What avenues remain to Democrats to continue it?
posted by Autumnheart at 1:32 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by Autumnheart at 1:32 PM on November 7, 2018
I thought the investigation stemming from Cohen saying that Trump committed felonies was a NY AG case?
posted by gucci mane at 1:33 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by gucci mane at 1:33 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
That's the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of NY, not state attorney.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
WaPo's Josh Dawsey points out, apropos of his story Attorney General Jeff Sessions Resigns at Trump’s Request: "Notice what Trump did with Sessions. Initially there was lots of resistance to his firing. But Trump attacked, harassed, taunted him so much that it became seen as inevitable -- and even just necessary -- to close this chapter."
[TheHill] Acting AG to take over oversight of Russia probe
This is just the Hill regurgitating the DoJ statement "The Acting Attorney General is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice." from earlier this afternoon, which we've already covered. (The Hill does virtually no original reporting but instead concentrates on promoting their scraped-together stories on social media. It's always better to go to the original sources than link to them. And their pop-up ads suck.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
A White House official said Trump had been held at bay to demand Sessions’s resignation until after the Tuesday’s midterm elections, but he talked eagerly about ousting his attorney general as soon as the votes were tallied. The person said other Cabinet officials were also in jeopardy.Team Trump has been using the line that the AG serves at the pleasure of the president like any other cabinet official for such a long time that this abuse of power, undermining the Department of Justice's independence, isn't stirring up nearly the outrage it should (imagine the response if Clinton or Obama had fired theirs like this).
The ouster happened quickly. Sessions received a phone call Wednesday morning from White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly — before the president held a news conference — telling him the president wanted Sessions to resign, an administration official said. At the news conference, Trump had declined to specify the fate of his attorney general. “I’d rather answer that at a little bit different time,” he said.
Before 4 p.m., Sessions was out, and Whitaker was in. The White House official said that Trump liked Whitaker, who was a “backslapping, football kind of guy” who had briefed Trump on many occasions.
[TheHill] Acting AG to take over oversight of Russia probe
This is just the Hill regurgitating the DoJ statement "The Acting Attorney General is in charge of all matters under the purview of the Department of Justice." from earlier this afternoon, which we've already covered. (The Hill does virtually no original reporting but instead concentrates on promoting their scraped-together stories on social media. It's always better to go to the original sources than link to them. And their pop-up ads suck.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
I'm freaking out a little so anyone with a positive or neutral perspective please chime in.
posted by Tarumba at 1:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Tarumba at 1:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
@ASlavitt: One day after the election, Trump issues rules adding new steps and paperwork for people enrolling in ACA exchange coverage.
There'll be more details in that thread shortly.
The new proposed rule is the Exchange Program Integrity Proposed Rule. Also tucked in there:
posted by zachlipton at 1:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
There'll be more details in that thread shortly.
The new proposed rule is the Exchange Program Integrity Proposed Rule. Also tucked in there:
Collection of Separate Payments for Certain Abortion ServicesSo people would be expected to receive two monthly bills and send two separate checks if their plan covers abortion (assuming that "the portion of premium attributable to abortion coverage" is actually even a thing). That seems rather unworkable on many levels.
CMS is proposing that issuers: (1) send an entirely separate monthly bill to the consumer for only the portion of premium attributable to abortion coverage, and (2) instruct the enrollee to pay the portion of their premium attributable to abortion coverage in a separate transaction from any payment the consumer makes for the portion of their premium not attributable to abortion coverage.
posted by zachlipton at 1:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
I'm freaking out a little so anyone with a positive or neutral perspective please chime in.
This is exactly what we expected, and therefore Mueller also expected it?
OR
It was always extremely unlikely that the Mueller investigation would do anything like removing the President from office, and it was always a bad idea to put too many eggs in that basket. Trump is a symptom, not the disease, and taking back the house and governorships significantly limits the amount of damage this shitty administration can do.
Also Sessions was a horrible enough shitbag that I'm actually not sure how Whitaker could be worse, although the universe may take that as a dare.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
This is exactly what we expected, and therefore Mueller also expected it?
OR
It was always extremely unlikely that the Mueller investigation would do anything like removing the President from office, and it was always a bad idea to put too many eggs in that basket. Trump is a symptom, not the disease, and taking back the house and governorships significantly limits the amount of damage this shitty administration can do.
Also Sessions was a horrible enough shitbag that I'm actually not sure how Whitaker could be worse, although the universe may take that as a dare.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [32 favorites]
Michael Beschloss @BeschlossDC
After Nixon had him fired in 1973 Saturday Night Massacre, the former Watergate special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, declared, “Whether ours shall be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people”
posted by bluesky43 at 1:50 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
After Nixon had him fired in 1973 Saturday Night Massacre, the former Watergate special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, declared, “Whether ours shall be a government of laws and not of men is now for Congress and ultimately the American people”
posted by bluesky43 at 1:50 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
Also Sessions was a horrible enough shitbag that I'm actually not sure how Whitaker could be worse, although the universe may take that as a dare.
my gut read is that Whitaker is a pure political appointment whose entire job at the DOJ is to bury the Mueller investigation, and day to day operations of Justice will fall to Rosenstein, who is provably less shitty than Sessions in several dimensions.
DOJ is a land of contrasts?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:51 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
my gut read is that Whitaker is a pure political appointment whose entire job at the DOJ is to bury the Mueller investigation, and day to day operations of Justice will fall to Rosenstein, who is provably less shitty than Sessions in several dimensions.
DOJ is a land of contrasts?
posted by murphy slaw at 1:51 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
From Elizabeth Warren:
Add your name: Congress must act NOW to protect the Mueller Investigation
Make no mistake: Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to fire Robert Mueller. Congress must act NOW to protect the investigation.
Sign our petition now to make your voice heard.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
Add your name: Congress must act NOW to protect the Mueller Investigation
Make no mistake: Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to fire Robert Mueller. Congress must act NOW to protect the investigation.
Sign our petition now to make your voice heard.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
@KenDilanianNBC: Whaddaya know: Mark Whitaker, now in charge of the Mueller investigation, chaired the 2014 campaign of Sam Clovis, a grand jury witness in that investigation.
There's an ethics official at DOJ somewhere who is at this moment is either entirely unethical, quite brave, extremely drunk, or very much quitting. I guess we'll find out which.
posted by zachlipton at 1:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [47 favorites]
There's an ethics official at DOJ somewhere who is at this moment is either entirely unethical, quite brave, extremely drunk, or very much quitting. I guess we'll find out which.
posted by zachlipton at 1:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [47 favorites]
I'm freaking out a little so anyone with a positive or neutral perspective please chime in.
Look, I'm just a boy trying to figure out what to write on a protest sign (seriously I'm open to suggestions), but:
So far, Mueller has been very careful and deliberate in outsourcing much of his work to places Trump can't really touch. The guy can't be blind to the political landscape, and if he is then he was never gonna save anyone, anyway. Additionally, the House matters. I'm really wondering if Trump isn't at best exercising some of his rage and maybe buying himself and Junior a little bit of time, but all at the cost of a huge firestorm which will only make his life worse--and then the House changes hands.
Also, part of me wonders what happens when this Whitaker guy tells Mueller "I need a full update on your progress" and Mueller hands him a single sheet of paper saying "It's treason. Seriously, bro."
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:53 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
Look, I'm just a boy trying to figure out what to write on a protest sign (seriously I'm open to suggestions), but:
So far, Mueller has been very careful and deliberate in outsourcing much of his work to places Trump can't really touch. The guy can't be blind to the political landscape, and if he is then he was never gonna save anyone, anyway. Additionally, the House matters. I'm really wondering if Trump isn't at best exercising some of his rage and maybe buying himself and Junior a little bit of time, but all at the cost of a huge firestorm which will only make his life worse--and then the House changes hands.
Also, part of me wonders what happens when this Whitaker guy tells Mueller "I need a full update on your progress" and Mueller hands him a single sheet of paper saying "It's treason. Seriously, bro."
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:53 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
¿Por qué no los cuatro?
posted by Melismata at 1:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 1:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
But wait. There's more post-midterms healthcare fuckery!
@nicholas_bagley:
posted by zachlipton at 1:57 PM on November 7, 2018 [60 favorites]
@nicholas_bagley:
The Trump administration just released a rule expanding the religious exemption for providing contraception coverage.Your employer's religion should not fucking decide what insurance coverage you have. We don't do this anywhere else: if your employer's religion calls for slavery, we don't exempt them from the minimum wage. If it calls for pacifism, we don't exempt them from paying taxes.
Some background. In Oct 2017, the Trump administration put two "interim final rules" into immediate effect, without going through the notice and comment period. Those rules exempted employers with religious and moral objections, respectively. When they were released, I argued that the rules were procedurally defective, and obviously so, because there was no good reason for skipping notice and comment. Two district courts agreed with me and put the rules on ice.
The Trump administration went ahead and took comments on the now-enjoined rules anyhow, and now it's released new rules that ostensibly reflect what it learned in the notice-and-comment period. One headline: the Trump administration has retained its ill-considered effort to allow employers with "moral objections" to opt out of the rule. That's almost certainly unlawful, as I explain here. For the religious objectors, matters are more complicated. The administration wants to draw on the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act in crafting an exemption, and it probably has some power to do so.
The practical impact of the religious exemption isn't totally clear to me. The Trump administration doesn't think THAT many employers will take advantage of it, even though it acknowledges loads of uncertainty about that question. I remain baffled by one fact: the Trump administration has the discretion to remove birth control from the list of preventive services that employers have to cover at no cost. Why it's mucking about with legally contentious exemptions is beyond me.
posted by zachlipton at 1:57 PM on November 7, 2018 [60 favorites]
Does anyone have a read on how long it generally takes for the DoJ ethics people to come back with a recommendation about recusal/non-recusal?
posted by Justinian at 1:58 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by Justinian at 1:58 PM on November 7, 2018
zachlipton: " In 2014, Whitaker gave an interview as part of his ill-fated run for Iowa Senate where he described Marbury v. Madison as the worst decision in the Supreme Court's history."
In fairness, that same opinion has been voiced in these threads.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:59 PM on November 7, 2018
In fairness, that same opinion has been voiced in these threads.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:59 PM on November 7, 2018
Wooweee given what Whitaker has written on Marbury v. Madison (bad) the New Deal cases (bad), the individual mandate (bad), and the Mueller investigation (bad) I know Racist Keebler Elf was some bad juju but Whitaker is like yikes
Yikes indeed. In July 2016, he wrote for USA Today: I Would Indict Hillary Clinton
Now we'll see if those "Lock Her Up" chants got through to Trump.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Yikes indeed. In July 2016, he wrote for USA Today: I Would Indict Hillary Clinton
Now we'll see if those "Lock Her Up" chants got through to Trump.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
The new AG: same legal acumen as rando metafilter commenters!
posted by Justinian at 2:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Does anyone have a read on how long it generally takes for the DoJ ethics people to come back with a recommendation about recusal/non-recusal?
From what I have read on Twitter he's not even required to follow their recommendations, though.
posted by Tarumba at 2:00 PM on November 7, 2018
From what I have read on Twitter he's not even required to follow their recommendations, though.
posted by Tarumba at 2:00 PM on November 7, 2018
From what I have read on Twitter he's not even required to follow their recommendations, though
He isn't required, and probably won't, follow their recommendations. But it is very important that they make it and he ignore it. Once that happens we should hope and expect any senior DoJ officials with a shred of integrity to immediately resign. (ie rosenstein)
posted by Justinian at 2:01 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
He isn't required, and probably won't, follow their recommendations. But it is very important that they make it and he ignore it. Once that happens we should hope and expect any senior DoJ officials with a shred of integrity to immediately resign. (ie rosenstein)
posted by Justinian at 2:01 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm guessing the moment the "Whitaker" name was spoken an entire team under Mueller was set in motion to learn everything there is to learn about him and I would not be surprised if their first meeting together Mueller didn't toss one dossier on the table but two. I don't think there would be anything said. But there would be a lot, a whole lot, left unsaid. I'm just thinking that the most powerful and highly placed investigative team in the country is not going dry up and blow away until it's done what it set out to do.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm freaking out a little so anyone with a positive or neutral perspective please chime in.
I admit I have to keep repeating this to myself, but I guess it comes down to:
Do we think Mueller or Trump is smarter in the chess game of the investigation?
posted by orbit-3 at 2:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
I admit I have to keep repeating this to myself, but I guess it comes down to:
Do we think Mueller or Trump is smarter in the chess game of the investigation?
posted by orbit-3 at 2:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
The question is not "is Mueller smarter" but "to what degree is Trump capable of flipping the board."
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [54 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [54 favorites]
from the "they're not sending their best" dept.:
@MattWhitaker46posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
#iowadebate Saul Olynski is a good boogyman. Socialism is bad. Agreed
Issuing ethics recommendations that Whitaker ignores also gives the House more to investigate, and gives anyone (such as Hillary) who is prosecuted by DOJ under him a strong defense argument for both appellate judges and juries.
posted by msalt at 2:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by msalt at 2:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm freaking out a little so anyone with a positive or neutral perspective please chime in.
CIA officer/intelligence briefer under Clinton and G. W. Bush David Priess: "The Bob Mueller that I know will have prepared for this contingency long ago—and, even if he looked up briefly to acknowledge this afternoon’s development, has already put his head back down to keep doing his job."
The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand: What Sessions’s Resignation Means for Robert Mueller
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
CIA officer/intelligence briefer under Clinton and G. W. Bush David Priess: "The Bob Mueller that I know will have prepared for this contingency long ago—and, even if he looked up briefly to acknowledge this afternoon’s development, has already put his head back down to keep doing his job."
The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand: What Sessions’s Resignation Means for Robert Mueller
Trump’s move could still backfire. Without the administration’s protection, Sessions may now find himself both more vulnerable and more inclined to cooperate with Mueller, who has been investigating a period last summer when Trump privately discussed firing Sessions and attacked him in a series of tweets. “It’s possible that Sessions will now be either angry, or, at a minimum, no longer feel any need to curry favor with the president,” Kris said, noting that Sessions’s campaign-era interactions with Trump would not be covered by executive privilege. Sessions’s conversations during the campaign with former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos have been closely scrutinized by the special counsel. And at one point, the FBI opened an investigation into whether Sessions perjured himself in congressional testimony when he said he had no contact with Russians during the campaign.Otherwise, no, there's not much positive or even neutral about this turn of events.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
I bet the xerox machines are working overtime in the Mueller camp (sort of anti-shredders) right now
posted by mbo at 2:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mbo at 2:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
The question is not "is Mueller smarter" but "to what degree is Trump capable of flipping the board."
Extending this further - its not if/when Trump flips the board, its whether anyone else in the room is willing to acknowledge the board has been flipped and act accordingly.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:12 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
Extending this further - its not if/when Trump flips the board, its whether anyone else in the room is willing to acknowledge the board has been flipped and act accordingly.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:12 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
from the "they're not sending their best" dept.
Vermont law professor Jennifer Taub: "Whoa! In 2017, I was on @CNNnewsroom with @PamelaBrownCNN & Matthew Whitaker. He defended Don Jr’s 2016 dirt-on-Hillary meeting with the Kremlin-linked lawyer in Trump Tower. This was just before Jr’s “I love it” emailed leaked."
CNN: Legal issues of Trump Jr.'s Russia meeting, during which Whitaker declared, “You would always take the meeting. You certainly want to have any advantage, any legal advantage you can.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:12 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Vermont law professor Jennifer Taub: "Whoa! In 2017, I was on @CNNnewsroom with @PamelaBrownCNN & Matthew Whitaker. He defended Don Jr’s 2016 dirt-on-Hillary meeting with the Kremlin-linked lawyer in Trump Tower. This was just before Jr’s “I love it” emailed leaked."
CNN: Legal issues of Trump Jr.'s Russia meeting, during which Whitaker declared, “You would always take the meeting. You certainly want to have any advantage, any legal advantage you can.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:12 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Donald Trump Jr. Expecting to Be Indicted by Mueller Soon
He was a low-level son, got the coffees etc...
If it’s what you’re saying, we love it.
posted by adept256 at 2:14 PM on November 7, 2018 [33 favorites]
He was a low-level son, got the coffees etc...
If it’s what you’re saying, we love it.
posted by adept256 at 2:14 PM on November 7, 2018 [33 favorites]
I'm honestly kind of delighted by the Sessions thing. He gave up his Senate seat that he'd had for 20 years and probably could have held onto for the rest of his life - and what did he get in return for his 18 months as AG?
Misery, ridicule, and a Democratic Senator in his old seat.
posted by elsietheeel at 2:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [100 favorites]
Misery, ridicule, and a Democratic Senator in his old seat.
posted by elsietheeel at 2:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [100 favorites]
The question is not "is Mueller smarter" but "to what degree is Trump capable of flipping the board."
If I worked at this White House I'd think that finding someone to neutralize the Mueller investigation would be a short-sighted goal. Finding someone willing to completely politicize the DOJ to protect Trump from any congressional oversight would be the real objective.
posted by peeedro at 2:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
If I worked at this White House I'd think that finding someone to neutralize the Mueller investigation would be a short-sighted goal. Finding someone willing to completely politicize the DOJ to protect Trump from any congressional oversight would be the real objective.
posted by peeedro at 2:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
@MatthewNussbaum: Wow -- @kaitlancollins reporting on CNN that Sessions asked Kelly if he could stay until the end of the week and Kelly said no, had to leave today. It's Wednesday!!
@nycsouthpaw: Perhaps relatedly, Mueller’s grand jury meets on Fridays.
posted by zachlipton at 2:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
@nycsouthpaw: Perhaps relatedly, Mueller’s grand jury meets on Fridays.
posted by zachlipton at 2:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
Oy. Trump might be nastier about his own kid than, say, Stone.
posted by Melismata at 2:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 2:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
The White House official said that Trump liked Whitaker, who was a “backslapping, football kind of guy” who had briefed Trump on many occasions.
Whitaker played tight end on Iowa's 1991 Rose Bowl team. Tight ends take a lot of punishment, and that was an era where people were much less conscious of, and protective against, brain damage from concussions.
It's not being snarky or mean to observe that he may well have been harmed by that experience. And I say that as a professional football writer. To be fair, he was also an all-Big Ten academic team member.
@MattWhitaker46
#iowadebate Saul Olynski is a good boogyman. Socialism is bad. Agreed
posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on November 7 [3 favorites +] [!]
Like I was saying....
posted by msalt at 2:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
Whitaker played tight end on Iowa's 1991 Rose Bowl team. Tight ends take a lot of punishment, and that was an era where people were much less conscious of, and protective against, brain damage from concussions.
It's not being snarky or mean to observe that he may well have been harmed by that experience. And I say that as a professional football writer. To be fair, he was also an all-Big Ten academic team member.
@MattWhitaker46
#iowadebate Saul Olynski is a good boogyman. Socialism is bad. Agreed
posted by murphy slaw at 2:06 PM on November 7 [3 favorites +] [!]
Like I was saying....
posted by msalt at 2:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
If I worked at this White House I'd think that finding someone to neutralize the Mueller investigation would be a short-sighted goal.
so you're saying that's clearly their goal
posted by murphy slaw at 2:22 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
so you're saying that's clearly their goal
posted by murphy slaw at 2:22 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Donald Trump's biggest infrastructure project yet is the high speed bus line outside the white house. Maybe playing high impact sports is the best qualification to work there at this point.
posted by adept256 at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by adept256 at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
The question is not "is Mueller smarter" but "to what degree is Trump capable of flipping the board."
I assume that one of the ways in which Mueller is smart is to anticipate that Trump flipping the table is a realistic option, and to plan accordingly.
posted by orbit-3 at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
I assume that one of the ways in which Mueller is smart is to anticipate that Trump flipping the table is a realistic option, and to plan accordingly.
posted by orbit-3 at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Just the fact that there's no real replacement for Sessions lined up (other than Iowa Hawkeyes TE #46) indicates this is aimed at foiling the Mueller investigation.
And the timing.
And well everything else.
posted by notyou at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
And the timing.
And well everything else.
posted by notyou at 2:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
TPM, White Nationalist Leader Posts Pictures From White House Grounds
In other news, DOJ employees have been invited to line the sidewalk as Sessions departs for the final time right about...now, an email which amounts to "All DOJ employees are cordially invited to watch their former boss leave the building after getting shitcanned by Trump." I guess there wasn't time for goodbye cake.
posted by zachlipton at 2:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
The executive director of a white nationalist group on Wednesday tweeted pictures of himself posing outside the White House.This has been bouncing around Twitter for a while, and no answers as to who invited him have been forthcoming. Anyway, the questions at the press conference about Trump's support for white nationalists seem super duper fair right now.
It wasn’t immediately clear how Patrick Casey, executive director of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa, ended up at the White House. TPM has reached out to White House spokespeople for comment.
In other news, DOJ employees have been invited to line the sidewalk as Sessions departs for the final time right about...now, an email which amounts to "All DOJ employees are cordially invited to watch their former boss leave the building after getting shitcanned by Trump." I guess there wasn't time for goodbye cake.
posted by zachlipton at 2:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
In continuing Chuck Schumer fuckery news:
Senate Minority Leader Schumer: "We would hope, if there's a constitutional crisis, that our Republican colleagues would join us in thwarting the president from creating that crisis."
Ron Howard could make good money just attending every event Schumer speaks at with a big sign saying "NARRATOR" and a megaphone.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:35 PM on November 7, 2018 [30 favorites]
Senate Minority Leader Schumer: "We would hope, if there's a constitutional crisis, that our Republican colleagues would join us in thwarting the president from creating that crisis."
Ron Howard could make good money just attending every event Schumer speaks at with a big sign saying "NARRATOR" and a megaphone.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:35 PM on November 7, 2018 [30 favorites]
DOJ official says ethics officials have yet to examine whether Whitaker has to recuse on anything Mueller related given his prior commentary and role.
Recall that James Comey simply ignored DOJ ethics rulings -- twice -- and nobody said boo.
"I strenuously object." Noted.
posted by JackFlash at 2:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Recall that James Comey simply ignored DOJ ethics rulings -- twice -- and nobody said boo.
"I strenuously object." Noted.
posted by JackFlash at 2:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
I think people speculating about Mueller's chess game against Trump are forgetting the third rule of authoritarians: Institutions will not save you. This isn't a movie where Mueller's Secret Plan is sprung at Trump's supposed moment of triumph and we get the cathartic scene of all the baddies being hauled away at the last moment wondering how it all went wrong.
Mueller's a by the book guy who has done things, yes, intelligently by handing off some stuff to other prosecutors but he isn't a comic book hero. A president determined to stymie him and accept any theoretical political hit can and would stymie him.
posted by Justinian at 2:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [69 favorites]
Mueller's a by the book guy who has done things, yes, intelligently by handing off some stuff to other prosecutors but he isn't a comic book hero. A president determined to stymie him and accept any theoretical political hit can and would stymie him.
posted by Justinian at 2:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [69 favorites]
Plus ... the President declined to answer the question about Sessions' fate when he knew he'd already directed Kelly to ask for the AG's resignation and have it take effect today (!), and instead of making some kind of announcement himself, or directing his Press Secretary to, the news insteads leaks, he tweets something about the AG's temp replacement, and then there's some sort of official announcement shared with the news orgs?
That's some shoddy work, Mr President.
posted by notyou at 2:39 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
That's some shoddy work, Mr President.
posted by notyou at 2:39 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Miami New Times, Trump's Acting Attorney General Was Part of Miami-Based Invention Scam Company. We've already talked about the World Patent Marketing scam a bit, but the article includes an email Whitaker sent invoking his position as a former US Attorney to threaten somebody who complained about the scam. As all baseless legal threats are apparently required to do, it ends "please conduct yourself accordingly."
This email is from 2015. It's not like this is some long-ago episode. This guy is the Attorney General now. He's also a goldbug.
posted by zachlipton at 2:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
This email is from 2015. It's not like this is some long-ago episode. This guy is the Attorney General now. He's also a goldbug.
posted by zachlipton at 2:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
I just got an email that my local Mueller Firing Rapid Response protest is happening tomorrow night.
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 2:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Sounds like a sane, non-partisan AG.
Joshua Benton (NiemanLab @ Harvard)
A short list of Democrats that new acting attorney general Matt Whitaker called for investigations of while he was at the "Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust":
Hillary Clinton
John Lewis
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Hank Johnson
Alcee Hastings
Keith Ellison
Evan Bayh
John Kerry
Joe Sestak
Patrick Murphy
Bill de Blasio
Tom Carper
Claire McCaskill
Catherine Cortez Mastro
Ted Strickland
Katie McGinty
Sidney Blumenthal
All Democratic Senators
posted by chris24 at 2:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
Joshua Benton (NiemanLab @ Harvard)
A short list of Democrats that new acting attorney general Matt Whitaker called for investigations of while he was at the "Foundation for Accountability & Civic Trust":
Hillary Clinton
John Lewis
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Hank Johnson
Alcee Hastings
Keith Ellison
Evan Bayh
John Kerry
Joe Sestak
Patrick Murphy
Bill de Blasio
Tom Carper
Claire McCaskill
Catherine Cortez Mastro
Ted Strickland
Katie McGinty
Sidney Blumenthal
All Democratic Senators
posted by chris24 at 2:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
"Please join us for this special Department-wide event!"
1. I can't not hear that in my head in the extra-perky Dolores Umbridge voice.
2. I can't decide whether I'm laughing or crying.
3. I can't seem to be able to untilt the entire world because everything is skewed and very weird right now.
4. halp
(I mean, I read that last sentence and I felt something snap in my head just like the time I saw that news story about how everyone gets one scoop of ice cream and Himself gets two. Remember that?)
posted by seyirci at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
1. I can't not hear that in my head in the extra-perky Dolores Umbridge voice.
2. I can't decide whether I'm laughing or crying.
3. I can't seem to be able to untilt the entire world because everything is skewed and very weird right now.
4. halp
(I mean, I read that last sentence and I felt something snap in my head just like the time I saw that news story about how everyone gets one scoop of ice cream and Himself gets two. Remember that?)
posted by seyirci at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Mueller's a by the book guy who has done things, yes, intelligently by handing off some stuff to other prosecutors but he isn't a comic book hero. A president determined to stymie him and accept any theoretical political hit can and would stymie him.
This is true. We can't depend on Mueller to save the world. But one thing we do have is that Trump and the Trumpists are all unfailingly incompetent.
posted by mumimor at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
This is true. We can't depend on Mueller to save the world. But one thing we do have is that Trump and the Trumpists are all unfailingly incompetent.
posted by mumimor at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
One side effect of this end-around on Mueller is that I think it will seriously neuter the Rapid Response protests. There's gonna be confusion as to when and where and if protests happen. Some people will show up, some won't. This was the smart play so I assume it was not Trump who decided upon it. Or perhaps he did but it is only accidentally smart.
posted by Justinian at 2:49 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:49 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
I guess there wasn't time for goodbye cake.
They have run out of goodbye cakes. They should have goodbye cakes every day on hand by default.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:51 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
They have run out of goodbye cakes. They should have goodbye cakes every day on hand by default.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:51 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is the email I got from MoveOn/Public Citizen
Dear Hosts,posted by OnceUponATime at 2:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [14 favorites]
As you know, hours ago, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced out.
In his place, Donald Trump has decided to appoint a partisan loyalist who has published op-eds slamming Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
What's more, The Justice Department says acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker will immediately take over supervising special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation from Rod Rosenstein, the embattled deputy attorney general.
The red line has been crossed. In response, the Trump is Not Above the Law coalition is calling for nationwide rapid response protests tomorrow—Thursday, November 8— at 5 pm local time (or as appropriate locally).
Let's be clear: Matt Whitaker cannot have oversight of the Russia investigation, and must allow the investigation to continue.
I think people speculating about Mueller's chess game against Trump are forgetting the third rule of authoritarians: Institutions will not save you. This isn't a movie where Mueller's Secret Plan is sprung at Trump's supposed moment of triumph and we get the cathartic scene of all the baddies being hauled away at the last moment wondering how it all went wrong.
Absolutely, and I think the focus on hoping Mueller will save us has been way too narrow. Mueller is a prosecutor. His job is very specifically to look for crimes, and not just possible crimes, but cases he believes are winnable. There are all sorts of things that a President can do that are not criminal yet far worse. Trump has already done a number of them.
There's been this very narrow focus on waiting for Mueller, but we need to start figuring out how to make the case that unacceptable conduct for a President goes beyond the four corners of "things a Republican prosecutor thinks will be a winnable case." Associating with white nationalism is not inherently illegal, but it certainly should be a high crime and misdemeanor. The groundwork for that needs to start before whatever happens with Mueller happens.
posted by zachlipton at 2:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Absolutely, and I think the focus on hoping Mueller will save us has been way too narrow. Mueller is a prosecutor. His job is very specifically to look for crimes, and not just possible crimes, but cases he believes are winnable. There are all sorts of things that a President can do that are not criminal yet far worse. Trump has already done a number of them.
There's been this very narrow focus on waiting for Mueller, but we need to start figuring out how to make the case that unacceptable conduct for a President goes beyond the four corners of "things a Republican prosecutor thinks will be a winnable case." Associating with white nationalism is not inherently illegal, but it certainly should be a high crime and misdemeanor. The groundwork for that needs to start before whatever happens with Mueller happens.
posted by zachlipton at 2:52 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Justinian: This was the smart play so I assume it was not Trump who decided upon it.
The direct manipulation of the populace via media by this administration has become markedly more effective and efficient since Bill Shine took a job in the White House in July.
posted by monopas at 2:55 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
The direct manipulation of the populace via media by this administration has become markedly more effective and efficient since Bill Shine took a job in the White House in July.
posted by monopas at 2:55 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
The question is not "is Mueller smarter" but "to what degree is Trump capable of flipping the board."
Oh goodie, I was worried I would not get to have the experience of frantically breathing into a paper bag this November but TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG!
posted by corb at 2:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [31 favorites]
Oh goodie, I was worried I would not get to have the experience of frantically breathing into a paper bag this November but TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG!
posted by corb at 2:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [31 favorites]
And the fact that they got Roger Stone attorney Tyler Nixon to testify Friday suggests they were prepping for it.
ME: Hey Google is Tyler Nixon related to the guy Roger Stone has tattooed on his back
GOOGLE: No, Tyler Nixon is a porn star.
ME: Well that's obviously a different guy with the same name.
GOOGLE: Is it? Is it obvious? It's 2018.
ME: Yeah I don't know.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [42 favorites]
ME: Hey Google is Tyler Nixon related to the guy Roger Stone has tattooed on his back
GOOGLE: No, Tyler Nixon is a porn star.
ME: Well that's obviously a different guy with the same name.
GOOGLE: Is it? Is it obvious? It's 2018.
ME: Yeah I don't know.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [42 favorites]
So, um, the rapid response protests have been activated? This is it, then? Protests and walkouts tomorrow?
posted by StrawberryPie at 3:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by StrawberryPie at 3:04 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
It looks like protests start at 5pm local time unless your local group says otherwise, so not a walkout.
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
This seems to be a "soft" rapid response. Announcements made after 2pm were supposed to be followed by noon actions.
posted by pjenks at 3:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by pjenks at 3:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
zombieflanders: Senate Minority Leader Schumer: "We would hope, if there's a constitutional crisis, that our Republican colleagues would join us in thwarting the president from creating that crisis."
Schumer makes me retch aplenty, but in this instance he's articulating something actionable for Republicans that he knows perfectly well they won't do. It has to be normalized in the public mind that someone could thwart their own rogue president and that failure to is a genuine lapse, not "Well it's Republicans so what do we expect". I really want to see Schumer do four times better but, just as with Pelosi, I don't like picking apart everything he says when half of it is diplomatic pablum.
Mitch McConnell is probably the most accomplished fighter for all things deplorable in the past decade. But that crowd sees their own champion as a squishy RINO thanks to the lack of fire in his rhetoric -- he doesn't talk like Trump, he talks like a super boring politician who just wants to work with the other side if only they'd let him. Because he's simply a snake who doesn't care what anyone thinks. And what I believe we need is something of a mirror image of McConnell. I don't think Schumer fits that bill, but it's because of his actions, not his words. The party leaders need to carry big sticks and they can leave the loud speech to the lieutenants.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 3:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
Schumer makes me retch aplenty, but in this instance he's articulating something actionable for Republicans that he knows perfectly well they won't do. It has to be normalized in the public mind that someone could thwart their own rogue president and that failure to is a genuine lapse, not "Well it's Republicans so what do we expect". I really want to see Schumer do four times better but, just as with Pelosi, I don't like picking apart everything he says when half of it is diplomatic pablum.
Mitch McConnell is probably the most accomplished fighter for all things deplorable in the past decade. But that crowd sees their own champion as a squishy RINO thanks to the lack of fire in his rhetoric -- he doesn't talk like Trump, he talks like a super boring politician who just wants to work with the other side if only they'd let him. Because he's simply a snake who doesn't care what anyone thinks. And what I believe we need is something of a mirror image of McConnell. I don't think Schumer fits that bill, but it's because of his actions, not his words. The party leaders need to carry big sticks and they can leave the loud speech to the lieutenants.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 3:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
i’m not encouraged about the status of rapid response given that they repeatedly misspelled Whitaker’s name on the home page
posted by murphy slaw at 3:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 3:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
The question is not "is Mueller smarter" but "to what degree is Trump capable of flipping the board."
Or as @AmandaMarcotte put it,
Or as @AmandaMarcotte put it,
It’s always been evident that Trump believes he can be flagrantly corrupt, break the law at will, and simply use his raw power to avoid consequences. So this was inevitable, I suppose.posted by Buntix at 3:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
The only question is whether that is true.
Times square at 5, then?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:11 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:11 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Slowly—very slowly—the Dem establishment on Capitol Hill is waking up to the urgency of the situation, via MSNBC's Kyle Griffin:
Sen. Ron Wyden: "Donald Trump must be terrified about what Robert Mueller's investigation has uncovered. Trump is desperately trying to protect himself and his cronies from justice by installing a political hack as acting attorney general."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: "Whitaker should come before the Senate Judiciary Committee as soon as possible and make a firm commitment not to interfere in the investigation, to include restricting the investigation or making changes in personnel. The special counsel’s work is critical."
Also former AG Eric Holder: "Anyone who attempts to interfere with or obstruct the Mueller inquiry must be held accountable. This is a red line. We are a nation of laws and norms not subject to the self interested actions of one man."
And Sen. Bernie Sanders: "President Trump must allow Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation to continue unimpeded. Any attempt by the president or the Justice Department to interfere with Mueller’s probe would be an obstruction of justice and impeachable offense."
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:18 PM on November 7, 2018 [36 favorites]
Sen. Ron Wyden: "Donald Trump must be terrified about what Robert Mueller's investigation has uncovered. Trump is desperately trying to protect himself and his cronies from justice by installing a political hack as acting attorney general."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: "Whitaker should come before the Senate Judiciary Committee as soon as possible and make a firm commitment not to interfere in the investigation, to include restricting the investigation or making changes in personnel. The special counsel’s work is critical."
Also former AG Eric Holder: "Anyone who attempts to interfere with or obstruct the Mueller inquiry must be held accountable. This is a red line. We are a nation of laws and norms not subject to the self interested actions of one man."
And Sen. Bernie Sanders: "President Trump must allow Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation to continue unimpeded. Any attempt by the president or the Justice Department to interfere with Mueller’s probe would be an obstruction of justice and impeachable offense."
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:18 PM on November 7, 2018 [36 favorites]
Here’s your midterm analysis: America is being held hostage by angry old white guys - Amanda Marcotte, Salon
America is being held hostage by older white people — especially older white men. That, above all other things, is the moral of the 2018 elections. The CNN exit polls coming out of the midterm elections are stark in many ways, particularly tracking the growing gender and education gaps among voters, but what is most startling is how white people over 45 are heavily Republican and no one else is.posted by ZeusHumms at 3:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [46 favorites]
A short note: when I woke up here in Europe this morning, the election-day thread was too overwhelming and I got my news from The Guardian. And I've been busy today, so I'm only just beginning to dig into the details. But what I'm seeing is that even when the Democrats lost, they were unusually succesfull (relative to where they were). So what is important now, for America and for the planet, is to keep up the momentum and win in 2020 -- the current challenges are bigger than those of the -30's. We all need a new New Deal, and the government to go with it.
posted by mumimor at 3:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 3:25 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
This is minor-league rat-fuckery, but Courthouse News's Adam Klasfeld reports: "Whitaker's @Wikipedia page has been feverishly revised since the Sessions' firing became public, and the section on his ties to World Patent Marketing appear much shorter than earlier. (History page shows users keep futzing with it.)"
Seriously, the Whitaker's Wikipedia page received almost a hundred edits today, with a lot coming from random IP addresses.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Seriously, the Whitaker's Wikipedia page received almost a hundred edits today, with a lot coming from random IP addresses.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
This seems to be a "soft" rapid response. Announcements made after 2pm were supposed to be followed by noon actions.
More people will come at 5:00pm. And there is more time to reach people and let them know. I'll take a bigger protest a few hours later, since it's going to be tomorrow regardless. Also, lots of us hosts have jobs too.
I hope Maddow mentions this on her show. We got a huge turnout boost when she mentioned the "confront corruption" vigils and directed people to that site.
Please share, and bring your friends.
http://trumpisnotabovethelaw.org
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
More people will come at 5:00pm. And there is more time to reach people and let them know. I'll take a bigger protest a few hours later, since it's going to be tomorrow regardless. Also, lots of us hosts have jobs too.
I hope Maddow mentions this on her show. We got a huge turnout boost when she mentioned the "confront corruption" vigils and directed people to that site.
Please share, and bring your friends.
http://trumpisnotabovethelaw.org
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
As usual Trump was too chickenshit to fire someone himself.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 3:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
To the barricades!
posted by Krazor at 3:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Krazor at 3:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
No word from my local rapid response event yet...I’m signed up for e-mail and text alerts, but nothing so far in Durham.
posted by Dorinda at 3:39 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by Dorinda at 3:39 PM on November 7, 2018
Mueller may be a victim of his own success. It is hard for the public to appreciate the gravity of the special counsel investigation due to its breadth and complexity. There is a new nonpartisan organization, Protect the Investigation, that tracks and presents Mueller’s progress in an easy-to-follow format. The group’s goal is to “educate the American people about the importance of the special counsel investigation and its current findings.” The numbers tell the story. Since his appointment by Rod Rosenstein in May 2017, Mueller and his team have charged 32 individuals and three entities with nearly 200 federal criminal offenses. He has secured guilty pleas from six offenders, and three of them have already received prison sentences.from Remember Robert Mueller? - Jennifer Taub, Slate. Article came out too late, but "Protect the Investigation" is interesting.
posted by ZeusHumms at 3:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
"Protect the Investigation" is interesting
Too much fancy UI, not enough info.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Too much fancy UI, not enough info.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah looks like the protests are on for tomorrow at 5:00pm? Time to break out the Les Mis gifs.
posted by Justinian at 3:49 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:49 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
PROTESTS ARE ON FOR TOMORROW AT 5PM
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Rachel Maddow:
posted by Justinian at 4:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [40 favorites]
It's happening. This is the "Break Glass in Case of Emergency" plan to protect the Mueller investigation. 5pm (local time) protests tomorrow/Thursday Nov 8. We knew this would happen at some point -- the day has arrived.it's happening.
posted by Justinian at 4:06 PM on November 7, 2018 [40 favorites]
To make a difference I think it needs to be a lot more than a single day.
posted by Lord_Pall at 4:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by Lord_Pall at 4:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
NBC News, Ben Collins, A Russian troll farm set an elaborate social media trap for the midterms — and no one bit
Charlie Warzel, There Was No Midterm Misinformation Crisis Because We've Democratized Propaganda
A website claiming to be run by an infamous Russian disinformation group announced on Tuesday that it had executed another influence campaign before the 2018 U.S. midterm elections — only its reach appeared to be far smaller than similar efforts before the 2016 election.Usually, I can look at these operations and at least try to understand how they were supposed to work. This one just seems so sloppy I'm not sure what the theory was at all.
The website, claiming to be a part of Russia’s Internet Research Agency, or IRA, revealed dozens of Instagram accounts on a website called USAIRA.ru shortly before polls began to close on Tuesday. The website also claimed it knew the results of the election, despite having obvious errors such as predicting a win by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who did not run for re-election.
The website drew little attention despite efforts to tip journalists to its presence, and a survey by NBC News of social media accounts associated with the website showed that the campaign appeared to have had far less reach than the 2016 campaign that garnered millions of social media interactions and even tricked mainstream news outlets.
...
Watts said inflating the impact of operations is “as old as any Soviet disinformation strategy.” “When they’re overt and sloppy, they’re trying to convince you of something they didn’t actually do,” Watts said. “When they’re covert and they’re found out later, they’re trying to convince you of something they’re actually trying to do.”
Charlie Warzel, There Was No Midterm Misinformation Crisis Because We've Democratized Propaganda
And so today, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can breathe a sigh of relief having, as one columnist put it, “won this round.” Perhaps. But Election Day is a single data point in a long electoral calendar. And while there was no catastrophic online event, the lead-up to the 2018 midterms proved that online platform manipulation — and our fear of it — has firmly embedded itself into our national politics.posted by zachlipton at 4:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
The fake news apocalypse we feared for the midterms already happened — back in 2016. We’re now living in its aftermath. And the misinformation, propaganda, and hyper-partisan news that has defined this election news cycle reveals an unsettling truth: that years of algorithmically powered information warfare have drastically rewired our political discourse, turning it ever more toxic and blurring the lines of reality.
There’s mounting evidence that our increased reliance on online platforms for news and political debate has altered many people’s perceptions. “Our political conversations are now happening on an infrastructure built for viral advertising, on platforms that are purpose-built to generate engagement and amplify sensational content,” computational propaganda researcher Renee DiResta told BuzzFeed News. “A lot of the norms that exist in the real world — the way people talk to each other, the recognition that we are still talking to other human beings even if we disagree — they aren’t present on social networks.”
...
“We’ve democratized propaganda, made gaming distribution the key skill required to reach and influence people,” DiResta said of the realignment. “We have a powerful, still-young infrastructure for speech and persuasion, and I don’t think we’ve adapted yet.”
Blumenthal is on CNN right now. Says this is a break the glass moment for democracy, etc. All the right things. When asked what his response will be, he says he will "propose legislation" to provide funding. Thanks chief. That'll stop the panzers at the border.
posted by Justinian at 4:22 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:22 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
TPM, White Nationalist Leader Posts Pictures From White House Grounds
Update: @swin24: WH deputy press sec Lindsay Walters got back to @willsommer / me with: Casey “was one of more than twenty-five thousand people who came to the White House Fall Garden Tour, which is open to the public." If true, Casey misled about date of pics. He hasn’t responded to us yet
That would make a fair bit of sense, though the usual rule of thumb still applies that if you're doing things that make a white nationalist happy to smile and pose for pics in front of your house, you're doing bad things.
posted by zachlipton at 4:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Update: @swin24: WH deputy press sec Lindsay Walters got back to @willsommer / me with: Casey “was one of more than twenty-five thousand people who came to the White House Fall Garden Tour, which is open to the public." If true, Casey misled about date of pics. He hasn’t responded to us yet
That would make a fair bit of sense, though the usual rule of thumb still applies that if you're doing things that make a white nationalist happy to smile and pose for pics in front of your house, you're doing bad things.
posted by zachlipton at 4:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Welp. Philly peeps, see you at Thomas Paine Plaza at 5pm. An appropriate location, I suppose.
posted by lazaruslong at 4:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 4:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Apparently Tyler Nixon is the great-nephew of the former President. He is not the adult performer of the same name.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:32 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:32 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
are any mefi peeps in L.A. doing this thing?
posted by Justinian at 4:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
Direct action outside Tucker Carlson's house
Don't let them rest.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [18 favorites]
Don't let them rest.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [18 favorites]
I realize it's rude just to drop a link like this, especially one that elicits speculative wishful thinking, but damn if I didn't read those bullet points and feel energized by them:
Trump is in big trouble now that Democrats control the House — and he knows it
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 4:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trump is in big trouble now that Democrats control the House — and he knows it
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 4:38 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Politico's otherwise balanced analysis from this morning already feels like events have overtaken it: Trump's Narrative vs. Pelosi's Subpoenas—Both sides see a victory in Tuesday's results. But the ground is shifting beneath Republicans' feet.
And, adding a cherry on the top of today's shit sundae, NBC's Frank Thorpe reports: "And @PeteWilliamsNBC is reporting that Sessions is considering running for his old Senate seat in 2020."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
And, adding a cherry on the top of today's shit sundae, NBC's Frank Thorpe reports: "And @PeteWilliamsNBC is reporting that Sessions is considering running for his old Senate seat in 2020."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Is this real? I've been notified by Rapid Response Teams in New Orleans and Houston, but not NYC (or anywhere else I registered and can't remember because I was traveling a bunch in the spring).
posted by unknowncommand at 4:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by unknowncommand at 4:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
It got worse.
@Acosta: The US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don’t blame him. I know he’s just doing his job. (Sorry this video is not rightside up)
@jeffmason1: White House @PressSec says it is suspending @Acosta WH credentials (called a “hard pass”) after today’s press conference.
For context, here's the video from today's press conference.
posted by zachlipton at 4:56 PM on November 7, 2018 [67 favorites]
@Acosta: The US Secret Service just asked for my credential to enter the WH. As I told the officer, I don’t blame him. I know he’s just doing his job. (Sorry this video is not rightside up)
@jeffmason1: White House @PressSec says it is suspending @Acosta WH credentials (called a “hard pass”) after today’s press conference.
For context, here's the video from today's press conference.
posted by zachlipton at 4:56 PM on November 7, 2018 [67 favorites]
However specifics play out, this should be (ha!) the point where empirical reality begins to beat back mediated reality. Trump successfully grabbed headlines and created the current primary narrative by firing Sessions, but actual reality is that Democrats will soon assume control of the House of Representatives, and real investigations and accountability will (ostensibly) follow. Even if the House committees resume their most basic roles and responsibilities, all kinds of shit about Trump and his cabal will soon be flowing forth.
The bad guys know this, and that's why they've escalated, because their only real strength is moving quickly, first, and sometimes unexpectedly (well, that, and utter amorality and selfishness). I hope it doesn't take everyone very long to realize that a serious escalation has occurred, even in the context of Regular Trump Awfulness, but reframing is hard.
posted by LooseFilter at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
The bad guys know this, and that's why they've escalated, because their only real strength is moving quickly, first, and sometimes unexpectedly (well, that, and utter amorality and selfishness). I hope it doesn't take everyone very long to realize that a serious escalation has occurred, even in the context of Regular Trump Awfulness, but reframing is hard.
posted by LooseFilter at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
In Georgia, this Mueller Firing Rapid Response email just went out:
"Despite some announcements you may have received; we have not scheduled a protest in Atlanta at this time. There is major some disagreement across the country for them calling for a protest tomorrow. There is a meeting at 9pm to discuss. We will send an update ASAP. Thanks for your patience."
posted by reductiondesign at 5:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
"Despite some announcements you may have received; we have not scheduled a protest in Atlanta at this time. There is major some disagreement across the country for them calling for a protest tomorrow. There is a meeting at 9pm to discuss. We will send an update ASAP. Thanks for your patience."
posted by reductiondesign at 5:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
Full statement from @PressSec on @Acosta.: "President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable," and on and on complaining about CNN.
Every White House reporter should shred their credentials tonight.
posted by zachlipton at 5:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [62 favorites]
Every White House reporter should shred their credentials tonight.
posted by zachlipton at 5:02 PM on November 7, 2018 [62 favorites]
I've been pondering this since it happened, and I don't see any kind of calculus where firing AG Sessions right now has any kind of upside for anyone.
I'm seriously entertaining that he just ragequit that press conference, thats all.
posted by butterstick at 5:03 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm seriously entertaining that he just ragequit that press conference, thats all.
posted by butterstick at 5:03 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Since the WH is accusing Acosta of assault this perspective of the exchange between Acosta and Trump is more illuminating.
posted by pjenks at 5:07 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by pjenks at 5:07 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
In that Sanders statement:
"President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history," and "The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, it‘s an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this Administration."
CNN was a pipe-bomb recipient exactly 2 weeks ago.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [48 favorites]
"President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history," and "The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, it‘s an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this Administration."
CNN was a pipe-bomb recipient exactly 2 weeks ago.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [48 favorites]
Just FYI the Philly email did go out. Sounds like there isn’t 100% alignment nationwide but yes some places are really being activated.
posted by lazaruslong at 5:14 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by lazaruslong at 5:14 PM on November 7, 2018
Like a fucking Swiss watch.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 5:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
There is major some disagreement across the country for them calling for a protest tomorrow. There is a meeting at 9pm to discuss. We will send an update ASAP. Thanks for your patience.
Sounds like amateur hour over there. Once a decision is made, it's made. You can't walk it back even if you think it's less than ideal.
posted by Justinian at 5:18 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Sounds like amateur hour over there. Once a decision is made, it's made. You can't walk it back even if you think it's less than ideal.
posted by Justinian at 5:18 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
And every media member reliably switches from Mueller/Sessions coverage to Acosta. They're so easily manipulated.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [24 favorites]
This probably belongs in the Fucking Fuck thread. To accuse Acosta of harassment of the intern for lightly touching her forearm while she reached across him is fucking enraging after they just sat a rapist on the Supreme Court.
posted by michswiss at 5:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [119 favorites]
posted by michswiss at 5:23 PM on November 7, 2018 [119 favorites]
This probably belongs in the Fucking Fuck thread. To accuse Acosta of harassment of the intern for lightly touching her forearm while she reached across him is fucking enraging after they just sat a rapist on the Supreme Court.
That would, of course, be the point of the exercise. They may not know how to do their actual jobs, or even what their actual jobs are, but the have masterful skills at manipulating public perception and the media cycle.
posted by zrail at 5:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
That would, of course, be the point of the exercise. They may not know how to do their actual jobs, or even what their actual jobs are, but the have masterful skills at manipulating public perception and the media cycle.
posted by zrail at 5:31 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'm old enough to remember Trump repeatedly mocking the woman reporter Lewandowski assaulted.
posted by chris24 at 5:35 PM on November 7, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 5:35 PM on November 7, 2018 [43 favorites]
it sure has been a long year this week
posted by lazaruslong at 5:37 PM on November 7, 2018 [56 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 5:37 PM on November 7, 2018 [56 favorites]
Promise not to kill anyone? After losing election, TX judge wholesale releases juvenile defendants
After losing his bench in a Democratic sweep, Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Glenn Devlin released nearly all of the youthful defendants that appeared in front him on Wednesday morning, simply asking the kids whether they planned to kill anyone before letting them go.posted by scalefree at 5:41 PM on November 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
"He was releasing everybody," said public defender Steven Halpert, who watched the string of surprising releases. "Apparently he was saying that's what the voters wanted."
In court, prosecutors voiced their concerns about the seemingly indiscriminate release of those accused of everything from low-level misdemeanors to violent crimes.
"We oppose the wholesale release of violent offenders at any age," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement later. "This could endanger the public."
In total, at least seven kids were released, prosecutors said, including four facing aggravated robbery charges.
I'm old enough to remember when Trump repeatedly mocked the woman reporter Lewandowski assaulted.
Internal consistency is not the point. In fact they probably think they are especially clever for excluding Acosta and coming up with a justification in which they do not actually believe, but which they think will "trigger the libs," i.e. that he supposedly inappropriately touched a woman.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 5:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Internal consistency is not the point. In fact they probably think they are especially clever for excluding Acosta and coming up with a justification in which they do not actually believe, but which they think will "trigger the libs," i.e. that he supposedly inappropriately touched a woman.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 5:42 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
it sure has been a long year this week
Lenin, decades, etc.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Lenin, decades, etc.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trump is a probably serial sexual assaulter and rapist. The media should point that out.
posted by gucci mane at 5:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 5:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
The dumbnuts arguing over the protests are the poster kids for... uhh... the famous anecdote or book (forgive me, I'm blanking on the source) about how under fascist or authoritarian governments the public and activists always seem to be waiting for that one singular massive event to set off resistance. But there is almost never such an event. It is, instead, a gradual erosion where each proceeding loss of freedom and the rule of law is just a little bit worse than what was happening before. Is this the moment? No? The next one? The one after that?
There's almost never such a moment. One day you just wake up and everything is fucked.
The people organizing the event are falling prey to exactly that issue. TrumpCo learned from the Comey firing. That was one such rare singular moment... and it blew up in their faces. So they won't directly fire Mueller. They'll whittle away and box him in and gradually tighten the straps.
Either this is happening or its not. If it isn't tomorrow, I don't think it ever will. As I said... bunch of amateurs.
posted by Justinian at 5:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [27 favorites]
There's almost never such a moment. One day you just wake up and everything is fucked.
The people organizing the event are falling prey to exactly that issue. TrumpCo learned from the Comey firing. That was one such rare singular moment... and it blew up in their faces. So they won't directly fire Mueller. They'll whittle away and box him in and gradually tighten the straps.
Either this is happening or its not. If it isn't tomorrow, I don't think it ever will. As I said... bunch of amateurs.
posted by Justinian at 5:48 PM on November 7, 2018 [27 favorites]
Amateurs yes. But to be fair all the professional fascist resistors are all dead.
posted by Glibpaxman at 5:53 PM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by Glibpaxman at 5:53 PM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
True, perhaps amateur was the wrong criticism. Everyone's an amateur until they aren't. I'm an amateur. "Incompetent" would seem more accurate.
posted by Justinian at 5:55 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:55 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Just get on the damn streets.
posted by _Synesthesia_ at 5:56 PM on November 7, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by _Synesthesia_ at 5:56 PM on November 7, 2018 [28 favorites]
Hey now, comrade, we've first got to have a meeting of the organizing committee to set a date for a general discussion about whether it is appropriate at this moment in time to consider declaring our intention for such an event sometime in the future.
posted by Justinian at 5:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:58 PM on November 7, 2018 [18 favorites]
[U]nder fascist or authoritarian governments the public and activists always seem to be waiting for that one singular massive event to set off resistance. But there is almost never such an event....
Either this is happening or its not. If it isn't tomorrow, I don't think it ever will.
Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your argument, but don't these points kind of conflict? Like, if someone doesn't get their "Mueller action" email tomorrow before 5, they have missed the revolution and therefore hindered it...?
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 6:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Either this is happening or its not. If it isn't tomorrow, I don't think it ever will.
Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your argument, but don't these points kind of conflict? Like, if someone doesn't get their "Mueller action" email tomorrow before 5, they have missed the revolution and therefore hindered it...?
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 6:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Either this is happening or its not. If it isn't tomorrow, I don't think it ever will. As I said... bunch of amateurs.
But they sure do have a nice email list of people that now can be sold or subpoenaed or whatever.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
But they sure do have a nice email list of people that now can be sold or subpoenaed or whatever.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
According to Alexandria VA's Protest page:
The firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be one step short of the break glass moment. We would not trigger events, but we would respond by growing the rapid-response list and demanding that any new AG protect the investigation and that Congress pass the Mueller protection legislation.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:14 PM on November 7, 2018
The firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be one step short of the break glass moment. We would not trigger events, but we would respond by growing the rapid-response list and demanding that any new AG protect the investigation and that Congress pass the Mueller protection legislation.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:14 PM on November 7, 2018
We've first got to have a meeting of the organizing committee to set a date for a general discussion about whether it is appropriate at this moment in time to consider declaring our intention for such an event sometime in the future.
Don't quote me regulations about meetings. I co-chaired the committee that reviewed the recommendation to revise the color of the book that regulations about meetings are in.
posted by robotdevil at 6:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [30 favorites]
Don't quote me regulations about meetings. I co-chaired the committee that reviewed the recommendation to revise the color of the book that regulations about meetings are in.
posted by robotdevil at 6:17 PM on November 7, 2018 [30 favorites]
at notre dame the sections are not prepared. repeat. the sections are not prepared.
at rue de bac organizers are convening a meeting.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:18 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
at rue de bac organizers are convening a meeting.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:18 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Don't quote me regulations about meetings. I co-chaired the committee that reviewed the recommendation to revise the color of the book that regulations about meetings are in.
"book"? amateur hour. A real revolutionary bureaucrat uses binders.
posted by Groundhog Week at 6:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
"book"? amateur hour. A real revolutionary bureaucrat uses binders.
posted by Groundhog Week at 6:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes, the AG's firing was not on the rapid response emergency list, but #3 is, in fact: "Actions that would prevent the investigation from being conducted freely, such as replacing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Mueller’s current supervisor, or repealing the regulations establishing the office."
So that's definitely happened. The protests should be on.
posted by Room 101 at 6:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
So that's definitely happened. The protests should be on.
posted by Room 101 at 6:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
Just made the Mueller Firing Rapid Response announcement to my students. Sixteen kids, but folks are looped in now, and they're worriedly asking questions about what this means.
Austin Rally in planning. Currently mobilizing rooommates and friends, about to send out a bunch of texts.
posted by sciatrix at 6:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Austin Rally in planning. Currently mobilizing rooommates and friends, about to send out a bunch of texts.
posted by sciatrix at 6:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
NYC Rapid Response just emailed that it's happening. Tomorrow, 5pm, Times Square.
posted by unknowncommand at 6:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by unknowncommand at 6:27 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Just rsvp'd Rapid Response here in Winchester. It's at Comstock's office, then a march to City Hall.
posted by Harry Caul at 6:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 6:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's on for Seattle. 5pm - Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill. March to the Federal Building downtown on 2nd Ave.
posted by spinifex23 at 6:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by spinifex23 at 6:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just got the alerts. I know where I'm going to be.
posted by loquacious at 6:33 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 6:33 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Got the alert this afternoon for the north end of Waterfront Park in Portland.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Is anyone else having connectivity issues with moveon.org right now? I just got a 504 error.
posted by OntologicalPuppy at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by OntologicalPuppy at 6:36 PM on November 7, 2018
The firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions would be one step short of the break glass moment. We would not trigger events, but we would respond by growing the rapid-response list and demanding that any new AG protect the investigation and that Congress pass the Mueller protection legislation.
This is not some game of "I'm not touching you" being played by antsy siblings in the back seat of the family car. This is an inflection point in the history of our nation. By firing Sessions & replacing him with Whittaker, Trump has declared his intention to shut down the investigation. This is our moment. Get on board or be left behind.
posted by scalefree at 6:37 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
This is not some game of "I'm not touching you" being played by antsy siblings in the back seat of the family car. This is an inflection point in the history of our nation. By firing Sessions & replacing him with Whittaker, Trump has declared his intention to shut down the investigation. This is our moment. Get on board or be left behind.
posted by scalefree at 6:37 PM on November 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
Yeah, moveon is having performance issues right now. Hopefully a good sign. Not a drill people - streets tomorrow 5pm local.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:39 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 6:39 PM on November 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
It's loading intermittently here.
posted by unknowncommand at 6:42 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by unknowncommand at 6:42 PM on November 7, 2018
Should the MPRR be a FPP?
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
It's on the front page of reddit, it's not a drill, it's happening. Do what you have to do, I hope you already have a plan for this, but if you don't, don't worry other people will help. Stay safe and good luck.
posted by adept256 at 6:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 6:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Any MN folks want to memail me and say where you're going to be and maybe meet up? I never signed up for a specific protest location and I see there are a few options in the Twin Cities.
posted by Emmy Rae at 6:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Emmy Rae at 6:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Probably. I submitted a MeTa.
posted by sciatrix at 6:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 6:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
If anyone has info regarding meetups in the Albany NY area, please memail me.
posted by Groundhog Week at 6:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Groundhog Week at 6:45 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
So, the Republicans ran on the idea that Democrats are radical, violent and divisive, and the day after the election, Trump does something guaranteed to send crowds of angry screaming Democrats out into the streets. I'm not saying people shouldn't go out tomorrow -- fuck, what other option is there? -- but we've definitely been set up.
posted by neroli at 7:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by neroli at 7:00 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
If they were trying to paint us in a bad light, they would have done this weeks ago, recorded every negative incident, and used it in campaign ads against us. This is not about optics. This is just Trump’s only play to shut the investigation down.
posted by greermahoney at 7:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 7:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
Since the WH is accusing Acosta of assault this perspective of the exchange between Acosta and Trump is more illuminating.
I can't find a direct link to CNN's official statement but they're using the L-word in describing Sanders' response
posted by nathan_teske at 7:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [69 favorites]
I can't find a direct link to CNN's official statement but they're using the L-word in describing Sanders' response
The revocation of his pass "was done in retaliation for his challenging questions at today's press conference," the statement said. "In an explanation, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders lied. She provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better. Jim Acosta has our full support.(Emphasis mine)
posted by nathan_teske at 7:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [69 favorites]
Not sure I agree with all this, but Whitaker seeing the evidence and suddenly deciding he doesn't want to go down for Trump is possible.
Asha Rangappa (fmr FBI Special Agent, Just Security)
STEP DOWN FROM THE LEDGE (FOR NOW) THREAD. (Warning: This might be a SPOOL). OK, here are my thoughts on Whitaker taking over the Mueller investigation and why I think we need to see how things unfold before losing it. To be clear, I do NOT think this is an ideal situation. BUT:
2. First, Whitaker has spoken and written publicly on the Mueller investigation. This clearly creates an appearance of a conflict of interest. He must consult with the ethics people as his former boss did and, if it is warranted, recuse. Period. But assuming he does not:
3. First, as a commentator/pundit, you're expected to have an opinion on a given issue. But as discussed in the context of Strzok, et al., keep in mind that there is a very strong culture in DOJ to not let these views infect decisions. As a former USA, Whitaker knows this culture
4. Further, he has to document these decisions. The standard in the Special Counsel regulations for denying a request or recommendation of the Special Counsel is that it is "so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices that it should not be pursued."
5. Whitaker would have to document and justify his decisions under this standard, knowing (especially with Dems in control of the House) that he would have to testify to them under oath. Flimsy or corrupt justifications would open him up to obstruction of justice.
6. Even if he wanted to "starve the investigation," the SC regs state that the budget for the coming year must be approved within 90 days of the fiscal year. The fiscal year already started on October 1, and so the budget is in place until Sept '19. The next approval is in June '19
7. Another objection he made publicly is that going into Trump's finances would be crossing a red line. Remember that Mueller farmed out the Cohen case to SDNY. That is likely the thread that leads to the Trump Org, and it is not under Mueller. So that should not be an issue.
8. Important to keep in mind that his comments were made when he, like the rest of us, only knew what was public -- which, in summer '17, wasn't much. Since then, we've had indictments and guilty pleas on Manafort, Gates, Flynn, Papadopolous, Cohen, and a bunch of Russians.
9. The amount of evidence that has been accumulated in an investigation of this scale cannot be overstated. Which brings it back to how hard it will be for him to justify blocking further steps under the standard outlined in #4, above. Not happening.
10. Also, at a personal level, until now his loyalty as Chief of Staff has been to Sessions -- someone he saw get berated, insulted, pressured, and humiliated by POTUS. He may have seen more cray behind the scenes. I wouldn't count on his loyalty suddenly switching to POTUS.
11. Which brings me to: What would be the payoff? He's not going to be AG, this is temporary. If he has political ambitions he is much better off with Sessions as an ally and being respected in DOJ than hitching his wagon to Trump's (falling) star.
12. In short, the rules, culture, and incentives all point to just keeping what's happening on track, not going off a cliff, which would be professional suicide. I may be proven wrong, I hope I'm not. END
posted by chris24 at 7:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Asha Rangappa (fmr FBI Special Agent, Just Security)
STEP DOWN FROM THE LEDGE (FOR NOW) THREAD. (Warning: This might be a SPOOL). OK, here are my thoughts on Whitaker taking over the Mueller investigation and why I think we need to see how things unfold before losing it. To be clear, I do NOT think this is an ideal situation. BUT:
2. First, Whitaker has spoken and written publicly on the Mueller investigation. This clearly creates an appearance of a conflict of interest. He must consult with the ethics people as his former boss did and, if it is warranted, recuse. Period. But assuming he does not:
3. First, as a commentator/pundit, you're expected to have an opinion on a given issue. But as discussed in the context of Strzok, et al., keep in mind that there is a very strong culture in DOJ to not let these views infect decisions. As a former USA, Whitaker knows this culture
4. Further, he has to document these decisions. The standard in the Special Counsel regulations for denying a request or recommendation of the Special Counsel is that it is "so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices that it should not be pursued."
5. Whitaker would have to document and justify his decisions under this standard, knowing (especially with Dems in control of the House) that he would have to testify to them under oath. Flimsy or corrupt justifications would open him up to obstruction of justice.
6. Even if he wanted to "starve the investigation," the SC regs state that the budget for the coming year must be approved within 90 days of the fiscal year. The fiscal year already started on October 1, and so the budget is in place until Sept '19. The next approval is in June '19
7. Another objection he made publicly is that going into Trump's finances would be crossing a red line. Remember that Mueller farmed out the Cohen case to SDNY. That is likely the thread that leads to the Trump Org, and it is not under Mueller. So that should not be an issue.
8. Important to keep in mind that his comments were made when he, like the rest of us, only knew what was public -- which, in summer '17, wasn't much. Since then, we've had indictments and guilty pleas on Manafort, Gates, Flynn, Papadopolous, Cohen, and a bunch of Russians.
9. The amount of evidence that has been accumulated in an investigation of this scale cannot be overstated. Which brings it back to how hard it will be for him to justify blocking further steps under the standard outlined in #4, above. Not happening.
10. Also, at a personal level, until now his loyalty as Chief of Staff has been to Sessions -- someone he saw get berated, insulted, pressured, and humiliated by POTUS. He may have seen more cray behind the scenes. I wouldn't count on his loyalty suddenly switching to POTUS.
11. Which brings me to: What would be the payoff? He's not going to be AG, this is temporary. If he has political ambitions he is much better off with Sessions as an ally and being respected in DOJ than hitching his wagon to Trump's (falling) star.
12. In short, the rules, culture, and incentives all point to just keeping what's happening on track, not going off a cliff, which would be professional suicide. I may be proven wrong, I hope I'm not. END
posted by chris24 at 7:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [23 favorites]
Stanley Elkin's 1965 short story "A Poetics for Bullies" has long been one of my favorite pieces of writing. It's very much worth reading now.
Here's the opening:
I'm Push the bully, and what I hate are new kids and sissies, dumb kids and smart, rich kids, poor kids, kids who wear glasses, talk funny, show off, patrol boys and wise guys and kids who pass pencils and water the plants — and cripples, especially cripples. I love nobody loved.
posted by neroli at 7:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Here's the opening:
I'm Push the bully, and what I hate are new kids and sissies, dumb kids and smart, rich kids, poor kids, kids who wear glasses, talk funny, show off, patrol boys and wise guys and kids who pass pencils and water the plants — and cripples, especially cripples. I love nobody loved.
posted by neroli at 7:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Oh, and this is a much better framing for this...
Marcy Wheeler
Dear Democrats saying Whittaker must recuse:
Try it this way: "If Whittaker doesn't recuse--as required by DOJ guidelines--it will confirm he was appointed to obstruct justice."
posted by chris24 at 7:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [74 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler
Dear Democrats saying Whittaker must recuse:
Try it this way: "If Whittaker doesn't recuse--as required by DOJ guidelines--it will confirm he was appointed to obstruct justice."
posted by chris24 at 7:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [74 favorites]
Showing up is a great idea. We got an advantage yesterday and we should press it, if for no other reason than as a sign of awareness of our continually growing strength. But the other reasons are pretty good too.
posted by Miko at 7:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Miko at 7:24 PM on November 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
As a former USA, Whitaker knows this culture
He invoked his position three years ago as a former USA to make legal threats to the upset victim of a scam that was shut down by the FTC for fraud. Sorry if I don't find it convincing that he's big on upholding the finest traditions of the Justice Department.
Remember that Mueller farmed out the Cohen case to SDNY. That is likely the thread that leads to the Trump Org, and it is not under Mueller. So that should not be an issue.
Except the acting AG oversees SDNY as well. That investigation is at risk too, and it lacks the independence Mueller is supposed to have. The only thing stopping him from interfering with that is a norm.
Also, at a personal level, until now his loyalty as Chief of Staff has been to Sessions -- someone he saw get berated, insulted, pressured, and humiliated by POTUS. He may have seen more cray behind the scenes. I wouldn't count on his loyalty suddenly switching to POTUS.
I mean, consider how Whitaker got the job. Sam Clovis, a key witness in the investigation, encouraged Whitaker to get himself a cable gig to get Trump's attention. His spirited support of Trump worked and got him hired as Sessions' chief of staff. It seems pretty clear he's always been loyal to Trump; that's why he spent all his time going on CNN talking about how unfairly Trump is being treated while apparently never lifting a finger to defend Sessions.
The main thing that could keep everything on track is an effort to kill the investigation slowly rather than in one go, but nothing in this thread is reassuring.
posted by zachlipton at 7:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
He invoked his position three years ago as a former USA to make legal threats to the upset victim of a scam that was shut down by the FTC for fraud. Sorry if I don't find it convincing that he's big on upholding the finest traditions of the Justice Department.
Remember that Mueller farmed out the Cohen case to SDNY. That is likely the thread that leads to the Trump Org, and it is not under Mueller. So that should not be an issue.
Except the acting AG oversees SDNY as well. That investigation is at risk too, and it lacks the independence Mueller is supposed to have. The only thing stopping him from interfering with that is a norm.
Also, at a personal level, until now his loyalty as Chief of Staff has been to Sessions -- someone he saw get berated, insulted, pressured, and humiliated by POTUS. He may have seen more cray behind the scenes. I wouldn't count on his loyalty suddenly switching to POTUS.
I mean, consider how Whitaker got the job. Sam Clovis, a key witness in the investigation, encouraged Whitaker to get himself a cable gig to get Trump's attention. His spirited support of Trump worked and got him hired as Sessions' chief of staff. It seems pretty clear he's always been loyal to Trump; that's why he spent all his time going on CNN talking about how unfairly Trump is being treated while apparently never lifting a finger to defend Sessions.
The main thing that could keep everything on track is an effort to kill the investigation slowly rather than in one go, but nothing in this thread is reassuring.
posted by zachlipton at 7:26 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
I can't find a direct link to CNN's official statement but they're using the L-word in describing Sanders' response
Anderson Cooper reads the CNN statement live during the Jim Acosta interview you linked to. WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH.
( Bonus points to the producer for having that interview on the penthouse overlooking the White House.. )
posted by mikelieman at 7:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Anderson Cooper reads the CNN statement live during the Jim Acosta interview you linked to. WHICH EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH.
( Bonus points to the producer for having that interview on the penthouse overlooking the White House.. )
posted by mikelieman at 7:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Nice little pickup in MA: The state-senate seat that Scott Brown held before he (briefly) became a US senator and then lost senate races in two states, and which another Republican had filled, was flipped.
posted by adamg at 7:39 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by adamg at 7:39 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm tired of pundits describing the Sessions firing as a "distraction" after the loss of the House. Floating an Executive Order to repeal the 14th Amendment was a distraction. Firing Sessions is another step in a systematic dismantling of the rule of law in this country. It forms part of an ongoing crime morally equivalent to treason.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [50 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:05 PM on November 7, 2018 [50 favorites]
NYT: Trump Installs a Critic of the Mueller Investigation to Oversee It
And after this meeting, Rosenstein cancelled a speech scheduled for tomorrow at the Aspen Institute's cybersecurity summit in San Francisco without giving a reason. (via NBC's Heidi Przybyla)
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:07 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Inside the Justice Department, senior officials, including Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, have viewed Mr. Whitaker with intense suspicion. Before his current job at the Justice Department, Mr. Whitaker, a former college football tight end, was openly hostile on television and social media toward the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and was seen by department officials as a partisan and a White House spy.[...]Rosenstein, meanwhile, is headed to White House for purportedly unrelated meeting.
People close to the president said Mr. Whitaker first came to the attention of Mr. Trump because he liked watching Mr. Whitaker express skepticism about aspects of Mr. Mueller’s investigation on television.[...]
It is likely that Mr. Whitaker will be in the position until at least early next year because the Senate legislative calender would make it nearly impossible to confirm a new attorney general before the current term ends in December.
And after this meeting, Rosenstein cancelled a speech scheduled for tomorrow at the Aspen Institute's cybersecurity summit in San Francisco without giving a reason. (via NBC's Heidi Przybyla)
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:07 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
I probably need to take it to the fucking fuck thread, but goddamn am I losing it over people who wanna be all, "Omana silenced the press too!" as if there's any true equivalent to how Jim Acosta (or April Ryan) or the press more generally have been treated by the current White House.
posted by TwoStride at 8:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 8:08 PM on November 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Silver lining: Racist Keebler Elf Jeff Sessions is no longer setting DOJ priorities as the AG.
Gold lining: Nor does he any longer have a vote in the Senate.
Platinum lining encrusted with precious gems: the Senate seat he vacated to become a turfed-out dignity wraith is now occupied by a Democrat.
Raw sewage soaking in under the lining: Sessions may run for his old seat again in 2020.
posted by darkstar at 8:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
Gold lining: Nor does he any longer have a vote in the Senate.
Platinum lining encrusted with precious gems: the Senate seat he vacated to become a turfed-out dignity wraith is now occupied by a Democrat.
Raw sewage soaking in under the lining: Sessions may run for his old seat again in 2020.
posted by darkstar at 8:16 PM on November 7, 2018 [35 favorites]
Well, let's see if we can put him in jail first.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:19 PM on November 7, 2018 [31 favorites]
Moveon servers are slammed. Hoping for big crowds and a lotta press.
posted by j_curiouser at 8:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 8:20 PM on November 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
In Rhode Island there are three protests planned ( Providence, Newport, Westerly) — which kind of surprises me, being so close to Boston.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:23 PM on November 7, 2018
posted by wenestvedt at 8:23 PM on November 7, 2018
Got through to moveon.org and they're showing a big-ass red banner; they're a go for tomorrow, Nov. 8, 5pm.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:28 PM on November 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Newer article at the WaPo:
Jeff Sessions forced out as attorney general
read the whole thing, but here’s the kicker:
posted by murphy slaw at 8:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Jeff Sessions forced out as attorney general
read the whole thing, but here’s the kicker:
A legal commentator before he came into the Justice Department, Whitaker had mused publicly about how a Sessions replacement might reduce Mueller’s budget “so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt.” He also wrote in an August 2017 column that Mueller had “come up to a red line in the Russia 2016 election-meddling investigation that he is dangerously close to crossing,” after CNN reported that the special counsel could be looking into Trump and his associates’ financial ties to Russia. Trump has told advisers that Whitaker is loyal and would not have recused himself from the investigation, current and former White House officials said.emphasis mine
posted by murphy slaw at 8:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [15 favorites]
Evan McMullin, writing for NBC on Tuesday, scores Cassandra points: Trump Is Going To Escalate His Attacks On American Democracy Post-Election, No Matter Who Wins
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [54 favorites]
My service with the Central Intelligence Agency taught me that leaders committed to self-preservation through authoritarianism do not curtail their efforts to dismantle checks on their power under the threat of accountability. They hasten them.[...]More worrying is what's likely to come:
If, on the other hand, the Democrats prevail in at least one chamber, Trump will not stand idly as oversight committees and the law encircle him. He will fear the consequences of his inaction more than those of any potential action.[...]
If the Democrats win the House, Trump will frame their appropriate oversight as treason, sheer partisanship and personal hostility, exploiting any overreaches or missteps as evidence of his false narrative. This in turn will encourage his followers’ utter contempt for evidence of his wrongdoing.[...]
He will likely remove Attorney General Jeff Sessions to gain influence over Department of Justice investigations, which the president’s Democratic opposition will tolerate due to their unwillingness to bear Session’s flaws long enough to protect relevant probes.
In the months ahead, Trump and his far-right media allies will more thoroughly flood the country with conspiracies, lies and other disinformation to impede our ability to discern the truth about his corruption. Many well-intentioned Americans will probably succumb, resolving to refocus on matters closer to home, including family, work and friendships.And today on Twitter, he made it plain: "President Trump is doing what every aspiring despot must do: purge law enforcement of independent officials and investigations. This is a dangerous moment for the republic. "
He will continue to allow and even normalize foreign disinformation in his favor, which will become more sophisticated, effective and increasingly encouraged and mimicked by his loyalists.
He will more brazenly pursue nationalist, illiberal policies to energize the far-right in order to maintain control over the GOP and provoke a more radical response from the far-left, which he will in turn use to justify additional anti-democratic measures.[...]
He will more frequently claim a national security rationale for his actions and may, possibly with a new set of less independent defense advisors, exploit real crises to suspend basic freedoms and silence dissent.
Most importantly, he will do whatever he can to use our greatest fears, frustrations and ambitions to turn us against each other, because uniting on higher ground in defense of the nation presents the greatest threat to him.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:47 PM on November 7, 2018 [54 favorites]
Maggie carrying water like her book deal depends on it:
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:51 PM on November 7, 2018 [58 favorites]
Some perspective on Sessions and Russia probe/his role protecting it - he didn’t recuse right away and only did after it was reported by WaPo that he hadn’t been forthcoming about his contacts w Russian ambassador during his senate hearing. In addition to that, tomorrow there will be marches nationally organized by progressives to protest the firing of an AG who also advocated for immigration policies that progressives have denounced for nearly two years. The times have created an up/down refeeendum on a lot of pplYes, because progressives are upset Sessions won't get to implement his immigration policies, trenchant analysis there from the leading White House correspondent in the nation's leading paper.
Chris Hayes: People aren’t objecting to firing Sessions! They’re objecting to making Whitaker acting AG, when you can easily fire Sessions and have the DAG serve as acting until a nomination. Obviously that’s not happening here.This isn't hard, unless you're paid very well to not understand it and run PR for the White House.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:51 PM on November 7, 2018 [58 favorites]
One of the most grimly funny parts about this current political situation in America is that Evan McMullin, a former CIA operative/investment banker, is now considered an expert and critic of despots.
That is one hell of an Overton window shift.
posted by Ouverture at 8:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [22 favorites]
That is one hell of an Overton window shift.
posted by Ouverture at 8:54 PM on November 7, 2018 [22 favorites]
While I'm loathe to link to the Daily Mail, their US political editor may have a scoop on Whitaker's timeline: “Rep. Steve King says he spoke with Trump in the Oval, Oct. 2, about Matt Whitaker's qualifications for either Sessions' job or Rosenstein's. King: "The president said he was a Whitaker fan. And he asked me to call Matt, and tell him that he loves him."”
In addition, from the DM article ("Trump FIRES Attorney General Jeff Sessions"):
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:59 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
In addition, from the DM article ("Trump FIRES Attorney General Jeff Sessions"):
A Capitol Hill source said Wednesday that Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King, who survived a scare against a Democratic challenger on Tuesday, recommended Whitaker for a promotion last month. The source said that King advised Trump to consider helping Whitaker if he were to fire someone in a senior DOJ position.[...]The usual caveats about anonymous leaks go double when it comes to the Daily Mail, of course, but it looks as though the fix was a long time in the works.
King said Wednesday in a phone interview that he spoke with the president on October 2 in the Oval Office and urged him to 'empower' Whitaker and make sure he wasn't 'caught in the crossfire,' sensing that changes were coming.[...]
Trump had already spoken personally with Whitaker in late September about the possibility of replacing Sessions, a West Wing aide told DailyMail.com last month.
A senior Republican said then that Whitaker was in a 'grooming exercise' to become attorney general, and had been expected to replace Rosenstein on an acting basis until his planned resignation evaporated in September.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:59 PM on November 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler, writing on Emptywheel, reviews a 2002 memo from the DoJ's Office of Legal Counsel and concludes that Matt Whitaker has authority to share proceedings of national security grand jury investigations with Trump.
"The memo envisioned such authority to be delegable, but ultimately puts the AG in charge of deciding what information the President gets. [...] And it doesn’t require any paper trail for the sharing of such information. [...] Given that the entire purpose of this move seems to be about tampering with the Mueller inquiry, we should assume Whitaker will do as imagined, and let the President know what Mueller has been up to."
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
"The memo envisioned such authority to be delegable, but ultimately puts the AG in charge of deciding what information the President gets. [...] And it doesn’t require any paper trail for the sharing of such information. [...] Given that the entire purpose of this move seems to be about tampering with the Mueller inquiry, we should assume Whitaker will do as imagined, and let the President know what Mueller has been up to."
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:15 PM on November 7, 2018 [17 favorites]
There is something seriously fucked up in a democracy when (1) a state’s chief elections official gets to purge voters who might vote against him while he’s running for a higher office, and then oversee and certify his own victory in said election, and (2) the country’s chief executive gets to appoint the person responsible for overseeing the investigation into his own corruption, as well as appointing the Justices likely to eventually rule on key aspects of the case!
posted by darkstar at 9:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [60 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 9:29 PM on November 7, 2018 [60 favorites]
If you can't make it to a protest or need something to in the meantime, be part of the post-election flood of letters demanding Executive accountability from Congress! You can also help fill up voice mails tonight and overwhelm the Congressional switchboard tomorrow!
[Congress Person],posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 9:30 PM on November 7, 2018 [49 favorites]
I believe it is of the utmost importance to the rule of law to be protected.
First, Matt Whittaker must recuse himself from involvement in the Special Counsel's investigation because of his close relationship with material witness in the investigation, Sam Clovis. Moreover, his publicly critical statements regarding the investigation call into dire question his objectivity in this matter.
Failure for Whittaker to recuse himself--as is required by Section 45.2 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulation requires-- demonstrates an unquestionable intent to obstruct justice by means of the appointment.
Second, I also demand Congress to legislatively protect Special Counsel Mueller's investigation from Executive interference.
Finally, I fully expect that the new Democratic Majority to investigate the circumstances of Jefferson Session's "resignation" and the decision to immediately appoint Matt Whitaker to oversee the investigation.
I believe that no one in the United States should be above the rule of law--not you, not I, and not Donald Trump. The Special Counsel investigation must continue unimpeded to fully understand the conspiracy to enlist the aid of a hostile foreign power to interfere in the electoral process.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Lawfare on Jeff Sessions’s Firing, Matthew Whitaker’s Rise and the Attorney General’s Role In the Mueller Investigation. A long, but interesting analysis of this awful situation.
The firing of Jeff Sessions and his replacement on an interim basis by a man who has expressed open hostility to the Mueller investigation and in whose loyalty President Trump has expressed confidence marks a major moment in the course of the Russia investigation.posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 9:43 PM on November 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
It is a profoundly dangerous moment: The president fired the attorney general, as he once fired the FBI director, for plainly illegitimate reasons: because the attorney general acted appropriately on an investigative matter in which Trump himself has the deepest of personal interests. Trump does not even pretend there are other reasons. He removed the attorney general because the attorney general did not protect him from investigation. Yes, the president has the raw power to do this. But as was the case with the firing of James Comey, it is an abuse of the power he wields. [...]
All of this creates some uncertainty as to how long Whitaker will oversee the probe—or, at least, how long he should. Like Sessions, Whitaker may be obligated to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation. The relevant Justice Department guideline is Section 45.2 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which states that “no employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a personal or political relationship with” either “any person or organization substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution” or “any person or organization which he knows has a specific and substantial interest that would be directly affected by the outcome of the investigation or prosecution.” [...]
But there is another player in this dynamic: Mueller. The special counsel has so far used silence as a strategic weapon. He has chosen to act as a traditional, tight-lipped prosecutor, speaking only through indictments and criminal complaints. He has said almost nothing else in public, and his staff has not leaked. One consequence of that course is that if Mueller were to say anything publicly, his voice would be enormously powerful. He has the capacity to issue a statement, hold a news conference or even to issue a strongly worded letter of resignation. One of the key moments in the Saturday Night Massacre was when Archibald Cox, having been removed, issued a statement through his spokesman, James Doyle, who held a press conference after the Special Prosecutor's Office was shut down. If Mueller believes his investigation is being impeded, his most important tool may be the ability to say so publicly.
Raw sewage soaking in under the lining: Sessions may run for his old seat again in 2020.
Let's see...Trump's base considers him to be a disloyal RINO, democrats/progressives aren't that big on that whole racism/children-in-cages thing.
Yeah, I don't think he should be booking a hall for his Victory Party any time soon.....
posted by gtrwolf at 9:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Let's see...Trump's base considers him to be a disloyal RINO, democrats/progressives aren't that big on that whole racism/children-in-cages thing.
Yeah, I don't think he should be booking a hall for his Victory Party any time soon.....
posted by gtrwolf at 9:44 PM on November 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
A Petri two-fer:
Texas, I see now that you love me and despise this Beto, and I embrace you (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
Texas, I see now that you love me and despise this Beto, and I embrace you (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
Dear Texas,Pundits talk about other events the way they have talked about the ‘blue wave’ (in its entirety)
Thank you. From the bottom of my four-valved human heart, thank you for your support. I understand now that you love me, Texas, and we shall never be parted. You have seen me and you have seen Beto O’Rourke, and you have chosen me, Texas. Oh, yes. You and I are one, and we shall be one always. It is a beautiful thing, more beautiful than soup.
It was a terrible thing to think you would be parted from me. I dreaded it as I dread the thought of soup that has expired but you don’t realize it has expired or soup that was hot but is cold or being forced to play in a band. The valves of my heart clapped shut at the thought of it. But Sen. Beto O’Rourke is not what you wanted, Texas.
Look at him. I do not understand what appeals to you in him! His hair is not secure but moves naturally in the wind. He wears pants that are slim, like the pants a matchstick might wear, and when he smiles, strangers send him salacious messages. Inappropriate, Texas!
In Disappointment to Female Voters, 19th Amendment Passes Only Onceposted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:09 PM on November 7, 2018 [107 favorites]
Truman Only Defeats Dewey For President
Disappointing Night for Rebels Who Only Manage to Destroy Death Star, Dashing Hopes They Might Also Have Engaged and Defeated Entire Imperial Navy
Waterloo Outcome Not All Wellington Could Have Hoped For, Fails to Deliver Napoleon Complete Rebuke
Edward Jenner, In Disappointing Find, Develops Smallpox Vaccine (Mumps, Rubella Remain Rampant)
Victory at Yorktown Could Have Been More Resounding
Moses Parts Red Sea in Half, Not Thirds
Faulkner Wins Nobel Prize for Literature, Comes Up Empty in Chemistry and Biology
Jesus Feeds 5,000, No More
NASA Manages to Land First Man on Moon, Falls Short of Mars
Since I don't have anything constructive to add on the Sessions firing (except to say that tomorrow is my birthday and I will accept smashing fascism in lieu of cake and will even forgive the shitty present I got two years ago on this same date.. my god, has it really only been two years?) I'll just share a link to a piece I thought interesting, by the generally interesting Fred Clark (of Slacktivist)
His latest post is about Trump's decision to label himself a nationalist and how that word doesn't quite fit. The whole piece can be read here but this is the crux:
His latest post is about Trump's decision to label himself a nationalist and how that word doesn't quite fit. The whole piece can be read here but this is the crux:
Re-reading Orwell’s essay, I’m convinced that Donald Trump is, in fact, not a nationalist. I say this for the same reason that Orwell italicized that same word — not — in the quote above. A “nationalist,” in Orwell’s taxonomy, is a person who has subsumed their self and their identity into that of “the nation or other unit.” Trump doesn’t do that. He’s trying, rather, to the opposite of that — to subsume the nation into his self and his identity.posted by Nerd of the North at 11:10 PM on November 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
Trump shares the nationalist’s overriding obsession with pursuing power and prestige, but he seeks these for himself, not for any larger nation or cause. He is certainly preaching nationalism and promoting a political message that appeals to nationalists, but he is not himself one of them. He is, rather, a demagogue who views actual nationalists as easy marks for his own personal pursuit of personal power and prestige.
Charles Pierce: There Is Now an Institution of the American Government That Isn't Controlled By—or Afraid of—Donald Trump. For the first time in two years, there will be oversight of the Executive Branch.
The Constitutional Crisis Is In Sight: President Trump fires Jeff Sessions and ushers in a pet attorney general. Welcome to the madhouse.
posted by homunculus at 12:33 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
The Constitutional Crisis Is In Sight: President Trump fires Jeff Sessions and ushers in a pet attorney general. Welcome to the madhouse.
posted by homunculus at 12:33 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
(Reposting my comment in the correct thread this time:) Woke up this morning to the news of Sessions's retirement, and I was like, you guys don't have to follow the Malaysia playbook *that* closely. I guess now they can exchange notes.
posted by cendawanita at 12:55 AM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 12:55 AM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
SHS defends the treatment of Acosta using this obviously doctored video in which a smooth arm movement is manipulated to make it look like a chop. This has all gone to a new level of unreality.
posted by stonepharisee at 1:21 AM on November 8, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 1:21 AM on November 8, 2018 [35 favorites]
So given something in Whitaker's recent past I think he'll do more than just sabotage Mueller to protect Trump. He'll also be his attack dog, spinning up conspiracy theories against his political enemies & using the machinery of Justice to punish them. In short, he's here to "lock her up!"
Jeff Sessions’ Replacement, Matthew Whitaker, Led Secretive Anti-Dem Group
Acting AG Matthew Whitaker ‘is on record as being more interested in propping up Trump than in upholding the rule of law,’ one Justice Department lawyer says.
Jeff Sessions’ Replacement, Matthew Whitaker, Led Secretive Anti-Dem Group
Acting AG Matthew Whitaker ‘is on record as being more interested in propping up Trump than in upholding the rule of law,’ one Justice Department lawyer says.
“Whitaker is on record as being more interested in propping up Trump than in upholding the rule of law,” one DOJ trial attorney told The Daily Beast. “It’s hard to have confidence that he’ll do anything other than what the president had said in his tweets.”posted by scalefree at 1:24 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
[...]
In March 2017, The Washington Post reported that Sessions had neglected to tell the Senate at his confirmation hearing about prior conversations he had with the Russian ambassador.
The attorney general came under blistering criticism, especially as he had not yet recused himself from supervising the FBI’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Then Whitaker spoke up. As executive director of the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, an organization that served primarily to level ethics complaints against Democrats, he released a statement defending Sessions.
“If we are going to have a national discussion about Senators meeting with ambassadors it is appropriate for all Senators to disclose who they met with so the public, and apparently the media, understand that all Senator Sessions did was his job,” Whitaker said in the statement.
The statement was blasted out to reporters by CRC Public Relations, a conservative group based in Alexandria, Virginia, which represented FACT and Whitaker throughout 2017, according to press releases.
More recently, CRC faced scrutiny and criticism during Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation process for reportedly stoking media interest in a discredited conspiracy theory about Kavanaugh’s chief accuser.
Two people familiar with CRC’s communications at the time told The Daily Beast that people at the firm tipped off reporters that conservative activist Ed Whelan would be tweeting interesting material relevant to Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Whelan then posted a tweetstorm claiming that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who had accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, mistook him for a similar-looking high school classmate. Whelan, who even posted house blueprints and yearbook photos to support his theory, later had to apologize for accusing the other man of sexual assault.
By then, Whitaker had left FACT and become Sessions’ chief of staff.
The New Acting Attorney General Was Previously a Dark Money–Funded Clinton Antagonist
One of President Trump’s frequent attacks on Attorney General Jeff Sessions was his refusal to aggressively investigate and even prosecute Hillary Clinton. With newly named acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker in charge of the Justice Department for the foreseeable future, Trump has found an experienced Clinton antagonist to be the nation’s top law enforcement officer.posted by scalefree at 1:30 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Before he joined the Justice Department as Sessions’ chief of staff, Whitaker was the executive director of the innocuously named Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (yes, it also goes by the acronym FACT). The organization, founded in 2014, largely publicized what it described as ethical lapses by prominent Democrats and requested that government agencies and law enforcement investigate them—especially if they were Hillary Clinton.
[...]
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, FACT’s treasurer was Neil Corkery, whose wife, Ann, was one of the founders of what’s now called the Judicial Crisis Network, one of the leading conservative nonprofits that advocates on behalf of Republican judicial nominees. The $600,000 FACT received in 2014, the Center for Responsive Politics said, came from DonorsTrust, a conservative fund that itself hides its donors and then distributes their largess.
Charles Koch, CRP said, was one of DonorsTrust’s contributors: “In other words, an organization ‘dedicated to promoting accountability, ethics, and transparency’ gets 100 percent of its funds from a group that exists mainly as a vehicle for donors to elude transparency.”
During Whitaker’s tenure at FACT, from October 2014 to September 2017, the group got the most attention for what it said about Hillary Clinton. One of its first announcements was a press release saying that the group Ready for Hillary “is building data files and warehousing staff expected to move to Clinton’s official campaign when it launches,” which would “likely draw FEC complaints due to possible federal election law violations.”
FACT then later aggressively jumped on the Clinton email bandwagon, requesting that Eric Holder get his hands on the Clinton State Department emails in March 2015.* The Clinton attacks kept on coming.
In December 2015, FACT filed a complaint with the Office of Government Ethics alleging that Clinton “gave a private company special access to the State Department based upon the company’s relationships with Secretary Clinton’s family members and donors to the Clinton Foundation.” The complaint and the allegations were then reported on by a host of conservative news outlets, including Fox News, the Washington Examiner, and the Washington Free Beacon, as well as Time. A month later the group filed a similar complaint, saying, “Clinton routinely gave preferential treatment to individuals with which she had financial ties,” and even cited an email showing that “George Soros was ‘impressed’ with the level of access he was given.” In March 2016, the group released the “Top 10 Most Ethically Challenged Hillary Emails,” along with an accompanying piece in the Daily Caller.
FACT’s activities were not strictly limited to Clinton—in September 2016, during the height of the presidential and congressional campaigns, the group called for investigations into Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh, Ohio Democrat Ted Strickland, and Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy.
You know, what's sort of interesting is that I found myself fascinated a bit by that young staffer, pre the Acosta ban. I feel a little gross assessing her appearance and age, but I was fascinated by this like Breck girl who was doing the job of passing the microphone around. Mostly I was like she looks like a deer between two lions. Yeah, that seems like a good own the libs move: be rapists, shove a very young woman in a tense standoff, and cry assault. Good job, you get an A for buulshit today you fuckers.
posted by angrycat at 1:34 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:34 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
SHS defends the treatment of Acosta using this obviously doctored video in which a smooth arm movement is manipulated to make it look like a chop. This has all gone to a new level of unreality.
Worse, they seem to have taken the video from the Infowars guy:
This has turned into a "there are four lights" moment, and a substantial number of people are going to be screaming five for the rest of their life over what is frankly the dumbest dispute they've dragged us into.
posted by zachlipton at 1:48 AM on November 8, 2018 [84 favorites]
Worse, they seem to have taken the video from the Infowars guy:
To bolster the case against Acosta, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders posted an edited video of the incident where the action is generally slowed down but speeds up right before the moment of contact, to create the false impression of a deliberate jab on the part of AcostaIt does appear to be the same video: @PrisonPlanet, @PressSec. Compare that to the unmanipulated video, which runs at a constant speed and includes context.
As Ashley Feinberg of The Huffington Post notes, the source of the doctored video Sanders posted seems to be Paul Joseph Watson, the editor-at-large of Infowars.com, a notorious conspiracy theory website.
This has turned into a "there are four lights" moment, and a substantial number of people are going to be screaming five for the rest of their life over what is frankly the dumbest dispute they've dragged us into.
posted by zachlipton at 1:48 AM on November 8, 2018 [84 favorites]
I'm personally convinced the whole thing actually was a setup, that she was chosen & tasked with being confrontational until she "drew a foul" that could be spun into some kind of assault. Creating chaos by setting people against each other is definitely within Trump's skillset.
posted by scalefree at 2:33 AM on November 8, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 2:33 AM on November 8, 2018 [18 favorites]
Hmm the mass shooting in California seems to be eating up a lot of the air in the room. Strangely there seems to be more action on Twitter about the Acosta banning than the Sessions resigning.
posted by angrycat at 3:29 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 3:29 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
The trolls were ready & pounced on Acosta's incident within minutes. An active shooter doesn't do so much for their interests, not a thing they'd be amplifying.
posted by scalefree at 3:59 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 3:59 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Strangely there seems to be more action on Twitter about the Acosta banning than the Sessions resigning.
Access journalists care only about their own access, certainly not an existential threat to democracy. As long as they have a press pass to the signing ceremony for the Enabling Act, they're happy.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:34 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
Access journalists care only about their own access, certainly not an existential threat to democracy. As long as they have a press pass to the signing ceremony for the Enabling Act, they're happy.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:34 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
Speaking of access journalists, The Washington Post's Trump Whisperer Philip Rucker hits up his anonymous sources for his latest: Washington In Battle Mode As Trump Vows Retaliation Against Democratic Probes
The trolls were ready & pounced on Acosta's incident within minutes.
Incidentally, Hamilton 68's Russian bot/troll tracker shows them pushing the #jimacosta hashtag much more than #jeffsessions, for what that's worth.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:42 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday dodged a reporter’s question about what Senate Republicans would do if House Democrats try to investigate Trump.Hilariously, Rucker euphemistically describes Trump's press conference meltdown as "remarkably combative", "wide-ranging and often sharp-tongued". Yesterday on Twitter, he described it more frankly: "This Trump news conference is going off the rails. President is losing his cool and snapping at reporters, from @Acosta to @PeterAlexander to @AprilDRyan."
“The Democrats in the House will have to decide just how much presidential harassment they think is good strategy,” McConnell told reporters. “I’m not so sure it will work for them,” he added, noting that Republican investigations of President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s backfired politically.
McConnell is trying to position the Senate as a stable front for conservative governance and to stay out of the political firefight between Trump and House Democrats, according to his advisers. As the Senate leader told reporters, his top priority will continue to be confirming conservative nominees to federal courts, which Republicans have done at a record pace the last two years.
Trump has told advisers that he intends to exploit divisions among House Democrats, according to a senior White House official. He believes he can pit Pelosi and others who are interested in making deals with him on policies like infrastructure spending against those who rose to office intent on blocking his agenda and, perhaps, beginning impeachment proceedings.[...]
Trump also has said privately that he does not believe his administration should necessarily cooperate with Democratic investigations, and that he would be willing to fight subpoenas to the Supreme Court if necessary, according to the senior White House official and an outside adviser to the president, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to share internal discussions.
Trump has been consulting White House lawyer Emmet Flood, who is overseeing the handling of the Russia investigation, and Flood has expressed interest in fighting back against incoming subpoenas, according to the outside adviser.
The White House Counsel’s Office is undergoing a transition. Pat A. Cipollone only recently took over from Donald McGahn as counsel and has a number of vacancies to fill. The adviser described the office as “in desperate need” of recruiting more attorneys. Many experienced lawyers at top Washington firms have long been reluctant to join the White House, both because they would have to take a pay cut and because of the chronic turmoil inside.
The trolls were ready & pounced on Acosta's incident within minutes.
Incidentally, Hamilton 68's Russian bot/troll tracker shows them pushing the #jimacosta hashtag much more than #jeffsessions, for what that's worth.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:42 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
Well, here we are (again). Another morning, another mourning in America. As an citizen it's surreal, and just the new normal. Like cancer, the gun disease doesn't discriminate; school, sanctuary, nightclub, anywhere anytime this is a possibility.
It must be BAFFLING to everyone not living in this country how we can continue to live like this. I imagine every other nation that had mass shootings and then made the sane decision to ban these weapons thinks we're beyond bonkers for not finally getting it. Ok, we're a violent nation but this sickness and perversion for guns, it just goes so deep. Where the true believers are basically willing to sacrifice family and friends for the right to have a war machine. That is capable of murdering 50+ people in minutes.
And we scratch our heads and point our fingers, but the rest of the world figured it out. You just can't let certain weapons available to the average citizen for public safety. Sane democracies can allow handguns for (unnecessary reason here), but we have a fucking epidemic on our hands which is much more likely to be caused by one particular type of weapon.
And just like religion, Moloch rules all. The sacrifice doesn't matter anymore.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
posted by andruwjones26 at 4:47 AM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
It must be BAFFLING to everyone not living in this country how we can continue to live like this. I imagine every other nation that had mass shootings and then made the sane decision to ban these weapons thinks we're beyond bonkers for not finally getting it. Ok, we're a violent nation but this sickness and perversion for guns, it just goes so deep. Where the true believers are basically willing to sacrifice family and friends for the right to have a war machine. That is capable of murdering 50+ people in minutes.
And we scratch our heads and point our fingers, but the rest of the world figured it out. You just can't let certain weapons available to the average citizen for public safety. Sane democracies can allow handguns for (unnecessary reason here), but we have a fucking epidemic on our hands which is much more likely to be caused by one particular type of weapon.
And just like religion, Moloch rules all. The sacrifice doesn't matter anymore.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
posted by andruwjones26 at 4:47 AM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
Nashville's protest is also on for 5pm tomorrow. I got the email late last night.
posted by Twain Device at 5:12 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Twain Device at 5:12 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I can't make the protest due to a currently bum foot that I need to stay off of, but I'd like to put my money where my mouth can't be tonight. Any recommendations for a good place to send some dollars? I can also possibly do some virtual stuff (text/email? I'm in Pittsburgh so my representatives are already pretty firmly in their respective camps) tonight as mentioned upthread.
posted by miratime at 5:17 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by miratime at 5:17 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
The same sickness that makes people vote for fascism is the same one that compels them to buy guns. It’s a tribalistic need to be the king of the hill. We happen to have a law that allows stockpiling of weapons, but even if we didn’t, it wouldn’t prevent people from behaving this way. People have used mob violence and homemade explosives to serve the same purpose.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:21 AM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Autumnheart at 5:21 AM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
SHS defends the treatment of Acosta using this obviously doctored video in which a smooth arm movement is manipulated to make it look like a chop. This has all gone to a new level of unreality.
The question on which America's future depends is, "whose version of reality are you going to choose to believe?" Every American is being asked this question again and again, every day. I trust Robert Mueller to unearth the truth, but his findings will have no practical effect if a critical mass of Americans choose to believe otherwise.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 5:22 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
The question on which America's future depends is, "whose version of reality are you going to choose to believe?" Every American is being asked this question again and again, every day. I trust Robert Mueller to unearth the truth, but his findings will have no practical effect if a critical mass of Americans choose to believe otherwise.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 5:22 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
We happen to have a law that allows stockpiling of weapons, but even if we didn’t, it wouldn’t prevent people from behaving this way. People have used mob violence and homemade explosives to serve the same purpose.
They certainly have, but to a much lesser degree. There is a definite correlation between ease of obtaining weapons of mass murder (like guns) and the use thereof.
In the same way, if the social consequences of being a fascist are low to neutral, a higher percentage of the population are going to be outwardly fascist. See, Italy right now for example: brazenly fascist government becoming more popular by the day and yet no mass shootings to speak of.
Gun control IS an answer to the problem of gun violence, regardless of what motivates the gun violence in the first place.
posted by lydhre at 5:29 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
They certainly have, but to a much lesser degree. There is a definite correlation between ease of obtaining weapons of mass murder (like guns) and the use thereof.
In the same way, if the social consequences of being a fascist are low to neutral, a higher percentage of the population are going to be outwardly fascist. See, Italy right now for example: brazenly fascist government becoming more popular by the day and yet no mass shootings to speak of.
Gun control IS an answer to the problem of gun violence, regardless of what motivates the gun violence in the first place.
posted by lydhre at 5:29 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
Italy was exactly what I was thinking of.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:30 AM on November 8, 2018
posted by Autumnheart at 5:30 AM on November 8, 2018
(Not to abuse the edit window) But the fascist mentality is indelibly tied to the gun rights movement in this country, was the point I was trying to make. That’s where the notion has grown up that a person has a right to respond to a personal grievance with murder.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:33 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 5:33 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
That’s where the notion has grown up that a person has a right to respond to a personal grievance with murder.
Not to derail this conversation any further, but that is definitely the case in Italy as well. That is why we (in Italy) have some of the highest rates of femicide in the world. We still don't have mass shootings in schools, bars, concerts, workplaces, or well, anywhere.
Which is to say: we can curb a people's worst impulses with laws. And the reverse is that we can enable a people's worst impulses with lack of laws, or lack of enforcing said laws. The gun control fight is a fight we can win. Mass shootings are not an integral and inherent part of the social fabric of the US, they can be excised.
posted by lydhre at 5:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [22 favorites]
Not to derail this conversation any further, but that is definitely the case in Italy as well. That is why we (in Italy) have some of the highest rates of femicide in the world. We still don't have mass shootings in schools, bars, concerts, workplaces, or well, anywhere.
Which is to say: we can curb a people's worst impulses with laws. And the reverse is that we can enable a people's worst impulses with lack of laws, or lack of enforcing said laws. The gun control fight is a fight we can win. Mass shootings are not an integral and inherent part of the social fabric of the US, they can be excised.
posted by lydhre at 5:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [22 favorites]
It must be BAFFLING to everyone not living in this country how we can continue to live like this.
Progressively, by a small number at a time, we don't.
posted by delfin at 5:42 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
Progressively, by a small number at a time, we don't.
posted by delfin at 5:42 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
Italy right now for example: brazenly fascist government becoming more popular by the day and yet no mass shootings to speak of.
Unsurprisingly, Salvini is actively working to loosen gun-laws, too. Cleary the thousands drowning in the Mediterranean are too out-of-sight to satisfy the visible-cruelty-quota.
posted by progosk at 5:43 AM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
Unsurprisingly, Salvini is actively working to loosen gun-laws, too. Cleary the thousands drowning in the Mediterranean are too out-of-sight to satisfy the visible-cruelty-quota.
posted by progosk at 5:43 AM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
“It must be BAFFLING to everyone not living in this country how we can continue to live like this.”
I was in Ireland during the Las Vegas shooting. Over and over, kind amen compassionate Irish people expressed their sorrow and condolences to me, saying how sorry they were about the terrible tragedy. It was a complicated feeling. It made me angrier at my country, to waste the sympathies of good people by our contiiuing collective indifference to mass murder. I wanted to respond “no, WE should be apologizing to YOU for bringing this poison into the world.”
posted by Miko at 5:55 AM on November 8, 2018 [31 favorites]
I was in Ireland during the Las Vegas shooting. Over and over, kind amen compassionate Irish people expressed their sorrow and condolences to me, saying how sorry they were about the terrible tragedy. It was a complicated feeling. It made me angrier at my country, to waste the sympathies of good people by our contiiuing collective indifference to mass murder. I wanted to respond “no, WE should be apologizing to YOU for bringing this poison into the world.”
posted by Miko at 5:55 AM on November 8, 2018 [31 favorites]
Breaking: Justince Ginsburg broke three ribs in a fall last night, per the Supreme Court. She went to the hospital this morning and was admitted “for observation and treatment,” the public information office adds.
*Starts breathing heavily into a paper bag*
posted by PenDevil at 6:11 AM on November 8, 2018 [99 favorites]
*Starts breathing heavily into a paper bag*
posted by PenDevil at 6:11 AM on November 8, 2018 [99 favorites]
The person-shaped trashpile known as Louis Gohmert (R-NRA HQ) couldn't get on TV fast enough to tell us that that we have to suffer these tragedies because the Constitution only works if Americans are "moral and religious people."
Gohmert is especially sorry about the loss of the police officer, who "ran towards the sound of the guns," and is quite sure that this is "terrorism" -- because, as opposed to "mass murder" or "crime," that makes it sound extraordinary.
And it excuses him from having to answer for previous statements that are aging rather poorly, like those he made after Sandy Hook: "Gohmert argued ...that tighter gun controls such as assault weapon bans are not the answer. 'Once you start drawing the line, where do you stop?” Gohmert said. “That’s why it is important to not just look at this emotionally.'"
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:19 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Gohmert is especially sorry about the loss of the police officer, who "ran towards the sound of the guns," and is quite sure that this is "terrorism" -- because, as opposed to "mass murder" or "crime," that makes it sound extraordinary.
And it excuses him from having to answer for previous statements that are aging rather poorly, like those he made after Sandy Hook: "Gohmert argued ...that tighter gun controls such as assault weapon bans are not the answer. 'Once you start drawing the line, where do you stop?” Gohmert said. “That’s why it is important to not just look at this emotionally.'"
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:19 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
And just like religion, Moloch rules all. The sacrifice doesn't matter anymore.It really is a religion. I had an absolutely surreal conversation this morning with a family member who thinks Switzerland disproves the need for gun control but is unwilling to acknowledge the very existence of Swiss gun control laws, much less the degree to which they would be decried as treason were someone to introduce similar laws here. The experience was exactly the same as trying to talk to a creationist or flying saucer cultist.
posted by adamsc at 6:23 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
Regarding this video people are calling doctored, I can't be the only person who fails to see any actual misconduct on Acosta's part even there, can I? It's still just his arm dropping onto hers, and even if he applied a very slight amount of intentional force, most people (without politics on the brain) wouldn't really have a problem given that her arm is exactly what has entered his space.
The principle isn't "Men must always move away from any woman with split-second reaction time". Of course, considering how many creeps justify their own assaultive actions as "accidental" or "nah, you put your ___ in my hand, lol", I see how they feel like they're just applying the same "logic" to Acosta that, in their mind, leads to unfair persecution of little ol' them.
But regardless, if the White House is going to bother with any video editing at all, they may as well have gone for broke with full CGI of something actually damning.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:25 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
The principle isn't "Men must always move away from any woman with split-second reaction time". Of course, considering how many creeps justify their own assaultive actions as "accidental" or "nah, you put your ___ in my hand, lol", I see how they feel like they're just applying the same "logic" to Acosta that, in their mind, leads to unfair persecution of little ol' them.
But regardless, if the White House is going to bother with any video editing at all, they may as well have gone for broke with full CGI of something actually damning.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:25 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
Politico has some leaks about Trump's new season of Apprentice—The White House: After Sessions, Who Will Trump Dump Next?—The president has been discussing multiple Cabinet shakeup options with his advisers. Besides the perennially endangered Jim Mattis, John Kelly, and Wilbur Ross, as well as a new vacancy at the UN, DHS's Nielsen and Interior's Zinke look like the frontrunners for replacement:
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:30 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
[Vulnerable] officials include Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, whom Trump has said privately he wants to dismiss for her alleged weakness on border security. Trump has talked about replacing Nielsen with Kris Kobach, a right-wing immigration hawk who lost his bid for governor of Kansas governorship on Tuesday — though he has privately acknowledged Kobach would struggle to win Senate confirmation. Another name that’s recently been discussed for the job: Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a longtime friend and ally of the president’s.Politico also has more insight into Sessions's firing/Whitaker's promotion: "That tension animated internal White House debates about the departure of Sessions[....] As late as Wednesday morning, Sessions was unaware of Trump’s plans to replace him with his chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, who will serve as an “acting” attorney general who does not need Senate confirmation. The ability to avoid a potentially bloody Senate confirmation battle was a key factor in Whitaker’s selection, White House aides said."
Also newly vulnerable is Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, whose ethics have been the subject of an inspector general investigation. Trump acknowledged during a Wednesday post-election news conference, which he attempted to frame as a victory lap after his party lost control of the House of Representatives, that he is “looking at” the allegations against him. “We’ll probably have an idea about that in about a week” he said. In the past, Trump has privately called Zinke, a former Navy SEAL who rode a horse named Tonto to his 2017 swearing-in ceremony, one of his favorite Cabinet members.
In weighing the fates of officials like Nielsen and Zinke, Trump will be torn between his desire to dump people he dislikes or considers unhelpful and the optics of mass firings and potentially ugly Senate confirmation fights, according to several White House aides and Trump allies.
There’s also the problem of recruiting replacements. “Everybody wants to work in this White House,” Trump said at the news conference. “This is a hot White House.” In fact, Trump has often struggled to find job candidates, a problem that could grow worse now that House Democrats will be subjecting Trump officials to vigorous investigations.[...]
At the same time, Trump has privately acknowledged the limits of his power to make changes. Much as he did with Sessions, Trump has long considered Nielsen disloyal — thanks in part to her service in the George W. Bush administration. Trump allies also view the two as a package deal, assuming that if White House chief of staff John Kelly is fired or quits Nielsen will follow suit.
But Trump has told aides he knows Kobach would face an uphill confirmation battle, and that dismissing one of just three female members of his Cabinet would look bad in the wake of an election where Republicans struggled with female voters.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:30 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
If Trump and the Republican Senate gets another Supreme Court Justice, I want court-packing to become a mainstream Democratic policy.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:32 AM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:32 AM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
Well luckily the new acting AG is opposed to judicial review. Thread that needle Trumpies.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:34 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 6:34 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'll be advocating for the impeachment of Kavanough (sick) til the cows come home.
There's so much damage to be repaired from this shitnado.
posted by petebest at 6:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
There's so much damage to be repaired from this shitnado.
posted by petebest at 6:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Gohmert [...] is quite sure that this is "terrorism" -- because, as opposed to "mass murder" or "crime," that makes it sound extraordinary.
I bet you if the California PD reveal that the shooter was a white male that Gohmert will change his mind about calling it "terrorism" right quick.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:39 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
I bet you if the California PD reveal that the shooter was a white male that Gohmert will change his mind about calling it "terrorism" right quick.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:39 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Previously in this thread I commented on how our local (Portland, Maine) light-hearted banter radio morning show, "Blake and Eva in the Morning" had a better take on the birthright citizenship news than NPR. This morning I woke to them commenting on the doctored Acosta video. It's like they had an incredulous dial turned up to 11, and equated it with something North Korea would do. By the end, Blake was literally ranting and closed with "What are we, Iran?!" (I think they post audio the next day, I'll link it later if I can.) It was kind of a surreal way to wake up, especially when they then just take a beat and segue into "Ok, let's take some calls on how long you have to be in a relationship before bringing someone home for Thanksgiving!"
posted by mikepop at 6:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by mikepop at 6:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [20 favorites]
Thread that needle Trumpies.
* Trump supporter looks blankly at needle before throwing it in the trash *
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:41 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
* Trump supporter looks blankly at needle before throwing it in the trash *
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:41 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
if the White House is going to bother with any video editing at all, they may as well have gone for broke with full CGI of something actually damning.
Given that the edited video was sourced from InfoWars, there's every chance that the reality distortion field operating inside the White House means that those affected have convinced themselves it wasn't actually edited at all.
It seems to me that the main reason SHS has lasted so much longer in her job than Spicer did is that she's better at believing her own bullshit for as long as doing so remains expedient.
posted by flabdablet at 6:45 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Given that the edited video was sourced from InfoWars, there's every chance that the reality distortion field operating inside the White House means that those affected have convinced themselves it wasn't actually edited at all.
It seems to me that the main reason SHS has lasted so much longer in her job than Spicer did is that she's better at believing her own bullshit for as long as doing so remains expedient.
posted by flabdablet at 6:45 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Thread that needle Trumpies.
* Trump supporter looks blankly at needle before throwing it in the trash *
"What is this, a tiny sword? And you want me to put this rope through that little hole in it? Psh no thanks." *Throws away both needle and article of clothing with missing button, pulls on Panda onesie*.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
* Trump supporter looks blankly at needle before throwing it in the trash *
"What is this, a tiny sword? And you want me to put this rope through that little hole in it? Psh no thanks." *Throws away both needle and article of clothing with missing button, pulls on Panda onesie*.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
Regarding this video people are calling doctored, I can't be the only person who fails to see any actual misconduct on Acosta's part even there, can I?
Nope. I seriously feel like I am taking hallucinogens. What are all these people looking at that isn't "woman tries to take something from man's hand as he is in mid-gesture, their arms then collide"?!
This is next level gaslighting. "Here's a doctored video that still doesn't show what I'm telling you it's showing" is somehow more insane to me than "here's an unaltered video, now what are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [57 favorites]
Nope. I seriously feel like I am taking hallucinogens. What are all these people looking at that isn't "woman tries to take something from man's hand as he is in mid-gesture, their arms then collide"?!
This is next level gaslighting. "Here's a doctored video that still doesn't show what I'm telling you it's showing" is somehow more insane to me than "here's an unaltered video, now what are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [57 favorites]
For those Austin MeFites who aren't checking MeTa religiously, I've just posted an IRL event for the rapid response tonight. Hope to see many of you there!
posted by Krazor at 6:55 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Krazor at 6:55 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
Breaking: Justince Ginsburg broke three ribs in a fall last night, per the Supreme Court.
The SCOTUS spox's statement says that she "fractured three ribs", which at least isn't as serious as breaking. (Following the fall, "[s]he went home, but after experiencing discomfort overnight, went to George Washington University Hospital early this morning.") It's bad news, just not awful on the scale that we're dealing with in the current newsvortex.
Ironically, this means she'll miss today's the investiture of Brett Kavanaugh, which includes a meet-and-greet at the White House with Trump.
Well luckily the new acting AG is opposed to judicial review.
And he's a Biblical "natural law" bigot.
Des Moines Register, from 2014: Matthew Whitaker's Troubling Opinion: Judges Need a Biblical View “If elected to the U.S. Senate, former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker says he would only support federal judges who have a Biblical view, and specifically a New Testament view, of justice. "If they have a secular world view, then I'm going to be very concerned about how they judge," Whitaker said at an April 25, 2014, Family Leader debate. [...] "Natural law often times is used from the eye of the beholder and what I would like to see — I'd like to see things like their world view, what informs them. Are they people of faith? Do they have a biblical view of justice?"” Furthermore, he's also against same-sex marriage, coming down on the side of an Iowa wedding venue's refusal to host such weddings (they went broke).
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:10 AM on November 8, 2018 [21 favorites]
The SCOTUS spox's statement says that she "fractured three ribs", which at least isn't as serious as breaking. (Following the fall, "[s]he went home, but after experiencing discomfort overnight, went to George Washington University Hospital early this morning.") It's bad news, just not awful on the scale that we're dealing with in the current newsvortex.
Ironically, this means she'll miss today's the investiture of Brett Kavanaugh, which includes a meet-and-greet at the White House with Trump.
Well luckily the new acting AG is opposed to judicial review.
And he's a Biblical "natural law" bigot.
Des Moines Register, from 2014: Matthew Whitaker's Troubling Opinion: Judges Need a Biblical View “If elected to the U.S. Senate, former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker says he would only support federal judges who have a Biblical view, and specifically a New Testament view, of justice. "If they have a secular world view, then I'm going to be very concerned about how they judge," Whitaker said at an April 25, 2014, Family Leader debate. [...] "Natural law often times is used from the eye of the beholder and what I would like to see — I'd like to see things like their world view, what informs them. Are they people of faith? Do they have a biblical view of justice?"” Furthermore, he's also against same-sex marriage, coming down on the side of an Iowa wedding venue's refusal to host such weddings (they went broke).
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:10 AM on November 8, 2018 [21 favorites]
I’m still waking up so my detail processing is a little slow currently, but is the video altered because it’s slowed down and zoomed in at that particular moment, or is there something edited in or out of the video that’s not there otherwise? Or is there a cropping involved with the zoom in that makes it seem more insidious?
As for Gohmert and mass-shootings: as far as Republicans are concerned, human life is basically worthless. They don’t treat cops much better except that they martyr them and fetishize the concept that they ”knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up” which somehow makes them heroes rather than victims. Everyone else is just collateral damage.
posted by gucci mane at 7:12 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
As for Gohmert and mass-shootings: as far as Republicans are concerned, human life is basically worthless. They don’t treat cops much better except that they martyr them and fetishize the concept that they ”knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed up” which somehow makes them heroes rather than victims. Everyone else is just collateral damage.
posted by gucci mane at 7:12 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
It looks to me like he's simply preventing her from taking the mike from him in the least physically aggressive way possible. This seems like a bizarre complaint given the president just showered a Republican with praise for body slamming a reporter.
-------
The Jeff Sessions thing has me completely freaked out, btw. I'm a mess. Thank you to everyone who is protesting tonight. I'll be there.
posted by xammerboy at 7:18 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
-------
The Jeff Sessions thing has me completely freaked out, btw. I'm a mess. Thank you to everyone who is protesting tonight. I'll be there.
posted by xammerboy at 7:18 AM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
I believe the edited video is slowed down in the lead-up, then sped up when he brushes her arm. With his open hand, this makes it look (barely) like a "karate chop."
posted by stopgap at 7:20 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by stopgap at 7:20 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
maybe we could move the discussion of the doctored acosta video to my new social network, LyinEyes.com, the platform for confirming the obvious evidence of your senses!
which is apparently a service that we require in this timeline.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:24 AM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
which is apparently a service that we require in this timeline.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:24 AM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Politico: Mueller Has Powerful New House Allies As He Bears Down On Trump—Democrats are primed to help the special counsel shed light on any illicit behavior by the president and his allies.
Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has already pledged to make sure Mueller’s “documentation is preserved” and the likely next House speaker also holds in her back pocket the threat of launching impeachment hearings against Trump if the president tries to oust Mueller or if the special counsel’s investigators ultimately uncover a smoking gun involving criminal behavior.TPM: Dems Request Admin, DOJ Officials Preserve Docs Related To Sessions Exit
Democrats are even prepping a break-glass scenario in case there’s a Nixon-era Saturday Night Massacre during which Trump fires his current DOJ leadership and tries to shutter the Mueller probe in the process. If that happens, senior Democratic officials say Mueller would likely get an immediate summons to Capitol Hill for nationally televised testimony about his findings.
“I think you could expect Democrats to take pieces of what they shut down and expose it publicly,” said a high-ranking Democratic policy adviser familiar with Pelosi’s planning. “This is a report paid for with taxpayer dollars. So taxpayers would have a right to know what Mr. Mueller found.”[...]
[Democrats] plan to ship dozens of transcripts — collected during interviews with the likes of longtime Trump associate Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr. — to Mueller for possible prosecution on perjury charges. They want Justice Department briefings on allegations Trump directed his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen to break campaign finance laws during the 2016 White House race in order to silence an adult film actress who claimed to have had an affair with Trump.
Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) sent the letters to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, W.H. Counsel Pat Cipollone, CIA Director Gina Haspel, U.S. Attorney Robert Khuzami, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, NSA Director Paul Nakasone, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and FBI Director Chris Wray.posted by Doktor Zed at 7:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [24 favorites]
If they have to lie, it's because they know the truth does not support them.
If they doctored the video, it's because the undoctored video proves they're lying.
If your source lies to you, that's your story.
(By the way, media, now that one of your own being threatenedhas may have woken you to that fact, you should take exactly that attitude with anything James O'Keefe's shop produces. Starting in 2009.)
posted by Gelatin at 7:37 AM on November 8, 2018 [28 favorites]
If they doctored the video, it's because the undoctored video proves they're lying.
If your source lies to you, that's your story.
(By the way, media, now that one of your own being threatened
posted by Gelatin at 7:37 AM on November 8, 2018 [28 favorites]
The guy who played Reek in season one might be back. Although wouldn't Christie need to recuse himself as well since he was part of the campaign?
posted by cmfletcher at 7:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 7:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I assume that any mention of christie in the context of the attorney general spot is just the setup for an elaborate plot to let Trump pants him on national tv before pushing his face into a plate of pat nixon's meatloaf.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 7:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [33 favorites]
I believe the edited video is slowed down in the lead-up, then sped up when he brushes her arm. With his open hand, this makes it look (barely) like a "karate chop."
And they edit out the "Excuse me", Acosta says to her as he lifts his arm, blocking hers so he can keep the mic, and get an answer to the question, "Why did you lie about the legal-asylum seeking migrants?"
posted by mikelieman at 8:00 AM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
And they edit out the "Excuse me", Acosta says to her as he lifts his arm, blocking hers so he can keep the mic, and get an answer to the question, "Why did you lie about the legal-asylum seeking migrants?"
posted by mikelieman at 8:00 AM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
CNN reporting that Mueller's team has begun writing its final report in the Russia probe, but the linked article doesn't go into it.
posted by jet_pack_in_a_can at 8:08 AM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by jet_pack_in_a_can at 8:08 AM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
CNN reporting that Mueller's team has begun writing its final report in the Russia probe
Unless it's from Mueller's team, is there any reason to believe it?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:16 AM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
Unless it's from Mueller's team, is there any reason to believe it?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:16 AM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
CNN reporting that Mueller's team has begun writing its final report in the Russia probe
CNN's headline runs, "Trump reviewing his answers to Mueller as he changes who oversees the Russia investigation", and their story is "according to people briefed on the matter." More vaguely, "Mueller's team has begun writing its final report, multiple sources told CNN."
But here's the tell: "Despite the change in leadership at the Justice Department, the Trump legal team believes it won't affect its approach to the Mueller questions, according to one source familiar with the matter." and "The President and his lawyers have been aiming to return answers to Mueller's questions later this month, according to one source familiar with the matter."
This story is almost certainly sourced primarily by members of Trump's legal team—a lot of this sounds straight out of Rudy Giuliani's interviews—and perhaps some DoJ leakers like Whitaker or Brian Benczkowski, either directly or filtered through someone on Team Trump.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:30 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
CNN's headline runs, "Trump reviewing his answers to Mueller as he changes who oversees the Russia investigation", and their story is "according to people briefed on the matter." More vaguely, "Mueller's team has begun writing its final report, multiple sources told CNN."
But here's the tell: "Despite the change in leadership at the Justice Department, the Trump legal team believes it won't affect its approach to the Mueller questions, according to one source familiar with the matter." and "The President and his lawyers have been aiming to return answers to Mueller's questions later this month, according to one source familiar with the matter."
This story is almost certainly sourced primarily by members of Trump's legal team—a lot of this sounds straight out of Rudy Giuliani's interviews—and perhaps some DoJ leakers like Whitaker or Brian Benczkowski, either directly or filtered through someone on Team Trump.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:30 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
Now that I think about it, having Christie serving as the head of a justice department that indicts Kushner would be perfect.
posted by cmfletcher at 8:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 8:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
this story about manafort's former son-in law just keeps getting better stupider:
Paul Manafort’s former son-in-law Jeffrey Yohai boasted about having “turned state’s evidence” on his ex-father-in-law in order to to swindle investors into a real estate scam, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint.posted by murphy slaw at 8:46 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
“During lunch, Yohai told [the men] that he ‘turned state’s evidence’ on his father-in-law, Paul Manafort,” wrote FBI Special Agent Sherine Ebadi in an affidavit, recounting an attempt by Yohai to convince the owner of a luxury Los Angeles property to let him rent out the unit at a profit.
This is one of the many signs of an authoritarian mindset: just announcing what will be The Truth and damn the consequences.
So it's 'negging for politics' aka 'standard Trump operating procedures'?
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:04 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
So it's 'negging for politics' aka 'standard Trump operating procedures'?
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:04 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
So it's 'negging for politics' aka 'standard Trump operating procedures'?
Yup. The real demonstration is that the rules don't matter for the ingroup, who get to screw over the disfavoured. It's the central message of Trumpism.
posted by jaduncan at 9:07 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Yup. The real demonstration is that the rules don't matter for the ingroup, who get to screw over the disfavoured. It's the central message of Trumpism.
posted by jaduncan at 9:07 AM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
The White House Is Spreading Actual Fake News To Make the Press Look Violent (Sarah Sanders Tweets Doctored InfoWars Vid of CNNs Jim Acosta) - Katherine Krueger, Splinter News
Can't keep people perpetually fearful without a war and an enemy.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:08 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
Can't keep people perpetually fearful without a war and an enemy.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:08 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
It just doesn't matter what the truth is for a lot of people.
posted by jaduncan at 9:09 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 9:09 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
Unless it's from Mueller's team, is there any reason to believe it?
Indeed, they just had one of Stone's cronies before a grand jury last Friday.
This leak is Giuliani spinning plates with earplugs in again.
posted by Harry Caul at 9:19 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Indeed, they just had one of Stone's cronies before a grand jury last Friday.
This leak is Giuliani spinning plates with earplugs in again.
posted by Harry Caul at 9:19 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump is literally amazed. No-one would ever treat him this way when he was in real estate...
posted by mikelieman at 9:19 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 9:19 AM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
theres no need to link to it but Rubio is all in on team Sanders/Trump re: Acosta - says WH was right to pull his hard pass and that he (Acosta) overdoes the "grandstanding"
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:20 AM on November 8, 2018
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:20 AM on November 8, 2018
@rafaelshimunov 1) Took @PressSec Sarah Sanders' video of briefing
2) Tinted red and made transparent over CSPAN video
3) Red motion is when they doctored video speed
4) Sped up to make Jim Acosta's motion look like a chop
5) I've edited video for 15+ years
6) The White House doctored it
[video]
posted by scalefree at 9:23 AM on November 8, 2018 [54 favorites]
2) Tinted red and made transparent over CSPAN video
3) Red motion is when they doctored video speed
4) Sped up to make Jim Acosta's motion look like a chop
5) I've edited video for 15+ years
6) The White House doctored it
[video]
posted by scalefree at 9:23 AM on November 8, 2018 [54 favorites]
“ Franklin Bynum is a socialist candidate for judge (who won) in Houston. In an interview, he explains his vision for criminal-justice reform, nonprofits' attempts at co-opting reform, and why "capitalism drives the horrors of this system." This System Is A Moral Horror (Jacobin)
posted by The Whelk at 9:23 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:23 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
> The thing with the doctored video is that they know it's a lie and that everyone can find the original and they absolutely don't give a fuck.
This fight is just the warmup for when the fascists grow the technical competence to make quality deepfakes. James O'Keefe is, technically speaking, a mediocrity — he can't pull off a convincing performance, he can't get good video editors on his side, he is simply put bad at art.
The only reason we have a chance is that fascists are, generally speaking, too stupid and narcissistic to recognize good art. (see: the mediocrity of Hitler's preferred artists when compared to the artists who Hitler classified as degenerate.)
But the second that Stephen Miller figures out the right channer creeps to draft into making videos for him, that's when the real fight for the continued existence of history begins.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 9:31 AM on November 8, 2018 [18 favorites]
This fight is just the warmup for when the fascists grow the technical competence to make quality deepfakes. James O'Keefe is, technically speaking, a mediocrity — he can't pull off a convincing performance, he can't get good video editors on his side, he is simply put bad at art.
The only reason we have a chance is that fascists are, generally speaking, too stupid and narcissistic to recognize good art. (see: the mediocrity of Hitler's preferred artists when compared to the artists who Hitler classified as degenerate.)
But the second that Stephen Miller figures out the right channer creeps to draft into making videos for him, that's when the real fight for the continued existence of history begins.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 9:31 AM on November 8, 2018 [18 favorites]
The SCOTUS spox's statement says that she "fractured three ribs", which at least isn't as serious as breaking.
these things are not different
posted by robotdevil at 9:31 AM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
these things are not different
posted by robotdevil at 9:31 AM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
[Programming note: no ELECTIONS NEWS while things are still active in the Election Day thread Come by, we've got late House calls and FL/GA/AZ developments.]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:36 AM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:36 AM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
How to Hack an Election (Without Touching the Machines) (David Karpf for Wired, Nov. 7, 2018)
... in which the term "hacking" is applied with a very broad brush, to include propaganda, media manipulation, voter suppression, and finally direct tampering with voting machines and databases. Still, they're good reminders of the underhanded, if not illegal, actions at play.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:41 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
... in which the term "hacking" is applied with a very broad brush, to include propaganda, media manipulation, voter suppression, and finally direct tampering with voting machines and databases. Still, they're good reminders of the underhanded, if not illegal, actions at play.
The 2018 election is over, but the lessons from 2018 have just begun. We’re going to spend the next few months learning just how various actors, foreign and domestic, tried to influence the election. There’s a lot of work to be done to shore up this electoral system and repair public confidence in the process. Step 1, which begins today, is getting the terminology right.Then don't call all these actions "hacking," because they aren't hacking.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:41 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Trump admin covered up 3000 deaths in Puerto Rico (which should be something the Dems investigate immediately), them doctoring a video is just the next step in the manipulation of reality. Fox News regularly and for a very long time has edited photos in order to push their viewpoints (darkening black people, emphasizing "Jewish features" on Jewish people, etc.) This is all typical right-wing strategy, just a bit more sophisticated. They've always been the ones to create situations out of context (O'Keefe, but Lee Atwater setup a scandalous photo and blew it out of context against Gary Hart).
posted by gucci mane at 9:51 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 9:51 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
Queen Elizabeth the Second is above the law. If Queen Elizabeth did the things that Donald Trump has done, Britain would be a Republic by now.
Donald Trump does not have the temperament or restraint of the Queen. But he does have a vast nuclear arsenal.
In coming weeks, we will find out whether Donald Trump is above the law.
Yesterday he took his latest step in his quest to surpass the constitutional limitations of the Presidency and become the first King of America. In response to a criminal investigation of his campaign, his family, and himself, he has installed an Acting Attorney General who does not believe the President can be subpoenaed, and does not believe the Special Counsel should do his job by following leads where they lead. He is continuing to obstruct justice, and to obstruct the possibility of justice. He and his political allies are committing an ongoing crime against the American people, and the crime is morally equivalent to treason.
Today I will join millions of Americans in protesting at 5pm local time, because I believe that when a man is above the law, when his power is unlimited, bad things happen, and when that man is Donald Trump, it could be a dark time for humanity.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2018 [50 favorites]
Donald Trump does not have the temperament or restraint of the Queen. But he does have a vast nuclear arsenal.
In coming weeks, we will find out whether Donald Trump is above the law.
Yesterday he took his latest step in his quest to surpass the constitutional limitations of the Presidency and become the first King of America. In response to a criminal investigation of his campaign, his family, and himself, he has installed an Acting Attorney General who does not believe the President can be subpoenaed, and does not believe the Special Counsel should do his job by following leads where they lead. He is continuing to obstruct justice, and to obstruct the possibility of justice. He and his political allies are committing an ongoing crime against the American people, and the crime is morally equivalent to treason.
Today I will join millions of Americans in protesting at 5pm local time, because I believe that when a man is above the law, when his power is unlimited, bad things happen, and when that man is Donald Trump, it could be a dark time for humanity.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2018 [50 favorites]
Jennifer Rubin: Acosta should sue the president, and Americans should shun Sanders
posted by homunculus at 10:02 AM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 10:02 AM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
Johnny Wallflower: "Pundits talk about other events the way they have talked about the ‘blue wave’ (in its entirety) "
posted by Chrysostom at 10:03 AM on November 8, 2018 [43 favorites]
@daveweigel: It was the biggest one-election House loss for Republicans since 1974, playing out on largely favorable maps, with the party presiding over full employment.=> We're probably going to end up with the House about 235-200 D. That's a huge gain!
posted by Chrysostom at 10:03 AM on November 8, 2018 [43 favorites]
In coming weeks, we will find out whether Donald Trump is above the law.
Well, we already know he is, rich people like him have been for hundreds of years. The question is whether you can be above the law and be the President, and be so embarrassingly dumb about it at the same time.
posted by Harry Caul at 10:04 AM on November 8, 2018 [22 favorites]
Well, we already know he is, rich people like him have been for hundreds of years. The question is whether you can be above the law and be the President, and be so embarrassingly dumb about it at the same time.
posted by Harry Caul at 10:04 AM on November 8, 2018 [22 favorites]
@ZoeTillman: The 9th Circuit has ruled that the Trump administration's decision to rescind DACA was likely "arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise not in accordance with
law," upholding a preliminary injunction. Recall that earlier this week, the Justice Department petitioned SCOTUS to take up the DACA issue, not waiting for the lower courts to rule.
Here's the ruling
posted by zachlipton at 10:05 AM on November 8, 2018 [60 favorites]
law," upholding a preliminary injunction. Recall that earlier this week, the Justice Department petitioned SCOTUS to take up the DACA issue, not waiting for the lower courts to rule.
Here's the ruling
posted by zachlipton at 10:05 AM on November 8, 2018 [60 favorites]
Why is Paul Manafort in prison? Is it because he wasn't rich enough? No, it is because he was incapable of prohibiting the police from investigating him, and prohibiting the prosecutors from prosecuting him. If Trump can do those things, it is qualitatively different. It is the end of democracy, and the start of absolute monarchy.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:08 AM on November 8, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:08 AM on November 8, 2018 [32 favorites]
Modern Healthcare, CMS is developing a rule that could curtail Medicaid transportation access. Medicaid has covered non-emergent transportation since it started in 1965. It's important: poor sick people can't get health care if they can't get to the doctor, and it costs a whole lot more if they wait until it's bad enough their only option is to call 911.
@mattyglesias: Since we are now told that the caravan dominated cable news for days because there was a real administrative policy story behind the scenes, no doubt Trump making it harder for sick people to get transportation to see a doctor will receive a similar level of coverage.
posted by zachlipton at 10:11 AM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
@mattyglesias: Since we are now told that the caravan dominated cable news for days because there was a real administrative policy story behind the scenes, no doubt Trump making it harder for sick people to get transportation to see a doctor will receive a similar level of coverage.
posted by zachlipton at 10:11 AM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
Washington Post: Trump’s Acting Attorney General, Matt Whitaker, Has No Intention of Recusing From Russia Probe, Associates Say
“Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has no intention of recusing himself from overseeing the special counsel probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to people close to him who added they do not believe he would approve any subpoena of President Trump as part of that investigation.[...] On Thursday, two people close to Whitaker said he has no intention of taking himself off the Russia case.[...] The two people close to Whitaker also said they strongly believe he would not approve any request from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to subpoena the president.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:15 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
“Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has no intention of recusing himself from overseeing the special counsel probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to people close to him who added they do not believe he would approve any subpoena of President Trump as part of that investigation.[...] On Thursday, two people close to Whitaker said he has no intention of taking himself off the Russia case.[...] The two people close to Whitaker also said they strongly believe he would not approve any request from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to subpoena the president.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:15 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
To the streets.
Voting is good. But like paper money and constitutions and laws and norms, they don't enforce themselves, they require people to show the powers that be that the norms and rules of this system aren't suggestions, but rather are backed up by the willingness of the people to take action.
Why protest the whitaker obstruction of justice? Because it is the tip of an iceberg, we are communicating our willingness to be inconvenienced, to assemble, to do more than tweet and vote. we are saying our opinions aren't just little icecubes bobbing in a see of irrelevance, we're saying we're the iceberg and if you don't turn this ship of state onto a lawful and ethical course, prepare to be sunk!
No, these protests alone can't force a criminal president to change his ways, but they are the necessary next steps to everyone realizing the situation is serious, action is needed, and that this regime can't opperate above the law without a fight.
We are showing ourselves and our neighbors that there is more to this ice-berg than just the small-tip they see.
To the streets!
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 10:31 AM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
Voting is good. But like paper money and constitutions and laws and norms, they don't enforce themselves, they require people to show the powers that be that the norms and rules of this system aren't suggestions, but rather are backed up by the willingness of the people to take action.
Why protest the whitaker obstruction of justice? Because it is the tip of an iceberg, we are communicating our willingness to be inconvenienced, to assemble, to do more than tweet and vote. we are saying our opinions aren't just little icecubes bobbing in a see of irrelevance, we're saying we're the iceberg and if you don't turn this ship of state onto a lawful and ethical course, prepare to be sunk!
No, these protests alone can't force a criminal president to change his ways, but they are the necessary next steps to everyone realizing the situation is serious, action is needed, and that this regime can't opperate above the law without a fight.
We are showing ourselves and our neighbors that there is more to this ice-berg than just the small-tip they see.
To the streets!
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 10:31 AM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
the poster kids for... uhh... the famous anecdote or book (forgive me, I'm blanking on the source) about how under fascist or authoritarian governments the public and activists always seem to be waiting for that one singular massive event
FWIW what I was trying to recall was Milton Mayer's They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45:
FWIW what I was trying to recall was Milton Mayer's They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45:
[...] But your friends are fewer now. Some have drifted off somewhere or submerged themselves in their work. You no longer see as many as you did at meetings or gatherings. Informal groups become smaller; attendance drops off in little organizations, and the organizations themselves wither. Now, in small gatherings of your oldest friends, you feel that you are talking to yourselves, that you are isolated from the reality of things. This weakens your confidence still further and serves as a further deterrent to—to what? It is clearer all the time that, if you are going to do anything, you must make an occasion to do it, and then you are obviously a troublemaker. So you wait, and you wait.posted by Justinian at 10:37 AM on November 8, 2018 [89 favorites]
But the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That’s the difficulty. If the last and worst act of the whole regime had come immediately after the first and smallest, thousands, yes, millions would have been sufficiently shocked—if, let us say, the gassing of the Jews in ’43 had come immediately after the ‘German Firm’ stickers on the windows of non-Jewish shops in ’33. But of course this isn’t the way it happens. In between come all the hundreds of little steps, some of them imperceptible, each of them preparing you not to be shocked by the next. Step C is not so much worse than Step B, and, if you did not make a stand at Step B, why should you at Step C? And so on to Step D.
We are showing ourselves and our neighbors that there is more to this ice-berg than just the small-tip they see.
Often the most powerful effect of any protest, is the motivation it ignites to others not there. Even if separated by generations.
How many of us actually saw Martin Luther King Jr. in the flesh? Gandhi? Rosa? Jesus? Be the change that they were, starting today.
posted by Harry Caul at 10:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
Often the most powerful effect of any protest, is the motivation it ignites to others not there. Even if separated by generations.
How many of us actually saw Martin Luther King Jr. in the flesh? Gandhi? Rosa? Jesus? Be the change that they were, starting today.
posted by Harry Caul at 10:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
Deb Haaland, One of Nation’s First Native Congresswomen, Calls for Probe of Missing Indigenous Women
posted by homunculus at 10:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [56 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 10:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [56 favorites]
CNBC, Treasury Department announces new sanctions for Russian activities in Crimea
posted by zachlipton at 10:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
The Treasury Department on Thursday announced new sanctions on Russian and Ukrainian entities and several individuals, all connected to Russia's continuing occupation of Crimea, which the United States considers to be illegal.Speaking of meetings, North Korea 'really angry' at US as tensions rise
The announcement came just days before President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are both scheduled to attend events in Paris, France on Sunday to commemorate the end of the First World War. It was unclear Thursday whether the two leaders would meet face to face, with the Kremlin saying they would, and the White House denying that any meeting had been scheduled.
On Wednesday, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino claimed that the canceled meeting between Pompeo and Kim Yong Chol was simply a "scheduling issue."The "scheduling issue" seems to be that the North Koreans took a red pen and put a large "X" over "meet with Pompeo" on their schedule and then made some more threats, so that's some nice spin.
"This is purely a matter of scheduling," Palladino said repeatedly when asked about the delay at the press briefing Wednesday. "Schedules change," he said. "Schedules change all of the time, in fact."
posted by zachlipton at 10:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
Deb Haaland, One of Nation’s First Native Congresswomen, Calls for Probe of Missing Indigenous Women
The usual construction (as is used in the article, aside from the headline) is "missing and murdered Indigenous women" (see #mmiw on Twitter), because even when Indigenous women's bodies turn up, the non-Indigenous authorities often don't devote the efforts that are assigned to crimes against white women.
posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on November 8, 2018 [38 favorites]
The usual construction (as is used in the article, aside from the headline) is "missing and murdered Indigenous women" (see #mmiw on Twitter), because even when Indigenous women's bodies turn up, the non-Indigenous authorities often don't devote the efforts that are assigned to crimes against white women.
posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on November 8, 2018 [38 favorites]
The CPJ/Committee to Protect Journalists published a lengthy report on chilling effect of U.S. border stops, with an accompanying short video: “How Warrantless Searches at the Border Are Harming Press Freedom”
Posted yesterday but early enough in the day that it says “Attorney General Jeff Sessions” instead of “former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.” (Oh wait... looking at the date it was published a couple of weeks ago and they only just sent me a message about it.)
posted by XMLicious at 11:29 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Posted yesterday but early enough in the day that it says “Attorney General Jeff Sessions” instead of “former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.” (Oh wait... looking at the date it was published a couple of weeks ago and they only just sent me a message about it.)
posted by XMLicious at 11:29 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump’s Appointment of the Acting Attorney General Is Unconstitutional
By Neal K. Katyal and George T. Conway III
That guy must have an interesting home life.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [56 favorites]
By Neal K. Katyal and George T. Conway III
That guy must have an interesting home life.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:35 AM on November 8, 2018 [56 favorites]
I think that op-ed is worth quoting; they make a good argument:
Professor Calabresi’s article was based on the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, Article II, Section 2, Clause 2. Under that provision, so-called principal officers of the United States must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate under its “Advice and Consent” powers.posted by reductiondesign at 11:39 AM on November 8, 2018 [49 favorites]
It means that President Trump’s installation of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general of the United States after forcing the resignation of Jeff Sessions is unconstitutional. It’s illegal. And it means that anything Mr. Whitaker does, or tries to do, in that position is invalid.
Last year, the Supreme Court examined the question of whether the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board had been lawfully appointed to his job without Senate confirmation. The Supreme Court held the appointment invalid on a statutory ground.
Justice Thomas agreed with the judgment, but wrote separately to emphasize that even if the statute had allowed the appointment, the Constitution’s Appointments Clause would not have. The officer in question was a principal officer, he concluded. And the public interest protected by the Appointments Clause was a critical one: The Constitution’s drafters, Justice Thomas argued, “recognized the serious risk for abuse and corruption posed by permitting one person to fill every office in the government.” Which is why, he pointed out, the framers provided for advice and consent of the Senate.
What goes for a mere lawyer at the N.L.R.B. goes in spades for the attorney general of the United States, the head of the Justice Department and one of the most important people in the federal government.
There's side-by-side video in homunculus' link. It appears to me that the doctored one wasn't sped up; rather, it was slowed down just as Acosta's arm touches hers, to make it look like a forceful shove instead of a continuation of his motion.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:40 AM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
The question is who has standing to sue over Whitaker's appointment. Rosenstein maybe, but he doesn't seem likely to do that.
posted by Justinian at 11:41 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:41 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
The article Chrysostom linked to makes it crystal clear Whitaker's appointment is unconstitutional in way that even Republican Senators and the current Supreme Court would find extremely difficult to disavow. This is great news.
posted by xammerboy at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
Who had standing in the NLRB case?
posted by Chrysostom at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2018
posted by Chrysostom at 11:43 AM on November 8, 2018
even Republican Senators and the current Supreme Court would find extremely difficult to disavow
mitch mcconnell could disavow this without looking up from his lunch
posted by murphy slaw at 11:44 AM on November 8, 2018 [69 favorites]
mitch mcconnell could disavow this without looking up from his lunch
posted by murphy slaw at 11:44 AM on November 8, 2018 [69 favorites]
Who had standing in the NLRB case?
An ambulance company that was on the losing end of an NLRB case in which the acting counsel participated. The vacancies act requires any formal action taken by an unlawful appointee to be held null and void, so anyone affected by such an action can sue.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:50 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
An ambulance company that was on the losing end of an NLRB case in which the acting counsel participated. The vacancies act requires any formal action taken by an unlawful appointee to be held null and void, so anyone affected by such an action can sue.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:50 AM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
Btw, special plea (esp for Georgia MeFites) - Dem John Barrow is in the runoff for Georgia Secretary of State (he trailed 49-2-48.6 in the first round), he needs your help. Especially if Kemp prevails, Georgia will need someone fighting for fair elections!
posted by Chrysostom at 11:51 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:51 AM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
The question is who has standing to sue over Whitaker's appointment. Rosenstein maybe, but he doesn't seem likely to do that.
Maybe Mueller might after Whitaker makes a move to shut down or hinder the investigation?
posted by jason_steakums at 11:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Maybe Mueller might after Whitaker makes a move to shut down or hinder the investigation?
posted by jason_steakums at 11:52 AM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
I was just wondering where my local rally was here in Indianapolis, and about to click on one of the links in this thread, when ResistBot came to my aid (it's 5 pm outside the State House).
And then it offers to help write a letter to Congress, which I'll do right after I post this comment.
posted by Gelatin at 11:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
And then it offers to help write a letter to Congress, which I'll do right after I post this comment.
posted by Gelatin at 11:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Neal K. Katyal and George T. Conway III: Senate confirmation exists for a simple, and good, reason. Constitutionally, Matthew Whitaker is a nobody. His job as Mr. Sessions’s chief of staff did not require Senate confirmation. [...] For the president to install Mr. Whitaker as our chief law enforcement officer is to betray the entire structure of our charter document.
Translated: As strict fetishizers of the Constitution, we never thought that the leopards would come for us!
I do like the "Matthew Whitaker is a nobody" line, though.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
Translated: As strict fetishizers of the Constitution, we never thought that the leopards would come for us!
I do like the "Matthew Whitaker is a nobody" line, though.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
Wouldn't any senator (functionally any Democratic senator) passed over and prevented from fulfilling their Constitutional obligation to advise and consent have grounds to sue? Or wouldn't Mueller and his team, the instant Whitaker takes any action besides recusing himself from oversight of their investigation?
posted by penduluum at 11:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by penduluum at 11:54 AM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
who has standing to sue over Whitaker's appointment
Over FISA, maybe. The AG has to sign off on FISA warrants; if a telecom company thinks his appointment is unlawful, they could sue, I guess.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:56 AM on November 8, 2018
Over FISA, maybe. The AG has to sign off on FISA warrants; if a telecom company thinks his appointment is unlawful, they could sue, I guess.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:56 AM on November 8, 2018
Btw, special plea (esp for Georgia MeFites) - Dem John Barrow is in the runoff for Georgia Secretary of State (he trailed 49-2-48.6 in the first round), he needs your help. Especially if Kemp prevails, Georgia will need someone fighting for fair elections!
When Barrow was my Congressman in Athens, I generally hated him for being a centrist and trying to stand on principle when shit was awful because W was president, and he just needed to be partisan. But having a Sec of State who cared about principles would be delightful, and it doesn't really matter if he's a centrist in that spot.
posted by hydropsyche at 11:59 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
When Barrow was my Congressman in Athens, I generally hated him for being a centrist and trying to stand on principle when shit was awful because W was president, and he just needed to be partisan. But having a Sec of State who cared about principles would be delightful, and it doesn't really matter if he's a centrist in that spot.
posted by hydropsyche at 11:59 AM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
Wouldn't any senator (functionally any Democratic senator) passed over and prevented from fulfilling their Constitutional obligation to advise and consent have grounds to sue?
The sole remedy that the Constitution gives the Legislature against the Executive is to impeach. The Legislature suing the Executive for ignoring the Constitution seems like weak tea.
posted by zrail at 12:02 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
The sole remedy that the Constitution gives the Legislature against the Executive is to impeach. The Legislature suing the Executive for ignoring the Constitution seems like weak tea.
posted by zrail at 12:02 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Legislature suing the Executive for ignoring the Constitution seems like weak tea.
It happens. Someone has to work out the boundaries of, say, executive privilege, and sometimes it comes down to a court.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
It happens. Someone has to work out the boundaries of, say, executive privilege, and sometimes it comes down to a court.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
FWIW, here's Lawfare's analysis of the legality/constitutionality of Whitaker's appointment.
I still don't understand how the President evaded the line of succession as laid out by statute (ie, Rosenstein). Lawfare suggests it may come down to the difference between "may" and "shall:"
posted by notyou at 12:16 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
I still don't understand how the President evaded the line of succession as laid out by statute (ie, Rosenstein). Lawfare suggests it may come down to the difference between "may" and "shall:"
As a matter of statutory interpretation, a specific statute would generally take precedence over a more general one. In some respects, the tenor of Section 508—directly imbuing the deputy attorney general with the authorities of the attorney general in the event of a vacancy, and further provides that the associate attorney general “shall” serve as acting attorney general if both the attorney general and the deputy are unavailable—suggests that Congress intended their respective places in the succession order to be mandatory. One can envision policy reasons for wanting to impose such a requirement. On the other hand, some of the language of Section 508—the fact that the deputy attorney general “may” rather than “shall” exercise the duties of the attorney general, and its clarification that the deputy attorney general “is the first assistant to the Attorney General” for purposes of the FVRA—could suggest that its application could be reconciled with the potential application of the FVRA.The President and his lawyers have found a loophole and are driving a cement head through it.
posted by notyou at 12:16 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
I still don't understand how the President evaded the line of succession as laid out by statute.
He just did it. He did it and no one tried to stop him. And no one's trying to stop him after the fact.
It turns out that the law only works if someone tries to enforce it. It's not a circle of protection against evil.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [113 favorites]
He just did it. He did it and no one tried to stop him. And no one's trying to stop him after the fact.
It turns out that the law only works if someone tries to enforce it. It's not a circle of protection against evil.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [113 favorites]
Asha Rangappa's STEP DOWN FROM THE LEDGE thread fails to reassure. It talks a lot about "rules" and "culture" and what various executive figures "must" or "have to" do. It doesn't discuss at all what prevents someone from just disregarding those rules and culture and requirements. Have we learned nothing in the last two years? Norms and standards mean nothing to the administration. Every time you say something "must" be done, the followup question should be "And what consequences follow if it isn't?". If your answer is "Nothing" or "Dunno, nobody's ever tried it before", then, guess what, that thing you think "must" be done isn't nearly as required as you think.
Rules without consequences are toothless. Historically they've made lip service at least towards respecting them nonetheless, but we need to stop pretending that a prohibition which isn't enforced has any relevance.
posted by jackbishop at 12:30 PM on November 8, 2018 [28 favorites]
Rules without consequences are toothless. Historically they've made lip service at least towards respecting them nonetheless, but we need to stop pretending that a prohibition which isn't enforced has any relevance.
posted by jackbishop at 12:30 PM on November 8, 2018 [28 favorites]
Direct action outside Tucker Carlson's house
AP: Protesters target home of Fox News’ Tucker Carlson
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:37 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
AP: Protesters target home of Fox News’ Tucker Carlson
Police say they are investigating a protest and vandalism at the home of Fox News host Tucker Carlson as a possible hate crime. [...] Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department reported that officers were summoned to Carlson’s home Wednesday evening and found about 20 protesters and a commonly used anarchy symbol spray-painted on the driveway.Predictably, Fox is waxing wrathful about the event—which helps it ignore Trump's firing Sessions and barring Jim Acosta—but it's also drawing criticism from the center-left, such as Stephen Colbert and Ana Navarro. Meanwhile, Smash Racism DC has issued a statement, Alex Rubinstein reports ("Protests are a disruption of the peace, that's the point.")
A brief video posted on social media by a group calling itself “Smash Racism DC” shows people standing outside a darkened home chanting “Tucker Carlson we will fight. We know where you sleep at night.”[...]
There were no arrests but police confiscated several signs. The report lists the incident as a “suspected hate crime” on the basis of “anti-political” bias.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:37 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
I don't particularly like the protests outside Carlson's house, but I also don't like cleaning my cats' litterboxes. Sometimes you just have to put up with things you personally find distasteful in pursuit of a better world.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:41 PM on November 8, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:41 PM on November 8, 2018 [22 favorites]
Right. One of the things that specifically made Trump attractive to the moneyed powers behind the Republican party is that he does not know the law and does not care about the law so he will with no qualms whatsoever use the great powers of the office of President to benefit them.
For that matter I'm convinced that the reason that the moneyed powers behind the Republican party despised Obama was precisely because he was a Constitutional scholar. Rank and file Republican voters surely hated him because of his race, but the oligarchs that fund the Republicans cared far less about that and far more about him defending the American principles about all people created equal.
posted by Sublimity at 12:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
For that matter I'm convinced that the reason that the moneyed powers behind the Republican party despised Obama was precisely because he was a Constitutional scholar. Rank and file Republican voters surely hated him because of his race, but the oligarchs that fund the Republicans cared far less about that and far more about him defending the American principles about all people created equal.
posted by Sublimity at 12:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
I don't particularly like the protests outside Carlson's house, but I also don't like cleaning my cats' litterboxes. Sometimes you just have to put up with things you personally find distasteful in pursuit of a better world.
Tucker Carlson shares responsibility for thousands of children in concentration camps. Property damage is not violence. Direct action is good.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:49 PM on November 8, 2018 [38 favorites]
Tucker Carlson shares responsibility for thousands of children in concentration camps. Property damage is not violence. Direct action is good.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:49 PM on November 8, 2018 [38 favorites]
Barro on the idea that Senate Dems might hold their nose and vote to confirm Christie as AG, Josh Barro: With Christie you can at least hope he’ll stab Trump in the back if he sees a way to gain advantage by doing so
This sums it up for me, I think. Christie seems like the type of guy to shank Trump out of spite.
posted by Justinian at 12:52 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
This sums it up for me, I think. Christie seems like the type of guy to shank Trump out of spite.
posted by Justinian at 12:52 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
This sums it up for me, I think. Christie seems like the type of guy to shank Trump out of spite.
feels super good that one of our best-case scenarios is the attorney general acting on a personal vendetta
posted by murphy slaw at 12:54 PM on November 8, 2018 [64 favorites]
feels super good that one of our best-case scenarios is the attorney general acting on a personal vendetta
posted by murphy slaw at 12:54 PM on November 8, 2018 [64 favorites]
Food for thought:
Will Republicans Steal Power From New Democratic Governors? - Daniel Block, Washington Monthly
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
Will Republicans Steal Power From New Democratic Governors? - Daniel Block, Washington Monthly
On November 6, Democratic gubernatorial candidates dismantled three GOP trifectas: states where the governorship, senate, and house are all currently in Republican hands. In Kansas, longtime state senator Laura Kelly defeated far-right firebrand Kris Kobach. In Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer will succeed incumbent Republican governor Rick Snyder. In Wisconsin, school superintendent Tony Evers ousted governor Scott Walker. Progressives may be somewhat disappointed that they didn’t win in more places. But given that the Democratic Party has been hollowed out over the last decade, these victories are a cause for celebration.Through these and other measures, they sacrificed functional governance to handicap Governor Cooper and derail his administration. All happening at the same time as the US Senate stole Obama's Supreme Court nomination. It's not much of a stretch to suggest that it may happen again.
So, naturally, here’s how Republicans could quickly swindle these incoming Democrats. In the next few weeks, the outgoing GOP governor of each dissolving trifecta could call a special legislative session and, in cahoots with the leader of the state house and senate, rapidly pass a series of bills that strips their successor of power.
This may sound impossible, but it’s happened before.
In 2016, Republican North Carolina Governor Pat McCroy lost re-election to Democrat Roy Cooper by 10,277 votes. Having failed to stop Democrats through democracy, McCroy and the GOP-controlled state legislature thwarted the voters’ will through other means. In mid-December—before Cooper took office—state Republicans hastily called a special session during which they rammed through legislation that deprived the governor authority over elections and appointments.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
Trump’s Appointment of the Acting Attorney General Is Unconstitutional
By Neal K. Katyal and George T. Conway III
Axios finds more unexpected resistance to Trump's appointment: Why Trump Could Face Legal Challenges Over Whitaker
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:03 PM on November 8, 2018 [43 favorites]
By Neal K. Katyal and George T. Conway III
Axios finds more unexpected resistance to Trump's appointment: Why Trump Could Face Legal Challenges Over Whitaker
Even John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California-Berkeley who helped the George W. Bush administration draft its expansive claims to executive power, says the Whitaker appointment may be out of line.Even Fox News legal analyst and Trump suck-up Andrew Napolitano calls bullshit: “Under the law, the person running the Department of Justice must have been approved by the United States Senate for some previous position. Even on an interim post. [...] Who has been confirmed and who’s next in line? Deputy attorney general Rosenstein.”
"The Constitution says that principal officers must go through appointment with the advice and consent of the Senate. In Morrison v. Olson, the Supreme Court made clear that the Attorney General is a principal officer. Therefore, Whittaker cannot serve as acting Attorney General despite the Vacancies Act (which does provide for him to be acting AG) — the statute is unconstitutional when applied in this way."— John Yoo in an email
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:03 PM on November 8, 2018 [43 favorites]
Predictably, Fox is waxing wrathful about the event—which helps it ignore Trump's firing Sessions and barring Jim Acosta—but it's also drawing criticism from the center-left, such as Stephen Colbert and Ana Navarro.
Ana Navarro is a Republican. I get that we're living in very strange political times (and there is a built-in incentive for past GOP collaborators to rebrand themselves), but someone who has built their entire career around working in Republican administrations and serving as a Republican commentator on TV is not the "center-left."
posted by the turtle's teeth at 1:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [40 favorites]
Ana Navarro is a Republican. I get that we're living in very strange political times (and there is a built-in incentive for past GOP collaborators to rebrand themselves), but someone who has built their entire career around working in Republican administrations and serving as a Republican commentator on TV is not the "center-left."
posted by the turtle's teeth at 1:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [40 favorites]
Even Fox News legal analyst and Trump suck-up Andrew Napolitano calls bullshit
That seems to be the broad consensus. So now somebody has to fucking do something about it in court. Step up, patriot.
posted by Justinian at 1:06 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
That seems to be the broad consensus. So now somebody has to fucking do something about it in court. Step up, patriot.
posted by Justinian at 1:06 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Sonofabitch...tttcs for rod
posted by j_curiouser at 1:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 1:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Collection of Separate Payments for Certain Abortion Services
CMS is proposing that issuers: (1) send an entirely separate monthly bill to the consumer for only the portion of premium attributable to abortion coverage, and (2) instruct the enrollee to pay the portion of their premium attributable to abortion coverage in a separate transaction from any payment the consumer makes for the portion of their premium not attributable to abortion coverage.
So...umm...did a HUGE ELEPHANT just walk through the room? Is everything else happening just a huge troll to distract us... that we're all falling for again? Because it sure sounds like they're trying to shove a clause that requires abortion coverage to be a whole separate insurance that you need to get, and pay for yourself (and like, who's going to pay for a whole separate insurance policy for something you might need like once, not to mention "how much does that cost?") through the Supreme Court while RBG is out sick afterbeing pushed down the stairs by Kavanaugh, like Elizabeth Berkeley in Showgirls accidentally falling and cracking some ribs.
Because it sure seems that way. Now what?
posted by sexyrobot at 1:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
CMS is proposing that issuers: (1) send an entirely separate monthly bill to the consumer for only the portion of premium attributable to abortion coverage, and (2) instruct the enrollee to pay the portion of their premium attributable to abortion coverage in a separate transaction from any payment the consumer makes for the portion of their premium not attributable to abortion coverage.
So...umm...did a HUGE ELEPHANT just walk through the room? Is everything else happening just a huge troll to distract us... that we're all falling for again? Because it sure sounds like they're trying to shove a clause that requires abortion coverage to be a whole separate insurance that you need to get, and pay for yourself (and like, who's going to pay for a whole separate insurance policy for something you might need like once, not to mention "how much does that cost?") through the Supreme Court while RBG is out sick after
Because it sure seems that way. Now what?
posted by sexyrobot at 1:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
Unless I've missed something, can we note how crazy it is that the administration hasn't even bothered to provide a cover story for why Sessions was fired? Like even Comey got that very funny joke one about how he was too hard on Hillary.
posted by theodolite at 1:19 PM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 1:19 PM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mod note: Rein it in, folks. Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
In court you say . . .
I mean, I'd really like to see this from someone besides a sketchy looking twitter account named "anonymous fed". Remember all those bullshit feeds purporting to be insiders in the administration?
posted by Justinian at 1:24 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
I mean, I'd really like to see this from someone besides a sketchy looking twitter account named "anonymous fed". Remember all those bullshit feeds purporting to be insiders in the administration?
posted by Justinian at 1:24 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
From Jeff Flake (yeah, I know it's Jeff Flake but he might actually do something)
When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor. After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:24 PM on November 8, 2018 [47 favorites]
When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor. After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:24 PM on November 8, 2018 [47 favorites]
Remember all those bullshit feeds purporting to be insiders in the administration?
Oh, yeah.
posted by Gelatin at 1:26 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Oh, yeah.
posted by Gelatin at 1:26 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
The rest of Justinian’s Milton Mayer quote:
posted by cenoxo at 1:27 PM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
...And one day, too late, your principles, if you were ever sensible of them, all rush in upon you. The burden of self-deception has grown too heavy, and some minor incident, in my case my little boy, hardly more than a baby, saying ‘Jewish swine,’ collapses it all at once, and you see that everything, everything, has changed and changed completely under your nose. The world you live in—your nation, your people—is not the world you were born in at all. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves; when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. Now you live in a system which rules without responsibility even to God. The system itself could not have intended this in the beginning, but in order to sustain itself it was compelled to go all the way.”Erosion, raindrop by raindrop.
posted by cenoxo at 1:27 PM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
if mitch lets that hit the senate floor i'm grand duchess anastasia
posted by murphy slaw at 1:27 PM on November 8, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 1:27 PM on November 8, 2018 [24 favorites]
When the Senate convenes next week, @ChrisCoons and I will ask for unanimous consent to bring S.2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, to a vote on the Senate floor. After the firing of The AG, it is more important than ever to protect the Special Counsel.
I doubt they'll get unanimous consent, but it'll be interesting to see which Republicans will take the affirmative step of voting, on the record, to shield Trump.
posted by Gelatin at 1:28 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
I doubt they'll get unanimous consent, but it'll be interesting to see which Republicans will take the affirmative step of voting, on the record, to shield Trump.
posted by Gelatin at 1:28 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
@JuliaEAinsley: New asylum rules just posted. It will remain vague until Trump signs proclamation tomorrow.
Here's the new rule, which seeks to bar people defined in a forthcoming proclamation who cross the border between southern border ports of entry from claiming asylum.
The question remains that if they think this makes for good politics, why'd they wait until after the election?
posted by zachlipton at 1:32 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Here's the new rule, which seeks to bar people defined in a forthcoming proclamation who cross the border between southern border ports of entry from claiming asylum.
The question remains that if they think this makes for good politics, why'd they wait until after the election?
posted by zachlipton at 1:32 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
When the Senate convenes next week
Next week is like six years from now.
I'm not being glib; I am just surprised that anyone is still thinking of the passage of time like this. I took a two hour nap and it was like I'd slept for a month.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 1:33 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
Next week is like six years from now.
I'm not being glib; I am just surprised that anyone is still thinking of the passage of time like this. I took a two hour nap and it was like I'd slept for a month.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 1:33 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani's resurfaced to throw dust in the media's eyes: Trump Mulling Whether to Give Written Answers to Mueller, Giuliani Says—A final decision is expected soon after the president returns Sunday night from his trip to Paris. (Politico)
MEGATHREAD NOTE: With this thread at 1.7K+ comments, a new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is currently available on the MeFi wiki for contribution and collaboration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:40 PM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
A meeting with Trump to make a final decision on the first round of questions is expected soon after the president returns Sunday night from his trip to Paris for the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Guiliani said.At this point in the on-again/off-again Trump-Putin meeting this weekend, they will have a short working lunch in the Elysee Palace in Paris on Nov. 11, but who knows if something more will be arranged at the last minute? (By the way, AFP reports that Trump will snub Macron's 'Peace Forum' on Armistice weekend.)
“We’re close,” Giuliani said. “I think the only thing that throws us off a little, which we explained to [Mueller], is that the president’s going to be away for about three, four days.”
“So, before we make a final decision — which I’m not sure I could tell you what that is, although I think we have an idea right now — but before we can make it, we really want the president to have a day home where he can just think about it, make sure he’s comfortable with it, and then we’ll tell [Mueller] what the decision is,” the president’s lawyer added.[...]
Those talks, which Giuliani said are ongoing, also entail whether Trump would meet with Mueller in person or answer the special counsel’s queries in writing.
“We’re still in the middle of very sensitive negotiations, and they’ve been going very well, so I don't want to get them all pissed off,” Giuliani said.
MEGATHREAD NOTE: With this thread at 1.7K+ comments, a new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is currently available on the MeFi wiki for contribution and collaboration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:40 PM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
NPR, Kavanaugh Accuser Christine Blasey Ford Continues Receiving Threats, Lawyers Say
Christine Blasey Ford is still being harassed after leveling sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, her lawyers say.posted by zachlipton at 1:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [37 favorites]
"Justice Kavanaugh ascended to the Supreme Court, but the threats to Dr. Ford continue," said Ford's lawyers, Debra Katz, Lisa Banks and Michael Bromwich, in a statement to NPR.
...
She has had to move four times, she wrote last month. She has had to pay for a private security detail. She hasn't been able to return to her job as a professor at Palo Alto University. A spokeswoman for the school did not respond to a question about whether there was a timeline for Ford to return.
if mitch lets that hit the senate floor i'm grand duchess anastasia
I might take that bet. There are plenty in the establishment GOP who are not Trumpists, and Mueller has been a useful tool to box the President in at arm’s length.
If there’s a mechanism that forces the bill to the floor without the majority leader adding it to the calendar (still needs to maintain a polite distance), I wouldn’t expect Mitch to complain much.
Now might be a good time for Schumer to hold some judges hostage, though.
posted by notyou at 1:46 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I might take that bet. There are plenty in the establishment GOP who are not Trumpists, and Mueller has been a useful tool to box the President in at arm’s length.
If there’s a mechanism that forces the bill to the floor without the majority leader adding it to the calendar (still needs to maintain a polite distance), I wouldn’t expect Mitch to complain much.
Now might be a good time for Schumer to hold some judges hostage, though.
posted by notyou at 1:46 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I might take that bet.
hah, you fell into my trap! i win either way - the bill hits the floor or i get so many pretty dresses
posted by murphy slaw at 1:49 PM on November 8, 2018 [50 favorites]
hah, you fell into my trap! i win either way - the bill hits the floor or i get so many pretty dresses
posted by murphy slaw at 1:49 PM on November 8, 2018 [50 favorites]
Now might be a good time for Schumer to hold some judges hostage, though.
...with what majority?
posted by Justinian at 1:50 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
...with what majority?
posted by Justinian at 1:50 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
With every procedural slowdown they can muster.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 1:53 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by C'est la D.C. at 1:53 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Flake to try to force vote on bill protecting Mueller
Some context from The Hill: Under Senate rules, Flake can go to the floor and ask for consent to set up a vote or even pass a piece of legislation. But any one senator can block his request, and given the opposition within the GOP caucus to the special counsel bill, Flake's move will likely be unsuccessful.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation last year that would protect Mueller, or any other special counsel, in the event he is fired, but the bill has stalled amid opposition from GOP leadership.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:54 PM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
Some context from The Hill: Under Senate rules, Flake can go to the floor and ask for consent to set up a vote or even pass a piece of legislation. But any one senator can block his request, and given the opposition within the GOP caucus to the special counsel bill, Flake's move will likely be unsuccessful.
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation last year that would protect Mueller, or any other special counsel, in the event he is fired, but the bill has stalled amid opposition from GOP leadership.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:54 PM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
The author of Bush’s claims to expansive Executive power to torture & hold “enemy combatants” indefinitely is now arguing that Trump’s use of Executive power to appoint Whitaker absent Senate approval is unconstitutional. It’s *that* bad.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:56 PM on November 8, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 1:56 PM on November 8, 2018 [35 favorites]
We already know that the minority has agreed not to gum up the judge approval process to the extent they can (delay, not deny) to facilitate other Senate business. The Minority Leader might suggest that the process has been too brisk and needs slowing down.
posted by notyou at 1:57 PM on November 8, 2018
posted by notyou at 1:57 PM on November 8, 2018
Daily Beast: Matthew Whitaker, Trump’s New AG, Declared There Was ‘No Collusion’ Between Trump and Russia
posted by Justinian at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Even John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California-Berkeley who helped the George W. Bush administration draft its expansive claims to executive power, says the Whitaker appointment may be out of line.
John "torture memos" Yoo? Maaaaaaaaan, fuck John fucking Yoo.
posted by petebest at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2018 [15 favorites]
John "torture memos" Yoo? Maaaaaaaaan, fuck John fucking Yoo.
posted by petebest at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2018 [15 favorites]
Even if it got to the floor it'll never get the 2/3rds needed in both houses to be veto proof. Mueller needs to release as much as possible so that the house can pick up where he is forced to leave off.
posted by cmfletcher at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 2:06 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
There are plenty in the establishment GOP who are not Trumpists, and Mueller has been a useful tool to box the President in at arm’s length.
They went along with him on kids in cages, on abandoning Puerto Rico, on routinely undermining our alliances, and on putting an attempted (at least) rapist on the Supreme Court. If all of that doesn't make them "Trumpists," what does?
Trump is the Republican Party. The Republican Party is Trump.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:10 PM on November 8, 2018 [40 favorites]
They went along with him on kids in cages, on abandoning Puerto Rico, on routinely undermining our alliances, and on putting an attempted (at least) rapist on the Supreme Court. If all of that doesn't make them "Trumpists," what does?
Trump is the Republican Party. The Republican Party is Trump.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:10 PM on November 8, 2018 [40 favorites]
who has standing to sue over Whitaker's appointment
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti believes Bobby Three Sticks does:
But it certainly would be something to see Trump have to veto a Mueller protection bill (something like yet another a constitutional crisis).
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:11 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti believes Bobby Three Sticks does:
A very interesting and important argument by @neal_katyal and @gtconway3d. As I discussed with @Mimirocah1 on today's #OnTopic podcast, Mueller would have standing to challenge Whitaker's appointment if Whitaker overruled a decision by Mueller. {emphasis added} In addition, as Acting Attorney General, Whitaker would do things that could adversely impact people in a variety of circumstances. For example, Whitaker could create a policy or regulation that would impact people. Those people would also have standing to challenge Whitaker's appointment. "Standing" is the legal principle that limits who can sue for something to people who are connected to or harmed by it. So just like people who were subpoenaed by Mueller challenged Mueller's appointment, people who are the subject of Whitaker's actions may have standing to challenge his appointment, using the argument set forth in [their NYT] op-ed above (and other arguments).Even if it got to the floor it'll never get the 2/3rds needed in both houses to be veto proof.
But it certainly would be something to see Trump have to veto a Mueller protection bill (something like yet another a constitutional crisis).
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:11 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Under Senate rules, Flake can go to the floor and ask for consent to set up a vote or even pass a piece of legislation. But any one senator can block his request, and given the opposition within the GOP caucus to the special counsel bill, Flake's move will likely be unsuccessful.
Is this kind of block done anonymously?
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:24 PM on November 8, 2018
Is this kind of block done anonymously?
posted by ZeusHumms at 2:24 PM on November 8, 2018
I think trying to protest tonight was a substantial mistake. As has been often noted, many people that would be inclined to protest don't have the flexibility or job security to be at a rally with under 24 hours' notice. I have a feeling that many will be sparsely attended which will play poorly in the media and just discourage further protests. The one I'm in is literally maybe 1/50th of the Women's March or March for Science.
posted by Candleman at 2:28 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Candleman at 2:28 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
Politico, Sources: Zinke exploring role with Fox News
As has been often noted, many people that would be inclined to protest don't have the flexibility or job security to be at a rally with under 24 hours' notice.
Many people also don't have the flexibility to be at a rally at 5pm on a weeknight, as that would generally require people to leave work early or be away from evening tasks at home. I know they had the whole "rapid response plan," but calling it for Saturday would have made more sense. That said, there's no reason we can't protest repeatedly; it's not a one shot deal.
posted by zachlipton at 2:32 PM on November 8, 2018 [24 favorites]
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke reached out to Fox News inquiring about working at the conservative news channel as a contributor, according to sources familiar with the move.But what if Fake Zinke takes the job before the real Zinke shows up?
Zinke’s outreach came as the scandal-plagued former Navy SEAL and Montana congressman is looking for employment opportunities after he exits Interior, as is expected. Zinke is also seeking positions on energy company boards of directors or even with private equity firms, two sources have said.
A contract with Fox would be unlikely unless President Donald Trump asks Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who owns Fox’s parent company News Corp., one source told POLITICO.
As has been often noted, many people that would be inclined to protest don't have the flexibility or job security to be at a rally with under 24 hours' notice.
Many people also don't have the flexibility to be at a rally at 5pm on a weeknight, as that would generally require people to leave work early or be away from evening tasks at home. I know they had the whole "rapid response plan," but calling it for Saturday would have made more sense. That said, there's no reason we can't protest repeatedly; it's not a one shot deal.
posted by zachlipton at 2:32 PM on November 8, 2018 [24 favorites]
think trying to protest tonight was a substantial mistake. As has been often noted, many people that would be inclined to protest don't have the flexibility or job security to be at a rally with under 24 hours' notice. I have a feeling that many will be sparsely attended which will play poorly in the media
I think the rapid response is a good idea, but 5 p.m.?! Terrible idea on that timing. Even if I wasn't working all night tonight, how the hell would I have gotten to the next town over to get to a rally by 5 when I work until 5 and it's rush hour?
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:34 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
I think the rapid response is a good idea, but 5 p.m.?! Terrible idea on that timing. Even if I wasn't working all night tonight, how the hell would I have gotten to the next town over to get to a rally by 5 when I work until 5 and it's rush hour?
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:34 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
As has been often noted, many people that would be inclined to protest don't have the flexibility or job security to be at a rally with under 24 hours' notice.
The Muslim Ban protests were pretty dang big and not only were those virtually instantaneous, I believe a lot of them were spontaneous.
In any case as has been noted before there comes a time when one has to make a choice between convenience and flexibility and standing up for democracy.
posted by Justinian at 2:36 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
The Muslim Ban protests were pretty dang big and not only were those virtually instantaneous, I believe a lot of them were spontaneous.
In any case as has been noted before there comes a time when one has to make a choice between convenience and flexibility and standing up for democracy.
posted by Justinian at 2:36 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
As has been often noted, many people that would be inclined to protest don't have the flexibility or job security to be at a rally with under 24 hours' notice.
Any rally that makes a difference will last for longer than 24 hours. Ideally longer than 24 days.
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:38 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
Any rally that makes a difference will last for longer than 24 hours. Ideally longer than 24 days.
posted by Rust Moranis at 2:38 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
New chant from Times Square:
We will not go away
Welcome to your everyday
We want sincerity
Down with dishonesty
posted by stonepharisee at 2:38 PM on November 8, 2018 [31 favorites]
We will not go away
Welcome to your everyday
We want sincerity
Down with dishonesty
posted by stonepharisee at 2:38 PM on November 8, 2018 [31 favorites]
Yeah, but Muslim ban happened on a weekend.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
People have already shown up on the east coast, so we don't really need to speculate if people will or not.
posted by tofu_crouton at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by tofu_crouton at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
I think the point has always been to get as many as we can out right away. Case in point: I completely forgot that back in March, I had signed up to get an auto-email push if and when Rosenstein got fired. When the news broke yesterday, I got an email: it's time to rally. And I, a pretty high-information voter and regular reader of the FPPs here, took a minute to think "really? Is it that bad? Is it time? They didn't fire Rosenstein though..."
I completely fucking forgot that Sessions had recused himself from overseeing the probe and that was why Rosenstein was in charge. So I didn't put it together that firing Sessions was the same result, if his replacement didn't also recuse.
That's why I needed to sign up back in March and that's why I'm glad whoever can make it tonight is going to show that we fucking show up in 24hrs or less, even if it can never be all of us.
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
I completely fucking forgot that Sessions had recused himself from overseeing the probe and that was why Rosenstein was in charge. So I didn't put it together that firing Sessions was the same result, if his replacement didn't also recuse.
That's why I needed to sign up back in March and that's why I'm glad whoever can make it tonight is going to show that we fucking show up in 24hrs or less, even if it can never be all of us.
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
For those scoring at home, bog-standard Republican shitheel Steve Stockman got ten years in the pokey for corruption. So. There's that.
posted by petebest at 2:41 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by petebest at 2:41 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
My equally well-founded opinion is, its important to show this isn't an empty threat. That matters to everyone - the people who show up, the people who drive by, and the politicians who watch it happen. It's not like this is a one and done thing - they can and should trigger it again if the situation warrants.
You can show up late to this kinda thing. It's okay. Do what you can, when you can.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 2:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [30 favorites]
You can show up late to this kinda thing. It's okay. Do what you can, when you can.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 2:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [30 favorites]
I'm going to be at the one in downtown Chicago. FWIW, the start time is 5:00 but I expect the crowd to grow through the evening as people get off work. It's a party, not a train.
posted by theodolite at 2:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
At the protest at the Fisherman's Memorial in Gloucester, MA.
posted by adamg at 2:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by adamg at 2:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
@sarahdwire: .@RepLindaSanchez [D-CA-38] is withdrawing her name from the House Democratic Caucus chair race and is not currently planning to run for any leadership post next year. She is currently caucus vice-chair. Left in the race are @RepBarbaraLee and @RepJeffries. Sanchez' letter to colleagues about her withdrawl cites an "unexpected family matter requiring my attention."
That was two hours ago. The unexpected family matter has indeed emerged: her husband was one of five officials of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative indicted for using misusing official funds, including travel to the Kentucky Derby.
posted by zachlipton at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
That was two hours ago. The unexpected family matter has indeed emerged: her husband was one of five officials of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative indicted for using misusing official funds, including travel to the Kentucky Derby.
posted by zachlipton at 2:54 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
I think everyone understands that few people will make it to every protest and that each individual protest might not/ probably won't make a difference. With that said, I think we're at the stage where if you can show up, show up. Always. Nobody ever knows in advance if the boycott is going to work.
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:55 PM on November 8, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by nakedmolerats at 2:55 PM on November 8, 2018 [34 favorites]
I’m on a bus to the one in Madison WI.
posted by eirias at 2:56 PM on November 8, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by eirias at 2:56 PM on November 8, 2018 [26 favorites]
> Will Republicans Steal Power From New Democratic Governors?
As Soon as Scott Walker Lost, His Pet Legislature Started Stripping the Governor's Powers. It just so happens the governor is soon to be a Democrat.
posted by homunculus at 2:59 PM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
As Soon as Scott Walker Lost, His Pet Legislature Started Stripping the Governor's Powers. It just so happens the governor is soon to be a Democrat.
posted by homunculus at 2:59 PM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
I said when this shitshow started after election night that I'd show up to protest anytime I can make it and it's not silly. Then, naturally, I came down with legit swine flu right when the Muslim Ban hit and felt like an ass for not being out there.
This protest isn't silly, and I can make it, so I'm going.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:02 PM on November 8, 2018 [34 favorites]
This protest isn't silly, and I can make it, so I'm going.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:02 PM on November 8, 2018 [34 favorites]
These types of protests tend to be fun and jovial, and I feel like I rarely have to worry about right-wing brownshirts and sniper teams on rooftops.
posted by gucci mane at 3:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 3:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
CNN and MSNBC both picked up the protests with some live shots, so that's good. Not gonna check Fox because no.
posted by Justinian at 3:08 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:08 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
I'm transfixed by parallel livestreams from DC and NYC. The energy is palpable. The speeches quite eloquent. There has been planning. These do not look like mobs. They look much more like We the People. And some very good chanting and drumming.
posted by stonepharisee at 3:09 PM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 3:09 PM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
Snoop Dogg Says ‘F–k The President’ While Smoking a Blunt in Front of the White House
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:10 PM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:10 PM on November 8, 2018 [44 favorites]
In Winchester we only had about 2 dozen out protesting , but the hand scrawled cardboard signs inspired me and the truckers driving by, who all honked their support.
posted by Harry Caul at 3:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 3:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
Of all days to have food poisoning or stomach flu, in any case, not for for human society. I'm with you in spirit!🙋
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:36 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:36 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
For those scoring at home, bog-standard Republican shitheel Steve Stockman got ten years in the pokey for corruption.
Stockman, 61, was convicted on April 12 of 23 felony counts for illegally diverting for his own personal use $1.25 million in donations to his federal election campaigns. He has spent the past six months in 12-man cell in a Conroe jail awaiting his sentence.
Do you think Duncan Hunter is sleeping well tonight?
posted by JackFlash at 3:37 PM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
Stockman, 61, was convicted on April 12 of 23 felony counts for illegally diverting for his own personal use $1.25 million in donations to his federal election campaigns. He has spent the past six months in 12-man cell in a Conroe jail awaiting his sentence.
Do you think Duncan Hunter is sleeping well tonight?
posted by JackFlash at 3:37 PM on November 8, 2018 [17 favorites]
Well, you did it metafilter...Years of reading the mega-threads and I finally got off my duff and went to a protest. In my red town of 10,000 there were more than 100 people along either side of main street during rush hour. We had signs and we chanted and got a lot of solidarity honks from people driving by (and only a couple rude gestures and hollers). I am glad I did it and met some good people in the process. Protect democracy!
posted by helpontheway(skft) at 3:46 PM on November 8, 2018 [118 favorites]
posted by helpontheway(skft) at 3:46 PM on November 8, 2018 [118 favorites]
Do you think Duncan Hunter is sleeping well tonight?
I don't watch cable news that often, but MSNBC spent like 5 mins on election night discussing if Republicans made a strategic blunder by re-electing Hunter since he'll probably be in prison soon, and having special election is more hassle than they need.
posted by sideshow at 3:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
I don't watch cable news that often, but MSNBC spent like 5 mins on election night discussing if Republicans made a strategic blunder by re-electing Hunter since he'll probably be in prison soon, and having special election is more hassle than they need.
posted by sideshow at 3:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
if Republicans made a strategic blunder by re-electing Hunter since he'll probably be in prison soon, and having special election is more hassle than they need.
I don't thing Republicans are too worried. Hunter, even while under indictment for corruption, won by 10 points. They can put up anyone with an R after their name in that district and they are going to win.
posted by JackFlash at 3:56 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't thing Republicans are too worried. Hunter, even while under indictment for corruption, won by 10 points. They can put up anyone with an R after their name in that district and they are going to win.
posted by JackFlash at 3:56 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
18 Attorneys General Call On Whitaker To Recuse From Mueller Probe Oversight
The attorneys general of Massachusetts, New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia on Thursday called on Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the Mueller probe, citing questions about his “impartiality.”posted by murphy slaw at 4:07 PM on November 8, 2018 [56 favorites]
I don't thing Republicans are too worried. Hunter, even while under indictment for corruption, won by 10 points. They can put up anyone with an R after their name in that district and they are going to win.
That was the point of discussion. Why not just run someone else who won't be in prison? Because who knows what's going to happen with a special election? They could get "Roy Moore'd".
posted by sideshow at 4:11 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
That was the point of discussion. Why not just run someone else who won't be in prison? Because who knows what's going to happen with a special election? They could get "Roy Moore'd".
posted by sideshow at 4:11 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
> So...umm...did a HUGE ELEPHANT just walk through the room? Is everything else happening just a huge troll to distract us... that we're all falling for again? Because it sure sounds like they're trying to shove a clause that requires abortion coverage to be a whole separate insurance that you need to get, and pay for yourself
It sounds like the elephant was trying to tiptoe by, but yeah:
Trump Administration Quietly Unveils New Rules Targeting Birth Control and Abortion: The Christian crusade inside President Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services rages on
It sounds like the elephant was trying to tiptoe by, but yeah:
Trump Administration Quietly Unveils New Rules Targeting Birth Control and Abortion: The Christian crusade inside President Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services rages on
A record number of women — mostly Democrats, many of them galvanized by the threat the Trump administration poses to reproductive freedom — were swept into Congress during in the 2018 midterm elections. The results were still being tabulated on Wednesday when Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services quietly finalized two rules empowering employers, universities and nonprofits to refuse birth control coverage to women.posted by homunculus at 4:19 PM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
A third rule, also announced Wednesday, would require insurers on the Affordable Care Act marketplace to charge women a separate monthly bill for abortion coverage — a change that advocates say would be so prohibitively expensive it could force insurers to stop offering the procedure altogether.
Just got back from the Raleigh protest. I would guess about 500. We got some solidarity honks, cops were nice. Spirit was good, but serious. Not seeing anything on the news about it. If you want to see what's going down hit the #protectmueller hashtag on twitter. Sure looks like nationwide turnout to me, large and small.
posted by yoga at 4:22 PM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by yoga at 4:22 PM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
Trump Administration Quietly Unveils New Rules Targeting Birth Control and Abortion: The Christian crusade inside President Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services rages on
I really wish the pushback on this would finally focus on "This is a violation of sincerely held Jewish beliefs about ensoulment -- specifically that one cannot EVER know exactly when it occurs. LITERALLY, One of G-d's Mysteries.
The Heretical Christians believe they know better than G-d, and that they know ensoulment happens at conception."
You know, because there's absolutely no counter-argument to the Sincerely Held Jewish Belief with 3000+ more years of history than the Christians.
NOTE: I WILL NOT REPLY TO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS. This is derail-y enough, and I apologize
posted by mikelieman at 4:25 PM on November 8, 2018 [46 favorites]
I really wish the pushback on this would finally focus on "This is a violation of sincerely held Jewish beliefs about ensoulment -- specifically that one cannot EVER know exactly when it occurs. LITERALLY, One of G-d's Mysteries.
The Heretical Christians believe they know better than G-d, and that they know ensoulment happens at conception."
You know, because there's absolutely no counter-argument to the Sincerely Held Jewish Belief with 3000+ more years of history than the Christians.
NOTE: I WILL NOT REPLY TO FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS. This is derail-y enough, and I apologize
posted by mikelieman at 4:25 PM on November 8, 2018 [46 favorites]
I’m on my way home from the protest at the White House. It’s the first time I’ve been part of a protest since Dubya’s inauguration in 2001. It felt good. I also voted for the first time (ever) this week. Civic activism is certainly better than handwringing!
posted by karst at 4:27 PM on November 8, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by karst at 4:27 PM on November 8, 2018 [35 favorites]
Downtown Tampa. I could only be there from 5pm-6pm, but the group grew from 30 or so to at least 100.
posted by penduluum at 4:29 PM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by penduluum at 4:29 PM on November 8, 2018 [11 favorites]
@JakeSherman: Jerry Nadler just told @KateBolduan Democrats might demand a special counsel protection bill be part of the year-end govt funding bill.
@mkraju: Dems suggested this on today’s conference call organized by Pelosi too, though it’s unclear how hard they’ll push for it in this round of spending bill talks
This would be a fine thing to request of your representatives.
posted by zachlipton at 4:34 PM on November 8, 2018 [31 favorites]
@mkraju: Dems suggested this on today’s conference call organized by Pelosi too, though it’s unclear how hard they’ll push for it in this round of spending bill talks
This would be a fine thing to request of your representatives.
posted by zachlipton at 4:34 PM on November 8, 2018 [31 favorites]
mikelieman: The Heretical Christians believe they know better than G-d, and that they know ensoulment happens at conception."
You know, because there's absolutely no counter-argument to it.
I can't parse what degree of sarcasm you're using? Maybe there's a similar "The law must be XYZ because of Judaism" notion in conservative circles that I'm missing here and you're mocking by parallel. But aside from that it's not much of a gotcha that Christianity parted ways millenia ago; I mean the Jesus-as-messiah thing is a tipoff and pretty essential. Is this supposed to dovetail into the right wing saying "We're not antisemitic because Israel"? Because there's not really anything even superficially antisemitic (or Islamophobic, etc) about secular laws disagreeing with a given religion's views. In fact that's one of the more foundational pro-choice arguments out there: separation of church and state. (It's not the best argument either, but it has merit insofar as opposition to abortion is very significantly religious at heart).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:35 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
You know, because there's absolutely no counter-argument to it.
I can't parse what degree of sarcasm you're using? Maybe there's a similar "The law must be XYZ because of Judaism" notion in conservative circles that I'm missing here and you're mocking by parallel. But aside from that it's not much of a gotcha that Christianity parted ways millenia ago; I mean the Jesus-as-messiah thing is a tipoff and pretty essential. Is this supposed to dovetail into the right wing saying "We're not antisemitic because Israel"? Because there's not really anything even superficially antisemitic (or Islamophobic, etc) about secular laws disagreeing with a given religion's views. In fact that's one of the more foundational pro-choice arguments out there: separation of church and state. (It's not the best argument either, but it has merit insofar as opposition to abortion is very significantly religious at heart).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:35 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
any defense of abortion that positively invokes 'friendly' religious perspectives is ceding ground.
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [18 favorites]
Y'all, the Trump DHHS is doing a bad abortion access thing because of course they are. While those policy changes seem worthy of discussion here, I'd suggest that going into a more general debate on reproductive rights policy with a healthy dose of attendant religious debate is going to knock this already teetering thread right over.
posted by Brak at 4:55 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Brak at 4:55 PM on November 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
Reporting from Louisville: we started at 6PM (by design). I am shit at crowd estimates but might venture 400, which feels a pretty weak showing for a ity of our size. Speakers from the local MoveOn organizational group and Indivisible spoke, as well as relaying statements from Congressman John Yarmuth and the ACLU. A representative from Seattle Indivisible was there too, for organizational reasons I didn't quite grok. After that there were some oddball speeches which seemed to meander: a sweet but somewhat off-message prayer from some sort of spiritual persona for Ruth Bader Ginsburg's recovery, and after that some random dude whose purpose seemed to be to share his personal outrage swathes in faux erudition and sophistication (if that judgment sounds too harsh: he actually described himself as "erudite" in his speech). This last speaker encouraged a "LOCK HIM UP" chant which I found to be in very bad taste.
So, all in all, a mixed bag. Good that it happened, but whether through brevity of the planning or poor decisions, it was less than successful at least in my opinion.
posted by jackbishop at 4:57 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
So, all in all, a mixed bag. Good that it happened, but whether through brevity of the planning or poor decisions, it was less than successful at least in my opinion.
posted by jackbishop at 4:57 PM on November 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Oh, an addendum, there were hecklers off to the side. I didn't deign to look at them, and they were outnumbered but disruptive.
posted by jackbishop at 4:58 PM on November 8, 2018
posted by jackbishop at 4:58 PM on November 8, 2018
Zinke is also seeking positions on energy company boards of directors or even with private equity firms, two sources have said.I just want to repeat this bit because in this insane year there's too much to focus on but I don't think this should simply slide by. The Secretary of the Interior is apparently openly shopping himself around to energy companies and private equity firms and things are so crazy that this will barely even register.
It's simultaneously fascinating and appalling to me how much of a pass Trump and Zinke get from the press because "Trump Corrupt" and "Zinke Corrupt" are not news any more, assuming they ever were. Apparently they're immune to consequences because they are so obviously and evidently corrupt that it's considered boring or redundant to even point it out. That this (in conjunction with a legislative branch quite obviously determined not to exercise its oversight responsibilities) succeeds in conferring a kind of immunity is pretty mind-boggling to me. January cannot come too soon but even once oversight begins it's gonna be crazy trying to make anything stick in a system this broken.
posted by Nerd of the North at 5:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [29 favorites]
I haven't made it outside yet, but I can certainly hear the choppers in Seattle, so I assume the protest is taking off here.
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 5:25 PM on November 8, 2018
posted by los pantalones del muerte at 5:25 PM on November 8, 2018
Lone guy at Fox News still worried about caravan, embarrassing colleagues (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
FOX NEWS HQ, PROBABLY — Days after the midterm elections, one “Fox & Friends” producer was still “terrified” the network had scarcely spared a thought for the migrant caravan that only a few days ago, according to the network, was about to sweep into the nation and ruin it, thus demanding the immediate presence of U.S. troops at the border.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:25 PM on November 8, 2018 [34 favorites]
His whole Fox family was mortified to discover Gary still believed in the horrifying vision of the caravan, even after Election Day.
In the green room, colleagues rolled their eyes as he kept asking, “Where is it? Why can’t we still see it?” and “What happened to Operation Faithful Patriot?”
“I can’t believe he doesn’t know,” one female colleague mused. “It’s kind of, what’s the word? Sad.”
“I think he actually thinks this was all real,” a male colleague ventured, peering through an open door at the producer, who was frantically scrolling on his phone to see whether he could find any footage or coverage of the caravan. “He’s really worried about it. He took me aside at lunch and retold the plot of an entire ‘Doctor Who’ episode where if you looked away from something scary it would suddenly be much closer, and he couldn’t believe we were taking our eyes off this very real threat.”
seriously though, i know they dropped the name, are they even still sending any troops?
posted by murphy slaw at 5:31 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:31 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Per BBC:
Illegal migrants entering through the southern US border will no longer be eligible for asylum under a new rule, the Trump administration has said.posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 5:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Announced by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, the ruling would stop asylum for those who breach any presidential restriction on entry.
The president can stop migration in the "national interest", a statement said.
To answer my own question, yes 5600 out of 7000 planned troops so far:
Troops install barbed wire at Arizona border ports in anticipation of migrant caravan
Troops install barbed wire at Arizona border ports in anticipation of migrant caravan
Local leaders and residents in Nogales roundly criticized the barbed-wire installation at the ports of entry. They described the deployment as a "political ploy" and a waste of resources.posted by murphy slaw at 5:43 PM on November 8, 2018 [14 favorites]
"Concertina wire has no place in the community," Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce Bracker said Wednesday.
Longtime Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada, a vocal opponent of Trump's immigration and border policies, said the president was misusing the military for political gain.
"Spending all of this money, all of this effort, in which is obviously a political ploy, is uncalled for," he said. "Utilizing the U.S. military police is overreach. This is not a war zone."
Customs and Border Protection previously has tried to install barbed wire on top of the Nogales border fence in 2013, but they backtracked amid heavy criticism from local residents and leaders.
Estrada criticized the lack of input from the community this time around and likened the decision to fortify the border without consulting them as an invasion.
"It's unfortunate that they don't take local officials into account, that we're not part of the discussion, that we're not part of the dialogue," he said. "When the federal government does that, they're actually invading our community without telling us, with all due respect to the military."
…
As of Wednesday, 5,600 troops out of the 7,000 planned have been deployed to the Southwestern border, according to Northern Command. About 1,500 of them are in Arizona, based at the Davis Monthan base in Tucson and Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista.
I was at the protest in Evanston, Illinois outside Chicago. About 300 protesters. We listened to speeches, chanted, marched around the town. I failed to think up a clever chant that included the word "constitution". We mostly stuck with "No on is above the law." We ended with Bob Marley music for some reason. It was good. People were righteously pissed.
posted by xammerboy at 5:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 5:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
White House edits footage to make it look like Jim Acosta attacked an intern, then released it claiming it was true. With a side by side of the real footage and the footage disseminated by Sarah Huckabee Liarpants, and an explanation of how it was done.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:51 PM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:51 PM on November 8, 2018 [16 favorites]
Downtown Tampa. I could only be there from 5pm-6pm, but the group grew from 30 or so to at least 100.
Same in Indianapolis; more like 150, in fact.
A law teacher was the main speaker, but a couple of others, including one or two from the crowd, took the mike as well. The energy was positive and good.
Unfortunately, we met on the south side of the State House, which is considerably offset from the street, so I doubt many people driving by saw us. I wish we met on the east side of the building by the statue of Morton, where passing traffic could have seen.
posted by Gelatin at 5:55 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Same in Indianapolis; more like 150, in fact.
A law teacher was the main speaker, but a couple of others, including one or two from the crowd, took the mike as well. The energy was positive and good.
Unfortunately, we met on the south side of the State House, which is considerably offset from the street, so I doubt many people driving by saw us. I wish we met on the east side of the building by the statue of Morton, where passing traffic could have seen.
posted by Gelatin at 5:55 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
isolation is also a drawback of lafayette park behind the white house. it is a great open available space -- a natural staging area -- but exposed to traffic (and that, barely, and inattentive anyway) on only one side, so almost invisible and disruptive of nothing at all.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:20 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:20 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Snoop Dogg Says ‘F–k The President’ While Smoking a Blunt in Front of the White House
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:10 PM on November 8
I want to be him.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:10 PM on November 8
I want to be him.
posted by bluesky43 at 6:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
Approx 300 folks gathered in Kingston NY this evening! Loads of honking cars in support.
posted by tarantula at 6:35 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by tarantula at 6:35 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
Hey anyone in Portland, OR know where the protest is right now? I saw a lot of people leaving the waterfront with signs saying they were going to Pioneer Square but nobody is there.
posted by gucci mane at 6:38 PM on November 8, 2018
posted by gucci mane at 6:38 PM on November 8, 2018
Felt like a pretty small protest in St Paul at the MN capitol. I was late so maybe it started out more exciting. It was snowing but that's not really a big deal here. There were maybe 200 people? I am not good at estimating crowd size.
One guy was there with a Trump flag that he was waving; as far as I saw he was completely ignored.
Glad to see folks were out and about! My sign said "Trump is a stinker!" on one side (in honor of what centrifugal's kid wanted to say) and "I am sick of protesting this criminal bigot" on the other.
posted by Emmy Rae at 6:44 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
One guy was there with a Trump flag that he was waving; as far as I saw he was completely ignored.
Glad to see folks were out and about! My sign said "Trump is a stinker!" on one side (in honor of what centrifugal's kid wanted to say) and "I am sick of protesting this criminal bigot" on the other.
posted by Emmy Rae at 6:44 PM on November 8, 2018 [12 favorites]
It was snowing, 25 degrees and right in the middle of rush hour. It took me an hour to get from work to within sight of the Capitol, and at that point I realized it was going to take another half hour to park and find the protest, in the dark, and I wasn’t even really dressed for the weather. I went home.
I get the motivation to have an “immediate reaction” protest, but if you want significant attendance, then people need daylight, reasonable weather, and sufficient advance notice. It’s not a mystery that the women’s march was successful because it was held on a Saturday morning.
posted by Autumnheart at 7:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
I get the motivation to have an “immediate reaction” protest, but if you want significant attendance, then people need daylight, reasonable weather, and sufficient advance notice. It’s not a mystery that the women’s march was successful because it was held on a Saturday morning.
posted by Autumnheart at 7:05 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
Running into scuttlebutt that there's actually a statute stating the Assistant AG takes over if the AG resigns; anybody seeing anything substantive about it?
posted by aspersioncast at 7:14 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 7:14 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes, scroll up. The President has found a sliver of a loophole, but it is not at all settled. Rosenstein ( the deputy AG) is supposed to take over, but there is some conflict between the statute that lays that out and the Vacancy Reform Act, which may give the President some leeway (this is regarded as a stretch, I think), so yay! More drama.
posted by notyou at 7:20 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by notyou at 7:20 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
I saw this earlier, but was waiting for some actual analysis of the implications, and here's that. NYT, Sessions, in Last-Minute Act, Sharply Limits Use of Consent Decrees to Curb Police Abuses
posted by zachlipton at 7:30 PM on November 8, 2018 [42 favorites]
Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions has drastically limited the ability of federal law enforcement officials to use court-enforced agreements to overhaul local police departments accused of abuses and civil rights violations, the Justice Department announced late on Thursday.Just a final act of fuckery on his way out the door.
In a major last-minute act, Mr. Sessions signed a memorandum on Wednesday before President Trump fired him sharply curtailing the use of so-called consent decrees, court-approved deals between the Justice Department and local governments that create a road map of changes for law enforcement and other institutions.
The move means that the decrees, used aggressively by Obama-era Justice Department officials to fight police abuses, will be much more difficult to enact. Mr. Sessions had signaled he would pull back on their use soon after he took office when he ordered a review of the existing agreements, including with police departments in Baltimore, Chicago and Ferguson, Mo., enacted amid a national outcry over the deaths of black men at the hands of officers.
Mr. Sessions imposed three stringent requirements for the agreements. Top political appointees must sign off the deals, rather than the career lawyers who have done so in the past; department lawyers must lay out evidence of additional violations beyond unconstitutional behavior; and the deals must have a sunset date, rather than being in place until police or other law enforcement agencies have shown improvement.
posted by zachlipton at 7:30 PM on November 8, 2018 [42 favorites]
I'm seeing some buzz on Twitter to the effect that Don Jr. may be indicted soon -- possibly tomorrow.
posted by orange swan at 7:37 PM on November 8, 2018
posted by orange swan at 7:37 PM on November 8, 2018
Eh, that's been reported for a week or so. It's pure speculation based on secondhand reports of things Don Jr. has purportedly said. It could be true but the reports are basically out of context hearsay.
posted by Justinian at 7:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:39 PM on November 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
(i hope its true. the last 3 months have contained a serious lack of sending folks to the pokey.)
posted by Justinian at 7:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [9 favorites]
The angle I shot this from doesn't show the size of the crowd really at all, but here's a little bit of "We Shall Overcome" from San Francisco tonight
posted by zachlipton at 7:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:45 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
Hey anyone in Portland, OR know where the protest is right now?
I got out of work late, headed down to the waterfront then pioneer square and couldn't find many people. According to a FB event it looks like it had a decent turnout then fizzled out around 6.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I got out of work late, headed down to the waterfront then pioneer square and couldn't find many people. According to a FB event it looks like it had a decent turnout then fizzled out around 6.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:48 PM on November 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Norm Eisen and CREW have filed an ethics complaint with DOJ demanding Whitaker's recusal:
Mr. Whitaker’s appointment in these circumstances is also unprecedented: Never beforeposted by triggerfinger at 8:00 PM on November 8, 2018 [23 favorites]
has a President designated an acting attorney general who had not previously been serving in a
Senate-confirmed position. Nor has a President ever before appointed an acting attorney general
who is on record describing the means by which the President could curtail an ongoing
investigation of the President’s conduct. In a July 26, 2017 appearance on CNN, Mr. Whitaker
discussed ways to undermine the special counsel investigation, including by putting pressure on
Mr. Rosenstein to “cut the budget of Bob Mueller and do something a little more stage crafty
than the blunt instrument of firing the attorney general and trying to replace him.” Indeed, Mr.
Whitaker also imagined the precise scenario that is playing out before our eyes: “I could see a
scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced, it would recess appointment and that attorney general
doesn't fire Bob Mueller but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigations grinds to
almost a halt.”
Bremerton, WA 100+ people, a megaphone, a drum and a person in trump-mask w/ prison jumpsuit. Suporting honks and waves way outnumbered the few haters.
"impeach the leech" and " no kings, no puppets, no one above the law" made minor chant appearances. lasted about 1.5hrs>
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 8:04 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
"impeach the leech" and " no kings, no puppets, no one above the law" made minor chant appearances. lasted about 1.5hrs>
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 8:04 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
Los Angeles, CA: Somewhere between 100-1,000 on the steps of city hall. Organizers had a fancy bus-like-thing -- they were on a platform with sound equipment above us. People were invited to speak; it was a mix of positivity and righteous anger. Two people from Thousand Oaks spoke (very early-20's by the looks of it) -- the one's dad is a security guard. After the protest was announced yesterday, the other made plans to go to the protest and then to her favorite bar, the Borderline (site of yesterday's mass shooting). Some of her friends died there last night. One of the last speakers gave a very intense reading of the Preamble of the Constitution (professional wrestling intense). The final person sang "This Little Light of Mine" as we shined our flashlights toward the city hall. There was also a person in a very large trump head that had glowing red eyes, but they did not speak.
posted by miguelcervantes at 8:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by miguelcervantes at 8:18 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
These tweets capture the crowd size at LA and the pig-faced giant Trump mask person
posted by miguelcervantes at 8:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by miguelcervantes at 8:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Norm Eisen and CREW have filed an ethics complaint with DOJ demanding Whitaker's recusal
All Trump needs is that little sliver of time to fuck everything up. Like everything else his administration has done, it's up to the future to unwind whatever it is (and some "its" are going to be permanent). Whitaker does something consequential on his first day [disputed zone] and it doesn't matter if it's legal. He has absolute immunity, and cultural immunity is also likely in case the first kind doesn't hold up. Trump is the nation's...uh, what's the thing or animal that holds on tighter the more you try to pull it off...anyway, he's shitting all over everything and cleaning nothing up and it's going to take a lot of Lysol and time.
I figured it out: Trump is the nation's lathe accident and we constituents are a loose sleeve caught by a splinter. (CW: do not google unless being told not to google something makes you want to google it more) Suffice it to say that most of the time you don't get that arm back, and that's if you're lucky. Such will be society and its relationship to the government.
It seems hard to overstate the effects of this, because now, everything that is done to "rebuild" the government (which is a political desire, some people still think decimating the government is a good idea) is going to be fought, re-fought in a lot of cases, is going to be fought every step of the way. This is why Republicans, US conservatism, neoliberalism, and all that need to be discredited. It should be embarrassing and a social faux-pas to brag that you lowered your taxes with some loophole or other. Or making fun of someone on food stamps. Or going to school while unemployed and surviving.
In a lot of ways we're already fucked, and it's going to get worse, because after this we still have Javanka to worry about unless they are hounded out of polite society (not to mention all the 20 year olds who are inspired by them right now).
posted by rhizome at 8:25 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
All Trump needs is that little sliver of time to fuck everything up. Like everything else his administration has done, it's up to the future to unwind whatever it is (and some "its" are going to be permanent). Whitaker does something consequential on his first day [disputed zone] and it doesn't matter if it's legal. He has absolute immunity, and cultural immunity is also likely in case the first kind doesn't hold up. Trump is the nation's...uh, what's the thing or animal that holds on tighter the more you try to pull it off...anyway, he's shitting all over everything and cleaning nothing up and it's going to take a lot of Lysol and time.
I figured it out: Trump is the nation's lathe accident and we constituents are a loose sleeve caught by a splinter. (CW: do not google unless being told not to google something makes you want to google it more) Suffice it to say that most of the time you don't get that arm back, and that's if you're lucky. Such will be society and its relationship to the government.
It seems hard to overstate the effects of this, because now, everything that is done to "rebuild" the government (which is a political desire, some people still think decimating the government is a good idea) is going to be fought, re-fought in a lot of cases, is going to be fought every step of the way. This is why Republicans, US conservatism, neoliberalism, and all that need to be discredited. It should be embarrassing and a social faux-pas to brag that you lowered your taxes with some loophole or other. Or making fun of someone on food stamps. Or going to school while unemployed and surviving.
In a lot of ways we're already fucked, and it's going to get worse, because after this we still have Javanka to worry about unless they are hounded out of polite society (not to mention all the 20 year olds who are inspired by them right now).
posted by rhizome at 8:25 PM on November 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
All Trump needs is that little sliver of time to fuck everything up.
In my opinion the danger isn't something like defunding or preventing investigation. Those shenanigans can be reversed in time. The real AG could allow subpoenas, etc, that Whittaker denied. And the defunding risk is probably overblown given that Mueller's budget is already set in stone (I think) through late 2019 and doesn't even come up for review again until summer.
The danger is that Whittaker immediately demands a full accounting of the case, gathers all the evidence, and pulls a Nunes by running it over to the White House. That can't be walked back and it can be done in a matter of days... if it hasn't been done already. Once Trump knows the evidence he knows how much danger he's in, can give the evidence to future witnesses so they can tailor their stories and avoid perjuring themselves, and can himself determine what he can and can't lie about without being caught.
Hell, TrumpCo could get it done tomorrow and then withdraw Whittaker's appointment with an "oops our bad we didn't realize what a fucking lunatic this guy is we'll stick Noel Francisco in there instead k thx bye" and 100% get away with it.
That's halfway what I expect.
posted by Justinian at 8:40 PM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
In my opinion the danger isn't something like defunding or preventing investigation. Those shenanigans can be reversed in time. The real AG could allow subpoenas, etc, that Whittaker denied. And the defunding risk is probably overblown given that Mueller's budget is already set in stone (I think) through late 2019 and doesn't even come up for review again until summer.
The danger is that Whittaker immediately demands a full accounting of the case, gathers all the evidence, and pulls a Nunes by running it over to the White House. That can't be walked back and it can be done in a matter of days... if it hasn't been done already. Once Trump knows the evidence he knows how much danger he's in, can give the evidence to future witnesses so they can tailor their stories and avoid perjuring themselves, and can himself determine what he can and can't lie about without being caught.
Hell, TrumpCo could get it done tomorrow and then withdraw Whittaker's appointment with an "oops our bad we didn't realize what a fucking lunatic this guy is we'll stick Noel Francisco in there instead k thx bye" and 100% get away with it.
That's halfway what I expect.
posted by Justinian at 8:40 PM on November 8, 2018 [27 favorites]
I missed the Portland protest 😢 (thanks Big Mulp for the reply! Was worried I was totally missing everything). Senator Ron Wyden gave a speech at ours and I’m sad I missed that. Judging from Twitter, it looks like there were a lot of great turn outs, and a lot of people in smaller cities protesting as well! It’s not always about huge numbers, it’s super nice to see even 15 people in a small town on a street corner protesting. Whether it actually changes anything, I doubt it will, but it definitely made me feel like I wasn’t just some dork in the internet that cared about something that was niche and complex. As I walked around downtown Portland looking for where people went I saw a lot of young people, a lot of elderly people, a lot of boomers, and people talking with passersby about what this was about. It reminded me how important protesting is in general.
posted by gucci mane at 8:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 8:42 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
CNN, Whitaker backlash prompts concern at the White House
posted by zachlipton at 8:49 PM on November 8, 2018 [83 favorites]
There is a growing sense of concern inside the White House over the negative reaction to Matthew Whitaker being tapped as acting attorney general after Jeff Sessions' abrupt firing.What exactly do they do at the White House all day if they don't bother to Google people before they're given cabinet positions?
...
It was not widely known among White House staff that he'd commented repeatedly on the special counsel's investigation in interviews and on television -- which is ironic given that this is what drew President Donald Trump to him and raises continued questions over the depth of the administration's vetting process.
posted by zachlipton at 8:49 PM on November 8, 2018 [83 favorites]
> In 2014, Whitaker gave an interview as part of his ill-fated run for Iowa Senate where he described Marbury v. Madison as the worst decision in the Supreme Court's history.
Matthew Whitaker is a crackpot
Not to mention a scammer.
posted by homunculus at 8:51 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
Matthew Whitaker is a crackpot
Not to mention a scammer.
posted by homunculus at 8:51 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
The Seattle rally was not small.
I haven't seen an official estimate. It had to be several thousand people. Also, speakers included Governor Inslee, the county executive, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal. That was bookended by the mayor after the march, though I confess I had to bail before she got there.
It wasn't the Women's March, but honestly for very short notice on a cold Thursday I feel like Seattle did pretty good for itself.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:59 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
I haven't seen an official estimate. It had to be several thousand people. Also, speakers included Governor Inslee, the county executive, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal. That was bookended by the mayor after the march, though I confess I had to bail before she got there.
It wasn't the Women's March, but honestly for very short notice on a cold Thursday I feel like Seattle did pretty good for itself.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:59 PM on November 8, 2018 [25 favorites]
What exactly do they do at the White House all day if they don't bother to Google people before they're given cabinet positions?
another question: what do CNN bookers do all day since they’re clearly not spending any time verifying that their legal commentors aren’t distant fourth-place senatorial primary candidates that dispute Marbury vs. Madison and abuse their clout as US Attorney to push hot tub scams?
posted by murphy slaw at 9:15 PM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
another question: what do CNN bookers do all day since they’re clearly not spending any time verifying that their legal commentors aren’t distant fourth-place senatorial primary candidates that dispute Marbury vs. Madison and abuse their clout as US Attorney to push hot tub scams?
posted by murphy slaw at 9:15 PM on November 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
There is a growing sense of concern inside the White House over the negative reaction to Matthew Whitaker being tapped as acting attorney general after Jeff Sessions' abrupt firing.
This is an interesting wording. Somewhere, Emptywheel (or adjacent) was talking about whether it's a firing or a resignation, and that that matters because the Vacancies Act requires Senate confirmation in the event of a firing. So, CNN's on the "firing" side of the nascent controversy, which seems significant.
posted by rhizome at 9:23 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
This is an interesting wording. Somewhere, Emptywheel (or adjacent) was talking about whether it's a firing or a resignation, and that that matters because the Vacancies Act requires Senate confirmation in the event of a firing. So, CNN's on the "firing" side of the nascent controversy, which seems significant.
posted by rhizome at 9:23 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
Republican Senators Have Surrendered Their Institution to the Dear Leader: Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announces the new order of things.
A lot of people have opined concerning the dismissal of Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III to the effect that the president* expects the AG and the Department of Justice to be his personal defense attorneys. The name of his old friend, Roy Cohn, is even fouling the air once more.posted by homunculus at 9:26 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
But this is a different deal. Here, he seems to be saying that he expects the members of the Senate Majority to be his personal button men if the new Democratic majority in the House starts getting too close to home with their subpoenas. Those of us who took civics class once remember that the Senate is supposed to be an independent institution of government, but here is the president*, who would fail that class if it were offered to him today, dragooning Republican senators into the effort to cover his ample hindquarters.
Chicago's started at 5 pm with maybe 2,000 people in Federal Plaza and kept growing, by the time the speakers finished speaking there were around 5,000 or more of us that marched through the city to Trump Tower. We had some great speakers including Senator Durbin, Daniel Biss, a representative from Senator Duckworth's office and a few others.
My observation is that there is definitely a core group of people that tends to be at most of the demonstrations but there are far larger numbers of "sometimes protestors" and always a large number of first time protestors. Same goes for volunteers, there is a core group of volunteers that show up to most of them, and always a good size group of sometimes volunteers and several first time volunteers.
posted by W Grant at 9:35 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
My observation is that there is definitely a core group of people that tends to be at most of the demonstrations but there are far larger numbers of "sometimes protestors" and always a large number of first time protestors. Same goes for volunteers, there is a core group of volunteers that show up to most of them, and always a good size group of sometimes volunteers and several first time volunteers.
posted by W Grant at 9:35 PM on November 8, 2018 [10 favorites]
another question: what do CNN bookers do all day since they’re clearly not spending any time verifying that their legal commentors aren’t distant fourth-place senatorial primary candidates that dispute Marbury vs. Madison and abuse their clout as US Attorney to push hot tub scams?
It's called "balance". One Democratic law professor and celebrated constitutional scholar is the exact same as the Infowars guy. See, now they have "both sides" and it's another Sunday well done.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:40 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's called "balance". One Democratic law professor and celebrated constitutional scholar is the exact same as the Infowars guy. See, now they have "both sides" and it's another Sunday well done.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:40 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
The White House News Photographers Association – We're 'appalled' that Sanders may have shared 'manipulated' video of Acosta exchange:
“The White House News Photographers Association is appalled to learn that the White House spokesperson may have shared a manipulated video of CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s interaction with a White House intern during a news conference," WHNPA President Whitney Shefte said in a statement.posted by cenoxo at 10:01 PM on November 8, 2018 [46 favorites]
"As visual journalists, we know that manipulating images is manipulating truth. It’s deceptive, dangerous and unethical," she added. “Knowingly sharing manipulated images is equally problematic, particularly when the person sharing them is a representative of our country’s highest office with vast influence over public opinion.”
If I were to guess I'd say the Seattle one had a peak size of somewhere around 2,500 people? 3,000? But I'm not a practiced crowd-guesser and that comes with large error bars.
Jayapal was my favorite of the speakers, I think.
My feet are tired now, but my heart has been tired for a long time, and walking down the street of my home saying, "STAND UP. FIGHT BACK! (What do we do when the fascists attack?) STAND UP. FIGHT BACK!", well, honestly, it really helped. I really needed to be around people who felt that way, it turns out, and I needed to be with them and say that out loud, and I needed to hear the strength and resolve in our collective voice, and my wife and I both got to go out and be there and do that together, and it was pretty great.
posted by kprincehouse at 10:04 PM on November 8, 2018 [23 favorites]
Jayapal was my favorite of the speakers, I think.
My feet are tired now, but my heart has been tired for a long time, and walking down the street of my home saying, "STAND UP. FIGHT BACK! (What do we do when the fascists attack?) STAND UP. FIGHT BACK!", well, honestly, it really helped. I really needed to be around people who felt that way, it turns out, and I needed to be with them and say that out loud, and I needed to hear the strength and resolve in our collective voice, and my wife and I both got to go out and be there and do that together, and it was pretty great.
posted by kprincehouse at 10:04 PM on November 8, 2018 [23 favorites]
Consider asking Wikipedia to add a "(disputed)" asterisk to Purportedly-Acting Attorney General Whitaker's nameplate
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:01 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:01 PM on November 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
If I were to guess I'd say the Seattle one had a peak size of somewhere around 2,500 people? 3,000? But I'm not a practiced crowd-guesser and that comes with large error bars.
My guess of several thousand is based on a bunch of high school crowd control (fire drills evacuating out onto the field, etc). The crowd felt much bigger than the big high schools. Watching things empty out from rally to march reinforced that. Correcting for my own enthusiasm, I'm guessing it was probably around 3,000. I also noticed just how many people on the sidewalks during the march through downtown were loudly supportive.
One of the speakers at the beginning of the rally was a guy with national security experience who talked about how the Russian government sure does view us as an enemy, and how this is very much a new Cold War. He's absolutely right. I really feel like we've got to adopt that language, too. The Russians aren't going to change their behavior if we're more diplomatic in how we frame their attacks. Yet domestically, talking about this as "interference" and "meddling" rather than addressing our relations as a new Cold War status sure does let people off the hook for ignoring and minimizing Russian actions here.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:02 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
My guess of several thousand is based on a bunch of high school crowd control (fire drills evacuating out onto the field, etc). The crowd felt much bigger than the big high schools. Watching things empty out from rally to march reinforced that. Correcting for my own enthusiasm, I'm guessing it was probably around 3,000. I also noticed just how many people on the sidewalks during the march through downtown were loudly supportive.
One of the speakers at the beginning of the rally was a guy with national security experience who talked about how the Russian government sure does view us as an enemy, and how this is very much a new Cold War. He's absolutely right. I really feel like we've got to adopt that language, too. The Russians aren't going to change their behavior if we're more diplomatic in how we frame their attacks. Yet domestically, talking about this as "interference" and "meddling" rather than addressing our relations as a new Cold War status sure does let people off the hook for ignoring and minimizing Russian actions here.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:02 PM on November 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
Re: 'firing' ...I think that one is pretty clear as Sessions letter of resignation starts with "At your request, I am submitting my resignation..." (emphasis added)
It's been a crazy day, but for me I think the biggest surprise was that Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn't literally burst into flames.
posted by sexyrobot at 11:04 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's been a crazy day, but for me I think the biggest surprise was that Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn't literally burst into flames.
posted by sexyrobot at 11:04 PM on November 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
The petty losin' Judge Devlin's rip-roarin' clemency-o-rama story is evidently just a sideshow to a much more profound setback for white supremacy:
If we can just figure out how to slip this thing into high gear will have an all-black-women SCOTUS in no time flat.
posted by XMLicious at 11:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [49 favorites]
'Black girl magic': 19 black women ran for judge in Texas county – and all 19 won(Devlin's vanquisher, Natalie Oakes, is one of the 59 Democrats but was not among the 19.)
Victories mark unprecedented level of success for black female judicial candidates in Harris county, which includes Houston
Democrats won all 59 judicial races in Harris county in Tuesday’s midterm elections. In one of the most eye-catching and significant results, the long-time incumbent Republican county judge, Ed Emmett – in effect, the county’s chief executive – lost to Lina Hidalgo, a 27-year-old first-time candidate who immigrated from Colombia as a teenager.
If we can just figure out how to slip this thing into high gear will have an all-black-women SCOTUS in no time flat.
posted by XMLicious at 11:21 PM on November 8, 2018 [49 favorites]
Pretty good summary of the reasoning behind the Acosta video release:
@AmandaMarcotte
It keeps grinding away, and we must fight letting this become the new normal every time.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 12:53 AM on November 9, 2018 [116 favorites]
@AmandaMarcotte
No one actually believes Jim Acosta did anything wrong. This is one of those situations where conservatives collectively pretend to believe something they don’t believe. Pretending to believe something they don’t believe serves multiple purposes.I know much of this restates already (over here on the blue) well-known points, but it bears repeating every so often to fight the normalization. I have noticed a tendency in myself to react to the ever-new lies and falsehoods Trump spreads with a groan, eye-roll and a muttered "not again", but that these reactions get blunted over time.
One, it signals tribal loyalty. Being willing to say blatantly false things shows you put tribe over truth, and that is a critical loyalty test, as anyone who has studied cults can tell you.
Two, they’re trolling. “Triggering the libs” is the meats and potatoes of their political ideology these days (read my book, Troll Nation). Telling blatant lies and watching liberals make themselves crazy insisting on “facts” and “evidence” makes them laugh in delight.
Three, they are trying to push the idea that violence against women isn’t a real problem, but something people only pretend to care about to score points.
How better to seed that idea than only pretending to care to score points?
Fourth, it's about reestablishing Trump's narrative that the media are the "enemy" to be defeated instead of a Fourth Estate necessary to keep democracy healthy. This helps, in turn, fuel the already strong message that democracy is wrong and authoritarianism is right.
Fifth, it's a straight up distraction. Trump wants everyone "debating" a completely obvious video, instead of talking about how he's trying to conceal what is almost certainly very serious crimes by interfering with the Mueller investigation.
You will notice conservatives filing these mentions with insistence that they do, too, believe Acosta did something wrong. They are, to the last of them, lying. I block and move on. You should, too. You cannot discourse with people who lie for sport.
One more thought: Watching the ease with which conservatives pretend to believe something they clearly cannot believe — that Acosta did anything wrong — should really be a moment to think about what other beliefs they only pretend to hold. I'd say quite a few!
Trump is accelerating a process that's been going on for decades, where conservatives pretend to believe climate change isn't happening, abortion is murder, evolution is a lie, tax cuts lead to prosperity.
The lies are just getting more blatant as a show of power.
I see the hill some are willing to die on is "no, I swear, the conservatives I know really believe this stupid lie!" To this, I have a couple of rebuttals.
One, it doesn't matter if you are dealing with a liar or someone who has turned himself into a deluded idiot. Either way, they are someone who has decided that truth must be sacrificed for loyalty to Trump and should be abandoned, as they are incapable of reasoned discourse.
Two, I will bet they don't actually believe what you think they do. Here's a piece I wrote two years ago about how a lot of people don't believe what they "believe".
Link to said piece:"Why do Trump supporters believe so many things that are crazy and wrong?"
The research shows that people who claim to "believe" false things adjust their "belief" on context. If they are in a "trolling the libs" situation, they "believe" Obama is Kenyan. If they think this is a quiz on political knowledge, they admit he was born in Hawaii.
So your conservative friend insists that he "believes" Acosta did a naughty thing. Remember: He knows you're a liberal. He would like to make you crazy. And how faster to do this than to keep saying a dumb, false thing and bait you into arguing with him?
What you should do is simply tell your conservative friend that if he continues to lie and gaslight, you are ending the conversation and, ideally, the friendship. Why are you friends with lying assholes anyway?
It keeps grinding away, and we must fight letting this become the new normal every time.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 12:53 AM on November 9, 2018 [116 favorites]
Further analysis of the 'doctored' Jim Acosta video released by the White House may reveal less malintent, unforeseen technical issues, and too-hasty confrontations.
The White House’s Video of Jim Acosta Shows How Crude Political Manipulation Can Be, New Yorker, November 8, 2018 [references mine]:
The White House’s Video of Jim Acosta Shows How Crude Political Manipulation Can Be, New Yorker, November 8, 2018 [references mine]:
I e-mailed Hany Farid [WP bio], an expert in digital-image forensics, to ask him whether the video had been altered. He replied with the results of his analysis. Parts of the video, he wrote, had been slowed down compared to the clip that aired on television. It was also blurrier. The loops had been added. Finally, there were a few repeated frames, which occurred just at the moment Acosta’s hand touched the intern’s arm. In a conversation with BuzzFeed [*article link below], Watson denied deliberately slowing down, speeding up, or blurring the video; instead, he said, he’d simply downloaded an animated gif image from the Twitter account of DailyWire.com. Farid confirmed that the repeated frames, the blurriness, and the slowdown, which helped “make the video more dramatic,” could all have been unintended results of “transcoding” the video, or converting it into and out of the gif format.*People Are Arguing About Whether This Trump Press Conference Video Is Doctored, Buzzfeed News, November 8, 2018:
A bigger issue, Farid pointed out, was non-technical: the camera angle. “If you look at original, higher-quality videos from other vantage points,” he wrote, “you can more clearly see that while there was some contact between the reporter and intern, he did not strike her as his hand comes down.” The perspective, coupled with the blurriness of the image—which makes it hard to discern where Acosta’s hand ends and the intern’s arm begins—create the impression that their contact was more substantive than it was. Farid concluded that the video Sanders shared was “misleading.” At the same time, he wrote, “I don’t see unambiguous evidence that it has been doctored.”
...
And yet, for all its crudeness, the video gives us a glimpse of the future. In the coming years, as technology advances, we’ll have good reason to grow more skeptical about the videos we see. At the same time, we will struggle to make use of that skepticism. We will disagree about what words such as “doctored,” “manipulated,” and “faked” really mean (and videos can be misleading, of course, without having been altered at all). We will tumble down technical rabbit holes, arguing endlessly about image artifacts and compression algorithms, in debates that become their own distractions. To be destructive, videos don’t have to be perfectly or ingeniously manipulated; they need only present what Kellyanne Conway, the counsellor to the President, once called “alternative facts,” serving as evidence for one group and evidence of mendacity for another.
It's all confusing. There's even an example in which all parties are mostly correct. Watson's clip is different than the CSPAN clip because it was taken from a GIF and thus missing frames, which could cause Acosta's movement to appear faster than it actually was. In that case, one can argue that the video was altered. If that's the case, there's also an argument that Watson is telling the truth — he didn't personally speed up the video; he just used a clip that was missing frames.posted by cenoxo at 1:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
...
To sum it up: A historically unreliable narrator [Paul Joseph Watson] who works for a conspiracy website tweets a video in order to show alleged bad behavior on the part of a journalist. The clip goes viral. The White House picks up and disseminates that video and uses it as proof to ban the journalist from reporting at the White House. Outraged journalists decry the White House's use of a video taken from a historically unreliable narrator. Then, users attempt to debunk the video as "actual fake news." Others, unclear if the video is fake, urge caution, suggesting the media may be jumping the gun. An argument breaks out over the intricate technical details of doctoring a clip.
The entire ordeal is a near-perfect example of a scenario disinformation experts have predicted and warned of, where the very threat of video manipulation can lead to a blurring of reality. "These technological underpinnings [of AI, Photoshop, and editing programs lead] to the increasing erosion of trust,” computational propaganda researcher Renee DiResta told BuzzFeed News in early 2018. “It makes it possible to cast aspersions on whether videos — or advocacy for that matter — are real.”
Hell, TrumpCo could get it done tomorrow and then withdraw Whittaker's appointment with an "oops our bad we didn't realize what a fucking lunatic this guy is we'll stick Noel Francisco in there instead k thx bye" and 100% get away with it.
He passes the Advise & Consent barrier but they'd have a new fight on their hands over his conflict of interest, for which he was given a somewhat dodgy looking waiver way back in the spring.
posted by scalefree at 1:10 AM on November 9, 2018
He passes the Advise & Consent barrier but they'd have a new fight on their hands over his conflict of interest, for which he was given a somewhat dodgy looking waiver way back in the spring.
posted by scalefree at 1:10 AM on November 9, 2018
Federal judge blocks Keystone Pipeline XL in major blow to Trump administration, citing disregard of climate issues (WaPo)
A federal judge temporarily blocked construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, ruling late Thursday that the Trump administration had failed to justify its decision granting a permit for the 1,200-mile long project designed to connect Canada’s tar sands crude oil with refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast.posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:15 AM on November 9, 2018 [48 favorites]
It was a major defeat for President Trump, who attacked the Obama administration for failing to move ahead in the face of protests based largely on environmental concerns. Trump signed an executive order two days into his presidency setting in motion a course reversal on the Keystone XL pipeline and the Dakota Access pipeline.
The decision, issued by Judge Brian Morris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, does not permanently block a permit but requires the administration to conduct a more complete review of potential adverse impacts related to climate change, cultural resources and endangered species. It basically ordered a do-over.
One of the speakers at the Philadelphia protest made the obvious point, but it needed to be said, that the firing of Sessions had been strategically timed to hit the left when it was at its most exhausted.
And especially because we have these high profile races in the Senate and governors that attracted so much attention, you're going to have a feeling of defeat at least probably somewhere, a lot of broken hearts.
The House is not something you fall in love with like Beto, maybe?
Anyway, so this fucker times one of the largest steps in the obstruction of justice with Daylight Savings Time, the elections, growing cold.
There were still a lot of us anyway. And the left is going to get its shit together. This isn't like Occupy where the goals are unclear. The goal is clear. The message is clear. No one is above the law.
At Philly yesterday they were reading fiery historical addresses, allegations of wrongs, that could come out of the mouths of leftists today. For better or worse, people kind of don't change. We still fight for justice, and we're still liable to tyranny and demagoguery.
I sometimes suspect that hope gets a false rep for being a good thing. Sometimes hope fucks shit up. I'm not particularly hopeful. But especially after the protest last night, I do feel determined.
posted by angrycat at 3:50 AM on November 9, 2018 [33 favorites]
And especially because we have these high profile races in the Senate and governors that attracted so much attention, you're going to have a feeling of defeat at least probably somewhere, a lot of broken hearts.
The House is not something you fall in love with like Beto, maybe?
Anyway, so this fucker times one of the largest steps in the obstruction of justice with Daylight Savings Time, the elections, growing cold.
There were still a lot of us anyway. And the left is going to get its shit together. This isn't like Occupy where the goals are unclear. The goal is clear. The message is clear. No one is above the law.
At Philly yesterday they were reading fiery historical addresses, allegations of wrongs, that could come out of the mouths of leftists today. For better or worse, people kind of don't change. We still fight for justice, and we're still liable to tyranny and demagoguery.
I sometimes suspect that hope gets a false rep for being a good thing. Sometimes hope fucks shit up. I'm not particularly hopeful. But especially after the protest last night, I do feel determined.
posted by angrycat at 3:50 AM on November 9, 2018 [33 favorites]
It's two days later and Acosta coverage is beating out firing Mueller by about 90/10, even here. That was the whole point. He's getting away with firing Mueller today and we're debating a fucking video.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:29 AM on November 9, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:29 AM on November 9, 2018 [29 favorites]
Given the number of Rs speaking out I think there's at least a decent chance Whitaker will not hold with SOTUS. Standing doesn't sound like a problem & there's cases to be made under multiple schools of interpretation - originalist, textualist & intent.
posted by scalefree at 4:31 AM on November 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by scalefree at 4:31 AM on November 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
One difference between the Acosta brouhaha and the appointment of Whitaker is that everybody in the latter conversation, liberal or conservative or whatever, is already resigned to a notion that the president simply isn't going to let mere laws get in the way of his actions. Trump himself whines that "You put up a fight and they call it obstruction".
Editing a video and then lying on top of it is a shiny new thing and thus it feels like it should be possible to get people to understand how wrong that is since they haven't yet committed to accepting anything like it. Whereas the "how wrong it is to assert more and more power over the system that is investigating your own crimes" ship feels like it's sailed. I don't think it quite has, but oof, the waters are dangerous.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
Editing a video and then lying on top of it is a shiny new thing and thus it feels like it should be possible to get people to understand how wrong that is since they haven't yet committed to accepting anything like it. Whereas the "how wrong it is to assert more and more power over the system that is investigating your own crimes" ship feels like it's sailed. I don't think it quite has, but oof, the waters are dangerous.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
It's two days later and Acosta coverage is beating out firing Mueller by about 90/10, even here. That was the whole point. He's getting away with firing Mueller today and we're debating a fucking video.
I have to go to work so I can't start drinking, but I'm going to be freaking out all day wondering "If Mueller is fired, will the indictments filed by other US attorneys still be unsealed?"
I mean, they're in the court record already, and the other US attorneys filing them aren't fired...
Just keep repeating to myself, "Mueller's already planned for this..."
posted by mikelieman at 4:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
I have to go to work so I can't start drinking, but I'm going to be freaking out all day wondering "If Mueller is fired, will the indictments filed by other US attorneys still be unsealed?"
I mean, they're in the court record already, and the other US attorneys filing them aren't fired...
Just keep repeating to myself, "Mueller's already planned for this..."
posted by mikelieman at 4:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
The latest insider piece from the Washington Post's Philip Rucker contains one important point: ‘The Guardrails Are Off’: Trump Takes Aggressive Moves He Resisted Before Elections
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:56 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
For more than a year, Trump has mused privately and publicly about his desire to remove Jeff Sessions because he believed the attorney general was disloyal by recusing himself from the Russia investigation due to conflicts of interest. But Trump’s advisers, including his personal attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani, counseled him against the firing — at least until after the midterm elections.[...]Trump's impulsive, but he's not totally impulsive. When it comes to his self-interest and self-preservation—but only then—he can plan and plot with Nixonian tenacity. For instance, Marcy Wheeler asks, has this been the plan since August 2017?
“It became a question of when, not if, and once something becomes inevitable it’s harder to be outraged about it,” said one former White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid. “Patience is not often an attribute attributed to Trump, but if he has to be, he can be very patient.”[...]
The former official suggested part of Trump’s calculus may be that whatever political damage he suffers from ousting the attorney general could wear off before he faces reelection in 2020.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:56 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
It was not widely known among White House staff that he'd commented repeatedly on the special counsel's investigation in interviews and on television
I doubt that. Trump basically watches cable news all the time in lieu of actually governing the country. If memory serves me correctly, someone mentioned upthread that Whitaker's cable news appearances were meant as an audition, literally to get Trump's attention for a government appointment.
Nice to see they feel compelled to deny it, though.
posted by Gelatin at 5:59 AM on November 9, 2018 [13 favorites]
I doubt that. Trump basically watches cable news all the time in lieu of actually governing the country. If memory serves me correctly, someone mentioned upthread that Whitaker's cable news appearances were meant as an audition, literally to get Trump's attention for a government appointment.
Nice to see they feel compelled to deny it, though.
posted by Gelatin at 5:59 AM on November 9, 2018 [13 favorites]
There is still a ton of resentment among Iowa Democrats about Whitaker's decision in 2007 to prosecute Matt McCoy, the first openly gay member of the Iowa state legislature, on bogus corruption charges. A jury took less than two hours to find McCoy not guilty, but more than ten years later McCoy is still paying off his legal bills, and the charge pretty much derailed McCoy's promising political career. (He continued to serve in the state senate, but he never had a shot at statewide office because "tried for corruption" is a dealbreaker for voters.) It's hard to prove that Whitaker went after McCoy because of homophobia, but everyone has always suspected it. There are plenty of other reasons to think the Whitaker appointment is trash, but that's another one.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:13 AM on November 9, 2018 [73 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:13 AM on November 9, 2018 [73 favorites]
"tried for corruption" is a dealbreaker for voters
IOKIYAR
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:30 AM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
IOKIYAR
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:30 AM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
This isn't like Occupy where the goals are unclear.
Can we not uncritically repeat right-wing talking points? Occupy had a very clear message about inequality and the capture of our political system by the ultra-rich, and occupy had a small number of clear policy goals, including restoring Glass-Steagall. Many people in the media and the pundit class pretended to be confused about what Occupy was trying to accomplish, but the goals were never really hard to see.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 6:34 AM on November 9, 2018 [83 favorites]
Can we not uncritically repeat right-wing talking points? Occupy had a very clear message about inequality and the capture of our political system by the ultra-rich, and occupy had a small number of clear policy goals, including restoring Glass-Steagall. Many people in the media and the pundit class pretended to be confused about what Occupy was trying to accomplish, but the goals were never really hard to see.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 6:34 AM on November 9, 2018 [83 favorites]
Jim Acosta is banned from the white house press pool for holding onto a microphone while asking questions. The president himself congratulated a Republican for committing an actual crime of body slamming a reporter for which he pled guilty.
posted by srboisvert at 6:35 AM on November 9, 2018 [63 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 6:35 AM on November 9, 2018 [63 favorites]
2019 isn't far away. There aren't a ton of things up for grabs but let's put some attention on the gubernatorial and state legislative races. These are places where we can fight gerrymandering and voter suppression. There's one woman running for the array of governor seats: Alison Lundergan Grimes in Kentucky. She looks pretty darn accomplished. I'm going to send her some cash.
posted by Miko at 6:38 AM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by Miko at 6:38 AM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
Can we not uncritically repeat right-wing talking points? Occupy had a very clear message about inequality and the capture of our political system by the ultra-rich, and occupy had a small number of clear policy goals, including restoring Glass-Steagall.
Not only that, Occupy's goal was to make income inequality and the accumulation of wealth by the hyper-rich a part of the national conversation in the first place, and at that goal they succeeded...
Many people in the media and the pundit class pretended to be confused about what Occupy was trying to accomplish, but the goals were never really hard to see.
...no thanks to the so-called "liberal media," which had been studiously ignoring the topic since Reagan's time, and did their best (with some success, as we see) to dilute Occupy's message.
Democrats' watchword for the next twoyears decades must be that the media is not liberal, and is not remotely interested in being fair to Democrats and/or liberals, and treat their interviews accordingly.
(This very morning, NPR devoted more than five minutes to having a friend and supporter of Whitaker claim that he (Whitaker) would totally serve in an ethical and nonpartisan way and that we should "just let him do his job" (which begs the question of whether he's legally eligible for the job in the first place). Host Rachel Martin pushed back somewhat, but allowed him to treat the subject of Whitaker's obvious bias and conservative partisanship as arguable, which is journalistic malpractice of the first water.)
posted by Gelatin at 6:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [27 favorites]
Not only that, Occupy's goal was to make income inequality and the accumulation of wealth by the hyper-rich a part of the national conversation in the first place, and at that goal they succeeded...
Many people in the media and the pundit class pretended to be confused about what Occupy was trying to accomplish, but the goals were never really hard to see.
...no thanks to the so-called "liberal media," which had been studiously ignoring the topic since Reagan's time, and did their best (with some success, as we see) to dilute Occupy's message.
Democrats' watchword for the next two
(This very morning, NPR devoted more than five minutes to having a friend and supporter of Whitaker claim that he (Whitaker) would totally serve in an ethical and nonpartisan way and that we should "just let him do his job" (which begs the question of whether he's legally eligible for the job in the first place). Host Rachel Martin pushed back somewhat, but allowed him to treat the subject of Whitaker's obvious bias and conservative partisanship as arguable, which is journalistic malpractice of the first water.)
posted by Gelatin at 6:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [27 favorites]
> "Jim Acosta is banned from the white house press pool for holding onto a microphone while asking questions."
Or more accurately, he was banned for asking questions.
posted by kyrademon at 6:48 AM on November 9, 2018 [28 favorites]
Or more accurately, he was banned for asking questions.
posted by kyrademon at 6:48 AM on November 9, 2018 [28 favorites]
You cannot discourse with people who lie for sport.
S'truth. And on that note I think we can let NPR News go. They never recovered from "enhanced interrogation", and in fact seemed to positively delight in nose-diving into faux-centrist bullshitville. Trump's coup was just a bump in the road there.
posted by petebest at 6:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
S'truth. And on that note I think we can let NPR News go. They never recovered from "enhanced interrogation", and in fact seemed to positively delight in nose-diving into faux-centrist bullshitville. Trump's coup was just a bump in the road there.
posted by petebest at 6:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
What I Learned Watching Karl Rove and David Axelrod Talk for Five Damn Hours - Eve Peyser, Vice
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Surely a webinar taught by two of the most successful campaigners of the 21st century would contain some insight, right? Right?One would hope. The question is, insight on what?
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
NPR's Morning Edition hosts remain terrible, but on MPR (that's Minnesota for those of you who have missed me mentioning Minnesota in every single comment I make) they talked about the protest at our capitol, and the lady they played a clip of was great! She said our norms and institutions are collapsing under the weight of Trump's ego. It was an impressive statement from just a regular protest go-er - no um's or unclear statements.
I would link to it but their website is giving me problems.
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:09 AM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
I would link to it but their website is giving me problems.
posted by Emmy Rae at 7:09 AM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
From that Eve Peyser piece: It’s how to run a campaign, never why. Both men offered up good, general advice on how to win an election.
This is not everything thats wrong with our current politics, but it sure feels like a pretty big thing. A pattern emerged among the candidates i felt most drawn to during this cycle which is inarguable - they all had well articulated and clearly relatable reasons for getting involved in politics.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:09 AM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
This is not everything thats wrong with our current politics, but it sure feels like a pretty big thing. A pattern emerged among the candidates i felt most drawn to during this cycle which is inarguable - they all had well articulated and clearly relatable reasons for getting involved in politics.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:09 AM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump's half-hour press spray this morning outside the White House prior to his departure to France was nuttier than a museli breakfast. I literally cannot keep up with all the bullshit Trump was spewing, e.g. threatening to pull more journalists' credentials if they're not more "respectful", defended SHS's doctored video just "a close-up view", and called CNN's April Ryan as "a loser" and "nasty."
TalkingPointsMemo: Trump: "I don’t know Matt Whitaker," but I hear he’s "very respected"
CNBC's Eamon Javers: President Trump criticizing Mueller now: “Mueller was not Senate confirmed. Why didn’t they get him Senate confirmed?”
TPM's Josh Marshall: Trump suggests Senate Seat is Being Stolen from Rick Scott by Fusion GPS.
Vox's Aaron Rupar: Trump repeatedly dismisses the Russia investigation as "a hoax"
Videos for the above are included—Rupar's thread has more—because Trump looks like a mob associate about to go into a court hearing.
Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs sums it up: "Trump took our questions for 25 minutes in a cold windy drizzle. Got annoyed with us on questions about whether he wants to rein Mueller. Snapped his coat lapels, walked toward helicopter and realized he’d forgotten wife, under a White House door canopy. Came back to get her"
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:18 AM on November 9, 2018 [31 favorites]
TalkingPointsMemo: Trump: "I don’t know Matt Whitaker," but I hear he’s "very respected"
CNBC's Eamon Javers: President Trump criticizing Mueller now: “Mueller was not Senate confirmed. Why didn’t they get him Senate confirmed?”
TPM's Josh Marshall: Trump suggests Senate Seat is Being Stolen from Rick Scott by Fusion GPS.
Vox's Aaron Rupar: Trump repeatedly dismisses the Russia investigation as "a hoax"
Videos for the above are included—Rupar's thread has more—because Trump looks like a mob associate about to go into a court hearing.
Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs sums it up: "Trump took our questions for 25 minutes in a cold windy drizzle. Got annoyed with us on questions about whether he wants to rein Mueller. Snapped his coat lapels, walked toward helicopter and realized he’d forgotten wife, under a White House door canopy. Came back to get her"
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:18 AM on November 9, 2018 [31 favorites]
I really wish the press would get over the fact that Trump has no respect for them and more generally that he is a rude nasty person.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:26 AM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 7:26 AM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
CNBC's Eamon Javers: President Trump criticizing Mueller now: “Mueller was not Senate confirmed. Why didn’t they get him Senate confirmed?”
Two years into his fail parade of a presidency and this fool still has no idea how the American government works.
posted by Gelatin at 7:28 AM on November 9, 2018 [41 favorites]
Two years into his fail parade of a presidency and this fool still has no idea how the American government works.
posted by Gelatin at 7:28 AM on November 9, 2018 [41 favorites]
NPR's Morning Edition hosts remain terrible, but on MPR (that's Minnesota for those of you who have missed me mentioning Minnesota in every single comment I make) they talked about the protest at our capitol, and the lady they played a clip of was great!
MPR's streaming link is currently functioning, for me:
https://nis.stream.publicradio.org/nis.mp3posted by XMLicious at 7:29 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
Two years into his fail parade of a presidency and this fool still has no idea how the American government works.
Forget it, Gelatin, it's Trumpland. Trump's tactics aren't even a Gish Gallop from the kid who flunked civics. He's just throwing bullshit at the press, hoping that even if nothing sticks, it'll stink up the works.
Also, note how Trump's Iron Law of Misogyny* was at hard at work, such as his insulting April Ryan and below—with extra racism (via JenniferJacobs):
* When Trump feels angry and insecure, he attacks women personally.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:40 AM on November 9, 2018 [32 favorites]
Forget it, Gelatin, it's Trumpland. Trump's tactics aren't even a Gish Gallop from the kid who flunked civics. He's just throwing bullshit at the press, hoping that even if nothing sticks, it'll stink up the works.
Also, note how Trump's Iron Law of Misogyny* was at hard at work, such as his insulting April Ryan and below—with extra racism (via JenniferJacobs):
QUESTION (from [CNN's Abby Phillip] @abbydphillip): Do you want acting AG Matt Whitaker to rein in Mueller?What we're seeing here and at Wednesday's press conference is a cornered Trump lashing out. This bodes ill for his behavior on the diplomatic stage in Paris this weekend.
TRUMP: "What a stupid question."
* When Trump feels angry and insecure, he attacks women personally.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:40 AM on November 9, 2018 [32 favorites]
What we're seeing here and at Wednesday's press conference is a cornered Trump lashing out. This bodes ill for his behavior on the diplomatic stage in Paris this weekend.
* When Trump feels angry and insecure, he attacks women personally.
i guess the best case we can hope for is that he gets in a slap fight with marine le pen
posted by murphy slaw at 7:41 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
* When Trump feels angry and insecure, he attacks women personally.
i guess the best case we can hope for is that he gets in a slap fight with marine le pen
posted by murphy slaw at 7:41 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
"The Press" needs to stop showing up, and start covering the story of WHY they stopped showing up instead of wasting column inches repeating his nonsense. Acosta asked a good question, "Why is he ( Trump ) lying about the legal-asylum seeking migrants?"
posted by mikelieman at 7:41 AM on November 9, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 7:41 AM on November 9, 2018 [21 favorites]
Also, note how Trump's Iron Law of Misogyny*
* When Trump feels angry and insecure, he attacks women personally.**
**extra worth noting that Abby Phillips is a Black woman.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
* When Trump feels angry and insecure, he attacks women personally.**
**extra worth noting that Abby Phillips is a Black woman.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
Oof, the Florida ballot-counting is getting wild. It mostly comes down to Broward, the second-most-populous county in the state, and Republicans seem to be coalescing around a viewpoint that it would be inherently illicit, somehow, to keep counting votes. In particular, Giuliani is explicitly saying ballots are being "created", while Marco Rubio and Rick Scott are just making generic loud noises about the improper conduct of that county's officials. Trump has tweeted that Rick Scott simply is the winner and additional nonsense.
Understand, this all isn't about a recount -- this is about a slow initial count. I actually have more respect for Giuliani's position because if any votes were fraudulent (ha) then of course they shouldn't be counted. But to argue against the counting of legitimate votes because of a "deadline" is obviously absurd. Even if the deadline makes sense in everyone's view (it should be January), you enforce that principle by punishing whoever is in charge of counting, not the voters. Otherwise it's trivially easy for anyone to exploit: A Democrat in charge could drag their feet and count like 700 votes total, biased toward blue precincts, and say "Oops, here comes the deadline, I guess only 700 votes are allowed in this election or else I'd be breaking the law if I counted more".
National Review Online editor Charles Cooke tweeted that liberals are fighting a straw argument when they shout "Count the votes!" because the existing lawsuit against Broward County is simply seeking transparency (e.g we don't know just how many total votes are waiting to be counted), not to stop vote-counting. As is typical for NRO, this "Stop acting like conservatives don't have principles, you liberals" remark is filled with replies from conservatives expressing frustration at the unjustified insinuation that they have principles. The lawsuit may be narrow, but the bigger conversation right now is definitely more in the zone of "We already won like X votes ago, stop being sore losers by insisting on counting brand new votes."
From WaPo, a good piece about the psychology whereby it can almost feel like it makes sense to stop counting votes at some arbitrary point in time: Don’t be seduced by the artificial drama of election-night returns. Complete with a browser game/simluation where you see the scores of a football game whose events have been scrambled in time, to make the point that it doesn't matter what order votes are counted in.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:51 AM on November 9, 2018 [32 favorites]
Understand, this all isn't about a recount -- this is about a slow initial count. I actually have more respect for Giuliani's position because if any votes were fraudulent (ha) then of course they shouldn't be counted. But to argue against the counting of legitimate votes because of a "deadline" is obviously absurd. Even if the deadline makes sense in everyone's view (it should be January), you enforce that principle by punishing whoever is in charge of counting, not the voters. Otherwise it's trivially easy for anyone to exploit: A Democrat in charge could drag their feet and count like 700 votes total, biased toward blue precincts, and say "Oops, here comes the deadline, I guess only 700 votes are allowed in this election or else I'd be breaking the law if I counted more".
National Review Online editor Charles Cooke tweeted that liberals are fighting a straw argument when they shout "Count the votes!" because the existing lawsuit against Broward County is simply seeking transparency (e.g we don't know just how many total votes are waiting to be counted), not to stop vote-counting. As is typical for NRO, this "Stop acting like conservatives don't have principles, you liberals" remark is filled with replies from conservatives expressing frustration at the unjustified insinuation that they have principles. The lawsuit may be narrow, but the bigger conversation right now is definitely more in the zone of "We already won like X votes ago, stop being sore losers by insisting on counting brand new votes."
From WaPo, a good piece about the psychology whereby it can almost feel like it makes sense to stop counting votes at some arbitrary point in time: Don’t be seduced by the artificial drama of election-night returns. Complete with a browser game/simluation where you see the scores of a football game whose events have been scrambled in time, to make the point that it doesn't matter what order votes are counted in.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:51 AM on November 9, 2018 [32 favorites]
Two years into his fail parade of a presidency and this fool still has no idea how the American government works.
In his defense, all his buddies' lawyers have been attempting to make this argument when subpoenaed by Mueller- that he is, somehow, a "principal officer" and thus can't be appointed without Senate confirmation. He's just regurgitating their arguments- which have already failed in court several times, mind you.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
In his defense, all his buddies' lawyers have been attempting to make this argument when subpoenaed by Mueller- that he is, somehow, a "principal officer" and thus can't be appointed without Senate confirmation. He's just regurgitating their arguments- which have already failed in court several times, mind you.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
the vote-counting situation is the subject of active discussion over in the election thread
posted by murphy slaw at 7:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 7:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
Dems May Tack Mueller Protection Onto Must-Pass Year-End Spending Bill - Nicole Lafond, TPM
Interesting strategy for the lame duck period.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:56 AM on November 9, 2018 [18 favorites]
Interesting strategy for the lame duck period.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:56 AM on November 9, 2018 [18 favorites]
Didn’t mean to diss Occupy— they had laudable goals.
posted by angrycat at 7:58 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 7:58 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
extra worth noting that Abby Phillips is a Black woman
As of course is April Ryan. Also, note Trump's response to a question about Michelle Obama:
CNN's Abby Phillips: "Asked about Michelle Obama saying she will never forgive Trump for endangering her family with the birther conspiracy, Trump says he’ll never forgive Obama for depleting the military during his term in office." (Watch the full video via Aaron Rupar 'cos Trump completely flips out.)
This is, of course, a lie, which military vet @MTPopulist throughly dismantles:
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [63 favorites]
As of course is April Ryan. Also, note Trump's response to a question about Michelle Obama:
CNN's Abby Phillips: "Asked about Michelle Obama saying she will never forgive Trump for endangering her family with the birther conspiracy, Trump says he’ll never forgive Obama for depleting the military during his term in office." (Watch the full video via Aaron Rupar 'cos Trump completely flips out.)
This is, of course, a lie, which military vet @MTPopulist throughly dismantles:
The @realDonaldTrump just said that #Obama hurt the military by not funding it.We keep saying Trump's the worst, but, to quote King Lear, “And worse I may be yet: the worst is not/So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'”
All 8 years of the Obama Presidency the White House submitted a larger DOD budget every year.
The Republican congress cut it every year and imposed Sequestration on the DOD. Causing 0% cuts across the board reducing acquisitions, readiness & manpower. Pres Obama funded the military as best as he could with the Republican congress hampering him at every turn.
Pres Obama made 5 trips to see the troops in Afghanistan & Iraq.
Trump has made 0
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [63 favorites]
Sessions’ job is hard to fill. Enter Chris Christie. - Eliana Johnson, Gabby Orr, Annie Karni, and Ben White; Politico.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
After two people approached said they were not interested in the job, the former New Jersey governor — who has tried to 'mend some fences' with Jared Kushner — emerges as a top contender.Some have pointed out that because of his involvement in the campaign, Christie, should he become AG, has grounds to recuse himself from the Russia investigations.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:03 AM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
There is absolutely nobody he could appoint as AG who can shield him from investigations. All of his cronies and crony-adjacent people would need to recuse, or face their own investigations come January; anyone who's corrupt but not directly involved won't scuttle the investigation because there's no profit in it for them, since they're not the target; anyone with integrity won't interfere with the investigation.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
Does anyone really believe Trump would hire Christie with the liability of his Trump 2016 alumni status, to say nothing of all the backstage shenanigans toward the end of the campaign? This is just Trump ginning up reality show–style drama for the new season of The Apprentice—White House edition, and, well, the currently unemployed Christie's hungry for meatloaf.
Anyroad, @realDonaldTrump is angry-tweeting on AF1 now: "You mean they are just now finding votes in Florida and Georgia – but the Election was on Tuesday? Let’s blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!" and ".@BrianKempGA ran a great race in Georgia – he won. It is time to move on!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:23 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
Anyroad, @realDonaldTrump is angry-tweeting on AF1 now: "You mean they are just now finding votes in Florida and Georgia – but the Election was on Tuesday? Let’s blame the Russians and demand an immediate apology from President Putin!" and ".@BrianKempGA ran a great race in Georgia – he won. It is time to move on!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:23 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
and, well, the currently unemployed Christie's hungry for meatloaf.
He's not unemployed. He was rambling all night on the ABC election coverage; I normally watch ABC but couldn't stand his ugly face.
posted by Melismata at 8:32 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
He's not unemployed. He was rambling all night on the ABC election coverage; I normally watch ABC but couldn't stand his ugly face.
posted by Melismata at 8:32 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
anyone who's corrupt but not directly involved won't scuttle the investigation because there's no profit in it for them
I think you're underestimating the profit potential inherent in agreeing to protect rich corrupt people. Anyone willing to be corrupt who is not directly involved will happily accept bribes to protect people. That's how corruption works.
posted by mightygodking at 8:37 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
I think you're underestimating the profit potential inherent in agreeing to protect rich corrupt people. Anyone willing to be corrupt who is not directly involved will happily accept bribes to protect people. That's how corruption works.
posted by mightygodking at 8:37 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's two days later and Acosta coverage is beating out firing Mueller by about 90/10, even here. That was the whole point. He's getting away with firing Mueller today and we're debating a fucking video.
Jon Stewart was 100% right in that interview he and Dave Chappelle did with Christiane Amanpour. The media takes all this extremely personally, and that drives their coverage along with the financial & access incentives. And then, to make it worse, they don't do anything about it, so we get feckless objections and nothing else.
That said, all of this matters. It absolutely matters that Trump treats the press this way. As always, the trouble with dismissing anything as a "distraction" is that his distractions are legitimate firebombs. The distractions cause real damage and burn real people. Dismissing that dismisses the and the damage done.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:49 AM on November 9, 2018 [18 favorites]
Jon Stewart was 100% right in that interview he and Dave Chappelle did with Christiane Amanpour. The media takes all this extremely personally, and that drives their coverage along with the financial & access incentives. And then, to make it worse, they don't do anything about it, so we get feckless objections and nothing else.
That said, all of this matters. It absolutely matters that Trump treats the press this way. As always, the trouble with dismissing anything as a "distraction" is that his distractions are legitimate firebombs. The distractions cause real damage and burn real people. Dismissing that dismisses the and the damage done.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:49 AM on November 9, 2018 [18 favorites]
Miko: "2019 isn't far away. There aren't a ton of things up for grabs but let's put some attention on the gubernatorial and state legislative races. "
We talked about this a bit in the E Day thread, but Virginia has a great shot at going to Dem trifecta.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:51 AM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
We talked about this a bit in the E Day thread, but Virginia has a great shot at going to Dem trifecta.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:51 AM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
Does anyone really believe Trump would
No matter where that sentence ends up, my answer is yes.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:55 AM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
No matter where that sentence ends up, my answer is yes.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:55 AM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
It's two days later and Acosta coverage is beating out firing Mueller by about 90/10
No, it's actually not. Go look right now at the home pages of WaPo, NYT, CNN, WSJ...
posted by neroli at 8:58 AM on November 9, 2018 [20 favorites]
No, it's actually not. Go look right now at the home pages of WaPo, NYT, CNN, WSJ...
posted by neroli at 8:58 AM on November 9, 2018 [20 favorites]
Two years into his fail parade of a presidency and this fool still has no idea how the American government works.
His base doesn't, either, and both Fox News and large swathes of the Republican party rely on that ignorance to manipulate them and keep the rest of the country captive. This ignorance is their bread and butter.
posted by halation at 9:07 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
His base doesn't, either, and both Fox News and large swathes of the Republican party rely on that ignorance to manipulate them and keep the rest of the country captive. This ignorance is their bread and butter.
posted by halation at 9:07 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
Well I'll be durned. This morning I turned on CNN for the first time in months and there was John King flat out calling Trump a liar. Finally!
posted by homunculus at 9:11 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 9:11 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
No matter where that sentence ends up, my answer is yes.
There literally hasn't been one day since he took office that I would've been surprised if we'd nuked some random country.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:30 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
There literally hasn't been one day since he took office that I would've been surprised if we'd nuked some random country.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:30 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
Daniel Dale:
Today, Trump said: "I don't know Matt Whitaker."posted by murphy slaw at 9:31 AM on November 9, 2018 [58 favorites]
In a Fox and Friends interview a month ago, Trump said: "I know Matt Whitaker."
In fairness, "What a stupid question," is how I'd answer about half the questions if I were president.
posted by M-x shell at 9:32 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 9:32 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
Jon Stewart was 100% right in that interview he and Dave Chappelle did with Christiane Amanpour.
Amanpour: Is the Trump era a good era for comedians? Is it just unbelievable fodder, or not?
Chappelle: I wouldn't even name the era after him.
Stewart: Yeah.
Chappelle: He's getting too much credit.
Amanpour: He's the president.
Chappelle: He's not making the wave, he's surfing it.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:34 AM on November 9, 2018 [39 favorites]
Amanpour: Is the Trump era a good era for comedians? Is it just unbelievable fodder, or not?
Chappelle: I wouldn't even name the era after him.
Stewart: Yeah.
Chappelle: He's getting too much credit.
Amanpour: He's the president.
Chappelle: He's not making the wave, he's surfing it.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:34 AM on November 9, 2018 [39 favorites]
It's two days later and Acosta coverage is beating out firing Mueller by about 90/10, even here. That was the whole point. He's getting away with firing Mueller today and we're debating a fucking video.
Mueller has not been fired yet so those news items that are out there are editorials, opinion pieces and speculation.
That video though is direct incontrovertible evidence that the president and his staff are lying egregiously to the American people in full view of the entire press and by extension the American people. This is one of those moments where the full denial of reality by the Republican-Trumpists is on full display.
This is a naked power play and a spectacular political move by the Republicans and Trump. They are testing to see just how much they can redefine reality right in front of the press. Their essential message is "We think you are powerless to stop us" and if the press doesn't push back hard against this....well then Trump and Co. are correct in their assessment.
The Acosta thing may be more important than anything Mueller does because if the press is neutered then no investigative finding by anyone will matter because reality no longer matters.
posted by srboisvert at 9:47 AM on November 9, 2018 [18 favorites]
Mueller has not been fired yet so those news items that are out there are editorials, opinion pieces and speculation.
That video though is direct incontrovertible evidence that the president and his staff are lying egregiously to the American people in full view of the entire press and by extension the American people. This is one of those moments where the full denial of reality by the Republican-Trumpists is on full display.
This is a naked power play and a spectacular political move by the Republicans and Trump. They are testing to see just how much they can redefine reality right in front of the press. Their essential message is "We think you are powerless to stop us" and if the press doesn't push back hard against this....well then Trump and Co. are correct in their assessment.
The Acosta thing may be more important than anything Mueller does because if the press is neutered then no investigative finding by anyone will matter because reality no longer matters.
posted by srboisvert at 9:47 AM on November 9, 2018 [18 favorites]
In revealing new memoir, Michelle Obama candidly shares her story (WaPo): “The whole [birther] thing was crazy and mean-spirited, of course, its underlying bigotry and xenophobia hardly concealed. But it was also dangerous, deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks. What if someone with an unstable mind loaded a gun and drove to Washington? What if that person went looking for our girls? Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my family’s safety at risk. And for this I’d never forgive him.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:52 AM on November 9, 2018 [61 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:52 AM on November 9, 2018 [61 favorites]
This is a naked power play and a spectacular political move by the Republicans and Trump. They are testing to see just how much they can redefine reality right in front of the press. Their essential message is "We think you are powerless to stop us" and if the press doesn't push back hard against this....well then Trump and Co. are correct in their assessment.
And why not? The press fell for doctored videos by James O'Keefe even after it was revealed that he'd phonied up the first one that took down ACORN.
This time, Trump is targeting one of their own. We'll see if they are able to assert actual reality -- and if they learn their lesson next time the Republicans try this trick, because they will.
They have to. Reality has a liberal bias.
posted by Gelatin at 9:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
And why not? The press fell for doctored videos by James O'Keefe even after it was revealed that he'd phonied up the first one that took down ACORN.
This time, Trump is targeting one of their own. We'll see if they are able to assert actual reality -- and if they learn their lesson next time the Republicans try this trick, because they will.
They have to. Reality has a liberal bias.
posted by Gelatin at 9:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
a sweet but somewhat off-message prayer from some sort of spiritual persona for Ruth Bader Ginsburg's recovery
NBC reports Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been released from hospital after fall, so maybe it helped…
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:07 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
NBC reports Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been released from hospital after fall, so maybe it helped…
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:07 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
Even as its editorial board goes full-on fascist, the Wall Street Journal's news department continues to rack up scoops on Trump's affair coverups: Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:14 AM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:14 AM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
In fairness, "What a stupid question," is how I'd answer about half the questions if I were president.
posted by M-x shell at 9:32 AM on November 9
I agree. The press should give up trying to catch Trump in some stupid gotcha. There's no special gotcha with Trump. Focus on the facts, ask him about the facts, if he lies throw back with the facts. His opinions don't mean shit.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:16 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 9:32 AM on November 9
I agree. The press should give up trying to catch Trump in some stupid gotcha. There's no special gotcha with Trump. Focus on the facts, ask him about the facts, if he lies throw back with the facts. His opinions don't mean shit.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:16 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
...anyone with integrity won't interfere with the investigation.
I cannot imagine anyone with integrity either wanting the job or being asked to take the job by Trump.
posted by zakur at 10:17 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
I cannot imagine anyone with integrity either wanting the job or being asked to take the job by Trump.
posted by zakur at 10:17 AM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mueller may still be in the building, but the investigation is effectively over if Whitaker is allowed to stay in place. Every decision must be approved by Whitaker, who is transparently there to not approve anything and shut down the entire investigation. Marcy Wheeler speculates he's already blocking Mueller from completing an immunity deal with Jerome Corsi.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:18 AM on November 9, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:18 AM on November 9, 2018 [21 favorites]
FWIW, Wittes says: It’s Probably Too Late to Stop Mueller - The prospects for interference are dimmer than many imagine.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:22 AM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:22 AM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
"Tucker Carlson shares responsibility for thousands of children in concentration camps."
Doesn't it turn into a mad dash towards the lowest common denominator if the only bar the left has to clear is literally kids in cages?
posted by Selena777 at 10:24 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Doesn't it turn into a mad dash towards the lowest common denominator if the only bar the left has to clear is literally kids in cages?
posted by Selena777 at 10:24 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Even as its editorial board goes full-on fascist, the Wall Street Journal's news department continues to rack up scoops on Trump's affair coverups: Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:14 PM on November 9 [5 favorites +] [!]
So at this point, if it can be determined beyond a shadow of a doubt that Trump violated campaign-finance laws, what...happens? Is there any actual next step? Or would that presume actual functioning separation of powers (Democratic House notwithstanding)?
posted by scarylarry at 10:29 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
BLUF "Trump was involved in or briefed on every step of the hush payments arranged by Michael Cohen, telling him of the Stormy Daniels payment in Oct. 2016, “Get it done,” according to Cohen’s testimony to prosecutors."
The big questions are, of course, who's leaking to the WSJ and why now, especially after Sessions's firing/Whitaker's promotion. The DoJ has to decide if they want to prosecute violated campaign-finance laws, but the experts the WSJ interviewed bend over backwards against this.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:32 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
BLUF "Trump was involved in or briefed on every step of the hush payments arranged by Michael Cohen, telling him of the Stormy Daniels payment in Oct. 2016, “Get it done,” according to Cohen’s testimony to prosecutors."
The big questions are, of course, who's leaking to the WSJ and why now, especially after Sessions's firing/Whitaker's promotion. The DoJ has to decide if they want to prosecute violated campaign-finance laws, but the experts the WSJ interviewed bend over backwards against this.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:32 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Chrysostom: FWIW, Wittes says: It’s Probably Too Late to Stop Mueller - The prospects for interference are dimmer than many imagine.
This Atlantic piece is very thorough. I quibble strongly with his eighth "point" (of ten points total), which is actually the scariest one of all (it's a reminder that Whitaker is going to be briefed in secret on the current status/findings of the investigation, and Wittes sort of goes back and forth on whether that might compel him to take the path of decency over the path of MAGA). The rest seems rational in its reassurance, to me.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:35 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
This Atlantic piece is very thorough. I quibble strongly with his eighth "point" (of ten points total), which is actually the scariest one of all (it's a reminder that Whitaker is going to be briefed in secret on the current status/findings of the investigation, and Wittes sort of goes back and forth on whether that might compel him to take the path of decency over the path of MAGA). The rest seems rational in its reassurance, to me.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:35 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
I quibble strongly with his eighth "point" (of ten points total), which is actually the scariest one of all (it's a reminder that Whitaker is going to be briefed in secret on the current status/findings of the investigation, and Wittes sort of goes back and forth on whether that might compel him to take the path of decency over the path of MAGA).
Whitaker says, "OK, I'm in charge now. Tell me everything."
Mueller hands him a single sheet of paper that says, "It's full-on treason, bro." And then stares.
Presumably Whitaker knows this thing is way beyond just Mueller. So he has to decide if he wants to go down with this ship or not.
I'm not super moved by this, either. Again, looking at all the absolutely crazy, criminal shit Republicans have supported in closed ranks, it's hard to hold out any hope that even basic survival instinct will turn any of them around--especially somebody who worked so hard to curry favor as Whitaker has. I'm not gonna put money on Whitaker doing the right thing. But I don't think it's a nothing factor, either.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [12 favorites]
Whitaker says, "OK, I'm in charge now. Tell me everything."
Mueller hands him a single sheet of paper that says, "It's full-on treason, bro." And then stares.
Presumably Whitaker knows this thing is way beyond just Mueller. So he has to decide if he wants to go down with this ship or not.
I'm not super moved by this, either. Again, looking at all the absolutely crazy, criminal shit Republicans have supported in closed ranks, it's hard to hold out any hope that even basic survival instinct will turn any of them around--especially somebody who worked so hard to curry favor as Whitaker has. I'm not gonna put money on Whitaker doing the right thing. But I don't think it's a nothing factor, either.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [12 favorites]
MetaFilter: It's full-on treason, bro.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:46 AM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 10:46 AM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
I read the Wittes piece and didn't feel better. Whitaker can tank the other investigations into Cohen too, and the real meat of the investigation is the collusion portions, which remain hidden only to Mueller. Manafort is over and done with and nothing really happened beyond that, and the other indictments are against foreign actors who will never be tried. All he has to do is nothing and those are dead letters already in the memory hole. The rest relies on norms, and we've seen norms are dead. He's there specifically to flout all the norms. If Whitaker blocks all future indictments, and spikes the final report, that's it, there's no more investigation. At least not with prosecutorial powers. The final report could get leaked or subpoenaed by the Democratic House, but even if you took the entire Mueller team and gave it to Schiff, a House political investigation with no chance of any results in the Senate is a much worse position than having the power to indict and imprison.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:47 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:47 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
> Even as its editorial board goes full-on fascist, the Wall Street Journal's news department continues to rack up scoops on Trump's affair coverups: Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
Here's a piece about the piece for fellow non-subscribers:
Trump involved in 'nearly every step' of hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
Here's a piece about the piece for fellow non-subscribers:
Trump involved in 'nearly every step' of hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
President Donald Trump was involved in "nearly every step" of hush-money agreements with multiple women who claimed they had sexual affairs before he became president, according to The Wall Street Journal.posted by homunculus at 10:51 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
The newspaper, citing dozens of interviews and document, also reports that Trump may have violated federal campaign-finance laws through his participation in the deals.
Trump has denied knowing about a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star and director who alleges she had sex with Trump in 2006.
Wittes has too naive a belief in the rationality of well-placed conservatives. He doesn't seem to get that anyone willing to be associated with the Trump Regime is irrevocably stained ethically, and cannot be relied upon to do anything for the benefit of the people of the United States. See: his position on the Kavanaugh bullshit.
posted by suelac at 10:53 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by suelac at 10:53 AM on November 9, 2018 [10 favorites]
In Thursday Hearing, Mueller’s Team Gets Specific About What They Can Do Without Whitaker’s Pre-Approval (EmptyWheel.net)
MEGATHREAD NOTE: This thread has passed 1.9K comments, and the new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is in the works the MeFi wiki for people to contribute/collaborate.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:53 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
MEGATHREAD NOTE: This thread has passed 1.9K comments, and the new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is in the works the MeFi wiki for people to contribute/collaborate.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:53 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
Wittes has too naive a belief in the rationality of well-placed conservatives. He doesn't seem to get that anyone willing to be associated with the Trump Regime is irrevocably stained ethically, and cannot be relied upon to do anything for the benefit of the people of the United States.
Yeah, I feel like a lot of people have been waiting for a Republican in power to display some principles and take a firm stand; that hasn't happened. I see no reason to expect it now. On Tuesday night, I was out for a bit and I listed to CBC radio to try to stay in touch with what was happening in the election; they were interviewing some talking head who was asserting that the Senate gains might not mean much, because Romney was there now and Romney had been speaking out against Trump since 2016. And I really wished I was at a computer because I wanted to send the show the picture of Romney having his nice dinner with Trump with his hangdog look, and get his opinion on Romney being anything better than Jeff Flake's "principled" stand.
posted by nubs at 10:59 AM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
Yeah, I feel like a lot of people have been waiting for a Republican in power to display some principles and take a firm stand; that hasn't happened. I see no reason to expect it now. On Tuesday night, I was out for a bit and I listed to CBC radio to try to stay in touch with what was happening in the election; they were interviewing some talking head who was asserting that the Senate gains might not mean much, because Romney was there now and Romney had been speaking out against Trump since 2016. And I really wished I was at a computer because I wanted to send the show the picture of Romney having his nice dinner with Trump with his hangdog look, and get his opinion on Romney being anything better than Jeff Flake's "principled" stand.
posted by nubs at 10:59 AM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
I have no faith in Whitaker looking at absolute treason and saying “yeah I’m against Trump now”. Basically everybody knows that Trump and his scumbag family and Republican operatives conspired to steal the election with help from foreign actors, and they haven’t jumped ship. Multiple members of his campaign being guilty of crimes would be enough to impeach any other president. The crimes are right there in the open, and nobody is jumping ship. A lot of them are helping him get away with it.
posted by gucci mane at 10:59 AM on November 9, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:59 AM on November 9, 2018 [36 favorites]
I should have highlighted other points from the Wittes piece because I gave the impression that his misplaced faith in individuals was all of it. It's just that the rest of it went into territory we've covered here plenty before: that Mueller has handed multiple parts of it to other entities (though typically those entities are also federal anyway) and how he's moved extremely quickly overall, for a special counsel investigation.
The current timeline is very not-great, but it's also much better than it could be. I think Wittes is right that Trump dithered when it came to squashing the Russia investigation early on, and thus it's had plenty of time to grow into a serious hydra of good; that's something to be at least a little grateful to the universe for.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
The current timeline is very not-great, but it's also much better than it could be. I think Wittes is right that Trump dithered when it came to squashing the Russia investigation early on, and thus it's had plenty of time to grow into a serious hydra of good; that's something to be at least a little grateful to the universe for.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
I thought this news that Trump was directly involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff process was established long ago when we heard Trump and Cohen discussing it on that snippet of leaked smartphone recording?
posted by notyou at 11:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by notyou at 11:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
I have no faith in Whitaker looking at absolute treason and saying “yeah I’m against Trump now”.
"Imagine... he went to those lengths to protect America from the socialist threat of Hillary Clinton. What a hero!"
posted by Etrigan at 11:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
"Imagine... he went to those lengths to protect America from the socialist threat of Hillary Clinton. What a hero!"
posted by Etrigan at 11:10 AM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
To be clear, my thoughts on Whitaker vs Mueller aren't about Whitaker showing a shred of ethics. It's more the possibility he might foresee his own doom in going along with it. I'm not hopeful of there being any good in him so much as giving a "meh, it's possible" response to the notion of him having two brain cells to rub together.
There's no rational basis for expecting any ethical stand out of anyone in the Trump regime or the Republican party. Again, they were cool with kidnapping a couple thousand kids, abandoning Puerto Rico, they all very clearly believed Kavanaugh's accusers and voted for him anyway, etc. Anyone who'd take an ethical stand would have done so a long time ago.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:11 AM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
There's no rational basis for expecting any ethical stand out of anyone in the Trump regime or the Republican party. Again, they were cool with kidnapping a couple thousand kids, abandoning Puerto Rico, they all very clearly believed Kavanaugh's accusers and voted for him anyway, etc. Anyone who'd take an ethical stand would have done so a long time ago.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:11 AM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
Motel 6 Agrees To Pay $7.6 Million Settlement For Sending Guest Lists To ICE
Hopefully, this impacts their ability to keep the light on for ya.
posted by M-x shell at 11:11 AM on November 9, 2018 [28 favorites]
Hopefully, this impacts their ability to keep the light on for ya.
posted by M-x shell at 11:11 AM on November 9, 2018 [28 favorites]
apologies if this came up but I couldn't find a mention of it in the thread:
John Q Barrett, a lawyer who's appeared on Don Lemon's show with Whitaker:
John Q Barrett, a lawyer who's appeared on Don Lemon's show with Whitaker:
Whitaker told me in June 2017 that he was flying out from Iowa to NYC to be on CNN regularly because he was hoping to be noticed as a Trump defender, and through that to get a Trump judicial appointment back in Iowa.posted by numaner at 11:13 AM on November 9, 2018 [13 favorites]
If Whitaker was concerned about rule of law and all that jazz he would resign because he's not constitutionally allowed to hold the office of AG. But in any case, with Manafort and Cohen turned state's witness, there's no "stopping" the Mueller probe now. All that evidence will be made public eventually.
It's all a matter of what you think you're stopping. Mueller can't remove the President. He likely won't indict the President. Congress is supposed to do that, and I think it's like a 1 in 100 chance that even the most egregious crimes outlined in the Special Counsel's Report would get a majority to convict in the Senate.
Mueller will not save us. He can't. We're at the mercy of the disproportionate representation republican voters have in the Senate.
Maybe a full report from Mueller will help change the Senate map in 2020 along with the Presidency. Maybe. But I wouldn't count on an apodictic demonstration of Trump-crime to have any impact on people who are already totally cool with barely disguised white supremacy.
posted by dis_integration at 11:17 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
It's all a matter of what you think you're stopping. Mueller can't remove the President. He likely won't indict the President. Congress is supposed to do that, and I think it's like a 1 in 100 chance that even the most egregious crimes outlined in the Special Counsel's Report would get a majority to convict in the Senate.
Mueller will not save us. He can't. We're at the mercy of the disproportionate representation republican voters have in the Senate.
Maybe a full report from Mueller will help change the Senate map in 2020 along with the Presidency. Maybe. But I wouldn't count on an apodictic demonstration of Trump-crime to have any impact on people who are already totally cool with barely disguised white supremacy.
posted by dis_integration at 11:17 AM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
an apodictic demonstration of Trump-crime
I learned a word today.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:21 AM on November 9, 2018 [24 favorites]
I learned a word today.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:21 AM on November 9, 2018 [24 favorites]
Media Matter's Matthew Gertz: Trump has spent the last 2 hrs live-tweeting Fox from AF1
I thought this news that Trump was directly involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff process was established long ago when we heard Trump and Cohen discussing it on that snippet of leaked smartphone recording?
The WSJ's article confirms and expands on what we learned then (Twitter link workaround). I'm wondering if this is a "limited hangout"—the WSJ writes, that this new information about Trump's attendance at discussions about and general involvement in the payoffs "also raise[s] the possibility that the president of the United States violated federal campaign-finance laws." It then goes on to report that National Enquirer publisher and Trump "longtime friend" David Pecker checked with "an election-law specialist" to make sure any he deal struck wouldn't (even then, he ultimately called off the deal on the advice of his own lawyer).
The WSJ also checks in with their own expert: "Mr. Trump’s involvement in the payments, by itself, wouldn’t mean he is guilty of federal crimes, according to Richard Hasen, a law professor at University of California, Irvine, who specializes in election law. A criminal conviction would require proof Mr. Trump willfully skirted legal prohibitions on contributions from companies or from individuals in excess of $2,700, he said."
It's entirely plausible for a faithful WSJ subscriber to read this article and come away shocked, shocked at Trump's scandalous behavior but conclude he only skirted the law without breaking it.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:27 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
I thought this news that Trump was directly involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff process was established long ago when we heard Trump and Cohen discussing it on that snippet of leaked smartphone recording?
The WSJ's article confirms and expands on what we learned then (Twitter link workaround). I'm wondering if this is a "limited hangout"—the WSJ writes, that this new information about Trump's attendance at discussions about and general involvement in the payoffs "also raise[s] the possibility that the president of the United States violated federal campaign-finance laws." It then goes on to report that National Enquirer publisher and Trump "longtime friend" David Pecker checked with "an election-law specialist" to make sure any he deal struck wouldn't (even then, he ultimately called off the deal on the advice of his own lawyer).
The WSJ also checks in with their own expert: "Mr. Trump’s involvement in the payments, by itself, wouldn’t mean he is guilty of federal crimes, according to Richard Hasen, a law professor at University of California, Irvine, who specializes in election law. A criminal conviction would require proof Mr. Trump willfully skirted legal prohibitions on contributions from companies or from individuals in excess of $2,700, he said."
It's entirely plausible for a faithful WSJ subscriber to read this article and come away shocked, shocked at Trump's scandalous behavior but conclude he only skirted the law without breaking it.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:27 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've been reading The New York Times since I was a kid, so it’s hard for me to quit, but it’s getting so obviously bad. Lead story lede:
Trump “distanced himself from Mr. Whitaker by suggesting that he did not know him.”
...
“I don’t know Matt Whitaker,” Mr. Trump told reporters
I was a good journalist for decades, and a journalism professor for six years, and I would have strongly penalized a Newswriting 101 student for that one. He didn’t freaking suggest. He said. The quote's in the headline.
It’s so basic that I think I must be missing something. Am I mistaken in this instance?
posted by young_simba at 11:34 AM on November 9, 2018 [59 favorites]
Trump “distanced himself from Mr. Whitaker by suggesting that he did not know him.”
...
“I don’t know Matt Whitaker,” Mr. Trump told reporters
I was a good journalist for decades, and a journalism professor for six years, and I would have strongly penalized a Newswriting 101 student for that one. He didn’t freaking suggest. He said. The quote's in the headline.
It’s so basic that I think I must be missing something. Am I mistaken in this instance?
posted by young_simba at 11:34 AM on November 9, 2018 [59 favorites]
Two years into his fail parade of a presidency and this fool still has no idea how the American government works."Nobody knows the system better than me. Which is why I alone can fix it."
Trigger warning: Trump footage
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:37 AM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
Mueller can't remove the President. He likely won't indict the President. Congress is supposed to do that, and I think it's like a 1 in 100 chance that even the most egregious crimes outlined in the Special Counsel's Report would get a majority to convict in the Senate.
Those are two different things. Mueller could indict the president, although I agree he probably won't.
Personally I believe Trump has committed crimes, Mueller can prove that he did, and Trump should be indicted while in office. That won't happen, but it should. I think Trump will be named as a unindicted co-conspirator, Nixon-style.
I also agree that as things stand now the Senate wouldn't vote to convict if the House impeached Trump. However, I'm optimistic that Trump will lose in 2020 and he's already unpopular even with a good economy. If it becomes publicly proven that he's committed crimes, there might come a time where the smart play for Republican senators that want to get reelected in 2020 is to dump Trump.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:38 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
Those are two different things. Mueller could indict the president, although I agree he probably won't.
Personally I believe Trump has committed crimes, Mueller can prove that he did, and Trump should be indicted while in office. That won't happen, but it should. I think Trump will be named as a unindicted co-conspirator, Nixon-style.
I also agree that as things stand now the Senate wouldn't vote to convict if the House impeached Trump. However, I'm optimistic that Trump will lose in 2020 and he's already unpopular even with a good economy. If it becomes publicly proven that he's committed crimes, there might come a time where the smart play for Republican senators that want to get reelected in 2020 is to dump Trump.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:38 AM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
even with a good economy*
* though not actually good for most
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:40 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
* though not actually good for most
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:40 AM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
Don’t Look Now, but the Mountain West Is Turning Blue
While they’re continuing to perform OK-ish in the Midwest and the South in the era of Donald Trump, on Tuesday they got hammered in the Mountain West—a region loosely defined as “cowboy country,” i.e., Texas plus everything from Colorado and New Mexico to the borders of the Pacific coast states. It’s the continuation of a trend that’s been going on for more than a decade, but it’s particularly worrisome now. Republicans should be able to win in states largely populated by fiscally conservative, pro-gun rights individuals. But the results Tuesday were no bueno.posted by kirkaracha at 11:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [32 favorites]
Nevada and Colorado are starting to look more blue than purple. Arizona, which has more Electoral College votes than either, has been Republican since forever but now appears to be an honest-to-God swing state. New Mexico, which used to be a swing state, is now completely out of reach for the GOP except under the most unusual circumstances.
Referencing the “only I can fix it” sentiment, one thing from the crazy presser that hasn’t been getting a lot of coverage were his statements on abortion.
"I won't be able to explain that to you," Trump said. "Because it is an issue that is a very divisive, polarizing issue. But there is a solution, I think that I have that solution. And nobody else does."
There are a few articles out there including this recap from The Hill.
posted by misterpatrick at 11:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
"I won't be able to explain that to you," Trump said. "Because it is an issue that is a very divisive, polarizing issue. But there is a solution, I think that I have that solution. And nobody else does."
There are a few articles out there including this recap from The Hill.
posted by misterpatrick at 11:43 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is some serious RUMINT, but ex-NSA spook (and disgraced former Naval War College professor) John Schindler writes in the Observer: "An Intelligence Community official who assisted the Special Counsel’s investigation told me this week that Team Mueller is holding “dozens of sealed indictments” of people associated with the president, his 2015-16 campaign, and his administration. “Nobody who’s close to the Russians is getting out of this,” said the IC official."
This comes with a huge caveat, of course, but Schindler's published some reliable NatSec scoops. When it comes to an indiscreet intel source telling tales out of school like this, I'd place my bets on Schindler ahead of, say, the NYT's Mark Mazzetti or the WaPo's Matt Zapotosky.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [15 favorites]
This comes with a huge caveat, of course, but Schindler's published some reliable NatSec scoops. When it comes to an indiscreet intel source telling tales out of school like this, I'd place my bets on Schindler ahead of, say, the NYT's Mark Mazzetti or the WaPo's Matt Zapotosky.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [15 favorites]
though not actually good for most
Agreed, but it's being presented as a good economy and he's not getting a lift in approval ratings from it.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Agreed, but it's being presented as a good economy and he's not getting a lift in approval ratings from it.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:45 AM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
NBC's Benjy Sarlin agrees with Metafilter's Chrysostom about a Dem House allowing narrative control:
Twitter is used to "lol nothing matters"-ing these stories, but suddenly Ds have power to investigate them furtherposted by Chrysostom at 11:54 AM on November 9, 2018 [32 favorites]
It's not just that D's might find more stuff, they also can keep these stories in the news much longer. That epic NYT story on Trump's taxes doesn't have to be a 2-hour blip in the news cycle if D's can hold a whole series of hearings on it throughout the next year.
I also agree that as things stand now the Senate wouldn't vote to convict if the House impeached Trump.
true, but before the "smoking gun" tape, the 1974 senate wouldn't have voted to convict nixon.
no guarantee that the current crop of republican senators wouldn't fail even that test, though.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:01 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
true, but before the "smoking gun" tape, the 1974 senate wouldn't have voted to convict nixon.
no guarantee that the current crop of republican senators wouldn't fail even that test, though.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:01 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
John Schindler writes in the Observer: "An Intelligence Community official who assisted the Special Counsel’s investigation told me this week that Team Mueller is holding “dozens of sealed indictments” of people associated with the president, his 2015-16 campaign, and his administration
Maybe, but honestly this reads like some Mensch-level fanfic to me.
posted by Justinian at 12:02 PM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
Maybe, but honestly this reads like some Mensch-level fanfic to me.
posted by Justinian at 12:02 PM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
Yeah. The very fact that I would dearly love to believe that is the chief reason why I feel we should treat such claims with extreme skepticism -- otherwise we risk falling into the same trap the Q-anon zombies have fallen into.
I'll be the first to hope for a very happy Muellermas for all, but I'm not going to pin my hopes on Schindler.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:05 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'll be the first to hope for a very happy Muellermas for all, but I'm not going to pin my hopes on Schindler.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:05 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
"Sealed indictments" belongs in the same lexical universe as "steel beams", "black helicopters," and "Jewish bankers"
posted by theodolite at 12:07 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 12:07 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
Schindler is a crank. Fewer (many fewer) words than Seth Abramson (or Mensch, if you prefer), but more mendacious.
posted by rhizome at 12:08 PM on November 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 12:08 PM on November 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Apologies if this has been talked about before (searching through the thread didn't find anything, but...) Can someone more knowledgeable than me comment on the implications of this?
posted by seyirci at 12:08 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
Wow. The Court of Appeals, in a case challenging Mueller, now orders briefing on impact of the Sessions firing & installation of Whittaker. It is possible for parties to take the view that his boss is the legitimate Rosenstein, not the pretend-Attorney General Trump wants to have(Link to tweet by Neal Katyal, which includes reproduction of court order dated today.)
posted by seyirci at 12:08 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
I also agree that as things stand now the Senate wouldn't vote to convict if the House impeached Trump.
However, thankfully(?), Trump has given the House lots and lots and lots and lots of grounds for impeachment. Couldn't they just impeach him on each count individually? Like, "comitted fraud, repeatedly, by lying about inauguration crowd size" then "illegal Muslim travel ban" "emoluments clause violations" "kiddie concentration camps" "campaign finance violations" etc etc.
I mean, 'double jeopardy' doesn't apply when you've committed numerous crimes, right?
Couldn't the house tie up Congress completely with nothing but multiple impeachments? If so, this should be the main strategy going forward. Thoughts?
posted by sexyrobot at 12:19 PM on November 9, 2018
However, thankfully(?), Trump has given the House lots and lots and lots and lots of grounds for impeachment. Couldn't they just impeach him on each count individually? Like, "comitted fraud, repeatedly, by lying about inauguration crowd size" then "illegal Muslim travel ban" "emoluments clause violations" "kiddie concentration camps" "campaign finance violations" etc etc.
I mean, 'double jeopardy' doesn't apply when you've committed numerous crimes, right?
Couldn't the house tie up Congress completely with nothing but multiple impeachments? If so, this should be the main strategy going forward. Thoughts?
posted by sexyrobot at 12:19 PM on November 9, 2018
Couldn't the house tie up Congress completely with nothing but multiple impeachments? If so, this should be the main strategy going forward. Thoughts?
my thought is "you come at the king, you best not miss"
house dems could do this, but every time they failed, it would make them look more desperate and feed directly into trump's narrative of persecution
posted by murphy slaw at 12:21 PM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
my thought is "you come at the king, you best not miss"
house dems could do this, but every time they failed, it would make them look more desperate and feed directly into trump's narrative of persecution
posted by murphy slaw at 12:21 PM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
I mean, 'double jeopardy' doesn't apply when you've committed numerous crimes, right?
Impeachment is not a legal process, it's a political one. No double jeopardy for impeachment.
posted by Twain Device at 12:21 PM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
Impeachment is not a legal process, it's a political one. No double jeopardy for impeachment.
posted by Twain Device at 12:21 PM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
No double jeopardy for impeachment
It's even in the Constitution:
It's even in the Constitution:
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.posted by BungaDunga at 12:25 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
Couldn't they just impeach him on each count individually?
Here's an itemized list of 200 crimes and misdemeanors.
-I have the honor to be you obediant servant,
H. of reps.
posted by cmfletcher at 12:26 PM on November 9, 2018 [16 favorites]
Here's an itemized list of 200 crimes and misdemeanors.
-I have the honor to be you obediant servant,
H. of reps.
posted by cmfletcher at 12:26 PM on November 9, 2018 [16 favorites]
Who cares if one fails, just keep em coming...isn't that his own (horrifyingly successful) strategy?
Personally, I think the "lying to America about inauguration crowd size" is quite likely to be the most effective. It would totally just unhinge that lying crap-bag.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:28 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
Personally, I think the "lying to America about inauguration crowd size" is quite likely to be the most effective. It would totally just unhinge that lying crap-bag.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:28 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
it's fun to think about, but if you want a good way to waste any opportunity for the dem-controlled house to put up a positive legislative agenda that candidates can point to in 2020, a 24-hour impeachment circus is one.
we are not going to taunt him so much that he makes a mistake. either the mueller report will come out and have him dead to rights, or we have to beat him at the ballot box in 2020.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:32 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
we are not going to taunt him so much that he makes a mistake. either the mueller report will come out and have him dead to rights, or we have to beat him at the ballot box in 2020.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:32 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
Can someone more knowledgeable than me comment on the implications of this?
Politico: Judges order Mueller to explain impact of Sessions-Whitaker DOJ shakeup
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:32 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
Politico: Judges order Mueller to explain impact of Sessions-Whitaker DOJ shakeup
A federal appellate court panel on Friday ordered Robert Mueller as well as attorneys trying to knock the special counsel out of his job to file new legal briefs that explain how this week’s shake-up atop the Justice Department could influence their case.(DC federal courthouse tip-off guy, Anonymous Fed speculates, "This may have been why Rosenstein's attorney was at the courthouse yesterday.")
In a one-paragraph order, the three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit told Mueller and lawyers for a former aide to Roger Stone [Andrew Miller] that they have until Nov. 19 to turn in briefs that sift through Wednesday’s firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the legal reaction it may have created.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:32 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
attorneys trying to knock the special counsel out of his job
Guess Politico doesn't see as much of a story here.
posted by rhizome at 12:34 PM on November 9, 2018
Guess Politico doesn't see as much of a story here.
posted by rhizome at 12:34 PM on November 9, 2018
Thousand Oaks parents: ‘I don’t want prayers. I don’t want thoughts. I want gun control.’
This is heartbreaking.
posted by homunculus at 12:36 PM on November 9, 2018 [44 favorites]
This is heartbreaking.
posted by homunculus at 12:36 PM on November 9, 2018 [44 favorites]
we are not going to taunt him so much that he makes a mistake
He already makes mistakes left, right and center and not a single fuck is given by his supporters. Which is the problem.
Impeachment proceedings with no hope of success would, unfortunately, just make the Democrats look like losers. What we need is investigations successfully uncovering actual wrongdoing.
(I'm not saying there is no wrongdoing, I'm saying there is plenty to find and cite and bring down the castle one damn piece at a time).
posted by lydhre at 12:39 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
He already makes mistakes left, right and center and not a single fuck is given by his supporters. Which is the problem.
Impeachment proceedings with no hope of success would, unfortunately, just make the Democrats look like losers. What we need is investigations successfully uncovering actual wrongdoing.
(I'm not saying there is no wrongdoing, I'm saying there is plenty to find and cite and bring down the castle one damn piece at a time).
posted by lydhre at 12:39 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
The next time the president answers with "What a stupid question!", I hope the asker comes back with "Well, I wanted you to understand it."
posted by BeeDo at 12:39 PM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by BeeDo at 12:39 PM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
Can someone who knows more than I do clarify the whole Whitaker thing for me?
I'm asking because from what admittedly little I know it seems that Whitaker isn't the Acting Attorney General because Trump doesn't have the legal authority to simply make a random person Acting Attorney General by fiat, that the chain of command has to be followed, that Rod Rosenstein is properly the Acting Attorney General, and that basically the legal situation is that Trump could fire Rosenstein, and then whoever is next in the chain of command would be Acting AG, but that since Whitaker isn't in the chain of command then he can't be AG until the Republicans in the Senate rubber stamp him.
Yet it seems as if everyone is just accepting that this person who, legally, is not and cannot be the Acting Attorney General is the Acting Attorney General.
Is the actual legal situation of appointments to the spot of Acting Attorney General murky and Trump is basically being an ass but the law isn't being broken? Or is it that basically, as with so many other things, there's no actual legal recourse other than impeachment and removal from office and that since the Republicans won't do that Trump can basically do whatever he wants, or what?
Because either I've got a deep misunderstanding of the law with regards to how a person can be Acting Attorney General, or it seems as if the Democrats and the "liberal media" have let Trump get away with a massive step towards Kingship and haven't even mentioned it.
posted by sotonohito at 12:40 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm asking because from what admittedly little I know it seems that Whitaker isn't the Acting Attorney General because Trump doesn't have the legal authority to simply make a random person Acting Attorney General by fiat, that the chain of command has to be followed, that Rod Rosenstein is properly the Acting Attorney General, and that basically the legal situation is that Trump could fire Rosenstein, and then whoever is next in the chain of command would be Acting AG, but that since Whitaker isn't in the chain of command then he can't be AG until the Republicans in the Senate rubber stamp him.
Yet it seems as if everyone is just accepting that this person who, legally, is not and cannot be the Acting Attorney General is the Acting Attorney General.
Is the actual legal situation of appointments to the spot of Acting Attorney General murky and Trump is basically being an ass but the law isn't being broken? Or is it that basically, as with so many other things, there's no actual legal recourse other than impeachment and removal from office and that since the Republicans won't do that Trump can basically do whatever he wants, or what?
Because either I've got a deep misunderstanding of the law with regards to how a person can be Acting Attorney General, or it seems as if the Democrats and the "liberal media" have let Trump get away with a massive step towards Kingship and haven't even mentioned it.
posted by sotonohito at 12:40 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
Note that the woman being quoted there is the mother of Telemachus Orfanos, a victim of the Thousand Oaks shooting who was a survivor of the 2017 Las Vegas massacre. America is fucked up.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:40 PM on November 9, 2018 [65 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:40 PM on November 9, 2018 [65 favorites]
What we need is investigations successfully uncovering actual wrongdoing.
yeah, in my haste i made it sound like i'm putting all my eggs in mueller's basket, but house led investigations are important, too.
we just can't nail our 95 theses to the door of the oval office on the first day of the new congress and expect the scales to fall from america's eyes
posted by murphy slaw at 12:42 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
yeah, in my haste i made it sound like i'm putting all my eggs in mueller's basket, but house led investigations are important, too.
we just can't nail our 95 theses to the door of the oval office on the first day of the new congress and expect the scales to fall from america's eyes
posted by murphy slaw at 12:42 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
And, would it be possible to head off future problems of this nature by imposing legal penalties including jail time on people accepting Presidential appointments to positions outside the regular chain of command and legal system for putting people into positions?
posted by sotonohito at 12:42 PM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 12:42 PM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
My FB friend suggests: hey, how about every reporter begin their question with: "Jim Acosta would like me to ask..."
posted by Melismata at 12:45 PM on November 9, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 12:45 PM on November 9, 2018 [44 favorites]
I'm asking because from what admittedly little I know it seems that Whitaker isn't the Acting Attorney General because Trump doesn't have the legal authority to simply make a random person Acting Attorney General by fiat
What you're missing is that the law doesn't spontaneously stop you from doing things; the courts need to say this is the case. To do that someone with standing has to sue Whittaker (or Trump? Not sure which). Then the courts weigh in. So it may or may not be true that Trump doesn't have the legal authority to do this but we don't know for certain until the legal system works it through.
posted by Justinian at 12:45 PM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
What you're missing is that the law doesn't spontaneously stop you from doing things; the courts need to say this is the case. To do that someone with standing has to sue Whittaker (or Trump? Not sure which). Then the courts weigh in. So it may or may not be true that Trump doesn't have the legal authority to do this but we don't know for certain until the legal system works it through.
posted by Justinian at 12:45 PM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
My FB friend suggests: hey, how about every reporter begin their question with: "Jim Acosta would like me to ask..."
As a big fan of telecommuting, I love this idea.
posted by condour75 at 12:48 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
As a big fan of telecommuting, I love this idea.
posted by condour75 at 12:48 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
house dems could do this, but every time they failed, it would make them look more desperate and feed directly into trump's narrative of persecution
How many times did Republicans try to repeal the ACA while Obama was in office? How long did they keep harping on Benghazi and Clinton's emails? I mean yes, to us that just made them look like assholes, but wasn't it an actually effective strategy in some sense?
posted by Foosnark at 12:50 PM on November 9, 2018 [13 favorites]
How many times did Republicans try to repeal the ACA while Obama was in office? How long did they keep harping on Benghazi and Clinton's emails? I mean yes, to us that just made them look like assholes, but wasn't it an actually effective strategy in some sense?
posted by Foosnark at 12:50 PM on November 9, 2018 [13 favorites]
My FB friend suggests: hey, how about every reporter begin their question with: "Jim Acosta would like me to ask..."
Or shit, just ask for details. "Based on your comments yesterday, in what ways is Jim Acosta an enemy of the people?" Trump has a weakness when it comes to standing up for his own words, and it makes him a ripe target for humiliation.
posted by rhizome at 12:52 PM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
Or shit, just ask for details. "Based on your comments yesterday, in what ways is Jim Acosta an enemy of the people?" Trump has a weakness when it comes to standing up for his own words, and it makes him a ripe target for humiliation.
posted by rhizome at 12:52 PM on November 9, 2018 [23 favorites]
I mean yes, to us that just made them look like assholes, but wasn't it an actually effective strategy in some sense?
so the democrats' message to the american people is "vote for us, we'll pwn the cons"?
our voters are not their voters.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:52 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
so the democrats' message to the american people is "vote for us, we'll pwn the cons"?
our voters are not their voters.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:52 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
it's fun to think about, but if you want a good way to waste any opportunity for the dem-controlled house to put up a positive legislative agenda that candidates can point to in 2020, a 24-hour impeachment circus is one.
Okay, 12 a day will do.
Kidding aside, if the House leadership was willing to take a serious and consistent caucus-wide anti-Trump stance (pause to laugh) they could engage in a coordinated effort, passing and talking about good legislation that would impede TrumpCo's grift and running investigations into said grift. Case in point: put some worthwhile teeth into the restrictions that ought to keep Trump from running the hotel in the Old Post Office building but the GSA waved away.
posted by phearlez at 12:53 PM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
Okay, 12 a day will do.
Kidding aside, if the House leadership was willing to take a serious and consistent caucus-wide anti-Trump stance (pause to laugh) they could engage in a coordinated effort, passing and talking about good legislation that would impede TrumpCo's grift and running investigations into said grift. Case in point: put some worthwhile teeth into the restrictions that ought to keep Trump from running the hotel in the Old Post Office building but the GSA waved away.
posted by phearlez at 12:53 PM on November 9, 2018 [6 favorites]
Justinian No, I get that part. What I'm missing is why it seems that no one in either the press or the Democratic establishment is pushing back on the Whitaker "appointment" but rather seem to have accepted with no contest that Trump can simply make random people be Acting Attorney General regardless of what the law says.
Did I miss a lawsuit being filed? Or speeches from Democrats condemning the lawless nature of the "appointment" and demanding that the chain of command be followed? I'll confess that I may have missed something, but most of what I've seen seems to have been people shrugging and saying "oh well, guess Whitaker is Acting AG now".
posted by sotonohito at 12:54 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
Did I miss a lawsuit being filed? Or speeches from Democrats condemning the lawless nature of the "appointment" and demanding that the chain of command be followed? I'll confess that I may have missed something, but most of what I've seen seems to have been people shrugging and saying "oh well, guess Whitaker is Acting AG now".
posted by sotonohito at 12:54 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
What you're missing is that the law doesn't spontaneously stop you from doing things; the courts need to say this is the case. To do that someone with standing has to sue Whittaker (or Trump? Not sure which). Then the courts weigh in. So it may or may not be true that Trump doesn't have the legal authority to do this but we don't know for certain until the legal system works it through.
And, it's very much an open legal dispute. See Steve Vladeck, Whitaker May Be a Bad Choice, but He’s a Legal One (and the watch-lawyers-fight version on Twitter). There's certainly an argument to be made that the appointment is illegal, and there are some issues with that argument.
Rewriting the Federal Vacancies Reform Act certainly should be moved fairly high up the priority list one way or another.
posted by zachlipton at 12:57 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
And, it's very much an open legal dispute. See Steve Vladeck, Whitaker May Be a Bad Choice, but He’s a Legal One (and the watch-lawyers-fight version on Twitter). There's certainly an argument to be made that the appointment is illegal, and there are some issues with that argument.
Rewriting the Federal Vacancies Reform Act certainly should be moved fairly high up the priority list one way or another.
posted by zachlipton at 12:57 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
so the democrats' message to the american people is "vote for us, we'll pwn the cons"?
I would really be fine if the only words to come out of every elected democrat's mouth for the next two years is "Donald Trump wants to take away coverage for pre-existing conditions." The 2020 campaign stump speeches would be boring and repetitive, but effective.
posted by zachlipton at 1:00 PM on November 9, 2018 [26 favorites]
I would really be fine if the only words to come out of every elected democrat's mouth for the next two years is "Donald Trump wants to take away coverage for pre-existing conditions." The 2020 campaign stump speeches would be boring and repetitive, but effective.
posted by zachlipton at 1:00 PM on November 9, 2018 [26 favorites]
we are not going to taunt him so much that he makes a mistake.
No reason not to try, though. He's a malignant narcissist with poor impulse control; narcissistic injury makes him miserable.
It also makes him lash out (see: Wednesday), and there's no telling who he'll lash out at, except that it'll be someone he perceives as less threatening.
posted by Gelatin at 1:31 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
No reason not to try, though. He's a malignant narcissist with poor impulse control; narcissistic injury makes him miserable.
It also makes him lash out (see: Wednesday), and there's no telling who he'll lash out at, except that it'll be someone he perceives as less threatening.
posted by Gelatin at 1:31 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
How many times did Republicans try to repeal the ACA while Obama was in office? How long did they keep harping on Benghazi and Clinton's emails? I mean yes, to us that just made them look like assholes, but wasn't it an actually effective strategy in some sense?
In the sense that they just lost the House of Representatives?
posted by Gelatin at 1:34 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
In the sense that they just lost the House of Representatives?
posted by Gelatin at 1:34 PM on November 9, 2018 [7 favorites]
House Dems should do two things:
1. Straightforward hearings on the say top 5 of the 50,000 instances of Trump's malfeasance. Just the open airing of evidence is plenty, even if there is no impeachment or other action. Get that shit out in the open and on the record.
2. Pass reasonable, popular, and straightforward bills on all the reasonable popular stuff they won on. Pass them and them to the Senate to die. Show that they are ready and able to do the country's business. And not just 47 versions of one stunt thing (like repealing the ACA), but actual substantive policy stuff that a large majority of Americans are in favor of. Then run on that. Much better than policy papers buried in a platform.
posted by jetsetsc at 1:35 PM on November 9, 2018 [56 favorites]
1. Straightforward hearings on the say top 5 of the 50,000 instances of Trump's malfeasance. Just the open airing of evidence is plenty, even if there is no impeachment or other action. Get that shit out in the open and on the record.
2. Pass reasonable, popular, and straightforward bills on all the reasonable popular stuff they won on. Pass them and them to the Senate to die. Show that they are ready and able to do the country's business. And not just 47 versions of one stunt thing (like repealing the ACA), but actual substantive policy stuff that a large majority of Americans are in favor of. Then run on that. Much better than policy papers buried in a platform.
posted by jetsetsc at 1:35 PM on November 9, 2018 [56 favorites]
The upside of presenting policy you know isn’t gonna pass is when you do (possibly maybe) retake the legislature you’ll be sitting on a whole pile of bills you could pass in a week with motivated congress
posted by The Whelk at 1:38 PM on November 9, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 1:38 PM on November 9, 2018 [39 favorites]
Regarding the impeachment debate, Democrats could thread the needle: The House Judiciary Committee could hold a series of hearings investigating Trump's high crimes and misdemeanors, without recommending out articles of impeachment just yet.
Monday, January 14: The HJC finds that Trump lying about the size of his inauguration crowd is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Wednesday, January 16: The HJC finds that Trump ordering an unconstitutional Muslim ban is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Friday, January 18: The HJC finds that Trump paying Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Monday, January 21: The HJC finds that the money laundering and tax evasion on Trump's 2010 tax return is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Wednesday, January 23: The HJC finds that the money laundering and tax evasion on Trump's 2011 tax return is a high crime or misdemeanor.
...et cetera. Trump has spent more than two years committing crimes, so many that people forget. Democrats can spend two years putting them out in the public arena once again. And as trump stews and pouts, everyone will wonder when the Democrats will actually pull the trigger. And if Trump's popularity plummets as his malfeasance is brought before the American people, Senate Republicans -- who will be defending more seats after a Blue Wave election -- may get nervous enough to wonder if there isn't something to this impeachment thing after all.
Just like they did with Nixon.
posted by Gelatin at 1:44 PM on November 9, 2018 [33 favorites]
Monday, January 14: The HJC finds that Trump lying about the size of his inauguration crowd is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Wednesday, January 16: The HJC finds that Trump ordering an unconstitutional Muslim ban is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Friday, January 18: The HJC finds that Trump paying Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Monday, January 21: The HJC finds that the money laundering and tax evasion on Trump's 2010 tax return is a high crime or misdemeanor.
Wednesday, January 23: The HJC finds that the money laundering and tax evasion on Trump's 2011 tax return is a high crime or misdemeanor.
...et cetera. Trump has spent more than two years committing crimes, so many that people forget. Democrats can spend two years putting them out in the public arena once again. And as trump stews and pouts, everyone will wonder when the Democrats will actually pull the trigger. And if Trump's popularity plummets as his malfeasance is brought before the American people, Senate Republicans -- who will be defending more seats after a Blue Wave election -- may get nervous enough to wonder if there isn't something to this impeachment thing after all.
Just like they did with Nixon.
posted by Gelatin at 1:44 PM on November 9, 2018 [33 favorites]
The upside of presenting policy you know isn’t gonna pass is when you do (possibly maybe) retake the legislature you’ll be sitting on a whole pile of bills you could pass in a week with motivated congress
Just like the upside of having the likes of Devin Nunes participate in a conspiracy to obstruct justice is House Democrats having two years' worth of topics just ripe for investigation.
Which they do.
posted by Gelatin at 1:46 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just like the upside of having the likes of Devin Nunes participate in a conspiracy to obstruct justice is House Democrats having two years' worth of topics just ripe for investigation.
Which they do.
posted by Gelatin at 1:46 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Buzzfeed has a FOIA scoop: Here’s The Classified Letter About Russia That Senate Democrats Sent To Obama After Trump Was Elected—“We have serious concerns about information recently provided to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence regarding Russian Active Measures and election related cyber activity associated with the Russian intelligence services.” (PDF)
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:46 PM on November 9, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:46 PM on November 9, 2018 [16 favorites]
Um. WSJ, FBI Is Investigating Florida Company Where Whitaker Was Advisory-Board Member
thisisfine.gif
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on November 9, 2018 [40 favorites]
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation of a Florida company accused of scamming millions from customers during the period that Matthew Whitaker, the acting U.S. attorney general, served as a paid advisory-board member, according to an alleged victim who was contacted by the FBI and other people familiar with the matter.Whitaker, as acting Attorney General, oversees the FBI.
The investigation is being handled by the Miami office of the FBI and by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, according to an email sent to the alleged victim last year by an FBI victim specialist. A recording on a phone line set up by the Justice Department to help victims said Friday the case remains active.
thisisfine.gif
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on November 9, 2018 [40 favorites]
As mentioned, if this was happening in a left wing South American country the WSJ would be screaming for a ground invasion
posted by The Whelk at 1:57 PM on November 9, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 1:57 PM on November 9, 2018 [28 favorites]
So if I'm understanding this right:
The best reason not to panic about what's going on with the DOJ is because, even if Mueller is fired tomorrow, come January Adam Schiff can take what Mueller has discovered and subpoena further, right?
I mean, we still have until January without any levers of power but it's not like the Mueller investigation is going to be smothered in its cradle by the DOJ, right? Or at least the dead baby can be --uh--revivified and developed further, correct?
Is this the right way to think about things?
posted by angrycat at 1:59 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
The best reason not to panic about what's going on with the DOJ is because, even if Mueller is fired tomorrow, come January Adam Schiff can take what Mueller has discovered and subpoena further, right?
I mean, we still have until January without any levers of power but it's not like the Mueller investigation is going to be smothered in its cradle by the DOJ, right? Or at least the dead baby can be --uh--revivified and developed further, correct?
Is this the right way to think about things?
posted by angrycat at 1:59 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
And, [Whitaker's appointment is constitutional] is very much an open legal dispute.
I find this frustrating. The argument is that because Sessions resigned, Trump had to temporarily fill the position, and Trump can temporarily fill the position with someone the Senate has not confirmed, as is normally required by the constitution. Really? Does anyone buy that Sessions simply "resigned"? Why have the rule in the first place if you can conspire to have someone "resign" and fill the position with whomever will do your bidding?
What we're seeing here, and with the emoluments clause and other things, is that there's nothing to stop a president from running roughshod over the constitution. If this happened in a banana republic I would be thinking "don't they have rules in place to stop things like this?" Seriously, what would you think if you heard that in another country their president fired the person overseeing an investigation into him and replaced him with a stooge of his, and only his, choosing?
posted by xammerboy at 2:04 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
I find this frustrating. The argument is that because Sessions resigned, Trump had to temporarily fill the position, and Trump can temporarily fill the position with someone the Senate has not confirmed, as is normally required by the constitution. Really? Does anyone buy that Sessions simply "resigned"? Why have the rule in the first place if you can conspire to have someone "resign" and fill the position with whomever will do your bidding?
What we're seeing here, and with the emoluments clause and other things, is that there's nothing to stop a president from running roughshod over the constitution. If this happened in a banana republic I would be thinking "don't they have rules in place to stop things like this?" Seriously, what would you think if you heard that in another country their president fired the person overseeing an investigation into him and replaced him with a stooge of his, and only his, choosing?
posted by xammerboy at 2:04 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
I thought this news that Trump was directly involved in the Stormy Daniels payoff process was established long ago when we heard Trump and Cohen discussing it on that snippet of leaked smartphone recording?
The new important revelation is this:
"As a presidential candidate in August 2015, Donald Trump huddled with a longtime friend, media executive David Pecker, in his cluttered 26th floor Trump Tower office and made a request. What can you do to help my campaign? he asked, according to people familiar with the meeting."
Paying off Trump's mistresses is not illegal. What is illegal is Pecker doing that for Trump explicitly to help his campaign. That is an unreported campaign donation.
If what the WSJ says is true, that there are witnesses to Trump soliciting that help from Pecker, they would be conspiring to commit campaign fraud.
Previously Trump's defense has been that paying off mistresses is not a crime and that Pecker only did it as a favor because they are old friends or it was done only to protect Melania. This testimony would contradict those excuses, indicating it was done explicitly to help the Trump campaign and in addition done explicitly as a result of Trump's personal solicitation.
posted by JackFlash at 2:10 PM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
The new important revelation is this:
"As a presidential candidate in August 2015, Donald Trump huddled with a longtime friend, media executive David Pecker, in his cluttered 26th floor Trump Tower office and made a request. What can you do to help my campaign? he asked, according to people familiar with the meeting."
Paying off Trump's mistresses is not illegal. What is illegal is Pecker doing that for Trump explicitly to help his campaign. That is an unreported campaign donation.
If what the WSJ says is true, that there are witnesses to Trump soliciting that help from Pecker, they would be conspiring to commit campaign fraud.
Previously Trump's defense has been that paying off mistresses is not a crime and that Pecker only did it as a favor because they are old friends or it was done only to protect Melania. This testimony would contradict those excuses, indicating it was done explicitly to help the Trump campaign and in addition done explicitly as a result of Trump's personal solicitation.
posted by JackFlash at 2:10 PM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
President Donald Trump was involved in "nearly every step" of hush-money agreements with multiple women who claimed they had sexual affairs before he became president, according to The Wall Street Journal.
They talk about Daniels and McDougal. Also in the set of women paid off is Doe, who withdrew her lawsuit against Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein for raping her in 1994 when she was 13 -- at the same time Cohen was paying off the other women.
It's unbelievable, but within possibility that they've setup something happens to Mueller, and the whole "Donald Trump is a child rapist" thing is set loose. And the Daniels/McDougal leak is the warning shot.
posted by mikelieman at 2:12 PM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
They talk about Daniels and McDougal. Also in the set of women paid off is Doe, who withdrew her lawsuit against Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein for raping her in 1994 when she was 13 -- at the same time Cohen was paying off the other women.
It's unbelievable, but within possibility that they've setup something happens to Mueller, and the whole "Donald Trump is a child rapist" thing is set loose. And the Daniels/McDougal leak is the warning shot.
posted by mikelieman at 2:12 PM on November 9, 2018 [9 favorites]
DAG Rosenstein to @LauraAJarrett on Whitaker: "I think he’s a superb choice for attorney general. He certainly understands the work, understands the priorities of the department. I think he’s going to do a superb job as attorney general" (via CNN's Jeremy Herb)
“Rod is a survivor,” as James Comey said. “So I have concerns.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:17 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
“Rod is a survivor,” as James Comey said. “So I have concerns.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:17 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
> The argument is that because Sessions resigned, Trump had to temporarily fill the position, and Trump can temporarily fill the position with someone the Senate has not confirmed, as is normally required by the constitution. Really?
Well, hold on a sec there, because even that is giving them too much. The argument of the Katyal and Conway op-ed is that the Attorney General is a principal officer - i.e., one who reports only to the President - and such principal officers always have to be Senate-confirmed, even for a vacancy. Makes sense when you consider that even the Deputy AG is Senate-confirmed, and could be promoted to fill the spot legally with no controversy.
This point of view is backed up by no less an authority than Clarence Thomas in his concurring opinion striking down NLRB appointees - so the conservatives are pretty much hoist on their own petard if this gets litigated to the SCOTUS.
(But who has standing to bring it to the Court? Who can show "harm"? Ah, there's the rub. Maybe it's Rosenstein, who's being denied a promotion? Can someone sue on his behalf without his consent?)
And of course, legal opinions differ - here's Vladeck from UTexas arguing that Whitaker may be a bad choice but he's a legal one. It's amusing that no one - no one - is defending the choice on the merits. Like, the strongest defense so far is that it's not flat-out illegal. Talk about a full-throated endorsement.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:19 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
Well, hold on a sec there, because even that is giving them too much. The argument of the Katyal and Conway op-ed is that the Attorney General is a principal officer - i.e., one who reports only to the President - and such principal officers always have to be Senate-confirmed, even for a vacancy. Makes sense when you consider that even the Deputy AG is Senate-confirmed, and could be promoted to fill the spot legally with no controversy.
This point of view is backed up by no less an authority than Clarence Thomas in his concurring opinion striking down NLRB appointees - so the conservatives are pretty much hoist on their own petard if this gets litigated to the SCOTUS.
(But who has standing to bring it to the Court? Who can show "harm"? Ah, there's the rub. Maybe it's Rosenstein, who's being denied a promotion? Can someone sue on his behalf without his consent?)
And of course, legal opinions differ - here's Vladeck from UTexas arguing that Whitaker may be a bad choice but he's a legal one. It's amusing that no one - no one - is defending the choice on the merits. Like, the strongest defense so far is that it's not flat-out illegal. Talk about a full-throated endorsement.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:19 PM on November 9, 2018 [8 favorites]
I want to hear about James Comey's concerns about as much as Jeff Flake's.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:20 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:20 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
Ha. Spoke too soon.
> It's amusing that no one - no one - is defending the choice on the merits.
> DAG Rosenstein on Whitaker: "I think he’s a superb choice for attorney general. He certainly understands the work, understands the priorities of the department. I think he’s going to do a superb job as attorney general"
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:20 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
> It's amusing that no one - no one - is defending the choice on the merits.
> DAG Rosenstein on Whitaker: "I think he’s a superb choice for attorney general. He certainly understands the work, understands the priorities of the department. I think he’s going to do a superb job as attorney general"
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:20 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm not super thrilled with Rosenstein's comments though I do wonder if I'd have the intestinal fortitude to slag off my new boss to national reporters while my boss was standing next to me. But if you'd judged Rosenstein on the basis of his comments about Comey's firing rather than his actions you'd have apparently misjudged him. So I'm willing to see how Rosenstein acts rather than what he says while Whittaker is looming over his shoulder.
posted by Justinian at 2:22 PM on November 9, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:22 PM on November 9, 2018 [12 favorites]
(But who has standing to bring it to the Court? Who can show "harm"? Ah, there's the rub. Maybe it's Rosenstein, who's being denied a promotion? Can someone sue on his behalf without his consent?)
Anyone negatively affected by anything that comes out of DOJ with Whittaker's name on it has standing to sue. If he was illegally appointed, anything the government does at his direction or under his authorization is unlawful and must be set aside.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:23 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
Anyone negatively affected by anything that comes out of DOJ with Whittaker's name on it has standing to sue. If he was illegally appointed, anything the government does at his direction or under his authorization is unlawful and must be set aside.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:23 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
Does anyone know what time Mueller's indictments are unsealed? I know it's Fridays, but are we still hoping for indictments today, or do we stand down for a week?
posted by karst at 2:25 PM on November 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by karst at 2:25 PM on November 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
we just can't nail our 95 theses to the door of the oval office on the first day of the new congress and expect the scales to fall from america's eyes
I think an on-going, never ending round of Congressional investigations AND non-stop impeachment HEARINGS will suck the air out of the room quite well. And that's a good goal.
posted by mikelieman at 2:37 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
I think an on-going, never ending round of Congressional investigations AND non-stop impeachment HEARINGS will suck the air out of the room quite well. And that's a good goal.
posted by mikelieman at 2:37 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's amusing that no one - no one - is defending the choice on the merits.
The aforementioned Fox News legal analyst and Trump suck-up Andrew Napolitano said Whitaker was professionally qualified (just not legally).
I'm not super thrilled with Rosenstein's comments though I do wonder if I'd have the intestinal fortitude to slag off my new boss to national reporters while my boss was standing next to me.
From the WSJ article Matthew Whitaker, a Critic of the Mueller Investigation, Now Oversees It (@WSJ):
"Mr. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa during the GOP administration of former President George W. Bush, occasionally clashed with Mr. Rosenstein since the two men began working together at the Justice Department, according to a person familiar with their relationship. Mr. Rosenstein once pointedly gave Mr. Whitaker a book on effective management, the person said. Another official played down the extent of the tension, saying such disagreements are common in any administration and Mr. Rosenstein had given management books to other staffers as well."
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:48 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
The aforementioned Fox News legal analyst and Trump suck-up Andrew Napolitano said Whitaker was professionally qualified (just not legally).
I'm not super thrilled with Rosenstein's comments though I do wonder if I'd have the intestinal fortitude to slag off my new boss to national reporters while my boss was standing next to me.
From the WSJ article Matthew Whitaker, a Critic of the Mueller Investigation, Now Oversees It (@WSJ):
"Mr. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa during the GOP administration of former President George W. Bush, occasionally clashed with Mr. Rosenstein since the two men began working together at the Justice Department, according to a person familiar with their relationship. Mr. Rosenstein once pointedly gave Mr. Whitaker a book on effective management, the person said. Another official played down the extent of the tension, saying such disagreements are common in any administration and Mr. Rosenstein had given management books to other staffers as well."
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:48 PM on November 9, 2018 [5 favorites]
The aforementioned Fox News legal analyst and Trump suck-up Andrew Napolitano said Whitaker was professionally qualified (just not legally).
I mean, even this is bullshit. AG is a damn important job. You're in charge of 100,000 people. The permanent job has long gone to someone with substantial experience as a State AG, Senator, judge, or significant time at DOJ, and often a combination. Rosenstein has been at DOJ since 1990, and has held multiple positions of significant responsibility during that time. Whitaker had five undistinguished years as a US Attorney in Iowa, lost some political campaigns, and made legal threats on behalf of a scam before getting a cable news gig to ingratiate himself to Trump. Just setting aside the Russia investigation and everything else, there's a simple scandal here: an entirely unqualified person has been given this job.
Anyway, ‘He’s a F*cking Fool’: Justice Department Officials Trash Matt Whitaker, Their New Boss
I mean, even this is bullshit. AG is a damn important job. You're in charge of 100,000 people. The permanent job has long gone to someone with substantial experience as a State AG, Senator, judge, or significant time at DOJ, and often a combination. Rosenstein has been at DOJ since 1990, and has held multiple positions of significant responsibility during that time. Whitaker had five undistinguished years as a US Attorney in Iowa, lost some political campaigns, and made legal threats on behalf of a scam before getting a cable news gig to ingratiate himself to Trump. Just setting aside the Russia investigation and everything else, there's a simple scandal here: an entirely unqualified person has been given this job.
Anyway, ‘He’s a F*cking Fool’: Justice Department Officials Trash Matt Whitaker, Their New Boss
“He’s a fucking fool,” one trial attorney inside the department said of the new AG. “He’s spent so much time trying to suck up to the president to get here. But this is a big job. It comes with many responsibilities. He just simply doesn’t have the wherewithal.”posted by zachlipton at 3:06 PM on November 9, 2018 [39 favorites]
@hansilowang (who, by the way, covers the census for NPR, and I know it's only possible to care about the census so much, but if you do care, follow this guy): NEW: The Trump administration has lost its sixth attempt to get the #2020census #citizenshipquestion lawsuits tossed out of court. U.S. District Judge George Hazel has rejected @TheJusticeDept’s motion to dismiss case in Maryland led by @LUPE_rgv
posted by zachlipton at 3:08 PM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:08 PM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
CNN: Trump spars with Macron as Air Force One lands in France.
posted by Rykey at 3:18 PM on November 9, 2018
posted by Rykey at 3:18 PM on November 9, 2018
LA Times on why vote counts take so long in California.
tl;dr - there are a bazillion people and California actually wants people to vote, and then wants to count their votes accurately.
Pure craziness.
posted by Justinian at 3:18 PM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
tl;dr - there are a bazillion people and California actually wants people to vote, and then wants to count their votes accurately.
Pure craziness.
posted by Justinian at 3:18 PM on November 9, 2018 [19 favorites]
Boy, this guy...
VOX: Exclusive: Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker was counseling the White House on investigating Clinton
VOX: Exclusive: Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker was counseling the White House on investigating Clinton
Matthew Whitaker, whom President Donald Trump named as his acting attorney general on Wednesday, privately provided advice to the president last year on how the White House might be able to pressure the Justice Department to investigate the president’s political adversaries, Vox has learned.posted by chris24 at 3:23 PM on November 9, 2018 [22 favorites]
Whitaker was an outspoken critic of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe before he became the chief of staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in September 2017. But new information suggests that Whitaker — while working for Sessions — advocated on behalf of, and attempted to facilitate, Trump’s desire to exploit the Justice Department and FBI to investigate the president’s enemies.
In May 2018, President Donald Trump demanded that the Justice Department open a criminal investigation into whether the FBI “infiltrated or surveilled” his presidential campaign and whether Obama administration officials were involved in this purported effort. Trump, his Republican allies in Congress, and conservative news organizations — most notably Fox News — were making such claims and amplifying those of others, even though they offered scant evidence, if any, that these allegations were true.
Sessions, Rosenstein, and other senior department officials believed that if they agreed to Trump’s wishes, doing so would constitute an improper politicization of the department that would set a dangerous precedent for Trump — or any future president — to exploit the powerful apparatus of the DOJ and FBI to investigate their political adversaries. Those efforts, in turn, coincided with the president’s campaign to undermine Mueller’s investigation into whether the president’s campaign aides, White House advisers, and members of his own family colluded with Russian to help Trump win the 2016 election.
During this period of time, Whitaker was the chief of staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and in that role was advising Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on how to counter the president’s demands. But according to one former and one current administration official, Whitaker was simultaneously counseling the White House on how the president and his aides might successfully pressure Sessions and Rosenstein to give in to Trump’s demands.
Sources say that Whitaker presented himself as a sympathetic ear to both Sessions and Rosenstein — telling them he supported their efforts to prevent the president from politicizing the Justice Department. A person close to Whitaker suggested to me that the then-chief of staff was only attempting to diffuse the tension between the president and his attorney general and deputy attorney general, and facilitate an agreement between the two sides.
But two other people with firsthand information about the matter told me that Whitaker, in his conversations with the president, presented himself as a vigorous supporter of Trump’s position and “committed to extract as much as he could from the Justice Department on the president’s behalf.”
One administration official with knowledge of the matter told me: “Whitaker let it be known [in the White House] that he was on a team, and that was the president’s team.”
> “Whitaker let it be known [in the White House] that he was on a team, and that was the president’s team.”
Where's my Roy Cohn? Ok, stupid Roy Cohn will do.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:24 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
Where's my Roy Cohn? Ok, stupid Roy Cohn will do.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:24 PM on November 9, 2018 [17 favorites]
@MLevineReports: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein just called Matt Whitaker “a superb choice for attorney general,” saying Whitaker “certainly understands the work, understands the priorities of the department.” Then I asked him if he’s worried at all about the Mueller probe. He walked off. Rosenstein was at federal courthouse in Virginia, where he made remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of @EDVAnews US Attorney Zach Terwilliger. With Whitaker feet away, Rosenstein spoke of the need to keep politics away from the administration of justice.In his remarks about apolitical law enforcement, Rosenstein cited Marbury v. Madison — a case Whitaker has publicly questioned. One person in the room laughed when Rosenstein mentioned the case, recognizing the timing as Whitaker is now being criticized for his comments on case.
We got the first half, but the second half of that strikes me as an effort to send a message without, you know, openly calling the brand new boss a moron while you're standing right next to him.
posted by zachlipton at 3:29 PM on November 9, 2018 [26 favorites]
We got the first half, but the second half of that strikes me as an effort to send a message without, you know, openly calling the brand new boss a moron while you're standing right next to him.
posted by zachlipton at 3:29 PM on November 9, 2018 [26 favorites]
CNN: Trump spars with Macron as Air Force One lands in France.
More like Grumpy Grandpa Posts a Pouty Tweet After Long Plane Flight after Macron called for "a real European army" to "to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America." Since the US president is a Russian agent that's distanced himself from our allies and shown no fidelity to international agreements that seems legit to me.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:31 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
More like Grumpy Grandpa Posts a Pouty Tweet After Long Plane Flight after Macron called for "a real European army" to "to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America." Since the US president is a Russian agent that's distanced himself from our allies and shown no fidelity to international agreements that seems legit to me.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:31 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
Also, Trump's been saying he wants allies to pay more for NATO. How they "pay" more for NATO is spend on their own military. So Macron wants to do what Trump wants. But Trump is an idiot and thinks of contributing to NATO as paying dues/protection to the the US, so he says an idiotic thing.
posted by chris24 at 3:41 PM on November 9, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 3:41 PM on November 9, 2018 [24 favorites]
so the democrats' message to the american people is "vote for us, we'll pwn the cons"?
No, see, the Democrats actually have justice they can usefully pursue instead of trumped-up (heh) accusations and conspiracy theories.
The message is "vote for us, and we will hold Trump accountable."
posted by Foosnark at 3:43 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
No, see, the Democrats actually have justice they can usefully pursue instead of trumped-up (heh) accusations and conspiracy theories.
The message is "vote for us, and we will hold Trump accountable."
posted by Foosnark at 3:43 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
Also, Trump's been saying he wants allies to pay more for NATO. How they "pay" more for NATO is spend on their own military. So Macron wants to do what Trump wants. But Trump is an idiot and thinks of contributing to NATO as paying dues/protection to the the US, so he says an idiotic thing.
As I ask myself the question, "Is Trump too stupid to understand this is the end of NATO?", I realize how dumb that question is, because of course he's clueless to what is intuitively obvious to the most casual of observer.
posted by mikelieman at 3:46 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
As I ask myself the question, "Is Trump too stupid to understand this is the end of NATO?", I realize how dumb that question is, because of course he's clueless to what is intuitively obvious to the most casual of observer.
posted by mikelieman at 3:46 PM on November 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Is Trump too stupid to understand this is the end of NATO?"
Russia's stated goal, and therefore Trump's true goal, is the end of NATO. A US-less trans-Euro standing army would be a win for Russia, because it'd be substantially weaker for a long time, and very likely less interventionist, than the US-led NATO has been. That's exactly what Putin wants, and Trump dances to Putin's every command. Even better for Putin would be direct conflict between the US and the EU, which Trump could easily bumble us into.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:55 PM on November 9, 2018 [20 favorites]
Russia's stated goal, and therefore Trump's true goal, is the end of NATO. A US-less trans-Euro standing army would be a win for Russia, because it'd be substantially weaker for a long time, and very likely less interventionist, than the US-led NATO has been. That's exactly what Putin wants, and Trump dances to Putin's every command. Even better for Putin would be direct conflict between the US and the EU, which Trump could easily bumble us into.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:55 PM on November 9, 2018 [20 favorites]
@ScottGustin:
posted by zachlipton at 4:30 PM on November 9, 2018 [15 favorites]
The @FoxNews Twitter account has been silent for over 24 hours. A Fox News employee tells me Fox is choosing to stay silent while protesting how Twitter handled posts targeting Tucker Carlson — specifically the ones that included his address.So Twitter provided its standard level of sucktastic customer service, and Fox News is boycotting and/or about to launch a massive "Twitter hates conservatives" attack.
According to source, Facebook was prompt when alerted to posts that included his home address. Twitter support reportedly told Fox to "open a ticket" and did not remove the posts. Fox already released a statement condemning the Tucker protesters but there has been no official statement on the Twitter protest/blackout. Source says the Twitter blackout decision came "from the highest level" of the company. Source indicated Fox will remain silent until Twitter removes the tweets and apologizes for mishandling the situation.
posted by zachlipton at 4:30 PM on November 9, 2018 [15 favorites]
My thoughts and prayers are with Fox News and Tucker Carlson during this difficult time.
posted by Justinian at 4:32 PM on November 9, 2018 [65 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:32 PM on November 9, 2018 [65 favorites]
Good news! PayPal has banned the Proud Boys and their founder, Gavin McInnes.
Bad news! In a master stroke of galactic centrist brain, they also banned some antifa groups because opposing racism is apparently just as bad as racism.
posted by Ouverture at 4:38 PM on November 9, 2018 [30 favorites]
Bad news! In a master stroke of galactic centrist brain, they also banned some antifa groups because opposing racism is apparently just as bad as racism.
posted by Ouverture at 4:38 PM on November 9, 2018 [30 favorites]
Think Progress: I was at the protest outside Tucker Carlson’s house. Here’s what actually happened. Less than 15 people chanting in the dark, with a tambourine.
posted by numaner at 4:48 PM on November 9, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by numaner at 4:48 PM on November 9, 2018 [27 favorites]
Never bring a tambourine to a glockenspiel fight.
posted by Chrysostom at 4:52 PM on November 9, 2018 [50 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 4:52 PM on November 9, 2018 [50 favorites]
Fox News possibly pushing a conservative boycott of Twitter? Sounds like Christmas coming early! "Please, br'er Fox News, don't throw us into that briar patch..."
posted by jason_steakums at 4:55 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 4:55 PM on November 9, 2018 [4 favorites]
----------------------->NEW THREAD
"No One Is Above the Law"
NEW THREAD
----------------------->posted by Doktor Zed at 4:55 PM on November 9, 2018 [11 favorites]
Initiate Megathread shutdown sequence Cookie Pi Zero.
Please inspect all comments for your belongings as you exit the thread. We will be arriving at Related Posts in just a moment. Thank you for flying MetaFilter Megathreads™.
posted by petebest at 8:17 PM on November 9, 2018 [27 favorites]
Please inspect all comments for your belongings as you exit the thread. We will be arriving at Related Posts in just a moment. Thank you for flying MetaFilter Megathreads™.
posted by petebest at 8:17 PM on November 9, 2018 [27 favorites]
(Great. Now I want a cookie pie...and a Zero bar)
posted by sexyrobot at 9:22 PM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sexyrobot at 9:22 PM on November 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
France’s Macron denounces nationalism as a ‘betrayal of patriotism’ in rebuke to Trump at WWI remembrance
@DavidNakamura: French President Macron: "Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism."
posted by homunculus at 9:53 AM on November 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
@DavidNakamura: French President Macron: "Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism."
posted by homunculus at 9:53 AM on November 11, 2018 [4 favorites]
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In fact, sweeping floors is honest labor and too good for the likes of him.
posted by Gelatin at 12:54 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]