home

Dems Hold Strong, Shutdown is Here

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Wed Oct 01, 2025 at 03:20:32 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

The Democrats did not cave to pressure from Donald Trump and the cadre of Republicans in Congress who blindly follow him.

The federal government has shut down. Each agency has an operational plan in place. Very badly hit: the federal judiciary. ICE and federal law enforcement? Hardly at all.

The message is clear: Republicans don't care about you, only Donald Trump's corrosive agenda.

< Jimmy Kimmel Returns to the ABC | Remembering Diane Keaton >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Dems Hold Strong, Shutdown is Here | 200 comments (200 topical)
    Hmm (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 01, 2025 at 03:31:03 PM EST
    I thought the benefit of a shutdown was that ICE couldn't be running through the streets harassing innocent people. I guess I was wrong.

    They aren't getting paid though (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 02, 2025 at 11:29:59 PM EST
    And the folks we've seen in their neck gator masks and personal vehicles,  they don't strike me as monetarily stable sorts.

    Parent
    These people (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 11:18:02 AM EST
    are such psychopaths that I imagine not getting paid wouldn't worry them. It's all about harming other people. Until the point comes where they can't afford gas for their car. Then maybe.

    Parent
    This means the Dems have won this (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 05:06:18 PM EST

    Won't Consider Basic Extension of Obamacare Credits
    October 7, 2025 at 3:25 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 127 Comments

    "Speaker Mike Johnson said today that he would seek `dramatic' changes to the enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies in any future negotiations, throwing cold water on the idea that Congress could reach a quick resolution over the policy issue at the center of the shutdown," Punchbowl News reports.

    Said Johnson: "There are lots of conversations and deliberations and discussions right now, even bipartisan, amongst members about necessary changes that would have to be made -- pretty dramatic changes -- to even have that considered on the floor."

    "Republicans want to drastically overhaul the tax credits, while Democrats want a straightforward extension."

    P

    The fact that is the discussion, not if but how much, means the Dems have won the framing for this.

    It's making sure everyone knows why their premiums are doubling.

    Pam Bondi (5.00 / 3) (#37)
    by KeysDan on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 05:21:52 PM EST
    provided no information  of substance in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  But she.did  clearly demonstrate  her contempt for the Senators, the Democratic  Senators for sure and  the Republicans  Senators., as well.  Arrogance and hubris abounded. Bondi apparently feels she is untouchable, but, hopefully,  she as well as other Trump miscreants will  someday receive  a fitting comeuppance.--moreover, they need to realize that the immunity*  given to Trump  does not apply to his  accomplices.  Hedging their bets on a pardon they should also recognize, is a risky prooosition.

    *(Trump v  United States  of America), one of  the worst Supreme Court decisions in  the nation's history  and  the   license  for this fascist government.)

    She literally had a book of oppo research (5.00 / 3) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 05:43:51 PM EST
    with stuff on each Dem Senator that she would page to for snappy comebacks.  

    A couple of people really deserve special attention if there is ever law again.  She is one,  Miller is another.

    Parent

    Right? I was like what in whole entire Foxtrot? (none / 0) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 10:06:08 PM EST
    She was the absent minded professor until she unleashed her oppo research, and she had practiced. I have never seen a cabinet anyone member respond to oversight like the Trump cabinet does.

    Parent
    Listening to the discussion (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 03:18:10 PM EST
    of the Comey indictment it sounds like it's not going to be as much fun for Trump as he thought.  

    The are talking about all kinds of interest stuff.  Including possibly calling Trump himself to testify in the part about selective prosecution.

    The judge is a former defense attorney.  Who says it's going to be fast.

    He is outsourcing the bit about the female hack being illegally appointed to someone else.

    Why?  I wonder?

    Andrew Weissman (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 05:40:44 PM EST
    just explained why.  It's complicated.  I won't try.
    The way she was appointed may be grounds for getting the case dismissed ?

    Parent
    Basically, as I understand it, ... (5.00 / 4) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 03:00:28 AM EST
    ... an incoming administration - or, in Trump's case, regime - is allowed one interim appointment per U.S. attorney's district office, pending the Senate confirmation of a president's nominee for the post.

    Should that interim U.S. attorney leave before said nominee is confirmed, the next interim appointment is to be made by the federal judges who oversee the courts in that district.

    Lindsey Halligan's predecessor in EDVA was Trump's appointment as the interim U.S. attorney, and he left because he wouldn't be Trump's monkey. So, Trump then appointed Halligan to succeed him, which he had no legal right to do because she constitutes the second interim appointment. Rather, it was up to the federal judges in the EDVA to name the successor.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    As Donald explained, yes, so ... (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 09:22:00 AM EST
    The Comey trial judge would be one of those responsible for appointing a U.S. Attorney if the process went according to law. So to avoid that conflict of interest, he shouldn't rule on whether the current appointee's process was lawful or not. The judges in the federal court in New Jersey took the same approach on Habba, bringing in a judge from Pennsylvania to make that ruling.

    Parent
    And, to follow up on Peter's comment, ... (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 06:42:20 PM EST
    ... that also means Lendsey Halligan's indictment today of New York AG Leticia James is likewise invalid for the same reasons as her targeting of James Comey. If I had to guess, neither of these indictments will stand and both will likely be dismissed by the presiding judge before the year is out.

    What we're seeing in practice at the Trump DOJ is Bimbo Law 101. I'm sorry if anyone's offended by my use of that pejorative, but I'm calling it like I see it. And right now, I see nothing but the biggest bevy of bimbos to hit the Beltway's stage since James McCord and the White House Plumbers retaped the latch of a basement door at the Watergate office complex 53 years ago.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I like Lawfare. Barbie (none / 0) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 07:09:28 PM EST
    Marc Elias was saying every lawyer in that office should now resign. She did this alone.  He sayd the other attorneys who stay there now, after James and what's to come - even if they didn't touch this, are enabling her and giving the process legitimacy.

    They should be pressured to resign in protest.

    Sound good to me.

    Parent

    I'd have to agree. (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 12, 2025 at 04:03:26 PM EST
    "Shanna, they bought their tickets, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash."
    - Jack Kirkpatrick (William Tregos), "Airplane!" (1980)

    I'm very close to being convinced that the only way out of this systemic mess that the electorate has inflicted on our country is a corresponding system-wide collapse which is directly attributable to MAGA GOP incompetence and misrule.

    Will there be a lot of pain and damage as a result? Undoubtedly. But Republican and Republican-leaning voters need to be directly experience first-hand the adverse impacts of their own questionable and foolish decision making at the ballot box, before they can be persuaded to change horses and alter course. Otherwise, if there's no serious consequence in their lives other than the live-action cartoon they're already watching on Fox News and Newsmax, they'll just do it again.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Beautifully explained. Thank you Donald (none / 0) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 06:25:32 AM EST
    Trumpy losing his casted hack, that's a shame.

    Parent
    It seems (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 01:35:44 PM EST
    possible that the case could be dismissed on the basis of the questionable appointment procedure of Lindsey Halligan to the post, but it seems probable that the outcome will be limited to her removal.   As Donald has explained, the appointment process for interim and acting U.S. Attorneys is complicated.

     Halligan's predecessor, Erik Siebert, was first appointed as interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Trump and sworn on January 21, 2025. After his interim appointment expired in 120 days (in keeping with 28 USC section 546) a federal judge in the District reappointed him as Acting US Attorney. Siebert was also nominated by Trump to be confirmed by the Senate, a nomination later withdrawn.

    On September 22, Halligan was sworn in as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, apparently, under a separate law--the Vacancies Act, which permits service for 210 days with other possibilities. This appointment, according to AP reporting, came just hours after a conservative lawyer, Mary Cleary, said in an email to the District staff that she had been named acting U.S. Attorney.

    A dismissal of the Comey case on the basis of typical Trump flaunting the rules appears  warranted, but the case is more likely to go away before trial on the easier to understand vindictiveness and retribution to a critic of Trump.

    Parent

    I agree with all that KeysDan said (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 01:49:09 PM EST
    but would add the a dismissal is also possible under Federal Criminal Rule 7(c)(1), for failure to set forth a "plain, concise, and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged." The indictment does not include a verbatim allegation of Comey's own exact statement that is said to have been knowingly false, nor does it say exactly how the statement was false, that is, what was actually (allegedly) true. My experience and training tell me that those missing averments are required.

    Parent
    I hope the case's improprieties (none / 0) (#67)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 02:40:12 PM EST
    Are dealt with swiftly. I think it would do the American spirit a great service to experience that Trump hasn't destroyed all norms, that he can't just waste any of us that he chooses.

    Parent
    Now (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 04:31:03 PM EST
    Letitia James has been indicted.  Halligan, herself, presented the case to the Grand Jury.

    Parent
    I've been listening to the chatter (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 04:40:25 PM EST
    this seems even weaker than Comey.

    It was mentioned that Bolton is probably coming as well as Adam Schiff.  Schiff being mentioned in the same accidentally public rant to Bondi proclaiming their guilt.

    It was said that Trump probably expects them to be dismissed and he doesn't care.  First he will be able to talk about the deep state rigged against him and probably more important each will have "Indicted" in their obit.

    What are the chances Lawfare Barbie loses her law license?


    Parent

    Sharpton just said (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 04:46:59 PM EST
    Trump just got James reelected

    Parent
    Good! (none / 0) (#127)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 12, 2025 at 08:24:18 PM EST


    Parent
    In addition to all the same sorts of flaws (none / 0) (#128)
    by Peter G on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 10:35:11 AM EST
    as the Comey and James indictments, charging Schiff (or any other member of Congress) for their conduct of either an impeachment or a committee investigation is directly prohibited by the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause. See U.S. v. Helstoski (1979), holding that while the Clause creates a privilege not an immunity, it effectively negated the indictment of my former Congressman (the first candidate for whom I actively volunteered and campaigned, while in high school).

    Parent
    If they can come up with mortgage fraud for James (none / 0) (#129)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 12:33:20 PM EST
    I'm sure they can probably dig up something.   Clearly they don't care that it looks crazy and/or will be dismissed.

    It's about harassment. Rachel said something about this round Comey, James, whoever that they were head on pikes on the Whitehouse lawn.  As a warning to others.  Make sure you have money for good lawyers.

    Parent

    Do you think it's true (none / 0) (#68)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 03:08:57 PM EST
    Trump could be called to testify on the selective prosecution part if it actually goes to trail?

    I would love to see him asked about his hate  tweets.


    Parent

    I doubt it. His statements are a matter (5.00 / 1) (#111)
    by Peter G on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 12:58:25 PM EST
    of public record. I would guess the government would stipulate that that's what he said, and no one would really want to get the case mired in delay based on objections to forcing live testimony from a sitting president.

    Parent
    Now James indicted too (none / 0) (#75)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 05:02:37 PM EST
    of all the politically unwise things Trump has done lately this new "extra-legal" stuff IMO might have the most potential to blow up in his face in unexpected ways.

    There are just so many ways.  The lawyer for Ábrego García got some discovery on the basis of selective prosecution ( not sure if it's called the same thing in the AG case but they are saying it amounts to the same argument)

    If these high powered lawyers get into the DOJ files almost anything could happen.

    Parent

    Comey lawyer is Patrick Fitzgerald (none / 0) (#76)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 05:07:02 PM EST
    Tosh James is Abbe Lowell

    Parent
    I just spoke to my daughter who lives in (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by desertswine on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 10:52:43 PM EST
    Portland OR.  There is nothing going on there, "nothing, nada, zero, zilch," she says. Portland is not burning down, there are no fires, nothing.  There are just the "regular" dozen protesters.  I saw on video one of them was dressed up like a chicken, and another dressed as a frog.  They were just sitting.  I don't know what the other 10 were doing.  Anything the trump regime and fox are feeding the American public is just nazi right-wing propaganda and hallucinations.  

    I don't think that anyone here is being fooled.

    Kristi Gnome... (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by desertswine on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 11:10:43 PM EST
    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Portland Tuesday and witnessed a calm situation in the city and around the Portland ICE facility.  She surveyed the scene from atop the building at 1:30 pm PDT.  Of course, she didn't report the situation as calm.

    She actually saw only a handful of protesters, greatly outnumbered by reporters at the scene. But her comments to FOX News were:

    "We wanted to have their streets opened up again and to not let the anarchists run this city anymore."      She also called local elected officials "pansies."   -   Daily Kos

       Total Bull excrement.

    Parent

    There is no truth to the rumor ... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 03:20:34 AM EST
    ... that Kristi Noem and her fascist man-toy Corey Lewandowski are the inspiration for a new MAGA line in Mattel's popular toy doll series, Gauleiter Barbie and Gruppenführer Ken, complete with their very own Stalag.

    Parent
    Hope the killing is over in Gaza (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 07:47:59 AM EST
    And I really really hope it doesn't get Cheeto the NPP.
    don't laugh.  The way they are talking on MSNBC ......

    What a pathetic stain this guy is (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 03:24:03 PM EST

    Norway on Edge Over Trump Ahead of Nobel Peace Prize Verdict

    Parent

    This is what I am hoping for (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by jmacWA on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 03:33:52 PM EST
    Trump Nobel

    Parent
    Anyone (none / 0) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 03:26:25 PM EST
    else

    Parent
    Maybe next year (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 07:36:25 AM EST

    Nobel Peace Prize goes to Venezuelan dissident Maria Machado: 'Democracy is in retreat'
    The Nobel Committee called her "a brave and committed champion of peace."

    ByJon Haworth
    October 10, 2025, 5:05 AM ET

    Frydens was asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's "campaign" for the prize, but denied it had any impact on the decision making process.

    "We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what, for them, leads to peace," Frydens said. "This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. We base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel."

    "Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence," the Nobel Committee said

    But probably not then either


    Parent

    The little fuhrer is going to be very angry. (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by desertswine on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:14:52 AM EST


    Parent
    No prize (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:31:09 AM EST
    for ending the war on Cancer

    sad

    Parent

    And they didn't just NOT GIVE it to him (5.00 / 4) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:33:06 AM EST
    but gave it to someone famous for opposing people like him.

    I think it was an elegant twist of the knife.

    Parent

    And, (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:39:01 AM EST
    poor Norway, poor those on his enemies list, and poor American cities.

    Parent
    The Committee (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:34:37 AM EST
    went for an advocate  for democracy rather than a vandal  or destroyer of it.   Maybe next year,  MAGAts can nominate Putin and Trump to share the Nobel.

    Parent
    Guess the panel didn't think that (5.00 / 3) (#101)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:50:02 AM EST
    Ordering goons to attack the citizens of this country was an example of promoting peace.

    The committee showed real courage and integrity by denying this revengeful POS the prize knowing that Norway might incur his revenge.

    Parent

    Who Nominated Machado? (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by RickyJim on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 11:56:20 AM EST
    I wonder if Mr. Rubio will fired because of this.

    Parent
    Sweet (none / 0) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 07:52:57 AM EST

    MAGA Meltdown Kicks Off Immediately After Trump Nobel Prize Snub



    Parent

    March on Oslo (5.00 / 2) (#113)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 01:21:26 PM EST
    Be there. Will be wild.

    Parent
    Or, as Fox News would have it, ... (none / 0) (#160)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 07:10:20 PM EST
    ... "Trump robbed by deranged Hispanics." (H/T to Colin Jost, SNL.)

    Parent
    except for Kissinger (none / 0) (#116)
    by leap2 on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 07:45:57 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    I thought this was a joke when I saw it (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 10:39:07 AM EST

    The Arch DeTrump

    It's getting so hard to tell

    This seems like a terrific idea (5.00 / 3) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 10:45:29 AM EST
    To announce the week your voters get the notice their healthcare premium is going up 400% because you don't have the money to help them.

    With Marie Antoinette Ballroom construction underway.

    Good plan.

    Parent

    And, the Republican (none / 0) (#106)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 11:21:17 AM EST
    Senators rebuffed a Democratic effort to block funding (estimates of $1 billion) to convert the $400 million Boeing 747 Qatari jet gifted to Trump into Air Force One. The plane will be given to the Trump Library and, seemingly, for private use.

    In other news, Trump signed an Executive Order giving security guarantees to Qatar stating that any attack on the country would be considered an attack on the US. And, Hegseth announced that permission has been granted to allow the Qatari Air Force to build a training facility in Idaho.

    Parent

    And you thought consumers were stupid? (5.00 / 4) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 11, 2025 at 11:43:07 AM EST
    Hold my beer

    Lay's drastically rebrands after disturbing finding: 42% of consumers didn't know their chips were made out of potatoes

    Go Ducks. (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Oct 11, 2025 at 02:37:16 PM EST


    A well placed GO Ducks (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by jmacWA on Sat Oct 11, 2025 at 03:43:17 PM EST
    once in a while let's us know you are still reading.

    Parent
    Strange days (5.00 / 2) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 11, 2025 at 07:46:47 PM EST

     Multiple federal judges unite in blistering Supreme Court warning

    If we need to (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by jmacWA on Sun Oct 12, 2025 at 04:48:38 AM EST
    have conservatives on the court, J. Michael Luttig would be my choice.  He seems quite honorable and wound be unlikely to make decisions due to politics.

    Parent
    Trump's fascist (5.00 / 4) (#123)
    by KeysDan on Sun Oct 12, 2025 at 10:19:07 AM EST
    coup would not be possible without the Robert's Court, particularly the Sinister Six.

    Parent
    I wonder if this (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 12, 2025 at 10:41:35 AM EST
    will make any difference.  

    Decisions are coming that will be seismic.  Whichever way they decide.  I think the constitutional crisis we hear so much about could be contained in a bunch of stuff they have delayed as long as they can and now must decide.

    Time to put on your big boy robes (and big girl robes) and do you're jobs.

    It's not supposed to be easy.

    Parent

    The donning of those black robes (5.00 / 5) (#125)
    by KeysDan on Sun Oct 12, 2025 at 12:58:28 PM EST
    should assure that the justices symbolically disembody ---separating, divesting and freeing themselves from their business, political and other interests that would be immaterial to decisions that affect the lives and times of Americans.

    Tragically, in my view, the Robert's  Supreme Court majority has not provided that assurance, and, indeed, is a major and corrupt player in the crisis the nation faces, having given license to the unlawful actions of the Trump Administration that undermine democracy.

    Trump, in a hot mic moment after his March 5, 2025 address to a joint session of Congress, acknowledged his partners in crime saying "thank you again, thank you again, I won't forget".  And, what was he likely so grateful for? Keeping him out of jail-- justice delayed is justice denied. And, thanks must have been given to Trump v USA. As Justice Sotomayor said in her dissent, it (immunity for committing crimes) is like a loaded weapon laying around.  

    This comment is (5.00 / 1) (#130)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 01:26:07 PM EST
    intended as a reply to the Captain's Comment # 124--guess I used a new comment rather than a reply.  

    Parent
    I figured (none / 0) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 03:11:12 PM EST
    If you give #121 a 5 they will kind of line up again.

    Parent
    FAFO (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 07:49:08 AM EST
    Millions Set to Lose Obamacare Subsidies
    October 15, 2025 at 5:59 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 56 Comments

    Washington Post: "Some 22 million Americans are set to lose health insurance subsidies by the end of the year..."

    "About 80 percent of the people who benefit from them live in states that Donald Trump won in the 2024 presidential election. Many have no idea that their health insurance costs are on track to go up."

    I'm with you up to but not including (5.00 / 1) (#154)
    by Peter G on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 02:48:20 PM EST
    your last point. The Supreme Court decision did not say that everything the President does it ipso facto legal (as Nixon suggested to interviewer David Frost). It said that a President could not be criminally prosecuted for his official acts (within broad bounds), even when those acts were otherwise objectively criminal. Everyone else involved is committing -- and can be prosecuted for committing -- the federal crime of murder on the high seas, imho. Military members (and civilian officials) carrying out their superiors' orders have a broad immunity from criminal prosecution as well, but not for obviously and blatantly illegal acts.

    I'll say it over and again, because ... (5.00 / 2) (#156)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 03:35:21 PM EST
    ... it can't be repeated often enough these days. John Roberts' legacy in American jurisprudence will surpass Roger Taney (1777-1864), author of the horrific Dred Scott decision (!857), in standing as the worst chief justice in the history of the United States Supreme Court:

    "The court's decision in the case, Louisiana v. Callais, could be one of the most consequential rulings for the Voting Rights Act since it was enacted in 1965 and is almost certainly the biggest test for the law since its decision in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, when the justices hollowed out a provision of the law, section five, that required certain places to get voting changes approved by the federal government before they go into effect."

    Roberts has been working diligently for over 40 years to undermine minority rights at the ballot box, ever since he joined President Reagan's DOJ and immediately opposed the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act as amended in 1982.

    If the VRA's Section 2 is gutted by Louisiana v. Callais, and I think it will be, it will no doubt be the crowning achievement of the chief justice's legal career, and one which will likely resonate in infamy 50-100 years hence. But hey, that morally sanctimonious Scheißekopf will be long dead and besides, what the hell did his great-grandchildren ever do for him anyway?

    We live in interesting times.

    UPDATE: I'd be remiss if ... (5.00 / 1) (#161)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 08:16:51 PM EST
    ... I didn't note that all of this has been taking place against the backdrop of the Young Republicans' neo-Nazi chat scandal. Leaders of Young Republican groups across the country worried aloud what would happen and what people would think of them if their Telegram chats ever got leaked - but they kept typing anyway:

    Politico | Oct. 14, 2025
    `I love Hitler': Leaked messages expose Young Republicans' racist chat - "They referred to Black people as monkeys and "the watermelon people" and mused about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. They talked about raping their enemies and driving them to suicide and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery. William Hendrix, the Kansas Young Republicans' vice chair, used the words 'n--ga' and 'n--guh,' variations of a racial slur, more than a dozen times in the chat. Bobby Walker, the vice chair of the New York State Young Republicans at the time, referred to rape as 'epic.' Peter Giunta, who at the time was chair of the same organization, wrote in a message sent in June that 'everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber.'"

    I daresay Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) spoke today for a lot of people, not just me, on this particular matter. When asked during a press conference in Queens whether the Young Republican remarks on Telegram were the product of a "few bad apples" or more reflective of the GOP as a whole, she looked incredulously at the reporter for a moment and then minced no words in conveying how she felt:

    " Some bad apples? These are the future of the Republican Party. This is so vile it's hard to find the words to put into context that these are people who are part of one of two major parties, and they believe in gas chambers, and rape, and discrimination based on the color of people's skin. These are racist, sexist, disgusting remarks.

    "And I would say this: we have a leader from the Republican Party in this state, the highest ranking individual, who in the backdrop of all this calls our candidate for mayor, one of our candidates for mayor, a jihadist and a terrorist, and then somehow says, 'Oh what they said, these Young Republicans, was wrong.'

    "Look at what you say yourself, look at your inflammatory words, and maybe they have an effect on these young people, many of whom you support and have supported you, and you ought to do just a little re-examination as to how far this has gone, where this is normalized enough that thousands of texts are uncovered.

    "This is not just one person saying they love Hitler. This is a whole lot of people saying things that are so disgusting and so abhorrent, that everybody from the president on down should condemn them.

    "And there's got to be consequences. Kick them out of the party. Take away their official roles. Stop using them as campaign advisers. There needs to be consequences. This bullsh*t has to stop."

    Good for her.

    Parent

    And not (none / 0) (#171)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 10:55:19 AM EST
    just a couple of chats. There are 2,900 pages of leaked chats spanning over seven months. Many chat participants already work inside government or Republican Party politics, including a state senator from Vermont and a senior Trump official, Michael Bartels, an advisor in the U.S. Business Administration.

    A Republican Party culture appears to exist where the most vile racist, antisemitic, misogynistic, and homophobic rhetoric circulates freely.  

    Vice President Vance defended these "young" Republicans, whose ages range from early 20s to 40, as "that's what kids do."

    Parent

    Another confession, it seems (none / 0) (#179)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:02:20 PM EST
    since Vance himself is just 41. If that's what 40-ish "kids" do, then presumably, according to him, it's what he does, also.

    Parent
    I may be simple-minded, but I just don't get (5.00 / 3) (#168)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 09:37:06 AM EST
    how the Supreme Court can make a decision on the basis that a remedial provision enacted by Congress to enforce the 15th Amendment is "no longer needed." The Constitution explicitly provides, in section 2 of that amendment, that "The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." That means that Congress, not the Supreme Court, gets to say what legislation is "appropriate" and needed to defeat racial discrimination in voting arrangements. Or that's at least what it means according to the Roberts Court, which construed identical language in the 14th Amendment just two years ago to mean that only Congress, and not the states or the courts, could say what was an "appropriate" way to enforce the insurrectionist disqualification clause of the 14th Amendment.

    Parent
    And to be perfectly clear, that is not (5.00 / 2) (#170)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 10:49:56 AM EST
    the only totally stupid argument that the reactionary majority's position rests on. It is also premised on the notion that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment's ban on invidious racial discrimination to use any race-conscious remedy to overcome past, deliberate, race-based repression. They make this argument even though the case involves enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment, which was enacted several years after the Fourteenth to supplement the equal protection clause by clarifying -- which should not have been necessary -- that the equal rights guaranteed by the 14th most definitely included the right to vote. In other words, Louisiana is arguing (and will likely get a majority of the Supreme Court to agree) that it discriminates against white people to notice that race-based prejudice is based on race and then to try to do something about it.

    Parent
    Yes, a bizzaro (none / 0) (#172)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 11:31:18 AM EST
    "colorblind" interpretation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause to argue against the very protections intended by the 15th Amendment. The argument frames the use of race in creating majority-minority districts (a remedy for discrimination) as unconstitutional itself, turning the purpose of the Reconstruction Amendments on its head.

    This is stupid but more. It seems to be part of a diabolical plan to derail a diverse democracy. And, the six MAGAt members of the Supreme Court will buy it. Roberts has been on a career tear against the Voting Rights Act and he is on the cusp of achieving his goal.  

    Parent

    Well, to be perfectly fair, I don't believe (5.00 / 1) (#178)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 02:59:37 PM EST
    their essential motivation is to "derail a diverse democracy." The real purpose is to engineer Republican political control, despite the Republicans' inability to earn the support of a majority of the American electorate. Racist schemes to deny equal voting rights to Black citizens are just a means to this end.

    Parent
    Aren't (5.00 / 1) (#180)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:08:07 PM EST
    we, essentially, saying the same thing?  

    Parent
    yes, but only in the real world (none / 0) (#193)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 07:41:10 PM EST
    If you can imagine a world in which a majority of Black voters switched their allegiance from D to R, I do think the pro-R bias of the Court in election-related cases would take precedence over their racism. ;)

    Parent
    Shades of Louis XVI... (are we sick yet) (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by desertswine on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 11:37:58 PM EST
    NEW MEXICO (KRQE) - With the government shutdown in its third week, New Mexicans who rely on food assistance could see delays. The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states across the country that if the shutdown continues, SNAP benefits will not be distributed.
    Roughly 420,000 New Mexicans rely on those SNAP benefits.

    Meanwhile in Versailles:

    Trump on Wednesday welcomed nearly 130 deep-pocketed donors, allies and representatives of major companies for a dinner at the White House to reward them for their pledged contributions to a massive new ballroom.
    Men in business suits and women in cocktail attire sat at a dozen round tables, decorated with tall, tapered candles and white floral arrangements, and sipped wine and water as they awaited their dinner to be served on gold-trimmed plates. Later, they would dine on an heirloom tomato panzanella salad, beef Wellington and a dessert of roasted Anjou pears, cinnamon crumble and butterscotch ice cream.  -- MSN

    Are the White House servers and food vendors (none / 0) (#166)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 09:27:34 AM EST
    working without pay at this time?

    Parent
    Beef Wellington? (none / 0) (#174)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 11:39:31 AM EST
    an appropriately retro dish for this, no doubt, retro crowd.

    Parent
    I learned from charts on MJoe (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 11:53:46 AM EST
    this morning that 50% of spending on "things", goods and services, in the country comes from the top 10% income bracket.
    The other 50% comes from the rest of us.  The other 90

    That doesn't seem sustainable.

    Parent

    The chances of rain in St Louis is now (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 08:27:50 AM EST
    85% on Saturday

    I guess my trip is off.  I even made signs.  Oh well.  There will definitely be another.  

    What do your signs say? (none / 0) (#182)
    by desertswine on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:48:33 PM EST
    We're trying to think up some good ones.

    Parent
    The weather here is predicted to be.. (none / 0) (#183)
    by desertswine on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:50:19 PM EST
    in the upper 60s and sunny.

    Parent
    Huge storm (none / 0) (#184)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:55:18 PM EST
    It's storming here on Saturday. And all the way to STL.

    I made one sign that says

    ANITFATASS

    considering one that's says

    I AM AUNT TIFA

    and one that says

    AMERICA (in rainbow colors)

    LOVE IT OR KEAVE IT

    Parent

    My daughter and i (5.00 / 1) (#196)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 11:13:43 PM EST
    Still hope to attend. We live in St Louis so it's not as much of a commitment as you have. Torrential downpour and we will stay home. Light rainfall and we are good to go.

    Parent
    LEAVE IT (none / 0) (#185)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:55:58 PM EST
    obviously

    Parent
    Possibly (none / 0) (#198)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 17, 2025 at 11:06:00 AM EST
    that it might not be raining for the first hour or two of the protest. Hope the rain does hold off and we get a good crowd

    Parent
    Looks like (none / 0) (#200)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 18, 2025 at 08:42:08 AM EST
    Rain arriving around 11 in StL.  Hour or so later here.

    I think the day is going to be epic.  

    Parent

    I have a box of heavy large format (none / 0) (#186)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:58:57 PM EST
    Illustration board

    Parent
    Have to miss this one (none / 0) (#189)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 05:40:15 PM EST
    My cousin made a great stencil of Buck Fush during Dubya's presidency, and he is my graffiti artist cousin so with his stencil and a can of spray paint he could make as many protest t-shirts as he wanted lol. He could make it while you wore it.

    My stencil so far reads Smash Antifa - verses F Antifa. And we will use pride flag colors. Thinking I need some other fun words to replace the F word with. Surely we can have more than one stencil.

    I will miss this No Kings, but I doubt this will be the last.

    Parent

    There are a couple closer (5.00 / 1) (#191)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 05:52:26 PM EST
    but it's going to be raining here too.  Heavy rain.😞

    Parent
    I'm going to visit oculus (5.00 / 3) (#194)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 07:44:45 PM EST


    Parent
    Where is (5.00 / 2) (#197)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 17, 2025 at 09:34:23 AM EST
    Oculus

    Parent
    SHAG ANTIFA! lol (none / 0) (#190)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 05:43:44 PM EST


    Parent
    Hmmmm (5.00 / 1) (#164)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 08:36:32 AM EST

        An anonymous victim of Jeffrey Epstein filed lawsuits against Bank of America and BNY over their ties to the late sex offender, in the latest class-action complaints against the financier's banks.

    The anonymous victim filed the cases in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday under the pseudonym Jane Doe, seeking class-action status and financial damages. Both cases said she met Epstein while living in Russia in 2011, and was a resident of New York from 2011 to 2019 when the deceased financier abused her.

    The complaint accused BofA of "participating in and financially benefiting from Jeffrey Epstein's widespread and well-publicised sex-trafficking operation, as well as the direct financial benefits it received therefrom".

    "Epstein's sex-trafficking venture was not possible without the assistance and complicity of financial institutions," the complaints said.

    link

    Going (5.00 / 4) (#199)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 18, 2025 at 08:19:45 AM EST
    To the protest today. My first one ever

    Murder on the Sea, (4.50 / 2) (#153)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 02:11:11 PM EST
    not an Agatha Christie novel, but a Trump strike--- the fifth, since September 2, on small boats off the coast of Venezuela, in international waters.  So far, 27 people reportedly killed.

    Trump claims Intelligence confirmed the boat  was trafficking narcotics.  This strike killed six men as if they were enemy soldiers in a war zone and not criminal suspects--or just fishermen.  And, that intelligence source could be some villager who wanted these guys goats. Even if these men were involved in illegal activity you don't get to execute them then and there.

    A thought about the military in these murders. The Robert's Court, through the gift of Trump v USA, has made Trump immune from prosecution for core duties (and these killings could be conjured up as such, national security and all), but what about the military who carried it out?  Is this a legal or illegal order.  It would seem that while Trump is immune, the military would be following an illegal order and may be held accountable. Or, since Trump is immune from the crime-- core Constitutional powers, such as Commander in Chief, there is, essentially,  no crime and the  kill order is a legal order?

     Trump v USA has enough vagaries that Richard Nixon's holding that "when the president does it,  that means it is not illegal" is what the country is facing.  Since, Trump told the generals that American cities are the place for military training, the possible implications are pretty frightening.  

    The Admiral (none / 0) (#188)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 04:28:32 PM EST
    in charge of the Southern Command quit today.  He gave no reason,  but those who know him said, in anonymity, that the Admiral had concerns about the mission and the bombing of the alleged drug boats.

    Parent
    IMO we have the military now (5.00 / 2) (#195)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 07:55:52 PM EST
    That Bill Clinton envisioned. My husband says Bill Clinton making an educated military a personal goal of his really hooked on. It is typically all about competition to make rank. If you want to stay in you have to make yourself desirable to the promotion boards, and one of the strongest avenues is advancing your education. Clinton made doing that cheaper and easier, and now...soldiers and the environment kind of start demanding it. But your most elite leaders now are no longer crayon eaters. Some of them, their understanding of international law and ethics - it's profound. Stacked up next to their oaths and their interpretations of the Constitution and who our country is...this is a choice some will have to make.

    Parent
    Knowing Keghead... (none / 0) (#192)
    by desertswine on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 06:58:11 PM EST
    the Admiral's race may have something to do with his retirement.

    Parent
    Politico (none / 0) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 01, 2025 at 03:32:01 PM EST
    But the nascent "gang," as ad hoc bipartisan Senate groups are often called, is the most promising route out of the shutdown in its early hours.

    Among the ideas being floated by the members involved are passing a shorter-term stopgap than the seven-week measure passed by the House, as well as possible assurances that Republicans are willing to compromise on extending soon-to-expire health insurance subsidies.

    There was lots of "spitballing," Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who was part of the floor huddle, told reporters afterward. The goal is to provide some "room" to discuss a "Plan B" that some Democrats are seeking, he added.

    I think (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 02, 2025 at 08:19:00 AM EST
    they need to use the newly elected rep from AZ and force the house to reinstate her or use the Epstein files as an offramp. Say oh, we want the house to vote on the Epstein file so we're gonna open the government.

    My question is though once it passes the house will the senate even take up the vote?

    Parent

    A WaPo poll (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 02, 2025 at 08:27:57 AM EST
    Has us winning so far

    We asked 1,000 Americans

    who they blame for the shutdown

    I think firing hundreds (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 02, 2025 at 08:54:55 AM EST
    or thousands of people in this crashing economy is what is going to blow up in the faces of republicans.

    Do they remember DOGE?  That went so well for them.

    That part I don't understand (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 05:11:13 PM EST
    What is the plan there? They continue to gut middle class jobs. We all know from experience that the loss of one solid stable middle class job equals at least 3 more jobs lost on mainstreet, first tier kind of blow back. So what is the game plan when you destroy Virginia's economy? How does this all work? And if you destroy the markets for farmers, even if you bail them out this year what is the plan for next year?

    Parent
    I would say it's (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 02, 2025 at 10:50:22 AM EST
    worse than DOGE because we already were losing jobs with negative job growth for August and September.

    Parent
    Thank god for Republican over reach (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 08:59:31 AM EST

    But this time Democrats decided to try and call the administration's bluff. And there are signs some Republicans are getting cold feet about the administration making good on its threats.

    Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota has been especially blunt.

    Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington DC, on January 17. Aaron Schwartz/AP
    In comments Wednesday, he cautioned that this effort could cost Republicans the "moral high ground" in a shutdown debate they should otherwise win.

    "There's the political ramifications that could cause backlash," Cramer told CNN's Manu Raju, adding: "I just don't like squandering that political capital."

    Sen. Susan Collins of Maine called the administration's targeting of $18 billion in infrastructure projects in New York - home to the top Democrats in both the House and the Senate - "totally unacceptable."

    Rep. Mike Lawler of New York publicly criticized the same move.

    Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told Reuters that the administration needs to be "really careful with that, because they can create a toxic environment here."

    And even Senate Majority Leader John Thune has seemed to throw up a caution flag.



    Parent
    If they were not doing this (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 09:09:00 AM EST
    they would be in a much stronger place as far as the shutdown.   Thanks Donald.

    Parent
    LOL (none / 0) (#10)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 09:11:34 AM EST
    at "moral high ground". There isn't any for the GOP other than their lies about "illegal aliens". Do they ever do anything other than dump on Hispanic people? My rep talks about nothing other than cracking the skulls of Hispanics. It seems Pete Wilson's campaign that destroyed the GOP in CA may well extend to the entire nation.

    The infrastructure cancellation in NY is playing huge in the NJ gubernatorial race causing a lot of problems for the GOP candidate who already has been exposed as a putz for taking stolen military documents on Mikie Sherill.

    Parent

    Withholding (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 09:27:18 AM EST
    $2.1 Billion in infrastructure funding for Chicago.

    Parent
    And the firings (none / 0) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 09:20:25 AM EST
    are having a big effect on Virginia Governor's race.

    Lots of government workers in VA.

    I think every Democrat who can get booked should spend some time on FOX, NEWSMAX or whatever fringe network or pod cast explaining to the listeners how this effects them.  

    Otherwise they won't hear it.

    Parent

    Usually (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 09:24:42 AM EST
    Trying to explain reality to MAGA is pointless, I agree.

    But in this case if they can explain what's going to happen to their healthcare premiums and why it's happening days or weeks before it happens...

    It's worth a try.

    Parent

    This (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 12:26:14 PM EST

    "The health insurance subsidies at the center of the U.S. government shutdown fight disproportionately benefit areas of the country represented by Republican lawmakers, posing a potential vulnerability for Donald Trump's party in next year's midterm congressional elections," Bloomberg reports.

    "Twelve million Americans in Republican-held U.S. House districts are covered by health plans purchased through Affordable Care Act exchanges versus nine million living in Democratic-held districts. Of the 75 districts where at least 10% of the people are enrolled in Obamacare policies, 47 are represented by Republicans in the House.

    I don't think most of these people know this is coming.  We should tell them.

    Parent

    Swalwell on Twitter this a.m. (none / 0) (#40)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 09:18:05 AM EST
    Says his Republican counterparts are telling him that it is over. They can't prevent the public from getting the Epstein stuff, and no one can defend Trump or pedophile protectors then. It will be over. I can only hope.  Aren't we all so tired?

    Parent
    Excepy (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 10:21:47 AM EST
    I'm afraid "then" it will just be the start.  

    It's pretty clear whatever they are hiding is pretty earth shattering.   I'm afraid we might be putting the pieces together for a while.

    Parent

    Armando says no (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 11:58:47 AM EST
    He thinks the Republicans completely burn in defending Trump. I hope that isn't the case.

    Parent
    I have always thought (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 03:21:42 PM EST
    that if and when the public turned it would happen fast.

    That the bottom will just drop right out.

    Parent

    When it rains it pours (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 03:31:03 PM EST

    One of President Donald Trump's biographers revealed on Tuesday that a new conspiracy theory surrounding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has sundered Trump's base.

    Michael Wolff, a journalist who has written four books on Trump, claimed during a recent episode of the podcast "Inside Trump's Head" that there are prominent voices within the MAGA movement who are questioning the official narrative about Kirk's death. Kirk was shot in the neck while giving a speech at a Utah university in September.

    The voices believe that the Trump administration had something to do with Kirk's death, according to Wolff. Some MAGA-aligned personalities, like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson have suggested that Israel and Kirk's wife, Erika, may have played a role in his death as well.



    Parent
    Jesus (none / 0) (#55)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 09:03:17 PM EST
    I did see that it did not take long for the conspiracies.  They were slowing video way down, claiming people behind Kirk were making signals,  claiming people in the audience were making signals. I think one video they caught the bullet streaking across his shirt, and reading the conspiracies about what that was were mind numbing and endless.

    Kirk being shot, I've never seen anything more clear cut in my life. Zero mystery...ZERO

    Young radicalized intelligent nerdie kid, same as Pennsylvania.  I mean orange and his friends get on the tube and say wild crazy hurtful psychopathy dog whistling stuff, and we are going to be shocked when strange dangerous people hear them?

    Parent

    If (none / 0) (#60)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 04:17:45 AM EST
    That is true then it means that the estate files are enough to end Trump. Since it seems nobody has seen the DOJ files outside of Bondi. I wonder has anyone talked to Maurene Comey? She knows it all

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 11:15:18 AM EST
    but that has been happening for quite a while in VA not Trump pulling the rug out of a candidate in one day like NJ. VA may well be the perfect storm with lost jobs, general disgust with Trump policies, a very bad GOP candidate and a great Dem candidate. I would be very surprised if the VA race isn't called the minute the polls close.

    Parent
    Can't even begin to describe the jobs lost (none / 0) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 02:07:45 PM EST
    And when MAGA lost their gov jobs they turned more liberal folks in who still had jobs for being insider threats. Out of jealousy. Not kidding.  And Trump is hardly finished ripping the guts out of NOVA.

    But NOVA voted for this. MAGA projected some weird beliefs onto what they thought was going to happen. I couldn't figure out how Trump was going to make anything better for any of them giving his clearly stated goals. But you couldn't talk to any of them.

    Screw it. They did it to themselves. There is nothing to be done now.

    Parent

    The BLS jobs report (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 03:46:23 PM EST
    for September was saved by the shutdown. If the shutdown lingers, it could also postpone the Bureau's next Consumer Price Index---a benchmark for inflation. Economics are cobbling together a rough snapshot of the U.S. labor market, guessing that 50,000 jobs were added and that unemployment held at 4.3 percent.(in September 2024 the U.S. added 240,000 jobs).

    Trump has withdrawn E.J. Antonio's nomination to head the BLS, to replace the fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfar who Trump baselessly accused of rigging labor statistics to " make him look bad".  

    Antoni, you may recall, was the guy who had the large picture of the Nazi flag ship, Bismarck, behind the desk in his office at the Heritage Foundation--a ship he claimed was "hard not to love".He also operated a social media account that featured sexually degrading comments about Kamala Harris and derogatory statements about gays.  No reason was given for the withdrawal of Antoni, but these  reports would seem  to be commonplace Republican maladaptive behaviors not ones to get in trouble over.  Must have been something else.

    Parent

    We (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 05:08:01 PM EST
    were never gonna get a BLS report IMO unless it was a faked one saying everything was great regardless of the shutdown.

    Parent
    Couldn't resist.... Johnny Horton (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by desertswine on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 10:25:55 PM EST
     
      Sink the Bismarck

    Parent
    You definitely (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 05:06:42 PM EST
    could not talk to them. They swore up and down Trump had nothing to do with Project 2025 and here he is embracing publicly.

    Not surprised to find that maga would blame someone else for them losing their jobs and then turn people in simply because they lost their own jobs. It seems maga will do anything and blame anyone rather than look in the mirror or look at Trump.

    The irony is when this is all gone I would think the government would never want to hire another maga unless they took responsibility for their actions and threw themselves at the mercy of the next president.

    Parent

    So far (none / 0) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 05:22:23 PM EST
    The republicans seem to be doing everything they can to help democrats.

    Trump has disappeared again.

    He hasn't been seen since the disaster in front of the Generals.  And he has no appearance scheduled.

    He is (none / 0) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 07:43:31 PM EST
    Getting his monthly infusion of diuretics for congestive heart failure. The article stated that it was the same time of the month he disappeared last month

    Parent
    Does it make him ill? (none / 0) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 03, 2025 at 08:32:51 PM EST
    I know nothing about congestive heart failure other than when I was young and working at the hospital in the business office, it was one of the few patient identifiers placed on their files with us. They seldom went home once hospitalized for it. If they did they were usually back within 2 weeks, usually less, and then passed. But it sounds like they have more successful management protocols.

    Someone tweeted today that Kristi Noem needs a wellness check, she's terribly anorexic. And I realized that subconsciously I saw that today, but it stayed in my subconscious.  She had a very flat affect too when she was interviewed. She's in full blown anorexia. It is never good at her age. It can be deadly at her age. It can kill you deader than door nail. Your heart just stops.

    Parent

    Usually (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 04, 2025 at 01:59:04 AM EST
    By the time they are in and out of the hospital they are at deaths door.

    My MIL had CHF and lived with it for years. All of her treatment was outpatient. It was a stroke that killed her. I dont know if there is a higher risk of stroke with CHF. My mother wouldn't do any treatment. When I saw her legs 4 times their normal size I begged her to go to the doctor. She refused. A couple of months after that she was found dead in her house and the autopsy said cause of death was a massive heart attack.

    It seems there are physical side effects of being a psychopath.

    Parent

    I have CHF (5.00 / 4) (#26)
    by Zorba on Sun Oct 05, 2025 at 03:37:16 PM EST
    Although, so far, it's on the more mild side. I take meds, including diuretics, to keep it under control.
    One of my brothers, however, has a more severe case, and had to have a surgically implanted defibrillator. It was touch and go for awhile for him, but he's doing okay now.

    Parent
    Nice to see (5.00 / 4) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 05, 2025 at 03:44:25 PM EST
    You

    Parent
    Hello Zorba (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 05, 2025 at 08:04:14 PM EST
    My granddaughter followed you on Insta. I'm glad your dealings with it have been mild. Also glad your brother is doing well.

    Parent
    Glad (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Oct 06, 2025 at 07:02:53 AM EST
    you are managing CHF and good to hear from you!

    Parent
    So happy (5.00 / 6) (#30)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 06, 2025 at 10:05:36 AM EST
    to learn your health is being managed effectively.  Miss your regular and insightful comments.

    Parent
    This coming friday (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 06, 2025 at 05:24:27 PM EST

    The Nobel Peace Prize winners are announced annually in early October, with the 2025 announcement scheduled for Friday, October 10.

    We all get to toast Trump NOT winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  Or hopefully Elon Musk either.

    Maybe Trump will threaten Norway with the military if they disrespect him!

    OK, new plan (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 10:14:58 AM EST
    No More Owning the Libs'
    October 7, 2025 at 9:03 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 189 Comments

    "Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday plans to call on the GOP to embrace a less overtly belligerent and oppositional posture," Axios reports.

    Ramaswamy will say the conservative moment is at a "fork in the road" and urge them to abandon its fixation on "owning the libs" in favor of a less overtly confrontational posture.

    Good (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by FlJoe on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 02:57:15 PM EST
    luck with that, the owning of the libs is the central tenet of Trumpism.

    Parent
    Reslly (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 07, 2025 at 03:17:52 PM EST
    That was my thought.  They have lost their healthcare and food stamps, their farms and fortunes.

    Owning the libs is all they have left.

    Parent

    Trump (none / 0) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 09:25:58 AM EST
    has called for the jailing of the Mayor of Chicago and the Governor of Illinois.  The charge:  they are not protecting ICE and other federal agents. Straight to jail, do not pass Go.  Anyone, other than the Democratic office holders who are still seeking common ground and bipartisanship, not recognize Trump and his Republican collaborators as fascists?

    A while back (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 10:28:22 AM EST
    I expressed the hope that Trump would be so crazy and unbound he would, before he was done, make every person with multiple brain cells ashamed they voted for him.

    It looks like I'm getting my wish.  Be careful what you wish for.

    I'm not sorry.  Illinois Dems are not going to jail. But I love he says they are.   I have relatives in Illinois.  Some are progressive some not.  None are taking this well.  People seem really angry.  People  who are rarely angry.  


    Parent

    Yes. (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 12:31:47 PM EST
    my sister lives in a western suburb of Chicago and she and the neighbors have been startled by the low flying helicopters with open doors and guns pointed out at them. Even her Republican neighbors are scared and upset.

    Parent
    One of my brothers (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Zorba on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 01:03:44 PM EST
    Lives in a south suburb of Chicago, and he hadn't seen any helicopters. Yet.
    I need to check with my Chicago area cousins, too.l

    Parent
    Judge says ICE is violating (none / 0) (#46)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 12:57:29 PM EST
    A settlement in Illinois that involves immigrants having a flight risk assessment done on each of them before custody can happen.

    Parent
    Mine are in and around (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 04:27:55 PM EST
    Plainfield.  I was excited about that.  Then I realized Ed Gein was from Plainfield WI.

    Sad face.

    Parent

    Family member lives (none / 0) (#77)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 05:07:38 PM EST
    in downtown Chicago. He reports lots of helicopters flying overhead.Scary. Per his friends lots of ICE agents on the streets as well.

    Parent
    Federal District Judge (5.00 / 2) (#78)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 05:27:56 PM EST
    April Perry has issued a TRO blocking deployment of federalized National Guard to Chicago in accord with the request of the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois. The judge cited violation of the Constitution and the Posse Comitatus Act.  The time of the restraining order was not indicated, but the judge stated that she will issue an additional order tomorrow.

    Parent
    Trump filed an (none / 0) (#107)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 11:27:56 AM EST
    appeal to the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, located in Chicago.  A White House spokesperson said "Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets."

    Parent
    There is no (none / 0) (#108)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 11:50:14 AM EST
    local reporting of ongoing riots in Chicago. However, there have been ongoing, peaceful protests--at least on the part of the protesters. The judge, in her ruling to block deployment of National Guards troops, said the presence of troops may lead to civil unrest.

    Parent
    Reporting from (none / 0) (#110)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 12:21:18 PM EST

    War torn Chicago



    Parent

    The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (none / 0) (#181)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 03:43:37 PM EST
    panel (judges: Obama, Trump. Daddy Bush) unanimously ruled to maintain the District Court's block on National Guard deployment, today--Oct. 16.  They had previously given an Administrative Stay.

    From the opinion: " the facts do not justify the President's actions in Illinois".    "Political opposition is not rebellion".  "a protest does not become a rebellion merely because of sporadic and isolated incidents of unlawful activity or even violence committed by rogue participants in the protest"

    This is probably headed to the SC, where the Sinister Six will ride  to Trump's rescue.

    Parent

    AI seems to be floundering hard (none / 0) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 12:58:24 PM EST
    Is it time to sell gold lolololol

    I was reading a thing (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 04:30:02 PM EST
    That said something like

    some say AI is going to change the world.  Others say many of the companies are going to go broke.  Both of these things could be true.

    Parent

    One of Josh's roommates is a developer (none / 0) (#54)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 08, 2025 at 08:36:27 PM EST
    Wicked smart. And several of J's friends are deep in this. V is working for serious money though, and it isn't looking swell. Some of the folks I hang with a bit on Twitter since I was hacked work with it and around it. One who uses it to help write code says you have to watch it like a hawk, because if you have a weed in the code everything will be full of weeds and it is miserable weeding. Elon makes his AI stupid. It is easy to generate some propaganda and have Elon's AI attach onto it and skew all results.

    We've seen the results of that when grok explains to you that the Georgian Legion is fighting in Ukraine. And you can explain to it over and over again that the Georgian Legion is not a Legion fighting for Ukraine, it is a donation raising scam. And grok can learn it for a minute when you give it all the details. But it forgets immediately.

    It's a joke

    Parent

    I think AI started floundering ... (none / 0) (#81)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 06:58:33 PM EST
    ... into a near-death spiral on the day Elon Musk's GrokAI chatbot spontaneously started to spew anti-Semitic tropes at X-Twitter users with Jewish surnames. It was akin to recasting MTV's Max Headroom as an Oberleutnant in an SS Einsatzgruppen.

    Parent
    JFKjr has a new thing (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 06:25:27 PM EST
    4 skins

    Kennedy (none / 0) (#89)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:03:12 AM EST
    and his collection of quacks, woo and other assorted crackpots are a threat to the nation's health.  I doubt if they use real snakes in the snake oil they peddle. Or, oil.

    Parent
    Did you see his moment in the cabinet meeting (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:20:43 AM EST
    He was relating a horrifying insta where a pregnant woman "was eating Tylenol and saying F Trump WITH A BABY IN HER PLACENTA"

    It was very dramatic.

    Switching topics the Republicans are getting killed on the shutdown.  MJoe played clips of ordinary Republican voters ripping Johnson a new ahole and calling him a liar on CSpan.  

    In a week or two people will get notices, they say, telling them their premiums are going up 4-500%

    They showed a list with the worst increase by state.  All red states.

    Parent

    If that (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:42:50 AM EST
    woman has a "baby" in her placenta she has a greater problem than Tylenol on her hands.

    Parent
    That's (none / 0) (#100)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:44:53 AM EST
    the quote

    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#103)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 10:34:08 AM EST
    I saw a video clip of Kennedy at the Cabinet meeting.  Hard to believe from a  health secretary.

    Parent
    3-400% (none / 0) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:28:28 AM EST
    RED STATES

    Parent
    True meaning of (5.00 / 3) (#98)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:41:00 AM EST
    FAFO.

    Parent
    A moment about competency (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 07:22:07 PM EST
    Trumps evil plan is to nail these enemies.  So he sends a crazy note to his minion with instructions.

    Except he accidentally hits the "Reply All" button and sends the instructions to everyone.  

    That's literally what happened.

    His stupidity and incompetency may save us so thank Crom for that.

    A note (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 07:23:41 PM EST
    that contained a get out of jail free card for each of the named enemies

    Parent
    It's not quite that simple, but (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by Peter G on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 01:09:43 PM EST
    you are not entirely wrong.

    Parent
    Herr Himmler Miller's history (none / 0) (#85)
    by leap2 on Thu Oct 09, 2025 at 07:58:40 PM EST
    "The Making of Stephen Miller, a Real Piece of $h!t"> How he got this way. Hint: He's always been this way.

    This is why the Comey, James, Schiff thing (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 08:15:16 AM EST
    seems so unwise to me.  Judges have had it.

    Tensions mount between Trump administration, judges

    In recent days, a Trump-appointed judge in Oregon declared the president's decision to send the National Guard to Portland was "simply untethered to the facts."

    In Tennessee, an Obama-appointed judge ruled that Kilmar Abrego García had presented enough evidence to pursue a rare claim of "vindictive prosecution." On Thursday, Judge April M. Perry in Chicago, appointed by President Joe Biden, said she had seen a "lack of credibility" from the Department of Homeland Security.

    The government has benefited from a reservoir of good will with judges, but "what we are seeing now over a series of cases is that reservoir being depleted," Roth said. The result, she said, may be a "more general unwillingness to accept prosecutors at face value."
    Hmmm (none / 0) (#97)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 09:39:44 AM EST

    Americans Are Falling Behind on Their Car Payments
    Delinquency rates on subprime auto loans are at records

    My unsophisticated (none / 0) (#102)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 10:30:57 AM EST
    rule of thumb for the health of the economy is new car sales. A harbinger of a slow down in the economy is a slow down in new car sales.  After a recent surge in new car sales so as to get tax benefits on EVs before they expired, new car sales are now slumping.

    Parent
    Kos (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 05:19:39 PM EST
    I agree

    Democrats are winning the shutdown fight

    So it was always Melania (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 10, 2025 at 05:45:41 PM EST

    Melania Trump Talking to Putin
    October 10, 2025 at 11:51 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 59 Comments

    First lady Melania Trump announced Friday that she and Russian President Vladimir Putin have had an "open channel of communication" regarding children impacted by the Russian-Ukraine war, ABC News reports.

    Makes more sense,   I could not imagine Trump being a Russian agent.  Her, totally.

    Rest in peace, Diane Keaton (1946-2025). (none / 0) (#120)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 11, 2025 at 05:24:14 PM EST
    "Natasha, to love is to suffer. To avoid suffering, one must not love. But then, one suffers from not loving. Therefore, to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer, to suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy, then, is to suffer but, suffering makes one unhappy therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down."
    - Sonja (Diane Keaton), to Natasha (Jessica Harper), "Love and Death" (Woody Allen, dir., 1975)

    Who knew that 50 years ago, she would adeptly summarize America a half-century hence?

    2025 is turning into an incredibly tough year.

    THEY'RE EATING THE IMMIGRANTS (none / 0) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 03:17:52 PM EST

    'Fat troops' fallout continues as some Texas Guardsmen sent home over fitness concerns

    Texas Governor Greg. Abbott (none / 0) (#133)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 03:56:58 PM EST
    told Illinois Governor JB Pritzker "to stop complaining and do some push ups."  

    Parent
    They got sent home? (none / 0) (#134)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 04:33:25 PM EST
    Bahahahahahahaha, this is gonna sting some Texas weekend warriors. I effing love it lololololol. Get to the gym you butter eaters or get out lololololol

    Don't show up in Chicago thinking you're gonna sit on innocent people until they can't breathe! No Sir! Get gone!

    Parent

    Can Alabama be next PLEASE lolololol? (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 04:33:57 PM EST


    Parent
    NEWSMAX too (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 06:47:30 PM EST
    That's good.

    New York Times, AP, Newsmax among news outlets who say they won't sign new Pentagon rules

    Maybe his desperation to distract (none / 0) (#137)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 08:35:05 PM EST
    will do some good.

    Trump Sets His Sights on Peace in Ukraine
    October 13, 2025 at 8:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 45 Comments

    "President Trump scored a major foreign-policy win in Gaza by brokering the release of hostages from captivity and securing an end to the fighting between Israel and Hamas," the Wall Street Journal reports.

    "Now Europeans are hoping Trump can repeat the success with another knotty foreign-policy problem."

    "Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, according to officials familiar with the plans, on the heels of his diplomatic victory tour in the Middle East. At his stops in Israel and Egypt, Trump referenced the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring how, as he touted his achievements on one major conflict, he has still set his sights on resolving another
    Judging by his peace-making strategy in Gaza, (none / 0) (#138)
    by desertswine on Mon Oct 13, 2025 at 09:41:27 PM EST
    he can "solve" the war and win the peace in Ukraine by flattening Moscow and starving its inhabitants.

    Maybe (none / 0) (#139)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 09:06:05 AM EST
    I'll Believe it when I see it

    Trump says he may send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine



    Parent

    Oh, I meant that in a cynical way. (none / 0) (#141)
    by desertswine on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 08:04:40 PM EST
    Sometimes I don't communicate very clearly. It's a typing thing.

    Parent
    I know (none / 0) (#145)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 09:15:54 PM EST
    The thing is, he might.

    Parent
    One Hundred Years of Solitude (none / 0) (#140)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 05:54:15 PM EST
    I've been watching this again

    So good.  It won't exactly take your mind if politics but it will remind you why it's Important.

    Speaking of Ed (none / 0) (#142)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 08:06:48 PM EST
    RFK Jrs visage lately has been reminding me more and more of something sewn together by Ed Gein.

    Parent
    He really does (none / 0) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 09:09:37 PM EST
    He some how manages to make Trump look healthy.

    Parent
    He's following the Rogan/Dr Oz (none / 0) (#151)
    by jondee on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 01:19:43 PM EST
    regimen: TRT, Ivermectin, swimming in raw sewage, no sun screen etc

    Parent
    Methylene Blue (none / 0) (#152)
    by jondee on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 01:21:23 PM EST
    Ayahausca enemas..

    Parent
    Rogan (none / 0) (#155)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 02:49:40 PM EST
    is on our side now.  More or less.

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#144)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 09:14:43 PM EST
    we have seen the Time cover?

    People are pixelating his "throat"

    He hates it.  So share it.

    He's got a real (none / 0) (#146)
    by jondee on Tue Oct 14, 2025 at 09:49:49 PM EST
    desert lizard thing goin on.

    Parent
    Not (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 08:22:45 AM EST
    lizard is not the first thing I thought of

    Parent
    He should try grabbing it. (5.00 / 3) (#150)
    by vml68 on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 11:59:16 AM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    Done (5.00 / 1) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 09:50:17 AM EST
    and done

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#157)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 03:38:21 PM EST
    Why are the lizards screaming, Cap'n?

    Parent
    OMG it looks like an old vajayjay lol (none / 0) (#177)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 02:48:10 PM EST
    I get to say that. Because I am now old and have a vajayjay.

    Parent
    Am I the only one who thinks (none / 0) (#149)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 11:17:10 AM EST
    for a guy with as many closet skeletons as Kegsbreath it is ill advised to start a war with all of investigative journalism.

    The Pentagon Goes Dark
    October 15, 2025 at 11:58 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 6 Comments

    Status: "In less than 24 hours, the Pentagon is set to carry out an unprecedented expulsion of the press, stripping virtually all news organizations from their badges that grant them access to the building. The move comes after virtually all news organizations declined to agree to a set of new draconian rules that Pete Hegseth forced upon them as conditions for maintaining a press pass

    This seems like another bad political move.

    I actually think Trump, and probably hacks like Kegsbreath and Blondie, think they can stop or corrupt the election.  

    I don't think they can.

    But I don't see any other explanation for what they are doing.  This is not trying to win an election.

    A new south park (none / 0) (#158)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 04:04:50 PM EST
    It doesn't say if Peter Thiel is featured but I will be surprised if he is not.  

    `South Park' Returns After Three-Week Hiatus With Cartman up Against the Antichrist


    ---

    Pete and the antichrist link

    This is from that link (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 15, 2025 at 04:27:00 PM EST

    AI seems to be generating a lot of religious discourse because it seems almost precisely engineered to replace humans

    I think there is another reason.  It works in mysterious ways.  Seriously.  I know high level AI programmers.  A basic truth about these AI systems is no one knows exactly how it works.  Not even the coders.
    I asked my friend Caleb about that and he said it's unknowable. Exactly how and why it makes the decisions it makes is inherently unknowable.

    If anything was ever made for religious exploitation it's an utterly inscrutable all knowing source.

    Parent

    Peter Thiel (none / 0) (#165)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 08:55:16 AM EST
    knows about the Antichrist

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#167)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 09:34:44 AM EST
    What these guys are doing is important.  With free speech under attack they are the canaries in the coal mine.  This was a monumentally offensive episode.  Maybe the most brutal yet.

    One particular scene is burned in my memory.  Trump visits an abortion clinic.  He want an abortion for Satan.  But with no reason in the Drs office he takes his pants off and climbs up on the examination table. Stirrups and all. And the rest of the scene has his perineum in the counter of the shot.  It's a long shot.

    Hollywood Reporter

    The Jesus subplot will get them death threats.

    Parent

    Some good news (none / 0) (#173)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 11:37:01 AM EST
    An old college and Facebook friend has done something pretty cool.  
    Back when they were flying around the Beatles made an unscheduled stop in her home town of Walnut Ridge  AR
    She turned it into a play and it's kind taking off,

    local oaper

    theater in Nebraska

    Think I screwed up the newspaper link (none / 0) (#176)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 12:02:44 PM EST
    that mentions Carrie Mae

    Parent
    Bolton is (none / 0) (#187)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 16, 2025 at 04:09:13 PM EST
    officially indicted

    I was reading that the reason Trump has said nothing about Bolton while screaming about everyone else is that he was probably told they might actually has a case against Bolton so he should keep his mouth shut

    Dems Hold Strong, Shutdown is Here | 200 comments (200 topical)