DL Open Thread Wednesday January 18 2023
This headline sums up the end of the Republic
Sinema and Manchin high-five at Davos over blocking filibuster reform
Conservative ‘Freedom Phone’ Going Pretty Much as You Might Expect
In Addition to Terrorists, MAGAt Loser Also a Cheapskate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Documents show what led to the arrest of the failed Republican candidate, Solomon Peña, who is accused of organizing multiple shootings against Democratic lawmakers in Albuquerque.
Criminal complaints and arrest documents reveal Peña paid four men $500 each for the drive-by shootings. Albuquerque police say at least four Democratic lawmakers’ homes were shot up.
Enjoyed the “Freedom Phone” scam, as in as thou shalt scam the foolish so shalt thy be scammed, ripped off and take for a ride. At $500 a pop for an el cheapo Chinese phone!
What strikes me about the tits-up status of virtually every conservative alternative enterprise — social media, banks, you name it — is that the media never stops to consider the implications.
What it means should be obvious: There aren’t nearly so many nutjobs out there as the media would have you believe. I’ve seen this over and over — big headline about RWNJs protesting something, then you see the “demonstration” and it’s maybe 20 people. Lots of people might share their views, but not to the extent that they’ll turn off the TV and get off their asses.
Perhaps you saw a headline last week about some sort of anti-trans rally MTG was supposed to be involved with, but probably not — it was a total dud, as are a lot of the Washington rallies the RWNJs announce but fail to organize. The ones that are well-attended are the ones that are promoted by shadowy groups with deep pockets.
To me, the implication is that these MAGAts aren’t self-motivated to express reactionary views — they’re recruited and goaded into it. Without the constant prodding from the media — and not just the right-wing media — I think they’d eventually get over having to share the world with the Blahs, the browns, the gay and the trans.
A familiar face back in the news: https://www.rawstory.com/christine-odonnell-unpaid-campaign-taxes/
Nevertheless, she persisted:
The right-wing judge nominated to NY’s highest court by Dem Gov. Kathy Hochul was voted down 10-9 by the NY Senate Judiciary committee, with Dems providing all 10 No votes. But Hochul is going to the mat for her nominee:
Irénée Du Pont, Jr. died Monday at age 103. guess I’m a poor excuse for a Delawarean because I don’t have any stories to share about him.
Coons grabbed a Davos headline –
CNBC: Manchin, Sinema and Coons meet with CEOs at private Davos luncheon for World Economic Forum — U.S. lawmakers quietly took part in a private ritzy lunch atop the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Monday featuring dozens of influential business leaders.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/16/world-economic-forum-manchin-sinema-attend-davos-luncheon-with-ceos.html?fbclid=IwAR27OGE1iYlbQEN4MC5WaOPxEo8yeome3HIT7_JrmZVpMI6q1SGCHYyYn8U
Yeah. This us utterly disgusting. It radiates putrescence in all directions.