DL Open Thread Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

Filed in National, Open Thread by on September 23, 2023

If you ever decide to hide ill-gotten gains, be smarter than “Gold Bar Bob” Menendez. When stashing cash in the pockets of your jackets, don’t choose one with your name embroidered on it. Also, when googling the price of gold, use “per ounce” in the search field rather than “per kilo.”

For his part, Menendez responded to his indictment with a victimized whine: “Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and distinction.” Sadly, that description doesn’t apply to him, or to Marco Rubio and Rafael “Ted” Cruz, either. Menendez did, however, “step down” from his post as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. Pushed? No, no, no. I’m sure Chuck Schumer only had his hand on Bob’s back to keep him from falling.

Trump, lazy fuck that he is, is slouching towards his nomination. His 60 claimed “campaign” events since late May include six Saudi-backed LIV Golf events and 11 gatherings at his Bedminster, N.J., golf course. Now if Clarence Thomas moves to New Jersey they could all play high-stakes corruption pinochle together.

A little note for people who think Trump plays 11th-dimensional chess – he’s not even playing checkers. He didn’t disdain masks during COVID because of any political calculation, but because it messed up his makeup. I wish that was just a joke.

Trump’s ignorant comment about a disabled veteran got all the ink, but the Atlantic’s profile of Mark Milley, outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is full of frightening details about our national disgrace45th president. Read it and tremble.

Ever play the card game hearts? When you try to shoot the moon, you lose big if you miss. Politico reports that the Florida GOP has the long knives out for Meatball “Pudding Fingers” Ron – not because he’s more reprehensible than Trump, but because he’s losing to him.

They tore down a historic mansion and put up a parking lot. Bayhealth Hospital demolished the Scull Mansion in Dover, despite its listing on the National Register of Historic Spaces, so they could triple the number of their parking spaces.

The floor’s yours. There’s a mop in the corner.

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  1. GreyFox says:

    Delawareans of all political stripes should be pushing Carper, Coons, and LBR to call for Menendez’s resignation. They should not be permitted to simply call for the “legal process to play out.” Menendez is a stain on the Democratic Party, the State of New Jersey, and the United States Senate. He is unworthy of the office he holds.

    • Alby says:

      Maybe you should direct that demand to the Democrats of New Jersey, who bear a lot more responsibility for Menendez’ continued presence in the Senate.

      I’m not a big fan of performative crap like this. Deeds, not words.

      • GreyFox says:

        Right, because the New Jersey Democrats have done such a good job of holding him accountable so far. Good idea, but better snark.

        Also, you may recall, it was his colleagues (especially Sen Gillibrand), not the DFL in Minnesota, who were able to push out Franken.

        Pushing from inside the Senate will be far more effective. It’s not performative crap.

        • El Somnambulo says:

          Jesus Christ. The NJ Governor has already called on Melendez to resign.

          BTW, Grey Fox, still waiting for you to make a positive case for BHL in the wake of your trashing Matt Meyer.

          Pro tip: ‘Because she’s promised me a job’ is not a persuasive argument…

        • Alby says:

          Yeah, that’s my point, they haven’t done a good job so far. So why would a bunch of Delaware centrists, who don’t stick out their necks for anyone, give a fuck what I tell them? If I were going to waste my time telling them anything it wouldn’t be this.

          And I don’t consider pushing out Franken a plus. And yes, it is performative crap. It’s done to polish their reputations, because they will have gotten the benefit of it whether anyone listens to them or not. It’s PR. Sorry to see you don’t understand that.

  2. bamboozer says:

    Read the piece on Mark Milley, as noted if the military signs on to a Fascist coup we’re done as a democracy and the nation we have been for 250 years. So far they have not, but dare say the plans for a coup are already in place, and no doubt there are many more then a few Fascists in the military higher ups. If said coup is a success the price will be chaos, Bedlam and insanity will reign, and I suspect a massive world wide recession will begin as a result of it.

  3. El Somnambulo says:

    Biden to join UAW picket line next week.

    Gotta say, that is great politics and great policy.

    If you’re pro-union, you shouldn’t stand above the fray.

    • De Gone... says:

      Biden is brain-dead.

      • John kowalko says:

        Nah but you certainly are. You maga-t Trumpers are proven to have IQ’s in the low 70s not far from brain dead. But I guess your hero Rump is an intellectual. Good luck with that separation from reality.

      • Alby says:

        Trolls who visit are sad cases. All you’re doing is demonstrating why nobody loves you.

    • Clay says:

      the sad irony is that the rank and file of the auto workers are maga voters. It stands to reason that the UAW may have the reddest base next to the FOP. Look for those FJB stickers and the .223 antenna plugs on their jacked up trucks. Why fight for a group that hates your guts?

      I suppose that the optics of supporting the UAW play better in middle america, especially when the leadership is a white guy. Doubtful if Joe would have joined a picket line for a union representing workers of the color,especially if the leader were a woman of color. For what its worth, I don’t think he is senile, he just lacks integrity

      • One reason that so many workers support Rethugs is b/c Clinton threw them under the bus with his trade agreements and neo-liberalism.

        I think Biden can make some legit progress here. I mean, it’s not like he has to win EVERYbody over. But giving the rank-and-file one more reason to support Biden and pro-labor Democrats can’t be a bad thing.

        • Clay says:

          I wish I shared that optimism. In my experience labor is very siloed and a win for the auto workers won’t spill over elsewhere.

          I don’t think he can win over the maga brain rot. They will take their 40% raise and 4 day week, and flip him off as he walks away.