DL Open Thread Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024
Are Republicans capable of empathy? As my Magic 8-Ball says, signs point to no. First example: Testimony from a Pennsylvania woman whose son died in a school shooting last year. She testified in Harrisburg in favor of a proposed gun-control measure and was horrified that many lawmakers ignored her to watch their cellphones, and a gun-nut lobbyist actually laughed at her on her way out of the hearing room. My favorite part: They like to pretend they’re Christians.
Here’s another example, this time by known loonball Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of South Florida. She went ballistic at a congressional hearing when an immigration expert laughed at her for disputing that children separated from their parents at the border were really the children of the parents in question. As is often the case with members of the Know Nothing and Proud of It Party, she refused to read the report on the issue and stood instead on her towering ignorance. This also serves as an important reminder that demography is not destiny – there are plenty of deluded Blacks and Hispanics who think the racist party doesn’t notice what color they are. Tim Scott, y’all.
Example No. 3: Republicans are putting riders onto unrelated bills in an attempt to get rid of the endangered species act. I suppose they’re aware the rest of their policies will eventually eliminate all mammalian life on the planet, so they want to shoot them while they’re still around.
Example 4: Jamie Dimon, a shining exemplar of a rich asshole thinking he’s smart, took to CNBC to tell Democrats to “grow up” and “listen to Trump voters.” Yeah, I have, Jamie. They’re assholes, just like you.
Trump’s disastrous appearance at his trial for damages in the E. Jean Carroll case has people wondering why he chose a lawyer without courtroom experience. Apparently there’s a ban on the media saying what everybody knows: He liked her tits.
A couple moved into their newly purchased home and found a human head in a freezer. Sadly, it was not Trump’s.
The floor’s yours.
Extra bonus fucked-up Trumper story: Kanye West got some quack dentist to cover his front teeth with a mostly-titanium dental prosthetic that some think makes him look like James Bond villain Jaws. I say he looks more like Barney the Dinosaur. Click here for a look.
D’s flipped a Florida legislative seat this week:
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4413475-democrats-flip-florida-state-house-seat-special-election/
They’re winning virtually every competitive race since the Dobbs decision.
Meaning, I’m feeling better about Biden’s chances against Trump.
I have no doubt Trump will lose the popular vote. It’s the electoral count that’s in play. And polling these days is so effed-up we will all have many chances to wet our pants over individual states.
Maybe. But Michigan, which was a key swing state in 2020, appears out of reach as the State Republican Party is engaged in mutually-assured destruction:
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/michigan-republicans-chair-00134178
Something similar is happening in Arizona and Georgia:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/13/republican-state-parties-struggles-maga/
I feel the same, Trump will lose the popular vote, but thanks to the hated Electoral College he may yet prevail. It would go nowhere but I would love to see an effort to get rid of the Electoral College, if for no other reason then it gave Trump the presidency when he lost by three million votes in 2016. Remain a big fan of “one man, one vote”.
with the looming government shut down happening right during tax season is this another way for the repubes to mollify their donors since biden has made the hiring of irs agents to go after millionaire tax cheats a priority?
Partially defunding that increase is part of the budget deal that’s already been agreed to.
I understand the funding is for a ten-year period, and the agreed cuts don’t affect what’s happening in the IRS this year. So we’ll get another chance to restore the cuts, depending on what happens in the election.
Paging starving artist Hunter Biden! Keep the checkbook handy. Oh wait…..he’s not a Republican.
You must be, though. Stupidity is their hallmark, and you’ve got it.