DL Open Thread Wednesday, May 15, 2024
You can tell Donald Trump has been stung by the fact that, contrary to what pollsters will tell you, he doesn’t have all that many diehard fans. The proof: He issued call after call for his supposed minions to show up at his trial in New York, and was rewarded with crowds in the single digits. So he put out the call for his real minions, the Republican Party’s office-holders. They responded in droves, showing up outside the courthouse to lend their support. The headline says to show they stand with Trump, but really, it’s to do what Stormy Daniels wouldn’t – suck Trump’s metaphorical dick. Trump even gave them a scripte they dutifully followed. It makes me think that, fittingly for a Russian tool, a lot of Trump’s support in of the Potemkin village variety.
Maryland held its primary elections yesterday. Nikki Haley got her now-typical 20% of the Republican presidential vote. But the important story was on the Democratic ticket, where Total Wine owner David Trone got trounced, 54-42, in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Ben Cardin. Trone spend $60 million of his own money on the race, but saturating voters with ads might have backfired. The Baltimore Sun’s paywalled article says “more than a few voters [said] they got fed up.”
Trump’s offer to oil executives – give me $1 billion and I’ll gut climate regulations – has drawn the attention of Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who’s opening an investigation. His letter to eight oil companies and the American Petroleum Institute in part read:
Media reports raise significant potential ethical, campaign finance, and legal issues that would flow from the effective sale of American energy and regulatory policy to commercial interests in return for large campaign contributions.
Mr. Trump’s unvarnished quid pro quo offer is especially troubling evidence in light of recent accounts that the ‘U.S. oil industry is drawing up ready-to-sign executive orders for Donald Trump aimed at pushing natural gas exports, cutting drilling costs, and increasing offshore oil leases in case he wins a second term,'” he wrote, citing Politico. “These preparatory actions suggest that certain oil and gas companies, which have a track record of using deceitful tactics to undermine effective climate policy, may have already accepted or facilitated Mr. Trump’s explicit corrupt bargain.
In the least surprising result imaginable, a miniature poodle won the Westminster Dog Show. The only more likely outcome would have been yet another win for a wire fox terrier, the only breed that’s won more than the 11 victories by poodles of various sizes. The winner was handled by Kaz Hosaka of Greenwood, a longtime top-flight handler who says this was his last year at Westminster.
The floor’s yours.
Another reason for Eagles fans to dislike the Chiefs: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5493651/2024/05/14/chiefs-harrison-butker-pride-month-sin/?source=pulsenewsletter&campaign=9826719&userId=1181410
Kicker tells religious leaders to “stay in their lane and lead.” This is what happens when athletes get out of their lane and drift off the far right shoulder.
He also told a crowd filled with women who apparently were there to receive college degrees to “lean into” their vocations, which apparently should be homemaker. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with being a homemaker. I am amazed at my female (and male) friends who can do this successfully. But these women are at their college graduation. How about some encouragement about changing the world?
Butker also said this: “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
What a guy!
What’s the over/under on how long before he gets divorced?
I am relieved I don’t have to root for Trone in November.
Let’s call poodles what they are:
Canine shrubbery.
Big win in Red Clay yesterday. Progressive challenger Susan Sander beat the anti-LGBTQ, pro-gun incumbent by almost 3 to 1.
I’m really surprised that RCEA and others didn’t make this a priority.
First school board election in awhile where I didn’t receive a call-to-arms.
Glad to see the positive result!
Perhaps the interlocking family connections between the Red Clay school board and D/RCEA boards created some sensitivities. After all these people still have to work with each other after the campaign. Too much inside baseball for me.
I didn’t hear “Progressive” or “anti-LGBTQ, pro-gun” until AFTER the election.
At any rate there was apparently no need to campaign either positively or negatively, so there’s that.
I know of one DSEA member who got a GOTV text on behalf of Sander the day before the election, presumably from a DSEA contact list. But nothing before then.
The election was not on the Red Clay website, but the Dickinson parking lot was jammed on election night for an HB Middle School concert. No lines for the polls though; maybe people voted before the concert.
No DSEA contact lists were used in this race, I can guarantee that. The lists were likely from WFP or the data files that Susan’s campaign used to craft their outreach. If a DSEA member happens to be on those lists (as I assume many may be), then that is merely coincidence. Sascha and Jhilmil were amazing campaign managers for Susan. They ran an intense, data-driven campaign and made the IDs they needed to win big. It probably helped a bit that Casper did nothing at all. (Easter Egg: Check out Casper’s Facebook page from 14 hours ago. After he learned of his loss, he publicly posts pictures of the new house he’s moving into OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT. If this doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the guy, I don’t know what will.)
As for the election not being on the website, I say blame Red Clay administration. Lots of people not too pleased with the superintendent at this moment in time.
I think everybody who gets a little money in this state buys a house in Sussex. If they get a LOT of money they buy a house in Florida. (I don’t have a Facebook account)
Not everybody, just those with no imagination.
Touché
America’s 50 wealthiest families have contributed $600 to the 2024 elections so far.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/top-50-families-political-donations_n_6643ac3be4b0f22a60f34c78