Substandard Open Thread by Jason330

Only socialism can save capitalism. I hate to break this news to socialist and capitalist alike. Anyway, listen and give yourself the gift of a patronage this year. It is less than you spend on automated red light tickets. Also take the sidebar poll today. -> "Fightin' Joe" getting raves. I say he didn't go far enough. Calling a Fox News viewer a fat idiot is a good start though. When your neighborhood is being gentrified by bears, you know the forces of gentrification are getting serious.

Trump’s brain worms are winning

A group of mental health professionals led by a trio of pre-eminent psychiatrists is urging the House Judiciary Committee to consider Donald Trump’s “dangerous” mental state arising from his “brittle…

Feeling the heat of a primary challenge, Coons (at long last) sees Trump’s abuse of power

There is no way in hell Coons releases this about-face statement without being pushed by Scarane.
Coons, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a statement Dec. 3 on the release of the House Intelligence Committee report on the impeachment inquiry. “During two weeks of testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, career diplomats, decorated veterans and President Trump’s own appointees all presented a consistent, straightforward set of facts: the president clearly, intentionally abused his power to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political opponent — and he used foreign aid money as a bribe to do it,” said Coons. “The hearings made clear that this wasn’t ‘just a phone call,’” said Coons. “It was an organized, coordinated campaign by the president and his inner circle to pressure Ukraine into helping him win reelection, all while undermining U.S. national security in the process.” “The question now is how Congress will respond,” said Coons. “This isn’t business as usual, and it is profoundly dangerous for any of us to pretend otherwise. It is my hope that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in the Senate will take a moment and think about what role they want to play at this moment in our country’s history. I hope the Senate will put fidelity to the country and the Constitution over loyalty to the president, consider the facts, and treat this inquiry with the seriousness it deserves.”
This is a remarkable statement from the GOP's favorite Democrat. He doesn't use the words "bipartisan" or "bipartisanship" at all and only mentions "colleagues from both sides of the aisle" in the second to last sentence.

Coons parrots GOP talking points to undermine Impeachment

Coons spends so much time trying to curry favor with Republicans that it is no wonder he adopted GOP talking points to try and undermine impeachment efforts in advance of Trump's trial in the Senate.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told reporters this week that he doesn’t believe the Senate will convict President Donald Trump if impeachment moves to the upper Congressional chamber. “From what I’ve heard publicly and privately, I don’t think there will be the votes to remove him if this does come to an impeachment trial in the Senate,” he told CNN. 
This "I don’t think there will be the votes to remove him" is nearly a verbatim version of what Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has been saying with regard to impeachment. In Cornyn's case it is pure tribalism. For Coons adopting GOP talking points is part of a pattern of giving ground in return for nothing. And sure, it might be hard to find GOPers willing to admit the truth about Trump, what is the point of not even trying? What's the point of quitting the race befor the starter's pistol even fires? Isn't Coons the bi-partisan savior, who will use all the bi-partisan chits he has amassed to get those votes? If not, what has been the point of amassing such a huge pile of chit?

NCC Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast with Coons

Coons to discuss what a great bipartisan hero he is and how his awesome bipartisanship is about to pay off BIG TIME!! Any day now... fer'real. Mega-benefits!! Coming to Delaware very soon. You'll see. (Check out the event sponsors below if you doubt it.) 
 
Date: December 18, 2019
Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM EST
Register Now
Event Description:
Join Us for a Policy Makers Breakfast with Coons!   On Wednesday, December 18th, Coons will be our featured speaker at the HOTEL DU PONT. Coons serves on the Senate Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics committees. He is the vice chair of the Ethics Committee and the senior Democrat on two subcommittees: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. Coons is committed to bipartisan engagement, especially about the issues that matter most to Delawareans and the country. He co-founded and leads the Senate Human Rights Caucus, the Senate Competitiveness Caucus, the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, and the Senate Chicken Caucus. Join us to hear his take on matters that are affecting the country and Delaware.  Breakfast will be available. 
7:30-9:00 a.m Registration begins at 7:30am Presentation begins at 8:05am Fees/Admission: $25 for members $35 for non-members $20 for Ambassadors ***all sales final

Highlands Bunker – E43 – A Place to Be Somebody

Ed Note: I've been working Saturdays and Sundays, so the normal pace of the week is all fucked up for me. My days roll north to south, then east to west like an unsecured can of pears on a boat in heavy seas. My life doesn't have the rhythms I've come to expect since entering kindergarten. Also, because I am a patreon supporter, I got this episode early. I may be posting it here late, I may be early. I'm really not sure. .
Highlands Bunker - E43 - A Place to Be Somebody
 
Super-producer emeritus Margaret Hurejoins RE Vanella in the bunker to talk about her experience as a child of immigrants, how she ended up in Delaware activism, and how the city of Wilmington comes across to a newcomer.
 
Follow Highlands Bunker on: 
 
 
R.E. Vanella released this post 4 days early for patrons.  

Probably not connected to anything

A senior Deutsche Bank executive who signed off on major Trump loans killed himself in California last week, authorities say. Deutsche Bank Executive Who Signed Off On Trump Loans Kills…
Spread the Love this Very Happy Thanksgiving

Spread the Love this Very Happy Thanksgiving

DL sends a very heartfelt thank you to ur DL family of commenters, lurkers, hate-readers.  I don't know about you guys but I'm more thankful and optimistic this Thanksgiving than I've been for years.   We have Republicans and Republican enabling toadies like Coons on the run on many fronts, and no matter what - we are going  to have a strong Democratic candidate endorsing broadly popular progressive initiatives in the election next year. If you agree, here are some great candidates to support and help spread the winning vibes:  To help Jess Scarane beat Republican enabling toady, Coons,  donate here. Give a few bucks to Larry Lambert here. Donate to help elect Madinah Wilson Anton here Donate to Eric Morris Here Enjoy your turkey and in the immortal words of Hugh Martin, have yourself a merry little Christmas.  Let your heart be light.

Hunter & Tucker

Tucker Carlson disclosed that he knows and likes Hunter Biden, which is very damning evidence of Hunter Biden's low character. Worse than anything I've heard so far. And unlike most…

Working across the aisle is not inherently a problem

This is spot on.
Working across the aisle is not inherently a problem. The problem is when you make compromises that hurt the people you are supposed to represent. Too often, that is what happens when our elected officials talk about “bipartisan solutions.” What they really mean is “we sold you out to protect corporate interests.” Chris Coons has taken nearly half a million dollars from the pharmaceutical industry so far this election, and he is currently sponsoring a *bipartisan* bill that would strengthen pharmaceutical company monopolies and keep drug prices high. I don’t agree with that. I think our Senators should work for US, not the pharmaceutical companies. That's why I'm refusing all corporate pac, pharma executive, and lobbyist money. - Jessica Scarene 
Coons tries to frame his *bipartisanship* as "good government" when it actually only good for his corporate constituents.  Coons style bipartisanship has nothing to do with good government and everything to do with wrapping up corporate welfare in the flag and demanding everyone salute.   If you agree, donate here: https://bit.ly/2KtSprw
https://www.wgmd.com/progressive-democrat-to-challenge-chr…/

Trump, Rudy, Bolton & Mulvaney Discuss Impeachment Strategy

Rudy Giuliani, twice "joked" that he has "insurance" in the event Trump tries to make him the fall guy in the Ukraine affaire.
In a telephone interview with the Guardian, in response to a question about whether he was nervous that Trump might “throw him under a bus” in the impeachment crisis, Giuliani said: “I’m not, but I do have very, very good insurance, so if he does, all my hospital bills will be paid.”
Then again on Fox News he then touted what he called a "very, very good relationship" with Trump before dropping the insurance reminder:
"I’ve seen things written like he’s going to throw me under the bus. When they say that, I say he isn’t, but I have insurance," Giuliani told Fox News's Ed Henry.