4:30PM, On a Wednesday, Philadelphia PA - The Gang Rigs the DNC Primary
July 27, 2016 12:31 PM   Subscribe

The DNC 2016 fight song landed last night featuring: Aisha Tyler, Alan Cumming, America Ferrera, Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Chrissie Fit, Connie Britton, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Greene, Esther Dean, Eva Longoria, Garrett Clayton, Hana Mae Lee, Ian Somerholder, Idina Menzel, Jaime King, Jane Fonda, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, John Michael Higgens, Josh Lucas, Julie Bowen, Kathy Najimy, Kelly Jackle, Kristin Chenoweth, Mandy Moore, Mary McCormack, Mary-Louise Parker, Mike Thompkins, Nikki Read, Rachel Platten, Renee Fleming, Rob Reiner, Shelley Regner, Sia, and TR Knight.

It was the culmination of an eventful night including a roll call featuring Larry Sanders personally putting in a delegate vote for his brother, Bernie and the roll call finishing up with Bernie Sanders nominating Hillary Clinton by acclamation.

Also, it almost didn't officially end.

Tuesday night rundown of featured speeches:

Children, featuring Thaddeus Desmond, Dynah Haubert, Kate Burdick, Anton Moore, Dustin Parson, Daniele Mellott, and Jelani Freeman.
David Banks, principal of Eagle Academy.
Mothers of the Movement.
Joe Sweeny, Former NYPD Detective.
Lauren Manning, 9/11 Survivor.
Ryan Moore, advocate for healthcare reform.
Bill Clinton, spouse of the DNC Nominee, Hillary Clinton, and former President of the United States.
posted by Talez (3145 comments total) 71 users marked this as a favorite
 
This convention has made me proud to be a Democrat.

I wonder how many Republicans can really say the same.
posted by Gelatin at 12:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [44 favorites]


Great title!
posted by joedan at 12:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]




New date for the Gilmore Girls revival (Nov. 25! Mark your calendars!) was announced at the Television Critics Association press tour today.

THIS GIF HAS AN ENTIRELY NEW MEANING NOW, THANKS @netflix @GilmoreGirls
posted by rewil at 12:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [34 favorites]


I am looking forward to today's liveblog! Thank you all in advance!
posted by rtha at 12:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Holy shit, what an extremely bad day for Trump. Surely this. Surely fucking this.

*not holding my breath*
posted by zakur at 12:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


So I missed the majority of yesterday and I'm not going to be able to watch all the speeches. Any I should definitely check out?

Also, the Fight Song is fantastic and I cannot wait for Trump's response starring Kid Rock, Donnie Wahlberg and Chachi.
posted by Gaz Errant at 12:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I believe this is the official DNC feed. I've used it throughout the convention so far and have had zero issues. It's also nice to not have any overlays or talking heads. It's like watching TV with a Tivo. (Also, she was nominated by acclamation not acclimation.)
posted by feloniousmonk at 12:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Thank you Talez!

And thank you Cthulhu, for giving me the Russia-Trump public catastrophuck I so yearned for.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Title is a reference to It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
posted by Anonymous at 12:36 PM on July 27, 2016


So, what has [Donald] been doing for the last 6 days? Has he not seen pictures of Tim Kaine? Did he not realize he looked different than Tom Kean?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Tonight's speakers include DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilyse Hogue of NARAL, Sigourney Weaver, gun violence survivors & surviving family members from the Pulse, Mother Emanuel Church, and Sandy Hook shootings, Gabby Giffords & her husband astronaut Mark Kelly, Dr Jill Biden, VP Joe Biden, Senator Tim Kaine, and President Barack Obama.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 12:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


The things that (heartens me? squicks me out? makes me unable to think straight?) is that Trump hammers away with pure insanity at things that make his appeal more narrow and unappealing: His vendetta against the "Mexican" judge, the heat in the hotel room, and now debasing himself before Vladimir Putin. He's not just boorish and racist; he's out of his mind and hard to follow. I have to believe that sooner or later this is going to sink in and people are going to back away slowly.
posted by argybarg at 12:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


mods i think it's spelled "acclamation"
posted by OverlappingElvis at 12:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Explain the title please!

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia starts every episode with a title card and many of the titles start with "The Gang..."
posted by joedan at 12:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


although maybe acclimatizing his wing of the party to clinton is a better way of putting it
posted by OverlappingElvis at 12:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Holy shit, what an extremely bad day for Trump. Surely this. Surely fucking this.

*not holding my breath*


At this point Trump could execute an endangered gorilla on national television and eat its eyeballs and 40% of the country would vote for him.
posted by selfnoise at 12:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


I going America all over everybody's ass!
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Great title! Thanks for the post.
posted by OmieWise at 12:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Mod note: acclamatified
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Tonight's speakers include DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilyse Hogue of NARAL, Sigourney Weaver, gun violence survivors & surviving family members from the Pulse, Mother Emanuel Church, and Sandy Hook shootings, Gabby Giffords & her husband astronaut Mark Kelly, Dr Jill Viden, VP Joe Biden, Senator Tim Kaine, and President Barack Obama.

I dare anyone to compare that list to any equal number of chucklefucks selected from the entirety of the four-day RNC program for prestige, honor, and service to our nation. You can even take POTUS out if you like.
posted by tonycpsu at 12:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Hey, some people just needed more time to acclimatize themselves to Clinton as the nominee.
posted by zachlipton at 12:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Fantastic title. Brilliant Post. And you even included the Fight Song video! Thank you for creating this!
posted by zarq at 12:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Alternate title for tonight with Obama speaking "One Last Time."
posted by drezdn at 12:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


At this point Trump could execute an endangered gorilla on national television and eat its eyeballs and 40% of the country would vote for him.

In a shocking twist, the GoP ticket is now Trump/Ghost of Harambe
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 12:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Ilyse Hogue of NARAL
Well, that's bold. Good for them.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'M FIRED UP, Y'ALL
posted by cooker girl at 12:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I think Trump's hard floor is the 20-25% of the country that still approved of Bush in 2006, post-Katrina, in the depths of Iraq going to hell, plus whatever percentage are hardcore misogynists who also happen to be authoritarian at heart (and aren't already in that 20-25%).

The majority of the country is only just starting to pay attention now. I think it's going to be a blow out for Hillary.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


I'm so glad that I'm not one of the token Republicans slotted into the DNC analyst panels today. I can't stand vicarious embarrassment and watching people try to defend Trump and the Republican platform in the face of this masterfully produced convention is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for me. I was so incapable of schadenfreude I had to switch over to the low quality but commentary-free CSPAN coverage yesterday.

I'm really excited about tonight's speakers but I know I'm gonna need Kleenex. AGAIN. I have literally had cry-headaches for two days.
posted by xyzzy at 12:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I cannot WAIT to see how Obama and/or Biden makes hay from the current Trump nonsense tonight. You know at least one of them will.

(Acclamorated!)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Obama did tweet "One Last Time" before his last State of the Union. It would probably be inappropriate here because Washington was famously opposed to political parties.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 12:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]




I kind of hope it's Obama, so that he can break out the "don't boo, vote!" line a couple times.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Alternate title for tonight with Obama speaking "One Last Time."

He's 54. I think we could well see him speak at every Democratic convention for decades to come (much like Bill Clinton, who has spoken at every one since 1980) unless he somehow gets on the Supreme Court.
posted by zachlipton at 12:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


I think Trump's hard floor is

27%
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Weaver, of course, is speaking in her position as head of SCP about the release and containment of SCP #3016, Orange Humanoid Cancer
posted by The Whelk at 12:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Let’s play Cognitive Dissonance! Gain one point every time you experience a spasm of cognitive dissonance!
  • The Republican Party has nominated for the office of President of the United States a man who got his big break in politics by claiming that a black man, the President of the United States, was literally un-American, and must have been born in Kenya, and that there must be a massive conspiracy to claim otherwise. (He claimed to have sent a team of investigators to Hawaii; they have not been heard from since.)
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, in a primary debate, bragged about meeting and getting along with Vladimir Putin, but who is now responding to allegations of pro-Russian bias by saying he never met Putin.
  • The Republican Party has nominated for the office of President of the United States a man who has now publicly asked a foreign power to spy on his electoral rival.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who proposed banning 23% of the world’s population from entering or re-entering the country, solely on the basis of their religious beliefs.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who claims that man-made climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese to undermine American workers.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who was recorded speaking to journalists on the phone and repeatedly pretending to be his own, fictional spokesperson. He later admitted to this under oath, but subsequently denied it.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who is currently being sued for allegedly operating a for-profit “university” which defrauded its clients and had a stated goal of getting clients to take out all available loans to participate.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, asked if Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO, said “I would not care that much to be honest with you. Whether it goes in or doesn't go in, I wouldn't care. If it goes in, great. If it doesn't go in, great.”
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who casually implied that a rival U.S. Senator’s father was involved in assassinating JFK. And that his wife was ugly.
  • The Republican Party has nominated for President a man who has never served in public office or the military, but was willing to imply that a U.S. Senator wasn’t a true war hero because he was captured and spent five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The candidate said, “I like people who weren’t captured.”
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who once unsuccessfully sued a journalist for claiming he wasn’t a billionaire; as President the candidate plans to “open up libel laws”.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who said “the problem is we have the Geneva Conventions, all sorts of rules and regulations, so the soldiers are afraid to fight”.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, in a live TV interview, declined to criticize David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan, claiming to not know anything about them.
  • The Republican Party, known for its vocal condemnation of Democrats as fiscally irresponsible, has nominated a man whose tax plan would reduce federal revenues by $9.5 trillion over its first decade and “could increase the national debt by nearly 80 percent of gross domestic product by 2036”.
  • The Republican nominee’s tax plan involves massive tax cuts for the extremely wealthy. (This item is your brief respite from cognitive dissonance, enjoy it!)
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who proposed defeating ISIS by bombing Iraq’s oil fields, saying “There is no Iraq; there are no Iraqis.”
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who during his campaign claimed to have donated a million dollars to a veterans’ charity, but only actually did so weeks later when pressed by investigative journalists. He claims to have donated many millions of dollars to charity in recent years, but declines to provide evidence.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, at one of his political rallies, performed a mocking impression of a physically disabled journalist.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who has repeatedly claimed that the current President of the United States, the Christian son of a Muslim, is sympathetic to al-Qaeda and ISIS.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who said that he doesn’t want black people to count his money; only Jews.
  • While the Democratic Party has nominated their first woman candidate, the Republican Party has nominated a man who, in an official primary debate, responded to the claim that he refers to women as "fat pigs," "dogs," "slobs" and "disgusting animals", by saying “Only Rosie O’Donnell!”. He later implied that the moderator must have been menstruating.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man whose most prominent policy proposal is to somehow compel Mexico into paying for a wall between Mexico and the United States.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who openly suggested the United States, home of the world’s major reserve currency, should partially default on its debts.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, uniquely for a major candidate in recent decades, refuses to release his tax returns, and said that his statements of his net worth fluctuate based on his “own feelings”.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, without medical training, is nonetheless an outspoken critic of vaccinations.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, in late May of this year, did not know the term “Brexit”, and who later flew to the United Kingdom after the historic Brexit vote, not to address the political and economic turmoil, but rather to promote his golf course. After being pressed by journalists, the nominee acknowledged the significance of Brexit, and that the fall in the British pound’s value would likely benefit his golf course.
  • The Republican Party has nominated as President of the United States a man who suggested in a TV interview that Japan should develop its own nuclear weapons.
  • The Republican Party has nominated for the office of President a man who has been blacklisted by all major U.S. banks, and who owes vast amounts of money to a foreign bank.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who, in an official primary debate, implied that he has a large penis.
  • Regardless of the volume and severity of their past criticism, nearly all Republican politicians now say that they support and will vote for Donald Trump for President of the United States. Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continues to refuse to consider any nominations for the vacant Supreme Court seat, because there’s a chance President Trump would be able to nominate someone different. Senator Grassley is up for re-election this year.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who said an American-born federal judge could not do his job because he is “Mexican”.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who regularly refers to the senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts as “Pocahontas”.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who gave a primary victory speech next to a pile of beef which he had purchased, claiming it to be from the defunct, unsuccessful Trump Steaks brand, as if that brand still existed.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who wants to reinstate torture, and go further this time.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who wants to purposely target the family members of terrorists.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who says that America should not necessarily respond if Vladimir Putin invades NATO allies in Eastern Europe.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who proposed punishing women who get abortions.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who has maintained his inherited wealth often by hiring contractors and then refusing to pay them, and whose businesses went bankrupt four times.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who told a lawyer who requested a break from a deposition to pump breast milk, "You're disgusting".
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who avoided serving in Vietnam, but referred to avoiding STDs from casual sex as his "personal Vietnam".
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who says that people in a dark, noisy drinking establishment in Florida should have been carrying guns at their waist or ankle.
  • The Republican Party has nominated a man who said that Mexican immigrants, generally speaking, are criminals and rapists. But that some of them are, presumably, good people.
How’d you do?
  • 0 or more points: Congratulations! This is all actually happening!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [496 favorites]


About five minutes ago, I found myself thinking of the DC Press dinner where Jordan Peele was "Luther, Obama's Anger Translator" - and thinking of him bellowing the phrase "Khaleesi is coming to Westoros!" nearly made me burst out laughing at work.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]




...Dr Jill Viden, VP Joe Biden...

Is this combo just thrown in like a caltrop to confuse Trump tomorrow?
posted by wenestvedt at 12:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Ugh, I have to physically go into work today. Like, I need to haul my entire body down to the office and also have pants on it too and interact directly with humans face to face ugggghhhh yyyyytho. I would 1000% rather spend today like yesterday in liveblogging this convention with all of you beautiful maniacs. Thank you for keeping me sane through this ghastly election, Metafilter. See you on my phone inbetween moments of actual work later today!
posted by EatTheWeek at 12:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]




[Insert Larry Sanders joke here]
posted by Chrysostom at 12:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Relevant It's Always Sunnies for people looking to get in the mood:

The Gang Runs For Office
Charlie Goes America All Over Everybody's Ass
The Gang Cracks The Liberty Bell
The Gang Wrestles For The Troops
Frank Reynolds' Little Beauties (or: the patriotic value of child pageantry)
Gun Fever Too: Still Hot

All episodes available in full on Netflix or through skeevy black market dealings. (Bonus: The Gang Runs For Office includes a bit about Hillary Clinton. Now a decade old! Still painfully relevant!)

The show is kind of the anti-South Park in that it overtly claims to be nihilistic and not give a shit, but is shockingly politically aware and progressive. Here's a delightful photo of the cast dressed for LA Pride.
posted by rorgy at 12:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


[as protrayed by Garry Shandling]
posted by psoas at 12:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Another highlight from yesterday: Born before all women could vote, Prescott woman, 102, reports AZ delegates for Clinton.

Oh lord she's so happy. This is wonderful.

Wait, is somebody already cutting onions? C'mon, guys. Not cool.
posted by Gaz Errant at 12:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]




Let’s play Cognitive Dissonance! ...

Well now I'm drunk and I haven't even had any alcohol yet

going back to looking at adam scott gifs now
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:49 PM on July 27, 2016


Here's a delightful photo of the cast dressed for LA Pride.

I totally did not expect to see a "You can pee next to me" shirt in that context and that is really fucking cool.
posted by psoas at 12:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


THIS GIF HAS AN ENTIRELY NEW MEANING NOW, THANKS @netflix @GilmoreGirls

Besides how amazing this is, it was legitimately the first time during the rollercoaster of the past two weeks that I've stepped back and remembered that in November this all may* be completely over.

* I lived through 2000 and do not tempt fate.
posted by telegraph at 12:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


The majority of the country is only just starting to pay attention now.
At this point, every time Treasonous Trump opens his mouth, he's going to lose a fraction of a percent in the polls. If Gary Johnson picks up half of them from the "Never Hillary" crowd, it can only help Clinton (as well as position the Libertards as replacements for the Rethuglicans). Give it time. He'll reach his 27% base yet. But still, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY YOU KNOW WHO IS SANE VOTES.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


For anyone who hasn't been following @darth on Twitter, they've been posting a hilarious string of tweets ever since the GOP convention. It's glorious.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


[Insert Larry Sanders joke here]

Bernie or Busters on voting for Clinton.
posted by Talez at 12:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am so sleep deprived and headachy from the crying it isn't funny. We're going on an epic road trip next week and I have SO MUCH TO DO (including buying a new swimsuit god help me) but THE CONVENTION IS ON! I'm pretty sure my family is already tired of me pumping my fists in victory and yelling at the TV.

And tonight I won't get to tune in until 7:00-ish and IT'S KILLING ME.
posted by cooker girl at 12:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I am so glad that the Mothers of the Movement video includes the preroll video of that first meeting.
posted by mrzarquon at 12:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Last night we had dinner reservations at DC's new-special-thing Pineapple and Pearls, so I didn't see any of the DNC. Tonight I'm seeing case/lang/veirs, so I'm not going to see anything. I guess Friday I'll have to have a YouTube binge.
posted by fedward at 12:55 PM on July 27, 2016


One thing I appreciate this week is how polished and confident the non-professional speakers are: the moms and the teachers and the advocates. Last week, it was like they picked up the avocado farmer and other random speakers and plunked her on stage and national television without any preparation besides whatever feedback her bathroom mirror provided. This week, the speeches are still honest and clear, but it's also obvious that professionals helped them with the text and worked to get them comfortable speaking on stage.
posted by zachlipton at 12:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


I dare anyone to compare that list to any equal number of chucklefucks selected from the entirety of the four-day RNC program for prestige, honor, and service to our nation. You can even take POTUS out if you like.

Look, God knows that program was awful, I had to sit through it in real time. But it's not like the RNC program didn't also have astronauts, mothers, senators, soldiers, etc. The thing that made that program horrifying was not that people up there hadn't done enough for their country - the thing that made the RNC program horrifying is that most of the people up there - many with a long career of public service- had despite that, prostituted themselves for an orange bigot.
posted by corb at 12:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [80 favorites]


Kabaddi Champ, did you type that astonishing list all up yourself? HOLY COW.

Seeing it all in one place is like those photographs of a week's worth of an American family's food intake compared to other countries' diets.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Why I Will Vote for Hillary Clinton "I don’t think she is evil. I don’t think she is ethically challenged. I have met her several times in the past and have been impressed by her intellect, her judgment, and her compassion. We all know the ordeal she endured because of her husband’s infidelities. That was not her doing. She tried to protect her family as best she could. We know now that other revered presidents, like FDR and Ike, had affairs; JFK was a serial womanizer. The media abandoned their code of silence about presidential privacy when Bill Clinton was president. Hillary can’t be blamed for Bill’s misadventures, and it was nearly 20 years ago, so who cares? God knows, there are plenty of members of Congress and governors in both parties who would not want their private lives revealed in the news. Remember the Republican Congressman who had a “wide stance” in the men’s bathroom in an airport?

I don’t think Hillary is a liar or a person of low character."

posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


The Republican Party has nominated a man who avoided serving in Vietnam, but referred to avoiding STDs from casual sex as his "personal Vietnam".

I don't know why, but somehow that really humanizes the guy for me
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 12:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [59 favorites]


> I'm pretty sure my family is already tired of me pumping my fists in victory and yelling at the TV.

My 4-yo covered her ears and started crying the other day when I turned on the news to watch the convention Monday.

It was throwing a fit because she didn't get her way but the other part of me was like "I get it, kid."
posted by Tevin at 12:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Great title!

Yes. But can we all agree right now that tomorrow's title has to be "Include Women in the Sequel"? Accept no substitutes.
posted by lunasol at 12:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


I was excited to see Garry Shandling playing Bernie's bro, sad to remember the Garry passed away, shocked by how similar Larry Sanders looks to Garry, touched by the real Larry's speech and very, very happy to see Bernie nominate Hillary. Quite the range of emotions for 6 minutes of YouTube video.

How the republicans can not hang their heads in shame after their convention is beyond me, this just highlights it even more to me.
posted by roquetuen at 12:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Compare the production of that Fight Song with the RNC's inability to pull off a balloon drop.
posted by mikelieman at 1:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Just in case you haven't had your fill of absurdity today, let's not forget there's a Trump @reddit AMA tonight. What could go wrong?

Nothing can go wrong, because it's not really an AMA. You need to be subscribed to the pro-Trump subreddit, questions will be pre-screened, and denizens there are openly plotting and organizing to downvote any critical or negative questions.
posted by msalt at 1:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]




Don't jinx our balloon drop yet.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Considering who helped open the DNC, I was hoping The Gang would finally get their chance.
posted by emelenjr at 1:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




Compare the production of that Fight Song with the RNC's inability to pull off a balloon drop.

Did corb or Cracked explain that one yet?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


How Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are double-teaming Donald Trump

Just get Ted Cruz in there and you have some grade-A slash fic
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 1:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Does somebody here have a grip on why polling looks so even? Something about polling demographics and technologies this cycle? I can't believe it, given the abandonment of Trump by so many important republicans, and the general demographic shifts in the country.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 1:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


How Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are double-teaming Donald Trump

Seriously though do they not run headlines past a panel of 17-year-old boys or 31-year-old gay men I guess for innuendo checks before posting
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


The balloons are #withher
posted by beerperson at 1:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]






1q
posted by Sophie1 at 1:07 PM on July 27, 2016


But it's not like the RNC program didn't also have astronauts, mothers, senators, soldiers, etc.

There were some, yes, but honestly the schedules are worlds apart. The RNC did have an astronaut, yes, except she refused to endorse Trump on stage despite having such an endorsement in her prepared remarks. A good chunk of Congress refused to show up, with many claiming they were "too busy" and Sen. Sasse saying he planned to go "watch some dumpster fires" instead. Rubio would only appear by video, and Cruz showed up to, well, not exactly endorse Trump. No former President or Vice President would speak for him, the best he got was a wave from Bob Dole. Their big celebrity was Scott Baio, who soon before the convention retweeted an image effectively calling Hillary something incredibly offensive. The lead-in speaker to Ivanka and Donald was a real estate developer who rambled on about a hotel deal he once did with Trump. And there were numerous segments that consisted of Trump employees telling us how great their boss is, along with long bits of musical filler. It was an incredibly weak schedule last week.

Compare that to just a short bit of tonight: Biden, Kaine, and Obama. The contrast is obvious.
posted by zachlipton at 1:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


schadenfrau: "The majority of the country is only just starting to pay attention now. I think it's going to be a blow out for Hillary."
This makes zero sense to me. There are nobody in Europe who are not aware by now how big of an idiot Trump has made of himself so far. How can you live in the US and miss it?
posted by brokkr at 1:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Seriously though do they not run headlines past a panel of 17-year-old boys or 31-year-old gay men I guess for innuendo checks before posting

The Washington Post knows clickbait when they see it and they are nowhere near too proud to exploit it.
posted by zachlipton at 1:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Just get Ted Cruz in there and you have some grade-A slash fic

Congratulations, VMPV: You've established a completely justifiable premise for kink-shaming.
Ew.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




Does somebody here have a grip on why polling looks so even? Something about polling demographics and technologies this cycle? I can't believe it, given the abandonment of Trump by so many important republicans, and the general demographic shifts in the country.

It's a combination of the RNC convention bump, the Democrats' post-primary unification not showing up in the polls yet, and possibly* some pollsters with badly calibrated demographic weightings.

*careful with this, though, that way lies the poll-unskewing funhouse of mirrors
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I just went and bought some buttons this morning. I've been super busy, but the DNC has been doing a good job so far at restoring my faith in humanity, which after the RNC was somewhat lacking. I'm hoping to actually watch a bit of tonight live.
posted by Sequence at 1:09 PM on July 27, 2016



The Washington Post knows clickbait when they see it and they are nowhere near too proud to exploit it.


Well I clicked so good job WaPo I guess
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


But it's not like the RNC program didn't also have astronauts, mothers, senators, soldiers, etc.

The criteria I outlined were prestige, honor, and service to the nation. You're free to measure those however you like, but I stand by my statement, especially once the dishonor of supporting the fascist yam is accounted for. Don't get me wrong -- it's not that there weren't prestigious, honorable Republicans available, it's that so many of them refused to show up that the program really was full of a bunch of lightweights, with some actual heroes and dedicated public servants mixed in.
posted by tonycpsu at 1:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Ok I just learned that headline is problematic


"How Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are going to make Trump beg for it"


wait shit
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


apparently the Trump "Ask Me Anything" on reddit is going to be…preselected questions and heavily moderated?
so
more like "Ask Me Anything (Except that, and that, and that, obviously)"
posted by murphy slaw at 1:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


WaPo reporter: Trump: "We're going to put the miners back to work. I said that, and I don't even know why."

I don't even know what's real.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [34 favorites]


Anyone remember this thread on the Blue about Russian groups paid to troll social media, spreading misinformation? The author of the linked article says the groups appear to be working on behalf of Trump now: "I created this list of Russian trolls when I was researching. And I check on it once in a while, still. And a lot of them have turned into conservative accounts, like fake conservatives. I don't know what's going on, but they're all tweeting about Donald Trump and stuff."

I have a thing I text one of my friends whenever bad news about Trump comes out. It used to be "Trumpmas!" and now it's "Krumpmas!", because he really is sort of...Krampus-like, if Krampus was an incompetent buffoon.

KRUMPMAS!
posted by schadenfrau at 1:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Holy shit, what an extremely bad day for Trump. Surely this. Surely fucking this.

You remember that Seinfeld episode where George realized that his instincts were incredibly poor, and that success lay in him doing the opposite? Trump is kind of like that. Except I don't think his instincts are poor; they are just counter-intuitive for a great many of us. For Trump, success seems to lie in doing the opposite of what the instincts of everyone else would be.

He said some bizarre, weird things today? The end result is the news media is having a field day covering him; not last night. His comments will keep his news coverage on par with the coverage of the DNC tonight. And from Trump's perspective, that's a win - his name is out there, and that is all that matters. Because whatever he does, it sure never seems to chip into his base of support - worst case scenario is that he doesn't gain anybody new, best case is that he picks up a few voters he didn't have before. He's the living embodiment of the idea that there is no such thing as bad press.
posted by nubs at 1:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I loved how John Oliver described the RNC balloon drop as "an almost sarcastic amount of balloons"

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jul/25/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-politicians-songs
posted by insoluble uncertainty at 1:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The DNC 2016 fight song...

OK, I'm all on board with that message, and mostly the song was well-executed. But I don't think you should use "dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb" as a bassline unless you're doing it intentionally.
posted by gurple at 1:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


apparently the Trump "Ask Me Anything" on reddit is going to be…preselected questions and heavily moderated?

Have you ever checked out /r/the_donald? I mean, don't! But it's a crazy view into another, strange universe. They call themselves centipedes, they're convinced that James Comey, the director of the FBI, did not recommend charges against HRC because he was afraid she would have him killed (as if the director of the fbi didn't command an army of armed and loyal factotums), they like what Trump said about Russia and the emails, they call everyone who doesn't like trump a cuck, and so on. Did I mention they call themselves centipedes? I hvae no idea what it's supposed to mean. Anyway, that's where the AMA is happening so...
posted by dis_integration at 1:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]




more like "Ask Me Anything (Except that, and that, and that, obviously)"

Ask Me Anything I Want You To Ask Me.

"I am Donald J. Trump. AMAIWYTAM."
posted by Etrigan at 1:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]




They call themselves centipedes,

The jokes write themselves.
posted by aught at 1:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I don't even know what's real.

INTERNET ALERT: POE'S LAW CONTINUES TO BE APPLIED AT EXTREME LEVELS. SEEK SHELTER IF NECESSARY.
posted by nubs at 1:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


They call themselves centipedes

But they're humans tho right
posted by beerperson at 1:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


The balloons are #withher

(Not to mention IATSE)
posted by mikelieman at 1:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Did I mention they call themselves centipedes? I hvae no idea what it's supposed to mean.

early in the campaign somebody made a pro-Trump video which was footage of a nature documentary of centipedes killing prey set to dubstep

I'm not sure that explains anything
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


It's no exaggeration to say that, if elected, Donald Trump would be the least qualified, least vetted, least tested person ever to become POTUS.

Presidents who'd never previously held elective office
  • Eisenhower - former general, US Army
  • Hoover - former sec. commerce, civil engineer, humanitarian
  • Arthur - *
  • Grant - former general, US Army
  • Taylor - former general, US Army
* Chester Alan Arthur is the only person to rise to the office of POTUS with neither experience in elective office nor as a career military officer.

Arthur had previously held an un-earned gentleman's commission as a (non-combat) brigadier general during the US Civil War (for about a year), and then various political patronage appointments as a member of the New York Republican political machine. Said machine made him Garfield's running mate; he rose to the presidency a few months later when Garfield succumbed to his wounds following an assassination attempt by a disgruntled office seeker -- part of the same patronage system that got Arthur where he was.

All of these men spent some part of their careers answerable to the people and the Constitution of the United States of America before becoming president.
 
posted by Herodios at 1:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


early in the campaign somebody made a pro-Trump video which was footage of a nature documentary of centipedes killing prey set to dubstep

this is now the topic of the thread
posted by beerperson at 1:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


Did I mention they call themselves centipedes? I hvae no idea what it's supposed to mean.
ASS TO ASS just popped into my head and I really wish it would go away.

On a brighter note, I'll be busking on the MBTA in Boston this weekend and am learning "Fight Song" in honor of the DNC.
posted by pxe2000 at 1:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Did I mention they call themselves centipedes? I hvae no idea what it's supposed to mean.

It has to do with a clip from an old nature documentary voiceover describing a centipede as "a nimble navigator" which somebody thought to put over Trump speech clips and somehow turn into a meme.

Try not to think about it too hard; the logic is just alien.
posted by fifthrider at 1:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


One time, I was in a laundromat, having a conversation with some other folks there to kill the time. I made a joke about 9/11 truthers. All three of the other people there said, sincerely, they thought it was an inside job.

Hearing how many people liked the DNC fight song gives me kinda the same feeling.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


The Colbert Report Late Show With Stephen Colbert brings us Bill Clinton's Teleprompter: "Don't ask us how we scored exclusive live streaming rights to Bill Clinton's totally not fake teleprompter with the words he definitely said verbatim, just know we did. And enjoy watching it."

(Gawker had a real stream of the teleprompter, he went off script a lot naturally)

They also have the DNC Condiment Cam in the interest of fairness, including a guy who went meta with it here.
posted by zachlipton at 1:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Ok I just learned that headline is problematic


"How Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are going to make Trump beg for it"


wait shit


"How Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will make Trump call them 'daddy'"

Ack, no, it keeps getting worse.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I know it was grade-A pandering to the choir, but the fight song makes me happy in a hopeful way that haven't I felt at any point during the run-up to the election, and also I got goosebumps when Adele Dazeem hit that high note.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


She remembered the gavel! Whew.
posted by zachlipton at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


About five minutes ago, I found myself thinking of the DC Press dinner where Jordan Peele was "Luther, Obama's Anger Translator"

Unless they reversed their roles from what is on the tv show, it's Keegan-Michael Key who plays Luther and Peele does the Obama impression.
posted by phearlez at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I just wonder whether Trump encouraging Russia to spy on the US might not be a bridge too far for some of Trump's older supporters. I am not even 50, and I remember vividly back when Russia was The Enemy. Or will they make it a case of always having been at war with Eastasia?
posted by Gelatin at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


early in the campaign somebody made a pro-Trump video which was footage of a nature documentary of centipedes killing prey set to dubstep

this is now the topic of the thread


I have a weird fascination with /r/The_Donald, which is basically what happens when a racist meme achieves whatever is right before sentience, and I've never been able to make heads or tails of the centipede thing. I understand the story, I know the facts, and it's still so far from sense that I don't understand.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Bruce Schneier: By November, Russian hackers could target voting machines
If the intelligence community has indeed ascertained that Russia is to blame, our government needs to decide what to do in response. This is difficult because the attacks are politically partisan, but it is essential. If foreign governments learn that they can influence our elections with impunity, this opens the door for future manipulations, both document thefts and dumps like this one that we see and more subtle manipulations that we don’t see.

Retaliation is politically fraught and could have serious consequences, but this is an attack against our democracy. We need to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin in some way — politically, economically or in cyberspace — and make it clear that we will not tolerate this kind of interference by any government. Regardless of your political leanings this time, there’s no guarantee the next country that tries to manipulate our elections will share your preferred candidates.

Even more important, we need to secure our election systems before autumn. If Putin’s government has already used a cyberattack to attempt to help Trump win, there’s no reason to believe he won’t do it again — especially now that Trump is inviting the “help.”
posted by zombieflanders at 1:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [53 favorites]


When ARPA created the Internet they didn't realize it would allow Russia to control US elections
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


in other campaign music news, the Trump campaign stiffed that singing kids group that performed at his rallies a few months back.
posted by cmfletcher at 1:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I have a weird fascination with /r/The_Donald, which is basically what happens when a racist meme achieves whatever is right before sentience

Maybe it's a fork of /r/SubredditSimulator trained on a voat corpus.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 1:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]




More on Trump's Russian Trolls

They've swamped /r/politics on Reddit.
posted by msalt at 1:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


He said some bizarre, weird things today? The end result is the news media is having a field day covering him; not last night. His comments will keep his news coverage on par with the coverage of the DNC tonight. And from Trump's perspective, that's a win - his name is out there, and that is all that matters. Because whatever he does, it sure never seems to chip into his base of support - worst case scenario is that he doesn't gain anybody new, best case is that he picks up a few voters he didn't have before. He's the living embodiment of the idea that there is no such thing as bad press.

It's more like we keep on being confused on what moves he's making because we are like "no that is a horrible move" but the thing is he's not playing chess, just checkers with chess pieces

early in the campaign somebody made a pro-Trump video which was footage of a nature documentary of centipedes killing prey set to dubstep

I'm not sure that explains anything


has as much explanatory power as anything else I guess
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Did I mention they call themselves centipedes? I hvae no idea what it's supposed to mean.

ASS TO ASS just popped into my head and I really wish it would go away.


I've got some bad news for you about what a human centipede actually is.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


This makes zero sense to me. There are nobody in Europe who are not aware by now how big of an idiot Trump has made of himself so far. How can you live in the US and miss it?

In short: the party nomination process is a long primary season that's often over before any given person's state has the chance to vote. People have been trained to tune it out and let early contests and horse race style* press coverage coalesce on a candidate for their party, and they really only start paying attention after the two party conventions are over.

Also much of the electorate is just flat out uninformed.

* With a big field of candidates like the sixteen people who announced their candidacy in the GOP this time around, the press can't really give equal coverage to them all. Time and column inches are limited, so most major news outlets tend to settle on a few early front-runners and devote most of the coverage to them. If surprise candidates do well early on, then they get the "dark horse" treatment that could reinforce the surprise candidates for a little while, but it has been rare for a true dark-horse candidate to secure a major party nomination. By virtue of fame, notoriety, and his big mouth, Trump got a lot more coverage than an equivalent, non-Trump candidate would have, which granted legitimacy to his campaign and created a perverted positive feedback loop.
posted by fedward at 1:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Let’s play Cognitive Dissonance! Gain one point every time you experience a spasm of cognitive dissonance!

      The Republican Party has nominated...


tl/dr:💩
posted by y2karl at 1:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


he's not playing chess, just checkers with chess pieces
"King me!"
posted by Floydd at 1:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Now that's the kind of outfit you wear to sing the National Anthem!
posted by zachlipton at 1:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This makes zero sense to me. There are nobody in Europe who are not aware by now how big of an idiot Trump has made of himself so far. How can you live in the US and miss it?/em>

also remember you sent all of your miscreants, misfits, misanthropes, and wackos over here in the 19th and 20th century

posted by entropicamericana at 1:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I don't participate in Fartbook or Shitter but if I did, I'd response to Trumpists with the James O'Keefe method: "I never thought I'd vote for him, but this is changing my mind..." and then rattle off some of the awfullest things Deranged Donald has said as if they're positives.

"You know I've always been kind of a Commie sympathizer and now that North Korea has come out in favor of Trump, that sells me."
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


It's more like we keep on being confused on what moves he's making because we are like "no that is a horrible move" but the thing is he's not playing chess, just checkers with chess pieces

Is he? Or is he playing gin rummy with checker pieces instead of cards?
posted by tobascodagama at 1:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


'How Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are going to have sexual intercourse with Donald Trump'

no shit we're so bad at this
posted by beerperson at 1:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


poor kid is so nervous!
posted by numaner at 1:28 PM on July 27, 2016


guise

guise

remember when the republicans used to say that democratic foreign policy would "embolden our enemies"

seems like only yesterday
posted by murphy slaw at 1:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


'lying about doing an AMA and instead staging a fake one for PR'

Would anyone outside of the internets even understand what an AMA is? Is it PR if no one cares?

I'm trying to picture the nightmare that would be explaining that concept to anyone I know off the innertubes and failing, even before you get to the centipedes part of the explanation.
posted by winna at 1:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


poor kid is so nervous!

He done good though! That high note was lovely.
posted by ashirys at 1:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Naw he's playing Settlers of Catan with Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


God damnit, those fucking horrible Diebold voting machines.

And here I was hoping to not be drunk before the end of the work day.

This is going to be a hard, hard push for a contested election, something that Trump can use to drag down the effectiveness of a Hillary Presidency because she "stole it"
posted by mrzarquon at 1:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Now I'm picturing my elderly aunts fleeing in horror with their tiny manicured hands raised in appeal to the heavens for god's protection from electronic centipedes.
posted by winna at 1:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Can we not with the internet diagnoses? Using crazy as a shorthand for dismissing people's opinions is really not cool.
posted by Deoridhe at 1:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


What are people shouting? It sounds a bit like roll call?
posted by zachlipton at 1:32 PM on July 27, 2016


gavel game was on point just now
posted by numaner at 1:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Whoa. No distinct chorus of nays for Tim Kaine. I thought Busters were hanging their hats on this last bit of business.
posted by acidic at 1:32 PM on July 27, 2016


Bernie delegates crying out "roll call" regarding the VP nom.
posted by Talez at 1:33 PM on July 27, 2016


Is he? Or is he playing gin rummy with checker pieces instead of cards?

"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate."
posted by Celsius1414 at 1:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


what, they want Bernie as VP?
posted by numaner at 1:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


guys

remember when

republicans criticized obama

for being a celebrity
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [66 favorites]


Fox (don't judge me I peek at everything) had a clip of the MTV VJ Kennedy following Jill Stein around for a bit, Shepard Smith perplexedly asked "Why is she shouting?", no good answer but there seemed to be Hil folks in the background that may not have appreciated a green party infiltration.
posted by sammyo at 1:34 PM on July 27, 2016


what, they want Bernie as VP?

Some might, but mostly they don't want Tim Kaine.
posted by fifthrider at 1:34 PM on July 27, 2016


Yes that was people chanting roll call even though there was only one name nominated for VP.
posted by zachlipton at 1:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bruce Schneier: By November, Russian hackers could target voting machines

I was stunned at how btlasé some people in the last thread were about the very likely possibility that a foreign government was actively interfering in our elections.
posted by Sangermaine at 1:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Not wanting to miss a pun opportunity, Reddit's Donald Trump community has raised over $15,000 for Operation Warm, an organization that provides coats for families in need.
OK, there's one decent thing.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


God damnit, those fucking horrible Diebold voting machines.

And here I was hoping to not be drunk before the end of the work day.



WFH FTW!

Also. There is like zero chance that The Donald's hackers can out-hack Hillary Clinton's hackers especially now that she's tot Bernie's hackers on her side. I'll put cash money on Hillary if someone is stupid enough to give me theirs...
posted by mikelieman at 1:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"How Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are going to criticize Trump in a co-ordinated fashion, the likes of which the RNC could only achieve in their wildest fantasies."

Darn, almost had it then failed to stick the non-creepy dismount.
posted by straight at 1:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


To be clear, they needed 300 signatures apparently to put another name in nomination. They didn't bother to do that (or couldn't get the signatures), but wanted a roll call vote anyway? WTF?
posted by zachlipton at 1:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Also. There is like zero chance that The Donald's hackers can out-hack Hillary Clinton's hackers especially now that she's tot Bernie's hackers on her side. I'll put cash money on Hillary if someone is stupid enough to give me theirs...

The claim here from Schneier is that Russian intelligence might have an interest in hacking the voting machines. Russian hacker is best hacker.
posted by dis_integration at 1:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Yes that was people chanting roll call even though there was only one name nominated for VP.

Granted, we just got done with the loud protests over an apparent failure to issue VP nomination forms.

All in all, it seems like the organizers' to keep things going smoothly are having the opposite effect.
posted by fifthrider at 1:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Remember campers, if you can't out rat-fuck your opponent, you don't deserve to win!

Donald is an amateur. He's won the contest to lose to Hillary Clinton in 2016. Good career move for someone who isn't a politician.
posted by mikelieman at 1:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


There is like zero chance that The Donald's hackers can out-hack Hillary Clinton's hackers especially now that she's tot Bernie's hackers on her side. I'll put cash money on Hillary if someone is stupid enough to give me theirs...

I've seen this movie and we're going to need more burgundy leather dusters
posted by beerperson at 1:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


To be clear, they needed 300 signatures apparently to put another name in nomination. They didn't bother to do that (or couldn't get the signatures), but wanted a roll call vote anyway? WTF?

There were claims yesterday that the DNC refused to accept the signatures and ignored them. Dunno. Shrug.
posted by dis_integration at 1:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Russian hacker is best hacker.

That's one opinion. And I guess if you don't have talent in house, that's what you have to do. Look what his in-house speechwriters delivered...
posted by mikelieman at 1:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Help me, my partner is watching another Trump speech happening now (where Trump just said, because of the DNC, "Carson never had a chance"). Sigh. Time to leave the house!
posted by carrienation at 1:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Fox (don't judge me I peek at everything)

Fox? You don't get judged for Fox News. You don't get judged for looking outside the liberal infosphere. It pays to look at everything that's why I read Free Republic, Redstate, /pol/ and even on odd occasions, Stormfront when the shit really hits the fan.
posted by Talez at 1:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Here's the Trump centipede video. It mixes "Centipede" by Knife Party with Trump soundbites and clips. Though having watched this I'm not anything has been clarified.

(Note: it's long but keep watching because it gets crazier and crazier)
posted by Sangermaine at 1:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


There's a little-known DNC bylaw which the Busters hope to exploit in which if they successfully nominate for VP the name 'Sernie Banders' then Clinton has no choice but to let Sanders lead the ticket
posted by beerperson at 1:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Donald Trump. A reddit AMA, and Russian Script Kiddies. We're through the looking glass here, people!
posted by mikelieman at 1:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Journalist (a woman) asks Trump if it's inappropriate to ask Russia or hackers to release emails. Trump: "Be Quiet." ... "I know you want to save Hillary."
posted by zarq at 1:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


The National popular vote needs to be a blow out. 3-5 points. EVERYONE needs to answer truthfully to the polls.

If the blowout is big enough and the polls are all clustered in a range, then fuckery with the vote will be exposed as an impossible outlier.

Data drives the truth, so make the data overwhelmingly tell the story NO ON TRUMP.

When elections are close and polls are all over the place then vote manipulation can happen.

We have to blow this out.
posted by Annika Cicada at 1:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Donald Trump. A reddit AMA, and Russian Script Kiddies. We're through the looking glass here, people!

Actually, they all go together perfectly well.

Tragically.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


As strange as Trump has been over the past months (and he has been amazingly strange), is it just me or has he actually gotten stranger over the last couple of weeks?
posted by winna at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


Help me, my partner is watching another Trump speech happening now (where Trump just said, because of the DNC, "Carson never had a chance").

Carson? Which Carson?

Ben?
Kit?
Johnny?
Rachel?
Daly?

WHO?
posted by zarq at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Here's the Trump centipede video yt

I made about 40 seconds of over 7 minutes before bailing.

This is the best proof I've ever seen that Andy Kaufman is still alive and punking all of us bitches.
posted by mikelieman at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


roomthreeseventeen: Just in case you haven't had your fill of absurdity today, let's not forget there's a Trump @reddit AMA tonight. What could go wrong?


I'm Donald J Trump, AMA

[–]MotherRussiaRules69 462 points 2 hours ago
Comrade, my fellow American friends make money bet. Please to answer: President Putin, great president or greatest president?
posted by bluecore at 1:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [51 favorites]


That's one opinion. And I guess if you don't have talent in house, that's what you have to do. Look what his in-house speechwriters delivered...

If you're suggesting she has the NSA on her side yeah they can probably hang, which is probably the only time you'd catch me saying good for the NSA.
posted by atoxyl at 1:43 PM on July 27, 2016


Oh man. I can't wait to get home and fire this up. I hadn't looked at the lineups for Monday and Tuesday before I watched them, but I did look at today's.
Oh my god.
Jill Biden. Diamond Joe. Gabby Giffords. Leon Panetta. Tim Kaine. Barack Obama.

This is gonna be a big fucking night.
posted by rp at 1:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


As strange as Trump has been over the past months (and he has been amazingly strange), is it just me or has he actually gotten stranger over the last couple of weeks?

Well, someone in a recent thread speculated that once he got his security briefing, he'd do everything he could to NOT win the presidency. This Russia stuff seems to fit that theory.
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 1:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This bit of Trump-related news made me happy today: Scottish Offshore Wind Demonstration Project Triumphs Over Trump
posted by scruss at 1:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Well, someone in a recent thread speculated that once he got his security briefing, he'd do everything he could to NOT win the presidency.

Maybe, but this most recent stuff is like the big speech scene in the sci-fi movie where the villain makes a weird gurgling cough and throws off his human disguise to reveal that he is actually a sentient yeast mold from a failed US Cold War Jello warfare experiment.
posted by winna at 1:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


As strange as Trump has been over the past months (and he has been amazingly strange), is it just me or has he actually gotten stranger over the last couple of weeks?

Yes, and it's just going to get worse. At some point he may actually lose a few votes.
posted by argybarg at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Eleanor Holmes Norton is up now! Statehood statehood statehooooooooood!
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


As strange as Trump has been over the past months (and he has been amazingly strange), is it just me or has he actually gotten stranger over the last couple of weeks?

What was Lenin's line about being invested with dictatorial power? It makes one's head spin? He had a party affirming that he won, and he shut down the never trumpers and quashed all the opposition in the GOP. They're all paying attention to his whims. His head is spinning.
posted by dis_integration at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Eleanor Holmes Norton!
posted by biogeo at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you're suggesting she has the NSA on her side

The NSA? No. Emphatically. Let me say I do not believe any of the "establishment" would ever be involved in this kind of digital ratfucking. All individual actors, and I *doubt* any of the real players would ever pass a security clearance...
posted by mikelieman at 1:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Eleanor Holmes Norton! I love this woman.
posted by Gaz Errant at 1:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Stumpin' for statehood!
posted by cortex at 1:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


His head is spinning.

That, plus the bath salts
posted by beerperson at 1:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


EHN! Now sit up and pay attention.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 1:49 PM on July 27, 2016


Elizabeth Holmes Norton who you might remember for her legendary appearance on The Colbert Report back in 2006.
posted by Talez at 1:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Think "disgruntled ex-Diebold employees"
posted by mikelieman at 1:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I think people don't know that the DC Statehood movement is about spending our own local tax dollars freely. My father is a conservative Republican who Metafilter would hate and who thinks DC Statehood would be a unconstitutional and even he was surprised by that.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT, STATEHOOD FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Boo ya!
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I love the DC Statehood movement. I hope it follows for the rest of our territories.
posted by mrzarquon at 1:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Ok he mentioned ISIS. Will the GOP shut up now?
posted by zachlipton at 1:54 PM on July 27, 2016




My biggest fear is the next round of leaks. We know the Russians hacked the Clinton Foundation too. If I were the FSB, I'd release one round with verifiable legitimate information (credit card numbers and SSN). Once the source was established as bonafide, I'd release a second round with mostly legitimate emails and some carefully manufactured fakes to stir up more discord and conspiracy theories. It wouldn't even matter if it was later determined to be fake, the damage would be done.

I know that sounds very conspiracy theory-esque, but we're living in a world where the FSB drilled a hole into a lab to pass fake urine for Olympic doping tests, so it's not too unrealistic.
posted by bluecore at 1:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


Second most highly voted AMA question for Trump:
"White male medical graduates are largely being replaced by foreign doctors. The hospitals receive a tax break yearly when they select minorities. There are over 10,000 doctors a year that are shut out of residency programs in the name of diversity. What will you do to curb this?"
posted by Yowser at 1:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Weaver, of course, is speaking in her position as head of SCP about the release and containment of SCP #3016, Orange Humanoid Cancer

I hear she's recently been driving a truck around the country, tracking down Trump's connections to the mysterious THISTLE corporation.
posted by schmod at 1:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


No, once Treasonous Trump gets his security clearance, his speeches will be filled with equal proportions of exposed secrets and idiotic misinterpretations of what he was told. Those misinterpretations hopefully will offset some of the National Security damage (his credibility is deteriorating so quickly foreign governments may not be able to take advantage of this). And it'll all be part of my prediction of him losing votes every time he opens his mouth... not all at once (no "Surely this..." moment) but we have 100 days here to watch his support shrink to the "crazy 27%".
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


That is to say, lucky for Trump that it's not a real AMA. Can't decide whether to watch the trainwreck or log out.
posted by Yowser at 1:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That's a lovely fantasy, oneswellfoop, I'd love whatever happy pills you're on.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:58 PM on July 27, 2016


once Treasonous Trump gets his security clearance, his speeches will be filled with equal proportions of exposed secrets and idiotic misinterpretations of what he was told.

My prediction: He will say something totally idiotic and fabricated, he will be called on it as fabricated, and he'll say nuh-uh, I know things, I've got clearance, you don't, neener!
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


So I've already had one Facebook acquaintance claim that Trump wasn't asking Russia to hack US servers, he just asked them to "return what was stolen" (the emails). I was a bit flabbergasted, then saw a Media Matters tweet a few minutes later pointing out that this phrasing was used by Tucker Carlson on Fox News. So the talking points are already out there. Definitely no "Surely this" moment here.
posted by Roommate at 2:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Damn, survivors of gun violence tonight, including Sandy Hook and Emmanuel Church.
posted by mrzarquon at 2:01 PM on July 27, 2016


Go, Maxine!
posted by mothershock at 2:02 PM on July 27, 2016


bluecore:

That's my deepest fear as well. Assange keeps hinting about a leak that will send Hillary to prison. I don't believe there is such a (real) email, but a skilled fabrication could totally derail the election.
posted by argybarg at 2:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


he just asked them to "return what was stolen" (the emails)

If I take a donut from you and then give it to some rando on the street, that is not returning what was stolen, that's just giving stolen goods to someone else.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"I made the decision that was best for me, to have an abortion."
posted by palindromic at 2:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


As always, William S. Burroughs has a relevant quote:

"There may be people who like centipedes... Personally, I would regard such an individual with deep suspicion. I have just petted my cat: 'And how is this good little cat beast?' Now what sort of man or woman or monster would stroke a centipede on his underbelly? 'And here is my good big centipede!' If such a man exists, I say kill him without more ado. He is a traitor to the human race.”
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [42 favorites]


I assume Assange doesn't have anything, since he hasn't released it.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:04 PM on July 27, 2016


I hope you are all right, but the notion that Trump will all of a sudden start losing support is odd. He has done nothing but gain support for the past year. I thought he wouldn't get more than 20% of the Republican vote, but soon he was getting 30%, then 40%. I'm not going to fight the data anymore. There is no "surely this" with Trump. Seriously. You see that, right? There isn't going to be some crazy thing he says that will lose him support. That's entirely backwards. Saying crazy, dangerous stuff is his *brand* -- and more people are buying.

At this point the responsible parties, and the only ones who can make it stop, are Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnel, and every other Republican "leader" who has said Trump is better than Hillary. Until you see those folks rebuke him AND start to support Hillary, this will continue.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 2:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]






I don't think Assange has anything real. We're just talking timing on a falsified dump.
posted by argybarg at 2:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ilyse Hogue's speech just made me so proud to be a supporter of NARAL.
posted by batbat at 2:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Perhaps the Trump stuff can stay in the Day 2 thread and we can actually talk about the DNC convention in here?
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I assume Assange doesn't have anything, since he hasn't released it.

He wants to hurt Clinton as much as possible. I expect selective leaks throughout the election with a dump a few days before election day.
posted by Justinian at 2:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


OK, can anyone come up with a Hillary version of the Cognitive Dissonance game (with rebuttals)?

something like
  • The Democrat Party has nominated a woman who was under investigation by the FBI for having information that was classified after it was put on a private e-mail server (The FBI found no evidence of wrong-doing)
  • The Democrat Party has nominated a woman who as Secretary of State allowed the attack of a United States Embassy and subsequent murder of an ambassador (I don't really know where to start here)
  • The Democrat Party has nominated a woman who is married to Bill Clinton and we all know how that guy is amirite (I guess?)
  • The Democrat Party has nominated a woman (this is way more work than I thought, and the ADHD is kicking in...)
yes, this is a joke
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:07 PM on July 27, 2016


get bent William S. Burroughs, real centipedes are cool.
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yeah, I've never been more worried about the so called "October surprise" than I am this year.
posted by Roommate at 2:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Wasn't there already evidence of tampering (modification, creation out of whole cloth) in the first e-mail release? Any further releases should be assumed compromised.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


yes, this is a joke

You say that, but I had to explain to someone on Facebook today that this long list of Clinton 'wrongdoing' was basically satire.

Critical thinking skills are not for everyone, I guess.
posted by anastasiav at 2:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The closer it gets to the election, the less the federal government will do about anything that looks shady. So as long as Trump still looks worse, she'll win.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:10 PM on July 27, 2016


The claim here from Schneier is that Russian intelligence might have an interest in hacking the voting machines. Russian hacker is best hacker.

Maybe even the best troller. This article fits what I see on /r/Politics.
posted by msalt at 2:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




Well, it's good to know Wikileaks has become a vehicle for Assange to use to settle personal political scores. Well done, Julian.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


I still think Clinton will win.

But I also still think Trump will win no less than 45% of the popular vote.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


The namesake of my old airport!
posted by Talez at 2:13 PM on July 27, 2016


the mysterious THISTLE corporation.
What does this mean? A Google search turns up nothing.
posted by pxe2000 at 2:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yay, Judy Chu! My Congresswoman!
posted by persona au gratin at 2:14 PM on July 27, 2016


Damn. That picture of Mike Honda. I miss having him as my congressman.
posted by Talez at 2:14 PM on July 27, 2016


Go Judy!
posted by persona au gratin at 2:14 PM on July 27, 2016




I'd like to personally request a significant reduction in the amount of satire around here. It is often hard to tell what is and is not satire, especially online, in text-only forums like this.

If you have something to say, please say it clearly and distinctly.
posted by yesster at 2:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


What does this mean? A Google search turns up nothing.


It's from a Podcast, Alice Isn't Dead. Thistle Man is the antagonist.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 2:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


All individual actors, and I *doubt* any of the real players would ever pass a security clearance...

Hacker culture people are no way showing up for Hillary because of her stances on encryption and surveillance and IP. This is kind of a silly discussion but if it really did come down to this I'd still think it would be more academic/industrial/defense/intelligence-establishment-connected security people who would be interested in intervening (unofficially).
posted by atoxyl at 2:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]




yesster: I'd like to personally request a significant reduction in the amount of satire around here. It is often hard to tell what is and is not satire, especially online, in text-only forums like this.

It's hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or not.
posted by clawsoon at 2:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


Why such lukewarm support for restoring the Voting Rights Act? As someone who lives in an affected state, with immediate consequences after its repeal, this is a major priority, and I would expect all liberals/progressives to be on board with that.
posted by Superplin at 2:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


What is the shouting going on during the AAPI speakers?
posted by mothershock at 2:21 PM on July 27, 2016


Even straight-up mainstream news can't resist the snark now.

"I'm not going to tell Putin what to do — why should I tell Putin what to do?" Trump said.

Trump, who once called on Robert Pattinson to break up with Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart, is not exactly known for holding back his thoughts on what others should do.

posted by gimonca at 2:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


So i'm still floored that Judy Chu is the first Chinese American woman elected to congress. Took a while eh, i'm tearing up about it ahh ;;;;;
posted by one teak forest at 2:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I think a lot of people haven't been paying attention to how fucked voting rights are getting again.
posted by atoxyl at 2:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Knowing whether something is satire or not is really quite simple. If it's less absurd than the last thing you heard Trump say, it was satire. If it's more absurd than what you think he could have said, it's a direct quote of his that you aren't yet aware of.
posted by Slackermagee at 2:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I'm excited to hear more Gaysian analysis
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Why such lukewarm support for restoring the Voting Rights Act?

I think it's just early in the day, maybe not everybody has shown up yet. The crowd noise I'm hearing on the YouTube feed sounds like it's probably much louder in the room, just not coming through over the mics.
posted by dnash at 2:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm seriously wondering if a lot of journalists didn't get together and have a bit of a meeting.

"Let's give him as much rope as it takes for him to hang himself."

"NO! Let's give him that much rope, and then some more, to see who else is willing to share the noose!"

That's the only scenario I can envision that justifies the kid-gloves approach the media has taken so far to Trump.
posted by yesster at 2:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


A rumor that CNN is reporting Tim Kaine won't be speaking because they're afraid he'll get booed?! Has anyone else heard this?
posted by Andrhia at 2:25 PM on July 27, 2016


All of the AAPI senators & reps are up on stage (including Guam & Northern Mariana Is), they are all giving short, awesome endorsements. It is worth watching, if you aren't already.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 2:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I dunno, I think that there's some possibility that if Wikileaks just has more of the same, they can dump it in October and it won't do much. Has their most recent one really done much other than render people fractious at the convention? How many people who were seriously going to vote for Hillary are not going to because of this? If they have something genuinely terrible, that might change the game, but if it's just "Democratic Party officials discuss acting improperly, to no one's particular surprise", will it really convince anyone that a Trump administration is a good idea?
posted by Frowner at 2:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


The Democrats need less of a"Get Out The Vote" campaign and more of a "Protect The Vote And The Voter" campaign.
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I mean, faked leaks would be really bad, but it would also come out eventually and that would spell the end of Wikileaks.
posted by Frowner at 2:26 PM on July 27, 2016


That's the only scenario I can envision that justifies the kid-gloves approach the media has taken so far to Trump.

He puts eyeballs on the ads. "What crazy shit did that Trump say now" *click click*.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


that would spell the end of Wikileaks.
But Assange assumes that would happen after President Trump gives him a full pardon and a job as Federal Transparency Officer...
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Frowner: I mean, faked leaks would be really bad, but it would also come out eventually and that would spell the end of Wikileaks.

Probably too late to avoid interfering with election results, though, so it would still be a win for them.
posted by Superplin at 2:29 PM on July 27, 2016


CNN is reporting that Kaine didn't get a formal nominating speech from Rep. Bobby Scott (where someone else stands up and says nice things about him and puts his name into nomination, as is traditional) due to fear of booing.
posted by zachlipton at 2:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


You know, all this talk about Russian spies in the US makes me wish I hadn't binge-watched the first few seasons of The Americans on Netflix or read the post here about the real-life spies the show is based on.
posted by SteveInMaine at 2:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Has their most recent one really done much other than render people fractious at the convention?

Wasn't that essentially the point? Like, they released those leaks that would cause fractures at the DNC right before the DNC - seems like a reasonable strategy.

Nobody but Assange and his mystery hacker know what else they have.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 2:31 PM on July 27, 2016


I’m so sorry, Mitt Romney
posted by zakur at 2:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Apparently there was a ~11 minute video about Clinton's mother (and narrated by Meryl Streep) that was bumped off yesterday's schedule. The Daily Beast has it up.
posted by mhum at 2:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


A rumor that CNN is reporting Tim Kaine won't be speaking because they're afraid he'll get booed?! Has anyone else heard this?

That's what CNN twitter says. Stupid, if true; it's not like they aren't going to be any less whiny during Kaine's actual speech.
posted by tavella at 2:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I feel like the tech entrepreneurs feel really out of their depth when they can't use cat gifs in their presentations.

(pro Cat Gif 2018)
posted by mrzarquon at 2:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Can I just note here that every single speaker gets a different bit of walk out music from the house band, while the GOP house band only knew like five songs?
posted by zachlipton at 2:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Now, I could be wrong but I believe in that montage that preceded the AAPI there was a quick snapshot of Pramila Jayapal who was the featured guest on the latest release of W Kamau Bell & Hari Kondabolu's podcast Politically Re-Active. It's a great episode!
posted by one teak forest at 2:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Probably too late to avoid interfering with election results, though, so it would still be a win for them.

Yeah, but I'm still hoping that Assange wouldn't burn his own organization to the ground purely to install Trump. Maybe he would, I don't know. These are scary times. I really wish that people with legitimate grudges against the US government would think through the actual, lived consequences of installing the Worst Possible President.

If you are committed to the life of an underground hacker-type person, sure, fine, it probably won't make much difference whether you're running from a Democrat or a Republican, and probably you don't want ordinary things like a stable living situation, kids, etc, plus you presumably have powerful allies who can help you get, like, cool underground doctors to help you if you get sick. I'm not knocking that if it's your thing, but just like any specialized profession, it's not the answer to everyone's problems.
posted by Frowner at 2:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


I see nothing on CNN's twitter about Tim Kaine not speaking.
posted by Justinian at 2:34 PM on July 27, 2016


We really and truly are living in the era of post-factual politics. It's bizarre, surreal and frightening:

The best thing Trump has going for him right now is that the ongoing story of a major party nominee who has unclear financial ties to Russia, significant alignment with Russian policy, and effectively encourages Russian cyberattacks, sounds so absurd that voters may find it hard to believe.
posted by My Dad at 2:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


one teak forest: subscribed. Thanks!
posted by persona au gratin at 2:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


DNC STAFFER: Okay, Mayor de Blasio, what do you want for your walkup music?
DE BLASIO: Santana. That great Santana song.
DNCS: Black Magic Woman, okay, we'll—
DB: No, the other—the one he did with the other guy.
DNCS: Tito Puente? You want Oye Como Va, okay, no pro—
DB: No, no the one with, you know. The Blink 182 guy.
posted by cortex at 2:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [32 favorites]


I do appreciate that both entrepreneurs who have spoken so far have come from a tech hub other than Silicon Valley.

They're a married couple, so it's not much of a coincidence.
posted by acidic at 2:37 PM on July 27, 2016


Kinda getting weary of the same litany of Hillary Clinton's accomplishments from speaker after speaker. Maybe these early sessions could be focused on down ticket races and candidates?
posted by notyou at 2:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


> Wikileaks latest balls up: Why Did WikiLeaks Help Dox Most of Turkey’s Adult Female Population?
This sort of thing happened over and over as the rumors swirled out across Twitter, with journalists, cranks, conspiracy theorists, and other people who don’t read Turkish holding up utterly pedestrian content from online discussion forums as proof of … something. Tufekci compared the English-language response to a hypothetical foreign group gaining access to an archive of MetaFilter threads, publishing them online, and a sleuth — non-English-speaking — then plucking out a few that contained a 9/11 truther’s pasted emails to the government and presenting them as new evidence about the attacks’ true perpetrators.
posted by homunculus at 2:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]






Gaysian analysis is all about decision-making based on posteriors.
posted by biogeo at 2:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


I really wish that people with legitimate grudges against the US government would think through the actual, lived consequences of installing the Worst Possible President.

There are many (including Assange) with grudges (legitimate or not) who would genuinely benefit from installing The Worst Possible President. After all, when he gets the power to fire all the Civil Servants, he has to hire sycophants from somewhere...
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


a hypothetical foreign group gaining access to an archive of MetaFilter threads

Oh god we're all doomed.
posted by zachlipton at 2:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


The DNC house band just played a couple bars of the Grammy-award-winning 1999 hit "Smooth" by Santana feat Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty off the multi-platinum album Supernatural
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Is the band playing Somewhere on an electric handsaw?
posted by zachlipton at 2:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I've been knitting a lace doily while watching both conventions. It has an acorn motif in it, so it'll be a suitable memento for this political time: either the planting of the seed of a mighty oak of change, or the election where the US went nuts.

I'm not even USian. But I can see you from my house.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 2:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [55 favorites]


This is a nice tribute, but the music is horrible. It sounds like a parody of an In Memoriam segment.
posted by Gaz Errant at 2:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


jet fuel can't melt steel beams, but name-checking us in an analogy that gets picked up by NY Mag can melt Mefite hearts <3
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Yeah, I'm not sure who decided that a harmonica cover of the song when Tony's dying in West Side Story was the one to go with.
posted by ChuraChura at 2:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


What scares me is that apparently NY Mag and perhaps even hypothetical foreign groups can read the comments down here. I was under the impression I was talking to myself here and y'all were just other parts of my brain who came to keep me company. This changes everything.
posted by zachlipton at 2:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Listing Muhammad Ali as 'Champion/Humanitarian' was a nice touch.
posted by palindromic at 2:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Disability rights take center stage at DNC.

Thanks for posting this, persona au gratin.

Harriet McBryde Johnson's takedown of the Christopher Reeve DNC appearance is fantastic.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I'm not sure who decided that a harmonica cover of the song when Tony's dying in West Side Story was the one to go with.

Pretty sure it was Tim.
posted by Gaz Errant at 2:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This guy is great.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tufekci is watching.
posted by Yowser at 2:52 PM on July 27, 2016


Sarcasm tag
posted by Yowser at 2:53 PM on July 27, 2016


Kinda getting weary of the same litany of Hillary Clinton's accomplishments from speaker after speaker. Maybe these early sessions could be focused on down ticket races and candidates?

notsureifserious.jpg
posted by dersins at 2:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Down Ticket Shout Outs!
posted by mrzarquon at 2:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"If he [Trump] is our standard bearer, what happened to our standards?" Huzzah these videos.
posted by Sweetdefenestration at 2:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Christ is running again.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:54 PM on July 27, 2016


I mean, faked leaks would be really bad, but it would also come out eventually and that would spell the end of Wikileaks.

Probably too late to avoid interfering with election results, though, so it would still be a win for them.


We learned about falsified emails in the existing leak less than week after it happened. The real issue is whether it matters that the falsifications are discovered at all, not how timely the discovery will be.

Yeah, but I'm still hoping that Assange wouldn't burn his own organization to the ground purely to install Trump.

At this point, I don't think Assange cares about his organisation's legacy.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


this most recent stuff is like the big speech scene in the sci-fi movie where the villain makes a weird gurgling cough and throws off his human disguise to reveal that he is actually a sentient yeast mold from a failed US Cold War Jello warfare experiment.

Hey, let's not get personal, bub.
posted by Gelatin at 2:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


Not that "Gaysian" isn't a delightful term in itself, but it'd be nice to mention his name is Rep. Mark Takano.
posted by psoas at 2:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I know it's very intertwined with the election and I know the mods have been keeping everything election in these threads, but I would really love to see the Russia/Trump theme get its own thread. I feel like it's a big enough topic on its own.
posted by triggerfinger at 2:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Serious! The focus has shifted a bit since I contributed that.
posted by notyou at 2:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Christ is running again.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:54 PM on July 27 [+] [!]


OMG I didn't know he ran before? What party? Judean Peoples Front?
posted by ramix at 2:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


SPLITTER
posted by dersins at 2:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


My mayor and cool guy Andrew Gillum just gave a perfectly cromulent speech. On a personal level, he has helped out my nonprofit, and is a totally hoopy frood and I'm glad that he was representing the 850!
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Personally, I'd like to keep everything election-related in one thread.
posted by zachlipton at 3:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Christ is running again.

Woody's got the campaign song ready!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That was a superb film.
posted by persona au gratin at 3:02 PM on July 27, 2016


Robert F'n Rodriguez!
posted by PenDevil at 3:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


We learned about falsified emails in the existing leak less than week after it happened. The real issue is whether it matters that the falsifications are discovered at all, not how timely the discovery will be.

Do you have any links? Searching Google mostly brings up stories about how DNC allegedly faked various things instead.
posted by ymgve at 3:03 PM on July 27, 2016


Fer fucks sake, I just logged on to the live feed and already misty eyed.
posted by Mooski at 3:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Personally, I'd like to keep everything election-related in one thread.

I feel like the convention threads are a good place for minute-to-minute reactions to news releases, then somebody can do a FPP round-up of all the DNCLeaks news once the story settles a bit?
posted by tobascodagama at 3:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Do you have any links? Searching Google mostly brings up stories about how DNC allegedly faked various things instead.

I wanted to put a link in my post, but I ran into the same issue. There was an article that came up in my Twitter feed that talked about this. I'll see if I can find it. But the tampering is supposed to be a key part of the evidence that Russia was the source of the leaks.
posted by tobascodagama at 3:07 PM on July 27, 2016


Park Cannon (D-GA) I'm a woman, I'm African American, I'm queer! We need to trust black women!"
posted by Sophie1 at 3:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


wait a damned minute, was that Dr. Chilton
posted by cortex at 3:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ok this is so much corn I'm getting popcorn lung just watching.
posted by zachlipton at 3:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


omg Debbie Almontaser, I remember learning about her in a metafilter post at some time ago. great to hear from her!!
posted by one teak forest at 3:07 PM on July 27, 2016


RAUL ESPARZA
posted by rewil at 3:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Who are these singers? This is terrible.
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


RAUUUUUUUUUUUUL oh yais
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 3:08 PM on July 27, 2016


Okay I've clearly opened up this stream in the middle of something already in progress but these singers look like an Upright Citizen's Brigade skit
posted by penduluum at 3:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


"the so called "October surprise"

This is where the transplanted face of the Donald Trump, falls off, along with the fingerprints, and the incredulous vote for him anyway.
posted by Oyéah at 3:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


This musical interlude...
posted by mothershock at 3:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Wow these singers are...something else...
posted by ramix at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


There's something comforting in this, a really strong entry in the Cheesiest Song Ever competition. This is the Democratic party of my childhood, or something.

(Also it's not making me tear up, so uh, that's a pleasant break.)
posted by kalimac at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


OK, first fail. Wow, that's bad.

But if that's the low point of the whole event then I'm more than happy.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


The C-SPAN app's audio is delayed like 15 seconds compared to the channel, which is disconcerting when you're trying to use both to follow along.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016


This Vice article mentions the DNCLeak tampering.
posted by tobascodagama at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Did they not rehearse this bit?
posted by palindromic at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


You guys promised I would get misty eyed if I live streamed this! I don't think you meant these singers causing physical pain to my eyes and ears
posted by kanewai at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Are they making it up as they go?????
posted by mothershock at 3:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Let's pretend this never happened and move on.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


This is why we're not allowed in Eurovision.
posted by cortex at 3:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [53 favorites]


Damn but these threads are moving fast. Two things:

1. For those who missed it earlier, North Korea says Trump isn't screwy at all, a wise choice for president is not a satire from The Onion as I thought because it reads like satire. It's from Reuters. A sample:

DPRK Today also said Trump's suggestion that the United States should pull its troops from South Korea until Seoul pays more was the way to achieve Korean unification.

"It turns out that Trump is not the rough-talking, screwy, ignorant candidate they say he is, but is actually a wise politician and a prescient presidential candidate," said the column, written by a China-based Korean scholar identified as Han Yong Muk.

DPRK Today is among a handful of news sites run by the isolated North, although its content is not always handled by the main state-run media.


2. My eyes are killing me. If, like me, you are glued to a computer screen and have been for hours, consider blinking more, taking breaks and doing a few other things to help your eyes. That is all.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


AMERIVISION 2016 now presents its only entry

"AMERICA" by America
posted by penduluum at 3:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


I am suspecting their ear monitors were not working.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


*blinks*

ok, good for another couple of hours...
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


It's a data dump of unknown provenance and handling involving at least one somewhat untrustworthy actor (Wikileaks dumping Turkish women's info is awful). We have no way of knowing whether they are tampered with for sure. Though what I've seen so far makes me think it unlikely as it was all pretty tame and not surprising.
posted by R343L at 3:11 PM on July 27, 2016


Gotta be honest, I muted that and put Fight Song on again.
posted by Gaz Errant at 3:11 PM on July 27, 2016


What the hell was that 'America' song?
posted by lkc at 3:12 PM on July 27, 2016


Sigh. I'm calling it, folks. Those singers just cost Hillary Clinton the election. Get ready for President Trump.

that was satire, also I wasn't even watching
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Now this musical interlude is much better and totally makes up for whatever that was.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:12 PM on July 27, 2016


Was that Jerry Gergich on the Jumbotron?
posted by ActingTheGoat at 3:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


What the hell was that 'America' song?

Apparently a Gloria Estefan song.
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:13 PM on July 27, 2016


"America"
posted by biogeo at 3:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am suspecting their ear monitors were not working.


Or possibly their ears. Hopefully their ears.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 3:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


... He gets You Can Call Me Al?
posted by rewil at 3:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


well, that was the musical equivalent of slowly pouring a bud-light over a massive stack of kraft singles.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 3:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Why is Jackson reading from notes instead of the teleprompter?
posted by Justinian at 3:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


The center lady is reading her notes while singing, maybe the show had to be stretched 5 mins and they just threw those guys out there.
posted by sideshow at 3:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Why is he reading this looking down at the podium instead of using the teleprompter and looking at the audience?
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2016


It's a data dump of unknown provenance and handling involving at least one somewhat untrustworthy actor (Wikileaks dumping Turkish women's info is awful). We have no way of knowing whether they are tampered with for sure. Though what I've seen so far makes me think it unlikely as it was all pretty tame and not surprising.

Wikileaks did not do that dump they linked to it.
.@WikiLeaks didn't upload the #AKP files with the private info on Turkish women - I did (and they've been removed)
posted by yertledaturtle at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2016


Oh, they're playing the America song, turn it up.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2016


After the Dean Scream last night, I mentioned on Twitter that the Crystal Method Dean Scream remix of "Keep Hope Alive" was nowhere to be found on the internet.

Thanks to a friend of mine contacting the original producer, it's back.
posted by dw at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Serious question: I'm not originally from the US so forgive me for not knowing this. What accent does Jesse Jackson have? I cannot place it.
posted by ramix at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2016


Oh dear, Jesse Jackson's speech is reminding me of Ken Kesey's address to my graduating class.
posted by monopas at 3:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Geez, this is like me giving an 8th grade book report. I thought Jackson was better than this?
posted by Justinian at 3:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


But WikiLeaks did release personal info of DNC donors, which is also pretty bad. In general they have never seemed to care about what is in their "leaks".
posted by thefoxgod at 3:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


His accent is affected by some kind of neural damage. He used to articulate better, with a slight "southern preacher" accent.
posted by yesster at 3:17 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm feeling kind of disheartened guys.

Bernie has done a really really good job of selling the whole Hillary is a liar and the DNC are a bunch of crooks narrative. I'm finding it really hard to push people back from that. Even if they agree that Trump is crooked, they still somehow think that he's more trustworthy than she is. The email thing just will not go away.

I heard some people talking about the DNC, and it was like they'd watched a different event. A very cynical, oh politics as usual kind of take on Bernie's endorsement of Hillary.

I find myself wishing for the hundredth time that Bernie had not pushed quite so hard, not made it so very difficult to turn the narrative around. There are people on my Facebook who still seem to believe he will come back and take the Democratic nomination (not a friend, friend of a friend), which at this point is a level of delusion I'm not sure anyone can come back from.
posted by peacheater at 3:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


To be fair, given how absolutely and consistently amazing the whole event has been so far there had to be a lull at some point. I guess the first part of today is it.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:17 PM on July 27, 2016


(his message is good, but he certainly has lost his oratory ooomph)
posted by yesster at 3:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


ramix: He has a slightly Southern accent, but he also speaks with a particular cadence associated with African-American religious leaders, which may be more of what you're hearing?
posted by kalimac at 3:19 PM on July 27, 2016


To be fair, given how absolutely and consistently amazing the whole event has been so far there had to be a lull at some point.

Considering what the night looks like, I think they can get away with it.
posted by Mooski at 3:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yo yo yo yo yo!
What time is it?
Show time!
…like I said…
posted by zachlipton at 3:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]




I feel like I missed all the good parts
posted by kanewai at 3:21 PM on July 27, 2016


There was also a mail that was alleged to come from James Carville circulated on some alt-right sites, but the content of that mail was not in the Wikileaks dump.
posted by ymgve at 3:21 PM on July 27, 2016


So I've mentioned before that I work for a Catholic organization (despite not being Catholic myself). My co-workers all universally express that Trump is a nutter. They all watched Michelle Obama and thought she was amazing. Same with Bill Clinton. I haven't asked where they stand on Hillary but I'm pretty sure they like Tim Kaine (being a good Catholic and all). I think I can be hopeful that they're going to at least not vote for Trump? Right?
posted by cooker girl at 3:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I was really excited to see Rev. Jesse Jackson, but he mostly seems bored. I mean I get it, he's seen some shit. I personally am sure that if I had Jesse Jackson's life, I would have retreated (flown, screaming) from the public eye decades ago.

ramix: it's a kind of South Carolina/deep Appalachian. It's not one you hear very often anymore in the media. Mississippi, central Alabama, poor Georgia, south South Carolina. And on preview: also possibly some kind of neurological issues, yes.
posted by penduluum at 3:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Can we blame Meredith for booking the singers?
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 3:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Bernie has done a really really good job of selling the whole Hillary is a liar and the DNC are a bunch of crooks narrative.

The DNC bit yes, but I don't remember him pushing anything like "Hillary is a liar." As far as I can tell his issues were with Hillary's policies, not anything about her trustworthiness.

I find myself wishing for the hundredth time that Bernie had not pushed quite so hard, not made it so very difficult to turn the narrative around.

This part I agree with. He's not responsible for everything his supporters do, but whichever one talked about him "giving them Mountain Dew and then telling them to be quiet" was on to something, even if his analogy was a bit silly. He could have done much better at arriving at the unity message sooner.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Star Jones is doing the intro to a Flint, MI piece. Ha! Is that a big FU to Michael Moore?
posted by lkc at 3:23 PM on July 27, 2016


Star Jones, in reference to Trump: "Boy bye."
posted by palindromic at 3:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh, god, that poor woman who lost her twins in Flint.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Thisis being circulated on Twitter by people with stunning faith in the legitimacy of random craigslist postings
posted by mothershock at 3:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Kinda getting weary of the same litany of Hillary Clinton's accomplishments from speaker after speaker. Maybe these early sessions could be focused on down ticket races and candidates?


I actually think this is super important for them to be doing. There is a lot of misrepresentation and misperception of HRC's values and accomplishments. All the testimonials about how Clinton has helped people hammer home who she really is and what she's been fighting for her whole career. I know I personally have gained some ammunition for all the arguments I have with people who tell me she's just in it for the glory, or her personal enrichment -- that she doesn't really care about progressive values and is on the side of wall st, not main st.

I'm not sure it makes sense to focus on downticket races at a national convention anyway -- any individual race is only going to be pertinent to a tiny fraction of people there. Seems better to organize that stuff online and locally while helping fund it nationally.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 3:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]




Biden busted in DNC parking lot.

I'm gonna miss the Onion's Biden stuff so much.
posted by rp at 3:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Schedule advisory: "Trump Force One is running a bit late, there will be a delay in the start of the AMA."
posted by zachlipton at 3:27 PM on July 27, 2016




Shut up, Jill, the grown-ups are talking.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


I'm a lifelong Michigander. I opposed Rick Snyder for Governor of Michigan, supporting his less-than-ideal Democratic candidate Virg Bernero. The Flint water failure is a permanent reminder of the danger of electing even ostensibly moderate Republicans, that the modern Republican Party is not to be trusted with governance on any level until they do some serious house-cleaning and soul-searching.
posted by palindromic at 3:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


Can anyone else on a Roku help me figure out how to get it on? I am reading that you can see it on twitch, PBS etc but I don't see it searching for DNC or Democrat.
posted by nakedmolerats at 3:30 PM on July 27, 2016


shaaaaade

boi bye!
posted by numaner at 3:30 PM on July 27, 2016


That's it, Jill Stein just made me regret voting for Nader in 2000.
posted by peeedro at 3:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Petition to stop pretending like what Jill Stein says matters or should be shared, pretty please. I'm sick of her and she doesn't fucking matter.
posted by rorgy at 3:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [51 favorites]


Can anyone else on a Roku help me figure out how to get it on? I am reading that you can see it on twitch, PBS etc but I don't see it searching for DNC or Democrat.

The twitch feed is called 'dnc2016'

Try searching for that.
posted by zachlipton at 3:31 PM on July 27, 2016


Where are you folks watching Jill Stein?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:31 PM on July 27, 2016


Wow, peeedro, you're lucky. I've regretted voting for Nader in 2000 for 16 years.
posted by Don Pepino at 3:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Kinda getting weary of the same litany of Hillary Clinton's accomplishments from speaker after speaker. Maybe these early sessions could be focused on down ticket races and candidates?

It's like top 40 radio: if you're hearing the same song fifteen times a day, it's because you're listening to way, way more radio than anyone expects you to.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 3:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


and why are you folks watching Jill?
posted by numaner at 3:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Hillary for America is now asking me if I have a spare room/couch to put up volunteers. Has anyone done this before? We do have a spare room plus a couch, and it wouldn't be hard to do this for a bit. I'm not sure what the time commitment would be like, or whether it would even make sense in Massachusetts (would people be driving into NH from here, for example?)
posted by peacheater at 3:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"Trump Force One is running a bit late, there will be a delay in the start of the AMA."

Trump Force One? Is that new? or has he always called his plane that?

Hey it is Butterfield from NC...
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:34 PM on July 27, 2016


Tonight I'm not getting on till 8. I need a break for a minute hahahahaha
posted by Annika Cicada at 3:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I linked to a tweet of hers.
posted by persona au gratin at 3:34 PM on July 27, 2016


I linked to a tweet of hers.

Look at what you did. You gave them anxiety.
posted by biogeo at 3:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I like this guy, but I keep missing their names (or I can't figure out how to turn it on on the DNC youtube channel). Who's the Muslim ex-cop?
posted by kanewai at 3:36 PM on July 27, 2016


NPR feed is good. Didn't see Stein though.
posted by Oyéah at 3:36 PM on July 27, 2016


It sounded like a chant of "Hill-a-ry" during the Flint Mayor's speech. Were they trying to drown of BoBers? Whoever it was, I'm pretty sure that a black female mayor of Flint Michigan talking about the criminal horror show foisted upon that city isn't particularly protest-worthy.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 3:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


For the Trump AMA, they've given him the selected questions beforehand, right? And an aide will just cut and paste the semi-carefully crafted responses, right? I'm not sure why they're carrying on the charade of him "arriving" late. As if Trump's sitting at a keyboard typing. Does he even know how to use a computer? I guess if the responses are stream of consciousness with spelling errors, we'll know.
posted by bluecore at 3:36 PM on July 27, 2016


I really like this Andre Carson. He should be a bright upcoming Democratic star.

Also, Karen Bass! Represent!
posted by Sophie1 at 3:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Y'all are helping keep me sane. I look at 538 & the polls and get so, so scared.
posted by pointystick at 3:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I've gone for low rez cspan, so as to avoid overlays and talking heads. Although, I'm about 10 minutes behind, because I keep pausing it to deal with other humans who insist on me paying attention to them.

Is Jesse Jackson ok? He seemed like he didn't want to be there. The flint video is heartbreaking.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:38 PM on July 27, 2016


Biden, who was also selling plastic Frisbees bearing a large letter “H” scrawled in permanent black marker, confirmed that customers could also purchase a bag of mushrooms by using the code words “trip balls.”

I just really wanted to highlight that part.
posted by triggerfinger at 3:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


I've never seen the_donald less racist, anti-LGBT, etc. I have no doubt the media will see through this charade.
posted by Yowser at 3:39 PM on July 27, 2016


After seeing as much of the DNC as I have, without the talking heads, I don't think a Bernie Sander's convention would have appealed as much as this one. This is so inclusive and full of difference even among those that speak of the same topic. Given the nearly singular message that Sander's was known for, I just can't see it impacting as many people as this convention.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 3:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


I'm not sure why they're carrying on the charade of him "arriving" late.

Having worked for a control freak, I can tell you that there will be a great wailing in the Trump campaign should someone post something under his name that he disagrees with when he reads it (even if he agreed with it when it was written five days ago).

Best to wait until he can nod and give a tiny thumbs up.
posted by Mooski at 3:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


The DNC's Youtube stream is also working well if you have a device that supports Youtube (I'm on my desktop right now, but was using Amazing Firestick last night to stream, before my wifi bugged out and I had to resort to MSNBC for Bill's speech)
posted by numaner at 3:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"It's a choice between the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Hate."
posted by zachlipton at 3:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


They need to stop namechecking amazing people, now I want to somehow simultaneously watch this and every Barbara Jordan speech I can find....
posted by kalimac at 3:40 PM on July 27, 2016


Whoever it was, I'm pretty sure that a black female mayor of Flint Michigan talking about the criminal horror show foisted upon that city isn't particularly protest-worthy.

She's at the center of an abuse of funds scandal, so I could see people protesting her.
posted by NoxAeternum at 3:40 PM on July 27, 2016


NPR
posted by Oyéah at 3:40 PM on July 27, 2016


Guy speaking now is doing the high-energy Jesse Jackson rhyming riffs that Jesse Jackson didn't.
posted by cortex at 3:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I watched the entire RNC on twitch just fine then I had a lot of trouble yesterday. There was hacking or something (I've never used twitch before so I'm not sure how it is supposed to work) Lots of weird graphics popped up (such as "citation needed") and then occasional interruptions in the feed where some other audio broke in. Long story short the YouTube feed has been no problem.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:40 PM on July 27, 2016


nthing DNC youtube livestream.

no problems at all.
posted by monopas at 3:42 PM on July 27, 2016


Youtube DNC feed, it's rock solid even all the way at the bottom of Africa.
posted by PenDevil at 3:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Yvette Clarke needs to go out on the campaign trail. That is one freaking charismatic woman.
posted by Sophie1 at 3:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Hillary "Rout 'em" Clinton!
posted by Groundhog Week at 3:44 PM on July 27, 2016


Bernie Sanders received more positive coverage than Hillary in the media and he spent more money that she did. A few internal emails where some DNC person suggested doing something; but then didn't isn't rigging the primary.
posted by humanfont at 3:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


John Lewis did a little dance as he walked off with the CBC, I love it.
posted by biogeo at 3:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm pretty sure we didn't hear Rick James' "Give It To Me Baby" at the RNC.
posted by vverse23 at 3:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Awww look at those ladies (all elected officials) dancing off the stage-- that's something you didn't see at the RNC.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:47 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm pretty sure we didn't hear Rick James' "Give It To Me Baby" at the RNC.

And that's why they were dancing!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:48 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm pretty sure we didn't hear Rick James' "Give It To Me Baby" at the RNC.

Or "transvaginal ultrasounds."
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Ugh. Talking about Republicans making it mandatory for women to have Transvaginal Ultrasounds before getting abortions. They did that here in NC. It sickens me. TU are no joke-- they are invasive and can be painful.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Bernie Sanders
D-VT


For how long though?
posted by PenDevil at 3:51 PM on July 27, 2016


Can someone tell me what the deal is with Trump allegedly asking Russia to hack the Dems' servers? I saw a few references to that but not the underlying story.
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:52 PM on July 27, 2016


Harry Reid was a boxer in his youth. Who knew?
posted by Sophie1 at 3:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I've just had my eyes open to another possible first: a majority of women in one - or both - houses of Congress.
posted by jaruwaan at 3:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I look at 538 & the polls and get so, so scared.

I look at 538 and the polls and get the feeling that no "special sauce" can make sense of forecasting NH for Trump on the basis of him being having no lead in all state polls save one. I don't think 538 does particularly well at forecasting this far out, because it creates the impression of a wildly shifting probable future, which simply isn't the way that the world works. Two weeks ago they thought we had a 70+% chance of living in a world where HRC will win, and now the model think that's shifted to almost 50% on the basis of a fairly small number of national polls. The point is that the data, at this point, really aren't giving us a strong indication of which world we live in, and it's misleading to create the impression that we've received information in the last week or so which genuinely informs us of a 20 odd percent shift in probability. The PEC model is not necessarily (or even probably) more accurate, but in that specific way, it's less misleading
posted by howfar at 3:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Harry Reid has apparently preemptively Dealt With It.
posted by cortex at 3:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Cool shades, Harry.
posted by biogeo at 3:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Hell of a tribute montage for Harry Reid!
posted by rp at 3:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


There are plenty of people in the AMA who are trolling Trump with questions based on blatantly false information to trick him into saying something (even more) stupid, which I kinda wish the media did in their press conferences too.
posted by acidic at 3:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


Can someone tell me what the deal is with Trump allegedly asking Russia to hack the Dems' servers? I saw a few references to that but not the underlying story.

Trump gave a very weird press conference today. Check the end of the previous thread for more.

NYTimes:
“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Mr. Trump said, staring directly into the cameras during a news conference. “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.”

Mr. Trump’s call was an extraordinary moment at a time when Russia is being accused of meddling in the United States’ presidential election. His comments came amid questions about the hacking of the Democratic National Committee’s computer servers, which American intelligence agencies have told the White House they have “high confidence” was the work of the Russian government.

Later in the news conference, when asked if he was really urging a foreign nation to hack into the private email server of Mrs. Clinton, or at least interfere in the nation’s elections, he dismissed the question. “That’s up to the president,” Mr. Trump said, before finally saying “be quiet” to the female questioner. “Let the president talk to them.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


There are plenty of people in the AMA who are trolling Trump with questions based on blatantly false information

I'm seeing lots of deleted posts. They also say "we have temporarily taken extra security measures to keep our community free from troublemakers. We built the wall 10 ft taller, you might say."
posted by waitingtoderail at 3:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Reid is not a great speaker. I admire his legislative record, but this is not a good presentation or likely to convince any moderate republicans.
posted by modernnomad at 3:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This sort of thing happened over and over as the rumors swirled out across Twitter, with journalists, cranks, conspiracy theorists, and other people who don’t read Turkish holding up utterly pedestrian content from online discussion forums as proof of … something.

I know some MeFites like yourself are on the fence, but my colleagues in Turkey are taking the Wikileaks leak of women's personal information very seriously. Maybe people in Turkey are just too close to situation and could benefit from hanging out in the cool detached green of Metafilter instead?
posted by My Dad at 3:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Oh my! This is a come to Jesus speech to republicans
posted by Tarumba at 3:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Love hearing Harry Reid calling out the whole Republican Party for setting the stage for Trump.
posted by airish at 3:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


"You, all right!? I LEARNED IT BY WATCHING YOU"

Oh man, the flashbacks these past couple nights.
posted by rp at 3:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Harry Reid just referenced the fact that Trump is "someone who invited a cyberattack." I wonder how many people on the floor have heard the latest insanity?
posted by Superplin at 3:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Harry Reid: They learned it by watching you!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:00 PM on July 27, 2016


A true come to Jesus speech delivered with the energy and vigor of a guy who just woke up from a 10 year coma!
posted by Justinian at 4:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bring out Biden, Obama, and Kaine! (Yes I know its hours and hours away).
posted by Justinian at 4:00 PM on July 27, 2016


Yeah, Trumps AMA is on his sycophantic subreddit, not r/AMA or r/iama or whatever the normal one is. They are gonna delete/ban anyone that isn't kissing his ass.
posted by lkc at 4:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I bet the people on the floor are the nerdy sorts who obsessively check the news on the smartphones.
posted by biogeo at 4:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Trump gave a very weird press conference today.

And it wasn't only the email thing, it was enough to earn three entries in James Fallows Trump Time Capsule: #58: IRS Audit, #59: 'I Hope Putin Has Hillary's Emails', and #60: Tim Kaine of the Garden State.
posted by peeedro at 4:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Aww at Harry Reid's 'my forever friend, Bernie Sanders.'
posted by palindromic at 4:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I bet the people on the floor are the nerdy sorts who obsessively check the news on the smartphones.

I resemble that remark.
posted by waitingtoderail at 4:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Harry Reid is a tough old bird but he does have an amazingly soft voice. He has a ton of power but you would never guess it from listening to his sweet grandpa voice.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Did Trump's subreddit go back and delete every post and comment before today? A lot more reporters are probably going to check it out now. That can't be a good look for him.

Not that it's mattered before. Sigh...
posted by downtohisturtles at 4:03 PM on July 27, 2016


I know some MeFites like yourself are on the fence, but my colleagues in Turkey are taking the Wikileaks leak of women's personal information very seriously. Maybe people in Turkey are just too close to situation and could benefit from hanging out in the cool detached green of Metafilter instead?

That's a quote from an article, not homunculus' comment. Read both that article and the one it's referencing.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Ugh. Gavin Newsome? Ugh.
posted by lkc at 4:04 PM on July 27, 2016


I love Gavin Newsome and 20 years ago I would have said, presidential material (yeah, I know, the personal skeeze), but today, another white guy? Meh.
posted by Sophie1 at 4:05 PM on July 27, 2016


And it wasn't only the email thing

It was also Trump telling NBC's Katy Tur to "be quiet" because Trump felt she was getting a bit uppity for a female reporter. Oh, and he threatened to "renegotiate" the Geneva Conventions and happily let Putin annex Crimea.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]




Gavin Newsome: "Conversion therapy is not just pray away the gay - it is emotional torture against our most vulnerable citizens, our children."
posted by palindromic at 4:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Harry Reid was a boxer in his youth. Who knew?

Oh he's a fighter all right. From his wikipedia page:
Reid served as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission from 1977 to 1981. When Jack Gordon, La Toya Jackson's future agent and husband, offered Reid a $12,000 bribe to get approval of new games for casinos, Reid brought in the FBI to tape Gordon's bribery attempt and arrest him. After FBI agents interrupted the transaction, as prearranged, Reid lost his temper and began choking Gordon, saying "You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!"
posted by peeedro at 4:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


Gavin Newsom to children watching at home: "When you hear people say you and your family don't matter because of what you look like or who you are or where you live, I want you to know that the people int his room and people all across the country believe that you matter."
posted by zachlipton at 4:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


That was a solid speech from Gavin Newsome.
posted by biogeo at 4:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'll give them this Gavin Newsome spot because he called out emotional torture.
posted by rp at 4:08 PM on July 27, 2016


My congressman! Go, Gallego!
posted by Superplin at 4:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


The only thing that makes me melancholy about the idea of Clinton becoming President is the idea that at some point afterwards you'd end up going back to having some white straight cis man as President and it would seem even more lame by comparison.
posted by howfar at 4:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I look at 538 & the polls and get so, so scared.

"I think anybody who goes into campaigns not running scared can end up losing," Obama advises.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I waded into the Trump AMA. The post went up 40 minutes ago and has 13,000 comments, but Trump hasn't answered anything yet. The top three questions are 2 from Milo Yiannopoulos which I didn't read because fuck that guy, and the third was somebody asking if Trump will legalize weed. #notsatire
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


It's Gavin Newsom.

I thought I was losing my mind, because I remembered it without the "e" and had to look it up just now.
posted by FJT at 4:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Hillary "Rout 'em" Clinton!

I like Hillary Goddamn Clinton, myself
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 4:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


As in "I'm Hillary Goddamn Clinton and this is the job I was born to do."
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 4:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Yeah, Trumps AMA is on his sycophantic subreddit, not r/AMA or r/iama or whatever the normal one is. They are gonna delete/ban anyone that isn't kissing his ass.

Ah, so it's a censorship-filled safe space for the politically correct (in the original sense of the term).
posted by zombieflanders at 4:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


I'm watching the AMA through the overview and we're at 7:13, 13 minutes past the 7 ET return time and not a single AMA question answered.
posted by Talez at 4:13 PM on July 27, 2016


"I'm the Goddamn Rodham"
posted by Captain l'escalier at 4:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


It's Gavin Newsom.
Thanks, I was on autotype and had one of those moments after posting. Solid speech, and he's charming and good at that stuff. I didn't like him much at the end of his mayoral tenure in SF, and still kinda have that knee-jerk reaction to him. Lt. Gov is a fine position for him, I'm sure.
posted by lkc at 4:13 PM on July 27, 2016



It's Gavin Newsom.

I thought I was losing my mind, because I remembered it without the "e" and had to look it up just now.

Damn it, I knew that but copy-pasted
posted by rp at 4:13 PM on July 27, 2016


And it wasn't only the email thing

It was also Trump telling NBC's Katy Tur to "be quiet" because Trump felt she was getting a bit uppity for a female reporter. Oh, and he threatened to "renegotiate" the Geneva Conventions and happily let Putin annex Crimea.


Not to mention his foreign adviser the mysterious "General Quinn" that no one has ever heard of before. Another imaginary friend to go into the box marked "People who only exist in D. Trump's brain."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


The only thing that makes me melancholy about the idea of Clinton becoming President is the idea that at some point afterwards you'd end up going back to having some white straight cis man as President and it would seem even more lame by comparison.

That's one of the things I'm loving about this convention - it is evidence that the Dems can easily run all sorts of 'firsts' for President for a long, long time.
posted by palindromic at 4:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Seems like they're ramping up to me. This feels like a deliberate management of emotion.

I find I don't mind.
posted by Mooski at 4:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Wow, Clinton pushed to raise military survivor benefits from $12k to $100k a year? That's amazing.
posted by Superplin at 4:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


No surprise, the top question on the AMA is this one from Milo Yiannopoulos with a homophobic slur badge next to his name.
posted by zachlipton at 4:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


God. Survivor benefits for soldiers KIA were only $12,000. How the hell could anyone have ever OK'ed that?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


It's lightning. It's thundering. It's pouring down rain. I have a battery-operated laptop and as long as the signal still works, I'm gonna watch. Second night of three that the weather has been a factor. Thank goodness for Twitch's rebroadcast for the parts I miss.

And thank you, Mefites, for the commentary. Yes, it is insightful.
And I look forward to the continuing coverage when President Clinton is in her first year of office. It's like pregnancy -- the work begins with the first day on the job, not before.

Please, don't let passivity or complacency put the wrong man in the Oval Office. Get out and vote.
posted by TrishaU at 4:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


And we have our first answer from the-realDonaldTrump: "Voter fraud is always a serious concern and authorities must be vigilant from keeping those from voting that are not authorized to do so."

Such depth and insight!
posted by zachlipton at 4:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


No surprise, the top question on the AMA is this one from Milo Yiannopoulos with a homophobic slur badge next to his name

It's already been deleted
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:17 PM on July 27, 2016


Curious, how many of you are in swing states? I'm in MA now and used to be in NY, so I've no idea what it's like to live in a swing state.
posted by peacheater at 4:18 PM on July 27, 2016


God. Survivor benefits for soldiers KIA were only $12,000. How the hell could anyone have ever OK'ed that?

Like the minimum wage, because it was probably like that for a long period of time. Increasing any benefit is a massive shitfight in Congress little alone indexation of giving out free cash!
posted by Talez at 4:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Arizona is a swing state this year. so that would be me.
posted by Superplin at 4:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


313 represent represent
posted by rp at 4:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I just got my first rally invite from Reps. John Conyers, Brenda Lawrence and Jim Clyburn in Detroit on Friday.

And now, Detroit's mayor to make my comment seem relevant.
posted by palindromic at 4:20 PM on July 27, 2016


"Voter fraud is always a serious concern and authorities must be vigilant from keeping those from voting that are not authorized to do so."

That already doesn't even sound like Trump typing off his cuff. It's all gonna be canned, polished answers.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'm in VA, the swing commonwealth.
posted by peeedro at 4:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


lol wow. Major cleanup in the AMA. All the 24-point MAGA stuff, BASED MILO, etc comments are gone. Looks very neat and tidy now. I'm sure smarter observers than I screencapped some of the chaos before the mods got to work
posted by prize bull octorok at 4:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


*Raises hand* I'm in Colorado.
posted by mynameisluka at 4:20 PM on July 27, 2016


It's already been deleted

Wow. It had 4127 points when I saw it. Here's a screenshot since I had the tab open.
posted by zachlipton at 4:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I live in NY and have canvassed in PA many, many times. I've grown very fond of PA, but I do feel sorry for those people - they get people coming around to bother them every weekend from labor day to election day. They tell me they're used to it though, and honestly most of the are pretty good-natured about it.
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:21 PM on July 27, 2016


Is PA still a swing state? I guess so. Mostly we get a lot of ads. (Philadelphia is blue as blue can be, so we don't get tons of specialized attention.)

Hah, funny story -- in 2008 I gathered with a couple other Mefites in London to watch the election returns. Every single American in the room was from a swing state, it was delightful.
posted by kalimac at 4:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan: "But unlike Donald Trump, Detroit is only going to do bankruptcy once."
posted by palindromic at 4:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I'm in VA, Richmond so lots of Democrats, but Republicans at work are open about not voting for Trump or outright voting for Hillary. I feel like Kaine made them more comfortable with that idea.

Less populated counties are a different story. Trump signs everywhere.
posted by Tarumba at 4:22 PM on July 27, 2016


so I've no idea what it's like to live in a swing state.

Just from secondhand info from friends in VA: you get bombarded constantly with ads from both sides. constant roto calls and door-to-door canvassing, gently or aggressively nudging you to go vote and to vote for their candidates; those are more often about downticket than for the presidency.
posted by numaner at 4:22 PM on July 27, 2016


Curious, how many of you are in swing states? I'm in MA now and used to be in NY, so I've no idea what it's like to live in a swing state.

So. Many. Political ads. By October, there will be almost nothing but political ads on TV. And you don't even have to live in a swing state, either. For instance, even though DC and Maryland are solid blue, their TV audience markets include Northern Virginia.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm in GA. I think this year we have a chance to make it swing.
posted by biogeo at 4:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Slight program change: Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be playing the role of Martin O'Malley in tonights production.
posted by birdheist at 4:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Ohio, baby. Living in a swing state is...stressful for me.
posted by cooker girl at 4:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Martin O'Malley following a video of Donald Trump saying, "I love war!"
posted by Sophie1 at 4:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Here's a screenshot since I had the tab open.

Is it horrible that I think it's actually a decent question, taken at face value and ignoring the context of the source?
posted by infinitywaltz at 4:24 PM on July 27, 2016


PA is officially a swing state, although they've voted Dem for president in every election since 2004.
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm in Hawaii. The only way we're likely yo be swinging is between Clinton and Stein (because our busters are confident they can vote whatever and not impact the election).
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:25 PM on July 27, 2016


Why is Martin O'Malley so bad at talking?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm in Virginia, just outside Richmond...tons of tRump signs out here, but I salve my nerves with the fact that in 2008, Virginia went blue (and yes, I cried).
posted by PlantGoddess at 4:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


NC here. I live outside Raleigh so until our community was gerrymandered to hell I was always represented by a Democrat. Charlotte and Raleigh are always Blue but NC is a lot of rural farmland and old textile and furniture factory towns. No big surprise the places outside the big cities are red as hell. We went Blue for Obama but then Red for his reelection. It's a bit shaming to tell you the truth especially since I'm a native of California and as liberal as they come. I think we are in play this time around but I'm afraid all of those factory workers out of work will think Trump can save them.

Also at the moment we have a Republican Governor, House, and Senate which is the first time that happened in something like 100 years. Which is why that shitty bathroom bill got through.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


This O'Malley is perky. I live in a cave, I have never seen most of these people. I like them.
posted by Oyéah at 4:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


O'Malley: "Donald Trump's opinion of himself? That's waaaaay too high."
posted by biogeo at 4:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


ooo. BURN.
posted by Mooski at 4:27 PM on July 27, 2016


SCIENCE
posted by biogeo at 4:27 PM on July 27, 2016


(repeat as necessary through the evening)
posted by Mooski at 4:27 PM on July 27, 2016


PA is officially a swing state, although they've voted in a Dem for president in every election since 2004.

PA has gone D in every election since 1988.
posted by chris24 at 4:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


538 does a few different forecasts; the polls-plus one (where they fudge the numbers the most) had Clinton around 70% before the conventions, and it's down to 60% now. Clinton loses NH, FL, OH, and NC but still gets 287. The "current" scenario has Clinton also losing PA, IA, and NV to tip the election to Trump. If even one of PA, OH, NC, or FL stays in the D column, he loses.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 4:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Why is Martin O'Malley so bad at talking?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:25 PM on July 27 [+] [!]


Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Willis?! I will cut you!! That's my MAN! He is MAH GUY!
posted by ramix at 4:28 PM on July 27, 2016


Is it horrible that I think it's actually a decent question, taken at face value and ignoring the context of the source?

Not at all. Asking him about Net Neutrality seems like a good idea. And it was the top question when I opened the tab. Which makes it all the more crazy that it was deleted.
posted by zachlipton at 4:28 PM on July 27, 2016


OH SNAP
posted by biogeo at 4:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ha! Martin O'Malley said that the Chinese would invent Donald Trump if they wanted to build a menace to our country.
posted by Superplin at 4:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'm in VA, Richmond so lots of Democrats, but Republicans at work are open about not voting for Trump or outright voting for Hillary.

Ah yeah Richmond is pretty blue. NoVa has a lot of Republicans, mostly the well-to-do gov't contractors who don't want their tax rates to go up (and because they're in neighborhoods that are mostly insulated from social divisions, they care less about social issues), I'm friends with a few and they talk more about tax than anyone I know, another reason why they migrated from MD or DC to VA, the lower property and income tax.

For instance, even though DC and Maryland are solid blue, their TV audience markets include Northern Virginia.

Haha yeah I see those too! It's so weird to see those ads here, like they're hoping I have VA friends visiting or something.

Less populated counties are a different story. Trump signs everywhere.

I feel like this is true everywhere. Northern MD, around Cumberland, and out east, the drive-through area on the way to the beach, they're everywhere there too.
posted by numaner at 4:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I know some MeFites like yourself are on the fence, but my colleagues in Turkey are taking the Wikileaks leak of women's personal information very seriously.

My Dad: That was a quote. The author was criticizing Western journalists who accepted Wikileaks's framing without investigating the content first. I'm not on the fence, I think what Wikileaks's did was shitty and dangerous.
posted by homunculus at 4:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


At least I'm in MA this time. I can go door knocking in NH.
posted by Talez at 4:29 PM on July 27, 2016


Damn!!!!!
posted by mothershock at 4:29 PM on July 27, 2016


And we have our first answer from the-realDonaldTrump: "Voter fraud is always a serious concern and authorities must be vigilant from keeping those from voting that are not authorized to do so."

Such depth and insight!


He edited it to add:

"2 - Honestly I think NASA is wonderful! America has always led the world in space exploration."

Wow, way to take a stand there.
posted by bluecore at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


What was that Martin O'Malley just did for the camera as he walked off?
posted by zachlipton at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Man, this O'Malley guy should run for president some day.
posted by biogeo at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


#swoon

OMalley I LOOOOVE YOUUUUU!!
posted by ramix at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"It's time to put a bully racist in his place....and a tough woman in hers! The White House!" - Martin O'Malley!
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


A wee jig.
posted by palindromic at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Martin O’Malley's blue tie is very pretty-- it matches the background. Also I love the look of white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up but still wearing a tie. He looks serious but ready to get down to work.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Sigourney Weaver time! Is Susan Sarandon still in the audience, looking glum?
posted by acidic at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"The symbol of America is not a barbed-wire fence it's the goddamn Statue of Liberty."

(*possibly not 100% direct-quote)
posted by rp at 4:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Why is Martin O'Malley so bad at talking?

Disagree, I liked his The Rent is Too Damn High speech.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


PA has gone D in every election since 1988.

Good to know! I've only been paying attention since 2004. ;)
posted by maggiemaggie at 4:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm surprised O'Malley used "ISIS" and not "ISIL". I guess only Obama and his crew has made the jump? I'm trying to decide between "ISIL" and "Daesh" myself, because I sympathize for all the women named Isis.
posted by numaner at 4:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


But wasn't Ripley's stance on aliens rather unforgiving.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


I was hoping O'Malley would start talking about how chaos is a ladder.
posted by drezdn at 4:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


After 3 days, are we finally out of Maryland Democrats?
posted by dw at 4:34 PM on July 27, 2016


For a lot of Americans, Sigourney Weaver is the voice of the Planet Earth documentaries, so there's something subliminal about her talking climate change here.
posted by palindromic at 4:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Principles Before Party
posted by cooker girl at 4:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Hairy Lobster: But wasn't Ripley's stance on aliens rather unforgiving.

Those aliens were pro-global warming, that's why they nested in the hot reactor complex!
posted by bluecore at 4:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]




Martin O’Malley's blue tie is very pretty-- it matches the background.

The way they've controlled the color of the backdrop has been seriously impressive. I was kinda blown away earlier when it was gold. The production of all this has just been staggering.
posted by rp at 4:35 PM on July 27, 2016


Was that... Arnold?
posted by palindromic at 4:35 PM on July 27, 2016


The Climate Change Video is a bit jarring. It is the first time the DNC has reached the TERROR! FEAR! RED ALERT! level of the RNC. It's a bit uncomfortable to watch -- which might be necessary but I think it detracts a bit from the warm fuzzies they have been trying to project.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:36 PM on July 27, 2016


HW and Pope Francis! Nice :)
posted by kalimac at 4:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Was that... Arnold?

Yup: Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear at the Democratic National Convention (in the film)
posted by homunculus at 4:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Depressing scary video about global warming
posted by Tarumba at 4:37 PM on July 27, 2016


I gather that Obama's speech will primarily be about firing up the Fear of Trump, so I don't think we're going to get any less angsty as the evening goes on.
posted by Superplin at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016


Just once, I'd like someone to face challenges from behind and slightly below, instead of head-on.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


It's getting to the fluffy part with renewable energy sources.
posted by Sophie1 at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016


The only thing that makes me melancholy about the idea of Clinton becoming President is the idea that at some point afterwards you'd end up going back to having some white straight cis man as President and it would seem even more lame by comparison.

Every kid eight and under is about to see their first white president. Inshallah they won't see a straight white dude until they're 16.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


Moonbeam!
posted by homunculus at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


SHE DIDN'T ANNOUNCE THE MARINE LIFE INSTITUTE! I'M SO DISAPPOINTED.
posted by numaner at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Unfortunately climate change will provide more warm fuzzies than anyone can handle.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


It needs saying, though. It was a little jarring to hear O'Malley say climate change was "the largest jobs opportunity in 100 years." I mean, yes...but maybe it should be "fighting climate change" instead, Martin.
posted by emjaybee at 4:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The youngest and oldest governor of California.
posted by lkc at 4:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


That video brought some of the gloom and doom of last week back. I was starting to feel good about things again.
posted by zachlipton at 4:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


What are they chanting over Jerry Brown?
posted by Superplin at 4:39 PM on July 27, 2016


For a lot of Americans, Sigourney Weaver is the voice of the Planet Earth documentaries, so there's something subliminal about her talking climate change here.

Seems like they're being really smart about this stuff in terms of trying to peel off fence-sitters - by having Sigourney Weaver they avoid trigger some of the animosity surrounding Al Gore. By having Star Jones intro the piece on Flint, they avoid the animosity surrounding Michael Moore.
posted by bluecore at 4:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Oh, what are they chanting at Jerry Brown?
posted by dw at 4:40 PM on July 27, 2016


What are they chanting? What would be good??
posted by Sweetdefenestration at 4:40 PM on July 27, 2016


Not at all. Asking him about Net Neutrality seems like a good idea. And it was the top question when I opened the tab. Which makes it all the more crazy that it was deleted.

Milo getting himself deleted for sounding too much like a tech journalist is kind of ironic.
posted by Artw at 4:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


The crowd won't stop chanting Jerry Brown's name: "that sounds good, but I've only got five minutes here."
posted by zachlipton at 4:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


That video brought some of the gloom and doom of last week back. I was starting to feel good about things again.

Yes but this threat is real not existential and requires actual action to fix or at least mitigate until we can.
posted by Talez at 4:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Unlike the stories the Republicans were trying to spin last week, climate change is something we really should be afraid of. But we can do something about it.
posted by biogeo at 4:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


What are they chanting over Jerry Brown?

Never make the mistake of believing either side is immune to mob think.
posted by Mooski at 4:41 PM on July 27, 2016


What were the cheers?

Also please US finally accept what the rest of the developed world has accepted since the 90s and stop debating whether climate change exists.
posted by Tarumba at 4:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Jerry Brown! He was Governor of California when I graduated from High School in 1975. I love that you guys voted him in again. He looks good for 78, amazingly, Hollywood good.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I love Gavin Newsome and 20 years ago I would have said, presidential material (yeah, I know, the personal skeeze), but today, another white guy? Meh.

Whoa wtf I've lived in Norcal my whole life but reading this comment I seriously thought "isn't Gavin Newsom black?" until I looked him up. Presumably I was confusing him with Willie Brown but I think I've been under that misapprehension for a weirdly long time.
posted by atoxyl at 4:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yeah, pretty happy with him over here in California.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:43 PM on July 27, 2016


If we ever have to cast an actor for this scene to play Jerry Brown, make sure Jeffrey Tambor is available.
posted by argybarg at 4:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I think tonight is going to be the scare 'em night. The first night was healing the rift, the second night was setting the record straight. Tonight is focusing on the challenges (including Trump) and then tomorrow is how they intend to solve them. It makes perfect sense for a meta-narrative.
posted by gofargogo at 4:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Also please US finally accept what the rest of the developed world has accepted since the 90s and stop debating whether climate change exists.

Poll: 70 percent believe in climate change
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I think they were just chanting "Jerry!" over him. He did mention it sounded good before insisting he begin his talk.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 4:44 PM on July 27, 2016


They were chanting ban fracking now apparently (people are pretty upset at Brown over that issue).
posted by zachlipton at 4:44 PM on July 27, 2016


Never make the mistake of believing either side is immune to mob think.

That is a really unwieldy chant.
posted by contraption at 4:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


If we ever have to cast an actor for this scene to play Jerry Brown, make sure Jeffrey Tambor is available.

And now, the story of a wealthy state who lost everything, and the one son of a governor who had no choice but to keep it all together.

It's Arrested California.
posted by dw at 4:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Also please US finally accept what the rest of the developed world has accepted since the 90s and stop debating whether climate change exists.
Hey, don't forget Australia! We're proudly backwards on this one too!
posted by une_heure_pleine at 4:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Presumably I was confusing him with Willie Brown but I think I've been under that misapprehension for a weirdly long time.

Willie Brown is the one wearing the hat.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Survivor benefits for soldiers KIA were only $12,000. How the hell could anyone have ever OK'ed that?

"Support the troops!"
Note: does not include actual support.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Checking in with Donald on Reddit, we've gotten six vapid sentences out of him in 30 minutes, but we did get this answer to another Milo question, so apparently Milo is allowed to ask stuff, just not anything Donald might have to think about like net neutrality.
posted by zachlipton at 4:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


That is a really unwieldy chant.

*snort*

Yeah, I swear I thought the original question was 'Why' not 'What.'

My bad.
posted by Mooski at 4:46 PM on July 27, 2016


538 does a few different forecasts

And the "nowcast" is the one you should completely ignore, because until November the election ain't now.
posted by holgate at 4:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Just once, I'd like someone to face challenges from behind and slightly below, instead of head-on.

For real! When will we face our challenges with a brutal flanking manuever, opposite our challenges' shield arms?
posted by EatTheWeek at 4:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


There was a comment by a mod saying they were only allowing mods to have one question, and unsurprisingly Milo is a mod there. So they deleted all but one of this questions.
posted by thefoxgod at 4:47 PM on July 27, 2016


Wow that's like a Wolf Blitzer level softball there.
posted by Artw at 4:47 PM on July 27, 2016


alright I should get out of work before they turn off the lights and if I wanna get home in time for primetime speakers! keep at it MeFites I'm going to read all this on the train!
posted by numaner at 4:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


what if Donald just has gotten tired of all this
oooohhhhhhh
posted by angrycat at 4:47 PM on July 27, 2016


Just an update on the Trump AMA, he's made about 4 replies, redditors ha e spent about $300 on internet gold for him, and something or rather happened to cause the thread to fall off of the first page which has that group of redditors screaming censorship and throwing poop around.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 4:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Lee Daniels is rocking my world.
posted by Superplin at 4:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am loving how relentlessly they are hitting so many actual, on the ground, domestic issues that Hillary has actually THOUGHT about, compared to Trump's acceptance speech which was all hand-wavey, scary Muslims -- even his pathetic attempt to "include" the Pulse shooting.
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Lee Daniels lays it ALL down. Totally from the depths of his soul.
posted by Sophie1 at 4:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


oh god. all of the tears time.
posted by acidic at 4:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Christ this hurts to hear.
posted by Mooski at 4:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh no the waterworkssss
posted by Tarumba at 4:49 PM on July 27, 2016


.
posted by Dalby at 4:49 PM on July 27, 2016


The crowd got quiet fast.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:50 PM on July 27, 2016


redditors ha e spent about $300 on internet gold for him

This is perfect. Reddit Gold's benefits are all power-user stuff that don't really matter to anybody who's not an obsessive redditor. So this is literally the most useless campaign donation they could have given him.
posted by tobascodagama at 4:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Okay, item to get off my chest number 1:

538's models are pissing me off this year. It seems like their methodology is "take Hillary's polls, subtract 5 from them, then report that as the model for the final prediction". I'm sure there's a high-flown reason for this, but on the face of it, it really looks arbitrary and stupid. Nobody else is doing that, Nate, and when November comes around, you're gonna have some explaining to do.
posted by gimonca at 4:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


And now Christine Leinonen has pretty much shut down the Bernie crowd. You could literally hear the shushing.

This is so hard to watch. I admire her bravery.
posted by dw at 4:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


She is extraordinary. Her pain is so fresh, and she can still share it with us.
posted by kalimac at 4:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Oh man! I cant watch this. My heart hurts.
posted by ramix at 4:51 PM on July 27, 2016


Poor lady I think it's a little too soon but I see why she would want to be there. It just must be so terrible.
posted by Tarumba at 4:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Willie Brown is the one wearing the hat.
When I lived in San Francisco, Mayor Brown used to shop at the hat store on the block kitty-corner to the block my apartment was on. One day I was rushing to catch a bus and almost decked him on the sidewalk.

posted by kirkaracha at 4:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Having her son's friends literally supporting her is beautiful.
posted by zachlipton at 4:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


"It takes 5 minutes for a church bell to ring 49 times." "The gun that killed my son fires 30 shots a minute" Jesus, I cannot believe the bravery of this woman.
posted by ashirys at 4:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


I'm glad she had friends on stage to hold her together.
posted by emjaybee at 4:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


cheer for Chris Murphy, you heathens!
posted by acidic at 4:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Beautiful speech by Christine Leinonen, mother of Christopher "Drew" Leinonen, who was murdered at the Pulse nightclub. Seemingly every crowd shot includes people giving a standing ovation.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


People are legit crying in the audience
posted by Tarumba at 4:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Jesus, you could hear her sobbing in that group hug. Oof.
posted by zombieflanders at 4:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Hillary is clearly in the pocket of Big Kleenex.
posted by uosuaq at 4:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [48 favorites]


Plus a shot of Lance Bass!
posted by everybody had matching towels at 4:54 PM on July 27, 2016


Item to get off my chest number 2:

Not only is Pennsylvania not a swing state, but there's a vicious toxic undertow in the narrative around it supposedly being one. Some reporter finds a disgruntled coal miner in the middle of nowhere who says he's voting for Trump, figures they've found the "Real America", then reports the guy's beery opinions as a statewide trend, because one angry white guy in the boondocks has an opinion with ten times more value than anybody in Philadelphia. It's a stupid narrative, and it needs to stop.
posted by gimonca at 4:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


just not anything Donald might have to think about...

To which his boilerplate answer is always "we're going to be looking into that."
posted by zakur at 4:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


538's models are pissing me off this year. It seems like their methodology is "take Hillary's polls, subtract 5 from them, then report that as the model for the final prediction". I'm sure there's a high-flown reason for this, but on the face of it, it really looks arbitrary and stupid. Nobody else is doing that, Nate, and when November comes around, you're gonna have some explaining to do.

A few elections ago when Silver nailed it and everyone else whiffed he was the golden boy.
Last few elections he's been darn accurate as well but now he's not the only one to apply the methodologies that he used.
I have a sneaky suspicion that the numbers are being fudged a bit to create a clickbait narrative for the next few months, increase pageviews, then regress to the mean (in this case, Hillary winning) by the time the election rolls around.

Nobody remembers in November what was predicted in July.
posted by splen at 4:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Link to the twitch feed
posted by Shutter at 4:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This is a good speech.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


That was compelling.
What am I supposed to text to where, again? I was listening while cooking and missed the details.
posted by Superplin at 4:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


because one angry white guy in the boondocks has an opinion with ten times more value than anybody in Philadelphia. It's a stupid narrative, and it needs to stop.

Fuck yeah. The belief that "working class" inevitably means "looks a bit like Mike Ditka" needs to go the fuck away soon.
posted by holgate at 4:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Christine Leinonen's speech is already on YouTube. That was powerful.
posted by kanewai at 4:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Nate Silver was obviously spooked by his failure to call Trump correctly, and it is affecting his decision-making and reporting this election. I think he is taking a more conservative (in the statistical sense) approach to analysis - he would rather be in danger of overestimating Trump's chances than underestimating Hillary's so as to not repeat his mistakes from the primary.
posted by palindromic at 4:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Sam Wang at Princeton is, and has been, better than Nate and 538.
posted by chris24 at 5:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Oh Wow. Michael Bloomberg is now on the schedule for tonight.
posted by monopas at 5:00 PM on July 27, 2016


Not only is Pennsylvania not a swing state, but there's a vicious toxic undertow in the narrative around it supposedly being one. Some reporter finds a disgruntled coal miner in the middle of nowhere who says he's voting for Trump, figures they've found the "Real America", then reports the guy's beery opinions as a statewide trend, because one angry white guy in the boondocks has an opinion with ten times more value than anybody in Philadelphia. It's a stupid narrative, and it needs to stop.

If PA is going to be blue regardless and the GOP spends gobs and gobs of money on a fools errand, then I'm fine with the mistake propagating.
posted by Slackermagee at 5:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I don't think there's any reason to accuse Silver of deliberately manipulating models for clicks. I think it's quite possible he's overreacted, in terms of adjusting his model, to doing so badly with Trump in the primaries, though.
posted by tavella at 5:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Not only is Pennsylvania not a swing state, but there's a vicious toxic undertow in the narrative around it supposedly being one.

The polling always shows it being weakly Democratic. The rural areas are conservative but there are less people there, so...
posted by maggiemaggie at 5:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


palindromic: Nate Silver was obviously spooked by his failure to call Trump correctly, and it is affecting his decision-making and reporting this election. I think he is taking a more conservative (in the statistical sense) approach to analysis - he would rather be in danger of overestimating Trump's chances than underestimating Hillary's so as to not repeat his mistakes from the primary.

I agree. I also agree with chris24 that Sam Wang has the most reliable model. It soothes me daily.
posted by Superplin at 5:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Christine Leinonen, a Michigan State trooper, is the loving mother of Drew, a biracial gay man whose grandparents met in an internment camp. Drew's partner, Juan, was Latino and both were killed in Orlando. She came up on that stage with two gay men aND was power embodied.
posted by Sophie1 at 5:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


For the love of god, Hillary, please live up to this support.
posted by Mooski at 5:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [36 favorites]


538 showing Trump carrying Florida seems a bit odd to me, how likely is that?
posted by Artw at 5:02 PM on July 27, 2016


Doesn't Silver admit that the polls are pretty much useless from May to August?
posted by klarck at 5:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Not only is Pennsylvania not a swing state, but there's a vicious toxic undertow in the narrative around it supposedly being one.

I don't mean to be replying to just your comments, sorry :)

Pennsylvania is a swing state if you define a swing state as being within the MOE, let's say 4% points. Hillary will take it, I'm pretty darn sure, but it's going to be closer than people thing. The big red T isn't getting any smaller and Trump plays well in Scranton and Allentown. The whole McGinty v. Toomey sludge war isn't exactly motivating anyone to run to the polls.

I'm tired of the coal miner narrative as well, but stereotypes are stereotypes. Every Philadelphian eats 2 cheesesteaks a day, Pittsburgh is perpetually covered in smog and everyone works in the steel mill, etc.
posted by splen at 5:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


So we've been talking about how well run this convention has been: the lighting, the podium, the backdrop, the videos, the make up, etc. I was wondering if that was all on DWS? As (former) chairwoman of the DNC was the organization of the event part of her remit? If so, then I feel especially sad for her that she got booted right before it kicked off. I wonder where she is and if she is watching it on her laptop?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


There is a second Twitch thing that appears to have a much more heavily moderated chat, YMMV.
posted by ethansr at 5:02 PM on July 27, 2016


"My mom didn't die. She was murdered."
"I would give every day I have left for one more day with my mom."

This is amazing.
posted by rp at 5:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


"I don't want to be here."

This is hard, but so important. Sandy Hook was a tragedy, our inability to pass sensible gun legislation in its wake is another tragedy.
posted by Superplin at 5:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Superplin I believe it's text Laws to 47246.
posted by persephone's rant at 5:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Not only is Pennsylvania not a swing state, but there's a vicious toxic undertow in the narrative around it supposedly being one.

According to Nate Silver, Pennsylvania is the state in which Clinton currently has the slimmest lead (namely, 0.9%). By any reasonable metric, it is a swing state. But you are correct in observing that most political reporting is based on anecdotes, and is entirely without merit.
posted by Abelian Grape at 5:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Feels train is not going to stop anywhere to let me off, tonight.
posted by ftm at 5:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Thanks, Persephone's Rant!
posted by Superplin at 5:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Shit I just remembered all those idiots who think Sandy hook was a hoax and I'm really angry
posted by Tarumba at 5:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Fuck. I have a six year old daughter who is starting 1st grade in two weeks. This. THIS is the one that's breaking me.
posted by jammer at 5:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I don't think there's any reason to accuse Silver of deliberately manipulating models for clicks. I think it's quite possible he's overreacted, in terms of adjusting his model, to doing so badly with Trump in the primaries, though.

Yeah, that's a sensible take. Silver's reputation is based entirely on his accuracy, so throwing that away on clickbait would definitely damage his brand in the long-term.

Doesn't Silver admit that the polls are pretty much useless from May to August?

On the other hand, this. He actually had a big post about how polls right around the conventions are not very predictive. So the fact that he's still publishing Nowcasts during the convention season is a bit inconsistent with someone who's solely interested in predicting the final election results.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'm out from watching for a while. I lose all ability to respond rationally during Sandy Hook talk. I'll keep following the blue.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


DWS is currently residing in the Where Are They Now? file.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Wikileaks just dropped voicemail messages.
posted by Talez at 5:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


But only a little. I don't think he's compromised himself in search of clicks or anything. Just to be clear.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Voter fraud is always a serious concern and authorities must be vigilant from keeping those from voting that are not authorized to do so."

That already doesn't even sound like Trump typing off his cuff. It's all gonna be canned, polished answers.


Which is weird because that sentence is kind of clunky (vigilant from?) and given the nature of the forum, he's could pretty much reply "I think we should round up all the Jews....I mean Muslims! I meant Muslims. The United States can no longer afford to suffer the characteristic beside the owing headache. Beneath our frozen attack dances an embarrassing author. The reminder connects the elitist. Gliberschnortz! "Lkladgjasknihq03lsg::::mkmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..." and they'll love him for it.

The rest of the interwebs, who get how an AMA is supposed to work, is going to roll their eyes at the sad affair and it's mostly going to be invisible to non-netizens. This seems like doing a lot of work to get a think you're already going to get.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I have a sneaky suspicion that the numbers are being fudged a bit to create a clickbait narrative for the next few months, increase pageviews, then regress to the mean (in this case, Hillary winning) by the time the election rolls around.

Or, Trump got a convention bounce, like most candidates do, and so 538's model reflects that? There's been several national polls out in the past few days which show a dead heat or Trump in the lead. Romney led at this point in 2012 as well.

Seems a bit early to go all "we must unskew the polls". It would be nice if that Mussolini-manqué act he put on last week actually dragged Trump down, but being a mad bully has helped, not hurt, him so far. If Hilary, as most pols do, also gets a convention bounce, then we should see her pull back ahead. That's pretty much what you'd expect. And that's what Silver has been saying about his model, aslo, ever since he released it a few weeks ago--- it bounces around a lot until after the conventions after which the picture becomes clearer.
posted by maggiepolitt at 5:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


So we've been talking about how well run this convention has been: the lighting, the podium, the backdrop, the videos, the make up, etc. I was wondering if that was all on DWS?

Somebody in the last thread shouted out the actual convention organiser's name, but I can't remember it for the life of me right now. DWS surely hired her, but it wasn't DWS herself.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The speeches of Christine Leinonen and Erica Smigielski should be mandatory viewing for every single legislator who opposes gun control.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 5:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


I have a sneaky suspicion that the numbers are being fudged a bit to create a clickbait narrative for the next few months, increase pageviews, then regress to the mean

I'm not going to play unskewerererer. I also don't think there's a fudge. What rankles is Silver's willingness to court traffic for the nowcast when he's made clear that summer polling is noisy and messy and historically less predictive than spring polling. His argument for putting his thumb on the scale is that the 2014 polls were biased +D, but there's still not the volume nor breadth of state-level polling to feed into the number cruncher.

In short, I don't mind 538 living and dying by its methodology right through campaign season. I'm just not going to pay attention till September.
posted by holgate at 5:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


The CEO of the convention is Rev. Daughtry i believe.
posted by ramix at 5:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




I don't think there's any reason to accuse Silver of deliberately manipulating models for clicks. I think it's quite possible he's overreacted, in terms of adjusting his model, to doing so badly with Trump in the primaries, though.

He said himself that the problem wasn't his data, it was his inability to believe it.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


So we've been talking about how well run this convention has been: the lighting, the podium, the backdrop, the videos, the make up, etc. I was wondering if that was all on DWS? As (former) chairwoman of the DNC was the organization of the event part of her remit?

It's Rev. Leah Daughtry who also ran the Dem convention in '08 which was also an amazing production.
posted by billyfleetwood at 5:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


everybody had matching towels, I give you all my favorites.
posted by persephone's rant at 5:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




> "Not only is Pennsylvania not a swing state ..."

I really wouldn't be 100% sure about that this year. Things change. Princeton Election Consortium has it as likelier to go Dem than not, but nonetheless rates it as swingier than North Carolina right now (although less swingy than Florida, Iowa, or Nevada). Electoral-Vote.com ranks it as "barely Democratic", just above a tie in the polling. Even if there's been a convention bounce for the Republicans, I don't think PA can be taken for granted this year.
posted by kyrademon at 5:10 PM on July 27, 2016


My impression from my sister is that the convention team is fairly isolated from the DNC as a whole. I.e., the DNC picks the CEO and top level team and then it's basically its own thing. So they picked competent people but aren't directly responsible for their results. That's the logistics and production, though -- who gets picked to speak is much more of a Democratic party thing, I suspect.
posted by tavella at 5:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I still can't believe that Angela Bassett is 57.
posted by Talez at 5:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Give Angela Bassett a leading role in an epic space opera, and I will give you all my money.
posted by palindromic at 5:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Give Angela Bassett a leading role in an epic space opera, and I will give you all my money.

She's featured heavily in season 3 of Bojack Horseman.
posted by Talez at 5:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


After binging through Bojack hearing Angela Bassett being even more deadly serious IRL is something.
posted by lkc at 5:12 PM on July 27, 2016


So let me get this straight, Wikileaks has had the data for a while and yet so conveniently manages to schedule releases at the optimal time to try and hurt the DNC? Yup that's some impartial shit right there /eyeroll
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Angela Bassett can fuggin SPEAK.
posted by Mooski at 5:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Man this convention has had me just crying and crying. I guess that's good? It's better than foaming at the mouth, I guess.
posted by dis_integration at 5:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]




"Swing state" vs. "not a swing state" isn't a binary question. Some states are very "swing-y" some not-at-all "swingy", and some are in between. There is also the ticket-splitting effect where some states are reliably red for President but blue or purple for other statewide offices (or vice versa) that makes this false dichotomy even more problematic when it comes to these conversations. Furthermore, there are issues that resonate in some states that can at a moment's notice overturn everything we think we know about how red or blue a state is.

All of these factors are in play in Pennsylvania. Yes, we've gone blue for President since Clinton 42, but all the while it's tended to have one each of D and R Senators, and has flipped back and forth between Democratic and Republican governors. Furthermore, the "Pennsyltucky" factor confounds simple analysis of how Presidential campaigns will resonate here. It's perhaps the most pro-gun blue state, it's a very old state demographically (the oldest behind Florida maybe?) and there's a "Reagan Democrat" streak with respect to tight budgetary policy, loving tax cuts, etc.

I think these factors help explain some of (but not all) of the appeal of Trump, and why the margin is so tight here. So, no, describing PA as a swing state isn't "stupid" at all. I mean, yes, if you have to force it into a binary choice, maybe it's likely to stay blue for President (especially after the convention bounce and eventually the debates). But once you look at the question with any level of nuance, I think it's very accurate to describe it as "swingy."
posted by tonycpsu at 5:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


So let me get this straight, Wikileaks has had the data for a while and yet so conveniently manages to schedule releases at the optimal time to try and hurt the DNC? Yup that's some impartial shit right there /eyeroll

Oh I'm sure they were just taking the time to carefully go through all the data and responsibly redact personal information, credit card numbers, etc... /yeahright
posted by zachlipton at 5:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


So let me get this straight, Wikileaks has had the data for a while and yet so conveniently manages to schedule releases at the optimal time to try and hurt the DNC? Yup that's some impartial shit right there /eyeroll


According to the NYT, they've had them for six weeks and didn't release them.

All a sudden the Bernie supporters are so pissed.
posted by dw at 5:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Wow, all that, and then Gabby Giffords. Whoever lined this up is like no, you are going to freaking get the message about gun violence this time.
posted by cashman at 5:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Georgia is a swing state this year. It's been great to see us represented by some of our very best at the DNC: US Rep John Lewis (national hero and treasure), GA Rep Stacey Abrams (I got to see her interview Ta-Nehisi Coates at his book signing here last year--she is amazing!), former GA Sen (and hopefully future governor and obviously the Great Man's grandson) Jason Carter, GA Rep Park Cannon (the amazing queer woman who spoke a few minutes ago), and I believe later tonight, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Looking forward to turning this state so blue that the good ole boys won't know what happened.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]




I also don't think there's a fudge.

Nate's very clear on what he's doing with the numbers, showing the specific adjustments he's making for "likely voters", third party effects, and what he calls a "trend line", which is pure fudge. Here's Florida's:

Adjust for trend line -1.1 (Clinton) +1.6 (Trump) +0.1 (Johnson)

Three weeks ago he had Clinton at over 60%, then nosediving July 8/9 down to just under 50%. He's predicting a further decline for her post-convention.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 5:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I need Amazon's drones to bring me some tissues. I'm running out.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The first Wikileaks voicemail is a small child (<5yo) saying goodnight to their daddy, which is pretty adorable.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Seeing all these people affected by gun violence makes me wonder, has ANYONE who is a survivor or family member of mass shootings come out in favor of the GOP position that we need more guns or looser gun laws to stop bad guys?
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


oh man i wonder what diamond joe's walk on song is gonna be tonight

i hope it's rapper's delight
posted by poffin boffin at 5:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


It will be "Little Red Corvette" or it will be bullshit.
posted by palindromic at 5:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


And BTW they didn't redact phone numbers, so thanks for doxxing the parents of that little kid, you fucking assholes.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


So let me get this straight, Wikileaks has had the data for a while and yet so conveniently manages to schedule releases at the optimal time to try and hurt the DNC? Yup that's some impartial shit right there /eyeroll

Assange doesn't quite admit timing the leak for maximum political damage in this interview, but the way he's gloating about the effect of the leaks there, combined with the fact he sat on them for so long without bothering to do any redaction... It's not a good look. I mean, insofar as a justice-evading rapist can look any worse than he already does, it looks pretty bad.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Herodios wrote:

GOP came to Cleveland for its Public Transit -- While Here They Made Transit Cuts Part of Platform . . .

Republicans want to end all federal funding for mass transit, which they call “an inherently local affair that serves only a small portion of the population, concentrated in six big cities.” [rural transit ridership is growing.]

The platform calls for the federal government to get the heck out of “bike-share programs, sidewalks, recreational trails, landscaping, and historical renovations,” arguing that money for these community game-changers should come from “other sources.”


The crazy thing about this, is that it isn't even the Republican position. It is the position of a fairly small, far-right segment of the party. I guess in that sense it is more evidence that the R's platform development process really was taken over by extremist, regressive elements.

The reason I say that eliminating transit, bicycle, and pedestrian funding isn't even the Republican position, is that it has been floated here and there--and knocked down, every time, by Republicans.

Particularly, when Eric Cantor was in House leadership ca. 2011-2012, he along with henchmen John Boehner and John Mica made eliminating bicycle and pedestrian funding and decimating transit funding a priority. But the resulting transportation bill was so "uniquely terrible" that they couldn't even get it through the House, which was heavily dominated by Republicans.

When a few far-right wackos tried the same type of thing in my own state (Missouri)--stripping bicycle funding from a proposed transportation funding bill--the proposal was annihilated by a vote of something like 85%/15%. And that at a time when the Missouri House of Representatives had a veto-proof Republican majority.

These people don't even know what their own supporters want or need . . .

[Hint: People walk, bicycle, and use transit in a lot more than just the six largest cities in the U.S. In Missouri, we have 114 counties. About 90% of them are rural in character. Every one of them has a public transit agency--because guess what? People in small towns and rural areas need to go places, too. The average American lives 10 years long than he/she can drive; about 30% of the population doesn't have a drivers license. Some people can't drive (too old, too young, disabled, etc), some don't want to, some can't afford it. Some just want some options--some choice. This applies in rural and small town America just the same as in the cities. And it applies to Republicans and Democrats alike--like it or not . . . ]
posted by flug at 5:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Apparently scheduled between 8:00 and 9:00pm (Eastern) this evening, a host of Broadway stars will perform "What The World Needs Now," - a charity single they recorded in the wake of the Orlando shooting.
posted by dnash at 5:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The first Wikileaks voicemail is a small child (<5yo) saying goodnight to their daddy, which is pretty adorable sickening that it's been hacked and posted on the internet for absolute no good reason.
posted by zachlipton at 5:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


I think one of the reasons the national media are always making ridiculous statements about the northern tier of states from PA to MN maybe going Republican every effin cycle is a conflation of the Midlands (Ohio Valley) and the Great Lakes basin. The former was settled a generation earlier, through the Cumberland Gap; while the latter was settled primarily by New Yorkers and New Englanders coming west via the Erie Canal and the lakes. That founding DNA lingers on, as it so often does, in cultural folkways that I don't think East Coast public intellectual types think about when referencing "flyover country" or "The Midwest". There's a pretty solid dialect line (call it 50 miles south of I-80) which to this Michigan-reared Chicagoan sounds suspiciously Southern and I think that's the true reason Ohio, right on the fault line, is such a pivotal state, whereas Indiana with its population center further south is red and Illinois is blue.

PA also has the confounding Appalachian factor which tips it more red than it might otherwise be. But as others have pointed out it seems to be a narrow but durable blue majority state.
posted by tivalasvegas at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh fuck, Gabby Giffords.
posted by lkc at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016


(Not digging the smooth-jazz walkon music...)
posted by Lyme Drop at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


There has to be some kind of compelling motivation for Nate Silver/538, and others, to make the race look tight, just to minimize complacency.

I could understand that, I guess.

I'm gonna shut up now. Gabby Giffords is talking.
posted by yesster at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016


GA Rep Park Cannon

Ah! I was listening to the audio feed and thought she said she was "part [something]". It's been bugging me.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016


Gabby Gifford is such a fucking hero.
posted by penduluum at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


aaaaaughhhh, I wish I had done better research on what was going on in the city this week. I could have seen Gabby Giffords and John Lewis at a rally like a mile from where I live!
posted by kalimac at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016


I just ran out of Kleenex! I'm using my kid's shirt to blow my nose. I'm bawling like a baby!
posted by ramix at 5:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


One thing I'm finding so incredibly remarkable is hearing so many speakers acknowledging Hillary's motherhood—and grandmother-hood—without making any excuses for it or framing it as some kind of liability she's had to overcome. I don't think I've ever witnessed this kind of honest, non-pandering, non-condescending, non–lip service embrace of motherhood as a point of competence and even importance as a plain old fact of a candidate's life on a national stage. It is so, so powerful to see that.
posted by mothershock at 5:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


She's a stud.
posted by Lyme Drop at 5:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


From Twitter I get that there was nothing juicy in voicemails. Apparently just boring stuff and a couple of people complaining they were too supporting of Sanders.

Hehe
posted by Tarumba at 5:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"Speaking is difficult for me. But come January, I want to say these two words: Madam President"
posted by zachlipton at 5:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [50 favorites]


I don't think she even used her prompter. What a powerhouse speech.
posted by tonycpsu at 5:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Gabrielle Giffords, I will go to the mat so tough for you. I got your back.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


If the convention floor could get even more on its feet for Gabby Giffords, it would. I am waiting for them all to start levitating or something
posted by kalimac at 5:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


As Laurie Penny tweeted just now, "They haven't said the names of any of the shooters during these speeches on gun violence. Huge respect for that. #DemsinPhilly #guncontrol"
posted by Celsius1414 at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [36 favorites]


AMA update.
Q: Which US president do you admire the most?

Trump: There have been many amazing Presidents in American history, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan, all of whom I greatly admire.
Motherfucker you don't even know what you fucking admire since you want to "bomb the shit out of ISIS" and Eisenhower warned us about the military-industrial complex.
posted by Talez at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


oh man i wonder what diamond joe's walk on song is gonna be tonight

I've got money on Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult.
posted by penduluum at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


The great thing about Gifford's speech is how upbeat and, as some would say, high energy it was.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I briefly dated Gabby Gifford's (former?) campaign manager. He ghosted on me.
So he turned out to be kind of a douche, but he said that she is the most amazing person he's ever met. I have no trouble believing it.
posted by Superplin at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Holy. Shit.
posted by cooker girl at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


If it's possible to suffer dehydration from tears, I am there.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"I want to say these two words -- Madam President," Gabby Giffords
You're mouth to God's ear.
posted by TrishaU at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


a couple of people complaining they were too supporting of Sanders.

Is this true or sarcastic?
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016


Gabby Giffords is amazing.
posted by Akhu at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016


Yeah, I listened to the longer ones. Nothing there. It's weird. I feel like I'm missing something.

THIS INFORMATION WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING

*weak fart noise*
posted by Hairy Lobster at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


"Speaking is difficult for me. But come January, I want to say these two words: Madam President"

She got me with that line.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 5:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Enough with Laurie Penny please.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


OK honest question to gauge my own natural cynicality.
Apparently its an "explosive revelation" that the DNC gave perks, face-time and in-person dinners in exchange for big contributions.
I either thought or assumed that that is how its always been.
Am I wrong?
posted by Senor Cardgage at 5:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


True! I mean as peer tweeter.
posted by Tarumba at 5:25 PM on July 27, 2016


> oh man i wonder what diamond joe's walk on song is gonna be tonight

What, not something from Liquid Swords?
posted by mrzarquon at 5:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Is anyone else enjoying the Trump tweets from Owen Ellickson?

Full Trump tweet timeline
posted by GhostintheMachine at 5:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Is this when I start crying in my college cafeteria? Yes, yes it is.
posted by spinifex23 at 5:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Cagney & Lacy!!
posted by cooker girl at 5:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Joe Biden needs to come on to Foghat's Slow Ride
posted by vuron at 5:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Now we've got a live performance of the Broadway For Orlando recording, featuring basically everyone not named Lin-Manuel from Broadway (he's still on vacation in Puerto Rico, sadly, though I hold out hope that's part of a disinformation campaign he's running on Twitter).
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Sharon Gless! F yeah!
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh shit. Was that Ricky from My So-Called Life?
posted by mhum at 5:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Who knew the human body could produce so much tears and snot?!
Damn!
posted by ramix at 5:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Pennsylvania is more purple on the Senate race -- I voted for McGinty but she's an iffy bet to beat Toomey, even before calling him an asshole at a DNC event -- than it will be in the big election. While Donald does resonate out in the sticks -- I've seen my share of TRUMP THE BITCH! stickers on stop signs out towards Lancaster -- if you're suggesting that heavily-black Philadelphia and Pittsburgh won't come out for a Clinton this year en masse, I have a Platt Bridge to sell you.

Also Biden needs to come out to some Joe Walsh. A couple of good choices there.
posted by delfin at 5:28 PM on July 27, 2016


What, not something from Liquid Swords?

Indeed. :)
posted by Celsius1414 at 5:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This song is amazing, but the mic passing is kind of weird!
posted by ashirys at 5:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


> Joe Biden needs to come on to Foghat's Slow Ride

Honestly, I want him to drive his transam onto the stage.
posted by mrzarquon at 5:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Has a political party ever based itself on love?
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:28 PM on July 27, 2016




Aw, Rosie Perez can't sing :D
posted by palindromic at 5:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


also honestly hillary's should be mama said knock you out every single entrance for the next 8 years
posted by poffin boffin at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [37 favorites]


From Twitter I get that there was nothing juicy in voicemails.

Well, it's much easier to search through e-mails, obviously. So if there's anything juicy in the voicemails, it'll probably be a while before anybody finds anything.

Assange is just trying to disrupt the news cycle, that's all.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Glad that's over.
posted by dry white toast at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm really surprised that so many people are so lah-dee-dah about the DNC emails and voicemails.

Sure, there might be some embarrassing things in them, but that doesn't make any of this right. Secure communications are essential to any political campaign, and an important element of a functioning democracy.

There's a reason Nixon had to resign and G. Gordon Liddy went to jail.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Did Trump just dodge a question on which president he admires most?

"All of them, Katie."
posted by holgate at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Was that Ricky from My So-Called Life?
Probably. One of the victims, Brenda McCool, was a relative of Wilson Cruz's.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016


Gabby Giffords made me cry

And now all these singers low key snatching the mic from each other is making me laugh
posted by schadenfrau at 5:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


FEEEEEEL THE LOOOOOVE!!! FEEEEEL IT! (whether you want to or not!!)
posted by ramix at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016


What, not something from Liquid Swords?

Ooh I'm changing my answer
posted by penduluum at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I will remember this chant right here for a very long time. This is the memory I want to take with me from this week.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE <3
posted by sallybrown at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Why couldn't they have had more microphones? The song was lovely but that was super weird.
posted by mochapickle at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016


I think these factors help explain some of (but not all) of the appeal of Trump, and why the margin is so tight here. So, no, describing PA as a swing state isn't "stupid" at all. I mean, yes, if you have to force it into a binary choice, maybe it's likely to stay blue for President (especially after the convention bounce and eventually the debates). But once you look at the question with any level of nuance, I think it's very accurate to describe it as "swingy."

The Republicans make noise every four years about picking off Pennsylvania, and it's always kind of silly because it's like - if they win Pennsylvania, they win a bunch of other states that put them over the top already. Pennsylvania (like Georgia for Dems) wasn't going to be the tipping point. This year, though, it might be. It's a lot whiter than other swing states (78% compared to 51% in NV), and this election, even more than the past few, appears to be dividing along racial lines. It wouldn't totally surprise me if Clinton won with Nevada, North Carolina, and Colorado even while losing Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
posted by one_bean at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016


I mean, they said it was "Broadway's brightest lights," but I didn't see anyone from Hamilton, sooooo ....

Just kidding, they had some amazing people up there. But I'm one of the people pining for LMM or at least Leslie Odom/Chris Jackson to make an appearance.
posted by lunasol at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Trump: There have been many amazing Presidents in American history, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan, all of whom I greatly admire.

"Shit," says Trump's press stooge, "Who are four presidents that we can be pretty sure the boss's followers will recognize the names of?"
posted by rifflesby at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


It sounds like Gabby Giffords' speech is a little more fluid than the last time I watched her speak, back in March or so? I'm just really hoping she's getting better and better.
posted by zutalors! at 5:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Twitter voicemail talk
posted by Tarumba at 5:31 PM on July 27, 2016


This video was linked earlier, it's all clips from GOP national security folks.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:31 PM on July 27, 2016




Joe Biden needs to come on to Foghat's Slow Ride


By driving on stage in a T-Bird.
posted by drezdn at 5:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I'm getting really tired of these stupid white guys saying stupid shit so the media won't focus too much on the speakers here with, you know, actually something to say. Because god forbid we don't pay attention to them.
posted by bibliowench at 5:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


There's a reason Nixon had to resign and G. Gordon Liddy went to jail.

That was before IOKIYAR set in. Nothing is going to happen to anybody over this, especially since the hacker (whether Russian or not) was apparently a foreign national. It's a major crime, but not one that can be tied to anybody in the US at this point.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


oh man i wonder what diamond joe's walk on song is gonna be tonight

My money's on Radar Love by Golden Earring.
posted by Lyme Drop at 5:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Pittsburgh isn't really that black but we are really blue. I am not lying when I say I have not seen a single Trump bumper sticker or yard sign.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Well, it's much easier to search through e-mails, obviously. So if there's anything juicy in the voicemails, it'll probably be a while before anybody finds anything.

There are only 20-something voicemails. It wouldn't take long to go through them. This is more about Wikileaks reminding us that they have more and could unleash it at any moment.
posted by zachlipton at 5:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I mean, they said it was "Broadway's brightest lights,"

Idina Menzel was the first line. It's hard to go up from there.
posted by Talez at 5:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"Stupid white guys" meaning Trump, Assange, and their ilk, not like Biden.
posted by bibliowench at 5:33 PM on July 27, 2016


> By driving on stage in a T-Bird.

jinx
posted by mrzarquon at 5:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


actually i want to change my biden vote to sharp dressed man
posted by poffin boffin at 5:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Hard to imagine this is all leading up to an Obama speech. I'm a little concerned for the structural integrity of the building.
posted by uosuaq at 5:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]




Oh shit, going full Goldwater Daisy ad on Trump, but with other Republicans providing the narrative.
posted by palindromic at 5:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


This video needs to be played often and in times where people that don't watch things like the DNC would be watching.
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Oh wow. The tonal shift in going from "What the World Needs Now (is Love)" to this video is giving me whiplash in my brain.
posted by mhum at 5:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Welp, "Are you gonna go my way" has been taken.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


John Hutson: "Despite being a lifelong Republican, Hutson was a featured speaker at the 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 25 and August 27, 2008, who later announced that he was switching parties and endorsed Senator Barack Obama."
posted by zachlipton at 5:34 PM on July 27, 2016


That ad scared the shit out of me, please let it scare everyone.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Heh, "Are You Experienced?" Nice trolling, team.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


On Wednesday, July 27 2016, I watched Charles Krauthammer burn the shit out of Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention.

Charles Krauthammer.
posted by tonycpsu at 5:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Party Rock Anthem or bust.
posted by delight at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Tonight is when Obama goes HAM against Trump. The First Lady threw the shade and now the President will throw the punches.
posted by sallybrown at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016


"That's not law and order, that's criminal intent"
posted by mrzarquon at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


"That's not Law and Order! That's Criminal Intent!"

DUN DUN
posted by Talez at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


YES!!!!! The russian invite to hack us! "That's not law and order, that's criminal intent"
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Yayyy talking about Russia! Called it criminal intent.
posted by Tarumba at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I would SO love some Ghost Dog intro for Biden.
posted by rp at 5:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am not lying when I say I have not seen a single Trump bumper sticker or yard sign.

20 miles north, southern Butler county has you more than covered :(
posted by splen at 5:37 PM on July 27, 2016


"You're not fit to polish John McCain's boots."
posted by zachlipton at 5:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


"You're not fit to polish John McCains boots."
posted by lkc at 5:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


It's Not Treason if you are Republican!
posted by vuron at 5:37 PM on July 27, 2016


"Donald, you're not qualified to polish John McCain's boots"
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Also I want the President's walk-off music to be "Freedom" by Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar.
posted by sallybrown at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Tonight is when Obama goes HAM against Trump. The First Lady threw the shade and now the President will throw the punches.

Was thinking this today. This is his chance to really unload on Trump.

On the flip side, a reporter tweeted today that Obama has been re-working his speech constantly since Michelle's speech on Monday. There are SIX working drafts as of today!
posted by dry white toast at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


That's an incredible line, truly. Props to the anonymous speechwriter currently getting flask-drunk who wrote it.
posted by penduluum at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


So weird to hear people speaking about John McCain and showing videos of Mitt Romney in a positive way during the DNC.
posted by mollywas at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh shit, going full Goldwater Daisy ad on Trump, but with other Republicans providing the narrative.

Probably my favorite anti-Trump ad so far.
posted by puddledork at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh shit, going full Goldwater Daisy ad on Trump, but with other Republicans providing the narrative.

What was the video?
posted by homunculus at 5:38 PM on July 27, 2016


but, can I watch Don lick them?
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


What was the video?

Here you go.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


THANK YOU: "For them, victory is to make us more like them... Donald Trump is a walking, talking terrorist recruitment poster."
posted by palindromic at 5:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"If we lose our humanity, we lose the battle and we lose the war."

YES. FOREVER.

(Also the central message of Lord of the Rings I think)
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


There are SIX working drafts as of today!

Devoting a personal moment of silence to whomever was in charge of incorporating the redlines flying through Outlook all week into the master draft(s).
posted by sallybrown at 5:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


20 miles north, southern Butler county has you more than covered :(

Oh, I'm sure. I don't leave the city much lol
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:40 PM on July 27, 2016


What the hell
posted by cashman at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


What are they saying?
posted by mochapickle at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


What is this chanting?
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


What are they chanting?
posted by bluecore at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


What are they chanting?
posted by ramix at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


What are they saying?
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


what are they chanting?
posted by dis_integration at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Are they saying "get off?"
posted by mudpuppie at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


haha. on preview. amazing.
posted by dis_integration at 5:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


"Well, I'm not quite sure what they're saying, so..."

*continues with speech*
posted by schadenfrau at 5:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


This fellow and Harry Reid make me happy that nerds still have a public place in the Democratic Party on the highest profile, most celebrity-filled night of the year.
posted by palindromic at 5:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Lol he said he didn't know.
posted by Tarumba at 5:42 PM on July 27, 2016


What could possibly be worth chanting right now, you morons, you assholes?
posted by penduluum at 5:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


BOB (Bernie or Bust)?
posted by sallybrown at 5:42 PM on July 27, 2016


What the hell was that?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:43 PM on July 27, 2016


It sounded like "Trump Trump Trump Trump"?
posted by unknowncommand at 5:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Huey Lewis? The heart of rock n roll?
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:43 PM on July 27, 2016


The Heat Is On.

Anybody putting together a DNC intro song Spotify playlist or something?
posted by penduluum at 5:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Something about drones?
posted by Superplin at 5:43 PM on July 27, 2016


Honestly, what fucking children.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Ryan Camenzind ‏@ryancamenzind 17s18 seconds ago
@samsanders someone said they were chanting "dump trump"
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


At least this time they decided to disrupt a white dude?
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I was thinking maybe "stop Trump" or "dump Trump", but I couldn't tell.
posted by uosuaq at 5:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I think they were chanting "Dump Trump"
posted by Apoch at 5:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


You guys are freaking me out with the comments.
posted by bongo_x at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016


What was the video?

Shorter version.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Anybody putting together a DNC intro song Spotify playlist or something?

Please hahahaha by the time I'm like, okay...I'm reaching back almost got it...the song ends hahahahah
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I was chanting "Boo-urns."
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I still don't get why people chant during other people's speeches.
posted by cashman at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Corb, if you're out there, what do you think of the Bernie delegats?
posted by Yowser at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016


I prefer "Thump Trump." I love the idea/irony of a GIANT HAND flicking him off a stage.
posted by mochapickle at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016


She lives with her wife <3

2016: Where we have openly lesbian marine veterans.
posted by Talez at 5:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


Stump the Trump!
posted by vuron at 5:46 PM on July 27, 2016


Corb went to the RNC, not the DNC
posted by hleehowon at 5:46 PM on July 27, 2016


....yes? That's why we're all here?

Literally the reason everyone is here
posted by schadenfrau at 5:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


God damnit, those fucking horrible Diebold voting machines.

It's always fun to trot this out every presidential election year.

sharp dressed man

Hah, I was going to suggest "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide".
posted by fuse theorem at 5:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I need to show this speech to my military cousins.
posted by Gaz Errant at 5:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


The difference between the parties is so stark. This convention is full of people who accept that we live in the year 2016, while last week's was full of people who didn't.
posted by Lyme Drop at 5:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I was venting a bit further upthread, but thanks for the thoughtful follow-ups, folks.
posted by gimonca at 5:47 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm getting from Twitter that they're chanting "Let her in." Re: Nina Turner
posted by Sophie1 at 5:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I want the transcript for Kristen Kavanaugh's speech. This is spot on.
posted by kanewai at 5:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


By the way, people on Twitter are starting to point out that "r/the donald", where Trump is doing his AMA, is filled with white supremacists.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


2016: Where we have openly lesbian marine veterans MARRIED TO OTHER LESBIANS.

In my lifetime.
posted by mudpuppie at 5:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Tim Kaine Could Be the Second Coming of Joe Biden:
Only time will tell, but it’s worth considering the deep parallels that suggest Kaine could be as successful in a Clinton administration as Biden has been for Obama.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Leon Panetta is now on. Talking about the responsibility of being the CIC.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Pittsburgh isn't really that black but we are really blue. I am not lying when I say I have not seen a single Trump bumper sticker or yard sign.

Yeah, but you don't have to go far outside the city limits but still within the region to find plenty of them, and by the time you get further out into the suburbs, but still well within what most people would call the Pittsburgh region (not just like Butler and Westmoreland counties, mind you), you can't swing a Terrible Towel without hitting some sort of Trump / anti-Hillary message.

Of course this is just the story of the natural red/blue sorting that's gone on for quite some time, but with the city's population staying flat and PA suburbs and exurbs growing in population, I don't demographics are going to always be there for us.
posted by tonycpsu at 5:49 PM on July 27, 2016


"This is no time to gamble with our future"
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:49 PM on July 27, 2016


MSNBC said that Panetta tweaked his speech today to address the Russia shit from today.
posted by gatorae at 5:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


We're up to 12 questions with vapid answers in two hours on the Trump AMA.
posted by Talez at 5:50 PM on July 27, 2016


Leon Panetta seems like someone they could safely heckle. Interesting that they're not.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


soren_lorensen: "Pittsburgh isn't really that black but we are really blue. I am not lying when I say I have not seen a single Trump bumper sticker or yard sign."

We know a few Trump supporters over her on the Northside although none of them have put out signs. Actually, I haven't seen any political signs or bumper-stickers in my neighborhood this year.
posted by octothorpe at 5:50 PM on July 27, 2016


Kristen Kavanaugh was pretty bad ass.
posted by bongo_x at 5:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Pittsburgh isn't really that black but we are really blue. I am not lying when I say I have not seen a single Trump bumper sticker or yard sign.

I'm kind of surprised. You don't have to go far outside of PGH to hear some dueling banjos. But it went Obama in '08 and '12. I was living there when that girl did her weird hoax and everytime I went to that ATM in Bloomfield I liked to sing Hail to the Chief to myself.
posted by dis_integration at 5:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ugh. I'm not really okay with the "She ordered Osama's death"...9-11 was an attack on the world, not just the US.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Biden better come out to "Life's Been Good."

With Joe Walsh actually playing the intro.

While they are both lowered into the arena on a Trans Am T-Top.
posted by dw at 5:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I love how he framed terrorism as a perversion of Islam
posted by Tarumba at 5:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I mentioned Panetta in my list of "holy shit I can't wait for this" before I could start watching.

This is good.
posted by rp at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016


Now chanting "no more war" it seems?
posted by cashman at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


No More War chants.
posted by Talez at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016


Actually, I haven't seen any political signs or bumper-stickers in my neighborhood this year.

It's probably 2-to-1 Bernie:Hillary sign/sticker ratio here in the East End. Which is of course the blue beating heart of a blue city, so you'll have that. After the rally on Saturday I hope to get some signs and stickers and I might dig my Obama 08 windsock out of storage (what, you don't have an Obama windsock?!) and hang that up again just for giggles.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016


We went from "The world needs to love" to "Hillary gave the directive to go execute Osama".

"No more War" is being chanted.

I agree.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Ok now it's NO MORE WAR.
posted by dis_integration at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016


"No more war." LOVE IT!
posted by entropicamericana at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


My vote for Biden: "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" by ZZ Top
posted by argybarg at 5:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


They are bad at this.
posted by unknowncommand at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016


Aaah, here's the heckling.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016


"No more war?" Is that what they're saying?
posted by Rykey at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016


Chant: NO MORE WAR
posted by palindromic at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016


I think this one is "no more war" along with some other counter-chanting trying to drown it out.
posted by penduluum at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh God no don't feed the trolls
posted by Tarumba at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016


Shit Panetta gave the networks the clip they wanted

Are they going to do this to Obama?

And where the hell is Bernie now?
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Boom!
posted by Hairy Lobster at 5:54 PM on July 27, 2016


argybarg: "My vote for Biden: "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" by ZZ Top"

SUPERNAUT
posted by boo_radley at 5:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Fuck chanting forever.
posted by EatTheWeek at 5:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I'm OK with this chant.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ok, we'll Quit War. Good job guys.
posted by zutalors! at 5:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


FUCK CHANTING FOREVER! FUCK CHANTING FOREVER! FUCK CHAoops.
posted by uosuaq at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Biden Vote: "Sex Machine"
posted by lkc at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Ok, so it seems like the protestors are learning a little about optics. At least chanting "No More War" in Leon Panetta's speech is somewhat more defensible than chanting "No TPP" during Elijah Cummings'.
posted by mhum at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Eh. I'm sympathetic to the chant but it's not accomplishing what they think it's accomplishing.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


This is unusual, right? I thought the intelligence community usually doesn't do endorsements.
posted by joedan at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


He must have known that there was a good chance they were going to chant over him. He just needs to keep going.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


They want Trump to win. Scumbags the lot.
posted by Yowser at 5:56 PM on July 27, 2016


Yes this is super realistic and effective. Everyone will get right on that. If only someone had told us all about the horrors of war before!
posted by schadenfrau at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Oh god, don't chant USA.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016


We would all love for there to be no more war. Including this speaker.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


On CSPAN, the camera always manages to find the yelling blonde Zosia Mamet twin; when they make the movie about all this, they should cast her as the star
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I want Panetta to address the chanters directly.
posted by rp at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


USA LIES! USA LIES! USA LIES!
posted by acidic at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016


Okay they can shut the fuck up now.
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


They want Trump to win. Scumbags the lot.

*rolls eyes*.

Also are they chanting USA?
posted by dis_integration at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016


Lies? He's lying about his parents?
posted by EatTheWeek at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Jesus now they're chanting "LIES" over Panetta talking about his parents coming to the U.S. from Italy.
posted by Gaz Errant at 5:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Wtf, come on.
posted by mothershock at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Dude, you lost the room. Wrap up quick and get on to the next.
posted by penduluum at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Eh. I'm sympathetic to the chant but it's not accomplishing what they think it's accomplishing.

Getting them personal attention? It is. They're getting everything they want.
posted by bongo_x at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This is like Beyond Thunderdome, when those kids just kept chanting after everything that older kid was saying.
posted by cashman at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Well he is game. I keep expecting him to walk off stage but he just keeps giving his speech. So much chanting it is just background noise now and you can't decipher what they are saying. I can hear USA, USA, USA and Lies, lies, lies. I swear a minute ago I heard them chanting Biden's name.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016


War is now officially over. "Putin just invaded the Balkans, what do we do?" "Sorry, we can't do anything, because no more war!"
posted by gehenna_lion at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I have absolutely no problem with antiwar protests against former CIA head Leon Panetta, whose Dept. of Defense oversaw our problematic drone program.
posted by Lyme Drop at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Also are they chanting USA?
Competing chants, I think. That was kind of ugly, but if that's the worst it gets, we're ok, I think.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I think there's a Thompson Twins fan in the audience.
posted by homunculus at 5:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yay, Dr. Biden! Of course, no intro for her husband will ever beat this one from the 2012 campaign trail.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016


No more war sounds great, until you realize someone has to defeat ISIS, boko harm, etc.

US has NATO commitments that literally saved my husband from extremist Serbs.
posted by Tarumba at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [40 favorites]


Joe is a fucking lucky man.
posted by Talez at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


one set of people was chanting "lies" and the another was trying to drown them out with "USA", I think
posted by Vibrissa at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


(like, I'm cool with a protest chant to get the point made but at some point you become the person clapping too long and then you're just an asshole)
posted by Annika Cicada at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Oh, lordy, the AMA: There's a comment by a user who is so upset about the election that when his mom came up to his room to bring him chicken nuggets, he knocked the plate out of her hand and started screaming.

This is what we're up against. People whose moms bring chicken nuggets to their bedrooms.
posted by mochapickle at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [58 favorites]


Those asshats had better not chant over Dr. Biden.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Global military strategy really can't be summed up by a chant or a slogan so they can really just shush now and when they get back home start writing letters to their representatives, organize meetings on the Hill and so forth.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Ach god I have a hard time resisting the respectability politics kicking in like "OMG GUYS THAT'S SO RUDE YOU'RE HURTING HIS FEELINGS."

"No More War" pretty fitting for a Secretary of Defense...

but you're hurting his feelings and being distracting
posted by sallybrown at 5:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


This is what we're up against. People whose moms bring chicken nuggets to their bedrooms.

I'd say that was parody, but you know.
posted by Artw at 6:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I wish they'd have a style guide between "Hillary Rodham Clinton" and "Hillary Clinton."
I prefer No Rodham, but it should really be what she prefers.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:00 PM on July 27, 2016


Joe is a fucking lucky man.

His luck has been pretty bad actually. But she seems like a nice catch.
posted by dis_integration at 6:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Oh, lordy, the AMA: There's a comment by a user who is so upset about the election that when his mom came up to his room to bring him chicken nuggets, he knocked the plate out of her hand and started screaming.

Thats a 4chan-ism. "Tendies" if you care to google the meme.
posted by lkc at 6:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


As someone who protested against the Iraq War before I could vote, I am 100% OK with people yelling No More War. If that's considered rude political rhetoric, clearly none of y'all remember that time an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at George Dubya.
posted by mostly vowels at 6:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Joe Biden was authentic before it was cool
posted by saturday_morning at 6:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


mochapickle: "Oh, lordy, the AMA: There's a comment by a user who is so upset about the election that when his mom came up to his room to bring him chicken nuggets, he knocked the plate out of her hand and started screaming.

This is what we're up against. People whose moms bring chicken nuggets to their bedrooms.
"

Nah, it's some 4chanesque copypasta meme mocking an outraged Sanders (?) supporter from a few months back.
posted by Rhaomi at 6:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Jill is rad.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


that time an Iraqi journalist threw a shoe at George Dubya.

That was the only time I was proud of him - he really ducked that shoe.
posted by zutalors! at 6:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Was that a picture of Geraldine Ferraro in that video clip?
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016


Joe Biden is one of my favorite people that I've ever met.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Ahh.... Ok. That was so weird, the chicken nuggets.
posted by mochapickle at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Joe Biden has one of the more kick-ass "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" legislative highlight reels out there.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


So is it Jill-->Joe-->Barack at this point, or are we going to get a few chances to catch our breath?
posted by uosuaq at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm fond of Joe, but he behaved very badly vis-a-vis Anita Hill. That said, I don't think he would make those mistakes today.
posted by carmicha at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


"No More War" is fine to chant at Panetta. Briefly. The "Let Her In" chants regarding Nina Turner, who was on MSNBC Monday pretty much implying that she was withholding a Hillary endorsement until she got enough attention...... bye.
posted by acidic at 6:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


That was the only time I was proud of him - he really ducked that shoe.

Cat-like reflexes. Someone should throw a shoe at the donald and see how he takes it.
posted by dis_integration at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


No more war would be super, but feeding the narrative of "those divided democrats trying to elect that women no one likes" could very well result in a fuck of a lot more war than we've ever seen.
posted by bibliowench at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Yeah that nugget thing is a copy/paste
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016


CHICKEN NUGGETS ARE !!!!NOT!!!! FICTIONS!!!
posted by klarck at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"No More War" pretty fitting for a Secretary of Defense...

but you're hurting his feelings and being distracting


It's not so much his feelings, it's that Republicans have probably already gif'd this and the "Lies!" bit and stuck it all over their forums as evidence that Democrats Hate Our Troops. The chanters are handing ammo to the Trump brigade.
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"Our loyalty is not to South Africa, it's to South Africans." Huh. Shades of Hamilton.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I wish they'd have a style guide between "Hillary Rodham Clinton" and "Hillary Clinton."
I prefer No Rodham, but it should really be what she prefers.


A Short History of Hillary (Rodham) (Clinton)'s Name
posted by palindromic at 6:04 PM on July 27, 2016


I think that's the first time apartheid (separate from Mandela) has been mentioned? Kind of amazing that it's passed out of national consciousness so relatively quickly.
posted by kalimac at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Biden's going to walk out to Bo Diddly!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


omg, all the unexpected feels when he gave the pro-same sex marriage interview
posted by donatella at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


So is it Jill-->Joe-->Barack at this point, or are we going to get a few chances to catch our breath?

We got a ways to go, at least an hour, until POTUS comes on stage.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016


Sanders supporters do know that Bernie was not going to end the drone program and his defense policy was almost indistinguishable from Obama's, right?
posted by FJT at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Somewhere Leslie Knope is having heart palpitations watching this montage.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


That video shows the genocide in Bosnia. My husband was 13 and boys over 12 were being murdered.

The US saved him and then gave him asylum.

No more war is a wonderful feeling, but sometimes you have to fight.
posted by Tarumba at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [78 favorites]


It's not Chicken Nuggets. It's CHICKEN FUCKING TENDIES.

Be more Steve Buscemi in 30 Rock people.
posted by Talez at 6:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


More on Chicken Nug-gate (I refuse to call anything 'Tendies'):
Someone prank called the DNC on day 2 ...
posted by mysticreferee at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


Tendies(chicken nuggets) come from /r9k/ which is a shithole as far as I understand.
posted by Yowser at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


So is it Jill-->Joe-->Barack at this point, or are we going to get a few chances to catch our breath?

Joe, Mayor Kasim Reed (Atlanta), Bloomberg, Tim Kaine, Sharon Belkofer, Obama, and finally Rev. Gabriel Salguero, per the CSPAN schedule.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


The really should have got Junkie XL, who scored Fury Road, to do the soundtrack.
posted by stet at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


Who is the female narrator just now, if I can ask?
posted by ftm at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


> What was the video?

Here you go. yt
posted by zombieflanders


Thanks!
posted by homunculus at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE JOE!!!!
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


Seconding ActingTheGoat:

I walk forty-seven miles of barbed wire
I use a cobra snake for a necktie
I got a brand new house on the roadside
Made from rattlesnake hide
I got a brand new chimney made on top
Made out of a human skull
Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene
And tell me, who do you love?

posted by uosuaq at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Remaining Schedule:

Remarks: Vice President Joe Biden
Remarks: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
Remarks: Michael Bloomberg
Musical Performance: Lenny Kravitz

10:00 – 11:00 PM (EDT)

Remarks: Democratic Nominee for Vice President Tim Kaine
Introduction of Film
Sharon Belkofer, Sharon Belkofer is the mother of fallen Lt. Col. Thomas Belkofer. Her son was killed when a suicide bomber detonated a minibus in a convoy carrying Belkofer and three other high-ranking officers in Kabul, Afghanistan. Remarks: President Barack Obama
Benediction: Rev. Gabriel Salguero
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:06 PM on July 27, 2016


Okay who had "West Wing instrumental noodling" in the pool?
posted by penduluum at 6:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


"Alright, I won't run, but you gotta play my greatest hits tape at the convention"
posted by ethansr at 6:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]




Who is the female narrator just now, if I can ask?

Laura Linney?
posted by mudpuppie at 6:07 PM on July 27, 2016


"Let's change the culture so that no abused woman or man ever has to ask themselves, 'What did I do?' They did nothing wrong."

Dammit I'm out of kleenex thank god I stocked up on toilet paper.
posted by Superplin at 6:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


DIAMOND JOE.

God, I love him. So much. I said it 20 years ago. 16 years ago. 12 years ago. 8 years ago. 4 years ago. I want to be half as good as Joe Biden when I grow up.

Fuckin TEAR IT UP JOE.
posted by rp at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Oh yeah, that Kaine guy should probably get a word in too. Thanks, Blue Jello Elf. (I'm just feeling a little wrung out already; guess that was wishful thinking.)
posted by uosuaq at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


Can't Joe Biden just stay V.P.?
posted by BlueJae at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


No more war is a wonderful feeling, but sometimes you have to fight.
posted by Tarumba at 6:05 PM on July 27 [20 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]


QFMFT
posted by ramix at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Sanders supporters do know that Bernie was not going to end the drone program and his defense policy was almost indistinguishable from Obama's, right?

But they trust him, it's totally different
posted by schadenfrau at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Rocky!
posted by danapiper at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I need a Joe sign.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


Rocky! Oh, Joe.
posted by Superplin at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


GONNA FLY NOW!
posted by Talez at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


GONNA FLY NOW!!!!!
posted by hollygoheavy at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


omg epic
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


hhahaha of course it's this music
posted by sallybrown at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


ROCKY!
posted by waitingtoderail at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


The Rocky Theme is playing for Joe Biden
posted by cashman at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Rocky!
posted by shiny blue object at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


Fiiiine go with Rocky
posted by dw at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


Rocky theme - nice.
Oh, I'm gonna miss you, Joe.
posted by eclectist at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


This is another thing I often just have to peaceout with my husband about. No More War isn't a policy. Or at least, it's not a policy where your country isn't a a completely hermetically sealed isolation chamber. There are lots of different conversations to be had about what an appropriate military policy is, but "no more war" isn't that conversation.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Remaining Schedule:

Excuse my French, but MOTHERFUCKER that's a lineup
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


WHO HAD ROCKY
posted by schadenfrau at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Lol Gonna Fly Now
posted by EatTheWeek at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


The sign game is on point: Biden, Biden, Biden
posted by mochapickle at 6:08 PM on July 27, 2016


The music!!
posted by Tarumba at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016


DIAMOND JOE
DIAMOND JOE
DIAMOND JOE
posted by entropicamericana at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


FUCKIN' ROCKY, I DON'T CARE THAT I'M THE TENTH PERSON TO CALL IT OUT, MOTHERFUCKING ROCKY
posted by cortex at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Remember when we thought Joe Biden was a safe and boring VP?
posted by argybarg at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


I've said this before but 538 right now is the most pessimistic of the poll-aggregators.
posted by en forme de poire at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016


That was the correct musical cue.
posted by Gaz Errant at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Biden was born for this shit. Just look at the elation on his face as he comes out like he's a star QB in a Super Bowl victory parade.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I WANT A JOE SIGN.
posted by BlueJae at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


ANTE UP
TAKE MINKS OFF
ANTE UP
TAKE THINGS OFF
posted by penduluum at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Wow, the sign game continues to be on point.
posted by joedan at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


No fair cutting it off before the sweet guitar solo though!
posted by EatTheWeek at 6:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yes, but the "Joe" signs really should have been diamond-shaped.
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 6:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


No More War isn't a policy.

I mean, we could make a commitment to trying to transform the global order so that war was a thing of the past. We could do what Kucinich wanted to and form a Department of Peace whose aim was just that, to look for ways to put an end to war. We could make it a policy without saying: no we wont defend ourselves or our allies.
posted by dis_integration at 6:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


(He's a big fuckin' deal!)
posted by entropicamericana at 6:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That guy! This guy! Fuck yeah, Joe Biden!
posted by OmieWise at 6:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


So....I'm the only person who pretty much totally hated "Fight Song?" Glib...but, okay, okay, it's meant to be a pop anthem, I'll turn down the curmudgeon for a sec. But so blonde, so white, a few non-white and older-than-30 punctuation marks, so white, so blonde, that Brady Bunch backdrop.
posted by desuetude at 6:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Aw, I love im
posted by likeatoaster at 6:10 PM on July 27, 2016


whoever is the chief signage officer during this convention has done a terrific job
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


FUCKIN' ROCKY, I DON'T CARE THAT I'M THE TENTH PERSON TO CALL IT OUT, MOTHERFUCKING ROCKY

/flagged for mod attent...

posted by cortex

\m/ \m/
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


I am going to miss this administration so much.
posted by Superplin at 6:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


"I don't know where you are kid, but you are incredible"
posted by mrzarquon at 6:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


They sure did not scrimp on the sign budget.
posted by mhum at 6:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

GO JOE.
posted by Justinian at 6:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Can we create some sort of official FLOTUS Emeritus position for Michelle where she still grows veggies on the White House lawn and dances on Ellen and reminds us all to be nice to each other, and can we make Joe, I dunno, America's Uncle?
posted by BlueJae at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [36 favorites]


I want a video of Biden running up the Philadelphia Art Museum steps by tomorrow morning, dammit.
posted by bibliowench at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Ok, so it seems like the protestors are learning a little about optics. At least chanting "No More War" in Leon Panetta's speech is somewhat more defensible than chanting "No TPP" during Elijah Cummings'.


Yeah, I was super-pissed about the "No TPP" during Cummings' speech, and "Lock Her Up" under any circumstances, but "No Fracking" for Brown and "No More War" for the director of the CIA is at least within the realm of contextually advocating for progressive values.

"Let Her In" re Nina Turner, on the other hand, is just more silly, cult of personality, conspiracist bullshit. Apparently, since she doesn't actually support the party's presidential nominee they didn't have her speak at the convention which is "silencing" and "humiliating" her. There were also reports that she was stripped of her credentials but this is apparently not true.

As far as I can tell, convention organizers are handling the attempted disruptions pretty well.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Yes you did marry way up Joe. For the SECOND TIME. So don't you ever forget it.
posted by Talez at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016


Props to the person waving their "Joe" sign upside down. It's OK, Joe Biden is omnidimensional
posted by Pallas Athena at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Could've done without the Chris Dodd namecheck.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016


"Barack and I married way up."

Everyone should feel this way about their spouses. But it's always nice to hear it said. Particularly by these guys.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Nobody does folksy like Diamond Joe.
posted by wabbittwax at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


If you haven't noticed Hillary is a white blonde woman. Just because you know some Queen Bee Blondes doesn't mean they are all bad.
posted by vuron at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I love my Hillary, but could Biden have won this had he entered the race?
posted by mochapickle at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Your collective enthusiasm for Joe Biden gives me life.
posted by delight at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016


They sure did not scrimp on the sign budget.

Had to come out of the microphone budget.
posted by waitingtoderail at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Joe Biden as portrayed by The Onion will only make you love him more
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Talking about his son. Oh jeez. heart is breaking.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

'cause he has a totally bitchin' 'maro.
posted by entropicamericana at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


"I've been made strong at the broken places."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

Misogyny.
posted by joedan at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [82 favorites]


I love my Hillary, but could Biden have won this had he entered the race?

If there was no Hillary?

We'd be saying "President Diamond Joe".
posted by Talez at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


So sad for Joe ;___;
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"I've been made strong at the broken places" just set the tear ducts off.
posted by Gaz Errant at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Is there going to be a break for me to make popcorn and shut the chicken coop before Tim and Barack?
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016


Hemingway quote? I can only heart you so much, Joe!
posted by ftm at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016


Wait, who's Ashley?
posted by bendy at 6:14 PM on July 27, 2016


It seems like he's having a little trouble articulating the words; more sibilance, a little slurring. I hope he's okay.
posted by carmicha at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Props to the person waving their "Joe" sign upside down. It's OK, Joe Biden is omnidimensional.

Let's be real. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that at some point, Biden will deliver some of this speech while standing on his head.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]



Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

Misogyny.


THANK YOU
posted by zutalors! at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Justinian: "Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?
"

He helped me move to a new apartment once. Even bought the pizza once we got all my shit in.
posted by boo_radley at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


lol double teamed
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Is there going to be a break for me to make popcorn and shut the chicken coop before Tim and Barack?

NPR says:

Vice President Biden
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed
Michael Bloomberg
Lenny Kravitz Musical Performance
Tim Kaine
President Obama
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I mean, we could make a commitment to trying to transform the global order so that war was a thing of the past. We could do what Kucinich wanted to and form a Department of Peace whose aim was just that, to look for ways to put an end to war. We could make it a policy without saying: no we wont defend ourselves or our allies.

But, yeah, all that stuff doesn't fit into a chant. So "No More War" is what it gets boiled down to. Same way "Black Lives Matter" is a complex and wide-ranging thought that also had to be boiled down to a pithy three-word slogan.

Morever, pacifism is a legitimate political idea with a lot of varieties beyond wide-eyed naivete. And one of the black eyes on the Obama administration -- of which Secretary Clinton was a part -- is the way they've continued the Bush administration's policies of intervention in Muslim nations regardless of the massive collateral damage those policies are causing.

I have no real issue with chanting "No More War" at someone who actually has a connection to our foreign policy.
posted by tobascodagama at 6:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


I love that Biden never goes without mentioning the teachers who buy supplies for their students out of their own pockets.
posted by sallybrown at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


bendy: "Wait, who's Ashley?"

One of his two daughters.
posted by mhum at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


DNC 2016: WHY IS THIS EVEN A CONTEST
posted by uosuaq at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


soren_lorensen: Is there going to be a break for me to make popcorn and shut the chicken coop before Tim and Barack?

Yes, Lenny Kravitz musical break.
posted by bluecore at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ashley is the daughter of Jill and Joe.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016


Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

Misogyny.


Just take the rest of my favorites on a payment plan; I'll get some again in 24 hours, I swear
posted by schadenfrau at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Thanks showbiz_liz. Chicken safety and popcorn beats Michael Bloomberg.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:16 PM on July 27, 2016


Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Oh shit I hope they chant SNOW-MA-GED-DON, SNOW-MA-GED-DON. You ATLiens remember.
posted by dis_integration at 6:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I'm not sure I like calling out teachers for buying supplies for their students in a speech like this. "Because teaching is not what they do but who they are."

Stuff like that is kind of the reason people don't want to become teachers. It shouldn't have to be all you are.
posted by peacheater at 6:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


"Sonny, honey, the bank wouldn't loan me the money"
posted by argybarg at 6:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Calling up that the ACA started with Hillary was badass.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Is Lenny Kravitz gonna do "American Woman"?
posted by wabbittwax at 6:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Again and again and again in speech after speech each person speaks about hope and love and equality and noble sacrifices and striving to do better for our children and families and the country.

The RNC speakers gave us fear and darkness and anger and blaming.

The difference is stark.
posted by zarq at 6:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Bryan Cranston in the house!
posted by mochapickle at 6:18 PM on July 27, 2016


"Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

Misogyny."

Please don't kill me but also charisma, I think.
posted by Tarumba at 6:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]



It seems like he's having a little trouble articulating the words; more sibilance, a little slurring. I hope he's okay.


I noticed this too. I hope it's a audio / mic issue.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:18 PM on July 27, 2016


"Sorry, honey, the bank wouldn't loan me the money"

That got me right in the gut, for some reason.
posted by kalimac at 6:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Is Lenny Kravitz gonna do "American Woman"?

Probably not. Have you heard the lyrics?
posted by zombieflanders at 6:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Don't boo, don't cheer -- think.

Hell yeah.
posted by mudpuppie at 6:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Biden's 73. He was sworn in as a Senator just after his 30th birthday. He deserves to take a break, drive his 'vette, write a memoir and do some public speaking to earn a fuckton of money for him and his family -- he's never taken anything other than his salary, and his only real source of wealth is his house in Delaware -- and be comforted that President Hillary Clinton is looking after things.
posted by holgate at 6:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


Just listen to me without booing or cheering.

DUDE.
posted by Mooski at 6:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Wow, the "if you..." bit was well written and really well delivered. And then the segue into the really sincere Trump stuff. Excellent.
posted by OmieWise at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Malarky!
posted by dirigibleman at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


THAT'S A BUNCH OF MALARKEY.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


MALARKEY!
posted by wabbittwax at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Joe's pissed.
posted by cashman at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


malarkey!
posted by dis_integration at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Holy shit, I don't think I'd heard that Biden also lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident. So much tragedy for one guy.
posted by bibliowench at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


MALARKEY!!!
posted by dry white toast at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Bunch of Malarky.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Malarkey!

JOE MY HERO
posted by Salieri at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


'How can there be pleasure in telling someone 'You're fired'?'

Preach it, Joe.
posted by eclectist at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [55 favorites]


THAT'S A BUNCH OF MALARKEY
posted by ilicet at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Probably not. Have you heard the lyrics?

Didn't stop Reagan.
posted by stet at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016


MALARKEY
posted by jason_steakums at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I thought we all liked Biden because of the Onion (and Same Sex Marriage), but remember that he wasn't a very good presidential candidate.
posted by drezdn at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


MALARKEY!
posted by zombieflanders at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Please don't kill me but also charisma, I think.

I don't disagree, but I think our notions of what "charisma" consists of are also to a large extent sexist. It's all tied up together.
posted by peacheater at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


Malarkey! Finish your drinks if you're playing along.
posted by Torosaurus at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"I'm not trying to be a wiseguy here"
posted by EatTheWeek at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


TELL EM JOE
posted by entropicamericana at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I love that Biden never goes without mentioning the teachers who buy supplies for their students out of their own pockets.

This is my sister in law, who moved to America two years ago. She teaches there. She does this.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Fuckin GET HIM JOE
posted by argybarg at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Wow. Fantastic call-out on the "you're fired". One of the worst things people can hear.
posted by nakedmolerats at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


"How can there be pleasure in saying, "You're fired?""
posted by OmieWise at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Yay, malarkey!
posted by octothorpe at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"It's her life story. She has always been there.....and so has Tim Kaine."

Oh boy here comes the anti-Trump stuff. Joe says "no cheering or booing, just listen because this is serious."

"He says he cares about the middle class? That's a bunch of malarkey." Crowd goes wild.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Gotta hand it to Biden, very few people can pull off "malarkey" with panache.
posted by Superplin at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


HOLY SHIT.

Joe Biden just brought the red carpet to the blue collar workers in this country and said "here we are, we care"
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


*bidentification intensifies*
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I hope he's okay.


Maybe just working around the dentures?
posted by xorry at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016


"This guy doesn't have a clue about the middle class. Not a clue."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016


Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

Misogyny.


Part of it goes back to the article from Vox about how we value speaking in a candidate more than listening (also related to misogyny). Biden has the Irish gift that one of my uncles has, in that it is pure pleasure to hear him speak; he is captivating. (I'm not in any way denying misogyny is present here.)
posted by sallybrown at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


This is perfect.
posted by peacheater at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016


Joe Biden is the greatest role of Jimmy Stewart's career
posted by penduluum at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [52 favorites]


Please don't kill me but also charisma, I think.

Agreed, but the things we consider to be charismatic in our politicians is heavily gendered.
posted by joedan at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


"That's a bunch of malarkey!" I love you Uncle Joe!
posted by Dojie at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Definitely need a THAT'S A BUNCH OF MALARKEY! bumper sticker.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


There should be malarkey signs!
posted by zachlipton at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Trump has "not a clue about the middle class"
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


He has no clue, period.

Joe is going full Trump attack dog.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Crowd: Donald Who?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016


BIDEN IS ON FIYAAAH!
posted by ramix at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016


Time to dial it back before we regret you didn't throw your hat in the ring, Joe...
posted by uosuaq at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016


Biden has given enough let him go back home to sit under his own vine and fig tree.
posted by vuron at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Footnote: "American Woman" is a Canadian song.

Guess Who (not rhetorical).
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Everyone is changing "not a clue" and Joe's like what have I done?
posted by zachlipton at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


xanadu? what are they chanting?
posted by kanewai at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


NOT A CLUE! NOT A CLUE!
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


What was THAT chant?

I love my party but goddamn we cannot hold a chant
posted by schadenfrau at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


ok who brought the cowbell
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Nevermind chanting's okay
posted by EatTheWeek at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Let me finish" means "I'm gonna do a really sound byte friendly bit here so shut up" -- AND I LOVE IT.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


I love that he got quieter.
posted by mochapickle at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


"You all know. All of the Republicans know. That's not who we are."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


This dude can really, really work a room.
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Oh my God all these people are going to be going after Trump full time for three months

This is beautiful
posted by schadenfrau at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Embraces the tactics of our enemies.
posted by OmieWise at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you think you hate Hillary because of her ties to the banking industry but you think Joe Biden is swell, then your problem with Hillary is not her ties to the banking industry, because there aren't very many people in DC who are as cosy with the banking industry as Biden is. So yeah. I think it's straight-up misogyny.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [58 favorites]


Joe is whispering into the mic. The man knows how to play the room.
posted by mrzarquon at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Awww man I thought they were chanting DIAMOND JOE for a sec
posted by jason_steakums at 6:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This is an incredibly good speech. He's tearing into Trump!
posted by zarq at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I still can't get over the fact that there's a woman in the audience that looks just like Chelsea Clinton only fully adult.
posted by bongo_x at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Oh no, I find all the chanting annoying

But there are levels of assholism, come on
posted by schadenfrau at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016


How many speakers over the last few days have been able to quiet the crowd to a hush so he could speak to truth?
posted by lampshade at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


less cowbell
posted by rodeoclown at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


ok who brought the cowbell

Not nearly enough people. More needed.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]




These USA chants make me queasy ...
posted by dis_integration at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ok, in retrospect, a chant of "Diamond Joe!" would have been delightful
posted by schadenfrau at 6:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"It's never been a good bet to bet against America."

Like except in like men's footballsoccer.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Came home late and found my non-mefie roommate already on the couch with metafilter pulled up. (HI SADIE!) I've been sharing comments from the site with her as we became complete cspan convention junkies and it's beautiful.
posted by Torosaurus at 6:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I see a ton of Republicans voting for Hillary after hearing Biden giving this speech
posted by Tarumba at 6:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


OK, that U-S-A! made sense.
posted by dw at 6:25 PM on July 27, 2016




Ho. Lee. Shit. Go Joe.
posted by Gaz Errant at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I am aware of both the lyrical content and the provenance of "American Woman" ... It would be wildly inappropriate ... That's why I mentioned it.
posted by wabbittwax at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Joe's speech has slowly deteriorated over the last few years. This bit of slur really isn't unusual.

But man is he tearing it up!!
posted by wallabear at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Uh....Joe....

I kinda wish what you were saying was true, but like...
posted by schadenfrau at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I could basically do without "we have an army" USA! USA! vibes in basically any context. I'm glad he moved on from "might" to "progress" fairly quickly.
posted by cortex at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Ordinary people like us, who do extrodinary things...
posted by anastasiav at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


And then the Sanders supporters realize that Diamond Joe is to the right of Hillary and they are incredibly confused.
posted by dw at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Jesus fucking christ kill the goddamn cowbell already that's not Christoper Walken up there asking for more.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Please don't kill me but also charisma, I think.

Rebecca Traister addresses this:
But if, as in this election, a man who spews hate and vulgarity, with no comprehension of how government works, can become presidentially plausible because he is magnetic while a capable, workaholic woman who knows policy inside and out struggles because she is not magnetic, perhaps we should reevaluate magnetism’s importance. It’s worth asking to what degree charisma, as we have defined it, is a masculine trait. Can a woman appeal to the country in the same way we are used to men doing it? Though those on both the right and the left moan about “woman cards,” it would be impossible, and dishonest, to not recognize gender as a central, defining, complicated, and often invisible force in this election. It is one of the factors that shaped Hillary Clinton, and it is one of the factors that shapes how we respond to her. Whatever your feelings about Clinton herself, this election raises important questions about how we define leadership in this country, how we feel about women who try to claim it, flawed though they may be.

Can we broaden our idea of presidential charisma beyond great men giving great speeches?
posted by palindromic at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [54 favorites]


Oh jesus, call back to "project for a new american century"
posted by mrzarquon at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Biden is taking us to CHURCH!!
posted by ramix at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Hi Sadie
posted by JakeEXTREME at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"Why do the same people who say Clinton is Republican-lite love Joe Biden? He's far less liberal than she is?

Misogyny."

Please don't kill me but also charisma, I think.


Eh it's not like anybody disputes that some people have more charisma than others, and it seems to be important in this kind of context.

But... doesn't charisma itself seem to be gendered? Like: the only woman I can remotely think of describing as charismatic is Oprah Winfrey.

So what if the characteristics that we associate with charisma (which we agree is important to political success) are also ones we tend to attribute to men?

Or what if the characteristics that we attribute to charisma are also ones that are antithetical to the ones we demand of the very few women we allow to rise through the ranks of any organization?

Or even what if we let so few women rise through those ranks that the odds of finding a woman who meets the rigors of being brilliant enough, and connected enough, and effective in accomplishing things enough -- AND also happen to be charismatic on top of that -- are relatively low?

Then we can always ascribe some portion of a woman politician's lack of popularity to her lack of charisma.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


I mean I know what he's saying but we do sometimes move backward and sometimes we do stupid things out of fear
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016


The whispering section was brilliant, it made everyone just shut up and listen.
posted by octothorpe at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Aw, I love this optimism. I am a sucker and I love every minute.
posted by mynameisluka at 6:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Oh, I wish it was true that we don't scare easily.
The people who actually handle the danger and the tough decisions usually don't scare easily.
America by and large goes batshit insane at every little thing because too many media services and politicians like it that way.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Diamond Joe absolutely killed it!
posted by usonian at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Well, that took a turn.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Can I get a "Not A Clue" bumper stickersomewhere?
posted by hollygoheavy at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'm with cortex on this, that "finest fighting force" comment is not what we need.
posted by Grimp0teuthis at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Biden: We lead not by just the example of our power, but the power of our example.
posted by mochapickle at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


HIGHER AND HIGHER!
posted by Talez at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016


Wow that was a good speech. The end was meh, but there were some hot spots for sure.
posted by eclectist at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016


Biden was thunder and lightning!
posted by Ber at 6:27 PM on July 27, 2016


pocketfullofrye:

Michelle Obama is charismatic, deeply so.
posted by argybarg at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Oh Joe. Don't ever change. We're going to miss you so much.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016


I love the cowbell. It's like the Price is Right. DIAMOND JOE, COME ON DOWN!
posted by Rhaomi at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


GOOD GOD YALL THAT WAS LIKE THE IRL VERSION OF THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH IN INDEPENDENCE DAY

JOE BIDEN BROKE MY CAPSLOCK KEY
posted by nakedmolerats at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


That ending was not my favorite, but it was the right speech at the right time.
posted by peacheater at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Now can we make the Statue of Liberty fucking dance again America will be all right.
posted by Talez at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


One thing Joe freakin nailed was that debate against Paul Ryan. That's my best real Biden memory. It was like he "Let the grown-ups talk"-ed Ryan.
posted by drezdn at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


"DON'T FUCKING FORGET IT"

--Joe Biden
(*may not be 100% accurate transcript)
posted by rp at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Joe Biden just made me proud to be an American. And I'm not even American! That's gotta be the mark of a pretty good speech, right?!
posted by Soulfather at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


Take that, treasonous Trump! Joe's got a big heart and big hands, Donald.
posted by madamjujujive at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


OK. If you want to go full-on American exceptionalism without having to say it, he did it.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


C'MAAAAAAAN! (yay!)
posted by Dressed to Kill at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Joe Biden is my favorite uncle.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


(Pay up your five bucks, Sadie.)
posted by wenestvedt at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


May God protect our troops
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm disappointed that when I went to look at the Wikipedia page for Joe Biden my predictive search brought up Joe Jonas and Joe DiMeowgio from Neko Atsume first
posted by zutalors! at 6:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Why in the HELL are they using "Come Together" for the music?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




Compare Cory Booker's strained shouting to Biden's whisper.

That's the voice (literally) of experience. And mad skillz.
posted by Superplin at 6:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


WOOOOOOOOOOO ATL ATL ATL ATL ATL ATL ATL

(Kasim's a pretty good mayor too.)
posted by Panjandrum at 6:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Like: the only woman I can remotely think of describing as charismatic is Oprah Winfrey.

I mean, not only are you wrong, there have been plenty of examples at this very convention for you to experience.
posted by Celsius1414 at 6:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Okay, but did Biden call dibs on the rocky theme? Or was it just awarded to him by committee?
posted by dinty_moore at 6:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I'm disappointed that when I went to look at the Wikipedia page for Joe Biden my predictive search brought up Joe Jonas and Joe DiMeowgio from Neko Atsume first

Google is contextually aware... Have you been doing some Disney Channel searches lately? >_>
posted by Talez at 6:29 PM on July 27, 2016


Yeah, this speech was aimed at Republicans. A good thing, I think.
posted by zarq at 6:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Well I got a phone call and missed the Biden's speeches, now 340 new comments. I heard the married up part, though.
posted by Oyéah at 6:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]



Google is contextually aware... Have you been doing some Disney Channel searches lately?


oh yes I blame myself
posted by zutalors! at 6:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Hi Sadie! More fun can be had for 5 dollars, same as in town.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Biden is almost from Philadelphia, so it seems fair for him to get the Rocky theme.
posted by madcaptenor at 6:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Thanks Joe, sometimes it's good to remember that pride and being inspired can point us towards good things, and that being perfect can be the enemy of the good. Now let's earn the praise Dr. Biden just gave us all as a country.
posted by Drumhellz at 6:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


People understand, right, that convention speeches are a sales pitch and may not necessarily track every historical and sociocultural bump in the historical road? That doesn't mean anyone is lying or deluded or believes every word they are saying.
posted by OmieWise at 6:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Well I got a phone call and missed the Biden's speeches

Could be worse.

Fun fact: When Kasim Reed was elected mayor he got a call on his phone from a number he didn't recognize, so he didn't answer. He was later told the phone call was Obama calling to congratulate him.
posted by Panjandrum at 6:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [41 favorites]


biden can blow me: bapcpa sellout

See, this is the Dems' purity problem: if a Delaware senator voting for Delaware stuff is unacceptable (or an Iowa senator voting for corn subsidies or Franken and Klobuchar voting against the ACA's medical device tax on behalf of Medtronic) then you're going to have to abolish the Senate or the states.
posted by holgate at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


who gets to pick the music?
posted by marguerite at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016


Why in the HELL are they using "Come Together" for the music?

That showed up for the first time on day 1, during the decidedly shaky desperate-bid-for-unity opening in the face of the most obnoxious chanting/booing period.

I haven't heard nearly as much music sting recycling here as at the RNC but they definitely have some go-to stuff ready to go. Billy Joel's had a couple shots too.
posted by cortex at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016


You know how some albums have all good songs, some of the songs might be up tempo and get you fired up, some songs are mellow and get you thinking back about all the good times and the bad, some get you in a mood to dance, some get you in a mood to cry.

This DNC has basically been one of those sorts of albums. Lots of different songs that are each individually awesome but taken as a whole it weaves a musical tapestry.

On the other hand the RNC was basically one long dirge where you just kept hearing the same notes over and over.
posted by vuron at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Even Redstate!

The Trump Subreddit Creates a “Safe Space” for Special Snowflake Donald Trump’s AMA

There's an entire subreddit dedicated to people who were banned from it called r/BannedFromThe_Donald
posted by ThreeCatsBob at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


You know how sometimes it's easy to get sucked into those silly Facebook "quizzes" that purport to give you special insights, like "What Harry Potter character are you?" or "Find out your dream car!"? I wonder if the speakers know, in advance, the entrance and exit music chosen for them or if it's a revelation. If I were a speaker, I'd be all, "Huh. Magic Carpet Ride. I wonder why." and then I'd think about it obsessively and feel different whenever I heard that song. It would be the FB quiz come to life.
posted by carmicha at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Biden is almost from Philadelphia, so it seems fair for him to get the Rocky theme.


He's also certainly the speaker most likely to have punched a side of beef hanging from a hook.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


Speaking as a teacher, a veteran, and someone who finds American exceptionalism skeevy:

Apart from my earlier comment, I'm fine with everything he said. A little oo-rah like this is fine. He didn't overdo it. He certainly didn't get bloodthirsty or gross.

And I'm really grateful for any politician who notes the sacrifices teachers make. Our government should be throwing money at education like it's a national security crisis. Until they do, I'll be glad for the ones who at least recognize how grim it is.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Our formerly Republican mayor, on the stage of the DNC. Hot damn.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"....putting his name on a tower that he probably doesn't own." - Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed is GOING FOR IT
posted by everybody had matching towels at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Bloomberg.
posted by zarq at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016


Fun fact: When Kasim Reed was elected mayor he got a call on his phone from a number he didn't recognize, so he didn't answer. He was later told the phone call was Obama calling to congratulate him.

never not answering my phone again

"Hello?

. . .

Is this Presiden--

I DON'T WANT A FREE CRUISE DAMN IT!"
posted by sallybrown at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Even if I don't agree with it, I understand the value of the red meat portion of Biden's speech. White guys do vote after all. MINIATURE AMERICAN FLAGS FOR ALL!!!
posted by dry white toast at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


(Thank you for your comments regarding charisma, I was writing a comment about how Michelle Obama is charismatic and then I realized it's probably because her public role is more traditionally feminine)
posted by Tarumba at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


El Bloombito!
posted by tonycpsu at 6:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


People understand, right, that convention speeches are a sales pitch and may not necessarily track every historical and sociocultural bump in the historical road?

We do but frustratingly it never seems to be the right time to talk about the shitty bipartisan cult of American exceptionalism.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


On the other hand the RNC was basically one long dirge where you just kept hearing the same notes over and over.


Scott Walker and Sun O))) shrieking "HORROORRRRRR"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I'd pay $20 if a 55 gallon solid steel drum of Nickelodeon brand green slime fell on Jeffery Lord while he was talking.


(please note, I mean the whole drum, not just the slime)
posted by splen at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Joe Biden just made me proud to be an American. And I'm not even American! That's gotta be the mark of a pretty good speech, right?!

Me too! Me neither! Hell yeah!
posted by haapsane at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Watching Biden speeches is like some kind of live one-person West Wing, from like right around mid to late season 2.

And apart from whatever else that speech was, it's such a smart, smart contextual setup for Obama's impending smackdown.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Mayor Dinkins is there!
posted by zarq at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Is the purple tie symbolic?
posted by madcaptenor at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


completely digging Bloomberg's symbolically purple tie here.
posted by shelbaroo at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


🍻 Sadie
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Wasn't he going to run as an Independent for a hot minute back in March?
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bloomberg, legit rich guy, here to tear Trump one a new one the way only he can!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Oh, this is aimed straight at the Republicans. Hold your butts.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


I believe that technically our founding fathers came as Southern Motherfucking Democratic Republicans.
posted by stet at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Some background on Mr Bloomberg, in case you need it.
posted by sideshow at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Is the purple tie symbolic?
He's indepeeeeeendent.
posted by mochapickle at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I have no fucking idea why Bloomberg is on my TV.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


hahahahahaha, yes, boos for the charter school disaster, thank you!
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I don't watch much TV and haven't seen much live-action Bloomberg, but my god, he's like a Martin Short character.
posted by mudpuppie at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Wait. Wait wait wait wait wait. Did Bloomberg think they wanted him to come speak at the DNC so he could talk about himself?
posted by schadenfrau at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ah, Mayor My-eyes-are-up-here.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016


completely digging Bloomberg's symbolically purple tie here.

That there is Tyrian purple. Trust me.
posted by Justinian at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Why in the HELL are they using "Come Together" for the music

Is Wikileaks going to dump something about "toejam football" we don't know? Pre-emptive strike?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh, this is aimed straight at the Republicans. Hold your butts.

Wow, yeah, this is kind of awesome. I hope it reaches some people.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Bloomberg and dangerous demigod.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"I built a business, and I didn't start it with a million dollar check from my father."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


(Thank you for your comments regarding charisma, I was writing a comment about how Michelle Obama is charismatic and then I realized it's probably because her public role is more traditionally feminine)

I mean, my rhetorical questions really were rhetorical, but it does occur to me that some of the elements that we call "charisma" in a man -- connecting with people, being interested in them, making them feel special, being attractive in some undefinable way -- are often thought of as "sexy" or "flirtatious" in a woman.

And I think a lot of us are fine with a "sexy" male president (lots of people are way into Obama and Bill Clinton) but not a "sexy" female president.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 6:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Haha, and he just called Trump a demagogue!
posted by mochapickle at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


And I repeat: most of us here are not the target audience for this speech. And I'll take votes from business Republicans if that's what keeps Trump out of office.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


I'm with cortex on this, that "finest fighting force" comment is not what we need.

Tonight is not aimed at the Metafilter vote, I don't think.
posted by EatTheWeek at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Let the dick bank account measuring commence!
posted by Panjandrum at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"A problem-solver not a bomb-thrower"
posted by zarq at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]




"I started a business and I didn't start it with a million dollar check from my faaaatha."

Big cheers on that.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


T.D. Strange: "I have no fucking idea why Bloomberg is on my TV."

He's not talking to the Democratic faithful in the room. He's talking to the persuadable independents and Republicans at home.
posted by mhum at 6:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Wow, Bloomberg is relatively on fire, for Bloomberg.
posted by anastasiav at 6:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Are they going to see it?
posted by Artw at 6:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]



I have no fucking idea why Bloomberg is on my TV.


Ooh! I know this one! An entrepreneur turned Republican politician who is on paper same as Trump wants to be but is so horrified by him he is getting behind the Democrats.
posted by zutalors! at 6:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [40 favorites]


Yeah yesterday felt like "step to the left" day and today feels like "step towards the center" day. But some of that is because historically international affairs and the military are on Republican brand.
posted by penduluum at 6:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"I built a business and I didn't start it with a million dollar check from my father."

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH BILLIONAIRE BLOOMBURN
posted by palindromic at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


"I'm a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [63 favorites]


"god help us."
posted by stet at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I don't think we're the primary target audience for this speech.
posted by Tarumba at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Trump says he wants to run the nation like he's running his business? God help us!"
posted by jason_steakums at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Bloomberg: "I'm a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one."
posted by mochapickle at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


He's not talking to the Democratic faithful in the room. He's talking to the persuadable independents and Republicans at home.

And Bernie supporters who don't see their *ideal* candidate on the ticket.

[*edit*]
posted by filthy light thief at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Trump says he wants to run the nation like he runs his business? God help us! I'm a New Yorker, and I know a con when I see one."
posted by zarq at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Zombie I just had an image of the wolf of wallstreet peeps rolling on the floor in catnip.
posted by AlexiaSky at 6:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


OK, the con line was good.
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


God help us.
posted by anastasiav at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016


Bloomberg has issues, but he is on the right side of history tonight. Don't shit on him.
posted by gatorae at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


I guess I thought that was Tim Kaine's role, not the guy who was threatening an independent bid 2.5 months ago.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016


Wow, Bloomberg is relatively on fire, for Bloomberg.

Steaming like a street vendor hot dog?
posted by Panjandrum at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Bill laughing his ass off.
posted by Talez at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


but not a "sexy" female president.

Kamala Harris was on Morning Joe this morning and the smooth way she spoke along with her fluid hand gestures was the definition of "charismatic" to me. I feel icky calling someone "sexy" but I think it comes close to what I'm talking about. More mesmerizing that "oooh hey sexay."
posted by sallybrown at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Artw: "Are they going to see it?"

Probably not live but he's dropping quotable soundbites for the news.
posted by mhum at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016


(Bill giggling in the audience.)
posted by mochapickle at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


They should have named this segment "Seriously, disaffected Republicans, we're not that scary, and you're kinda cool."
posted by dw at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"The richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


The richest thing about Donald trump is his hypocrisy
posted by wabbittwax at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


"Trump says he wants to run hthe country like he runs his business?! Gawd help us. (Big Cheers) I'm a New Yorker and I know a con when I see one. (Huge cheers)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Why is Bloomberg saying all the things that the "main stream media" is too scared to say?
posted by hollygoheavy at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


That shot of Bill Clinton laughing needs to be a reaction GIF.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


"Truth be told, the richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy."
posted by joedan at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Not the most charismatic guy, but he's nailing it.
posted by wallabear at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I had my doubts about Bloomberg, and don't like him personally, but having him attack the business side of Trump from a position of authority is surprisingly brilliant.
posted by codacorolla at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


I don't think we're the primary target audience for this speech.

It's for us to send to our Republican grandmas.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Bloomberg is sticking the knife in and twisting it.

So much of Trump's image is built on the idea that he's some great businessman and he's not.

Bloomberg is close enough to know that and he's trusted enough that a whole lot of white business types are going to listen.
posted by vuron at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [44 favorites]


So here I am saving a Michael Bloomberg quote for later. This is madness.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Given the way the scumbag decided to encourage espionage from Russia, I wouldn't be surprised if W and HW showed up tomorrow to endorse Hillary.

Crazy, right? But apparently my expectations meter is broken, so why the hell not?
posted by Mister Fabulous at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


There will be so many great reaction GIFs from the RNC and DNC.
posted by filthy light thief at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


completely digging Bloomberg's symbolically purple tie here.

That there is Tyrian purple. Trust me.


Bloomberg, Serene Doge of New Amsterdam
posted by Panjandrum at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I think the kids call this "getting dragged".
posted by penduluum at 6:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


I was wondering why Bloomberg was speaking tonight, but I get it now.
posted by mollweide at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Having Bloomberg give this speech is a stroke of brilliance. It speaks to the undecideds. It reinforces the message that Hillary is an exceptional listener who knows how to work with both sides of the aisle.
posted by mcduff at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


"I understand the appeal of the businessman President." I'm sure you do, Mike. I'm sure you do.
posted by maudlin at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This is what respectable shade looks like.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Now that I think about it, did the Republicans even manage to find the traditional aisle-crossing politician to deliver the crossover appeal this year? I don't think they did....
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


And Bernie supporters who don't see their ideal candidate on the ticket.

yeah, Sanders's people love Bloomberg
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


"This is not reality television. This is reality."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


"Hillary Clinton is not flawless, no candidate is"

TATTOO THIS ACROSS MY FACEBOOK FEED
posted by kalimac at 6:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Bloomberg isn't a great speaker. If he ran for mayor of a city where people actually listened to each other, he would have lost.
posted by zachlipton at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Given the way the scumbag decided to encourage espionage from Russia, I wouldn't be surprised if W and HW showed up tomorrow to endorse Hillary.

Ya know I'm really wouldn't be surprised to see Jeb endorse. What does have to lose?
posted by nathan_teske at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yeah, he's talking to the horrified Republicans and right-leaning Indies out there. We need this.
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


"This is not reality TV, this is reality."
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yeah, Bloomberg is one of the least charismatic people on the planet other than Ted Cruz. But he is killing it with this speech.
posted by zarq at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


STONEWALL NAME CHECK!
posted by dry white toast at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Yeah, ok. Thanks for this Bloomie. This is pretty great.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


give the man some water
posted by Foci for Analysis at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


When the equivocation party can't support your presidential candidate you're in trouble.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ugh who keeps whistling?
posted by Tarumba at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Not sure I like connecting Selma, Stonewall, and 9/11, but I guess they had to work that in there somehow.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016


This makes Peter Thiel's speech look like the opportunistic pile of shit that it was.
posted by codacorolla at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [37 favorites]


Mister Fabulous: Given the way the scumbag decided to encourage espionage from Russia, I wouldn't be surprised if W and HW showed up tomorrow to endorse Hillary.

Crazy, right?


That would be amazing.

I'll still be happy with a conservative saying "Saint Reagan said 'Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall,' not 'spy on my opponents."
posted by filthy light thief at 6:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


He's not talking to the Democratic faithful in the room. He's talking to the persuadable independents and Republicans at home.

Yeah, this implied worry that appealing to Republicans is bad because you won't appeal to Bernie supporters has to die. This election is ultimately a litmus test of who in America is horribly racist, straight-up irrational and/or incurably gullible, and who is not. The long and growing list of Republican foreign policy professionals denouncing Trump isn't a sign that Clinton is a stealth Republican; that list is an uplifting show of people who understand that some things are more important than party labels.

Democrats should be appealing to everyone all across the spectrum and I'm happy whenever I see them do it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


FEEAHHHH New Yorkers, is his accent always this strong?
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Oh yea, the tie was intentional.
posted by danapiper at 6:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"Let's elect a sane, competent person with international experience."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


OK the fact that a dude like Bloomberg now says stuff like "Selma and Stonewall" as a matter of course is so fucking awesome
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [34 favorites]


'A sane, competent person.'
posted by box at 6:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


This speech is like when the queen bee mean girl of your 5th grade class is mocking someone and the coolest girl in 8th grade waltzes in and shuts her down.
posted by sallybrown at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [40 favorites]


"Let's elect a sane, competent person..."
posted by mochapickle at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Sooo, you think Trump's gonna go off on Bloomberg? Will Trump be that stupid?
posted by SillyShepherd at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016


Dang. If this is how the opening acts are roasting Trump, I don't know what the heck Obama's got in store.
posted by mhum at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Bloomberg wrote what I thought was a very thoughtful piece on why he *wasn't* doing an independent bid because it was going to be bad for the country. I'm not going to slam him for considering it when he decided not to for exactly the reasons why it was a terrible idea. I have a lot of respect for someone who has lots of people trying to flatter them into doing something like this and, unlike Trump, walks away. I might disagree with him about a lot of stuff, but I respect him for this. I saw a lot of people at the time who were tempted by the idea of a Bloomberg campaign, and it can't have been any less tempting for him.
posted by Sequence at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


"Let's elect a sane, competent person with international experience."

I AM ON BOARD WITH THIS MESSAGE!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Angry Trump tweets about Bloomberg in 5,4,3...
posted by drezdn at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ugh who keeps whistling?

Biden, probably.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Yes to his accent. Be glad he didn't try to speak Spanish.
posted by zarq at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I am loving the Bill reaction shots. There should be a Bill Cam in the bottom corner of the screen.
posted by mochapickle at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [37 favorites]


Ok, I was wrong. He crushed that.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Say what you will about the delivery, no one has been this incisive; every word cuts.
posted by ethansr at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


You know, I've always been a centrist, and although i always planned to vote for Hillary, Bloomberg really spoke to folks like me and my husband.
posted by ramix at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


The Bushes and Bill are besties, I'd bet they're voting Hillary and I hope they have the conviction to be public about it.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]




Bloomberg isn't a great speaker. If he ran for mayor of a city where people actually listened to each other


WTF
posted by zutalors! at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Um. Dude nailed that shit to the wall and framed it.
posted by Mooski at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


longdaysjourney, yes. His accent when he speaks Spanish is so New York that they made that El Bloombito twitter account to mock him.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


The debt King crown was perfect
posted by Torosaurus at 6:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


For Obama... There will be an empty chair on the stage. He'll come out and sit in it, then start slowly, as he warms up he stands up and kicks the chair out to emphasize a point.
posted by drezdn at 6:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


"a shitshow" hahahahahahah!!!!!!
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


lol, zarq/roomthreeseventeen, thanks! Now I have to see if I can Google some examples of Bloomberg speaking Spanish.
posted by longdaysjourney at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This bit is not funny.
posted by Gaz Errant at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]




Describing Donald'so debt plan as a "fucking shitshow" complete with chalkboard? Awesome. Their video people are on point.
posted by Torosaurus at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Like: the only woman I can remotely think of describing as charismatic is Oprah Winfrey.

This is so off the wall I wonder if you're kidding. I don't really want to list out names any more than I would if someone said the only woman actor they'd ever heard of was Greta Garbo, but I could start with every non-politician female speaker at the DNC so far, not even just the actors who do it professionally.

The only genuinely charismatic male politician I've ever seen is Bill Clinton, and I was completely immune to his charms all through his presidency, just because I didn't like him back then. I found Biden fairly repulsive until well into his VP tenure even though I knew rationally that he wasn't and couldn't be faking all his emotions. There is such a thing as refusing to be charmed; if you're determined enough, you can do that to just about anyone. or any woman.
posted by queenofbithynia at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Bloomberg is basically saying to Republicans, "You want a good economy, you want security, you want a nice world for your kids to inherit?" Get on board.

I know that the idea that Democrats represent the status quo and stability is anathema to some on Metafilter but we do not a successful campaign make.

This is the sort of speech that resonates well on Wall Street and Main Street. Now it just remains to be seen if people will listen or if they have been scared shitless.
posted by vuron at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Did "clusterfuck" make it in there lol
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Tomorrow, I'm going to need a counter so I can monitor how many favorites I have left to give.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'm seriously considering doing something I have literally never done: try to convince my libertarian mom to vote Democrat as a personal favor to me.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


WTF are the MSNBC people doing in NYC?
posted by zutalors! at 6:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Ha! Goofy hat-tip from a cheesehead-wearing woman who saw herself on the jumbotron.
posted by cortex at 6:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Bloomberg on stage in a purple tie endorsing a democratic presidential candidate immediately following a speech from the sitting Vice President wherein he straight up Kitchener-finger-wagged the American people for being dumb and ok, I have read this AU and the tags did not do it justice.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 6:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Are cheese hats distributed at birth in Wisconsin?
posted by goHermGO at 6:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


*looks for El bloombito on twitter*
posted by Tarumba at 6:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bloomberg wrote what I thought was a very thoughtful piece on why he *wasn't* doing an independent bid....
We cannot “make America great again” by turning our backs on the values that made us the world’s greatest nation in the first place. I love our country too much to play a role in electing a candidate who would weaken our unity and darken our future -- and so I will not enter the race for president of the United States.

However, nor will I stay silent about the threat that partisan extremism poses to our nation. I am not ready to endorse any candidate, but I will continue urging all voters to reject divisive appeals and demanding that candidates offer intelligent, specific and realistic ideas for bridging divides, solving problems, and giving us the honest and capable government we deserve.
Huh. I respect this. And it looks like he's ready to endorse now. Good on him.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


I guarantee you this Bloomberg speech is like catnip to white suburbanites in VA and CO and NC.

The purple Charlotte burbs where the people with banking jobs live, who watched Pat McCrory turn from a moderate GOP mayor into a lackey governor, and just saw their 2017 NBA All-Star corporate hospitality packages vanish in a puff of transphobia? I suspect they are paying attention.
posted by holgate at 6:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


Man. If Dubya came out and publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton it would shatter my Fox News-fed mom's entire worldview. I think her system would crash.
posted by wabbittwax at 6:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


I don't know if I liked that video spot at all. You go from Bloomberg with his passioned appeal to independents and conservatives, and follow it up with censored swearing. Part of that group the Democrats are trying to appeal to *is* social conservatives. What the hell?
posted by Mister Fabulous at 6:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


There was just a dancing man who made me irrationally happy.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 6:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I suspect there are more American voters who share Bloomberg's politics (minus the public health stuff, probably) than share Bernie's. For what it's worth. I wish it weren't that way, but I think it probably is.

According to Wikipedia, Bloomberg is probably the 8th richest person in the world. I hadn't realized he was quite *that* rich.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Are cheese hats distributed at birth in Wisconsin?

Yes. My brother was gifted his in the hospital room, instead of wool cap. And this is why he has one and I don't. Sad.
posted by ultranos at 6:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Loving the moment when people realize that they're on the jumbotron and start dancing.
posted by octothorpe at 6:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Dude in the pink shirt and the streamers for a hat who freaked out when he saw himself on the monitor = my favorite.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


*enters fugue state of lust*
posted by sallybrown at 6:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Cinna!
posted by stet at 6:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Yeah Trump can't really hit back and call Bloomberg a loser or whatever.
posted by zutalors! at 6:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Shout out to the woman on C-SPAN who was the only one standing and dancing in her section. It's Lenny Kravitz damn it. He's not wearing all those sexy scarves for his health. Get off your asses.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Are cheese hats distributed at birth in Wisconsin?

Judging by the condition of our local cheese head's, yes. And it's issued for life.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yeah yesterday felt like "step to the left" day and today feels like "step towards the center" day.

Jump to the right, surely?
posted by tobascodagama at 6:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [37 favorites]


I really, really loved Bloomberg's speech. I know he's not many people's favorite person - I seem to recall by the time he lost the mayorship of NYC, a huge swath of NYC progressives were seriously pissed at him... But he's the perfect person to make this argument, which SO MANY Americans need to be brought around to, namely that if you think of yourself as "neither party," you need to evaluate the candidates and only one comes out sane enough. Like, I can disagree with him about privatization of education and other public sector things, but we can agree that that's a debate we can only have between rational parties, and Trump is not rational. So for the sake of our country, let's avert that danger, then we can have the actual debate again.
posted by dnash at 6:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [42 favorites]


I don't know if I liked that video spot at all. You go from Bloomberg with his passioned appeal to independents and conservatives, and follow it up with censored swearing. Part of that group the Democrats are trying to appeal to *is* social conservatives. What the hell?

my dad now disgruntledly sipping his glass of cab while listening to the bleeping
posted by sallybrown at 6:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


This is the sort of speech that resonates well on Wall Street and Main Street.

Also, having another rich guy from New York savage him on national TV is going to drive Trump bananas. Count on Trump foaming at the mouth about Bloomberg at a press conference tomorrow.
posted by dry white toast at 6:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


The sax is a subtle dig at bill clinton.
posted by stet at 6:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]




Man. If Dubya came out and publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton it would shatter my Fox News-fed mom's entire worldview. I think her system would crash.

I am half expecting all the living presidents to walk out and endorse her en masse at some point in the next couple days.
posted by ethansr at 6:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


*enters fugue state of lust*

They're some fine detail on stage. dayum.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh me too Sallybrown. Me too!! I'm just drooling at the screen right now!
posted by ramix at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Are cheese hats distributed at birth in Wisconsin?

Yes.


They must have lost mine in the mail :(.
posted by drezdn at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016


Man. If Dubya came out and publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton

And his brother, and his wife, and his mother (maybe poppy too if he's feeling well enough). That would be fucking epic.
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


(That's not a period. That's a single tear)
posted by drezdn at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Please do not cut back to Bill in the audience, we shouldn't see our future First Gentleman playing air sax.


Let it never be said that MetaFilter is an echo chamber as we obviously sometimes have very different ideas about things.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [47 favorites]


OMG brunette who isn't sure what to make of Lenny and who is clapping off rhythm, I think I just fell in love with you.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I am half expecting all the living presidents to walk out and endorse her en masse at some point in the next couple days.

I am half expecting holograms of all the dead ones, too.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


I guess its true what they say: Krav don't crack
posted by Senor Cardgage at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016


There was just a dancing man who made me irrationally happy

There was a whole lotta dancing going on that put a big goofy grin on my face. I wish that is what the news would show.

The purple Charlotte burbs where the people with banking jobs live, who watched Pat McCrory turn from a moderate GOP mayor into a lackey governor, and just saw their 2017 NBA All-Star corporate hospitality packages vanish in a puff of transphobia? I suspect they are paying attention.


Oh hell yes. There was some whispering when rock stars pulled out of concerts and when corporations announced they would not be coming to NC but lose the NBA-- you better believe that was one mighty big spanking. That got a lot of people upset and voters angry at the dumbfuck sitting in the governor's mansion is all right by me.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


B. Obama has endorsed, B. Clinton already has, J. Carter already has, GW Bush and GHW Bush have pointedly not endorsed their candidate. So it's a decision the two have to make.
posted by hleehowon at 6:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I'm not a massive Bloombito fan but in comparison to Guiliani he was a breath of fresh air.

I prefer Democrats to Republicans obviously but Bloomberg was one of the few Republicans in recent years that I didn't mind.

The fact that most of his positions as NYC mayor were to the left of most of the Democrats in Texas also helped.
posted by vuron at 6:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ghost Nixon is going to be SO MAD about this Russia stuff
posted by zutalors! at 6:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


no not this againnnnn bring back the sax
posted by sallybrown at 6:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Fight Song!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Once again, half the cast from Pitch Perfect.
posted by rewil at 6:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I am half expecting all the living presidents to walk out and endorse her en masse at some point in the next couple days.

In my headcanon, that'll be her October surprise.
posted by tclark at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Turned to CNN for a second. I think my IQ dropped 30 points because of it.
posted by Yowser at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Bushes won't endorse, they wouldn't want to taint Jeb!'s 2020 bid.
posted by Behemoth at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Clearly we're running early for Kaine so let's play Fight Song again.
posted by zachlipton at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Re the charisma discussion:

I believe the point was that there aren't very many women publicly acknowledged as charismatic, not that charismatic women don't exist.
posted by tobascodagama at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


this again?

they're all so wholesome, freshly scrubbed and smiling it is giving this cynical x-er hives
posted by entropicamericana at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Um. Guys, I will totally fucking jam fight song hard without any shame.
posted by Annika Cicada at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


I am half expecting holograms of all the dead ones, too.
Hillary is definitely going to be introduced tomorrow by the ghosts of Abraham Lincoln and FDR.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Is this the new will.i.am.?
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016


I had my doubts about Bloomberg, and don't like him personally, but having him attack the business side of Trump from a position of authority is surprisingly brilliant.

There are people in the business world perched at Bloomberg terminals every day. If this talks them off the Trump ledge - even a few of them - so be it.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Ghost Nixon is going to be SO MAD about this Russia stuff

Ghost Nixon is already rolling in his grave about Jane Fonda being in a DNC ad saying "I've still got a lot of fight left in me".
posted by Talez at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Sigh, Lenny Kravitz!
posted by Oyéah at 6:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Did Sia write this song? Because sure sounds like a song she wrote. (Don't mean that as a bad thing.)
posted by mudpuppie at 6:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Turned to CNN for a second. I think my IQ dropped 30 points because of it.

Do they still have one of those absolute batshit Trump apologists making insane arguments and yelling over people on their "panel"?
posted by dis_integration at 6:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


BUT ELLEN GREENE
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ghost Nixon is going to be SO MAD about this Russia stuff

Yup.
posted by ethansr at 6:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Are cheese hats distributed at birth in Wisconsin?

Even cats and dogs are issued them as a matter of course.
posted by carmicha at 6:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Fuck, this again?
posted by homunculus at 6:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Beyoncé pretty much puts paid to the notion that there are no charismatic women.
posted by stet at 6:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Okay guys this is driving me crazy: who is the dude with the (faux?) blonde curls and goofy pink cap in this Our Fight Song video?
posted by ashirys at 6:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am half expecting all the living presidents to walk out and endorse her en masse at some point in the next couple days.

I'd like to see the living first ladies standing together for Hillary also. I somewhat doubt the Bush men will vote Clinton, but I am damn sure the Bush women will.
posted by sallybrown at 6:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Carmicha my life is complete
posted by Tarumba at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I was meh about Fight Song last night, now I want to listen to it forever. Everyone is so happy! I have an actual scrap of hope!
posted by kalimac at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Did Sia write this song?

You mean the "Fight Song"? It's by Sara Bareilles.
posted by dnash at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Bobby Scott gets 867-5309?
posted by zachlipton at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016


.....That song sting for that intro makes even LESS sense.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016


they're all so wholesome, freshly scrubbed and smiling it is giving this cynical x-er hives

Millennials are now the largest generation.

Just 12 years til there are more Gen Xers than Boomers.
posted by dw at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Ellen Greene, Kristen Chenoweth, Raul Esparza earlier today, what's the Bryan Fuller connection about?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016


Dude, Sid Dithers got tan
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bobby Scott has quite a spiffy moustache! (Every other state has cooler politicians than Florida, it's not fair).
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I only have the audio up, did they let Bloomberg stop and frisk anyone of color on his way off stage

@thegarance: "BLM activists in arena shouting 'stop and frisk' as Bloomberg wraps up #DemsInPhilly"
posted by DaDaDaDave at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Not every Pop Song is written or cowritten by Sia, just about 50% of them.
posted by vuron at 7:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Walk out to "Don't Fear the Reaper?'
posted by TrishaU at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


That brings up an interesting question, are there more living first ladies than presidents? Intuition would say yes.
posted by ethansr at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016


I can't help but think of Kathryn Hahn in Fight Song as actually being her character from Parks and Rec
posted by jason_steakums at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


It's by Sara Bareilles.

Google believes its by Rachel Platten.
posted by thefoxgod at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016


BTW the guy introducing Kaine is his likely (appointed) replacement, Rep. Bobby Scott.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


>Ghost Nixon is going to be SO MAD about this Russia stuff

Ghost Nixon is already rolling in his grave


Ghost Nixon is confused that his policies would be considered hard left in 2016 America
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Huh. Literally just found out the SO is (distantly) related to this guy.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016


So, I recognize like five of those people in the Fight Song montage, are they all famous and I'm just that out of it?
posted by Shutter at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


You mean the "Fight Song"? It's by Sara Bareilles.

That also makes sense.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2016


Hippie Tim Kaine is kind of hot.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


"served as a Christian missionary in Honduras

translation: TIME TO COME HOME EVANGELICALS
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Tim Kaine might be inspiring me to get back to work on my Spanish skills!
posted by Jeanne at 7:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


ashirys: "Okay guys this is driving me crazy: who is the dude with the (faux?) blonde curls and goofy pink cap in this Our Fight Song video?"

That appears to be Mike Tompkins.
posted by mhum at 7:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yeah the Fight Song video is super corny but I am sort of thrilled that young women, typically ignored in these situations, are getting pandered to (should be more diverse though).
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Also, having another rich guy from New York savage him on national TV is going to drive Trump bananas. Count on Trump foaming at the mouth about Bloomberg at a press conference tomorrow.

Oh man this hadn't even occurred to me but you're totally right.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


This video does not do much to convince people Tim Kaine isn't boring.
posted by zachlipton at 7:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


So, I recognize like five of those people in the Fight Song montage, are they all famous and I'm just that out of it?

I recognize exactly one.
posted by peeedro at 7:03 PM on July 27, 2016




Sara Bareilles wrote "Brave" which I see being compared to "Fight Song" a lot but did not write "Fight Song".
posted by thefoxgod at 7:04 PM on July 27, 2016


Tim Kaine is not boring.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


That brings up an interesting question, are there more living first ladies than presidents? Intuition would say yes.

Tied now, 5 and 5 after Nancy Reagan.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


zachlipton: This video does not do much to convince people Tim Kaine isn't boring.

I disagree. I think it does a good job of showcasing his progressive cred.
posted by Superplin at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I hope Kaine's got a zinger for the TPP chants that are likely to come.
posted by cashman at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016


Who's voice is this in the Tim Kaine video? I feel like it's from a car insurance commercial. zzz
posted by gatorae at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tim Kaine is awesome!
posted by Tarumba at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016


Let's be real though, being gently boring is a plus in 2016 of all years.
posted by yasaman at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [45 favorites]


Brave is a much better song. Yeah I said it.
posted by numaner at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016


You know what? Most of the important shit that gets done ain't exciting. It's boring as FUCK, and I'm glad people do it out of a sense of duty to the rest of us.
posted by Mooski at 7:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [44 favorites]


Get Ready Cause Here I Come....good intro.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I recognize exactly one.

Jane Fonda sounds exactly like Buffy Sainte-Marie, so I am pretty sure I was at -1 for a hot second before I looked up.
posted by kalimac at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


They were already booing during the video. You could hear it right after the video ended.
posted by Tarumba at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016


Tied now, 5 and 5 after Nancy Reagan.

Now I'm kind of hoping Hillary going to go on the Today Show with the rest of the First Ladies and endorses herself with a straight face...
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Count on Trump foaming at the mouth about Bloomberg at a press conference tomorrow.

Ugh, then that'd be another day where the office hours are devoted to trolly Trump having an episode, instead of the speeches tonight.

New York's richest could probably do the equivalent of pantsing Trump whenever they choose. When will they choose to do so?
posted by holgate at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Sincere ≠ Boring
posted by mochapickle at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


@ElBloombito

El Trumpador es loco. No electo. God helpo.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


One of his kids is named Woody?
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tim got mascara on his eye.
posted by cashman at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I missed Kaine's speech at the VP announcement rally on Saturday so this is my first exposure to his eyebrow game, and that is solid.
posted by cortex at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


so hilary's campaign strategy is to clown on trump until he goes full hulk during a press conference and mauls some reporters?

irresponsible.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Tim took the stage backed by the a Temptations' "Get Ready" which is awfully close to the Stones' "Bitch."
posted by wabbittwax at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016


He is much less loose tonight than he was at the rally last week.
posted by sallybrown at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


OMG TIm Kaine is totally my gay uncle.

Or at least, the gay uncle I wished I had.
posted by kanewai at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Calling out to his peeps, that's alright.
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This is kind of the real test isn't it Christians?
We have an actual Christian missionary on the platform that wants to help people.
If you and your vulgar megachurch go Trump instead then we'll all know that it's really just been about hate all along for y'all.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [72 favorites]


Omg was that his kid playing on his iPhone??? Lol
posted by mothershock at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Too bad McAuliffe screwed over Clinton with the press, saying she would change her mind about the TPP right after the election.
posted by Superplin at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm bringing you a love that's true,
So get ready,
GET READY!
 
posted by Herodios at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


El Trumpador es loco. No electo. God helpo.

OK you've convinced me. I've got to go read that Twitter account.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Kaine is so adorable, and his recognition to his family in the crowd sounded like he was introducing himself to Pat Sajak on The Wheel of Fortune.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Tim got mascara on his eye.

Something is off about it, like it's bugging him. (Left eye.)
posted by sallybrown at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016


Why couldn't someone find Kaine a suit that fits?
posted by shiny blue object at 7:08 PM on July 27, 2016


That was a really long sentence.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I've gotten so swept up in the speeches so far (or, most of them). Now I'm nervous Kaine isn't going to compare. *fingers crossed that his speech is super-inspiring*
posted by salvia at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016


He really does look like Jerry Gergich, doesn't he?
posted by stet at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I wonder how he'll treat Pence in the VP debates. Polite until pushed?
posted by filthy light thief at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


New York's richest could probably do the equivalent of pantsing Trump whenever they choose. When will they choose to do so?

Pretty sure that's what Bloomberg just did.
posted by dry white toast at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Celebs in the Fight Song video are listed at the top of the post. It was put together by the producer of the Pitch Perfect movies, hence the a capella arrangement. Many of the singers, actors and actresses in the video are from the Pitch Perfect movies, plus Mandy Moore, Kristen Chenoweth, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jane Fonda, America Ferrara, Eva Longoria, etc, etc. The song was written by Rachel Platten. It was her first hit after years of struggling to make it in the music industry. And it has been a massive hit. The single went double platinum.
posted by zarq at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Yay, Minnesota!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm trying not to get distracted by this but the man has no lips. None.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Why couldn't someone find Kaine a suit that fits?

It's folksier this way
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


This guy looks like a leprechaun trying to remember what was on their grocery list.
posted by selfnoise at 7:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


he's pretty fabulous (kane)
posted by Dressed to Kill at 7:10 PM on July 27, 2016


There's at least one eyebrow sign in the audience too. Looking forward to more ^ ^
posted by Wulfhere at 7:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I like "men for others" as a line among the other speeches.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I swear, that looks like a Canadian flag lapel pin. Embarrassing mistake.

Tim Kaine totally has a flags of the world lapel pin set.
posted by sporkwort at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


This is your dumbest comment yet this election season, which is quite a trick!

Quite.

It's not at all out of bounds to be pointing out where today's message -- as communicated by both the wording of the speeches and who was chosen to give them -- is at odds with yesterday's.

Bloomberg, for instance, is strongly associated with Stop & Frisk. If you were happy about the Mothers of the Movement yesterday, you should be pissed about Bloomberg today.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016


"Sumpin.."
posted by notyou at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016


Omg was that his kid playing on his iPhone??? Lol

He was sending out a fundraising mass mail; that was an intern
posted by EatTheWeek at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Damn, HFA's Jess is like the obsesive girlfriend I never had.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Oh man, Kaine is making me yawn. Literally. It's not too late for a little more coffee, I guess.
posted by homunculus at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016


This is the first time I've seen what Tim Kaine looks like... Kind of like the result of a three-way with Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro and Edward G Robinson
posted by wabbittwax at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016


Oh boy I think we need an @kainito. That spanish. It's. Acceptable.
posted by dis_integration at 7:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


This is essentially a rehash of the Saturday speech, which was a damn good speech. He's a nice guy who will be running the White House carpool to Sidwell Friends.
posted by dw at 7:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


If you were happy about the Mothers of the Movement yesterday, you should be pissed about Bloomberg today.

I mean, I'm not going to debate NYC politics here, but Trump is going to be a lot wore than Stop and Frisk.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Holy fuck a bilingual speech.
posted by dry white toast at 7:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I was hoping Kaine would talk about the nickname he got in highschool, like Gary Johnson revealed for Samathan Bee. (Spoiler: it's "Jaguar")
posted by filthy light thief at 7:12 PM on July 27, 2016


His Spanish accent is spot on!
posted by SillyShepherd at 7:12 PM on July 27, 2016


Oh damn this Spanish thing is honestly getting me a smidge emotional
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Bill's like nah man, that's not how you do storytelling about your wife.
posted by cashman at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"Sumpin.."

Hey, some of us actually talk that way. Dudn't mean anything.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]



Bloomberg, for instance, is strongly associated with Stop & Frisk. If you were happy about the Mothers of the Movement yesterday, you should be pissed about Bloomberg today


This is the thing. I'm a New Yorker and well aware of Bloomberg's record on Stop and Frisk. I also think it was good that he spoke today.

People should recognize at least a 201 level of political literacy from others in these threads. I don't need these "lessons" thanks
posted by zutalors! at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [66 favorites]


Yeah, his Spanish is authentic, not pandering.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I liked the exasperation that came through in his comment about schools getting integrated "so that black and white kids could finally learn together."
posted by salvia at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Politics is mostly pandering, but who you pander to and how is important, because it communicates who you think your base is. Yesterday, the DNC tried to tell us that their base was the powerless. Today, they've invited people responsible for harassing and killing people who are supposed to be part of that base.

Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?
posted by tobascodagama at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Why couldn't someone find Kaine a suit that fits?

He's just showing that he's ready and is already dressing for a job in DC.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Aw, Holton.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016


His dad looks like a Republican. Confirmed.
posted by Yowser at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016


I've heard this speech before. Maybe a sign I'm getting a bit too immersed in this politics thing?
posted by peacheater at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Kaine seems like he's having a blast. It is a great look.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"Oh boy I think we need an @kainito. That spanish. It's. Acceptable."

Huh I think his Spanish is impressive

(I'm a native speaker)
posted by Tarumba at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


via Mrs. mbrubeck, Kaine’s lapel pin is a military service flag.
posted by mbrubeck at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I mean, I'm not going to debate NYC politics here, but Trump is going to be a lot wore than Stop and Frisk.

So the fuck what? They could have got some other rich guy to diss Trump, if that's all Bloomberg was about.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:14 PM on July 27, 2016


Appeal to partisan voters: "Any party that would nominate Donald Trump has moved too far from [the] party of Lincoln."
posted by mochapickle at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Seems like a guy I'd wanna have a glass of milk with.
posted by Think_Long at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


I dearly hope in the future that Kaine translates and presents all speeches from the President in Spanish.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Oh boy I think we need an @kainito. That spanish. It's. Acceptable.

As a white guy who speaks Spanish but with a terrible accent and still can't roll the rr's, that's a complement. It's hard to mask an American accent even if you're fluent in the language.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I wish this speech was less of a retread of last weekend's. It's good, at least, but hopefully he's got something new to say.
posted by ashirys at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This is my intro to Tim Kaine.
He seems to have leapt out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
I like him a lot. And I love his command of Spanish. Its effortless and doesnt sound pandery
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Okay I'm tuned in guys and gals, I want to hear my prez speak to the nation for perhaps the last time. Have a cig and bring the hope and change, commander.
posted by vrakatar at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Fe, familia y trabajo" is... not exactly a progressive slogan.
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I lived in Richmond briefly in the late 80s and my best friends were a mixed-race couple.

Yeah, it's fair to say it was divided.
posted by Superplin at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016


Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?
posted by tobascodagama at 10:13 PM on July 27 [+] [!]


Yours.
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Visuals on and it's an okay speech. Audio only and it's kind of boring.
posted by kanewai at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016


Omg, cannot believe Gov. Holton is still among us. How awesome it must be for him to see his son-in-law get nominated as VP. He'll be 93 in September.
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Bloomberg, for instance, is strongly associated with Stop & Frisk. If you were happy about the Mothers of the Movement yesterday, you should be pissed about Bloomberg today.

He's also strongly associated with gun control, which MotM specifically mentioned yesterday as an issue important to them. Stop-and-frisk was a bad policy; Everytown is (I think) a force for good.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"Tough times don't last and tough people do."
posted by Superplin at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I love that they're cheering for his 94 votes. It's like they heard the setup and started cheering before they realized it was going to be a self-deprecating joke.
posted by stet at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Tim got mascara on his eye.

Thanks now I can't stop looking at it
posted by numaner at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


So the fuck what? They could have got some other rich guy to diss Trump, if that's all Bloomberg was about.

"if Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons" -W. Churchhill
posted by Justinian at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


I think Tim Kaine just gave a path for the Log Cabin Republicans into the Democratic party.
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Something that hadn't quite clicked isn't just how the entire Dem first team will be out stumping for Clinton, but how few surrogates Trump can draw upon, and how badly they're used. Today, for instance, Pence, Ryan, Giuliani and Gingrich all offered completely different statements on the "Russia, come and hack us" craziness.

There's so much more room on the Clinton side for top-tier people to go to places on her behalf and offer a message honed to those places, speaking to people's specific worries, drawing local media coverage. They can campaign with Senate and governor candidates too. Trump's got Pence and Jeff Sessions and basically that's it. And American campaigns are physically and mentally gruelling, which is why it's important to outsource the workload. That's another reason why I'm not focusing on nowcasts: I do not believe Trump has the stamina for another three months of campaigning.
posted by holgate at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Now everybody gets to hear about Richmond, my city. Yay!
posted by Tarumba at 7:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Politics is mostly pandering, but who you pander to and how is important, because it communicates who you think your base is. Yesterday, the DNC tried to tell us that their base was the powerless. Today, they've invited people responsible for harassing and killing people who are supposed to be part of that base.

Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?


Or maybe the world is more complicated than that.
posted by billyfleetwood at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [47 favorites]


Men for others and similar mottos are a staple of Catholic universities and especially Jesuit ones.
posted by boo_radley at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I mean, I'm not going to debate NYC politics here, but Trump is going to be a lot wore than Stop and Frisk.

Saying that Bloomberg didn't belong on that stage is not saying that Trump should be president, seriously. Let's not stop using our brains just because we're a little scared here, Jesus.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?

A lot of people. In a broad and imperfect way that's sometimes disappointing and occasionally infuriating. But they have more backs more of the time, and I'll take that while I push for politicians to do better on the issues I care about.
posted by zachlipton at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


So the fuck what? They could have got some other rich guy to diss Trump, if that's all Bloomberg was about.

I don't love it either but I understand that there does have to be some level of bridge-building to moderate white people if we're going to have a winning coalition here.

Starting January 21 we will resume our role as the loyal opposition to the Democratic center-left establishment.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


I'm not judging. That coupla "sumpins" reminded me of Bud Korpenning and Tom Joad, heroes both.
posted by notyou at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016


I love that listening is such a key feature for Hilary and now Kaine. Not only does it help her stand against Bill, an outstanding orator, but also against Trump, the blustering bully who shouts over everyone who disagrees with him.

This is what democracy is about.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Noisy Pink Bubbles: "Fe, familia y trabajo" is... not exactly a progressive slogan.

It's the "homeland" part that makes it not progressive, and that wasn't in his speech.
posted by Superplin at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


The little girl behind Bernie looks ready for bed.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Kaine needs to look up and out into the cameras more. It seems like he's keeping his eye contact down to the people on the hall floor in front of him - which is fine for those there live, but this is televised. Look up into the cameras more so those of us at home feel included. It's a small yet huge thing.
posted by dnash at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?

I think there's room in the party for more than one point of view.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Dude, he said it was a Lithuanian professor last time ಠ_ಠ
posted by sideshow at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016


To my ear (y yo soy un hispanohablante) his Spanish is okay, not outstanding.
posted by joedan at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Interesting how the speeches seem to alternate from pitching to the base and then pitching to independents / crossover Republicans. He talked about fighting for equity in the courts, then switched to talking about how Virginia was named the best state for business.
posted by salvia at 7:18 PM on July 27, 2016


"We should all feel the Bern, and we should all want to make sure we don't get burned by the other guy."

Well that was nicely handled!
posted by schadenfrau at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


"We all should feel the Bern, and we all should not want to be burned by the other guy"
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


And I repeat: most of us here are not the target audience for this speech.

NO BIG TENT! NO BIG TENT! NO BIG TENT!
posted by bongo_x at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Isn't "Hey guys, Republucans are the party of Lincoln and therefore the dems are the real racists" the entire point of that shitty Hilarry documentary?
posted by Artw at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016


"Fe, familia y trabajo" is... not exactly a progressive slogan.

Faith, family, and work != Labor, family, fatherland.
posted by dw at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


That was a nice transition to quiet down the Bernie chants.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


>Dayum, Mr. Kaine!
posted by Sophie1 at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


"Can I tell you a funny thing about the Senate?"

I doubt it.
posted by Panjandrum at 7:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Bloomberg wasn't being endorsed by the Democrats, he was the one doing the endorsing.

Sometimes politics makes for strange bedfellows, ehh?
posted by vuron at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Honestly, he should wrap up his speech now and just play the harmonica.
posted by zachlipton at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


He's aw shucksing middle america's brains out right now.
posted by EatTheWeek at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Tim Kaine has lots of substance but needs style. Punch it up dude!
posted by vrakatar at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Saying that Bloomberg didn't belong on that stage is not saying that Trump should be president, seriously.

And Bloomberg's stop-and-frisk record does not negate the entire rest of his career and invalidate any other thing he will say for the rest of his life, up to and including "I'm an independent and I am supporting Hillary".

Let's not stop using our brains just because we're a little scared here, Jesus.

Same all around.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Wow. Apparently Tim Kaine is the kind of guy who says, "Can I tell you about x", and who actually waits for you to say "Sure Tim, go ahead and tell me about x."
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [52 favorites]


"Do all the good you can and serve one another."
posted by mochapickle at 7:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]




Politics is mostly pandering, but who you pander to and how is important, because it communicates who you think your base is. Yesterday, the DNC tried to tell us that their base was the powerless. Today, they've invited people responsible for harassing and killing people who are supposed to be part of that base.

Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?


Yesterday they invited the people they want to directly help. Inviting Bloomberg was about pointing out that it's in almost everyone's interest to make sure that our next President isn't el orange chucabara. He was giving a "The enemy of my enemy" speech there.
posted by Francis at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]




Honestly, he should wrap up his speech now and just play the harmonica.

That would be awesome, and frankly, a bit better than continuing to list all the committees he serves on.
posted by salvia at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


'Men for Others' was the motto of my all-boys Jesuit high school. Then it went co-ed, and they switched it to 'Men and Women for Others.' An idealistic priest is probably advocating for 'People for Others' as I write this.
posted by box at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I'm pretty sure the pin on Kaine's lapel is the flag that military families (maybe only families of Marines, not entirely sure) display in their front windows when their loved one is deployed.
posted by cooker girl at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


He's great speaking off script, he's opening up here in the second half of the speech, the first part was a bit tense.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?
posted by tobascodagama at 10:13 PM on July 27 [+] [!]

Yours.


I'm a middle class white guy, I don't need them to have my back. The whole world has my back no matter who's president.

What I need and want out of a political party is to stop our government's murder people of colour, domestically by our police force and abroad by our military.

The Democrats told me yesterday they wanted that, but today they're sending a different message. Which one is the truth?
posted by tobascodagama at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This is simple and direct and kindhearted.
posted by argybarg at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"We all should feel the Bern, and we all should not want to be burned by the other guy"

BAZINGA!
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm going to miss Joe Biden so much. I need someone to slip up every so often and call something a big fuckin' deal. Kaine isn't that guy.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


it's like he's trotting out the spanish just to show off that he can do a thing, a single thing and it's not enough for me, it's just not
posted by likeatoaster at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016


If we had a different kind of electoral system, the Dems would be two or three or four or more parties. The fact that all of those people must by circumstance occupy one party doesn't mean that they all need to snap into agreement on everything. It just means they need to pick some stuff they all more or less agree on and work toward them, while continuing to debate the stuff they don't agree on. And I like it that way. I like that we don't demand total agreement on everything to welcome people into this party.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


He listed all the couples: Bernie & Jane, Joe & Jill, Barack & Michelle... and Hillary Clinton.

Smart move. Best not to rehash the "two for the price of one" thing.
posted by Superplin at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


That would be awesome, and frankly, a bit better than continuing to list all the committees he serves on.


"A bit"?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016


This really isn't as good as his first speech when Hillary announced him as the VP choice. It's almost like he's embarrassed to be repeating the same lines in a slightly remixed form.
posted by uosuaq at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Faith, family, and work != Labor, family, fatherland.

It's 2 of 3! And not sure faith or fatherland would be worse from a progressive standpoint. He could do so much better for a slogan.
posted by Noisy Pink Bubbles at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016


Uhh, is there another translation of "compañeras del alma" than soul mates? Should Bill be concerned?
posted by dis_integration at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016


He has some cringe-y dadness about him.
posted by dry white toast at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016


"The enemy of my enemy"

Is my enemy's enemy.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Whose backs do the Democrats really have here?
posted by tobascodagama at 10:13 PM on July 27 [+] [!]


I feel they're trying to fit an awful lot of people under this tent. So it makes sense the recurring theme is listening because there are going to be a hell of a lot of different viewpoints. Acknowledging some of them doesn't mean you're ignoring the others.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Dude, he said it was a Lithuanian professor last time

Liviu Librescu was Romanian.
posted by biogeo at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016


Fuck, the professor that died at Virginia Tech was Romanian. During his intro speech last weekend he told that story and said "Lithuanian" and I told my 95 yeah old Lithuanian grandmother about it. Oh well, at least he didn't fuck it up in the worst possible way and said "Polish".
posted by sideshow at 7:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I realized who Tim reminds me of

Secretary Clinton, wiiiillllyooooooousaveus?
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I'm a middle class white guy, I don't need them to have my back.

....Mayyyyyyybe you may want to step back and see if some of the Mefites of color want to raise a complaint about Bloomberg rather than white-knighting, maybe?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [42 favorites]


Yeah he was definitely nervous at the beginning, which is adorable. Now he's much more comfortable.
posted by Tarumba at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I like Kaine but putting Obama after him was a good idea. 'Cause... zzzzzzzzzz
posted by Justinian at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Donald Dump"?
posted by madcaptenor at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Donald Lump!
posted by bendy at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I thought part of the VP's job was to be the attack dog. Did they just decide to leave that to Biden? He's being awfully aww-shucks.
posted by dry white toast at 7:23 PM on July 27, 2016


This is the best wedding speech ever.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


What I need and want out of a political party is to stop our government's murder people of colour, domestically by our police force and abroad by our military.

Hard to do if Trump is in the Oval Office.
posted by chris24 at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Thanks EmpressCallipygos. I've had enough of the white guy lecturing.
posted by zutalors! at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I'm going to miss Joe Biden so much. I need someone to slip up every so often and call something a big fuckin' deal. Kaine isn't that guy.

I can imagine Kaine calling something a "Golly gosh darn flippin' big deal" though.
posted by mmoncur at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


He can wrestle with this crowd in a way that has been tricky for some very high profile speakers. He's not Joe Biden, but I wouldn't write this guy off.
posted by figurant at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


I was hoping Kaine would talk about the nickname he got in highschool, like Gary Johnson revealed for Samathna Bee. (Spoiler: it's "Jaguar")

ps, was I the only one who thought johnson was sort of creepy in that video?
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


but today they're sending a different message

No they aren't, and that you keep insisting so without engaging any of the reasonable objections to this assertion that others have offered indicates that you're not really trying to have a discussion in good faith. If you just want to yell at people, yell at people.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Y'all are a tough crowd. As if anyone could follow Biden tonight.

I like Kaine. He seems like good people, and I hope someone has some hot salt water and lemon for him backstage, because I'm not sure how much longer is voice is going to hold up.
posted by bibliowench at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Donald Lump!?!? That's awesome.
posted by gehenna_lion at 7:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I hope everyone on the thread realize what a brilliant counterpoint Bloomberg was to the shitstorm of the Giuliani shout speech from last week's RNC. You don't have to agree with him, he was an incredibly effective tool for furthering the cause of electing a sane, competent person to the most important position in the world.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


I'm pretty sure the pin on Kaine's lapel is the flag that military families (maybe only families of Marines, not entirely sure) display in their front windows when their loved one is deployed.


Pretty sure this is correct and pretty sure I'm gonna tell that to everybody on twitter who is angry he's not wearing an American flag pin who I discovered while searching "Tim Kaine flag pin" which is gonna be so satisfying.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Twitter says lapel pin is a Service Flag
posted by mochapickle at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Stop reminding us of the people who are better at this than you!
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Pittsburgh is heavily Catholic and generally ethnic liberal Catholic who are multi-generational Democrats . There are a lot of people around these parts who are going to love this guy.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


My 16-year-old daughter loves him!"Yes we Kaine!!!" she says!!
posted by cooker girl at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


"I trust Hillary Clinton with our son's life." That hit hard
posted by kanewai at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


"I trust Hillary Clinton with our son's life."
posted by jason_steakums at 7:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Linwood Holton may look frail now, but he was a titan.

From the Nixon Tapes:

1:10:20a:

The President talks about "these hypocrites" he "can't stand" in NYC who "send their kids to lily-white schools."

The Governor says, "They are cheating their youngsters by doing that." Nixon says, "Your kids go to the black high school."

Holton tells the President that his children go to Richmond public schools which have mostly African-American students. "And the great thing about it, Mr. President, is you go to basketball games and scholastic events, these kids are friends." The Governor starts talking about the impact this will have 10 years down the line, but the President interrupts to cite statistics about a higher percentage of black children in the South attending majority white schools than in the North.

Holton says, "This year, I said, when the Attorney General declined to approve our reapportionment plan on the grounds it had a bad racial effect, I said, 'Well, goddamn it, go in and write another one and comply with it.' This is done all the time. [Unclear.] I tell you, 10 years from now when those kids get married, you're not gonna have any damn all-white suburbs. They're gonna say, 'Why, hell, those people are friends I went to school with.' And that's the way to handle that, not by any force."

Conversation Number 685-003 16:57b:

The President says that he knows people like Daniel Patrick Moynihan who believe that multiracial experiences are good things, but he disagrees with them. He refers to Governor Holton as "that poor, nice, little guy we've got as governor in Virginia. When he goes, 'It's really great for my kids to go to a school that are 90 percent black, I think he's lying through his teeth."

Ehrlichman said, "Lin Holton called me and said, 'Listen, I want to know what you guys are gonna do on busing, because,' he says, 'I've to get off this wicket I'm on.'"

President Nixon says, "He's gone too far. When he got up at that Governor's thing and went through that business about what a wonderful experience it was to take his children [to school], and I thought, poor Lin--he's an awful nice guy but, goddamnit, you don't do that."

Nixon says, "Black children are not equal to white children and black teachers are not as good as white teachers. Now goddamn it, that happens to be the truth. So why the hell do you [buck?] against the truth. Isn't that the problem? Now you can't tell them that. That's the problem."


26:00a: In discussing the dinner held for Republican governors, Haldeman has the following exchange with the President:

Haldeman: Holton got off on his integration again.

President Nixon: He's hung up on that, isn't he?

Haldeman: He is. He's obsessed with it.

President Nixon: I think it's because he's probably taking a beating on one side and trying to compensate on the other. But he doesn't need to do it all the time. I mean, it's a little embarrassing to people--it is to me anyway--to hear that kind of crap all the time. I heard the story.
posted by sallybrown at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [51 favorites]


tobascodagama, I respect what you're saying, but what you're asking for isn't something the Dems are ever going to give you. It's not what these parties are about. And you're basically watching episode 3 of Democrats: the Miniseries right now.
posted by penduluum at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


This is the "weave the tapestry together" speech.

It's gotta go a lot of places, but damn, they are holding together a lot of factions in a coalition.

I have got serious mad respect for what that takes.
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Kaine Trump Impersonation!
posted by mrzarquon at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


The Democrats today are saying that a real policy of substantive change requires building coalitions with people you disagree with on occasion.

60 Senators is a very tall task much of the time and if more of the Republicans were like Bloomberg and willing to compromise then actually making things better for Americans would be a fuckton easier.

Purity tests are what the Republicans do and it's basically ruined our political system because it's pretty rare for one party to have a supermajority.
posted by vuron at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Loving Kaine's Trump impression tho
posted by jason_steakums at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


omg his Trump impression is hilarible.
posted by gatorae at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


OMG. THE TRUMP IMPRESSION.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Just out of interest, how many people here believe in social liberalism?
posted by Talez at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016


Ha! He does a great Trump impression!
posted by bendy at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ahhh, here comes the attacking...
posted by dry white toast at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


He is ROASTING trump.

OH SHIT!
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I like this guy. He is like a dorky but comfy cardigan.
posted by pointystick at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


HE IS DOING TRUMP IMITATIONS LIKE SOMEONE'S DAD WOULD THIS IS ADORABLE
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [66 favorites]


I bet Tim Kaine is really great at telling a room full of 8th graders how disappointed he is in how they acted on the field trip to the museum, but what the heck, we can still have a pizza party.
posted by billyfleetwood at 7:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [70 favorites]


Kaine gettin in that tax return jab and *landing it*
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Biden: "NOW, LET US DESTROY OUR ENEMIES AND DRINK BLOOD WINE OVER THEIR CORPSES! EVERYONE TO MY CORVETTE!"

Kaine:"NOW, WHO IS READY TO WRITE THEIR BIGGEST CHECK EVER FOR OUR NEW ST JOE'S SCHOOL AUDITORIUM?"
posted by dw at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [43 favorites]


The Trump impression is pretty great, and he has the crowd with him, which is fun to see.
posted by Torosaurus at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Okay, there we go. Much better! That's the Tim Kaine I wanted to hear.
posted by ashirys at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Kaine doesn't need to be the attack dog, he just needs to keep doing the Trump impersonation.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Oh, here we go. Tim Kaine can do the Veep's job.
posted by notyou at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I for one am digging the dorkiness
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam: ps, was I the only one who thought johnson was sort of creepy in that video?
No

Kaine mocking Trump is adorable.
posted by Superplin at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


He's exactly the thing that would make my mid-western, hardcore-Republican, Catholic, Trump-hating father vote Dem this election.
posted by chaoticgood at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Kaine's Trump impression is the love of my life. Apologies to all my former beloveds.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Just drop the mic, Tim.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


BRING THE PAINE, KAINE!
posted by tonycpsu at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I wish Kaine would have said "We don't believe you, you need more people!" I would have lined up to vote tomorrow morning.
posted by cashman at 7:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Bringing up the tax returns and forcing a Trump response is very smart strategy.
posted by codacorolla at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


I am, like, 70% sure Tim Kaine is actively trying not to giggle.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


Ok he's doing way better now, but do you think they put Mike Bloomberg up first so Kaine would look better in comparison?
posted by zachlipton at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016


He really is like the assistant principal who, the day he retires, everybody cries.
posted by argybarg at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


I really like him.
posted by mochapickle at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Oh Fuck.

I hope someone at SNL is watching, and they have Kaine on to do the Trump impression.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


ok he's starting to win me over. That Trump impersonation was awesome.
posted by kanewai at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I love Kaine trolling Trump -- it's just baiting Trump to after the nice Catholic boy who worked as a missionary and fought redlining. Please proceed Donnie.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]




Y'all are a tough crowd.

He's getting better as he goes. Plus, with Biden, Obama, Michelle, and Bill Clinton, he's got a steep curve to deal with.
posted by dry white toast at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


SNARK ATTACK
posted by uosuaq at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Based on the intro rally last Saturday, I'm going to say the kind of halls where Kaine will be stumping are going to be... not quite so big. So no, not the attack dog. And this is a night where the speeches alternate between the carrot and the stick.
posted by holgate at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Okay, yes, this is more like it. This is exactly the kind of attack dog Kaine can be.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Could Tim Kaine run the rest of the campaign just doing his Donald Trump impression?
posted by Panjandrum at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


> Bloomberg, for instance, is strongly associated with Stop & Frisk. If you were happy about the Mothers of the Movement yesterday, you should be pissed about Bloomberg today.

He also donated $1.1 Billion to John Hopkins University which earmarked money for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, picking up the slack on gun research where the CDC has been hamstrung by Congress and the NRA. I get all the other problems with his record, but I refuse to see people as all bad or all good. Even Dubya had a fantastic record in helping Africa wrt malaria and AIDS.
posted by bluecore at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [50 favorites]


This is a man who speaks like he has seen the inside of a Sunday School classroom.
posted by goHermGO at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


not sure faith or fatherland would be worse from a progressive standpoint

gentle reminder that faith =/= fundamentalism or revanchism
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Just out of interest, how many people here believe in social liberalism?

....How are you definiing that term? I'm asking a sincere question because I'm not sure what "social liberalism" actually means. There are ideals I believe in, but I sincerely don't know whether they'd be liberal or just....are things I believe.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Slow start, but he's getting into the groove now.
posted by joedan at 7:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh man he is so, so, so likable. This is everyone's favorite buddy.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Actually, I think the Trump impression is kind of awful: the facts are bad enough.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bringin' it now, buhleave me!
posted by wallabear at 7:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yeah I'm coming around.
posted by vrakatar at 7:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Or as Alexandra Petri put it, "attack teddy bear".
posted by holgate at 7:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I love this, because Trump is so used to saying that phrase, I hope it makes him look worse every time he burps it out.
posted by cashman at 7:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


MORE COWBELL!
posted by k8bot at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


He started real slow, but this is great. The on point mocking impression is absolutely perfect for the VP in this race to oppose the fucking farce that is Trump.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Actually, I think the Trump impression is kind of awful

I think the awfulness is kind of the point.
posted by holgate at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


If Kaine just does Trump impressions for a few months, he's earned it.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Bryan Cranston saying "not one word!"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I mean this is a man who even with privilege sent his kids to public school and lives in an average house in Richmond. Isn't this the sort of thing we usually go for?
posted by Tarumba at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [45 favorites]


"Slick talking empty promising one man wrecking crew"
posted by nathan_teske at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


How the fuck did security not catch that fucking cowbell?
posted by stet at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I've always wondered what would happen if Teller opened his mouth.
posted by boo_radley at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


"Not one word. Haha yeah! 'Not one word!' Yeah chant it with me kiddos!"
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Barbara Bush!
posted by SillyShepherd at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Barbara Bush!

Edit: John Kasich!
posted by box at 7:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Fair point, holgate.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016


@realDonaldTrump Tim Kaine of New Jersey pwning me hard on TV right now using only facts. SAD!
posted by uosuaq at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


he's got the one eyebrow raise down tho
posted by likeatoaster at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Guys

Guys

George Bailey is Vice President.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


Going hard at the swing voters, smart smart smart.
posted by vrakatar at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I thought Biden was gonna be the attack dog, and Kaine would be the hype man. More fool me.
posted by figurant at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


He is really great at de-wonking this stuff for a general audience.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Kaine's goofiness is such a nice change from the bloodthirsty dick measuring of last week.
posted by bibliowench at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


This is the first time I've heard/watched Kaine speak and hadn't really heard much of him before he was picked for veep. For the first 5-6 minutes I was all "oh nooooooooo, no no no" but he warmed up and now I think he might be nearly perfect for this job.
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


The the not so subtle it first lady endorsement.


Metafilter predicts!
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Just out of interest, how many people here believe in social liberalism?

I'm somewhere in the realm of that, yet I think it's important to identify which structures of oppression are giving extra implied liberties for the few while at the same working for explicit equal liberties for all.
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016


Goddamn it he is on a roll DESTROYING Trump!
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"moral disaster"

!!!!
posted by dersins at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


He's going to crush Pence in the VP debate.
posted by carmicha at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This audience is eating out of his HAND.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


The Onion's first mention of Tim Kaine, from 2008: "Tim Kaine's Children: Tim Kaine Could Be Vice President Of Lameness, Maybe"
posted by Small Dollar at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I am going to run out of favorites before Barry even shows up. I love you all.
posted by mochapickle at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


"Now just the single ladies on this side: do you believe him?"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


This is the Comedy Central Roast of an actual presidential nominee and somehow this is entirely okay, because on the one hand is this the level we've descended to, and on the other hand, I've had to listen to this frothing treasonous junior high bullshit for months now so just shut up and let me enjoy this, brain.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Oh wow he just turned into a high school principal, one who wants to energize the kids not scold them.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I could really see Tim Kaine as a badger in the cartoon version.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Lista!
posted by mrzarquon at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I like Tim Kaine, and I'm cheerfully voting for him and his boss, but he thinks he's about 10 percent funnier than he is.
posted by Etrigan at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tim Kaine is what I imagine Mr. Rogers would be on a bad day. Like the maddest you could possibly make Mr. Rogers.
posted by Become A Silhouette at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [77 favorites]


The Bushes and Bill are besties, I'd bet they're voting Hillary and I hope they have the conviction to be public about it.

I don't expect to see the Bushes endorse Clinton and I'm not sure that Clinton would want them to endorse her. But it wouldn't surprise me if Poppy or Babs sort of hinted that they weren't voting for Trump.

Ghost Nixon is already rolling in his grave about Jane Fonda being in a DNC ad saying "I've still got a lot of fight left in me".

I chuckled at this, too. There were years no one at the DNC would've touched her either.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I just had a beautiful dream: a new fireside chat-type thing, with each sitting opening and closing with a greeting and farewell in a language other than English. Or even better, little language lessons in each public appearance by President Hilary and VP Tim, like he's providing right now, but with more diversity in languages with presentations by various proud Americans.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


So Kaine is basically Jimmy Stewart in Mr Smith Goes to Washington.

It's going to be hard for Trump to engage someone who is basically a real life Frank Capra character.
posted by vuron at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I feel like he is fucking with me by not saying impolite words when one normally does in "normal" American english.

They Got ... Stiffed!
They All Got ... Hurt!
posted by ethansr at 7:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


....How are you definiing that term? I'm asking a sincere question because I'm not sure what "social liberalism" actually means. There are ideals I believe in, but I sincerely don't know whether they'd be liberal or just....are things I believe.

Pretty much this.

Strong personal autonomy but at the same time, a strong welfare state.
posted by Talez at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


My roommate just said she went from being ready to hate him to thinking he's adorable. God bless this trip to the maltshop of a man.
posted by EatTheWeek at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [48 favorites]


oh cmon. let LISTO be chanted. that is like the one purpose of chanting.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016


Maine is going to make me run out of favorites. Thanks, Kaine!
posted by SillyShepherd at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Harvey gave his life."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Kaine is the most adorkable politician I've seen.
posted by antinomia at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


He's going to crush Pence in the VP debate.

He should just repeat everything Pence says in a dopey voice.
posted by bibliowench at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


I like Tim Kaine, and I'm cheerfully voting for him and his boss, but he thinks he's about 10 percent funnier than he is.

That is precisely what makes me enjoy him so much.
posted by dersins at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Ok, that's a Hamilton reference.
posted by stet at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I can confirm the listo thing, as a girl scout our motto was siempre lista!
posted by Tarumba at 7:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


LOL, did he go the wrong way?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016


My dad sounds just like him when he speaks Spanish. I've been conditioned to find it completely adorable.
posted by Akhu at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


He deserves some sort of medal for getting through this speech when clearly all he can think about is how badly he needs a glass of water.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


ok that litany of luminaries was pretty damn epic
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Okay that was nifty!
posted by vrakatar at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I love that he's saying he (and Democrats) are on a first-name basis with the game-changers and the doers. He is a hell of a hype man.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Tim Kaine comes across as smart, friendly, sincere, and nerdy. I like that.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Holy crap. That just built and built. Yay Kaine!

And the eyebrows are fantastic.
posted by wallabear at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Holy shit.
What a finish.
posted by rp at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Bill Clinton smirk.
posted by bendy at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


That was Chelsea in the flowered dress, no?
posted by mochapickle at 7:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tim Kaine is what I imagine Mr. Rogers would be on a bad day. Like the maddest you could possibly make Mr. Rogers.
posted by Become A Silhouette at 7:34 PM on July 27 [2 favorites +] [!]


Oh God I wish we had Mr Rogers to explain Trump
posted by schadenfrau at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


OMG Ann Kaine is just as adorable as her husband! They look like a salt and pepper shaker set!
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


Martin had a dream!

Last dude I expected to drop a Kendrick Lamar reference.
posted by saul wright at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Okay his wife is 100% adorable.
posted by dry white toast at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Kaine seems like someone who I could borrow a power washer from and he'd give me iced tea when I returned it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [40 favorites]


Together, Tim Kaine and his wife look like the adorable people in the apartment building that Wreck-It Ralph worked at.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


cowbell game on point
posted by Foci for Analysis at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016


Great speech. Love the photographers following Kaine back and forth. They remind me of my cats chasing a laser pointer.
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


sighs. I know tonight I am asking for too much tonight but someday can Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson be among those remembered as historic civil rights leaders?
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I feel like he is fucking with me by not saying impolite words when one normally does in "normal" American english.

He paused after the first syllable of "moral disaster" and I was sure he was just going to flat out call Trump a moron.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


OK. Working the stage maybe a smidge too far, Tim.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:37 PM on July 27, 2016


I cannot WAIT for the Pence debate. It's going to be so much fun!
posted by mochapickle at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


PBS cheeky summary for Kaine: "easy-going attack dog"
posted by filthy light thief at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


As they walked off stage, his wife said "you did great!" I'm such a softie because I think that's adorable.
posted by mcduff at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


OMG Ann Kaine is just as adorable as her husband!
Ann Holton! She kept her name. Also, she's apparently pretty great in her own right.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


Joe Biden is one of my favorite people that I've ever met.

as an addendum to yesterday's tale biden is actually even MORE fucking charming that billy c AND, motherfucking and, the head of his secret service detail is a 40something woman who has more raw visceral cool hand luke presence than any other woman i have ever met in my entire life and i want to be her when i grow up OR i want to be the villain in an action in which she is the hero
posted by poffin boffin at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


It's Tootsie!
posted by mudpuppie at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I wanted to see Mrs. Kaine grab his butt as they walked through that door. I would have.
posted by bendy at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Rossford! Just got ice cream there an hour ago.
posted by charred husk at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016


Tim Kaine is Ned Flanders if he was a Democrat.
posted by dry white toast at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I need Tim Kaine to drop more dad jokes.
posted by Stynxno at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016


Its been so contentious everywhere of late that Kaine's base pleasantness is going to somehow act as a powerful astringent. Just watch.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Belkofer: You are probably wondering, who the heck is this sweet little old lady.
posted by mochapickle at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


> He deserves some sort of medal for getting through this speech when clearly all he can think about is how badly he needs a glass of water.

I wonder if he burnt out his voice practicing his impression.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Why is my yia yia lambro there?
posted by vrakatar at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


who's introducing the President?
posted by zutalors! at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016


"easy-going attack dog"

I thought "happy warrior" was the term of art?
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016


Oh God I wish we had Mr Rogers to explain Trump

It would be as legendary as his explanation for gun violence.
posted by Become A Silhouette at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Kaine is a panda, man. Cute and cuddly, but he'll rip your face off.

(Comedians will make careers off a VP Kaine, tho.)
posted by octobersurprise at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


oh this lady.
posted by zutalors! at 7:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


His wife just resigned from her position as Secretary of Education in Virginia - she's badass in her own right, as he rightly acknowledges.
posted by ashirys at 7:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]




This woman is 100% Mrs. Landingham, Gold Star mother and all.
posted by zachlipton at 7:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


So Ohio
posted by mrzarquon at 7:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Little late, but I love how Kaine's voice is like the perfect blend of Bob Odenkirk and Fred Willard.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


With just a few tweaks, Kaine could be an actual Care Bear with fangs.
posted by Superplin at 7:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"At the age of 73, I took a leap of faith and ran for my local school board."

HOT DAMN.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [46 favorites]


OH MY GOD I LOVE HER
posted by mynameisluka at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This convention is full of women I don't just want to know—women I want to be. Of all ages, races and sexual orientations.
posted by mynameisluka at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


I'm pretty sure that Kaine probably won't even have light beer, it'll be O'Douls all the way because he wouldn't want to set a bad example for the kids.
posted by vuron at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Oooooh shiiiiit
posted by penduluum at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016


It is a crime that it has taken me so long to learn of this woman.
posted by kalimac at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I have a mom who is pretty great, but now I want a second one, this one.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Best thing I've seen:

Clinton: "I'm looking for a VP"
Kaine: "Hi looking for a VP I'm Tim Kaine!"
Clinton: "oh my god..."
posted by Talez at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [104 favorites]


Here's your down ballot!!!!!!
posted by R343L at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"This little old lady in Ohio"
posted by mrzarquon at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That is definitely a Northern Ohio accent on her.
posted by Small Dollar at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Now I wanna buy her ice cream.
posted by charred husk at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016


Walking is good for your back.
posted by rp at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Mr. Dinty: Kaine's like a lawn gnome come to life, but not creepy!
posted by dinty_moore at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm pretty sure that Kaine probably won't even have light beer, it'll be O'Douls all the way because he wouldn't want to set a bad example for the kids.

have you ever met a catholic
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [71 favorites]


vuron: I'm pretty sure that Kaine probably won't even have light beer, it'll be O'Douls all the way because he wouldn't want to set a bad example for the kids.

Well, he's Catholic, so I dunno.
posted by Superplin at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This is the best introduction ever.
posted by octothorpe at 7:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Me too! I want to hug President Obama too!
posted by areaperson at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Sharon Belkofer is mom, as the youths say.
posted by muddgirl at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I keep kind of hoping she will tell me about her time on the titanic.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Awwwwww! I want to hug President Obama!!!! <3
posted by k8bot at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Jinx, Tivalasvegas!
posted by Superplin at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm generally too cynical or detached or too something to be inspired, and yet, this week....
posted by schadenfrau at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


we drink in the middle of fuckin church

crap it's detached from the previous comment... looks weird now
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


That was wonderful.
posted by gatorae at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Here. It. Fucking. Comes.
posted by Mooski at 7:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


OMG, she's from Perrysburg! Just down the road from my parents. <3 <3 <3
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This little old lady knows how to tell her story. I.. yeah. Amazing
posted by Mister Fabulous at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I really feel like Obama of all people does not need an introductory video.
posted by dry white toast at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


see y'all on this flipside of this. *clicks maxscreen*
posted by Annika Cicada at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"I wish every American could hug the President."
posted by Hypatia at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


FOUR MORE YEARS. FOUR MORE YEARS. FOUR MORE YEARS.
posted by dis_integration at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Pre-crying, just to get it over with, because I know Barry is gonna wreck me.
posted by missmobtown at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Per this awesome lady, I'd be down for an Obama hug.

Also, a hug from this lady.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]




Young Obama ;_;

Man this job sucks the life out of you.
posted by vuron at 7:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Yeah, I still love Barry O, I don't even care. I was fully an adult through all 8 long years of GWB. I cried the night Obama was elected in 08, big sloppy sobs.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


I feel like this vid should be narrated by Will Lyman.
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:45 PM on July 27, 2016


> Kaine: "Hi looking for a VP I'm Tim Kaine!"

Can't stop giggling.
posted by mrzarquon at 7:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I'm not sure I'd put this in the video, but it cannot be over-emphasized what a colossal failure of an economy Obama was handed from that bumblefuck before him.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [39 favorites]


omg i'm here, i have two bottles of wine and an entire rotisserie chicken and a paper due tomorrow that i really need to start writing but fuck it, SPEECH TIME, i wanna get all greasy and shitfaced and cry super hard k
posted by palomar at 7:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Shoutout to emjaybee who mentioned that you can stream this to your TV over YouTube on the XBOX. I got two screens going!
posted by mochapickle at 7:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


HERE COMES THE GENERAL
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


Don't go to the light, Obama!
posted by ikahime at 7:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


i need rotisserie chicken in my life right now
posted by Foci for Analysis at 7:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Jeeeeesus, he looks so young. This is gonna be a time-lapse of his aging.
posted by kalimac at 7:46 PM on July 27, 2016


I get really discouraged when I see people slagging off Hillary from the left as well as from the right.

Gough Whitlam once said, "only the impotent are pure".

I can't sit by and wait for the pure person who hasn't done a damn thing to come along. We can't sit by. I don't know how I'm going to be able to cope this election season watching people willing to let the country burn because of some purity test that only Bernie could apparently pass despite having his own failings.
posted by Talez at 7:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [50 favorites]


Here for this. I, too, am staggering under deadlines but let's be real, there are more important things to worry about. (Sorry, editors)
posted by mynameisluka at 7:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Shoutout to emjaybee who mentioned that you can stream this to your TV over YouTube on the XBOX.

Also on the Youtube app for the Roku.
posted by dersins at 7:47 PM on July 27, 2016


I cried when GW Bush was re-elected in 04 and when Obama was elected 08. Different kind of tears, though.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


In all seriousness, between Biden and Kaine and what's probably coming from Obama, I don't remember the last time I saw genuinely fire-and-brimstone raging democrats who weren't on the sidelines. It really shouldn't have taken this much to drive them there, and god knows how long it'll last, but for this one moment it is such a huge relief to be on the side of facts and sanity and AND get to be represented by people making transparently emotional pleas like this. I'm not sure if this is making much sense because it's a complicated feeling and also I'm drunk, but apart from the Obama administration itself the democratic party so often feels not just like it's a bunch of bloodless cutouts, but like it thinks it HAS to be, and this is all of them loosening their ties and going to town. I promised myself I wouldn't spend all night making west wing references so I don't even know how to express whatever the hell it is I'm getting at here.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [39 favorites]


I love love love that a retired nurse is introducing him. "I wish every American could hug President Obama". I love this woman.
posted by dog food sugar at 7:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


The images of the Osama bin Laden attack decision with the only woman in the room. Hillary Clinton.
posted by R343L at 7:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


We grilled steak and ate salad. Everyone settle down and grab a drink!
posted by vrakatar at 7:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Gonna need a scotch.
posted by cortex at 7:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Saying this before his speech: I am not ready for Obama's presidency to be over.
posted by dry white toast at 7:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [52 favorites]


Jeeeeesus, he looks so young. This is gonna be a time-lapse of his aging.


I know aging is aging but I also feel like we stole his youth.

(Actually he sacrificed it for us.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


I'm casting this to my roku so I can type on metafilter from my couch.
posted by AlexiaSky at 7:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


still working on the margarita mix from last night
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Everybody says fuck 2016, but really: fuck 2010.

We wasted this man's potential.
posted by Rhaomi at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [67 favorites]


Why would anyone want this job...

The weight of the world but the inability to actually solve so many of the problems that cross your desk.
posted by vuron at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I really feel like Obama of all people does not need an introductory video.

It's not an introductory video. It's a hype, stagecraft, and reminisence, and it is well fucking accomplishing its goal.
posted by Panjandrum at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


srsly 4 more years guys, he broke my heart but i still love him. can't we bend the rules a bit?
posted by dis_integration at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"A meme is born."
posted by tonycpsu at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I don't remember the last time I saw genuinely fire-and-brimstone raging democrats who weren't on the sidelines

Did you watch Murphy's filibuster or the House's sit in? Because there was plenty of fire-and-brimstone raging, and it was amazing.
posted by yasaman at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


324 new comments, show

FFS, all I did was go and have a cup of coffee!
posted by homunculus at 7:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Those profiles shots of Obama are incredibly powerful.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016


On the streets of Chicago everyday
posted by chaoticgood at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


The thing that makes me saddest is that once he's gone, I just can't imagine anyone in the political realm ever being as inspiring again. It's like we had it, we got to experience it, and now we have to say goodbye to it. :(
posted by mudpuppie at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


OH NO THEY DIDN'T
posted by mynameisluka at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016


The quiet before he began to sing "Amazing Grace"... ;____;
posted by ilicet at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


Already crying
posted by Tarumba at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


oh god the amazing grace moment oh god oh god
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Man this job sucks the life out of you

Yes. Every President comes out on the other side looking so much older. It must be the most stressful job in the world. I cannot imagine the constant pressure that comes with the job, all of the work.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Oh man, Amazing Grace was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen.
posted by dry white toast at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


That pause before "Amazing Grace"... DAMN
posted by wenestvedt at 7:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


We, America, didn't deserve Barack Obama these past 8 years. I haven't agreed with everything he has done. But he's such a smart and good man. What could he have done for us all if so much obstruction had not been constantly put in his way?
posted by BlueJae at 7:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [86 favorites]


Ah I give the vid a b minus. Bring on the prez. Then again I am the choir.
posted by vrakatar at 7:51 PM on July 27, 2016


FFS, all I did was go and have a cup of coffee!

COFFEE IS FOR COMMENTERS
posted by cortex at 7:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [49 favorites]


Fuck, four more years.
posted by sideshow at 7:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Its been so contentious everywhere of late that Kaine's base pleasantness is going to somehow act as a powerful astringent. Just watch.

The pleasantness is at least in part a provocation.

Also, that Amazing Grace thing just tripped me up, I thought that was his intro. Like he was going to sing himself in with a choir.
posted by ethansr at 7:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


This is a really stupid thing to love about him, but I love watching him sign things left handed. My dad is left handed and I just think left handed people are neat.
posted by hollygoheavy at 7:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]




A lot of this voiceover narration is Jon Favreau, who was his chief speech writer for many years. He is currently hosting an excellent podcast, Keeping it 1600, which I listen to the second each episode is available.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


This film is about stacking the responsibility of the job in a pile on the stage, and showing what it takes to be granted it.
posted by holgate at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


He sings way better than anyone in his position deserves to.
posted by stet at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


This is... the last big Obama speech. I'm. Ugh. I don't want this to end.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


Awesome mention that surging Dow.
posted by vrakatar at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Just a reminder, as we wait for him to come out, that most of the people (yes progressive people) that now consider Obama to be the greatest president in history and who are sad to see him go were buying fully in to the right wing lie about him being terrible and hapless and ineffectual Year One. I had to defend him constantly for the first 3 years. Against leftists.
We think we make our own minds up 100% in a vacuum but that is never really the case. Now Im not saying the two are the same, but those very same forces are the ones telling you that Clinton is the epitome of Evil right now.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [60 favorites]


"It has revealed who he is"

dayum
posted by dersins at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I firmly believe he laid the ground for Bernie Sanders getting so far this year. This country was a different place in 2008. Obama did a lot to give more people their voice and to get Democrats to hear it.
posted by zutalors! at 7:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Obama has done a gang of amazing things, and this might be one of the biggest. Here it comes.
posted by box at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


But hey, let's be grateful this is a convention intro and not an obit, because he can still do a lot of good -- probably more, without the obstructionists in his way.
posted by mudpuppie at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I want them to slip in the black and white Obama smoking a joint photo just for shits and giggles.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


A lot of this voiceover narration is Jon Favreau, who was his chief speech writer for many years. He is currently hosting an excellent podcast, Keeping it 1600, which I listen to the second each episode is available.

I thought that might be him! I just started listening to that podcast, it's great.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016




CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS! CITY OF MOTHERFUCKING BLINDING LIGHTS!
posted by Talez at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Man, he's done a phenomenal job despite being blocked over and over and over again.

Jeez, he just kept on rising up to the challenge day after day.
posted by vuron at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Obama bending over so the little boy can feel that they have the same hair texture will never not make me tear up. I must have seen that photo a thousand times, but it still says so much.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [36 favorites]


IM READY
posted by likeatoaster at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Fuck, four more years.

lets go back in time & kill the 22nd amendment
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"What the...a SURPRISE PARTY?"
posted by uosuaq at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


What's the walk-up music?
posted by mhum at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016


Bring it on home, Obama.
posted by mochapickle at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


(Wow, never hit my favorite limit before!)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Tears. All over again!
posted by ramix at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


'kay, I'mma say it -

Obama earned that Nobel Peace Prize we were all wondering why he got it seven years ago.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Completely fucking lost it with this Obama video. I'm a wreck.
posted by dnash at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


he should've walked out to some gang starr but whatevs.
posted by dis_integration at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


HE HASN'T EVEN STARTED SPEAKING AND I'M ALREADY CRYING
posted by ilicet at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


U2? Is my iPhone malfunctioning again?
posted by Yowser at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


City of Blinding Lights >>> Fight Song
posted by Small Dollar at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016


lets go back in time & kill the 22nd amendment

Four or more terms of Reagan. Would you make that deal?
posted by Talez at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Goddamn Republicans and their 22nd Amendment.
posted by dw at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016


(mass appeal)
posted by dis_integration at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016


zutalors! I agree, he led the way in terms of logical, data-driven but heartfelt governing that has a way of cutting through the bullshit.
posted by JauntyFedora at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


8 MORE YEARS!
posted by vrakatar at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


oh my god i'm going to be such a drunk greasy crymonster
posted by palomar at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


We're all weeping here.
posted by cooker girl at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Obama bending over so the little boy can feel that they have the same hair texture will never not make me tear up. I must have seen that photo a thousand times, but it still says so much.

He keeps a copy of it in the oval office.
posted by dersins at 7:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [37 favorites]


For a lot of the Bernie people today, Obama was that for me eight years ago. And you better believe I've been disappointed about a lot of his presidency. But I think he did a lot with the situation he was presented and tried to do the best he could. Even with all the stuff I disagree about and get so mad about so strongly, I've never stopped thinking that he is a fundamentally good man who does want to help people. Not just have power. But use that power to make things better.
posted by downtohisturtles at 7:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


The only presidents I really remember are Bush and Obama. I almost feel cheated that it played out that way, 'cause now I just think Democratic presidents are like this.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


PBS commentary as Obama enters: here is the man, than if the Constitution were amended to allow a third term, everyone in this room, and a few others, would vote for him.

That's a ... statement. Not exactly strong, but you know, it's saying ... something.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


yes we did! yes we did!

yes i'm crying!
posted by palomar at 7:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


YES WE CAN
posted by kalimac at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Hello America, I am Johnny Cash."

Oh damn, mental wires crossed again.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016


This is... the last big Obama speech

I certainly hope so. I don't want him to have to try and heal us after another mass killing. He doesn't deserve that.
posted by Panjandrum at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


God damn he is good at this, and he's said like 12 words.
posted by dersins at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


He's gonna tear this shit UP

U2 shout out!
posted by wallabear at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I kind of want the White House Correspondents Dinner Obama to come out for the next six months.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I LOVE YOU BACK!
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


My wife predicts at least one Hamilton reference in the speech.
posted by stet at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The greatest political talent of our time.
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I thought it was "YES WE DID"?
posted by tonycpsu at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016


his whole speech could consist of him saying "hello" to various people and objects and it would still be brilliant
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


I remember when he was up 12 years ago and it was instantly clear this man was going to be president.
posted by mochapickle at 7:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [32 favorites]


Rap Battle Parody version of Obama speech:

Bin Laden, I killed that.
Health Care, you got that.

House and Senate passed a bill, here's the bill. SIKE! That's the wrong bill!
posted by Become A Silhouette at 7:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I am just bawling. I haven't always agreed with Obama's decisions but I've never doubted his intent or values.
posted by R343L at 7:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


OH he is RELAXED
posted by wallabear at 7:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Yay for calling his wife "brilliant" instead of "beautiful".
posted by glhaynes at 7:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [71 favorites]


Man, I love listening to this guy speak.
posted by figurant at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Guys, if anyone deserves his respite it's Obama.

Let him say goodbye.
posted by vuron at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I have always loved his chuckle.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


It was probably yes we did, i am bad at hearing chanting and got very excited :)
posted by kalimac at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I firmly believe he laid the ground for Bernie Sanders getting so far this year. This country was a different place in 2008. Obama did a lot to give more people their voice and to get Democrats to hear it

This rings true. His give no fucks second term has given Democrats the freedom (and expectation) to speak with conviction on guns, LGBTQ, civil rights and women's rights in a way they were terrified to do for almost 30 years.
posted by dry white toast at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


My cat just came into the living room and sat on the couch.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [80 favorites]


I was so young that first time in Boston.

And I loved you the first time I saw you, you gorgeous son of a bitch.
posted by Mooski at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


A victory lap SOTU?
posted by vrakatar at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"I was so young that first time in Boston."

Man, you and us both, my dude.
posted by penduluum at 7:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"I am more optimistic about the future of America than ever before."

That makes one of us, Barry.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Cats know!
posted by SillyShepherd at 7:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


How the fuck is he so good at this.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]




My cat just came into the living room and sat on the couch

EVEN THE CATS OBEY HIM
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


"I am more optimistic about the future of America than ever before."

are you lying tho, tell me the truth
posted by likeatoaster at 8:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


My cat just joined me.
posted by SillyShepherd at 8:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I just adopted a feral cat.

That cat just enrolled in a highly-regarded MPA program.
posted by box at 8:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


SMILE BRADLEY COOPER YOU ASSHOLE
posted by palomar at 8:01 PM on July 27, 2016


"Tonight, I would like to say that WND and InfoWars are right, I'm declaring martial law and naming myself King Barack, First of His Line"

My only real objection to that (I mean, other than the whole thing with the Constitution), is that I'm legit hugely looking forward to President H. Clinton.
posted by dersins at 8:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


My cat has also just joined me.

Cats for Obama 2016
posted by mrzarquon at 8:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


My cats never left...they've been snoozing on the couch for the duration. One is audibly snoring.
posted by cooker girl at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


i didn't have a cat 10 minutes ago but suddenly there's a maine coon on my couch wtf.
posted by dis_integration at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [58 favorites]


Mine too. This is weird.
posted by bibliowench at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"all of us"
posted by stet at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016


My cat came in the room, but he just wanted food. He's a cat.
posted by holgate at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"love has no limits."

"we still have more work to do."

Pretty fuckin good.
posted by rp at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I wonder if he actually liked having this job. It seems like he did. I hope he did.
posted by penduluum at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


"We're not done perfecting our union."

oh man
posted by a fiendish thingy at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"Tonight, I would like to say that WND and InfoWars are right, I'm declaring martial law and naming myself King Barack, First of His Line"

Does he have a sigil? No sigil, no House.
posted by homunculus at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Love the "Bernie Fucking Sanders" shirt live on PBS though
posted by OverlappingElvis at 8:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Shit, I'm out of favorites.
posted by SillyShepherd at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Uh oh, he might let loose here.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


My cats are both on the couch but they're just staring at me, not Obama.
posted by zutalors! at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Evil kitty is snoozing nearby. Does that count?
posted by vrakatar at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016


My cats are still being assholes. I'm pretty sure they're Republicans.
posted by sporkwort at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


we can have both a king and a president

a little unorthodox but it could work
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


SEE, BARACK OBAMA CAN EVEN BRING CAT OWNERS INTO AGREEMENT oh wait
posted by mudpuppie at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Obama's not waving his arms around enough for cats.
posted by zutalors! at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016


If the picture of my late cat on the wall starts moving, I'm turning this computer off.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Here it comes....
posted by wallabear at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


My cat just came into the living room and sat on the couch

My cat just joined me.

INFOWARS EXCLUSIVE: OBAMA AMASSING FELINE ARMY TO ENSLAVE AMERICANS
posted by tonycpsu at 8:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]




I wonder if he actually liked having this job. It seems like he did. I hope he did.

Even if he didn't, he still did it for us.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Maybe too much with the signs quoting live speeches?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016


Great. 2500 comments, and 1200 will be about your cats. I'm on mobile, here!
posted by leotrotsky at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Goodness he is only 54. He could be around for another 40 or 50 years. It's amazing to think of how much he has done so far and plenty of lifetime left to do so much more.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


oh christ.
posted by Rhaomi at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm pretty sure all of your cats are actually Republicans guys.

I love cats but they are totally screw you I got mine and I want yours too!
posted by vuron at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Bernie Bros, get fucked.
posted by Yowser at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


We need to crowdfund for more favorites from people in other threads.
posted by mochapickle at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Stupid TPP asshole.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


WHO IS THIS YELLING GUY
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


No TPP again. And someone telling that guy to shut up.
posted by zachlipton at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


We always suspected our cat is a libertarian. She left with a stuck up look.
posted by Tarumba at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Don't you heckle the fucking President, asshole.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [32 favorites]


Children hush
posted by boo_radley at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Shut the fuck up you chanting piece of shit. I hope your sudden silence was the Secret Service throwing your ass out of the arena.
posted by Talez at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Did someone in the crowd just throttle that TPP chanter?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Oh, fuck you Code Pink.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


What was that dude shouting?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016


Obama was my first election, if you don't count the cardboard election boxes mimicking voting booths in my kindergarden class during the Clinton campiegn.
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


That protestor got silenced quickly. Mini-drone?
posted by homunculus at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Goodness he is only 54. He could be around for another 40 or 50 years. It's amazing to think of how much he has done so far and plenty of lifetime left to do so much more.

SCOTUS. Cmon Hilary.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


Yay, Sikhs!!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


A loner Bernie bro, not even the other Bros followed him
posted by Tarumba at 8:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


WOAH lady in a Barack dress
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Well, that inarticulate screamer in the audience sure turned me around.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


Obama is solidifying the Stronger Together meme.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


So Lance Bass is there why?
posted by downtohisturtles at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016


Whoever that heckler is, I hope they strip him of his floor privileges. They did it to the Hawaii delegate who acted poorly.
posted by kanewai at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


That scream was the TPP guy getting tackled.
posted by all about eevee at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Shut the fuck up you chanting piece of shit. I hope your sudden silence was the Secret Service kicking your ass out of the arena.

Oh Talez, let's not go full Trump on the protestor's ass. There's supposed to be a difference, remember?
posted by Bella Donna at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Onion Politics ‏@OnionPolitics 40s40 seconds ago
Biden Whips Full Tallboy At Screaming Asshole #DemsInPhilly
posted by waitingtoderail at 8:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [52 favorites]


It just hit me we're as far from the final year of Reagan as 1988 was from the final year of Eisenhower.
posted by dw at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


I love this man so much.
posted by bendy at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


My cats are still being assholes. I'm pretty sure they're Republicans

You house them, feed them, clean up their messes and their shit, and they walk around like they own the place. Of course they're Republicans.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Cats for Obama 2016

Kittens for Obama 2008.
posted by dersins at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh Talez, let's not go full Trump on the protestor's ass. There's supposed to be a difference, remember?

Yep. That's why I changed it to throw. Not a good example for any kids watching the meta thread.
posted by Talez at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016


BACKWARDS AND IN HEELS
FUCK YES
posted by k8bot at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [37 favorites]


"Just like Ginger Rogers it was backwards and in heels."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Obama's likeable enough.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


HA Ginger Rogers reference :)
posted by wallabear at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ginger Rogers, sweet.
posted by vrakatar at 8:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Backwards and in heels. YES!
posted by Superplin at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The "hopey changey" stuff actually ended up working out pretty well, thanks for asking email forward from my racist cousin.
posted by codacorolla at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [56 favorites]


Killed it with that Ginger Rogers line!
posted by jason_steakums at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Backwards and in heels!
posted by filthy light thief at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Backwards and in heels!!!
posted by bendy at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


BACKWARDS AND IN HEELS AND ALL THE LADIES SAY YAAAASSSS
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


My cats are still being assholes. I'm pretty sure they're Republicans.

Cats are the ultimate "I've got mine" brigade.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


As an old man who listened to his gay friends cry coming out to him (and still staying safely in the closet) 25 years ago in a world that simply couldn't find a place for them, it is hugely heartening to see my president include gay people in his speech about his America.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [63 favorites]


I was interested to see how he would talk about their nomination race in 2008. Well done.
posted by dry white toast at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Bryan Cranston AND Dean Norris.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


my cats don't believe in climate change, they live indoors and the temperature doesn't change.
posted by zutalors! at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I swear if the Republicans refuse to seat Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, Hillary better nominate him.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Obama: She was in this for anyone who needs a champion.
posted by mochapickle at 8:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Is that Lance Bass? Am I losing my mind?
posted by unknowncommand at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016


The... ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS?
posted by Rhaomi at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Hillary's been in the room……. where it happens. C'mon, man.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


She's been in the room. Would you say that it is the room WHERE IT HAPPENS? eh? eh?
posted by dinty_moore at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Room where it happens!
posted by vuron at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I know many would like a woman to replace The Mighty RBG. But by the time she retires, Barack will have had a couple years off. I hope he's bored with doing speeches.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"But Hillary's been in the room"

Come on you almost had it!
posted by zachlipton at 8:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That dude's flag suit is the best thing.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


In the room where it happened?
posted by filthy light thief at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


SHE GETS KNOCKED DOWN BUT SHE GETS UP AGAIN
posted by vrakatar at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Anyone making a shirt with HilLISTAry on it?
posted by orangemacky at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016


"Hillary's been in the room" Awww so close...
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Not me. Not Bill. Nobody.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [43 favorites]


Obama: She was in this for anyone who needs a champion.

I cannot wait for the first Trump-Clinton jousts.
posted by palindromic at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


WOW "no one... more qualified"
posted by wallabear at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Not me, not Bill. I am so in love with this guy right now.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Who is one-handed-clapping next to Chelsea Clinton?
posted by wenestvedt at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


OH SHIT!
posted by stet at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016


Did Bill just say, "That's right!" ?
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


> SHE GETS KNOCKED DOWN BUT SHE GETS UP AGAIN

Hey, I called the Hercules Mulligan Hillary song on Monday.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


vrakatar just nailed Hillary's walkout song tomorrow
posted by Pallas Athena at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


DNC LOVEFEST! <3
posted by k8bot at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I love Bill Clinton's reaction here.
posted by peacheater at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


That Bill cut-away is so gif-able. Oh my god.
posted by palindromic at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Not me, not Bill, NOBODY more qualified. And Bill just tearing up at it!
posted by jason_steakums at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Bill Clinton is crying!
posted by zutalors! at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Obama: nobody, not Bill, not me, more qualified for this position.
Bill Clinton: *grinning* He's absolutely right!
posted by filthy light thief at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [41 favorites]


OH MY GOD TIM KAINE'S PROUD WIFE
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Getting a shout out from Obama. Short of your wedding day and your kids being born that's gotta be the greatest thing to happen in your life.
posted by Talez at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Better than Bill Clinton, no kidding.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016


Not me. Not Bill. Nobody.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Who is one-handed-clapping next to Chelsea Clinton?

Gabby Giffords
posted by hollygoheavy at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I hope you don't mind, Bill, but I'm just telling the truth, man.
posted by Westringia F. at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Standing O in my living room, he just said that. Not me, not Bill... not anybody.
posted by danapiper at 8:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"just tellin truth"
Have you ever
posted by rp at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016


GIVE JOE BIDEN A TALK SHOW LIKE MORTEN DOWNEY HAD
posted by vrakatar at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


That's Gabby Giffords!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Kaine looks like he's legit choking up at Obama's praise, which only makes me like him more, because, like, how could you not?
posted by dersins at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Here comes the pivot!
posted by box at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016


"Don't boo. Vote."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [70 favorites]


Don't boo. Vote. VOTE MOTHERFUCKERS. VOTE OR DIE.
posted by Talez at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


Nobody more qualified, not me, not Bill, nobody is more qualified than Hillary. Fantastic.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"Don't Boo. Vote"
posted by dinty_moore at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


"Don't boo, vote. "
posted by Torosaurus at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Don't boo. Vote" FUUUUUUUCK. YESSSSSSS.
posted by dry white toast at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Senate? Supreme Court? We have other ways to serve, Mr. President.
"Don't boo -- vote!"
posted by TrishaU at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Don't boo. Vote."
posted by mochapickle at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Don't Boo, Vote!
posted by vuron at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


DON'T BOO. VOTE.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Don't boo... vote!

edit: I see other people might also be watching this
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


don't boo, vote!

and the crowd starts chanting vote. i love it.
posted by palomar at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Don't boo - vote!"

YES YOU MAGNIFICENT HUMAN
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Here comes correspondent's dinner Obama...
posted by nathan_teske at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This speech and Bill's compliment each other very well. Showing different sides of her from the perspective of two well known and deeply loved public figures.
posted by penduluum at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


There it is: "don't boo, vote!"
posted by jaruwaan at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


DON'T BOO VOTE
posted by The Nutmeg of Consolation at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Gifford? I didn't even recognize her. Good choice, she's pretty awesome.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016


"Don't boo, vote"
posted by Theophrastus Johnson at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Don't boo, vote" is the callback he knew he'd use.
posted by holgate at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Not really a facts guy, either. Nope, not really...
posted by Bella Donna at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Don't boo. Vote.

There have been so many great lines tonight.
posted by kanewai at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Don't boo. Vote."

Truth
posted by danapiper at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Here comes the smackdown.
posted by uosuaq at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Who is one-handed-clapping next to Chelsea Clinton? Gabby Gifford.
posted by Oyéah at 8:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


aHHHHHHH MY FEED FOR THE CONVENTION JUST DIED
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016


"Don't voo, boat!"

wait, shit
posted by Rhaomi at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


YES YOU BETTER CLAP, BERNIE! Thank you from a former rabid supporter.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


The slight incredulous laughter as he compares Trump to Clinton
posted by palindromic at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


He's almost laughing, the comparison is so vast.
posted by mochapickle at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Ohhhh twist that dagger. Next, go for the mf'ing jugular. I want the scumbag in polling in the 20's
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"Is suddenly going to be your champion?" The incredulity in his voice was amazing.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


whew
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016


People inside of the US don't understand what's going on either Barack.
posted by vuron at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Say it: SHE'S A GROWN UP.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I've never heard someone wolf-whistle the phrase "respected around the world" before. Decency is sexy!
posted by psoas at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


I firmly believe he laid the ground for Bernie Sanders getting so far this year

If the legacy of Obama is anything, it's that we literally went from one of our worst presidents -- who left the country in a state of disarray -- to one of our best. Obama may have never lived up to the promise of Hope and Change of his 2008 campaign, but large parts of that come down to a profoundly obstructionist Congress. That failure of Obama's promise may have been instrumental in creating the disillusionment that fueled Sanders campaign. We must not ignore, however, that it has been the stewardship of Obama which also created the environment where support for Sanders could exist.

America is a big country -- geographically, culturally, politically, economically, internationally -- so changing the course of our nation is like altering the course of supertanker. Obama took the helm when we were chugging full steam towards rocky shores and pulled us off into a safer course. But it takes time and it takes will to keep leaning on that rudder and steer us back towards safer waters. That's why I've been happy to support Clinton, because I trust that she's going to keep her wonky hand firmly on the rudder of the ship of state, steering us towards governmental policy rooted in the best interests of our society until we reach a place where the repugnant ideas of Trump and the GOP are not even up for debate.
posted by Panjandrum at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [89 favorites]


I love this man. This is a hell of an endorsement.
posted by zarq at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


What a speech by Obama. 8 years and hasn't lost ONE step. Not a single one.
posted by sfts2 at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


VOTE MOTHERFUCKERS. VOTE OR DIE.

NOT JUST EVERY FOUR YEARS, MOTHERFUCKERS.
posted by longdaysjourney at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


She is fit and she is ready to be the next Commander in Chief.

Meanwhile...Donald Trump calls our military a disaster.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"People outside of this country don't understand what is going on with this election."
posted by Sophie1 at 8:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


It must be so hard not to cuss when you're giving a speech like this: "COME ON, PEOPLE, DONALD TRUMP? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?"
posted by dersins at 8:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


More subtle incredulous laughing...
posted by mochapickle at 8:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Wolfwhistle guy, person, whatever, needs to stifle it.
posted by Floydd at 8:17 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


FOUR MORE YEARS!
posted by Talez at 8:17 PM on July 27, 2016






These ultra-closeups feel very 70's -- in a good way, but it's kind of a neat choice that you don't see very often anymore.
posted by kalimac at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


but large parts of that come down to a profoundly obstructionist Congress.

All of it. The electorate ripped the tiller from his hands in 2010.
posted by Heywood Mogroot III at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


"Four more years!" right there with you, man.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


He is straight killin it here.
posted by cashman at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Our strength, our greatness does not depend on Donald Trump. It does not depend on any one person.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Some guy, responding to Obama's speech: "FOUR MORE YEARS!"
posted by filthy light thief at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"[Trump] told the other members of NATO who stood by our side after 9/11 that they would need to pay up if they want our protection."

....Suddenly that sounds like a Mafia thing. Has anyone made that connection in a Trump attack ad yet?....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


RAGAN quote!
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:18 PM on July 27, 2016


The idea that the Orange Joker can call our President weak and a loser is just maddening to me. I've never wanted to tear someone's hair out before but Drmpf makes me see red.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


CORTEX: PLS TEMPORARILY ENABLE IMAGE POSTING SO I CAN POST THIS PIC OF ME REACTING TO TRUMP GETTING ETHERED

I call this one.
posted by Talez at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Calling out the FUD tactics. Holy shit.
posted by vuron at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


please say 'fear is the mind killer' k thx
posted by palindromic at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Wolfwhistle guy, person, whatever, needs to stifle it.

@laurenduca: Look, any time you hear a whistle from the crowd, it is 100% Bill Clinton
posted by moonmilk at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [27 favorites]


"We don't look to be ruled."
posted by chris24 at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


FUCK YES
posted by gatorae at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


YEAH!
posted by vrakatar at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016


"We don't look to be ruled"
posted by palindromic at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


"WE DON'T LOOK TO BE RULED"
posted by dersins at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"We don't look to be ruled!"
posted by jason_steakums at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


We don't look to be ruled! Sucka.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"We don't look to be ruled" is good.
posted by holgate at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"We don't look to de ruled"
posted by stet at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


WE DON'T LOOK TO BE RULED!!!! Bring it home, babe, bring it home.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


We don't look to be ruled.

PREACH.
posted by Superplin at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"We don't look to be ruled." No King Don here.
posted by TrishaU at 8:19 PM on July 27, 2016


WE DON'T LOOK TO BE RULED
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016


….ARGH SO CLOSE TO THE SCHUYLER SISTERS
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Empress- I just said, Donald's got America all mobbed up!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016


We don't look to be ruled. BOOM.
posted by Mchelly at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016


Someone tell wolf whistle person it doesn't mean what they think it means!
posted by Tarumba at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


We don't look to be RULED.
posted by Mooski at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016


YES. YES.
posted by waitingtoderail at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016


I've never wanted to tear someone's hair out before but Drmpf makes me see red.

GOD, RIGHT

i want obama's speech to end with him inviting donald to meet him in the fucking pit
posted by poffin boffin at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Trump, did you forget Lafayette?
posted by mbrubeck at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"We don't look to be RULED." Well put!
posted by salvia at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016


I'm pretty sure that Obama just plagarized part of his speech guise
posted by vuron at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


His smile right now is like 10 thousand freaking watts
posted by cashman at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


This is a dumb request, but I would like to watch Obama's speech in HD. Both Google and Bing are redirecting me to shady websites that do not actually offer Obama's speech.

Google delenda est.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"we don't look to be ruled"

so much for the king Barack thing then
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"we dont look to be ruled"

with the perfect tone of incredulous scorn.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


APPEAL TO OUR BETTER NATURES AND OUR FINER SELVES
posted by rewil at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


You know the great thing about whistling? You can STOP WHISTLING.
posted by Lorin at 8:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic, but deep down inside, you secretly long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalise criminals and rule you like a king!
-- Sideshow Bob
posted by Talez at 8:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Mr. Trump? Special package by courier from a "Barack Obama". Well, I don't know, sir, it seems fairly bulky...let's see...oh. It would appear to be your ass. I'm just going to hand this to you now, I've got a lot of other deliveries...
posted by uosuaq at 8:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [88 favorites]


Man, his tone is so so so so good. Incredulous laughter when he talks about Trump; giddy smiles when he talks about the country.
posted by dry white toast at 8:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I'm gonna need a smoke after this. I'm already spent. Obama is killing this speech.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Slap*Happy, Youtube has you covered. You can even rewind and watch from the start.
posted by majuju at 8:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


It must be so hard not to cuss when you're giving a speech like this: "COME ON, PEOPLE, DONALD TRUMP? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?"

I would pay so much money to see Luther's anger translation of tonight's speech.
posted by bibliowench at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


Wolf-whistle guy is probably related to the Super Bowl Woooooooooooo-guy.
posted by SillyShepherd at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016


HEAL THE NATION SIR
posted by vrakatar at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Requesting a gif of "it's true" guy
posted by penduluum at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016


Impressive crowd outside watching the jumbotron.
posted by wallabear at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


rewil: "APPEAL TO OUR BETTER NATURES AND OUR FINER SELVES"

OUR SELVES ARE SO FINE RIGHT NOW
posted by Rhaomi at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


"Even when you're 100% right, democracy requires compromise."
posted by bendy at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


Whistling guy (because it's obviously a guy) is on the wrong side of history here.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


ahaha he can barely hold back his laughter when he mentions the wall
posted by ilicet at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I'm gonna need a smoke after this.

I haven't smoked in six years, and I'm with ya, brother.
posted by Mooski at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"The American dream is something no wall will ever contain."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [51 favorites]


He referenced the rapists line even, damn
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Can we get this man some cardigans and do a Mr Obama's Neighborhood?
posted by vuron at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


"The American Dream is something no wall with ever contain."
posted by mochapickle at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I love that he is so ready to acknowledge the gnarly complexity of issues and believes that we can all handle it.
posted by Superplin at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Trump is so much less than the best of humanity.
posted by stet at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016


Newshour reporting that Clinton will join Obama on stage at the end of his speech.
posted by joedan at 8:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


The American Dream is something that no wall will ever contain. Wow.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 8:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Please, universe, let the whistler suddenly develop a horrible case of chapped lips and be unable to continue whistling. Thanks.
posted by Gaz Errant at 8:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Jinx again! R317, you and me, my friend...
posted by mochapickle at 8:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I will miss him so bad! It hurts to think my young daughters wont remember an America where Barack Obama was president!
posted by ramix at 8:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I want someone to make a mash-up of Bo Knows (wiki) with "Hilary Knows"
posted by filthy light thief at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


We gotta want it
posted by psoas at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Son, I have to squish your face. For Obama.
posted by JauntyFedora at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Oh shit the marine and his husband line fuck yes
posted by dersins at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [58 favorites]


Hitting all the notes, baby!
posted by vrakatar at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016


The husband that he loves.

Fuck you for making me cry, Barack.
posted by Mooski at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


YES! UP AND DOWN THE TICKET!
posted by k8bot at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


I keep thinking is over but the speech keeps going.
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016


Madeline Albright looking pretty stern.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016


Newshour reporting that Clinton will join Obama on stage at the end of his speech.

I'm just gonna go ahead and stand up now so I don't hurt myself jumping
posted by cashman at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


ramix, your daughters will remember Hillary Clinton. That's a good thing.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


How are there empty seats???
posted by mochapickle at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016


THAT'S how you play to the Bernie crowd, YES.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


he is gathering the masses....
posted by wallabear at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bernie Sanders shout out is beautiful
posted by mrzarquon at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Differences of party aside, I feel genuinely bad for people that have spent the last 8 years gritting their teeth at this president. They really missed out on a tremendous leader and a wonderful record of public service.
They were so hell-bent on believing that Obama was a usurper/secret Muslim/tyrant/commie/whathaveyou that they missed one hell of an inspirational leader.
I used to hate them. Now I just pity them.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 8:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [80 favorites]


Jesus Christ he's so good at this.
posted by prize bull octorok at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I would pay so much money to see Luther's anger translation of tonight's speech.

*Donald Trump? Donald Trump?*
*ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!*
*That Cheeto crack dust sumbitch with a bleached canary on his damn head?*
*Are you serious?*
*This is a joke right?*
*No? ... Awww hell*
posted by JakeEXTREME at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Vote and then HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE YES YES YES YES YES
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Yeah bring those Bernie Bros back into the fold Obama
posted by vuron at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


DOWNBALLOT CALLOUT
posted by psoas at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Praise for the Sanders supporters' tenacity! Activism welcome here!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


The feelz
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Up and down the ticket...like the GOP has been careful to do for a while now (damn them).
posted by wenestvedt at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Eric Holder nodding at justice system reform.
posted by Talez at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Look, any time you hear a whistle from the crowd, it is 100% Bill Clinton
That helped a lot! Thanks!
posted by Floydd at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Clinton will join Obama on stage

which one
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"just ask the marine who proudly serves his country without hiding the husband that he loves" -- yes!
posted by salvia at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


penduluum: Requesting a gif of "it's true" guy

I'm looking forward to a proper "GIF Request" form :)


Great sign: "Bernie has my heart. Hilary has my vote."
posted by filthy light thief at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


As Chris Hayes said, Obama is making the case for democracy over authoritarianism. In 2016.
posted by holgate at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [40 favorites]


YES LOCAL ELECTION SHOUTOUT
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Yes! Respect for Sanders supporters and a call to support down ticket candidates.
posted by zarq at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


How are there empty seats???

If they're like me, they're too excited to sit in them.
posted by cashman at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


NRA smackdown!!! YESSSSSSSSS!
posted by hollygoheavy at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


God I wish we'd been invaded by aliens over the last 8 years because can you fucking imagine Obama's rallying speech
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [69 favorites]


Madeline Albright looking pretty stern.

That's just resting diplomat face. She busts out a toothy smile once you've accepted her preconditions.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [77 favorites]


"She's been accused of everything you can imagine, and some things you cannot."
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [53 favorites]


How does he get black lives matter in with blue lives matter and gun rights? He is amazing.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


He knows how change happens, he was a community organizer.
posted by vrakatar at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Democracy isn't just something that happens once every 4 years.
posted by vuron at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Where? Where is Chris Hayes? I am telling you I have not seen him this whole time.
posted by zutalors! at 8:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


And a definite "I ain't fucking around now" tone shift on the diss of the NRA.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


THE MAN IN THE ARENA!
posted by Talez at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That's what happens when we try!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I feel like I felt the first time I saw him speak: that man is a genius. That is just about the smartest politician I've ever seen, and he's a decent person too.
posted by uosuaq at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Oh man, can't wait for The Donald's batshit crazy tweets later.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


THAT WOMAN IN THE ARENA
posted by mynameisluka at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Trump is an alien this is the speech!
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


DEMOCRACY ISN'T A SPECTATOR SPORT
posted by k8bot at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


"Hillary Clinton is that woman in the arena"

okay, so the joust is definitely on
posted by palindromic at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Democracy isn't a spectator sport!
posted by filthy light thief at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Holy Shit, Teddy Roosevelt callout.

Republicans there is plenty of room in our tent.
posted by vuron at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Where? Where is Chris Hayes? I am telling you I have not seen him this whole time.

He was on Chris Matthews Wrangler duty last night. He gets hazard pay I think.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yes. Yes we can.
posted by vrakatar at 8:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


He knows how change happens, he was a community organizer.

He IS a community organizer.
posted by dersins at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Oh my god I love this man's brain. I am so goddamn excited to see what he does next.
posted by palomar at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Democracy isn't a spectator sport!
posted by kalimac at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Just realized my last three posts were yelling. Sorry. Real excited over here.
posted by k8bot at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


YES WE CAN!
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE
posted by mrjohnmuller at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


He really is killing this.
posted by penduluum at 8:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Pernicious!
posted by stet at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016


I think the saner the DNC gets, the more bonkers Donald will be. Eventually he's just going to blow around the room like an orange, deflating, helium balloon.
posted by mochapickle at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


CALLING OUT THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS you go get 'em Obama
posted by ilicet at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


And "she's always been there, even if we haven't noticed." Great line for Hilary.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


I think Obama has elevated "yes we can" to the official tagline of the Democrats - not just his own campaign.
posted by bendy at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


Oh my God, "real America" talk. Now I'm going to cry.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


His voice is getting worn.
posted by psoas at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016




Birth certificates FTW.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Dude can land a zinger like noone else.
posted by wallabear at 8:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


and with the sick truther burn!
posted by dersins at 8:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


GET DUNKED ON
posted by penduluum at 8:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


I'm going to marry this man one day
posted by cashman at 8:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


She has made mistakes. Just like I have. Just like we all have. That's what happens when we try! Not sit on the sidelines talking shit. (paraphrased)
posted by Sophie1 at 8:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [41 favorites]


He's absolutely killing this.

This isn't even close.
posted by vuron at 8:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


BIRTH CERTIFICATE JOKE. He is fucking Neo on the roof dodging bullets right now.
posted by dry white toast at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [86 favorites]


Can you imagine how much Obama could have done if he didn't have to deal with such a shitshow of a Congress for the last six years?!
posted by tittergrrl at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [56 favorites]


Oh shit was that Keegan? He needs to rush the stage for some anger translator duty. Second though, I don't think his services are required anymore. Obama has this on his own.
posted by sideshow at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Reminder that if Obama lives as long as Carter, he'll be speaking at Dem conventions through 2052.

@daveweigel
posted by joedan at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [44 favorites]


Oh, the continuity here. He is bringing this all full circle and handing it over to all of us.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


You guys' TV is SO AHEAD OF MINE
posted by zutalors! at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Small town values live in the liberal coastal enclaves, GOP swing voters!
posted by vrakatar at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I have an admission. I have totally ignored my kids since Obama started talking. They could be setting the house on fire for all i know! They are being suspiciously quiet...but at this point i don't give 2 fucks!
posted by ramix at 8:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


Saying "descendents of slaves" just like that is strong.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


FLAWLESS VICTORY
posted by strange chain at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


So cowbell guy is definitely a Chicagoan. Gotcha.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm going to marry this man one day

Beware, Michelle is tough, you'll probably lose that fight.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Can you imagine how much Obama could have done if he didn't have to deal with such a shitshow of a Congress for the last six years?!

I don't wanna think about it
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Motion to give Republicans a participation trophy.
posted by glhaynes at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I imagine right now, Trump is sitting with his mouth open, near tears asking himself in the very first moment of self realization he's ever had, "what have I gotten myself into?"
posted by JakeEXTREME at 8:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


He's losing his voice, gotta wrap it up.
posted by vrakatar at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ramix, call them into the room and have them watch Obama with you.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


If Trump somehow pulls this out and America dies, this is one hell of a good eulogy.
posted by Rhaomi at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


2052 is the year the people born this year will be eligible for the presidency.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


This guy isn't going anywhere. I expect Obama to be the most visible and accomplished post-retirement president of modern times. And he'll make a fine First Lady.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [45 favorites]


Basically just called Trump a fascist demagogue. DAMN!
posted by chris24 at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


Did... did a guy just yell "gumbo"?
posted by jason_steakums at 8:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


I appreciate the reference to home grown terrorism
posted by Torosaurus at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"Homegrown demagogues." Wow
posted by zachlipton at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [42 favorites]


I hope to god you're right about demagogues failing in the end, Mr President.
posted by Talez at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


oh snap homegrown demagogues
posted by dis_integration at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


"jihadists, or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end."

Priceless.
posted by wallabear at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [30 favorites]


"jihadists or homegrown demagogues" holy fuck
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Homegrown demagogues.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


He's losing his voice, gotta wrap it up.

I think that's emotion actually.
posted by cashman at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


"We don't fear the future, we shape it. We embrace it." Fuck yes.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Holy shit, "homegrown demagogues."
posted by codacorolla at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"jihadists or fascists or homegrown demagogues will always fail in the end"

!!!
posted by dersins at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Oh, this section on values is GREAT -- that his grandparents didn't value being showy or a braggart; they valued things like hard work, honesty, kindness... I think he even said courtesy. It's so true that those are the values being taught in families throughout the country.
posted by salvia at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Yes We Can be Stronger Together
posted by mrzarquon at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The worst part of all this for Trump isn't even that he's watching any possibility of his presidency evaporate and waft away like the bad smell that it's always been.

The worst part of all this is, Trump is watching this and somewhere in that brittle calcified heart of his, he feels an unfamiliar stirring and despite himself he wishes he could be a part of something like this.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Buh gawd, stop the match, Obama is killing Trump out there.
posted by vuron at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


"Homegrown demagogues." Sheeee-it.
posted by Liesl at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


I have an admission. I have totally ignored my kids since Obama started talking. They could be setting the house on fire for all i know! They are being suspiciously quiet...but at this point i don't give 2 fucks!
My kid went up to her room with no arguing because she was so bored with us watching a speech tv and paying no attention to her. Don't know about the whole house/fire thing...
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


holy shit he is eviscerating Trump
posted by gatorae at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


2052 is the year the people born this year will be eligible for the presidency.

I am far more intrigued by the ones who are 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 right now.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Did... did a guy just yell "gumbo"?

Yes.
posted by k8bot at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Right about now, he's fucking Captain America.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


He's just so incredibly good at this.
posted by Akhu at 8:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I will miss his fussy pedantic professorial internationalist pronunciations and acronyms (eg, ISIL not ISIS, Pah-kee-stahn not Pack-iss-tan, etc)
posted by palindromic at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


I imagine right now, Trump is sitting with his mouth open, near tears asking himself in the very first moment of self realization he's ever had, "what have I gotten myself into?"

I imagine squinty eyes, a pouty frown, and his face turning more orange.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Aw, the Thank You signs.
posted by rewil at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I have an admission. I have totally ignored my kids since Obama started talking.

Fortunately, mine are playing with the cat.
posted by bibliowench at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


OK, I found it. I skipped ahead where Tim Kaine makes goo-goo-eyes at Bernie, who's all stern and frownie, slumped down, knees apart, hands folded as the chants erupt. And. Then. He. Grins. Gonna be OK. Now back to being serious Bernie, as this is actually serious.

OK, catching up from there.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Wailing and gnashing of teeth as he says, “as I leave this stage.”
posted by mbrubeck at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I first heard this man speak at an anti war rally nearly fifteen years ago. I'm going to miss him.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I haven't cried in two years. Thanks, Obama.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Rich "Starbursts" Lowry has a sad about the DNC.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Who did the Republicans have in this slot? Eric Trump? Pretty sure it was Eric Trump.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


This is it. This is really the message that I think will win this election: the concept of America transcends race or religion. Trumpist xenophobia is about preserving a false ideal of a "pure" America which was "great." But America has always adapted and absorbed new peoples and come out better, because the ideals of this nation are greater than such base clannishness (even if it takes us time to get there). Immigrants, women, and minorities are not threats to America, they are America.
posted by Panjandrum at 8:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [91 favorites]


He's basically doing the "years of my life dedicated to public service with an upright zeal" bit from Hamilton/Washington and it makes me cry just as much.
posted by zachlipton at 8:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


We have our own Reagan. Only ours isn't full of shit.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 8:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [100 favorites]


Eric "Bateman" Trump
posted by mochapickle at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Yay, Sikhs!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The owl on the wall of his private office breaks my fucking heart.
posted by dersins at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [56 favorites]


Barack Obama knows words. He has the best words.

The best.
posted by Rhaomi at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [78 favorites]


I work in a U.S. Government office and I am already feelng weirdly sad about the day his portrait is taken down from the wall in our lobby.
posted by psoas at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Trump's presser tomorrow will be a thing to behold.
posted by chaoticgood at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Man, what is with these people who have to scream out every time their city or state is mentioned, even in the context of a story about a severely injured veteran or a dead child? Christ. Shut up and let the man talk.
posted by modernnomad at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Apparently the birth certificate line was ad-libbed.
posted by dry white toast at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


I love that peole are still cheering whenever their state or city gets a mention. "YEAAH! He said Arizona!"
posted by filthy light thief at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


We are all sobbing, sign-holding man with boater hat tonight.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Obama for Secretary General of the United Nations.
posted by vibrotronica at 8:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [18 favorites]


He's making sure those people are gonna leave that hall ready to hit it like a swat team.
posted by vrakatar at 8:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Man in straw barbershop quartet hat smiling through tears...
posted by mochapickle at 8:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This makes me feel just so proud to be here right now.
posted by bizzyb at 8:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Bill Clinton tears.
posted by bendy at 8:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I feel such kinship with Bill, as we're both bawling.
posted by kalimac at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


tonycpsu: "Rich "Starbursts" Lowry has a sad about the DNC."

nelson_muntz_ha_ha.jpg
posted by octothorpe at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Goddamn yeah!
posted by lovecrafty at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016


Obama for Secretary General of the United Nations.

How about emperor of the fucking universe
posted by dersins at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Okay you guys, that was a BARN BURNER.
posted by mynameisluka at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I'm not ready to say goodbye to you Obama but okay.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


I am currently alone in my apartment clapping at my TV. Standing ovation.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


signed, sealed, delivered
posted by wallabear at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Signed, sealed, delivered indeed.
posted by zachlipton at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Thanks, Obama. For everything. We're going to miss you, man.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 8:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


He's always so emotional I constantly check his eyes for tears.
posted by bendy at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I just hugged my dog!
posted by mochapickle at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


ENCORE ENCORE ENCORE
posted by palindromic at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016


(Aw, a distant friend is a delegate for PA, and they showed him crying and awwwww, can't wait to see him again)
posted by kalimac at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


YAS
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016


HERE SHE IS!
posted by Talez at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Signed, sealed, delivered. Damn. That was good.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Amazing.
posted by glhaynes at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016


aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!
posted by cashman at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Decent speech. Who's up next?
(kidding! c'mon)
posted by uosuaq at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Right about now, he's fucking Captain America

I wholeheartedly agree that Captain America would fuck him in a heartbeat, given the opportunity. Good lord. Steve Rogers would absolutely hit that, after that speech.
posted by nonasuch at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [56 favorites]


Whew, I need a smoke a drink a shower some sex and a joint but not all at once.
posted by vrakatar at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


HILLARY!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


OH SHIT
posted by palomar at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


hahaha signed sealed delivered!
posted by dersins at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


HILLARY!!!
posted by jason_steakums at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Khaleesi has arrived in Westeros
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [45 favorites]


HRC!
posted by palindromic at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016


@richlowry: American exceptionalism and greatness, shining city on hill, founding documents, etc--they're trying to take all our stuff

They were America's fucking stuff.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


And here comes Hillary!
posted by zombieflanders at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Signed, sealed, delivered I'm yours!! Here she is!
posted by bendy at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


That was beautiful.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Good god damn, that was something to see.
posted by penduluum at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh Shit
Oh Shit
posted by mrzarquon at 8:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tim Kaine is like, "HEY HILLARY , it's me, tim!"
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


I love the two of them up there, arms around each other.
posted by mochapickle at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


I am bawling y'all..BAWLING!
posted by ramix at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Aha!

You know, if they hadn't been planning on bringing her out tonight, I bet they changed their minds after all those newspaper articles that said "Hillary is the nominee" over a big ol' photo of Bill
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


THERE SHE IS!!!
posted by Superplin at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016


(That monochrome blue pantsuit is a bit too Chairman Mao for me.)
posted by wenestvedt at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


She's definitely more of an O. Tyrell type
posted by hleehowon at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


This might be the second time in my life I vote *for* a candidate instead of against the other one.
posted by stet at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]




Bill looking a little jealous of Barack right now...
posted by dersins at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


The look on Kaine's face at Hillary makes me think he would tag all their Instagram pictures with #besties
posted by Torosaurus at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [52 favorites]


Jesus just seeing them chatting like two old friends is amazing.
posted by mrzarquon at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Well hello there, Madame President.
posted by Mooski at 8:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I look forward to being with you all tomorrow for Hill Dogg's acceptance speech.
posted by Talez at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


What did he say to her?
posted by zutalors! at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


(The cynic in me wonders whether they made sure Hillary got on stage at the end to force the papers not to plaster photos of Obama solo on their front pages.)
posted by holgate at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Woooooo I'm ready to vote right now!
posted by lovecrafty at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016


I always wonder why conservatives have such a hang up about Hillary's suits and they go out of their way to say they are PANT suits. What's the deal there?
posted by Tarumba at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


and now a surprise appearance from lincoln chafee
posted by Rhaomi at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I'm ready, let's do this. That just set the tone for the next 100 years.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


Right about now Gore is kicking himself for like the zillionth time he ran away from Bill in 2000.

Everyone wanting 4 more years better realize that is what Hillary is.
posted by vuron at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]




Ahaha the crowd mic picking up someone freaking out "WHAT A NIGHT! WHAT A NIGHT!"
posted by jason_steakums at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


I'm not sure wether I'm able to cry anymore
posted by rp at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Intentional Gavel folley?
posted by mrzarquon at 8:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


(That monochrome blue pantsuit is a bit too Chairman Mao for me.)

I was thinking Hubertus Bigend, but that works too.
posted by fifthrider at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh man, the dnc is really delivering.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Is it gavel time yet? That's why I stayed up this late.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Trying to stop having emotions, and thought this: the Democrats have the production down. The videos, the signs, the music are nearly flawless. It's a testament to the competency of the convention staff, campaign and their CEO.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I always wonder why conservatives have such a hang up about Hillary's suits and they go out of their way to say they are PANT suits. What's the deal there?

She's been in the public eye for long enough that when she started, it was weird not to wear a skirt suit.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


I am so glad no one is around because I just lost it completely when Hillary walked out and hugged Obama. That was a beautiful moment.
posted by kanewai at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


It is way way past my bedtime.

I regret nothing.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [15 favorites]


"Well, I'll just sit back for Obama's speech and then catch up with the thread after and—"

495 new comments, show
posted by cortex at 8:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [60 favorites]


[🎤↓]
posted by tonycpsu at 8:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [34 favorites]


Imagine having to follow that speech.
posted by bendy at 8:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I wholeheartedly agree that Captain America would fuck him in a heartbeat, given the opportunity. Good lord. Steve Rogers would absolutely hit that, after that speech.

You know, childish ribald discussions like this are fun and all, but now is when the ACTUAL HARD WORK begins: who is bottom and who tops


They switch because they both understand the joys of giving and receiving and are amazing at both.

(Gonna go freeze myself in a block of ice now)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [19 favorites]


That was as amazing as I've come to expect from Obama.
posted by biogeo at 8:45 PM on July 27, 2016


I love hearing Spanish in this context.
posted by stet at 8:45 PM on July 27, 2016


I need to go cry a lot more than the whole lot I've already cried. good night.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yet another Hamilton reference...
posted by vuron at 8:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Also, "We will never be satisfied" was Hamilton.
posted by stet at 8:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Imagine having to follow that speech.

A benediction is really the only thing that could.
posted by mochapickle at 8:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Hot damn, that was a great speech!
posted by homunculus at 8:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




I feel a whole lot better, watching this over the last two days. Greatness!
posted by Oyéah at 8:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This militant agnostic is listening to the C-Span audio feed again so I don't have to listen to the PBS talking heads. Most talking heads, these included, just make everything worse.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"America, you great unfinished symphony!"
posted by stet at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Around this time last week Trump came out to lead a chorus of boos against a party colleague. This week Hillary Clinton comes out to cheers in support of one of the great orators of our time after he gives us the last big speech of his term.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


i wish i could have seen that speech when i was much younger and less jaded, but that'll do, barry, that'll do
posted by murphy slaw at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Bets on gavel?
posted by ethansr at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016


I feel like Hillary actually looked happy for a few moments on stage there. So often she has that tough look that I can only imagine comes from the constant nastiness she's had to put up with, like she's waiting ready to block the next punch, but every so often a little bit of relaxed happiness shines through. I don't mean to scrutinize her appearance; I just want her to get to feel happy after all the work she's done.
posted by salvia at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


I am genuinely planning to pre-hydrate before tomorrow. It's just gonna be floods

(Gavel time! Gavel tiiiiime!)
posted by kalimac at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Aw I wanted some gavel shenanigans
posted by schadenfrau at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Fudge nailed that gavel-out.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Gavel flourish = epic
posted by Torosaurus at 8:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Gavel!
posted by mrzarquon at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016


GAVEEEEELLLL
posted by longdaysjourney at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016


She did the gavel!
posted by joedan at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Obama did an aright job warming up for Marcia Fudge, I guess.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


495 new comments, show

Yeah, dude, like that's a surprise
posted by wallabear at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Amazing speech, amazing man. We were lucky to have him.
posted by chris24 at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016


Conspicuous momentary display of the gavel. "I remembered this time!"
posted by biogeo at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


That was astounding. It was maybe one of the best distillations of the broad spectrum of the American left I've ever heard. There was space there for everyone, and the promise to move forward. An actual optimistic vision for the future. It was reinvigorating.
posted by codacorolla at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [42 favorites]


I need a cigarette
posted by The Whelk at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I adored that callback mid-speech to one of his most quietly enduring lines, best memorialized by the great political writer Charlie Pierce just after the 2012 election:

The Greatness of Barack Obama Is Our Great Project
"The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote," he said, calling, again, for the country to engage fully in "the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government. That's the principle we were founded on." That underground history that is behind him, the history that he wears so easily and wields so subtly, ultimately is a history of an ongoing demand to be included in the creative project of self-government. That was all the civil-rights movement ever was. That was what all the bloodshed and horror and death and glory were all about. It was a demand to be included in the great project simply because, if some Americans were not included in the project, it never was so great in the first place. [...]

The creative project of self-government — hard and frustrating but necessary — is to produce that political commonwealth that changes over time, that can change sometimes by the minute, if circumstances intervene. This whole campaign has been a referendum on that project, as though the political commonwealth were a sewer bond or a school construction bill that was submitted to the voters for their approval. That was the entire campaign. That was the issue underlying all the others. That was the fight that Romney and his party quite deliberately picked, reckoning that we had tired of all that hard and frustrating but necessary work the project involved. That was the question that was settled so definitively last night.

The long creative project of America has been to engage all its citizens in that work. That is the history that he wears so well, and that he wields so subtly. That is the truth that he represents. That is the great silent thing that has been there through all the debates, and the ads, and all of that preposterous money. We are working on ourselves. We are incomplete. We are never finished. Elections come and go. The political commonwealth is a work in progress. We work with the tools that time and circumstance provide. As he enters his final term, with the elegiac music playing out there in the distance, Barack Obama will use the history that he has come to embody and, perhaps, even to fulfill, as part of a larger project that never will be completed but only finished, over and over again.
posted by Rhaomi at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


Boom!
posted by zachlipton at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Heh who would say nay for recess?

Me that's who.
posted by Tarumba at 8:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


This convention has been so damn good despite the boo birds. Might be we're comparing it to last week's disaster, but still.
posted by dw at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Good night, yinz. Truly, sincerely, it's been a pleasure sharing these moments of a historically batshit year with you.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


This militant agnostic is listening to the C-Span audio feed again so I don't have to listen to the PBS talking heads. Most talking heads, these included, just make everything worse.

Don't you DARE malign my beloved Gwen Ifill!
posted by dis_integration at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




Young Bernie delegate talking in circles trying to figure out how to not disappoint Obama and also not have to be like "ok I was wrong about this one thing"
posted by schadenfrau at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


In a truly just world, Hillary would wipe the floor with Trump in Nov. I'm so fearful we don't live in a just world, though.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Sweet dreams, everybody. Back for the closing speeches tomorrow. Remember, it's gonna be a good, good day.
posted by TrishaU at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


GAVEL ACCOMPLISHED
posted by EatTheWeek at 8:49 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Wow, I'm feeling some kind-of America euphoria right now.
posted by gehenna_lion at 8:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Oh, go suck rotten eggs, MSNBC. First interview in the crowd was a bernhole.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 8:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


She had gavels in her eyes.
posted by missmobtown at 8:50 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Teddy Roosevelt's "The Man in the Arena"
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
posted by homunculus at 8:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [46 favorites]


barack obama FTW
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 8:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I need a cigarette

Preach.

*fans self*

Goodnight, America. I feel like you're in pretty good hands.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Feels pretty good being on the right side of history.

I wonder if the opposition ever gets tired of trying to roll back the calendar to a time that really wasn't all that great for everyone.
posted by vuron at 8:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]




Can I say how on top of their game the DNC youtube team is? They already have Jill Biden's speech up as a clip.

Has anyone even checked the RNC feed?
posted by mrzarquon at 8:52 PM on July 27, 2016


I have to say that the Trump Campaign response is darling (please note this is REAL)

"Tonight was a sad night for the Democratic Party. They offered no solutions for the problems facing America - in fact, they pretended those problems didn't even exist. They described a vision of America that doesn't exist for most Americans, including the seventy percent of Americans who think our country is on the wrong track. Never has a party been so disconnected from what is happening in our world.

"Instead of dealing with reality, they spoke in cheap, petty terms beneath the dignity of a convention. Their entire message could be summed up as: things are perfect, let's not change a single thing. So they resorted to the politics of fear, trying to convince Americans not to vote for change -- they spoke on behalf of the big banks and the big elites, not on behalf of suffering Americans. They want to keep the system rigged for their donors. Period. Rigged trade deals, a rigged economy, and open borders that benefit the few at the expense of the many.

"Our campaign offers a bold, exciting, detailed vision for the future. Tonight, the Democrats' offered only more rewards for the rich, powerful and well-connected, and more angry, demeaning, sniping attacks against all decent Americans who want change for their families."
posted by blahblahblah at 8:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Mister Fabulous: "Oh, go suck rotten eggs, MSNBC. First interview in the crowd was a bernhole."

I've been so happy to just watch the raw feeds for this and not have to listen to the idiotic talking heads on cable news.
posted by octothorpe at 8:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


Oh man, you guys, I am plumb wore out after that. Thank you all for being my convention buddies.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Shit, I have laundry in the washer AND the dryer. Later!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:52 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Y'all my wife is 2300 miles away so I can't, but please, I beg of you, if you can, have really great "yes we can" sex tonight. Thanks.
posted by Annika Cicada at 8:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


they spoke in cheap, petty terms beneath the dignity of a convention.

gene_wilder_wonka.jpg
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"Help us transcend the nefarious traps of cynicism, despair and division with the courageous work of hope and love"

I'm a weak agnostic but never have I agreed more with a holy man. Given the current polling America's going to need a lot of help with this.
posted by Talez at 8:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Meanwhile, back at the Joker's hideaway:

Shooting deaths of police officers up 78% this year. We must restore law and order and protect our great law enforcement officers! Speedy fact-checker says, Not so fast, buddy (scroll down).
posted by Bella Donna at 8:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Has anyone even checked the RNC feed?

It's just Rience slurping down the last few drops of Bailey's from a cereal bowl.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


G'night my friends - has been a blast sharing this night with you.
posted by longdaysjourney at 8:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Obama referred to Trump as a "self-declared savior" which seems to be the exact language necessary to encourage right-wing religious folks to reconsider whether they want to turn out and vote for Trump. He is a very clever man.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [38 favorites]


(That monochrome blue pantsuit is a bit too Chairman Mao for me.)

Someone I read recently described Clinton's wardrobe as her "starship commander uniform." And I quite liked that: "Ahead warp factor two, Mr. Kaine."
posted by octobersurprise at 8:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [61 favorites]


Someone I read recently described Clinton's wardrobe as her "starship commander uniform." And I quite liked that: "Ahead warp factor two, Mr. Kaine."

And Kaine replies with "the factors of two are one and two, Madam President".
posted by Talez at 8:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [59 favorites]


WWOD?

Don't boo. VOTE. Up and down the ticket.
 
posted by Herodios at 8:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


Obama, take me to church.
posted by klangklangston at 8:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Somebody on my Twitter feed made an interesting point tonight: Take away term limits, and it's interesting to consider how American history would have unfolded differently and how it wouldn't have.

Going from FDR, you can make a case that only Bill Clinton and Obama would have had a strong shot at a third term. And Clinton's a big if given what happened in his second term. I don't think Reagan would have run again. Bush 2 would have been destroyed in 2008.

And no disrespect to Hillary Clinton, but imagine Obama running this year.
posted by dry white toast at 8:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


"Ahead warp factor two, Mr. Kaine."

HRC: America's Janeway.
posted by k8bot at 8:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


Someone in my area is setting off fireworks. Thanks, someone!
posted by vrakatar at 8:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Annika Cicada, thanks for the tip but I'm planning on me, myself, and I great sex tonight. Not letting my solo status deter me from that "Yes, we can!" spirit. Good night, all. Thanks for being fabulous!
posted by Bella Donna at 8:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Tonight's trending Google search: "salt stains on cheeks how to remove"
(edit: not really, just guessing)
posted by uosuaq at 8:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I have to say that the Trump Campaign response is darling

As Sarah Kendzior notes, every Trump response is projection. Everything. The name-calling, the insults, the accusations. All him, all his. He's a small, small man. And it would be easy to make it about his smallness, but the evening was about the nation's bigness.
posted by holgate at 8:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


(That monochrome blue pantsuit is a bit too Chairman Mao for me.)

Yeah.. I mean... I fully understand the problems with criticizing her clothes, and had she come out in any of her more standard suits I totally wouldn't, but yeah, that particular one is very much a Chairman Mao suit, and that's not an association she wants. But maybe I'm being hypersensitive and maybe her opponents won't notice. In which case it's fine. I mean, she looked great, I'm just cringing at the possibility that some Fox news asshole might try to turn this into a slur.
posted by dnash at 8:57 PM on July 27, 2016


I had a question, raised by the PBS after-show wrap-up commentary: Obama was in fine 2008 form, full of optimism, while 70% of Americans are concerned (no poll cited), which is where Trump and Sanders get some of their support. Are those views and those supporters ignoring the positive signs, or was Obama simply countering the extremely negative RNC presentaiton and Trump's general pitch that America is terrible now, but he (and only he) can make it great again?
posted by filthy light thief at 8:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Really hitting me how amazing it's been to see an all-time great orator at the top of his game for these past 8 years. The closest feeling is like seeing your favorite band play the last song of the night at the best show you've ever seen and you're just hoping so hard for an encore.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


"Our campaign offers a bold, exciting, detailed vision for the future. Tonight, the Democrats' offered only more rewards for the rich, powerful and well-connected, and more angry, demeaning, sniping attacks against all decent Americans who want change for their families."
posted by blahblahblah


eponysterical
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


And now I want one of those Thank You Obama signs. I would put that on my front lawn, and probably be the envy of most of my neighbors.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


A message I got earlier today:
Are you free on Friday? Congressman James Clyburn, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, and I will be in Detroit to host a commit to vote event, and we’d love if you could make it. Donald Trump isn’t backing away from his outrageous behavior any time soon, and the only way to stop him and other Republican initiatives is by building the strength of our ground game.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Hillary for Michigan Commit to Vote Rally
WHEN: Friday, July 29th, 2016
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Northwest Activities Center
18100 Meyers Road
Detroit, Michigan 48235
You know, I suspect I just may be free on Friday!
posted by palindromic at 9:00 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


BTW, and off topic, but how does the YouTube closed captioning work? Today was mostly fine but yesterday, when Bill Clinton spoke, the cc was talking about taking a walk around Taipei.
posted by haapsane at 9:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


So, despite my getting vocal in some of the womens' issues threads in here, I haven't really...felt like womens' rights and womens' history was anything that could be celebrated. Honored, yeah; fought for, sure. I've been coming from a place of considering myself more of a person than a woman, and "that means my gender is not relevant and I deserve to be treated as another human god-dammit."

I think that that reaction has been cynicism, though, ground into me over the years.

When i was watching Obama and Clinton at the very end there, the thought came to me that "huh, I'm gonna see the first woman president come right after the first non-white President, one after the other. ....I wonder why I'm not surprised by that."

Because I wasn't. Whatever emotional reaction I have is more like a combination of "well, why not" and "well, finally."

But it hit me - the biggest reason why this doesn't feel like a surprise might be because deep down, I never lost that unshakeable belief that I had when I was a kid that "well, duh, of course a girl can be president, why not?" I wasn't the one who needed to be convinced of that - it was all these poopyheads who were saying girls can't do that that were causing trouble. And obviously they're wrong, so we just need to tell them to knock it off.

I don't think that seven-year-old me thought it would take nearly 40 years to make the poopyheads knock it off, but seven-year-old me clearly was still in there, wholly unsurprised that a woman is now the one with the best chance to become president because duh.

....Although I'm going to probably listen to Shaking The Tree rather than that Fight Song song again.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


This is the beginning of a meltdown
posted by mrzarquon at 9:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Do you think that Trump has to get approval from the Kremlin before he tweets or does he just have a Political Officer on staff that's there to punish Trump if he deviates too far from Putin's directives?
posted by vuron at 9:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


shining city on hill

RONALD REAGAN DID NOT COIN THIS PHRASE YOU ABSOLUTE TOOL
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


Another good response I saw to that Lowry tweet: "Well you sure as shit ain't using it."
posted by dry white toast at 9:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


BTW, and off topic, but how does the YouTube closed captioning work? Today was mostly fine but yesterday, when Bill Clinton spoke, the cc was talking about taking a walk around Taipei.

Bill was in full "i feel your pain" Arkansas last night so maybe the voice recognition doesn't do southern.
posted by dis_integration at 9:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Dude on cspan was all "why should Hillary get to be the first woman?" and I'm like man, Harding. Harding was president. Hillary is just fine.
posted by R343L at 9:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


shining city on hill

RONALD REAGAN DID NOT COIN THIS PHRASE YOU ABSOLUTE TOOL


He coined it when he wrote Two Corinthians.
posted by palindromic at 9:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


It would be so funny if we could reclaim "thanks Obama!" it would piss off all the haters here in VA if I had a couple of stickers.

Then again I don't want people to key my car.
posted by Tarumba at 9:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


HE is KAINE.
SHE is ABLE.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [55 favorites]



RONALD REAGAN DID NOT COIN THIS PHRASE YOU ABSOLUTE TOOL


THANKS MEREDITH
posted by zutalors! at 9:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


I don't know why we listen to the cspan commenters.
posted by R343L at 9:04 PM on July 27, 2016


RONALD REAGAN DID NOT COIN THIS PHRASE YOU ABSOLUTE TOOL

Also it doesn't mean what so many people think it means; it means "the colonial experiment in religious government is going to be very carefully watched and harshly critiqued," so maybe we can set it aside finally after 400 years? No? Sigh.
posted by Miko at 9:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Today was mostly fine but yesterday, when Bill Clinton spoke, the cc was talking about taking a walk around Taipei.

Bill didn't circulate prepared remarks in advance of his speech, so even if it was on the prompter, it perhaps didn't get to the CC people. I've noticed the captioning get a little ahead of speeches most of the time, so they're probably working off prepared remarks.
posted by holgate at 9:05 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


"youtube doesn't accurately transcribe my regional dialect" is gonna be the new "i have to push 1 for english" isn't it
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Remember folks, the republican and Trump response isn't for you, it's for the media and it's for the voters who couldn't be bothered to watch the convention speeches. It doesn't have to be connected to reality.
posted by iamabot at 9:07 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


It was not my cowbell. My cowbell is accounted for.
posted by zennie at 9:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


RONALD REAGAN DID NOT COIN THIS PHRASE YOU ABSOLUTE TOOL

Oh my god, THANK YOU. Heads up people, this particular phrase entered the American historical lexicon with John Winthrop, in 1630, and JFK called back to it before Reagan ever did. And as an aside, JFK is the one who used it in a way that was in keeping with its original context:
I have been guided by the standard John Winthrop set before his shipmates on the flagship Arbella three hundred and thirty-one years ago, as they, too, faced the task of building a new government on a perilous frontier. "We must always consider", he said, "that we shall be as a city upon a hill—the eyes of all people are upon us". Today the eyes of all people are truly upon us—and our governments, in every branch, at every level, national, state and local, must be as a city upon a hill — constructed and inhabited by men aware of their great trust and their great responsibilities. For we are setting out upon a voyage in 1961 no less hazardous than that undertaken by the Arbella in 1630.

posted by yasaman at 9:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [28 favorites]


Because I wasn't. Whatever emotional reaction I have is more like a combination of "well, why not" and "well, finally."

I've felt like that a lot - it's been hard to think of this election as 'historic' as much as 'a couple hundred years late

The force of it didn't hit me until just this moment, when she walked on stage and she and Obama stood together waiving at the crowd, and then it hit hard.
posted by kanewai at 9:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Youtube's CC is done by a deep and complicated connectionist temporal neural network (multilayer recurrent perceptron) machine learning classifier with LSTM memory, to my knowledge (deep is a term of the art, complicated is not, it's just complicated). There's better models existing, but only in the last... 3 months or so.

H. Clinton is going into the belly of the beast after this: Fox News, presumably to try to use the division at Fox and show herself to relatively sane Republicans again.
posted by hleehowon at 9:08 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Watching the replays of President Obama and Clinton on stage together waving, she is so giddy and excited. It's just amazing compared to the usually so serious look I see from her.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 9:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Going from FDR, you can make a case that only Bill Clinton and Obama would have had a strong shot at a third term

I was thinking of this, too. By '88 Reagan, tho still popular, was too ill to have run again and Clinton, tho still popular, had burned a lot of bridges. Clinton might've (probably) squeaked out a third term, but I think Obama's the first President since FDR who could easily win a third term.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:09 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Reagan was also visibly suffering from Alzheimer's a lot of the time by then.
posted by hleehowon at 9:10 PM on July 27, 2016


.>Annika Cicada...I'm planning on me, myself, and I great sex tonight..."Yes, we can!"

/me grabs the coconut oil
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Be gentle with Lowry guys, it's not his fault that the Republican movement has divided time into Before Ronald and Anno Reagan.

For them anything pre 1980 might as well be ancient history. Like when the cavemen fought the dinosaurs.
posted by vuron at 9:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yay, another of my Republican friends has committed on Facebook to voting for Gary Johnson. I'll take it.
posted by gatorae at 9:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


the Democrats have the production down. The videos, the signs, the music are nearly flawless. It's a testament to the competency of the convention staff, campaign and their CEO.

Yes, and I keep marveling at the amazing speakers and their well-coordinated speeches. They've woven maybe eighteen themes throughout speech after speech -- she never quits; she cares about children and families; change takes long, hard work... Even small sub-themes (we can't give in to cynicism) show up repeatedly. It's symphonic.

And it's effective. I feel ready to spread enthusiasm about her campaign to anyone who wants to talk politics with me and inoculated with responses to some of the negativity that could come my way.

Selecting those themes and then preparing, what?, sixty speakers?, to deliver well-unified speeches reflects a LOT of work. Beyond that, they found amazing speakers who stayed on-script and on-time -- it sounds basic, but anyone who has ever organized a conference or tried to script people knows that this is a small miracle in itself.

And even more amazing are the speakers, particularly the local ones -- how did they find the woman who introduced Barack Obama, seriously? I can only imagine that her name bubbled up through the DNC's local people -- it reflects having built a serious organization that they can find a charismatic school board member from northern Ohio whose son was killed in battle and then ran for school board after being inspired by president Obama. Wow.

I've been really impressed by this convention.
posted by salvia at 9:12 PM on July 27, 2016 [58 favorites]


Youtube's CC is done by a deep and complicated connectionist temporal neural network (multilayer recurrent perceptron) classifier with LSTM memory, to my knowledge (deep is a term of the art, complicated is not, it's just complicated). There's better models existing

Yeah. It's called skilled captionists they actually hire and pay.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


Every Republican who votes for Johnson is half a vote for Clinton. (Just as every Democrat who votes for Stein is half a vote for Trump.)
posted by Justinian at 9:13 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Remembering Obama's long history with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered", and in particular how he began his current term with it, walking out with his family for his victory speech in 2012.

I felt as though this speech, as well as being a blazing endorsement of his successor, was a final thank-you letter to the American people.

I know every single Hamilton quote has already been quoted and re-quoted until we've collectively sung the entire soundtrack by now. But still:

"Look at where we are. Look at where we started."
posted by Pallas Athena at 9:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [24 favorites]


Guys, guys, guys. This. Oh my god.
posted by Sophie1 at 9:14 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


This is the beginning of a meltdown
posted by mrzarquon at 9:01 PM on July 27 [2 favorites +]


I know this is a fast moving thread and all,

but that link is NOT a contribution. It is noise. It is a fake.

The sentiment might be appreicated, but, please don't do that here.
posted by yesster at 9:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


I mean, she looked great, I'm just cringing at the possibility that some Fox news asshole might try to turn this into a slur.

They would do that with anything she wore. Trust me, as a recently middle-aged women, I'm finding that there's no acceptable way to be the focus of attention.
posted by bibliowench at 9:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


Every Republican who votes for Johnson is half a vote for Clinton. (Just as every Democrat who votes for Stein is half a vote for Trump.)

And every person who casts half a vote when they could have cast a full one is an idiot.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:17 PM on July 27, 2016


So that was a thing huh? I'm going to bet this thread likes that speech more than twitter which is all YEAH BUT BANKS
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:17 PM on July 27, 2016


Holy cow- thanks y'all for perspective and comraderie. My tear ducts need a break! I'm so honored to hear such a great orator.
posted by mrzz at 9:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




I felt as though this speech, as well as being a blazing endorsement of his successor, was a final thank-you letter to the American people.

And I'm crying again.
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah. It's called skilled captionists they actually hire and pay.

Youtube famously has more than an hour of video uploaded every second. This is one of those situations where they actually do have to go the automated route.

Which isn't to say that content creators can't upload their own captions, but they're done in .srt format and aren't possible with live video.
posted by fifthrider at 9:18 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Be gentle with Lowry guys, it's not his fault that the Republican movement has divided time into Before Ronald and Anno Reagan.

Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review? Imma go ahead and blame him....
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


more than twitter which is all YEAH BUT BANKS

You choose who to follow on Twitter. (And yeah, I know, filter bubble, but your Twitter isn't my Twitter isn't 'Twitter'.)
posted by holgate at 9:19 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


You guys, this is so great that I'm having to talk myself away from the inevitable letdown. Like, I've admired Hillary for so many years and been so used to being the only person in the room that didn't dislike her and...I don't know what to do with myself now! It seems too good to be true.

She will be President, and she will make mistakes and make decisions that annoy and/or enrage us all at times. (Probably not even all at the same times.) But like Obama said...so did he, and so do we all. Because she's human, and because she fucking *tries*.

I think the best thing I could hope for Hillary is what I hope for Obama - that history remembers the both of them as deeply devoted public servants who deliberately put themselves up against the worst that our country could offer and tried to make it a better place for all of us.
posted by Salieri at 9:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [43 favorites]


Someone needs to bottle up the essence of this evening into Eau de DNC No. 3 for those moments over the next few months when we need a little whiff of hope.
posted by timestep at 9:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [23 favorites]


Okay this is now the fourth time in a row I've listened to "Shaking The Tree", and time was when I once listened to that song 48 times in a row in an afternoon and I think my roommate would be mad if I tried to pull that tonight so I'mma go and....

....and listen to it just once more on my iPad in my room before i go to sleep now goodnight
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:21 PM on July 27, 2016


HE is KAINE. SHE is ABLE.

Beyond the simple pun, this really doesn't work (and beyond a pun, it's at best an extremely weak double entendre, and far short of a double entendre with a significant second meaning.) Or, in other words... Boooooooo! :)
posted by smcameron at 9:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I mentioned the suit, and I'm not doing it because she is a woman. Honestly, an Albright-esque brooch or a scarf would have been fine, but that unbroken expanse of blue fabric really reminded me of the little blue hat someone brought back from China for me in like the 1980s.

I also got hung up on some bunching in the stitching up the back of a suit coat that Obama was wearing in an image in his intro-film. What can I say, I know it's weird.

Speaking as a lifelong person who has sat on the sidelines of politics for fear of offending someone, tonight's speeches are kind of firing me up. My Midwestern heart quails, but it might be time.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:23 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Which isn't to say that content creators can't upload their own captions, but they're done in .srt format and aren't possible with live video.

YouTube does have a way to do live captions with professional captioners, even for live events. I suspect the DNC was doing that, but something may have gone wrong for part of the time. For a fallback plan, C-SPAN has captions as well.
posted by zachlipton at 9:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Okay, someone here needs to fess up to this:

I have registered
the voters
that were in
the battleground states.

posted by palindromic at 9:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [31 favorites]


My boss is super lax following politics but was raised republican and today I told her Kaine is Catholic and like pretty centrist and maybe even like fiscally conservative. I know she won't fact check because she doesn't care that much, she will just go and vote.

This is my midnight confession. I lied, and I don't regret it.
posted by Tarumba at 9:26 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


So that was pretty much the worst AMA ever (behind Morgan Freeman perhaps), no? 12 answers, one of which is "I am never tired of winning," to a heavily scrubbed set of questions, and the rest are all vapid platitudes.
posted by zachlipton at 9:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


YouTube does have a way to do live captions with professional captioners, even for live events.

Woah; that's news to me. Guess that shows how long it's been since I uploaded anything subbed to that site. (God; has it really been six years?)
posted by fifthrider at 9:27 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




I keep wanting to turn my computer off, but then I want more updates. Thank you all for your comments and good company.
posted by mochapickle at 9:28 PM on July 27, 2016


how did they find the woman who introduced Barack Obama, seriously? I can only imagine that her name bubbled up through the DNC's local people -- it reflects having built a serious organization that they can find a charismatic school board member from northern Ohio whose son was killed in battle and then ran for school board after being inspired by president Obama.

Barack sent her a congratulatory note for winning her schoolboard election. I imagine someone's been keeping an eye on her, at his behest.
posted by feral_goldfish at 9:29 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Worst AMA Ever

You can tell Trump hired someone else to handle it, because it wasn't a colossal train wreck.
posted by mmoncur at 9:30 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Holy Shit.

Trump's campaign, instead of actually using opposition research notes to inform press releases and policy, they just fucking posted the raw research to their website. All at once.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


Wow. There's no there in the AMA comments, like, at all.
posted by mochapickle at 9:32 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Apparently we didn't need to wait for wikileaks or the russians to leak Trump's strategy, they did it themselves.

OWNING THE 3RD TERM: OBAMA-CLINTON’S FAILED FOREIGN POLICY UNLEASHED ISIS, TERRORISM & SUFFERING

OWNING THE 3RD TERM: OBAMA’S ECONOMY HAS BETRAYED MINORITIES
posted by mrzarquon at 9:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Has anyone seen an annotated video of either the Fight Song video or the Broadway performance from tonight? Both have a couple of faces in them that I know but can't name, and it's bugging me.
posted by une_heure_pleine at 9:33 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


This insistence on Hillary being "Obama's third term" may not be the brilliant strategy the R crowd think it is.

It's easy to think that it would work when you live in an echo chamber probably exceeding that which caused Romney to think he had 2012 in the bag. But Obama, in real life, is more popular than any sitting 2nd-term President in a long time.
posted by tclark at 9:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


I mean, are they trying to distract from the DNC? This is online discord sowing that Manaforte and Ptuin have done before.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:36 PM on July 27, 2016


> Guys, guys, guys. This. Oh my god.

This will probably come too late, but I'm warning you -- do not click.
posted by salvia at 9:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Salieri: I think the best thing I could hope for Hillary is what I hope for Obama - that history remembers the both of them as deeply devoted public servants who deliberately put themselves up against the worst that our country could offer and tried to make it a better place for all of us.

That is a beautiful sentiment, and I share it.
posted by Superplin at 9:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


...did we already have a conversation about the AP headline for their guide to today at the convention, "Can Barack Obama Top His Wife in Philly?"?
posted by Vibrissa at 9:37 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Trump's campaign, instead of actually using opposition research notes to inform press releases and policy, they just fucking posted the raw research to their website. All at once.

Way to hand everyone, including the media and your opponent, your research on a silver platter? Are they higher than I am right now?
posted by Mister Fabulous at 9:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


He can top my wife after that speech!

I don't have a wife.
posted by peeedro at 9:39 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


Hee. Top! I am giggling like a twelve year old.
posted by mochapickle at 9:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


I keep wanting to turn my computer off

You turn your computer off?

BURN THE HERETIC
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


What if Michelle jumped onstage NOW and gave another EVEN BETTER speech
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [20 favorites]


i'm guessing they released the oppo hoping they can…crowdsource some sick attack ads on youtube?
posted by murphy slaw at 9:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Warning Obama's speech at the DNC may cause runny eyes and nose, along with involuntary periodic sounds which may need to be muffled to avoid waking others in your household.
posted by humanfont at 9:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Given today's outrageous statements and tomorrow's certain meltdown, I would love to see a parade of Republicans rescinding their Trump endorsements. Ted Cruz has got to be feeling pretty good about himself right about now.
posted by carmicha at 9:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


'has betrayrd' in the URL on those oppo docs. In case they get pulled, snapshots here and here, but whatever, angry bewigged cantaloupe.
posted by holgate at 9:43 PM on July 27, 2016


what hasn't come out yet, but will, is that they had Meredith do the research
posted by Spathe Cadet at 9:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Someone I read recently described Clinton's wardrobe as her "starship commander uniform." And I quite liked that: "Ahead warp factor two, Mr. Kaine."

Thank you for this. I really, really disliked her suit tonight, and I hated myself for caring about what she wore in any way because fuck that noise, and this gives me a paradigm I can use to work through it.
posted by Mchelly at 9:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"Whew, I need a smoke a drink a shower some sex and a joint but not all at once."


I feel like I already had sex. I feel like I need a smoke and I don't even smoke. And I feel spent and kinda jittery yet relaxed. Is oratorial sex a thing?
posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


(I'm begging, please. Yes we're all having a good time. Yes, there's reasons for our elation.

But please don't post links to FAKE twitter accounts and other "for the LULZ" crap?

It really detracts from how serious this all is.

Get your freak on, but don't send up LULZ bullshit, please)
posted by yesster at 9:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Guys I don't think we're gonna see Obama on stage like that as president again. He's passed the baton. It's time for us to deliver his legacy.
posted by Annika Cicada at 9:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I made the mistake of switching to Fox News right after Obama's speech. I thought I might actually see some commentators reluctantly admit that it was a pretty good speech. Nope. It was a Hannity and Rudy Giuliani re-litigating Benghazi with a widow from the incident. I feel her pain about losing her husband, but it was so frustrating for them to weaponize that pain into cynical counter-programming rather than actually providing thoughtful commentary on the content of the speech. I want to find common ground, but I'm feeling so dispirited about the bad faith they're ampfying.
posted by bluecore at 9:45 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


"Can Barack Obama Top His Wife in Philly?"

Wait do straight people use this terminology also?

I've never had occasion to research straight porn so I genuinely don't know
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


Trump's campaign, instead of actually using opposition research notes to inform press releases and policy, they just fucking posted the raw research to their website. All at once.

Way to hand everyone, including the media and your opponent, your research on a silver platter? Are they higher than I am right now?


Wow, seriously. I knew their campaign was strapped for cash, but apparently they had to choose between paying for research or a competent communications staff. That's hilarious.
posted by salvia at 9:46 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


> Way to hand everyone, including the media and your opponent, your research on a silver platter?

I'm assuming they think they will have Hillary's team spending weeks having to create rebuttals for everything there. As if Hillary's team doesn't already have all of that information already (because you do oppo research on yourself also, if you're anyone but Trump*) and is glad it confirms they know they were ahead of Trump, but thanks for the cliff notes.

I'm sure we will see the Trump supporters quoting those out of context stats in various online forums and tweets in no time.

*Unless of course, these are literally from the DNC servers with Trump Titles on them.

Or they could have just as easily been all the RNC's oppo research (I doubt Trump had any) that no one in the Trump campaign knew what to do with.

I wonder how eager folks in DC are to give Trump security briefings now.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Okay, maybe Tim Kaine was the right pick, since the pinned post at r/politics for DNC Day 3 is comment after comment after comment of jokes about all the ways Tim Kaine is super nice and decent:

"Tim Kaine never curses, even when he steps on a lego."
"Tim Kaine sits with Trump supporters to watch Naruto because he knows that's what makes them happy."

"Tim Kaine is sticking around after the convention to help clean up"
posted by FJT at 9:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [78 favorites]


Things moved really fast here. Other than the fact that Wikileaks doxxed a bunch of people's phone numbers, was there anything to the voice-mail leaks?
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:47 PM on July 27, 2016


Ted Cruz has got to be feeling pretty good about himself right about now.

Pretty sure Ted Cruz always feels good about himself.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 9:47 PM on July 27, 2016 [21 favorites]


mrzarquon: Apparently we didn't need to wait for wikileaks or the russians to leak Trump's strategy, they did it themselves.

What a coincidence, I'm currently downloading everything from that domain.

Totes a crazy random happenstance.
posted by Superplin at 9:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]




Is oratorial sex a thing?

It's just a fancy blowjob
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:51 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


That was the greatest speech of my short life

I hope I get to say the same about one of President Hillary Clinton's
posted by an animate objects at 9:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


was there anything to the voice-mail leaks?

Some mildly embarrassing bits where they played phone tag about seat assignments at high-dollar fundraisers. Nothing particularly unusual.
posted by fifthrider at 9:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Wait do straight people use this terminology also?

It's a venerable idiom going back to at least the early 19th Century. It's a venerable idiom going back to at least the early 19th Century. Not as s sexual reference but as to outdo, one up, perform at a higher level.
posted by y2karl at 9:54 PM on July 27, 2016


tivalasvegas: Wait do straight people use this terminology also? I've never had occasion to research straight porn so I genuinely don't know

Yes, but mostly in kink.
posted by Superplin at 9:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


loltrump
posted by tonycpsu at 9:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


> Wait do straight people use this terminology also?

In some circles
posted by mrzarquon at 9:57 PM on July 27, 2016


Fundraising email from Barack just landed in my inbox.
Subject line in full: "hey"
posted by une_heure_pleine at 9:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Things moved really fast here. Other than the fact that Wikileaks doxxed a bunch of people's phone numbers, was there anything to the voice-mail leaks?

AFAIK, not really. There are only 29 and there's not much there. A bunch are literally just random people calling up to complain that they don't like the DNC for one reason or another (basically "I'm on a fixed income and I donated $300 to Hillary and can't believe you let Bernie say this stuff" or "I can't believe you're letting Sanders put Cornel West on the platform committee"). One is a donor and former ambassador wondering about a dinner with President Obama. One woman wanted to invite Michelle Obama to some kind of library event.
posted by zachlipton at 9:57 PM on July 27, 2016


(Someone would have eventually made it, but the Internet needs it NOW.)
posted by tonycpsu at 9:58 PM on July 27, 2016


Okay, maybe Tim Kaine was the right pick, since the pinned post at r/politics for DNC Day 3 is comment after comment after comment of jokes about all the ways Tim Kaine is super nice and decent

These are all repurposed Drake jokes. You can look a few up and replace "Drake" with "Tim Kaine".
posted by gehenna_lion at 9:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Fundraising email from Barack just landed in my inbox.
Subject line in full: "hey"


Huh. My email says, "Are you with her, too?"

I want Barry to woo me with my favorite Pixies song!
posted by mochapickle at 9:59 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


Wait do straight people use this terminology also?

WE LEARNED IT FROM YOU
posted by biogeo at 10:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [14 favorites]


Huh. My email says, "Are you with her, too?"
I got that one as well, "from" Tim Kaine.
posted by une_heure_pleine at 10:01 PM on July 27, 2016


Fundraising email from Barack just landed in my inbox.
Subject line in full: "hey"


Not an accident. That has been extensively tested and proven to work. For reals.
posted by dersins at 10:01 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


How to top? Unlikely.
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:02 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Welp, tonight I put down five bucks for the HRC campaign. First campaign donation I've ever made.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 10:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [29 favorites]


Like most of what we learned from you, we imitate it poorly.
posted by biogeo at 10:04 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


First campaign donation I've ever made.

They say you never forget your first time.



Mine was Dean.
*sadface emoji*

posted by dersins at 10:06 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


Dean was mine too dersins, hugs.
posted by Annika Cicada at 10:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Pretty sure Chris Matthews has been hitting the flask. Howard Fineman may have had a nip, to be polite.
posted by wallabear at 10:10 PM on July 27, 2016


Jerry Brown, here. That 800 number on the lectern was tops.
posted by notyou at 10:11 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]




I just realized that I'm now super nervous for Hillary's speech tomorrow. I mean how do you follow up after Bernie and Michelle and Bill and Joe and Barack? She's not, by any means, bad in front of crowds but I think she was always more comfortable in smaller settings. Yeah, she'll almost certainly rise to the occasion but boy oh boy I'm sure feeling some kind of second-hand stage fright.
posted by mhum at 10:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [11 favorites]


I thoroughly loved Obama's speech tonight. We've known for 12 years that the man can talk, but holy crap he really brought it on.

And he really did an excellent job putting Hillary Clinton into the spotlight. He wasn't talking about him, he was talking about HER. And he nailed it.
posted by yesster at 10:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Chris Matthews has been hitting the flask

OHHHH is that why he yells all the damn time?
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:16 PM on July 27, 2016




I've somehow volunteered to phone bank. I went to a Hillary campaign event a couple weeks ago (Jake Sullivan from the campaign spoke) and I met the woman who is the WA state campaign director. So I emailed her to get involved and now I'm going to a thing on Sunday where I spend my time calling people on the phone. I hate talking on the phone. I've also given to more non-presidential campaigns than I ever have before and attended more events. I wouldn't say this is all Hillary Clinton's doing as I've participated in a fair bit of political stuff before but it seems like time somehow.
posted by R343L at 10:21 PM on July 27, 2016 [25 favorites]


it might be "I won't be seeing this again."

either way though, all the feels
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:22 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


There have been so many stone classic speeches this week. I imagine that someday—years from now—when people are reading or watching them, they will be perplexed and bewildered about all the parts rebuking Trump. Then they will go to future-wikipedia and find out that yes, this guy was actually a nominee. Then small doors shall open in their foreheads and many small gears and springs shall burst forth in disarray. By this we will know that the great project of America continues to move forward.
posted by snofoam at 10:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


That will go down in history as a pivotal speech defending democracy and the American spirit against creeping fear and fascism. I am proud to have helped elect the man who gave it, who is likely the greatest orator (and perhaps President) I will see in my lifetime.

Thanks, Obama.
posted by sallybrown at 10:24 PM on July 27, 2016 [59 favorites]


Hillary will be great tomorrow.

This woman has endured so much scrutiny of her personal and professional life, far beyond anyone else in living memory.

I personally remember 30 years of investigations into Hillary Clinton's personal and professional life.

She's withstood 8 Congressional investigations into Benghazi. With another one in the works right now.

She's withstood FBI investigations into her S of State use of emails, wherein she did nothing different that her predecessors did. No criminal charges.

There is no person in the United States who hasn't been picked over from top to bottom more than Hillary Clinton.

There are no skeletons in her closets. She has no closets any more. There is nothing about her we don't already know.

She's gonna be great.
posted by yesster at 10:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


I feel like we didn't do enough to support Obama. Let's not make the same mistake with Clinton.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [35 favorites]


I've somehow volunteered to phone bank.

Be careful. The last time I volunteered to phone bank on a campaign, I ended up with a full-time job.
posted by dersins at 10:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [16 favorites]


snofoam: "Then small doors shall open in their foreheads and many small gears and springs shall burst forth in disarray."

Look, the thing that people don't understand about the Gear Wars 2016 US presidential election was that it was never about the gears at all.
posted by mhum at 10:28 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


dersins: I am happily at a startup making an awesome thing but this is future planning. Maybe I will want to be even more involved in a few years. :)
posted by R343L at 10:29 PM on July 27, 2016


I really don't hate many people, but goddamn I really don't like Kayleigh Mcenany on CNN. I swear she's just going to fall on the floor and start kicking and screaming.
posted by bongo_x at 10:30 PM on July 27, 2016


Okay, I still don't get this whole DNC email scandal thing. Admittedly, I haven't been following this as closely as I should be but from what I can gather the problem is supposed to be that the DNC actively assisted the Clinton campaign in defeating Sanders, or am I missing something? I mean, I like Bernie, and I voted for him, but he only joined the Democratic party last year specifically so he could run on a major party's ticket. Wouldn't it be expected that the central committee of a political party stand in the way of just those kinds of shenanigans?
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 10:31 PM on July 27, 2016 [8 favorites]


But they didn't actually stand in his way.

They just talked about it.

Kind of like how when the new sales guy is oh so rude to all of the back office? And they trash talk him around the coffee pot?

It's like that.
posted by yesster at 10:34 PM on July 27, 2016 [33 favorites]


They were so hell-bent on believing that Obama was a usurper/secret Muslim/tyrant/commie/whathaveyou that they missed one hell of an inspirational leader.

I find them easier to win over then the radical left types. Most of the anti-Obama crowd that I know are more of the "I wonder how inspirational Obama's speech was to the dead Syrian children" and they are a lot more difficult.
posted by windbox at 10:35 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


This whole convention has been amazing. Like a precision machine, with crying.

I watched the first couple of nights and thought it was a shame that they had so many great speakers and things that so many people would miss, and surely the next two nights couldn't live up to that. But these people are so much smarter than me.

The first two nights were for the faithful, and get all the noise out of the way. Once people heard about the great speeches they tune in for tonight, boom, sights on the independents, taking Trump down. Obama puts a lid on it. Masterful.
posted by bongo_x at 10:36 PM on July 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


Heh, Rob Reiner is just loud enough to override Chris Matthews' run-on mouth. Excuse me while I enjoy this.
posted by wallabear at 10:37 PM on July 27, 2016


the DNC actively assisted the Clinton campaign in defeating Sanders

We don't even know that happened. Mostly what we know is that they talked a lot of shit about him, a couple of people suggested some super shitty courses of action that there's no evidence were actually followed through on, and they contacted a couple of folks in the media to try to stir up shit.

Note as well that, as far as I'm aware, all of this appears to have happened after Sanders was all-but-mathematically eliminated, but was staying in the race specifically to shit-talk the DNC.
posted by dersins at 10:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [17 favorites]


Like a precision machine, with crying.

Again, feelings backed with facts.

I hope this evening shows Dem candidates in purple states that it's time to feel comfortable campaigning in tandem or at least in the vicinity of the Clinton campaign. There's no fucking point in someone like Roy Cooper in NC keeping his distance in the hope that it shores up his more conservative support, when moderate Republicans are saying "vote for the sane one". In this election, you sink or swim together.
posted by holgate at 10:38 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Thanks, yesster, the back of my hand is now sore from the simultaneous facepalm/headdesk
posted by Trinity-Gehenna at 10:39 PM on July 27, 2016




Guy on CNN just explained to me what WAWA is. I had no idea what people were talking about.
posted by bongo_x at 10:41 PM on July 27, 2016


or am I missing something?

Long story short, people in an organization liked the person that had been in their organization for a long time and unfairly poked at the new guy, and people who were poking for a reason to be mad found a reason to be mad.
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


"I created this list of Russian trolls when I was researching. And I check on it once in a while, still. And a lot of them have turned into conservative accounts, like fake conservatives. I don't know what's going on, but they're all tweeting about Donald Trump and stuff," he said.

It looks like Russia hired internet trolls to pose as pro-Trump Americans - BusinessInsider.com

(Russian Troll Factory previously on metafilter)
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:42 PM on July 27, 2016 [10 favorites]


So, like, all of this *gestures up thread*

Is this what it feels like to watch the Super Bowl and be really invested in one particular team?

Because if it is I think I finally understand the appeal of sports for the first time in my life

what is this feeling so sudden and new
posted by Hermione Granger at 10:44 PM on July 27, 2016 [26 favorites]


Yes.

My roommate lives upstairs.

I explained it to him: you know how you get about football games, particularly the superbowl? This is my superbowl.
posted by yesster at 10:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [9 favorites]


Guy on CNN just explained to me what WAWA is. I had no idea what people were talking about.

It's like a cult, but for cheap sandwiches. And pumpkin spice coffee. And pretzels. Delegates of the DNC: for the love of flagpins, make America greater and bring Wawa to your states and territories and all the fair lands of this great country oh my god I miss midnight hoagies so much
posted by jetlagaddict at 10:54 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


cheap sandwiches. And pumpkin spice coffee. And pretzels.

This does not seem like a coherent menu.
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:57 PM on July 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Guy on CNN just explained to me what WAWA is.

It's an inferior version of Sheetz.

I've never been to Wawa.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Is this what it feels like to watch the Super Bowl and be really invested in one particular team?

Yeah, it's like really loving a team or maybe just really, really hating their rival who regularly cheats and gets away with it so they win like half the time and you are forced to bet more than you can really afford on every game at 6/5 odds.
posted by skewed at 10:58 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


EXCEPT ALSO IT ACTUALLY FOR REALS MATTERS
posted by dersins at 11:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [22 favorites]


cheap sandwiches. And pumpkin spice coffee. And pretzels.

This does not seem like a coherent menu.


Yeah, it's a gas station/7-11 type of thing, not really a restaurant, so definitely not a coherent menu. But damn, those are good sandwiches.
posted by skewed at 11:03 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


It's an inferior version of Sheetz.

I've never been to Wawa.


Of course. Only a Sheetz fan would perpetuate such damnable ignorance.
posted by Anonymous at 11:06 PM on July 27, 2016


This does not seem like a coherent menu.

They have a huge menu, okay, a beautiful menu, the best menu.

(But no, it's not a restaurant, it's like a better 7-11/fast food-ish jawn, but with hummus and breakfast hoagies and mac and cheese...also it's great because who doesn't get coffee at Wawa? So you get to see the whole spectrum of a neighborhood at all hours of the day!)
posted by jetlagaddict at 11:10 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


So yeah, PA people's inexplicable enthusiasm notwithstanding, WAWA is literally just a 7-11 with a Subway in it.

Oh and touch-screen ordering.
posted by dersins at 11:15 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


WAWA, Sheetz? You people are totally making this shit up. I feel like I'm in Canada.
posted by bongo_x at 11:16 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


It's impossible not to love Wawa's Yellow Submarine inspired hoagiefest ads.
posted by peeedro at 11:19 PM on July 27, 2016


When I'm in Canada I tell my wife it's like an alternate universe USA, they have all the same stores they're just called something else.
posted by bongo_x at 11:20 PM on July 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


make America greater and bring Wawa to your states and territories and all the fair lands of this great country

O great Wawa

crush your convenience store enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their customers
posted by XMLicious at 11:25 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


WAWA is literally just a 7-11 with a Subway in it.

YOU SHUT YOUR GODDAMNED MOUTH

7-11 is a hellhole, a place of burned coffee and off-brand Tastykake imitators that manage to be stale despite their shrink-wrap. It is where gas station food goes to die. Subway manages to take sandwiches to new inedible lows. How can a freshly-made sandwich have bread so soggy that you may as well have pulled it out from under a dumpster? You'd think it impossible, but Subway manages to achieve this feat.

But Wawa, sweet Wawa! Wawa is a glorious fairyland filled with not only your favorite corner-store necessities but a wide variety of their own eatables at reasonable prices, from decent chicken salad sandwiches to piping hot meatball subs to the glorious Gobbler that emerges once a year to adorn your tastebuds with its gravy-soaked goodness. If it is 3:00 am and you want French toast, where do you go? You go to Wawa, and you stand in line with all the other drunks and bask in the jovial community that forms around its terminals and in between the aisles of coffee, candy, and delicious Wawa-branded half-and-half iced teas.
posted by Anonymous at 11:34 PM on July 27, 2016


But Wawa, sweet Wawa! Wawa is a glorious fairyland filled with not only your favorite corner-store necessities but a wide variety of their own eatables at reasonable prices, from decent chicken salad sandwiches to piping hot meatball subs to the glorious Gobbler that emerges once a year to adorn your tastebuds with its gravy-soaked goodness.

So not a 7-11 with a Subway in it at all, but rather a 7-11 with a Subway in it that for one week out of the year puts gravy on its turkey sandwiches.
posted by dersins at 11:40 PM on July 27, 2016 [6 favorites]


It's like you people don't have QT.
posted by bongo_x at 11:41 PM on July 27, 2016 [13 favorites]


I'm so confused, y'all. I just watched a CNN Reality Check segment where they showed that half of Bloomberg's statements about Trump's imported workers were absolutely true. He does, in fact, employ 4 Americans and 246 non-American workers at one resort using the visa system to import workers. He does the absolute bare minimum to advertise these jobs to Americans--he runs ads for 2 days in tiny, low-circ papers which allows him to prove to the government that Americans don't want these jobs. But then he pays them more ($11-13/hour) than similar businesses in the area. What is the POINT of that? What's the upside? How is it beneficial from a business standpoint?
posted by xyzzy at 11:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


Guys we're the big tent party, the party of unity, we can't let this divide us on tonight of all nights

we can all sit in the big tent and eat our own separate sandwiches in our own separate ways

let's not be brought down to the level of cheap, petty assaults on cherished institutions, such as 2 a.m. meatballs
posted by jetlagaddict at 11:43 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


xyzzy: a few guesses. probably "easier" to manage since position in US more precarious (can't just quit). also I'm guessing not all employer share taxes have to be paid (how would paying into social security or Medicare make sense if the worker can't ever use them).
posted by R343L at 11:48 PM on July 27, 2016 [7 favorites]


So not a 7-11 with a Subway in it at all, but rather a 7-11 with a Subway in it that for one week out of the year puts gravy on its turkey sandwiches.

I would be angry if I didn't feel so damn sorry for you and your inability to recognize the beautiful things this world has to offer.
posted by Anonymous at 11:49 PM on July 27, 2016


Yep. Guest workers in agriculture at least are not subject to SS and Medicare withholding. source
posted by R343L at 11:53 PM on July 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


They could be partially ghosted employees- sending part of their salary to a The Donald slush fund.

OTOH with 246 employees, it would probably leak, so that's a bit paranoid.
posted by Yowser at 11:53 PM on July 27, 2016


But then he pays them more ($11-13/hour) than similar businesses in the area. What is the POINT of that? What's the upside? How is it beneficial from a business standpoint?

There's a lot of value in having workers who are away from their families (H-2B workers can bring their spouses and dependent children, but those family members can't work in the US), and who basically can't change jobs (they only can if they find another employer who's willing and able to do the labor certification), and who have to fly thousands of miles if they quit.
posted by zachlipton at 11:55 PM on July 27, 2016 [12 favorites]


The Southern Poverty Law Center is pretty down on guest worker programs as they currently exist. I assume they save (or appear to save) businesses money (or trouble which costs money). I don't see why it'd be any different for Trump's businesses.
posted by R343L at 11:56 PM on July 27, 2016 [4 favorites]


The source of the benefit is in negotiation leverage. If you can hold the threat of deportation over someone's head, what the hell can they do? How are they going to demand more pay (answer: they can't)? What can they say when you 'ask' them to work 80 hours/week?
posted by hleehowon at 12:01 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Then I say that CNN's Reality Check is wrong. Bloomberg's claim was that he does it to save money, but CNN said that was a garbage claim because he pays them more. Trump is still saving money if he's not required to pay withholdings or worry overmuch about frequently replacing workers due to guest worker loyalty through circumstances.
posted by xyzzy at 12:03 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Most sources say that H-2B workers are subject to payroll taxes (FICA), but this brief unsourced link says the exemption was extended to H-2B workers as well. If so, that's a significant source of savings for both employees and employers.
posted by zachlipton at 12:06 AM on July 28, 2016


There used to be a WaWa right next to the UMCP campus. It was a glorious place while I was a poor college student. It is no longer there and I feel like the students there now are just less as people that they don't get to experience it.
posted by numaner at 12:12 AM on July 28, 2016


There's the other advantage, if you're a horrible racist, you can use the H-2B program to recruit from specific locations in order to screen the nationality/ethnicity of your employees. If you believe your brand requires the help to be white, you can use a H-2B recruit from Eastern Europe instead of hiring from the local labor pool.
posted by peeedro at 12:16 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


Every Republican who votes for Johnson is half a vote for Clinton. (Just as every Democrat who votes for Stein is half a vote for Trump.)

It's the formerly Bernie supporters saying they're gonna vote for Johnson that REALLY confuse me. I mean, I know I'm in Texas, so the definition of Democrat is skewed right-wards, but SERIOUSLY??
posted by threeturtles at 12:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


It's the formerly Bernie supporters saying they're gonna vote for Johnson that REALLY confuse me.

"I'm angry, I don't understand politics, but I want to look thoughtful." Take out the thoughtful part and they'd be for Trump. I think I'm going to punch the next person that says "outsider".
posted by bongo_x at 12:26 AM on July 28, 2016 [24 favorites]


I've been watching this convention for the past 3 days because I've been sick and home from work and I have to say, as a lifelong lefty on the other side of the world, I'm feeling more optimistic now than I have for quite some time. I mean, it's been a really shitty time around the globe for all kinds of reasons and as much as it pains me to say it (just because I am not from the USA), the USA has a position of immense responsibility when it comes to their leadership because what your government does really does effect the rest of the world. The rise of the tangerine balloon has been horrifying to watch! And I'll also admit to thinking that Hillary Clinton was using the 'first woman president' thing as a booster for her ambitions (shame on me and in retrospect, how utterly naive). It has been immensely eye-opening to discover that she actually has been following a path that started well before she ran for any kind of office that has been about social justice and trying to improve things for the citizens of your country and that for so many decades she has been devoted to trying to effect change.

And it's also been so wonderful to finally, finally, SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD, watch the left stand up and fight back!

Bernie Sanders should be immensely proud that his influence has brought not just conversations about wealth inequality and climate change and so many other issues back into spotlight but has actually caused his party to say that they are now part of their platform and they will be doing things to change the way the world has been going, to rip some power away from the wealthy lobbyists and corporations that are taking over governments around the world both by stealth and by direct bribery.

I really, really, really hope that enough people will get to see and actually listen to some of what's been said and that they'll stop being blinded by lulz and rhetoric and bluster. I hope Hillary Clinton wins because the alternative is unthinkable. I watched along when Barack Obama became your president (both times) amongst a sea of people who were utterly opposed to him and I think you guys can do it again. I really hope so.
posted by h00py at 12:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [26 favorites]


He does, in fact, employ 4 Americans and 246 non-American workers at one resort using the visa system to import workers. He does the absolute bare minimum to advertise these jobs to Americans--he runs ads for 2 days in tiny, low-circ papers which allows him to prove to the government that Americans don't want these jobs. But then he pays them more ($11-13/hour) than similar businesses in the area. What is the POINT of that? What's the upside? How is it beneficial from a business standpoint?

By any chance, are any of these 246 non-American workers from Eastern Europe? Perhaps from, I don't know, Russia?

Asking for a friend.
posted by dersins at 12:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


It's really nice how many folks from outside the US have checked in as part of these convention threads, and it goes to show how important our years-long freakshow of an election is to everyone, for better or more likely, for worse. And for our international mefites, there was an interesting insertion in President Obama's speech, not included in the prepared remarks, which seemed to be improvised after a brief pause (video):
Hillary Clinton is respected around the world not just by leaders, but by the people they serve. I have to say this. People outside the United States do not understand what's going on in this election. They really don't. Because they know Hillary; they've seen her work.
Those are the words of a man who has spent the last several months talking to increasingly worried world leaders who keep asking him "what's the deal with Donald Trump?" Those are the words of a man who has to spend his time mopping up the daily foreign policy disasters Trump has already created. Those are the words of a man who doesn't understand why this is even a contest, who seems embarrassed he has to represent our country under such conditions.

President Obama stood up there and thought "I'm really not supposed to say that the rest of the world thinks we're all a bunch of utter morons because of this election," but then he said it anyway, because our President, he is out of fucks to give.
posted by zachlipton at 12:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [72 favorites]


Final thought: I googled "obama newtown owl" to see what this bittersweetly inspiring artwork looked like, and I found conspiracy theories. CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT THE OWL DRAWING.

good night.
posted by Rhaomi at 1:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


"I'm angry, I don't understand politics, but I want to look thoughtful."

I have actually voted for my share of local Libertarians, because in local elections there often ISN'T a Democrat on the ballot. (On the other hand, I know many of the local Democrats to wave to, since we are so few.) Occasionally one of those races have a Green party candidate, but they almost always have a Lib candidate in addition to the incumbent Republican. So for several years I always voted third party for those races, but the more I learned about the actual Libertarian platform and some of the complete batshit whackadoo people who fly that banner, I just started skipping those positions.
posted by threeturtles at 2:04 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


The chanting was much more on point today. If you're going to protest, protest the correct things. I still wish the louder voices would listen more, but they at least generally chanted appropriate things at appropriate people. Democracy sounds like that and I'm glad we've treated our protesters better than the RNC treated theirs.

I so hope that this isn't the end of public work for the Obamas and the Biden. I know there are a few months left of their terms but they're all four healthy and inspiring. I will miss them more than I've ever missed politicians.

I don't know that the Russian connection is ultimately going to have legs. I think Trump could eat a baby in public and his apologists would say "well, it was just one baby. " I worry what else they might have from the DNC and hope that the DNC is ready to get ahead of whatever else they might have.

Looking forward to day 4!
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:13 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I just saw the best speech I've ever seen, the Obama speech tonight. I cent wait to scroll back up and get y'all reaction to it. Here I go!
posted by persona au gratin at 2:50 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ok, up to 8:07.

I love Obama so much, too. One of our top five presidents, and the only one to write speeches with the eloquence of Lincoln. (MLK did, too, but unfortunately never was president.)

I love America. I'm unabashedly patriotic. (And a liberal!) This says nothing about France or Canada or India. These are all great places. I just love my country and its diversity and ideals. So did Lincoln, and FDR, and MLK. And Obama so clearly does, too. He inspires me to be a better American and a better citizen of the world.

I miss him as president already. Though Hillary will be great, too.

Back to comments!
posted by persona au gratin at 3:01 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Kaine: you think I should do my trump impression in the speech?
Hillary: no
Obama: no
Bill: no
Biden: yeah man, yeah, that's great stuff
posted by PenDevil at 3:01 AM on July 28, 2016 [51 favorites]


Through 8:35. This is really moving to see y'all reactions. Yes, the part about Kansas values and American values was incredibly moving to me, too. As a Midwesterner who now lives in LA teaching immigrants and their kids. Amen, Mr. President. (Because I see these students daily, I'm also super bullish on America.)
-----
Ok, done. I wish I could have been in the thread when it was live, but I was watching Liverpool FC lose.

Yeah, that was the best speech I've ever heard. And I will point to it when my European friends give me the side eye when the topic of patriotism comes up. It must not be ceded to the xenophobes and bigots.
posted by persona au gratin at 3:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Re: Kaine: it was so moving hearing him speak Spanish. And even more moving to hear the reactions of the Spanish speakers in the audience. It made me tear up. Finally someone who speaks a language so many Americans speak.
posted by persona au gratin at 3:31 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


zachlipton: "It's really nice how many folks from outside the US have checked in as part of these convention threads, and it goes to show how important our years-long freakshow of an election is to everyone, for better or more likely, for worse."
Spot on. In the words of Ashley Cartwright,
You can say what you like but it doesn't change anything
Because the corridors of power are an ocean away
posted by brokkr at 3:45 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


(But no, it's not a restaurant, it's like a better 7-11/fast food-ish jawn, but with hummus and breakfast hoagies and mac and cheese...also it's great because who doesn't get coffee at Wawa? So you get to see the whole spectrum of a neighborhood at all hours of the day!)

Favorited just for jawn.
posted by Mchelly at 4:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


If you haven't watched it, Obama's introduction by Gold Star mother Sharon Belkofer is really a special thing.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:03 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


First, thank you all for the commentary last night, I fell asleep too early.

Second, odds that Barbara Bush makes an appearance tonight? The woman has nothing to lose except not being on the right side of history.
posted by splen at 4:23 AM on July 28, 2016


Well Biden's pretty good rhetorically, X of Y and Y of X is difficult to pull off and still be meaningful
posted by iffthen at 4:27 AM on July 28, 2016


No that Obama isn't, "serious solutions to pressing problems"... Ah laike that assonance mate
posted by iffthen at 4:47 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Second, odds that Barbara Bush makes an appearance tonight?

Laura likelier than Barbara (assuming you mean Barbara Bush the elder). I think Barbara would want to do it on her own terms, not at the Dem Convention. If they are somehow able to secure those endorsements, they might save them for October?
posted by sallybrown at 4:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Is it too late to become an American citizen and vote for Hillary (and D all the way down the ticket)? Asking for, er, a friend, y'know... Because that was great. Not just amazing speeches, but optimistic speeches based on real proposals to deal with a tough reality. As opposed to the prologue volume of a series of badly written self-published dystopian novels.
posted by YoungStencil at 5:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]




The 11 most eye-catching hats at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Also I checked my news feed this morning and while all the usual papers led with the speeches FOX News chose to go with "Wikileaks releases hacked DNC voicemail messages." Oddly enough their takeaway was that donors were unhappy with the support that the DNC gave to Bernie-- so really the opposite of the narrative spun about the DNC hacked emails.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:12 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Holy shit. I just finished the Obama speech. That was a speech
posted by iffthen at 5:14 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Was that the first comment to which Trump has ever backpedaled?
posted by Tevin at 5:18 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Also Tim Kaine was on the WaPo's loser list :(
The vice presidential nominee delivered a totally competent speech, introducing himself to a convention hall and a country that, largely, didn't (and doesn't) know him, touting Clinton's credentials for the top job and attacking Trump. But, that same speech contained a few groan-worthy lines — "We should all feel the Bern and not get burned by the other guy" — and too much "hey, do you remember" sort of phrasing. Also, please, Senator Kaine, never do the Trump impersonation again. I beg you.

It didn't help that Kaine was effectively sandwiched between Biden and Obama, two incredibly gifted speakers who have been in front of these huge audiences a whole lot more than him. Kaine wasn't actively bad but he wasn't actively good. Of course, he wasn't picked to be Clinton's vice presidential nominee because of his soaring rhetorical skills.
Biden, Obama, Bloomberg, O'Malley and Christine Leinonen were the winners.
Kaine, Leon Panetta, Rahm Emanuel, microphones, and chanting were the losers.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:22 AM on July 28, 2016


Do not call my hush puppy wearing TV Dad a loser, WaPo.
posted by pointystick at 5:23 AM on July 28, 2016 [33 favorites]


Of course, he wasn't picked to be Clinton's vice presidential nominee because of his soaring rhetorical skills.

Look, I love Obama, but not everyone in this country has the same idea of how a politician should talk to them. Kaine did a fantastic job.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:24 AM on July 28, 2016 [26 favorites]


5:30 AM, this time, guys. To say I need my beauty sleep is to vastly understate my middle-aged-wreckedness even on the best of days, but here I am, sniffling with the rest of you.
posted by maxwelton at 5:26 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Aw Bernie Bird hat!

I think Kaine was pretty nervous and had a shaky start. I expect him to slowly get used to his new role. I mean I would be terrified if I were him.

Besides, even with the nervousness he was light years away from Pence or Trump, let's keep a rational perspective.
posted by Tarumba at 5:26 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Look, I love Obama, but not everyone in this country has the same idea of how a politician should talk to them.

There was a lot of talk about how Clinton went with Kaine to appeal to white men, but after watching that speech, I'm thinking Kaine is for the white women who dislike Hillary. Republicanish / Catholic soccer moms.
posted by sallybrown at 5:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [22 favorites]


and eyebrow fetishists.
posted by Tarumba at 5:28 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


I dunno: as a boring, Catholic, suburban dad myself, Kaine seems like a huge improvement over so many of the other dads I meet who come off as post-bros: like he's just a good, competent guy. And I can always use more of those in my life.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


Trump: I Was 'Being Sarcastic' When I Asked Russia To Release Clinton Emails

I think of Trump more and more like Nathan Thurm.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Trump: I was being sarcastic the first 3 times I said that and then again when I repeated it on Twitter.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:40 AM on July 28, 2016 [28 favorites]


I'm seeing a lot of headlines like this: Conservatives Find Selves Shocked to Realize They Liked Obama’s Speech which is a round-up of positive tweets by conservatives. It doesn't surprise me. My whole life the political conversation in this country pretty much boils down to:

D's-- We need to make this country better. We need to work on human rights. We need to stop the war. We need to work on the environment.

R's-- (wrapping themselves up in the flag) Shut up ya commie pinko bastards.

So now their candidate is running on how bad the country is. It's not surprising that many on the Right are waking up and rejecting his message.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [25 favorites]


Anecdote: Following yesterday's Trump incident about Russian cyber espionage, a coworker that has always voted republican and had supported Trump stepped back from vocally supporting Trump and continued the rest of the conversations in a resigned tone and implying that the democrats have won already.
posted by JakeEXTREME at 5:45 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


"guys! I was OBVY being sarcastic...who even uses the phrase 'troublesome priest' seriously? Shame on you for having no sense of humor, really..."
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:45 AM on July 28, 2016 [36 favorites]




The Newseum here in DC has a lovely feature where you can see the front pages of newspapers from around the world. I look at the cover of the Buffalo News, Washington Post, and a couple of other papers every day. It's a fascinating thing to click around in the day after a big event. It seems like most papers are highlighting Obama's optimism today.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 5:51 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


That got a lot of people upset and voters angry at the dumbfuck sitting in the governor's mansion is all right by me.

People who didn't know who McCrory was as a politician and what he would do before he was elected are literally idiots. IDIOTS. It wasn't like they had to dig to find out about him before he was elected - just watching the gubernatorial debates told us everything needed to know about what a terrible meretricious dumpster fire he is.

He wasn't hiding who he was. It was all out there.

I just had say this because it will never cease to amaze me how anyone could have thought electing him was a good idea whether an (R) or a (D) or an (I).
posted by winna at 5:52 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


The President was now approaching his crescendo. These American values, he said, were why the country could “attract strivers and entrepreneurs from around the globe . . . why our military can look the way it does, every shade of humanity, forged into common service . . . why anyone who threatens our values, whether Fascists or Communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end.”

It took a moment for the crowd to grasp what Obama had done, lumping Trump in with Hitler, Stalin, and ISIS.
- John Cassidy, The New Yorker
posted by sacre_bleu at 5:53 AM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]




Meanwhile, Trump is called for a weakening of NATO and his staff worked to remove an anti-Russia stance on Ukraine from the GOP platform.

Gosh, let's not be anti-Russia invading Ukraine!
posted by Artw at 6:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Clinton has now made Democrats the anti-Russia party

Only if one views "being against letting Russia hack us" as the same as being "anti-Russian." I'm sure Putin would tell you they're the same, but...
posted by emjaybee at 6:05 AM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


Clinton has now made Democrats the anti-Russia party

pretty sure Clinton's not the one who did that, but I'll get back to you
posted by middleclasstool at 6:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [29 favorites]


So the TLDR of that 538 article is that their polls seem lower than other aggregators for hillary because they include versions that include 3rd party candidates. Seems fair, though id guess a lot fewer people will actually vote for 3rd parties than claim to.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:07 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Seems fair, though id guess a lot fewer people will actually vote for 3rd parties than claim to.

The lesson of this republican primary has been that when people tell the pollsters who they're going to vote for, that's actually who they're going to vote for. Love for Johnson and Stein may change in the next few months, but if people are saying they're voting third party that's probably what they're doing.
posted by dis_integration at 6:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Meanwhile the line for those guys continues to be a flat 0 running across the bottom of the graph.
posted by Artw at 6:13 AM on July 28, 2016



Carson? Which Carson?

Ben?
Kit?
Johnny?
Rachel?
Daly?

WHO?


Carson City, the actual capital of Nevada
posted by iffthen at 6:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


Trump: A vote for the Green Party helps me

Er, are you supposed to just be saying that?
posted by Artw at 6:18 AM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


North Carolina GOP mistakenly attacks Kaine for 'shameful' Marine pin that honored his son
“[Tim Kaine] wears a Honduras flag pin on his jacket but no American flag,” the state party tweeted as he was speaking. “Shameful.”

There was one problem: Kaine’s pin, which had a single blue star on a white background bordered with red, wasn’t the flag of Honduras, where he spent a year as a missionary decades ago. It was the symbol for Blue Star Families, or those with members serving in the military.
posted by zakur at 6:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [69 favorites]


dis_integration: "The lesson of this republican primary has been that when people tell the pollsters who they're going to vote for, that's actually who they're going to vote for."

I'm not sure you can extrapolate that to the general. 3rd party candidates almost always poll better in advance than they actually get at the voting booth.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


3rd party candidates almost always poll better in advance than they actually get at the voting booth.

Yup. In 2012 the Greens were polling 3-4 percent right before the general, and got something like a third of a percent on the day.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 6:21 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I just want to say: Barack Obama's speech was the greatest and most important of my lifetime, and on the short list in American history.
posted by argybarg at 6:23 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Trump: A vote for the Green Party helps me

Er, are you supposed to just be saying that?


At least one book about the Trump campaign will be titled Er, Are You Supposed to Just Be Saying That?

(And I genuinely do not know whether it will be a pro- or anti-Trump book.)
posted by Etrigan at 6:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [35 favorites]


When our president got to the part about how we've lifted him up... sobs, loud inconsolable sobs and they were coming from me.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


It took a moment for the crowd to grasp what Obama had done, lumping Trump in with Hitler, Stalin, and ISIS.

I assume his campaign staff have warned against him complaining that he's being compared to Hitler/Stalin/ISIS, because if they haven't, then every time he mentions it he'll be tying himself to them in voters' minds.

I dunno: as a boring, Catholic, suburban dad myself, Kaine seems like a huge improvement over so many of the other dads I meet who come off as post-bros: like he's just a good, competent guy. And I can always use more of those in my life.

Along the same lines, I think Kaine's job last night was to poke holes in Trump's ego and diminish the effect of his rhetorical flourishes. The whole bit about "believe me," goofy dad impersonation and all, is aimed at putting that image in voters' heads every time he says it. In fact, looking like a doofus while he's making fun of Trump may be part of Kaine's appeal, both to Clinton and to voters. I don't know how well it will work, but if it does, Kaine may end up being the campaign's secret weapon.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:29 AM on July 28, 2016 [31 favorites]


Obama's speech was so moving last night that not only was I crying but when I turned my computer off, I saw that my upstairs bathroom drains had been leaking through my living room ceiling. Not a dry eye in the house... literally! (The plumbers have just been here and have ripped a massive hole in my ceiling :/ Thanks, Obama.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [21 favorites]


One word for Barack Obama's time on the stage:
Undeniable.
posted by rp at 6:37 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I saw the original Obama DNC speech at a dive bar in Newport, right on the wharf the fishing fleet uses. It had a large contingent of schoolteachers and firefighters as regulars right alongside the fisherfolk and local barflies(hello!), so they were showing the DNC on the fancy new big screen plasma TV's, and piped it through the very nice sound system.

I had seen some political speeches before, but they were largely dull and dreary affairs, even the "good" ones. Obama was something new and different. He was slam poetry and punk-rock, mesmerizing and engaging. I left the bar in a wonder, and was convinced he would be president someday.

I've seen him speak since, and especially off-the-cuff, he's never been able to recapture that magic (tho the "Please proceed, Governor" moment where he shot thunderbolts from his eyes, came real close.)

Last night, he was better than he was in 2004. He went beyond an his A-game and into something people will re-watch in History class when they study how it came to be that the first black president was followed immediately by the first woman president, and it will be a "wow" moment for those students in the decades to come.

Also, I managed to find images of the Owl painting. It's beautiful, and I would like it on a T-shirt. Here is an imgur link so you don't have to deal with right wing conspiracy sites.
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:39 AM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


Google today:
  "treasonous trump"* -- 4,090 results
  "lock him up" "trump" -- About 63,700 results

Not bad for Day One.


---------------------
* Includes things like "libtards so desperate they're resorting to calling him . . ."
posted by Herodios at 6:40 AM on July 28, 2016






So the TLDR of that 538 article is that their polls seem lower than other aggregators for hillary because they include versions that include 3rd party candidates.

Not entirely. The big takeaway was the regression methods they used force an aggressive trend line which doesn't show all the fluctuations up and down over time. Which makes for a good narrative story, but doesn't necessarily best reflect where things will go, given that things can change so much in a single news cycle.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 6:47 AM on July 28, 2016


The Newseum here in DC has a lovely feature where you can see the front pages of newspapers from around the world

That's really neat! Thanks for the link! As expected, if they weren't showcasing Obama, they were using the shots of him and Hillary with arms around each other and waving. Having her come on at the end was a very nice calculated move to curb these papers from the dumbfounding images of just Bill yesterday.
posted by numaner at 6:53 AM on July 28, 2016


You're all missing the most important thing from last night. At the Toledo rally, Trump got the support of OPAL COVEY!

Yes, this Opal Covey.

If we don't elect Trump God will visit destruction down upon us and we'll never get an amusement park in downtown D.C. Count on it.
posted by charred husk at 6:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


So that ad-libbed part about people outside the US not understanding this election. Obama concluded that section talking about how they know Hillary. I don't necessarily think he was only talking about Trump but about the common, throughout the primary, negative coverage of her (remember that something like 80% of the media coverage of her has been critical/negative) but also that last week's Republican convention went full throttle on that. So sure I imagine he's talking about Trump. But he's also saying: people who know Hillary (this example is non-Americans she worked with as Secretary of State) know her character and skills; the caricatures in the media and coming from politicians aren't true.
posted by R343L at 6:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh Salon, master of clickbait disguised as lefty contrarianism, never change
posted by chaoticgood at 6:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Heh, Rob Reiner is just loud enough to override Chris Matthews' run-on mouth. Excuse me while I enjoy this.
posted by wallabear at 1:37 AM


Oh man. I had to crash before Reiner came on. I hope there's video somewhere.

I love the Tweety Show every once in a while. Watching him covering political conventions is high on that list of whiles.
 
posted by Herodios at 6:57 AM on July 28, 2016


Post reporter barred, patted down by police, at rally for Trump running mate: Post reporter Jose A. DelReal sought to cover Pence’s rally at the Waukesha County Exposition Center outside Milwaukee, but he was turned down for a credential beforehand by volunteers at a press check-in table.

DelReal then tried to enter via the general-admission line, as Post reporters have done without incident since Trump last month banned the newspaper from his events. He was stopped there by a private security official who told him he couldn’t enter the building with his laptop and cellphone. When DelReal asked whether others attending the rally could enter with their cellphones, he said the unidentified official replied, “Not if they work for The Washington Post.”

posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:57 AM on July 28, 2016 [16 favorites]


There was one problem: Kaine’s pin, which had a single blue star on a white background bordered with red, wasn’t the flag of Honduras, where he spent a year as a missionary decades ago. It was the symbol for Blue Star Families, or those with members serving in the military.

That's some next-level flag pin trolling game right there.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [26 favorites]


Three days into the DNC, and all I can handle is Kendrick Lamar on repeat.
posted by palindromic at 7:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Over the past 3 days we've been treated to a master class in oratory. I'd love to know if any one does analysis, or a breakdown at least, of these awesome speeches we've seen.
posted by OHenryPacey at 7:03 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


I browsed the reddit Obama-Hillary photoshop battle thread so you don't have to. 1 2 3 4
posted by Wulfhere at 7:09 AM on July 28, 2016 [24 favorites]


Here's a neat tidbit from The Guardian's piece about Obama's speech:
At times, the great orator of the age felt oddly flat too: upstaged by the energy of Biden and, above all, by the uplifting address of Michelle Obama two nights earlier. Aides backstage revealed that the president had been through six drafts of the speech in the last week, staying up until 3am to rewrite it after watching the first lady’s.
How great is that? One of American history's foremost public speakers had to go back to the workshop because his wife delivered perhaps an even better speech two nights earlier.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [70 favorites]


So, like, all of this *gestures up thread* -- Is this what it feels like to watch the Super Bowl and be really invested in one particular team? Because if it is I think I finally understand the appeal of sports for the first time in my life

. . . . you know how you get about football games, particularly the superbowl? This is my superbowl.



I know little of your "super bowls", but this -- all of this -- is The Greatest Show On Earth.

The roll calls, the regional accents, the state boosterism; the great speeches, the lousy ones, the wtf ones; the party lions, young and old, and the people enjoying their one 15 minutes of fame; the music cues, the music miscues; the goofy signs, the corny videos; the over-prepared speakers, the ad libs, awkward and masterful; the lifelong and hastily assembled alliances; the direct statements and oblique references, the veiled insults and the praisings with faint damns; the hands up, the shivs in the back, the group handshakes; the phony and the genuine and the stuff that's both at the same time. Even the requisite teevy commentary and the online commentary.

I LOVE IT!


Not all that keen on balloon, though, really.
posted by Herodios at 7:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


Yeah, I don't really need to know what some of those other photoshops will be.

Has anyone got a YT link for the whole Obama speech? The ones I can easily find start and end when he's at the podium, and I really want to get the intro speech through to the Huggary. Because I want every drop of awesome. Greedy that way.

But yeah, what a speech. Was not disappoint. Going to be a tough follow for tonight.
posted by Devonian at 7:21 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


There are a lot of things to admire about Obama as a speaker, but man, his word choice is the best of probably any public figure I've ever seen.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:24 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


He has the best words.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [25 favorites]


The lesson of this republican primary has been that when people tell the pollsters who they're going to vote for, that's actually who they're going to vote for. Love for Johnson and Stein may change in the next few months, but if people are saying they're voting third party that's probably what they're doing.

In 2012, Johnson consistently polled around 5% and ultimately received 1% of the popular vote.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Devonian: Here is Obama at the DNC on July 27, 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulfSCRUY9_E
posted by beau jackson at 7:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


At times, the great orator of the age felt oddly flat too: upstaged by the energy of Biden and, above all, by the uplifting address of Michelle Obama two nights earlier.

Typical own goal by the Grauniad.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Trump's Reddit AMA is astonishingly bad. This goes beyond Woody Harrelson levels into the realms of the truly awful.

24,000+ comments on the post. 12 Trump answers. All so generic that they could have been written by any of us mimicking his style. In fact, any of us would have done a better job!

There was nothing personal, no anecdotes or jokes, nothing witty or clever. He even ignored the Duck question.

His trademark is his off-the-cuff style. He had a perfect opportunity to chat up and engage thousands of people in a friendly(!), filtered and safe forum and instead he gave them answers that were barely human.
posted by zarq at 7:36 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


You know, it would have been pretty great if all of Trump's answers were promoting Rampart.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:38 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


Robert Evans at Cracked: The DNC Has More Protesters, Fewer Cops, And Less Violence:
Why would having a wall of police between them make people more aggressive? A few reasons. One, have you ever screamed at somebody who cut you off in traffic? Would you have done the same if you'd been standing next to them on the sidewalk, without two tons of steel protecting you?

Then there's just the general atmosphere it creates, sending the message that this is a place in which we are fully expecting unruly behavior. There's also a related phenomenon psychologists call the "weapons effect" -- the mere presence of weapons makes people more likely to engage in aggressive or violent behavior. Humans are social creatures, and we respond to the most minute cues from our fellow humans. It really doesn't take much.

So at any given time, the main protest zone in Cleveland was filled with cops ...

... while the equivalent protest areas of the DNC are almost cop-free, despite playing host to many more protesters.
posted by palindromic at 7:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Not to steal Justinian's thunder, but Rasmussen's polling from Tuesday and Wednesday show Clinton up by 1. That's only a 2-point swing from last week, but it's an eight-point swing from two weeks ago, and it's the first national polling done during the convention.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:43 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


North Carolina GOP mistakenly attacks Kaine for 'shameful' Marine pin that honored his son

This isn't the first time. The public face of the NC GOP (especially in recent years) has been crass and stupid and hurtful, and whoever runs its Twitter account seems to be the pick of the crap.
posted by holgate at 7:44 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


His trademark is his off-the-cuff style. He had a perfect opportunity to chat up and engage thousands of people in a friendly(!), filtered and safe forum and instead he gave them answers that were barely human.

I can't imagine Trump actually answered those, he probably took the one picture then turned over the responses to his staff. If there's no TV camera, he can't pay attention.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:46 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


If Hillary leads in Rasmussen, she'll crush the general election. I like following the Rasmussen polls for that reason alone: if they go blue, I don't have to bother looking anywhere else.
posted by rorgy at 7:50 AM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]




Little Marco says President Trump will do on-the-job training.
"I also think there’s something to be said for, once you’re actually in that position, once you’re actually working at this thing, and you’re in there, and you start to have access to information that perhaps you didn’t have before, especially for someone who’s never been in politics, I think it starts to impact your views a little bit," Rubio said.

"And that’s my sense of it, as he settles into this role as the nominee and ultimately the president, that the access to these issues is going to begin to, in some ways, kind of shape some of the policy positions given reality versus perhaps what you might read about on a blog somewhere," he continued. "So I think that’s gonna be a real factor."
posted by kirkaracha at 7:51 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


This isn't the first time. The public face of the NC GOP (especially in recent years) has been crass and stupid and hurtful, and whoever runs its Twitter account seems to be the pick of the crap

I find that really confusing, because it looks nothing like the flag of Honduras or really any national flag that I can think of. It is deliberately wrong? Are they too lazy to check? I can't imagine tweeting something like that without checking and my Twitter is followed by 49 people, probably ten of whom are bots.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:54 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


It is deliberately wrong?

I bet they didn't even look it up-- they were looking for a way to use him being a missionary in Honduras as an attack, assumed the pin was the Honduran flag, and accidentally mocked members of the armed services and their families.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 7:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Communists are bad, just like neo-Nazis and ISIS, says man who spends his week droning other human beings.

The question is, is the President denouncing communism as a veiled threat to Russia, or to the emerging American far Left?
Both can be true. The far Left is challenging the Democrats in ways that haven't been seen in a long time. And the US is out to get Russia.

I voted for Obama in 2008. Suffice it to say, that was the last year I truly gave a damn about the supposed importance of general elections and representative democracy. My self-education has improved considerably since then. I'm glad there are people out there focusing on and criticizing this particular moment of Obama's speech.

The security perimeter around WFC was breached by protestors during the president's speech.

posted by Neilopolis at 7:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


President Trump: what? Those nukes I launched were sarcastic. It's not my fault if Tehran can't take a bomb.
posted by wabbittwax at 7:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Trump: I Was 'Being Sarcastic' When I Asked Russia To Release Clinton Emails

Well, first of all, good that he finally realizes he stepped in it with that comment. But weak. Very weak. Some things just aren't funny to joke about, and appearing to encourage belligerent acts by a rival superpower isn't one of them.
posted by Gelatin at 7:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


"And that’s my sense of it, as he settles into this role as the nominee and ultimately the president, that the access to these issues is going to begin to, in some ways, kind of shape some of the policy positions given reality versus perhaps what you might read about on a blog somewhere," he continued. "So I think that’s gonna be a real factor."

Sure, and it only took 3000 American deaths for Dubya Bush to pay attention to Osama Bin Laden and the threat of terrorism.

Can we really afford to give Trump time to grow into the Presidency? Especially (considering his ego and weak temperament,) since we know he probably won't?
posted by zarq at 7:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


oof, I'm listening to Obama again, his voice wasn't getting raspy. Every time he mentioned gun violence or any of the related topics he starts fighting back tears. Gets me right here.
posted by numaner at 7:57 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Over the past 3 days we've been treated to a master class in oratory. I'd love to know if any one does analysis, or a breakdown at least, of these awesome speeches we've seen.

Before yesterday's convention, I was thinking about how amazing it was that I thought that Bill Clinton's speech was like, somewhere in the middle of the pack, at best. How high the bar is. This whole thing has just been so powerful.
posted by rp at 7:57 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Are they too lazy to check?

No. But they are counting on their audience being too lazy to check.
 
posted by Herodios at 7:57 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


The thing that strikes me about those paltry Reddit responses is how hard Trump (or his flack) are trying to appeal to Bernie's crowd: get the influence of money out of Washington, oppose war and the TPP, etc. Does anyone think that the Superfear Power Rally of the RNC was going to build a bridge to Bernie's voters? Is there any evidence that gunning for disaffected Bernie supporters is a remotely sane strategy?
posted by argybarg at 7:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Well, first of all, good that he finally realizes he stepped in it with that comment. But weak. Very weak. Some things just aren't funny to joke about, and appearing to encourage belligerent acts by a rival superpower isn't one of them.

Bet he's building up to a Reagan "outlaw Russia forever" reference.
posted by zarq at 7:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Politico: Meet the Sarah Silverman Democrats:
The big early story of the Democratic convention in Philadelphia was the chaotic Feel the Bern rebellion, the NeverHillary lefties who booed and heckled Clinton supporters—including staunch progressives like Elizabeth Warren and even Sanders himself. But polls show the vast majority of Sanders voters will back Clinton in the fall, and as suggested by the raucous applause Tuesday night when Sanders formally turned his delegates over to Clinton during the roll-call vote, that seems true among the delegates here in Philadelphia as well. They aren’t providing dramatic TV footage like the holdouts with anti-Clinton placards and hey-hey-ho-ho drum circles, but they’re heeding their first-choice candidate’s advice to back the Democrat who agrees with them on most policy issues and isn’t Donald Trump.

You can call these Sanders-to-Clinton converts the Silverman Democrats, following the lead of comedian Sarah Silverman, a former Sanders supporter who said from the podium on Monday night: “Can I just say to the Bernie-or-Bust crowd, you’re being ridiculous.” Many of them share Silverman’s disgust for purists who refuse to back a potentially unreliable Democrat over an openly hostile Republican—purists who, as Paye noted, often seem to be privileged white guys.
posted by palindromic at 7:59 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


North Carolina GOP mistakenly attacks Kaine for 'shameful' Marine pin that honored his son

It's funny because it wasn't that long ago that a whole bunch of people were like "interesting, what is that pin this rock star politician in wearing?"
posted by peeedro at 8:00 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I bet they didn't even look it up-- they were looking for a way to use him being a missionary in Honduras as an attack, assumed the pin was the Honduran flag, and accidentally mocked members of the armed services and their families.

You're probably right, though for all its faults "let's attack someone for overseas missionary service" is so far removed from the North Carolina GOP I grew up with that I remain baffled.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 8:01 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


The Newseum here in DC has a lovely feature where you can see the front pages of newspapers from around the world.

I was just trying to see how various papers had reacted to the day. Thanks!
posted by salvia at 8:01 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


This utter irresponsibility from Rubio illustrates the themes of Wednesday evening as well.

Obama had the option of condemning Republicans in general for enabling Trump, and making it simply about marshalling the 2008 and 2012 coalitions behind Hillary Clinton. He didn't do that, not least because he knows what #NeverTrump looks like, but also because he's been president of the entire nation for nearly eight years. He said, in essence, "these are the values we share, these are not values you see from the other side, come with us for this one."
posted by holgate at 8:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


palindromic: Robert Evans at Cracked: The DNC Has More Protesters, Fewer Cops, And Less Violence:

NPR, July 27, 2016 -- Protests Galore In The Streets Of Philly: Here's What They're All About
For Larry Witlen of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., who's in town to push for universal background checks for gun sales, all of these demonstrations add up to a mix of diverse activism that you can only find at a Democratic National Convention.

LARRY WITLEN: Even in spite of the fact that we might be a little bit more ragged, I think it's better.

WANG: Ragged...

WITLEN: Ragged in a good way, you know? This one wears a shirt. That one doesn't wear a shirt. This one has dyed red hair and tattoos, and this one doesn't have it.

WANG: To Witlen, this is what America looks like. Hansi Lo Wang, NPR News, Philadelphia.
It feels like these protests are not exactly to protest the DNC, but to make these issues seen and heard by a potentially sympathetic audience, whereas RNC was a lot of protests against the RNC.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:03 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


Help! There is a great quote in the last 1/4 of this thread. I am sure after Obama's speech. The author had a french-like name. I can't find the damn thing.
posted by goalyeehah at 8:05 AM on July 28, 2016


Communists are bad, just like neo-Nazis and ISIS, says man who spends his week droning other human beings.

The question is, is the President denouncing communism as a veiled threat to Russia, or to the emerging American far Left? Both can be true. The far Left is challenging the Democrats in ways that haven't been seen in a long time. And the US is out to get Russia.


Hmmmm I'm actually gonna go with "no, Barack Obama is not concerned about a secret communist infiltration".
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:05 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]




A picture of my favorite delegate to the convention. Looks like Franco is a Clinton supporter.
posted by octothorpe at 8:07 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


and you’re in there, and you start to have access to information that perhaps you didn’t have before

True enough. But when you've shown absolutely no interest in the information you did have before, what are the chances that you'll even notice?

I was one of those people who was worried that Trump would pivot to... oh, I don't know, something slightly less Trumpish when he realised he had to win over more than just the core. And when he' reads a speech someone's prepared for him, then it's clear that this is what his - for want of a better word - campaign want him to do, because d'oh.

But when he's unscripted, there's absolutely no sign that he can hold such concepts in his head long enough to act on them, or can and has no desire to do so. There was chatter before Obama's speech that Obama would focus on Trump's incredible lack of interest in the world and we did get a little bit of that, but it's clearly a major part of his personality - I don't think i've heard him give one opinion or statement that seemed informed by an observation of fact.

So no, Trump will not kinda sorta absorb a clue when there are more of them. He lacks the metabolism to digest facts, so feeding him more would be like feeding a dung-beetle a Michelin-starred dinner.
posted by Devonian at 8:07 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]




Just finished re-watching President Obama's speech from last night. I'm going to miss him so much. My teen years were the Bush years, and growing up in those times I felt like America had gone nuts. When we reelected Bush in 2004, I just couldn't believe it. I was 16 and felt voiceless and just so completely frustrated with everything. When Obama ran, his campaign was inspiring to me like nothing before it, and I still remember the cheers on the streets the night he won. Yes, I've disagreed with some of his decisions as president pretty fundamentally, but I've never doubted that he is a good and well-meaning person.

When I see Trump, I think back to the frustration and confusion I felt in 2004, and think of the kids who see this rhetoric and can't do anything about it, and it makes me want to cry, but this DNC, and Obama's speech last night, have been so invigorating for me. Inspiring. I had originally been a Bernie supporter but his campaign lost me. Over the last few months, as I've really learned about Hillary Clinton, and gotten rid of all the lies and misconceptions I've had about her since the 90's, I've gone from reluctantly supporting her to feeling like I felt in 2008. I feel hopeful for this country, and while I'm always suspicious about patriotism, these speeches and these leaders have made me feel proud to be a part of America. I cannot wait to vote for Hillary Clinton.
posted by airish at 8:12 AM on July 28, 2016 [24 favorites]


Re: The "Honduran" pin, here's a fun takedown from Greg Doucette, an NC Republican who's sick and tired of his party's stupidity.

(He's also anti-Trump and pro-BLM, so one of the few GOP types I can still stand to follow on social media)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:12 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Is it this comment from sacrebleu perhaps?
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:14 AM on July 28, 2016


Just signed up to volunteer for the Clinton campaign and my state Democrats. I refuse to have Disloyal Donald in the White House without the fight of his life.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 8:14 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


Neilopolis: "I voted for Obama in 2008. Suffice it to say, that was the last year I truly gave a damn about the supposed importance of general elections and representative democracy. My self-education has improved considerably since then."

If your self-education leads you to think there is no difference between Clinton and a Mussolini clone in the White House, I think maybe you should do some further studying.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:15 AM on July 28, 2016 [54 favorites]


I thought Tim Kaine did pretty great considering it was his--what?--second speech at this level.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


I hope that everyone who is saddened by the weaknesses of representative democracy reads the gerrymandering book, Ratf**ked.
posted by puddledork at 8:18 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Clinton has now made Democrats the anti-Russia party

No, it just looks that way because Trump has turned the GOP into the Putin party:
"GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Donald J. Trump called President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia “a better leader” than President Obama, offering the praise in an interview with “Fox and Friends” on Thursday, just a day after saying he hoped Russian intelligence services had successfully hacked Hillary Clinton’s email."

“We’d be lucky if Russia helped us out,” said Kathye Zaper, a realtor from Maumee, Ohio, who was wearing a Trump campaign’s “Make America Great Again” hat.

Pam Thieman, a 61-year-old retiree from Toledo, said she thought Mr. Trump had a “great idea” in encouraging the Russians to hack Mrs. Clinton’s email.

Donald Trump Reiterates: Putin’s Leadership Better Than Obama’s
From "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" to "Mr. Putin, build us a wall," the strange transformation of the GOP.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


whoever runs its Twitter account seems to be the pick of the crap.

You managed to thread the needle between "cream of the crap" and "pick of the shitter" and I curse you.
posted by nom de poop at 8:21 AM on July 28, 2016 [27 favorites]


‘Stop excusing him’: Elijah Cummings derails CNN interview for ‘ridiculous’ Trump double standard:
“We have to stop excusing him when he says these nasty things,” Cummings interrupted. “We really do. Because words do matter.”

“But is it treason?” Cuomo pressed.

“I’ll let the FBI and others decide that,” the Maryland Democrat remarked. “My point is — and by the way, no matter what it is, it should not have been said. If I did that, I’d be out of office or in jail.”

“And he should not be held to some different standard,” Cummings added. “I don’t know how we get this through [to the media]. We’re talking about the president of the United States of America going around saying these kind of things. That’s ridiculous.”
posted by palindromic at 8:21 AM on July 28, 2016 [57 favorites]


IOKIYAR
posted by Talez at 8:23 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


We are all sobbing, sign-holding man with boater hat tonight.

I didn't catch him the first time, oh gawds I am that man right now.
posted by numaner at 8:26 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


If your self-education leads you to think there is no difference between Clinton and a Mussolini clone in the White House, I think maybe you should do some further studying.

Please show me this version of American history where racism, sexism, and economic oppression only began to appear after Trump became a landlord.
posted by Neilopolis at 8:29 AM on July 28, 2016


Please show me this version of American history where racism, sexism, and economic oppression only began to appear after Trump became a landlord.

The goalposts are now a baseball diamond!
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 8:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [79 favorites]


That's just a gibberish response, Neilopolis. Drop the sophistry, you're among people who won't be dazzled by it.
posted by argybarg at 8:31 AM on July 28, 2016 [43 favorites]


Just signed up to volunteer for the Clinton campaign and my state Democrats.

I've always just donated money for the election given that I was in the bluest of blue California and I'm terrified of phone calls. For me to do some good meant an 8 hour drive out to Reno to doorknock in Washoe County.

Now I live in eastern MA and fifteen minutes from Hillsborough County, NH. I want to get out there doorknocking and providing transport on election day. If Massachusetts is going to be solid blue I'm sure as hell going to bring NH along with it.
posted by Talez at 8:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


WAKE UP SHEEPLE!
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]




Please show me this version of American history where racism, sexism, and economic oppression only began to appear after Trump became a landlord.

This is less strawman-construction than it is waving in the direction of a field and shrieking blippity BOOOOOOOO!
posted by phearlez at 8:34 AM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


Suffice it to say, that was the last year I truly gave a damn about the supposed importance of general elections and representative democracy.

You're in luck then. This year, Trump/Putin is the ticket for you!
posted by octobersurprise at 8:34 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


"I voted for Obama in 2008. Suffice it to say, that was the last year I truly gave a damn about the supposed importance of general elections and representative democracy. My self-education has improved considerably since then."

Why hello! I voted for Nader in 2000. That was the last year that I truly thought that there were no degrees of terrible, or that electing the further-right candidate would provoke some kind of wake-up-sheeple moment which would lead to revolutionary change. Since then, my self-education has taught me that victory begets victory, historically speaking, and it's very rare that actual radical change arises after the victory of a violent far right candidate.

As I've said here at other times, I have what I feel are good and sufficient reasons to dislike Hillary, but I am still waiting for anyone to make a good argument about how electing Trump is going to lead to any kind of improvement for anyone at all anywhere. The best argument I've seen is "the most marginalized people will not suffer worse under Trump than under Clinton", which I think is sorta true for some marginalizations, but I have lots of Muslim neighbors, friends and colleagues and I'm trans, so that argument doesn't carry the day for me.

I have not encountered any strong historical argument for electing Trump as a speedy road to positive social change and I can think of many, many historical examples (from mid-20th century South America in particular) that suggest that the victory of a right-wing strongman is apt to be enduring and disastrous.
posted by Frowner at 8:35 AM on July 28, 2016 [67 favorites]


"The DNC has also informed Sanders delegates that they will have their credentials taken away for holding up anti-TPP signage"

Way to inspire confidence in Hillary's newfound dislike for (the current version of) the trade deal, geniuses.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:35 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


If the TPP sign thing is true it's dumb, but is there a better source for it than a single tweet?
posted by tonycpsu at 8:38 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


"The DNC has also informed Sanders delegates that they will have their credentials taken away for holding up anti-TPP signage"

oh wow who could have predicted the party would begin to shut out the progressive wing as soon as it became politically expedient
posted by entropicamericana at 8:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


tonycpsu: "If the TPP sign thing is true it's dumb, but is there a better source for it than a single tweet?"

It's on the internet, it must be true.
posted by octothorpe at 8:42 AM on July 28, 2016 [21 favorites]


Bradley Cooper’s DNC appearance incurs the wrath of conservative American Sniper fans:
This may come as a shock to some people, but Bradley Cooper—the Oscar-nominated actor from Philadelphia—was never a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper in the Iraq War. The confusion is understandable because he did pretend to be one in front of Clint Eastwood’s cameras in the process of making a biographical film about controversial war hero Chris Kyle.

Full disclosure: I have a personal distaste for conservative American Sniper fans ever since The Blaze put up this post hating on me and my fellow Jeopardy! contestants for missing a Chris Kyle question.
posted by palindromic at 8:43 AM on July 28, 2016 [31 favorites]


Or is it that having your own sign ruins the visual of the signs they are handing out? Or that the No TPP people have been assholes throughout the convention?
posted by JakeEXTREME at 8:46 AM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


And there's the Nader 2000 hot take again. I hate all politicians these days, so this response does nothing for me.

But seriously, you all better be prepared to do a hell of a lot more than just vote in November if you truly believe that Trump and his supporters are fascists - and yes, I agree, they are indeed fascists. Study up on antifa organizing/action, learn self-defense techniques. Voting isn't really going to help in the long run.
posted by Neilopolis at 8:46 AM on July 28, 2016


I'll be honest: I'm a little terrified at people assuming that because an actor played a war vet he must be a Conservative. That's almost like being upset that Daniel Radcliffe is not a real wizard.
posted by Kitteh at 8:46 AM on July 28, 2016 [24 favorites]


Why hello! I voted for Nader in 2000. That was the last year that I truly thought that there were no degrees of terrible, or that electing the further-right candidate would provoke some kind of wake-up-sheeple moment which would lead to revolutionary change. Since then, my self-education has taught me that victory begets victory, historically speaking, and it's very rare that actual radical change arises after the victory of a violent far right candidate.

Frowner is always so eloquent.

I actually had to learn my lesson twice. In 1980, my first presidential election, I voted for Gus Hall. It was horrifying to learn that Reagan was elected.

In 2000, I just didn't vote. Again, the outcome was horrific.

SInce then, I've canvassed every election. I know my one vote doesn't affect the outcome of presidential elections, but canvassing makes me feel like I'm amplifying it.

Neilopolis, If you truly, truly care about racism, sexism and economic oppression as passionately as you claim, then you had better be working (not just voting and tweeting) for every damn down-ticket election you can, including judgeships and school board elections because that's how change is made.
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:46 AM on July 28, 2016 [26 favorites]


Could Republicans’ Supreme Court Obstructionism Cost them the Senate?
Studies released today at the Democratic National Convention reveal significant voter disapproval of the Senate’s refusal to give a hearing to Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, especially in vulnerable Republican states. In ten states with vulnerable GOP incumbents, 41 percent of voters said they were less likely to vote for senators who opposed giving Garland a hearing, with about 24 percent more likely to do so.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


I'll be honest: I'm a little terrified at people assuming that because an actor played a war vet he must be a Conservative.

In my personal experience, these are not the deepest of thinkers. Also, they are mean.
posted by palindromic at 8:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Trump's AMA went downhill when all questions were deleted unless they were about the movie Rampart
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


I saw anti TPP signs (well, just one, but prominently placed) in the audience during Obama's speech. So I dunno, if they were trying to suppress them, they didn't do a very good job.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:49 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


I hate all politicians these days, so this response does nothing for me.

Anarchists gonna nark.
posted by holgate at 8:49 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


Any estimates on the time when Chelsea will be speaking tonight? I might want to bow out of a dinner engagement if she might be on before 9 Eastern time.
posted by Creosote at 8:49 AM on July 28, 2016


I see that joke has already been made. My apologies.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:49 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I hate olives and getting my face smashed with a sledgehammer, but if for some reason it came down to a choice between the two my opinions would turn out to be somewhat more nuanced than that.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:49 AM on July 28, 2016 [46 favorites]


The confusion is understandable because he did pretend to be one in front of Clint Eastwood’s cameras in the process of making a biographical film about controversial war hero Chris Kyle.

A coworker the other day said he thinks it's "funny" that Matt Damon is in favor of gun control because he's in a movie where he uses a gun.

One is fiction, the other is mass shootings every other week.
posted by Fleebnork at 8:49 AM on July 28, 2016 [16 favorites]


Voting isn't really going to help in the long run.

In the long run, we're all dead. Those who don't even try to make things better in the short run out of fatalism and despondence are just ensuring that long run outcome happens sooner.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:50 AM on July 28, 2016 [25 favorites]


Way to inspire confidence in Hillary's newfound dislike for (the current version of) the trade deal, geniuses.

Is there anything in hillary's past that makes you think she's not going to welch on any claims to be against the trade deal? first you make the promises, then you get the power, then you do what you were going to do all along. That's how presidential politics has worked forever, and how it will work with HRC. I'm voting for her because she's not a republican, not because I think she's going to actually implement the leftward push in the democratic platform. She's going to be wall street's president, and proud of it. I've made my peace with that, but not everyone should, and i admire those who refuse to be intimidated by the cheeto-faced maniac into capitulation.
posted by dis_integration at 8:51 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Voting isn't really going to help in the long run.

Actually, you know what? It really is. It has worked for 240 years. There have been some disasters and low points, and it has never been enough on its own — but voting has actually done its job and kept us from chaos and/or fascism. And we've kept expanding the vote over that time, and we're doing better.
posted by argybarg at 8:51 AM on July 28, 2016 [44 favorites]


Or is it that having your own sign ruins the visual of the signs they are handing out? Or that the No TPP people have been assholes throughout the convention?
"So if you agree that there’s too much inequality in our economy, and too much money in our politics, we all need to be as vocal and as organized and as persistent as Bernie Sanders’ supporters have been. We all need to get out and vote for Democrats up and down the ticket, and then hold them accountable until they get the job done.... " -Some Guy, some time or something
posted by entropicamericana at 8:52 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Mod note: A few comments deleted. Neilopolis has offered their thoughts, gonna ask that the thread not become all about that. So Neilopolis and everyone else, please let it rest there.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:53 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Is there anything in hillary's past that makes you think she's not going to welch on any claims to be against the trade deal?

I'm just saying that if you have your convention staff prevent people from holding up signs you ostensibly agree with it undercuts the strategic value of making the promise in the first place.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:53 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


oh wow who could have predicted the party would begin to shut out the progressive wing as soon as it became politically expedient

If it was just the signs, maybe it wouldn't be such an issue. But since the people holding the signs have been shoving people around them to get the signs on camera and heckling almost every speaker with TPP chants, I'm guessing the desire to keep out the signs has less to do with "we disagree with this position" and more to do with "a lot of the people carrying these signs are not acting in good faith or abiding by the code of conduct at this event".

"Please respect other people at this event" =/= "we hate progressivism"
posted by a fiendish thingy at 8:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [51 favorites]


I remember years ago (2000 I believe?) when I was working at Wal-Mart in my college town that they decided to do a voter registration drive. I jumped at the chance to head this up (better than unloading trucks and it sounded very civic).

Anyways, it went fairly well. I sat out front of the store registering people as they came up. Then a guy wearing a fedora walks up to the table and I ask, "Would you like to register to vote, sir?"

"Since I am neither a noble knight nor a landed lord I would ask that you not call me 'sir' as it is not accurate. And no, I would not like to register to vote. The act of voting is just a method of the powers that be to give us the illusion that we have any control. It is for the uneducated and easily manipulated. You're just acting as their pawn and should be ashamed."

He then went inside the Wal-Mart. It was such an unbelievable caricature come to life that I couldn't really say anything back. All I could think was, "Did that just happen?"
posted by charred husk at 8:59 AM on July 28, 2016 [89 favorites]


A coworker the other day said he thinks it's "funny" that Matt Damon is in favor of gun control because he's in a movie where he uses a gun.

One is fiction, the other is mass shootings every other week.


But the glorification of guns and gun culture is a real thing in the media, and while it may not actually lead to more gun violence, it certainly does nothing to alter the perception that guns are an acceptable part of every day life.

I agree that the artist and the art are separate things, but Damon is rich enough that he doesn't really need to cash in on another Bourne film, and he could choose not to ignore the tiny bit of irony that some folks will see in his anti-gun stance.
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:59 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Is there anything in hillary's past that makes you think she's not going to welch on any claims to be against the trade deal?

Other than the examples given this week of times when she worked on something, then heard from experts in that field who pointed out problems, and then made changes incorporating that new information? Did you not catch any of the stories of how she actively listens and responds to what she hears? I mean this seriously. It's been one of the MAJOR themes of this convention, and I just don't get how people are still overlooking it.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:59 AM on July 28, 2016 [39 favorites]


This does tap into how the optimal state for the activist left (and right) is to operate with one foot in the institutional process and one foot out, and the long-standing tendency among certain parts of the activist left is to step away from institutions whenever they're rebuffed, while the recent history of the right has been for activists to be embraced and institutionalised (no, don't make that joke) which eventually bumps out people on the other side.
posted by holgate at 9:01 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


"Please respect other people at this event" =/= "we hate progressivism"

People are not prone to nuance when they have decided they are being SILENCED ALL MY LIFE.
posted by OmieWise at 9:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


politicians lie to you, man. that's why I call them pol-lie-ticians.
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


A coworker the other day said he thinks it's "funny" that Matt Damon is in favor of gun control because he's in a movie where he uses a gun.

Children have trouble distinguishing between fantasy and reality.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


Gotta ask, those who don't like the language about being against TPP "in its current form" or think the HRC is going to betray them by approving some kind of trade deal after all if elected (presumably not identical to the "current form")...

Are there any changes to TPP which would make you okay with seeing it enacted? If we dumped ISDS, backed off on the IP enforcement, and put in stronger language about environmental standards and labor rights, would it then be okay to sign?
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Jeb Lund: Obama's DNC Speech: His Last Wink Out the Door
Obama described it as such last night, too, but his biography above all — a half-black kid from a broken home, raised all over the place, only to become president of a nation still riven by racism — argues for the truth of that image. He thrived in that contradiction: He never pretended that racism did not exist, yet for 30 minutes could induce even the bitterest social critic to believe in seeing the promise of diversity realized in their lifetimes. The sick joke of the last eight years is that nobody better embodied conservatives' solemn liturgy of self-made achievement, and nobody hated him more for it.

Had it happened to any other president, they might very well have gone insane. Probably only a minority — probably only a black man in America — could have coped with ascending to the highest station in the land via such immense personal talent only to face such ferociously mad obstructionism. Imagine the effect on someone who was not already accustomed to a society that possesses a second set of arbitrary and unwritten rules designed only to thwart and demonize someone like him.
posted by DynamiteToast at 9:04 AM on July 28, 2016 [58 favorites]


I wonder how many people have reconsidered their initial "against" stance on the TPP because of the rude-ass interruptions (place and time, people) and upon doing research, feel a lot more prone to support it or at least not be as upset about it when it inevitably goes through.

(At least one person has; he has two thumbs and is typing this comment.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:04 AM on July 28, 2016 [27 favorites]


On the TPP signs thing-- I was a state-level delegate for Sanders in Missouri, and so I know many of the national-level Sanders delegates for Missouri currently in Philly. (I'm also friends with some delegates on the Clinton side-- I've been a party volunteer since I was a Neighborhood Team Leader for Obama in '08 so I know lots of local Democrats.) Some of the MO delegates have brought in no-TPP signs, and I know from watching their posts on social media that they did not have their signs confiscated, nor did they have their credentials stripped-- I know because they held their signs during Obama's speech last night. I don't know what may or may not have happened in other states, but no one was threatened with ejection for having no-TPP signs in Missouri.

(According to a delegate I know, a Secret Service guy did take the Missouri Sanders delegation's Black Lives Matter signs day before yesterday as they entered the venue, though-- despite the fact that they had already cleared bringing the signs in and had been told the signs were okay under the rules. When they pointed this out, he said "Well the rules have changed today." But I think he was just one jerk being a jerk. Luckily, he couldn't take their shirts off. SO THERE.)
posted by BlueJae at 9:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [31 favorites]


Remember how the story was that people voted for Bush II because they thought he was a guy you'd want to have a beer with?

Tim Kaine is the guy I want as my next door neighbor. I'll give him a key to my house because he's going to go feed my cat while I'm on vacation. He's the guy that picks up all the burnt out sparkler sticks on the 4th of July so nobody steps on one. He will pick up your sick kid from school and take care of him until you can get there. He's a fundamentally good Catholic with conservative personal values and a non threatening demeanor.

He's the yin to her yang and I think he is the perfect pick for the ticket. He's going to reach deep into the Republican base.
posted by hollygoheavy at 9:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [43 favorites]


I wonder how many people have reconsidered their initial "against" stance on the TPP

The more I read about it the more I like it.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:11 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I think there are a non-zero number of anti-TPP sign-holders who don't actually know much about it other than it's a trade deal.

I mean, I don't know that much either, but I'm not waving any signs and I've got some tabs open with articles right now.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:15 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


I was under the impression that the TPP was a dark ritual intended to destroy progressivism forever, should I google it or something
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:16 AM on July 28, 2016 [30 favorites]


"The sick joke of the last eight years is that nobody better embodied conservatives' solemn liturgy of self-made achievement, and nobody hated him more for it."
This has baffled me from day one. The sicker joke is that the refusal of the right to even acknowledge this, much less to acknowledge it and try to work with him, drove them to take refuge in their worst and darkest fantasies, producing precisely the GOP on display this year.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


One thing I've been shocked by, is how many republicans have been actively denigrating things their party has been doing lately. In Wisconsin, the main conservative website has a story about how low attendance at last night's Pence rally was. Then there's Erick Erickson...
posted by drezdn at 9:17 AM on July 28, 2016


Damn you people, I'm out of favorites (AGAIN!!!) and the realization that I need to hoard them is physically painful.

Meanwhile, I don't recall seeing this story linked here yet (I try to be careful about avoiding duplication): Clinton's clashes with the press began at a tender age.
posted by Superplin at 9:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


My theory is that, if things mostly stay the same between now and 30-50 years in the future, conservatives will eventually try claiming Obama as one of their own, as they did with Kennedy in the 90s.
posted by drezdn at 9:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


Somehow in election thread madness I posted this to the wrong election day thread!

Other than the examples given this week of times when she worked on something, then heard from experts in that field who pointed out problems, and then made changes incorporating that new information? Did you not catch any of the stories of how she actively listens and responds to what she hears? I mean this seriously. It's been one of the MAJOR themes of this convention, and I just don't get how people are still overlooking it.

I believe that she is a thoughtful and responsive manager who gives technocratic competence its due and listens to the advisors she surrounds herself with instead of barrelling forward with whatever she think is the best plan. But she doesn't surround herself with competent technocrats who are going to advocate for the left, and in the political arena, policy informs the perspective on facts enough that it matters a lot to what it means to be responsive to facts
posted by dis_integration at 9:20 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]



My theory is that, if things mostly stay the same between now and 30-50 years in the future, conservatives will eventually try claiming Obama as one of their own, as they did with Kennedy in the 90s.


Another area in which leftists are way ahead of the curve!
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Mother Jones: Donald Trump's Long History of Trying (and Failing) to Do Business in Russia:
As he sought to dispel questions about his ties to Russia during a feisty press conference on Wednesday, Donald Trump was unequivocal: "I have nothing to do with Russia."

If so, it hasn't been for lack of trying. For more than two decades, Trump has repeatedly attempted to establish his brand in the country with little to show for it.
posted by palindromic at 9:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I think there are a non-zero number of anti-TPP sign-holders who don't actually know much about it other than it's a trade deal.

In fairness, if your first response to "rich people want this trade deal" isn't "then it has a five nines chance of being garbage designed to steal from working people", I question your judgment.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


Mod note: A few comments deleted. As always, just say what you mean rather than putting a nasty version of the opposite into the mouths of other people in the thread.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


as they did with Kennedy in the 90s.

'88
posted by cmfletcher at 9:23 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ex-DNC Chair's Parting Advice To Staff On Dealing With Haters: ‘F*** Them':
“And all those scumbags who are giving you shit on social media? F--- them, they don’t know the first thing," several people who attended that meeting recounted her saying to Politico. "They don’t know you.”
Seeya DWS!
posted by zachlipton at 9:23 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]




Okay, seriously, what is their deal with John Lewis?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


zachlipton: "Ex-DNC Chair's Parting Advice To Staff On Dealing With Haters: ‘F*** Them':
“And all those scumbags who are giving you shit on social media? F--- them, they don’t know the first thing," several people who attended that meeting recounted her saying to Politico. "They don’t know you.”
Seeya DWS!
"

This seems like pretty good advice, tho
posted by boo_radley at 9:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [29 favorites]


The TPP is a huge and complex topic, probably best for another thread. As someone with significant concerns about global warming and environmental degradation, I believe that we do need to make new agreements with growing economies about how we will proceed. And, I believe we are better off with a seat at the table when those things are negotiated. It is possible to be against the TPP and also in favor of some sort of agreement of partnership across Pacific economies. I can both want the current agreement improved and also support the idea that it is possible we are better off with some sort of agreement than we are abdicating the whole thing and letting other Pacific powers set the standard.
posted by meinvt at 9:26 AM on July 28, 2016 [22 favorites]


One thing I've been shocked by, is how many republicans have been actively denigrating things their party has been doing lately.

You can take it cynically and say that establishment Republicans (even on the right of the party) see it as a hostile takeover that will cost them their jobs and their status. Or you can say -- as I'm more inclined to do -- that they've recognised Trumpism as a kind of malignancy within movement conservatism, the result of years of dumping carcinogens into the political environment.
posted by holgate at 9:26 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


You know how on OKCupid, one of the first questions you have to answer 'yes' or 'no' to is "in a certain light, wouldn't nuclear war be exciting"? I always set that question to the hardest 'no' possible, and I strongly suspect that the people who advocate accelerationism set it to a hard 'yes'. On some level, they think a Trump presidency would be exciting.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


Then there's Erick Erickson...
"I got a text message from a senior Republican congressman after hearing President Obama’s speech last night. The congressman wrote, “We were supposed to make that sort of speech.” Barack Obama offered optimism and “Morning in America” to Trump’s “Midnight in America” doom, gloom, and despair.

I may disagree with the President and I may not really believe the President, but I don’t matter. The American people watching at home matter.

Last week, Republicans consoled themselves that television viewership of their convention was down, but that’s because people don’t watch TV anymore. They stream online. I suspect we are going to find that the President’s speech last night was widely seen and will be widely viewed as effective."
posted by octobersurprise at 9:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


“And all those scumbags who are giving you shit on social media? F--- them, they don’t know the first thing," several people who attended that meeting recounted her saying to Politico. "They don’t know you.”

She has now entered my list of "Politicians I Would Like to Get Drunk With."
posted by palindromic at 9:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Okay but seriously, YOU GUYS.

My Catholic co-workers (you know, the ones who work at a Very Serious Catholic Organization That I Cannot Name) are talking about how inspiring Obama's speech was last night and how much they LOVE TIM KAINE!!!

It was very, very hard for me to stop saying, "SO WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR IT'S CLINTON/KAINE RIGHT???"
posted by cooker girl at 9:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [68 favorites]


Donald Trump is the mesmerizing abusive husband who has the power to keep a whole family in pain for years. It's a version of "charisma," but a malignant one.
posted by argybarg at 9:33 AM on July 28, 2016 [21 favorites]


"Sane Progressive Debbie Lusigan just confronted John Lewis on the streets in Philly asking why he supports a candidate that developed a crime bill that locks up black people for profit. Lewis listened but walked off without saying anything. Truth to power."

Yeah, if you're a white woman telling John fucking Lewis what's good for black people, then you're doing it wrong.
posted by zachlipton at 9:34 AM on July 28, 2016 [77 favorites]


Donald Trump is the mesmerizing abusive husband who has the power to keep a whole family in pain for years. It's a version of "charisma," but a malignant one.

It's classic narcissism. And the thing about being in a family with a narcissist is that you either buy in completely or you get completely out.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:34 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


supports a candidate that developed a crime bill that locks up black people for profit.

I thought progress was about looking forward, instead of back 20 years.
posted by OmieWise at 9:36 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Cooker girl, it really hasn't been that long since Catholics were a pretty rock-solid reliable voting bloc for Democrats (my husband's entire family are Italian and Irish Catholics and multi-generational hardcore Dems, except for that one balck sheep aunt who married a Republican and turned to the dark side). That can happen again.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:37 AM on July 28, 2016


Yeah, if you're a white woman telling John fucking Lewis what's good for black people, then you're doing it wrong.

I mean... who are these people? Where do they come from?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:38 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


The End of the Democratic Defensive Crouch on Abortion Rights
Tim Kaine coming out against the Hyde Amendment is a yooooge deal: [...]

As anyone who was around then knows, this is really just a major step forward from where abortion politics were in the 90s. Remember when almost every pundit in America attacked the Democrats for not letting a governor who had literally sued to get Roe v. Wade overruled denounce abortion rights at the Democratic National Convention? That was really stupid. (Oddly, I don’t remember anyone arguing that the Republicans are obligated to have speakers denounce upper-class tax cuts.)

And to echo what I said about the death penalty yesterday, doing away with the Hyde Amendment is very doable. Obviously, it’s not happening with Republican control of either house of Congress, and even with a Democratic Congress it would be a heavy lift. But the Democratic president coming out against it is the kind of thing that signals to judges on the Democratic team that overruling the Hyde Amendment should be on the agenda of liberal constitutionalism. If Hillary Clinton is able to replace Scalia’s vacant seat, the Court could and should rule the Hyde Amendment unconstitutional.

posted by tonycpsu at 9:38 AM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


Okay, seriously, what is their deal with John Lewis?

They're mad because people were questioning that Sanders cares as much about Civil Rights as Economic Rights, and Lewis came out and vouched for Clinton on her efforts in helping black communities and furthering Civil Rights. He also said he didn't know Sanders to be all that involved in the struggle for civil rights or a particularly strong an advocate for black communities.

So then a bunch of kids with more partisanship than information ran around saying "what are you talking about? Bernie marched that one time!" seemingly without any idea that Lewis was chair of SNCC and a kind of "founding father" of the civil rights protest movements in the US. And lots of them have hated him ever since.

[A great example of this is when my boyfriend, who was part of the anti-globalization protests in his younger days, and is generally a lot more knowledgable than this comment would indicate, said that "The Democrats" were taking a page from "The Left" by having a sit-in for gun control in congress, and I was like -- they're led by John Lewis, he practically invented the sit-in!]
posted by pocketfullofrye at 9:39 AM on July 28, 2016 [66 favorites]


showbiz_liz: You know how on OKCupid, one of the first questions you have to answer 'yes' or 'no' to is "in a certain light, wouldn't nuclear war be exciting"? I always set that question to the hardest 'no' possible, and I strongly suspect that the people who advocate accelerationism set it to a hard 'yes'. On some level, they think a Trump presidency would be exciting.

In fairness, back when I still did the online dating thing, I marked this question "yes" with the clarification that excitement is not always a good thing, and that this would be about the worst possible kind. I'm not an accelerationist by any stretch, I can assure you. (Granted, I didn't have a strict preference about how others answered.)
posted by Superplin at 9:40 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yall, I can't wait for today's thread to post this: A friend of mine just posted a video of the Asian Pacific American Caucus speaking yesterday (which I missed), and one of them, Ami Bera, who identifies himself as "the only South Asian member of Congress," is the representative for my hometown, which I remember as stiflingly white and conservative. Apparently the boundaries of the district have been slightly redrawn to be more friendly to Democratic candidates, but still, I am sooooooo glad it's not 2002 anymore. HEARTS.

I also adore "Gaysian" Rep Mark Takano, who is a former high school teacher and occasionally posts Republicans' speeches or legislation marked up in red pen on his Facebook page. (I follow him because some of my Japanese American friends were talking him up as the "George Takei of politics," which is frankly a little overblown, but I do enjoy his posts.)

And while I'm on the topic, in my orgy of button-buying on Monday I ordered an "Asian Americans for Hillary" button, which comes in a set with a "Pacific Islanders for Hillary" button (which cheeses me off a little because all the other ethnic groups just get two matching buttons, but anyway). If you identify as Pacific Islander and would like the other button, memail me. This is a serious inquiry.
posted by sunset in snow country at 9:42 AM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


I've been looking for good video of this, because no one has commented on it yet that I've seen. But everything I've found has been from a more cropped angle than I swear I saw on CSPAN last night. Regardless... right at the very end of his speech, after his last god-bless, as he clearly swallowed the lump in his throat and was turning away from the lectern, Obama just gave the top of it a little flourish of a tap with his hand that oddly moved me. You can see the top of it at the very end of this clip, but as I said, for whatever reason it was more apparent last night.

Anyway, it was such a simple, brief, barely noticable gesture that spoke volumes in the way of finality, satisfaction, remorse, and hope. It was like his own subtle, final mic drop, and practically screamed to me, "There you go. I wasn't as good as I wanted to be, but I did my best. Now it's on you." It's weird, but yeah, it was one of the most oddly moving things for me of a moving night.
posted by jammer at 9:43 AM on July 28, 2016 [33 favorites]


> put in stronger language about environmental standards and labor rights

I mean you put it that way and it sounds like a dry dispute about numbers, but the phrase "stronger language about labor rights" sort of masks how the dispute in in large part over whether or not the United States should enter into free trade agreements with countries where slave labor is accepted practice.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:45 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


"A coworker the other day said he thinks it's "funny" that Matt Damon is in favor of gun control because he's in a movie where he uses a gun.

One is fiction, the other is mass shootings every other week."

But the glorification of guns and gun culture is a real thing in the media, and while it may not actually lead to more gun violence, it certainly does nothing to alter the perception that guns are an acceptable part of every day life.


This may be a true thing, but it's not really on point for the stated dichotomy. If it was "Matt Damon wants all guns confiscated and destroyed," maybe, but gun control as a concept is a big range. It might include nothing more than closing the personal sale loophole which lets people transfer weapons around without any background checks or validation that someone it's currently barred from possessing a weapon, perhaps because of an involuntary committal. It might mean minimum training requirements. It might mean storage requirements like locks and safes.

I'm a gun owner and I support all those things, as well as other more stringent limitations. I guess you could call that "funny," though I think that's a weird way to describe it.

It's a way off into the weeds, but I'd also question whether or not Bourne's use of weapons in the movies - where he is (spoiler) a victim of a malicious government action and largely just wants to be left alone - constitutes showing guns as an acceptable part of everyday life. Yeah, the movies trade on action, but I can recall innocents suffering as a result of the violence in every movie.
posted by phearlez at 9:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Today's schedule is starting to fill out - I refresh the page every 20 minutes or so and new people keep appearing. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is on there, I would imagine he will be talking at least in part about the murder of Philando Castile.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 9:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


after his last god-bless, as he clearly swallowed the lump in his throat and was turning away from the lectern, Obama just gave the top of it a little flourish of a tap with his hand that oddly moved me.

It was a honk. He's a huge my brother my brother and me fan.

How's that for a Hamilton reference. *mic drop*
posted by phearlez at 9:51 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Buzzfeed roundup of The best Tweets about Biden's speech. (My personal faves: the ice cream one and the "when you know it's gonna be some shit going down so you bring the white guy who likes to fight" one...)
posted by TwoStride at 9:52 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


phearlez, my husband and I went to see the new Star Trek movie yesterday and three previews in a row were ultra-violent spy stuff. The absolute worst was Jack Reacher, which was pure glamorization of government use of force. I guess since 24 is off the air they have a niche to fill. :(
posted by stolyarova at 9:53 AM on July 28, 2016


LobsterMitten: "As always, just say what you mean "

I like doughnuts.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Damn you people, I'm out of favorites (AGAIN!!!) and the realization that I need to hoard them is physically painful.


I was going to take this moment to invite anybody who gave me favorites to take them back if they ran out, but I guess it turns out I'm not as much a socialist democrat as I thought I was .
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:57 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


I like doughnuts.

How did we miss this? Tim Kaine is a glazed donut with sprinkles.
posted by stolyarova at 9:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Charlie Pierce: A Moment Like This Used to Get a Black Man Killed
And, suddenly, just like that, it was done. Barack Obama had given the last great speech of his career as president. There will be other appearances on other stages—out on the stump for HRC, probably an eloquent valedictory when he leaves office—but this was the last time a really big stage would be his alone and he played it up to the rafters. They cranked the Stevie Wonder in the arena and the Louisiana delegation danced and sang along. "I've been such an instrumental part of the Obama campaign, and then to be a supporter of all his policies, to see that it's all coming to an end, but it's not coming to an end," said Senator Karen Carter Peterson, the state Democratic chairperson. "But it's not really coming to an end because we're starting another chapter with another historic moment. God is good."

On stage a young black man, the president of the United States, warmly embraced an older white woman in front of god and all the world. It is now an iconic photograph. If it had occurred on a weed-choked street in Mississippi within the lifetime of many of the people who were cheering the moment, the young man might have been beaten, burned, hung, thrown into a river with a cotton fan tied to his neck. A song began to rise through the history of the moment:

Southern trees bear a strange fruit/Blood on the leaves and blood at the root/Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze/Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees…

But it was not those days any longer. The young man was the President of the United States and he has rung his changes on that song, and on an occasionally baffled democracy. Surely, he has done that.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:00 AM on July 28, 2016 [57 favorites]


In the ever-expanding file of worrying things that Trump has said, there's this exchange on Fox and Friends, where Trump is talking about the Russian military buzzing US ships in the Baltics:

"You know why? You know why they do that? Because they have no respect for our leader. That’s why they do it," Trump said.
"And if they did that with you in office, what would you do?" Kilmeade then asked.
"I don't think they'd be doing that for one minute," Trump replied.
"Because?" Kilmeade pressed.
"Because I think they respect me. They don't respect President Obama," Trump responded.

So if Putin did buzz US forces, we'd have a Commander-in-Chief who would interpret it as a personal sign of disrespect. And we know how even-keeled Trump has been when opponents disrespect him. I have no idea how Trump would respond in such a situation, and I fear that it would be with a dangerous escalation because he believes he has to be the bigger bully in order to gain respect from Putin.
posted by Chanther at 10:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


MCMikeNamara: I was going to take this moment to invite anybody who gave me favorites to take them back if they ran out, but I guess it turns out I'm not as much a socialist democrat as I thought I was .

I would favorite that comment if I could, but I'm not part of the 1% with disposable favorites to get them through the day. ENJOY YOUR PRIVILEGE!
posted by Superplin at 10:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


Thank you guys. Stuck at work (day 4 of 4) and my coworkers are baiting me with racism and misogyny and I'm just quiet and whenever they ask for my opinion, I simply smile and say that I'm happy they have opinions because everyone is welcome to do so and that Bernie and Hillary are pretty great. And they're talking about how Michael Brown deserved what he got and how none of the dads were present for the mothers' speech and how everyone will be having abortions and the wall isn't racist and that dems hate guns and the American flag.

I just smile and think about Bernie's bird on the podium and how all y'all are helping me stay somewhat sane.

On to tonight! I'm with her!
posted by sara is disenchanted at 10:03 AM on July 28, 2016 [61 favorites]


Trump is definitely an abusive narcissist and the reason I know is that my own father was an abusive narcissist, with the same fast-and-loose relationship with the truth, the same charisma, the same allergy to ever admitting a failure, the same ability to tell obvious lies without flinching, to nearly always fail up, to straight up hypnotize gullible people and back savvier people into seemingly inescapable corners, and the same ability to make himself the center of every story. Watching this election has been like a really long warped PTSD flashback for me. (And, I expect, for a lot of other children of narcissists.)
posted by BlueJae at 10:05 AM on July 28, 2016 [46 favorites]


sara is disenchanted, sending hugs. Many of us still believe in our fellow people and have a broader definition of personhood than your coworkers seem willing to grasp. I'm with her, but I'm with you, too. <3
posted by stolyarova at 10:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


Sara Benincasa's Twitter feed is a Tim Kaine dad fest.

Also, doughnuts are the best.

Also, how is it that both the current and former mayor of Los Angeles are both speaking tonight? What did we do to deserve that honor?
posted by Sophie1 at 10:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Buzzfeed roundup of The best Tweets about Biden's speech. (My personal faves: the ice cream one and the "when you know it's gonna be some shit going down so you bring the white guy who likes to fight" one...)

Still my favorite Joe Biden tweet (including the Liquid Swords one)
posted by DynamiteToast at 10:07 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Woah, sara is disenchanted, hang in there.
posted by BlueJae at 10:08 AM on July 28, 2016


It was very, very hard for me to stop saying, "SO WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR IT'S CLINTON/KAINE RIGHT???"

I appreciate your effort to be tactful. The way to Go High in this conversation is to squeal "I love Tim Kaine, too!" Keep the love flowing, it gets around their resistance (sometimes).
posted by puddledork at 10:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]




This does tap into how the optimal state for the activist left (and right) is to operate with one foot in the institutional process and one foot out, and the long-standing tendency among certain parts of the activist left is to step away from institutions whenever they're rebuffed, while the recent history of the right has been for activists to be embraced and institutionalised (no, don't make that joke) which eventually bumps out people on the other side.
posted by holgate at 9:01 AM on July 28 [6 favorites +] [!]


Ok, but that's...that's the tea party you're talking about. I don't want a left wing tea party. I want the non-crazy grown ups to embrace left wing ideas. So far what we got seems to be working ok.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


I remain lightly annoyed that no one from WNY is speaking at the convention but in all honestly, who would they have? Brian Higgins is awesome but he only cares about WNY. Watch him on CSPAN sometime, I am almost positive he has never asked a question in a hearing or whatever that does not very clearly relate back to Western New York. It's fantastic, I wish more of Congress was so focused on their district (and not, say, messing around with The District of Columbia), but in this case I want more.

Pander to me specifically in every way I want, Democrats! Get someone up there to talk about geography too! And maybe a hockey player instead of so many actors!
posted by everybody had matching towels at 10:13 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Watching this election has been like a really long warped PTSD flashback for me. (And, I expect, for a lot of other children of narcissists.)

I'm there with you. Although, oddly, Trump is making me feel oddly appreciative of my mother. She's a narcissist and it was super unpleasant being raised by her but she's not nearly as horrible as Trump. So yay?
posted by mcduff at 10:13 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Also, I mentioned this in a previous thread, but there is a big part of me that's bemused by voracious opposition to a global trade deal. Voracious opposition to parts of it make perfect sense, because they're horrifying, but everyone seems to understand and yet nobody seems to acknowledge that the set of people able to actually evaluate something like the TPP is vanishingly small.

It reminds me that, if this were in fact the best possible timeline, we'd have no way to know that the alternatives were all so, so much worse.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:15 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


In the ever-expanding file of worrying things that Trump has said, there's this exchange on Fox and Friends, where Trump is talking about the Russian military buzzing US ships in the Baltics:

It's the part that comes after that which scares me even more:
And when Kilmeade asked Trump if he would respond to Putin's aggression with force, Trump refused to say.

"I'm not going to tell you what I'd do. Why would I tell you a thing like that? Wouldn't that be crazy to tell you what I’d do? You react at the time," Trump said. "Part of the problem with this country is they go and they say, ‘We’re going to do this, we're going to attack here, we’re going to send this many men.' No, no. You got to keep it a little bit secret."
Trump has pulled this trick a bunch of times when asked about foreign policy, the old "secret plan to fight Russia/ISIS/whatever I don't have an answer for" gambit. It's terrifying, because countries acting in stable and predictable ways is a huge part of what keeps us from all dying in a giant ball of fire and radiation. Acting unpredictably will make people pay attention to you, but generally not in a positive way. Drawing lines and clearly signaling them to the world is how the game is played, and maintaining ambiguity so you can fly off the handle at anything that slights you is how people get killed.
posted by zachlipton at 10:15 AM on July 28, 2016 [33 favorites]


Watching this election has been like a really long warped PTSD flashback for me. (And, I expect, for a lot of other children of narcissists.)

I'm there with you. Although, oddly, Trump is making me feel oddly appreciative of my mother. She's a narcissist and it was super unpleasant being raised by her but she's not nearly as horrible as Trump. So yay?


Thank you both for naming this, because YUP. What a weird emotional cocktail.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Trump is talking about the Russian military buzzing US ships in the Baltics

They're just getting us back for Top Gun.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Ugh #WhiteRussians is trending on Twitter intending to refer to white supremacy + Russians but with complete lack of awareness that Belarus is literally "white Russia" and Belarussians are literally "white Russians" (not in the skin color sense, but in the translation sense). I'm married to an American citizen who was born in Belarus and he's terrified that anti-Russian sentiment may end up affecting us. The weaponization of #WhiteRussians is not a good sign. :(
posted by stolyarova at 10:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


It's just depressing because we're public servants; I have been doing this job for almost 10 years because I want to HELP people. ALL people. Sometimes I'm misanthropic, but that may be because I have seen and heard some stupid ass shit. I have friends who are conservative, but they're much more Libertarian types who just don't believe in big government; not, you know, that liberals are going to force everyone to renounce Christianity and put women before men and force abortions on people and take their guns.

Sometimes I think about the cognitive dissonance I have in regards to my partner, because I love him soooooo much, but he's such a conservative white boy. He'll even tell you, before he met me, he really had very little exposure to any perspective outside of his western PA red Catholic upbringing and he's made some small steps forward... But I want to grab him by the drawers and pull him into our food because his heart is so big and he's pretty smart.

Idk I'm rambling. Sorry.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 10:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Acting unpredictably will make people pay attention to you, but generally not in a positive way.

He copied Nixon's Silent Majority, now he's copying Nixon's madman theory:
We can't restrain him when he's angry—and he has his hand on the nuclear button.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:20 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I remain lightly annoyed that no one from WNY is speaking at the convention but in all honestly, who would they have?

You should just be thankful that the RNC didn't have Carl Paladino speaking for two hours.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:21 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


They're just getting us back for Top Gun.

Trump will take your breath away. Because the atmosphere won't be breathable after an escalation to nuclear war.
posted by Talez at 10:21 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'm there with you. Although, oddly, Trump is making me feel oddly appreciative of my mother. She's a narcissist and it was super unpleasant being raised by her but she's not nearly as horrible as Trump. So yay?

Hah mcduff, yeah. I have thought to myself, "Well, hey at least my abusive narcissist dad wasn't Trump. GEEZ." I mean for one thing my narcissist father was actually more than intelligent enough to string together a rational paragraph. I always thought his intelligence made my father more dangerous as a narcissist, but I believe I underestimated the awesome power of weaponized stupidity.
posted by BlueJae at 10:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


BlueJae, I actually have wondered if Trump is showing early signs of dementia.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Hilly Phanatic, on Stephen Cobert's show. Not what one would call enthused.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I live in the shadow of NORAD (I can see it from my house!) and I can't imagine how anyone who lives here could in good faith vote for Trump. And yet!
posted by mochapickle at 10:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]



Suffolk University Poll Shows Clinton Leading Trump by 9 Points in Pennsylvania
Asked if they feel more or less safe living in America than they did five to 10 years ago, 56 percent of Pennsylvanians said less safe
Dear rural white Pennsylvanians: no one is coming to carbomb your Sheetz.
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]




mochapickle, you have no idea how much I can sympathize. Even my past strategy of "don't venture out of downtown" is not working so well this time around.
posted by bibliowench at 10:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Great new Boston Globe article out on Jill Stein's campaign.
...[T]his crazy, terrifying election cycle looks like it’ll be Stein’s most successful yet. Though it might be difficult to look at herself in the mirror afterward.

Hoping to draw the Bernie-or-bust folks to her cause, Stein has been in the thick of their protests at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Philly, her pox-on-both-their houses rhetoric a natural fit for heartbroken Sanders devotees disinclined to support Hillary Clinton.

In their view, Clinton is just as bad as Donald Trump — as bad as a man who daily sinks to levels one would have thought impossible, a narcissistic demagogue who invites an unfriendly nation to spy on a former secretary of state (He can always, always go lower, folks!). Some of them hate Clinton as much as some Republicans do, a few of them even taking up the shameful “lock her up” chant.
posted by stolyarova at 10:33 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


I always wonder why conservatives have such a hang up about Hillary's suits and they go out of their way to say they are PANT suits. What's the deal there?

Okay, so this is obviously a very tiny thing and the smallest part of the convention evar, but my family is not letting me livewatch the convention out of concerns for some nebulous "mental health" and "stop shouting at Republicans who aren't even present on the TV", so this is the only thing I think I can make a substantive contribution to without having transcripts of speeches in front of me.

I am a person for whom the consideration of Hillary's pants suits activates a very slight bias in my brain - obviously not even vaguely enough to act against her! (especially this year) Maybe not even a full percentage point! But like a tiny, tiny bit in my head, they totally do. My suspicion is that when these mentions are taking place, people are trying to exploit these negative bias associations, because God knows the GOP doesn't have anything positive to vote for this year. (except for the down ballot)

My best explanation of my feels is that I mentally associate "pants suits" with a very specific time period in, I want to say 1980s-1990s? When feminism was not really firmly established, and so a lot of male gatekeepers were saying women needed to look and act like men in order to be taken seriously, and a lot of women were buying into that and internalizing that and becoming kind of capos, wearing pants suits all the time and shaming women who wore feminine attire as frivolous while they were Serious Business. So the unconscious association that pants suits or mention of pants suits brings up is that time period that I hate and kind of honestly resent, because I tend to dress pretty femme and am tired of people assuming that when I'm dressed up I can't have a brain in my head.

This is a thing that tends to apply to conservative women, I think, because even those of us that are super politically involved tend to wear skirts and makeup and present very trad-fem, out of force of habit and fashion. So any call-back to a time when femmes weren't taken seriously is in many ways a way to bring up those feelings that we aren't being taken seriously. And that doubles when a lot of people out there tend to make fun of that kind of Republican-Woman dress.

So when I see Hillary Clinton wearing pants suits, and someone reminds me that she is doing so, the code it translates to in my head if I'm not working at it is that Hillary Clinton is someone who is pulling the ladder up after her and doesn't really respect femme women like me, and maybe would even make fun of me for my floofy skirts and pretty hats.

However, like I would say 90% of conservative women out there, we are way more concerned about the country not burning down than Hillary Clinton's pantsuits, so nice job commentators, but the GOP IS STILL ON FIRE SO MAYBE SHUT UP YOU USELESS TROLL.
posted by corb at 10:35 AM on July 28, 2016 [50 favorites]


Since I know at least one person who finally began to take seriously my constant statements about Trump being a madman who should not have his finger anywhere near the nuclear button only after hearing Leon Pannetta say the same things, as former CIA director, here are some links to other former CIA directors, secretaries of defense, and other highly placed members of the defense and intelligence communities saying the same things.

Bob Gates

Michael Vickers

Michael Hayden

David Petraeus

I feel like these have not gotten enough attention, so please share with anyone in your life who thinks that only hippies want to keep Trump away from our armed forces.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:35 AM on July 28, 2016 [27 favorites]


I love the Obama presidency. No shit, I have love in my heart for what his presidency personally gave me.

No fucking way would I be here, an out trans woman today if Romney or McCain had won in 2008 or 2012.

During the 2012 election, when Washington passed marriage equality and along with Colorado legalized marijuana and Obama won and the nation, like, delivered the progressive narrative across the nation, I was going through the harshest breakdown of my life: Coming to terms that I was more than a perverted sissy with a kink for ladies clothes, that I was actually someone way more dignified and necessary for the world, that the world didn't understand it yet, but that I could no longer deny myself who I am. The crest of that election gave me that positive, resounding yes I needed to fuel me through coming out in Tacoma, transition in Texas, to meeting the love of my life and to a happiness and satisfaction I never dreamed was available to me.

Letting go of the Obama presidency is hard for me because I didn't realize until I saw him speaking last night how intertwined he was in my narrative. How without him, without democrats, I wouldn't be here . Obama is saying "Here y'all are, it's your turn now, let's go make the difference" and I don't know if I'm ready yet but I know deep in my heart, like a drum beat there is a resounding yes, yes, yes that will continue long into the future and lift up others who are in pain, who are suffering, who are struggling alone in the shadows, wanting, but afraid, to become a more perfect version of who they are.

Today I stand a little more tall on my own as a visible and proud trans woman, with a little more courage that I might help give others the resounding "yes" they need to know and live their truths as well.

That's what "Hope" means.
posted by Annika Cicada at 10:35 AM on July 28, 2016 [82 favorites]


BlueJae, I actually have wondered if Trump is showing early signs of dementia.

I have a parent with NPD, so I am all too familiar with Trump's narcissism. It's super terrifying and weirdly reminiscent. However, regarding the dementia, I have thought the same thing. My FIL was surprisingly good at covering up his increasing confusion with both anger and diversion early in the disease process. "I don't need to know the year! I've been retired forever!" He would make guesses that had a 60/40 percent chance of being right, and sometimes, he got the answer and if he didn't, he always had an excuse. Also, the agitation and lack of focus could easily be signs. I'm not saying he has dementia, but from way out here, there are indicators.
posted by Sophie1 at 10:36 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


bibliowench, we really need to get together one of these days to commiserate... I never leave downtown.
posted by mochapickle at 10:37 AM on July 28, 2016


Even my past strategy of "don't venture out of downtown" is not working so well this time around.

You'd like it uptown. It's quiet uptown.
posted by drezdn at 10:37 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]




Does anybody have any good links on Tim Kaine I can send my conservative Catholic friend who is a crazy pants that doesn't think women should have any rights BUT also thinks Trump is going to bring the end times and she's not ready for that.

I mean, more than his Wikipedia page.
posted by hollygoheavy at 10:39 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]




After Lying Low, Deep-Pocketed Clinton Donors Return to the Fore:
For many Clinton donors, particularly those from the financial sector, the convention is a time to shed what one called the “hypersensitivity” that had previously surrounded their appearance at Mrs. Clinton’s fund-raisers or at her political events, during a period when Mr. Sanders repeatedly attacked Mrs. Clinton’s connections to Wall Street and her six-figure speaking fees from financial institutions.

“I think we’re past that,” said Alan Patricof, a longtime donor to Mrs. Clinton, when asked about the need to lie low during the primaries.

In Philadelphia, donors were handed preferred suites at the Ritz-Carlton and “Friends and Family” packages created for longtime Clinton hands — some of them also longtime benefactors. Some were granted time backstage or in the Clinton family box with former President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. Blackstone, the private equity giant, scheduled a reception at the Barnes Foundation on Thursday with its president, Hamilton E. James, one of the leading Wall Street contenders for an economic policy post in a future Clinton administration.

The Philadelphia convention offered other symbolic contrasts to the party’s last two gatherings, when President Obama sought, with mixed success, to restrict his party from raising money to pay for the conventions from lobbyists or political action funds. Those shackles were thrown off this year, waving a green flag to Washington’s influence industry. Lobbyists and corporate representatives flooded the city, where much of the Democratic Party’s elite — and potential senior members of a future presidential administration — had gathered.
posted by crazy with stars at 10:39 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


One of the weird things about watching Trump after having been raised by a narcissist is that nothing he does seems surprising to me. It all makes perfect sense when seen through the narcissist looking glass. So I guess an upside of my childhood is that I got the decoder ring to the behavior of a person with a particular personality disorder.

I hope that the Clinton campaign is consulting a specialist in NPD to help them understand and predict his behavior.
posted by mcduff at 10:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


And now for something completely different . . .


Say, remember Sharon Belkofer, the self-described "sweet little old lady" and "gold star mother" who introduced Pres. Obama at the DNC last night?

I thought I heard -- went back to confirm -- that she's out of Perrysburg, Ohio. Perrysburg is an exurb/suburb of Toledo, Ohio.

I don't know as much about the Northwest corner of Ohio as I probably should, but I spent about ten years driving back and forth on a regular basis between Ohio and Michigan, and one thing I know about Perrysburg is that it's the home of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo. You can't miss it: it's right along I-75 as you head north and it is huge and it is beautiful.

Islamic Center of Greater Toledo
The magnificent building of the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo sits at the edge of Interstate 75 and at the entrance to Toledo and symbolizes the diversity that has come to characterize our city.

Members from 23 nationalities attend the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, but its main claim to fame is its equal and vibrant representation of women and the democratic and constitutional processes that the Center diligently follows.

The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo is a birth-to-death resource; it has a full-time Islamic School on its premises and it provides a variety of religious, educational and cultural activities for its members and for the greater Toledo community.
Islam shares long tradition in Toledo
Many people in northwest Ohio, regardless of their religion, have referred to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo in Perrysburg Township as “our mosque.”

The center is the representative picture of Islamic Toledo, housed in a grand structure that looks as if it was transplanted from the Middle East, complete with two minarets and, since 2004, a golden dome.

But it is not the only mosque in the area. There are 10. . . .

The Perrysburg mosque . . . had the first female president of an Islamic Center in the United States, Cherrefe Kadri, in 2001.

It was the first mosque in Ohio and the ninth in the nation, opening in 1954. The state’s first Muslim society had been formally in existence in Toledo, without a mosque, since 1939 and received a state charter in 1943.
-- TK Barger, Toledo Blade 04jun2016
A mosque in America's heartland
From Interstate 75, the sight is striking: A gleaming white mosque with twin minarets in the classical Islamic style rises out of the Ohio countryside. Inside the mosque's domed prayer hall, as light streams through stained-glass windows inscribed with attributes of God and verses from the Koran, men and women gather to pray alongside each other, with a low partition in between. In most mosques, women pray either behind the men, separated by a curtain or enclosure, or in another room.

"This center has always been progressive in that sense. Even at social functions, men and women are never separated," says M.Y. Ahmed, president of the mosque's governing council. "This has been a tradition since it started."

This Midwest Muslim community, founded by Syrian-Lebanese immigrants some 75 years ago, stands out in several ways as an example of American faithful shaping their Islamic practice for the place and the times.

The center, for example, elected the first woman president of a mosque in the US and perhaps in the world, in 2001. A forward-looking imam – who was not hesitant to promote ijtihad (interpreting Islam for contemporary times) – broke new ground on religious issues from interest banking to Islamic dress code and women's rights. The center has an open-door policy to visitors and engaged actively in interfaith endeavors long before the events of Sept. 11.

Still, it was not immune to the backlash after 9/11. Nor has it been immune more recently to the shift within Islam toward greater orthodoxy, which is testing the center's progressive tradition. . . .
-- Jane Lampman, Christian Science Monitor 06sep2007

So there you have it: Perrysburg, home to Sharon Belkofer and the ICGT.


Welcome to OHIO, M-Fers!
 
posted by Herodios at 10:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


corb: When feminism was not really firmly established, and so a lot of male gatekeepers were saying women needed to look and act like men in order to be taken seriously, and a lot of women were buying into that and internalizing that and becoming kind of capos, wearing pants suits all the time and shaming women who wore feminine attire as frivolous while they were Serious Business. So the unconscious association that pants suits or mention of pants suits brings up is that time period that I hate and kind of honestly resent, because I tend to dress pretty femme and am tired of people assuming that when I'm dressed up I can't have a brain in my head.

In the latest Thomas the Tank Engine special, there's a moment when the girl engine, who's decorated all pretty and making Thomas blush, kicks ass at the shunting competition and then says, "What, you thought that just because I'm dressed pretty doesn't mean I'm Really Useful?"

[/derail]
posted by clawsoon at 10:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [20 favorites]


One more thing I want to share on the "Trump is dangerous and should not be anywhere near nukes" theme...

From his 1990 Playboy interview
What would be some of President Trump’s longer-term views of the future?
I think of the future, but I refuse to paint it. Anything can happen. But I often think of nuclear war.

Nuclear war?
I’ve always thought about the issue of nuclear war; it’s a very important element in my thought process. It’s the ultimate, the ultimate catastrophe, the biggest problem this world has, and nobody’s focusing on the nuts and bolts of it. It’s a little like sickness. People don’t believe they’re going to get sick until they do. Nobody wants to talk about it. I believe the greatest of all stupidities is people’s believing it will never happen, because everybody knows how destructive it will be, so nobody uses weapons. What bullshit.
(Pretty sure he was not suffering from dementia then. This is the way he really is, and was even in 1990.)
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:41 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


but my family is not letting me livewatch the convention out of concerns for some nebulous "mental health" and "stop shouting at Republicans who aren't even present on the TV"

So like is your family maybe available for rent?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:44 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


I have a parent with NPD, so I am all too familiar with Trump's narcissism. It's super terrifying and weirdly reminiscent. However, regarding the dementia, I have thought the same thing. My FIL was surprisingly good at covering up his increasing confusion with both anger and diversion early in the disease process. "I don't need to know the year! I've been retired forever!" He would make guesses that had a 60/40 percent chance of being right, and sometimes, he got the answer and if he didn't, he always had an excuse. Also, the agitation and lack of focus could easily be signs. I'm not saying he has dementia, but from way out here, there are indicators.

posted by Sophie1 at 10:36 AM on July 28 [1 favorite +] [!]


Yes, pretty much exactly that. I've wondered if this is what this particular flavor of narcissism looks like when it's also trying to cope with cognitive decline.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:47 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Since Tuesday.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


nobody’s focusing on the nuts and bolts of it

The craziest thing about this is that he's apparently ignorant of the fact that whole sections of the US military spent the better part of 40 years focusing on the nuts and bolts of nuclear war. Does he really think he's the first person to think "we should really think about nuclear war?"
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:51 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


I love when a person who is mostly ignorant on a subject says "I have a radical thought that no one else has thought of regarding (said subject)" and all the experts are like "jesus fucking christ, we put this to bed 32 years ago".
posted by Annika Cicada at 10:53 AM on July 28, 2016 [42 favorites]


I'm reading some "I would never vote for Clinton, buuuut..." stuff on conservative websites which is making the argument for her as the conservative (Burkean style) candidate in the race. It'll be interesting to see if it has any impact.
posted by clawsoon at 10:54 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I love when a person who is mostly ignorant on a subject says "I have a radical thought that no one else has thought of regarding (said subject)" and all the experts are like "jesus fucking christ, we put this to bed 32 years ago".

Hey, c'mon, I thought you loved Metafilter!
posted by OmieWise at 10:54 AM on July 28, 2016 [29 favorites]


The craziest thing about this is that he's apparently ignorant of the fact that whole sections of the US military spent the better part of 40 years focusing on the nuts and bolts of nuclear war. Does he really think he's the first person to think "we should really think about nuclear war?"

"I'm ignorant of this entire topic, so I assume that means nobody else has thought about it either," is a frighteningly common blind spot for humans in general, let alone massive narcissists. It can explain climate change denialists as well as some of Neil deGrasse Tyson's more unfortunate twitter forays.

That quote makes me shudder, because it almost sounds like he is looking forward to seeing what our post-nuclear war future looks like.
posted by Existential Dread at 10:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


Does he really think he's the first person to think "we should really think about nuclear war?"

As another person with a narcissistic father, yes, he probably does. Reinventing the wheel and then getting insulted when you tell them "uh, you know, we have ALL KINDS OF WHEELS already" is their thing.
posted by stolyarova at 10:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [22 favorites]


Here's a question. I still have people who are insisting that she is a war-monger. How have you seen that claim countered?
posted by Sophie1 at 10:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


OmieWise: Hey, c'mon, I thought you loved Metafilter!

But she does! It's right there in the first words of her sentence: "I love when..."
posted by clawsoon at 10:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I still have people who are insisting that she is a war-monger.

I mean, war-monger might be strong, but she ignored the NIE and voted for the iraq war, and she pursued pretty interventionist policies as secretary of state. And her model for diplomacy is Kissinger. So... I don't know how you could counter it. She is not a peace candidate.
posted by dis_integration at 10:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


WNY . . . Pander to me specifically in every way I want, Democrats! Get someone up there to talk about geography too!

Madam president, I rise to speak on behalf of Letchworth State Park, grand canyon of the east, voted #1 state park in the Nation, and I call for increased funding for Letchworth SP!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off the the Seneca Allegany Casino.
 
posted by Herodios at 10:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I'm in Seattle, and WA went pretty hard for Bernie in the caucuses. Then we had our totally meaningless beauty pageant "primary" vote a couple months later and Clinton decisively won that. Still, I hear NPR talk about the division--and then the local affiliate KUOW wants to go straight to talking about WA's delegation, which naturally is hardcore Bernie folks. The end result is NPR & KUOW team up to provide a double-dose of the detractors. I imagine local television does much the same thing.

And then there's the fact that so much of the language of media coverage really sounds exactly like sports coverage. It's constant refrains about self-evident stuff to fill air time ("You gotta get people to the polls" / "You gotta get the ball into the goal," or maybe "You have to work as a team" blah blah blah).

The more I watch, read, listen, and think about coverage of divisions in the Democratic party, the more I think it really is being dramatically overplayed in the media. The polls keep saying the split is minor and shrinking, but the media keeps endlessly showing protesters and heartbroken Sanders supporters. It's all starting to remind me a lot of John Oliver's piece on how the media falsely represents the climate change "debate."

I'm really getting the sense that the effort to let both sides be heard leads to a completely false impression of how representative those voices really are.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:00 AM on July 28, 2016 [23 favorites]


Herodios:
"I thought I heard -- went back to confirm -- that she's out of Perrysburg, Ohio. Perrysburg is an exurb/suburb of Toledo, Ohio."
Okay, I could have sworn she said Rossford. I was surprised Trump didn't stop by the casino while he was in town.
posted by charred husk at 11:02 AM on July 28, 2016


FWIW, all the die-hard Bernie or Busters I see in my Facebook feed are getting A LOT of pushback.
posted by maggiemaggie at 11:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


So... I don't know how you could counter it. She is not a peace candidate.

Perhaps recognizing that likelihood of widespread violent conflict is lower with a Hillary presidency, due to her deep understanding of world affairs and diplomacy? Pointing out that Jill Stein has no record on which to judge, and that Trump has already called for increased torture and targeted assassinations of the families of suspected terrorists?
posted by Existential Dread at 11:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [20 favorites]


The counter on "war-monger" is that every major party candidate in the race, including Bernie Sanders, was a hawk. Hillary will at least be a rational actor on the world stage, while Trump is no less willing to throw America's military around and has given every signal possible that he'll do it at a moment's notice.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


Ok, but that's...that's the tea party you're talking about.

Exactly. And the process of institutionalising the outsider right made Trump possible: remember, birtherism underpinned the emergence of the Tea Party. So, no, that's a bad idea. But the cycle for the activist left has been hope and disillusionment and alienation and then new hope, which is why Sanders recalls Dean recalls Nader.

And it's not easy to be one foot in, one foot out. But it pays off.
posted by holgate at 11:02 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


She's not a peacenik. You can't really spin that and for a lot of people on the left any position outside of pacifism is being a warmonger. But our choice currently is her or MUSHROOM CLOUD. The answer is to elect her and then also vote downballot for the right people and also keep pressure and public scrutiny of her decisions on blast throughout her term.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:04 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


Okay, just want to check, did everybody see this? With the little dance? The dance? Because I just watched it three times and now I'm going to take the rest of the day 'til the speechifying starts to go back and favorite everything zachlipton ever posted. Okay, peace out, all. See you tonight.
posted by Don Pepino at 11:04 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


Here's a question. I still have people who are insisting that she is a war-monger. How have you seen that claim countered?
I don't think you can counter Hillary's hawkishness with a few soundbytes, to be honest. She is more hawkish than Obama and most Democrats. However, I have made peace with that, personally, because I think if we'd followed her instincts and not Obama's ISIS/ISIL/Daesh would not have had nearly as many opportunities to reach the terrifying status it achieved before Obama got on board with doing something more forceful about them. I came to this conclusion after watching a PBS documentary on how Bush and Obama created ISIS that I thought was very fairly presented. And, frankly, I am tired of hearing BUT SHE VOTED FOR THE IRAQ WAR thing being thrown about. Many, many people who voted for that war took Colin Powell at his word that Scary Things Were Happening and Must Be Stopped. I'm a cynic and never believed Powell's case, but I don't have the personal responsibility for voting for or against something that could put American lives at risk, so I am allowed to look at Powell at the UN and go "bullshit" and have my opinion be meaningless.
posted by xyzzy at 11:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [21 favorites]


So when I see Hillary Clinton wearing pants suits, and someone reminds me that she is doing so, the code it translates to in my head if I'm not working at it is that Hillary Clinton is someone who is pulling the ladder up after her and doesn't really respect femme women like me

I'm a very feminine dresser myself AND an HRC supporter because c'mon, she has been putting out the ladder for other women (and children) from the start of her career, regardless of their dress code. Her pantsuits are a trademark because she herself declines to be defined by other people's expectations of how women should dress. Not because she's ever pulled up the ladder behind her. See the difference?

I am also tired of arguing with people who somehow know that HRC has been putting herself out there to make life better for disadvantaged people because she secretly aims to be Wall Street's president. I'll enjoy your delighted surprise when she is in the White House and pursuing the same progressive agenda that she's always had.
posted by bearwife at 11:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


Tim Kaine has a lucky tie. Or maybe just one tie.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:06 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


next father's day, let's all send Tim Kaine a nice new tie
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:08 AM on July 28, 2016 [27 favorites]


I'm really getting the sense that the effort to let both sides be heard leads to a completely false impression of how representative those voices really are.

Maybe especially with KUOW. So they embedded with the WA RNC delegation, were personally invited by the state chair, got to spend our breakfasts, etc with us. The delegation was about 70% #NeverTrump, 20% "maybe I will vote for him ugh" and 10% elected officials and party leaders who were like "Yeah, I'm for Trump, he is great!" Their coverage was basically like "WA Delegation Divided!" They would place a quote from a party official next to a quote from a delegate without pointing out that one was a paid functionary, giving them the same weight for "the mood of the Republican party!" They made sure to get exactly as many interviews with Trump supporters as they did #NeverTrump, even when that meant they had to limit their interview amounts because they couldn't find enough of the first.

So color me really suspicious if KUOW is like "WA DNC Delegation Divided!" and gives equal time to HRC supporters and Sanders supporters. REALLY suspicious.

The real "media bias" is that they want clickbait to work us up so they sell more pageviews/listens/newspapers.
posted by corb at 11:09 AM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


Madam president, I rise to speak on behalf of Letchworth State Park, grand canyon of the east, voted #1 state park in the Nation, and I call for increased funding for Letchworth SP!

I just Googled that and that looks absolutely gorgeous and very cool. In the pretty unlikely event that I find myself in the area, I'll definitely put it on the itinerary.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:09 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


And, frankly, I am tired of hearing BUT SHE VOTED FOR THE IRAQ WAR thing being thrown about. Many, many people who voted for that war took Colin Powell at his word that Scary Things Were Happening and Must Be Stopped.

Yeah and I'm tired of hearing this apology line. Many people also knew it was a line of shit and said so, and had good reasons to back that up. If you voted for it, it was a huge, huge error in judgment, and there was no excuse. None. And blood is on your hands. There's no way around it.
posted by dis_integration at 11:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


I mean, war-monger might be strong, but she ignored the NIE and voted for the iraq war, and she pursued pretty interventionist policies as secretary of state. And her model for diplomacy is Kissinger. So... I don't know how you could counter it. She is not a peace candidate.

You guys should read Hard Choices. Short version -- she thought she was handing Bush a saber to rattle at Saddam Hussein, but didn't think he'd kick the UN inspectors out and actually invade. She thinks America really is a Defender of Democracy and that the military is a tool for making the world a better place, but not the only tool ("Smart Power" is her thing, using diplomatic channels, sanctions, etc in addition to rather than instead of military power.) She genuinely believes we have an obligation to intervene in humanitarian disasters (keep in mind that she was there when Elie Weisel was begging Bill Clinton to intercede in the former Yugoslavia, and when we did not intercede in Rwanda). And she really buys into the whole game theory foreign policy mindset of "credible threats" and "proportional response" and alliances and strategies.

She's more hawkish than I would like, but she doesn't see the military as the solution to every problem, and she's not an idiot. If she brings us into war, she'll have a plan to get us out. When the alternative is Donald Trump, that's saying a lot.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:10 AM on July 28, 2016 [36 favorites]


I feel like it's fair to say she's not a peace candidate in that she's not a pacifist. As far as hawk vs dove goes, it's way more complicated than that. I found this piece on Vox pretty compelling. She's absolutely interested in keeping us out of a lot of stupid conflicts, and in a lot of ways she's far less belligerent than...well, the other side of the aisle, which is a distinction people shouldn't lose sight of. "Hawk" and "dove" come off as blanket terms, when the reality is things are much more dependent on context and specifics than that.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:11 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


I actually like Clinton's hawkishness. I have liked Obama's positions as well. I think the war in Iraq was a disaster and that she should not have voted for it, although I understand politically why she did. But I support the use of drones because I believe they save lives. I support American intervention against terrorist groups and regimes harboring terrorist groups because I think it's clear that they are places where people receive training to attack the US.

I think she has learned from her vote for Iraq, and I think she is a foreign policy realist, rather than idealist.

This is not a popular opinion on Metafilter, but there you are.
posted by OmieWise at 11:11 AM on July 28, 2016 [31 favorites]


Tim Kaine has a lucky tie. Or maybe just one tie.

There's literally no way he doesn't have a tie rack in his bedroom with, like 20 copies of that exact pattern, right?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:11 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Re: Clinton and war, I would posit that there is a big difference between “warmonger” and “interventionist”.

I have read several pieces that point out a lot of her foreign policy is influenced by 1) Bill Clinton’s regrets that he kept the US out of foreign conflicts that turned out to be horrifying genocides and/or clusterfucks, and 2) her role as Secretary of State, which involved a lot of vulnerable people worldwide begging for US intervention in their own regions.

Do I think all her interventions were good? Nope! But there is a big difference between “this is an incredibly complex foreign dispute, and we can’t know in advance if US intervention will make things better or worse, but things seem pretty terrible already, so maybe we can help” and “yeehawwwwwwwww bombs”. I see a lot of people accusing Clinton of the latter. Everything she has ever said and done indicates that she believes way more in the former perspective.

I think it is very, very difficult for the average citizen to know what it must feel like to have an entire military at your command (or your boss’s command), and know that they might be able to help, but that there is always a chance that they will make things worse.

I marched against the Iraq War, so I’m definitely not a fan of a LOT of the choices our leaders have made. But I also think that it is way more complicated than her being a warmonger.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 11:12 AM on July 28, 2016 [35 favorites]


After watching Flynn at the RNC, Panetta's speech was nice to watch. But those people chanting "no more war" can fuck right off: don't they see that that's exactly what Panetta is speaking there to help prevent?
posted by iffthen at 11:12 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


You guys should read Hard Choices. Short version -- she thought she was handing Bush a saber to rattle at Saddam Hussein, but didn't think he'd kick the UN inspectors out and actually invade.

If that's how she's retconning it, then, wow. We all knew what that vote meant at the time. Everyone knew it meant war. That's just a bunch of malarkey.
posted by dis_integration at 11:13 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


I personally think the media is hunting for dissent and playing up what they find because otherwise they'll be reduced to admitting that this convention is an inspiring display of very diverse people who respectfully disagree uniting to do the right thing for the country. TLDR: to admitting that this convention is a triumph and last week's was a shallow awful sideshow.
posted by bearwife at 11:13 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


I just flashed back to the BoJack Horseman season finale and oh my god you guys Time Kaine is Mr. Peanut Butter
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:14 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]




She is not a peace candidate.

I think it's much fairer to say she's not an isolationist candidate. The Clintons have always been liberal interventionists and that has lead to disaster (Iraq) and to success (the Balkans). It's arguable if isolationism is the best way to achieve "peace"—whatever that means in 2016—and it's certainly true that Clinton has never endorsed that, but if she isn't a "peace" candidate, then she isn't a "war" candidate either. She seems to have acknowledged that her vote for the Iraq War was a mistake (either sincerely or cynically) and she's certainly learned from its consequences, if only its political consequences.
posted by octobersurprise at 11:15 AM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Letchworth SP!

I just Googled that and that looks absolutely gorgeous


It is literally gorgeous due to all the gorges. It is fairly engorged with gorges.

Be sure to stay at the Glen Iris Inn while there. 110 foot waterfall right outside your door.
posted by Herodios at 11:16 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


then there's the fact that so much of the language of media coverage really sounds exactly like sports coverage

But not exactly. This piece by Matt Taibbi from 2004 -- originally published in the NY Press -- is burned into my brain:
The situation of most sports journalism today is one of the weirder paradoxes of American society. We live in a country that easily shrugs off such minor problems as the commander-in-chief not being able to read, but which goes into full freakout mode when Tiger Woods misses the green a few times, or when Barry Bonds hits two homers but is emotionally unavailable to reporters after the game.

The sporting press in America is a reverse mirror image of its "serious" news counterpart: It is unbelievably vicious and demanding in its interviews; it doesn't take no for an answer from anybody; it is utterly relentless in its quest to find out What Is Wrong With Our Team (even if the team is doing not so badly); and, most pointedly, it has absolutely no respect for coaches, owners and other authority figures.
That last graf is interesting 12 years on.
posted by holgate at 11:16 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]



Here's video of the bizarre heckling of John Lewis.

No thanks, I gotta go clean the bathroom.
 
posted by Herodios at 11:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


So, Tim Kaine. One of the reasons I'm having trouble viewing the Busters as anything but children is their reaction to Kaine. Because they so clearly have not bothered to learn anything about him, when he's a guy that has really seriously tried to live his moral principals throughout his life. And I'd like to focus on a detail to explain that. A lot of people will go 'so what if he moved into an integrated neighborhood and sent his kids to a majority-AA school? That's just basic human decency.' And that's because they don't know Virginia.

I'm Virginia born and bred, of seriously and dedicated liberal parents; my mother was part of the Arlingtonians for a Better Country group that spent decades liberating Arlington from the grip of the Byrd conservative Democrat machine. And yet my neighborhood was still all white when I was a kid, and when it integrated it was literally a single black family down the street. There were a handful of black kids in my elementary school, but they came from Hall's Hill, because that's where black families in northern Arlington lived. It was originally a settlement for freed slaves, and when the government finally built streets there they did not connect them to the rest of the Arlington street grid except at Lee's Highway.

And then they walled them in.

I'm not kidding in any way; you can still see the remains of the 'segregation wall' in places around Halls Hill. A seven foot tall wall around the community. And this was in Arlington, the relatively northern-influenced and cosmopolitan part of Virginia.

If a white family was moving into Arlington, the real estate agents wouldn't show them places in Halls Hill (and the other similar communities). And vice versa, of course. And this was true throughout Virginia. In the era Kaine did this, you simply didn't accidentally or casually integrate, you had to choose it. And choosing it was a fierce political statement, and one that had social consequences.
posted by tavella at 11:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [81 favorites]


Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is on there, I would imagine he will be talking at least in part about the murder of Philando Castile.

Is he going to talk about the beat-down that was dished out to the protesters in front of the governor's mansion and the seventy arrests? And the teens getting maced in the eyes from a foot or two away? He should be ashamed of how this has all shaken out, honestly, and while I appreciate him as a bulwark against the Wisconsin-ish Republicans who want to destroy our state, he is not doing much to keep young people and Black Minnesotans from becoming disaffected.
posted by Frowner at 11:17 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


dis_integration: And her model for diplomacy is Kissinger.

That makes sense, now that you mention it. Kissinger was also very much into detail and hard work and realism. Sometimes that combination ends up making you a war criminal, and sometimes it lays the groundwork for unprecedented peace agreements. Kissinger can claim both of those.
posted by clawsoon at 11:18 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I had to think about this a bit, because I was rather angry with her for her vote towards the Iraq war. I take her willingness to admit that voting for the Iraq war was was a mistake as sincere - and if she truly believes it was a mistake, it must weigh heavily upon her. I can't help but believe that will inform further decisions along these lines in a way that makes her less likely to endorse any sort of warfare unless it is well justified. I'd rather her have voted against it in the first place, but I will take her willingness to admit it as a mistake as the next best thing.

I've been thinking about our politics in relation towards the overall nature of American society to be punitive. It's most obvious in our approach to law enforcement - but it's something we definitely see in the political arena as well. For those of us who believe that we should have more of a a reformatory approach towards law enforcement, it would serve us well to examine ourselves and consider if we believe that other aspects of our society deserve the same reformatory approach. I believe this is much of the difference between those who feel that Clinton should be disavowed forever because of the Iraq vote or her email server, and those of us who are not happy with it but accept that she has likely grown as a person and as a leader because of these experiences.
posted by MysticMCJ at 11:18 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Trump: You Know I Love The Disabled Because My Buildings Are Accessible

Trump: Some of My Best Friends Are Wheelchair ramps.
posted by drezdn at 11:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


So if Putin did buzz US forces, we'd have a Commander-in-Chief who would interpret it as a personal sign of disrespect. And we know how even-keeled Trump has been when opponents disrespect him. I have no idea how Trump would respond in such a situation, and I fear that it would be with a dangerous escalation because he believes he has to be the bigger bully in order to gain respect from Putin.

Ergh. Trump's buttons look fairly easy to push and Putin's a spook, who's been trained to do exactly that... How would Trump respond in such a situation? Probably exactly the way Putin wants him to.

(Yet another reason the cantaloupe can't get to the oval)
posted by iffthen at 11:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


If that's how she's retconning it, then, wow. We all knew what that vote meant at the time. Everyone knew it meant war. That's just a bunch of malarkey.

It's consistent with what she was saying at the time. And Clinton is an interventionist (very different from being a hawk) - had Clinton offered that bill with that justification she would have meant exactly that.

I don't think this one's a retcon. I think it's her being naive and thinking better of Bush than he deserved and that he was more like her than he was.
posted by Francis at 11:19 AM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


I mean, war-monger might be strong, but she ignored the NIE and voted for the iraq war, and she pursued pretty interventionist policies as secretary of state.

If you're going to be using voting for multiple military actions that ended in widespread bloodshed and interventionist policies as metrics, then everybody's hands have blood on them, and that includes Sanders.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:20 AM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


I would be interested in how a genuine "peace" candidate could get anywhere in 2016 and what that would look like. The only reason a lot of European powers aren't out colonizing and nation building at the scale that they were is because they can't afford it, not because they have realized the error of their ways.

America still has the resources, finances and status to be World Police and until we lose those by force whoever is in charge is going to have to grapple with that.

I mean that was a huge part of why people loved the West Wing - it didn't gloss over those decisions. It didn't shy away from the compromises and decisions that put blood on the hands of "well meaning" people.
posted by zutalors! at 11:20 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


There's literally no way he doesn't have a tie rack in his bedroom with, like 20 copies of that exact pattern, right?

Buckaroo Clinton: Loan her your jacket.
Perfect Timmy: Why me?
Buckaroo Clinton: Cuz you're perfect.
Perfect Timmy: Good point.
 
posted by Herodios at 11:22 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


Oh hey, a way to make this about a pet subject!

How H.P. Lovecraft speaks to our terrifying political times
posted by Artw at 11:23 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I would be interested in how a genuine "peace" candidate could get anywhere in 2016

Consider the career of Dennis Kucinich.
 
posted by Herodios at 11:25 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


I mean, I kind of remember that being her position back then, and the slate article has it on the record. So for me it either means (a) she was way too naive to recognize the drumbeat for war that anybody could've pointed out to her (which would be totally amazing given her years of public service already), or (b) she knew it was a vote for war and was using the bullshit about UN compliance to give her a way out of voting for war while still voting for it.

Neither interpretation paints her in a very good light.

I can't wait to vote for her in November. I'm with her.
posted by dis_integration at 11:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Tim Kaine has a lucky tie. Or maybe just one tie.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a master list of regimental striping patterns online anywhere, because now I'm really curious what society or military unit Kaine is (intentionally or unwittingly) claiming an affiliation with.
posted by jackbishop at 11:27 AM on July 28, 2016


She's more hawkish than I would like, but she doesn't see the military as the solution to every problem, and she's not an idiot. If she brings us into war, she'll have a plan to get us out. When the alternative is Donald Trump, that's saying a lot.

Seconded. I will say that her record on Iraq is one of the things I liked least about her; and it is one of the reasons why I supported Bernie Sanders in the primary. I do understand that this was a tough decision, but it was tough for the people who voted "no" too, and there are people who picked "no" when presented with the same clusterfuck of half-truths, and it's my prerogative to prefer someone not have voted "Yes".

By the same token, though, I was one of the "Our grief is not a cry for war" peaceniks in 9/11's wake, and I acknowledge that mine is the minority position on that front anyway. I'm also pleased at what she's done in support of the Zadroga Act, which for me goes a long way towards answering my concerns about "are you a politician who's using 9/11 as a facade or do you actually give a damn".

In short, Hillary is a person of contrasts, and you tend to find such contrasts within people who are mature and nuanced. It's the single-minded obsessive fucktrumpets you gotta watch out for.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:27 AM on July 28, 2016 [20 favorites]


I have a really hard time believing that Hillary did not know the Iraq war vote was wrong... but I will never know for sure, and as others have pointed out, there isn't another choice right now anyway.

Consider the career of Dennis Kucinich.

or Paul Wellstone.
posted by maggiemaggie at 11:30 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


A Hawk She is Not: The Truth About Hillary Clinton's Foreign Policy Views:
To truly understand Hillary Clinton's record, let's look at her own words and actions in an effort to see if she truly is a war hawk. Let's start with the Iraq vote because that is seen as the apex of her warlike desires. Clinton has gone on record by describing the reasoning behind her vote and the reason is as follows: George W. Bush lied about his intentions. To understand this, you have to look back to the events of October 2002 where Congress was about to vote on a resolution that would force Saddam Hussein to allow United Nations inspectors to verify whether or not Hussein had destroyed his chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons sites. Hillary Clinton, like many of her peers, believed that a yes vote would be a strong piece of leverage to finish the negotiations between the United Nations and Saddam Hussein.
...
Of course, as we now know, President Bush did not use his powers as a last resort as Clinton implored but instead he used to vote to assert his authority to make war on Iraq in what became the worst foreign policy decision in forty years. However, to read Clinton's speech on the Senate floor and to understand the subsequent betrayal by President Bush, one can see that Clinton's vote simply echoes her philosophy that one should use military intervention only as a last resort.
Hillary Clinton Told the Truth About Her Iraq War Vote:
President Bush, she told the audience, had made a “very explicit appeal” that “getting this vote would be a strong piece of leverage in order to finish the inspections.” In other words, a resolution to use force would prod Saddam Hussein into readmitting U.N. inspectors, so they could continue their mission of verifying whether or not he had destroyed his chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons sites. In other words, Clinton was now claiming she voted the way she did in the interests of diplomacy; the problem was that Bush went back on his word—he invaded before giving the inspectors enough time.
...
Looking up those details now, I have come to a conclusion about the rationale she recited at the New Hampshire town hall: Hillary was telling the truth.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:31 AM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


A lot of people will go 'so what if he moved into an integrated neighborhood and sent his kids to a majority-AA school? That's just basic human decency.'

As the mother of an almost-school-aged kid, even in a liberal (but not very integrated, tbh) city, doing this--even in 2016--is so totally not a given. Nearly everyone I talk to assumes that when my son starts kindergarten, we will move to the suburbs (the "right" suburbs), because that is just what you do. White flight is still alive and well. Above the Mason-Dixon line, in a liberal city, in 2016, among many people who consider themselves decent human beings.
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [35 favorites]


corb: My best explanation of my feels is that I mentally associate "pants suits" with a very specific time period in, I want to say 1980s-1990s? When feminism was not really firmly established, and so a lot of male gatekeepers were saying women needed to look and act like men in order to be taken seriously, and a lot of women were buying into that and internalizing that and becoming kind of capos, wearing pants suits all the time and shaming women who wore feminine attire as frivolous while they were Serious Business.

At least she doesn't wear one of those floppy bow ties that were briefly the trend in women's business wear.
posted by msalt at 11:32 AM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


> I'll enjoy your delighted surprise when she is in the White House and pursuing the same progressive agenda that she's always had.


Right now on these threads I'm feeling a weird mirror image version of what I felt early in the primaries, round about New Hampshire, back when the site as a whole was very, very excited about Sanders. Back then I was like "guys I was on team surprise left-of-center insurgent from Vermont back in 2004, and I got super invested, and I was completely crushed when the inevitable happened, so this time although I'm going to give money and volunteer and everything, I am not going to tell myself stories about the candidate and his chances that aren't true."

And now I feel a bit like I did later in 2004, when I somehow managed to get totally fired up, super, super excited, about John Kerry — not just as a lesser of two evils, but as in and of himself a stellar candidate for President. Which, well, yeah.

Clinton is a moderate. "Moderate" in America means "sometimes glaringly awful." The walk back to the right that she's going to make when (inshallah) she's President has already begun; witness McAullife's accidental beans-spilling about how Clinton will be a TPP supporter again as soon as it's politically feasible.

One of the things that makes these election threads so complicated is that they're serving two social functions at once. On the one hand, they're sites for thoughtful analysis and thoughtful discussion (read: beanplating). This is fine. And on the other hand they're sites for building energy and togetherness, sort of a rolling political rally in text form. This is also fine.

The problem comes when the political rally function of the site starts to interfere with the analytical-discussion function. Clinton has many good qualities, but describing her as a progressive who's always been a progressive and has always worked for a progressive agenda is just not true. Certainly, she's someone who is responsive to pressure from progressives when that pressure is well organized enough to be a threat, but the core of her values are and have been more Third Way than progressive as such.

The election does not hinge on whether or not metafilter is sufficiently excited about Clinton. And if we treat excitement for Clinton as the thing the site is for, we're setting ourselves up for total heartbreak when she (oh god please) gets into office and pushes for a Third Way agenda.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:33 AM on July 28, 2016 [24 favorites]


Hillary may be a hawk, but her opponent literally wants to bomb the rest of the world to glass, so can't we please talk about that after November?
posted by corb at 11:34 AM on July 28, 2016 [22 favorites]


Compare the way people use the word interventionist with Hillary Clinton (a dirty word, a euphemism for warmongering, the US playing World Police that no one wants) compared to the way it is used in writeups of Bill Clinton's decision to keep US forces out of Rwanda (a failure to intervene, his refusal to intervene, his cowardly decision not to intervene).

She's damned as an interventionist for "butting in" to global conflicts, and yet Bill is retroactively damned as someone who refused to intervene, and yet Obama is a fraud because we still have troops in Afghanistan. Warhawk if you intervene, craven coward if you don't. The reason the office turns your hair white is because there is never a right answer, but decisions still have to be made.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 11:35 AM on July 28, 2016 [37 favorites]


Asked if they feel more or less safe living in America than they did five to 10 years ago, 56 percent of Pennsylvanians said less safe

IMHO results for this question and "Is the country on the right track?" are frequently misinterpreted. Because the violent pseudo-facism of the Trump campaign and alt-right movements are a big part of what make people concerned about the present.

The negative results on these questions combine paranoid racist whites upset that minorities are finally gaining power, and everyone else who's afraid of racist violence.
posted by msalt at 11:36 AM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


I was surprised Trump didn't stop by the casino while he was in town.

Hollywood Casino probably didn't want to deal with the security nightmare.

I'm so relieved Elder Monster got the hell out of Downtown early yesterday afternoon. When he got off work at 3PM, the Trumpsters were already swarming the area and his restaurant. He got called a "fucking camel jockey" on his way to Elder Monsterette's car. Downtown Toledo was not safe for Middle Eastern-type folks last night.
posted by MissySedai at 11:38 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


I just realized that Jon Favreau (Obama's old speechwriter, now host of the Keepin it 1600 podcast) teased one of the major lines in Obama's speech yesterday morning in this delightful tweet regarding the Busters' plan to hold a "fart-in" (WTF?) at the convention.
posted by acidic at 11:39 AM on July 28, 2016


Looking up those details now, I have come to a conclusion about the rationale she recited at the New Hampshire town hall: Hillary was telling the truth.

The dividing line back then was less about whether people believed that using a credible threat of force to back up demands for UN inspections was a good plan, than it was about whether they believed George W. Bush and the rest of his administration were full of shit and just saying whatever would get them permission to invade. I really really really doubt any of the Democrats who voted for the first AUMF did so because they wanted a war; their flaw was gullibility, which is still a pretty big flaw on the international stage.

The negative results on these questions combine paranoid racist whites upset that minorities are finally gaining power, and everyone else who's afraid of racist violence.

Yeah, I mean, I don't buy Trump's line about cities turning into violent hellscapes, but as a Jew in a country with a suddenly visible contingent of neo-Nazis I sure as hell feel less safe than I did in 2006.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:39 AM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


Hillary may be a hawk, but her opponent literally wants to bomb the rest of the world to glass, so can't we please talk about that after November?

I don't really see the need to micromanage what aspects of a candidate's ideology are in and out of bounds merely because their opponent might be worse on those same issues. I have found many of the comments in response to the question of Hillary's hawkishness so far very enlightening, and even though I will be enthusiastically voting for her, I do not see a discussion of her record on foreign policy as a sign of disloyalty to her, or an indication that she's not worth voting for in November. These threads don't exist for the sole purpose of trying to convince other community members to vote for one candidate or another.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:39 AM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


Also worth pointing out that, while of course there aren't many data points, nobody has to vote for 2002 Hillary, the first-term senator. The candidate on the ballot is 2016 Hillary, a much more experienced candidate.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 11:40 AM on July 28, 2016 [21 favorites]


I would really, really love it if Hillary won the election, the Democrats won the Senate, Merrick Garland withdrew himself from consideration, and she put someone super-liberal on the Supreme Court.
Nothing against Garland, but fuck those obstructionist Republicans.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:40 AM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


And if we treat excitement for Clinton as the thing the site is for, we're setting ourselves up for total heartbreak when she (oh god please) gets into office and pushes for a Third Way agenda.

Which is why we need to get as damned excited about candidates for Congress (and state legislatures, and governors, and freaking school board presidents) as for the Presidency. One of the biggest problems on the left the treatment of the Presidency like some sort of kingship, when Congress can make or break a President (as we are currently seeing). It's also one of the biggest problems with third parties; they go straight for the top and ignore everything else. Trump's worst excesses are made possible by the morally-adrift R majorities in Congress. If we can make inroads there, we don't have this Ogre's Choice every four years.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:40 AM on July 28, 2016 [16 favorites]


describing her as a progressive who's always been a progressive and has always worked for a progressive agenda is just not true.

I think that depends on how you define "progressive." For sure she's always been pro social justice, pro universal health care, and pro higher (and pegged to inflation) minimum wage.

On the other hand, she has never been an isolationist, of the economic or military variety. Personally I don't see that as the be-all and end-all of progressivism, though.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:40 AM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


Hillary Clinton is basically The Culture's candidate, not the Federation's. The Culture is essentially a culturally-imperialistic hegemony, but they feel like that's okay because, after all, they're right.

And most of the time, they are. They certainly don't have a Prime Directive.
posted by stolyarova at 11:44 AM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]




YOU GUYS. SIGNS.

They don't have that vertical MICHELLE sign! I want all the verticals!
posted by numaner at 11:45 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Annika Cicada @10:35: that brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing that!
posted by persona au gratin at 11:45 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]




Hillary Clinton is basically The Culture's candidate, not the Federation's. The Culture is essentially a culturally-imperialistic hegemony, but they feel like that's okay because, after all, they're right.

Too bad she hasn't bought into the Fully Automated Luxury Communism elements...
posted by knapah at 11:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Trump Jr. Says Obama Lifted Phrase From His RNC Speech

The article goes on to point out that Obama has been giving speeches that use the phrase in question since 2010.

Edit: stupid faster zombieflanders
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:48 AM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


'monica scandal
Mr Rogers has been hiding in a secure location all these years
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:49 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


We don't have the technology. If we did, I wouldn't be surprised. She's a pragmatist and the Culture is nothing if not ruthlessly pragmatic.
posted by stolyarova at 11:49 AM on July 28, 2016


Photoessay: Scenes From the Democratic National Convention, from The Atlantic's In Focus column by Alan Taylor
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:54 AM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


In other news, Trump is bizarrely instagramming and tweeting about how Sanders is weak, as though Sanders were still in the race? It's a shocking example of how he has no response to the attacks from last night on him. He's got no comebacks! (Also, he loves to show that moment that Sanders gave up the mic to BLM protestors over and over again as an example of weakness when all it says to me is that Trump is a racist.)
posted by dis_integration at 11:54 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


He's posting about Bernie because he's still stinging about Cruz and he's jealous.
posted by stolyarova at 11:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lakers #33! and UCLA!) just got added to the line-up tonight and Xavier Becerra (representing Downtown L.A. for 23 years!) also was added. Tack that onto Eric Garcetti (current mayor and Latino Jew) and Antonio Villaraigosa (past mayor), Los Angeles is kind of dominating tonight.

L.A. represent!
posted by Sophie1 at 11:55 AM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


'monica scandal

You can't retune a harmonica to play in a different key, so you need at least four to be able to play the set list for your average cover band. This is like saying "OMG, Martin O'Malley's guitar has six strings!"
posted by peeedro at 11:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


The article goes on to point out that Obama has been giving speeches that use the phrase in question since 2010.

Ivanka : Michael :: Junior : Sonny :: Eric : Fredo.
posted by holgate at 11:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


describing her as a progressive who's always been a progressive and has always worked for a progressive agenda is just not true.

Very true. But I think that one thing that doesn't get talked about a lot is the extent to which Hillary has had her eye on being President for a long time. The compromises inherent in planning for that are a very real thing. Votes have to be pragmatic to an extent, and they have to be representative of your constituents. We frequently talk about major politicians' votes as if they should be purely matters of conscience, but that isn't how we tend to think of the people we elect. We think of them as representing us and our desires. So we get disappointed when they don't vote the way we would like them to, and then blame them for selling out or something. It's a hard thing, in these very polarized times, to have a career where you are responsible for your votes and are still a viable candidate who can build a coalition.

I'm not suggesting that this excuses any vote one doesn't like, I am suggesting that purity tests for candidates are difficult because what looks pure today may not tomorrow.
posted by OmieWise at 11:56 AM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lakers #33! and UCLA!) just got added to the line-up tonight and Xavier Becerra (representing Downtown L.A. for 23 years!) also was added. Tack that onto Eric Garcetti (current mayor and Latino Jew) and Antonio Villaraigosa (past mayor), Los Angeles is kind of dominating tonight.

Weird, given that no one expects CA to be in play.
posted by OmieWise at 11:58 AM on July 28, 2016


My sexist reptile brain's "issue" with the pantsuits is the opposite of corb's. My kneejerk head thinks they're too feminine. Last night I was all, "Why can't women just wear legit suits that look serious like men's suits, like Obama's gorgeous gray suit (omgheissobeautiful), why does it have to be in a sprightly lady color, why does it have to have like a peplum, why does she have to look like my 6th-grade language arts teacher?" And then I noticed that the blue of her suit was almost the same color blue as the blue in the flag and then I realized I was looking at a stage on which was occurring one of the best things I'd ever see but I was not seeing it around the Glamour-don'ts "optics." And then I realized I shouldn't be subjecting my remembered 6th-grade language arts teacher to fashion criticisms, either, because Jesus Christ, was that really what was important, how much money did I think that poor woman had to spend on teacherwear, all that work she did to try to get that class in the habit of reading the newspaper every day so we would grow up to be good citizens and this is what you remember, that she wore polyester pants? All of this went rushing through my head in about ten seconds and then came the hug and suddenly I couldn't see anything because for some reason it was all blurry, and my dumb brain stopped talking and just said "yaaaaaaaaaay..."
posted by Don Pepino at 11:58 AM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


Trump doesn't understand, at all, the courage and grace it takes to endorse an opponent after a hard fought campaign.

This is because braggadocio is nothing like courage, and grace is something completely alien to the human cantaloupe.
posted by bearwife at 11:59 AM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


I really really really doubt any of the Democrats who voted for the first AUMF did so because they wanted a war; their flaw was gullibility, which is still a pretty big flaw on the international stage.

Or they thought that the vote was necessary as a diplomatic deterrent and thought that they could out-maneuver the worst of the blood-thirsty crazies (or that there were enough checks and balances on what they could do), and were wrong about the last bit.

There's a whole lot of ways for this to play out, and splitting hairs down to the last atom while second-guessing a decision which would necessarily be based on information that none of us will ever have access to seems fruitless.

She believed it was the right decision at the time. I didn't. But I also knew a hell of a lot less. In retrospect it's quite easy to say that the true depths of evil and mendacity in W's administration were obvious, but what I remember most from those terrible eight years was a constant feeling of "surely it can't get any worse," and then it would. And this is coming from someone who is gay, grew up with gay parents, and hated the shit out of those assholes from day 1. I'm not sure I'm going to fault anyone for believing that the president and the administration weren't completely batshit insane, as that seems like a reasonable starting point. This was in 2002, mind. That those of us who were hyper-partisan turned out to be right is not necessarily an argument in our favor; even a broken clock, etc.

Hillary, like most of us, seems to have learned to adjust her expectations of the GOP ever downwards. And that is sort of the key point: she learns. She has more experience, and knows more, than any other candidate in history. And she uses American power to try to avoid disaster, not mindlessly accrue power. (If you insist that last point is inaccurate after everything we've seen this week, even, please show your work.)(

I'm not sure what else people want.
posted by schadenfrau at 12:00 PM on July 28, 2016 [20 favorites]


I can't see Trump giving a concession speech. I picture him more helicoptering away with moneybags while cackling.
posted by drezdn at 12:01 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Compare the way people use the word interventionist with Hillary Clinton (a dirty word, a euphemism for warmongering, the US playing World Police that no one wants) compared to the way it is used in writeups of Bill Clinton's decision to keep US forces out of Rwanda (a failure to intervene, his refusal to intervene, his cowardly decision not to intervene).

Our failure to step into the Rwandan genocide remains a huge, huge black mark on the Bill Clinton presidency. After Somalia you had a skittish Clinton wanting to avoid involvement, to the point that the US outright refused to use the word "genocide" to describe what was happening because the UN Charter would get invoked if it was.

The end result was 400,000 dead, a crisis that spilled over into Zaire and proved to be the tipping point for their civil war, aka Africa's World War. And the movement of peoples that resulted helped spread HIV across sub-Saharan Africa. Millions died, millions were displaced.

And yes, Rwanda led us into Kosovo (which, I remind everyone, Bernie voted in favor of intervening in.)

We need to separate "warmongering" from "interventionism." The unfortunate truth is sometimes we will have to fight. The question is whether we are quick to reach for the sword or if we conduct ourselves so that we won't have to reach for them. Clinton voting for Iraq was a black spot, I agree. At the same time, she helped get us a nuclear deal with Iran when the GOP was singing "bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb-bomb Iran." She's not a perfect candidate, far from it. But I don't see her as someone who is going to reach for the sword first. Trump, OTOH, I have serious fears about him getting us into multiple wars we shouldn't get into -- while insisting the next Rwanda is none of our business.
posted by dw at 12:02 PM on July 28, 2016 [30 favorites]


> think that depends on how you define "progressive." For sure she's always been pro social justice, pro universal health care, and pro higher (and pegged to inflation) minimum wage.

On the other hand, she has never been an isolationist, of the economic or military variety. Personally I don't see that as the be-all and end-all of progressivism, though.


In reverse order: re: militarism, no one serves as U.S. Secretary of State without leaving the office with at least some blood on their hands. It's, well, it's just the sort of country we are, and it's just the role we play in the world. I hate it, but I can't really blame Clinton (or Kerry, or any other sec state) for it.

re: isolationism, I don't think it's terribly helpful to equate opposition to the TPP to isolationism. boo to that line.

re: minimum wage, the "you must be this tall or taller to ride this ride" line for progressives is 15 these days. And though right now she's expressing guarded support for a federal 15, I would be stunned if she didn't revert to 12 as soon as it's politically feasible. She can be pushed to progressive stances when progressives make her. Pretending, though, that this makes her a progressive is just setting yourself up for heartbreak a few months for now.

Like, look, I try not to be a Debbie downer at the start of these threads, cause I respect and enjoy all the happiness about each new joyful thing that happens each day of the convention. but down here at the bottom, I totally feel comfortable saying that it's probably best for people on the left to be a little bit more level headed in their support for Clinton. Please support her — but please, don't pretend she's someone she isn't.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:03 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


We have to actually keep engaged after the election. We can't get lazy.
posted by Annika Cicada at 12:04 PM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


I can't see Trump giving a concession speech. I picture him more helicoptering away with moneybags while cackling.

He'll give a "the bitch stole it" speech, and refuse to concede. I wish I could make a bet on this. I figure 10:1 Trump loses and then never concedes, and a large portion of his supporters refuse to acknowledge Clinton as a legitimate president.
posted by dis_integration at 12:04 PM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


I can't see Trump giving a concession speech. I picture him more helicoptering away with moneybags while cackling.

"I never wanted to be president. You think I was seriously running for president? With all the stuff I said? This was all a big joke. And you just ate it up. Sad!"
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:04 PM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


Edit: stupid faster zombieflanders

I thought it was stupid sexy zombieflanders.
posted by Talez at 12:06 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


"I never wanted to be president. "

"Of course I was being sarcastic! Did you see me ride the escalator down to announce my candidacy?"
posted by dis_integration at 12:07 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


and a large portion of his supporters refuse to acknowledge Clinton as a legitimate president.

Which would turn the focus back on people like Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan.
posted by holgate at 12:07 PM on July 28, 2016


Trumps concession will be 140 characters or less.

(Trump must use twitter because he doesn't have a lot of character to begin with)
posted by mrzarquon at 12:08 PM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


I'm glad the cases of Yugoslavia, and, especially, Rwanda, are being mentioned as part of the explanation for Clinton's relative hawkishness. Remember that anti-war activism was originally what drew her to the Democratic party. I think the failure of the U.S. to intervene in the Rwandan genocide traumatized a generation of basically anti-war liberal politicians, including Clinton, and rightly so. This terrible mistake was still in their minds when the Bush administration fabricated evidence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, and it was already well known that Hussein was prone to engage in ethnically-targeted violence. I was not and am not happy about the Iraq war vote, but I understand why so many liberals voted for it, and I don't think it makes them vile warmongers.
posted by biogeo at 12:08 PM on July 28, 2016 [20 favorites]


He has never gotten so much attention in his life, and attention is what he lives on. I predict that if Trump loses, he'll run again in 2020.
posted by clawsoon at 12:09 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Robert Kagan and Other Neocons Are Backing Hillary Clinton

Any remaining doubts about Clinton's upcoming pivot back to supporting TPP after she wins the election? Do you really imagine she'll side with Sanders supporters over these sorts of DC power brokers who normally back the Republicans?
posted by jeffburdges at 12:09 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I think the pantsuit debate really underscores that there is no way for women to dress "neutrally". If you wear a suit or a tux, you are wearing "masculine" clothing. If you don't like skirts or dresses, there is very little you can wear in a formal setting that does not come across as you trying to dress "like a man".
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:10 PM on July 28, 2016 [31 favorites]


Amen Sophie1. LA represent!
posted by persona au gratin at 12:10 PM on July 28, 2016


What is all of this supposed to accomplish, at this point?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 12:12 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


> Any remaining doubts about Clinton's upcoming pivot back to supporting TPP after she wins the election?

So are you saying there shouldn't be a trade agreement with the smaller economy powers in the asia region? I'm just wondering if any future trade agreement is going to be labeled as the TPP or if you are for an isolationist government that doesn't have any trade agreements with neighboring economies.
posted by mrzarquon at 12:12 PM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


jeffburges, your link is broken.
posted by clawsoon at 12:12 PM on July 28, 2016


i think a lot of HRC's clothes are plenty feminine. Just the ones she wears in front of big crowds are the bulky pantsuits. I assume because she needs to wear body armor.
posted by zutalors! at 12:12 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Our failure to step into the Rwandan genocide remains a huge, huge black mark on the Bill Clinton presidency.

I completely agree-- but the protestors who were chanting "NO MORE WAR" yesterday were, effectively, supporting that decision, because that's what refusing to engage in military action actually means. Sometimes, it means that you could have helped people, but stayed out of it instead. Sometimes, not engaging is an abdication of justice.

And you can't always tell which crisis is which, until it is too late.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 12:13 PM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


It looks like the Trump folks pulled the dumps of oppo research off his website too, so they can't really claim they meant to do that.
posted by zachlipton at 12:13 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Robert Kagan and Other Neocons Are Backing Hillary Clinton

Any remaining doubts about Clinton's upcoming pivot back to supporting TPP after she wins the election? Do you really imagine she'll side with Sanders supporters over these sorts of DC power brokers who normally back the Republicans?


Which underlines the need to turn Congress progressive. You're never going to get your perfect candidate, so get other people in to office who can advocate for your positions.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:13 PM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


(Trump must use twitter because he doesn't have a lot of character to begin with)

Trump has characters. He has all the characters! He has the best characters.
posted by Talez at 12:13 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


these sorts of DC power brokers who normally back the Republicans?

Because surely there could be no other reason that they'd turn away from the fine candidate put forward by their own party?

(I mean, I am skeptical, pressure should be kept up after the election, vote all the way down the ballot to send people to DC to help keep that pressure on, etc...)
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


re: minimum wage, the "you must be this tall or taller to ride this ride" line for progressives is 15 these days. And though right now she's expressing guarded support for a federal 15, I would be stunned if she didn't revert to 12 as soon as it's politically feasible. She can be pushed to progressive stances when progressives make her. Pretending, though, that this makes her a progressive is just setting yourself up for heartbreak a few months for now.

This sort of bothers me, not because I think you're wrong (I don't think Clinton is progressive), but because I don't think that just because a position is progressive it's the right one for the time and place or necessarily feasible. I mean, broadly, Presidents get a certain amount of political capital. They invariably have an agenda that exceeds that capital. They have enemies that want to shut down their best intentions. They have diverse constituencies that they need to satisfy. Is a $15 minimum wage the most important thing Clinton could and should accomplish? Should she put all her eggs in that basket, or a disproportionate amount of eggs? I don't know. I really don't. I know I support $15, but I support a lot of things (like a universal guaranteed income) that I know are just simply politically out of the question anytime soon. And I'm not suggesting that any compromise is a good one, or that Clinton will always make the right choice in compromising, but I do think that while I might be disappointed about the particular resolution of issues I trust that Clinton will be trying to get the most of what she can.

I guess I'm saying that I'm not sure how useful it is to be a single-issue voter or how fair it is to judge someone's progressive bona fides on the basis of what they do with one issue. It's easy to promise, it's hard to govern.
posted by OmieWise at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [18 favorites]


I assume because she needs to wear body armor.

I've been wondering if that is why she has been on stage so rarely-- I have to imagine there have been a lot of threats.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


And if we treat excitement for Clinton as the thing the site is for, we're setting ourselves up for total heartbreak when she (oh god please) gets into office and pushes for a Third Way agenda.

People keep asserting this and I think it's nonsense. The Third Way stuff was a specific response to a specific political period in America's history which is now over, and the trajectory of the Democrats' platform is way way way the fuck more liberal than it was back then. Why would Clinton ignore these sweeping historical trends to go back to a set of positions that were a direct response to Reagan and Bush I? It just plain makes no sense.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [26 favorites]


Kagan and Other Neocons Back Hillary Clinton. Here's a fixed link.
posted by dis_integration at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


dis_integration: He'll give a "the bitch stole it" speech, and refuse to concede. I wish I could make a bet on this. I figure 10:1 Trump loses and then never concedes, and a large portion of his supporters refuse to acknowledge Clinton as a legitimate president.

One of the AMA questions was about election fraud and how they were afraid Hillary would steal the election, so they're primed for this sort of thing. I truly hope he would have enough grace to concede, because I could see violence or unrest coming out of this if he plays it that way.

A worse thought: if he wins and, following tradition, Obama has to write him a personal letter of congratulations. What on Earth could Obama write that would have any impact?
posted by bluecore at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016


No, no matter how decisively he gets stomped, Trump will maintain that he won and Clinton rigged the election against him. He will sincerely believe this, as will many of his followers.

The rigged election will also be the reason he gives for not running again as an independent. (I am assuming, optimistically, that the Republicans would not nominate him a second time.)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 12:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I completely agree, dis_integration. I just hope they subside into sulks after the election, as they did after Obama's. (Except for a handful of pecks who burned a black church in Western Mass. on election night. But no one was hurt and punishment was forthcoming, so there was that at least.)
posted by Countess Elena at 12:15 PM on July 28, 2016




Well put, showbiz_liz!
posted by persona au gratin at 12:16 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Donald Trump's campaign should, obviously, be trying to gain the support of Sanders supporters by attacking Clinton. Instead, they are apparently trying to win Sanders supporters by attacking Sanders, a man whom that audience admires by definition, who is no longer running for president. Let's take a moment to marvel at how incompetent that is.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:16 PM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


I've been wondering if that is why she has been on stage so rarely-- I have to imagine there have been a lot of threats.

AFAIK, it's traditional to the candidate to stay out of sight during most of the convention until their big speech on the last day.
posted by arcolz at 12:18 PM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Which underlines the need to turn Congress progressive. You're never going to get your perfect candidate, so get other people in to office who can advocate for your positions.

That's too hard. All that engagement, and paying attention to topics global and local, and work work work. Can't we just show up once every four years and fart while people are speaking and be really obnoxious and revolutionize and stuff?
posted by tclark at 12:18 PM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


She can be pushed to progressive stances when progressives make her.

Then let's elect as many progressives and Democrats to Congress as we can, and do it again in 2020.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:18 PM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


A worse thought: if he wins and, following tradition, Obama has to write him a personal letter of congratulations. What on Earth could Obama write that would have any impact?

"Oh gosh, you know, I'm not much on speeches, but it's so gratifying to leave you wallowing in the mess you've made, you're screwed, thank you, bye."
posted by palindromic at 12:19 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Then let's elect as many progressives and Democrats to Congress as we can, and do it again in 2020.

And 2018!
posted by Existential Dread at 12:20 PM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


Catching up now. The thread broke for me last night. I thought we took down Metafilter with all the rapid fire posts, but reading back through I guess my browser just couldn't handle it anymore.

I guess it's time for me to donate to Clinton, huh? Obama was the only politician I ever donated to back in 2008 and I haven't donated to anyone since. And I didn't plan on giving anything this year since I knew Sanders wasn't going to win and I figured Clinton would have plenty of money. But after the frightening disaster of last week and the sharp contrast in positive rhetoric from the Democrats this week, I have to support optimism over fear. Love over hate. Helping over yelling.

Anyone know of a good way for a person in a solid blue state with a full time job (so no daily availability) and severe social anxiety (so phones or door-to-door work are right out) to volunteer? Trump can't happen.
posted by downtohisturtles at 12:20 PM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


That HuffPo piece about the 2002 AUMF vote by Hillary is terrific. Once again, things are complicated and nuanced, more so than one would think from some on the left of Clinton.
posted by persona au gratin at 12:20 PM on July 28, 2016


Serious question for those of you saying Clinton is not Progressive: is Progressivism defined by goals or methods? Trying to decide whether or not I need to stop identifying with the label "Progressive."
posted by biogeo at 12:21 PM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


I would really, really love it if Hillary won the election, the Democrats won the Senate, Merrick Garland withdrew himself from consideration, and she put someone super-liberal on the Supreme Court.

Given that I'm sure that Garland has accepted his role as sacrificial lamb, so would I. It'd give Obama his rightful pick for a SCOTUS seat while daring the Republicans to block whoever it is, knowing Clinton might appoint someone they like even less.

Regardless, however, even if it is Garland, a SCOTUS pick for Scalia's old seat by any Democratic president will tip the balance of the Court, at long last, away from the Republicans.

(And I understand that he's said he isn't interested, but I would love Obama to follow William Howard Taft onto the Court after his stint in the White House.)
posted by Gelatin at 12:22 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


As an Old, I don't even know what I would be called these days, since the terms of my misspent youth are now declasse.
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:22 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]




'monica scandal
Mr Rogers has been hiding in a secure location all these years


harmonica badass #1 Charles "Harmonica" Bronson
Typical laconic violent Leone western anti-hero -- except that he plays a harmonica. Guns down Henry Fonda (!) and shoves a harmonica in his mouth as he dies (has his reasons) in Leone's Once Upon A Time In The West.

harmonica badass #2 James Cotton
Still touring in his eighties, despite being robbed of his singing voice by throat cancer twenty years ago.

harmonica badass #3 Rice Miller
Started billing himself as "Sonny Boy Williamson" years before the unrelated and stylistically distinct John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson passed away. Will not fatten frogs for snakes.
 
posted by Herodios at 12:23 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Instead, they are apparently trying to win Sanders supporters by attacking Sanders, a man whom that audience admires by definition, who is no longer running for president.

It's a bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off for them.
posted by Roommate at 12:23 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


re: minimum wage, the "you must be this tall or taller to ride this ride" line for progressives is 15 these days. And though right now she's expressing guarded support for a federal 15, I would be stunned if she didn't revert to 12 as soon as it's politically feasible. She can be pushed to progressive stances when progressives make her. Pretending, though, that this makes her a progressive is just setting yourself up for heartbreak a few months for now.


Pop quiz, which senator in 2006 authored (not co-authored) the Standing with Minimum Wage act, which aimed to neary double the Minimum Wage from $5.85 to $9.50 and peg automatic annual increases to increases in congressional salaries?

That's correct, it was Senator Clinton of NY.
posted by pocketfullofrye at 12:26 PM on July 28, 2016 [60 favorites]


He'll give a "the bitch stole it" speech, and refuse to concede. I wish I could make a bet on this. I figure 10:1 Trump loses and then never concedes, and a large portion of his supporters refuse to acknowledge Clinton as a legitimate president.

Of course -- Trump was prominent among those Republicans who never accepted the legitimacy of Barack Obama's presidency, and Trump wasn't even running against him.

Which is all doubly ironic after the Miserable Failure, George W. Bush, arguably had the election stolen for him by a partisan Supreme Court, and yet Democrats generally at least accepted the finality of that decision (and on top of that rallied around him after he was obviously asleep at the switch prior to 9/11, which I can not even imagine most Republicans doing were the situations reversed -- look at the hysterical response to Benghazi).
posted by Gelatin at 12:27 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Is anyone working on a thread for tonight, or can I?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Instead, they are apparently trying to win Sanders supporters by attacking Sanders

Everyone knows when the new alpha male defeats the old one, all the old one's followers automatically get in line. That's the law of the jungle.

Meanwhile, back in civilization...
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:30 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


harmonica badass #1

While I appreciate this list, your lack of Kim Wilson or Charlie Musselwhite is deeply disconcerting to me, and I think you and I need to discuss this.
posted by middleclasstool at 12:31 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Don't forget Stan Musial!
posted by Groundhog Week at 12:33 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Instead, they are apparently trying to win Sanders supporters by attacking Sanders

It's working for other Sanders supporters.

They sit in their hovels shitting on everything that Bernie tells them would further their goals.
posted by Talez at 12:33 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]



Is anyone working on a thread for tonight, or can I?


Can you think of a good Hamilton reference?
posted by drezdn at 12:34 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


That clip of Tim Kaine playing mouth harp at the Floyd Country Store is great. If any of you guys are ever going through Southwest Virginia, you've got to stop and check out Floyd (or as it's sometimes known, the People's Republic of Floyd). It's a lovely little town just brimming with quirk.
posted by biogeo at 12:34 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


they are apparently trying to win Sanders supporters by attacking Sanders

The only candidates Trump has backed off of are the ones who publicly kissed his ring. Do you honestly think he won't carry grudges against half of Washington in any November outcome?
posted by cmfletcher at 12:34 PM on July 28, 2016


In the fray of the live-blogging last night, I missed this response to my comment about PA being a "swingy" state even if it's not a "swing" state by some arbitrary binary metric:

The Republicans make noise every four years about picking off Pennsylvania, and it's always kind of silly because it's like - if they win Pennsylvania, they win a bunch of other states that put them over the top already. Pennsylvania (like Georgia for Dems) wasn't going to be the tipping point.

This assumes that there is one true ordering of states from red to blue that is (a) impervious to issue-based appeals to regional concerns, and (b) not affected by a campaign strategy that focuses on demographic differences in those states. For (a), think about the coal issue in West Virginia, and for (b) think about the appeal of protecting and expanding Social Security / Medicaid in Florida because of all of the old people.

My point was that PA has both of these things going on. There are regional issues (opposition to gun control, support for dirty fuels that some voters believe create jobs, etc.) that may confound attempts to put the state on a simple linear scale, and there are demographic / cultural things going on (old people, sympathy toward "fiscal conservatives" whether they're Ds or Rs) that may do the same.

So, no, I don't think you can a priori decide which state or states represent the fulcrum, certainly not with the limited polling data we have. We've seen "weird" results out of PA specifically that hint that there might be an unexpected Trump lean here, and as time goes on, maybe we'll be able to tease out exactly what's going on there, but I don't think you can dismiss those polls as out of step with some kind of rigid left-to-right ordering of states.
posted by tonycpsu at 12:34 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


drezdn: Can you think of a good Hamilton reference?

Um, if the title isn't about including women in the sequel, I'm gonna have to boycott the thread. #ForTheRevolution #RiseUp
posted by Superplin at 12:37 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Kaine: Donald Trump is right. I was a "lousy" New Jersey governor.
posted by Sophie1 at 12:37 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Charlie Pierce: A Moment Like This Used to Get a Black Man Killed
On stage a young black man, the president of the United States, warmly embraced an older white woman in front of god and all the world. It is now an iconic photograph. If it had occurred on a weed-choked street in Mississippi within the lifetime of many of the people who were cheering the moment, the young man might have been beaten, burned, hung, thrown into a river with a cotton fan tied to his neck. A song began to rise through the history of the moment:

Southern trees bear a strange fruit/Blood on the leaves and blood at the root/Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze/Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees…

But it was not those days any longer. The young man was the President of the United States and he has rung his changes on that song, and on an occasionally baffled democracy. Surely, he has done that.
Except he hasn't. I'm not degrading Obama here, but how many black people died during his two terms at the hands of police and supposed community protectors, killed while they were no physical threat to anyone?

If we took Obama and Clinton out of the context of the DNC presentation, changed his attire and put them on some street in America, what would happen? Sure, he wouldn't be beaten by a mob of white men, but he could still be shot by a single white man, and he would still be just as dead.

This is a issue bigger than Obama. The ghosts of "strange fruit" reside in the streets of America, no longer displayed with grinning mobs of white men, but black men and women are still dying at the hands of white people, people in power, for no reason other than racial biases and fears and there is a stark unbalance of power.

I appreciate the idea behind that article, I loved the moment that Barack and Hillary embraced, I loved the emotion they both had in that moment, and things have changed, but that terrible past still haunts this country.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:39 PM on July 28, 2016 [19 favorites]


harmonica badass #1

While I appreciate this list, your lack of Kim Wilson or Charlie Musselwhite is deeply disconcerting to me, and I think you and I need to discuss this.


Your favourite badass sucks.
 
posted by Herodios at 12:41 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Damn, that WaPo video is amazing if you know the players.
posted by corb at 12:43 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Yeah, the interventionism thing is difficult. There are times when we should intervene for all the right reasons (the Rwandan genocide, for example), but the line between 'ethical intervention' and the neocons' freedom-boner-military-hijacking of other countries has historically been a lot fuzzier than it should be. During the Bush years, of course, the rampant abuse of American military power was rightly criticized and protested. And our Cold War tactics in central and south America, not to mention Vietnam, were detestable.

But even so, there are also many parts of the world that are very happy that they have the American military backing them up. For example: my dad was born in Estonia in 1940, three months after the Soviet Union forcibly annexed it. Several of his aunts and uncles were loaded onto cattle cars and shipped to the gulags in Siberia, where most of them froze to death working in copper mines. By some miracle, he and his immediate family all survived the slaughter of World War Two and made it to America.

My dad never thought he would live to see the collapse of the Soviet empire until it actually happened. The problem was, it didn't take very long for Vladimir Putin to weasel his way up to the top and start an inexorable campaign of post-Soviet ratfuckery and irredentism. So when the Baltic states were finally admitted to NATO in 2004, you can bet that those countries breathed a giant collective sigh of relief. All of which is to say that Hillary's commitment to this brand of foreign interventionism is one of the many, many reasons that my dad (and the rest of my family) plans to vote for her. Tronald Dump's treaty-breaking isolationism would give Vladimir Putin carte blanche to repeat the Crimea and Abkhazia debacles in the Baltic States.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 12:45 PM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it
posted by beerperson at 12:46 PM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


$20, the same as in town.
posted by drezdn at 12:47 PM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


it's the story of the founding fathers, told with animal puppets. Hamilton is a pig of course
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:47 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


$10, same as in town
posted by Huffy Puffy at 12:47 PM on July 28, 2016 [15 favorites]


know little of your "super bowls", but this -- all of this -- is The Greatest Show On Earth.

The roll calls, the regional accents, the state boosterism; the great speeches, the lousy ones, the wtf ones; the party lions, young and old, and the people enjoying their one 15 minutes of fame; the music cues, the music miscues; the goofy signs...


And best of all, the goofy hats and the clothes wearing people.
posted by y2karl at 12:47 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


"Progressive" is a loose bag of a term that doesn't refer to either methods or goals or even values, not exactly. So I can't help you with that. Identify as you please.

re: 12 vs 15, there are a lot of people in America who legit believe that 15 is "too much" - either that certain people and certain types of work don't merit 15 dollars an hour, or that a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage will cause negative economic effects. People with the first set of beliefs are self-important fools with bad values. I don't even know how to disagree with them. People with the second set of beliefs I ferociously disagree with — I think we're in a long-standing demand side crunch and that pushing up wages as far as possible is how to get out of it.

Then there's the people who support 15 in their hearts and souls or whatever, but believe that 12 is the only feasible thing in America right now. And they may be right. I think this may be what you're getting at with the values v. methods question? I'm in a little bit of a bubble; for the past ten years I've been living in west coast cities featuring strong, deep support for 15 among the electorate, but where the chamber-of-commerce-backed candidates for elected office consistebtly push for 12/12.50 instead. In these cities, if 15 (or 19, or 22) isn't politically feasible, the reason isn't because of a lack of popular support, but instead because of the presence of chamber-backed candidates with deep pockets holding us back with FUD campaigns. In this context, pushing for 12 isn't a method for getting the minimum wage as high as is politically feasible. Instead, it's a method to limit the increase in the minimum wage to something lower than what the electorate wants.

America on the whole is a worse place with worse values than Seattle or Oakland , so maybe pushing strongly for 15 would lose Clinton votes that her current "yeah uh I totally support 15 wink nudge but I'm willing to compromise" position wouldn't. But that is such a fine distinction that I don't think it's electorally meaningful.

The main thing I care about, though, in this particular context, is that people not pretend that she's leading the progressive parade. She's following that parade, occasionally, inconsistently, and only when she has to.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Do i hear $5
posted by Herodios at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it

A guy with invisible arms and legs, who can do this like electro-death-grip thingie
posted by Existential Dread at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


About the foreign policy: I'm foreign and American foreign policy means a lot to me. Like millions (actually, probably billions, but I didn't want to overdo it) of other people across the world, I am following every second of this closely, because it will with no doubt influence my everyday life from day one.

I'm European and I live on the border with Russia, I have friends and students for whom the Russian threat against the Baltic nations is real and terrifying. When the wall came down, I was working in Berlin. To this day, there are Russian submarines in our waters.
My brother, and other friends, were engaged in the Balkan wars.
For reasons, I have long-standing experience in the Middle East.
Some of my close friends are engaged in Chinese and Japanese business ventures
And finally, my sister-in-law volunteered in Rwanda.
In other words, every item that is theoretically discussed here is part of my very personal experience.

Still, I am not a capitalist - I'm a professor within a profession that leads to internationalism, and I'm an army brat who grew up knowing all sorts of people - I went to American schools because we were in NATO, and then to liberal schools because they were open to diverse multilingual kids.

From this perspective, my opinion is: there is no excuse for the Iraq war. Nope. None whatsoever. But Hillary has acknowledged that.
As far as several other international conflicts that have sprung out of the Iraq war, honestly, there are no simple solutions. Should the US intervene or not? No one knows. Thats how hard it is to be president.
About the Balkans: I have far too many friends who were saved by US intervention to be a pacifist

But that was about abroad. If there is one thing I really hate, deep in my heart, it is our conservative government's licking of the US ass, regardless of who is president. I'm tired now, but some other day I may make an FPP about our but-licking pols.
However, I get that they need the US administration to understand that regardless of our military investments, we can never, ever defend Eastern Europe without US support. Look at that "coalition of the willing" - in Europe at least, it was all about the border nations (and then UK, the bloody idiots). "we" want to pay in, so you must pay back. We love you guys, but we also need you. And we prefer you having a sane Commander in Chief
posted by mumimor at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [17 favorites]


I want to be in on the in joke but it feels wrong to listen to the soundtrack of Hamilton without seeing it performed, and I can't find a recording of the performance anywhere. (;_;)
posted by stolyarova at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it

This should help: Rap, The Musical
posted by dis_integration at 12:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


$15, same as in town
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:50 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


soren_lorensen: As the mother of an almost-school-aged kid, even in a liberal (but not very integrated, tbh) city, doing this--even in 2016--is so totally not a given. Nearly everyone I talk to assumes that when my son starts kindergarten, we will move to the suburbs (the "right" suburbs), because that is just what you do. White flight is still alive and well. Above the Mason-Dixon line, in a liberal city, in 2016, among many people who consider themselves decent human beings.

This is true, but it's the kind of thing that is easy to be very sarcastic and mocking about -- 'oooooooh, he lived with black people, so brave. Truly a profile in courage.' When in Virginia it really was a sign of someone who lived their beliefs, didn't just preach them.

I think his Spanish fluency is another subtle marker. A lot of people spend a year abroad for some kind of social work... but a lot of them also spend their down time only with other expatriates. Getting to be colloquially fluent in Spanish in only a year signals someone who genuinely immersed himself in the culture, spent time talking with people, didn't just helicopter in and out so he could pat himself on the back for doing good.
posted by tavella at 12:50 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


I want to be in on the in joke but it feels wrong to listen to the soundtrack of Hamilton without seeing it performed, and I can't find a recording of the performance anywhere. (;_;)

My understanding is that one does not yet exist, but one of the final performances for the original cast has indeed been recorded and will be available for purchase/streaming eventually.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:51 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


The only place I hear about Hamilton is on Metafilter. I've worked it out by context now, but it's not a thing outside the US, so... cut us some slack, people, or I'll have to brush off my cultural imperialism playbook.
posted by Devonian at 12:52 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


This assumes that there is one true ordering of states from red to blue that is (a) impervious to issue-based appeals to regional concerns, and (b) not affected by a campaign strategy that focuses on demographic differences in those states.

This is also where the electoral college kicks in. Pennsylvania's been losing EVs for years, and it's arguable that population shifts southward and westward might be enough to turn PA red while turning NC and perhaps even GA blue. But perhaps not enough. The nightmare-beyond-nightmare scenario here is a repeat of 2000 with a split between popular and electoral votes, because there'll be a 4-4 SCOTUS and no concessions. Winning a close one isn't good enough here.
posted by holgate at 12:52 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Day 4 thread.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:53 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


The only place I hear about Hamilton is on Metafilter. I've worked it out by context now, but it's not a thing outside the US, so... cut us some slack, people, or I'll have to brush off my cultural imperialism playbook.

I referenced it in passing at work (in the US) once and got blank stares, and then became the Expert Who Explains Hamilton despite never having listened to any of it.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 12:54 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


WHERE IS THE NEW THREAD IT IS 21 MINUTES PAST WHEN A NEW THREAD SHOULD BE UP

I'm still fired up, y'all.
posted by cooker girl at 12:54 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Haha! Jinx!
posted by cooker girl at 12:55 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Great title (and FPP)
posted by zachlipton at 12:55 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


You Can't Tip a Buick: re: 12 vs 15, there are a lot of people in America who legit believe that 15 is "too much"

If I were living in a rural area where the cost of living is way lower than in a typical city, I'd probably believe it, too. There should be some kind of purchasing power parity thingie in a minimum wage law.
posted by clawsoon at 12:55 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Point of order: There are people -- people you might even like if you met us socially -- who don't give a wet slap for Hamilton and are about done hearing about it.

Strewth.


As you were.

 
posted by Herodios at 12:56 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


$27, same as in the fundraising email.
posted by clawsoon at 12:58 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it

A watch.
posted by bongo_x at 12:59 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


$1500, same price as DNC donors.
posted by dis_integration at 12:59 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I wish the people who insist that Clinton merely follows other progressives because she has to would acknowledge the fact that she has led on rights for people with disabilities, women, and children for forty years, that she led on the minimum wage, that she led on health care reform . . . you know, she has certainly moved toward Sanders during this election (though she has been far more progressive on gun rights throughout), but being progressive, and good at achieving progressive change, is a long term thing of hers. Also, she is a heck of a good listener, to people who often get no hearing at all. That's another long term thing of hers.

Also, when he loses, I predict Trump will fade fast from view to his former semi-obscurity as an ignorant loudmouthed bigoted reality show star. And he'll probably live very well on the money of the minority that continues to love the way he voiced their own bigotry and fear and ignorance.
posted by bearwife at 1:00 PM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


If I were living in a rural area where the cost of living is way lower than in a typical city, I'd probably believe it, too. There should be some kind of purchasing power parity thingie in a minimum wage law.

"That’s right — the party of local control is actively blocking democratically elected local officials from establishing higher local minimum wages in states such as Alabama and Missouri. Eighteen other states also prohibit local action on the minimum wage."
posted by the man of twists and turns at 1:01 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Please support her — but please, don't pretend she's someone she isn't.

Learning who she is, is important, I agree. Unfortunately, there are many people who don't really seem to understand her motivations or her political history.

On certain issues, Clinton has been strongly consistent. An excellent example: gun control. She's been talking about it since she was First Lady. She was in favor of the assault weapons ban during her time as a Senator. She hasn't wavered on the topic, and her speeches about it have become flavored with a sense of urgency compared to 15 years ago.

She has been consistently pro-choice, since 1974. She started out as a pro-choice moderate on the issue, parroting the Democratic party's position: "Safe, legal, rare." That hasn't changed much either, although again, she's gotten more loudly vocal about it since she became a Senator.

She's been consistently strong on legislation and reform that would guarantee quality education for everyone. It's one of her career trademarks -- she sees education as a human right.

These issues, and others, all have a similar theme.

On certain issues however, she's changed her positions over time. Since 2008, she has moved to the left on certain topics, including supporting LGBTQ rights and equality and immigration reform.

Her opponents frequently attack her for the latter. They say she's not trustworthy. She'll change her mind again, etc.

But the reason she's evolved on certain issues is most likely not opportunism, as she's never shied away from her unpopular positions. She sees her mission in life, in part, as a fight against oppression. So I think she's learned to apply the same theme to those issues that runs through her positions on other issues: Safety and Opportunity, Fairness, Justice and Equality. Which is also the reason she says she now opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership: it's both unfair to American workers and the other signatories.

She's not a typical politician. I suspect her moves to the left are almost always centered around those same themes and goals, which would fit what she's said publicly and in her writing. Often, the shifts came after months of listening to her constituents, too.
posted by zarq at 1:01 PM on July 28, 2016 [16 favorites]






Then there's the people who support 15 in their hearts and souls or whatever, but believe that 12 is the only feasible thing in America right now. And they may be right. I think this may be what you're getting at with the values v. methods question?

Well, to be picky, I asked about methods vs. goals. Values influence both our goals and the methods we choose to pursue them. And though I didn't articulate it before, when I say "goals" I'm thinking in terms of more ultimate goals. So in this context, neither $12 nor $15 is what I'm considering a goal. "Everyone should be able to earn a living wage for full-time work" is a goal, minimum wage is one method (not the only way or even always the best way) for achieving that goal. Personally I think elevating the method to the same status as the goal makes it harder to truly realize our values in the world. Anyway, thanks for the response that Progressivism is a somewhat nebulous concept for you. That's how I tend to think of most political philosophies, but in discussions they often get reified in black-and-white, so a specific politician, policy, or belief can easily be categorized.
posted by biogeo at 1:05 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I want to be in on the in joke but it feels wrong to listen to the soundtrack of Hamilton without seeing it performed, and I can't find a recording of the performance anywhere. (;_;)

The soundtrack was designed as a separate performance to stand on its own. It tells the story perfectly and I highly recommend it. Furthermore, the entire show was originally planned as a concept album, and later expanded into a musical, as you can hear in the first performance of the opening song in the White House in 2009.

As for Hamilton references in thread names, I think this thread (for the night when Obama gave his last official speech, barring some tragedy) shouild have been the incredible song "One Last Time." Story-wise, President George Washington has called in Hamilton, his right-hand man and speechwriter, to tell him something surprising. This song ensues.
posted by msalt at 1:05 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it

Simple. It's that thing where someone on MetaFilter makes an innocuous sounding comment that consists of a single sentence or phrase that then get favorited 50+ times for reasons that elude you completely.

(I should really just listen to the damn thing already.)
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:06 PM on July 28, 2016 [9 favorites]


> If I were living in a rural area where the cost of living is way lower than in a typical city, I'd probably believe it, too. There should be some kind of purchasing power parity thingie in a minimum wage law.

I'm perfectly okay with people in rural areas getting their wages raised to a point where they can live much more comfortably than people in cities. The only reason as I see it to oppose minimum wage increases toward a living wage (which in most places, even rural places, is closer to 22 than 15) is out of a fear that it would suppress job creation. I'm relatively confident, though, that the increased job creation from increased demand would more than offset that, even way out in the hinterlands.

Anyway. if you need to push a line that Clinton is center-left in order to win votes while canvassing and phone banking, godspeed to you and thank you for being a better salesperson than I can be. But using the same sales pitch on metafilter is maybe not the best use of the space for discussion that metafilter offers.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 1:06 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


One of the biggest problems on the left the treatment of the Presidency like some sort of kingship, when Congress can make or break a President (as we are currently seeing). It's also one of the biggest problems with third parties; they go straight for the top and ignore everything else.

It's total pie in the sky, divorced from reality, the reason I pay them no attention. I've said this, but first you have to get the majority of people to agree with you. There is this bizarre idea that the election is like jamming the phone banks for American Idol and then, boom, we magically have different government, whether it's right or left. Seriously, how do people think this works? If you haven't won lower offices and the majority of people don't support your position then you're just jerking off.
posted by bongo_x at 1:07 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Help ! What was the post upthread that quoted a Frenchman (?) about purity. It was brilliant and I am not finding it !!!
posted by goalyeehah at 1:07 PM on July 28, 2016


that thing where someone on MetaFilter makes an innocuous sounding comment that consists of a single sentence or phrase that then get favorited 50+ times for reasons that elude you completely.

I would favourite that 50 times -- if I used favourites.
 
posted by Herodios at 1:08 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Since 2008, she has moved to the left on certain topics, including supporting LGBTQ rights and equality and immigration reform.

On the issue of LGBTQ rights, she has a long track record. She was visiting and supporting AIDS projects in 1991 and raising awareness and was the Human Rights Campaign keynote speaker at their annual dinner in 1993. I know her work goes back beyond that. What happened was she was strongly in favour of LGBTQ rights, supported them fairly strongly, then took her eye off that ball and the country moved past her. She then had to stop, listen, and reorient for where the country is now because she remembers when bringing in DADT was an extremely progressive move for gay rights as the situation before that was no gays in the military at all and there were witch hunts.
posted by Francis at 1:08 PM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


harmonica badass #1

While I appreciate this list, your lack of Kim Wilson or Charlie Musselwhite is deeply disconcerting to me, and I think you and I need to discuss this.

Your favourite badass sucks.


Junior Wells or bust.
posted by Reverend John at 1:12 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Hamilton is that thing you grudgingly listen to with a tight frown on your face because everyone else is listening to it and you think "how good could this be" and two hours later you're curled up in a ball sobbing surrounded by your three cats and you're moaning "I'm sorry Lin, I didn't know, I didn't know."
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:14 PM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


The soundtrack was designed as a separate performance to stand on its own. It tells the story perfectly and I highly recommend it. Furthermore, the entire show was originally planned as a concept album, and later expanded into a musical, as you can hear in the first performance of the opening song in the White House in 2009.

And you can hear the entire soundtrack on YouTube and other streaming sites (note on the YT playlist: for some reason, the official stream of the opening track is blocked in the US under copyright grounds, so that's a link to an unofficial version of the track).
posted by filthy light thief at 1:15 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Since this thread is wrapping up and the new thread has started, if anyone wants to read my rant about how "Helpless"/"Satisfied" is the best piece of theatre so far (based exclusively on the soundtrack since I've not seen the show) in the 21st century, I'm available via memail.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:19 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Kagan and Other Neocons Back Hillary Clinton

Hitler liked dogs too, I'm not gonna get rid of mine just cuz of that.

Honestly, the amount of ergmagherd once she has the office HRC will betray everything is sort of astonishing to me. One - you don't really know that and Two, more importantly, - who the fuck gives a shit? It's gonna be her or Trump. I'll take Unknowable mystery action Clinton over Unhinged batshit crazy racist Trump, and anyone who cares about the vulnerable will do the same. Even if you believe - against all reason - that HRC is going to roll back anything good that happened in the last 8 years, Trump and his ilk want to roll us back to 1950. Or farther.
posted by phearlez at 1:20 PM on July 28, 2016 [13 favorites]


sobbing surrounded by your three cats

Sorry, cats (and Cats) are off, too.
 
posted by Herodios at 1:22 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Trump and his ilk want to roll us back to 1950.

Or 1590.
posted by dersins at 1:22 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Re: Hilary's "progressivism" --- I think she's a center left politician who really does spend a lot of time listening to her constituents. Her values may be consisistent, but she's also a pragmatist who won't blow political capital on things she doesn't think will work, and will be willing to settle for half a loaf much of the time. So when it comes to stuff like the TPP, I think it depends on whether the Berners believe in themselves, really. If Sanders et al have moved the Overton window far enough over that opposition to the TPP becomes the modertate, center-left stance than Clinton will oppose it.

It's weird, in some ways all the ideas everyone has in their heads about what "left" and "right" are in this election feel like snakeskins being shed....Ivanka Trump gave a Democratic speech at the RNC. Obama gave a Reagan speech at the DNC. To a very large degree, the Dems are now the party of the Establishment, the way the Republicans used to be. Bloomberg, Kaine --- they're bid for voters with a college degree, for Catholics. It is staking out the center, claiming to represent not what American could be when it's better but what it is, now and fundamentally. The sensible, grown-up party. The suburbanites. What the Republicans will become in response will be...interesting. Trump's trying out a revival of fascism, and that's got some pull. Conservatism itself seems to be a dead letter. I think it will take a long long time before the old liberals will accept this, though, that they are now the men and women in the grey flannel suits and cloth coats...
posted by maggiepolitt at 1:24 PM on July 28, 2016 [10 favorites]


Since this thread is wrapping up and the new thread has started, if anyone wants to read my rant about how "Helpless"/"Satisfied" is the best piece of theatre so far (based exclusively on the soundtrack since I've not seen the show) in the 21st century, I'm available via memail.

I got to see it a couple weeks ago and they use the spinning circle in the stage to literally rewind back to the beginning of Helpless during Satisfied, and it was easily a top 3 moment of choreography in Hamilton. Just so you know.
posted by DynamiteToast at 1:26 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


A day late, per The Daily Show's broadcasting schedule, but a great piece about the official nomination Tuesday night. "Hillary busted through that glass ceiling and you can follow her through it, even if it's just to take her down."
posted by numaner at 1:27 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Well, I did say "or farther," but I disagree that Trump would ever want to return to a time before bankruptcy protection was a thing.

All this time I was against debtor's prison but it could have saved us from a really gross election here...
posted by phearlez at 1:28 PM on July 28, 2016


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it

It's a medium-sized industrial Ontario city. I used to live there. Uncertain why it's so popular on MeFi.
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [12 favorites]


maybe they are talking about the one in new zealand though?
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:30 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I got to see it a couple weeks ago and they use the spinning circle in the stage to literally rewind back to the beginning of Helpless during Satisfied, and it was easily a top 3 moment of choreography in Hamilton. Just so you know.

Someone surreptitiously recorded this bit from the audience and put it up on youtube early this year and I for sure did not download a copy and save it before it got caught and deleted nor would I tell you how cool it was or respond to memail asking for a copy.
posted by phearlez at 1:32 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


HAMILTON. When I kept seeing all the stories I decided to listen to the music because I sure as hell was never going to get to see the musical (my husband doesn't "do" musicals. Trust me, you don't need to see the stage performance. It's all there in the music. Also I found this website handy because it has the lyrics and a little explanation about the historical context and the creation of each song. Neither my daughter nor my husband share my passion but they at least understand my deep, deep love for it.

PANT SUIT: My Nana was born in 1910. By 1970 nobody, not even chubby little grandmothers were wearing skirts past their knees. My enduring memory of her is watching her tug at her skirt when she sat down to try and make it cover her fat, dimpled knees. Sometimes her skirts rose so high you could see the tops of her stockings. She had never owned a pair of pants in her life.

Then she got a chance to visit the Holy Land. Her kids sat her down and told her, "Look it's going to be too hot for stockings and a girdle. Besides, you might get a chance to ride a camel and you can't ride a camel in a short skirt." So she bought herself a couple of pant suits. After she returned it was pant suits all the time, everywhere, although she did wear a dress to my wedding. For some ladies, the kind that would never wear a pair of jeans, pant suits were a real liberation.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 1:33 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


DynamiteToast, I am so filled with jealousy I may burst.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:34 PM on July 28, 2016


can someone explain what hamilton is, i keep hearing about it

A Swedish super spy played on TV by Peter Haber.
posted by y2karl at 1:34 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


Hamilton!*, Ohio.


-----------------------------------
* Exclam now optional. I guess it no longer denotes excitement.
posted by Herodios at 1:34 PM on July 28, 2016




maggiepolitt: I think it will take a long long time before the old liberals people will accept this, though, that they are now the men and women in the grey flannel suits and cloth coats...

So true. Someone posted (in another thread? on another site? good luck me finding it among all the election talk) that old liberals love to see themselves as the underdog. Being the underdog is almost a fundamental part of the liberal identity.

The How the white working class lost its patriotism article, posted a couple of times already, talks about the flip side: After WWII, the white working class saw itself as the backbone of the Greatest Country in the World. Now they're seeing that "the modern American meritocracy was not built for them", and the change, from winners to losers, is as jarring as the liberal's move from losers to winners.
posted by clawsoon at 1:43 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I actually have wondered if Trump is showing early signs of dementia.

I actually can't watch him speak because he makes me feel so strongly that he has dementia. It's just a gut feeling based on my mental health experience and watching my own grandmother with severe dementia for decades (and also briefly living with a woman who became abusive in the throes of early-onset dementia), but yeah, I really believe this. I mean, I also think he's a narcissist and a terrible person, but the word salad and mood shifts and the way his thoughts jump...yeah, that's what it feels like to me. I think he's being exploited big-time by the people behind him who just keep pushing him in front of microphones.

Also hugs to the children of narcissists. My husband is one, and we have no contact with his mother as a result. I'm out of favorites again, but consider your buttons clicked.
posted by threeturtles at 1:44 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


Things you can monger:

* fish
* cheese
* iron
* war
posted by Chrysostom at 2:08 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


I was going to add "heat" and "snow" but then I remembered those are misers and not mongers.
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:20 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


burgers!

no wait those are meisters
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:23 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


* perl (the programming language) mongers were a thing too
posted by zachlipton at 2:26 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Monger just means dealer or trader, so you can be a burgermonger if you want to.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 2:27 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh! Hate! You can be a hatemonger!

Though I'd rather you be a hatmonger
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


I'd rather be Meisterburger Burgermeister
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:33 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


fruit
posted by phearlez at 2:34 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


synonyms for monger: vendor, dealer, hawker, merchant, peddler, trader, dealer, huckster... whoa, now we're getting into Trump territory...
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:39 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


If your family was from the mountains of SE Asia and sold legumes, you might be a Hmong Mungmonger!
posted by Celsius1414 at 2:41 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


I apparently am relatively stingy with my [+]'s so I'm gonna go ahead and be a favoritesmonger then
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:41 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


favorites, get yer favorites, hot off the grill, just the right crunch level
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:42 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]



Then there's the people who support 15 in their hearts and souls or whatever, but believe that 12 is the only feasible thing in America right now.


Personally, I don't think the minimum wage needs to be the same in NYC or San Francisco as in Texas (or whereever the cost of living is lower.) So I think $15 is a great number for some places, but would be overkill in others. I think tying it to inflation is fantastic, and I think there should be some regional variance. I've also assumed that us liberals are smart enough to start with a high bargaining point, knowing nothing happens without compromise. So if Hillary Clinton takes the federal minimum wage from $7.25-$12, I'm not going to call that a loss, thanks very much.
posted by threeturtles at 2:43 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


Chrysostom: Things you can monger:

* fish
* cheese
* iron
* war


You can monger whores too, I'm told. Might have to ask Trump on that one.
posted by msalt at 2:47 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Is it okay to monger favorites?
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:50 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


( ͡°Ĺ̯ ͡° )
posted by y2karl at 2:51 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Just be quiet about it, I don't think the mods are watching this thread anymore anyways.
posted by DynamiteToast at 2:51 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


fear, fish or cheese, pal...
posted by y2karl at 2:53 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


how many black people died during his two terms

don't forget the desert: minority enlisted casualties.
posted by j_curiouser at 2:58 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I guess you can -monger almost anything that is one syllable.

Warmonger? Yep.
Fishmonger? Yep.
Furnituremonger? Nope.

Although there may be an exception for Pokemonmongers... or is that Pokemongers?
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:02 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


Jokemonger
Popemonger
Dorkmonger
Doormonger
Bongmonger
Dopemonger
Nopemonger
Nonmonger
posted by y2karl at 3:08 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


boo_radley: "dental plan"

Lisa needs braces!

I'm sorry, I can't *not* say it.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:10 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


Wolfram Alpha words ending monger: barbermonger, bookmonger, boroughmonger, carpetmonger, cheesemonger, costardmonger, costermonger, deathmonger, fancymonger, fashionmonger, fearmonger, fishmonger, fleshmonger, foodmonger, gospelmonger, gossipmonger, hatemonger, ironmonger, lawmonger, loanmonger, lovemonger, meritmonger, monger, newsmonger, noisemonger, peacemonger, poisonmonger, powermonger, questmonger, rumormonger, rumourmonger, scandalmonger, scaremonger, sleazemonger, smutmonger, spoilsmonger, starmonger, statemonger, versemonger, warmonger, whoremonger, woodmonger, wordmonger.
posted by Sys Rq at 3:31 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


lovemonger seems appropriate for yesterday's convention theme of love.
posted by zachlipton at 3:40 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


I don't want to monger anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to monger anything bought or processed, or buy anything mongered or processed, or process anything mongered, bought, or processed, or repair anything mongered, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.
posted by entropicamericana at 3:46 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


mongeral doggerel
posted by y2karl at 3:46 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


If slavery were legalized or we just lived in a Fallout wasteland, I would buy some people and train them up in the arts of salesmanship so that I could then turn around and become a mongermonger.

Of course in such a world I might be captured and enslaved by someone intent on becoming a mongermongermonger...
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:48 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ raise your mongers ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ノ
posted by jason_steakums at 3:51 PM on July 28, 2016 [6 favorites]


The Didache, a very early Christian text that's basically a late first-century church manual, warns to be on the lookout for scammy traveling preachers it calls "Christmongers."
posted by EarBucket at 3:52 PM on July 28, 2016 [8 favorites]


Earbucket, that advice remains valuable today.
posted by msalt at 4:16 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Christmongers are among the best paid mongers in America today.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:28 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


most of the time I can expect to get through the day without finding a new favorite word, but, well, "boroughmonger" is now without a doubt my new favorite word.

I'm totally going to be on the lookout from here on out for opportunities to describe sleazy mid-level political operatives as "boroughmongers," I think.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:00 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


In case anyone missed it like I did: New thread
posted by mmoncur at 5:01 PM on July 28, 2016


nah let's stay over in this one. we can write "silenced!" on strips of tape and then put them over our mouths. we can plot fart-ins and walk-outs.

we can sell socialist newspapers back and forth to each other.

it'll be a blast.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:05 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


guys guys where are you going?? it'll be fun, I swear! come baaaaack!!
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:09 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


No, this thread is now "MONGERS ONLY".
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


YCTAB, I want you to know I am stealing (with attribution) all your humor to cheer my anarcho-syndicalist husband. You just keep going as long as you like.
posted by corb at 5:34 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


oh my god of course your husband would be an anarcho-syndicalist.

washington state is so great....
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:39 PM on July 28, 2016 [7 favorites]


anyway, if you guys find yourselves in oakland you've got a place to crash for the night if you want. We've never had any conservatives over, though, so I can't guarantee the house won't reject you by spontaneously bursting into flames the second you cross the threshold.

but probably that won't happen. maybe hum a few bars of the internationale as you come in, just to throw it off...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 5:43 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


oneswellfoop: "No, this thread is now "MONGERS ONLY"."

I had one of those jackets in the 80s.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:50 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


Katy!
posted by persona au gratin at 6:54 PM on July 28, 2016


Let's all give hallucinogenic plants to Superman and be MongolMongers.
posted by Artw at 7:16 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


It's weird, in some ways all the ideas everyone has in their heads about what "left" and "right" are in this election feel like snakeskins being shed....Ivanka Trump gave a Democratic speech at the RNC. Obama gave a Reagan speech at the DNC. To a very large degree, the Dems are now the party of the Establishment, the way the Republicans used to be. Bloomberg, Kaine --- they're bid for voters with a college degree, for Catholics. It is staking out the center, claiming to represent not what American could be when it's better but what it is, now and fundamentally. The sensible, grown-up party. The suburbanites. What the Republicans will become in response will be...interesting. Trump's trying out a revival of fascism, and that's got some pull. Conservatism itself seems to be a dead letter. I think it will take a long long time before the old liberals will accept this, though, that they are now the men and women in the grey flannel suits and cloth coats...

There's enough room in the tent for everyone as long as they're willing for everyone to be treated truly equally, for everyone to have their liberty and for everyone to be cared for when they need it the most.

If that remains essentially the Democratic Party's platform they have my support. The rest are just details.
posted by Talez at 8:57 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


> witness McAullife's accidental beans-spilling about how Clinton will be a TPP supporter again as soon as it's politically feasible.

fwiw, i've heard 'politics first' ian bremmer say the same; we shall see!
Clinton was a prime architect of TPP, and spent years touting its virtues and necessity. But faced with a growing protectionist backlash—some 53 percent of Americans now believe that free trade kills more jobs than it creates—Clinton has retreated behind the paper-thin refrain that “I do not currently support it as it is written.” Tim Kaine—Clinton’s VP pick—was also a supporter of TPP until this week, where he fell in line behind the Clinton campaign message.

The reality of politics in America today is that the job determines the motive. The Secretary of State wants to build a solid foreign policy; the candidate wants to get elected; the President is commander-in-chief and must respond to the world as it is—not just through diplomacy but sometimes with the credible threat of force. Clinton is nothing if not a career politician, and her shifting views on foreign policy reflects that.
on a similar note i've been concerned about trial balloons for larry fink as treasury secretary, which after tim geithner would keep the revolving door spinning between wall street, treasury and the (new york) federal reserve, so i'm somewhat heartened to see lael brainard floated.

> What the Republicans will become in response will be...interesting. Trump's trying out a revival of fascism, and that's got some pull. Conservatism itself seems to be a dead letter. I think it will take a long long time before the old liberals will accept this, though, that they are now the men and women in the grey flannel suits and cloth coats...

getting away from policy and personnel and speaking of story i guess the 'emerging national narrative' or whatever is of obama's (and now clinton's 'stronger together') american nationalism vs. trump's white nationalism (and transnational fascism) as the new establishment conservatism; here's james fallows' read (lightly edited ;)
Through most of my conscious life, post-LBJ onward, Democrats had a tentative, embattled sensibility [...] Comparing the tone *and the* speakers and delegates of the two conventions dramatizes the enormous difference between the two parties now. DNC actually looks like the country you see if you travel around. RNC more impressively all-white even than it seemed on TV. And the emotional difference to me boils down to a *confidence* in, and enthusiasm for, the country America is *becoming* at the DNC, and fear of the same on the other side.

This is the “demographic shift” we’ve all read about in Reince Priebus memos and so on. This is the first time I have *felt* it in quite this clear a way. And you can imagine Democrats actually feeling some confident identity as the party embracing what the country is becoming.

Of course there is Trump, and the house, and the state legislatures, and money and so on. And the grave problems of the Second Gilded Age. But a party that feels it is on the right side of history, rather than hunkering down and holding on, has a better chance of dealing with this era’s challenges/crises.
also btw...
Thinking About "Premature Deindustrialization": An Intellectual Toolkit I
The key is that the technologies of the first British and the Second Industrial Revolution, as they developed, rapidly grew in productivity, scale, and capital intensity. You needed a large market in order to support an industrial complex at a scale capable of near-efficient production. And a poor economy with a poor middle class could not do the job from demand at home.

To recapitulate: If you were a rich, temperate zone economy with a high wage level, the market for your nascent manufacturing sector was all around you. As long as you could keep Britain (or later the United States) from sucking up all of the oxygen, your manufacturing sector could grow organically. And so you can gain the learning-by-doing expertise needed for successful industrialization, growth, and development to carry you to the world's productivity and living standard frontier.

But if you were a poor, low-wage, tropical country, you could not. Your own citizens were too poor for your middle-class to be a source of mass demand for manufacturers. Thus successful economic development would require much more than import substitution.

It would require export promotion, and successful export promotion at that. You could not industrialize and develop by relying on your own home market. You had to borrow someone else's. And as the twentieth century proceeded that turned out to be a tricky and a delicate task indeed.

TO BE CONTINUED
oh and was delong at the DNC!? i thought i saw him on tv :P
posted by kliuless at 10:10 PM on July 28, 2016 [5 favorites]


I'll just hide this down in the monger thread. So here's the best reason to vote for Hillary Clinton that I've seen yet. I've come close to finding the right wording so many times, so when I tripped across this I was like "oh yes of course duh that's what I was trying to say." Anyway, this isn't from me, it's from a Serious Activist Friend who is the sort of person I'd want to be if I ever got over being so timid. He says he might vote for Hillary for the same primary reason he would have voted for Bernie:
If you believe that grassroots organizations and social movements are the most important vehicles for progressive change, then don’t think of voting as your personal endorsement of an individual candidate, as if the purpose of elections were to reflect our individual values; instead, think of your vote as your choice about which terrain you would prefer to ‘do battle’ within.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:10 PM on July 28, 2016 [14 favorites]


This trucker makes the best argument for Bernie or Bust - "I just feel like the Clintons have betrayed me over and over. I find it hard to believe she'll do anything for me after taking all this money from these special interest groups. Why will she turn on those people when it's always so easy to turn on us?"

better than the alternative...
posted by kliuless at 10:21 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


instead, think of your vote as your choice about which terrain you would prefer to ‘do battle’ within.

I honestly feel like some people would rather "do battle" on Trump's turf, because at least then they can set themselves up as the fierce opposition instead of the disappointed suckers that put someone in office only to be let down time and time again. That only works if you have the privilege to get yourself through it of course, but I can see why protesting the other team from the outside is more appealing than pleading with your time to get something right. It's counter-productive to your goals, but perhaps a little less exhausting sometimes.
posted by zachlipton at 10:29 PM on July 28, 2016 [4 favorites]


Yeah, but that's a path that's littered with like accelerationists and the self-regarding.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:32 PM on July 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


Wow, this thread got WEIRD after 4PM EST.
posted by biogeo at 11:03 PM on July 28, 2016 [3 favorites]


maybe we're the normal ones huh and all the other threads are weird you ever think of that.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:15 PM on July 28, 2016 [2 favorites]


okay normalmonger
posted by biogeo at 11:18 PM on July 28, 2016 [11 favorites]


For what its worth, zachlipton, they can set themselves up as the fierce opposition to Clinton, too. Its just that Clinton might listen while Trump might sue or arrest.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:19 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


I honestly feel like some people would rather "do battle" on Trump's turf, because at least then they can set themselves up as the fierce opposition instead of the disappointed suckers that put someone in office only to be let down time and time again. That only works if you have the privilege to get yourself through it of course, but I can see why protesting the other team from the outside is more appealing than pleading with your time to get something right.

I actually heard someone in a call-in segment on WNYC last night that was siding with Trump for precisely this. He supported neither Clinton nor Trump, and felt that both would put forth policy that would screw him over - but he also felt that at least Trump would be so outrageous that Congress would stop him and it would come to naught, but Hillary was a shrewd enough politician to be able to get some support for her positions. Therefore, since he didn't want either, he was picking the guy who would lose all showdowns with Congress, which was Trump.

Which just makes a very good segue to pointing out that "hey, let's look at the Congressional elections too, and seed Congress with a lot of Dems so we're covered no matter what."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:42 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


Therefore, since he didn't want either, he was picking the guy who would lose all showdowns with Congress, which was Trump.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: If you want to see a Trump presidency, look at Michigan. Rick Snyder will sign any stupid thing that comes to his desk as long as the Legislature goes along with him on JOBS JOBS JOBS. We don't have a motorcycle helmet law anymore, but you can sell fireworks now.

Trump won't even bother having showdowns with Congress, and they know it.
posted by Etrigan at 5:54 AM on July 29, 2016 [7 favorites]


If you want to see a Trump presidency, look at Michigan.

Or Wisconsin, or Florida.
posted by drezdn at 6:12 AM on July 29, 2016 [3 favorites]


"This guy's a buffoon, we can control him," is a very, very dangerous game.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:13 AM on July 29, 2016 [10 favorites]


normalmonger

Worst 00s indie music trend.
posted by Artw at 6:16 AM on July 29, 2016 [5 favorites]


or Tim Kaine's nickname
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:20 AM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


Or Wisconsin, or Florida.

Or Maine.
posted by tobascodagama at 7:51 AM on July 29, 2016


MY BROWSER HAS A CACHE AS STRONG AS STEEL AND IT IS WEBMONGERING THE FUCK OUT OF THIS PAGE.
posted by charred husk at 7:59 AM on July 29, 2016 [4 favorites]


"I just feel like the Clintons have betrayed me over and over. I find it hard to believe she'll do anything for me after taking all this money from these special interest groups. Why will she turn on those people when it's always so easy to turn on us?"

And by "special interest groups" like you know Jews, Feminists, LGBT, Unions, Teachers, Nurses, police unions, firefighters, plumbers, carpenters, and the gun control lobby. 40 years in the public spotlight seem to provide strong reassurance that she won't turn. As another female leader once said, "the lady is not for turning."
posted by humanfont at 8:37 AM on July 29, 2016 [4 favorites]




After Lying Low, Deep-Pocketed Clinton Donors Return to the Fore - "As protesters bashed big money and Wall Street, the Democratic Party's moneyed elite gathered in Philadelphia, undeterred and mostly unabashed."
While protesters marched in the streets and blocked traffic, Democratic donors congregated in a few reserved hotels and shuttled between private receptions with A-list elected officials. If the talk onstage at the Wells Fargo Center was about reducing inequality and breaking down barriers, Center City Philadelphia evoked the world as it still often is: a stratified society with privilege and access determined by wealth.

“The Clinton people would always argue, ‘Well, there’s no connection between the money and the actions that we take,’ ” said Jonathan Tasini, a liberal organizer and Sanders delegate from New York. “That’s what these cocktail parties and receptions are all about. It’s about access and whose phone calls get answered.”

For many Clinton donors, particularly those from the financial sector, the convention is a time to shed what one called the “hypersensitivity” that had previously surrounded their appearance at Mrs. Clinton’s fund-raisers or at her political events, during a period when Mr. Sanders repeatedly attacked Mrs. Clinton’s connections to Wall Street and her six-figure speaking fees from financial institutions.

“I think we’re past that,” said Alan Patricof, a longtime donor to Mrs. Clinton, when asked about the need to lie low during the primaries.

In Philadelphia, donors were handed preferred suites at the Ritz-Carlton and “Friends and Family” packages created for longtime Clinton hands — some of them also longtime benefactors. Some were granted time backstage or in the Clinton family box with former President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. Blackstone, the private equity giant, scheduled a reception at the Barnes Foundation on Thursday with its president, Hamilton E. James, one of the leading Wall Street contenders for an economic policy post in a future Clinton administration.

The Philadelphia convention offered other symbolic contrasts to the party’s last two gatherings, when President Obama sought, with mixed success, to restrict his party from raising money to pay for the conventions from lobbyists or political action funds. Those shackles were thrown off this year, waving a green flag to Washington’s influence industry. Lobbyists and corporate representatives flooded the city, where much of the Democratic Party’s elite — and potential senior members of a future presidential administration — had gathered.

The railway giant CSX brought in old railroad cars for a reception led by Rodney E. Slater, the former United States transportation secretary turned lobbyist, who also headlined a panel on transportation policy in a future Clinton administration. At the Loews Hotel bar on Tuesday night, old Clinton hands, some now working as lobbyists, caught up with Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, a longtime family friend and one of the party’s most prolific fund-raisers.

At a private luncheon on Wednesday at El Vez, a Mexican restaurant, over a dozen Democratic governors mingled with representatives from a host of labor unions and companies, among them the Apollo Education Group, an operator of for-profit colleges that has faced a series of state and federal investigations into allegations of shady recruiting, deceptive advertising and questionable financial aid practices.

“It’s business as usual,” said Libby Watson, who monitored lobbying events in Philadelphia on behalf of the Sunlight Foundation, a group devoted to government transparency.
posted by kliuless at 9:56 AM on July 29, 2016 [4 favorites]


I just want to say how pleasant it's been hanging out with all of the politically-minded metamongers here.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:57 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


People, that article about Clinton donors has been posted about forty times.

It is not the FRESH HOT TAKE at this point.
posted by winna at 10:06 AM on July 29, 2016 [7 favorites]


Yeah, at least twice in this thread, and twice in the Thursday thread.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:14 AM on July 29, 2016


huh I wonder what people are getting up to in the days 1 and 2 threads. maybe they've developed their own independent cultures....
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:19 AM on July 29, 2016 [3 favorites]


another ten million or so years and we could have intelligent life.
posted by andrewcooke at 10:31 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


the culture derived from the day 1 thread will call themselves the Busters. Day 4's society calls themselves the Acceptors, since their defining event was the acceptance speech. Day 3 is the Mongers, of course. Day 2's culture, sadly, didn't quite get off the ground; every so often Buster, Acceptor, and Monger factions try to colonize it.

(some Busters and Mongers call the Acceptors "Katys," referencing the Katy Perry performance. This is generally seen as an unacceptable slur, although some Acceptors have chosen to reclaim the term and so call themselves Katys.)

There are also the Grim Cultures that have grown out of the RNC threads. We do not speak of them. We fear they may somehow nimbly navigate over to destroy our thriving societies, but we know that despite their bluster they are too weak, erratic, and small-handed to really do much damage to us.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:41 AM on July 29, 2016 [4 favorites]


better put on my tina belcher hat, cause it looks like someone is about to start writing up some metafilter friendfiction...
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:43 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


huh I wonder what people are getting up to in the days 1 and 2 threads. maybe they've developed their own independent cultures....

My wife is slowly making her way through all the convention threads comment by comment, even though she's way behind. Just today I got an e-mail complaining about people mixing up Reel Big Fish and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which would make it...Monday in her world?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 10:45 AM on July 29, 2016 [12 favorites]


You Can't Tip a Buick: "huh I wonder what people are getting up to in the days 1 and 2 threads. maybe they've developed their own independent cultures...."

Makes me remember the longboat threads hidden at the tail ends of Metatalk threads.
posted by octothorpe at 10:53 AM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


ICYMI :P (for backpropagation purposes training the thread to cultivate culturemongers!)
posted by kliuless at 10:56 AM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]


so I'm going to tell you about the thing I'm going to do once I crawl out from under the job/grant applications I'm going to have to spend the next two months writing.

I am going to go to a protest and I am going to buy multiple copies of every single Trotskyist newspaper I can find. And then I am going to, Burroughs-style, cut them up and paste them back together into a wholly new syncretic socialist pamphlet.

The 4th Dadaist International begins today!
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:01 AM on July 29, 2016 [12 favorites]




better put on my tina belcher hat, cause it looks like someone is about to start writing up some metafilter friendfiction...

Dibs on the Louise Belcher hat!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:18 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


yeah right after the edit window closed I realized I should have said I'm putting on my Tina Belcher bra.

One boob at a time. just like everybody else.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 11:32 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


I am going to go to a protest and I am going to buy multiple copies of every single Trotskyist newspaper I can find. And then I am going to, Burroughs-style, cut them up and paste them back together into a wholly new syncretic socialist pamphlet.

because i've been thinking about group selection and identity more lately here's harman on kropotkin and huxley, re: (necessarily?) authoritarian states vs. 'communal living' and refashioning the democratic party from a neoliberal one to a (genuinely?) progressive party :P
posted by kliuless at 11:43 AM on July 29, 2016 [2 favorites]


* perl (the programming language) mongers were a thing too

WE STILL ARE dammit.
posted by fedward at 12:22 PM on July 29, 2016 [7 favorites]


c'mon Tehhund, we're all rooting for you...
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:59 PM on August 21, 2016 [9 favorites]


obviously i'm not the only one who has noticed tehhund has gradually been favoriting their way through these stale old threads.
posted by entropicamericana at 4:55 AM on August 22, 2016 [9 favorites]


You're not, but the mods have asked that we stop mentioning it.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:01 AM on August 23, 2016 [6 favorites]


Never forget.
posted by bongo_x at 10:24 AM on August 23, 2016 [7 favorites]


Made it! Just one thread to go.
posted by Tehhund at 3:41 PM on August 23, 2016 [116 favorites]


Just one thread to go.

I have some bad news.
posted by sallybrown at 3:55 PM on August 23, 2016 [36 favorites]


let him have this moment
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:57 PM on August 23, 2016 [46 favorites]


Well, there's only one more convention thread left, and the other threads have been pretty cyclical (Trump says something awful, we discuss it, etc.) So maybe they can come join us in the newest once they get through Thursday :)
posted by tavella at 6:59 PM on August 23, 2016 [1 favorite]


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